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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Work is Not a Dirty Word!


This post was first written, a couple of weeks ago...intended as a personal journal, but then, I decided to share, because sharing is one reason I enjoy blogs best... above FB or Pinterest…we share.  Most times we are like-minded, having common interests, that's what brought us together… although …We don’t all agree, think, or believe the same, yet we still tell our tales and graciously open our homes to one another.  Like many of you, when I spy an anonymous pin I yell, “Hey, that is my bloggy friend, so in so’s, house, store, or project!”  And, feel such pride in you...just like you do in me.  I’m thinking I could recognize many of you, on the spot, at a garage sale or Goodwill!  With that said, I am sharing my personal feelings, today, and will get back to the junk later.

Work is not a dirty word, but it certainly can clean up some dirt…and while procrastination surely would describe some of my past years, it has a dreadful future. Therefore, I choose work, as my WORD this year, but as you can see… by the late date, I do need to Work on my procrastination habits, most blogs are already posts past the word of the year party…

I am speaking of the act of working, not merely a paying job, but actively moving toward goals by the force of my efforts…Since I work at a Jr. High, I actually can regurgitate the scientific formula for work…so let me show-off!

Work = force x distance

So, according to this formula, even if I push at something all dang day, with the greatest of force, as stubborn as a mule, never giving in up…but it (the piece of furniture, a situation, or perhaps an attitude) doesn’t budge, not even one iota, no distance gained, no moving toward a goal …equals NO WORK.

Bunches of Force x No Distance = 0 Work Applied

My life only works because of Jesus, so my work plans must begin in His Word...God rested after His work of creation and declared it good...letting me know God worked way before sin came into the world and it was GOOD!


John 6:27
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.

O.K., my desire isn’t to spin my wheels working for things that can’t last.  Instead, I desire my work to have enduring qualities…to have impact and to matter for all eternity and Jesus, who 
gave me eternal life, will give me this work, yea!  And… I can say, while I may never receive the Good House Keeping Seal of Approval, God has placed His Seal of Approval on Jesus, who gives me my work!

Colossians 3:23
What ever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,


Hmmm... Throw myself into my life, with abandon, freeing myself in regards to what people may think, whether anyone appreciates or approves.  I will look to God, as my boss…a perfectly loving, just and wise boss… who, thankfully, is full of mercy, and loves me beyond measure, this is to whom I will work and look to for my worth, not man!  This “what ever” could be cleaning a toilet, junking with friends, making cookies with grand kids, or reading a test…even blogging. God wants me to live my whole life with my whole heart…offering my whole life as my work.    
What ever!

1 Thessalonians 4:11
 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,

Well, I'm a LOUD Texas girl...and I feel God doesn't want me to change that so much, But..Hey, don’t gossip and cause strife. When I get bogged down with others business, my work doesn’t get done and I hinder others from the work laid out for them, lastly…yippee…physically work with my hands!  
               Jesus, himself, was a carpenter. 

Ephesians 2:10 
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Now, this is so cool, on many levels…

First, I am God’s work, fearfully and wonderfully made;
knit together in my mother’s womb.
Also, I originated from the dust of the Earth. 
God, himself, reused dust to create man, 
so repurposing is in my genes, lol.

Next, I was designed from the beginning for works, 
good works…eternal impacting work, created by God, 
tailored just for me, enabling me to walk in these works, exactly fitted to me
…not search endlessly for, chase after, or struggle with,
but merely walk!

Alright, my chosen word, “work”, is not a dirty word, it is my life…every nook and dusty cranny …discovering anew, day in and day out, whatever it can be…I’m walking … leaving this pragmatic world behind and trusting in Jesus, makes me believe in childhood dreams again…
and just maybe the cow may indeed  jump over the moon!


 a little more of our train theme Christmas Tea...just cause a blog post must have pictures!


Walking to Work 
                        Lezlee

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Vintage Valentine's Banner

When I took down my Christmas Banner
                          my  white curtains looked so cold and lonely...


So.... Happy Vintage Valentine Banner!



Miss Mustard Seed gave me this sweet idea...
                        red extra wide seam binding, using a zig-zag stitch....LOVE!



The hearts are just a toilet paper roll cut in to strips, 
          then squished into a heart shape...
                                         you could paint and glitter them...
                                                      got lots of ideas for the tp rolls!

a sweet little Teddy with a red heart!


The sun was shining so, here in Texas, it was hard to get a shot!




LOVE
Lezlee          joining a party at Honey's

Monday, January 16, 2012

Hand Made Frisbee Golf from Junk

Here is a fun junking project...



Frisbee  Golf made by my son, Josh ...(oh, yeah trying to get the wedding pics posted) made


 from mostly discarded items...old stools, hoola hoops, closet hanger brackets...I need to get him to explain,oh yeah, duct tape was involved...I am pinning this to my "Parade Party" ideas...we, Jodi and I , are gathering ideas for a low-key old fashioned parade day!  It is in June...

galloping on!
Lezlee

P.S. Did y'all know most city parks have Frisbee Golf?  It is a free, fun day at the park...the special Frisbees are fairly inexpensive...so pack a picnic and get out there when Spring has sprung!

