Bright Ideas

I had such fun getting things ready for the talk I gave Tuesday night on "Use What You Have" decorating. I had been accumulating ideas that I am constantly finding here and there, thinking "Oh, how cute! I need to do that". Well, all of a sudden --- I REALLY needed to do that !! And now, I will share with you. Presenting -- candle ideas.....except, this first one --- NOT a candle. But so could be used to hold a candle. It's filled with buttons collected over probably 75 years. I found two jars of these buttons at my Mother-in-law's house when we moved her to "the Village" and I fell in love with them. They came to live with me !!!! The look of these buttons in jars is one of those things that just so appeals to my eyes. The jars usually are not decorated, but this I had to try. I like it!
I took an old piece of sheet music and cut a length that would reach around the jar. You don't have to destroy music to do this. Just copy onto regular paper, dip in leftover tea or coffee -- both work -- tea smells better. Then smooth out and let it dry completely. Attach to the jar with glue or I attached it with double-sided tape so I can easily take it off and do something else if I want. Then I covered the top and bottom edges with what looks like antique lace. NOT. I bought it in a spool at Wal-mart -- 3 yds. for less than $3. I used the tape here as well. Tie a piece of jute twine around the middle and embellish with an old broach. A clip-on earring would work great too. Or slip a charm of any sort on the twine and embellish it that way. It just needed something kinda blingy, I thought. I really like this look.

Here is a new quart jar with a new piece of taffeta (found at Hobby Lobby) wrapped around, jute wrapped around several times and ties and an old broach pinned on. Instead of cutting the fabric with scissors, I am really liking the look of torn edges. It just is another element of interest. Place a chunky pillar candle in the jar.....lovely. I think a whole row of these on a mantle OR down the middle of a table OR I want to make about a dozen to put on my back porch for summer parties. This is an inexpensive Dollar Tree pillar candle with torn muslin ribbon wrapped around several times. Then a piece of the lace to secure the key and the picture is just tucked in under the muslin. The picture is my grandparents house, the key belongs to the front door. If you look very closely you see my mother, about age 10, riding her bike (right side of the picture, in front of the first porch post). I love this picture!!

To make muslin ribbon --- buy the cheapest muslin you can find. It has the least shape and wrinkles easier than the pricier kind. Then literally rip ribbons of the fabric, tearing across the fabric. Just experiment with it....you'll see what I mean. I'll post more about this soon since I have some more uses for this muslin ribbon.

Here -- a couple of pillar candles embellished with upholstery tacks. Choose your design, choose the type tack you like-- the cross is black tacks, the "R" is antique brass. You can also use thumbtack -- they come in all sorts of colors. Just find your design and transfer it onto the candle using a pencil or a toothpick -- just "trace" the design. This is VERY inexpensive to do, but I've seen embellished candles in stores that are pretty pricey. I left these plain so the design could be seen, but I think something like leather strips tied around top and bottom would be nice. Two antique cheese graters, given me by friend Mendi. I just stood them on end, tied them together with jute twine and no, you can't see it, but behind there is a small canning jar containing a votive candle. It stands in the corner of my counter top and at night looks very interesting. There are all sorts of cheese graters out there. Even a new grater can be spray painted to match the kitchen. You don't have to go with the rustic look like I do. Make it your own.

Well, those are a few sweet and inexpensive projects. None of these took much time and they each have a little, warming effect tucked in here and there in my home. Give it a try!

Blessings on this Friday,

Gwynie Pie

Sweet Day

The Fly Lady (a.k.a. Marla Cilley) was in San Angelo at the Convention Center as the speaker for a Healthy Woman series event. I learned about The Fly Lady waaaay back during my Heart days, when I was part of a group of women who met weekly to live out Titus 2:3-5. The passage begins "you older women teach the younger women....." well, I was an "older women". We covered various topics each week - raising Godly children, respecting our husbands, and being keepers of the home with topics in areas of decorating, organization, de-cluttering AND cleaning the house.

House cleaning can be overwhelming, but The Fly Lady taught us real methods and some skills to make it as quick and painless as possible.
Her first book was called Sink Reflections. The first thing she instructs a homekeeper to do is clean your sink. And not just scour it our with Ajax! Oh no! She says to obsessively clean that sink. Get out an old toothbrush and work on every part of that sink until it absolutely sparkles and shines. I must say when I did practice her methods and keep that sink shiny, my "cleaning chores" really were lighter and much more manageable. She just has really thought through each task you might be faced with. Great book. And now she has another book called "Body Clutter"....oh lawsy !!!! Can I go there?

