From My House to Yours ~ Merry Christmas

~~~ Christmas Greetings from Plum Cottage ~~~

Dear Folks ~ Forgive me for being away so long, the longest I've ever not posted. Time is zipping right along. Things have been happening here, the load on my shoulders is being lifted and I am oh so thankful. There's still a lot to do, but forward progress is being made. I  'plan'  to get back into blogging more regularly in the new year. 

It's hard to believe Christmas is a week from tomorrow. May you have times of love, joy and peace during this holiday season. May the Hope of the season fill your hearts to overflowing. Jesus, God with skin on, was born because of His great love for us. He came to save us all, so that we could spend eternity with Him. No more pain, death, sorrow, or sin, all will be peace and joy forevermore. If you don't yet know Him, my prayer is that you will come to know Him and love him. You are precious to Him. Seek Him and you will find Him.

******

Now here are some glimpses from my home sweet home, the little haven that we created here through the years. We moved in here in 1973. It was built in 1950-1951. A tiny house before the movement of tiny homes began.

 

 

Jesus said,

“Come to me,
all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29

****** 

May your Christmas week be peace filled wherever you are, whatever you are doing. 

May 2022 be a better year for all, all around the world.

Love, prayers & hugs, 

FlowerLady

Thank you!

Good morning Folks, it is just getting light out. Birds have started to sing their greetings to the world. I will be heading outside shortly to do more clearing of overgrowth. Saturday my dear friend Wendy and her husband Mike came over with a dump trailer and we, but mostly them as they didn't want me overdoing things, started loading old lumber, wood, etc. They took that load to the dumping station near me, came back and we proceded to fill the trailer again, but it going to station again will be happening today. This particular station takes anything, so my property should be looking great as each load of 'stuff' leaves. 

 I know my dear Mark is ever thankful and shouting for joy that I have been blessed with so much help this year. All of this accumulated 'stuff' didn't happen overnight, it happened over the years. When he first left this planet for the heavenly plane, I could NOT deal with everything. He had told me near the end if his life here when he was bedridden, "Rainey, get rid of the junk. I know you hate it." He could not pass up use-able things items dumped on the side of the road hence the overload. We used some, sold some and stored some. 

With the help of another female friend a few years back, and her husband's dump trailer, she and I loaded it with metal and took it to the scrap yard. 3,000 lbs equaled $300 back then. Now it is a lot less. That was the start of the clean up. This year, Juvenal took 18 pick up loads of more metal to the scrap yard, he got the $ for his help in clearing away the metal. Now everything else is starting to be cleared out. Mind you, I have kept out decorative iron bits, some things I think maybe I should keep, ha, for what? I am not a builder, I was Mark's helper in all of our projects. I would get ideas and he would bring them to fruition. So most ends up in the dump trailer or will end up there. It feels GREAT, I feel invigorated. A burden is being lifted. I am forever thankful to God for working all things out in His timing, for my good and His glory. I am thankful for helping friends.

Ok, I want to say thank you all for your kind and encouraging comments about my video short. I have a couple more that I took the same morning that I will put here. I will make next ones in landscape mode for wider views. I haven't looked for a free video editor yet, too busy to give it the time.

In this first one you will see a butterfly flit by at the very beginning. That was a treat! 

 The next one is a bit of my front patio area.

 Coffee is finished and I'm ready to get outside and start work for the day while it is cool.

God's blessings on you all and may you feel His nearness. 

Don't lose hope.

Love, hugs and prayers ~ FlowerLady

Learning to make a video and upload to youtube

Hi Folks ~ Well, here we are in the middle of October already. Time is zipping right along.

I want to say a huge thank you for all of the kind, encouraging comments on my last post, and thanks for sharing your own stories as well. 

 Things are moving along here at Plum Cottage. Step by step, day by day, things are getting done. A LOT has really been accomplished this year and I am thankful.

I'm going to share a little video I took yesterday, just to see 'if' I could do it on my phone, and then upload it to youtube, which took a bit of googling, but I finally did it. What I need to know is, what are some great video editing programs that are 'free'?

