An Easter Project, A Moon, and a Snowpile

Yes, I am posting a photo of that crazy snowpile. Sitemeter shows me that people arrive just to see that thing! If that's why you're here, just scroll down as it's the last picture.

This photo is just for Mari-Nanci whom I told last night that I couldn't see the moon because of cloud cover. No sooner had I shut down the computer than in flooded that familiar light. Grabbed the camera, opened the door, and found the moon sitting right there waiting for me. I didn't even have to go outside in the wind and cold.



Yesterday, as I was tidying and primping in preparation for Easter, I realized that there was not one decoration that spoke of Easter's true meaning. Visiting Manuela, I was reminded of this idea.



It was such an easy thing to do...all completed in about 30 minutes, including the time it took to scrounge for the supplies. You can see Manuela's right here on March 18.

...and Kari & Kijsa have done a number of these including this one right here.

The Snowbank...enough said about this! LOL!



If you can hang around for one more thought. Sometimes in the middle of a life mess, I wonder how it'll ultimately work out. Some things have speedy results and others just linger on and on. You know how that goes...

But, whether issues are resolved quickly or last f-o-r-e-v-e-r, none of humanity will ever know (praise God!) the despair that those who stood at the foot of the cross (or hid in denial) knew. Oh, yes, they had been told that good things were going to happen, but they didn't "get it." I don't blame them for this...I don't get much either. Can there be any greater despair than to watch the Son of God die? To watch hope die? We, on the other hand, know that Sunday morning dawns with all the hope of the ages resting in that one moment of time. We have so much reason to rejoice.

Busy day today for so many of us. Still, I hope to get caught up with everyone tonight!

The Way Back

Untethered by time, he sees us all. From the backwoods of Virginia to the business district of London...Vagabonds and ragamuffins all, he saw us before we were born.

And he loves what he sees. Flooded by emotion. Overcome by pride, the Starmaker turns to us, one by one, and says, "You are my child. I love you dearly. I'm aware that someday you'll turn from me and walk away. But I want you to know, I've already provided you a way back." ~Max Lucado


All I've ever really wanted to know, I learned to sing in Sunday School..."Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so."

Ever feel as if you're missing the mark? I do.

Ever feel as if you're falling apart? Yup, me, too.

Ever feel as if you can't endure even one more day? So do I.

Ever think that this (whatever "this" is) will never end? I hear you.

Ever wonder if God still loves you in spite of foolish attempts to hide? Do you see me now, God? we say as we peek out from behind whatever fortress we've erected.

Today, of all days, we know the answer. He loves us. He adores us. He thinks we're absolutely fantastic. He longs for us. How do we know? Because, while we were still hiding from Him, He allowed His one and only son to endure the cross for us. Why? So that we didn't have to pay the price that we could never have paid in the first place. Nothing we have or could ever do is enough to "earn" our way back to Him.

Today we remember what it cost Him to love us. Everything!

You must be somebody very special!!

Blessings to you today and every day!

Easter Parade

The day is here! Join the fun at Miss Sandy's Quill Cottage!

And what am I parading today? An Easter bonnet? A new dress? Anything exciting at all? Nah...not my style. I'm parading onion skin wrapped eggs. This might have been exciting if New England eggs were white, but they're already brown. Sigh. Whatever! I can't be expected to remember the little things in the wee hours of the morning with the stench aroma of hard boiled eggs wafting about the house.

This is how you, too, can create such an egg:

1. Save onion skins for a very long time. (Longer than two days.)

2. Wrap white eggs for a dramatic effect or brown eggs for the subtle look I enjoy so well with said onion skins.

3. Wrap them again in a piece of paper towel and wind closed with string.

4. Hard boil them according to your method — mine is to bring eggs to a boil in cold water, boil for 5 minutes, then allow to cool in the pan for another 5 minutes with heat turned off, rinse as usual.

5. Remove thread, paper towel, and onion skins and prepare to be amazed at the designs.

6. Since I am using the eggs as place settings at the Easter table, I will add names.

7. The final step is to shine them up using a little vegetable oil.

Here's the story in pictures:







Hoping to add a photo of my Easter finery circa 19%$, but am not waking my dear mother to beg at this hour. Check back!

ETA: As promised, but delayed...sorry! I love this photo especially of my sister who, at three years of age, was as adorable as could be and knew how to strike a pose. :D She still does!

Little Pleasures

It's the little things...good conversation, a cup of tea, a mug of coffee, a new recipe, reading a fun blog, finding a package in the door...



...and in the package an unexpected extra



that smells heavenly and packaging so pretty with that melon card paper and the moss-colored ribbon.

