Which Came First...The Chick Or The Egg?

Definitely the chick! 

Spring is in the air!! I put out some Springy chicks, eggs and bunnies around the house. I love using different sorts of containers to hold some cute eggs in. Here I used a vintage coffee can and filled it with some happy glittery eggs... 

Here I used a bright and cheery vintage ceramic nest bowl for some happy plastic eggs! 

The bowl was a recent Thriftscore!

I used a small cloche on a little polka dotted plate. Inside is a darling nest we found empty that had fallen out of a tree...I put a couple tiny glittery eggs in there...So cute!!!

A little yellow colander also holds some eggs, along with another little ceramic dish filled with white plastic eggs. I love seeing these little vignettes around our home! 

Makes me happy Happy Happy!!!

One week till Easter! 

Humble

It is truly a blessing that I have been able to be a stay at home mom. I just don't think there is anything like it in the world. It is at times a job that is looked down upon or frowned at by many...Not all, but enough. I am proud to have the once in a lifetime opportunity of staying at home with my children. I have enjoyed every bit of it and never will regret this gift. Through the years we have made it work...On a humble budget we were always able to make a lovely home for our family. It's not fancy and frilly or big and none of our things are worth money, but we have always managed to make a beautiful atmosphere to be family. We have moved many times through the years, yet that never mattered. It didn't matter because, home was wherever we planted ourselves. Each home has always been a home sweet home as long as we were together in it. 

The biggest part of our home is ultimately having God in it. A home where we could not only enjoy one another and have some good laughs, it is a place where we daily invite the Lord to be with us, through prayer, family time devotions, reading His word together, fellowshipping and opening our home to others with hospitality and good food. Our home has been a place to learn, to love and worship our creator. We are so thankful for such wonderful blessings and to have the freedom to enjoy these gifts.

Yes, our current home is humble. It is small, yet it serves a great purpose in this season of our life. Most likely this Summer/Fall we will be searching once again for another place to make a home. Our Church plant is finally off the ground...So much going on...Will have to update soon. Once we know that everything will thrive in that area with this Church plant we will make the move to be closer to our congregation. It's pretty exciting to see the Lord's hand in it all.

I added this picture of Freckles...Just because.

I just adore my girl.

why i blog

I have gone back and forth with the thought on blogging. I have been blogging since 2007/2008. It all started in the midst of our homeschooling journey. A great way to find other home schoolers, meet people in the blogging community, share with family that couldn't be around, and to share my life. I am not a writer by no means at all. I am not too good with words. I do however have my convictions and thoughts which I have shared. But, I am a visual person. I love taking pictures, I love to decorate, I love art... I enjoy sharing pictures...I am not a famous blogger who has thousands of followers. I have only reached about 200+ followers. The years have gone by, my kids are getting older and sometimes I start to think. Eh, who's interested in this blog anymore?  I recently switched over to this new address taking my blog with me, leaving a link for my followers to join me here. But I don't think I have many readers anymore. I rarely get any comments. Perhaps it is because I don't have the time to leave many myself. I read my favorite blogs all the time yet, I am guilty of not leaving comments due to the fact that I have a lot on my plate. I homeschool my daughter, I have chores, errands etc... and can't spare hours leaving comments.

Okay maybe I am just blogging for myself. It is an outlet in a way. I enjoy the sharing part. But sometimes I don't even know what to blog about anymore. There are some blogs I read that are quite popular...( mind you, I know I don't have to keep up with the Joneses') I just wonder sometimes what makes them more interesting. I know it is not their comment back skills. I have left comments before but never received any back from them. It's not even that I am concerned about how many comments I get. That is not the case. It is just that I am unsure if anyone is even interested in what I share here at all. I don't know if anyone reads my blog. Except for a few faithful gals who have been with me for years. Perhaps it's a bit of a boring blog. I don't have a gorgeous home where I do a lot of DIY projects or share great recipes and crafts.

 I just can't compete.

What would interest you more, if I could change anything about this blog what would it be?

 I believe I have kept it real. I have shared my heart on my sleeve, my joys, my sorrows, my family and my faith. I will probably stick it out a little while longer. Even if it is just for myself and the few gals that drop in. I hope that I was able to touch a heart, inspire, encourage or just make someone happy with this blog of mine. Even if it was just one.

