I LOVE MAIL!!!!

I have been so busy, busy, busy, I hope I am able to post all the pictures of the amazing, 

fun, relaxing, hard work things I have been up to this summer. 

I am still in the middle of painting, organizing, going to the airport, going out for dinner
and cooking dinner for guests, helping with wedding receptions,
coloring with grand girls, sewing fun things to play with at tea parties,
making cookies, getting professional family pictures taken, having 

welcome home parties, going to the beach and celebrating Christmas in August! 

Makes me tired just writing about it!!!! 

It has been hard work and lots of FUN!!!!

And in the beautiful middle of all of this, I received
a package... in the mail... 

From Australia!!!! 

Tag created by Suzi Q....so gorgeous!

Do you see the button on the left sidebar of my blog announcing a blog give away that 

Suzi Q from "Suziqu's threadworks" 
hosted on her "Where Bloggers Create " post?

I really enjoyed her post about where she creates, I have admired and loved her 

work since I started looking at blogs. I saw her give away,
 but you know, with her over 5,000 followers, I was completely sure I would not win it.

So, I posted her blog give away button to help others see her offering of a gift to a follower.

Tag created by Suzi Q,, love her love her Vintage laces!

Well, knock me down and pick me up, I am the blogger that won the 2nd place 

item she was offering to one of the many, Many, MANY bloggers who put 

her button on the sidebar of their blogs!!!!!  I was screamin' happy,

and that is NO exaggeration!! I could hardly sleep that night!

If you have not seen Suzy's creative genius, you will want to go to her  Blog and look around. 

You don't have to look far to see her amazing, gorgeous creations that will 

take your breath away..... I have wanted to touch something of hers for a long time. 

Every item is detailed and has a delicate beauty all its own...

This is Suzi Qs picture of the lace cuff she so generously offered bloggers who shared her giveaway link.

Her vintage lace books and journals, fabric books, quilts, her "heartstrings"....

(wonder why I'd like those!!!) doilies and tags are so detailed and so exquisite, 

my mouth is drops open the entire time I spend at her blog.

Created by Suzi Q

Her textures and fabrics are so interesting in every detail...I am in awe!

Doesn't Suzi Q make beautiful things????

This is the beautiful cuff she made and I received as the give away winner! It came "wrapped" in a pattern piece, and along with it came the gorgeous tag in the pictures above. She has used more than a dozen different kinds of laces on this cuff, 

Made by Suzi Q

It is covered in hand dyed lace motifs, vintage buttons, beads, pearls and vintage jewelry pieces.

Cuff made by Suzi Q

The vintage doilies look hand crotcheted and some are made with silken threads.
I love the jewelry pieces, vintage pearls and buttons she hand sewed onto
a base of vintage wool felt.  

Beautiful details by Suzi Q

I love the beaded flower and the hand stamped "Paris" on the pink and white pieces of fabric.

Suzi's pearls and bling and gauze, amazing combintions.

The vintage jewelry pieces and beads give so much detail to the piece, I just keep turning
and examining it and turning it again...

Suzi chooses beautiful embellishments...

My blue finger~nailed model was happy to be wearing it, I am not sure I can keep it off of her!!!
Suzy, she, the model, has decided that this is what we will be making for her bridesmaids
in the future dreamy wedding reception of hers, we have had such fun talking about it....
But first, she must find her prince, and she is just 17 so that is
certainly NOT at the top of her list in life right now!

Suzy also sent some pretty napkins with lovely images and sayings on them,
I look forward to using these on future projects!

I love how she nested the taupe~ish gray

pearls into the stained gauze, it is just so exquisitely Amazing! 

The gorgeous vintage lace cuff.......ah....I can't believe it is mine!!!!

I never thought I would win her give away, but I am so honored and thankful to Suzy for her generosity and kindness in making such gorgeous items and offering them to her follows as gifts!!!
 I hope I can make and offer something as wonderful to my followers one day!!! 

You know the professional pictures I mentioned? 

Wait till you see how I included the cuff!!!!

I think you will like it!

SUZY, YOU ARE SO AWESOME !!!

and so is your work!!! 

Thank you, so very much, dear friend!!!!

Hugs to you all!!!!

Betsy 

PS ~ Yes, I am aware that there are other punctuation marks on a keyboard 

in addition to an exclamation mark.  Just sayin'...

