My Friday Favorites...a day late

A while back I promised to post some pictures of my daughter Elizabeth's ceramics that she made her senior yr. of school. She made quite a bit of it..
These 2 lovely little dishes...the girls' prom flowers are in them..(they've went to a lot of prom's and Christmas dances..)

A purple pitcher that she made for me....It's really unusual...but I like it :)

A close up of the one with her name on it..It's so pretty..and it's shiny blue inside too!
This is the turtle that she made for Sam. It sits on my computer desk next to where my mouse is..it's a favorite too!
That's about all for now...These were supposed to be my Friday Favorites, but I wasn't able to get on here to post. Elizabeth loved her ceramic class and we loved what she brought home.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

I couldn't help myself...I'm in the mood for Autumn...hence, the blog change. I love Fall and this background reminded me of quilt squares...

Hugs to everyone!!

Never apart, maybe in distance,

but not in heart.

Author Unknown

With Love to All, Jerelene

Flowers and More...

Hello to everyone! The lovely Mary Poppins music is in tribute to Marcy... at Blessing Each Day's post about sugar. She is a very sweet friend and everyone should check out her blog...she's on my sidebar...Go for a visit!!! My old-time clematis has finally bloomed! She was worth waiting for :)She smells just heavenly...She is growing all over about half or more of my clothes line..I will share though! It smells a lot like honeysuckle and the smell is just wafting all throughout the yard. I LOVE it!
And she's pretty too!
Mark is staying busy picking all the tomatoes and we're still getting some squash and zuchinni too..I hate to say it..but I'm kind of looking forward to it coming to a close for the season. I'm tuckered out :) If any of you know anything about saving corn stalks for decorating with..I'd love some info. I don't know if to pick them and dry them or if to leave them where they are...I want to decorate for fall with ours..Any info for me the dummy..would be greatly appreciated :)
I wish this picture would have shown you a peek at our albino zucchini..we've had one plant that has grown very pale, almost white zucchini all season long. I think he was way on the right and I didn't get him in the picture :(

All of that lead to lots of this...and this is just a peek into the pantry.. some of what I've been having fun with!! There's lots of other frozen goodies too..And this is our dear sweet pumpkin and his buddies...he really is getting big and it's hard to tell by this picture...We really like him and his friends..a lot! :) I've lost track...I think there's big guy and maybe 2 others that are turning a lovely orange...and there's a few new babies too...Life is Good here in the pumpkin patch! They make me very happy..always a smile when I go out to take a peek...

And this...is my poor old pink rosebush.. She's had a terrible time with yellow leaves. I was told she's kind of old fashioned and has been here a very long time. I've tried to get out and cut the yellow leaves off and cut back after the blooms some...but of lately I've not had the time. I thought this bloom was pretty and that she deserved to have her day in the spotlight too! I do love pink roses. In the spring, when she first started blooming..she was really lovely. I even brought blooms in and put them in vases. If I could keep the little fur babies from weeing on the bottom of her..I'm sure it would help :)
We do have some fencing around the bottom and that helps a little...

Friendship's Flower

Life is like a garden

And friendship like a flower,

That blooms and grows in beauty

With the sunshine and the shower.
And lovely are the blossoms

That are tended with great care,

By those who work unselfishly

To make the place more fair.
And, like the garden blossoms,

Friendship's flower grows more sweet

When watched and tended carefully

By those we know and meet.
And, if the seed of friendship

Is planted deep and true

And watched with understanding,

Friendship's flower will bloom for you.

~Helen Steiner Rice~

I hope that your tomorrow is Happy and Blessed!

