Sad, but true, huh?
THOUGHT for TUESDAY
We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.
--Goethe
Girls at the Piano, 1892
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUSTIN!!
Here are 12 candles for your cake....
Guess what!!
We hired a special musician
to play 'Happy Birthday' for you!
And here is one of your favorite
And here is one of your favorite
youtube videos....
(Don't forget to mute Playlist first)
Grandad & I wish you a super happy day!!
Looking forward to your next visit with us!
XOXOXO
************
FLOWERS of SPRING
The blooms have now come and gone on our three tulip trees, but fortunately, we were able to enjoy them until they fell off on their own.....no late freezing temperatures to turn them brown overnight, as usually happens.
The wisteria hasn't bloomed for the past two or three years, due to late frost, so it has been so exciting to look out and see these beautiful blossoms once again!
The wisteria hasn't bloomed for the past two or three years, due to late frost, so it has been so exciting to look out and see these beautiful blossoms once again!
This is the tree beside the pond. We have others, as well as many climbing vines, but their blooms are more scattered.
What are some spring flowers you have enjoyed around your house?
What are some spring flowers you have enjoyed around your house?NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE (WITH GOD)
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Soloist, Calvin Hunt
(Please mute Playlist first)
FLICKR FUN!
I recently participated in a fun idea called 'Make Five', with fellow mosaic enthusiasts on Flickr.
It isn't a 'swap'. Once you join in with the Make Five group, you commit to make a handcrafted item for the first five people who sign up on your Flickr site; then, in turn, you can sign up to receive a gift from any five available participants. Simple, huh?
It seemed like a great way to push myself to get the new year off to a good start and actually work with a deadline.
Then it hit me...."What in the world am I going to make FIVE of that I can complete in three months, & send through the mail (without having to put a mortgage on the house)?" LOL
My always-helpful hubby brought in a box of these long wooden triangles that he had out in his shop, & suggested I mosaic name plates.
Well, DECIDING what to do is always the biggest hurdle for me to get over, so from that point on, the project was fun. (Thanks, Bill!)
A few of the gals had mentioned colors they like, or their favorite hobbies, etc., which was helpful in planning.
These are the five name plates I made; which have all now been shipped out and received by their new owners.
One side has their first name...............
and the other side has their 'Flickr name', using scrabble letters:
Well, if that wasn't fun enough,..............
The second is a beautiful 4" x 4" abalone heart surrounded by pink/lavender iridescent glass. This creation is by Cynthia Monica, a mosaic artist who lives in Oregon.
It isn't a 'swap'. Once you join in with the Make Five group, you commit to make a handcrafted item for the first five people who sign up on your Flickr site; then, in turn, you can sign up to receive a gift from any five available participants. Simple, huh?
It seemed like a great way to push myself to get the new year off to a good start and actually work with a deadline.Then it hit me...."What in the world am I going to make FIVE of that I can complete in three months, & send through the mail (without having to put a mortgage on the house)?" LOL
My always-helpful hubby brought in a box of these long wooden triangles that he had out in his shop, & suggested I mosaic name plates.Well, DECIDING what to do is always the biggest hurdle for me to get over, so from that point on, the project was fun. (Thanks, Bill!)
A few of the gals had mentioned colors they like, or their favorite hobbies, etc., which was helpful in planning.
These are the five name plates I made; which have all now been shipped out and received by their new owners.
One side has their first name...............
and the other side has their 'Flickr name', using scrabble letters:
Well, if that wasn't fun enough,.............. here are two gifts from friends I had signed up with. I'm SO excited and thrilled with both of these !
The first one is a plaque featuring an adorable chipmunk eating a peanut. It was created by mosaic & stained glass artist Kathleen Stewart of Alpharetta, GA.
I named him 'Al', and he feels right at home here with my collection of chipmunks! (Along with the chipmunk plaque, Kathleen also included these little extra goodies!)
The second is a beautiful 4" x 4" abalone heart surrounded by pink/lavender iridescent glass. This creation is by Cynthia Monica, a mosaic artist who lives in Oregon.She uses alot of abalone and other colorful shells in her mosaics.
Thank you, Kathleen & Cynthia!!! I love them both!!
Thank you, Kathleen & Cynthia!!! I love them both!!
HOW DO YOU SAY 'GEMOLOGIST'?
Here are some pictures taken last week while Justin was visiting us. On Thursday, he and Bill went to a gem mine in Cleveland, Georgia.
Justin sluicing for gems..........
On the way home, they stopped at a scenic overlook and took these pictures...
Isn't that a gorgeous view in the background?....
Justin took this picture of Bill (Grandad)....
Actually, they took a whole bunch of pictures, but my computer's not co-operating with loading them onto this post, but you get the idea...
I think they both had a really fun day!
Justin sluicing for gems..........
And showing off some of his treasures!
(How do you like those 'shadow pictures'?) LOL
On the way home, they stopped at a scenic overlook and took these pictures...
Isn't that a gorgeous view in the background?....
Justin took this picture of Bill (Grandad)....
