“Life is too short to drink from an ugly mug!”

That’s what I say to myself 

every time I select my mug for the day.

Hugs and Blessings,

Mèmére

Smile!

Give me a S

Give me a M

Give me a I

Give me a L

Give me a E

What does it spell?

SMILE!

I always remind Precious Husband that it doesn't take much to make me smile.  Personally I think this is a good thing.  Precious Husband smiles when he sees me get excited picking out inexpensive little yellow dancing flowers that will make us both smile (hopefully a long time) as we travel down the highway.

My prayer in life is that I always will be satisfied and content with the small little daily blessings that come our way.  God does give us daily blessings if we just keep our eyes and heart open.

I will sing to the Lord all my life; 

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Psalm 104:33

Praise the Lord. 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

his love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13:6

I like this quote from A.W. Tower:

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. 

My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 28:7

Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.

Psalm 89:52

Love and Hugs,

Mèmére

We Are Off Like A Turtle!

.

Well, we are getting down to the nitty gritty.  We have "practiced" the RV life for nearly 3 months now here in Mesa and this Sunday we will pull out for the first maiden voyage in Miss Adie.

What an experience going from a two story 3700 square foot house to a 40 foot motor home.  Deciding what to take and keep and what to pass on.  Oh, the emotional pain it has brought a few times.  In the scheme of things what we are doing to live this adventure will be well worth it though.

Mom gave me the little turtle you see above years ago.  It is a poor picture but she is holding a planter with flowers on it and it is filled with mint from my yard.  Once upon a time I collected (among many other things) turtles.

The RV life demands that you carry only that which is necessary but in my case also that makes me smile and this little turtle makes me smile.  

Next week we start out headed to Ogden, Utah where we will visit Precious Husband's brother and his family.  From there we go to Kentucky via South Dakota where we will take up residency with driver's licenses and license plates.  Oh my, who would have thunk it :-)

Before I close I want to remind you that one of my main reasons for blogging is to communicate to my family and with that in mind I want to tell my children something today.  My precious husband, your father,  is the most generous and most kind man in the whole world and you children are blessed to be able to call him "dad"!

Love and Hugs,

Mèmére

Too Many To Count

Cookbooks! Cookbooks! Cookbook!  Yes, I have an affinity for cookbooks.  I have quite a selection too!  Been collecting them for about 40 plus years I guess.  I have inherited loved ones cookbooks, I have purchased vintage charmers at my favorite thrift shops.  In the beginning years of my collection I belonged to a cookbook book club where you purchased several to start at a very low price and then once a month you purchased an additional one till your commitment was complete.  That was fun.

Finding a place to store all these is always a challenge - a very fun challenge though.

My favorite cookbooks tend to be those compiled by clubs or church women who include all their tried and true recipes.  These are the best - who would want to put a yucky recipe in a book with their name attached?  I have quite a few recipes actually published in cookbooks like this too. 

Funny thing about all my cookbooks?  I really don't use them a lot when I am looking for a recipe.  More often than not I go to my computer and google the desired culinary creation.  The cookbooks are more for reading like a novel almost - they encourage my homekeeping and cheer me on.

How about you?  Have a favorite cookbook you can't live without?  Would love to hear about it in the comment box.

Monday Memo: Who Could Resist?

I know, I know, the last thing I need is another coffee mug but tell me who could resist this baby?  I found it when we took our niece and her hubby and our next door neighbors to Cracker Barrel for breakfast a couple of weeks ago.  

I am not real fond of blue but this cup is just too perfect and that yellow!  Love it!

And this face?  Well, it just says, "Good Morning Sunshine!" all over it!!

Teacup Thursday - Found It!

 

Last week I shared about how my Shelley teacup collection began.  I told you about the misc. pieces I had found so low priced in Kentucky that I could not resist the purchase.  I already have a Shelley Blue Rock teacup and saucer but hey, you can't walk away from a great deal.

 

This is the lone saucer that needed a mate.

 

Well, yesterday I stopped at a favorite antique shop while I was enroute to my grandchildren's home.  There it sat on the shelf - a Shelley cup all by herself looking for love.

 

Now two singles have become one sweet pair.  

This little pretty is going into the hope chest 

of one of my precious grand-daughters.

