~B IS FOR A BANNER OF BLESSINGS~

Are you getting your FALL on?  We are sooo enjoying the cooling down from the high summer temps here in Oklahoma.  The weekend weather was brisk and we even had the pleasure of some rain.  I'm loving it and so does the parched land here in the Red Earth State.

A few days ago I shared with you my plans of transforming some heavy-duty paper tags (found at TJMaxx) into a sweet message geared at celebrating God's Bounty.  Since I'm not really a paper-crafter I wanted to keep the design simple.  I opted to reproduce the back of an old cabinet photo and use it as the framework for a new Fall Banner.  A few capital letters (Georgia Font) were chosen for the center and spell out the word

B*L*E*S*S*I*N*G*S

 Using my computer (PhotoShop) I stretched out the original photo frame to better fit inside the tags pre-set size (previously painted and lightly distressed).  Then the individual letters were added before being printed out in a sepia ink on a soft white ground of heavy card stock paper.

After cutting and gluing the letters onto the front of the tags I tied them onto gimp cording (measured to fit) with rayon ribbon/tape.  They easily slide on the coring making placement simple and fast!  

I skipped using any glitter on this project!  I'm loving the fresh and uncomplicated look of the Banner across our fireplace screen!

 

Reworked my Coffee Table Basket this year using shreds from a vintage dictionary that was literally falling apart....  White pumpkins...white fruit...grapes...yummmmmmmmmmmm....

~~*~~

Here's a little thought that may speak to you today...  I'm always in need of this timely reminder~

"WHEN YOU ARE FULL OF YOURSELF, GOD CAN'T FILL YOU!"

Certainly something to think about as we enter into another Harvest Season.

Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments last week.  I'm doing better.

Love to you...

~MAYBERRY-I-TIS~

Ever feel like you'd love to escape to Mayberry where Aunt Bea bakes pies and Barney arrests jaywalkers and Sheriff Taylor, after another shuffling day, sits on his porch with Opie's pretty school teacher and strums his guitar?  Every evening the life of Andy and his family comes neatly packaged with a sweet little bow and all seems well in the fictional town I would sometimes love to call home...  No problems come up that can't be fixed within 30 minutes and that includes commercial time...

 While the TV is playing reruns we've been living a real life.  It' been a year full of everyday challenges, everyday imperfections, everyday successes as well as everyday failures.  

"Everyday Life" can be so, well..."EVERY-DAY" sometimes, can't it?  I sometimes find myself complaining about the mundane and all the unexciting hours in my life that blow in and out with the sweeping Oklahoma wind...

 This morning my Mr. AGPMan received good news from a Specialist about a chronic sore throat he's been having for the past eight weeks.  Truthfully I've been worried sick as nothing tried (or prescribed) was making him feel better...  During the day I thought of every horrible thing it could be and by evening's end I was exhausted from concern.

I'm a worrier I'm afraid....a big-time worrier.

People don't get sick in Mayberry, do they?

(Although I have always wondered where Opie's Momma was!)

As I crumbled in thankfulness over the missing "C-Word" in my beloved's diagnosis I was immediately overwhelmed with how incredibly lovely

"EVERYDAY"

can actually be.  I take it so for granted and yet in reality it is what I think I've longed for~

A simple EVERYDAY LIFE with nothing too difficult, too complicated, or too overwhelming to bear... 

My prayer today, for this EVERYDAY TUESDAY, is that I won't be so sidelined with the blessings around me to falsely believe that as long as I keep trusting, expecting and smiling that all will be well, stay well.  I was reminded once again this morning to be grateful and thankful for all things for at any given moment life can change.

Blessings as you continue to celebrate Christmas (and life) with JOY!

Love to you...

 

~BECAUSE I HAVE TO BLESS ME~

~Adrienne and Momma~

Easter Sunday 1987

Back in the late eighties, right around the time this picture was taken of my precious daughter, Adrienne, she began to say the most delightfully sweet things.  She was not quite three years old and her big brother, Brandon, generally did most of the talking for her back then (boy has THAT changed!).  So, when she did finally start to speak we were always excited and more than eager to listen...  She had the tiniest of lisps and the loveliest way of chattering away about, well, nothing everything...  :)

 

 ~HANDMADE LACES~

One day after experiencing a wee little 'sneezing fit' I noticed my girl would always follow up her 'kerchooooos' with the statement

"Momma...I have to bless me!"

~INCREDIBLE NEEDLEWORK~

No matter how many times I tried to explain she was misunderstanding the sentiment "Bless You" after sneezing she just didn't seem to get it.  One day I finally just let it go.  Amazingly the expression somehow found it's way into the heart of my family and today it lives on...

 

 ~FABULOUS TRIM~

As a result a little life-lesson about giving was born which helped my children learn early on that if they did something for someone else in love the side benefit was they had a chance to bless themselves as well.

 ~FEMININE PILLOW SLIP~

~ROMANTIC and FLIRTY EDGING~ 

Today I was reminded once again by a faithful, loving friend that blessing others is most certainly what life is all about.  

 ~GORGEOUS CROCHET~ 

I've never met my friend, Francy in person.  She lives far away from me down south and I've known her since my early eBay selling days...about nine years now or so.

~LOVELY TATTED LACE~

We've formed a lasting friendship and I love her more than I can say.  She's nearly old enough to be my Momma and I can talk with her just like I was her daughter.

I'm so proud and blessed to call her friend.

 ~CAMISOLE TOP~

A few days ago Miss Francy emailed me to let me know she was sending a package of trims (and things) my way and today our trusty Mr. Postman delivered a big ol' box to my front door...

 ~VINTAGE CROCHET HOOKS~

~OLD PINK THIMBLE~

I was totally unprepared for what the box held.  Vintage laces and trims, crochet hooks, buttons, pillow slips and doilies were neatly tucked inside.  All the goodies were sent to both help me with my little business and to allow vintage laces, trims and edgings to live on and on...

I thought about the generosity of such a very special gift for quite a long spell...

(I'm sad to say I rarely give the BEST I have...) :(

 

~Vintage Buttons~

  Dear Francy-Girl

I want you to know that today I whispered a prayer of gratefulness for you.  You are an amazing, giving woman and I'm so taken with your benevolent, caring spirit.  My hope today is that by blessing me the blessings will return to you a hundred fold.

I adore you, girl!  Thank you...

Love~Rebecca

~~*~~

Tonight my now grown-up Adrie-Girl is coming over and we (along with my Miss K) are taking our recently widowed neighbor homemade soup, fresh-baked bread and strawberry jam for dinner...

Wanna know why?

"Because I have to bless me!"

Love to you as you share your best...