It's the little things in life.....

I'm participating in "Have a Fantastic Friday" linky party!!! You should visit Jeremiah 29-11 and join in the fun! It is the easiest Linky I've ever participated in.

I'm linking up to share some of my "Little Things" in life that build memories.

Be sure to sign up as a follower on my blog. I always follow back.

Being a country girl, I was raised to find joy in the simpliest pleasures. A walk up a country road, skipping rocks across the lake, a day hiking through the woods. We never had much money so we lived a very simple, basic life. I still find joy in the small things. Because of the way we were raised, I know that how to take something simple and turn it into a memory. Over the years, I've had some special moments that were woven from such simple things. I've compiled a list of some things to you can do to build those special memories. I thought I would share them with you.

1. Bake a cake and lick the icing beaters. My mom used to always let us lick the beaters and the bowl when she made a cake. We were always lined up and ready...especially for her chocolate icing.

2.  Make cookies. Nothing says home like the smell of cookies baking in the oven. Not a baker, simply buy the ones you pull apart and place on the cookies sheet. Baking tip: If you will use parchment paper your cookies will be chewier instead of getting too crisp.

3. Make a big bowl of popcorn and grab a Hershey bar and put on a movie. When my grandchildren stay all night, we have a popcorn party at bed time. We fold out the queen size sleeper sofa and they pile in with tons of pillow. I put on a movie and we have popcorn and split a Hershey bar (I break it into the little squares so we don't have too much chocolate at bedtime.) Of course, this gets modified at times. One of them prefers mini-Reese cups, one like Cool Ranch Doritoes instead of popcorn, but you get the drift). No matter what movies we have, it seems like I always ending up watching Madagascar or Cars for Popcorn night.

4. Play a board game. With so many people owning WII's and DS's or computer games, the simple fun of a board game or card game has gone by the wayside. I recently played Ants in the Pants with the grandkids. It was a hoot. And Scrabble Slam was hilarious when I played it with my family. Every time my Mom comes to spend the week, we play Scrabble or Yahtzee almost every night. It's a relaxing fun way to make memories.

5. French fries. (There is a lot of food in my "little things" list. Never write your blog when you are hungry.) One night when my kids were still at home, they were both gone for the evening and me and hubby had a rare night alone. We made a HUGE platter of french fries and placed a small bowl of catsup in the middle of the plate. We snuggled int he living room on the couch with our plate of fries between us and put on 101 Dalmations movie (not the cartoon one). It was one of the most romantic evenings.

Those are just a few of the things I do that mean the most to me. They make for wonderful memories and they don't cost a fortune. It's the simple things in life that mean the most.

How high's the water Mama?

I'm not sure about you, but I'm a little over rainy weather. If we are getting this much rain now, what will it be like when April Showers head our way. I've been keeping a close eye on our river these last couple of days. We live about one mile down river from Douglas Dam. We have always loved living on the River. About 22 years ago, we lived along the Little Pigeon River and did experience the water coming out of the banks. It stopped short of reaching the yard, but we moved everything up to a higher level, just in case it flooded. That was scary and I was a little leary to live on the river again. But with the Dam just a mile up river and controlling the water flow, we moved on the French Broad River about 12 years ago. Over the years, it has been fascinating to watch the water as they release it from the dam and when they let it build back up. Sometimes, when they stop letting the water out, it gives the appearance of flowing backwards. And when it rains then gets hot, it has a mist that appears as if rising out of the water.

The water is starting to rise because they are letting it out at the dam to keep the lake water at the necessary level to prevent flooding downstream. I told my daughter one day that I was so glad to live close to the dam so I could enjoy living on the water and not worry about flooding. I was fine with that thought until she came back with "Now all you have to worry about is the dam bursting." Thank you dear child of mine.

Just thought I would share some photos from the last couple of days rains and how it has affected the river. Have a great day.

