Fairies

Sometimes, I want to be a child again. To be able to take time to dream and play fantasy~~sigh. I'm lucky because while I may not be a child myself, I do have a young daughter and together, we do get to play just a little:)

 We found the SWEETEST of herb farms recently and came away stock full of ideas and inspiration.

 All of these pictures were taken at Erin's Meadow Herb Farm . What a treat!
 First, I had to go with two of my oldest and dearest friends. We had to "test" the grounds:) Got to pick up a couple of herbs and gather some nifty ideas.

 We also got to go to the nearby sleepy little city of Clinton, TN. Here we were able to stroll through lots of antique and gift shops, and have lunch at an awesome little cafe on the main drag.

 At the herb farm , they have lots of fairy items available for purchase to start your own "Fairy Garden".

 The idea of starting a Fairy Garden is to attract fairies to your yard. Fairies are well know to bring good luck you know:)

 I was immediately in love, and I knew Anna would be too.

 Sooooo....two days after my initial visit with my buddies...

I decided I needed to go back and take Anna. She (by the way) was DYING to go after hearing all about it.
Keep in mind, this herb farm is more than 50 miles from my house, and I don't do 50 mile trips often. I knew this would be another trip worth taking. As anticipated. Anna was in love.
We purchased a couple of things to get us started and within 2 days time, we had a good start on our own fairy garden.

 We started by choosing our spot, then it just "came together". We cleared the ground, then we added our arbor with the gate for the fairies to enter. After that, we just collected items from the house that had been discarded in drawers or neglected. Fish tank pebbles, broken potshards, tiny pots and pebbles.

 Anything with a bling or shimmer to it was fair game.

I was able to dig up some moss that was growing downstairs and it was like laying down a puzzle! Little pieces came together like a smooth carpet. A soft surface for the fairies to walk on. It has, in a few short days, become a ritual for us to wake up and go to the garden early, before the heat sets in. We'll continue to add things every day. Such a fun treat for the two of us to share together AND, for me to be able to act "just a little" like a child again:)

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

I Think I'm in Love

I still can't believe we have a contract on our house. It doesn't seem real......seems very surreal. We've been looking hard and I have found my true love.

I have ALWAYS loved old Victorians, but never thought I'd actually be able to  have one. For one thing, I live in a very rural part of east Tennessee where there just were not very many Victorians built.When you do find  them...they are valued very highly and WAY out of our price range.

Now low and behold I've found this beauty. It just so happens that we are also in a high tourist area. Long ago, someone took this old farmhouse and transformed it into this gorgeous painted lady. They bought the farm and split the land into smaller parcels and built several other Victorians and marketed them as a "Victorian Resort". Unfortunately, with the collapse of the economy this person's dream came crashing down and the whole community went into foreclosure.
The difficult times we are in breaks my heart. I have seen so much tragedy.
That's why I am so convinced that this is definitely a God thing.
Why He is working in our lives right now is beyond me. I do not feel worthy of anything God does for me, but when He does true miracles for me, I am so amazed I can hardly function.
Sisters....if you don't mind...I'd appreciate your sweet prayers right now. I don't know if it's possible for us to actually get this painted lady, but boy has she stolen my heart.

So much so that when I think about her, I truly go into "swoon" mode. No matter though, what my heart says, if this is not where God wants us to be, I don't want to be there. Our "fight with our flesh" is just constant isn't it? Well....I just ask for prayers that we will be wise enough to follow God where ever He wants us to be. I Would be a VERY happy girl if He would let us be here....in this beautiful piece of art.......

but I know deep down, that where ever He takes me...I'll be happy, and thankful.
Have a lovely day ladies....will keep you posted on the move!
Blessings~~Shine

Simple Change

Hello girls! Well...this has been a different week to say the least. After having our house on (and off) the market for the last 5 years, we had a showing last Sat.! (the first in almost 2 years). Then, the couple wanted a SECOND showing!! (now I'm getting "a little" excited.) Then the next day...they made an offer!!!!! Can I scream YAY!!!!!!!!!!! They LOVED our house!!!!!! Just as we do.....there is ALWAYS someone else out there like you:) NOW....the scramble will be on to find our next home. Actually....tomorrow, we'll find out if we have to scramble. Their first offer wasn't ridiculous by any means, but we could not accept it. So we countered, and, hopefully...they'll come back tomorrow (by 4:00 pm) and have a better offer. I'm trying not to get too excited ya'll :)
HOWEVER, in the meantime....I  have a cute transformation to share.
If you'll recall....on Mother's Day, my sweet hubby surprised me with a gift I'd wanted a long time.

It was instant infatuation. I LOOOOVE my swing girls. BUT....take a looky at how much better it looks now.

See! I made my chain covers!!! They are super easy to make (you can find a great tutorial here) cordcoversandmore, and they make such a BIG difference!! (The BLOOMING hydrangea doesn't hurt anything either:)
Girls....it's my most favorite place. I sit here every chance I get and try to just look at the birdies....or the flowers, and I am so thankful for all that God has done for me. No matter if He wants us to move or wants us to stay....I really don't care at all. I ask only that He goes with me, wherever I go.
Blessings to you all sweet friends.....Love Shine.

Happy Day Scones

I am SOOOO ready for this new season. School's out.... I'm just dreaming girls......dreaming of all the projects I can do this summer. It truly makes me swoon! I am enjoying every possible moment lately. Savoring every sweet breath....taking in every green leaf and every priceless smile from my precious children. More plans, more projects, more dreams.......EXCITING!!!!!
Right now I think I'm going to make these incredible scones that I found on  Eggs on Sunday.

They are really easy and deeeelish.

I think the fam will love them.....after all...what's no to love? Chocolate, raspberries, butter.....YUMMMM!

These are actually photos taken by   Amy   . I hope it's OK to do this. I did read somewhere that as long as you're giving credit to the blog you get the info from, it's politically correct in blogland.

Here's the recipe for these scrumptious treats...., but please do go and visit Eggs on Sunday. Blessings to you all dear friends.....Have a lovely evening! Love ~~Shine

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Raspberry Chocolate Tea Scones

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and chopped into small pieces
1 cup miniature chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate
1 cup frozen raspberries, chopped (keep frozen until you’re ready to add them to the dough)
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 egg, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and sugar. Add the chopped cold butter and rub with your fingers into the flour until the bits of butter are roughly the size of peas. Stir in the chocolate chips/chunks.
Separate the egg; reserve the white for later use (you’ll use it to brush on the tops of the scones before baking.) In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the cream, egg yolk, and vanilla extract.
Add the chopped frozen raspberries to the flour mixture. Pour in the cream, and using light, quick strokes, stir with a fork until just moistened (there may still be some flour on the bottom of the bowl.) Use your hands to gather the dough into a ball and knead it lightly a few times, just to gather it together. Don’t worry if there’s still a little flour remaining on the bottom of the bowl.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide into two balls. Gently flatten each ball into a 1-inch high disk, and cut each disk into 6 wedges (for 12 scones total.) Place on baking sheet and brush the tops with the reserved egg white; sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and scones are cooked through.