~A Fabulous Read~

Good Morning Friends~I had to share with you a delightful book that I have just begun...and can't put down..."My Life in France," Written by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme(her nephew). I love to cook, and try at least one new recipe a couple of times a month as I get tired of the same old stuff all of the time. I am so fortunate that my big guy will eat anything on a plate, literally. I remembered Julia Child from her television show when was young-er(I keep reminding myself that I am not getting old, just maturing nicely). Anyway, as I watched Julia cook, I remember being more drawn to her character than I was to her recipes and cooking. Her voice, her stature, and her intense absorption in the act of cooking, I think it was her passion that drew me to watch her demonstrations. (I never made one of her recipes!) In this book her character shines, her devotion to family and friends as well as her love of all things French, especially French cuisine. It isn't all about food though, really, it is about the woman that I found so facinating so many years ago. I think this book would appeal to anyone as it is a remarkable journey of finding passion...and living it! Bon Appetit!

Lavender Winds

Hello Friends! Wow, it's been such a long time since I've posted!! I actually had to read my last post to figure out where I left off. Well, I am up to my ears in lavender! Actually all but two are first year babies, but two of last years plants gave me enough lavender for this large beautiful wreath! Also, enough left over for my dear friend Vicki who visited, to take some home!! I've been so busy planting and caring for my little lavender farm, I've totally neglected my blog. In addition to planting lavender, my hubby and I have researched and made the decision to purchase and put up a wind turbine. We have a nice breeze most days, and strong wind the rest of the days so this is a perfect place for a turbine.

Our little farm will be called "Lavender Winds"

I am having a ball, working in the yard, but my sewing and indoor production has been sadly lacking. Hopefully I will have some wonderful projects to share with you soon. I have been reading your blogs and keeping caught up with you although I haven't commented much.

Will post some new pictures soon. Hugs and Blessings!

Fun With Burlap....And Other Things..

For so long I have been wanting to make something with burlap. I love the texture and the monochromatic color of this fabric, also I remember when my mom would buy potatoes in burlap when I was young. So, it's kind of new and old for me. Yesterday it was raining so I got out my burlap and made this pillow! It was fun and great to get back into handcrafting.

Now for the big news! My hubby and I have a little over 2 acres here in Iowa, and it is all grass. It has been on my heart lately that we should do something with it. For many years I have grown lavender, just a few plants here and there because I love the rich frangrance, and the delicate flowers. I also use it for my garden, keeping the insects, deer and rabbits out. They dislike the fragrance of lavender...poor dears, they just don't know a good thing when they smell it! I also use it for sachets, cleaning, and candles. Anyway, hubby and I have decided to plant a lavender farm! This week I will have several plants coming in and we will be tilling and preparing the ground for the new little lavender plants! Doing what you love is a wonderful thing, no matter the hard work, it is enjoyable! I can just picture the beautiful slim purple wands swaying in the wind! Now it is time for the work however...we just need mother nature to comply. It has rained for 2 weeks now...and we need a nice day to begin our lavender garden. This time, I will take before and after pictures!!

Also, in the coming week I will let you in on an exciting venture that we are undertaking...that's the "wind" part of yesterday's post...Hmmmm...what could it be??

Hugs to you all, enjoy the weekend.

What a Beautiful Sunrise this morning! Below: A new Rag Quilt...finally!!

Good Morning Friends! Well, it's been an amazing last few weeks for us! Hubby's job is going better and better, and he is more relaxed than he has been in a year. It's so nice to have him back to his old self! We came to a breaking point...and realized that what we were lacking was faith. Faith that the Father knows in advance what is going to happen, and that He will see us through. We got so caught up in the tension each day, that we were beginning to stress out BEFORE my husband even left home in the morning! We are believers, and we love the Lord...but sometimes we forget to let God handle the hard stuff, the stuff I can't even understand! So for the last few weeks we have returned to the basics, we are reclaiming our lives, and rededicating our hearts to the Lord.

I have re-learned some valuable lessons amid the turmoil of this last year. 1. Let go and Let God. 2. When I am in a messy spiritual place, my creative spirit is non-existent. And 3. My memory is in dire need of a little Ginko!

Yes, it must be memory fade that is causing me to forget the basics! Ya think??? Let go and let God. Easy right?? Sheesh!

