Pulling Weeds

Today is Good Friday. 

I've been home with my boys all week for Easter break.  We've spent our days wearing jammies, watching movies, eating yummy things for breakfast that I don't have time to make on weekdays.  

It has been refreshing.  

It's also been a lot of work!

The weather has warmed up, and I've been spending many hours each day in my yard pulling weeds, raking leaves, etc.  You know, all of that yard work that needs to be done after winter to get your beds back in shape for spring & summer.  These photos are from last year.  Inspiration for what is about to grow!

I have 8 flower beds to weed and clean up.  Eight! 

To be honest, I enjoy doing yard work.  The time spent pulling weeds is peaceful and therapeutic. I love seeing the beauty and creativity of God when I'm in my yard. 

As I have been busy prepping my flower beds for the new growing season, I was reminded of God's love and compassion for us.  He is faithful to renew his mercies for us each morning...just like new flowers in spring!  What a blessing! 

There have been plenty of fun times this week with my boys.  And a few times that I didn't think I could take one more ounce of defiance or disobedience from them! Ugh, the weeds.  Raising kids is an awful lot like weeding a flower bed.  In order to "grow" healthy children we need to be consistent with parenting.  Look to God's Word for guidance.  Love them, nurture them, pray for them, train them.  

And even after a tough day "in the flower bed", remember His mercies begin afresh each morning. 

So this Good Friday as I remember what Christ did on the cross for me, I am so grateful.  

Grateful that I am saved. 

Grateful for the relationship I have with the Creator of the universe. 

Grateful for His love, faithfulness, compassion, grace and mercy.  

Be Thou My Vision

My favorite "Irish" hymn in honor of St. Patricks Day....Be Thou My Vision.

Eat your corned beef and cabbage, wear some green, and reflect on the beauty of these words and of our Creator. 

  

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,

Be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;

Thou my best thought in the day and the night,

Both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,

Be thou ever with me, and I with thee Lord;

Be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;

Be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;

Be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;

Be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower:

O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise:

Be thou mine inheritance now and always;

Be thou and thou only the first in my heart;

O Sovereign of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of Heaven, thou Heaven's bright sun,

O grant me its joys after victory is won!;

Great heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

English Versification by Eleanor Hull, 1912 via wikipedia

Quick Fix - Bye-bye Brass!

We purchased our brass filled house about five years ago.  

Before moving in, we changed out the brass door hinges and door knobs to oil rubbed bronze. 

We changed out a few of the brass ceiling fixtures in the first year of home ownership.  Then just "lived" with the rest for far too long. 

This little brass octagonal beauty has been a thorn in my side! 

Dining Room Details...In Progress

We have a tiny little eating space I like to refer to as the dining room even though some houses have breakfast nooks that are larger.  In a house with over sized rooms and vaulted ceilings, this little cantilevered room with a partial 8' ceiling is a bit odd, but we are making improvements!

This ugly duckling needed a lot of help.  Here is how the area looked before we bought the house:

(The ceiling fans are in the living room, the little pop out is the dining area).

Gone are the peach colored walls, red and green floral valances, peach faux wood blinds, and recessed can light. Who puts a can light over a dining table? 

Progress.

Light gray walls by Behr (Classic Silver), crisp white roll-up blinds from Ikea, gray & white drapery panels made from  Amsterdam Twill Storm fabric, and a Dovecote Pendant (can conversion kit post) are helping to transform this room.

More progress.

Quick Fix - Dining Room Lighting

Let me introduce you to my dining room.  

Ok, ok, so it is really the size of a "breakfast nook", but it is our only dining space.  As much as I love the size of most of the rooms in our home, this one is a little on the skimpy side.  Not to mention it has a recessed can light for over the table.

I knew anything would be an improvement over this light fixture:

I've had my eye on the recessed can light conversion pendants for awhile.  I've been waiting for more options to be available.  Then I found this at Home Decorators online.

First take the flange for the recessed light off (remove the springs) and remove light bulb.

After adjusting the length of the cord, screw in light fixture as if you were simply replacing a light bulb.

The canopy is held in place with the tightening of a nut. 

Once the weight of the "wire basket"shade is in place the cord will straighten out. 

Installation was just about as easy as changing a light bulb.  

Speaking of light bulbs, the antique Edison bulb really makes a statement.