What's For Dinner?

For me, dinner was a drive through this evening. Too lazy to cook and too hungry to wait. Was I really that hungry? Did I really need to eat junk, or eat anything at all, for that matter?

There are many people, maybe right next door to you, who had nothing for dinner tonight. Perhaps they've lost their job, have no money and can't go out and get anything to eat? Maybe they go to sleep hungry and wonder where their next meal will come from? There are children who's parents can't afford to buy food and depend on the schools to feed their kids. This isn't something that happens only in inner cities. It happens in our own neighborhoods.

Thankfully, there is a way we can help. Tomorrow is a day set aside to remember those less fortunate than ourselves. Tomorrow is April Food Day!




Right here in Alabama the statistics are enlightening. AL Food insecurity rate 12.1 % Population 4,627,851 Poverty rate 14.5 % Child poverty rate 22.5 % Unemployment rate 7.8 %.

I'm sure they are comparable in other parts of the country too. The child poverty rate is what alarms me. So many poor and so many hungry children. They especially need our help.

I had a hot fudge sundae for dessert tonight. I'll have coffee in the morning and oatmeal for breakfast. I'm thankful for what God is providing for me. I pray that you too are grateful.

If you are able to share and able to give, please go to http://feedingamerica.org/ to make a donation. Just $1 will buy 7 meals or 10 lbs of food for someone who really needs it.

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in daily need of food, and one of you say to him, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled" and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?"

James 2:15

This is a photo I took from the Vulcan right here in downtown Birmingham. Sometimes it's hard to see the people in need, but they are there. So tomorrow, before you say "April Fools" to someone, say "today is April Food Day, will you help?"

Blessings, Kathi

http://aprilfoodday.blogspot.com/

William Morris

I was chatting with my daughter yesterday about cleaning and decorating.  She recently cleared off her bookshelves and only put back things that were blue or green.  She mentioned my Easter decorations.  I told her that I had enough for my house and hers’ too!

She declined my offer, saying that she likes her tables and shelves clear of clutter and prefers them empty.  I guess she is doing her own kind of “nesting.”  She likes plain white bedding, smooth tables and simple neutral furniture. 

Mom, on the other hand, loves details!Collections, found treasures and family heirlooms.  I like color too.  Lots of color!  My daughter’s living room is painted white with dark wood trim.  She likes that.  I would have gone in there and painted up a storm!

I think we each have our own way of making our houses our “home.”  I love this quote by William Morris:

My daughter and I have been doing this.  You should too.

Blessings,  Kathi

Testing Windows Live Writer

 

Well, I rounded the corners of this photo, cool.  What should I try next?  Add a tag?

Technorati Tags: ironing,mess,my space,room

 

 

 

Insert a map?  I’m really here but wish I was here!

Wish I was HERE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not really sure what I’m doing, but so far it looks like fun!?  I’ve got to figure out how to move photos around!  That’s been my biggest complaint with Blogger.  I deleted the word verification on my blog so feel free to come on over and comment!

Thanks Rhoda, for the inspiration again!  Hope you have wonderful time at the beach!  ANY DAY at the BEACH is a GREAT DAY!

Childhood Memories

I've been working in my office/craft room today.

I've been moving furniture in and out, cleaning,rearranging and listening to my Playlist while I worked.


I was going full speed ahead until I sat down to organize a little pile of books.
I found "A Child's Garden of Verses" by Robert Louis Stevenson, copyright 1919 by J.B. Lippincot Company. The illustrations are so beautiful!

I also found "The Tale of Master Meadow Mouse" by Arthur Scott Bailey, copyright 1921 by Grosset & Dunlap, and "Mrs. Wiggs Of The Cabbage Patch" by Alice Caldwell Hegan, copyright 1901 by The Century Company, and many others. I'm so thankful that my mother kept these for me and any future grandchildren I may have!

My mother and grandmother read to me a lot when I was a child. These books are some of my favorites. They are very old and very worn. I'm so thankful to have found them again today.

As I sat on the floor and carefully turned the pages I was carried away to a beautiful place. A place where I sailed boats of leaves down the stream behind our house. Where I sat my little gray stuffed kitty on the tree swing. I wasn't allowed to have a cat when I was growing up. I have two kitties now.

I remembered my pretty yellow bedroom with white priscilla curtains that floated in the breeze, all of my treasures tucked away in secret hiding places. My watercolors, crayons, plain white paper and colored construction paper, scissors and glue. I have these things beside me now for whenever I feel creative.

Not much of my childhood was happy or peaceful but just picking these books up and reading them again brought back the child within. I think I'd like to stay here for a while. . .

Blessings,
Kathi

Pretty Lampshade

As if I needed another project . . .

