My Lenten News Fast

For those who observe, Lent began earlier this month on Ash Wednesday (March 9th).  This year for Lent, I'm undertaking a news fast.  No news coverage except for weather.  I decided to give up news because as a "news junkie", I have a tendency to saturate myself with news coverage.  News in the morning while I'm getting dressed, listening to talk radio on-line at work, more news in the evening.  While its good to be informed, I find most news today is presented in such a manner that creates fear and anxiety.  That's not a healthy place to exist.  In 2 Timothy 1:7, it says "God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, of love and a sound mind."  A sound mind is not a fearful mind.  So in an effort to reclaim my peace and set my mind on whatever is excellent and praiseworthy, I said bye-bye to news (sorry Glenn and Rush!).

Since beginning my news fast, I've found that I haven't been able to completely escape the news of the day.  I don't know specifics, but I gather a disaster has happened in Japan (prayers for those affected).  And I've learned its not always the big things that rob my peace.  But my reaction to the little things during my day also has the potential to steal my peace (God is still working on me with that one!).



   

Spring!

Spring!

Ash Wednesday

"Memento, homo ... quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris"

"Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return."

Valentine's Day

Clayton's class Valentine's - Lovebugs.  Get it :) 

For Ashleigh's Valentine's, chalkboard hearts. 

Saved myself a lot of time by using heart-shaped chalkboard stickers from Michael's craft store.

Paper heart doily banner for the china cabinet

Red roses and chocolates from my sweetheart.

Valentine's Day is the anniversary of our engagement.

Roses for the table.

I found the prettiest red tulips at Trader Joe's.

Quick craft - framed paper hearts on scrapbook paper.

Chalkboard hearts in the foyer.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Like Red On A Rose

What is your favorite love song?

Happy Birthday Clayton!

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY CLAY BABY!

Birthday Crown Fit for a Princess

This weekend, the birthday girl came to me with a last minute request.  She wanted a birthday crown to wear out to dinner with her friend.  Okay, Momma can do that - yikes!

Luckily, I found this cute birthday crown template.  I didn't have enough felt - or interfacing, or sewing skills.  But I did have some foam left over from Clayton's 100 days project.  I cut the foam in the shape of the template, added a little craft paint, a little glitter glue.  Hot glued some hair combs to the foam.  And voila!  

A birthday crown fit for a princess! 

Happy Birthday Ashleigh!

Happy 8th Birthday Ashleigh!

Happy Birthday Reed!

Happy 4th Birthday to my

Baby Reedy Pooh!

This Is What Jolly Looks Like!

Merry Christmas!

O Christmas Tree(s)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Using my Fall starfish frame door "wreath" as the star over baby Jesus

Our foyer Christmas tree (burgundy & gold)

Nativity wreath over  berry trees in the foyer

Red, turquoise & apple green ornaments for the three accent trees in the family room

(only two trees are pictured)

Family room

Remember these from Target last year?  Target is my first stop when it comes to after Christmas clearance sales!

Blue & gold tree in the dining room

Dining room

Dining room china cabinet

Kitchen tree

(we also have a small counter top tree in the kitchen as well)

Living room trees by the fireplace

Sunroom tree

(Red & cooper ornaments with pine cone garland strands)

The "Martha Stewart" tree

(pink, purple, pearl & gold glass ornaments with pink & gold bows)

This tree is decorated entirely with Martha Stewart ornaments bought on clearance from Kmart eight (yes 8!) years ago.  The year after I bought them, Ashleigh was only 11 months old, so these glass ornaments have been packed away ever since then.  But this  year, I decided to be brave and put them out!  The tree is sitting on top of a dresser in the living room.  Safe from little hands - but not so safe from our new kitty Oreo!   

The "Sweets" tree upstairs by the kids bedrooms

(Candy themed ornaments, pearl bulbs with gumdrop garland)

Adorable Country Living fabric cupcake ornaments

Red poinsetta for upstairs


Our Main Christmas tree with family ornaments, some dating back to Dave's childhood

We also have a tree in our master bathroom that wasn't decorated at the time I took these photos.  But I did the same theme as last year with the recycled paper towel garland and copper ornaments.

Only 3 days till Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Image(s) courtesy VintageHolidayCrafts.com

Our Mostly Local Thanksgiving Meal

Our Thanksgiving Menu

Herb Roasted Pastured Turkey with Pan Gravy

Rustic Mashed Red Potatoes

Cornbread Crockpot Stuffing

Steamed Green & Yellow Beans

Sweet Potato Casserole topped with Pecans (and homemade whipped cream!)

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Buscuits

from local sources:

Pastured turkey & red potatoes - Cane Creek Farm, Efland, NC

Fresh rosemary - backyard container garden

Green & yeallow beans - Cloverfields Farm, Timberlake, NC & Cedar Rock Farm, Castalia, NC (frozen from summer)

Sweet potatoes - R & V Farm

Pecans - S & L Farm, Louisburg, NC

Cream - Maple View, Hillsborough, NC

Wheat berries for flour - The Grain Mill of Wake Forest, Wake Forest, NC

Thanksgiving Preparations - Cooking A Pastured Turkey

This year for Thanksgiving, I'll be cooking a local, pasture raised turkey for the first time!  I'm finding these cooking tips for pastured turkey to be extremely helpful in my final preparations for the big day. 

Halloween

This year Halloween fell on the weekend...

Me and geto boyz are trick-or-treating ;)



Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween!

First Fall Harvest

The first harvest from my Fall garden - red & green loose leaf lettuce and arugula.

Tender and delicious, especially when topped with homemade French dressing.

A Birthday Simple Pleasure - Cafe Blue Cupcakes

Cafe Blue Cupcakes

from Cafe Carolina & Bakery

Think about the most delicious, moist cake from your Grandmother's kitchen.  Topped with sweet (but not too sweet!) buttery, turquoise blue frosting.  THAT is the Cafe Blue!

YUM!