Happy 2013!

I have thought about what I'd like to see different in my life for 2013. I tend to be (am) a procrastinator. I'm not proud of that. I want to be the best me that I can be. So some changes need to take place. This requires discipline (another one of my weak points). So I'm praying for God's strength to tackle these areas that need to change. So here's to 2013!! Happy New Year!

A Beautiful Gift!

One of my patients gave me this beautiful gift this week. She made it. I've received several other gifts but this one is very special. I work as a nurse for a family doctor and I give my all to each patient. Seeing this gift just made my day. It actually felt like it was a personal gift from God Himself. I don't know why, but it did. So I thought I would share it with you.





It was beautifully wrapped with a pretty bow!





A Christmas Angel!



Isn't she beautiful!



Love the wings!



She's standing on a gold coloured charger plate.





The greenery looks so nice with it!







I just love her! I am so thankful for this gift!!

Isn't this what Christmas is all about? Being a blessing to each other and leaving an imprint on the hearts of others? Just like Jesus did for us, when he came to this earth, became a man, and died for us. Let's look for ways to leave an imprint on hearts this Christmas Season. Blessings!!   



Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

I've been wanting to take some pictures of my tree and other pieces of Christmas decorating, but for now I will share a recipe that I tried recently that got rave reviews in my home. (That means my son really liked them!) I purchased this cookbook from a local thrift store and have tried several recipes that have all turned out quite well. In this season where there is lots of "sweet" baking, muffins can be a welcome change.

 

 

Here is the recipe.



Muffins make a great gift too!



 

Mmmm Mmmm!



No Sew Christmas Runner

I've been wanting to make something "crafty" for Christmas, but as usual time is always a factor (and energy). I was in the stamping section at Michael's and saw a nice set of alphabet stamps. Then it occurred to me. I could stamp a runner or pillow instead of stitching them and be done a lot quicker! Instead of sewing I would just rip the edges which would give it the "rustic" look. And that's what I did and it turned out quite nice.

Used my 40% off coupon for these!

I attached a piece of flannel about one inch smaller than the runner. I did that because I wanted to stitch white stars or snowflakes on the runner and this makes it easier to hide the stitching on the backside.

I used osnaburg but you could use muslin or any type of cotton.  I coffee stained the fabric and baked it in the oven on a low temp and then ironed it.. I tore all four sides which made all the edges even and "ragged". I chose the phrase "Silent Night Holy Night" to stamp on the runner.

 

I used white thread and randomly stiched white flakes above the phrase. I used a dissolvable pen to draw a line for the letters and to make the stars.

This is the finished product. Little work and a good feeling of accomplishment!

A little vignette that I put together. I've already changed it a bit but am too lazy to take a picture.

Vintage labels give a new look!

I've been looking for some jars for awhile now for my bathroom to put cotton pads, Q-tips, and Epsom salts in.  I wanted jars with lids that came off by just lifting the lid off. I finally found three jars at the local thrift store. I painted the lids white and then applied a coat of modge podge. 

I happened upon some free labels to download at http://www.smallhomelove.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/vanity-storage-labels.pdf  There are three blank labels that you can fill in whatever you like. I used stamps to fill in one of the labels. I like how it turned out. I may change the other two so they look the same. (Gotta start getting ready for Christmas first!)

This is the label that I stamped. The other two labels I used, had what I wanted.  I just cut with fine scissors around the label and just used white glue to stick to the jar.

They're cute labels! The best part is, if you change your mind the labels wash off easily with warm water and soap and a different label can be applied. Here is a picture of the three jars together.

A very inexpensive project that takes very little time and you get a whole new look! These would look nice in the kitchen as well. You just choose what the label will say.

Never Forget...November 11, 2012

Some things are good to forget and some things should never be forgotten. One of the things that should never be forgotten is the sacrifices made by those who fought for our freedoms. This is one thing that I learned from my father while growing up. He was in Holland as a teenager during WW2. They lived on a farm and so had more access to food. Thousands of Dutch died due to starvation the last winter before the end of the war. The Nazi's knew they were losing and did what they could to destroy people's lives. The Canadians libetated Holland on May 4, 1945 and that is one of their national holidays. Whenever Dad met a Canadian veteran he thanked them. I have done the same. There were many heroes during the war and many of them did not carry guns. There were many citizens who fought for the freedom of their neighbours and even sacrificed their lives. I just bought a book by Corrie Ten Boom whose family hid Jews in their home during the war. They were betrayed and sent to camps. Corrie's sister Betsy died in the Ravensbruk camp. Corrie struggled with forgiveness after the war. Then God called her to go to Germany. It was there while at a meeting that she recognized a guard at the camp that she was at.
"When I saw this man I remembered all the cruelties he had committed, and I felt bitterness in my heart. But then I felt a wave of love pass through me. That was love through the Holy Spirit.
This man told me: "At Christmas I found the Lord Jesus. I took all my sins to Him. Then I asked for the grace to ask one of my victims for forgiveness. That is the reason I come to you. Will you forgive me all those cruelties? I could take this man's hand. If we forgive our enemies, we experience the ocean of God's love as never before. (Taken from the book, Not I, But Christ by Corrie Ten Boom)