I found this tutorial at BetterHomes and Gardens crafts.

Isn't this pretty?!

http://www.bhg.com/crafts/home/accessories/reinvent-a-lampshade/?page=10

By Pam Porter

What You Need
Kraft paper
Tapered or bell-shaped lampshade. Ours is a bell-shaped shade 8 1/2 inches tall x 6 inches in diameter at the top and 12 inches in diameter at the bottom
Fabric to cover lampshade (for ours, we needed about 1 1/2 yards)
Measuring tape
Pencil
Scissors
Iron
Fabric wash-out marker
Sewing machine and coordinating thread
Hot-glue gun and glue
5 inches of grosgrain ribbon
5 covered buttons and assembly tool (look for a kit containing both)


What to Do
Place kraft paper on a protected work surface.
Measure the circumference of the top of the shade and add 4 inches for each pleat. We have five pleats so we added 20 inches to the 20-inch circumference of the shade, giving us a total of 40 inches.
Lay the lampshade on its side on top of the kraft paper.
Using a pencil, trace along the top of the shade as you roll it across the kraft paper, creating an arch. Complete two full rotations of the shade to equal the 40 inches.
Return the shade to the starting point, lining the top line up with the top of the shade and tracing along the bottom of the shade as you roll it across the kraft paper. Complete two full rotations of the shade, creating a second arch.
Connect the arches together at the ends by drawing a line from the top arch to the bottom arch.
Use scissors to cut out the band of kraft paper, adding 1/2 inch at the top, bottom, and each end.
Press fabric and lay wrong side up on your work surface.
Place kraft paper band on top of fabric and trace using a fabric wash-out marker.
Cut out fabric band and hem top and bottom using 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Secure on end of the band to the top of the shade using a hot-glue gun.
Begin wrapping the fabric band around the shade, stopping every 5 inches to fold in a 1-inch pleat, holding it temporarily to the shade with a clothespin or office clip.
When completely clipped in place, use hot glue to secure the band to the shade and to glue down each pleat.
Use grosgrain ribbon and a covered button kit to cover five buttons to hot-glue at the top of each pleat.


Tip: An all-over patterned fabric works better than a stripe.

I'm adding this to my list of things to do "someday!"

Hope you have a happy Saturday!

Simple Joys

Hope you have a beautiful SUNday!

Blessings,

Kathi

Things

I found a new blog friend this morning who has me thinking, again, about the importance of my family. I noticed that my recent posts are all about "things." I've been searching for and collecting more things that I will ever have room or time for... I've made lists of projects but there are too many to do and no time to complete them all.

I did take a day off from work this past week. It was supposed to be a day to get some things done. Then I was offered the opportunity to go have lunch with my daugher and son-in-law. I actually hesitated at first, thinking "I have so much I want to do today..." Thankfully, my head and my heart made me choose to go with them. It was a beautiful warm and sunny spring day. We ate at a little Mediterranean cafe downtown and sat outside on their deck. We talked and laughed a lot.

I watched my daughter sitting with the sun shining on her face. I thought, how beautiful she is! I also smiled knowing that her hubby really loves her too. He went back to work and my daughter and I went shopping for more "things." We didn't buy anything, but just looked at things we might want to buy someday.

What I tucked away from this day was that things are NOT important. Time together is.

My two boys are in Florida and I don't get to see them often. We talk now and then and get caught up on each other's lives. I miss their HUGS though. My boys give great hugs! So does my son-in-law! What blessings I have! The love of my children far surpasses any THING I might have or even think I want to have.

Instead of going out shopping today or working on some of my projects I think I'll call my daughter and see what she's up to today. Thanks to my new found blogger for helping me find my priorities again. . . My aunt Adelaide (above photo) has lived for 101 years now! I'm sure all of her things mean a great deal to her family but for me, I remember her love.

Save On Crafts

I might have found my bird cage!

I stumbled upon this website today and thought I would share it with you. http://www.save-on-crafts.com/ They have some of the prettiest things including these bird cages!



These apothecary jars . . .



Plus, these mossy bunnies that everyone is hopping to get!


Check it out! I was impressed with their prices and selection . . .
They also have a section of tutorials!

Blessings, Kathi

Spring Fever

It's almost hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago my yard was covered with snow!

The camellias had just started to bloom...

It was too cold to sit outside on my little yellow rocker!

But today! Today, it was sunny and warm! When I got home from work I just had to go sit outside for a while and soak up the sun! There are so many flowering trees here now. This is the red bud tree in my back yard. The pear trees are in blossom all over town too. My neighbor has a huge forsythia in full bloom too. Down the street another neighbor has beautiful bright pink tulips and purple pansies planted around her mailbox! Spring has sprung!



