Oh, mercy me

 Wishing you a safe and happy day!

meow!

My daughter's friend, H,

found a pumpkin,

actually two pumpkins,

joined at the stem. 

With a little paint and creativity,

she turned those little pumpkins into

this adorable black cat,

complete with

pine needle 

whiskers!

How

cute

is

 that

?

a sweet find...

 ...from the local thrift shop ($2.99)

a labor of love

I feel blessed.

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near.

6Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

 7And the peace of God,

which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true,

whatever is noble,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable

-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-

think about such things.

9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,

or seen in me—put it into practice.

And

the

God of peace

will be

with

you.

thanks for coming!

Thanks so much to those who

stopped by yesterday

for my

 pumpkin inspiration party. 

I appreciate it more than you know. 

I have a special gift, a door prize of sorts, 

for

 Julie @ http://www.glamandglitterythoughts.com/,

and

 Jan @ http://wwwbobbypinsboardwalk.blogspot.com/

If you email your address I'll get them sent out ASAP!

Blessings!

come to the party!

 welcome

to my

pumpkin inspiration party!

So glad you're here!Can't wait to see what you've created!

Would you care for a drink?

I have mulled cider, a variety of soft drinks,

and you've gotta know I love a theme...

because I've got

jekolantern pumpkin wine

and

jones pumpkin pie soda!

(I don't think that the lizard on

the label looks very appealing, but...)

Does he look

familiar

to

anyone?

pumpkin paper lanterns just for fun!

Love this chandelier!

I'd like to set out some goodies on this table.

Can I interest you in a generous slice of

Chocolate Pumpkin Cake (Country Living)?

Maybe a Mini Pumpkin Cake (Martha Stewart)?

Or Gramma's Famous Peanut Butter Squares

dressed up in pumpkin candies and butter leaf cookies (my own!)?

I'll post the recipe later.  So easy and a hit at every family party!

Perhaps a Fancy Caramel Apple?

Mmmm, delish!

There's Fall Party Mix, too! 

On the table by the window...

Grab a handful!

Fall Party Mix
Mix together:
5 cups of Chocolate Chex(tm) Cereal
1 bag Brachs(tm) Autumn Mix
2 cups of lightly salted peanuts
You can also spread this mixture out on a cookie sheet,
or waxed paper, and drizzle it with melted chocolate,
or white chocolate. Let it cool, then break it apart.
Yum, I love sweet and salty snack mixes.

"Mumkins" on the cofee table in front of the fireplace...

Oh, a person can dream!

I must go to attend to a few family duties

as we prepare for my dear Dad's funeral,

but I will be checking on each of you at some point today. 

I didn't want to cancel the party as it's been so long "in the works."

 I know you'll be understanding, my blogger friends. 

Mingle...I'll be back!

pooh and his honey pot

for O-----

lightning mcqueen

for D-----

Thanks for coming!

Come again! 

Good night!

Most of these inspiring ideas are from Martha Stewart, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens, and Southern Living.

love you, dad

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;

then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part;

 then I shall know fully,

even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain:

faith,

hope

and

 love.

 

But

the

greatest

of

 these

is

love.
1 Corinthians 13

The Lord in his mercy came this evening to take my Dad to be with him.

 My heart aches with the loss, but my Spirit rejoices in Christ, my Saviour.
Dad has found
Peace.
Rest.
Joy.
Like none we've ever known here on earth.
Thank you, Jesus.
Love you, Dad.
I'll
miss
you
always.
But we'll meet again,
and when we do,
there will be
no
more
cancer
or
death
or
tears.

Until then,
I'll always be,
your girl.
XXOO

"You’re the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold.

You're daddy's little girl, to have and hold.
A precious gem is what you are;
You're mommy's bright and shining star.
You’re the spirit of Christmas, the star on the tree.
You’re the Easter Bunny to Mommy and me.
You’re sugar, you're spice, and you're everything nice
And You’re Daddy’s Little Girl.
You’re a treasure I cherish, all sparkling and bright.
You were touched by a Holy and beautiful light;
Like the angels who sing, a heavenly thing;
And you’re Daddy’s Little Girl."

I can still hear him singing.

just for laughs

Some pumpkins can be so naughty!

Others are just plain lovely!

Looking forward to seeing your inspiring ideas next week!

Grab my button to add to your blog.

(I think hope I finally figured out how to do it!)

Leave a comment and I'll add your link to my
partygoer list!

Wishing you a day with a

perfect mix

 of

 laughs

and

loveliness

!

