A little blessing.....

Many of you know that I have been saying I needed to get a camera because I love my phone other than the pictures it takes. It doesn't do great and especially at a distance with the zoom. So yesterday I walked into work and their was a camera on my desk. One of the ladies told me she knew I wanted one so she gave me this that she had come across. You will note the small dents in the upper part of the zoom lens, but it still goes in and out perfectly and has nothing else wrong with it. The dent is just on the flat surface so doesn't effect the functioning at all. 

It even comes with the case that came with the camera.

There are a lot of you tube videos that will help me figure out the settings. 

It was dark when I got home, but I decided to test it in the house. Sitting on my couch, I used my cell phone to zoom to the max it will zoom and took a picture of a miniature tea set. As you can see, zoom on the phone is horrible. That's why I complain about it so much.

Then I picked up the camera, sitting in the same spot and zoomed in on the same item. Check out the little cardinal tea set with the camera. What a world of difference.

I can tell I am going to love the camera. Very thankful for friends who do the little things that make your day so wonderful.

I want a do-over for yesterday....

It started out as a beautiful day. I was filled with anticipation and excited to be going antique shopping and to Hobby Lobby. 

My goal was to find something to create a similar display for this.

Until I started pricing the cotton plant stems. Anywhere from $6.99 - $9.99 each. Not going to happen. I will regroup on that idea. Maybe go with some forsythia. That would add a pop of spring color.

I am also still keeping my three tier stand for each holiday. The above idea is for my dining room table. My three tier is on a side table and I would like to do something like this with it for Easter.

So off I went look for things for both displays. I got side tracked in the first antique store when they had a big table of books at awesome prices. Was thrilled to find one on depression glass dirt cheap at $5. At McKays and other used book stores I see them for $15 and up. But that was the only thing I found at that one that interested me.

At the next one, I found two vintage hankies for $1 each. I want some with color as well but these were so feminine. 

They are going in my Fenton Hobnail Flower Basket in my bedroom.

At the third one, I didn't find a thing so I gave up on antique stores. I stopped by Karm thrift store. They always have holiday decorations. Not today. I found nothing for Easter that I was wanting. But I did pick up a little mug just the right size for my chocolate milk. 

I headed to Hobby Lobby with a side trip through Krispy Kreme. Hobby Lobby had TOO much Easter stuff. I got so overwhelmed on exactly what I wanted that I just decided it wasn't a good day for me to be there so I left with nothing. This is what happens when I go without a list! I went home and later went to my friend's house to get my order from her of my new Paparazzi jewelry. I got a necklace this time. I love that everything is $5.00 from them.

Then I stopped by the cemetery to visit with hubby. Oh what a beautiful sky. I started my day with a beautiful sky and ended it the same way. 

Just some table ideas

I need a centerpiece for spring for my dining room table. Not sure what I want to do. I can't seem to find a tablecloth I want that I'm really to pay what they are asking. So I am thinking a simple runner. But I also need ideas for spring/Easter centerpieces. So, of course, I have been on Pinterest today. Here are some things I liked. This first one is kind of cute. 

Not sure on this one. But I love the round tray.

Beautiful flowers.

Simple and sweet.

Another simple one. If you could keep real flowers all spring this would really smell good.

Kinda. Maybe. Sorta. 

Pretty hydrangeas in a box. Cute.

Pretty but more summery than spring and you would forever being changing the lemons out. I don't want upkeep on my table centerpiece.

I am a daisy gal. I love them and think there is nothing springier than a bunch of daisies in a simple vase. Was debating on doing this one for my table. 

Until I saw this and fell absolutely in LOVE! 

I am heading antiquing, thrifting and to Hobby Lobby today. May just have to check this out and see if I can find similar things. 

Weekend wrap up....

I had an amazing weekend with three of the grandchildren. They came over Friday night and stayed until about 5:00 on Sunday. It took awhile to get them all up on Saturday. Shelby was laying down on one couch and Colby told her to wake up. She said she was awake but when we looked at her couch this is what we saw. 

So Colby went over and tried to wake her up a little better and then collapsed on her.

In a few minutes they both were about to go back to sleep. 

So Alexis turned the recliner around and put the TV on something she wanted to watch and gave up on waking them up. But we finally got them going.

Our first stop was at Magi Quest. I love that place as much as the kids do. 

