Sunday Reflections

Jordan's Pond

   Be still and know that I am God.

             Psalms  46:10

Myrtle Beach

I snapped this while on the beach yesterday. Temperatures registered 103, a thunderstorm

came through and dropped the temperature 25 degrees. Then it was wonderful, overcast

with a warm sea breeze blowing, paradise.

My only question is where have all the sea gulls gone?  There have been No seagulls on

the beach since May! 

           I'm linking to Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer                                                and  Waterywednesday        Go visit for lots of wonderful sightseeing!

Christmas in July

It's never to early to think about Christmas,right? I went out thrifting and made two stops. The only things I found at both stops were Christmas things. Maybe it was my subconscious trying to think cool thoughts because it is hot as blue blazes here in the south!

At the first yard sale I found this cute little pillow and stocking for a dollar each. The pillow is really a deep red but it looks rose in the picture. The stocking is a plain little thing but it was new with tags still attached and I plan to attach some crochet to dress it up and use at the condo which I'm decorating with mostly vintage white things.

At the next stop I was already starting to melt away but decided to do a quick look over. I spotted this little horse on a back table. I love it. I have one very similar that is all white and trimmed out in golds so this little fella is going to my sister. She has often commented on mine and I have not been able to find one like it. It is ceramic so it could be painted out white and antiqued. I will leave that to her as she is the artist in the family. I have problems even putting paint on furniture and walls..... but after seeing all the wonderful things you all do in blog land and copying them  searching for my creativity, I am doing a little better.

I'm so glad you dropped by. Have a good week, stay cool and come again!

I'm linking to Southern Hospitality's Todays Thrifty Treasures

Sunday Reflections

                                 Photo taken - Acadia National Park - Maine

I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land. ( Isaiah 58:14)

Do you remember a summer day when the heat and humidity were so oppressive, you could hardly breathe?  But a dark cloud appeared on the horizon, growing larger and larger, until it suddenly brought a rich blessing to your world.  The storm raged, lightning flashed  and thunder rumbled. The storm covered your sky, the atmosphere was cleansed, new life was in the air, and your world was changed.

      Human life works exactly on the same principle.  When the storms of life appear, the atmosphere is changed, purified, filled with new life, and part of heaven is brought down to earth.

     Facing obstacles should make us sing. The wind finds its voice not when rushing across an open sea but when it is hindered by the outstretched limbs of a pine tree or broken by the stings of a wind harp. Only then does the harp have songs of power and beauty.

Haven't we all known people whose lives have never produced any pleasing music during their days of calm prosperity but who, when fierce winds have blown across their lives have astonished us by the power and beauty of their music.
Streams In the Desert-

White Wednesday

This week-end I went to a local estate sale. The house was enormous. My house would have easily fit into the basement.  It was worth the trip though to oooh and aaaah at the house. Unfortunately, I got there late and most everything was labeled sold. My wonderful  GPS had directed me all over town and instructed me to turn in places where there were no roads  :(  I finally arrived one hour before the sale ended  in spite of the GPS.

I did get this cute pot that I would like to use for a topiary (Note to self...look up how to make a topiary), and this little replacement angel for the condo.

The little angel is inexpensive and they are plentiful around flea markets and yard sales but I wanted another one to replace the one that                            Mr. Vintagesouthern de-winged accidentally!

I did find several other Christmas  items and will be posting about them later.

Come join me at Faded charm for White Wednesday

and

Romantic Home for Show and Tell

Sunday Reflections

Several Sundays ago I posted what was very persistent  on my mind..." his eye is on the sparrow, and I know

he watches me." Then yesterday I received this e-mail from a friend.

 I obviously needed this reminder again.

Do you ever have something like this happen when you just KNOW a casual  word, a note, an e-mail or a call from

a friend is not mere coincidence?  I just had to share.

Flickr - Mike Baird

Be sure you read the last part of this.

