Happy May Day!

It's already May 1st! I have always wanted to do the old tradition of making May Day baskets of flowers and surprising my neighbors and friends by hanging them on their doors. I never seen to remember to do this in time. May Day seems to appear too quickly for me! Here's a little basket of flowers for you today. Maybe next year I will remember to make those surprise baskets!

Have you ever made the baskets and given them to friends?

Daisy Day

I'm featuring a few daisy items this weekend. I love daisies, my favorite are shasta daisies. The term "fresh as a daisy" really does fit these flowers! Are you wondering if I like daisies better than yellow roses? Nope, the roses are still my favorite flower!!

Daisy Girl

This figurine is displayed in our living room. I think she is so pretty. All the daisies are 3-D.

Daisy cup and saucer

I bought these at Cracker Barrel last year. I have two of the tiny daisy bowls, I'm not sure what they are, but I sometimes use them to hold a (wet) tea bag.

Skirt Vase of Daisies

Skirt vase figurine filled with daisies

Daisies For You

Poem

Dody's Blue Jeans

For Friday's Show and Tell I'm featuring our little Westie dog, Dody in his blue jeans! Dody has been diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer and we were advised to put him down. He doesn't act like he is in any pain yet, he still runs and plays, and jumps, and eats well. Unless he shows he is in pain or any other problems, we will let him have a natural death. The little denim "blue jeans" are for when he has accidents. He is very good when we put them on him, it's as if he knows what they are for. For male dogs it is just a wide band with elastic and a velcro closure. Please pray for our little Dody!

A Happy Anniversary

Today is our anniversary! Joe worked tonight so we will celebrate this weekend. We have two anniversaries, one in January and one in April. Yes, you read that right! We had a civil ceremony in January, then in April we had a church ceremony! (Long story!) We didn't tell anyone about the first wedding so not to spoil the church wedding!

We went to Hawaii back in January to celebrate!

Thanks!

Thanks to all of you for so many nice comments! I try to reply back to people who comment, but I've had a busy few days and haven't had time to blog. I will be back tomorrow with more photos, etc. Unlike most people I have more time on weekends than weekdays. I have bible study meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays and have to study for those. Each Tuesday night I have a Creative Memories workshop here at our house. So most of my blogging has to be Thursday through Sunday. Thanks for your patience, and for returning! Oh, I'm also trying to catch up on all the blogs of the people who joined Kelli's Show and Tell, I still have several to view yet. They have been so fun to see and read, and to "meet" new people!

Kindred Spirit

A friend made this pillow a few years ago. I think it's beautiful! It is displayed on one of our chairs in the living room. The cup and saucer is Old Country Roses Cameo Rose Peach by Royal Albert.

Kindred Spirit

My little Madame Alexander Anne of Green Gables doll. The book is flocked in green and feels so smooth and velvety!

I believe I first heard “kindred spirit” from L. M. Montgomery in her book Anne of Green gables. I’ve had a few kindred spirit friends during my lifetime. I consider myself very fortunate and blessed to have more than one kindred spirit.
I have done a little research on the internet about kindred spirits. I’ll share a few things I found.

What is a kindred spirit?"

A kindred spirit is a close affinity or bond with another person. An example of a kindred spirit between two individuals can be found in the Bible in the lives of Jonathan and David. Their friendship went far beyond personal affinity and camaraderie. Scripture records that the 'soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David' (I Samuel 18:1), indicating an unusually close bond between the two men.

Lucy Maud Montgomery was an author from the late 1800s to the early 1900s who wrote wonderful, funny, exciting, sad, happy books. Her most famous book is Anne of Green Gables, which has 7 sequels. Anne of Green Gables is about a red-headed orphan who is adopted by a brother and sister. As she grows up, she makes friends through her charming personality and her sense of humor. She meets "kindred spirits" - people who are soulmates, that you feel like you've known forever. The book is beautifully written and also has a sense of humor, just like the sequels!

