Hello, Summer!

 Remember these days?

Driving forever to get to the sand

that stuck to everything!

But who cared??

We were going to the beach!

Someone always got a jelly fish sting

and someone always got sunburned

and we all slept piled in the back seat

on the way back home.

But oh, the joys of those days!

Thanks, mom and day.

We didn't have a pond

but I bet some of you did.

And we all had a dog.

Summertime in the South.

Watermelon eaten in a rain shower

fresh veggies and cornbread

no school until after Labor Day!

Oh.the.memories.

Now my style is inclined to this

A lazy day in the shade

Lots of pillows

A book, or two

Huge glass of sweet tea

with lots of ice

and retirement ~

Life is good.

Still One of My Favorites

This post remains to be a favorite post with readers and with me. I love the movie and love the information you can find searching for the baseball players. The doctor is even based on an actual character. Here's the link to read it for your pleasure and enjoyment! Click HERE.

Celebrating the last few weeks of Summer.

Teachers are reporting in, families stocked up on clothing and supplies are trying to get in one last chance to take a mini vacation before the business of classes begin. Mothers, like me, put on a smile while my heart weeps because I won't have the children at home any longer. I was never one that did somersaults when the buses rolled up but laughed at the antics of friends that did {giggle font}. As a teacher, it was a delightful time to meet new little ones and also be near our daughters as they attended classes. I was blessed with a career I loved and enjoyed. To also work with some of your best friends was an added blessing.

How are you celebrating these last few weeks?!?! AND, are you one of the many that have decided to homeschool this year?!  With dedication and planning, I'm a supporter of those wishing to make sure their children are learning not only basic, needed skills, but also able to work in field trips, extra studies, and bible lessons that public schools either cannot or find it difficult with the financial strain. I am not a supporter of CORE and would love to see it taken off the lesson plans in Alabama. Getting the answer right, but missing the problem because the steps were wrong doesn't make sense to me. Seriously. Look at past generations and the technology that has hit the world! And we did it without CORE. Okay, I'll get off that bandstand {wink font}.

Summer is a'goin' and Autumn she is approaching. I am SO an Autumn and Winter gal and shed no tears as Summer eases out. As your family gets ready for another school year or you watch your grandbabies step up into another grade, I'll be praying for us. For courage to face the fact they're growing much too quickly, peace and calm as we settle into football Saturdays and cooler temps, and that God will show great might in allowing America to have a President that will not take us into a Socialist state and a nation whose leaders refuse to acknowledge God. Prayers are needed more than ever for our nation and her leaders. God bless and keep us near Him as we draw closer to the November election. May He bless you and yours ~

Weekly Favorites ~

Susie Harris. Redeemed.

Beautiful.

For Sale. To remind you.

Of His Love.

Breathtaking~

Chad & Allison Granger ~

Precious couple. Godly couple.

God led them north. Chad to Seminary.

Allison to medical school.

New friends, stepping up to the challenge.

I am so proud of them. For them.

And pray daily He will keep them safe

and bring love, laughter, and blessings ~

I could live here. Easily.

It looks cozy. Small.

But looks can be deceiving.

As is this beaut that sits on Lake Martin.

Southern Living's new house.

Have you seen it yet?

Autumn.

Sigh ~ 

Remember these swings?

The holidays bring yummy goodies. 

May you and yours find joy and delight

in the cooler temps. Breath deeply of the brilliant

colors of the season and its freshness.

Sing songs of praise.

Be thankful ~

Have Pine Cones?

I'll admit these came from Pinterest. If one of these is your photograph, please don't be upset. Leave me a comment and I'll edit, giving you the credit! Pinterest makes it easy to pin a photo without clicking to to see if there's actually a recipe with that yummy brownie recipe. So, let's proceed!

Our yard has pine trees. Which means there are cones. Bugs like pine trees, so I purchase bags of pine cones at Hobby Lobby, already cleaned and bug free. However, you can wash and dry them.

 

Not long ago I was invited to join Pinterest. Oh.my.pine.cones. There are oodles of ways to decorate with these aggravating-to-those-who-have-to-pick-them-up thingies! Spring and Summer seem to be cone-less ~ BUT I bet someone will come up with an idea! And I'll pin it!

 

Enjoy the photographs and here's hoping you gather some ideas to use for your Fall decor!

and lastly, a topiary~(LOVE those bitty ones!)

