A Life Lived In Pictures

Hello + Hello!

Life been busy for you lately too?

Spring is always filled with many hard working "to-do" lists isn't it?!

Just wanted to stop in here to share my recent life, lived through pictures....

Thanks for stopping by for a bit of non verbal pictorial explanation of what I've been up to lately. Find me contributing regularly over on Instagram. 

Cheers, 

T.

xx

When Life Gets Tough...

My photography using Rhonna Designs App & Waterlogue App
 

Hello + Hello.

How has it been for you folks today?

Sincerely, I hope you are well.

 

>>>>>>--------------->

 

But, honestly?

Life's been a little bit frustrating for me lately...

...I find myself doing a lot of heavy sighing

 &

cranky "grrrr...." -ing.

I truly don't like to be a downer AT ALL.

But the reality of things is that some days you just don't

get to have things the way that you want them to be.

So,

rather than be a fakey-fakey

I'm simply being honest;

life can be tough.

Even still....

when life sends me murky waters,

shark infested waters,

swimmers itch,

red tide,

rapids,

stinging jelly fish

or worse...

PROBLEMS!!!

Welllll....

I choose to

JUST KEEP SWIMMING.

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

Want to know why?

Even though my son is battling a lot of medical issues right now, even though I am more than a

little bit frustrated with some things at work...

it is magical to know I can keep my head above water

&

SWIM

because Christ gives me strength to do so.

(Phillipians 4:13)

 

>>>>>-------------->

 

So,

if you are experiencing frustrating

shark infested murky waters right now in your life...

give Jesus a chance

&

SWIM!

xx

T.



It's a Marshmallow World in the Winter.....

 Hello + Hello!

" Oh it's a marshmallow world in the winter....take a walk with my favorite girl..."

My favorite girl happens to be:

Olive.

 

She's my 11 year old

Fox Terrier.

(Also known as: Olive....the other reindeer.)

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

We had a nice little walk through the garden

this morning in the first snow we've had all year!

Gosh is was so pretty!

Olive becomes young again when it snows...

come to think of it,

so do I.

While the boys worked at building

Frosty...

(more on that another day)

Olive and I had a good time admiring little spots in the yard

that happened to catch our eyes....

 

It was awe inspiring, relaxing & joyous all rolled into one.

Hope you can get a little snow in your life this year...

I know I'm the better for it!

T.

xx

Rustic Romance Is Now Available at Gatherings Magazine

 Hello + Hello!

I am so happy to announce that one of my favorite publications is now

available to you online OR in print!!

Gatherings Magazine Fall 2013 Issue

is live!

Yay!!

(Above photo courtesy of Ginny Donovan- Cooking with Chopin...Living with Elmo )

 I am blessed enough to contribute to this happy publication as the Market Editor.

(See my market preview vignette above.)

There are so many wonderful contributors this go around,

with amazing Autumn loveliness abounding!

( Above photo courtesy of Liz Hanley of Liz Loves Vintage )

 The theme this issue is

Rustic Romance...

I don't know about you....

but I'm in love already!

&

the best part?

This is just a preview of what's in store for you over at

Gatherings Magazine

Eeeep!

(Above photo courtesy of Clarice Fox-Hughes of Storybook Woods

& Annetta Bosakova of Inspired by Annetta Bosakova )

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

I hope you take the time to head on over and see what this lovely

publication has to offer you this beautiful new season!

Happy Fall

my friends...

may you have crisp mornings

&

cozy nights ahead.

And in between?

Rustic Romance!

Cheers!

T.

xx



The 32 Things I've Been Doing Since We Last Spoke

 

 Hello + Hello!

How have you all been lately?

Long time no speak...

yeah, I know....my bad.

Quite honestly I needed a little break from the internet/blogging,

but...just for a bit.

I guess I should've given a warning...but you know...it just didn't happen.

WHAT DID HAPPEN HOWEVER

was a bunch of stuff!

