Coming Soon!

Look what I saw yesterday.

I know... it's just a fallen leaf.

But there it was...in the midst of all the greenery,
there it was...in all of it's golden glory.

Sure, there are other leaves that have blown off the trees and since died,

scattered throughout the yard...

...when you live among the trees, this is what you get.

But this one stood out among all of the other usual earth tones
 as I was out walking in the yard.

It was like it was put there by a Divine Hand...just for me...

... to remind me that changes were a comin'.

And they are.
Don't let the 90 degree temperatures fool you.
It's in the air...I feel it.

And I'm ready.

He changes times and seasons;  

he deposes kings and raises up others.

He gives wisdom to the wise 

and knowledge to the discerning.

~Daniel 2:21

I hope your week is a blessed one! :)

Debby

sharing at:

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/2013/08/welcome_30.html
http://www.sunnysimplelife.com/2013/08/from-farm-blog-hop-with-great.html
http://seespeakhearmama.com/2013/08/31/god-and-the-midlife-mama/
http://www.whatjoyismine.net/2013/09/mondays-musings-76-our-family-work-ethic.html
http://www.thebeautyinhisgrip.com/2013/09/sharing-his-beauty-linky.html
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/make-it-pretty-monday-week-65.html
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2013/09/amaze-me-monday-22.html
http://www.janiscox.com/sunday-stillness-psalm-1391-4/
http://myfreshlybrewedlife.com/2013/08/weekend-brew-lord-watches.html
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/09/180th-inspire-me-tuesday.html
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/09/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-link.html
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2013/09/salt-of-earth.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/09/wow-us-wednesdays-134.html
http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-china-wreath-and-simple-sweet.html
http://www.impartinggrace.com/2013/09/grace-at-home-no-72.html

Why are you so blue, Mr. Jay?

A few weeks ago I found these feathers up at the cabin.

Apparently, it's moulting season and some unfortunate blue jay had lost his lovely feathers.

They were way too pretty to just throw away...

...so after I took a few photos, I stuck them in my little "not just for Christmas" tree.

I keep it up all year and decorate it according to the season.

 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

~ Matthew 6:26

Blue

Flying up and away toward

a cedar’s green flame: a jay.

Nothing comes close to its color

in the autumn fields. Even the juniper berries

look more like bruise than blue.

It is a brash statement against

camouflage. Look at me! Look at me!

the blue jay says. And we do.

All this busyness of bushes and trees,

browned grasses in the field, and

there: the jay. Blue.

Oh, look at it: blue!

by Matthew J. Spireng

Blessings,

Debby

sharing at:

http://1840farm.com/2013/08/from-the-farm-blog-hop-6/
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/08/anything-blue-friday-week-23.html
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/09/180th-inspire-me-tuesday.html
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/09/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-link.html
http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-china-wreath-and-simple-sweet.html
http://www.impartinggrace.com/2013/09/grace-at-home-no-72.html

Keeping on Track

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding.
 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

There's something about a lonely railroad track that mesmerizes me. I don't really know why. When I was out looking around for one to get a picture of, I was hoping to find one with a curve either to the left or the right...it would make a more interesting photo, perhaps. But it also got me to thinking about how life is. What's around the bend? Where do we go from here? What does my future hold? We could ask these kinds of questions 'til the cows come home, couldn't we? What would the ability to know all of those answers do for us—help us or hurt us? There have always been times in my life when I have been curious to know what's up ahead. (I'm pretty sure most of us do that.) Part of me wants to know. The other part—the sane, sensible part of me—knows better. 

Knowing what lies ahead takes away any reason we would have to trust in a loving God. And that's why He created us. Whether the path is laid out straight in front of me or there are curves ahead and I can't see what's around the bend, I'm so glad I trust in the One who will get me back on track when life sometimes gets me derailed. Trusting in my Father keeps me looking towards a future where there is hope—not dwelling on past failures and the fear of the unknown.

The Train of Life

~Marv Harding, author~

Some folks ride the train of life looking out the rear,

Watching miles of life roll by and marking every year.

They sit in sad remembrance of wasted days gone by,

And curse their life for what it was and hang their head and cry.

But I don’t concern myself with that, I took a different vent,

I look forward to what life holds and not what has been spent.

So strap me to the engine, as securely as I can be,

I want to be out on the front, to see what I can see.

