Summer

Where is the summer going?? Just a blink and it's half over. So, what have I been up to?...

A craft show every weekend (for 8 weeks). Not only does this make every weekend hectic, but I need to be working during the week to restock!!

One of the shows was in Mackinaw City - so we were able to spend a few extra days there and also on Mackinac Island. We looked for a show there because we enjoyed it so much last year.

This little guy and his mom & dad are spending the summer with us. He takes up lots of my time. I guess I have replaced blogging time with time for him & I'm not missing the blog world as much as I thought I would (for now!!) I'll be back in the fall!

Peace

I've been going through the book, Bloom Before You're Planted, by Lizabeth Duckworth. (Check out the online study here.) The other morning I spent some time out on the deck reading, praying & thinking. It was quiet - except for lots of bird music :) The chapter on Peace was very good and I'll need to spend some time putting some ideas into practice. Lizbeth gave three practical ideas for nurturing peace:

• choose to manage your external world - In order to do this, I am attempting to de-clutter my home. I know that I will feel more at peace internally if things are simplified.
  
• make room for rest - The idea of rest always appeals to me!! :) Really, though...I need to plan for "constructive" rest. Reading, praying, relaxing, thinking and planning are things that cannot be pushed off time and time again. I need to carve out some time to plan for productive rest.


• cultivate mindfulness - This idea was explained as "not allowing your mind to be so full of to-do lists and inner dialogue that you lose track of your actions."

I'm looking forward to putting these three practical ideas into practice. They are not new & novel ideas, but ones that I need to be reminded of and remember to be mindful of!!

Pre-occupied

This little guy is spending a four day weekend with me while his mommy (my daughter) & daddy are in Maine. So far he is doing great!!! :)I don't think I'll be getting much accomplished. I'm mostly just sitting staring into those big blue eyes!!

And the Winner is...

I used Random.org and came up with #9

Which means, Jill of Bailiwick Designs, you are the winner of my Cottage Charm Giveaway!!

Thanks to all of you who stopped by my blog. I have enjoyed visiting other blogs as well!!

Rhubarb Crisp

Remember the rhubarb that was popping up not that long ago??? Well, it has grown ever so quickly and we were able to eat some of it today!!I'll share the recipe with you. It was delicious!!!

1 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 c. flour

3/4 c. quick cooking rolled oats

1/2/ c. melted butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine the above and mix together until crumbly.

Press half of the mixture into a buttered 8-inch square baking dish.

Top with 4 c. sliced rhubarb.

In a saucepan combine:

1 c. granulated sugar

2 tbsp. cornstarch

1 c. water

1 tsp. vanilla

Cook until clear, then pour over rhubarb.

Top rhubarb with remaining crumb mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.

Enjoy!!! :)

A New Look

Every time that I think that I have come up with the label choice to end all label choices,

I have another idea!!

This is what my soaps will look like this season. I like the small splash of extra color. Starting in June I have a craft show planned nearly every weekend throughout the summer.

I have several bins of soaps to wrap...I'd better get at it.

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway - HERE. I now have a large, new list of blogs to discover!!! Thanks to all of you for stopping by!!

Cottage Charm Giveaway

I am joining the Cottage Charm Giveaway giveaway hosted by Kim at One Woman's Cottage Life. Throughout the month of May, bloggers will be signing up and listing their giveaways!!

My giveaway will include 3 bars of my handmade glycerin soap, a mini-notebook/journal & a set of clothespin magnets. Here's how you can win: Leave a comment on this post telling me that you'd like to win!!! How easy is that???!!!

For a SECOND chance to win, leave a second comment telling me that you are a follower of my blog (and then sign up as a follower - see "followers" in my side bar).

For a THIRD chance to win, head on over to my etsy shop, take a peek & head back here and tell me what your favorite item is.

Make sure that you leave three separate comments so that you will be counted three times...tripling your chances of winning!!

The winner will be drawn on May 30th.

Now, head on over to Kim's and check out the list of giveaways!

What's On Your Nightstand - April

Today I am joinging in with 5 Minutes for Books to show you "what's on my nightstand." I always have several books going & right now I'm in the midst of some pretty good ones!

Sorry, no fiction right now...I just finished up a couple of those.

"The House That Cleans Itself" - is a book I've been working on for awhile. I am in the process of decluttering, purging & making everthing work towards cleanliness in my house!

"Bloom Before You're Planted" - I've just started skimming and will begin reading it in earnest this week. It is the book that will be used for an online study. Check it out here.

"Beauty by God" - is written by Shelly Balestero who was one of the speakers at the Woman Inspired Online Conference. It's a great book with lots of practical information.

"Clutter-Free Christianity" - I decided to get after I had heard some great recommendations on it. Since I'm decluttering my home...might as well work on the spiritual life as well. The book is about cutting through the clutter in order to get to the heart of what it means to please God and be like Christ in action & attitude. So far it's been a great read.

"What He Must Be" - by Voddie Baucham...I just bought that yesterday, but am about half way through. It is about what a man must be in order to marry my daughter. Very good book!! It covers so well what it really means to be a Christian & a leader. Excellent when helping your daughters make wise choices, but equally sobering when considering how to help train your sons in becoming that man.

5 Minutes for Mom & 5 Minutes for Books are having some GREAT Mother's Day Giveaways. (I mean GREAT...as in a Mini Laptop or digital camera great!!!!) Hop on over there and check them out!!!

I Found Something Beautiful!

Yesterday I stood outside on our back deck and took a look around me. Spring is not the prettiest sight in northern Wisconsin. It's almost depressing at times if you just take in the big picture. This morning I stopped by the Inspired Room. She challenged us to capture special moments and find or create something beautiful. This post made me stop and realize that there was some beauty out there...I just needed to find it!! This afternoon I spent some time removing leaves and winter debris from the flower gardens and found that the lilies are coming in nicely...
...so is the rhubarb (yum!)...

...and the daffodils are doing great!!

I feel sooo much better about it all now!! :) To top it off, it was over 70 degrees here today!!

I'd like to encourage you to go back to the top of this post, click on the link and head right on over to "The Inspired Room", because she is having a great giveaway. It is actually a KODAK EASYSHARE W1020 Wireless Digital Frame with Home Decor Kit valued at $269.95. Isn't that great??!!

A Woman Inspired Online Conference

Attending the Woman Inspired Online Conference last week was a HUGE blessing. I would encourage everyone to check out their website and make plans to attend the next conference which will be June 8-11. Having a conference online was a bit different, but actually worked out well, I thought. I didn't have to spend a lot of money to stay somewhere, and I didn't have to get all dressed up either!! :) Here's a blurb from their website about the upcoming conference:

About the A Woman Inspired Ministry: Online Conference:

Modern technology has opened up new doors of opportunity for
ministry. Women who were once confined to space and time due to duties at home
can now finish their tasks and sit down to a whole new mission field; one that
knows no limits. It is the Internet.How do you begin? What should your
boundaries be? Must I Twitter and Facebook? If so then what are the advantages.
Are these friendships that you are forming real or imagined? Do you need a blog?
How can you branch out?We have a team of ladies who are very educated in the
ways of the internet and online ministry. They can show you how to begin,
maintain, branch out, and even how to deal with adversity. This conference is
for anyone who is ready to make a difference via the internet.

Check out this page for information on several up-coming conferences!!