Whew...have I been a busy little bee.

In addition to my normal everyday job at

Grandiflora

this is what I've been up to while not

mothering...or wifey-ing

(is that a word?)

Ha ha ha!

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

Anyway...here goes:

Above you'll see that I painted a dresser for my son's room.
I also did a bit of fun painting for Etsy & Grandiflora items.

Next, I ripped up a neat old butterfly book and went a little

crazy with the gold and white washi tape!

I love how it turned out!

Then I started on some projects I can't reveal yet....at least not fully.

Isn't blanket stitching just the most relaxing thing?

I tried my hand at making a grocery tote from vintage sheeting....

it was actually going quite well

( I don't sew....no....frankly....I don't like to sew...not enough patience.)

until the machine decided to be stupid and I almost

threw it through a window!

(Well not really....but I thought it sounded like a good idea at the time.)

Needless to say,

I may be calling up one of my seamstress friends to finish it for me?

 I feel that I've been surrounded by books and magazines lately as well.

Truly I've not had the chance to really enjoy all of these lookers yet...

but everyday I savor a page or two!

I have been out picking and thrifting for finds lately.

Most of them go to one of my Etsy shops....but a few I either keep,

or send into Grandiflora.

I love shipping out orders from Etsy

&

washing and caring for the sweet vintage items.

A couple of other things I've been up to in my silly life are:

taking care of the t-shirt ninjas that seem to have invaded my life...

they demand fresh Asian food...mainly Spring Rolls.

I roll my eyes every time they get their swords out!

 

Our Chickens seem to have forgotten what a nesting box is....

or maybe they are practicing for Easter?

Again,

more photography for Etsy of this lovely vintage wallpaper.

Found a funny old photo strip pic of

hubby and I in 1992!

( Buah ha ha!)

Another chair that needs a little help...son picked it out for me.

(Frankly was pretty impressed with his selection!)

And....last but not least,

the new glasses arrived.

It's been mostly rainy lately....so it seems all I've been up to is

using the front of my shirt as a windshield wiper.

But there was a day or two when I was able to pull out the

new prescription sunglasses!

Whoo hooo!

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

Well,

I hope you're all enjoying your early Spring?

And....

that you're going to have an excellent weekend!

I hope to see you back again sooner rather than later...

but here is to a much needed break.

Cheers my friends!

T.

xx

Everything Goes With Ice Cream, Even Me! My New Book Feature Reveal

 Hello + Hello!

Eeeeek!

I'm so happy to stop in here today to share a little....

no.....ALOT of excitement and joy!

 

I'm happy to annouce that I'm:

 

Everything Goes With Ice Cream

Have you heard about it yet?

I am truly in love with this adorable book put out by one of the most

genuine bloggers I happen to know,

Koralee Teichrob of Bluebird Notes Blog

The book is filled to the gills with

cute crafts, ice cream recipes, quotes & of course....

Happiness!

Because frankly....who isn't happy with loads of ice cream?!

There are seasonal ice cream recipes for

Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter.

Chocolate, Caramel, Hot Fudge & Sea Salt

rival with

Lemon, Strawberry, Watermelon & Coconut.

There are cookies, sandwiches, pink cinnamon rolls & fudge!

Learn to make pom+pom bunting

&

handkie aprons.

Or maybe you'd like to find some new home made gift ideas for the

Holidays?

GAH!!!!!

There's simply too much to list!

(Trust me when I say, I'm not even scratching the surface here.)

With 111 recipes & 176 full color pages filled with

amazing photography,

you can rest assured this book is worth every penny.

 

Koralee and I have gotten to know eachother via the internet for the past few years.

My sister La Von was the one who got me hooked on Koralee's blog.

(Thanks La Von!)

She said to me one day:

"I can't believe you don't follow Koralee's blog! She is SO YOU!"

Well,

I immediately went home and googled

Blue Bird Notes

&

somehow Koralee & I connected and hit it off almost immediately.