"...and I go from room to room gazing at the sweetness, and the windows are all flung open so as to join the scent within to the scent without; and the servants gradually discover that there is no party, and wonder why the house should be filled with flowers for one woman by herself, and I long more and more for a kindred spirit - it seems so greedy to have so much loveliness to oneself - but kindred spirits are so very, very rare." - from Elizabeth von Arnim's "Elizabeth and Her German Garden" Where L.M. Montgomery first read about a kindred spirit

- And MY own definition of kindred spirit:
To me a kindred spirit is a friend who thinks the same as me. I have friends who like the same things I do, such as decorating, hobbies, tea things and tea times, our belief in Jesus Christ, the books we read, movies we like, even political views. Some of my kindred spirit friends even have the same taste in clothes as me! I’ve had friends who have traded clothes with me! These kindred spirit friends truly care about me, they are always there for me, they love me in spite of my faults.

What do you consider Anne's definition of a "kindred spirit"? Do you have a different definition? Do you have a "kindred spirit" in your life?

Show and Tell

I like Kelli's http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/Friday Show and Tell idea. I signed up on her Mr. Linky, then realized I have to hurry and do a Show and Tell on my blog! What to do!? I quickly went looking and the first thing I saw was this cookie.

This cookie is from my grandson, Caden's recent baptism. I think they are so neat, they were good too!

God bless,
Katherine

Spring Door Decor

This is the door decor I made this spring.

Welcome to our home!

The white lacey-look cast iron bench looks great in the courtyard with the beautiful fuschia bouganvillia.

Bouganvillia Arbor

The bouganvillia is bursting with color this spring!

This is what I see when I open our front door, so lush and pretty!

Spiritual Gifts

I can't end the gifts features without adding the Lord's Spiritual Gifts. Do you know which Spiritual Gift you have?

Spiritual Gifts
I Corinthians 12
Verse 1 - Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware…….
4 - Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 – And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6 – And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7 – But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 – For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit.
9 – to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the one Spirit,
10 – and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 – But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
I Corinthians 12:1, 4-11 (NASB)

Free Gifts

Some of the most special gifts don’t come wrapped with a bow and aren’t bought with money. Some of my most meaningful gifts have been the gift of time. For someone to give you their precious commodity of time in these days of rushing and busyness is a gift that can’t be beat.

I have had friends give me their time when they fixed my car, fixed my plumbing, dug out my sewer. Some friends have listened to me patiently in person or on the telephone while I poured my heart out, or just sat with me over a cup of tea and sympathized by just listening. These days it can be hard to find a friend who will just listen. So many people think they must have all the answers, give their opinion, or advice. Sometimes I find it hard to find quiet gentle friends who know the art of keeping their mouth shut! They don’t know what a gift they could give by just listening quietly, holding your hand, giving a gentle pat or hug. And, of course, I must add – ignoring their cell phones ringing!

A gift of a handwritten letter is becoming almost a lost art. In this day of cell phones and e-mail not many people take the time to sit and handwrite messages anymore, even thank you notes. Of course I welcome phone calls and email messages, but it’s very special to receive handwritten notes in the mail. These thirty-nine cent gifts can make a heart jump with excitement. I find it hard to throw away a handwritten message. I have been so happy to find I saved a handwritten note from a family member or friend, when they have passed away. It is wonderful to have their handwriting preserved.

Let’s not forget those precious gifts of wild flowers from little children, or a painting or drawing they worked diligently on. Even those little wet kisses, or hugs, or their joyful laughter is a gift that stays with us forever.

Sometimes these “free” gifts from family and friends are the very best!

Gifts

Gifts from family and friends are special, but a gift from someone you don't know is exceptional and extraordinary! Of course, this person you don't know immediately becomes your friend when they show such love and concern and go to the trouble of mailing you something absolutely free of charge. This happened to me this week. My husband and I received a book from a new friend! This is a book that will help us cope with health issues. We so appreciate this gift of love from our new friends! Thank you Susan and Skip!

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift -
That's why it's called
The Present

People are Gifts

Persons are Gifts

Persons are gifts which God sends to me wrapped.
Some are wrapped very beautifully.
They are very attractive when I first see them.
Some come in very ordinary wrapping paper,
And others have been mishandled in the mail.
Once in a while, there is a special delivery.
Some people are gifts
which come very loosely wrapped,
others very tightly.
But the wrapping is not the gift,
It is easy to make this mistake.