Revamped Footstool

I am always on the prowl while at a thrift shop for small pieces of furniture that I can add my personal touch to. I found a footstool and brought it home. My husband tore it apart for me and we were left with the bare bones.  It's a bit of work but it looks so nice when it's done. I repainted the legs and threw everything else out except the wood and the hardware. It took me awhile to decide which fabric to use because I wanted it to "fit" in with the look of the living room. I also wanted to use something that wouldn't look dirty very easily. I bought new padding from the fabric shop and a thin foam pad to go around the base of the footstool. I used a cute vintage fabric that I purchased from The Quilt Junction in Waterford ON (www.quiltjunction.ca). The top of the footstool was covered with fabric that I had purchased awhile ago and was hoping to make curtains or a roman blind with. It actually works pretty good.



Ugly fabric huh!

I used the Folk Art Acrylic linen colour paint on the legs, and applied two coatings of mod podge.

The base was covered with a thin padding and then fabric.

Attaching the legs with a screwdriver.

This picture is sideways but we just wrapped it as good as we could and stapled away!

This is the top of the footstool. Looks like the kitten is working her way to the top of the couch!

A close up of the fabric I used. They actually work well together!

Voila! The finished product! It's very comfortable and the perfect height to rest our weary feet!





Just Pondering

New Look...New Attitude

I have a tendency to start things and not finish them. I don't mean to, it just kinda happens for many reasons. This blog being one of them. I think I was always wanting to try to have a "perfect" post, or something that would really be of interest. So I talked myself out of posting at all. I would look at other blogs and think that I could never measure up. That's another tendency that I have. Hence...the new attitude. I am who God created me to be, and that is someone unique. I am not perfect, but I'm glad that God uses us in our imperfections and He gets the glory! So, I will blog on and enjoy myself doing it as I hope you will too.

Expanding My World

I did something the other night that I’ve never done before. I had dinner with six women who I had never met.

I recently became acquainted with Sherry, who owns a gift shop very near to where I work. Just before Christmas, I walked over there hoping to find a gift for my mother. While paying for my purchases, we started in a conversation. One of the patients of the Doctor who I work for, who was also a friend of Sherry, had just passed away suddenly. As the conversation continued I was thinking about how God directs our paths and will randomly put a new person on that path and it is up to us what we do with that person. Several days later I was given a large gift basket and felt prompted to give it to Sherry. She was quite taken aback and very appreciative. At the end of the conversation, she invited me to a dinner she was hosting. I was a bit hesitant because I wouldn’t know anyone and that can be a bit scary. (Getting to know one new person at a time was enough for me!) Sherry assured me that they were “all good souls” just like I was. She gave me a hug and I left.
A few weeks later I dropped in to confirm that I would come to her dinner. She was quite happy and also told me how I had made her Christmas with the gift basket. After that visit I began to have doubts and was thinking that I would call her to cancel. That would have been the easy way, so I determined that this was a commitment that I was going to keep. I’m very glad I did. The meal was delicious, lots of laughs to be had, and new connections made. It turns out I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know some of the girls there. There were different backgrounds and different beliefs, but we had a good time. I’m not a big talker, but I joined in when I could. We each had to share a bit about ourselves and one thing that was weird or quirky about us. I couldn’t think of anything right away but then remembered that I could wiggle my ears. So quiet, shy me pulled the hair behind my ears and wiggled them for a group of women I hardly knew.

There is another dinner coming up and if I can make it, I will. My world was expanded that night and that was a good thing. If you look around, you’ll find someone who can be a part of your world. That’s always a good thing!

Diane

The Thrill of the Hunt

Every once in a while I like to pop in at a local thrift store for the "thrill of the hunt". I never know what I'm hunting for until I find it! There are friends of mine who will be happy about these expeditions, and there are friends of mine who have never stepped foot in a thrift shop. So for my fellow thrift shopper friends, I came home with a few things the other day. I found a cute black corduroy jumper, white

t-shirt, and a black short-sleeved cardigan (can't wear long sleeve sweaters at this stage of womanhood!). I also found a flat brown tray that I am going to paint (not sure what colour yet), (found some paint too) and put votive candles or tea lights on it with prim fixins. I enjoy looking through the craft/hobby section in the hopes of finding patterns or decorating books. I found a cross-stitch book with some samplers that have a lot of the old motifs in them. The idea is to create my own samplers in a smaller version. The best part is it all cost $25.00!

The Parlor Room

 The parlor room was the "face" of the family. It displayed the family's best furnishings, works of art, and status symbols.  This is where the guests were entertained, and family functions were held. This is my online “parlor room”; a place where I can entertain friends, share my various forms of “works of art”, and home decor. I don't have any earthly status symbols, but I do in heaven. I hope you'll drop by often.  Maybe I can inspire you to go somewhere new, or try something different. Life goes by too quickly. Enjoy it every day with the people God has in your life.
 TTFN