sew happy

Sew loving some of my summer sewing finds! Makes me sew happy when I come across such lovely vintage sewing baskets and sewing theme fabrics at my local thrift stores. Would I be taking this a little too far if I said I was sew sewprised to find them? Ya, you're right. Enough. (Paid a buck or two for each of these items)


I love the tape measure running along the salvage on the blue fabric. And the antique sewing machines on the other two fabrics are precious, along with the cute thimbles and pins and pink measuring tapes. How cute is that! Clic the pic to see for yourself.
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yup! Thread catchers! Gotta make me some thread catchers for my Etsy Shop. And you're thinking... "girlfriend, what Etsy Shop are you talking about?" Well... the Etsy Shop that my awesome, talented husband is creating for me, as we speak! I KNOW! It's FINALLY happening! Stay tuned for updates!

sweet potato chips

Oh my gosh! Check this out! Sweet potato chips! SOOO DELICIOUS! And oh so very good for you too.


Here they are prepared with white potatoes too. Love the two together.
Just slice thin, deep fry, season to taste and enjoy! YUMMO!

camping at the rim

We finally camped with our Euro Bed last night, along with my fluffy-soft vintage bedding and we loved it... very comfortable and cozy. BUT didn't sleep too well. WAAAAY too quiet. I mean REEALLY quiet!


We drove up to the Mogollon Rim around 9PM after my friend Karen's birthday party at their cabin in the Christopher Creek area. What a fun day filled with great food, friends and fellowship! And what a gorgeous night, a full moon, in the 60's... simply perfect.


We woke up this morning as the sun was rising and we were mere steps from the edge of the Rim. Breathtaking! Have I told you recently how beautiful Arizona is! Well it is!


This is our Chrysler Stow-n-Go van. We have shade screens that we cover all the windows with to give us privacy.


Happy Anniversary to us! Randy & I are planning to camp at the Rim every Anniversary. But next time we need some serious white noise so we can actually sleep!

28 years ago today

Randy & I were married.
And I love and adore this man now more than I ever thought possible! Our love just continues to grow deeper and stronger and sweeter and richer every single day. I know, I am so blessed!
And you know what else? I still LOVE my wedding gown! Don't you just love it too! So today I will try it on and remember that day when my Dad walked me down the aisle while Randy was singing to me... a song he wrote just for our wedding. He knew I would be a mess and cry through the whole song. Well, wrong! HE cried while I stood there beaming with love and pride for my soon-to-be husband.


I find that the longer we are married I am more drawn to those candid pics that capture a sweet moment. This one of Randy and I singing at the reception captures such a moment.
We're heading for the mountains in a few hours and camping in our van tonight and it's suppose to rain and that makes me sooo happy! Check back for some fun pics!

*** Oooh, I just had to add the lyrics to a Carpenters song that was popular back when we married in 1979. Made me smile because we did that... and 28 years later, we still feel the same.
And when the evening comes we smile,
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow,
And yes, we've just begun.

mesquite trees

Do you see my poor, weary hubby? Ya, that's him... resting behind the tree trimmings. He did all this and another huge pile that is not even in the pic, this past Monday. But what makes this all the more blog-worthy is that he did this in 110 degree heat! Ya, he's crazy! And what's even more crazy is that the two Mesquite trees that he trimmed have virtually NO water source! So how in the heck are they growing you may ask? Well, the roots manage to reach down deep enough to quench their thirst... and branch out to shade our home and save us lots of money on our AC bills. Here in Arizona, shade trees are super cost effective... and our home is surrounded by many various drought tolerant shade trees that we planted years ago... and help keep us cool.
And here is... umm, the fruits of his labor. Great job hon.
Oh and btw, mesquite trees are covered in thorns. Not fun.

sewing needle packet

OK, so my daughter Miranda and I were heading to her car after the 8 o'clock service yesterday (remember, it's scrapping day) and my friend Beth had just pulled into the parking lot for the next service and she says she has something for me and she takes this out of her purse! YES, this beautiful vintage packet of sewing needles in mint condition! Oh my gosh, I was stunned! Look at the sweet art work! I can't believe she thought of me when she found this amongst her Mom's sewing supplies. I was deeply touched and thrilled all at the same time! Thank you so much Beth!! I was smiling all the way home!


