A journey through endless time

Looking forward

2011-07-09T18:18:00.003-05:00

I have been extra busy creating for the upcoming season of Fall and Halloween. I have also made a couple of Santa dolls for Christmas in July.
It is extemely warm outdoors this time of year where I live so no better time than now to get a jump on the Fall selling season.
Here is some of my Halloween creations. These have already sold.

A few Summer creations

2011-06-27T23:31:00.003-05:00

Summer Breezes

2011-06-27T23:08:00.003-05:00

The Swing'
by Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing.
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside-

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown-
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

During my childhood years. I always loved to swing. The higher it would go the better. It was so free. I felt like I was flying.

We are having a steamy sultry South now with a damp rain continually falling.
My roses are trying to perk up their petals but droop in the rain. Those nasty beetles keep attacking them. I spray them but more keep coming. I knew it would be work growing roses but I like them so much. They are my favorite flower.
They don't smell as good as they once did. Of course nothing is the same anymore. Our world is changing so rapidly.
My day lilies are beautiful now and about to finish their blooming season. Next will be my glads and of course the roses will bloom all Summer.
Another fourth of July is about to be upon us once again. It is just my husband and me here. No family close to have a family gathering like in the old days.
We may have a barbecue to celebrate the day with some friends. We can watch the fireworks on TV. No hassles with crowds of people.
I am busy working on Fall items and Halloween now. The weather doesn't allow for outdoor activities. The humidity is to much for me. I enjoy working on my dolls so will keep busy with that.
Happy Fourth everyone.

Mother's day May 8, 2011

2011-04-30T11:27:00.003-05:00

Mother's day is just around the corner so thought I would share this poem for all those who no longer have a mother here today. It is written by Victoria M. Hodgson.

As each passing day goes by
A tear falls from my eye
With each day passing me
A memory comes to mind
Without you by my side
Tears and memories compile
Until we meet again
My memories will form a mountain
A mountain unclimbable
My tears will form an ocean
An ocean uncrossable
You are my angel
You are my light
Guiding me through my days
And protecting my nights
You may be gone
But you're not forgotten
You're my angel now
But my Mommy you'll be
Until we meet again
I cry these tears
I release these memories
I shall climb my mountain
I will cross my ocean
One day soon
I will be at your side
I will be in your arms
I shall be safe once more

Happy Mother's Day Mommy
Love will be on the wings of my angel!!!!

The Fairy Gathering

2011-04-30T11:09:00.002-05:00

I made this special little bunny for Spring. She is just 8 inches tall and I found this poem written by Rie Sheridan that is so fitting. I changed a few word to make it compatible.

THE FAIRY GATHERING
In the shadows of the forest
In the early morning light
The faeries are a-gathering
To celebrate their flight.

On the wind I hear their singing
Like the tinkling of bells
As clear as silver raindrops
Gently falling on the fells

I long to see them dancing
Underneath the silver moon
So I sit among the shadows
And I offer them a tune....

I hear them whisper in the trees
Laughter echoes in the glen
But they melt away like stardust
Far beyond all mortal ken....

Warm sunny days with beauty all around us.

2011-04-30T10:52:00.003-05:00

Warm weather is upon us once again. I can't believe how quickly my calendar pages are turning. Very soon, half a year will be over.
I love the Spring time with all the trees in bloom and flowers are in bloom once again. My iris are blooming now.
I love sitting on my patio in the evening and listening to the birds as they fly through the air gathering food for their little ones.
We have had some bad storms this Spring here in the South. I pray for all those who lost their homes earlier this week from tornados. It is only the beginning of the season and so many bad ones already.
I am keeping busy with my doll making and other art work. It is challenging to keep up with all of it but I like keeping busy.
I took down all of my Easter decor yesterday and now contimplating putting up my Americana decor. I love the red, white and blues.
I just finished this Americana man holding a Spring Lamb with a pony at his side.

