ONE DELIGHTFUL SIGN OF SPRING and an AWARD

MANY THANKS to

ANITA at PRAIRIE DREAMS

and

MEGGIE at MEGGIE'S STUFF

for this wonderful award.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LADIES

I am honored to post this and will pass it on to others very soon. *********************************

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My bird photos aren't very good as I was shooting through the glass front door....everytime I tried to open the door, he would fly away.......

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A man dies and goes to heaven.

Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates.

St. Peter says, "Here's how it works.

"You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was."

"When you reach 100 points, you get in."

"Okay," the man says,"I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."

"That's wonderful," says St.Peter, "that's worth three points!"

"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."

"Terrific!" says St.Peter. "That's certainly worth a point."

"One point!?!!" "I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."

"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," he says.

'Two points!?!! "

Exasperated, the man cries."At this rate the only way I'll get into heaven is by the Grace of God.

"Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!"

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We often try to fix problems with WD-40 and duct tape.

God did it with a nail.

Blessings, bj

EDITED TO ADD:

Please go over to see LINDA @ RESTYLED HOME to see her fabulous posting of kitchens this morning. She is showcasing several kitchens with painted cabinets and she graciously used pictures of my red kitchen.

All of the rooms shown are just beautiful and you will love seeing them.

MANY THANKS, LINDA...................

CINNAMON ROLLS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS.....

CINNAMON ROLLS and GRANDDAUGHTERS....it just doesn't get any sweeter than that..........

Three of the delightful little girls spent the night with us before the game on Saturday.........

GRANDDAD served us all with cinnamon rolls, cereal and fresh oranges and CHOCOLATE MILK.............

HURRY, GIRLS.....we gotta be there by 10:30.................

"VICTORY, VICTORY........

THAT'S OUR CRY..............

THEY WON !! YEA !!!!

Their next game will be on Monday night and, ooooooh, boy, they are all...................................

HOPING FOR A TROPHY !

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HAVE A WONDERFUL SUNDAY

BASKETBALL FEVER ~

Our 10 year old, twin granddaughters, A & B, are playing this morning in a hot and furious BASKETBALL tournament.......

.....we are all excited and hoping to win this game so that they can move on to the next one this afternoon. ....

......if you have ever experienced BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS, you know that games can go on all day long, depending on if you win or lose each game. ...

......they are SUCH fun........

......The girls played a game last night and SADLY....lost!

......BUT, we have reason to believe that TODAY is the DAY !

WISH US LUCK........

.....and have a wonderful weekend!!

LOVE, bj

THANK YOU, LUCY BLOOM..(I LOVE that name!!)

GOOD, GOOD MORNING, BLOGGER FRIENDS........

I've been needing to add SOMETHING....something JUST right, on the end of my mantle in my DINING room but I didn't want to BUY something new.....

.....I've walked from room to room, searching for that SOMETHING....just couldn't find a thing that would work in that spot...

...and every time I walked into my dining room, I kept kicking this silly cake stand that I had sitting on the floor because I couldn't find a place for it when I didn't have some pretty foods to put on it....DUH !!!!!

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THEN......along came LUCY BLOOM with her precious ideas and pictures and.......
WALLA.....there was a FABULOUS idea.....and ......I had this cake stand that I can NEVER FIND A PLACE FOR.......

Isn't this soooo pretty, holding the lovely bowls? It looks as if it were made just to hold these fabulous finds.......

Here's my version of Lucy's good idea.................


Altho I don't have the pretty, floral bowls Lucy has.....does my TEAPOT look ok here until I can find some beauties like LUCY'S ??


I hope it looks ok because now I have a place for my CAKE STAND AND MY TEAPOT!

.....that teapot can go somewhere else just as soon as I can come up with some lovely bowls or such but .......

...isn't this a GREAT idea that LUCY BLOOM had!!!!


I LOVE the way the mantle looks with the new addition...

..(sorry that you have to cock your head to the side to see this picture very good...don't have a clue why it is so crooked....it MUST be the camera!) :o)

Ladies, be sure to go over and see LUCY'S lovely blog (she is on my blog roll)

....her blog is just full of the most beautiful things and lots and lots and lots of PINK and ROSES...... You will enjoy every minute of looking at it all.

If you will, please tell her I sent you!


YIPEEEEE.....IT'S FRIDAY ! I hope your weekend is just full of wonderfulness !!

CORNERS OF MY LIFE ~

Sweet ADRIENNE at WITH A GRATEFUL HEART asked if anyone would like to do the...............