SPARROW AT STARBUCKS


The song that silenced the cappuccino machine....

It was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square .  Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth.  For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I'm told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right.

Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing.  It was a fun, low-pressure gig - I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments.  We mostly did pop songs from the '40s to the '90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, "If You Don't Know Me by Now," I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me.  She was swaying to the beat and singing along.

After the tune was over, she approached me.  "I apologize for singing along on that song.  Did it bother you?" she asked.

"No," I replied.  "We love it when the audience joins in.  Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?" To my delight, she accepted my invitation.  "You choose," I said.  "What are you in the mood to sing?"

"Well.  ...  do you know any hymns?" Hymns?  This woman didn't know who she was dealing with.  I cut my teeth on hymns.  Before I was even born, I was going to church.  I gave our guest singer a knowing look.  "Name one."

"Oh, I don't know.  There are so many good ones.  You pick one."

"Okay," I replied.  "How about 'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?"

My new friend was silent, her eyes averted.  Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, "Yeah.  Let's do that one." She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop.  With my two-bar setup, she began to sing,

"Why should I be discouraged?  Why should the shadows come?"

The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed.  Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen.  The song rose to its conclusion.

"I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free.  For His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches me."

When the last note was sung, the applause crescendo to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, "Oh, y'all go back to your coffee!  I didn't come in here to do a concert!  I just came in here to get something' to drink, just like you!"

But the ovation continued..  I embraced my new friend.  "You, my dear, have made my whole year!  That was beautiful!"

"Well, it's funny that you picked that particular hymn," she said.

"Why is that?"

"Well .  .." she hesitated again, "that was my daughter's favorite song."

"Really!" I exclaimed.

"Yes," she said, and then grabbed my hands.  By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual..  "She was 16.  She died of a brain tumor last week."

I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. "Are you going to be okay?"

She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands.  "I'm gonna be okay.  I've just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything's gonna be just fine." She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.  Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night?  Coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop?  Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before?  I refuse to believe it. God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it's no stretch for me to imagine that he could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival.  It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting him and singing his songs, everything's gonna be okay.

The next time you feel like GOD can't use YOU, just remember...

Noah was a drunk

Abraham was too old

Isaac was a daydreamer

Jacob was a liar

Leah was ugly

Joseph was abused

Moses had a stuttering problem

Gideon was afraid

Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer

Rahab was a prostitute

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young

David had an affair and was a murderer

Elijah was suicidal

Isaiah preached naked

Jonah ran from God

Naomi was a widow

Job went bankrupt

John the Baptist ate bugs

Peter denied Christ

The Disciples fell asleep while praying

Martha worried about everything

The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once

Zaccheus was too small

Paul was too religious

Timothy had an ulcer...

AND Lazarus was dead! 

Like this in your back yard?

I did a local builders tour of homes back in the spring . I'm just now getting this posted.   I fell in love with this

 patio. I can just picture myself in a chaise lounge (the benches would have to go) sipping iced tea and reading

 a book by the fountain.  It is amazing! It starts on one side of the patio,( pictured above) and then goes under 

the patio and back above ground on the other side (pictured below) It is then pumped back under the patio 

and up the hill to the top again.

On second thought, if I had this I would probably get even less done than I do now!

Have a great week-end and y'all come back soon!

Help Blogging friends! The script did not look like this in the draft. When I hit publish it does it's own thing

 and the lines are totally different. Any ideas? All of this is new to me.
 

Chandelier Upgrade

I am so excited, I found a chandelier! I was actually looking for one for the beach condo but found  one for my foyer at home.

This is what I have up now,a brass, builders grade fixture.

I can't believe I was lucky enough to find this at Goodwill. It is new. The owner had actually attached the bill of sale along with the lifetime warranty to it. Original purchase price was $239 and Goodwill had tagged it $124. There was also a note that someone had written 1 of 3 pieces.After inquiring and a great deal of searching on the employees part, bless her heart, she came up with 2 more boxes.

