...all is calm...

People keep asking me
"Well, do you have all your Christmas gifts bought?"
and I say,
"actually ------we don't buy presents in our family."

Shock then registers on their face,
and I know they are trying to figure out
if I am totally pulling their leg
or
maybe we got ourselves mixed up with some
crazy cult!
For goodness sakes!

"What do you mean? You don't buy presents?"

THEN --- I explain ---
Five years ago our family decided that we were NOT going to
exchange gifts that year.

With three children in various stages of marriage,
jobs and college
and we ourselves feeling the money crunch,
it seemed like a good thing.
At least it would be a temporary-just-this-year
kind of thing.

We would all just "take a little break"
and resume as normal the next year.

Of course, what happened was ----
WE ALL LOVED IT !!!
And the next year decided --
just one more year.

Really. and truly.
Christmas that year was so low-key.
I didn't scramble around with a knot in the pit
of my stomach,
preparing for that one day.

None of us had to worry about trying to buy
something for someone (that they didn't need
nor want)

something that fits.
something that wows.
something that is just right wonderful.

None of that!

All we had to do -----was
decide what we were going to cook
and
what kinds of new traditions
we could start.

Then --- enjoy just being together.

We discovered what fun it was to do just that.
With no pressures of presents.
(Of course, we buy a couple of presents for Lily Kate
and all the future grands.
What kind of crazy, heartless barbarians did you think we were???
:)

We've also started looking for other ways to spend
money we would be spending on gifts.

Did you know, for instance,
that through
Samaritan's Purse
or
World Vision
you can literally purchase a flock of chickens,
a herd of milk goats,
a pond of fish,
a milk cow
or
dig part or all of a water well
for a needy family somewhere in the world?

How cool is that?!?!

Now --I don't, for one moment, think everyone should follow our lead
on this new "tradition".

This, after all, is what we believe
was needed in our family
in order to bring us back to the true
Reason for the Season.

It was such a shock to realize that we could say
"no thank you"
to all the gift buying and hubbub.

Who knows?
Next year may be the year we go back to gifts.

But for right now,
at our house --

"all is calm"

and we are looking forward to a
wonderful time with the family.

Whatever this week brings your way,
I hope you totally enjoy every single moment of it
and I pray you are
blessed beyond measure.

Gwynie Pie

...all around the house.....

What a very busy time of the year!
It just seems like the days are whipping past...
way too fast.

I'm busy, just as many of you are with....
finishing with the decorating
(and since Christmas is in less than ONE week,
I need to either do it or forget it),
cleaning the house,
planning the menus.

I have only about 10 chapters of Ezekiel
and the book of Daniel
left to read and I will have
completed my goal of reading through the Bible this year.

Tomorrow through Friday
I think I'll skip over to the N.T.
and read the book of Luke prior to
Christmas.
I love the "Christmas Story"!

I have really enjoyed reading through the entire Bible in a year.
It has given some daily direction to my life....
both discipline, to just do it daily...
and
actual counsel
and guidance to my daily life.

I am way excited about some goals I am setting for 2011.
Can you believe it's the year Two Thousand and Eleven ???
That's just amazing to me!

I want to read through the Bible again in 2011,
just with a different version.

Also, at the urging of our kids, we bought
a book called....
"Operation World".

This book directs you in praying for the world--
country by country
so that over the course of one year
you end up praying for every single country
around the world!
Check it out on Amazon if you're interested.

So - praying for every country during 2011 is
another of my goals.

My husband and I would very much love to go to Guatemala
on a mission trip in September.

Honestly, that is going to require me to "get serious"!!!
about improving my physical condition.
I look in the mirror sometimes and wonder
"who is that woman?",
feeling so far from the energetic and much thinner and
in shape woman I used to be.

If you are lead to do so ----please pray for me,
as I embark on a more disciplined eating plan
and try to throw some physical exercise in there too.

It's not an easy thing to "find yourself", ya know?
or at least find who you know God intends you to become.

I find I'm waaaaay excited about the coming Christmas weekend.

I am looking forward --
to a shorter work week.

I am looking forward--
to Christmas Eve candlelight service on Friday night.

I am looking forward--
to spending some "quiet time" in front of the fireplace,
listening to some good Christmas music.