Sometimes the gift is very easy to open,
and some need others to help.
Is it because they are afraid?
Does it hurt?
Maybe they have been opened before
and thrown away.
Could it be the gift is not for me?

I am a person, therefore,
I am a gift too.
A gift to myself first of all.
God gave myself to me.
Have I ever really looked inside
the wrappings, afraid to?
Perhaps I have never accepted
the gift that I am.
Could it be that there is something
else inside the wrappings
than what I think there is?
Maybe I have never seen the
wonderful gift that I am.
Could God’s gift be anything but beautiful?
I love the gifts which those who love
me give to me.
Why not the gifts from God?
Am I willing to be given
by God to others?
A gift for others?
Do others have to be content with wrappings,
never permitted to enjoy the gifts?

Persons are gifts.
Gifts received and gifts given.
God help me to be a gift.

Author unknown.

The Art of Gift Giving

Last week I found Rachel Ashwell's book "Shabby Chic, The Gift of Giving" at Ross for only $4.99. I'm enjoying reading it and especially seeing the pretty photos throughout the book.

"Too often today, the meaning behind gift giving is overlooked. Gift giving has become an act of duty, unnecessarily expensive, and commercial. Any gift worth giving is worth creating with effort and meaning. With that in mind, the giving of gifts becomes meaningful to the people involved the giver and the receiver. That's what the art of giving gifts is to me." Rachel Ashwell.

Rachel Ashwell likes to "gather" things for a while before she incorporates several things together to "tell a story" when she gives them as gifts.

Over the next few days I hope to post a few different thoughts and photos about gifts.

Wonderful Awards!

I hope you have noticed a new look, and the new name of my blog. I finally bit the bullet and did a few new things. I have to depend on my smart friends to help me as I’m totally technically challenged. I was afraid to go to the new blogger for fear I would do something wrong. Thanks to dear friends, Lallee (Lallee’s Cottage) and LaDonna (Gracious Hospitality) who have helped me a lot. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m having fun in the meantime!

Thanks so much to Sandra at Ravenhill Cottage, and Lallee at Lallee's Cottage for nominating my Yellow Rose Arbor blog for the Thinking Blogger Award. I will respond to this on Wednesday. Mondays and Tuesdays are my busiest days when I don't have much computer time.

Katherine

Yellow Rose Chest

Last week while shopping my husband and I discovered this chest at Ross. I don't have a lot of room for something like this, but we both knew it should come home with us! I collect decorating magazines, and justified buying it so I can store some of my favorite magazines inside it. It has Southern Lady, Tea Time, Taste of the South, and Paula Deen magazines in it and room for more to come. We are enjoying it, I hope you enjoy seeing it as well! Thanks to my husband, Joe, for buying it for me!

Sweet Dreams

Sweet dreams, little Caden! I'm glad you enjoyed your first Easter, first Easter basket with eggs, and first Easter egg hunt!

Happy Easter!

May you be blessed this Easter with Jesus' love. Thank you for reading my blog.

Becca's Blessings

Look what I received today! A Becca original!! Becca of Bluebirds and Roses creates her own cards with vintage items.

Being handmade makes this card all the more special. This is not just a card, it is a gift. It was made with love. She took the time to create this card, to compose the message on the inside, to decorate the envelope. I can see the love because it was made with loving hands.

This lovely Easter egg is made from wallpaper, ribbon, mini vintage picture, and of course glitter! She is just as pretty and nice as her creations! Thank you so much, Becca! I think you have a new card design career ahead of you!

Easter Story Cookies

I've never made these before, but can't wait until our grandbabies are old enough to do this with them!

Easter Story Cookies
To be made the evening before Easter.

Have handy: a Bible, Zip-Lock baggie, masking tape, wooden spoon

Ingredients:
1 c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch salt
1 c. sugar

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F

Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested the Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1-tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1-c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read ISA.1: 18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of masking tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.

HE HAS RISEN!