I'm so excited about my hyacinths! They are so fragrant! The daffodils I planted last fall are blooming too! There is nothing sunnier than a bright yellow daffodil! I took a big bunch in to work for my desk! Yep, I've got spring fever! I even asked for a day off this week just so I can enjoy being outside in the garden again!



This is the same camellia, now in full bloom!



This "Florida" girl is finally coming out of the house again!

May the sun always shine on your back and the road rise to meet you too!

Treasures Found on A Rainy Day

It was a cold, rainy Saturday here in Birmingham. Not a good day for garage sales. I decided to check out my favorite place, "Deb's Curiosity Shop," on Crestwood Blvd. There was a big, wet draping sign out front that said "Going Out of Business Sale."

SALE, good. GOING, not so good. I walked in and pointed to the sign and said, "Is that true?" Much to my dismay, Deb confirmed the bad news. Due to health problems, financial problems etc. etc., she has decided to close her shop permanently. SO SAD.

I walked around, picked up a few(?) things and took some pictures to commemorate the occasion. If you live in the B'ham area you REALLY need to get in there this week! She will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday next week and that's it. There are great deals to be found and she still has tons of stuff!

Here's a sampling of the kind of treasures to be found there - stop drooling, drop what you're doing and get over there!

I have two of these little hen on a nest dishes... do I need one more?

This pretty soup tureen stopped me for a moment...


Deb has lots of blue and white, carnival glass and crystal...

Trunks upon Trunks!

A beautiful needlepoint chair and two antique soda chairs next to it.

I'm a sucker for chairs AND needlepoint.

For some reason, I thought of Rhoda when I saw this...

These pretty lamps spoke to me too...

Magnolias are so classic and the frames are pretty too.

I think this little bunny needs a friend... and the rocking horse too!


I didn't get this pretty blue bird, but he's MINE!


Isn't this adorable!? It's a wine rack!! You can even hang it on a wall!



Now doesn't THIS bring back memories?!
Wish I had room for it!

Now, I know you want to see what I DID bring home! Just a few things, but they sure do brighten a rainy day!

A cheap little glass pitcher to put my flowers in.

Another needlepoint pillow for my collection

Robins! Because it's SPRING!

Crewel (for me) and two crocheted butterflies(for my friend).

A chippy wire Easter basket and two hand painted wooden paddles.

LOVE the colors!

Whatever you did today, I hope you had as much fun as I did! Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to display my "new" treasures. I'm sure I'll find some place to put them all!

50th Post!

I started my blog the first of the year not realizing how much fun I would have. It's become a wonderful way to connect with amazingly creative people, who I now call "friends." I've found so much inspiration, I've laughed, I've cried and I've said "WOW" more often than I ever imagined! Thanks to all of my blogging favorites and to those I've yet to meet!

Blessings, Kathi

Look What I Found!

I was surfing around this evening and found this really cool website! Check out their beautiful fabrics at http://volksfaden.de/ These are just a few! Amazing designs and colors! Don't you agree?!!


Designer: Paula Press "Par Avion Ocean

Designer: Erin Michael "Plaza Dill"

Designer: Denyse Schmidt

Designer: MarimekkoJuhannustaika

I've added their site to my blog roll so I can visit again and again! You should too!

Hope

"Hope" is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all

And sweetest in the Gale is heard

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm

I've heard it in the chillest land

And on the strangest Sea

Yet, never, in Extremity,

It asked a crumb of Me.

-Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

I've been reading and writing poetry for years. This poem is one of my favorites. Perhaps I'll share some of mine later, but for today I'm content to read again the inspirational words of a lovely lady from long ago...

One Of a Kind?

My
"screened" porch only has screen on the top half. My landlady isn't concerned, but it's a mess out there right now. There are tons of leaves and these little round prickly things on the floor. I saw a huge bee in there earlier. Not a nice place to sit on summer evenings if I'll have to bat mosquitoes!

Guess I'll have to add some screening - add that to my long list of things to do.














I have this little wrought iron table that I got at a neighbor's garage sale in Florida. It was $20 and I thought a good bargain? The glass top is in good shape, just needs cleaning. There is a tiny bit of rust but it has great potential for paint! I love all of the intricate details and the flowers.





















Curious about it's origin, I searched Google, but found no other table like mine. Have you ever seen a table like this?

Maybe it's one of a kind?

I DID find some antique tables that sort of look like mine? The prices were outrageous! $975 for the first and $845 for the second! Maybe they are gold-leafed or something? I think my table is prettier than these!



















I'm keeping my little treasure and the two chairs I got at another time. They are NOT for sale!
Don't worry, I'm NOT going to spray them with gold paint!