I am looking forward--
to watching
Elf,
It's a Wonderful Life,
Christmas Story,
Home Alone,
White Christmas
Christmas Vacation
:)

But...............
Most of all -----
I am looking forward--
to this week of anticipating
the celebration of the birth of The Savior.

I was reminded today at church ----

as we celebrate the birth of The Savior,
let's not forget that the reason He was born,
the reason He came to earth at all.....
was to save....us!

The King of Kings
came to earth as a baby in order
to die on a cross 33 years later....
for me.
and you.
To pay a debt we could never pay.

Because He loves us so!

Amazing love!

May your week be filled with excited
"looking forwards".

Gwynie Pie

Thankful

November 1 -- I decided to accept a challenge
extended by my blog friend, Jennifer
at Smelling Coffee
(click on her blog over <----- there).
Jennifer loves her family and the Lord
and she always has an encouraging word.
I know you will love her.
It was her November 1 post that so
captured my attention.

Embracing the challenge,
I started a brand new journal with the intent
of writing down at least one
thing for which I was thankful
each day.

Here's what happened:

while looking for things to be thankful about,
I started to really see the many, many
previously overlooked, yet wonderful things
in my life.

I actually started seeing the smallest little things
that previously I would have blown right past.
But I started stopping to really look at my world
around me.

A deliberate and purposeful search for things
I am grateful for has truly opened my eyes
and it also has changed my prayers.

I've gone from
"thank you for the food I eat"
to really looking at the food I eat----
the color,
the texture,
the enjoyment of
it

~~~ a crunchy taco supreme and a big ol' DP
at Taco Bell
~~~or just the beautiful color and uniqueness
of a single perfect Clementine for lunch one day.

I have loved keeping this journal and don't plan to give it up.

In reading back over the past month of entries

(I wrote down #148 this morning).


I remember.

#17 ~~~ a perfect cotton harvest

#131 ~~~the BEST Thanksgiving EVER !

#65~~~ a warm and cozy place to call home

#54~~~ a pink and blue fluffy sunrise,
made just for me --
just
to make me smile
because it reminds me, at this early hour of this cool-ish Fall morning
that I am going to be "Pie" to another
little grandbaby
sometime in early June.
Yeaaaaaa!!!

Cool, huh?

Soooo - I've gone from
"Thank you Lord for the abundance of my life."
to
"Thank you Lord for this.....THIS blessing...
right here....right now."

In counting my many blessings I've been humming that
old hymn we used to sing all the time
but I haven't heard it in years
~~~

"Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God has done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings,
see what God has done."

Try it!
I bet you'll like it.


Gwynie Pie

Apple-pickin' Time in Texas

Saturday -- William and I
took a little roadtrip to
Mason, Tx

Mason is a sweet small town in the Texas Hill Country --
an old German settlement with
beautiful, rolling hills.
big oak trees.
limestone and granite.
best bbq places EV-ER!
lots of deer and wildlife.

It's just pretty pretty.

So imagine how excited we were to find out there was also a
pick-your-own
apple orchard

We had never, ever picked our own apples.
Had no idea apple-pickin' could be done this close to home.
We found the orchard on the edge of town,
were given precise instructions on how to properly
pick an apple so as to not damage the bud for next year,
were each given a bucket and
turned loose to pick all the
Pink Ladys we wanted.
I think we picked about 12 pounds
at $1.50 a pound = tons of fun.

And........delicious apples.

This barn was built before the Civil War (1860) and has
been well-preserved through the years.
It has quite the history.
Also found out that in 1916
the Senior Prom was held in the barn --
it had the biggest "dance floor" in town.
And now
it houses the
Sonlight Apple Orchard
operation.

Very, very fun experience.
Looking forward to next August -October
when we will go pick apples again.

Gwynie Pie

Five Days of Fall

So much to do....
So little time.

That's the story of my life this past week.
month.
oh really, who am I kidding.....
year.

And so, I'm
consolidating Days 3 - 5 of my
well-intentioned, but a little
side-tracked, "series".
Here goes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I have only ONE rule about decorating
and here it is:

Always appeal to the five senses and
you can't go wrong.....
SIGHT(Day 1)
~~~ make it cute. if you love it, incorporate it,
it'll work.
SMELL(Day 2)
~~~ make it smell delicious.
and
TOUCH
~~~make everything "feel" cozy.

Winter always arrives. It does.
Always.