Notice that I pin my vintage aprons to the back of my sewing/desk chair. I like the way it gives the boring black backing of my chair some color, style and whimsy. And I can rotate my vintage apron collection, allowing me to enjoy them all the more.

back to normal

Hey everyone! Well, things are getting back to normal around here after having been in CO for 10 days... you know, laundry, walking the dogs, cooking again and going to my new job that I love so very much!
I am enjoying my weekly routine- Mondays off with Randy (pastors take Mondays off, if you didn't know), working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then Fridays off for fun 'me' time... shopping, thrifting, crafting, girlfriends and such. Saturday and Sunday can be busy with various ministry activities, entertaining friends, family gatherings and so forth. This Sunday after church is our monthly Scrapping Day... three Mom's and their three daughters! So excited to get us all together! Can I just tell you though, the three daughters put us Mom's to shame! They are 'scrappin machines' while us Moms struggle to get a page or two done if we're lucky. We tend to labor over every detail. We have got to lighten up and just plow through the piles of pics that just keep multiplying and overwhelming us as the years go by.


Found the coolest ruler ever! Been looking for one of these for years! Only 50 cents! Love the copper edging and that it measures 72 inches! Found the clock above for 50 cents too. He couldn't guarantee it would work... but I took the gamble... and it paid off!


And the deal of the day... this crystal lamp for a dollar. I literally set out this morning to find a lamp to group with this little cupcake grouping I have going on. The lamp shade is so cool cuz you can hardly see the roses until you turn the lamp on and then it glows so pretty. I am sooo pleased with my Saturday morning finds.

a year ago today...

... I posted for the very first time.

I was so scared and nervous and anxious... wondering what I was getting myself into. What would my blog be about? What would it look like? Well a whole year has come and gone and my blog is still evolving. I still desire to preserve the past and encapsulate the present by posting pictures and telling stories and expressing thoughts. But I have also ventured into posting my thrifty finds, craft projects and garden pics... and with plans for an Etsy shop in the foreseeable future. And I have been pleasantly surprised to discover that I look at life a little differently now. I have become more aware of the images that I want to preserve... the moments to remember... being more intentional, more purposeful... realizing that everyday has a story... whether expressed through an image or a conversation or a thought. I find I am more sensitive to my surroundings, being more aware of the significance of the moment or how it evokes a memory from my past.
Thank you for reading my blog, for hearing my heart and for your affirming comments. You have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you, thank you!
And what else... well, I had no idea that I would be introduced to bloggers from all over the world that daily inspire me to create and discover and believe and live life to the fullest. I am sewing again. I am discovering a passion for photography and writing. I am learning more about my computer. Heck, I'm learning period! I have not stretched my brain like this in years! It's exciting and challenging and humbling all at the same time.

Anyway, Randy and I arrived home safe and sound. And speaking of sound, we realized about an hour from home that we had not listened to music or radio the entire trip to and from CO. And I did not sleep or read the entire trip. I even brought several favorite magazines that I had been saving just for the trip! We are big on talking and listening and just being quiet in our thoughts. What a wonderful time of hearing each other, sharing our hopes and dreams for the future, processing life together. And with no interruptions! Ok, so maybe a phone call or two. But we ended up driving 12 straight hours to get home, with an occasional yard sale now and then... you know, to stretch the legs. But you wouldn't believe the number of sales we passed up! Torture, I tell you, torture!

These are a few of my favorite finds...


What is this? It is too big to be a clothespin holder... maybe for lingerie? Anyway, I love it!! The dresses are both pockets too. What should I do with it after I hang it with a hanger? Only paid a dollar.


The plastic tubing sewing basket was free. So cute and little.


Love the art work on the 'made in England' tin container. That and the aqua rag rug basket were both a quarter each.


My best find was at a yard sale in Monte Vista, CO... a big bag of vintage ric rac for a dollar!! I love all the colors and the various types of packaging. And was tickled to find a package of ric rac from J. C. Penney that originally sold for 8 cents!

coffee &... camp ministry

I sit here at "COFFEE & " posting for the last time before we head back to Arizona tomorrow morning. We hiked Rainbow Trail again this morning and I feel so healthy and happy and content. So um, remind me why I would want to go back to the heat. Oh ya, we live there. (sighs)


Each night Randy & I lead worship before John speaks. We have met so many wonderful people from all over the country and they have touched our lives so deeply. We are humbled to share in there pain and suffering, and blessed that we can now partner in prayer with them as we all go our separate ways.