The First Robin

The Legend of the First Robin
One day, long ago, a little bird in Jerusalem saw a large crowd gathered around a Man carrying a heavy wooden cross. On the Man's head was a crown made from a thorn branch. The thorns were long and sharp. The little bird saw that the thorns were hurting the Man. It wanted to help Him, so it flew down and took the longest, sharpest thorn in its tiny beak. The bird tugged and pulled until the thorn snapped from the branch. Then a strange thing happened, a drop of blood fell onto the bird's breast, staining it bright red. The stain never went away. And so today the robin proudly wears a red breast, because it helped a Man named Jesus. May God bless you today, and keep you all year through. May God give you all the faith it takes, to make your dreams come true. May His love and wisdom always help, to guide you on your way. May His light shine down upon you now, To bless you every day!

Good Friday

The Cross
Lord, by thy Cross and Resurrection thou hast redeemed the world.
In the symbol of the Cross we can see the magnitude of the human tragedy, the ravages of original sin, and the infinite love of God. Lent is a particularly appropriate time to attempt to penetrate the true meaning of this sacred image represents through prayerful contemplation; and to study the traditions surrounding the Christian symbol of the Cross. Looking at the Cross in prayer helps us to truly see it. Most Christians have crosses in their homes. Many wear a cross around their necks. Some of these are very beautiful, perhaps made of precious metal and embellished with jewels. The beauty of these devotional objects may emphasize the glory and the victory of Our Lord's Cross; but too often representations of this central symbol of our faith are regarded primarily as decorative, and its true message is lost. It is fitting that Christians glorify the Cross as a sign of Christ's resurrection and victory over sin and death, of course. But we should remember each time we see a cross that the Cross of Jesus' crucifixion was an emblem of physical anguish and personal defilement, not triumph-of debasement and humiliation, not glory-of degradation and shame, not beauty. It was a means of execution, like a gallows or a gas chamber. What the Son of God endured for us was the depth of ugliness and humiliation. We need to be reminded of the tremendous personal cost of love. As Lent advances we contemplate the redeeming Mystery of the Cross which aids the Church in her pursuit of the renewal of the faithful. The image of the Cross may help each of us to learn more fully the meaning of Christ's sacrifice, and how we are to imitate His example. We can hope that our prayers which focus on the Crucifixion of our Lord will help atone for our own sins and the many grave sins of our society.

Suggestions for family participation on Good Friday:
The Three Hours. Some churches hold prayer services during the three hours of Christ's suffering on the Cross. It would be appropriate to observe a period of silence at home, for devotional reading and private prayer (e.g., no radio, television, etc.), especially between the hours of noon and 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Each member of the family might choose a particularly unpleasant job which has been put off for a long time - like cleaning the garage or a closet, or scrubbing the bathrooms (we're sure you can think of something!)- to emphasize the dreariness appropriate to the day.
Good Friday was thought to be a good day for planting seeds (a reference to the Gospel about the seeds which must be planted in the ground to bear fruit as a metaphor for Christ's necessary death and His burial on this day) so if the weather permits, this could be a worthwhile activity with children. (Don't forget to explain the symbolism.)
With very young children keeping silence during the Three Hours is virtually impossible. You might help them make a miniature Garden of Joseph of Arimathea in the yard. Mother or Father can teach children about the circumstances of Christ's burial and resurrection from the tomb by telling the story of Joseph, Christ's friend who donated the new tomb where Jesus' body was buried after He was taken down from the Cross. Children can gather small stones, sticks, acorns. etc., for the little garden.
Older children can be given a drawing or coloring project. Perhaps they could draw one or more of the Stations of the Cross. (See also sections on the Cross and Christ symbols).

Bake Hot Cross Buns. The familiar hot cross buns are sweet rolls with the sign of the cross cut into it, and they are one of several traditional European breads marked with a cross for Good Friday. According to tradition, these buns originated at St Alban's Abbey in 1361, where the monks gave them to the poor people who came there. (You may have your own recipe for sweet-rolls to which you can add currants or raisins before shaping and cut a cross in the top before baking; or you can buy them.) These Good Friday buns were very popular, and were sold by vendors who cried, Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns! One a-penny two a-penny, Hot cross buns! If you have no daughters, give 'em to your sons! One a-penny two a-penny, Hot cross buns!