8 HABITS OR FACTS ABOUT YOU

Altho I have done this one before, it is fun so I accept the challenge, ADRIENNE.....We have a LOT of things in common, you and I.......

NUMBER 1:

I, too have always wanted a library in my home....this is as close as I can get to it but I truly LOVE my books and book shelf. If you click the picture, you can see a lot of my really loved books......most of which are THRIFTED....Yipeeeeeee!!

NUMBER 2:

I dearly LOVE signs....anything graphic. I have waaay too many because, like everything else, I can NEVER get enough of the things I like so much. I never know when to STOP....(oh, I just noticed in this picture, the HORSESHOE above the door in the adjoining room....that is my VERY GOOD LUCK piece!!!!)

By the way, these vintage, excellent little signs came off of a British boat.....I got them off Ebay and am soooo thrilled with them.

NUMBER 3:

I LOVE to BAKE !! COOKING is ok but I'm sure not in love with it. My granddaughter asked me the other day "if I LOVED baking so much.....why didn't I marry it?"

NUMBER 4:

Back when I was young.....OMGosh..what a long time ago............ANYWAY.....when I was young, I LOVED KETCHUP SANDWICHES....Like ADRIENNE and her mustard sandwiches, I fixed myself ketchup sandwiches all the time. And, also like ADRIENNE, I still love ketchup......but not just ketchup sandwiches......IT'S A KID THANG.

NUMBER 5:

I LOVE babies........so much!!

I thought I would NEVER get pregnant....it took way too long! I was 26 and had been married several years before I finally had our little baby boy.....DARLING DAVID. Then, it took me another 5 years to have our sweet little baby girl, BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER, STACY.

Due to a health problem, I needed a surgery that ended our dreams of more babies but, please let me tell you how blessed we felt and still feel to have been given such treasures from GOD as our two children.....and then, as if THAT wasn't enough blessings, HE sent us 10 little grandchildren.....OH, MY....THANKFUL I AM !!

NUMBER 6:

When I finished high school, I moved to DALLAS, TEXAS to become the next SUPER MODEL !

I enrolled in and completed a Runway Modeling course and loved every minute of it. The only problem was that I was 18, had never been away from home, missed MY MOMMA so much that, try as I did, I just COULDN'T live that far away from my family.

Models weren't needed in my small hometown so I came home and went to work for a local bank. The modeling course sure didn't hurt me..... I think the best part was learning a little more self-confidence...

I can't even begin to express how thankful I am that I CAME home....all those years I had with my mom wouldn't have "BEEN", if I had stayed so far away! See, HEAVENLY FATHER always...ALWAYS, knows best!!

NUMBER 7:

I, too, am a lady that can not "DO NOTHING", for very long, anyway. I need something to do most of the time. I love having projects going, working in the yard and garden, re-doing something fun in my house, thrifting with daughter and friends, handwork, creating.......just SOMETHING.

AND, FINALLY, NUMBER 8:

I NEVER wanted to learn to fly but I took flying lessons once......just so that I could learn to take off and land a small airplane. My Sweet Hubby had a small plane for business once....a long time ago. I was so afraid in it that I kept thinking, "What if......."...."What if he has a heart attack up here....what would we do?" Hence.......flying lessons. Well, I learned to take off and land it by myself...no help from my instructor....so one day, he said, "SOLO time". OMGOSH.....

scared me so bad, I jumped out of that plane and never looked back!

OOOOO, the plane was landed BEFORE I jumped out!

THE END

Be sure to go over and read the 8 THINGS about ADRIENNE.....she will be thrilled to see you!

AND....if you would like to do these 8 THINGS....please feel free. Just let me know so that I can come over for a visit and read more about YOU !!!!!

SMILES and HUGS, bj

THE BEGINNING OF SPRING SPRUCE UP OUTSIDE

I saw a robin in this bath this afternoon but he flew away before I could get my camera..... I have a family of 4 robins that stay in our front yard most of the summer. I am sure going to try to get a good picture of them when they arrive this summer.........Maybe the one I saw today is the DADDY and he came to "check things out" before moving his family to their summer retreat?

Just cute, little METAL flowers for now but maybe it won't be TOO long until I will have the

REAL thing.........

My little cottage mailbox is about 8 years old but the colors are still bright and vivid of the little hand painted cutie.......It is located just under the carport shade and I am sure that is why the colors have stayed bright so well. All it really needs for the spring/summer season is a good cleaning......

I had a large star on my front porch LONG before the barn stars became popular. I've just always loved STARS.........

