cottage chit chat

My cozy cottage (my craft room) welcomes a new addition to the mix. Don't you love this aqua blue shelf I found at a yard sale for $5.00! And I did not have to do a thing to it! Enlarge the pic and you'll see the shabby paint finish. Love that look. And such a nice, heavy, solid piece. The perfect spot for the aqua lamp that Shawn & Nicole got me for Mother's Day. Click HERE to see more of my cozy cottage pics.


Mrs. McGillicutty has been feeling rather slighted as of late. I suppose she wants to show off the glitz and glam look she's got going on. So I did a little photo shoot and she was in rare form so it went quite well considering her age. She's getting up in years, but always seems to carry herself with such grace and poise. Oh that we should all age with such elegance.


Click this pic and check out the "Leona & Johnny" pin that my Mom said I could have while I was digging through her jewelry box last October! I can't tell you how much I love that it was made just for my Mom & Dad around the time they were married... 59 years ago!

Tyler @ camp

Tyler broke his ankle at camp on Wednesday. Poor guy. But after a four hour ER visit down here in the Valley (thanks Bill Osier) he was back up to camp to finish out the week. He's a trooper... must be that Marine Corp pride. He'll be laid up for the next several weeks. Not fun in this heat. But it will still give him plenty of time to get back into shape before he leaves for boot camp in January.


For the past two weeks, Tyler has been the work crew boss for the high school kids from our church that are serving in various capacities at Mountain Meadows Ranch near Christopher Creek north of Payson. On Monday Randy, Miranda & I were itching to get out of the heat, so we drove up to see if Tyler had enough gas money to get home. He didn't. We brought treats and gas money... snapped a few pics and we were on our way. So worth it. Cells phones don't connect up in those parts. So we enjoyed seeing him and then dining at the Beeline Cafe on our way out of Payson. Love small town America. A little slice of heaven. Speaking of slice... the three of us ended our meal by sharing a slice of warm blackberry pie... ala mode. Seriously, the crust was darn good. And I oughta know. When you've grown up with a Mom that not only makes two pies every single week, but the best pie crust, well, you know your crust. Made with lard of course.


This is an actual picture of my Mom's delicious blueberry pie. When we were back there in October we went out to eat with my Mom & Dad for Friday Night Fish and then came back to the house for a slice of her yummy blueberry pie before taking off for the Friday Night Football game with Ron & Deb. We left the next morning for Phoenix. Could we have left with a better taste in our mouth? I think not.

dreaming in the desert

So I'm dreaming about my cozy cottage in the woods... I wake up and realize I'm living in the desert, it's 110 degrees and I could severely burn my feet if I don't wear shoes walking to the mailbox. Oh, the dangers of living in the rugged Southwest.

So anyway, a girl can dream, right? This is the log home of my dreams (below) that Randy took a picture of while they were back in Wisconsin. They were wanting to sell this very one to Randy for $7000.00! I know, if we only had land to put it on! This is a much smaller version of the one that my brother Ron had built 4 years ago. (above pic) It took about a year for the Amish to build Ron & Deb's cabin. When it's done they fold it up, load it on a flatbed truck, deliver it and set it back up in one day. It's gorgeous on the inside. The craftsmanship is impeccable. And come on, look at that porch! I want a porch to sit out on while it's raining. Is that too much to ask? And do you have any idea what it sounds like when it's raining on a metal roof? Like hail! Only without the damage. A lovely, gentle rainfall. That's what I'm aching for as I sit in my closed-up, air-conditioned home in Tempe, Arizona. Rain. A porch. A good book. Cup of coffee. And my handsome husband. End of rant.

buttons 'n apothecary jars

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how much I love buttons and apothecary jars. So wouldn't you agree that they go quite nicely together. Well, I bought my latest jar at Hobby Lobby. And as always, 50% off. Love that about Hobby Lobby. I decided to store only my pink 'n red buttons in this jar... and this was all the buttons I could come up with. And mind you, I have jars of buttons. Well, Miranda & I went to my little thrift store this week and I came home with quite a boat load of buttons! Vintage buttons to be precise. And while I'm picking out the pink 'n red buttons today, I am reminded of how I felt as a little girl playing with my Grandma's and my Mom's basket of buttons.
What IS it about buttons...

