What's for Breakfast?

What do you eat for breakfast?

Sunday we went out for breakfast, and I splurged and had french toast, bacon and eggs.

Splurged in calories, that is!

 Usually I have a bowl of  granola
 while I read, or check email and blogs from my iPad

I like to make my own granola so I can control the sweetness

I mix oats, chopped walnuts, cinnamon, just a bit of brown sugar

and a little drizzle of melted butter

 

and toast it for 20 minutes at 350



 I add unsweetened almond milk and fruit

* * *

Sometimes I sit and eat in my tiny 1930's breakfast room

This cute clock on the table, with AWAKEN on it,

 was a gift at our Women's Conference ~ that was the theme

 

The EAT MORE CHICKEN cow was left over from a

 Chick-fil-A Leadercast event we had at church

It's since gone on to another home. 

The room has two corner shelves

 full of the birds and the bees

and pretty pottery

and of course some Roseville

Sitting in my cozy little breakfast room

and looking out to our cozy little courtyard

is a nice way to start the day.

Counting My Blessings

xo  Susy

For the very first time I'm joining the party at
Rednesday
and
Vintage Inspiration Friday 

Notes from the Potting Bench #3

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

Edited for My Favorite Thing @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage

I'm so very grateful for the ladies of my Life Group ~ we really DO do life together.

Twice a month, on Monday evenings, you'll find my living room packed with women of various ages and backgrounds.  They come early and stay late (sometimes continuing their conversations outside long after I've turned off the lights.)

They have their favorite spots to sit.

  Some like the sofas near the coffee table. 

Others like the comfy chairs back in the "loge" section

 

 While the group was originally formed around

 our mutual interest in business (and still is)

 

 we can not escape the challenges of relationships, finances or health issues

 

A few have come and gone, but the core group

 has been together for several years now

 

 Over time we've lost parents, marriages, businesses, jobs, and houses.

  One lost her infant son.

On the other hand, some have grown their business,

 found meaningful employment, and written books

we've been healed from cancers, and restored to families

We've cried, laughed, been inspired, hugged and clung.
  We look to each other for strength, support,
 understanding and accountability

We sing, we study, we pray - oh how we pray. 

 I think the best part is seeing how this group of women

has learned to pray in faith, and see their prayers answered

 

I've watched them stabilize, mature, cross over their "red seas",

be transformed and then, in some cases, move on.

  It is an honor to be considered their leader

 and to have the privilege of sowing into their lives.

Collectively, they are one of the joys of my life,

  ...and the reason I still put up a Christmas tree (:

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy 

 If you're looking for me, I'll be over at

My Favorite Thing

The Case of the Tall Clock

My husband recently asked me to clean my junque out of the garage.

He's SO funny!
However, in the spirit of cooperation, I decided to bring a piece of furniture   from the garage into the house.

That counts, right?

I had an empty corner that was begging for something 

tall and skinny.  (Ha! I used to be tall and skinny)

So my sister and I lugged in a tall clock case

and set 'er down in the corner.

Perfect!

 This was a display piece

 I had in my store for many years.

There were no clock works

so I added a battery-operated clock face.

We're off to a good start.

Then, of course, I had to fill the empty space next to it.

So I pulled in an orphan chair

added a tray for a plant

found a big ol' pot and added one of my obsession plants

(sansevieria)

and walaa!  mission accomplished.

But I couldn't leave it alone, so I added a picture.
(I can't help myself)

 Then I moved the chairs back in place.

Problem is, there's so much stuff in the garage

it didn't make a dent.

And now there's just more stuff in the house /~"

Nevertheless, I'm

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

I'm linking to
Wow Us Wednesday
Vintage Inspiration Friday

What was I thinking?

It's been said ~ A new identity means a new mentality, and a new mentality means a new destiny.

It's true!  We have the power to change our present circumstances and our future outcomes ~ by changing the way we think. At the core of how we think, is who we think we are.

I love what Paul states in Romans 12:2.  He's not talking about thinking positive thoughts, or happy thoughts ~ but about aligning our thoughts with God's word; who He says we are, and what He says we can do.  It means being changed from a caterpillar into a butterfly.  Permanently ~ no going back!

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.   Romans 12:2 NLT

Here it is from the Message Bible

It's a process and will require hard work, but we can do it!

 Isn't He good to us!

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

 

I'm spreading the word at

Spiritual Sundays

Party Girls

I look forward to the monthly Note Card Party, hosted by Vee at A Haven for Vee.

It's really simple to participate and a great opportunity to meet other bloggers.  Just choose 4 pictures from previous posts that would make a good note card.  I like to keep a theme.

This month it's "The Girls".  I value my network of girlfriends, and like movies and books about courageous women. One of my favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt, "Women are like teabags.  You never know how strong they are until they get in hot water."

  This Vogue pattern is a nod to my mother.

  She was strong and beautiful and stylish, and she sewed for us.

I'm not sure why I decorate with pictures of women, but there you go.

One of the pictures below was my mother's and perhaps it was just a 

way to continue her presence in my life.

These are all cropped closeups of pictures hanging in my house.

This sweet cherub is in my dining room

This young lady is in the hall bath

This beauty is also in the dining room

And this one was originally in my dress shop hanging

behind the jewelry counter

You can see the original Our Girls here, with proper attributions for the artwork.

It's remains one of my most popular posts, with new page views every week.

Thank you Vee for a fun party!

I'm puttin' on some sparkle and goin' a-visitin'

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

Join the party!