So in an effort to not be caught on that first crisp
morning, slinging things out of a closet to grab
a jacket only to find it still has some nasty spillage
left from last Spring and you intended to get back to
wash it, but got distracted because, after all .....it was Spring!
:)

uh yep, that's happened to me.

Now though, I try to anticipate these crazy things,
like season changes
and
be at least a bit prepared.

I had off a couple days from my job
last week and spent a lovely morning
getting jackets, coats, gloves and scarves
and all the bed coverings ready.
I pulled all the comfy quilts and fluffy blankets
out of the armoire
and ran them through a rinse,
then let them have a little outdoor time.

Ummmmmm--- they smelled great!
And layered on the beds they are so cozy and ready for the
cooler weather that is on its way.

Next ~~~
TASTE
Getting prepared for holiday cooking isn't all fun.
Sometimes its lots of work,
but the results ~~~
having a clean and organized pantry,
and a fresh fridge and freezer~~~
I love that part!

After giving the pantry shelves a good scrubbing,
I replaced the shelf paper with some colorful gift wrap
I found the other day at Hobby Lobby.
It has just brightened up the pantry and
encourages me to keep it in order.

Throw away everything that is out of date and
beyond it's shelf life.

Then I re-stock ----
There are a few items that are just staples
in my Fall pantry/freezer.

Knowing this, I look for coupons and
great deals and sales on these items
so I can both stock my pantry AND save $$$

popcorn
pecans
(which I buy in 5# bags and keep fresh in the freezer)
canned pumpkin, apples, cherries for pies
flour and fresh yeast
(cause someone is going to need to bake bread)
pie shells
(I buy the kind you just unroll. They come in
an 8-pack at Sam's)
fresh spices
half and half
(essential to hearty up soups and stews)

When I make soup I make double or triple and put
the extra in the freezer.

This past weekend Dana made some killer chicken and dumplings!!
I put 2 cartons in the freezer for a blustery day
when I don't have time to cook a warm meal.

We used 2 rotisserie chickens in the chicken and dumplings--
the bones go in a pot with water, celery, onions,
carrots and garlic and simmer for a couple hours.
Then strain and cool and freeze and
~~~Voila~~~
homemade, super cheap, chicken stock ---
the base of something yummy.

And HEARING ~~~
Anytime we have a party or people here,
we almost always have some soft(or loud)music playing
in the background.

And when I need a little extra "umpf" to
clean house, I usually listen
to some 1940's Big Band music
or maybe some 60's stuff
or even a little
get-up-and-move gospel
~~~~~
it never fails to inspire.

However -----nothing is better..... to me, anyway, than
q u i e t
I think maybe I love silence so much because I
am an only child and quiet was our norm.

We didn't have the noise of lots of voices
nor
did my folks ever turn on a tv or radio
just for the "company".
We just enjoyed the peace and quiet.

I still today prefer the quiet.

I can think better that way.
and you know I love to think.

But ~~~~ also~~~~ better to hear.

Monday I dragged a rocking chair and a quilt,
along with my Bible and
my journal
out into our yard
in the middle of a bunch of purple flowers.
The monarch butterflys love stopping off on
their way to winter in Mexico
and I just sat in the middle of them
and rocked
and read
and was quiet.

It was a grand experience.
I can't wait til the next time I can "just be".
and
hear
the quiet.

Happy Fall to you all !

Gwynie Pie

Weekend........

A perfectly wonderful Fall weekend!

~~~~~a little firewood gathering~~~~~
with good friends

~~~~~a little coloring time~~~~~
for Lily Kate
and
Wunky Toot

~~~~~a tea party for Jigsy~~~~~
He was soooo excited!

~~~~~
just a most wonderful
Fall
weekend.

Hope your weekend was wonderful as well.

Gwynie Pie

Problems posting my pictures AGAIN !!!!!!!
In case you can't see the pics in the following post,
here they are.

IF you CAN see them, here they are.... :)

Anyone else have this problem?
If so - and you don't mind, e-mail me the
solution. Thanks !!!

Gwynie Pie

Bedroom #1 Redo

My big, huge, 24-hr.

weekend project --

converting Office/Craft Room

into a Bedroom

was a great success.

The cute twin bed was given to me

by my "friend of many years"

(NOT old friend!)

:)

and it is just perfect in this room.

It was one of two twin bed in Susan's room

when she was a girl.

I spent many fun times at Susan's house.