"So, what did YOU do last evening....?

You know, I am much happier when I get to

choose to defrost my freezer than when circumstances force me to do so...

Aren't YOU??????

This WAS one of the HAPPIER times I have cleaned my freezer, thank heaven!

Thanks to my partner in grime, dear friend Marcella, it only took me three hours to do it. I don't think I have EVER DONE IT that quickly, but I have not had help ever before either!

This is how it looks now, clean and organized and sorted, I only had to throw away a few things that had been in there too long. Now I have room for "guest food" when all my family is here in a few weeks. I am so excited! 

I have a long list of "To Do's", but at least One Freezer Cleaning is marked off the list!!! Yay!!!!

I had one of those milk chocolate Ice Cream bars as my reward!!!! 

You'll be seeing more of my "work" and organization.... I have to tell you I am getting organized!!! It IS a BIG deal for me to be organized! And raspberries are ripening as I type. 

I think I will make raspberry jam in bottles this year. I don't know if I will have time to clean out the chest freezer before they are ripe.

I am so proud of me!!!! What are you proud of yourself for?

Whatever it is.......YOU ROCK!!!!!

Hugs, 

Betsy

Some Additional Memorial Day thoughts for Your Heart's Consideration. . .

Grandma's War Poster

 I love this vintage war poster, “Duty Calls” produced in 1917 during World War I.  It belonged to my Husband’s Grandmother, and I keep it above our kitchen cabinetry with other vintage family items to remind us of soldiers who left their sweethearts, their families, even their lives to fight, and die for Freedom. I was raised by parents who were very grateful to be Americans and taught me to love my American Heritage, to value the freedoms that living in this country offered me, to show gratitude to the memory of those who died for our country. I remember my Father saying, “We are gong to the Cemetery to take flowers for Decoration Day” and I was confused. . .I didn’t know that was the previous name for “Memorial Day”, the day we honor and show appreciation for those who gave their lives for our freedoms. We generally take flowers to the cemetery in remembrance of those we love, as well, but this National Holiday was specifically started to honor and remember fallen soldiers.

 Papa’s scriptures, Granddad’s watch, a hymnbook from 1892 Hymn 194 ~ "God of our Fathers
Whose Almighty Hand" and scarlet ribbon given to me by Liz from Lalaland

My Mother’s Father, Papa, was a veteran of World War I. Isn’t he a handsome Papa? I love this kind hearted man who rarely raised his voice at me and called me “little lover”. He called all of us that. The Book of Mormon on the left of the picture was given to him in Belgium, on October 29, 1918, during World War I, as you can read in the picture below, if you look closely. It is hard to see, but the book has a curve to it, as if it had been kept in his pocket, where he could read it at any time.

How can I tell about that? Our son kept his pocket scriptures in his front pocket all through high school, so he could read them whenever he liked, and it has the same curve to it as this book has. Our son also looks much the same as Papa looked, when he was our son’s age. Papa’s book now belongs to our son. This book of scripture helped Papa, and continues to help our family, through difficult life “Battles”, where the opportunity to choose between “captivity and bonadage” or Freedom and liberty” continue to be a part of our lives. In our Congregation on Sunday, we had a speaker, 

 who shared some of his thoughts about Memorial day with us and I just really wanted to share some of them with you! He reminded us that those who have given their lives, did not give them for their “country”, but gave them for the people of their country, as well as people of other countries, to be able to continue to live, or begin to live, in freedom. He also reminded us that Jesus Christ lived and died to offer us the choice between captivity or freedom, through His Atoning Sacrifice. Other’s have given SO much for us they chose to give their lives and die for OUR freedoms, but what will we do with the “time” we have here on earth?
What do we CHOOSE to live for?