I want to feel the winds of change blowing in my face,

I want to see what life unfolds as I move from place to place.

I want to see what’s coming up, not looking at the past,

Life’s too short for yesterdays, it moves along too fast.

So if the ride gets bumpy while you are looking back,

Go up front, and you may find your life has jumped the track.

It’s all right to remember that’s part of history,

But up front’s where it’s happening, there’s so much mystery.

The enjoyment of living is not where we have been,

It’s looking ever forward to another year and ten.

It’s searching all the byways, never should you refrain,

For if you want to live your life, you gotta drive the train.

I pray you are staying on track :)

Have a blessed week!


sharing at:
http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/2013/08/welcome.html
http://myfreshlybrewedlife.com/2013/08/the-weekend-brew-never-alone-in-the-valley.html
http://sundayview.blogspot.com/2013/08/inspired-sunday-blog-party-youre-invited.html
http://www.whatjoyismine.net/2013/08/mondays-musings-75-two-years-bloggin.html

http://www.thebeautyinhisgrip.com/2013/08/sharing-his-beauty-linky.html
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/08/make-it-pretty-monday-week-64.html
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/08/179th-inspire-me-tuesday.html
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2013/08/amaze-me-monday-21.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/08/wow-us-wednesdays-133.html
http://www.deeprootsathome.com/encourage-one-another-wednesday-link-up-101/
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2013/08/perfect-scents.html
http://www.impartinggrace.com/2013/08/grace-at-home-no-71.html
http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/2013/08/europe-and-simple-sweet-fridays-78.html
http://www.create-with-joy.com/2013/08/friendship-friday-time.html
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2013/08/time-to-declutter-show-and-tell-friday.html
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/home-sweet-home-134.html

Begonias in the Rain

“Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; 

let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; 

let the earth cause them both to sprout; 

I the Lord have created it.  

Isaiah 45:8 

sharing at:

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2013/08/pink-saturday-august-24.html
http://sundayview.blogspot.com/2013/08/inspired-sunday-blog-party-youre-invited.html
http://www.deidrariggs.com/2013/08/24/sunday-65/
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2013/08/amaze-me-monday-21.html
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/08/make-it-pretty-monday-week-64.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/08/wow-us-wednesdays-133.html
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2013/08/time-to-declutter-show-and-tell-friday.html

Repurposed "Country Girl" Apron

Hey ya'll...I'm back with another apron I made from repurposed textiles!

Here's a little riddle for you:

What do you get when you combine a jeans skirt from Goodwill...
...a red bandana from the Dollar General...gotta love Dollar General...
...and some remnants of John Deere fabric?

You get a really cute apron that screams that familiar song...
"HE THINKS MY TRACTOR APRON'S SEXY..." :)

Back in the spring, before I started this blog, I made several aprons
for door prizes for our apron-themed Mother/Daughter Banquet at my church.
This was one of  them so since I wasn't blogging at the time,
I don't have a step-by-step tutorial for you.
I will explain the best way I can but I just know that all of you talented seamstresses
 out there can figure it out!




I started out by cutting the skirt (it was a short one) in half.
I used the back of the skirt since I liked it that the pockets were already there.
I am saving the front of the skirt for another one...it has a zippered fly and I think that will be cute.
I have some darling farm print pillow cases (from Goodwill of course) to add to it.

Oh well...another apron for another post :)

Next, I cut a bib, neck loop and ruffle from the John Deere fabric.
I also cut a triangle from the red hankie to add to mimic the look of a "neckerchief".

Cut double thickness of fabric for bib and stitch the triangle onto what will be the front.
 For the neck loop, you will need a piece about 5" by 18-20"...fold in half lengthwise and stitch, turn and press flat. Next, with right sides together, sew bib together including neck strap in the seam, leaving the bottom open...like you're making a pillow. Turn, and press flat. Finish the raw edge with zigzag stitch or seam binding and then sew it to the waistband of the skirt.





I cut a very long piece of fabric for the ruffle and machine stitched one edge for the hem.
If you have a ruffler attachment for your machine, now would be a great time to use it!
If not, pleat or gather it by hand. I found some red seam binding in my sewing basket that worked perfectly to trim the skirt where it had been cut to hide raw edges.
I then finished off the ruffled edge with a zigzag stitch and sewed the ruffle to the skirt.

Finally, I used the rest of the bandana as a belt and threaded it through the belt loops.