Two things stand out:

1. While playing in their attic (something I knew

nothing about),

I stepped wrong, off the beams,

and stuck my leg clear through the ceiling.

I was just hanging there, laughing and

totally embarassed.

I mean, really???

what do you say to people when you just

made a sizable hole in their living room ceiling?

and 2.

I remember once we made mud pies

and got just a tad bit carried away.....

we covered every bit of skin that stuck out of

our clothes with a thick coat of mud.

Then --- hosed off out in the yard.

OH and 3.

Susan's mom made THE best cream puffs

you ever laid lips on !!!

Oh. my. gracious.

yum

Anyway, thank you Susan --

I love it!

Meet "Dudley"

I got him at Christmas at Old Fort Concho

a couple of years ago.

It was love at first sight !

I had to have him!

I was so very glad he was almost within the budget.

He is sooooo sweet.

And he has been everywhere....

on the back porch surrounded by

old branding irons.

over the fireplace.

in the dining room holding Stetsons.

The stunning quilt was given to me by my

Mamaw,

about 25 years ago.

It was THE best Christmas present

I ever got from her.

She made it years before that

and just kept it until I was old enough

to appreciate it.

These two silhouettes are of Mamaw and Papaw.

Stamped on the bottom of each card:

Rock City, Tenn

That's all I know about them.

Aren't they cute?

And it looks just like them.

BLEDSOE RD

Hmmmmmmmmmm

this sign was

uhhhhhh

borrowed...

from the road

which was named after

my grandparents,

which is, I am sure

what motivated

someone???

to "borrow"

said sign.

It's black and white

and ever so cute,

yes?

Gwynie Pie

ROOM IN CRISIS

Bedroom #1
is undergoing an
identity crisis.

First I packed up and moved all
the office items out
~~~~~
computer
office items
bill paying stuff
~~~~~
all moved to the other end of the
house to a cute little corner
of our bedroom.

Next ----
the craft stuff,
sewing paraphenalia,
and
booookoooooz
of what I refer to as
"miscellaneous"
all were taken away.

And all that left
#1
just sad
and
kinda,
sorta,
empty
and
without purpose.

BUT ------
"I have a plan."
words that make my
big, strong handsome man
tremble.
:)

And then.........
he always comes along with
the muscle
and
the toolbox
and
the expertise
and
the logic,
and
the sweet smile
and
turns my "plan"
into
reality.

What a sweet guy!

My "plan" is to have this room
completed by tomorrow afternoon.
It is now 3:10 p.m. cst
soooooo, I'm thinkin'
24 hours from now???

Okay, gotta jet.

I'll be back with pics.

Gwynie Pie

NOW HEAR THIS----
Blogger makes me craaaaaaazy!

I spent 30 minutes doing pictures,
writing, re-writing,
fussing with everything
and THEN
it posts my words
without the pictures to go with it.....

I ask you,
what's a blog without
pictures???

Sooooooooooooooo
These are the pictures that go with the post
that follows.....
FIVE DAYS OF FALL -- Day 2

I don't have time to re-write the post to go with these pictures
and
I don't have the expertise to "fix" whatever is the problem.

I'm gonna have a great Fall day
anyway...

you do too!