With Love, Jerelene

Someday..I'll have some free time again :)

It was a nice first day of school here at the Postin house. Sam did really well and I didn't get frustrated...YEAH!! As I told some of you Sarah is going to be participating in the GED class through the local school corporation. She will take a practice test and then they will do classes with her on tues. and thurs. evenings on any parts that she didn't pass on the practice test. We gave her the choice of just getting a homeschool transcript and working with me in this..her senior yr. or doing the GED classes. I think she was kind of tired of working with me and wanted her days free to work at her job. She works at the local Tractor Supply and has been there a yr. now. I'm really kind of relieved..this gives me a lot more one on one with Sam and eliminates the arguing which happened occasionally between she and I. She can be a little hard headed sometimes. I guess that's somewhat normal for a 17 yr. old. But..this does make it a little more her responsibility to get things done. I actually think that will be better than trying to get her to do things for me. She didn't start homeschooling until her sophomore yr. She went to church school her freshman and sophomore yr. At the end of the sophomore yr. we came back home to homeschool. I should say...she spent a couple of months her freshman yr at public school and it just wasn't working..at all. I am not a bit sorry for pulling her out either. The time she spent at the church school and here at home was good..she did learn and wasn't around the crowd that she was around at the public school. We did still have some troubles with her...but all in all I wouldn't change things from what we did...Sam started homeschooling at the start of 2nd grade...he is in 6th grade this yr. and does very , very well with homeschooling.
I haven't felt well yesterday or today..I run a fever quite often and started running one again this weekend. I do think I've been doing a little too much..I'm going to be taking all of your sweet advice's and taking it easy for a while. My heart problem has been giving me a good kick too..so yes...it's time to slow down a bit. I have mitro-valve problem and when I do too much it really starts skipping and making me short of breath. My arthritis is also giving me a fit and so I sat around a lot today and yesterday. I always tend to overdue in the summer. I don't know why that is..but it always seems like there is just so much to do! Does anyone else overdue it in the summer too?
I thought maybe you might like to see some pictures of some of my hobbies when I'm not so busy with veggies. I'm hoping very soon to have a little free time to enjoy some of these again....:)
This is the raggy squares I started on for Elizabeth...Don't you just love the sweet smile on the butterflies face?
I love the little ladybugs...and the green fabric is sparkly...there's another square with the center fabric in it...underneath the little rooster...it says..all things grow with love :)
Yummy, yummy!! The little words say I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

This is just a basic square block throw quilt...well, it will be eventually :) Do you see the sweet little dragonflies and raggedy ann and andy? Oh yes...the sweet little cherries too?

The little girl one in pink is my absolute favorite!! It shows her doing laundry, gardening, ironing and cooking on a little cookstove..you can see the little black chimney at the bottom of the square ;)

I'm hoping to put a back on it and finish it this fall...Sam's is pretty well ready to quilt too...then I got so busy...and a little scared...and haven't finished it yet. When I got the quilting foot it was harder than I thought it would be. I thought I would try to practice on a few things before I started quilting on his...this little project may get done first as a learning experience..

Sometimes if I get the chance I sit down and knit some pretty little dishcloths too! I usually end up giving them to my Mom...she likes them so well and I like giving them to her...sometimes she uses them and sometimes she just sits them around and shows them off :) I love the way the cotton yarn feels..I just hate that purl stitch..it makes me mad sometimes!!

Well, that's it for me tonight! I'm off to bed..I've not been sleeping well either. Is it possible to feel so tired or crummy that you can't sleep? That's kind of how it's been for me lately :(

I wish I could just lay down and sleep...really sleep and not toss and turn and roll around all night. I am cutting back on the caffeine. I think it may be part of many of the problems I've been having. I hope everyone has a great Thursday and that it will be blessed and happy!!

No quotes tonight...just sweet dreams to everyone and many hugs :)

With Love, Jerelene

Hello!

Hello to everyone! It was a busy weekend here...lots more time spent in the kitchen for me. Salsa, zuchinni relish and zuchinni bread were some of the things made other than the mess. Wow..you really do make a mess when you can..at least I do. When I get finished with the actual canning..then you get to the not so fun part of cleaning everything up :( Yesterday and today I have just tried to take it easy. We officially start school tomorrow..so I felt like I needed to rest a little.
I got the nicest card last week from Marcy...she sent me a card to let me know she was thinking of me. After Mark didn't get a good call saying he would be starting after the much anticipated interview..I had been pretty bummed to say the least. Even though..they did say not to get upset that they would be hiring some more after school started..I am trying to keep my chin up and concentrate on that...Marcy's card stated that when life gives you lemons..make lemonade. I am trying to do just that...It was full of wonderful Bible verses and recipes. I would love to make a lemon meringue pie..I've never made one!! What a sweetheart Marcy is! She is very thoughtful and helpful to everyone she meets. I'm so very sure that Heaven is smiling down on her :) Thank You Marcy!!