Husband's Father in the Navy during the Korean War, my Father's War Rations Book,
Papa's Funeral Program, Granddad's Watch

 Jesus taught in John 14:15 ~ "If ye love me, keep my commandments", and said in John 15:10 ~"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.   11~These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full.   12~This is my commandment, that ye love one anther as I have loved you.   13~Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.  14~Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” 

He asks us to do the will of the Father, as He has done. He lived his life by the Father’s will and gave His life so that we could be free.  In the patriotic Hymn, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, there is a line that says, “As he died to make men holy let us die to make men free, “ but Jesus also lived to teach us HOW to be free. A man by the name of David O. Mackay, who was the President of our church , and we believe a Prophet of the Lord, suggested that in our church hymn book we change the words of this line, and this is how we now sing this line: “As He died to make men holy, let us LIVE to make men free,” those of us still here can only now make a difference by how we choose to LIVE to make and keep men, women and children of every race, creed and color free, and honoring the memory of those who gave ALL they live for for us to have liberty. After listening to Brother Peterson, and feeling

Memorial Day Entry Table

the spirit in my heart, I left that meeting with a renewed desire to chose freedom for myself, for my husband, for my children, for their children, for our neighbors and for all those I love, whatever country they were born or live in. I desire to LIVE for freedom. To fight for the cause of Freedom, for the cause of God, for the cause of Religion, for the cause of Peace, for the cause of Jesus Christ. And to do that, I must fight to make and keep my heart a holy place so that I might live in love, honesty, integrity, service, compassion and peace and offer that to those I come in contact with. Even those who do not share my religious beliefs. These are noble pursuits, and I know it will take discipline on my part. It will take faith, an open heart and a contrite spirit, to offer my heart to God and to do His will so that I can "abide in HIS love". I want to let HIS " joy...remain in ME that MY joy might be full". . .and let Him change my heart . . .My mind asks "Can I really DO this completely with a sincere heart, having real intent and faith in Jesus Christ? And then I remember there are some things I do that can be a help already….I come from a singing family and it is easy for me to break into song at the sight of the American Flag. When I see military personnel in uniform in an airport, I spontaneously express gratitude to them for their hard work and sacrifices. I realize that I can sing to God and praise Him and ask Him to help me in this battle for my heart, to listen, hear and obey the will of the Lord, above the roar of the world, in quiet solitude, Love and Gratitude. My heart prays and sings:

“Oh be swift , my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, My Feet! Our God is marching on!”

"Battle Hymn of the Republic"

For your hearts consideration:

What will we do with the sacrifices of men and women’s lives on the battlefield, in the cause of peace?
What will I do with the freedom offered me by the 
sacrifice of the Savior? Will I allow Him in my heart?

Hearts of love and freedom, to all my friends and loved ones, and to those who do not even like me,

Betsy

Yes...You Are...

To all my lovely friends and followers,

My dear sweet friend Marcella's  Father passed away yesterday. There was a smile on his face and
a tear in his eye, just prior to taking his last breath.
 I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to say "Thank you for loving me just the way I am!" 
to him and to have had his influence and cheerfulness in my life.  

This joyous song has been going through my head since I left his home yesterday.
Please open this link to listen to the song as you read along.


How Bright Is The Day

How bright is the day when all people,

Receive the sweet message to come

To rise to the mansions of Glory

And be there, forever at Home.

And be there, forever at home,
And be there, forever at home,
To rise to the mansions of Glory
And be there, forever at Home.

The Angels stand ready and waiting,

The moment the spirit is gone,

To carry it upward to Heaven

And welcome it safely at Home.

And be there, forever at home,
And be there, forever at home.
To rise to the mansions of Glory,
And be there, forever at Home.

The Saints that have gone up before us 

All raise a new shout as we come

And sing "Hallelujah!" the louder

To welcome the travelers Home!

And be there forever at Home,

And be there forever at Home,

To rise to the mansions of Glory
And be there forever at Home,

And be there forever at Home,
And be there forever at Home,
To rise to the mansions of Glory. . .

And be there forever, and ever, and ever,
And be there forever and ever and ever, 

And be there forever and ever and ever and..
And be there forever and ever and ever
And be there, forever at Home!

Of course, I was crying all the drive home trying to sing this, and

I DO hope there aren't ANYMORE invitations sent for awhile

to this party going on in heaven right now...
Prayers are offered and blessings of peace and comfort
requested for 
The Holger and Wilma Johnson Family
as well as for all those affected by the events at
The Boston Marathon,
which pretty much includes us all. . .

My heart aches and rejoices at this time for those who have gone on before us,
as well as their families who mourn their departure.
My heart also aches and rejoices for those of us are still traveling here.
We will remember them, and keep them alive in our memory.
They will remember us, and Welcome us Home when is it our turn.

Heart Hugs to you all!

Betsy

A Beautiful Gift!

Our Sweet Daughters *1 and *2, Gigi and Cici,

 were recently together and lived in the 

same house for a month. They haven't lived 

in the same home for more than a week 

since they were both married, 8 years ago. 