Soooo, I went to the luncheon today where she was the speaker. I totally enjoyed myself. Sat at a table with some great friends and visited, laughed a bunch and listened to The Fly Lady speak. Marla is so unassuming, so not flashy or glamorous, but just very "real". Now THERE is a Real Housewife who is a real housewife.

Well, right now I can't see the sink for the dirty dishes stacked there. So, I'm going to go remedy that right now !!!

I'm also probably going to post again later tonight....stay tuned. I have a few fun decorating ideas I used in Tuesday night's talk that I want to share with y'all.


Happy sink cleaning,
Gwynie Pie

Mother's Day Festivities

Soooo - this is my mom, GG. She's quite the fashionista--wearing a smart green hat cocked jauntily on her head.
Here is Grammy, William's mom, also wearing a smart chapeau in red.

We got both of our moms little digital photo keychains. They both are picture-carrying great grandmothers and love to show off those pictures everywhere they go. They were pretty intrigued, very confused but really happy with the gift.

Here they are still playing with their new toys.

And here is William, his sister Elaine, Colin and Ronnie and Elaine's grandson, Johnathan -- all decked out in their hats. Charles, Scott, and Jenn were all here today too, they just chose to not wear a hat, so no picture. And NO the hats were not part of our Mother's Day celebration. Johnathan found the stack of hats in the toy closet and soon we were all wearing them. He thought we all looked pretty funny. Really?

It really was a great Mother's Day ! We went to church, then went to our small group. Saw old friends who were visiting at church today for Mother's Day and that was great. Then we came home and ate a delicious lunch of Sam's lasagna, Sam's garlic toast and Sam's big ol bag o salad. My mom made two chocolate pies. Elaine made a German chocolate cake and the best chocolate chunk cookies EVER !!! She also brought Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and I had a wonderful chocolate chunk cookie ice cream sandwich. WOW was it delicious! We sat around and visited for much of the rest of the afternoon. No dishes to wash since we used all throw away so clean-up was a breeze. Loved that part.

Dana called from Granbury. And Devin called from Bryan. And as I've said before -- any day I get to talk to all three kids is a banner day for me. Then throw in that I get to talk with my kids-in-law and the grandbaby and ...well, life is just sweet and good and all things wonderful ! I had a spectacular Mother's Day ! Hope you did too!

Blessings on you today, Moms !

Gwynie Pie

The REAL Housewives !!!!!!!

Okay, I need to say right here at the beginning ---this post is pretty lengthy, BUT once I get out the "soapbox" ... I wrote this several months ago early, early one morning after watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta the night before. I was FIRED UP !!! and had much to say, so I hope you will hang with me as I pay tribute to The REAL Housewives !!!!

Hey there all you Real Housewives of Tom Green County --- I slept fitfully last night and got up at 5:45. I just could not sleep! I couldn't quiet my mind. I was all stirred up. Hours earlier I watched the first episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta. And here's what I am thinking ---

First of all, yes, I know!! Bravo TV does not care what I think about their Real Housewives shows. They just want me(and you) to keep on watching. And yes, I know!! Bravo TV has to be one of the most liberal stations out there. Much of what they do is "pushing the envelope" and is primarily for shock value. I know that. It's all about the ratings. AND yes, I know!! Bravo TV is not looking for Really, Real Housewives -- who would want to watch that?? Not sensational enough, not enough glitz and glamour involved. Just a day in the life of....yawn....I understand. I do. That said, all these Real Housewives shows, Orange County, NYC and now Atlanta -- they are not Real Housewives. A real hoot to watch, just not Real. And that is what has been bugging me I guess....since I KNOW Real Housewives !!!

So, If Bravo came to me and asked --- I'd know right where to find them. Real Housewives. I'm talking real women, daring women, courageous woman, beautiful women, women who live on the edge every day. Those women live right here in Tom Green County, Texas (and beyond). I just want to pay tribute to you Real Housewives today, where ever you live in this world....you know who you are................

I am so privileged to have so many Real Housewives as my friends. I know you. I know your life. I know your struggles. I know how hard it is to stay at home every day, day after day, and take care of a home, a husband, kids, pets, schedules, teachers, lessons plans, bills, appointments, car pools, soccer, baseball and church. BUT you Real Housewives do it with style !!

You clip coupons, watch for sales, shop for bargains, pinch pennies. You juggle every one's schedules and schedule every one's everything. YOU are a Real Housewife !