Actually, they took a whole bunch of pictures, but my computer's not co-operating with loading them onto this post, but you get the idea...
I think they both had a really fun day!
YOU WERE THERE
(Please mute Playlist)
For three days they thought they had made it. His quiet, unbroken strength (Almighty meekness) fanned their fury as they stood watching the heavy nails pierce His hands and feet, when the Roman soldiers secured Him to His cross. He was taking into His heart the very sin that motivated this. Their hearts and minds were blinded by that sin. The same dark, inner drive which prodded the first man and woman toward the forbidden tree to satisfy their desire to know as much as God knew. In the heart of each man who plotted His death, there twisted the tormentor whom God hated. He did not hate these murderers, He hated the disease that had made them murderers. As the God-Man hung above them, praying for them, He loved them with the kind of love that could have healed them on the spot!
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34).
Down from His cross poured redemptive love in quantity enough for the whole human race.
For three days they thought they had made it. His quiet, unbroken strength (Almighty meekness) fanned their fury as they stood watching the heavy nails pierce His hands and feet, when the Roman soldiers secured Him to His cross. He was taking into His heart the very sin that motivated this. Their hearts and minds were blinded by that sin. The same dark, inner drive which prodded the first man and woman toward the forbidden tree to satisfy their desire to know as much as God knew. In the heart of each man who plotted His death, there twisted the tormentor whom God hated. He did not hate these murderers, He hated the disease that had made them murderers. As the God-Man hung above them, praying for them, He loved them with the kind of love that could have healed them on the spot!
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34).
Down from His cross poured redemptive love in quantity enough for the whole human race.
Enough for you.
Enough for me.
Far from decreasing because of our behavior against Him, it seemed rather to increase. The same situation still exists today and will exist as long as the earth stands.
--Eugenia Price
--Eugenia Price
CRAFTY WEDNESDAY!
Today's our Crafts Day!Are you thinking
"These gals aren't 'crafting'....
they're sitting around having a gab fest!"
Well...........
you might be right!!
We do occasionally get around to crafting, though,
so
Why don't you hop on over!
SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY
DAFFODILS
This beautiful poem was written over two hundred years ago.
"Daffodils" (1804)
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
--William Wordsworth(1770-1850)
SPRING IS HERE!
Today, for the first time in many months, we've been able to open up the house and let the sunshine in (at least for a little while).
We even took our coffee out onto the front porch and enjoyed sitting in the rocking chairs, watching the birds.
The chipmunks are starting to emerge from their winter hiding places.
Any day now, our daffodils will be bursting into bloom.
I think Spring is here!
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:11-12
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:11-12
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
Since my ancestors came to America from England, Ireland & Wales, I guess I can claim to be a little bit Irish, huh?
This is my favorite Irish song. Michael Londra has the most beautiful voice, so hope you'll take a few minutes to enjoy this video featuring scenes from Ireland.
(Please mute Playlist first)
(Please mute Playlist first)
THOUGHT for TUESDAY
Someone
has
said
that
CHOCOLATE
slows
down
the
aging
process...
This
may
not
be
true,
but
do
I
dare
take
the
chance
???
*****
*****
SPRING FORWARD!
See those sleepy eyes?...That's me! Although I'm as anxious for Spring as the next person, this time change is NOT one I enjoy! Put the coffee pot on, & make it STRONG!Early Morning
I woke early one morning
The earth lay cool and still
When suddenly a tiny bird
Perched on my window sill.
He sang a song so lovely
So carefree and so gay,
That slowly all my troubles
Began to slip away.
He sang of far off places
Of laughter and of fun,
It seemed his very trilling
Brought up the morning sun.
I stirred beneath the covers
Crept slowly out of bed,
Then gently shut the window
And crushed his stupid head.
(I'm not a morning person.)
Author unknown
Of course the author is unknown...who'd take credit for this goofy poem??
Ha, ha!
Now, you all know I'm a serious bird lover, so please forgive me; my quirky sense of humor just got the best of me! That's what happens when I lose an hour of sleep!
COFFEE TIME!
My hubby surprised me recently with this new fantastic Keurig coffeemaker.
It brews single-cup coffee in less than a minute, & there are so many different brands of K-cups available....not only in coffee, but also tea or hot chocolate. Of course, my main love is the coffee. One of my favorites is shown below (Extra Bold Dark Magic). Now, that's a real cup of coffee!
Come on over, & I'll let you choose which flavor you want to try. S: )
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Another beautiful snow day greeted us yesterday morning. Here is the view out my upstairs bay window.
The winding vines around the tree on the left is my wisteria. I'm really hoping it blooms this year, as it's one of my favorite flowers!
Hope you're having signs of Spring at your house!.....It's still winter here, & I'm beginning to regret singing 'Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!' over the holidays! Ha!
A SONG TO ENJOY
This song has been going through my mind today, so I wanted to share it with you.
Years ago at our church in Florida, we would join hands across the aisles and sing this song at the close of every service.
(Please mute Playlist.)
Years ago at our church in Florida, we would join hands across the aisles and sing this song at the close of every service.
(Please mute Playlist.)
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20
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