Our Azaleas Are In Full Bloom and Easter Thoughts....

 Our Azaleas are in full bloom this last week of March and what a show they have put on this year...

 

Purchased when they were less than a foot tall in gallon pots, for 99 cents a pot, 23 years ago... we planted them to line our circular driveway and the road side of our property...with hopes and dreams of them being all that they have become....they have not disappointed...it did take some time...but it was worth the wait. These are beautiful!

Like so many things God gives us.... they are always well worth the wait. God does not disappoint. His goodness is all over his works.... 

As Easter approaches, I wanted to share some thoughts with you today and a poem...

I think there is so much to learn from nature and the way God created things to work in the different seasons of nature and our lives. This spring time of year,  just in time for Easter... the earth awakens and the signs of rebirth are all around us...surely, God's message of hope.

I wanted to share this poem below by my favorite poet, Helen Steiner Rice, it's from the book "Showers of Blessings"...I'm glad I found this book a few years ago, and have revisited it this month, so that I can share a poem from it with you....

"Springtime Glory"

Flowers buried 

beneath the snow

Awakening again to live and grow-

Leaves that fell to the earth to die

Enriching the soil in which they lie-

Lifeless-looking, stark,

stripped trees

Bursting with buds 

in the Springtime breeze

Are just a few examples of

The greatness of God's power and love,

And in this blaze of Springtime glory, 

Just who could doubt

the Easter Story!

~Helen Steiner Rice

It's so true! I think that the Spring season surely is God's reminder to us of his resurrection power, and the hope we have through his son, Jesus, the Savior of the world. He (Jesus) is Risen... (Matthew 28:6). I know my redeemer lives...(Job19:25)  There is hope. Hope for the whole world. That's what the Easter Story is all about.  I'm so thankful for all that it means. It all really is a miracle, one that only God could have planned from the beginning of time. I am so thankful for it all.... and for all God has done. He's a good God, worthy to be praised, at Easter and everyday.  

Until next time....

Be encouraged! 

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Easter! 

God Bless You!

Latest Junkin' Finds

It's been a while since I shared my junkin' finds, but we went thrifting last weekend and I came home with these fun finds...

I found some pretty throw pillows, paper craft supplies, linens, and some hand painted art...

This floral red throw pillow was $2.99....

Anytime I pick up throw pillows second hand, I do a couple of things before I make a decision about buying them.... first I have to love them, because I seriously don't have any more room for throw pillows, next they have to be in excellent condition, (no holes ect.), then I give them the smell test, (I know that seems extreme but it's a must, lol!) if they pass that test, they can come home with me. And when I get them home, I wash them if I think the fabric is not too delicate or if not, I throw them in the dryer on high for about 20 minutes or so, and then I spray them with Lysol spray, sometimes I spray them with Lysol spray put them outside if it's sunny, and then put them in the dryer. As I understand it, some thrift stores fumigate their pillows, but I'm thinking some don't, so  I'm not taking any chances, lol.

and this pretty red and yellow one I found at that same thrift store, for $2.99....

Emma approves, and she thinks these pillows can be used at various times of the year in here too...

This table cloth/ throw blanket was $3.99

and this pair of quilted standard size pillow shams were $2.99...

As you can see, she's lovin' these too and thinks they were brought home especially for her!

The Pioneer Woman braided placemat was $1.49 and I'm using it underneath my table centerpiece at the moment....

At a different thrift shop, I found this Anna Griffin Card Kit, that still has a lot of things to work with in this box, it was $2.50....I can make all sorts of things with this kit....

These will be a lot of fun! 

I also found some pretty hand painted art pieces for .50 cents each....at that same shop...

Emma likes them okay, but she says that she really likes the books better that I sometimes bring home, (they are softer on her gums and teeth)

The prices were so great for these and they are so sweet looking.... I had to bring them home with me! I know I'll be using them in some vignettes...

This week we did some antiquing too.... we went on a 3 day spring getaway trip to visit Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, Alabama, (the waterfall was beautiful),  and we did some junkin' along the way getting there too. We found a quaint and pretty historic downtown in Oxford, AL. and so we stopped at an antique shop there, there was a lot of unique things, and it was great for walking around and stretching our legs.... I found these charming vintage prints for $7, for the pair....I think these will be pretty in the fall months, in my home decor. I often find things out of season when I'm junkin', and then I just hold onto them for future decorating. 

Well, that's my latest junkin' finds this time...Happy Junkin' y'all!

Until next time...

Stay creative and have a beautiful day!

This week I'm linking up at these inspiring places...

Vintage Charm Party

Tuesday Turn About

Thursday Favorite Things

Karins Kottage

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

I Was Featured At Thursday Favorite Things...and A Thank You to Amber

I was happy to find that this past week, my Spring Home Tour post was featured at Thursday Favorite Things blog party, and picked as a Bonus Feature by Amber from the blog Follow the Yellow Brick Home, you can see it HERE and visit the other features there as well. I appreciate being included with all of the amazing features over there. It made my day! Thank you so much Amber!

If you don't already know Amber, she is so talented and creative, is a beautiful person and has such a pretty home and blog. She has been featured in numerous magazine publications...The Cottage Journal Magazine being one of them, (which is how I found her blog, many moons ago). To be inspired by a whole lot of pretty, be sure to visit her blog, you can get there by clicking HERE

If you missed my "Spring Home Tour" post, you can click HERE to see it. 

Until next time...

Stay creative and have a beautiful day!

Spring Home Tour

 It's March, and I've been decorating for spring, and today I'm sharing my Spring Home Tour...here's how everything is looking right now...

We'll start the tour in our tiny sitting room....

I mostly shop my shed for my decor, it's always so fun to dig around out there in storage totes to find things to use each new season or when the notion strikes me! Most of what you see me decorate with is things I already have had and have collected over time...most has been thrifted secondhand....and found at thrift stores, yard sales, indoor flea market booths, antique stores and other junkin' places....

There were several yard sales on the last Saturday of February (the weather was beautiful), and so we got out and found some things...

This vintage butler's tray was one of our finds, we got it for only $20

 

Now, we'll head into the living room....

The beautiful old chocolate pot with hand painted pink roses, was found at that same yard sale, and was only $2....

I've got pillow shams for the sofa and loveseat, for every season y'all! The pretty floral quilted ones are some thrifted ones I've had for years, and the green pillow cases are some I picked up recently at Ollie's Discount Store....they are Sunbean brand and were only $2.99 for the pair...

Now we'll head over to the kitchen/ dining area....

The vintage plates were from the same yard sale that the butler's tray was found....we got a set of 12 for $4, I only set out 6 of them here on the table...I think they are so beautiful! 

Well, that concludes my little Spring/Easter Tour....thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Wishing you a Happy Easter and Spring Season! 

Until next time...

Stay Creative and have a beautiful day!

I'm also on YouTube at Christie's Mobile Home Diary, and I have a Spring Home Tour Video, if you'd like to hop on over there to see it you can click the "My YouTube Channel" tab at the top of this webpage, or click HERE and I'll shuttle you over there. 

I'm linking up with these inspiring places this week:

 (click the links below to visit party hosts and other party participants)

Thursday Favorite Things

Vintage Charm Party

Share Your Style

You're The Star Blog Hop

Happiness is Homemade 

Tuesday Turn About

Karins Kottage Linky Party