I know it involves so much more than even your husband will ever know. It's not because he isn't loving and sensitive and caring that he will never know. It's because being a Real Housewife is a "until you been there, done that...you just don't know" kind of job. Unless you've spent time, lots of time, actually "fighting this good fight" you can't really know. He just doesn't fully understand what your life is like on a daily basis. And most likely, he won't ever understand.....no matter how vividly you describe it to him.

I also know there is very little "Thanks" coming your way, at least not in so many words. And, don't want to be a downer, but there may not be much in that area for a while, especially if your children are still under age, oh say, 25 or so. BUT -- there will come a day when as it says in Proverbs 31 your children will "rise and call you blessed". My children "call me blessed" so many times, in so many ways. Bear in mind, my kids are 34, 29 and 28. So, give it some time ladies. Keep hanging in there and holding on by faith to God's promises and His instructions and that scripture will bear out in your life.

Real Housewives are NOT a bunch of self-serving, self-centered, self-important women. They are THE most generous, giving, loving women I know. I know how deeply these Housewives care about, not just their own friends and family, but about the people of this world. These Real Housewives are a phenomenal bunch of women who think of others needs before their own, who love like Jesus loves, who cry for a lost world, who desire to be Jesus to someone every day of their life.

These Real Housewives not only tithe, but give offerings in so many ways, so generously -- of their money, their time, their emotions, their energy, their intelligence, their gifts. These Housewives begin praying to their Father before their feet every touch the floor in the morning. They fix meals for families in need of comfort in times of loss. Some have even adopted into their own family someone else's child and in doing so, show us all what it means to be "adopted" into the kingdom.

These Real Housewives are women who have cooked meals in the broiling heat of a kitchen in Mexico. Women who have slept in tents in the bush of Africa. Women who have served meals to people who were beaten and bruised and running for their lives from vicious storms. Women who have ministered to the lost in the very birthplace of The Savior. Women who know that just because you don't speak the same language, that doesn't mean you can't speak the same language. Women who have listened to other women pour out their sorrow over the sin in their own lives. Women who are willing to sell all they have, give up everything in order to follow His call....even when that call will take them to the other side of the world. And all done just to tell someone who is dying about the One who saves. Women who will testify every day of God's grace and goodness -- sometimes using words, sometimes just by living their life for Him today!! THESE are the Real Housewives that I know!!

So there !!!! I've had my rant. I feel ever so much better. Thank you Housewives for inspiring me every time I see you, even if we don't "know" each other very well or at all -- we Know each other -- we are sisters in the LORD.

I admire you, one and all
With much love and respect,
Gwynie Pie

Welcome to the Redneck Riviera

William worked so hard Saturday mowing the yard, I just had to show you the results. The recent rains have made the grass/weeds/fire ants grow like....well, like weeds. Add to the thick grass the fact that it drizzled all day Saturday and mowing was a slow, tedious, labor intensive process. It looks so good though when newly mowed. You would almost think we had a great lawn. Really, it's mostly weeds with a little grass. Growing a great lawn has never been our thing. There are just too many other things more important to us than great grass...........

Looking out the back door -- the "bell tower" (a bell from an old school somewhere) and our soon-to-be planted cotton field.

The back porch from out in the yard. I love when the plants start greening up and growing and filling in the blank spots around the house.

I just love all the different colors of spring greens !!!

Welcome to the Redneck Riviera !!! We love our big blue pool. In the past 7 years we've been through two pools, the one filling is our 3rd. I just love floating in the big blue pool, looking up at the big blue Texas sky. For me -- this is luxury !!! Having a pool of cool, clear water just feet from the back door is just total bliss !! The pool is also a big hit with Lily Kate who loves to "jump watti". She's quite a little fish.

In the foreground, the fire pit -- the scene of many wienie roasts, marshmallow roasts, story tellings, foot warmings. We had a fire going much of the day Saturday and into the night. Every so often I'd go huddle and warm up before tackling more of the porch. It was so quiet sitting out there later after the sun went down and the work was done. Again, just a bit of luxury. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I belong right here on the Redneck Riviera! I'm just a country girl......

Hugs,

Gwynie Pie

Monday Morning -- It's Laundry Day !!

As some of you know, a recent city-wide search took place for clothesline poles. The ones that used to be here were long gone and I really, really enjoy line drying clothes. Plus, it's just handy to have for non-dryer items like rugs and quilts. Soooo, I put out the call on Facebook and within days, friend Lauri answered and in a few more days, I had my very own clothesline poles. Yippee!!!! Thank you Pops, Blake, Colin and Ronnie for risking life and limb to dig them up, load them up and bring them home. Then Pops dug the holes (I think I saw China!?!), we set them in cement, I painted them dark green, Pops strung the lines and voila -- I'm in business !!! Love them !!! Love all of you who contributed to my happiness -- big, big hugs and kisses !!!

