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DIY Succulent Pumpkins

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Hey there friends.  Today’s post is my very first nod to Fall.  I’m nodding at you Fall but I’m not embracing you, especially after you littered my yard with debris last night.

I’m writing this post as I listen to the sound of chainsaws next door, where my neighbor had two trees go through their roof last night during the windstorm.  We were on the far edge of hurricane Irma’s path but we had heavy winds and power outages.  All I can say is that I’m very thankful that we were spared any damage to our home.

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Monday Musings – Dogs, Vignettes, and God

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Summer came in earnest on Saturday with the first REAL humidity of the year.  The kind that leaves even heat lovers like us seeking air conditioned spaces.  Then in the night came thunder, and lightening, and a real downpour that my yard gladly drank in.

Spring is my favorite time of year in the South.  The yards are so green and different varieties of flowers are blooming daily.

May seems to be the month for magnolias and gardenias. 

I’m musing today on the complexity of doggie relationships . . .

. . . as I consider why this perfectly behaved ten-year-old dog of ours would suddenly begin leaving nasty little messes in the house.

Oh I know it has something to do with the new puppy entering her world, but I’d like to get in her head and understand her WHY?

Because maybe if we knew the WHY we would know the answer to the problem.

In the meantime, she received a good scolding this morning and I do believe she is smart enough to think twice before trying something so foolish again, especially on the oriental carpet 🙁

I’m musing as well today on why my funny seems to have left me of late.

Hubby and I discussed it a bit this weekend and I came to the conclusion that my funny feeds off of other funny people and I haven’t been around enough of those types lately.

I know, a lot of people say that Mr. OTN is funny.  But he’s funny in a different kinda’ way.  Like the smart guy who acts goofy kinda’ way.

Right now I just might be hoping hubby doesn’t read this post. Click To Tweet

It’s all good honey.  It’s like Disney’s Goofy.  You like him, right?

My kind of funny is more like this: 

At times I'm shocked at the brilliance of my words. Then I try to get out of the car with my seat belt on. Click To Tweet

I think I need time with some of my quick witted friends to get my funny back.  Soon gals, soon. 🙂

Today I’m also musing on the message we heard in church yesterday about how we can be certain to know God’s will when we don’t allow ourselves to be conformed to the world’s views, but are instead, transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2).

  We renew our minds when we spend time in God’s word and in prayer, getting to know Him, and when we deliberately focus on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, and on all things good, excellent and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8).

It is so important to be careful about the things we allow our minds to settle on isn’t it?The more we fill our minds with toxic thoughts, the less room we have for God. Click To Tweet

And the less room we have for God, the less we know His perfect will for us.

I don’t know about you, but I want to know and walk in God’s will for me, because I know it far surpasses anything I could plan for myself.

As a bonus, and to keep you engaged while listening to my musings, here’s a little Spring vignette I created for my kitchen dining nook.

Thanks for stopping by 😉

Blessings,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired,  InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory, Making Your Home Sing Mondays, What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking, SmallWonder, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends

Tuesday:

TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CedarHillFarmhouse, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles,  Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, ChristianBloggerLinkup, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday

Thursday:

ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner,  I Choose Joy,   Thought Provoking Thursday, SincerelyPaulas, ThankfulThursdays, ThoughtfulThursday, Tune-inThursday

Friday:

FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme,  TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration,  Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus FreshMarketFriday

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents,  SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet

Pumpkins, Roses, and Calgon, Take me Away.

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dried-roses-pumpkins-001Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist is the book I’m reading right now.  This book is really causing me to take a step back and re-evaluate the busyness of my life.  I am no longer working a full time job, we have no responsibility in our church right now, and I no longer have kids at home that keep me living crazy.  My crazy comes all from pressure I put on myself to keep working toward getting everything on my to-do list done.  But I never get it done and I never will get it done because I keep adding things to it.  That’s simply the kind of person I am.

I have this voice inside my head that tells me that it is wrong to stop and rest when my hubby works such long and crazy hours (don’t worry it isn’t a real voice, just my thinking voice).  It also warns me that if I stop and rest I might have to deal with some very unpleasant thoughts about very real problems.  Though I don’t share everything about our lives and family here on the blog, we have one.  And our family has it’s share of ups and down just like any other family does.  However, this particular year has been a hard one.  Stress, worry, fear, and heartbreak (You don’t need to tell me to cast my cares upon the Lord or to trust in Him alone because believe me, I find myself in a constant state of casting and trusting).