I posted previously that we had been busy painting...so I thought I would share a couple of pics...


And this is the Canna that I'd been anxiously waiting to open....isn't it pretty? I gave Mrs. Cow something to really smile about :)
I just realized I didn't take a picture of the shutters...duh!! Well, they're grey now too..They look a lot better now than they did. I'm very happy with the results. Now my next big project is hopefully going to be to finish things in the kitchen. I just love the kitchen shown here...actually I love a lot of the rooms on here...but be sure to scroll down and check the kitchen out..it's beautiful!! (Eileen..this made me think of you!)
For all of you village pen-pal r's....I would love to hear from all of you that participated. It would just be nice to know that everyone sent and received :) I'll be mailing mine out tomorrow (So, Lori...keep your eye out for a card :) And if any of you haven't met Lori...please check out her blog and get to know her as she's participating in the pen-pal exchange :) and will eventually be your partner!
It's been scorchingly humid and hot here...It's stormed here off and on the last couple of days. I am hoping that it will cool off a little tomorrow. The horrible humidity has been giving me the worst headache. It always does...and the rain makes my joints ache horridly..I've been that way since I was a child. I guess it's just something you sort of get used to..sort of..
Tomorrow will be kind of busy...but I'll try to prepare a little something tonight for tomorrow..
I hope your week so far has been a good one...and that tomorrow will be even better :)
There is no distance too great between friends..for love gives wings to the heart.
~Elizabeth Koehler~
Friends are angels...following you through life.
~Melissa~
With Love, Jerelene

Pen Pal Exchange

Good Morning!
I kind of took Lori @ Morning Glories and Moonflowers suggestion for picking partners this time. I still haven't heard back from Fiona yet and I need Diana to let me know for sure if she wants to..She left a comment on Marcy's page that she did want to so all I need is Diana to E-mail me her address. Since I don't know for sure on Fiona we'll go ahead and make a list without her this time and since I know she did want to pen-pal with at least me...I'll take Fiona too. Marcy, is there any way that you could try to get Tamara's address? If anyone else would like to send her a card that would be great :) I think we'll stick to once a month for now and see how that works. I don't want to overwhelm anyone. And like I posted before...it doesn't have to be a huge letter..just a card with a few kind words inside and that's all :) Based on my comments from last night...This time will do it like this...
Jerelene---and Lori @ Morning Glories and Moonflowers (I'll also write Fiona @ There's More to this Life) and Tamara maybe?
Eileen and Marcy
Jackie and Diana...(Diana I need your address :)
If that sounds good for everyone then we'll go with that for this time..And Marcy..that's sounds good to let Sam pick names. I'll definately do that next time...we'll make sure everyone gets a different partner each time:) I'm excited and I hope that you all are too!!
I'll try to post a little something with some pictures later today...I've got a few errands to run..Today is the last day for Summer Reading at the library. I've got to turn the last few of Sam's books in so he can get credit. Monday they have a pool party and drawing for prizes :)
If anyone knows of someone I've missed or overlooked I greatly apologize...I've had a lot on my mind...just let me know and I'll make it right..Would Bernie be interested?

I'm off for now!! Love to All... Jerelene

I'm back!! Did you miss me?

