Procrastinators Unite!!!

Not long ago one of my
favorite bloggers, Melissa
at The Inspired Room, decided
to offer an opportunity for
anyone who has been putting
off a home DIY project to move
beyond our fear and get started.

As soon as I read this challenge
I knew what I had to do.



Some of you may remember my asking
your opinion as to what to do with
these some time ago.

Then I got scared.
Scared because my Mother-in-law
gave us these chairs and I don't
know what she might think about
my painting them cream...since that
is what I plan to do.

Chelsea and I went out today and
picked up paint and the new fabric
for the seats.

When I saw Melissa had begun the
Procrastinator's Party the
determination grew...
Here goes nothing!

Hopefully I will have some adorable
chairs to show you in a week or so.

I can see them in my mind's eye...
sure hope reality and expectations
meet nicely...

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

My First Outdoor Wednesday

Susan hosts this Outdoor Wednesday Party each week.
It has been fun to see how others are enjoying
the out of doors and wanted to join in.
To see the list of links just click on
this paragraph...



Coral Bells in their third year
potted on the deck.
I love how it keeps coming back.
I have two matching pots.



Hosta after overnight rain.
It has grown so much
this week.
Amazing!



Also lying outside this morning was this!



Apparently our chihuahua, Chloe,
found this either offensive
or a wonderful toy!



But when you look at
her face you just can't get
mad at her for something as
minor as this....



See what I mean?



Ooooh tough dog!
lol


Have a happy day!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Our Winnings

Warren's Mom, Georgia invited
Chelsea and I to
a Fashion Show last Thursday
evening.

This Fashion Show benefitted
New Hope Ministries. New Hope is
a wonderful organization that offers
many wonderful services to the Southern
Lancaster County area...primarily
in counseling on many levels.

One of the ways New Hope funds itself
is by running a Thrift Shop in Quarryville.
Chelsea and I shop there sometimes and in
fact a couple of weeks ago I found
two very wonderful
dressy outfits for just $7 each.
A real steal!

So, the organizers of this fashion
show took clothes from the store and
put them together in creative and current
ways using friends of the ministry from
the community. Our local State Representative
and his children were models, Chelsea's friend
Kara modeled, our Creative Memories Consultant
was the narrator.

As the evening went on there were more than 70
doorprizes given away.

I won something!
Something I desperately need.

I won a pedicure!
I won a facial!
A box full of Salon Goodies!

What I really wanted was the door prize
from Southern Living. A large, very brightly
colored bowl and Cookbook.




We got home and Georgia called to say
she had just found out she won the
Southern Living door prize.

Amazing...but better than that she was
going to give it to Chelsea.

So...guess what lives at my house now.

Can't you just see this with tortilla
chips surrounding a bowl of salsa?



Fun, fun!

So, Chelsea and I will enjoy it and then
when she grows up and moves out it will
go with her...along with a bunch of kitchen
stuff that she is collecting.

A Hope Chest.
A working Hope Chest.
That is what Chelsea has.

So, I have to say that we had
an enjoyable evening and it would
seem that a lot of money was raised
for a great organization.

I am sure you look for
ways to get involved in your
community. I would love to
read about the organizations
you support and why.

In these days when the government
wants to be the banker for all,
it is nice to see charity begin
at home...
♥♥Becky K.♥♥

It's Just a Tree...Or is It??

It was the third day.
God was in the process of
designing and creating a new
world.




He spoke and trees,
flowers and vegetables
appeared.




There was no "hocus pocus"...
simply a quiet command and from
nothing came beauty beyond
imagination.



Genesis puts it this way...

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.
(Don't you just love that? "And it was so." This is crazy good!)



The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.




And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.



Looking at this gorgeous tree at the corner of our home makes me think how amazing God must be.
If this is a representation of how
He thinks, creatively.
We bloggers are always on the hunt for the most creative and beautiful blog...
we compare ourselves, we admire...
BUT if God had a blog...
it would be a must read
for all of us because...

He is the very definition of Creative!


While we labor away with our hands arranging and rearranging pre-existing matter into lovely things, He simply spoke and "nothing" became all that we know!

He is Powerful!

The closest I come to verbally causing a change
in my environment is when I tell
my children to do something
and they do it.
The house can look pretty good in
short order... at least on the surface.
Insert grimacing smile here....

Nope, haven't mastered speaking all of the
plants of the planet into existence yet.

What a relief that I am not responsible for
this. God is so good at it anyway...just
look at his handiwork!



Ahhh...thinking the thoughts of Springtime
and thankfulness today!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Blue Skies~View from a Hammock

A Blue Monday Post!




The hammock went up on Saturday.

I climbed in and enjoyed the view!












This inspired such an attitude of awe and worship!


So, there I was enjoying the quiet and peace when I sensed
someone had joined me...



Turns out she had crawled under me in the hammock
to avoid being noticed. When she stood
up her shadow alerted me to her presence.
She is convinced now that I truly do have
eyes on the back of my head! lol

Pretty soon, I was out of the hammock
and she was in.



How did that happen??

Well, I certainly enjoyed the blue, blue skies
and lacy leaves while I had the chance.

Had to share the view!

Perhaps next week I can start sharing
my blue beauties from inside the house.


For more Blue Monday Posts head over to Smiling Sally's
happy blog and check them out.

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Because He Lives

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote
a song that expresses perfectly
how I feel this morning.

With all of the uncertainties
that life brings our way
and the concerns for our children
and family members it is so
wonderful to remember the words
to this song.



In this clip Bill and Gloria talk about why
this song was written and as I listened I was
struck again by how often history repeats itself
as it relates to chaos, uncertainty and bad news.

I was surprised to see a performance of the song
by the original Gaither Trio from 1972 at the end
of this clip. Quite different...