I just wanted you to see the "fruits" of your labor. It's a Monday morning. The sun is shining. The breezes are blowing. Clothes are on the line. More clothes in the washer. My back porch is cleaned and cutesied (def: made cute). And in mere moments while the sun dries my clothes, I'll be rocking on the back porch, Bible in lap, coffee in hand, praising the LORD for such a privileged, blessed, favored life.

You have a Blessed Monday too!

Gwynie Pie

"Let's just sit a minute......"

Tuesday was a productive day. A very productive day. About time, I say!!

My days over the past several weeks have been kinda long and kinda tedious. AND kinda depressing.

I just hate being sick and not feeling energetic.

You know how it is. When you want to get some things accomplished. I can even "see" myself accomplishing much....

But the ability is just not there.

And so...I would just try to keep on pushing...keep on trying.

And then fall back into my nest on the loveseat and "regroup" for a while.

Finally -- I just gave in, stopped fighting the feeling and decided to just "go with it".

Just sitting and "going with it" (when "it" = feeling bad) just goes against everything

in me. BUT, I really sensed the LORD urging me to stop, just stop already!

Do you ever get going so fast, accomplishing so much, checking things off the list so well that you just forget to take care of the most important things first?

Boy, I do!

I guess that is evident when I think back over my activities of the past few weeks.

Lily Kate, my little granddaughter, goes full tilt almost all the time. She is a very busy little girl - full of energy. But recently, Lily Kate has started saying, at the most "inappropriate" times "Hey, let's just sit a minute."

I mean, Dana would be picking her up from school and hurrying out to the car on their way to somewhere else and Lily Kate would ask to "just sit a minute" on the bench outside.

Or

We'd be out playing in the backyard and she'd say "Pie! come here! sit a minute!" and

we'd lay back on the outdoor chaises and just rest -- and discuss things....

the sky, birds, ants, airplanes, trees and the God who made them all --

the REALLY important things.

So cute! But, so perceptive.

Lily Kate sees the value in just sitting and listening and

talking and being still.

And isn't that what I hear the LORD say to me sometimes??

"Gwyn! come here! sit a minute!"

I'm ashamed at how many times I've said "But, I've got a list to check off,

things to do, places to be, people to see."

I believe the LORD will let us run. And let us run at our own crazy pace. BUT He will always, always !! rein us back in when we start putting

other things, other interests, other pursuits

in front of Him.

He is jealous for us!

He desires time with us!

He desires to be the author of our plans,

not just our sidekick.

He desires our fellowship with Him.

He wants to spend quality and quantity time with us - not just a "devo".

I'm very convicted about how busy I can get doing the "fun stuff" and forget about the really fun stuff. How DOES that happen anyway???

SOOOOO - yesterday I gave my day, my self to the LORD. I asked Him for His desires for me that day. I told Him what I felt like I needed to do.

And I listened to what He felt like I needed to do

and together we set some goals.

My Tuesday was blessed so profoundly!

so amazingly!

I accomplished so much -- not crazy stuff -- just the things

I actually NEEDED to accomplish

in order to maintain my home (and my sanity).

I would hope and pray this is a lesson learned.

But, experience has shown me -- I'm prone to wander.

The words of this great, old hymn sum it up pretty well and becomes a prayer for my day:

"O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be!

Let thy grace, Lord, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart, Lord, Take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above."

(Come Thour Fount of Every Blessing, Robert Robinson, 1758)

Blessings,

Gwynie Pie

Frodo No More

Frodo No More -- I think that's Latin for "Hey, look at that, my feet are soft again!"

I laughingly have referred to my horribly cracked dry feet as

Frodo feet -- and they've really taken a beating this winter

with the extreme dry weather we experienced.

Of course, it doesn't help anything that I go around barefoot

almost year round (hillbilly).

Ronnie had told me about Heel of Approval and how good it is. And then I saw

it "featured" on two other blogs right after that. So, the other

day when my feet cracked so badly I could almost

not walk, I decided to get some and give it

the "acid test". William graciously ventured into Bath and Body

in the mall and bought for me Heel of Approval and another product that

was highly recommended called Tough Love.

It was on a Thursday night when I first used the products

and by Saturday morning, my feet were completely healed ! For reals!!

