Two by Two

This is how the hallway was decorated for VBS 2010. These silhouettes were gathered from free online images, enlarged on a copier (some were as small as my fingernail), made into transparencies, drawn onto and cut out of black felt and stapled to the wall.

The animal pairs were traveling to the "Ark" which was in the Fellowship Hall. The animals in the "stalls" above the lights were made the same way using styrofoam insulation panels that were painted black. The "straw" hanging over the edge was hula skirts from the dollar store.

The children (and adults) could and did touch them without doing any damage.

I couldn't wait to show them to Annie, she is such an animal lover. When I carried her down the hall she held me tight and tried to hide her face. After introducing her to them and showing her that she could touch she began to relax and wanted to get down to pet, kiss and talk to them.

It was surprising to me to see the profound emotional reactions of people of every age to certain animals. Of course, the snakes, lizards and frogs were not appreciated by all, but everyone seemed to have their own favorite. Thank you, Lord, for each of them (people and animals).

The Museum of HIS Story

I've been absent from my blog for... a while, so I'll try to catch you up over the next few days.

I spent most of the spring and the first part of summer preparing for and participating in our church's Vacation Bible School. The theme was "The Museum of HIS Story" and I was the creator of "the museum".

Every exhibit had a description and where it could be found in the Bible, some had sound or video. Children were encouraged to touch everything, except the dioramas. It was a HUGE job and I loved all of it (almost). I had a lot of help and a lot of fun, but the best part was seeing the reactions of all the kids that came, including my own granddaughters!

My Garden

One of the things that endeared me to our home 7 years ago was its shady yard filled with ancient Live Oak, Hickory and Sweet Gum trees. They had been untouched since our property was part of the Kingsley Plantation a few hundred years ago. At ground level it was barren and neglected (we even used the side yard as a parking lot on occasion), but I saw its potential from the first day and knew that it could be a beautiful "Old Florida" style garden*.

Richard spent a year excavating and restoring the sprinkler system. He removed chain-link fencing, relocated large brick posts, and installed a fountain as a birthday gift to me.

For several years I spent most of my free time and money planting. I transplanted most of the existing shrubs, removed palms (along with their 1000's of seedlings) and 100's of briar vines with roots the size of "fair-ribbon-worthy" potatoes. I drug home and nursed cast-off plants from trash piles. I made friends with gardeners that successfully tended shady yards like mine who shared advice AND plants. I learned that grass won't grow well in my "forest" and since colorful flowers are limited in the shade, every shade of green is a color to be appreciated. I am still learning.

I laid a brick walkway and patio and I shopped for accessories; gates, urns, furniture, ornaments and fountains (almost all were garage sale bargains).

Megan took these beautiful photos on Easter. Her camera has taken her to places she does not normally go. She is very snake phobic and my garden (actually, anywhere outside) makes her quite nervous. I'm proud of her courage and her photos.

Now, you can follow Annie on a tour, she is NOT afraid of my garden...

Spring is a promising time in my garden with new growth everywhere, but it's not the fullest or most colorful. Please come visit several times a year so you can see it change through the seasons. We'll have lunch al fresco.

*This is an organic garden, as God intended! I use NO pesticides and NO fertilizer! We harvest oak leaves every spring for enough mulch to last the year. My plants have to thrive on water only and only on the days and amounts that our county water restrictions allow.

Storybook Chair

My sister rescued this great vintage chair from a trash pile in Riverside 30 years ago. She hired someone to recover it with sea foam chenille fabric. I don't remember how it came to be mine, but I do remember being absolutely amazed that someone could recover it so beautifully and thinking I could NEVER learn to do that. It was part of Megan's bedroom for most of her childhood and now it has moved to her house. She and her little girls will read stories in the same cozy chair where she and I used to cuddle with her favorite book.

I found this linen fabric at a decorator's sale and recovering the chair was not as hard as I once believed it would be.

Soon the chair will be complete with a monogrammed pillow and a copy of The Poky Little Puppy.

Gingham Again

I found this vintage headboard at one of my favorite antique stores. It was just the thing that I had been looking for to upholster for our guestroom.
I chose a silk gingham fabric from Hobby Lobby (on clearance). I want to add one long bolster made of the same fabric. Pictures to come...

Rich really did not want me to drive screws into "that beautiful wood" so I mounted the foam and fabric-covered board with 3M picture hanging strips. It seems to be the perfect solution to the problem of securely attaching it without damaging the headboard.

I realize I have a gingham theme going in my last 4 posts. I can't help it. It's elegant in silk for a bedroom, cozy in a kitchen nook, and what is better than red gingham with big ric-rac in a playhouse? There are even little bits on baby clothes and lamp shades in the Sniglets post. It is a classic that never goes out of style.

Nina's Playhouse

I made a playhouse for all of our grandchildren - in the closet under our stairs. Evie, our 3 year old granddaughter, was enthralled Christmas day when she went on a hunt for our play kitchen and found it behind a door that she had never noticed before. If you come over when Evie is here prepare to be invited to "her house" and remember to duck your head. I've spent more time in this closet in the last week than I did in the 7 years that we have lived here.

You'll probably have to "go to sleep" at her house. Turning the lamp and overhead light on and off is her favorite activity.

Of course it is decorated for Christmas and we're making plans for other holidays.

Evie said, "Nina, Thank you for my very own house!"

Anabelle, 15 months old, loves it, too!

They are looking forward to sharing it with future cousins.

That's not a hint.