Divided by a border

(she lives in Canada & I live in the States)

we have still yet to meet in person!

(Trust us....we know! Pretty sad huh?)

Koralee has been a shopper at our store

Grandiflora

and even though we both cross the 49th Parallel fairly often...

our busy lives have yet to collide.

HOWEVER,

we have enjoyed countless chit chats via

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Blogging.

So...

even though we can't seem to get it together physically....

we are enjoying eachother's company virtually.

Someday we'll get it together right Koralee?

LOL!!

>>>>>--------------->

What I'm so excited about is:

 

There are so many other new friends to find in this book.

If you like to visit wonderful blogs...then you should

get this book and start visiting all of

Koralee's friends.

Each friend is featured just like me with a recipe & a fun crafty idea.

I can't wait to start making the blog rounds with these

very talented ladies;

some of whom you may already know!

>>>>>-------------->

So, yeah....

I'm floating on a cloud right about now as this is my first real book feature.

Thanks oodles and oodles Koralee for the chance to share

in the joy of your sweet book.

You are a true friend & I appreciate all you do.

If you don't know

Koralee Teichrob from Blue Bird Notes Blog

then you should take my word for it

&

head straight over there

right after you get her

delightful book;

Everything Goes With Ice Cream

From

Jo Packham

of

 Where Women Create

 &

Where Women Cook

 

 

Thanks for sharing in my joy everyone!

You are all so kind to follow along as I find my place in this world

of blogging, print & design.

Cheers my friends,

Trish

xx



Nesting New HOPE & New DREAMS

 Hello + Hello!

As I sit here in the waning sunlight of a glorious snow sprinkled day...

the last day of 2012,

I am in awe of what a new year's promises can bring to a weary soul.

My children have been ill with the stomach flu this past week, and it has been less than

enjoyable for us all.

So,

I wanted to take a moment to enjoy the silence of this afternoon while they napped to

gather my thoughts and reflect on our past year together as a family.

I also wanted to renew my sense of wonder and passion for a new year to come.

Even though it's just a new calendar year tomorrow...

I still can't help but find

hope

in any kind of new beginning.

I chose photos from the past few years here in my blog post that seem to

put to visual thought the things conjured by such dreams of a new year.

Above you see a sweet nest of which reminded me of new life....

new life which is breathed into our home every time I decide to

clean, organize or decorate our family home.

 Forced spring buds remind me that winter is not eternal...and warmth will once again fill

this land.

 Lit candles bring me to a warm place filled with soft music & love in the air...

a place that feels warm and cozy even on a cold rainy night.

 Dainty sweet birds remind me to sing even when the storm is threatening...

God cares even for the least of these....why shouldn't he also care for you....for me?

 This knitting bag reminds me I'm never too old or too busy to try new things, new crafts

or new places to travel to.

What will be your "new thing" in 2013?

....and finally...

this random photo reminds me to take care of myself.

For,

if I do not do so...

not only will I suffer...but those who so truly depend on me.

Will you take the time to care for yourself in 2013?

What are your goals...are they simple? Complex?

>>>>>---------------->

I know I have more goals myself.

Many of which are quite simple...some more difficult than others.

1. I'd like to spend more time in His Word.

2. I'd like to finish out the details of my studio.

3. I want to learn to use my talents more wisely & pointedly.

4. I want to work on my cheer....and get rid of some anger.

5. I want to rid myself of the desire to belong...and be safe; I want to be who I really am

without fear.

 

So many more ideas come to my mind...but this is a start for today.

What are you going to add to your goals?

Contentment, relaxation more time reading?

I'd love to hear...& I want you to be encouraged.

My thoughts and prayers are with you my friends.

I thank-you profusely from the bottom of my heart for

following along on this bumpy bloggy road.

I look forward to our chats and visits in 2013.

Cheers my friends,

&

a

Happy New Year!

Trish

xx