~BEDSPREAD REVISITED~

~BEDROOM CHANGES~

Today I'm giving you a little peek at my bedroom and my new spread!  Gone is the Matelasse coverlet and in it's place is a medium weight linen weave bedspread in natural white.  It's been years and years since I've had a bedspread on my bed.  I remember when my Mr. AGPMan and I were first married we had a quilted green and yellow floral spread (it was horrible!) and eventually that led to a thick quilt and then to the Matelasse coverlet.  In 2009 I shared a few pictures of our ever evolving bedroom.  You can check that post out here if you'd like...

~SIMPLE  LOVELY~

Because of the weightiness of the fabric it has wonderful form and drapes beautifully over the bed.  I've seen so much bedding I've loved over the past year or so...especially those billowy, gauzy, 2did4 offerings over at Bella Linens.  But...come on here!  A real-live-man sleeps in this bed with me and I need something a bit more practical for my beloved.  I left the crocheted bed-skirt in place and decided to use the coverlet as a blanket for spring and summer.  When fall and winter return I'll put my down comforter back in place.

~UP-CLOSE FABRIC~

We've used this same four-poster bed since 1983.  We purchased it when our son was only a year old and have loved it ever since!  I suspect I will have it until I no longer need a bed! :)  I painted it cottage white (Behr/Home Depot) in 2009 and it was a fabulous change after the cherry-wood finish we lived with for over 25 years...

The spread was fairly simple to make.  I took the measurements of the bed (length/width) and added 6" to the length and a 1" seam allowance all the way around.  I then used strips of fabric equal to 2 1/4 times the sides and width of the bed.  Because my bed has a foot-board I opted for split corners.  Serging the raw edges was a must with this fabric because it has a tendency to unravel.  It's hard to tell in the first picture but I also made one long pillow in matching fabric.  In front of that I have two vintage linen pillows handmade in France with feather inserts and two smaller decorative pillows.

Today I'm linking with:
Le Chateau des Fleurs

White Wednesday

Happy Monday sweet friends!