So I keep myself busy to keep from being overwhelmed . . . or so I tell myself. Click To Tweet

I’m in the process of re-evaluating. What are the things that are really important in my life and what things can be set aside?  What are the things I’m doing that have to do with the calling on my life and what things am I doing out of a sense of obligation? What are the things that I do that will best serve God, my family, and my friends?  And maybe me too because this might just start with taking better care of me!

dried-roses-pumpkins-002I’ve been hesitant to take a blogging break because I’ve been to writer’s conferences where “they” say – those great and all-knowing experts on everything – that to draw back from regularly posting to your blog is certain death, and will diminish all those followers you’ve worked so hard to gain so that One Day, that fabulous book you’re writing will be the buzz among them and they will broadcast the word near and far making it the next best seller and making your name a household word! 

Push, push, push, and don’t slow down.  Post it, link it, Pin it, Tweet it, IG it, and turn around and do it all again.

dried-roses-pumpkins-003 It has been slow going as I write the book that I feel God has called me to write.  I plug away whenever I can . . . whenever I don’t find myself swamped with all of the other things I feel obligated or simply driven to do.

dried-roses-pumpkins-004But wait a minute.  What about that verse I’ve clung to so often on this writing journey, “The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me,” from Psalm 138:8?  I know I have to put the work into the writing but driving myself mad with the push for likes and follows?  Not now.  Not at this juncture in my life.  Not when I have more important things to fight for.  NO!

dried-roses-pumpkins-006At the end of the day, whether my book is picked up by a publisher or self-published, whether it reaches thousand, tens of thousands, millions, or a couple dozen people, the message in my book will get into the hands of those it is meant to.  Our Pastor asked a question last week that really hit the nail on the head for me, At life's end what will matter most, the number of likes you've gotten or the amount of love you've shown? Click To Tweet

dried-roses-pumpkins-007So I’m taking a little break.  I don’t know how long it will be but I need to take a little time for self love in the form of self care.  Lord knows, I need it!  My family needs it too.  Even if I can’t be present with them they need my prayers.  So I’m drawing away for a time to do the next right thing.

dried-roses-pumpkins-008I already had a few posts planned so I will pop in from time to time with photos and maybe some news of what is happening in my world.  You can also follow me on Instagram where I will be posting more often.

dried-roses-pumpkins-005Be still and know that I am God.

I’m looking forward to it.

Blessings friends,

My SignatureP.S. I hope you liked my French Country Pumpkins and Roses.  Pretty things make me smile 🙂

dried-roses-pumpkins-008aDon’t forget to PIN me!

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired,  InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStoryMaking Your Home Sing Mondays, The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking,SmallWonder, LifeGivingLinkup, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends

Tuesday:

TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles,  Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story, IntentionalTuesday

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, TheBlissfulBee, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, ChristianBloggerLinkup, Whole Hearted Home, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday

Thursday:

ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner, PrettyPreppyParty,  The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop, I Choose Joy,  Live Free Thursday, Thought Provoking Thursday, PartyAtMyPlace, 100HappyDays, SincerelyPaulas, ThankfulThursdays

Friday:

FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme,  TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration,  Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents,  SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet

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French Courtyard on a Backyard Deck

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French CourtyardThis is my favorite time of  year here in the South.  The greens are greener, the flowers are brilliant(er), and the weather is perfect for morning coffee out on the deck.

Patio Courtyard 001Last year we didn’t do anything with our deck space.  We hadn’t yet been here a year and we were still tackling a lot of indoor projects as well as adding several plantings to the front yard.

Patio Courtyard 004In talking about what we would do in the backyard we thought about creating a courtyard with pavers, a retaining wall for seating, a water feature, and the addition of a fire pit or fireplace.

Patio Courtyard 029We even paid a designer to draw up a plan.  It was AH-mazing!

Patio Courtyard 026As it turned out, if we were to implement the plan it would cost thousands of dollars and, though a nice feature it wouldn’t pay for itself in resale.  So for now, we decided to work at adding favorite plantings to the yard a little bit at a time and foregoing the fancy fire pit.  To be honest, with the amount of time we spend on our screened porch (our favorite room) I’m not sure how much we would even use it.

