The little touches
06
March
Annette

tulips

We had a showing at our old house today – the first “second showing” we’ve had in a long time. So we thought we’d add a few little touches to the house (it’s empty) to warm it up a bit.

We mixed up some cookie dough and baked it there for a good homey smell (yum), plugged in the ipod to have a little background Bach playing and added some flowers including these lovely tulips in the kitchen windowsill.

I remember when we were looking at this house (the one we’re living in now), how the owners made sure to have a log in the fireplace going, music playing and candles, etc to make the house look homey. I’m convinced it help to sway us to make an offer – those little touches.

The benefit of doing that today was, we got to take all the touches back home with us – the flowers and the cookies specifically!

The tulips then donned our table helping, along with some candlelight, to make our pretty simple meal of Taco Salad into a very nice dinner.

I hope you all had a good day too!

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Tell Me Thursday – 3/4/2010
03
March
Annette

Yesterday I posted this photo of our newest “pet”…
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Cute isn’t he? (she? it?) Please note, although I wish I could say it’s snowing in this shot, it’s not. It’s just a dirty window. But spring is coming … and I digress…

He really is cute but a bugger. Here’s why.

For several months now, I’ve been putting songbird food on our kitchen window ledge to encourage the birds to stick around through the winter. They’re so wonderful to watch while doing the dishes or cooking – just makes the day more pleasant to see them. The chickadees are my favorite but I really enjoy the finches and juncos too. And we even get an occasional cardinal in the tree close by, though I’ve never seen him actually come up on the ledge.

In the morning when I first get up, I fill up my water kettle for tea. Like an alarm clock the birds hear the water pipes start coming out from the trees and under the deck because they know my next move is getting a scoop of seed and opening the window to pour it out on the ledge.

Well, a few days ago, our new friend was watching from the trees. And he got bold and jumped from the railing of the deck to the window ledge. Now mind you, this window is on the main level and we have a walk out basement so it’s a pretty risky jump to a fairly small ledge.

We enjoyed watching him for a few minutes but any time we’d move near the window he’s scamper back off, then come back again. Eventually he showed no fear and we could tap on the window and he’s still stay. The birds tried to come back and he’d kind of shoo them off. Bugger. The only way I could get rid of him was to flip the latch on the window … but again that only lasted a few minutes. And this was still the first day!

The next day I came down to fill my kettle and who do you think is already on the ledge waiting? Yep. Him. (Her? It?)
squirrel

Sigh. Not just sitting and waiting but with paws on the window looking in. This from the guy who practically fell off the ledge when we even moved less than 24 hours earlier. Bugger. I wish I could have gotten a shot of him with his paws on the window. It really was cute.

So now I think I need a plan b for our sweet birdies. They depend on us but Squirly doesn’t leave much for them and I’m not going to spend all morning shooing him away. Any ideas?

Thanks for stopping by and reading this Tell Me Thursday. Visit the site at www.TellMeThursday.com to post your own story and visit other folks who enjoy telling the stories behind their Wordless Wednesday posts.

Category: Tell Me Thursday  One Comment
Wordless Wednesday 3/3/2010
03
March
Annette

squirrel

Category: Wordless Wednesday  4 Comments
Tell Me Thursday – 2/18/2010 – Shortcut
18
February
Annette

So yesterday I posted this photo of our kitty cat, Jojo:
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Jojo is our “outdoor” kitty. I say outdoor in quotes because much of her time is spent in her “condo” – our greenhouse off the side of our home. It’s safe from coyotes and other varmits, warm in the sunshine and nice and roomie. She has a heated mat to lay on when it gets super cold and her digs are quite comfortable. Because of this, encouraging her to get out and “play” is sometimes a challenge. My oldest is charged with the duty of encouraging Jojo to enjoy the run of the land – which means occasionally she has to pick her up and put her outside. :)

Anyway, last week we had some gorgeous sunny days so Jojo was actually playing somewhat in the yard. The birds like to tease her – sit on limbs and chitter at her as if to say “you fat cat, you can never catch us”. They’re right. But that doesn’t stop her from trying.
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“I think I can get that one…”
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“Hmmm… that’s pretty far up there…”
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“I’ll try a shortcut…”
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“There we go … now… let’s… see…”

At this point she heard us at the window and got distracted and wanted to say hello to us… the bird flew off, she jumped down and came over to ask to be let back into the “condo.” So much for exercise.
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So that’s my Tell Me Thursday for this week. I hope you enjoyed it. Check out other TMT participants and add your story for others to read over at TellMeThursday.com

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Who is in control?
17
February
Annette

We KNOW who is in control. So why do we worry?

