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

SUNDAY

And GOD is able to make all grace abound to you,

So that in all things at all times,

having all that you need,

You will abound in every good work.

II Corinthians 9:8

Beautiful Sunday!

Gwynie Pie

SATURDAY SUNSET

Later that day..... as William and I were driving home from big town tonight, I saw the sun setting fast in the rear view mirror. I remembered that I had dropped the camera in my purse as I walked out the door earlier. (You just never know when you might find a subject that needs its picture taken, ya know?) So, I got him to "stop the car!!" and I jumped out and snapped this. I just love being able to see both sunrise and sunset -- a real treat!

Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!!

Gwynie Pie

SATURDAY SUNRISE

It's really dark at 6-something in the morning! I stepped out of the back door for just a few seconds (it was also really chilly!) and snapped these two pictures. Hope you can see how the entire eastern horizon was glowing --- Beautiful!!!

Part of the beauty of living out in the country AND in this part of the world is this !!! nothing between us and the sunrise.

Have a Spectacular Saturday!

Gwynie Pie

Here's an after shot of my pantry shelves. I lined them with red gingham fabric and moved in the white wire shelves holding the canvas baskets of potatoes, onions and snacky foods, cloth napkins and tablecloths and "green" bags for the grocery store. The old suitcase now hides trash bag rolls -- a little rustic perhaps, but better than bright colored cardboard boxes they come in.
Call me crazy (and they might) but William cleaned up the front screen door from my Grandparents house and then attached it as the door to my pantry/laundry room. It is very, very rustic and looks a lot worse in these pictures than in person. But I really love it! Adds a lot of character to a bland working room.

Today was a super fun one! I spent all day with my friend, Elaine. We just sat around and visited, drank a little coffee, ate a wonderful lunch, shopped a little and even caught a few garage sales on a Friday afternoon. Lots of fun! Great bargains! I'll show you those later.
Happy Friday!

Gwynie Pie

Before and After

Here's the completed project I worked on yesterday. The above is the Before picture of our office/craft room. I didn't even take a picture of the Before of the desk area because, frankly....well, there are just some things you shouldn't have to see!

Here is same shot -- AFTER -- Cleaned up, straightened and "fluffed". The antique shopping cart in the foreground holds the ironing and mending piles.

Moving to the left, here is the finished and much improved desk area of the room. I made a little skirt with some leftover black and white gingham and a shower curtain rod. I just found the right length for the curtain and "sewed" the rod pocket and the hem with fabric glue -- one of the wonders of my world, along with stitch witchery. Great inventions!! Anything that prevents me from actually sewing at the machine is a great invention!!

The skirt hides a multitude of sins -- the computer "business", the paper shredder/trash basket and a couple of banker's boxes that store all those pesky papers you don't know what to do with, but can't EVER throw away.

Still moving to the left, this is a shot of one of my better ideas!! There on the corner where the blank looking strip is -- that is where my parents measured my children through the years. I live in the same house I grew up in and so, this house was "the grandparents house" to my kids in their growing up years.

When we moved in nearly 8 years ago, I wanted to paint in this room, but knew I could not paint over the "growth chart" of my children. So I just kind of painted around it and since no one could see it from the door, it was okay. THEN one day I found a bunch!!! of old give-away yardsticks, some old, some newer. AND I had my solution......

I got William to make a "border" of sorts using the yardsticks. So on both sides of the growth chart, there is a line of yardsticks....pretty cool, I think. This is, of course, also where Lily Kate gets measured from time to time. Good Stuff!!!

As you come past the "growth chart" corner, there is this old, old chest of drawers. It was my grandparents and it was old then....no tellin' .

My son, Devin's, antique typewriter that he left in his things. Better displayed here than picking up dust in storage, right? A stack of old books I picked up at a Friends of the Library sale in College Station, an old random teacup filled with potpourri and a tiny picture of pressed flowers from Israel.

Above the chest is a hat I found in my grandmother's things......very, very Audrey Hepburn-ish......framed by an old ornate frame I found at a flea market somewhere.

Well, that's it! Hope you enjoyed the tour of our completed office/craft room. I can now check this room off the "To Do" list.