Thanks to those who have stuck it out with me.

Thanks for stopping in.

My Pyrex

I've been collecting Pyrex now for several years. It's not a big collection by any means... It's been a slow process since I will only buy if I happen upon them in thrift shops or garage sales, antique shops or gifted. I have not bought any pieces online as of yet, since they are so pricey. I have seen some at great prices, but then the shipping is outrageous and I just can't see myself buying one bowl for over $20 bucks. So I'll stick to buying them as I have...Most of the bowls have been pretty darn cheap too. I'm so happy I have a place to showcase them too. The sweet hutch I bought about 8 years ago through Craig's list...It sat in my garage for many moons, until now, I painted it and have a great place in my dining room for it. I get to enjoy it all, everyday...filled with happy colors...Makes me smile.

 

 

If you want to start a collection yourself.....Start raiding your thrift store shelves. You may just find a piece here and there. Oh and never wash your Pyrex in a dishwasher. They will last a long long time if you wash them by hand. I learned the hard way on one colored bowl...It lost its shine and the color started to fade away. So sad.

 

 

I have bought some pieces that are well worn and washed the wrong way....One reason...They are really just great bowls for mixing and storing. I don't mind too much. But, I do love me the printed colorful bowls. They are so fun. I love mixing all the colors and patterns in one space. It's art.

 

 

 

I love them enough to use them, they don't just sit there for looks. They were made to use.
Pretty enough for art yet basic enough to use in everyday cooking, baking & serving...

I will on the other hand need more places to display
 them as my collection may grow.
Oh what's a girl to do?
*****

I Changed My Mind...

It was only a couple days after we bought the red Ektorp couch from Ikea, when I started questioning the purchase. Number one was the flimsy frame you have to put together, then the way the cushions were packed in between the bars of the couch, leaving a huge indention in each one. After putting the red cover on the cushions, they appeared sloppy, all from that crease in the cushion...Which never worked itself out....Not very nice when you just spent hundreds of dollars. Then I started second guessing myself about the red covers...Don't get me wrong, I love red...But, I started thinking, this is not just something you can get a spot out of without washing it and what if the red runs and then it will really look worn and sloppy. I was determined to give the couch a try. I gave it two months as I started haunting Craig's List. I told myself if I found a couch that I loved and it would fit into our kind of style I would get it...If I didn't find one by the time my 90 days were up with the Ikea couch, that I would deal with it and keep it. So, several weeks of looking, I ran into a listing for a couch, right up my alley...Vintage with a tufted back.

I had to finagle my friends to help me out with getting the Ikea couch back to the store one day and on another day, a friend took me down to look at the couch I saw online. We were pleasantly surprised with the great vintage condition of it. It had belonged to an elderly couple who undoubtedly took wonderful care of it. No rips, no stains... Just a little dusty. Which a good vacuum could take care of. It was perfect, I could easily shampoo it when needed and no worries with creasing cushions and sloppy covers. Well, this beauty is a bit longer than the Ikea couch, which is awesome and well built, the thing weighs a ton as the cushions are really heavy too. Geesh, they don't make em like they used to, unless you pay a fortune for a well made piece. I was able to talk the lady down a bit as well, which I preformed a happy dance in my mind. I got this couch for the fraction of the

 cost I spent at Ikea which I am so thrilled about. 

Sometimes we have to learn the hard way. I am happy I got my money back and I got something I really loved. I am glad I changed my mind in time...I would have been pretty down if I was stuck with something I didn't truly love. Don't you think it looks way better than the Ikea couch did? 

It is so much more me.... I just have to thank my wonderful Mr. Darling for putting up with my indecisiveness. He is so great about it all. He said as long as I don't change my mind again. He doesn't want a new couch every two months. I agreed to the terms. ;)

Now to add some cute pillows to it. I am just loving our new place.

 I feel so at home and so happy with all the bright colors. It's all coming together.

Now onto school preparations. 

My Little Sewing Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finally have a little sewing room to work in. Nothing fancy, but it works for me.
ENJOY THE PICTURES.