Nuts about buttercups!

photo from A Creative Mint blog

For some reason this Spring I have gone competely nuts over ranunculus flowers.  Their layers and colors are gorgeous!

Vibrant Pinks! 

Pale Peach!

I don't know if they are easily grown in Nebraska but I will surely find out!

Go visit the blog I tagged from the first picture.  You will have a feast for your eyes.   I hope to become as talented of a photographer (and decorator) as Leslie!  I am going to be on the lookout for some lovely blue pottery!

Puppy Love

Tonight I went to a girls movie night at a friend's fabulous apt movie room.  Comfy chairs, great sound, yummy treats and beverages and the best part was that I got to snuggle up and get TLC from a sweet Cairn terrier pup named Zach!   I was in dog-lover heaven.  He was sweet and looked just this the one in this picture.  Sighhhh I so wish I could have a puppy about now!

Sweet fragrance

Oh the sweet fragrance of Spring!  The trees and bushes are blooming and as my mother and I were walking through our local botanical garden we were swept away by the lovely sounds and smells throughout the grounds.
How precious was my time with my lovely mother on her birthday.  Just the two of us.  Stopping to sit on a bench in the shade or next to a bubbling brook surrounded by towering trees and limestone slabs.   It was a wonderful day in the city!
Here are a few pictures I snapped:

     I sure like bunnies - just not the ones that eat my petunias & hostas! 

Tulips are so pretty!

And here's what I gave Mom for her b-day.  I embellished it just a little bit with velvet ribbon & a pretty button.

More of Mary Carol's Home

Okay I couldn't resist sharing a bit more of her lovely home! Enjoy!

                     Here's the outside of her kitchen

... and the inside

I just love built-in cabinetry! 

More of her sitting room.  She has a lot of gorgeous religious art

Another look at that sweet window seat and the green wreaths

Ahhh screened in porches ... 

These are a few of my favorite things... When the dog bites when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad... Oh!  I lost myself for a moment there!

I so wished that we could have seen the upstairs and the bedrooms but it seems that would be too personal, perhaps?  If it's anything like the beautiful fabrics she has in her stores I'm sure it's romantic and utterly soothing.  Hope you enjoyed the visual candy as much as I did!

Nell Hills

My favorite decorating store, Nell Hills has a blog dedicated to sprucing up your nests no matter what time of year it is.  My favorite time of year to visit Mary Carol Garrity's store is during autumn.   Mainly because all the Christmas decor is out and the store is dripping with crystals, beautiful wreaths, and lots of other decorating goodness! My mother and I were able to take a quick day trip there before Christmas to check out the Nell Hills open house in Atchison, KS.  Lo and behold the lines and lines of women outside of the store!  It was truly unbelievable!  I had a great time chatting and getting to know some of the lovely ladies patiently wating to get in the store to shop.  Yes this was just to get in there and see what goodies were inside. 

But! Before we entered the line for the store we were encouraged to take a bus up to Mary Carol's home tour...

Yep - more lines! But it was fun and Mary Carol was outside greeting us all

Also greeted with a beautiful door display.  Mom bought one of the lanterns in the store. 

I love her home

Oooh I've ALWAYS wanted a window seat!  What a lovely place to relax and read a book!

 A pretty wreath with my favorite color green.  I can't seem to get sick of this color.  Who can get sick of green?  I've been missing it throughout the long winter, after all!

Well this is just a taste of the Garrity home and I'll have to share some other pictures another time. 

Hope you all will come visit her store and the cute little town of Atchison.  Tell her a nice blogger from Nebraska sent ya!

Have a great weekend!

Bless the little children

I just love kids!  Just ask anyone I know and they'll tell you how I gravitate towards them.  Sometimes they gravitate towards ME!  

 I unfortunately don't have children of my own but hope to... one day.  Many years of my life have been spent caring for children in some way.  Whether it consisted of baby-sitting family members, children of friends,  or volunteering in the children's ministry at church.  I've also volunteered at the local children's hospital but quickly found out that being a pediatric nurse wasn't something that I could hack. However, children bring me great joy in life. 

