Monday, November 23, 2009

A Great Loss

This weekend my dear friend's sister went home to be with the Lord. I am at a loss for words to comfort her. There is nothing that I can do to ease her grief.

For each cloud, there's a rainbow
For each shadow, the sun
And for each parting, memories when sorrow is done.



Saturday, November 21, 2009

Samaritan's Purse

This is an important post and worthy of all to read it.
Not because of fancy wording, or stunning photography ...
(it clearly lacks these elements)
but because of its higher purpose.
It's for needy kids in this world and it's called
THE SAMARITAN'S PURSE
Christmas Child Shoe Box

For years now I have been collecting this and that to fill shoe boxes. I spread the collection of items over the year and it is rather rewarding to say the least.

I include some toys (the recipients are kids you know), some school supplies and basic hygiene items and anything else that I can find.

Some years I go to the shoe department and ask for empty shoe boxes and other years I find a location, like our church, who supply us with the official Christmas Child Shoe Box.

The youtube video below gives clear instructions of this ministry's purpose and drive behind collecting these shoe boxes. The Samaritan's Purse is a worldwide organization ... and I realize that this video is filmed in Australia or New Zealand or someplace like that, but the message is the same.
Please take the time to Google the
Christmas Child Shoe Box Ministry
in your area and do what you can for the kids.
You will be glad that you did!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Origin of Pumpkin Pie

My daughter, the Dreamer, sent me this descriptive picture entitled
"Origin of Pumpkin Pie"
I can only say that I am glad that Canadian Thanksgiving was weeks ago as this may have put me off the traditional dessert for a while :o)

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Hail Stones of Blessing

This week has seen a variety of weather patterns. Blue skies with sunshine one day. Rain and hail stones pelting down the next.

In this picture my camera captured droplets of hail as it fell from the sky.

Here I am with my bare naked toes. You can see it accumulating at my feet.

Don't worry. Be happy. This large 'hail stone' is not as it appears. During the summer I had frozen a ice cream bucket of water so that I could cool a large thermos of drinking water for a church picnic we had. Here is what remains of it after days of melting on the grass.

Our picnic table was covered with drops of glass.
Such a pretty yet freak change in the weather.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Butler's Pantry - Part 5 of 5

Well we got 'er done. The Butler's Pantry is officially complete! Looking back it really didn't take that long once we put our minds to it. Probably arranging things back on their shelves was the most time consuming.

I had purchased this curly metal hanger a LONG time ago hoping one day to incorporate it into the room. My Tupperware strainers fit perfectly on it don't you think? We made a trip to Home Depot and purchased a very inexpensive double track light to replace the ugly single light bulb fixture we had been using. The new one is brown metal and matches the curly hanger.

Next came all the dish sets that I have been finding at Thrift Stores lately. I had promised to show you them, so here is a sweeping view. Hopefully later I will set up some Tablescapes so that you can share in my new found joy.

Wow, looks like I may have gone a bit over board!

All in all I am so pleased. Items are shelved in an orderly fashion, the room is clean and bright, and everything is easily accessible ... I wonder how long this will last? :o)


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Butler's Pantry - Part 4 of 5

The walls are painted so it is time to move stuff in. First I washed off the gray metal shelving units and we put them on the left and right wall. First items to put in their new place are my two bread machines. One given to us as a Christmas present about 13 years ago, and one I found at a thrift store for $15 last year. I figure the old one will pack it in one day, so I want to be ready. At present both of them are working perfectly well. On the up side, I can make twice as much bread at one time!

Next hubby put up the new wire shelves on the back wall. Oh baby ... they are beautiful. We chose to get the 16" depth shelves. 12" was too shallow and 20" seemed too deep. 16" was just right!

Hopefully tomorrow I will have filled the shelves and have the Butler's Pantry complete.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Butler's Pantry - Part 3 of 5

At this point Hubby chose to open up the ceiling to check for moisture. Years ago we had a water pipe leak and he just wanted to make sure all was dry. This was relatively easy for him as originally he had covered the pipes etc with white metal. A few screws and it was off. All seemed to be fine in there, so it was covered back up again.