Amy & Danny's wedding

What are the chances that about the time that Phoenix hits 111 degrees, we get to head out to Newport Beach in California for Amy & Danny's wedding! Oh my gosh, the weather could not have been more perfect and the wedding was the most beautiful, fun & festive wedding ever!


Amy is the daughter of two of our dearest friends John & Stacey. We have watched Amy grow up and then watched Amy & Danny fall in love. What a precious couple! And when I saw Amy walking down the aisle with her proud Daddy, I was so overcome with emotion that the tears just started flowing...


... and continued throughout the ceremony. By the time Miranda sang the song "Daddy" by Kendall Payne, I was a puddle. Seriously, I have yet to listen to that song without crying. And Miranda made us all cry, especially the Dads. She sang like an angel. Miranda's own Daddy accompanied her on the guitar and it took everything in him not to fall apart. Miranda had to sing it dozens of times while in England in order for her to sing without crying. She's amazing.


And look who almost stole the show... yup, my little grandbaby Emolyn and all her cuteness. And get this, it was Amy's brother's wedding a year ago when Emolyn made her first public appearance. I blogged about Caleb & Kali's wedding HERE. And now a whole year later Emolyn is walking and well, as cute-as-a-bug!


Miranda brought back this gorgeous aqua dress for Emolyn from Greece. And she was actually striking these Grecian Goddess poses that just cracked us up!


She loved the whole party scene. When the dancing started, she kept saying "Wow! Wow! Wow!"


Miranda snapped this pic of the two of us. Love it!


Shawn, Nicole & Emolyn could not look any sweeter.


Um, I take that back... this image is far sweeter. I mean, come on, have you ever seen such eye candy lovely sweetness in all your days?! These darling glass jars were placed at our table setting, for us to fill at the candy bar. And well, euphoric, tickled pink, happy as a clam... just small attempts at conveying my complete and utter joy.


I love wedding party favors! Especially when it's candy, the color aqua, displayed in all shapes & sizes of apothecary jars. (she sighs)


Be sure to enlarge the above pic. Do you see what Amy is feasting on? Yes, mashed potatoes in a martini glass!! Yesiree! The Marriott knows how to do a mashed potato bar like no other!


The dance was so much fun! Here we have the groom Danny gettin his groove on. And let me tell you, that's all it took. Everyone spilled onto the dance floor and just danced the night away!


I didn't want the night to end. I didn't want to leave Newport Beach. I didn't want to go back to my reality. (she sighs heavily) But I did.

Miranda's homecoming

She's home! Look at her! Look at me! Could we look any happier! What a wonderful homecoming celebration with friends & family. It was so fun gathering at the airport to welcome her home. And she looked so great!



Oh how she missed her brothers!


And her Daddy!


And she really missed her favorite niece in the whole wide world! Yes, Emolyn even came to the airport at 11 PM to welcome home Aunt Miranda.


And she missed her girlfriends... some of which she found out were pregnant upon hugging them. Yes, lots of excitement and celebrating going on!

She's coming home!

Miranda is coming home! She'll be landing at Sky Harbor in 12 hours. And I can hardly wait! She's been going to school in London and traveling the world for the past 6 months. Take a moment and head on over to her blog and read what she posted this morning HERE. She could not have said it any better.
To God be the glory, great things He has done- in and through my daughter these past 6 months. Her Dad & I are so grateful that we could trust a loving Father to watch over her. She is forever changed. And as she said, the journey is not over. The Lord has more for her in this next season of her life. And I can't wait to watch it unfold.

monday musing

~ Nicole & Emolyn got home Thursday from Mexico. The three of us spent Friday visiting Mamaw in Surprise. Emolyn is so dang cute! And she loves lipstick. (the Fisher Price brand)


~ My guys are home. Shawn & Tyler flew home on Saturday. Randy drove home, surprising me last night by getting in a day early. I heard the garage door go up... I flew out of bed and ran outside to greet him. He looked so handsome and healthy. I had missed him terribly!

