Abundance or Lack?

Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend. --- Sarah Ban Breathnach

xoxo,

Amy Jo

Sweet Gift and an Ebay Find

My Aunt Teresa makes fairy cages and she gave me this beautiful cage a week or so back.

She does such a beautiful job with these creations.

The fairys are very life like.

This is a mother daughter fairy cage.

These cages are loaded with beautiful details. It is hard to get inside and take good pictures. This is a little treasure chest.... I love this cage.... Thank you Aunt Teresa!

I found this beautiful apron on ebay.

It has the most lovely trim work on it. It is vintage.

Top

This is the pocket. It is made by paper white.... This was one of those aprons I thought I couldn't live without...Does any one know who paper white is?

Blessings,

Amy Jo



Content At Home

Over the last few weeks my husband and I have been considering moving. He has had a change in an area of our business that would make this a possibility. With this change we could be able to move to a town, we both really like on the the outskirts of Orlando. I have been looking for property so that would could build, as well I've been looking at already built homes. 

We even met with a realtor at our current home to see what she thought. Actually she thought our home would sell really quickly. For a little more money than we thought it would. The problem has been the area we want to move is a really tough market. Over the last few weeks I have been watching and scouring it carefully. To no avail.

It has happened that  every door we have tried to open seems to quickly be shut. We have been praying about it and hoping we could make it happen.

With the thought that this house might sell quickly... it leaves a dilemma. After working with a realtor in the area we would like to move, it is apparent that for our particular needs it may be a long wait. And that comes with no guarantee. So we would be stuck renting or staying at a campground.... Not the best scenarios for us. This isn't our first rodeo so we are very realistic.

After a LOT of thought and going over every possible avenue. It just isn't going to work. We feel like if the doors don't open, then maybe it isn't supposed to happen. We hate to push and shove and then live to regret it later.....

 So I guess for now we will be content at home....It is still a nice place to be.



 Blessings,
Amy Jo

Southern Summer Time

Hi there... it's been a while.  I am going to visit every one's blog today and try to catch up. This weekend all of the girls in the family took my Mom out to the Garden Gate Tea Room for her birthday. It was so lovely... While in Mt. Dora I found this adorable sign.

It reads The South  The place where... 1) Tea is sweet and accents are sweeter. 2) Summer starts in April. 3) Macaroni and Cheese is a vegetable. 4) Front porches are wide and words are long. 5) Pecan pie is a staple. 6) Y'all is the only proper noun. 7) Chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy. 8) Everything is Darlin' 9) Someones heart is always being blessed.

I fell in love with it and brought it home... Now I can't decide where to put it.

At the tea room you can pick a hat to where.... this is my sister just playing around. Doesn't she look cute.

I did not where this hat but my sister insisted I get a pic in it.

This tree was beside our table, the little butterfly on it was solar powered, so its wings would gently move.

A look at the ceiling.

I sat right next to the piano.

I love the carvings on the piano.

We had a lovely time and the lunch was delicious. My mom's birthday isn't for a few more days but it was a good weekend for us all to go. So, we did. Now I am off to see what everyone has been up to....

xoxo,

Amy Jo



Happiness Cannot Be.....

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.  ---Denis Waitley

I hope all had a great Monday...

xoxo,

Amy Jo

A Little House

A little house well filled,

A little field well tilled,

A little wife well willed, are great riches. ----Benjamin Franklin

xoxo,

Amy Jo



An Easy Way To Clean Your Ceiling Fan



I was surfing around the internet when I came across a really great and easy way to clean ceiling fans.... So I thought I would share it. I hate the mess that is left everywhere when I clean our ceiling fans. So after  you clean the fan you have to clean the floor. All you do is get an old pillowcase, open it up and slide it over the blade then close it and swipe.  That's it. No more dust balls all over the floor or on your furniture.  Happy cleaning ladies!!

xoxo,

Amy Jo





Scalloping

It was time for our annual scallop trip... so off we went to Steinhatchee Florida.

We stayed for two days and the family had soooo much fun.

Our family dynamics have changed so much over the last few years. Most of the "children" are now basically adults. So we can no longer fit in my Dad and Moms small place when we go. We have to rent a little house as well.

It is so fun to have all of the family still enjoying the things they have enjoyed for years.

Cleaning the scallops

It is a dirty job...and smelly.

My daughter and her boyfriend... He came with us for our trip. So now I am back home and wondering how does the house get so dusty with us not even being here?

xoxo,

Amy Jo

Simple Tote Purse

I made a tote purse a while back and I decided I would make another one.... I showed how to make it Here.  This one I wanted super simple.

But maybe it needs more buttons and a ribbon...What do you think? Do tell...

xoxo,

Amy Jo



Annie Sloan Chalk Paint --- A Review

A few days ago I got a can of the Annie Sloan Paint in Old White. I blogged about the price, it is very expensive. This is the picture frame I decided to try out the paint on.

The paint has very little smell and it is very thick. It definitely lived up to it's reviews.  No prep work required. I really like the result and it was so quick and easy to use.

Cleaning the brush out was a breeze. I love the way the frame turned out. All in all I love using this paint. The only problem is the price. I still can't get over how much it is. Am I cheap? LOL  I hope you all are having a Happy 4th of July!

Blessings,

Amy Jo



Beloved American Icon----Andy Griffith

I am sad to hear that Andy Griffith has passed on. I have so many wonderful memories surrounding his shows. My Dad always loved Andy, not just the Andy Griffith show but also his movies. As far back as I can remember I watched this wonderful actor.... First Andy Griffith with Dad and later it was Matlock with my Granny. She watched this show every day. It is an end to an era.... a sad day indeed.

xoxo,

Amy Jo



Annie Sloan Paint

O.K. so my Annie Sloan chalk paint arrived today and I was a little surprised at the small size of the can. The price was steep... So I am wondering at my sanity at this point. But I am willing to try any thing once. So.....

This is my first project. I picked up this beautiful painting a few weeks back or I should say I stole it, I got it for 25.00. I collect Rose prints and paintings and I am telling you girls this was a steal! So Tomorrow I will paint the frame and see if the annie paint is everything it claims. I will let you know..:)

xoxo,

Amy JO



Homemaking

"Homemaking is not simply housework. Housework is keeping a house clean; homemaking is creating a pleasant home for one's family. The aim and greatest reward of real homemaking is a happy, contented family." -- Ida Bailey Allen

Now that it is hotter than blue blazes down here in the south I have been doing lots of laundry. Between wet clothes from the pool and my husband changing his shirt several times during the day due to sweating, it really adds to the piles. I hang out our clothes on the line as much as possible during the dry weather. We try to save money because our electric bill always goes up in the summer months. I guess it may be the opposite for those in the north.  I found this little clothes pin bag a few years back on Ebay. It looked like it had never been used. Well enough rambling darlings.... I hope you have a blessed Sunday!

xoxo,

Amy Jo