Think Spring

2011-02-25T10:25:00.005-06:00

It is time to start thinking about planting here in the South. Next week I will prepare my flower beds for new flowers and prune out the weeds.
Last night we were visited by a raccoon. I heard a noise and went to the window and there he was all bright eyed and bushy tailed. He was feeding on some sunflower seeds left by the birds. I have seen quite a few different critters over the years. They come out at night when it is dark. I have seen a fox, possuum and turkeys.
There is a dam near our house and a wildlife reserve with a trail. My DH and I enjoy morning strolls there when the weather is nice. Springtime is the best when all the honeysuckle is blooming and the birds are tweeting.
I am so ready for Spring. This Winter has been unusually cold with snow. We seldom get snow here and this year it arrived. I like snow but would rather see it in Dec.
I am busy making Spring and Easter dolls now and selling on Ebay and Etsy.
I will post a few of my latest here for you to see. Some are sold but a few are still available.

Listen to Dumplinragamuffins Playlist

2011-01-04T19:22:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year !!!!

2011-01-04T18:25:00.004-06:00

A new year is once again upon us. It seems only yesterday it was a new year. Time keeps pushing on and I keep trudging along trying to keep up.

I hope to make more time for more forms of art this year. Of course there is all those photos I have received from loved ones that will need to be organized and dates placed for adding to photo albums. I have purchased beautiful papers for a long time now along with fancy cut out shapes to make beautiful pages.

Last year I got out all my unfinished albums and began my long process of adding photos to the albums. My piles of photos got larger and larger as I worked. I had to do it in the living room as that was the most space for my project.

I thought to myself. I hope nobody comes to visit as this is a big mess. Sure enough, I got a visitor when everything was at it's worst. My friend commented that this photo organizing was an act of love for future generations. I suppose she was right but I was thinking more about myself and for my own enjoyment. I hope someone will be interested one day down the road.

As the years pass I need to hurry a bit more as I want to be able to enjoy them before that time is gone.
Last year I started a whole new project with my photos. In hopes of bringing enjoyment to my 4 sisters and 1 brother who live across the United States from where I live.
I purchased a program called Muvie Reaveal. I gathered up all my old photographs and ran them through a little machine my husband gave to me. It turned my photos into digital format. I then uploaded them to the computer where I organized them and added them to my movie making project. It turned out to be quite a project taking many days and weeks. I was able to add music from my saved files to go along with the photos. I had a lot of photos but it was worth it in the end. Now my sisters can pop a DVD into their VCR and watch them anytime they choose. When I am bored or feeling a little blue. I pop in a DVD and watch the good times from the past. What a joy it has turned out to be. My sisters are now sending me photos for making new DVD's.
I plan to make time for lots of new dolls this year and am hoping for a great year. Also getting to know more of the nice ladies in the online clubs I belong to.

God bless you all. May your year be the best yet.

~Shirley

Snow Flake Doll

2011-01-02T00:25:00.002-06:00

Valentine doll

2011-01-02T00:23:00.003-06:00

latest dolls I have made

2011-01-02T00:15:00.003-06:00

We have a new year to look forward to. I had a wonderful Christmas and now it is time to get busy on my business once again. I am so glad I have been blessed with this talent as it is my passion.
I hope to make more time for my blog this year as it has been put last on the list for so long.
I am having fun making these Winter and Valentine dolls.

establish Boudaries

2010-07-13T22:04:00.003-05:00

Relationships work best when you establish boundaries and a budget up front. Ask. "where does this person belong in my life? How much am I prepared to invest in them?" Life's too short to be spent straightening out minunderstandings, hurt feeling and damaged egos. If you're wise you'll avoid any relationship that drains you and leaves you asking, "How did I get into this?" When keeping somebody happy means shortchanging the purposes of God in your life and losing your joy, you've overdrawn the budget. When somebody needs too many phone calls, dinner, loans, or other forms of attention, it's time to draw a line. You've only so much time and energy. You should invest your life where there's the greatest return. When people who are "to needy" demand more than you have the ability or the right to give, you've got to do one of two things: (1) Renegotiate, Bankrupting yourself to make them feel good might sound noble, but it's not. Bankrupt people end up with everything from nervous breakdowns to extramatital affairs because they're overspent. At this point, prayer, a good counselor, and tough love may be what's needed. (2) Sometimes you have to walk away!