Then came the cutting in of the paint. We chose a pale beige or tan. Small room calls for lighter colours.

The room was painted with two coats to cover the original green walls. The floor was washed and baseboards put in. So love-i-lee.

A little bit of thin crown mouldings at the ceilings and the room is ready for occupancy!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Butler's Pantry - Part 2 of 5

Last night Hubby and I removed EVERYTHING out of the Butler's Pantry. For such a small room (about 6' by 6') we were shocked how much stuff was actually in there.

It now overflows down the hallway, into the kitchen and some even ended up in the foyer. The mess that this has produced only presses us onward to complete the task ... sooner than later.

Inside the room we first removed all built-in shelving that hubby had quickly installed 14 years ago. Back then we were completely renovating the entire house, so money was even tighter then than it is now. He used old bi-fold doors to make shelves along the back wall. They served their purpose over the years, but they were ugggg-lee.

One thing that was neglected in the past renovation was to wall off a window to the outside. You see our Butler's Pantry used to be the bathroom. Thus a window was in the room. When we moved the bathroom down the hall, this room became the Butler's Pantry. Probably a last minute decision. The window was simply boarded off and actually with all the shelves of stuff in there, I hardly noticed the plywood.

If it were a larger room, we might have decided to punch out the window for natural lighting. But the room is smallish and we need the wall space for shelving. Here is Hubby putting up some dry wall after he put some boards up in the space, and stuffed in some insulation. It is probably one of the most insulated bit of wall in the whole house!

Now we are patiently waiting for the 'mud' to dry. Hubby is out in the work shop finding lengths of baseboard for the floor and bits of crown moulding or quarter-round for the ceiling. It is an exciting time!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Butler's Pantry - Part 1 of 5

Hubby and I have our work cut out for us this next while. We are going to tackle a remodel of our Butler's Pantry just off of the kitchen area.

As you can see by these pictures, we haven't given it much thought in the past many years. But really, doesn't EVERYONE have a closet or storage room like this behind a closed door??? If the answer is NO, then continue to another blog. If YES, then you will rejoice with me as we renovate this one.

The funny thing about such areas is that the owner usually knows exactly where everything is. I know that is a fact with me. The organization system just don't look pretty!

We are not planning on putting in a lot of cash into the renovation, just smarts. Most of the invaluable (?) items I have in this room will remain, but we do have to purge somewhat. I want to incorporate my recent fetish for dishes.

A dark picture to be sure, but somewhere underneath all these dishes lies my dining room table. It has only been a few weeks, but we want it back!
Stay turned for views from a make over room.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Today is Sunday, November 1st. Another month has passed and begun. In church this morning our pastor challenged us to remember God and His ways this month as November 11th is Remembrance Day here in Canada. Yes, we are supposed to wear our Poppies in our lapel, and remember those who fought for our freedom, BUT we are also urged to remember Him.
~ * ~
I own many many different flip calendars that I have used over the years. They are not year specific and so I can glean from them over and over again. I read five of them today and want to share with you their words ...
~ * ~

A Psalm in My Heart
Cast all your cares on God; that anchor holds.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

~ * ~

Every Time I Get My Act Together ...
The Curtain Comes Down!
We always have the option to choose joy!
Barbara Johnson

~ * ~

Bless Your Heart Each New Day
Let Your Light so shine in my home today,
that those who dwell therein will receive something of Your radiance. Amen
Mary Bevis and Nini Sieck

~ * ~

Folk Wisdom
The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want,
drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.
Mark Twain

~ * ~

My Utmost for His Highest
"Do you not know that ... you are not your own?"
I Corinthians 6:19

The first thing God does is get us grounded on strong reality and truth. Why shouldn't we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. If God can accomplish His purposes in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?
Oswald Chambers

~ * ~

All share wise words for today.

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