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Friday, January 31, 2014

French Metis Linen Sheets - A Goodwill Find!


I know that picking and junking and thrift store shopping are pretty popular these days.  Sometimes it feels like everyone is now wise to the whole vintage craze and there is nothing left to be found...or at least not at a great price.  Well, I'm here to say those nuggets are still out there.  

I found these 3 beautiful French metis linen sheets at our Goodwill last week.  They were priced at $2.99 each!  

It was one of those moments where you throw your treasure in the cart and book it for the nearest checkout before your incredible deal is found out.  



Look at the beautiful lace edging on each.  The one in the center actually has a matching inset lace on the end of the sheet as well as at the top.



Two of the sheets had been repaired "way back when."  I love the care they took in mending the holes...no exposed edges, the ends are turned under, and lovingly handstitched.


These made my day.  What treasures have you found? 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie
I'm linking here:





House on the Way

Savvy Southern Style



Monday, January 20, 2014

My Un-Word for the Year

A lot of people like to begin the new year with a new "word" to reflect upon, strive for, or aim to achieve during the upcoming twelve months.  This year, I'm joining Edie, Nester, Darlene, Angela, and many other bloggers in sharing an UN-word for the year.  Edie put it best when she described an un-word as " a word that we want to ditch in 2014.  A word that haunts us, that we want rid of for good.  A word we want to {UN}do in our lives."   



I like that idea.  A word to ditch.  Like shedding leaves in the fall.  Letting go.

Outside of blogging, I'm a homeschool mom and also a director of a tutorial with about 100 students.  My year begins usually in August.  That's when I begin my reflecting and prayer to see what God has for me in the upcoming year.

My Students


This past August, it was more of a phrase than a word.  I felt God was telling me that we need to give each other more credit.  In terms of an un-word, I guess that would be uncondemning.  I know we're instructed not to condemn but our flesh, our sinful nature likes to point a finger.  It likes to jump to conclusions.  It likes to assume things based on our perspective instead of truth.

We could have much more peace if we give each other more grace, if we don't jump to conclusions before having all the facts.  Not only would you have more peace with others, you will have more peace with yourself.  I'm really talking to myself here.  I tend to be a micro-manager.  I'm still learning how to let go when things aren't done the way I think they should have been.  Ah, letting go does give peace.

Peaceful sunset from our road

I guess it basically boils down to the saying I've seen posted many times on the web.

"BE KIND, FOR EVERYONE YOU MEET IS FIGHTING THEIR OWN BATTLE."

I'm sharing this over at Life{in}Grace.  Be sure to check out the other {un}words and get inspired to find your own word to ditch :)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie
I'm linking here:





House on the Way

Savvy Southern Style


Thursday, January 16, 2014

A Cozy Winter Home with a Portiere

I hope you're staying warm in your part of the world.  Here in Tennessee, we are having a few very chilly days along with our usual temps in the 50's.



One way I've found that helps keep our house warm on these chilly days is to hang a curtain in the doorway that leads to colder areas or, as in our house, to an area that is open to the second floor.  Hanging curtains in doorways is nothing new.  It's actually a very old idea and is called a portiere.



The use of a portiere has been around for many, many years.  Some sources even say it dates back as far as the 4th century.  During the Victorian era, it was a sign of wealth and was used as an ornamental decoration as well as to prevent drafts.



And, who can ever forget the famous green portiere used in Gone with the Wind, the one Scarlett O'Hara used to make herself a new dress.  I love how she used the tiebacks for a belt, lol!



Well, my portiere is not made from green velvet.  It's made from a 6'x9' drop cloth which matches the other curtains in our family room.  Having seen this past month's electric meter reading and expecting a $500 electric bill, I can definitely say I wish I had done this sooner!



Stay warm and God bless!

Angie
I'm linking here:





House on the Way

Savvy Southern Style


Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Looking Forward to 2014




I hope you are having a great start to the New Year!  My hubby and I enjoyed an evening at home alone, a rarity but something that's becoming more common as we inch toward our empty nest years.

This post is a little different than my usual but, since it's New Year's Day, I want to share something with you all.  I recently emailed the families in my tutorial with some words of encouragement as we begin the 2nd semester.  It really can apply to more than just school.  I'm actually applying it to my blogging and Etsy business.  I thought it may encourage some of you as we begin a brand new year...full of so many possibilities.  I hope you can take something away from it.  (Sorry, I'm not sure why it's highlighted like it is.)

Hi families and tutors-

It's actually 3:00 a.m. that I'm typing this and I feel a little like Jerry Maguire.  I couldn't sleep because of these thoughts so I felt I'd better get up and begin writing them down.

We're entering January!  For us, that's like half time of a ballgame.  Time for a locker room pep talk!  Time to evaluate how this "game" is going.  Is this year going to be a blowout or is it still too close to call at this point?

We are a team.  That doesn't mean just the students are players.  Parents and tutor, we are players in this game too.  January through April generally feels like the long stretch to the end.  However, it is time to really dig in.

1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Students...seventh and eighth graders, consider yourselves on the road to the playoffs.  These are important years to get you where you want to be.

Freshmen through seniors...you're in the FINAL FOUR!  So what's it going to be?

I want you to do something.  I want you to dream big.

No, big!

Really.  I mean BIG!!!

What is your big dream?  To create new machines?  Develop life-saving medicines?  To build houses?  To design beautiful things?  To bring clean water to those without?  Caring for the sick and needy?  Whomever God created you to be, go for it!

Will it be without fears or troubles or complications?  Absolutely not.  If you've seen the movie Jerry Maguire, when he woke up the next morning, why did he regret sending out his proposal to everyone?  Because he feared what they would think.  He began doubting what was in his heart by the rationale in his head.  That causes fear.  Acting on our dreams, what God has put in our hearts, won't be without fears or troubles or doubts.  We don't live in a perfect world...yet.  BUT, God does say He will be right there with us through them.  And, what's waiting on the other side of those obstacles?  Blessings!

Someone once compared what God has to bless us with and what we actually dare to receive as this.  Remember in the movie National Treasure when they finally find the storeroom with the treasures?  When they first enter, they are excited with the things they've found.  Then, they discover a trough of oil that illuminates the entire hall, revealing the vastness of the treasures.  They are blown away.  God would love to blow us away with all the blessings He has for us.   I want to take a minute to say, I'm not implying the blessings are all monetary or material things.  Some may be.  I'm simply saying God has some much more that He would delight in giving us.

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 

So, back to the second half of this game.  I can guarantee for some this second half will feel long and tedious.  You may question why you have to do the work you're assigned.  Does it all really matter?  Yes.  Yes it does.  

Students, we are all on the same team.  We believe in you and are here to help you get to where you want to be.  To fully be the person God created you to be.

Are you a failure if you don't get there?  Absolutely not!  Will there still be blessings from God?  Absolutely!  

Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, what do you say?  All in?  Ready for this second half?  I am.  I may even pull a Jerry Maguire and rethink this when I wake up.  I may think it sounds silly or someone will judge me.  I am human and we tend to let our heads lead our hearts.  However, at this moment, I'm clicking Send.  I'll talk to God about any fears I have about this when I wake up :)


Happy New Year!  God bless and thanks for stopping by!
Angie