Their hubbies were there also, as well as our two Grandgirls, who belong to Gigi and her hubby.

They have been very dear friends throughout 

their lives. Gigi lives in Germany with her family and Cici and her hubby live near us in 

Washington State. Recently, Cici and hubby went to Germany, and they had a wonderful 

time with Gigi and her family!

My Sweet Daughters know 

how much I loved the Frankfurt "flohmarkt", flea market, when I went to Germany last 

summer and they promised they would go and 

find me lace and pretty things there!

AND THEY DID!!!

Aren't these gorgeous lace pieces they found for me? I was so excited! I sent with Cici some Euros that were left from my last trip to Germany and she knew what kinds of things I would buy...

she has watched me and I sent pictures to her phone as well! There were old laces 

and new laces and duplicates of a few... 

so much fun and plans...

I have plans!

The lace on the bottom is a round table cloth that I found at the flohmarkt last summer.  I have used it for our cider tasting events on top of other table cloths and on our own table. I love it, and thought it would be a great base for these other laces. 

Each of the lace motifs on the cake stand are one of a pair. The mat underneath our Hot Cocoa Urn is a single place mat that I know exactly what it will be used for! A beautiful shabby chic lace organizer to place in my armoire....see, more plans...I am a very good planner, but not always a good finisher.
I have to get up my courage to begin projects.  Sometime I will tell you about the Hot Cocoa Urn story...my children are HILARIOUS!!!!

Here is a larger picture of the place mat. I absolutely LOVE each piece of lace and my sweet daughters told me how much fun they had hunting for for things for me at the flea market. Their husbands watched and walked around looking for their own "treasures" and  when SonIL*2 asked Gigi if she ever when to the flea market for herself, she said, "Actually ...no! It's so much fun to go for other people!" The girls said that they were so excited to find things for me, much more excited than they would be finding things for themselves. Aren't they complete Dears to me?

How sweet of them to take the time and trouble to find things their Mother would love... and I still have a few old silver mustard spoons and serving spoons coming in the mail! They purchased some other items and said....

"Mom, you can't have all these things, we want some!" What could I say? Thank you, thank you, dear darling girls of mine, for loving me enough to spend some of you limited time together looking for things to make you Mama smile!

I love your Sweet Hearts!

(as well as your sweet husbands!)

And my sweet kind followers...

I love your hearts as well!

Betsy




I am linking this post to
Blissful Whites Wednesday

over at Becky's
Timewashed Blog

as well as at
Pearls and Lace Thursdays

at Doni's
Faith, Grace, and Crafts

What a Happy Surprise!

Oh, My Goodness!
I am so thrilled that I had so many bloggers interested in my little space of Blogland!
Surprised, and happy, and excited and surprised and....you know what I mean!
It has been so much fun getting to know you all a little through your comments here and looking at your blogs.
Vicki from 2 Bags Full Blog, thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart for taking the time and effort for us to all benefit from your wonderful blog and blogging expertise! You and your "team" are amazing!

Those of you who found me through this party I am so glad you came! Hope you find ideas and fun and recipes and comfort you might enjoy.... Thank you all for your kind comments and sharing with me.

I am trying to see if I can post a decent blog post with my phone here so we shall see if THIS will happen again from the phone! Wish me luck!

Happiness to you from my heart, and believe it or not, my master bathroom! That is where this picture was taken!

Well, that much was from the phone camera.....I needed more light in the picture....I don't know how to put a picture in the middle of the post, or if I even can. I didn't see anywhere on my phone that I could adjust that....I really like being able to edit the pictures...I bet there is a phone app for THAT! So...

if any of you know anything about how to do this with a phone or where I can find information about how to do it....please let me know!!  (I am on the computer now, so I could look at it and fix the info to link to Vicki's Blog...)

A few new pictures this morning, checking out the light ...

This one doesn't really look much different than the first... It has been so cloudy here, the daylight isn't bright at all.
I will keep working at it and maybe get better!

By the way, I love my terracotta cherub bell...I have peach, mostly a slightly pink peach, not apricot, throughout my house. I have a few different versions of cherubs, all terracotta, and I am contemplating painting them with a fairly thin wash, so they look softer, but the peach still shows through...What do you think....??

Have a beautiful day! Hearts to you!

Betsy