P.S. Remember, the fun is in the hunt.

 

Books Books Books!

Monday I began the chore I have put off forEVER - cleaning up the enormous number of books I own which seem to multiply like rabbits.  Tuesday I continued the labor of love and today I hope to finish the job.  

My office, my library, my sanctuary and refuge is my favorite room to come to but not when it gets so cluttered and books are stacked ten deep in piles all around my chair.  My chair is the only chair in the room and that is because this real-estate is mine alone and there is no one to blame for the mess but me.  Precious Husband's office is pretty much a mess all the time but the big difference is that when he decides to clean his real-estate he can do it so quickly - amazing to me.  

This cleaning challenge this takes me days because honestly I am slow and I get so easily side-tracked.  I pick up the stack of my mom's journals and read through the one dated 1975 and read about what she was doing the year after Daddy died.  I read about what we did together to prepare for my wedding in '83.  I am glad she journaled because I read about things I have totally forgotten.  She quit keeping her journals because I think she feels her life is a little boring now - that is sure a shame.

I pick up a book and to my delight realize that it is one of my very favorites and that I have two.  In the box it goes to share with someone special that will undoubtedly be blessed with it like I am.  I sit in my chair and leaf through another book that I had forgotten I had and also forgotten how good it is.  Yes, these are all reasons I am still in the process of over-hauling my books.  It will feel so good when I do get done - maybe today : )

If you need a good book I do love to share.  I will even bring a chair in for you to sit and take your time.  We could have tea - I would like that.

Thanks Costco

My weakness is collecting books.  I am close to being the next star on "Hoarders" especially when it comes to cookbooks.  My beautiful home has a large cupboard that I felt was perfect for my collection but you guessed it - it is beyond full.  I added a basket of favorites on top of the fridge and now the basket too is full.  What to do?  Cull my collection?  Please!  

Costco.  Yep, last week I came home with my stuff in a box that was sturdy and looked like the perfect makings for a book holder.  $1.22 for cheap spray paint at Walmart and whoopee a place for my overflow made to order.  I am so happy.

Love of Butterflies

Walking through our home you will see lots of pretty butterflies perched here and there or adorning some object of my affection.

My collection started because butterflies remind me so much of 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

If you follow my blog at all you have read about Aunt Jo and she loved butterflies too and for the same reason.  I have many of her butterflies in the form of jewelry and when I wear a piece my thoughts turn towards her often and the great influence she had on me.  She truly was a godly mentor for my life and encouraged me in so many areas.  When she died she was a week short of being 98 years old and she had lived for the Lord since the age of 10.  Such an amazing blessing for the Lord to give her to me and allow me the honor of gleaning her wisdom as a godly woman.

Recently the Lord has brought a young woman into my life 30 years my junior and God is using her to share more wisdom with me concerning being a godly woman.  I guess this is not quite a Titus 2 relationship as far as age is concerned but truly wisdom has no age requirement and my precious little Alicia proves that to me more and more as I get to know her heart.  Alicia has blessed me with butterflies recently and she touches my heart as did Aunt Jo.  

God is good to supply what and WHO we need in our lives.

 

Paul bought me this teapot in San Francisco several years ago.

This little lamp I purchased on a visit to my dearest friend Dolores who I lost a year ago and miss so much.  Some friends can never be replaced.

I got this cup for Aunt Jo when she was living with us under the care of Hospice.

A scarf of Aunt Jo's

This picture is from our guest room still referred to as "Aunt Jo's room".

Butterfly jewelry that belonged to Aunt Jo and worn with love now by me.

This butterfly came from Alicia and perches itself in my sanctuary (office).

These all came from Alicia just last week.

Wind chimes with butterfly for my garden from Alicia.

And finally this picture to share with you.  When I adopted Anthony I wanted to give him a special gift and found this painting by Joni Erickson Tada the woman that is a quadriplegic and paints with her mouth.  The painting reminds me again of 2 Corinthians 5:17 but I purchased it for Anthony to encourage him that God would use him in spite of any physical limitations he may have been born with. 

This hangs on the door of the "butterfly room" where my precious Aunt Jo spent the last 9 months of her life.  She taught me well that because of Jesus we are now new creations just like the butterfly.