This is monumental !! Right up there with jeans that fit and a bra that doesn't bite! This is a real "find"!!!!

THEN, a few days later, William brought me a

Ped Egg on a stick with a little pumice buffer pad and

WOW !!! My world, as I have known it -- changed!!! As I said in an earlier post -----it's "my precious".

Seriously, in case I ever have to quickly evacuate that little Ped Egg on a stick is comin' with me!

Just wanted to share this earth-shaking info with ya !!

Happy Feet!!

Gwynie Pie

Back on Line

Hey friends !!! I've been out of commission for almost two weeks now. I was sick with some wicked bronchitis and then when I got feeling good enough to blog again, my computer completely and totally crashed! We had to take it to the dr. and get it cleaned up and now we are back in business.

Dana and Lily came in this afternoon, followed by Ronnie and Colin, so we are just going to have a fantastic weekend playing, visiting, eating.....
I'll post again very soon....I've so much to tell you....

Soon,
Gwynie Pie

Life Happens

The other day, while taking the pictures for and writing one of the previous posts on decorating, I asked myself this question: "You aren't being arrogant in your decorating opinion of yourself, are you?" And I've given it much, much thought since then. THE VERY LAST thing I wish to do on this blog is to discourage or frustrate you. AND I never want you to think that I think I am the "goddess of good taste and fine decorating" and that I'm going to teach you a thing or two !!! And I so want you to know this : all the good stuff I do in my decorating, ALL the really good stuff, you know? I stole it!!!! That's right! I saw it somewhere and stole the idea. I may have embellished the idea and made it my own somehow, but the original thought????? NOT my own !!! I have had only a very few original decorating ideas in my whole life. But, I know a great idea when I see it and I can run with it. So there! OK then ! I'm better now having said that...... I just so want to share my great "stolen" ideas with you, show you how they worked out (or didn't work at all) here in the laboratory (my house). And then.....I like to know if you used the ideas and how they worked out in your lab.Okay, so the above --- NOT a stolen idea -- this is an original! Tuesday morning!!!! after Easter. Exactly NO progress has been made since Sunday p.m. By this morning, however, there has been some small headway. It'll happen !!! Not to worry.....I'm making a comeback.

Oh lawsy, there on the loveseat and coffee table -- my lair -- surrounded by everything a sick girl needs (except for the Dr. Pepper which I seriously wanted but gave up cold turkey about 3 months ago and haven't had one since but have asked for and my man says "NO! I'm being a Grinch about this!, I won't bring you a Dr. Pepper!" - oh well) At least I have my quilt, a pillow, my Lubriderm, my Bible, my journal, my tissues, various pills and capsules, some nice pink Easter grass minus the big fat yellow duck, and my Ped Egg....my precious!!!!! (stay tuned for future posts about said Ped Egg)Pile of dirty clothes, waiting to be sorted for washing.....still waiting on me today......just lovely. Nice touch!! I'll get to it. It'll happen!! Not to worry.......I'm making a comeback.

Just wanted you to see some pictures of "real life" here in the laboratory and not just the glamour shots. I'm pretty much laughing hysterically at this point. And you know what they say -"laughter is good medicine" ---and it is cause I'm feeling better already.

Have a Great Day !

Gwynie Pie

We had a really wonderful Easter !

We had 11 people here for lunch after church Sunday and the meal was great !

William was in charge of the brisket and it was

superb! I made potato salad,

deviled eggs and fruit salad

and some bread and

some other stuff. Don't really remember now.

OH, and some de-lish-us ! coleslaw!

I had no clue what I was doing, coleslaw wasn't even on the menu but when I went to the fridge to gather everything

up I grabbed a bag of shredded cabbage and

made some "killer coleslaw". Mind you, no one else even commented on it.....SO, it may have been yuck

BUT ......I loved it !!!

I was a bit delirious though, so my "facts"

might be a little off.........

Here is where I should tell you that I have been pretty sick for

the last 6 days, complete with fever, chills and all that

super exciting stuff that totally missed me back in the

fall and winter. And here is the thing with me

and fever --- a little

fever goes a long way.

Even a small amount of fever makes

me kind of loopy, goofy, a tish bit delirious --

just not thinking straight !!

(and THAT explains the random bag of cabbage!)

As soon as I spray painted those paper mache eggs Weds, I knew I was in trouble.

By Weds. night I was in full blown bronchitis mode, sucking on an inhaler, downing the Airborne and Mucinex

and praying, praying, praying I hadn't really just messed up

the whole Easter weekend.

