Heaven seems a lil' sweeter...

...now that our precious Poppa is there. 

My dear father-n-law passed away yesterday.  He was at home surrounded by all of us that loved him.  We've been looking  through many pictures today - all of them holding special memories - but none more special than the one above.  My son accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior on December 21, 2009 and my father-n-law, who was a Deacon, asked if he could baptize Casen.  Of course, we wanted him too.  At that time, Glen said,  "I have now seen both my children and all my grandchildren saved - if I left this world tomorrow - that would be o.k."  How lil' did we know that just a few days after Casen's baptism, Glen would be diagnosed with cancer.  He put up an incredible fight.  God did not choose to heal him on earth - but He sure has made him perfect in Heaven. 

We will so miss you Poppa - thank you for the example you set and for the love you shared.

I'm still here...

...I know it has been forever but I promise there is just reason for not being around much lately.  The house is still progressing - I had told y'all that I would let you all in on everything but boy oh boy - when things start happening - decisions have to be made in a jiffy, don't they?  So we are making decisions - left and right - and praying they are the right ones.  We recently got our garage doors installed - you know how little things happen when you are not at home to oversee everything - like when I ordered these doors without hardware but came home to nice "holes" in the doors.  So I suppose I better like the hardware.  Actually, I do like them, but plain would have been a lil' more in keeping with the house.  Oh well, a minor bump in the road.

 Porch railing is up - still have to place those decorative bands on the columns in the right place and they have yet to be painted but the porch is near finished none the less.

 My interior doors I dearly love - they remind me of the doors we have in our older home now - which is exactly what we wanted.  The trim is going up and I'll share pictures with you when the paint is on and you can see it.

 And of course, the dry wall is all finished and waiting for paint - yippeee - the fun part.

 But the main reason I've not been blogging is that every single spare minute we have - it is spent with my father-n-law.  Oh what a precious man he is - a good hearted, honest, gentle, life-loving, man of God.  I had mentioned to you all when we started building our home that he was battling cancer and what a fight he has put up.  He is now at home with hospice care and we are cherishing each moment we have with him.  We recently got to go to Florida with him which is where this picture was taken - sitting on the boat dock watching the boats come in with their daily catch. Fishing - absolutely one of the favorite things in his life. 

Remember our family as we all battle with our emotions.  And as difficult as this is  - we know God is good and He is in control and we trust in Him and his timing. 

May God bless you all and I wish you much happiness on this day.

It's all about the "S's"...

...the "STONE" that is...which is SOUTHERN Ledge design in the color of SULPHUR SPRINGS...

 ...and the cypress green "SIDING"...

 ...the board and batten "green" (yes, I changed my mind) "SHUTTERS"...

 ...and some textured "SHAKES"...

 ...all put together looks a lil' something...

...like this!!!

We are finally getting there my friends!  It has been a VERY rainy way of it lately - but I will not complain.  We feel tremendously blessed considering the flooding and other weather devastation which has affected so many in our country.  Our hearts are with all of those people who have been so tragically affected.

We still have to get the stone grouted and the porch and railings on, gutters and the exterior lights - but we'll get there.  I'm so excited about my outside lights - they are from Barn Light Electric - and I. LOVE. THEM!!!  They are simple but they fit our farmhouse feel jus' right I think.  I'll show them to you soon.

As you all can see - I still haven't picked a color for my front door but when I do - if it matches one of your suggestions - I'll send you  - yes - another "S" - a big SURPRISE.  I just haven't decided yet - I have to STUDY it a bit longer.

Hope you all enjoyed the pictures - and pretty soon - y'all can help me pick out the fun stuff - the interior paint, the lights, the flooring - SOUNDS like fun to me!

Have a happy and blessed weekend!

Cathy

We have a Winner and a "Sneaky Peek"...

Well, y'all have waited long enough - I give you credit - you all are beyond patient with me - and I love ya for it!  But finally we have a winner for the Spring Giveaway and it is sweet Leisa.  My lil' man drew her name and I'll be sending her package out at the first of the week - So Congrats Leisa and thank you ALL for your kind words.