Summer time in the Steamy South

2010-07-13T21:38:00.004-05:00

Time passes so quickly and it has been awhile since I last updated my blog.
We have experienced quite a Summer so far this year. First a flood that washed away many of our neighbors homes and possessions. Our community worked very hard to help people get back into their homes or find new ones.
I can't believe all the beautiful homes overlooking the river are now condemned.
Some how we all make it don't we?
We now have a oil spill down on the gulf to be concerned with. What is going to be next?
We live our lives in our little 50 mile radius's and think everything is okay if it isn't happening to us. It is to painful to see how others are doing sometimes. All the homeless people in Haiti living in tents.
I sometimes wonder why I was so fortunate to live here in this great country of ours. I hope we will never lose the hope and dreams our forfathers once had. Is it all a dream now? Have we enjoyed to much of the bounty that we are now taking it for granted? Are we becoming complacent and expecting someone else to carry the load?
Once this great nation of ours was the best in the world. We were the leaders. Everyone wanted to come here to live.
My prayer is that my grandchildren will experience the joy of fullfilling their dreams with the freedom I so enjoyed growing up. We always felt as if the world was our oyster.

March of days

2010-01-24T14:38:00.004-06:00

ALL BEAUTIFUL THE MARCH OF DAYS

All beautiful the March of days, as
seasons come and go;
The Hand that shaped the rose hath
wrought the crystal of the snow;
Hath sent the hoary frost of heaven,
the flowing waters sealed,
And laid a silent loveliness on hill
and wood and field.

O'r white expanses sparkling pure
the radiant morns unfold;
The solemn splendors of the night
burn brighter than the cold;
Life mounts in every throbbing vein,
love deepens round the hearth,
And clearer sounds the angel hymn,
"Good will to men on earth."

O Thou from Whose unfathomed
law the year in beauty flows,
Thyself the vision passing by in
crystal and in rose,
Day unto day doth utter speech, and
night to night proclaim,
In ever changing words of light, the
wonder of Thy Name.

_Frances Whitmarsh Wile (1878-1939)

Women of Joy conference

2009-12-11T16:36:00.002-06:00

Rag Annie angel tree

2009-12-04T21:01:00.002-06:00

favorite painting

2009-12-04T20:30:00.002-06:00

Christmas time in TN.

2009-12-04T20:12:00.002-06:00

A Smoky Mountain Sleighride
Poem by Ron Evans

When it's Christmas in the Smokies
And we've had a winter's blow
And everything for miles around
Is covered deep in snow.

When we've finished all our shopping
And trimmed the perfect tree,
And find that obligations
Leave some time for you and me;

Then the silver moon beams beckon
And their brightness lights our way,
And there seems no better place to be
Than riding in a sleigh.

So many times on cold winter nights
We glide the forest trails,
'Mid sound of muffled hoofbeats
And song of harness bells.

We pause upon the old stone bridge
Above the river's glare,
Where hardy skaters pivouette
Despite the frigid air.

And then atop a high hill crest
We stop to rest the mare,
While Heaven's diamond studded stars
Reflect upon your hair.

Such moments last forever
They defy eternity,
For time is held immobilized
By Christmas memory.

Reluctanly we turn for home
And give the nag her head,
She whisks us briskly through the night
We'll soon be home in bed.

And there we'll dream of sculpted drifts
Piled high by winter's blow,
And lovers in a magic sleigh
That skims across the snow...

my new scarecrow

2009-10-17T18:19:00.002-05:00

I made this scarecrow using a pattern by Tennessee Ridge Primitives. I made one for me and one for a Sister.
Fall is my favorite time to decorate. Of course Christmas is right up there.

Fall decor

2009-10-17T18:15:00.005-05:00

I made this turkey using a pattern by 'Hidden in the attic' She does the best patterns for birds.

