On summer's wings....

 We have just spent the most delightful week.  Our daughter and grandsons were here from the sunny south.  We spent one day at Storybook Forest in Ligonier.  Such a beautiful place, lots of storybook cottages and such.  And the name is charming in itself.   The ladies that were dressed up as Mother Goose and in particular the Old Lady in the Shoe....and yes,  the nice little lady on The Good Ship Lollipop....grabbed our boys for sweet hugs.

 Here is the big bad wolf!  Isn't he scary looking?  That sly fellow.

 Our grandson liked this clock.  I liked those cute mice on the rail.

 Every little thing was charming and took one back in time when fairy tales came to life in our imaginations.

    Wheee, what fun!  Papa and I just watched but we did stay until dark when everything lit up.

 There were hardly any lines to wait in and the temperature was in the 70's.   It couldn't have been a nicer day.  Stuffed animals were won and candy apples were brought home like prizes.  Sort of like your dreams coming true for one perfect summer day.  Loved the family fun.  I hadn't realized my blog was so over due for an update!  Summer has been flying by.  I thank the Lord for these special times!

Special Things....

 We live near a nursery that has an amazing sale every summer.  Our yard and patio are filled with beautiful flowers we would not  have if not for this  give-a-way sale.  Oh,  how blessed we are. I think most all places have something special about them.  Stores or antique shops or  something that is unique to that area.  For instance,  Newell, WV is a small town,  and not much to offer but...the Homer Laughlin factory is there,  with their fun outlet.  Ahhh...you'd love it!

 How sweet to have an angel fountain in your garden.....even if she doesn't pour water,  and was a clearance item because her pump is broken....and one may not have electricity way out in the back yard!  Broken in the eyes of the store manager,  but a thing of sweetness to the customer.  Just the very thing to sit in the midst of an old-fashioned circular flower bed.

 My larkspur!  This beauty, is a great re-seeder and one  of the few flowers that are a gorgeous blue.  This one is more purple-y....but really the flowers are a combination of blue & purple.  Sometimes pink or white also. They retain their color when pressed also.

 Part of my Gladys Taber collection.  She has a wonderful way of talking to you....through her books, and lived life so appreciatively.   I have tried a couple of times to start a journal...but.  It fell flat, and I stopped trying.  My best effort was a collage 3x5 daily card journal.  Now...that I like to do and have forgotten all about it.  May be....its time to get back to it.  We forget how  important our own lives are and that God loves us like we can't imagine.  John 3:16 is proof of that.  There is no love compares to his.

 Here is an old vintage treasure!  'A Spinner in the Sun' by Myrtle Reed.  (You can download the Kindle edition of this book for free on Amazon.) We read this aloud one summer and really...really....enjoyed it.  I have a collection of her books, and enjoyed almost all of them.  Picture flickering candlelight....and a woman at the piano,  quaint and earnest.  With a story...and song.

 Wishing you blessings!

Glorious summer....

 Isn't this yellow shoulder bag beautiful!  It was made by a local lady and is so pretty.  A gift from my sweet husband.  We enjoyed an all day outing, (got the purse that day)  and we stopped in ever so many shops and ended up at my favorite antique store where I found a Gladys Tabor book I didn't have before.  Ahhh.....a perfect day.

 I was delighted with my find of vintage berry bowl by Homer Laughlin ....and on the dollar table outside Grahams Antique Mall.  The sweet little dog clock was a present from hubby that day.  What fun!

 This watercolor app delights me so many times. Pansies are easy to enthuse about of course.  Aren't they everybody's favorite?

 Artwork made of glass.....hanging like the star it is,  in my window.   Every day is filled with rich blessings,  and a promise of greater things to come in eternity for those trusting Jesus completely for their salvation.  When I got saved,  the dear evangelists wife wrote in my Bible.  'this book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book'..... truth for sure.  I shall always love her for leading me to Jesus.

Romans chapter 10, verse 9.  'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised  him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.'  He died to save us from the  punishment of our sins..heaven or hell.

 verse 8 of that chapter says...the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach.  The choice is ours!

 I love how the Bible spells everything out again and again.  Before I got saved, it annoyed me to hear the gospel invitation over and over.   After I accepted Jesus as My saviour....it blesses me to hear the call go out again and again for those whose need is still not met.

I just made this 'Green Dream'  spinach smoothie this morning and we gave it 5 stars!  I used a dollop of  honey instead of the Truvia & used frozen strawberries.  This smoothie has a permanent home with us for sure. It is delish.  ~~~ I hope your day is filled with blessings.  Summer is so gorgeous,  in spite of mosquitos. ( I mix equal parts of Avon's...'skin so soft' with olive oil,  and add a few drops of lavender oil and it keeps me safe from the mosquitos...but I am then so oily....lol.)

