More on Juicing...

I'm still doing the juicing in my Vitamix!

Above is my lunch from the other day before blending it...here it is after...

It had fresh asparagus from the garden in it!

I started out sticking to the recipes from my Vitamix cookbook, but now that I have the hang of how much liquid etc...to put in, I just make up my own. :)

Isn't this one colorful!? I made it with red cabbage. :)

Yard Sale Happenings...

Here's Bri, Chippy and I at the yardsale we had Sat. 

It was a tremendous amount of work, but we are happy that it was successful, and that it is OVER! LOL

We got to visit with our neighbors, meet new people, get rid of  junk excess items, and make some money.

It was a community-wide sale, so we had a lot of people that came!

We were able to fill up our whole driveway! :)

Everything we didn't sell went straight to Goodwill!

Answered prayer...

Thanks to those of you who prayed for my sister last Thursday.

For those of you who didn't know about it...my sister went in for a procedure on her back,

and the Dr. thought that he punctured her bowel.

Turns out he did puncture her sacroiliac though which is painful. :(

While my sister, Laurie, was in the hospital, my family had babysitting duty...or rather, dogsitting duty!

Thankfully my sister didn't have to stay overnight in the hospital--she was able to go home and rest in her own bed...and with her own puppy :)

We are thankful to God for the answered prayer, and His goodness to us!

March Madness!

What kind of madness you may ask is happening around here in March? Well...above is the great breadmaker I got off of craigslist for $5 (it even ejects the bread when it's finished!) :)

Also, I am trying to lose weight, and eat healthier...I'm doing this by using the awesome Vitamix that I won!

I'm juicing breakfast and lunch, but eating a sensible dinner...

Below are some shots taken from our yard today--spring is happening here!

The first Dandelion! (my husband is thrilled) LOL

The wind was blowing as you can see by the flapping of the clothes on the line...

I love feasting my eyes on these flowers that have been hidden for a whole year!

What have they been doing all that time anyway? :)

My sweet hubby bought me flowers--so I get to feast my eyes inside too!

And, my son picked daffodils and put on the living room shelf too...

On top of perusing the yard, we're getting ready for a yardsale on Sat. I'm hoping we sell every last item! :)

Yep, I'm a true optimist!

Hope you're enjoying Springtime in your little corner of the world!

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant;

if we did not sometimes taste of adversity,

prosperity would not be so welcome.

~Anne Bradstreet

Bri's project...for the bride-to-be...

Bri's had her sewing machine buzzing...in preparation for her friend's bridal shower...

She wanted to make her an apron with her new initials on it...(which were done by our neighbor)

The material had little cherries on it (Bri's friend asked for red utensils and bowls for the kitchen so Bri tried to go with her theme) isn't this material cute?

I helped when the machine was "acting up" :)

Can you tell in this shot that she lined it? (that was a first for us both!)

Here's the bride-to-be opening it up...

I think she liked it!

Had to get this cute shot of the bride-to-be wearing her "hat" of bows :)

We look foward to the June wedding!

Quillow

Bri finished her quillow and I thought you might like to see it!?

I thought it turned out great! (A quillow is a quilt that folds up into a pillow)

Above is the "pillow part" that it all folds up into...

Here's a full length shot

I had her fold the corner over so that you can see the back is blue gingham. :)
I'm very proud of her--she worked very hard!

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Prov. 31:31

Pure-Hearted and Powerful

This was sent to me by my friend Marie, and I thought I would share it...thanks Marie!

Pure-Hearted and Powerful

God is seeking people who are pure in heart (Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8).

A person who has a pure heart, who is wholeheartedly serving God, is truly powerful. In Psalm 51:6 David tells us that having a pure heart means having truth in our “inner being,” which is who we really are deep in our hearts. Having a pure heart starts with paying attention to our thoughts, because from our thoughts come our words, our emotions, our attitudes, and our motives.

God will not bless actions that are done out of wrong motives or an impure heart.