A long while back ago there was a time  that I considered becoming a foster parent.  I went through the classes and everything.   They were hard classes to endure.  The sad stories on how children end up in foster care can really wrench your heart.  It was an odd group of potential foster parents. Single, married, & a few bitter family members required to be there. I was amazed at how many couples were there because they were going that route to adopt a child.  So imagine their dismay when we were all reminded that the goal is to reconcile children with their families.  If that wasn't in your plan you probably shouldn't become a foster parent.  I wondered how I'd be able to let a child go back to a potential abusive situation after caring for them for a long period of time. 

After I went through the normal processes required in becoming a foster parent something happened that made me feel that God temporarily shut that door.  I have left that door shut until it's time to revisit and stand before it once more.  I know that someday it will be an option for me again, when the timing is right.  I think that's why I am so inpired by Amy's story and how wonderful it is to see her making a difference in Alfredo's life. 

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Matthew 19:14

Hunky Robert Taylor

(photo courtesy of Flickr)

Last night I couldn't tear myself away from the TV while watching this film!  I missed the very beginning because I have a bad habit of channel surfing.  I really wish that I didn't miss any of it...

I've already told you that I'm a hopeless romantic but for some reason I'm not drawn to old films.   It's a little odd since I like old things and vintage pictures but when it comes to old films I pass on them.  With a few exceptions of course!

However, last night I was lured in by TCM's actor of the month, Robert Taylor.  He sure was a looker!  They had a marathon going and I saw the last part of "Camille" and cried at the end.  Sniff!  It made me wonder about Mr Taylor.  I longed for more of this hunky actor from back in the day.  Say...1940!

Then came "Waterloo Bridge" right afterwards  starring Vivien Leigh (Myra)  with  her glassy eyes and huge eyelashes - looking lovingly at her darling Roy.  They were about to get married but Roy had to leave abruptly.  She was supposed to perform (she was a dancer) the evening he shipped off and she had to choose between losing her job or missing her last good-bye to her fiance' at the train station.  She opted for love (of course!), missed her good-bye and lost her job!  Because her friend stood up for her she lost her job as well!  Both couldn't find another position as dancers or anything else they applied for.

I thought my heart would break when she & her friend became prostitutes to provide for themselves.  This is after Myra thinks that Roy died in the war. There was a part of the movie where Myra's friend Kitty rationalized that it was okay to sell their bodies because they were young and had no suitors wanting to marry them at the time.  Yikes!

The hopelessness of their situation and Myra's pride led them down a dark path.  You'll have to catch it!  Keep a tissue nearby!

Time to play catch up!

Hello again! I hope you all enjoyed your Easter and spent some time with those you love.  After church I went to my parents house for an early dinner. We had some delicious ham and all the fixins.  There were a few new additions to our Easter festivies as well and I think it is safe to say that fun was had by all.  My brother's girlfriend is a doll (as well as her sister and cute baby boy) and her daughter makes me smile and enjoy youth at it's finest.   To me, kids make the holidays even brighter.   So this Easter was sunny and warm! 

Both my tummy & heart were full by the end of the day...  Between the goodies and the hugs I was about to burst!  

My cup runneth over and it makes me glad, so very glad! 

Now that Spring has arrived and the holidays have slowed down it's time to get to cleaning.  Seems like I have neglected my home for far too long and I can't wait to dig in and clean out!  Weekends seem to fly by, don't they?

Easter Blessings

May all of you have a blessed Easter this Sunday!  I am posting the lyrics to a favorite worship song by Hillsong United & a pretty vintage Easter card I recently bought.  As much as I love bunnies, chickies and colorful Easter eggs...this holiday is all about the cross and resurrection.  Most of all a wonderful Savior! 

Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and trialed
You are
Te word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen
To your heart
To your heart

Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart