Matching!

Last week I posted this picture and status on Facebook:

I love it when my book matches my outfit for the day. :)

I found it amusing how many likes and comments I got from my female friends.

Vintage Tea Towel

The day before Easter, I received a little package in the mail. You see, I won a giveaway on Michele's blog. The item was a vintage tea towel. I love vintage things (and tea towels) and I was so excited for this to come.

When I unwrapped it from its beautiful packaging, I saw that the colors went perfectly with colors we chose for one of our Easter tables.

I got a couple of compliments on it on Easter.

After Easter, I put it with my other linens but it's at the top of the stack so I can get it out to use as room decor. The greens go well with the green tea cup set I got in Maine last May. 

Thank you for hosting the giveaway Michele! 

O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee

O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
words by Washington Gladden


O Master, let me walk with Thee,
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.

O Master, let me walk with Thee,
Before the taunting Pharisee;
Help me to bear the sting of spite,
The hate of men who hide Thy light.

The sore distrust of souls sincere
Who cannot read Thy judgments clear,
The dullness of the multitude,
Who dimly guess that Thou art good.

Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
In closer, dearer, company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broadening way,
In peace that only Thou canst give,
With Thee, O Master, let me live.

* * *

What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

 ~ Micah 6:8

Spring Barn Sale Treasures

Yesterday we went to a spring barn sale (the same sale we went to in the fall when I got my typewriter and vintage suitcase). I came home with a few treasures that I'm very happy with.

I found a set of ten pretty blue floral dishes. When I got them home, I looked on the bottom for the maker and discovered they were Haviland china! They were a steal, too. I bought the set for the six luncheon size plates, but I've found uses for the other pieces, too.

The one dinner plate I put on my wall in place of a tray. The color is perfect and I am absolutely loving it. The teapot was missing the lid so I'm using it right now as a pencil holder. I also thought I could use it as a vase in the future. The saucers will be great to put a candle on, or jewelry, etc. 

I found this chenille bedspread in a pile of other bed linens. I wasn't sure if the size was right for my bed but when I saw the price I decided to take a chance on it.

It does fit my bed but it has a bit of a stain in the middle. I could try washing it, but for now I have it folded at the end of my bed. 

The last thing I found was this small vintage bowl. It's in really good shape.

I thought about saving it in my hope chest but then I decided to go ahead and get some use out of it. I'm planning to put some shells in it this summer.

Do you have barn sales where you live? 

Photo Friday: Spoiled

Puss loves belly rubs! They are his favorite (if he knows you well enough to lie on his back). A lot of evenings, he wants to come in for a few minutes to get some rubs and then a treat. 

The silly boy always has to rub his ears when he's on his back.

We love him so much!

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The Last Bride {Book Review}

*** I was given a copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review of the book.

I've been a fan of Beverly Lewis's books for a couple of years now. I've read just about all of her books so I was excited when her latest book, The Last Bride, was available to review.

source

This fifth book in the Home to Hickory Hollow series is about Tessie Ann Miller. Tessie is the last of her father's five daughters to marry. She is in love with Amishman Marcus King but her parents don't approve of the match. Tessie and Marcus decide to slip away to the English world to elope but come back to live as singles until they find a way to tell their families what they've done. When tragedy strikes, Tessie must decide whether or not to do the right thing and tell her father their secret.

Each book in the Home to Hickory Hollow series can stand alone. It took me no time at all to read this book because I was so into it. The story was one that made me not want to put it down. I'm looking forward to reading her next book, The River, coming out in the Fall.

Have you read any of Beverly Lewis's books? Which one was your favorite?

There is a Redeemer

There is a Redeemer
words by Melody Green

There is a Redeemer,
Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One,

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
'Til the work on Earth is done.

Jesus my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Hope for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
'Til the work on Earth is done.

When I stand in Glory,
I will see His face,
There I'll serve my King forever,
In that Holy Place.

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
'Til the work on Earth is done.

The Old Rugged Cross

And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, 

so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; 

for by His wounds you were healed. 

~1 Peter 2:24 NASB

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above

To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He'll call me some day to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I'll share.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

Photo Friday: Ladybug

This ladybug was a bit dusty when I took this picture. I didn't notice the dust when took the picture but later when I cropped it on the computer lots of dust showed up. 

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Stones For Bread

Sisters Book Challenge

Book 3

Stones for Bread by Christa Parrish

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I must admit, I've read two of Christa Parrish's books and though I really got into the story and liked them, when I was finished I didn't have the urge to go and get all her other books at the library. That is, until I read Stones for Bread. Maybe it was because of the topic? Maybe it was because of all the bread recipes found throughout the book? Maybe it was because I learned quite a bit about sourdough bread? Maybe it was the sections on the history of bread? Whatever it was, I was a bit sad when I finished this book.

