Impetus ~ that’s all it takes

Hi Folks ~ I hope you all had a good weekend. From reading blogs I’ve seen that a lot of you have snow, snow and more snow. Your temps of – degrees are mind boggling. I don’t see how you handle it. I’ve read about your staying warm and cozy, making soups and breads and working on indoor projects or crafts. Although one dear blogging friend had a catastrophe as frozen water pipes unthawed and burst causing her living room ceiling to fall to the floor, creating one big mess. Keep dear Sandra in your prayers as she deals with this and the chores and critters she takes care of on her farm, Thistle Cove Farm.

The temps did drop here a week ago Sunday, down to 42 and felt like it was 36. The only plants I did something about was putting most of the orchids in a sheltered area. Ferns got burned, but they’ll come back, never fear. They just look awful being all brown.

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words.  Being a widow has certainly changed my world. The past few weeks I’ve been having ‘down’ thoughts of what is my life about now. Nothing seems worth doing. I lost my job 2 years ago, and I don’t have my dear love here to share everything with like we did. He knew me inside and out, he loved me, he encouraged me, we were a team. As a believer in Jesus as my Savior, I am to do all things as to Him, not just for myself. That kind of puts a different slant on things. He is with me at all times, so, may I do all that I do with joy and thanksgiving for each new day I am blessed with. Each day is a gift and I can either squander it or make the best of it and move forward with graciousness. I choose the latter.

I’ve been watching you-tube videos, reading blogs and being inspired. Well, yesterday morning I was given a lovely gift from the ‘butterfly lady’ at church. She was doing some redecorating in her kitchen, and the piece she gave me she felt just belonged in Plum Cottage. I opened up her gift after I got home and I just kept smiling as tears filled my eyes. It is perfect and I love it. It was the ‘impetus’ I needed to make a change in my living room. ‘Impetus’ ~  the force that makes something happen.

Isn’t this beautiful?

My mind started thinking on how to change the ‘faux’ mantle and the wall above it, and I looked forward to getting up this morning to start working on the project.

Here is a ‘before’ photo this morning. There is a huge TV under the ‘faux’ mantle, an old top I pulled out of storage. I screwed a 1x1 inch strip to the wall at the level it needed to be to rest the back of piece on.  The front rests on the TV. I don’t watch it, and it’s too dang heavy and big for me to move it out, so I camouflaged it. I did that project in October of 2013. I liked the look, but that was done in the throes of grief, now that I’m into my 5th year I needed a lighter, happier look.

I put on my accoustic Spanish guitar playlist on you-tube, lit a nicely scented candle and got to work. I shopped my little cottage for a new look with this space with my lovely gift front and center so to speak.

Below is the ‘after’ look.

The two pineneedle framed paintings were painted by my dear husband’s grandmother, Mama, and Papa, grandfather, made the pineneedle framework around them. Pineneedles collected from this property. Mama taught herself to paint in her 60-70’s I think . She also taught my dear husband, and I am thankful for the love and encouragement she gave to him as a young teen.

Two shell floral pieces, don’t remember where we got these, flea market or yard sale.

The two amber/pink vases were bought at a yard sale many, many years ago.

I’m not sure where we got the bronze deer. They used to have riders, which were sort of a lid, we only had one rider. I believe they were inscense burners.

I bought the pink Himalayan salt lamp last year. It has a dimmer switch which is great for setting different moods. They are supposed to have good health benefits.

Everytime I look at this display now, I smile and am thankful for so much.

Have you ever watched ‘The Secret Millionaire’ show? This will make you feel thankful for your blessings, no matter the size. I have been thinking about ‘how’ can I, living on my very limited income, help others and have felt burdened. Then I got an upliting piece in my email yesterday or this morning.

“We can make a difference and huge differences.

Every Christian woman has access to a tremendous source of power—PRAYER.”

We may not always see answers to our prayers, but we can know that God is working in every situation and hears our prayers. So, when you see or hear of a need, pray.

***

Before I end this post, here are some roses for you.

‘Crepuscule’

‘Granada’

 

Pink ‘Drift’

Unknown

Below is the latest heart that I am working on.

This is what I did with the little weaving I made from my ‘Weave-It’ loom.

A little pin-cushion.

I made another weaving and thought it was going to be just fine, but three sides came out with the nice scalloped edge, and the fourth was awful. I tried again, the same thing, so for now I’ve given up. I have a new blogging friend through this. She told me she also had the same problem with one side and has also given up. Maybe someone out there can help remedy the problem for us.

Ok, that’s it from Plum Cottage.

Have a nice week ~ FlowerLady