I Won the Marathon!!!

The Marathon that was going on in my house today that is.
It's been a long day, but I managed to turn out two batches (that's 24) of fresh ground whole wheat bagels, two loaves of French Bread, one Healthy Dog Friendly Birthday Cake and one super cute bird feeder wreath!
Whew!

The bagels are easy and VERY yummy, but time consuming.

 I didn't get pictures of the French Bread, but it was also deeeeelish. For dinner, we had the French Bread,  w/fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. Fresh cucumbers out of my sweet friend Lovie's garden. So simple, fresh and fabulous!

Also...this was sweet Sophie's birthday.

 Little darlin looks pretty good for her age:)

 Lastly, pictures of my bird feeder! So fun and easy...Go here for super easy instructions.

But girls....just a  friendly word of advice. Please hang this gorgeous wreath under a shelter or after your first nice afternoon shower, you'll end up with bird seed soup.

Have a most lovely and blessed evening......
With love~~Shine

Bloomin

 A couple of years ago, I picked up a plant at a Farmers Market that I'd never seen, called a double echinacea . I really couldn't believe my eyes, and thought surely this was some freak of nature that would bloom as every other normal echinacea plant once I put it in the ground and gave it a very normal little life. Well....I was wrong.

Isn't that cool? As soon as the bloom begins to fade, another grows on top of it!

I love it! Absolutely amazing:)

Alongside my "different" echinacea is my very normal stand of buckeyes.

I love these ordinary flowers. I have alot of them just now starting to bloom and they will soon fill the inside of my house too!

Another shot of my front yard....not much blooming there, but lush and green......lovely.

And lastly, look who's back on my front porch......look closely at the top left hand corner of the following picture.

Lovie Dovie is back! This is only her second visit this year, so I was beginning to worry a bit.
No worries! What's blooming in your yard sweet friends?
Have a lovely evening.....Shine

Sitting...waiting...dreaming

Well girls.....that's what I've been doing alot of. Sitting, waiting, dreaming. I dreamed of this house so often...I just knew it was for me. Have you ever had just an uncanny feeling about something? Just had a feeling that this "something" was REALLY going to happen...just for you? That's how I felt about my Painted Lady.

Just knew she was "MINE". Just knew that all the circumstances that surrounded this dream, could only have happened through heavenly intervention...and it was all for ME!! Funny how we can do these things to ourselves isn't it?

I wanted so badly for it to happen, I thought I could open that door myself.....

My lofty thoughts didn't get me very far though girls. Initially I prayed that if this wasn't something God wanted for me, that He would close that door, quickly.......and He did.

Then when He did just what I ask Him to, I pouted and cried like a little baby. My flesh is SOOO selfish.

God did not want me here, in this place I thought was perfect. He wants me somewhere else. I'm still trying to

accept His perfect will......I am just a very fallen human that struggles with things of the flesh. 

I can't see things the way I wish I could, through Heavenly eyes that could see though all the layers of life and all the distractions on this earth. God has a plan for me sisters...I know He does, and I will carry on in spite of myself and continue every day just to ask Him to please go with me where ever I go. To please have mercy on me and never leave my side and to please give me the wisdom I need to get through this earthy life without hurting others or myself along the way. 

So while this Painted lady may never be my home, I know that God has something just as grand waiting for me somewhere and that my TRUE ultimate home awaits me in His kingdom.

                                  I pray this is a blessed and peaceful day for you all sweet friends.

                                                With much love and affection~~Shine