What kind of project are you working on? I really desire this to be an inter-active blog, so "comment" and tell me what projects are in process at your house. It is also my hope that we can inspire and encourage each other in our tasks as homemakers. Let me hear!

Thanks for visiting!

Gwynie Pie

JUST one thing....just leads to the next "one thing"

This is one of my Mamaw's kitchen aprons. It so pretty - a red and white gingham with a"chicken-scratch" border. I like to starch and iron it until it nearly stands alone and use it like this -- it just says "spring" to me. This has absolutely nothing to do with today's post.....I just wanted you to see the pictures. When we have projects to do around the house, William and I agreed a long time ago that the best way to communicate all that needed to be done was with a written list. I've worked off of lists pretty much my whole adult life. It's just how I run. So, one day, after William and I had a miscommunication and "words" over a particular project that needed doing, he suggested I just make a complete list of everything that needed to be done -- his, mine and our jobs. So....I did.....and it worked out so well, here we are years later still using our lists...... SO---- in getting ready for Easter and sprucing up for Spring and Summer, I have a whopper of a list. I write down EVERYTHING that needs attention ------the big stuff -- like "till up the garden spots" and the small like "change out curtains in bedroom #2". Some of the items are strickly his, some are just mine and then there are the "it takes two" projects. When an item is finished, we mark it off the list with great flourish and satisfaction. I LOVE IT!!

As you all know, one small thing always leads to another and that leads to another and so one......before you know it......you are deep, deep, deep into something crazy ......like remodeling or taking out a wall or putting down new flooring. SOOOOO - we have to be very careful to stay with the list. Do Not Wander Off the LIST!!!!

Well, Too Late ------ I'm waaaaay off the list. With no intentions of coming back any time soon.

I've re-done all the shelves in my laundry room. (THAT was on the list) I put down some red gingham fabric as the shelf liners. Uh, NOT on the list. Well, that looked so cute!!!! and country !!! and what's more country than screen doors?????I ask you??? And I just happened to have a couple of extra screen doors in my "stash" in the barn. Oh, you probably know the rest of this story. --------------pictures to follow soon!!! Gonna be cute!

Gwynie Pie

Me and My Peeps !!!!

GOOD MONDAY MORNING !!!!! I went to Walmart this weekend and found the Easter aisle, which usually, I'd have passed by. However, as I glanced down the aisle I saw very, very bright spots of violent spring color and had to go investigate.

Well -- the Peeps were out in force --- and in the most spectacular colors ever. I bought some Peeps chicks and bunnies(in pink) to use on top of cupcakes I'll be making for the ladies group that is coming for coffee and a visit on April 2. I have a whole "pink" Spring theme going on for that event that I think will be very cute.

But, there were also Peeps in the traditional bright yellow, a brilliant orange and also in a couple other colors. So fun! I always have to have Peeps at Easter. I'll have the one in my hot chocolate this morning. And maybe one more. Then I'm done with them. I don't love them. It's just my own personal tradition, I guess....

Anyway, much to do this week getting ready for the ladies group. Really the house is in need of a lot of just sprucing up for Spring and the ladies group coming is just the push I need to get me motivated and up and moving.

So, from me and my Peeps -- have a great Monday!!!!

Gwynie Pie

Check out THIS website

Hey! My Saturday has been busy and productive! Hope yours has been great too! William and I worked several hours today getting the clothesline poles in place and pouring the cement around the bases. Then William officiated at a wedding, which was quite beautiful, came home and got quite a bit of one garden spot tilled.

I spent some time continuing to "fluff" the house a bit. In checking out my favorite blogs today, I came across one that is just great!! And I have to share this with you all.

The name of the website is Little Window Shoppe. She is a young mom and business woman. She designs websites for businesses. When you go to her main site, you can access her blog, a craft section and a recipe section and several other areas.