In the video there are birds singing and traffic noise from the 5 lane road out front. I look forward to learning and improving. It is exciting to be learning and getting into something new.

 

Have a GREAT weekend and count your blessings. ~ FlowerLady

Dealing with anxiety

Hello Friends ~ This past year and a half has been one filled with stress and anxiety. The world is filled with it. The media puts out mostly negative ideas which feeds fear. I do not watch normal TV so don't see a lot of what is out there. But I do watch a lot of you-tube, so see their thumbnails, and those with my yahoo account and pass by what I call negative input as much as possible. I don't want to live a fearful life, but one filled with faith in God. 

 As a believer in Jesus, who is God, I want to keep focused on him and his promises. There are so many in the Bible and those are what I want to fill my mind with. I've also read & re-read some good books that have been a help. 

Here are just a few: 

'The Shepherd Trilogy' by Phillip Keller. This is so wonderful and comforting.

 

 

Another book by Phillip Keller is 'Strength of Soul ~ The Sacred Use of Time'.

 

'Anxious for Nothing ~ 'Finding Calm in a Chaotic World' by Max Lucado

 

'Be Still My Soul ~ Reflections on Living the Christian Life' by Elisabeth Elliot

 

There are others. I also get daily devotionals that have blessed and encouraged me.

I've gotten three from John Piper's Desiring God website, these devotionals are called 

'Solid Joys'.

These came in the last week. They are all short and you can also listen to him give each of these devotionals. His voice is soothing, encouraging.

7 Reasons Not to Worry ~ Part 1

7 Reasons Not to Worry ~ Part 2 

7 Reasons Not to Worry ~ Part 3

God Will Supply All Your Needs 

Anxiety is something I've been dealing with for as long as I can remember. (My mother was fearful of so many things, it was how I was raised, no excuse though.)  I hate it and it is a sin. Dear Jesus be merciful to me a sinner. Since Jesus called my dear husband to be with him in Dec 2012, and I'm having to handle things by myself, I've been more anxious. But, I've also seen Jesus working in my life, meeting needs, comforting me, drawing me closer to him. Closer to him is where I want to be each and every day that I am blessed with.

Last week I went to Walmart for the first time since March of last year. I needed to buy a cheap watch and some baby yarn. I wore my mask, found what I wanted and was thankful to have taken a step of faith and walk into that store. I don't want to live in fear!!! I just go to the grocery, get gas and church on Sunday. I have been out to eat a few times with friends and family. Basically I'm a homebody, always have been and I always am thankful when I pull into my driveway.

I watch positive videos on you-tube, gardening, young families homesteading, needleworking, cooking/baking, some movies, documentaries, sermons, prayers and devotionals also. I work in my gardens, do different needlework, I listen to soothing music, a lot of instrumentals. Being out in the fresh air among flowers, (weeds and overgrowth also), seeing fluttering butterflies, hear singing birds, and seeing visiting felines are so good for my soul.

The other morning I looked out the living room window and the sky had a glow, that made me decide to go out and see if there might be a rainbow. I grabbed my phone and headed out. I didn't see a rainbow, but I did see three beautiful night blooming cactus blooms. I took a couple of pictures, then came inside for my old Canon PowerShot for better close-up shots. I took more pictures with it. As I was heading back inside, I thought to myself, well I didn't see a rainbow but I saw these beautiful flowers that would be soon closing up. I then looked up at the sky again and lo and behold, there was a partial rainbow. I laughed right out loud and thanked Jesus for two lovely gifts, flowers and a rainbow.

 

 

 

 

Oh to see, enjoy and be thankful for God's goodness in my life. To be thankful in all circumstances, like being without my dear husband, and whatever else might come my way.

Started this post yesterday, had to turn off computer as a thunderstorm was moving in. Close T&L lots of heavy rain. My back gutter needs cleaning so it overflowed and splashed on back door which caused a bit of water to come in. T-storms are something that cause me to be anxious. When winds start to pick up I become anxious. Not to mention threats of hurricanes. Adrenalin pumps into my stomach, heart pounds. Sheesh! I am learning daily to truly believe and trust God to take care of me regardless of what is going on. He is sovereign. He has not promised me a life without thorns, hassles, disasters, illness, death, but he has promised to always be right with me through everything. Lately I've noticed that most t-storms pass over rather quickly, some have even been skirting around me and that is always a relief.

