Sometimes you have to keep the lovely for the sake of a memory. That is how it is with me and roses. I love roses. I love fresh roses. I love roses that bloom on the bushes and even enjoy watching them fade away and drop their petals leaving rosehips to gather for tea.
But on the very special occasion when I receive long-stem roses from my husband, there is something absolutely timeless about drying those roses to keep the memory of that day alive forever. That is why I do what I do at the end of the fresh-life of my roses. JUST AT THE MOMENT ...
I notice them start to droop, I rescue them from their vase, wrap a rubber band around the stems, turn them upside down and hang them on a nail or hook. They look so country chic as they dry. Afterwards, I can use them for various displays, dried arrangements, or leave them hanging on a hook in honor of the day they came to me.
Nearly fifty years ago my husband's sweet grandmother Bartlett gave me an antique Torque pottery milk-pitcher. Written on one side is this epithet: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." I sometimes read that little sentence and consider all the beauty around me: the sunrises, and sunsets, the Spring meadows bursting into life with every conceivable color and blossom. Yet, even with the most beautiful sight I'll ever see, I know I cannot fathom the beauty of what God has prepared for me in heaven.
I see the beauty in a stranger's single random act of kindness and cradle the memory and joy it brought to me and others. I realize afresh why Jesus said we store our treasures in heaven when we give joy to family, friends, and strangers. Joy of this kind is the "forever" beauty to which my little pitcher is speaking. That beauty and joy we will carry into our eternity with Him. It's being stored there for us.
After I dried my roses, I took the red ones and put them in a simple clay vase and tied a string around it and made a table vignette for my kitchen table (see above). The white roses still hang grouped together and rest happily on my white bookcase in my bedroom... to be a joy for as long as their presence allows me.
I sit here in my cozy little home, drinking a hot cup of raspberry tea laced with honey (of course...it's an habitual addiction). I was going to watch a movie on television (Rudy), but became disenchanted with the leading character's love for Notre Dame football. I've seen the movie before and it is a very heartwarming story. However, I just wasn't in the mood for it . A chick-flick would be more my style, I think.
I couldn't go to church this a.m. with my hubby because my back was so bad when I awoke I had to do the Tim Conway shuffle to get to the bathroom when I got out of bed. After my excruciating scoot to the potty, I made my way to the freezer and grabbed my icepack for my back.
I listened to David Jeremiah preach on acting on our faith and was convicted by his story about "almost" helping someone who needed it. It reminded me of all the times I had the best of intentions to do something for someone and didn't. The card I almost sent to the grieving widow, the soup I almost took to a friend. The call I almost made, the encouragement I almost gave. By the time Dr. Jeremiah's sermon ended, I felt reasonably chastized and convicted of my baser selfishness and perpetual procrastination.
Charles Stanley's preaching on getting rid of guilt (good one, considering I was feeling guilty about staying home), also fed my soul as I realized that no matter how hard I try to be perfect, I can't be. Dr. Stanley reminded me that God himself paid the price to take away my sin and guilt (including selfishness and apathy)-- not to mention all the false-guilt we place upon ourselves. Jesus paid it all; all I need do is accept His grace and mercy, then move forward to a new day, with greater resolve to act upon the good intentions so that they become reality.
As I sat here toying with my computer, surfing here and there across cyberspace, I realized how cold it was outside, how blustery the wind was, how glad I was inside on the day the weatherman predicted 72 degree temperatures with wind-gusts up to 25 mph, in which reality produced tempearatures four degrees short of freezing water. After perusing a few of my favorite blogs on decor and homelife, and watching a Youtube video on the techniques of needle felting, I decided to light some candles and fool my mental state into believing I had a warm and cozy fireplace blazing before me...hey, it works for me.
I think I succeeded with the chance of warmth, however, I'm still working on the guilt of staying home from church and almost painting a landscape of trees to send a dear friend in Kentucky. I will get better. I promise myself that. With God's grace and mercy...and with Pinterest ideas and blogging sisters to stir me on toward good works, I shall prevail no matter how wild and windy it gets outside. hariette petersen
chaotic complexity. Not total chaos, mind you. I like calm. I like serene and simple. I long to be the still stream that slowly moves its current beneath the surface graced with driftwood and debris.
I look at decorating styles-- the classic grouping of 3, 5, or odd numbered items. I like the balance. But for some reason I am always adding just a little bit more to the simple vinette I create with primitive bowls, copper chargers and raku pottery. I can't seem to help myself. One day I am content with my arrangement, then the next I am adding a bit more color, or removing an object to another space in an effort to quiet the mood.
I truly am a simple kinda gal. I love the country elegance and calm ambiance I see some ladies create with monochromatic colors. I want to be that simple-- that chic, that sleek. Unfortunately, that desire is overrided by my overactive creative imagination. I'm always changing things. Always seeing a better way, another emphasis I want to make. I really should have an extra bedroom, bath, and living area so I could redecorate it every other week or so.
One day I love country primitive and rustic. Then next I wallow in the romantic schemes of lace and ribbon. I'm constantly trying to create that balance between raw masculine stability, and soft feminine grace. I Am I the only one like me?
In a sense, I believe you are, too; in your own way, you are exactly like me. You are you and because you are, you are unique--just as I am unique. In our uniqueness, we each find our comfort zone from the depths of our own individuality. Just as one friend is content to live without changing the placement of traditional accents with an occasional addition of new items, another friend is at peace with total minimalism. Then there is me. See something we love and then try to figure out how we can work it into our eclectic decor.