I saw her recipe for Hawaiian Haystacks -- I'm trying it this week!, and then started exploring the rest of her site. There are wonderful crafts to do with kids, great recipes that were all new to me and her daily blog was just fun to read. Hope you like it as much as I do.

http://www.littlewindowshoppe.com/ Well, the address came out pale pink, but I tried it out....it will connect you. Gwynie Pie

SPRING FLUFFING

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!!!!! Seems a "trend" is emerging -- instead of Spring cleaning, I'm hearing a lot about Spring Fluffing!!! I like it! Same concept, but with a twist, I guess......Fluffing, I can get into that!! Since I am about to do some serious Spring Fluffing, I thought I'd show you some "befores". I have 2 weeks until a ladies group from out of town will be having dessert and coffee with me, so I've got to get fluffing....and fast!! The above picture is in our bedroom. And that lovely armoire was a freebie!!! Can you believe it??? The mother-in-law of my daughter's sister-in-law --- (keep up!)--- was sending it, along with literally a truck load of other delightful items, to the Salvation Army store and we found out about it and .... well, we did an intervention. NO...we didn't hijack the Sally truck. Might have. But, it didn't come to that. I've always wanted an armoire.......

Master bedroom -- the ancient German farm table was made for my great-grandparents as a wedding present, by a man who helped them on their farm. It was made in 1898 !!!! I adore this table! It's been everywhere -- in every room of the house and on the back porch as well.

Another shot of the farm table with perfumes and jewelry and other treasures.

Sitting area of the bedroom -- cute little aqua, wicker chair was my mother's when she was little. And the double screen doors came off the old Mereta general store that my grandparents ran for-ev-er!!!

This bookcase is really two bookcases that William put together. They are hiding a perfectly useless window. Much better use of the space, I think. The bookcases were built many years ago by my Daddy and I remember them being used as a room divider between the kitchen and living room.

Top of fridge--------nothing noteworthy here. Except, I think the lamp is totally sweet. I got it years ago at Target, of all places, and I've never seen a lamp like it since -- at Target or elsewhere.

In the living room -- I've had these old picture frames on this wall for a long time now. And I really ought to shake things up and move them -- but I just love the look! It is somehow soothing to me.......don't know what that says......nothing deeply psychological, I'm pretty sure........hmmmm??? ------ a bunch of old, empty picture frames.....now what could that mean...? The rest is a compilation of old German postcards, one from a cousin who was in a prison camp in Colorado. Also collected turkey feathers, glass door knobs, an old leather calendar, a lacy-edged baby pillowcase and that is a very, very old copy of Alice in Wonderland. Just a bit of my mish-mash!

Also in living room -------------this old window came out of the church of my childhood. The church building was no longer in use, in fact, it was pretty much falling down when I sent William and a child to steal -- uh, I mean, re-locate -- the window to my living room. Seriously, the building was torn down soon after. I consider it a rescue really. That window would have ended up in a landfill ----or worse!! someone else's living room!!!

The corner of the fireplace hearth------------that's a stack of all our family Bibles and various other smaller Bibles -- all tattered and worn. I seriously love this!!!! The top Bible is one that was given to my Daddy before he left for WWII. It has a steel front and is inscribed "The Lord Be With You". That always makes me cry.

I keep the nativity out year 'round. It's pretty old, from our seminary days, and it just "speaks" to me. I found the funeral fan in a box of old, old stuff of my grandparents. It folds up to one-third the size so you can carry it in your purse, I guess. It's very cool -- har har! get it??

Well, that was a partial house tour. Thanks for visiting with me today. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Happy Spring Fluffing to you all --

Gwynie Pie

Flour Sack Dishtowels

I do dearly love a cute dishtowel.....the ones with little barnyard animals or those with little fruit appliques on them. All very cute. Very, very cute! I'm a real sucker for a cutesy dishtowel. In fact, my dishtowel drawer overfloweth! But, for the actual business of drying dishes, give me an old fashioned flour sack dishtowel every time. I love the softness of the fabric. And I love the way they quickly and efficiently soak up water and dry the dishes. But, when they are not hard at work in my kitchen......don't they look super cute sitting here in the red enamelware colander? surrounded by some of my favorite things? Check out those cookies ---- Dana made up a few dozen for her Daddy and me while she was here this week. I can not adequately stress to you just how delicious these cookies are! Don't know what they are called. But she also made the equally delicious granola that she used as the base of the cookie. I kept telling her, with each cookie I consumed, that she really, really needed to enter a contest with this recipe. They are spectacular!!! I so wish I could share a cookie and a cup of coffee with you right now. You'd be so very happy!!!!!!