John also does a morning devotional each morning after breakfast in the dining room. Here he is teaching us a fun, wacky song. He is not only a gifted speaker but has the ability to reach all ages and relate to all walks of life. What an amazing, life changing week for many... myself included!

do you see a theme?

We stopped at this yard sale on our way from Ouray to Westcliffe. I'm thinking, how can we strap on this aqua shed to our van? No such sale. So this image will have to do.


Candy's coffee shop is where we go every day for iced coffee and wifi. Get this... they put coffee ice cubes in their iced coffee drinks. Yes, they freeze coffee in ice cube trays. So rather than your iced coffee getting watered down and weaker as you drink, it gets stronger! Such are the perks of small town coffee shops... and of course who doesn't love the pouring rain.


OK, so I occasionally wear aqua, but not for the soul purpose of getting on this post... really... just coincidental.


Love this pink & aqua historical building in Ouray, CO.


We drive past this ranch every day on our way to town. Every single building has an aqua metal roof... the barn, the main house, several outbuildings and as you can see in this photo, the guest house and the dog house. And it has a stream running through the property. And the views they have of the mountains and the valley are breathtaking! Needless to say, Randy & I covet this cute, little "aqua roof ranch".

girls trip to town

for ICE CREAM!

I am not always sure when the wifi coffee shop will let me upload pics.... so today I give you three posts in one day! ENJOY!


I quickly took this pic and sure enough, she was gone! So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I saw what I had captured!
Hummingbirds are a favorite of mine and they are everywhere here! Be sure to click the pic to enlarge. She's a beauty!

Sangre de Christo

Horn Creek Camp is situated at the base of Horn Peak Mountain, the pointy mountain. This is the view from the little town of Westcliffe. So far, thunderstorms and rain every day!! Hoorah!


Hey, sometimes I will be posting a couple times a day, so be sure to check past posts. Thanks for your sweet comments. Sure is fun having you along for the ride!

rainbow trail

Caleb, Amy, Anita, Kali, Stacey, John, Randy & I hiking Rainbow Trail!
Great friends, great weather, great conversation, great scenery. Doesn't get any better than that.


Amy, Kali and Anita munching down lunch. Looking cute as bugs! Oh and speaking of bugs... none at all on the trail!


Stacey, Randy and I eating and resting and taking in the scenery. Thanks to Amy for the awesome pics!


The trail was by far the prettiest we had ever seen it... flowers everywhere and green as can be. So today at the coffee shop we meet a gal that told us that in the 16 years they have lived here, this is the most rain they have ever gotten. No wonder everything is so lush and green!

Horn Creek Family Camp

Horn Creek Family Camp is located at the base of Horn Peak near Westcliffe, CO, nestled in the Sangre De Christo (blood of Christ) mountain range, which is one of the longest mountain ranges on earth. Check here if you'd like to know more about the camp.
We have settled into this lodge at Horn Creek along with our dear friends the Lynch's and the Case's. We are loving the cool mountain weather. We have had storms every day since we arrived on Sat., making me sooo happy!
Every night Randy & I lead worship at the family camp before John does a powerful message. What a wonderful, safe environment for families to hear truth and laugh and cry and share together. I can't believe we are blessed to be a part of the things that God is doing at this camp. And the week has only begun!


Each day Randy and I go in to town to this cute, little coffee shop so we can check our emails, post on my blog and hang with the local town folks. Love the atmosphere.
Hey, we went hiking along the Rainbow Trail today. Check back later for a post with pics!

another Ouray post

Let me tell you, hiking at 7000 feet is grueling. So we made good use of that cute little "catch your breath" bench above! But the hike to Cascade Falls was worth all the huffing and puffing! Man, do we need to get in shape!

































































We ended the day by relaxing over the best Margaritas we have ever had! Or would anything have tasted wonderful after a day of hiking at 7000 feet!