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all. Psalm 103:19(NASB)

For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with a skillful psalm.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits on His holy throne.
The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham,
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
He is highly exalted. Psalm 47:7-9 (NASB)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NASB)

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Wordless Wednesday – Shortcut
17
February
Annette

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Category: Wordless Wednesday  2 Comments
Singing for the folks – again
12
February
Annette

I know, I know. You all are probably tired of seeing my kids sing. Tough. :)

They did their “bit” for the folks at the retirement home again yesterday and of course, the folks loved it – they always do. Every winter for the past few days they’ve added this song in to their repertoire (which is mostly hymns, psalms and a few extras) because it’s fun. You’ll hear the original CD in the background – by the VonTrapp children (click on the link if you want to see which CD it’s on).

We’re still trying to track down an accompaniment track for this but until then, they’ll just have to sing along to this.

Actually that’s how my girls started in “performing” with the folks. We’d just bring along their favorite CDs and they’d sing along as the professionals sang. It gave them some needed support in the years before their voices matured and gave them a bit of confidence to have the “real” thing in the background. So if you’ve ever wanted to have your little ones start doing something like this for a retirement or nursing home, give it a try. The folks really do love it when little ones (and young adults) visit and entertain.

Enjoy!

Click HERE to see all the Von Trapp Children CDs

Category: Friday Faves  Tags: , , , , , , ,  One Comment
Self Esteem or…
12
February
Annette

I.  Me, me me. I and me, too.  So me, I or me, me, I, me.  Well then, me, I me me me and I.  As you know, I me I me me, I I I and me I.  But… well, me I me.  You know?  And then there’s me, I me me me. I me and me I me.  I me me, however, me me I I I.  How about that? Me I I?

Sigh… I’m overwhelmed with how often I let my selfish thoughts consume me.  And I’m reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 7:23:

but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.  (NASB)

And the victory  in verses 24-25:

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

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Psalm 119 – again
09
February
Annette
Torah inside of the former Glockengasse synago...
Image via Wikipedia

The girls and I are reading through Psalm 119 at lunch, 25 or so verses every afternoon. If you ever wonder about God’s word having everlasting application to our lives, spend some time reading Psalm 119. It’s beautiful. Here is part of what we read today:

 97O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

 98Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

 99I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

 100I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

 101I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

 102I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. (Psalm 119:97-102, King James Version)

I have refrained my feet from every evil way – that I might keep they word. Good stuff that. Especially after listening to another sermon on Nehemiah this morning.

Nehemiah 13:30 (NASB) “Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each in his task,”

Nehemiah called on the people of Israel to put away everything pagan/heathen. Everything. When I look at the culture, even of many bible believing Christians these days I see a lot more heathen/pagan stuff that’s accepted rather than put away. Unfortunately many believers want to “fit in” just a bit too much.

Psalm 4:3: But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

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Snow and never leaving home…
09
February
Annette

I hate the internet and yet I love the internet! :)   Here I sit, watching the snow fall with no chance of it stopping for another 10-12 inches or so and I’m thankful for the internet and the fact that because of it, I could actually never leave my home again and survive (I’m kidding of course but you get what I’m saying).

I just placed another order with Peapod. Yep, their prices are a bit higher on some things but the convenience is great. They take coupons (I don’t use coupons but I should) and they’ll take my Oberweiss bottles back and credit my account for the deposit!  If you don’t have peapod in your area I feel for you. Email them and tell them you need them – cuz you do!

Next comes Amazon.  Anything else I need in life can be easily found and delivered to my door by my friendly UPS guy with free shipping if I order over $25!  And, because I use their credit card (I pay it off each month, don’t worry), I get free stuff too.  Yes!

Then last week my friend told me all about Alice.  Now I don’t know how long Alice has been around but it’s great!  You know all those things you forget to buy at the store – TP, tampons, toothpaste, deod, shampoo, etc?  Alice to the rescue.  They’ve got free shipping too and price comparisons right on their pages so you can make sure you’re saving compared to other online and offline places.  Great stuff.  Super fast shipping and great service.  I’m hooked!

So, between those three, I’m pretty set… cozy at home, watching my birdies out the window and enjoying life in my own little paradise home.  Sigh.  Happy sigh.

Category: Being a Wife and Mom  Leave a Comment
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