"I'm Afraid I Did"

Mr. D. is industrious.  He never, and I mean NEV-er, sits still.  He's always doing something, anything. The other day I heard a funny noise coming from the garage.  He was out there shredding paperwork while he was watching a baseball game.  He loves his garage; it's full of his tools and fishing poles, a frig' and TV, his desk.

I had mentioned to him a couple of days ago that we needed plants.  He's the gardener, and thought I'd plant a seed.  He replied that we weren't short on plants, I just had too many flower pots.  I thought that was the end of the conversation.  Until yesterday.  I discovered all of my flower pots lined up on an old garden shelf, with tiny little succulents sitting down inside, peeking up at me, happily waiting to be planted.

Today, before I left to run errands, he was on the driveway putting gravel and potting soil in the flower pots. 

When I got back he was sitting on the front porch with his brother, 

admiring his work.

 

He did great. 

Even grouping the pots by color

He mixed in some whimsy

 

I was concerned though, because I knew several of the pots he'd used didn't have drain holes.

"They do now".

"You didn't drill a hole in that McCoy pot did you?!"

"I'm afraid I did"

Overlooking another person's faults preserves love.  Proverbs 17:9

Becky's Red Dishes

I love the encouraging stories of every-day life that can be used as illustrations.  One story I've told many times over the years is about some red dishes. It came to mind recently, when a girlfriend struggling with finances said they had to sell their house.  It's hard to give up the stuff we cherish, even the small things, much less our home.

Back in the 70's when I first got saved during the "Jesus Movement", one of my close friends, Becky, was moving and she was having a garage sale.  Her husband had asked her to put her mother's red depression glass dishes out for sale.  It was a sacrifice, but she honored his request and did it. Back then, I don't think I could have done it.

Sometime later when I was praying, I took an unusual little journey to Heaven.  It wasn't a spooky out-of-body experience; it was just like a movie playing in my mind with my eyes closed.  The bible speaks of a Marriage Feast, a supper, when all believers [the bride] will be gathered together to celebrate with Jesus [the groom] after the "rapture".  (Sorry for all the Christian-ese).

 Click here

Anyway - it was this feast that I saw in the 'movie'.  No one was there yet, but every thing was ready. The tables were enormous; They stretched as far as the eye could see in both directions, wide enough for place settings on both sides, and there were row after row after row of the them.  I was astonished because they were made from single planks of wood cut from trees that had to be bigger than anything I'd ever seen.  As I slowly approached the place where I knew I was going to be seated someday --- there they were.  Becky's red dishes!

In the bible the Apostle Paul wrote "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him".

  

For nearly forty years now I've been continually amazed at how much He really does love us, and the good things He has planned for us -in this life, and Forever.  He knows what we're up against, and what we've had to give up, or lost, or had stolen.  I think Heaven is going to be full of surprises.  Hope to see you at the dinner table.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths.  Proverb 3:5-6 

   

******

I have several antique prints of Jesus.
  Would you like to see two of my favorites? 

This one I found at the flea market several years ago.
  For now it sits on the mantle.
  It's tiny, only 6 x 8.

It's titled Christ at Five by C. Bosseron Chambers

 I've never seen this image any other place.



And this one stands on a sideboard in the living room.

  

  It's bigger than it appears;  about 18" tall, in a gilded frame.

My son found it at the flea market. 
There's no visible attribution.

I think it's breathtaking.

Well, that's all - until I learn how to use my camera better.

Thanks for stopping by.

And if you missed it, click on the redwood trees for a treat.

Many blessings to you.

God Chix

When I went to the flea market last weekend, one of the "country" things I found was a basket full of chickens, and I took some pictures for you before putting them in my consignment space.

This Friday my mentoring group will be gathering.  There's five of them, plus me.  When I sent out the reminder email, I attached a picture of the God Chix.

Like my peeps - so CUTE!

Each one is an individual.

Sometimes they loose their heads.

 

We're definately better together.

Everybody look up here and say CHICKEN!

 

Got it!

Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success.  Proverbs 15:22

BUZZ

I'd heard the story about Buzz once before but the second time around my ears perked up.  As I listened I was wondering if his nick-name reflected his haircut at one time.  On a particular tree-lined street on the east side of town lives "Buzz".  His bio reads:  Retired fireman.   82 years young.   Loves to cook -- firehouse style.

My friend, Merri, is a benefactor of Buzz's selflessness.  Every Thursday he cooks for and delivers dinner to several of the elderly neighbors on the block.  He says it's too hard to cook for one. He even comes back around and picks up the Tupperware.

He was already cooking for the neighborhood when Merri and her husband (who are by no means elderly) began a remodeling project a couple of years ago.  She said he must have felt sorry for them, because they were added to the coveted list and began receiving Thursday night deliveries too.  Renovations long complete, they've remained on the list.  Merri says the other neighbors are jealous.  I bet!

