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Enrichment- A Gathering in the Garden.

Our Enrichment night activity is now over. It turned out to be a lovely evening, the weather was  favorable and we had a nice turn out.

Below are some pictures from the evening.

Events of the evening-

Making our own centerpieces using garden flowers and a mason jar.

Pot lunch  luck salad dinner.

Short presentations about square foot gardening and dressing up a tea towel.

Thanks to Norma for all her help- we make a good team. I like to call her the pretty young half of our team. =)

The ladies started out by writing their names on a tag tied to a Mason jar.{which became their vessel for their very own centerpiece.} We needed to hang some of the gift flower packets high- so Norma just jumped right up there- like there was nothing to it....it good to be young.

 

 

 

{ladies and their centerpieces.}

 

 

{dinner}

 

Now we are off to plan the next enrichment night....

 

 

Come see what others are talking about - Thanks Kimba for starting the party-

Mission update #2

  Today I will be sharing with you some pictures that Mason sent, along with "pieces" of his letters.

{I smiled big when I saw this picture, I think my boys get me.}

 

Pieces of Mason's letter- May13-20

• I'm in Montana, the first day was good. We had training on stuff like cleaning your room etc. I will be living with members.
• My companion is Elder Wilkings- He is a cool guy.
• We have a baptism this Saturday.
• The members are awesome, they are making our job really easy.
• We have a family of 5 that we are going to start teaching.
• We ride bikes like 30 miles a day- but on Thursday- Saturday we track-

 

{taking phone calls- at the MTC}

 

(Mason and Elder Day from Turlock- I think Mason must be the shortest one there- everyone is a head taller than he is.}

 

• Mason's Desk at the MTC
• His district pointing to Montana
• A good friend he made at the MTC
• Mason after being hit in the mouth with a soft ball- luckily he didn't lose his teeth- { in several of the pictures his lip is swollen - it took a while to go down.}

 

First glimpse of Montana from the plane.

 

May 27- 2009

• This week is awesome- we found 3 more investigators- so for this week we have about 10.
• We sang to an investigator- that was a sweet experience for me.
• I have a really good trainer- and I'm following all the rules.
• We got lost on our bikes so some Elders from that area came and got us.  it was like 40 miles- and it was hot like 80- so yea, that was fun.
• I'm getting better at lessons and memorizing.
• At the snow shack all the missionaries get free snow cones-
• I really like it here.
• Send me more ties- because I'm getting tired of the ones I have. {Mother's note- he has a long 2 years ahead of him if he is already tired of his ties.}

 

 

snow shack- free snow cones-

 

The family he is living with fixed him an all "green" meal- because he is a greenie- {someone that is new to the mission.}

 

Mason's sweet ride-

 

Mason's favorite quote for this month-

"A missionary leaves his family for two years, so that those he teaches may be with their families forever-"  I love this quote- Mason.

Stages-

Before-

The clean up of the yard is done at the Hamlet-

So I thought I would share a few of the stages- it will evolve over time- step by step- but at least it is clean and a little bit happier looking.

Stage one-

Price- $ 0- just hard work.

• Pulled all the weed- edited the plants-
• divided three Agapanthus plants to make 20.
• Wash down walls

 

Stage two-

• Painted door-
• Free using paint from the shed-

 

Stage three-

• Add a little color-

 

 

Stage four to come-

• change out light fixtures to black ones.
• add mulch
• Wait for the agapanthus to fill in.  
• Add a couple Crepe myrtle trees/bushes
• acid stain the cement.

Little Ladder

Come see what I made of an old wooden Ladder-

Click on here.

 

It's always the simple little things that make life beautiful-

Click on over to see what others are doing to make their life Beautiful-

Happy day

 

A change is coming-

 

This is some of the treasure Libby found for me- I'm hoping to recapture its charm, using-

• mirrors
• paint
• glass
• and paper.

What would you do?

*update- I spent some time cleaning up the Hamlet yard this weekend- still a little more to do, I'm in the process of dressing the door and playing around with light. =)   I should have pictures for you sometime this week.

Wish I had.....

Left the door open on occasion...so my children could of caught a glimpse of me saying my personal prayers.

{most of my prayers were/ are in petition for them}

Nothing teaches children more than knowing the very fact that their Mother prays for them- {and I always will}

Take a tip from me-  leave your door open once in awhile- let them over hear you pray.

 

 

 

 

Wish I had....

 the foresight to let my children see me really pondering the scriptures- not just while I was preparing a lesson, casually reading, or family reading together time- but really studying, me by myself.

As a young Mother it was always easier to get up early and do all that before the kids were up. Or do it after they went to bed.