True path to success found in Joshua 1:7-9

Joshua 1:7-9 (New King James Version)

7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Why do we struggle so when we are trying to achieve success in the things we do? Whether we strive to be a better mother, a better wife, a better friend, a better employee, we are consumed with being the best we can be. We want to be a success. We want to know we have reached a pinnacle of achievement that will allow us to say I have overcome. Books have been written about it. Posters have been made about it and lectures are taught about it. They all claim to hold the secret to success. 

As with anything in life, if you want to be a success, you must put God first. Joshua 1:7-9 hands us the key to success in such a simple format. Three little verses. Read them, study them, follow the plan Joshua gives us. If you follow these simple rules, you will achieve successes that will overwhelm your life. Let's take a look at those simple steps:

1. Be Strong - Don't let things stand in your way or distract you. Focus on what you want from life and maintain your strength in going for those dreams.

2. Do not Turn - Keep your focus on God. Do not turn left or right. Don't second guess what God's ultimate plan is for you. Stay true to the Lord and keep Him in your sight at all times. Do not turn away and try to do things your way.

3. Meditate - Read God's word. Every day. Day in and day out. Do not stray from His word and His instructions for your life. It is in the reading and following of God's word that you will prosper and find true success.

4. Observe & Do - Learn what God wants for your life. Observe His instructions and follow them. We all learned the Ten Commandments as one of the first things we were ever taught to memorize in church. You know them, but do you use them? God's Laws are there to help us and guide us. We need to practice them daily.

5. Be Courageous - In this short selection of verses Joshua tells us twice to be strong and courageous. We should not fear or be dismayed. Some of the most beautiful words in the entire bible are found in the ending of Joshua 1:9 - for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. That is the ONE constant in our life. No matter what battles befall us, no matter what others say or do. the Lord YOUR God is always there. HE and HE alone is the one true key to success.

Up a country road.....

In mind, I love to go back in time up that old country road where life was simpler. I was making some lemonade this morning and it reminded me of those hot summer days when I was a young girl. Mom would always make us a big pitcher of lemonade. She would make cheese sandwiches with good old American cheese and Miracle Whip on Heiner's bread. She'd slice up some dill pickles and put some chips on our plate. Sometimes we had plain Snyder's and sometimes it was the Barbecue Snyder's. There was usually a Twinkie or Hostess Cup Cake for the dessert.

But there was always a glass of lemonade or grape Kool-Aid. She used to make us grape Kool-Aid and cut up lemons and put in it. I still do the same today. The taste of grape and lemon together is very refreshing. I like to go to Sonic and order one of their grape slushies and have them put a couple of lemons in it. Takes me back in time.

Once she'd get lunch made, we'd grab one of our latest library books and she'd spread a quilt under the big oak tree in the front yard. We set out there with our picnic lunch and read our books. It's no wonder I love to read. From the time I was six years old, she would take us to the library every week and let us check out books. The school worked with the library on a summer reading program where you got a sticker for every book you read. At the end of the summer, you received a certificate. I remember I always read the most every year of all the other kids in the program. I just love to read. I would even read the back of the Cheerio box at breakfast time, just to have something to read. :)

Such fond memories of some wonderful times. I'm so thankful for life up that old country road. Where loved ones gathered and true friends were made.

Tea Time Tuesday in Tennessee

Thank you for dropping in for a spot of tea. This is some of my collection of tea cups, tea sets, tea pots, and tea for two. Hope you enjoy.

This was my very first official grown up entire tea set. (That's Jo and Meg from Little Women at the back of the tea set.)

This next display means the world to me. When I bought the first tea set and decided to collect them, my precious hubby surprised me that Valentine's day with the Royal Dalton Old Country roses teapot and tea cups. I was blown away. They were like my dream set that I hoped through out the years I could eventually afford. Words cannot express how I felt when I opened them. He is such a sweetheart.
The sister plaque was a gift from my sister (obviously). The antique book is a rare 1851 first edition of The Gift of Friendship, a collection of stories about friendship. It was a gift from my sister-in-law. And the glasses belonged to my Papaw Eden.

Here are some more of my collection.

This next one is one of my favorites. Picked it up at an antique store at a great deal.