Thanks, Buzz, for showing us how good cooks can be exceptional neighbors.  What street was that again?

 

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.    Proverbs 11:25

My Paris Flea Market

I enjoyed a couple of hours at the local flea market early today, before it got too hot.

  I bought a few pieces for resale in my consignment space at the country store in

The Village. I was inspired by a small blue shelf I found, and continued to look for things that would "tell a country story".

* * *

Country decor isn't my personal taste, so after my "must do" shopping,

I spent a little time looking at beautiful vintage treasures.

  I found this sweet Limoge vase with hand-painted "birds on a branch"

on each of its six sides. 

 

 After being offered a great price, how could I say no!

 

  

It stands just under seven inches high.  

My mission was complete.  On the way out I snapped a picture of a great

chest of drawers

painted and decoupaged in happy French colors.

In keeping with the "French" theme, I've added a picture of a Limoge chocolate pot

and some orphaned cups that I love, from my china cupboard .  They're cracked and chipped, and oh I wish they could talk.

Just for fun, click here for a live view of the Eiffel Tower. Ooh La La!

 A merry heart makes the face cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13a

A Morning Adventure

I love my neighborhood.  After an early morning exchange  on Facebook with my daughter-in-law, I walked over to her house (it just takes 15 minutes) and together we walked around the corner to "the village" where her studio is, and looked at her recent jewelry designs.  While she was locking up I went next door to the post office and picked up the mail.  Then we went across the street to the village cafe for tea and toast (we ordered a side of avocado and smooshed it on top of our toast.)  Afterwards we stopped at the antique store, two doors down, for a quick "hello".  Next we hopped in her car and took a short drive to a community garden that she absolutely loves, visited all the summer vegetables,  chatted briefly with a sweet old-timer harvesting his tomatoes, and decided to put our names on the waiting list for a plot.  Darn, we didn't have a camera with us.  (Last time for that to happen.)  Our final stop was for peaches (49 cents / pound at Vons).  She drove me home and we agreed we'd do it again soon.  Kiss kiss, hug.
 
Now that's my idea of a good time.   

When I got home, my husband asked where I had been.  "Okay, I walked over to our daughter-in-laws this morning and together....." 




He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.  Proverbs 18:22

The Story Continues

To continue my city-life story about the lime tree....

Although I had picked almost all the "limes" off the tree, I'd left about a dozen that were a little too small.  And, after I'd found out the so-called lime tree was actually a naval orange tree, I waited with eager anticipation.  I was genuinely excited about eating fruit from my own tree for the first time ev-ver in my life. I patiently watched for them to get big and juicy... leaving them on the tree to ripen.

On the very day that I decided I was going to pick them, I came home from work to find the tree completely empty.  Orange rinds were sitting in little piles in the dirt near the block wall at the back of the yard.  The workers, apparently, had enjoyed them that afternoon while sitting down for lunch!  And left the dishes for me!! 

If you keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of trouble. Proverbs 21:23

The Great Tomatoe Exchange

I'm a city girl, born and bred. Long Beach is the fifth largest city in the third largest state in the union. I know nothing about country life. When we bought our last house there was a lime tree in the back yard, and I picked it clean and gave the fruit to the workers that were helping to remodel.  The foreman came back the next morning and said, "Susana, these are not limes, they're naval oranges and you picked them too soon!"  Sheesh.

As I've roamed the blog lists, I've discovered this wonderful world of authentic, every-day country living documented on pages graced with pictures of orchards and farm wagons, clothes lines and barefoot grandbabies, pantry shelves lined with "put-up" stuff, and talk about chickens and goats.  For a while I was a little envious of the quieter, slower paced, less-stressed way of life y'all seem to enjoy.

Then some of my "peeps" came over for a meeting and one of them brought a bowl full of home-grown tomatoes (yup- that's them in the picture).  She was followed later that day by a guy coming by to pick up a TV -  and he left tomatoes.  The next day hubby came in from work with even more, and suggested we make homemade spaghetti sauce.  Soon.  Everyone's growing tomatoes!  It made me realize even city folk long for a bit of the rural; a way to connect back to simpler times, the earth, and opportunities to be neighborly.  We may not have fresh-layed eggs or clothespins, but we have our tomatoes.  I guess if you want country you just have to make your own.

So I've decided I'm going on a quest to find signs of old-fashioned country living - to see my city through a different lens, so to speak.  I'm going to seek out the simple life in the middle of the big city, and listen for conversations about neighborly acts of kindness and friendship.  I'll let you know what I discover.

If you'd like to join me, send a note - and pictures if you have them.  You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, Gmail and here at The Feathered Nest.  I almost forgot, the mailman still comes by too.  Maybe he has a story.

In the meantime I'm going online to find a recipe for homemade marinara sauce. 

If you can help your neighbor now, don't say, "Come back tomorrow, and then I'll help you." Proverbs 3:28