Fall decor (my home)

2009-10-17T18:12:00.001-05:00

New Fall picture I hung in my home

2009-10-17T18:08:00.002-05:00

Autumn Senses

2009-10-17T17:55:00.002-05:00

Hush...
The leaves whisper softely,
as they scurry to the ground,
Their beauty so magnificent
encircleing all around,
colors of aspin gold
amber
and scarlet
rest beneath my feet.
The sun peaking through
the half bare trees
shines warm upon my face.
A light, gentle Fall breeze
blows through my hair
awakening the leaves
to rustle
to and fro.
Giving a sense of renewal.
I smile as
crisp, smokey scents
are everywhere
lingering in the air.
The senses of Autumn
reminds us all
of our
Awesome God
The Creator

Poem above was written by my Sister Verna Cluchey (2003)

Autumn 2009

2009-10-17T17:24:00.006-05:00

'Happy Autumn'

When Summer flowers are gone and Autumn embers burst forth in splendor with a golden glow, oh I am happy in the joy of living.
When pensive Autumn makes her glorious bow.
The air is crisp the maple leaves are yellow;
The trunks are storing sugar sweet and good
The squirrels and other tiny woodland creatures
Have found a place to hoard their Winter's food.
The trees are dropping apples in the orchar;
The moon's a golden lanter up above.
And everywhere we look we see reflected
The goodness of our gracious God of Love.
Pamela Kennedy

Enter into His gates with
Thanksgiving and into His courts with
praise: be Thankful unto Him, and
bless His name.
Psalm 100:4

VISIT MY GROUP WEB SITE HERE

2009-04-09T08:47:00.004-05:00

little treasures I received from others

2009-03-21T14:33:00.002-05:00

A couple of swap gifts and I made the rose pillow beneath them.

Special collectable memories

2009-03-21T14:30:00.000-05:00

my personal collectables

2009-03-21T14:27:00.002-05:00

A couple of my special tiny figurenes.

Paper Art 'Petite Theatre'

2009-03-21T14:17:00.002-05:00

Working with paper art was always my art of choice growing up.

This little piece measures approx. 3" x 4". Amazing how much work goes into each of these tiny treasures.

I followed instructions for this.

A tiny mirror is in back of the curtains. The lid at the side has copied 1870 German newspaper print.

2009-03-21T14:11:00.000-05:00

Spring time is a special time

2009-03-21T13:46:00.002-05:00

I feel all good inside my heart because Spring is here once again. Each season is beautiful but Spring is my favorite.
The sound of rain on my window as I watch the flowers start popping up out of the warmed earth makes my heart glad.
The warmth of the sunshine on my skin as I walk on the wooded path near my house. The leaves are starting to pop out on the bushes and trees have little buds already. One day I will look out the window and the leaves will be fully bloomed and I will wonder when.
There is something beautiful about the sunlight in the morning as I sit down for a cup of coffee while waking up. I open the front door and love to see the sun dance across the room.
There's something special about the little things in life. The quiet things and the quiet times in life. They are sometimes the most important and most precious part of life.
In the evening I like to have a special alone time when I take in the happenings of the day. I like to read my books and look at my latest magazines. I draw so much inspiration from these.
This is the special time I pray for my family and friends. I hope all of you have a blessed life no matter what comes your way.
I thank God every day for all the beauty I take for granted living in America. I have been reading a book called 'IRISH AMERICANS' A history by Jay P. Dolan.
I am 3/4 Irish at least and was interested in how and why my ancestors came here.
It was an eye opener. I feel very blessed for their bravery in all they went through to get here.
They say the Irish have been returning to their homeland now since 2001 but America is my home and I am proud to live here.
'GOD BLESS AMERICA'

My home Easter Decor

2009-03-21T12:49:00.002-05:00

This is a bunny I made a few years ago. I have made her into a pattern and if you are interested, The pattern is called 'Bunny Sweet'

Snowy days

2009-01-13T22:44:00.003-06:00

Sailing into the sky

2009-01-13T22:36:00.003-06:00

Winter is a special time when the first snowfall turns the earth's crusty surface into extraordinary shades of white iridescents.
As cold as it is outdoors it always brings a since of warmth to sit by the fire reading a good book and taking a peek ever so often to see the large flakes stack up outside the window sill.
What joy it is to see the children playing in the snow. I remember the excitement I felt when I was a child playing in the snow and making as many footprints as I could and laying down to watch the flakes drift to the ground.

I wrote the following poem a few years ago and would like to share it here .