It's fun running around with a wand trying to reach Master Magi status. I think they are all three at Junior Magi right now and I believe I am too but forgot to check. I will never go there without Alexis. She's the best person to read the directions and remember where we have been and lead us where we need to go next. Sixty minutes of this and you are worn out. Trust me.

But it also has indoor miniature golf course so we did 18 holes next. It is with a Pirate theme and mostly under black lights so you come out of their exhausted as well. I thought maybe I was just getting old until the kids collapsed in the car and said they needed to rest.

They loved climbing on the big pirate ship in the middle of the course.

We had lunch at Wendy's before Magi Quest so we went straight home and had a snack of popcorn and lounged around and rested. Then that night we went to Dolly Parton's Stampede for dinner and the show. We had great seats on the second row. 

I like sitting there because the longhorn steer fascinate me and we had a great view of them. 

The grand finale is always so beautiful as Dolly sings Color Me America. 

It is absolutely beautiful and touching.

Then after the show the kids wanted to go meet the Emcee and pet some of the horses so we hung out and did that. They got his autograph on their mugs and were so happy about it. He has a new horse this year and it loves to prance around. We had a wonderful time.

We didn't get home until 11:15 Saturday night and crashed right in the bed. But we got up and went to church Sunday morning. After church we stopped at my friend's house that sales Paparazzi and picked up my new bracelet. It says "She believed she could so she did." That is kind of a slogan with Thirty-One consultants so I wanted it to wear to parties, meetings and the conference. I love it. 

After that, we went home and had homemade pizzas for lunch on flatbread and watched a couple of movies. I took them home around 5:00 and came back home and fixed me a light supper. After that, I just relaxed and went to bed around 11:00. I am a little tired this morning, but it's back to work today. I do get tomorrow off so I can catch up on some rest tomorrow.

A thought for Sunday....

As I sit here on Saturday night, I am listening once again to the heavy, heavy rain pouring down from heaven. I am reminded of Noah and his family. We have had rain for several weeks, nearly every day and extremely heavy at times. Fortunately, the waters abate before any major floods have occurred. I complain about the rain and wish it would stop. But then I think what it must have been like to be in the ark for 40 days and 40 nights and rain and water everywhere and I shouldn't complain.

As the rain cleanses the air and makes the ground and plants spurt up and thrive, we need to remember that the rainy days in our life are just as good. If you have sunny days and happy times every day, how will you appreciate them if a little rain and gloom fall into your life at times. I have always loved these lines from one of my favorite songs. 

We see rainbows a lot after these heavy rainy days we experience. Simple blessing that God bestows when we have suffered from life's storms. 

But no matter how big or how little the storms are that we weather, God has promised to bring us through.

So instead of fussing at the rain, I should be thanking God for the cleansing and I should have faith that after the storm passes, the blessing will begin to pour in once again.

I hope you have a blessed Sunday!

Been thinking again....

Just some things I'm think about today....

Several years ago I had bought some of these embroidered towels and gave as gifts. Then when I went back to get some more they had closed the store. I sure wish I knew where I could find some.

I had this purse many years ago back when I cared about what people said or thought about what I did. A lady at church asked me why I was still carrying a diaper bag when my grandkids weren't in diaper. She said it in a room full of people and I laughed it off. But in truth, I was so embarrassed that I quit carrying it and eventually sold it. Now I realize it would be the perfect bag for work. Hold everything I need. Now I want to find one. And I don't care if anybody like it or not. It was a purse that could be used for many things.

I have often wondered if I could crochet with thread. I have mastered the single stitch and turning the corner and going the other direction. It is not perfect by any means and I have only did a few little samples a few inches big. But my biggest problem comes from my needle going through the yarn and not where it should go. So I'm thinking thread might work better.

I am going to Hobby Lobby because they have the brand for a little over $2.00 for the roll. Just can't decide if I want to try solid or variegated. Probably better stick with a solid color for first try.

I would love to learn how to do these flowers and make a bookmark.

Some lady crochet a bunch of loopy chains and put them together to make a scarf.

If I could master the flowers this is cute for bookmarks

Or maybe I could just do a circle and make bookmarks. I do believe the thread will make a better bookmark...not as thick as a yarn one. 

I am great at just chain stitching. So much easier than turning around. One lady made a chain and looped it to make a scarf.

This lady did a LONG chain in order to make this scarf.  I wouldn't probably wear one but it is cute on this dress.

Maybe this little bow bookmark would be at my skill level.

Who knows what I'll end up doing. But I just know I want to try.