Patio Courtyard 035Here is how the idea of creating the feeling of a French Courtyard on our deck began.  A couple of weeks ago we had breakfast with our friends Mark and Leslie and afterwards we wandered through a few stores.  While we were shopping Leslie picked up the crocheted tablecloth you see here.  The round one.  She decided she really didn’t need it so I quickly grabbed it myself and told her it would be perfect for the little table on the deck and that we would have coffee there together.

Patio Courtyard 088Mr. OTN laughed and said it would never happen and that is when I set out to prove him wrong.

Patio Courtyard 051Since then I’ve spray painted the patio set, sewed chair covers and pillows, stenciled the pillows, pulled pots onto the deck, some new and some from different areas of the yard, planted shrubs and flowers, washed the deck, and finally, set about arranging and rearranging everything to get just the look I was going for.

Patio Courtyard 024Getting one’s hands in the dirt is such a joy when the temperatures are in the 70’s,

Patio Courtyard 007and with the warmer weather it seems like within just a matter of days my new plantings have begun to spread and grow. 🙂

Patio Courtyard 012My little boxwoods already need a haircut.

Patio Courtyard 008We bought a conical variegated boxwood and a couple of regular boxwoods, and tucked smaller plants into the pots around them.

Patio Courtyard 014I also added a couple of hanging baskets.

Patio Courtyard 055

Patio Courtyard 011

Patio Courtyard 009

Patio Courtyard 057

 Patio Courtyard 020

Patio Courtyard 086Last week the little patio fountain that hubby purchased locally was delivered.  You see, once I started working my plan he got into the idea himself.  😉

Patio Courtyard 022

The dogs think our new fountain is the best water bowl ever!

Patio Courtyard 023

Patio Courtyard 048

Patio Courtyard 005This shows the yard beyond the deck, which is an area of grass bordered by trees.  The next step of our backyard plan will involve plantings along the edge of the woods to add more color there as well.  Shade lovers such as azaleas and hydrangeas.

Patio Courtyard 025Finally, what would a French Courtyard be without a bit of lavender?  I have a secret for you.  It’s from Hobby Lobby!  Since lavender likes a lot more sun than my yard provides I put several faux lavender sprigs into a cement planter and tucked some moss around the stems.  Even close up people think that it’s real.

Patio Courtyard 032Hubby and I have been spending a lot of time in our little “courtyard” and one day soon Leslie and I will have our coffee here and laugh over what she started by showing me the pretty tablecloth!

Patio Courtyard 033 Morning quiet time here among the songbirds is a time to be treasured.  It is cozy and peaceful, and just what we need to make ourselves slow down from our very busy lives.

Patio Courtyard 087So that’s my French Courtyard.  We shall see how it fares through the hot humid summer.  It will certainly be a test of which plants work best in this location.  Trial and error.  That’s my motto.  Or one of them.  I have a lot of mottos.  LOL!

Oh how I wish I could invite y’all over to share this sweet space with me.  I know that our time together would be simply marvelous!

Blessings to you dear friends,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:

 TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:

Spring Bouquet in a Garden Urn

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Spring Arrangement 003Did you read my post about The Lie of Perfectionism a couple of weeks ago?  Yeah well, I may have had to read that again myself before sharing my floral arrangement with you today.  I’ve never taken a flower arranging class in my life but I know the look I like.  I’m pretty sure a professional would take one look at my arrangement and want to fix it for me.  In fact, I did ask the opinion of a friend who has won awards for her floral arrangements and she had some suggestions for me, but after playing around with it a bit more I stayed with what was pleasing to my eye.

Spring Arrangement 002When I look into my dining room, which is several times a day as I go up and down the stairs, I feel happy.

Spring Arrangement 001 The sun streams through the plantation shutters onto my dining room table and reminds me that warm days are right around the corner.

Spring Arrangement 007This large bouquet is filled with some of my favorite flowers and, quite by accident in an attempt to fill a bare spot, a sweet bird’s nest with gold leafed eggs.

Spring Arrangement 008I have neither the time nor the money to create a new arrangement of fresh flowers every week, but over time I’ve invested in some really good faux flowers which I’ve mixed with some really average faux flowers, to create an arrangement that makes me smile.

Spring Arrangement 009A little burlap twisted around the stems of the flowers gives it the shabby touch I adore,

Spring Arrangement 012and a big French garden urn at the base of it all makes it a statement piece.

Spring Arrangement 013Nope, not even near perfect, but Perfectly Imperfect just like me!

Blessings friends 😉

My SignatureSpring Arrangement 001

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:

 TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday: