I NEED HELP.....

Something has happened to the page where I do my posts....when I upload a picture, it come up just fine but when I click on DONE, the picture is gone and in it's place is a lot of gibberish printing. However, when I click on PREVIEW, my picture appears. It is next to impossible to finish a draft of a post without being able to see the pictures...I can't judge my spacing and etc. If anyone knows what is happening here and how to fix it, please email me. I surely would appreciate it.
It is soooo strange...one minute it was fine...the next....weird!!!
Many thanks,
bj

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH BOOKS AND BOOKENDS

There's just not a whole lot better activity to do than a nice pot of tea, a snack, and.....A WONDERFUL BOOK. I do love reading....such a good escape from the humdrum of every day life. I, like you, I'm sure, can get so lost and "into" a book that I don't hear the phone ring, the door bell chime or someone calling my name.

I love browsing thru book stores, thrift stores and garage sale boxes...and I also LOVE BOOKENDS.....

I even like my LITTLE GIRL, READING statue....

"......and the flag was still there...."

Aren't these bookends great! I found them at Goodwill for just a few dollars and fell in love with their heaviness.

I apologize for posting these so many times but.....what can I say? They are my absolute favorites. One thing is that they remind me so much of my kids and grand kids playing Hide and Seek....

These I got at Kirklands for $14.95 and have never regretted it. They are smile makers.

These came from a garage sale...at $2.00 for the pair, I snapped them up.

These are wooden A B C book ends....they were yellow and used in a childs room. I just painted them black and they hold paperback books really well...

I like these sea shell ones...can't even remember where I got them but it was a thrift store find.

Goodwill had these brass duck ends.....I thought about spray painting them but they looked ok as is so.........

The two red books on each end.....ceramic bookends. Pretty cool....

You've probably seen my clear glass rooster bookends before. I really have enjoyed these. My sweet cousin gave them to me years ago.

I DO LOVE BOOKS...I also love this large, wall book shelf that I found at a thrift shop one day a couple of years ago and nearly had a heart attack before I could get it paid for, hauled to my house, painted and secured onto my wall. I had dreamed of a whole wall of bookcases and now....I'VE GOT IT. Nearly all of my books have come from thrift stores, as well. I love the condensed Readers Digest stories and thrift stores are just full of them for 25 cents apiece.

You can click on the picture for enlargement to see some of the kinds of books I like...mostly fiction, I'm afraid. DANIELLE STEEL is my hero writer !! :)

Ahhhhh, take me away, Danielle.....

HAPPY DAY !

WHAT HAVE WE HERE ???

Mary at MARY'S WRITING NOOK just warned me about my address showing here. I don't know how to delete this picture so if there's any BOOGER BEARS out there fixing to come to my house, BEWARE because my BIG, STRONG, FEARLESS man has a BIG, SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN and he doesn't cotton to strangers hanging around our house!!!
I am sooo careful to never post my grandchildren's pictures on here; you just can't be too careful with them, but I just never thought about my address. THANK YOU, MARY...I will be more careful in the future. I do appreciate the warning. Others....take heed of Mary's warning. The next time, I will cover my address..... My doorbell rang ...when I went to the door, THIS was sitting in my shabby, front porch swing....


Now, just a FEW days ago, I ordered something from KATHLEEN GRACE over at KATHY'S COTTAGE but I KNOW this can't be it because it was just a few days ago.....but, upon picking the package up, I see that it IS from Kathleen Grace. GOOD GRIEF, that is the fasting mailing I've ever had, I do believe...And, I see that cute sticker on the front! Thank you so much for the fastness of this, KATHY.....

AHHHHH, how beautiful ! And look at those 2 precious tags, lace trimmed. What a nice surprise to get those.....

I adore these, Kathy.....Thank you sooooo much!

And, here's my PINK HEART....is this precious or what! I love it !! And, I love it hanging on my green cabinet. I think I could hang it just about anywhere and it would be precious! It would also be so adorable hanging on my antique dresser in the pink bedroom......

And, the only thing better than pink is....PINK AND GREEN. So pretty! What awesome tags you've added, KATHY..."HUGS AND KISSES" and "TRUE LOVE" on little lace pieces. Just so sweet...sweet enough to eat, nearly!

I am so thrilled with my beautiful, stuffed hearts with their fabulous embellishments. The tags are so sweet and I love the HENS IN DAISIES tag, as well.

Ladies, if you'd like to check out some pretty handmade item, be sure to check Kathleen Grace's site...She really makes some lovely things. I am so pleased with my hearts......

Thanks again, Kathy girl......I really love both of the beautiful hearts!

Have a HEARTfelt day ~

I WENT THRIFTING AGAIN.......

I had to do errands and decided to stop at 3 of my favorite thrift stores, one being a downtown Goodwill. They nearly ALWAYS have something neat. Now, I have looked at these little crystal clocks for years and never was a bit interested....today, they were so cute, I grabbed them as soon as I saw them. I do NOT intend to make this a collection but....I really would like to have just 1 more. Three of anything is usually better than two. What makes us, all at once, interested in something that has never interested us before??? I am wondering if, by chance, me seeing little crystal clocks sitting on a table at DAISY COTTAGE one day peeked my interest????? heh heh...I THINK SO!! Any thing Kim has over in her DAISY COTTAGE makes me want one, too.....or two....or three !!! Stop by her blog and you will know what I mean!! Cute, cute......

I love green and pink together....and this little cup caught my eye, especially when I saw that it was marked $1.00. (Oh, me.....my poor kids and grand kids are going to have to cart all this "stuff" right back to Goodwill after I die!! SORRY, KIDS!)

ANITA (PRAIRIE DREAMS), I almost felt guilty when I bought this...I know you love pink and green and ROSES. What will ya trade me for it??? lol :)

This little gravy boat reminds me of an Aladdin's lamp in a way....Some of the gold is beginning to wear off but it looks pretty, tucked in with my white ironstone. $1.00 is a hard price to beat.......

I picked up these little red, white and khaki pillows....I am trying soooo hard to ignore these 2 chairs and ottoman covered in French blue. I love the chairs and want to get them recovered but it will cost as much, if not more, than if I bought new chairs and an ottoman. SHOOT !! Since we are saving for a big screen tv right now, new chairs are not in the budget. So, I'm trying to bring my reds over into this part of the room and since I have no other blue in the room, the poor chairs look like they are LOST. Oh, what to do? Just grin and bear it, I suppose. I'm not much on slipcovers as they seem to always be...well,......slipping !!

I bought the 2 chairs and ottoman, in excellent condition, at a moving sale a couple of yrs ago for $135.00. The color was just perfect at the time...I had a cottage style room with yellows and blues. But not any more..

Now, I am EXPECTING, just any minute, to find 2 matching chairs, plus ottoman, for $135.00, covered either in a floral deep red fabric or a large black and white plaid or check. Don't ya know they will show up just any minute!!?! :(

Maybe I just need to find a way to bring a little blue to the other end of the room but....the style of the chairs just doesn't work in the room. Oh, well, more important things to ponder!!

HAPPY DAY ~

ANTHROPOLOGIE ~

I don't know if you have seen the ANTHROPOLOGIE catalog or not but they have some really cute things. They have a lot of really cute clothes for the young, or even the young at heart but it's some of the unusual and pretty home items I like.

Aren't these white porcelain mugs and cups just precious!! With black monograms! Fancy, lacey looking cups for HER and hefty, manly mugs for HIM. AND...they are only $6.00. I just love them. I ordered several today for gifts and one for myself!!

And, how cute is this "gaggle of geese" measuring cup set !! Set of 4, bone china, 1/4th cup to a full cup.....and only $28.00. I am impressed and I also ordered myself a set. Too cute to pass up. Once I get them and see how cute, I am pretty sure I will have to order some more for gifts.......

These are dessert plates in "icy blue porcelain with creatures native to Africa, Antarcita and the Artic....". ICY BLUE is supposed to be the HOT color for this year. The plates are $12.00 each. So different..... I love the different animals on them.

I tried my best to order this awesome, beautiful, fabulous head of hair but they said SOLD OUT !! SHOOT !

If you are interested in looking at their site, it's anthropologie.com.

Have a fun day!

TO DENNA, "YOU CAN BE PRETTY IN PINK"

I give this GOD IS EVERYWHERE button to DENNA at CAN I BE PRETTY IN PINK to go on her sidebar to add just another reminder that HE is everywhere.

She is fighting cancer and needs prayers, thoughts, love, and a visit from you. Please stop by to see her soon. She is a very brave young woman.

BLESSINGS

AWARDS, TAGS AND LOTS OF FUN

My thanks to all for thinking of me for the awards and tags. They are always so much fun....

My thanks to sweet JACKIE over at IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING SKY for tagging me for this awesome "15 REASONS IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE ME"

meme. Stop by Jackie's blog and you will be glad you did. She is one of our Canadian neighbors and so sweet.

My thanks to GRAMS at Talk to Grams for this precious SPREAD THE LOVE AROUND Award. I just love it and I want to send it on to ANITA at PRAIRIE DREAMS. She has some great ideas she talks about and her talent with a camera knocks my sox off. Go over and take a peek and tell her I sent you!

OK, here's my 15 REASONS FOR IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE ME AND SOME BLESSINGS:

1. I am never alone...My Heavenly Father loves me and is beside me, always.

2. HE gifted me with being a female, wife, daughter, mother, grandmother and sent the most beautiful family for me to share. I am fully aware they belong to HIM but I am grateful that HE allowed me to be a part of their lives.

3. HE has gifted me with so many fine, loving, funny, interesting and downright delightful friends. Oh, and I love them all. Friends are such a hugh part of the wonderfulness of being ME.

4. HE spares me any great fears that hinder my life and I am thankful.

5. HE gifted me with a sense of humor and the ability to see the funny side of almost every occasion.

6. HE stood beside me and taught me to give my worries to HIM and to stop trying to solve my problems myself...alone. And, Oh HE is sooo much better at it.

7. HE has gifted me with great health and I am truly thankful.

8. HE has allowed me to grow old, surrounded by people and things I love. I think it's ok to love "things"...there's many different kinds of love and when I say I LOVE a certain black and white enamelware, I don't mean that I worship it.

9. HE has given me a mind of my own. I try to listen to others; in the end, I usually can make up my mind as to "how and why" about things. It's wonderful to be me and know that I can make a decision on my own. Not saying that every decision I make is the right one...far from it! Oh, brother...I've made some TERRIBLE decisions but....I MADE THEM.

10. HE has always listened to my prayers...not always answering them in ways I would like, maybe, but HE answers them in a way that is good for my soul.

11. HE has gifted me with accepting HIS answers to those prayers, even tho sometimes it is hard. I have the sense to know HIS way is right.

12. It is wonderful to be me because HE has always taken the best of care of all my loved ones and their needs, knowing this is what I pray for.

13.. HE has gifted me with a warm, comfortable, loving home, a dependable car, enough money to pay our bills and enough left, SOMETIMES, to "play...and the compassion and desire to help others who have less or are in need.

14. HE has given me the gift of being born in, living in, worshipping in the most wonderful country in the whole wide world.

15. It is wonderful to be me because I am a child of GOD and I know I have HIS forgiveness as a sinner simply because I love and believe in HIM and HIS promises.

**************

I would like anyone that wants to do this great MEME to give it a try. It's fun and it really makes you think about what really makes you glad of who you are.

HUGS ~

I AM STILL LOVING WINTERTIME ~

Maybe it's because we haven't had enough cold weather or snow that I am not tired of winter yet. So many people are more than through with winter and ready to move on to spring. I'm not quite ready yet.......

I love staying inside and doing crafts or sewing....working on quilts is a wintertime activity for me. I like spending the days washing the fabrics, cutting them, beginning to put together a great quilt top......

I really love baking in the wintertime. The added warmth of the oven on a cold day makes it cozy and nice in my red kitchen....... These are Easy Peanut Butter cookies that use just three ingredients,; 1 cup Peanut Butter, 1 Egg and 1 cup sugar. They are delicious, quick and one recipe makes about 2 dozen small to medium cookies. I always double the recipe because how good they taste with a cup of hot coffee or tea or a icy cold glass of milk.

I absolutely LOVE to read, look at magazines or catalogs in the winter...especially close to a big fire in the wood burning stove. When I am in a reading mood, I nearly always have at least 2 books going. And, of course, we ALL love magazines. Some of them are like getting a little small present in the mail when they arrive.

I like thinking up "warm us up" foods in the winter, like this Frito Pie...or big pots of homemade soups or stews or Chicken and Dumplins'........*sigh*

Ohhh, and the hot drinks.....like this luscious drink that just goes in the microwave or hot chocolate with plenty of marshmallow creme or LOTS and LOTS of hot coffee......and, of course, plenty of hot tea with sugar and lemon or creme......