I missed church, which I just hated to do, because I especially love Easter services!!

AND prior to that I had a pretty good fever brewing and THE WORST coughing you have ever heard !!

No kidding !!! So painful I thought I might have

cracked ribs or punctured lungs or busted arteries!!

I'm laughing now, BUT

I have learned my lesson about spray painting ! and here it is:

ALWAYS

wear protective breathing gear when

spray painting !!!

ALWAYS

I have felt pretty awful, but I'm recovering today.

If I was a braver woman, I'd take pictures of the absolute "carnage" in my kitchen and dining room !

It's a far cry from the cutesy, neatsy, sweetsy

(well-staged) pictures I usually post of the house.

William wanted to do the dishes last night but I whined and cried (whoo-boy, I'm rotten when I feel bad!)

until he came and sat down by me for a while.

I needed him beside me far more than I

needed or wanted the kitchen clean.

It'll get there !!

When all was said and done -- it was still a really Great Easter!There's nothing anyone could ever do to

mess that up.

Happy Tuesday, y'all !!

Gwynie Pie

The Handiwork of God

I pray you are all having a very blessed Good Friday !! Seems like the perfect time to share a Spectacular sunset as we enjoyed it from our front porch

Absolutely breath-taking !

The handiwork of GOD !

Gwynie Pie

Kinda CRAZY Easter Craft

"Kiwis or eggs?" that was my husband's question. "Eggs!! what would I be gonna do with a dozen kiwis?" Sooooo, what am I gonna do with a dozen paper mache eggs???? Why, I spray painted them with black chalkboard paint, of course........

AND then decorated them with colored chalk. Placed on a bed of hot pink grass in this old tarnished silver bowl, I think they look pretty cute.

I found this idea while browsing some of my favorite blogs (this one from Joys of Home) and couldn't wait to try it. I found the eggs at Hobby Lobby, on sale through Sat., for $2 a dozen (actually 50% off 3 for a $1). You could use paint-on chalkboard paint and have it tinted any color you wanted and that could be really cute. I already had a can of black chalkboard spray paint that is usually around $3.50 a can. The pink grass I found at Wal-mart -- about 50 cents. So cost for the entire project was about $6 and I know we will have at least that much fun with them. I'm planning to use them at each person's plate and set out little bowls of chalk so that after the meal, while we sit and visit, we can all doodle on our chalkboard eggs. Cheap fun !! I think the little kids will really like this.

Sometimes a little CRAZY is a good thing ----

Gwynie Pie

EASTER WEEK

EASTER'S Coming !!!!! I love Easter! It is my very favorite celebration. I sure do hope you have your own Easter celebration plans in the works.

There's been a whole lot of Spring Fluffing going on here for the past few weeks - deep cleaning, rearranging, painting and decorating, lightening-up - in anticipation of Easter, spring and all that it brings.

I'm making lists today (I know, I know --you're shocked !!) and thought I'd just share my plans with you, in hopes that you will share your plans with me.

GUEST LIST -- We are the host home for Easter dinner, so yesterday William and I figured out "the guest list". There's nothing formal about this, it just means who is likely to be here on Sunday. We are figuring there will be between 6 and 19 people here. As the week goes on and everyone knows their plans, we will have the final count.

PLAN MENU -- Pork Loin
Brisket
Potato Salad
Broccoli Salad
Baked Beans
Hot Rolls
Cream Cheese Pound Cake with
strawberries and whipped cream
Tea/Lemonade
Everyone will bring something to add to the table, so there will be lots, lots more before we are done

MAKE GROCERY LIST -- Knowing my part of the meal, I will make a very complete list of everything !!! I will need and then plan to shop as early during the week as possible in order to avoid the crowds. A complete list!! because I can't count the times I've had to have William go by a super-crowded, crazy store and pick up just one thing that is absolutely necessary to a recipe. A complete list before the shopping event sure does relieve some anxiety. AND makes for a happy hubby!!!

DECIDE TABLESCAPE --
Colors I want to use (OR already have available)
Dishes, glassware, silverware
Serving dishes
Tablecloth/napkins, napkin rings
Centerpiece and other table decor

OTHER DECORATIONS --
Front Door -- Welcoming wreath
Flowers for serving table, coffee table

CLEANING AND FLUFFING -- On another list I write down every single cleaning chore that needs to be done before the "deadline" on the day it needs to be done. This year, I want to be completely finished with the inside of the house by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. That way, when William gets home we can have a relaxing start to the long weekend, IN a clean house. And then Friday and Saturday we can spend outside tilling and planting the garden and working in the yard.