Purity of heart is not a natural trait; in most of us, it is something we must work on. First Thessalonians 4;3 teaches us to desire and work toward purity of heart because that is God’s will. This is a challenge that every believer should be excited about accepting, but we do not have to face it alone.

God has created us to be dependent upon Him, to bring Him our challenges and allow Him to help us with them. Only He knows what is in our hearts, and He is an expert at removing the worthless things from us while retaining the valuable.

There is a price to pay to have a pure heart, but there is also a reward. We do not have to be afraid to make the commitment to allow God to do a deep purifying work in us. We may not always feel comfortable about the truth He brings us, but if we do our part—facing it, accepting it, and allowing it to change us—He will make sure that we are blessed.

Lotsa Fun!

Last night we had the privilege of fellowshiping with friends...

It had been far too long since we had gotten together...

So we tried to make up for lost time by having a late night! LOL

I don't know who had more fun, the kids...or the parents!

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one”

C.S. Lewis

It's Time for a Change!

I was thinking of decorating ideas today...now that it's time to change for Spring!

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not that great at decorating, but thought maybe I'd

share some ideas that might get your own creative juices going!

Btw, most of my ideas are cost effective ones-- cheap budget friendly!

First, get a fresh start. Fold up and put away your fleece blankets, open up the curtains and let the light in...wipe down your kitchen cabinets, do a little decluttering, and go along the ceiling with a long dusting wand (or an old towel drapped over a yardstick to de-cobweb)

I decorate a lot with napkins! (Most of which I already had-or I pick them up at Goodwill)

In the spring, I get out my pretty pastel-checked napkins and place them on the end tables...

in the center of the dining table-under the centerpiece, or even wrap them around my jar candles and secure with a rubber band.

It won't show because I fold it so the flaps cover the band.

Once your flowers begin to bloom--they're a wonderful tool to use for decorating! We have tons of daffodils, and we get bud vases and place them everywhere-even the powder room! Or, use silk.

 

Print out Scripture verses in a pretty font off the computer and frame them--make them "Spring" verses...

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;  :)

Fill some empty pint canning jars with jelly beans and tie with a bow or put pretty spring fabric over the lid...

Have a fireplace mantel? Fill empty vases with Easter eggs and place one on each end... Or fill them with silk daffodils or other springtime flowers (you can reuse them!)

Or, put your candle holders on the mantel - use varying heights-and then put pastel candles in them.
(You can do the same in your china closet)  I've also decorated with my pastel napkins in there too)

If you have pastel or floral teacups--feature them!
Tuck in a silk flower or 2, or
use Easter Eggs.

I look at the thrift store through the year and pick up little "birds" and "nests" - these are cute in the spring too!
Force some bulbs--or forsythia branches (they're easy!)
Try to use what you have at home--napkins, scarves,egg cups, teacups, pictures, frames, rubber stamps and supplies...old cards...stuff your children have made...baskets...kids toys(little chicks, bunnies)! Candy! You name it!

Get a branch off of a tree (birch is pretty) and hang little Easter eggs from it...

I hope this sparks your thinking a little...have fun!

Great Giveaway!

Life In A Shoe is hosting a giveaway for a $50 gift certificate at Marie Madeline Studio!

The above apron is only one of the adorable items available to choose from.

There are skirts, jumpers, handbags and quilts too!

Hop on over and enter!

Life

I love the every day stuff!

Seeing Bri get up in the morning to sit in the sun...and getting a lap full of love

Making Spaghetti Sauce for dinner...using garlic from our garden!

And parsley that I froze during the summer...

Remember when I froze the herbs in ice cubes? That's what is in the baggie...I used the chives and the basil

The canning jar here is full of the spaghetti sauce I made and canned during the summer...

Here are the "Herb Cubes" in with the Italian Sausage

Yum!

I like to hear the piano being practiced...

See Brad doing his schoolwork...

Hearing Chippy snore...

Take time to "smell the roses" around your home today...

this is the stuff that life is made of!