Anyway, today is a new day. May I rejoice and be glad in it. May I be full of faith and fear less.  When anxiety rears it's ugly head I want to refuse to worry and call to mind the verse that my dear husband called out to me when I came home from work one day when he way bedridden.

"Cast all your cares upon him for he cares for you".

1 Peter 5:7

****

Love, hugs and prayers, 

FlowerLady

August surprise

Greetings from Plum Cottage ~ I can hardly believe it's been almost another month since I've posted. Time is zipping right along. Fall is coming and I can hardly wait for cooler temps to get here. I basically hibernate, working outside weather permitting, in the mornings. It's just been too hot and humid. 

I had a huge surprise happen the last week in August. I have a new neighbor to the west of me. He bought the place and moved in the beginning of the year. He got hold of my other neighbor who lives to the west of the back of my property. The new neighbor is a young man who hadn't seen me and since he has long hair and tattoos he didn't know how I would react, hence his getting in touch with other neighbor. This other neighbor contacted me and new neighbor and I finally met the next Sat. He is 34, his hair is beautiful, auburn, his tattoos not scary. ;-)

 Anyway, the wood fencing between us was pretty bad and was not something I could immediately take care of.  When we talked, he had already made plans for a company to come out to take down old fencing and put up new. I was shocked, but also thankful. No money on my part. I had to clear some bushes, etc. from the property line and that had me in a bit of a tizzy as I only had a day to get ready. I survived.

The crew came Sunday morning to take down the old, and put up new 4x4 posts in cement to cure overnight. They were back on Monday to haul away old fencing and to put up the new. They put up fence slats and made true privacy fencing, no spaces to see through. They did a fantastic job and I'm still amazed at how this all came to be.

I had started new fencing on the back side of his property, and the neighbors who lived there and sold him the house, gave me $ to finish doing that fencing since they were selling and wanted it to look nice. I then had some $ left over to work on the other west neighbor's fencing, and he also gave me $ to take care of most of the fencing between us. So, now three runs of new fencing are up and there are just the two long sides to go, the back of my property and the driveway from street to back. They both are really in bad shape, but so far I don't see either of those neighbors helping, one is a landlord of the apts. next door, the other are renters. I don't expect them to, I mean, after all, it is my fencing that I should be replacing. All in good time, God will provide. He's already taken care of three sides and with Him all things are possible. He has surprised me with working those three sides out.

The other morning I came across a Bible verse in Proverbs 15:25, and am putting it in the picture below. He has certainly done this for me with new fencing.

 Now for some before and after pics of this project.

 I cut back holly as much as I could and cleared paths.

 

 

My property was open to the street out front for one night and I prayed for God's protection to keep people out. It is a 5 lane road out front and lots of stuff goes on at night.

This project has been more motivation for me to 'prettify' this place once again. It will never be pristine, it will always be a tropical cottage style garden. It won't be done overnight, and will be done when finances allow. For now, I will do what I can, as I can. Weed, propagate, plant, water and enjoy.

My friends Sean and Stan came two weeks ago and cut down more trees in the back of my property, stuff that had sprouted and become super overgrown. They've still more to do, but come here when they are able. They both have full-time jobs. I am so thankful for all of their help this year. The huge pile of brush was picked up Saturday.

On the 8th would have been our 52nd anniversary. I still celebrate, can't help it.  A sweet young couple, gave me a lovely bouquet of flowers that I am still enjoying a week later. Thank you Melissa & Paul.

 

I have flowers, critters, etc. to share but they will be for another post.

~~~

Remember to count your blessings.

Having a heart
full of gratitude
is good for us
spiritually,
mentally and
physically.

When blessings seems sparse,
as they sometimes are,
let us remember ones from the past.
They give us hope.
May God bless you all and keep you safe.  

 

Love, hugs and prayers,

FlowerLady