SAILING INTO THE SKY’
Beautiful snow angels we became
That Winter’s day long ago.
Sailing through the sky like
Imaginary princesses as the snow
Flakes gently floated to the ground
All around us.
We stared into that imaginary
Castle in the sky as we sped faster
& faster on our journey., all the
while Snow castles were forming
all around us as the snow Stacked
high on the dead corn stalks. &
Fence posts.
It was so eerily quiet that day.
We could have sailed Oceans
Of skies in our imaginary world
Of make believe.
How quickly time slips away just like
A water drop falling through the icy
Sky picking up a dust particle &
Crystallizing into a snowflake.
Falling to the ground and diminishing
Before our eyes never to be seen again.
So is life as time slips away.
Written by Shirley Wilson Dec. 2007

Taking responsibility

2009-01-13T12:14:00.004-06:00

As we go through our lives we sometimes blame others for our problems instead of taking ownership ourselves.
I came across this article in my daily devotional and it is so true. I would like to share it with you.

"You will forget the shame of your youth." Isaiah 54:4

When Eve first opened her eyes on planet earth, she was already married. She never got to grow up. She just stepped into being a wife, then a mother. Did that happen to you? You were a parent before you had a chance to be a child, or know what it means to be innocent and grow up with your trust intact. If Eve's story is your story, the Word for you today is, "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced...you will forget the shame of your youth."
You can't go back and make things different. You're not the same person and you're never going to be. You cannot relive your first marriage or your early childhood. But there are three scriptural steps you can take to get up, get over it and move on: (1) Forgive what others have done to you (see Eph. 4:32). (2) Forgive yourself for what you've done (See Php 3:13). (3) Believe that God has truly forgiven you and act on it. (See Isa 43:25).
Sometimes we hold onto the past because we believe there's something there we think we still need. We cling to certain things because we fear we'll never be able to replace them. No, God has more in store for you. If you've entrusted your future to Him you haven't seen your best days yet. There's more ahead of you than behind you. God promises: "Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isa 61:3). So in God's strength get up, get over it and move on!

My Ebay Auctions

2009-01-01T14:03:00.004-06:00

Primitive Santa

2008-12-11T00:11:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas to all

2008-12-10T23:51:00.002-06:00

This is a special time of year with all the joy of the season. It is a time for remembering Jesus and his birth. It is the Reason for the season.

The house is all decorated for the holidays. I only got out about half my decorations so will change the theme next year.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I can't seem to collect enough ornaments and other decorations.

Each ornament has a special meaning as most were collected and made by me and other artists.

I like to sit in my living room at night time and have only the Christmas lights on. The lights are so beautiful, almost transforming the room into a make believe magical wonder with castles in the snow, snowmen dancing and angels twinkling with the light's reflections.

Christmas always brings a bit of magic as we revert once again back to our childhood ,remembering all those special times spent with our loved ones who have gone to meet our Savior now.

This time of year is a time to reflect on our lives and look forward to a New Year and ways to make our world a better place.

Let us not forget those less fortunate than ourselves. So many things we take for granted that others may never have.

Let us not forget to pray for a better world.

Autumn has arrived with all it's splendor

2008-11-09T15:48:00.008-06:00

Autumn has arrived here in the South. It is the most beautiful time of year with the changing color of leaves & smells of wood in fireplaces.

We will soon be gathering together for our Fall celebration with Thanksgiving in our hearts. We will celebrate the bounty this season has rought.

We are truly blessed to live in this wonderful country of ours. Let us thank the Lord everyday for our freedom.

The following poem was written by my Sister. It says it well. She wrote this poem shortly after our sweet Mother's death. Everything and everybody has a season. We each will have our own.

We spent so many wonderful days in WI. where another Sister was caring for our parents before their deaths. The colors were remarkable as we over looked Tim's hill in Northern WI.

I live in TN. so our Fall is later than theirs so we are now just seeing beautiful colors once again.

The photo here shows some of our Fall colors looking out in my back yard.

Autumn Senses

Hush....

The leaves whisper softly

as they scurry to the ground,

their beauty so magnificent

encircling all around,

colors of aspin gold,

amber

and scarlet,

rest beneath my feet.