 

Now - a sneaky peek - "at what?" you say - well, you know that new job I mentioned - See - you can take the girl out of her greenhouse but not the greenhouse out of the girl.  This is my greenhouse away from home I guess you can say and I love it.

 The ribbon cutting on the greenhouse is this Friday - April 29th at 10:30 cst at Central Farmers Supply and I'm so excited.

 Plus anybody who has ever had a shoppe knows - once it is in your blood - you can't ever totally get it out of your system.  Thankfully - my new employers - who are my dear friends and long time supporters - have given me a chance to continue to share my love of  "stuff" with you.  Isn't that exciting!!!!  

 So here is a peek inside the lil' shoppe - it'll be all things garden.

 I will post more pics tomorrow night - 'cause y'all know me - I'm never ready till the very end - that's just me and I suppose that will never change!

Happy Wednesday!

Cathy

Spring Time Giveaway...

...especially for one of YOU!  Yes, a lil' late on my giveaway but never fear - I'm still here.  Y'all forgive me for being M-I-A.  Between a new job ;-) (tell ya more 'bout that later), building a new house, getting one house ready to sell, ball practices - well, ya know - life is jus' a bit busy! 

But I did squeeze in some time to paint a sign for somebody special and I hope one of you will like it.  It'll be nice by your back door or maybe on your garden shed.

 I've also got you a cute necklace with a great saying - "DIG IN THE DIRT" - y'all know how I love to do that...

 ...and it has a sweet picture of garden tools on the back...

 ...and last but not least - those WAY COOL metal tags I showed you a couple of posts back.  Tags for - well... - for you to do with whatever you please. 

I simply wanted to share a lil' spring cheer with you.  I hope you'll enjoy tossing your name in for a chance to win - just leave me a comment and of course, follow me on my journey if you'd like.

I'm wishing you all a simply beautiful spring!

Cathy

P.S. - I've got more "house pics" to show you next - we've gone green - well, the house has anyway!

Breaking Ground...

 ...literally.  Shaun broke the garden this afternoon - and. I. love. it.  I so enjoy planting a garden and watching it grow from seedling to sprout to harvest time.  And I'm especially grateful for the land to have a garden

and good health to work in it.

 

I'm  looking very forward to delicious home grown veggies to eat and to can.  Can't wait to line up the pretty jars in my new "soon to be" pantry.

 As you can see - lil' man is right behind his daddy looking for fishing worms...

...and he sure found a few.

Since I last showed you - we now have a roof - a metal one in "burnished slate".  We are really happy with it and think it fits right in.  Siding goes on next week!

Hope you get to plant a garden this year!  What's your favorite thing to grow?  Mine - well, I must say Mr. Stripey tomatoes!  lOOOOOOOOOOve 'em

Happy Spring my friends!

Cathy

Oh and P.S. - I'm having a lil' spring giveaway in just a couple of days - be sure you stop by to put your name in the hat.

Numbers...

...these days numbers are here, there and everywhere.  From furniture to wall art - they are simply "in".  So this week at my mos' fav' farm supply store - I snatched up these great metal numbers.  Now, are you ready for me to tell you what they are for?

 They are cattle tags.  Now these are not like the most commonly used tags - which are plastic ear tags.  These are heavy, thick, metal ones that look - well, totally cool, I think.

 So for just a few pennies... I brought them home and tied them on my baskets which I've been collecting for a while.  I THINK they are ole' racks out of freezers/refrigerators.  I think they are gonna look great in my new pantry filled with potatoes and the like - don't ya think they'll be cute all lined up in a row?

 I love this one 'cause it has a neat blue color to it.  I put some "project" fabric in it for now - but needless to say, the only project happening around here these days is "home building".

 The previous numbers have no significant meaning but I'll let ya in on a lil' secret - shhhhhh - I'll be this many PLUS 10 tomorrow.  Yep...39... hard to believe.  But hey, age IS just a number, right?  And I'm grateful to have another Happy Birthday.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

Cathy