This is one flag that can stay out ALL THE TIME...rain, sleet, snow, darkness. It's metal and my oldest granddaughter, the Lovely Jess, made it for me. I love it...... but not anywhere CLOSE to how I LOVE JESS. :)

I do love the AMERICAN FLAG, don't you? I think it's so pretty.....I ALWAYS have a flag flying in my front yard! And have been known to have one in my living room....if it's good enuf for MARY EMMERLING, it's good enuf for me. She ALWAYS uses one as decoration in her pretty living room.

Someone took a flag I had hanging in this spot last summer....seemed strange that someone would STEAL an American flag....I figured they must have needed it more than I did, so I just bought another one.........

As you can see, our grass has a LONG way before greening up.......... I added some fertilizer yesterday, after Sweet Hubby scalped the lawn and edged it........ We have to water our lawns here regularly as we seldom have rain....... In fact, the last 2 summers, our water has been rationed to some extent. Only certain hours that we could water.....we are in such a drought now that I fear we may be in a much tighter ration THIS summer...........

I LUV bricks.....I almost collect them but I know that is very strange indeed so if you mention it to anyone, I will deny it to my dyin' day!!!!!!!

See those tiny green "things" growing between the bricks? Those are the SWEETEST violets you've ever seen. They will get so thick and lush and violet colored by mid summer. The only bad thing about them is that, out here in West Texas, they only bloom about 2 full weeks......SAD !! But, I also LOVE the luscious green of the flower and the leaves will stay all summer long. They do suffer when it gets hot and dry so I really have to pay attention to them....

There's a few more coming thru......

This is a lovely FAUX wreath for right now...I am beginning to CRAVE flowers....It won't be too long until I can get a real one to hang beside my front door........

I am anxious to get some Boston ferns to hang on my long, front porch and some potted plants that bloom.....Now that warm weather is here (it was 85 here today), I am soooo ready for FLOWERS....COLOR.....GREEN...... As long as the temps were cooler and cold, I was content with WINTER....now however....I am ready to move into SPRING.

I can't even begin to tell you how many fabulous hours we have enjoyed this front porch swing.....our grand kids have all enjoyed it so much, as did our kids before them. It is old, weather-beaten, extra large and I just love it to pieces. I will make a cushion and new pillow covers for it this summer....but I think I may need to paint the swing first........

Do you have a good, relaxing place on your front porch to rest and just watch life go by for a little while? It is sooooo GOOD FOR THE SOUL.

Love, bj

My middle name is "WANT".....*sigh........

Here's a few more of my "wants".....some off Rate My Space, others, I am unsure of. So, if any of you see YOUR home on here, please don't SUE me....I truly mean it as a compliment because I LOVE these beautiful spaces!

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This lovely home is SOOOOO my dream home. Take a look at that delicious, HUGH, inviting front porch. It just screams "COME ON IN....".

And, YELLOW.....a yellow house is always so inviting and warm.
The curb appeal here is to*die*for and it all is just an awesome combination to my eyes......

I am totally in love with the color of her cabinets...and the light flooring....and the glass topped, garden dining room table and the little awesome chairs. There's things above the cabinet....not TOO much...just enough for PERSONALITY. I love this!

This little, talented lady made this delightful sign with HAND PAINTED name of her cottage out of a headboard. One thing that makes it so luscious is that it is....HAND PAINTED.

I wish I could paint....I wish I had a name for MY cottage....I wish, I wish, I wish......*heavy sigh

FRENCH COUNTRY AGAIN....and this pretty BLUE, to boot.

I decorated for so long with blue that I became a little "burnt" out with the color. HOWEVER...

I NEVER had such beautiful BLUE furniture as this!! No, sir........I never did.

I do still like the color and I have it in my dining room and touches through-out the cottage.

AND....let's not forget the BLUE chairs in my living room that I am desperate to get recovered into something toile, red........both!!

Isn't this an awesome piece? I really fell in love with it....it's heavy looking, chunky...really makes a statement (the statement is...."I WANT IT!") And, how neat that touch of ELECTRIC blue looks here.

BLACK AND WHITE TOILE ON THE WALL????

IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS !!!!!

I was awestruck when I saw what this talented lady did with a little desk and 2 shelves and MAGNIFICENT accessories!

Now this idea is something we might all can use....inexpensive and way good-looking.

I need to "thrift" soon and see if I can find a small desk or table for a tiny spot I have....my budget might let me do this one! I LOVE that she used such large items on the shelves and the hugh letter on the wall look right at home!