~ Randy weened himself off caffeine while in WI. He normally drinks gallons of diet coke all day long. Sooo proud of him.

~ He got a killer migraine in the process.

~ Miranda text me yesterday from Italy. Asking for prayer. They had missed their connection to Athens, Greece because of flight delay. They had no idea how they would get to Athens in time to board their cruise ship this morning. I prayed all day. They finally got a late flight... got to their hostel... slept a bit... boarded the boat this morning for a 4 day cruise. Thank you Lord.

~ I'm done. This communicating through email, fb chat, skype, blog and now texting is getting old. Real old. I want her home. Face to face. The old fashion way of communicating. Talking.

~ She'll be home a week from tonight. That's good cuz like I said, I'm done. Sigh...

~ Watched Pure Country last night for like the dozenth time and cried my eyes out. Here's the deal... George Strait is by no means an actor... but it doesn't matter, the story is so good and the secondary actors are so well cast and I love the ending.

~ Watched Broken Bridges for the first time last night on CMT. With Toby Keith and Kelly Preston. Loved it!

~ Do you see a theme? Yes, I'm a country girl through and through.

~ The 99 cent double cheeseburgers at Carl's Jr. are truly the best bang for your buck at the moment.


~ This pic has me aching for a pie at the Norske Nook in Osseo, WI. The guys went twice while back there.


~ And this pic has me missing the ole mighty Mississippi.

~ Oh, and just as I was about to post, I get this text-

Sorry to tell you this... but I'm not coming home but instead will be living in Mykonos, Greece. It's beautiful here! Love, Miranda


I can see why... (when I googled Mykonos, this image appeared. How cool that a cruise ship is in the pic!)

Dad & Sons Wisconsin trip

They are calling it the Dad & Lad Wisconsin Trip. Randy and sons Shawn & Tyler have been talking about this trip for years. And it became a reality on Saturday when they hit the road. Aren't they cute!


They are having so much fun! And this Mama could not be happier. I have always said... nothing could make me more fulfilled than my children really liking each other. And Shawn & Tyler are the best of buds. And of course they love hanging with their Dad.


They crossed the Mississippi River near LaCrosse on Monday after two and a half days on the road... entering the great state of Wisconsin... destination the farm. Aahh, home... it still takes my breath away.


The picture below was taken a few years ago. Randy and Tyler had made their usual trek up the 90 feet Harvestore and that's my Dad near the flagpole. (enlarge the pics)


My brother Ron and his wife Debbie own the 350 acre farm now. Isn't it beautiful?! I loved growing up there.

So, you're probably thinking, what is Linda doing while her guys are in Wisconsin and her daughter Miranda is in Italy and her daughter-in-law Nicole and granddaughter Emolyn are in Mexico... ANYTHING SHE WANTS!!!

the hippie compound

We sure love getting out of the city and driving an hour west to visit our dear friends in the "country". We affectionately call their digs "the hippie compound". They seriously grow everything... even chickens! And they happen to be the best cooks on the planet!


Enlarge the above pic and check out little Emolyn holding on tight to her Papaw's finger. OK, so why don't you talk amongst yourselves, while I melt from all this cuteness going on.


I'm telling you, when Mr. Rooster cock-a-doodles, IT'S LOUD! And Emolyn never once flinched. She just stared him down... like "you don't scare me Mister Cock-a-doodle!"


Oh my gosh, I love her. Um, that would be Emolyn... not the rooster. Oh, and guess what? Emy's walking! That's right! You heard it here first.




Emolyn loves draping this knitted thingy on her head. It's the cutest thing. I don't know if she thinks it's hair or what. But again, I melted.


So did her Uncle Tyler. He melts at the mere sight of her.



Thanks Rand & Michelle for letting us spend Memorial Day at the Hippie Compound. What more can I say... good friends... good food... good times.