I have for years cleaned my house most effectively in this one way ...yes, a crazy way, but it has always worked!! ---nutty as it sounds -- I figure out how many minutes it will take to do a job that's on my list. Then I gather up the cleaning supplies it will take for that job, set the timer and RUN !!! I fly through the room, doing each job listed and crossing it off when finished. The key is to KEEP MOVING !!!! Bad things could happen if that bell sounds before the job is done -- bad things, man!!! I finish one room, move to the next room, reset the timer and move, move, move !!!!
Very effective ! And really kind of fun, too ! And very satisfying when the space gets cleaned and things get marked off the list !!! I am all about marking things off that list !!

BUT ABOVE ALL --- Easter is so much more than eggs and chicks, carrots and rabbits. It's so much more than Spring Fluffing. More than pretty new dresses and white patent Mary Janes. It's beyond good food and fellowship with family. Easter is all about the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is celebrating a love so pure, so deep, so intense for me and for you -- that a man would die in our place and pay the debt we owed. What a great love -- beyond anything I have ever known apart from Him. That's worth a celebration !!!

Well, that's the PLAN here at my house. What kind of Easter week preparations do you do? Are you hosting Easter meals OR do you go somewhere else? AND if you go somewhere and take a dish -- what's the "signature" dish you always take? Comment and tell me about your Easter plans and your family traditions. I'd love to hear about it.....

EASTER'S COMING !!!!
Gwynie Pie

FUN PARTY last night !

Last night I was blessed to host a ladies group from Kerrville, on their way to Canyon for a Retreat this weekend. My cousin is the pastor's wife at their church there and I always love being with her and hers. I had so much fun -- we just ate and talked -- yep, that's it! What more do you need for a good party ???

Piles of old, old books that have been stripped of their covers, leaving all those wonderful colors and textures and bundled up with strips of torn muslin, serve as little candle stands. The little pink trays were a great buy at Ross - $2.99 for 6; and the tea lights - vanilla scented and in glass holders (so I can pop out the used up candles and replace with new tealights as needed) were 8 for $1.99 !!! In a rare moment of personal creativity (more about this later) -- I came up with the idea of actually using some of the probably thousands of buttons I have collected over the years. The candles are surrounded by buttons -- all in similar colors for more eye-appeal !

Here is the break down of the tablescape --

Plates (birthday present from my kids) - Priceless

Antique crystal glasses (my grandmother's) - also Priceless

Silver (also grandmother's) - again, Priceless

Black & white paisley coffee mugs - Dollar Tree - a dollar

Black & white kitchen towels (serving as napkins) - also Dollar Tree

Pink damask tablecloths - $4.00 at Big Lots

Tiny individual salt & pepper shakers - set of 12 - super cheap !!! also at Big Lots ----These, by the way ...... one of the best buys ever ! I bought them because they were so cute. I've used them hundreds of times. Keep your eye peeled for them and snap 'em up --- you will love them !!!Butcher block turned beverage center held water, tea and coffee with the add-ins on the silver tray. I used plain, cheap little "garage sale" tags, the kind with a string, on the little glass pitcher handles to designate "cream" and dulce de leche for the coffee.

FOOD -- Chicken salad on rolls, Greek pasta salad, fruit with poppyseed dressing or brown sugar dressing and I tried a new recipe for Lemon Cake !!! WOW !! I love really lemony lemon so I really loved this cake. It's a great cake for Easter ! Notice the black & white candle holders ??? They are $2 bowls from Ross, turned upside down and topped with a saucer.....thanks Elaine.....great idea !!!! I'll be using these a lot !!! AND I'll be looking at cereal bowls a whole lot differently from now on ...........

Here's an up close of that cake !!! Yum !!! I'll be glad to share the recipe with anyone who asks. Just comment at the end of this post or e-mail me, and it's yours.

By the door -- a bowl of beautiful iced Easter cookies. I found these on the Easter aisle at Walmart. And I thought they would make lovely party "favors" at the end of the night.

I had a fantastic time, seeing old friends, making new friends and visiting, laughing, eating -- just a grand time !!!!! Thanks friends, for stopping by.

Come again anytime !

Happy Friday,

Gwynie Pie

"No, Officer...."