Sweet hubby and I love a roaring fire on a cold evening. We watch tv or read or sometimes, we just enjoying sitting in front of it, talking and, even better, have long moments of pure silence while we stare at the blaze and mull over the day's happenings. The fabulous thing about being married and enjoying it, is that the long moments of silence are completely comfortable. Don't you just adore that safe and soft feeling? I sure do ~

The dark, snow- promising clouds or the rumble of thunder, far off in the distance and the beginnings of a slow, cold rain...knowing that I can stay inside all day long and never stick my nose out of the front door...having my pantry full of comfort foods, a great book started or just time for a long, warm nap...all these things make me just love winter. I love life...every single bit of it !! I don't want to rush one minute of it....not even the seasons !

Oh, I love summertime, too...don't get me wrong. Summer is the time for OUTDOORS. I like working in the yard, going to the park, going fishing....It's just that I love winter, too and I am not nearly ready to turn loose of it yet.

Have a happy, winter day ~

OUR GIRLS ARE BACK......

The girls are back from the concert...2 of them are sicker than little dogs and the rest are so pooped, they could barely speak. No pictures or stories to report at this time. Maybe in a few days when things are slowing down and getting back to normal. The only thing I know for sure, at this time.......THEY HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST and that MILEY PUT ON A SHOW TO END ALL SHOWS AND NO ONE IN THE WORLD WILL EVER PUT ON AS GOOD A SHOW AS THAT.

Please stay tuned......:)

MORE FAVORITE ROOMS OFF 'RATE MY SPACE'...

Everyone seemed to enjoy looking at some of my favorite rooms and ideas off of RATE MY SPACE so I thought I would share some more....



Altho these are not "my" colors, I think this bedding is so cheery. I LOVE that old salvaged piece above her bed.

I just get a warm, fuzzy feeling when I think of being in a room like this one...the oldness of the brick, the softness of the throws on the leather, the glowing fire, the unexpectedness of the chandelier in an unexpected place, the luscious, old fashioned wall paper....oh, me.....I AM IN LOVE !!

I must admit...I COVET a farm house sink like this!!! This room is so full of charm and personality, it just sets my heart racing 90 miles an hour. I love every thing about it. If I am not mistaken, this kitchen belongs to the same talented, blessed and down-right lucky lady that owns the above living room. To just THINK of starting my day in a space as warm and loving as this kitchen makes me smile.

Tho just a tad too formal for my every day living, I think the colors she used here are just remarkable. That burst of red with the tray of cheese and grapes sits the whole thing off. She is a wonderful photographer as well as a jam-up great decorator. And, again, I find the touches of black seem to ground every thing.

AHHHHH, Penny at LAVENDER HILL STUDIOS, here's another of our red sofas. Doesn't it look fabulous here? I used to say "I don't like anything in pairs" but then, I noticed I liked matching lamps, matching pillows, matching tables....I am pretty sure it was my MOTHER that didn't like things in pairs and you know how we try to like just what our moms like. Then, once we admit that we DO have a mind of our own and that it is ALRIGHT if we like something she didn't like and visa-versa, we can finally start decorating (or whatever) the way WE like. I love the matching lamps and pillows in this picture. THERE, I said it!

Simple and lovely. The only thing I would add if this were my kitchen? RED !! :)

Do ya'll love this kitchen as much as I do? Great Scott...!! And, did you notice the ceiling? RATE MY SPACE has some fabulous kitchens....if I had to choose just one favorite, I would be in trouble because there's too many I like.

I love this bright and cheery dining room. I couldn't use the slipcovers on the chairs like this because there's too many of us sitting down to eat....these pretty covers would end up on the floor or such. But they do look so pretty in the picture. And, I love her red walls and checked curtains.

I just wanted you to see the detailing on the end of her cabinet here. This is something fairly simple to do, not too expensive and boy, does it add personality to the whole room. I saw this and walked around my house for days, looking for ways to add interest to my rooms thru moldings. We did add it to our french doors in the living room and I LOVE IT.

I think this is a precious and interesting bedroom. I have decided I love "different"...something not like everybody else's. I think this room has a ton of character for such a small space. Character thru so many pretty pillows, the style of the bed, and the fact that it isn't DECORATED, as such. I have a bed almost just like this one and am anxious to redo my bedroom...I will use this as a guide when the time comes. I wanted to do it last year but had leg problems which have slowed me down MUCH more than I want them to. It'll get better tho and then, look out...I have tons of projects waiting in the wings.

Have fun today decorating a little area of your space!!