To you and yours, Happy Fall Y'all!

Acorns. And MORE Acorns!

For the last three weeks, the oak tree that 'shades' {John's favorite term for it} our driveway has driven this OCD lady crazy with the hundreds and hundreds of acorns that are rolling, stuck, and smashed on our driveway! I don't even walk in the yard over there because you risk rolling on them and breaking a bone! Aren't the squirrels supposed to do something with these little 'oaks'. I mean, don't they EAT acorns! Our HOA takes care of our yard each and every Thursday and then on Saturdays, Mondays, and some Wednesdays I'm out there raking, sweeping and basically hosing off the drive. You should hear cars driving around our circle ~ sounds like a monster crunching bones.

While perusing my Fall board on Pinterest tonight, I decided to divide up the Tablescapes from the normal Fall ideas. And that's when it hit me. Well, not literally. One did the other day while I was out with the water hose but that's another story. I found some neat innovative ways to use those darned acorns! Look what I found! {Note: if you want to know where you can find the links, you'll have to click HERE and go to my Pinterest board. All I'm providing here are the photos!}

I love this. You can buy a bag of wine corks

at Target! Yea, girl. You can! 

Look how adorable! Grab a bouquet at

the grocery. It'll last two weeks! 

or get some silkies and scatter around~ 

Other than the one with corks, this is my fav.

I heart candles. Oh my, yes.

Haley Gray! I do need to call you!

As we say in the South,

"Happy Fall, Y'all"

 

 

UPDATE: Aaaaaccchhh, there are weevils in acorns. I just had a friend FB me with that info. I Googled it and sure enough, maggot looking larvae grow into weevils! Someone. Anyone. How do we kill them so we can make these arrangements with them?! The Dark Side of Collecting Acorns.

 

UPDATE 2: Okay, so there's nothing you can do about the worms, which grow from the maggots. I throw up in my mouth a little just typing that word. IF there's a hole in the acorn, the 'm' thing has already crawled OUT and you should be okay. IF there is NO hole, then yore gonna have a mealy maggot in the mornin', gulfriend. Eeewww. So go buy some. In fact, here's a site:

and click HERE for the link! Or order them from Pottery Barn {big smile font!}



His Everlasting Love

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed

in all their vast array."

~ Genesis 2:1

 "My child, I created nothing in the world without forethought. Do you really think any creature could just "evolve" without precise, delicate thoroughness from My hand? If I know when a sparrow falls, and how many hairs are on your head, do you not also believe I am in control of the details of your life? You were a child in My heart long before you were a spark in your mother's eyes. With thoroughness, I created the world and everything in it. And with thoroughness, I will carry out My eternal plan for you."

This is my part of my morning devotional today and I loved it since John and I had been discussing how beautiful the day has been. Since moving here and being retired, we've had more time to ride around, to explore, to stop when we want and just watch the water flow. We've seen more birds that I've had to look up, fish that I've learned from John's excitement, and today part of the discussion was the fact that He didn't have to give us so many beautiful creatures. He didn't have to give us so many shrubs, trees, and flowers that bloom at some point year round. He didn't have to. But He did. He takes such delight in pleasing His children. I want to give back that same feeling to Him. Not to ever take for granted the simplest things in life. Is there a God? Look around you. Could man make everything you see? Whether indoors or out, there's something there that man can not do. Oh yes there's a God. And He wants our love, our devotion, our obedience. Just as I love my children and family, I have a heavenly Father that loves more than I ~ and that's difficult for me to imagine as I'd die for mine. Just as he did for me. But for strangers? Truly? I'd have to know the cause and the why's. Jesus knew He was dying for some that will never make it to Heaven, but He wills that we do. We have the choice. Please don't pass it up. I only saw the Garden and it was more than any Garden I've ever seen. I felt more peace and comfort than I've ever felt. There is a God, and He wants to know you.

I love Melissa Lester's blog and have featured her on here before. I really need to add her to my labels over on the right hand side {smile font}. Hers was the first updated blog I saw when I came to my site and I know the area of which she has photographed her daughter. I grew up not far from there and it was always a place our family visited during its open hours. Talk about God's beauty. The garden you'll find there is well tended to and cared for and many photographers use it, as well as weddings and receptions. I thought I'd end my post by letting you visit her site and see for yourself why it left me with a calm and peaceful feeling. Melissa is a beautiful Christian and Godly woman, and she not only has written books but is a speaker should you need someone for a women's day of devotion. Click here for a visit to Jasmine Hill ~ and yes, she makes her daughter's dresses. Another talent of hers.

Have a most blessed week and notice the beauty of it.

Time for Pools & Beaches ~

Pool & Beach! at Pottery Barn

It's Pool and Beach time at Pottery Barn. The Mister calls it Poverty Barn, a name he learned from another.

I love these products!! I don't love their prices. UNLESS, you happen to find a good SALE, which is possible! And you can also find dinnerware at good prices at times. Mainly? I use Pottery Barn for ideas and decide what I want and what I don't want. Then I go looking in flea markets, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, even Penney's homewares!

Wire & Wood Row of Hooks

I could so use this in my laundry room, which is our back door into the garage. We wouldn't need it at what one would call the back door. There's no walkway to it {happy font}. However, our laundry is narrow and it would catch our tall son in laws at the shoulders as they haul in clothing bags and other items when the families visit. I'd love to look for something like this, but it just wouldn't be feasible for me. How about you?

Wall mounted storage shelf

I would so love to find something like this! I would hang it in the kitchen, by the patio door, just for decorative looks. Useful, too, when our granddog visits as there's a place to hang a leash, and possible a pretty towel for quick clean ups. I haven't seen anything like this, but then I haven't looked. I will now.

Molokini Floral Tote Bag

Pottery Barn has this for a good price, but if you know a Thirty-One representative (I use Joy Gordon in Prattville AL) you can find one larger with more pockets and lots of different patterns. I love 31!

Chesapeake Daybed ~ Oh.Wow.

A daybed. Right up there with a swinging bed. Even above a wicker swing, and way above a wooden! My thing about these happens to be a concern for mildew on the mattress and covers. Doesn't that happen?!

Hammock ~ place for dreaming

Our neighbor next door has a knotted hammock between two pine trees. I love it. I do. I love it. When she is out there with her book, she look SO peaceful. The Hood is cutting our pines down. Dangerous in this part of the world to have pines overhead. There are no hard woods behind us, so no hammock. Drat.

Palmetto All Weather Wicker ~

Isn't this gorgeous?! I would love to have this on our porch, but in white. It wouldn't seat everyone, though, so I think I'll have one of these and one of these.

Chesapeake Rectangular Dining Set ~

It would just about seat all the adults and I love tables large enough to decorate. Just might talk him into one of each. You think?!

White Outdoor Drapes ~

I've mentioned on here before that I plan to do this on our porch but I am not using panels this costly. I plan to go to Lowe's, but up some $9.99 dropcloths and have the Hood string up some clothes line wire and I'll clip large rings at the top and slide them on. Mostly for looks, as our backyard is green and shady, but it will be nice to close off the sides during a rain shower. Not to mention how it softens the living area.

Scallop Shell

Isn't this gorgeous?!?! I think I've seen similar items in souvenir shoppes around here, so I'll be on the lookout now. Maybe Old Time Pottery will have just the one I need. If not, the 'Shark' shop will.

This one and the next three are just to show you, and me, how easy it is to scatter them around the house! I love it when the grandbabies touch and even smell the "ocean". {And try to remember, if it can be picked up, patched up, or cleaned up, don't worry about it. Feelings are more important and life is too short.} 

This is ONE faux dogwood branch with a nest on old books. And I have a table just waiting for this vignette. Notice the book tied with twine? The cover's been torn off. A girlfriend and I, this past week, saw this in a boutique for $25. Yeah, we giggled. This is easy to duplicate!

Suh-weet!! $29.50 Melamine Plates, Set of four

You know my weakness for plates, especially salad & desserts. These are dinner plates, so I'd pass on them and purchase the smaller ones. But it gives you the idea of mix and matching and I love doing that.

Croquet Set, remember these?!?!

And I'm ending with this. How many of you remember croquet sets?!?! I know the grandparents we lived near had one and I would love to have it now! You would NOT believe how expensive this set is, so I plan to be on the lookout now for one when I hit the flea markets and places like Target. A little distressing on a new set and it looks nice and weathered. We loved playing croquet, although my sister and I were the only ones playing by the rules. The twins loved kicking the balls and laughing. Boys. So, did you have one?

Have a great week! Get ready for a great Summer, and blessings to all ~