In the end, I know why this is so...we are each created with our own package of likes and dislikes. In some cases we are conditioned by our our childhood environments. In other cases we develop our style as we fall in and out of love with various themes that feed our souls, quiet our spirits, and motivate our creative muses.
I thank God I am me:
"...because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14 NIV 1984
yeah, I do
like me and the way I am: Content to live with what I have, yet not so
satisfied and set in my ways that I am not flexible or willing to
change. I've moved over 30 times in my nearly 65 years. That's a lot
of moves for some folks--a lot of changes. I've tossed a lot of memorabilia out in those
moves. I've lost a lot of treasures. But I've also found joy in
searching for new ones. Yet, just as I have lost and left behind material things, I've gained a deeper appreciation for why I am here.
My number one aim in my home is to make it comfortable for my husband, my family and friends--to bring glory to God in all I do with it. I want strangers to feel as welcomed and relaxed as my family and friends. After all...
"...unless the LORD builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the LORD watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain." Psalm 127:1
And just who wants to labor (or decorate) in vain?
FOR A TEENSEY PEEK AT MY HOUSE TODAY....CLICK HERE.
AND FOR A BIT OF VICTORIAN FROM MY OLD HOUSE...CLICK HERE.
AND FOR A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY FROM YORE...CLICK HERE.
AND WHY? oh Why? I Blame My Stepmother... CLICK HERE.
Once in a while, you come across a junk-transformer /slash artist. And when you do, if you are a good person, you HAVE to share this genius and magic with the rest of your world. This particular transformation begs for you and me to go dumpster diving and find ourselves a homeless piece of yard-sale trash and perform decorating surgery.
Can you believe that the gorgeous shelf above came from these two items below?
Absolutely amazing creative juices flow in this artist's veins. We can all get a creative transfusion by visiting this site/HERE.
TEN STAR "feminine matters" RECOMMENDATION by hariette petersen
But you know something, this reminds me of another recommendation I was given many years ago. I, too, went through an amazing transformation when Christ took my self-centered, dirty, trash-ridden life and worked His grace-fueled power in me. I still sit amazed as I type these words to you. And whenever I see a piece of junk transformed into a work of beauty, I am reminded of what God promises:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and LOOK, new things have come," 2 Corinthians 5:17
And someday, when Christ returns to claim His own transformed creations, like me, the One who sits on the throne in Heaven above promises:
"Look! I AM making everything new." He also said, "Write because these words are faithful and true." Revelation 21:5
And when God creates a new earth, we will spend eternity with Him in all our glory as glorified creatures of love.selahV today
You and I both know that a home is far more than a charming decor. However, this gal will charm the socks off you as you peruse her photos and gather ideas to implement into your own home. And why would you?
Well, shucks, it's all about making an inviting space for family and friends to feel welcome, cozy and comfortable. Then as you share your space, you grow together, encourage one another and deepen a bond you might not otherwise have in a sterile, empty room, cluttered with yesterday's newspapers, last year's magazines, and tired accents. Sherry gathers ideas from others and plops them on her space and gives us all a pleasureable peek.
Check out the charm she exudes in ONE CLICK. See if you aren't hooked by her spell.
This gal's blog stimulates almost every decorating cell in my body, not to mention the desires of my heart. I love her. You will too. If you like anything about me and country and crafts and do-it-yourself projects and eye-candy...well, then this site is for you. I signed up to receive her posts in my email. Don't want to miss a one. So for DOWN TO EARTH STYLE, CLICK HERE, my sisters. Be sure to click on her PIN and check out her pinterest pages. Delightful.
take white balloons and white tissue
paper. blow up balloons, dip tissue in glue, cover balloons and let dry.
cut out a space for battery tea light and use in center pieces.
I am going to try this one.
found this on pinterest among a bunch of other nifty ideas. Check it out/link.
...you can go to Stephanie Lynn's blog and FIND 50 GREAT IDEAS for recycling those babies HERE. Too wonderful for words. And that's especially true about this blog. It's packed with pictures to peruse and plan and play with coffee, bean, corn, peas, and stewed-tomato cans. From wreath to bird-feeder, I bet you'll see something you haven't seen before. Don't believe me... check it out for yourself. selahV
You simply must check out this blogger: Vintage Mellie. Shabby Love is first rate creativity. Love her Christmas ideas. Will definitely be playing with some of them with my granddaughters.
This is the photo that first grabbed my eyes and stole its way into my heart. Check her out. If you love country, burlap and simplicity, this is a crafty inspirational site.
Sometimes you come across people on the internet you will never meet in person, yet feel you've known all your life. I've had some wonderful experiences with so many lovely ladies. I've gained so much strength from some who've shared their hearts with me, their encouragement, their prayers, their wisdom in every area of their lives. Today I have a blogger I've subscribed to that I must mention.
Donna has what I call my virtual reality blog where I escape my world and travel across the cyberspace to see her transform her home into a work of beauty and peace. In her blog she takes you on walks through her outside garden, and shows you every detail of her tranforming genius. Warning. If you go there, you'll want to start decorating your home, refinishing something, or creating a vignette. But if you dig into her archives and visit her posts, you'll be smitten with the welcoming you find. I just love this Donna Reyne's home, blog, and heartwarming personality. Go visit her and see if you see what I see at A Life Reclaimed. selahV
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