Be encouraged today...
Because He Lives!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

ANOTHER Rooster Happened!

Remember my proclamations that
I am not really a rooster person?

Apparently I was lying to myself.

Original Mr. Rooster does not look
amused.



But I think that he is secretly happy too.

After all, for $5 at a yard sale, how could
I let this handsome bird sit?



Oh my...

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

80 Degrees and....Stinky!

Tomorrow it will be warm...
and since they are doing this across the
street...
I am guessing the air will be a bit
fragrant as well.

Ahhh...Spring in Lancaster County!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Beautiful Walls

This is a post about
Living Beautifully...on purpose.
For more such posts see the Links
at Melissa's Inspired Room Blog.


If my walls could talk...

My tastes have changed a lot
over the past few years and I
find myself beginning to make some
changes...

It used to be that nearly every
decorative item in our home could
be directly traced to a particular
home party company.

Over the past few years I have gained
confidence that I can put things together
for myself and can love them.

I find more and more of the items on our
walls are there because of the history
of the piece, a family connection or just
the enjoyment that a piece brings.

For example, when Warren's Grandmother moved
into assisted living and her home was in
process of being sold I quickly volunteered to
find a home for this...




It so perfectly represents who Grandma Charlotte was.
So victorian and "into" the proper social scene.
Her flower garden pleased her so very much.

These are the colors
that filled her home.

From her dining room
to ours.



Now Grandma Charlotte is gone
from this world, however,
I love having this reminder of
the essence of the woman whom
we called "Little Grandma".

Our most recent wall art purchase
comes from Kirklands.
It is on the wall in our
Master Bedroom.



I love it for its colors and the image of
a mother and her baby.
She is so lovingly protective.
It speaks to the
heart of this mother.



In the hallway you would see this if you
were here today.



It is so good to remember the children
when they were little. Mikey had such
a wide smile. He was a wise little man
from the very beginning.
So energetic and easy to love.
Still is!

I am curious.
What do you put on your walls?
Why?
Are they just pictures or do they
inspire something in you?

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Eclectic Dinner

Have you ever had one of those days
where you just could not make up your
mind? It was my turn to make our Wednesday
family dinner...this involves our Mothers
and Pastor Mike. Each Wednesday at one
of the three houses on our street.

I decided that I would find something at
Costco to make...well, I did.

A couple of things and this is why the
meal was so unusual.

First, there was a zesty pizza with basil
leaves and fresh mozzerella. I kind of
thought of it as the appetizer. Just made
me feel better knowing what else was on the
menu.

Orange Chicken and Rice with a blend of Carrots,
Cauliflower and Broccoli. I KNOW they have
nothing to do with pizza. Nothing!

But, nonetheless, I served it all.
For dessert, I lightly cooked some frozen
strawberries and sugar, did a little mashing
to release the juice and make a sauce, leaving
some berries whole.




I took pound cake and sliced
it longways then layered it with the strawberries,
a cream cheese icing/coolwhip concoction and a banana.
Yummy!

Eclectic...but satisfying.
A little Italy, a little Orient,
and a lot of American Summertime!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

So Glad to Get My Face Back!

You were all so supportive yesterday
as I dreaded visiting the nice people
at the Dentist office.

I survived.

Did you know that some dentist chairs
have massage features now?
How awesome!

During those times when there were fifty
pairs of hands in my mouth and water hovering
at the back of my throat I could focus on the
wonderful kneading happening on my back,
which was very stressed after bowling five
games.

It just so happens that the tooth being
crowned is the last one, on the left, in
the very back. Having TMJ my jaw literally
cracks every time I open my mouth,
which always generates
sympathy from both Dentist and Assistant.
Should love that...but are those dollar signs
I see? Perhaps they think I should wear something
to sleep that would improve this.
Been there...made me gag.
Won't go there again.

About the time they were done working
on me, my face was numb from one side to
the other. This lasted well into the evening
while I complained long and loud.

Finally, when my face was completely back
we celebrated with banana splits...homemade.
Never too soon to start the next cause to
head back to the dentist, is it?

Truth be told, I have a wonderful dental team.
Everyone in this office is great.
Now that they have that massaging chair
I am thinking they may see more of me...
after bowling...they don't even charge
extra for this! lol

Mikey drove us yesterday so I distracted
myself by taking
these photos of Spring
coming back from the ground up.







The kids stayed in the van while I had
my dental work done...turned out it was
about an hour and a half.

They knew they could come in to the waiting room
but they were busy making movies and listening to
music. Maybe one of these days I'll show you one
of the silly videos they made.
Makes us laugh...
♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Bad Patient will Get Crown

A Dentist and Dental Hygienist Prepare for an Examination


I was a dental assistant.
We were an office that specialized
in Root Canals...Endodontics.

I always felt for our patients
and was great with them.
Because they were the patient
and going through something
unpleasant.

I, however, am a terrible patient.
The normal novocain makes my heart
race, so they have to use alternative
stuff that never works as well.

I grip the arms of the chair as if
that will help.


Dentists Chair

I look suspiciously at all of the
instruments to see if they are freshly
autoclaved and properly sterile.


Little Boy with a Toy Dentist Set

I read in between the lines of what the
Dentist and Assistant are saying and assume
they are secretly laughing at me.

I hate being the patient.

Today I will begin the process of a crown
that has been recommended for the past five
or more years. Thankfully this tooth has
not broken...but as a sufferer of TMJ after
a bad experience with wisdom teeth removal
I do not love having my mouth open for long
periods.

Whine...whine...whine...that is me today.

But, it is time.
We are going to do it.
Today, should you hear screaming from
the general direction of Lancaster County
...it is not me...

I just whimper!

Hope you have no dental work today.

Love Ya!
♥♥Becky K.♥♥