PS  If you're planning on participating and you're not yet on my list of partygoers,

please let me know and I'll link you right up! :)

happy vbf!

I found this at the local thrift shop. 

It looks hand embroidered.

I wasn't exactly sure what it was,

but I liked it and I thought that

  maybe one of my VBF friends

 could tell me if it has any

other purpose besides

just

being

pretty!

Happy VBF!

more pumpkin inspiration

candlesandsoap.com

betterhomesandgardens.com

See my posts from October 5th and October 9th

for details about the

pumpkin inspiration party

 I'm hosting on the 24th!

Hope you'll join me!

Lord, have mercy, please...

{Details for the pumpkin inspiration party can be found in my two previous posts.}

My Dad

spent a good portion of this summer filling out  forms and

visiting doctors to determine the best course of action to

fight

his

cancer.

Well, I'm afraid that the

cancer

seems

to

be

winning.

Amazingly, my sweet, little mom seems to be mustering

up a great deal of strength to handle each day. 

And my brother has been a godsend, truly.

 I don't know what we would have done if he wasn't here.

I, on the other hand,

despite a deep and abiding faith, 

feel as if I am on an emotional roller coaster

and find myself in tears at the drop of a hat.

We should know more

when the tests come back that determine

just how badly the cancer has spread.

The hospice nurse comes tomorrow.

Just a few short weeks ago

Dad looked like the picture of health.

Now he is just hanging on.

Mom said today,

"He is in God's hands."

There could be no place better, really.

I'll just miss him so much.

When I was just a little girl, my mom taught Sunday school.

I remember she had us memorize the Bible verse that says,

In my Father's house are many mansions:

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again,

and receive you unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be  also.

                          John 14: 2-3 KJV

I love the imagery

of

Jesus

coming

to

take

us

 to

be

with

 him.

In His time...

May my Dad find

Peace.

Rest.

Joy.

in the

arms

of

our

Saviour.

you're invited

   to a  pumpkin inspiration party!

on

 Saturday, October 24th, 2009.

 To participate all you have to do is

post your own fall decorating ideas 
 that highlight pumpkins and gourds!
Let's try to come up with some ideas that are
unique and special like these.

I posted other favorites in my last post.
I will run a blogroll of each "pumpkin party participant"
to the right on my sidebar so that we can visit and
chat and gather ideas and inspiration from one another.

Please ask your readers to check my blog for links

 to other participants "attending" the party.
I don't really celebrate Halloween,
but I do hand out candy to little Trick -or Treaters,
and I absolutely LOVE the beauty of the fall season. 
Maybe, like me, you've been looking for a creative outlet
and a way to express honor and glory
to
the One
who
created
it
 all.
Perhaps you'd like to bring a special
fall dessert (recipe) to share as well.

Oh, we'll have so much FUN!
I'll be sure to have plenty of apple cider,
and a couple of gifts for the party peeps
(to be drawn randomly).
Hope you can come!
Blessings!

I just realized that although it still feels like Friday night,
it's already after midnight,
 but I still have a couple of pics to post of my vintage black friday find. :)
I've been trying to remember who it was that found a lovely black velvet purse.
Was it you?
I didn't find one myself, but I did find this cute velvet hat!

 My daughter walked in as I was shooting  this  pic,

so I had her model it for me.

Kinda cute, huh?
Happy VBF!
Blessings!

pumpkin inspiration

I

I've been searching google images

 for inspiring pumpkin decorating ideas.

These are some of my favorites.

{most of these are from BHG and Martha Stewart}

I'm thinking about hosting

a pumpkin decorating party. 

If I did

would you come

and

invite

all your

blog

 friends

?

vintage black friday

I almost bought this tray a couple of weeks ago

at the local thrift shop, but changed my mind.

I looked for it last week,

wishing I'd just bought it,

but couldn't find it.

I popped in again today and was surprised and happy

that it turned up under a pile of dishes,

just in time for

vintage black friday!

Click the button

on my sidebar

and

you

too

can

join

 in

 the

F

U

N

!

 

another giveaway!

To celebrate her etsy shop update

http://mysocalledjunkylife.blogspot.com/

will be giving away a $50. gift certificate!

Just leave a comment between now and October 10.

Again, if I don't win, I hope you do!

But...

I

really

hope

I

win

!

giveaway

Just found out about a giveaway at Flea Market Style! 

If I don't win this Tomboy Toolbelt I hope you do!

Register here:

http://fleamarketstylemag.blogspot.com/

or click on the button on my sidebar!