Sam and I went to the library today..I felt like I needed to get out of this house..desperately! We actually did a little school work. We've been studying ants. We did some notebooking and then Sam played and I went looking for books to sooth myself :) I actually found some too! I picked out several home decorating books..4 I think. We've been doing some painting on the outside of the house. The foundation was a very ugly faded red. And the shutters were just faded out to an unrecognizable color. I decided on gray for the foundation and shutters and black doors. I think Mark thinks I've cracked up on picking black for the doors. But I love it! I will try to post some pictures of that tomorrow..The house is just white but needs painting too...So now we're discussing that. That will be a long time off, but I'm thinking a cream color would be pretty..
I found a book at the library that I just LOVE! It's all about aprons. It has the most beautiful pictures of vintage aprons..and shows how to make some of them too! If you have the opportunity to check this out at your library, you would definately enjoy it..
See what I mean about the pictures!! They are gorgeous!!
Last winter we had a terrible ice storm here. My bored self made a feeble attempt at making an apron from scratch..It has straps that go around your neck with the little red hearts that my sewing machine makes where the straps are attached. It also has 2 large pockets at the bottom. I put a raggy heart with big stitches on it too...I love old vintage looking fabric..
Here is what the heart stitches and fabric look like up close...

And this is the raggy stitched heart..

It's not anything wonderful...but it kept me from going stir crazy..and it turned out kind of cute I think ;)

One of the decorating books that I got at the library had this picture of a cute kitchen that made me think of Eileen! Eileen can you guess why this would make me think of you? Sorry for the glare..I tried a couple times and it still looked like this...But, I could definately work in this kitchen..I love the little pink shade on the lamp and the little pink hints here and there..I love the polk-a-dot dishes too! Marcy...these are for you!! Mickey absolutely loves the chew bones that you sent..he doesn't like sharing them with Teddy either..If Teddy grabs one, Mickey takes it from him the minute he lets go of it...then he goes and hides it. He keeps one close to him at all times though. I have to take it from him when he goes out to the bathroom...This is him napping...with his bone..
Here he is chewing away with delight! Notice how he holds on to it too..
This one is him chewing it on the side...while laying down... He really does love it..if he could talk he would definately thank you!

Poor Teddy trying to sleep...Mickey is on cat patrol...He hates cats...sorry all of you cat lover's...
But Mickey thinks they are the enemy...He spends his day looking out the window and when he spots one of them...he growls and goes crazy!

Well...here's a couple of last photos for you....What do you think of this? I kind of like it? I think it's definately colorful...and I think I could work in it...what do you think?
Here are the last 2 pictures for now...Mark told me he saw a house like this in the town near where we live. I kind of like it...But I'm not ready to do something that drastic...I definately think you'd have to have the right roof and all the right little extras to pull this off...But I do think it's kind of pretty...Any thoughts?
I think everyone would definately remember visiting if you lived here!

"The happiest moments my heart knows are those in which it is pouring forth its affections to a few esteemed characters." ~Thomas Jefferson~

~We are angels with only one wing...we can fly only embracing each other~

Thanks for all the kind words and prayers...it means the world to me to know that you care!!

My Mom reminded me today that the phrase that I always use on my children also applies to me...That God has a reason and knows exactly what he's doing and why things happen the way they do...Sometimes I guess, I just have to be reminded of what I actually say...I guess we tend to forget when it actually applies to us personally...Thanks for being there!!

With Love, Jerelene

P.S. I will try to get something together tomorrow for pen-paling....If everyone that wants to do it could leave me a comment...I'll put everyone's names down and then maybe everyone can just pick someone for this month...I feel like I'm probably not thinking straight so bear with me. Just comment me and I'll name you tomorrow and then everyone can comment tomorrow as to who they pick for this month...Does that sound ok? Talk to everyone tomorrow!! :)

A quick note..

Just a quick note to everyone...I've not fallen off the earth or anything:)
I've just had so much to do and not enough of me to do it all..so the blogging has kind of been set to to the side for a bit. The tomatoes are now coming in like crazy so I am fixing to start canning. That and a few pickles.
Mark got a call last night and didn't get hired for either the full or part-time. The guy that called said they would probably be hiring some more part-time's in a couple of weeks after school starts and not to get discouraged..We are discouraged...greatly:(
I'll try to get back on tomorrow and visit everyone and post something worthwhile. Right now I just don't have it in me...
All of my friends that are wanting to pen-pal...I've not forgotten you. I think I just need a day or two to kind of absorb this and then I'll be able to get back with everyone..
Love to everyone....
Jerelene