What is a home?

All the devotions I post here resonate with me some way or another. But for me, where I like to decorate but it always bothers me when it isn't just right. Why all the fuss over a home, when really this quote below is what's important!  
Go, read this link and then lighten up on yourself.  Your home is great the way it is, decorated or not, toys or no toys, cleaned or dust bunnies hopping, big or small.  Live in your house and give God the glory in all that you do. 

http://www.thebettermom.com/2014/08/20/giving-thanks-space-call-home/



"I’ve learned through this journey that a house isn’t a home because you’ve paid the mortgage and call it your own."

"It’s the relationships and interactions and experiences lived within the walls that define our home that matter more than the decor and accessories and square footage and taxes paid."

"It’s what we do within the spaces we’re given that matter most to God."

Simple, sweet, dresses.

Special order: vintage cream pillowcase dress with lace, twill tape ties.

Two sweet sisters are getting a new baby sister soon. Their mama is a photographer with lots of creativity and talent. She reached out to me to make these simple yet elegant pillowcase dresses with lace.  There will be strings of pearls paired with these dresses and possibly some darling head pieces for a precious new born photo shoot!  

 Top stitched and simple, two tiers of lace. 

Ice cream for Eleanore!

We are turning into one of those families, where we are hard to cook for, and nothing with sugar.  Besides the 'we are hard to cook for', almost all deserts are out the picture. In less you are going to pay 8.99 for a small piece of something.  Which isn't worth it when I can find and make delicious food at home!  
 This recipe is S.I.M.P.L.E and delicious.  Did I mention how good it is? Honey, banana's and a can of coconut milk, chilled.  We blended the three, put in individual containers, and are waiting for dessert, patiently waiting! 

I can't wait to see how it taste a little more frozen! 

Picture from Barefeet in The Kitchen.

http://www.barefeetinthekitchen.com/2012/03/coconut-milk-banana-smoothie-ice-cream.html

First time upholstery experience.

First time upholstery experience as in, first time I chose to pay an upholsterer. This quality job was done by our neighbor, he was pretty simple to work with.  I wasn't afraid to voice my ideas and communicate my wants for this chair. Phew, the hardest part is conveying your thought's and ideas.   

   

I am 'In Love' with how this chair turned out! I found it at The Studio, an occasional store, downtown Fargo.  It went from a 70's floral with 6 tiny buttons, to my idea of 'awesomeness' and four covered buttons. (I had to convince my upholstery man that they would work) I hope they do not fail. :) 

Yes, that is an awesome, vintage picnic basket,
found it for five dollars at a thrift store out of town.
It is now my end table, in my bedroom, next to my
new chair.  Bonus, I can use it for storage if I wish! 

I was told to buy four yard of fabric, but since the 'railroad' was so large, it took more then anticipated.
 Luckily I had this purple sitting around since 2007 and I was able to put that in for back up. 

The piping or welt (what every you choose) I just love.  It just creates a pop with the purple.  I can hardly stand it.  It just makes me smile every time I look at it. 

Quiet time

This camper has helped immensely with quit time.  A time where everyone needs to shut their mouths, or for the most part, practice it. Now, for me, I am enjoying my time of just gaining back my stamina for the afternoon run. :-o   









I was talking to a few friends about their own quiet times, how to implement, time wise, what they did for themselves. Each is different, because they see their quiet time as 'how will I get thought the rest of my day?'. Makes sense to me!  A few take a nap, some read or watch television, other get their computer work done, read a devotion, sew, paint, clean up and organize. It all just takes a good schedule and implementation, right? 

Well this house is working on the quiet part, either room or camper option.  Now we need to work on the being still option. Which is a great thing to practice, everyone needs to be still. Rest, relax, unwind, it will help down the road when God really wants one to just sit and be still.  I hope i can pass on this importance. 

BTW, if any one is looking for a nice, pop up camper, this one is for sale!  

Grain free Brownies

Our sweet Eleanore has a 'kind of important' food deal going on, internal issues happening.  We are on a no grains and dairy mixed at meals and no sugars. Dairy and grains can be eaten alone, 4+ hours apart. Except for honey and maple syrup, those are naturally made, naturally awesome!  

So, all desserts are out of the question for her, in less I make them.  Which is fine, I love baking, especially when it turns out delicious!

I found these brownies and had to try them . We don't make dessert often (sugar, sugar everywhere), so making something like this is okay, even if the ingredients are expensive.  These brownies were much better the second day, chilled, cakey like the blog said, moist, and yummy good. With whipped cream and a few raspberries, delicious!  

Picture from the blog. 

This is my picture... 

Whip cream.  Sweetened with honey. 

Rustic Junk and flowers.

Here is some of my old junk. The old door is from my hubs grandpa's once was work shop, The star, bought, spray painted and now rusty. 

The window is salvaged, the wagon, once again the hubs when he was a kid. 

The little angle riding a snail? Well I just couldn't pass it up on the clearance rack at a small drug store. 

And I have slowly collected galvanized buckets. I love them, even more then I thought i would, great rain catchers.  

These two flower's, a red day lily, it is just stunning.                                                                                                And my lavender tall phlox's are all blooming, in every spot I have them. 

I am in Love! 

Just so beautiful!