....I WANT THIS ROOM....well............. so as not to COVET, I want a room exactly like this beauty. Of course, it might look extra special to my eyes because it's MY style....MY colors. UMMMMMMM......it makes me happy just to LOOK at it!

Dream on, bj........

HAVE A HAPPY DAY !

WHEW !!

I've got too much work to do today....Decided I don't have time to do my daily posting but will catch up a little later......

Ya'll have a good day !!!

BLESSED ASSURANCE for a wonderful HAPPY, HOLY EASTER

I want to wish each and every one a HOLY EASTER SUNDAY...........

I know you all love JESUS CHRIST as I do; heart and soul.

The things HE has done for me....the blessings HE has given to me are so many. I stand before HIM with tears in my eyes every time I think of all HE went through, just for YOU and ME. Of course, we can not even BEGIN to understand this kind of love, even though we love HIM so.

To know HE loves us is to NEVER have to be alone, through good times and bad times, to know HE is always there, beside us, just waiting to be asked into our hearts. I am so glad I have HIM with me. I've had times throughout this long life of mine that I could not have taken another step, another breath if it weren't for HIM.

HE LOVED AND DIED

When HE was being beaten and spat upon,

When HIS flesh was being torn by the whip

When HIS back was scourged,

Then HE saw me being baptized

And so HE permitted them to do so.

When the crown was crushed into HIS head

When HE tasted HIS own blood

When the thorns pierced HIS flesh,

Then HE saw me praying

And so HE killed them not.

When HIS cross was so heavy that HE fell

When HE carried wood on HIS torn flesh

When HE wished simply to move no more,

Then HE saw me in confession,

And so HE got up and walked on.

When HIS hands were being pierced

When HE hung from a cross

When HIS side was bleeding,

Then HE said, " I love YOU",

And so HE died.

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A blessed and Happy Easter to all !

and NOW....Ladies and Gentlemen...the winner IS...........

I wrote down all the names last night, cut them and put them into Sweet Hubby's POPCORN bowl, all ready to add more names if need be, and draw one out first thing this morning so I could make the announcement of the name of the winner of my small gift-away......

I would like to add, at this moment, that I am already planning my next gift-away and this time....for no reason, at all....a "JUST BECAUSE" gift to one of you, my blogging BFF !! How fun this all is. I L.O.V.E. having this much fun because life is too short not to!

OK....let's get on with the show !!!!

MAY I HAVE A DRUM ROLL.....IF YOU PLEASE...............................




Thank ya, little fella...........

AND.................THE WINNER IS.........................................

(heart beating fast here....palms sweating.......breathing hard.....needing to go to the bathroom but don't wanna miss anything so I'm "holding" it............phone ringing......just let it ring.,........was that the door bell?.....ignore it) the timer on the oven is going off.."oh, please don't let my bread burn".....THERE'S SOMEONE turning into my drive-way....PEOPLE, give me a break here....we are in the middle of a DRAWING, for gosh sakes...)

scroll down.....

scrolling.............

STILL SCROLLING.....

AHHHH, HA! It's ADRIENNE at WITH A GRATEFUL HEART......You, my dear, are the winner of the ROOSTER PLATE.

I will email you for your mailing address right away........CONGRATULATIONS!

Adrienne will be pleased to find a few more "treasures" tucked into her package that will be going out VERY, VERY soon....right after EASTER. I will let HER take pictures and show on HER blog and, besides....I don't want to ruin the surprise for her.

Oh, she is such a sweet friend.....and has the nicest blog. Stop by and tell her she's a winner and that you are thrilled for her....'cause......SHE LOVES ROOSTERS !!

AND, she will be soooo happy to hear from all of you!

HAPPY DAY TO ALL !

SOME FUN NEW THINGS ~

I've been looking, hoping to find a cute RABBIT lamp and I found him yesterday.....My BFF and her sweet daughter and I went out for lunch and a little shopping at some new stores that just opened in a brand new strip mall....and.....here this little fella was.....just waiting for me to come along and take him home with me.!!

I LOVE that he is creme colored and has the crackle finish. There's a nice shaped sage shade that came with him.

A lot of you know how I LOVE SIGNS....they are some of my favorite things. Anything graphic catches my eye. When I saw this little BAKERY sign, I was thinking I knew just where to hang it.....then, when I saw that it was $2.00, I KNEW exactly where it would go!

The little BUNNY RABBIT lamp and the BAKERY sign both feel right at home here!!

I HAD A FUN DAY....HOPE YOU DID, TOO.

HUGS, bj