I added extra lengths of what remained for the ties.

And there you have it!

Now...

...run like a Deere down to the Goodwill for some linens or clothing to repurpose!  

Blessings!


Sharing at:

http://www.impartinggrace.com/2013/08/grace-at-home-no-71.html
http://www.create-with-joy.com/2013/08/friendship-friday-time.html
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2013/08/time-to-declutter-show-and-tell-friday.html
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/home-sweet-home-134.html
http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/08/fridays-five-features-no-6.html

Hail to the Queen

I just love Queen Anne's Lace...don't you?

I was looking on a few different websites and found out some facts that I didn't know...

... (duh...really?) ...about this frilly little flower.

Most people consider it a weed but if you know me, you know I never met a weed I didn't like :)

Did you know it is really a wild carrot? Here are some other things interesting things I found out:

**********

The American legend says that Anne of Denmark (1574-1619), queen consort of King James I, was an expert lace-maker. English legend tells us that Queen Anne challenged the ladies of the court to a contest to see who could produce a pattern of lace as lovely as the flower of this plant. The central flower of the carrot's umbel is reddish-purple. 

No one could rival the queen's handiwork. She however, pricked her finger with a needle and a single drop of blood fell into the lace, that is said to be the dark purple floret in the center of the flower. According to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary the name Queen Anne's lace did not appear in print until 1895, two hundred seventy-six years after Anne's death.

**********

Queen Anne's Lace

    by Mary Leslie Newton    

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has washed her lace

(She chose a summer's day)

And hung it in a grassy place
To whiten, if it may.

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has left it there,
And slept the dewy night;
Then waked, to find the sunshine fair,
And all the meadows white.

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, is dead and gone
(She died a summer's day),
But left her lace to whiten in
Each weed-entangled way!

**********

I hope you have enjoyed this little tidbit of information as much as I have.

Have a fabulous week!

sharing at:

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2013/08/mosaic-monday-end-of-summer.html
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/08/178th-inspire-me-tuesday-winner-of.html
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/08/make-it-pretty-monday-week-63.html
http://www.thebeautyinhisgrip.com/2013/08/sharing-his-beauty_19.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/08/wow-us-wednesdays-132.html
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2013/08/take-powder.html
http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/2013/08/carly-in-europe-and-simple-sweet.html
http://www.deeprootsathome.com/encourage-one-another-wednesday-link-up-100/
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/home-sweet-home-133.html
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2013/08/zucchini-boat-recipe-show-and-tell.html

Jewels of the Field

I thought I was seeing things when I noticed something glimmering in the morning sun.
It was still pretty early and there was a heavy dew...
...but it hadn't rained.

These lovelies grow alongside the road in Fancy Gap, near our cabin.

I could hardly believe my eyes.
 I had seen these cute little blooms in the past...

... but they were never adorned with jewels like they were on this morning.

So...I got out my trusty All About North Carolina Wildflowers book...
...even though I was actually in Virginia.

As I flipped through my little book, I found them...right there...on page 183!
And guess what they were called? Are you ready for this?

How cool is that??

I learned a few facts about them too.
Not only are the leaves and stems covered with a silvery, powdery substance that repels water...
...thus the water droplets forming, but when a "mash" is made from them, it can be applied to the skin  and used as a remedy for poison ivy itch!

Who knew!?

Doesn't our Heavenly Father give us the best gifts?

I hope your week is filled with little jewels!

Sharing at:

http://sunnysimplelife.blogspot.com/2013/08/from-farm-blog-hop_16.html
http://sundayview.blogspot.com/2013/08/down-in-river-to-pray-inspired-sunday.html
http://www.deidrariggs.com/2013/08/17/sunday-64/
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2013/08/amaze-me-monday-20.html
http://www.whatjoyismine.net/2013/08/mondays-musings-74-its-new-school-year.html
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/08/make-it-pretty-monday-week-63.html
http://www.thebeautyinhisgrip.com/2013/08/sharing-his-beauty_19.html
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/08/178th-inspire-me-tuesday-winner-of.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/08/wow-us-wednesdays-132.html
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2013/08/take-powder.html
http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/2013/08/carly-in-europe-and-simple-sweet.html
http://www.deeprootsathome.com/encourage-one-another-wednesday-link-up-100/
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/home-sweet-home-133.html
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2013/08/zucchini-boat-recipe-show-and-tell.html