I've been reading up a storm,  all cozy with the fan going and my very own 1st ever ...recliner.  Lol....now I understand the popularity of recliners with menfolk.  =)

 I have been lost in a world of books lately. And we had a funeral to attend of a very dear friend recently.  That changes life for a while.  It sobers and saddens even though we may know very well our beloved friend is with Jesus.

 This sweet print hangs in our dining room.  I have always loved artwork of faces.  Very much.

 My Mother and her Mother and sisters worked in a glass factory, years ago.  I don't know if it has anything to do with my love of dishes or not.  England does it the best....I think.  I'm a bit sad that American men look down on teapots.  I do so love them.

Many years ago I read my 'Grace' books with such enjoyment and blessing.  But they became so familiar to me over the years that I had to stop reading them.  I could remember the stories without thinking!  But now, it is as if they are rather new, in a way because so much time has gone by.  I just re-read two with the greatest enjoyment.  And I have never read another Christian fiction that stirred my heart like Grace Livingston Hill's books do.  They encouraged me to pray more and read God's word more.  To me, they are alive with right doctrine and truths,  that stir the heart and become an active help in the Christian life,  along with a good story line.  I am just about ready to start 'Rainbow Cottage'.  (sigh of contentment!)

I am delighted that the video of Alice Herz Sommers was a blessing!  I still cannot get over her and find myself telling others about that video as a topic of conversation.  What a legacy of cheerfulness and hope she left humanity.

I came across 'Extreme Cheapskates' on Netflix and though it is a bit  ( a lot)  over the top...lol....it is interesting and I can't stop watching the episodes.  I hope your day is restful and blessed!  Philippians 4:19  'But my God shall supply all your need according to  his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.'

Inspirational, pianist, Holocaust Survivor, Alice Herz-Sommer - 109 yea...

Alice-Herz-Sommer!

I wish I had a picture to insert here of Alice-Herz-Sommer, but here is a link  to a  photo on Amazon.  She was a concert pianist who was a Holocaust Survivor.  She lived to be 110 years old!  You can buy her books yet and see interviews of her speaking and playing her piano on you tube.  Netflix has a wonderful documentary of her called 'The Lady in Number 6'.   Trust me,  you'll love it.  She was  inspirational,  a wonderful lady!  And,  she had a Facebook page which is still up.  Many pictures & so on.  I sure have loved seeing the Netflix documentary about her.  I will never forget it.

I was able to get 3 free samples of her books from my itunes store.   I'll enjoy reading them and then get the option to purchase the entire book.   I like free samples,  they are a nice little gift and they pay off for the Apple itunes store.  I purchased two books just Saturday evening.  (with pleasure)  =).  I hope you have time to enjoy getting to see the joy of Alice-Herz-Sommer...I just checked and if you go to you tube and type in Alice Herz Sommer the Lady in Number 6 ...the documentary I saw on Netflix is all there....love it.  I will watch it again myself!  This shows what a blessing we can be to others.  We never know the impact our lives will have ...no matter what.

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  Psalms 55:22

A busy summer!

 I am so excited to see that our baby blueberry bush has not only survived its first winter but has blueberries!!!!   Now to find an old lace curtain soon to hang over them so that the birds don't eat them up before we can enjoy them.  I am happy.

 This pansy just goes to show you don't have to be perfect to be enjoyed!   Isn't it gorgeous?!

 These iris' were beautiful, very large and showy.  They make my other ones look like 2nd rate..lol.

 Volunteers like these are always welcome.  This is not a stingy plant, they throw their seed far and wide.    Several seeds jumped out of their bed and are...blooming merrily where they are not supposed to be.

Oh how perfect our God is....the intricate design and beauty of his creation touches my heart with wonder.

We have had a busy week....hubby replaced the shingles on the roof.  What a hard working group of men that labored together....Godly friends....and we are thankful to them for coming to help.  The weather looked so rainy and overcast the first of the week,  but God blessed....and all is finished.  I was so worried about safety and so on, but every worry was put to rest.  'What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee'.  Psalm 56:3

Beauty in a pick-up truck...

We spoiled ourselves by buying a truckload  full of hanging baskets and plants at our local greenhouse.  They have the most wonderful flowers & prices.  Can you believe $10.  for a huge  hanging basket?  It was a delight to pick out flowers there.   Some of my favorites are lobelia and coleus.

We are hoping for a sunny day to plant the bedding plants.  I already got a nasty mosquito bite on my  neck just from moving pots on a shady part of the patio.  So....overcast  days have me remembering to be careful..to wait for hot sunny days to get working outside.