I still find it hard to read silently {ANY BOOK} around other people- just always want to visit with them Instead of reading.  =)

{plus I've always felt a little awkward taking time for personal study of the scriptures in depth in front of people- I never wanted to give them the feeling of  "Hey, look at me I'm studying the scriptures, should'nt you be too.?"} Just me right or wrong.

Let your children see you study in-depth once in awhile, teach them that knowledge received from studying the scriptures will assists them in making correct decisions in all areas of their life-

 I wish I had let my children see that more often.

I wish I had...

taken the time to really explain why I may drive for long periods of time without the radio or music playing, and when my children asked to put some music in- I usually said- lets just have some quiet for a while- I wish I had said-

I'm pondering- sometimes pondering gives the spirit an opportunity to impress and direct me.  I need it quiet so I can be open to thoughts. Pondering helps me to figure things out.  It's kind of a link between the heart and the mind.  If we take the time to ponder on eternal truths we can find way to incorporate them into our lives.

So there you have it my three wishes for today- Children if you are reading this- take this as a lesson from your Mother- I don't what you to have the same three wishes in 30 years-

I won.... Holy cow!

Click here to see what-

Love her site!   

It's been one of those "Happy dance" days- Libby called today and said she was standing in a barn of antiques and wanted to know if  I would  like any, free- "Say What!"
Lets just say I scored big time, and the Hamlet will no longer be naked.
Pictures and details to come later.  You know me- a big tease.

Libby and her family -

Oh, and one more thing- we were at flooring liquidators today-  we bought a plush white heavy shag{feels like butter} rug 10x12 for $75!  It' already has the edges bond!  {if you are in need of a  large area rug check them out by Monday- it's their big holiday special.}

Good things do come in threes!

Gathering in the Garden.... preview-

Norma and I just finished putting the final touches together for our next Enrichment night activity-

Here's a little preview, more will come after the event.

We worked on invitations-

Jar tags-

and the seed packet tree.

Remember the fabulous "poster" Norma put together-{the chalkboard is actually foam board.}

 

 

 

 

 

-Just a glimpse at the seed packet tree-

Wait until you see the whole thing- fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course Norma and I have fabulous garden outfits planned- which include matching aprons and lime green garden shoes-  =)   

 As part of my "Beautiful Life" 12 months of goals,  I need to remember to take ....

Time to listen and to comfort, time to learn and to encourage-

and to remind myself often that…

“Things that matter most should not be left to the mercy of things that matter the least.”-

O. Leslie Stone

 

Collected Treasures-

You know that dream I had about finding a 1920-1940's little home- someplace to fix up real cute?

Well, that didn't happen. We did find a couple but by the time we factored in the cost to repair- they ended up being more than we wanted to spend.

(we have been wanting a little home closer to work so life would be a little easier for us- we drive about an hour and 15 minutes both ways everyday.}

So when this little gal became available we made an offer- she is around 1200 square feet- right now she needs some work- mostly cosmetic. And she is all ours. So over the next few months you will hear me talk about fixing her up.  We are going to call her "The Hamlet" I know silly but we name all the homes we have ever lived in. {We name our cars too =)

The first thing on our list- probably this weekend- the yard has to be cleaned up- We want our neighbors to like us.  I have a simple plan for this yard- using what is already there and using some plants etc. from the country home- {divide and conquer always works.} 

It will be fun for me to re-invent this house- I've already got a plan- {see yesterday's post.}

I have a plan for this front yard too- total cost $50.

Maybe by Monday I will have it done- or maybe not. Just depends on how hard it is to clean up.  I will be documenting the whole thing- and sharing it with you.

If you what to know a great way to document your collected Treasures- click on here.

 

It's a Beautiful life-

(any ideas you have, I would love to hear.} 

Hamlet Hall bath...the plan

I have a plan to turn this simple little bath into something fabulous-

Here's the plan-

Demo the light box,  vanity & mirror.

Paint- Everything Silver Feather

Tile- floor and 3/4 wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm on the hunt for an old desk , that  can be modified to accommodate a sink and that I can top with a slab of marble. {crazy, but I have a plan.} So I will be hitting all the warehouse counter top places to see if I can talk them out of a small piece of marble "on the cheap."

Here is a little idea board I put together- to help keep me on track-

 

Also in the plans-

• After the big mirror and ugly light box are removed- add a framed mirror with flanking candlesticks lamp sconces.
• The tub/ shower will remain the same- plan to make a drop cloth shower curtain- {you know the painters drop cloths for $10 at Home depot.} 

 

Here's another little preview- The Kitchen design centers around this light fixture and the color- Morning Fog.

If anyone out there knows of a good flea market/architectural salvage yard in Ca. let me know- I'm on the hunt.  =)