Love to you...

~~~~THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING~~~~ Being Less Than Perfect

NO, NOTHING SPECIAL

As I prepared for my recent trip to California I found myself becoming a bit harried when I arrived to the airport later than expected.  No good reason for it except to say I'm truly not travel-wise and spent too much time

dinkin' around

and not staying in sync with the ticking of the clock.

By the time I arrived at the check-in counter the agent told me I probably wouldn't make my flight, but encouraged me to try.

With that he took my bag, charged me a whopping $25 bucks for it and pointed me in the direction of the security line.

My Mr. AGPMan was parking our car and by the time he met up with me there were still about 30 people in front of me also waiting for their invasive pat-down.  Just as I saw the face of my hubby he sensed my panic as my name was being called out over the loud speaker urging me to get to Gate 9.  I had five minutes to get through security and get on board.  I was so angry at myself for running late and felt terrible.

Lower than low.

Now...my husband is a gentleman and I try my best to be a lady.  He is bolder than I am and didn't hesitate for a second to ask, in the nicest of voices, if his wife could 'cut in-in' and be allowed to go to the front of the line.  Expecting this would not be a problem, and because no one immediately spoke up, I ducked under the security rope with my ID in hand and began to walk forward.  All of a sudden a man who was a couple spaces in front of me said...

"I'm barely going to make my flight, too!  Mine leaves two minutes after yours!  I'm sorry!  I'm running late as well!"  My heart sank, but the situation was what it was.  I was to blame for not arriving at the airport in order to be processed in a timely manner.

And then...directing her words to me as if she knew me personally, an older woman began to speak in an elevated voice saying something like this...

"What's so special about YOU?  Why don't you get to the airport in time for your flight?  What makes YOU so special?  We're all here waiting just like you are and taking our turn!  What makes YOU so special?  What makes YOU so special?  Huh?  Looks like to me you spent too much time getting ready!  Why YOU???????  What makes YOU so special?

WHAT MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL???"

With that I ducked back UNDER the rope and returned to my original place in line.  I was embarrassed and being the emotional person I am, began to tear-up.  This woman knew nothing about me or even if my trip was for pleasure or need.  Now...I wasn't bawling my head off mind you, but I was teary-eyed and very upset.  My hubby continued to pace the length of the rope frustrated over the entire thing.  As the older woman continued to spew her "WHAT MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL" rant, in desperation my guy finally told the woman who was verbally blasting me to please stop yelling!  I think his words were something like this...

"OK lady!  We got it!  Everyone's in the same boat!  My wife is back in line so will you please stop screaming and trying to humiliate her?  She doesn't THINK she's special!  That's why we ASKED permission before just cutting in line!" 

But she continued...

"WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT HER??????

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT HER????????"

"Rebecca Nelson!   Come to Gate XXX immediately for final boarding!"

By this time I was almost to the front of the line with my shoes removed, my purse and a tiny shopping tote in hand.  After my license was checked I tossed my things in one of the plastic bins and made my way through the scanner. 

~DING DING DING~

Back to the bins to remove my jacket, tiny necklace, leather belt and petite silver-hoop earrings...

One more time through the scanner before quickly gathering my belongings and yelling back to my hubby...

"I LOVE YOU....I'M SORRY I'M H/M!"

(it's a personal joke where he refers to me as High-Maintenance!)

Thankfully my gate was only two spaces down from the screening station.  I was never more thankful in all my life I had decided at the last minute to travel light and forgo a carry-on bag.  I was also grateful for my weight-loss of last year because I've never had to run so fast in all my life...especially while barefooted.

By the time I got to the ticket counter I was out of breath and in a full-on sob.  My Boarding Pass was crumpled in my shaking hand and I was more than upset.

"Rebecca Nel................."

   It was then a little boy came up to me and said...

"Excuse me, ma'am!  But you dropped one of your shoes back there!  Would you like for me to get it for you?"

I only managed to nod YES and in total disbelief this tiny child ran to retrieve my shoe and got it to me just as the door was being closed behind me.  I continued to cry as I made my way down the ramp when a sweet young man said

"Oh lady...don't cry!  You made it!  You made it!"

~BE KIND TO EVERYONE~

As I walked down the center of the plane I realized I was truly half-clothed with only my jeans and a tank-top on.  My shoes, jacket, scarf, belt (which held up my pants), purse, jewelry and tiny tote bag were in my arms.  Everyone was staring at my mascara smeared face and my ratty-trap hair.  I generally pull my hair up when I'm traveling and somewhere along the way my hair clip fell out leaving my loosely coiffed hair in a big fat mess...

I welcomed the three hour flight to my homeland and tried to calm myself down.  I spent the time reflecting upon the morning's earlier events, my own imperfection and even the woman who was screaming at me in such anger. I couldn't believe how the morning hours had played out before me and silently wished for a do-over.

(Few do-overs in life, huh?)

A couple of days ago I shared with you a little tale about Burned Biscuits.  I think it's message is fitting here.  I don't know all the things the woman who was yelling at me was facing, but obviously it was more than my eyes could see.  I believe her verbal jabs where less about my tardiness and irresponsibility and more about her own hurting heart.  Honestly it's taking everything in me to let the experience go and not become soured from it...  

(The Taylor Swift song Why'd You Have To Be So Mean? comes to mind here...)

Now that I've had a few weeks to think back upon everything that occurred I'm left with this final thought...

A good deed is never lost.  Even though there may be times when a given situation prevents us from helping another I personally hope I will always remember that courtesy reaps friendship and gentleness is never out of fashion.  When kindness is planted only then can we gather up understanding and love...

"...For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Galatians 6:7,9

Hope your Sunday is beautiful.  For now the storms have passed over our area of Oklahoma and the skies are blue once again.  I'm so thankful for His goodness and grace.

Love to you...

~PASS ME A BURNED BISCUIT, PLEASE~

Not long ago an old friend sent the following story to me and I loved it so much I saved it.  This morning while taking a much need break from Adobe PhotoShop5 CS Tutorials I came across the little story once again.  I don't know who wrote it or when.  Doesn't matter.  It's message is timeless.  Enjoy!

 When I was a little girl, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing...never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said:  "Honey,  I love burned biscuits every now and then."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"

As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today... that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in  the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or sisters or brothers or friendship!

So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Love to you...