 The first box included the candle covers for these strange looking "thingys".

And the last box included the glass candle covers, the chain and all of the "parts" I guess no one had inquired

about the other parts

Because.........

It was week 24 which meant it was1/2 off of the Goodwill price

$62.00

I was so excited...I couldn't wait to get it home

Mr. Vintagesouthern did not share my excitement however because we have a two story foyer.However he

did get it hung while I  watched and gave my unwanted advice.I tried to be a good electrician's helper and even kept my phone close by  in case I needed to call 911. We are both glad this job is complete and without injury or divorce!
 I see the picture behind him will have to come down so I can darken the frame up but survival instinct tells me
today is not the day!
and finally...

 Here she is in all of her glory!

One last thing, a tip about thrift store shopping. Don't just browse, Dig! You never know what you will unearth. I knew an owner that was that detailed would not send half of a light fixture.

P.S. I have plans for the light that came down but that will be another adventure.

Thanks for stopping by and y'all come back!

I'm linking this post up to the following blog parties. Come along and join in the fun.
Metamorphosis Monday @ Betweennapsontheporch
Todays Thrifty Treasures @ SouthernHospatility
All Things Related Blog Party
Under$100 linky party @ Beyondthepicketfence
Show and Tell@romantichome
Frugal Friday@shabbynest
New Friend Friday -The girl creative

Rooting Sweet Potato Vines

I love ornamental sweet potato vines and they are sooo easy to root!

They are annuals and can be purchased at lawn and garden centers in the spring and summer.

I always purchase a plant and then root others from that plant. Not only is it a frugal way to have lots of luscious vines it is fun to practice propogation with a plant that is easy to root.

Plants can be rooted in water without using a rooting hormone.

I remove the lower leaves and simply cut the vine at a 45 degree angle below the leaf node.

A leaf node is the spot where a leaf will or has grown out of the vine.

 It is easy to find because it is a small lump or bump on the vine.

Place the cutting in water. Change the water daily for 5-7 days. I always root mine in cups

and place on my kitchen window sill so I don't forget to change the water. Memory is a

terrible thing to loose!

   

                                                                                

After a week your cutting will have formed hair like roots and it is ready to transplant

into your pot! 

These vines are for ornamental use only and not for eating.  They add beautiful splashes of color

to pots and beds.And best of all they love the southern heat as long as they are watered.

Thanks y'all for dropping by and come again.

I am linking up with It's a blog party   Join in the fun.

My latest thrift store finds

Hi Everyone,  Hope ya'll had a fun and safe 4th of July.

While out and about I popped into a little thrift store that I had not visited before..kinda off the beaten path.

Just as I was about to give it up as a waste of time I spotted this cute little pillow.

I have a "white" radar as I am always looking for white decor, vintage linens etc for the beach condo.

It was perfect, and to my surprise this cute little bird house was hiding behind the pillow!

Sorry about the picture quality... Wish I could find a new camera while out thrifting!

When I picked it up I saw that it was a lamp.In my mind, I was seeing it sitting on my front porch already.

I was quite pleased with the price. The pillow was $1 and the birdhouse lamp was $2.

I quickly took them home.

The birdhouse looks right at home on my porch next to my bird that has been homeless!

Mr. Vintagesouthern snapped this picture of Skipper while I was placing my birdhouse out on the porch.

It seems Skipper had some decorating ideas of his own. He quickly drug the new pillow up  the stairway

landing and was watching for me to come through the door and give him a stern  scolding  calmly remind him not to drag

things that are not his!

I will be linking up to the following blog parties. Come join in the fun.


Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
It's so very thrifty

Debbie's Garage Salen Party
Cindy's Show and Tell Party
Frugaliscious Friday
A few of my favorite things party

Have a great 4th

 I hope everyone has a great 4th of July and stays safe!

See you next week,

Annette

Photo Martha Stewart