Lazy Moms (you can click on them on my Blogs I Follow list) are asking for our embarrassing, crazy stories this morning and seeing as how I have more than one !!!! I thought I'd try this "link-up" thing and spill ......Here goes -----

Our family had recently moved to the big city of Fort Worth, Texas for my husband to go to grad school. We were from a little town of less than 75 people and at the time, 3 million people lived in the metroplex, so "culture shock" was at every turn. My husband went to school all day, then to work until midnight. So, I was home alone with three small children much of the time.

Being struggling students, we were living in a seedier part of town and I was always suspicious, always a bit "jumpy". Sirens were common. Gunfire, though less common, was occasionally heard. For this little girl from the laid-back country, was bug-eyed and amazed most of the time. And always "on the look-out".

Sooooo, when the kids and I got home from church that Wednesday night to find our front screen door locked, my heart dropped to my stomach, and I knew there was a burglar (or worse) in our house. I herded the kids back into our little Honda wagon and we sped away to the nearest 7-11 to find a pay phone(before the days when we all had cell phones) and I called my husband. Not the police, mind you. I called my husband who was 15 miles away at work and totally unable to help -- however, he did call the police for me. Good thing, since I was trembling so much I couldn't make complete sentences at this point.

We waited, spy-like, around the corner and out of sight until the police arrived at the house. The two officers went up the steps to the house talking and probably not really very much believing of my "story" UNTIL they tried to open the door and yes, it was locked, obviously from the inside. One officer immediately and silently took off for the back door area, the other officer opened the door with some device and after instructing me to "stand back against the wall" they entered the house, with guns drawn.

Several long, long minutes later, the two officers emerged from the front door and with grim faces told me "yes, ma'am it looks like you've had a break-in! The place has been totally ransacked!!!"

Well, I was completely distraught but trying to keep it together for the kids' sakes. Then the officer said "Ma'am, we need you to walk through the house with us and tell us what is missing." He gets out his pen and paper and readies himself for the list making.

My mind is racing as I'm walking slowly with the officers. Oh my gravy!! My parents are not gonna believe this!!! This is just crazy! This is just what everyone says about living in the big city! I can not believe this is happening to us!!!

Then as we proceed room by room, through the house I start thinking, "Oh my gosh!!! What on earth do we have that a burglar would want anyway????? We're just poor, struggling seminary students!! We have nothing! Well, we DO have a TV" And now I'm getting a little riled up over it. "If they stole our TV!!! So help me!!!!" But, no! There's the TV right where we left it.

As I'm stepping over all manner of clothes and shoes, piles of toys, and food wrappers and what could easily be misconstrued as the ransacked contents of drawers and closets, I slowly am coming to a humiliating conclusion. Now, I start to stall for time.

"Ma'am?" the officer still has his pen and paper ready and is waiting ........
"Ma'am? Is anything missing?" he asks expectantly.

And finally I get out the words. The most humiliating, embarrassing words I've ever had to utter...... "No, officer. This is pretty much how we left it."

Arrrrgggggh!! Now that was 20 plus years ago. And I implore you, I beg you, I beseech you --- PLEASE look at the rest of my blog. You will see that I've grown a lot !!! since those days !!!! And you know what?? As embarrassing as this event was, I mean totally traumatic, it has served a real purpose in encouraging other women. I've told this story so many times to young wives who are struggling with their home and their children. And it's been an encouragement to them. Because they can look at where I am today-- the fact that my home is orderly and clean most of the time-- and have hope that as messy as life may be right now today......it's gonna get better!!! Just hang in there!

Finished Project

Here are the before and after of a project I've been working on

this week --

I've had this chair for a long time. It has just laid around in the barn

UNTIL --

I decided to either fix it up OR get rid of it !!!

Not one to willingly part with my "goodies", I decided to

think, think, think.....what could I use that chair for?????

I cut off all the old seat material and used Ballet Slipper Pink (Krylon brand)

to paint the frame.

Michael's (San Angelo) had a clearance on the huge shapes last week.

There are other shapes that could be used in a ton of other projects --

boy, girl, house --

The picture on the package showed a project where you criss-cross wrap

ribbons around the painted object and then use it

as a message/photo board. Very cute!!

I sprayed on the chalkboard paint. Then wrapped a yard of tulle around the bottom part in order to hold the pink daisys in place.

Then made a simple bow to attach.

That's it --------

Spray paint is one of THE best inventions EVER !!!

Write your message on the board in chalk and voila, you're in business!

SO -- the chair becomes our WELCOME sign and will sit out by the front door when we are having guests

such as the ladies group Thursday night,

Easter, Mother's Day.

What kinds of projects are you working on??? I'd love to hear about them.

Happy Crafting!

Gwynie Pie