This next one is my absolute favorite tea for two. I am a floral person and love flowers everywhere. I got this one at a store called Toby's World of Gifts in Little River, SC. They have a great selection of tea for twos. I discovered them a couple of years ago and now part of my yearly Beach vacation includes going to Toby's to get a new tea for two.

This one is very special to me. It evokes such wonderful memories. The first time my sister and her husband went with us to Charleston, SC we went to Boone Hall Plantation. I bought this in the gift shop there. It was an amazing trip.

This is one of my favorites as well. I love cardinals and dogwood so this gift from my precious daughter-in-law is very special to me.

My $3.00 antique store find.

This next one was my very first teapot of my collection. I love daffodils and violets and was so happy to find this.

On one trip to my Mom's, me and mom had gotten up early and I saw a yard sale in the garage across the alley from her backyard. I decided to pop over there while the grandkids were still in bed. Saw this tea for one and was almost afraid to price it. But it was only $1.00. I snatched it up fast.

This next one is my favorite miniature tea set. It was a gift from my niece Amy. This is the one the granddaughters get to use when I play tea party with them.

Several of my cups have spoons in them and all the spoons have either teapots or teacups on the top of them.

This next one is another of my favorite miniature teasets. My daughter-in-law gave me this one as well. I just fell in love with it.

I hope you enjoyed your tea. Stop by anytime. Maybe next time there will be some fresh cookies from the oven.

Am I the only in this relationship?

 One day this past week, there was a little "quiz" on Facebook. You posted a few questions as your status and your friends were supposed to fill in the blanks. It was a cute way to see who knows you best. One of the fill-in-the-blanks was "My best friend is............."

It was interesting. It got me to thinking about friends I've had over the years and I started wondering who were my friends and who were just being friendly. Ralph Waldo Emerson said "The way to have a friend is to be a friend." Well, I'm going to disagree. You can be the best friend in the world, but if the other person doesn't return your committment to the relationship or doesn't show the same compassion, then it is all one-sided; it is not a true friendship.

As you look back over your life at the friends that have come and gone, do you see any one-sided relationships? Were there times when you were the best friend you knew how to be only to realize that your "friend" was simply paying lip service to the true meaning of being a friend? Do you ever want to knock on their forehead and say "Helllloooo, are you in this relationship?"

I am a people person. I care about others and what they go through. Sometimes we can be hurt because the ones we care for don't seem to see the relationship the same way we do. I've given this some thought lately and decided I needed to redefine friends. I've heard people acknowledge others with terms such as my friend, an acquaintance, someone I work with, someone I've known for years, etc.

I have people in my life that I care deeply for and though I call them a friend, we don't share confidences. We don't do things together. We don't have a lot of common bonds, but I really enjoy their company. They are that middle of the road group that are not as close as a friend is, but they are closer than an acquaintance. I figure there needs to be a term to describe those people in our lives. I'm going to start calling them my Friendlies. I love my friendlies but we just don't share a deep relationship like you do with your true friends or that relationship is often one-sided.

We are doing a Ladies Bible Study at church on the study of King David. In this past weeks lesson, there was a verse that just jumped right out at me. I Samuel 18:1 says ....that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

What a wonderful way to explain true friendship. "Knit with the soul". I just loved that phrase and it went along with my thoughts on friendship this past week. The online dictionary defines the word knit as an intertwining; to join closely; unite securely. A simple beautiful way to define true friendship.

May all your friendships be knit from the soul. Have a blessed week.
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Odds and ends...

Yesterday was girls day out. I spent the day with my daughter and my two granddaughters. We had a nice shopping day in Knoxville. Picked up a new top for just $6.00. Found some new gold hoop earrings in the costume jewelry. Six new pairs for just $5. I am the queen of nail polish. At one time I had over 70 assorted colors. I found a new one yesterday that I just had to try. Sally Hansen Color Quick. The color is Fuchsia Chrome. It's a tube. You push the button on the end and polish drop on the brush and you brush it on. Dry time...about 60 seconds. I'm in love. (Yes, those are my chubby little fingers.)

Picked up this cute little kitten for $1.00

All in all had a great day.