Back to the regularly scheduled Christmas Tea Tour posts soon...I think!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

The Christmas Tea Tour, Moma's Screen and Secret Room

We used Moma's screen again...we didn't use much from last year and when we did, it was redecorated...

Moma used these back when she sat up at places like Edom, Canton, and Market Hall...She would have been perfect for Zapp Hall.
When she first sat up at the juried show in Edom, Moma said, "I don't know if I will fit in with all you"  and  his reply, "Mrs.Opal, your more hippie than all of us!" Moma is timeless...quality has no fear of age.

p.s. She did not take part in the skinny dippin'






vINTAGE TOYS and some bushes that resembled tumbleweeds filled in the top...The huge candy cane's are from The Victorian Lady Tea Room...and The chains.


This rusty red  locomotive was a purchase from The Primatique...love Mindy!

The red rocking horse made the trip back from Round Top with us...love Round Top!



This year we added a little "secret" room...where the curtain is pulled back...It really was the cutest surprise...everyone just said "AWWW" and kept coming back to take another peek...it was so secret Suzette needed to make this sign to draw attention. We really utilize every square inch of this room!


 some close ups of the "secret" room...a little wooden train beside  Little Golden Books about Christmas or Trains...cookies and milk for Santa...the end table was a little shelf.  This was so fun to stage. We even had a little engineer hat thanks to Junkin' Sista Susie...







And this awesome tree was a garage sale find.  Jodi new I would want it for the purchase price of just one dollar...she only saw a few branches sticking out to the box, but new I would LOVE it...the previous owners said it had yellowed, so they tried painting it.  Isn't it great!  Suzette sold the white tree we used last year, so we were elated to get this one!


The double sided Penguins came from Tipsy Tango in Quinlan...and of course we added some red this time around, along with some of the baubles and cards we made last year...

ornaments made from the old school plates
Suzette told someone these little students were Dick and Jane...someone ask how she knew that...
and
of course she said, "Because that's what I named them!

 They were stowaways from Round Top, too!

Everywhere we could we crammed in t a train...this tiered plant shelf was tailor made for a train track...




coming around the bend...




 That's the
Moma'a Screen Area
     At this rate it may take 'til next Christmas!

Lezlee...


Friday, January 13, 2012

The Christmas Tea Tour

Ok, I was just going to wait until next year to post about this past Tea,
                                                                                    but it is next year... so here goes!

This was taken while we were still working and with overhead lights on,
                                                                 don't you love the Santa Hat Chair Covers




Our theme was "All Aboard the Panther Express for An Exemplary Christmas"
So much of the fun is picking a theme.


We need centerpieces for seven tables and back this summer I spotted a box of wooden blocks that looked like trains for 2.50...so I brought them home and put them in the shed and didn't open them up for closer inspection until we were hauling our things to the school, but...when I did I found seven of these! The middle cars needed painted, since they were primary colors, but how perfect can you get for a train theme?~ I added the candle in the middle, using a shot glass, bed spring, galvanized canning jar lid, and some snow and bling.


 We  wanted to add in some color, so RED it was!
and along the way we picked up Santa's Wardrobe, especially His Hat. as a little side theme, as you will notice as I post...



Vintage toys are always fun and fitting for Christmas Decor, too.


I made the flat Christmas tree from bed springs  
&
Suzette made this awesome Burlap Tree!!!


& here is a burlap wreath... Suzette, made too!

She is the QUEEN of the flower makers, love this one...




and a paper song sheet wreath Sandra, one of our Junkin' Sistas, and Suzette collaborated on.  It was even prettier in real life, if you can imagine!




Here is another shot of the over-all area, from the other end...

 Again, the lighting was softer on the real day...

This is the method  Suzette and I have for figuing out our design, for the whole room, after we get our theme and color scheme going, we break it down to areas...more areas to come! I'm interested to know, How do you go about planning and the creative process?

Hey, I'm not a procrastinator, I am about 11 months ahead!!!


Winkin'
Lezlee

P.S. I went to yoga twice this week...the stretching was so good for this old body.





Thursday, January 12, 2012

Bed Spring Arch, Christmas Bling

Well, I didn't get much Christmas Decor on my blog, but I am posting this, because I'll soon do it up for Valentine's Day, because I loved it with the RED!






Here is where I first posted about my bed spring arch.


We had a ball with the grand daughters this Christmas!


These stairs still aren't finished, 
sometimes there are just some jobs
that seem like they will never be done, 
and this isn't even a hard one, really...
but looking at this picture I see a lot that is done!


 procrastornating, late, cluttered, out of season...

Lezlee                      Tickled Pink at 504 Main