Back to the dishtowels ----- here is how they look at Target. I found them alongside the plain white chef aprons in the same kind of packaging, hanging on a display. They are super cheap!! A package of 6 costs less than $5.00!!! That's a deal, kids! I got two packages, but pretty sure I need a couple more.

THIS is how we wash dishes at the Rosser house. No, I do not have a dishwasher! I have had dishwashers in my past and honestly, I just ended up griping about having to empty the clean dishes. So when we moved into this house with it's very inefficient apartment-sized dishwasher and its limited kitchen storage, we decided to chunk the dishwasher and opted to use the empty space a little more creatively. William built in some shelves there and it now houses the microwave and the potato and onion bins.

This is how drying dishes look at my house. Usually though, they are not nearly this attractive. There are a ton more dishes than this and they are piled up in a heap. I wanted this to look spiffy for the blog, ya know.

Well, that's it, folks! Just thought you should know...... Happy washing and drying.....

Gwynie Pie

Feed On The Word

I love, love, love these dishes!! My kids gave them to me this past weekend for my birthday. I have long admired the entire set of this very beautiful china. Every piece, and there are many pieces, is an off-white with scripture in black around the edge. Every piece has a different scripture. And there are many scripture "themes" to choose from -- Faith, Prayer, Heritage, Children, Family, Country -- lots more.
There in the background to the side you can see the footed cake stand that was given to me on another occasion. The cake stand has held beautiful cakes and pies year-round as well as floral arrangements in the Fall and big chunky red candles at Christmas. I love it!! The kids also gave me the big fruit/pasta bowl with the fruits of the spirit written around the inside edge. It's filled with apples today but in the future I'm seeing maybe chicken fettucini alfredo or maybe a huge green salad.

Anyway, I love them! Just wanted you to see them. I figure you might love them too. And if you are interested, you can see the entire collection on the web at feedontheword.com.

Spring Break

I realize it is only Wednesday of Spring Break week -- lots of the week yet to come. But, so far, my week has been great!! This past weekend started off with Dana and Lily Kate coming in on Friday afternoon, followed by Colin and Ronnie and then Blake later on that night. I didn't take many pictures. I never do------I'm always having too much fun with everyone to be the photographer. I love having the pictures, but the memories are so much sweeter! I always have good intentions and sure enough, the camera was in the kitchen where I could just grab it up at a moment's notice, but.......I always think of pictures long after the fact, ya know?

I did get a couple.....here is sweet girl flashing her best "cheeeeeeeeese".

And Pops and Lily Kate lounging and visiting in the back yard. We did a lot of lounging. And a lot of visiting!

We (I use the word loosely, since I was not involved) dug up, loaded and brought home the much-desired, much-sought after clothesline poles (thank you friend Lauri for locating them for me!). Now -- to get them set in the ground and painted a nice, crisp white. I will hang up clothes to my little heart's content......

Colin and Ronnie had to leave soon after church and Blake headed back early that evening. They all had to be back at work Monday morning. However, Dana and Lily Kate stayed until noon today and we have had such a great time with them, just being....not doing a whole lot, just enjoying.

A first of sorts also occurred Monday night. Dana, Lily Kate and I all went to visit my mother, GG, in the afternoon and were still there when Pops got off work, so we decided to go to Double Dave's, one of Dana's fav eating places in San Angelo. We asked my mother to go with us. And what do you know???? She did!!! I know that isn't an earthshaking event in anyone else's world, but in ours.....well, it made the blog!! (Man, I wish I'd had that camera!) My mother isn't a very spontaneous person. She likes to plan things well in advance. So for her to say "yes" was a great thing. Very note-worthy. It meant a lot to me. We all had fun eating pizza, playing air hockey and visiting.

Tomorrow, we will all be back to our usual activities. We so enjoyed the first half of Spring Break. And can't wait to see what fun the last half of the week brings. Hope your Spring Break is FUN!

Gwynie Pie