Bread and Liesl just go together. Her first memories are of her grandmother and mother making bread. Liesl grows up to have her own bakery. The story is also about her baker, who brings his troubled grandson to work as an apprentice, her waitress, who submits the bakery's name to a tv bake-off competition, her cook, who is ill, and the delivery guy, a single father who wants to win her heart.

This book was so much fun to read and I'd love to make one of the recipes soon.

Bekah's Birthday Photo Shoot

Bekah always likes to have a photo shoot sometime around her birthday. Monday was a nice sunny day so we took the opportunity to do a short shoot. 

Happy 13th birthday, Bekah!

Bread, Jam, and a Borrowed Pram

Sisters Book Challenge

Book 2

Bread, Jam, and a Borrowed Pram by Dot May Dunn

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Even though I hardly ever go for books involving medicine, I find I enjoy them when I do read this type of book.

Bread, Jam, and a Borrowed Pram was very easy to read. I enjoyed the diary form of this book about Dot's time as a health visitor in the slums of London. Dot takes care of newborn babies, families suffering from lack of food and sickness, and a lot of other needs of these people.

The struggles of the job and the area are hard, but the joys she finds on her rounds make it all worth it. 

Lead Me to Calvary

Lead Me to Calvary
words by Jennie Hussey

King of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

Refrain:

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

Let me like Mary, through the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb,
Lead me to Calvary.

May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share,
Thou hast borne all for me.

:: :: ::

When they came to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him. ~Luke 23:33

Macro Shots

I debated about joining the Personal Photo Challenge party this month. I've been wanting to join in for several months and when I heard that the theme was macro, I thought this would be the month to do it. But with having my surgery and recovering from that, and I didn't think I would be up to writing a post. After looking through my photos and taking a few more, I came up with some shots I was happy with so I decided to go ahead with it. 

I shot all these photos in auto mode with my Nikon d3000 camera.

Ladybug:

On this photo, I used my 55-200 lens. I cropped this a little bit to center the ladybug more and I added a slight bit of color to give it a boost. 

Tulip:

I shot this one with my 18-55 lens. I did a little bit of sharpening to the petals but that's about it. 

Yarrow:

I took this one from my archives. I probably had my 55-200 lens on but I'm not quite sure. I just cropped this one a slight bit.

Shooting macro photography is so much fun! It makes me want to do more!

Photo Friday: Coffee Preparations

We really enjoy our coffee around here.

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Surgery Update

My gallbladder surgery was last Thursday. The surgery went well. The doctor used the daVinci robotic arm which meant only one small incision just below my belly button. I had to spend one night in the hospital because of the nausea from the anesthesia and pain, but by Friday morning I was well enough to go home. 

Since then, I've been taking it easy on the sofa with an occasional trip out to get fresh air and to move around. I still need help getting up and down and the other day, a sneeze took me by surprise and I couldn't prepare for it and it really hurt. But I haven't been needing as much medicine for the pain and not much of the stronger stuff at all. 

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. I was only a little nervous about the surgery and as I was being rolled in to the operating room, I felt totally peaceful. 

I'm so glad my gallbladder is gone and I can start getting back to my normal life. 

The Distant Hours

Sisters Book Challenge

Book 1

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

source

I've loved both The Secret Keeper and The House at Riverton by Kate Morton so I was excited when Kristin put The Distant Hours on the challenge for this year. I love that her books have shocking endings that you didn't really expect.

This book was about Percy, Saffy, and Juniper Blythe, three old ladies who live alone in Milderhurst Castle. Edie's mother receives a letter from Juniper that was lost for decades. The letter leads Edie to Milderhurst where she learns that her mother stayed with the sisters during World War II. The older sisters are twins and they devoted their lives to caring for their younger sister who isn't the same after she was jilted by her fiance. There are many secrets waiting to be discovered about the past at Milderhurst. 

I'm planning on reading Kate Morton's other book, The Forgotten Garden, sometime this year. 

At Calvary

When they came to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him. ~Luke 23:33

~~~

At Calvary
words by William Newell

Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

Refrain:

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Now I’ve given to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary!

Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

Photo Friday: Bathing Birdie {+ Link-up}

Bekah found this mockingbird taking a bath in the large puddle in our yard. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and stayed just long enough for me to take his picture.

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It's Back! And Other Things

After four long weeks in the shop, my computer is now back! Yay! I can't wait to catch up on some blogs, download my pictures and catch up on a few tv shows I watch online. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While my computer was gone, I took the opportunity to catch up on some reading. There for a while I was averaging a book in three days. Three of the books I completed were on the Sisters Book Challenge for this year. Review posts should be coming soon.

Now that my computer is back, I'm still hoping to read more than I was at the beginning of the winter. My goal is to read 60 books this year and I'm a bit behind.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since my surgery is coming up soon, I've decided to postpone coming back to normal blogging. While I'm recovering, I'll schedule a few Photo Friday posts and hymns and the three book challenge posts.