I have more wonderful news which I will post in the next few days and weeks. It has to do with Lavender......Wind.....and Farm.....Can you guess??? Hugs everyone and thank you so much for hanging in there with me throughout this difficult period. Blessings~~

Memorial Day....

Hello Friends, on this special day we thank our military men and women, past and present, for their service to our great country. Thank you for your sacrifice, for your selflessnes and the security that you afford us here at home. We love you!!

Now to the pictures....I cannot for the life of me remember to take "before" pictures of things! We just dive on in, and wish we had the before pics after we're done..Anyway, this basement door and the planters on either side were dirt and boulders. (see boulders in planter on right). The boulders had shifted and moved toward the door making it rather narrow. The planter on the right was filled to overflowing with ivy and creeping junipers. I'm not fond of either of the two plants as we are both allergic to the juniper, and the ivy is a great hiding spot for skunks and mice and spiders! Last week I spent a couple of hours each day cleaning out the ivy and hubby dug out the junipers on his last day off. This weekend we put up the walls. We still need a load of river rock for the planters, and that brick walkway will be changed as well, but we got a good start on things anyway. On Sunday, we watched movies, made fajitas for dinner, and relaxed. Wishing you a peaceful holiday weekend. Blessings~

Nature's Beauty~A Garden Walk

Welcome To Springtime!

Yellow Yarrow

A Bucket Bursting with Color!

Pole beans coming up!

Wagon Wheels and Pole beans at the base of the fence

Lavender

A Natural Prairie Garden at the very East end of out property

Gerber Daisies

A morning stroll through my gardens, everything still damp from the rains overnight. A little bunny hops out of the prairie garden, we were both startled to see one another! Thankfully Freeway was off chasing a squirrel in a grove of trees. The air this morning is so humid, so thick, you could cut it with a knife...but it is cool yet so very comfortable. Yes, spring has finally arrived in full bloom to Iowa. Today I have 7 more flowers to get in the ground, and I will be pretty much done with the planting. My vegetable garden is coming up so well however, the darn weeds are already taking over!
My hubby's dad and step mom will be coming in June for a visit! I can't wait to see them! And then my dear friend Vicki will also be visiting in June. What a banner month it will be! I love company!!!! With my husband's work, we have never lived close to our families, so each and every visit is more than special.

Well off to hoe the vegetable garden. I am almost finished with a rag quilt that has taken me a month to finish!! Can you believe that?? Sheesh! I can't seem to stay indoors long enough to sit at my sewing machine. And I have been working on the sweetest rag rug for months and months, but I'm still at it!! You will love it, and I will take some awesome pics when I get a little further done. Hugs and Love-from my garden to Yours!

Blessings~Sharon

Out for a Morning Stroll.....

Good Morning Friends! As I was digging and weeding in the front yard I noticed a beautiful deer walking down the street, slowly and peacefully, just having a morning stroll. I was able to retrieve my camera before it came to be in front of my yard. So I sat on the front porch and waited for it to make it's way down the road. Just as I snapped this photo, the neighbors herd dogs came running out lickety-split and chased it into the conservation park below our home. The deer was running and leaping with its tail straight up in the air! It was so wonderful to see. Between yesterday and today I have planted 36 flowers and mowed the 2 acres of grass! This was my first mowing, hubby has been doing it, and I am so sore! By the end of the fall, I will be in Great shape I'm certain. Blessings to you dear friends, enjoy the moment!

Fresh from the Garden....

Hello Friends! Now that the warm weather is here...I have been a bum about my blog!! First thing in the morning I'm out on the deck having a cup of coffee and listening to the birds...next thing I know I'm off to the nursery to add a little color here, a little broad leaf there, and on and on. So by the time I come back in, I've got to get supper ready for my wonderful man! I have also begun to volunteer at our local hospital here in Marshalltown. It's been a wonderful experience, it truly has! I have met the nicest people in the last few weeks at the hospital. I'm so blessed by this opportunity to help out in my community.
As for moving, we don't yet know when or even if that will happen, we continue to pray and ask for wisdom, and clarity in the midst of confusion and turmoil. We are thanking the Lord for our joyful hearts, our health, our love for each other. We are so very, very blessed.
I will be joining your blogs this weekend!! Can't wait to see what you have been up too! I am so inspired by your words and your creativity. I have been sadly lacking a creative spirit lately. I suppose that these "dry spells" make me appreciate the moments when I am Bursting with Ideas for new and exciting projects. It will come...It will come. Love and Hugs~Blessings to you!