raindrops on roses...

these 

are 

a few 

of my favorite things!

It is  officially fall.

We went from 90 degrees last weekend

to 54  yesterday and today.

Rain, gray skies, fuzzy blankets, 
sweatshirts,
space heaters,
and baking goodies.

My girl and I made this 

caramel-apple-upside-down cake

(found on pinterest)

yummi-o

recipe found here

Fall cleaning has begun,

my first soup of the year is simmering on the stove,

and

white pumpkins are promised for the weekend.

I am  hoping there will  be just a few more roses.

I am enjoying every. last. one.
~
~
~
p.s.
Have  you been following any of the 
31 days postings?


There are over 700 posters.


Here a few that jumped out at me:


31 days to rebuilding your house and your heart
at life in grace
(you might remember that Edie's home burned to the ground last Christmas)


31 days to change the world
at chatting at the sky


31 days of lovely limitations
at Nesting Place


31 days of purging
at marla taviona .com


and my favorite


31 days of letting go
at flower patch farmgirl
but then again I love everything this girl writes.

go see for yourself.

it's a keeper...

I wanted to show you a bit of  

 pretty

It hasn't been all work

and no play around here.

One of the things 

I am trying to keep in mind

as 

I sort

and 

decide

is:

Do I love it?

Does it reflect me?

This met my requirements.

It is

a 

keeper.

I do love it.

It does reflect me.

It is unique, old and so pretty.

It has handpainted roses and words

I've had it for a long time

and

it has looked like this for years...

the dark green mat is from my victorian decor days

not right for today's look

in order to really make progress

I also need to finish projects

so after deciding that it was a keeper

I set aside an afternoon to work on it

I painted the mat

and

then went after it with my spritzer of coffee

much better, don't you think?

to address my last post.
I'm not sure why I posted all of that
I tend to be like that.


impulsive


But what I did not expect was 
your response
as raw and as real as my post was
your response was equally so
humbling, tear-producing, honest
you encouraged me to keep going,
you understood me-you struggle in this area,too.




because of you, my load is lightened.
of course, these comments from my girls mean the world to me.


I wish I had read this when we were visiting earlier! Becuase I would have told you that I CAN see a difference!! This post is real, and real is often raw, bringing tears. Keep at it....you can do it and still love your house!

By Mrs. MK on where am I ? on 3/22/11

I'm proud of you Mom. You are making great progress, and I am so glad to see you trying! :) Love you tons. And you should check out this: http://becomingmrsg.blogspot.com/p/graphic-design.html
By Mrs. G on where am I ? on 3/23/11

I have all of your comments, sitting in my inbox,
to read again 


I will publish  them as I make my way to your place
because they deserve a personal reply
YOU deserve a personal reply.


if any of you are concerned about the lack of comments,
don't be.
they are there.

You're

a 

keeper.

playing catch up...

You girls just never stop...

you 

always encourage me

always bless me

always amaze me

Your comments are straight-to-the-heart awesome.

I've been trying really hard to get back to your blogs

(I leave the comments un-modererated until I do)

but

on this one

I'm gonna have to push publish

There are too many.

remember:

you're awesome

 if you don't hear from me

know,

I hear you 

.

.

.

next up:

Theresa 

at 

momma T's place

was so sweet  to award me 

with this:

Thanks, Theresa!

check  her blog...she has are some great ideas.

Tell her I sent ya.

I'm supposed to tell you 7 random things...hmmm

I'm not very good at this...I'm gonna have to think ...

.

.

.

I have been working on my Etsy shoppe

a lot

I am on a mission 

to de-clutter

Believe me, I have a long  ways to go

here are some of my  new listings

and those shoes from a few weeks back?

They will be there (etsy) by tomorrow

So if any of you,  dear readers, are interested

let me know and you will have first dibs.

They will be $22.00 for the pair

or $12.00 for one

plus shipping

(I can't decide which way to sell them)

I really need to get back to work now.

Every flat surface I have

is covered

from all of the sorting I am doing.

mama and baby are going home this afternoon

Guess where I will be this evening?

I can't wait.

ttfn

Rene'

wont'cha....

please

 be

 my

 valentine?

XOXO

have a sweet day,
full of hugs and kisses
Rene'
(another blast from the past)...
White Wednesday @ Faded  Charm 

a bit of sunshine...

our january skies are gray

and just when i needed  it

this was in my inbox

 ...Your blog is always so inspiring to read and I thank you for all the 

time and love you put into each post even though sometimes they 

may be difficult to send out into the world. You seem to be one of 

those lovely souls that many are attracted to and love to call 'our 

own' and please know that even as strangers we still think

of you and yours as family and keep you in prayer.

now, don't get me wrong

i love all of your comments

they mean the world to me

but 

today

this really  touched my heart.

THANKS Molly!

with a thankful heart...

I
have been given
some very special gifts.

 mother's day roses
 from my girls
they get prettier by the day

And I won a giveaway!


Or a giveback 
as Shelly from Sweet Pea 
called it.

It arrived 
in this gorgeous brown hatbox.

It was filled with goodies:

yummy lotions, a candle, and one of her favorite cd's

a wonderful unique frog 

(I've never seen one like it before)

 a cool metal "R"

beautifully handstamped ribbon

some cute tags

awesome vintage clock faces

and my favorite of all

a square (my first) brown transfer butter pat

(I have just started a butter pat collection!)

~
I was blown away by her generous heart!

THANK YOU, Shelly!

And then I was so touched.
Sandi, of Wayside Treasures,
 sent me this book.


just because.


She thought of me and all of our trials
when she saw it.
I didn't get very far into it before the tears were flowing.
It is so encouraging.


"God is waiting outside the door of your heart to walk you through the rain.  This may not be what you would have chosen, but it will be a journey you will always remember."


Thanks, Sandi!

happy birthday...

to you

dear sweet Fairmaiden.