The sun peeking through

the half bare trees

shines warm upon my face.

A light, gentle Fall breeze

to rustle

to and fro.

Giving a sense of renewal.

I smile.

Crisp, smokey scents

are everywhere

lingering in the air.

The senses of Autumn

reminds us all of our

Awesome God

The Creator.

Verna Cluchey 10/03

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-06-24T14:51:00.001-05:00

Endless Summer

2008-06-24T14:00:00.002-05:00

June 24, 2008
Summer is upon us once again. What blissful times we spent as children.
All to soon those days are swept away along with all the carefree times they brought.
I remember long road trips as we always traveled by car. We went to visit our grandparents in Oklahoma often. My grandfather lived out in the country or woods as I remember it. He took us out to pick blackberries that grew wild on the bushes near his home. My sisters & I took little buckets and gathered those beautiful blackberries and I had my bucket pretty full when we got to a small creek and had to jump over it. When I jumped my bucket flew up in the air spilling most of my berries to the ground. Much to my despair. My Grandfather laughed and laughed. I didn’t see the humor in it as I was picking them so my mother could make a favorite blackberry cobbler for all of us.
I remember a huge wild turkey that lived near grandfather’s house and he was very predatory. We had to skirt his area every time we went outdoors. If we got anywhere near him he started dancing toward us.
Those are wonderful memories indelible in my mind today. I will forever remember sitting outdoors in the quiet of the evening listening to the elders tell stories about their past. I have written down some of these to share with my grandchildren one day.
I remember the big garden my mother always had when I was a child. I remember those big juicy tomatoes and how I liked to pick them off the vine and eat them right in the garden with the juice running down my mouth. I remember cutting watermelons open and only eating the hearts out of the center and discarding the rest.
Fourth of Julys were always special with a family picnic in the mountains and fireworks in our backyard.
I remember the carefree days running through the dewy grass with my bare feet looking for little fairies that lived in the grass and in my imagination.
My sisters and I made little dolls out of holly hocks and placed buttercup flowers under our chins to see if we liked butter. If your chin turned yellow, then you liked butter.
I loved laying on the grass in the Summer and staring up in the clear blue skies with billowy clouds forming shapes of different things my imagination could dream .
Grandma didn’t appreciate it but I loved picking a rose from her garden and pull each petal off one by one and watch it float to the ground. How beautiful that was.
We loved blowing bubbles with those little bottles of soap children use to get. We could blow large bubbles sometimes without them popping.. It was a challenge to see how long they would float without bursting.
I love the seemingly endless shades of green in the Summer time. They are so refreshing.
We all need to take time to dream and go back to a quiet place in our minds where special memories are stored and dwell in another time reminiscing for awhile.

I did this oil painting a long time ago and it is a picture memory of my Grandfather's field where he lived in Okla.

Special friends award

2008-04-18T23:56:00.000-05:00

Thank you Kelly for presenting me with this very special award.

Kelly is a special friend and you must visit her blog. http://onceinabluemoonprimitives.blogspot.com/

I will choose another artist to pass this award to now.

I am passing this on to Paula at http://Octobermoonprimitives.blogspot.com

It is your turn now Paula.

Artist's award I received

2008-04-11T23:49:00.000-05:00

I just received this beautiful award from a special friend, Alexandria of Northwind Star Primitives. It is a blessing to have made wonderful friends in the art community here on the web.

I consider each friendship a treasure & may we share many roads ahead.

I must pass this award on to some more prim friends.

Misspootsiesprimitives

snowpondprimitives

sewdeartome

My special someone

2008-04-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

My signifiscent other writes music and sings. See his bio and listen to a few of his many songs here:
http://www.reverbnation.com/Hollowrock

He would love it if you left him a comment.

My latest comings and goings

2008-04-08T11:38:00.000-05:00

April. 8, 2008
This is a beautiful time of year when fruit trees blossom & robins sing. Nostalgia transforms me into that inner child when there were no cares of the world to hinder my imagination. These little blossoms leave us all to soon as they float across the meadows looking like snow as they cover the ground.