And what was in the package?



The sweet little mauve pillow front and center. Thanks, Robin! Check out her shop right here for a little yard sale/flea market fun from home.

And where was I going when I found the package in the door?



And it was worth every calorie...every. last. one.

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Speaking of calories...





these little treats were a lot of fun to make, more fun to eat, and looked darling. I have one word for you, though, remember to purchase jelly beans for the eggs not malted milk eggs. :D

Found this fun idea right here on Judy's Front Porch. Even though I hoped to have pics of two cuties enjoying them the way Judy did, my cuties were napping when I arrived with the goods.

A blessed Wednesday to everyone!

Teacup-a-Story

This is going to be a graphics dense post. Just enjoy the pictures and skip the reading if you're low on time.



These are my teacups given to me by my grandmother. She gave them to me because she knows that my favorite color is yellow and my favorite rose is a yellow one. One is considerably older than the other and is a Royal Albert, which includes the third dessert plate, I believe. The other is a Melba. Both are bone china made in England.











Nan gave my sister green teacups. She gave each of her four great-grandchildren a teacup, including my son whose teacup is a depiction of a fisherman in midstream. She also gave her great-granddaughter-in-law a pink rose teacup. All of these gifts were based on the receiver's favorite flower and color.

This is my mother's teacup collection, which now incorporates many of my grandmother's teacups. Nan was once an avid collector, but she isn't much interested in teacups these days. The time for gathering the stories has gone, I'm afraid.





Here are a few closeups of my favorites from her collection...









The one just above is a commemorative teacup that belonged to my great-grandmother. It depicts the YMCA in Moncton, New Brunswick and "The Gorge" or something like that... It's very thin; I didn't dare to even touch it to take the photo.

This is one of my very favorites because of its little feet and the colors in the plate are gorgeous.

But I have already shown you my favorite teacup for sipping my tea right here. It's not too fussy and it's easy to hold. It's also the most recent gift as I just received it last week from a friend.

Guess I'll save my other tea stories for another day. Thankfully, this event is ongoing.

Thank you for looking at my treasures and at my mother's, too. Have a great day!

Edited to Add: Having visited others who are doing the teacup-a-story, I learned that I could look up my china teacups. The "newest" teacup with just the saucer is a Melba by "Melba China Co Ltd Stafford St., Longton. Staffordshire Potteries from 1948 to 1951." So it's older than I am and I feel ancient. ;> The trio Royal Albert Tea Rose was produced from 1942 to 1987. Though it looks older than the first, I could be wrong...I'm thinking that it's from the 40s.

Big Doin's, Thread Catcher, and a Tour of Ireland

It's going to be a busy week in Blogdom with all manner of festivities planned. Miss Sandy of Quill Cottage is planning something very special for Thursday. Be sure to visit and find out the particulars. A poster on my sidebar serves as a reminder.

La Tea Dah of Gracious Hospitality has a Teacup-a-Story planned for March 23 – March 29. She also has tea-related events planned every week through May! Wow!! I'm hoping to do my teacup story tomorrow.

Both events look like a lot of fun!

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Mondays have become a show and tell craft for me in the past few weeks. Today, I have a semi- successful project to share. Through no fault of the blogger who did the tutorial (some folks—me—are geometry challenged), I struggled a bit. It took a friend's gentle reminder that I was creating a box with 90 degree angles in the corners. Ohhhhhh...

It's a thread catcher...ever work on needlework projects while watching television and you find that your chair is covered in thread in no time? This little catcher gives you a place to stuff the threads. I have seen a number of these little projects and they are all sweet. Mine isn't so sweet, but I'll show you anyway.

You can find the tutorial right here at Leanne's The Stitching Room.

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Since it's St. Patty's Day, a tour of Ireland is in order! I found this blog recently and its writer was in the middle of sharing a wonderful travel commentary of her Ireland vacation. Stop by and visit Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti. The tour of Ireland begins on March 4 and continues through March 10. Of course, Pat continues to share all things Irish so you can't go wrong to land anywhere in March at Mille Fiori Favoriti.

My number one goal today is to find a McDonald's that still has a St. Patty's Shake on the menu. My second goal is not to bake a soda bread. ;> Happy St. Patrick's Day, everybody!

Edited to Add: Just have to share this Jacquie Lawson Card for St. Patrick's Day. Her work is delightful!

We Need So Much More

Those who cut the branches and spread their coats expected a lot from Jesus. They didn't expect enough. They wanted a king; they needed so much more. ~taken from His Passion: Christ's Journey to the Resurrection

"...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." ~Jesus (John 10:10b)

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