Gwynie Pie

FIVE Days of FALL - Day 2

Okay, well ---- we are NOT movin' right along with these FIVE days, are we?
That's because ----
I got a little (lot) distracted.
I've been busy doing
~~~~
and
not much blogging.

I had a "brilliant beyond brilliant idea"
(name that movie)

aren't they all?
ideas.
brilliant.
at least in theory.
and on paper.

Well, THIS idea was a winner!!
whew.............
I moved the office/craft room
out of #1 bedroom
(which has not ever been a bedroom)
and
we are making #1 into a real live
usable-by-guests bedroom.

It's gonna be so cute.
More on that as it happens.

The moving of my office from one end of the
house to the other was a bit of a task, though.
And it involved calling in the net provider
to move computer connection from one end of the
house to the other as well.

Then, William and I turned our room on end
moving pretty much every piece of furniture
and all its contents to somewhere else
in the house.

Fruit basket turnover style.

A horrific mess for about 2 days and
now...............
ahhhhhhhhhhhh

Super good.
Super fun.
Super cute.

When I get the curtains up later today,
I will definitely share.

Soooo, BACK to Day 2 of Fall ~~~~~

The house is decorated end to end
and top to bottom for
Fall ~~~
it just makes me smile
and sigh a happy sigh
when I walk through the house.

Don't cha just love it when your home
IS your "happy place"?

My next step is to make this
happy place
smell
delicious.

I made a trip to Bath and Body yesterday
for Fall fragrances in
Wallflowers
and
candles.
I only buy these items there when they
are on 1/2 price
so I can get twice !!!! as much
:)

Delicious scents warm up every room
in the house .......
Frosted Cranberry
Autumn
Creamy Pumpkin
Leaves
and right now I have
a Winter candle
burning on my desk that
I promise you has a hint of mesquite smoke
in it.
Deeeelishus!!!

Glade also makes some wonderful seasonal candles
that smell great.
AND
am I the last person on earth
to discover Mrs. Meyers ???

I bought the all-purpose spray
back in the spring
and use it for cleaning just about everything.

It just freshens up a room instantly.
All her products are natural
and safe to use in kids rooms
and kitchens.

The best way to make your home SMELL deliciously Fall-like
of course, is to bake something yummy.
Something involving apples and cinnamon
is always a crowd pleaser.

And nothing!!! is better than a pot of soup or stew
simmering on the stove
with a pan of cornbread
or
homemade French bread
in the oven.

This soup
was kind of a "end of summer"
put together soup
that turned out fantastic !!!

Saute a big onion
and several cloves of garlic,
rough chopped
in a good amount (1/4 cup) olive oil.

When the onion and garlic are translucent,
add sliced or diced
zuchinni (2-3)
and
yellow squash (2-3).
Cook until they start to get done.

This is where you need to add about a Tablespoon salt
and 1/2 Tablespoon pepper
I also added about 1/2 Tablespoon
crushed red pepper
but it was borderline HOT.
I will back it down on the red pepper next time.

Then add
a large can diced tomatoes,
a can of Ro-tel
and
chicken broth --
a good amount is needed here....
probably 2 qts at least.

After it is good and hot,
break into small pieces
a BIG handful of
fettucini or spaghetti
(any pasta will do here).

Simmer until pasta is done.

THEN -- and do not skip this step....
Add at least a cup of
half and half.

You will not be sorry....
trust me on this.....
I know my soups.


Sooooooo - here is bottomline ---
get some great comforting
scents going in your home today.

You are going to love it.
Even cleaning house is better
when great scents are going on.
Yes.
Really.

AND ~~~~~
Your husband and kids
will be delighted to step through the
door this afternoon
to a warm Fall welcome.


Gwynie Pie

FIVE Days of FALL --- Day 1

There is just something so delightful about Fall.....
something refreshing and soothing.

Full of excitement as Fall arrives,
I know Winter will be close
behind and there is a
"get-ready-it's-a'comin'"
kind of feel in the air.

It's time to get buy and get my
house in order,
well-stocked and prepared
for Winter.

First things first -----
the house gets decorated for the season.
I use the same 3 tubs of decorations
year after year,
just arranged a little differently
each year.

Last week while browsing Walmart,
I found this beeeUtiful
ribbon.

I love the "Thankful" one best --
30 feet for $5.00
it's a real find.

Help me out --
~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS
GREAT RIBBON???

I have a few ideas but would
love to know how you would use it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pumpkins, gourds, leaves and nuts ~~
both real and fake, find their place in my decor.

~~~a cute couple of Autumn angels with
leaves for wings
(you can find them through
Celebrating Home)
and a garland of
leaves and feathers draped
over an antique tablecloth.

The mantel clock always stands on the mantel ~~
no matter the season,
chiming out the hours and the halfs.

I just decorate around it.
This very clock stood on my grandparents
mantel -- always.
It's like the heartbeat of this house.

Simple, rustic burlap runs the middle of the long
dining table topped with a wooden
placemat, a funky Fall plate,
then my scripture cake stand
topped with a rusty cloche
that is filled with three perfect pears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed are those who
trust in Him!
They shall not lack any good thing!
Psalm 34:8; 34:10b
~~~~~~~~~~~~

And maybe my favorite spot in the whole house ~~
below my loved church window
(from the church where I grew up)
hangs a German house blessing.
The open Bible on the buffet was a
wedding present 38 years ago.
Open to Psalm 112

~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in His commands."
~~
a great foundation on which to build a home.

As Fall comes to your home,
slow down,
savor the days,
be thankful.

Gwynie Pie