I awakened to the chirping of birds outside my window this morning. They are a pleasant reminder of warmer days ahead when I can work in my flowers and savor their gorgeous scents. The fresh Spring rains are a true blessing for all the lawns and greenery we will soon be enjoying. Another page of life is happening right before our eyes.

I have just finished a Beth Moore study at church. It was a 6 week Bible study course on the Psalms of Ascent. I never looked at Psalms the way she brought it to life in this study. If you ever have a chance to do one of her video studies. It will be well worth your time.

I am now reading her book ' Praying God's Word'.

Last week I was invited to a person's home where I had never been before. All you primitive lovers as me would be in awe of this home. It was a treasure trove of antiques and collectables of a time gone by. We drove out in the country in Old Hickory TN. where her log cabin home is located. I felt like I had stepped back in time. There it sat in the middle of the trees with no neighbors close at all. The house looks old but was built new to old specs.

I couldn't get enough of this house. I went from room to room soaking up all the beauty of old primitive items she has spent a lifetime collecting.

She wants me to make her an Americana doll which is the total theme of her home. It is all done in the red, white and blue. She likes to change things around and it makes decorating easier & she invited me there to see the colors she wanted.

She invited me to lunch and we sat before a window overlooking the wooded area in back of her home. It was a nice sunny day making it a wonderful blessing.

I watched her work making us a special sandwich she ate in a restaurant. We had the sandwich & a small bowl of chicken dumpling soup and a brownie dessert. We enjoyed spiced tea and talked about family and the church. She had two huge fireplaces that looked just like the olden days where you could cook in them. Of course they don't use them for that or heat for that matter.

This turned out to be a memorable day for me. She has invited me and my husband back later to enjoy a picnic at the lake that edges their property.

I have learned over a lifetime to savor every good thing that happens to me for as long as I can because it will soon pass me by never to be savored in that manner again. I enjoy life on a day to day basis not looking to far into the future in these uncertain times.

2008-03-18T12:56:00.000-05:00

Hello,
Thanks for stopping by to see my blog.
I hope your visit will be a pleasant one. I grew up in Idaho , living mostly in the country. I have a great adoration for the beautiful mountains and nature.
My most cherished memory was walking through a fresh Winter snow fall in the mountains when all I could hear was the chirp of a snowbird & the crunch of my feet in the fresh snow.
I now live in TN. Where the snow doesn’t fall very often but there is other wonders to explore here. My ancestors lived in this state at one time . I have been doing family genealogy research as well as my arts.
I cherish every day as a blessed gift from the Lord. May health and happiness abide.
I will use my blog to write about beautiful things and places in my life. I hope you will visit often.
~Shirley

favorite poems

2008-03-12T14:43:00.000-05:00

The following is a poem written by my husband. I think it is very true and wanted to share it here.

Dreamer of Dreams

I'm a dreamer of dreams. A writer of song.
Please take my hand and you come along.
For what you've become, You shouldn't be.
Be a dreamer of dreams and set yourself free.

Be a dreamer of dreams. It's all up to you.
Just look past today and make yourself new.
Don't limit yourself to what they think you are.
Be a dreamer of dreams and follow your star.

Believe in yourself ~ if you dare not you don't.
Just trust in your life ~ if you cannot you won't.
For dreams can come true for the common man.
Have faith in your God and His plan ... for you.

Be a dreamer of dreams. But don't hesitate.
Just reach for your star before it's too late.
Now don't you grow old and then hear yourself say,
I once had a dream. But my dream slipped away.

Be a dreamer of dreams ...
Copyrite poem by Joelon Wilson

SHIP OF DREAMS

My friend, you're setting sail today
To seek your dreams and find your way
And though I grieve to see you go
We all must seek our dreams, to grow

So as the mist doth fill my eyes
I wish you well and realize
Without a dream, life is naught
A wealth of lessons, still untaught

I wish fair winds and mental peace
As your life heads to uncharted seas
And may the dreams you dare dream
All come to play and reign supreme

I bid farewell to you, my friend
And pray that we shall meet again
And that life's paths again shall twine
As your ship of dreams, sails close to mine

~Sherry Gail Heim