Etsy continued

Last time I told you that I was enjoying my window-shopping in a certain etsy shop.

Anyway I finally made a purchase--actually I made two--but I'm only writing about one today.

I collect teapots, and although I have about fifteen of them I have only one other teapot that's blue and white.

This particular blue and white beauty caught my eye in Betsy's shop. 

It arrived in excellent shape and in a very timely manner.

Isn't it pretty?




Have you bought anything from an etsy shop?

Etsy--how I love Thee

Before I became a mommy one of my favorite things to do was browse antique stores.  I know that may seem odd to those of you who have been in my home because I don't have a lot of antiquey furniture or knick knacks sitting around.

The truth of the matter is I rarely made a purchase, but I loved to wander and look, and literally lose myself in all the junk treasures.

However, since I have I family, I don't go near antique stores very often anymore.  Antique dealers tend to frown on toddlers careening through their breakables, and I can't afford broken porcelain chamber pots.

Etsy shops have become my "mommy friendly" alternative.  I browse through the junk treasures to my hearts content, and the chamber pots are safe. :)

I have a couple favorite shops, but until last week I had never made a purchase.

...............to be continued.

What's New

I haven't posted for quite a while--mostly because life has been rolling on without much extra time or brain cells for blogging.

Sweet Pea is getting chubby and is very close to rolling over.  She is a little over 4 months old.

My two year old has graduated to a toddler bed--he is doing pretty well with that.  Stays in bed most of the time.

Three year old has had a lot of anxiety this fall--I've been trying to figure out some activities for him to do during home school.

My seven year old is doing very well with second grade--surpassing his and my expectations for this year.

My nine year old is having some allergy issues that come with the fall, but is doing well with school, and amazing me with his maturity.

And me...............well I'm struggling with all the gray fall weather.  The leaves, and temperatures are dropping and I'm trying to find a balance in my days.

I've been browsing a certain etsy shop, and recently made a purchase.....I'll share that with you when it arrives. :)

I've also been trying some new recipes that I'd like to share with you--yummy fall comfort food!

So, what's new with all of you?

Cleaning the Coop With Grace

I did something I really enjoy doing yesterday.

I cleaned out my chicken coop.

I don't know if it's the satisfaction of seeing something so utterly filthy become tidy and livable again.

Or, if it's the fact that I spent several hours outside.

Or that I completely exhausted myself with a physical job.

Whatever it is I LOVE IT!

I get this feeling every time I clean the coop.

My chickens on the other hand do not appreciate my efforts.

They peer suspiciously at the fresh bedding and refuse to enter their clean home.

It looks different.

It might be scary.

The dry bedding might feel weird to their little chicken feet.

They liked the manure-filled mess they were living in better than the fresh redeemed home I offered them at no personal cost.

Why does all of this sound vaguely familiar?

Jesus daily offers me a fresh portion of grace at no cost to me personally.

I ponder it suspiciously, and wonder, am I good enough for this beautiful gift?

I didn't do anything to deserve it.

It might feel scary to my heart.

I think I would rather wander around in the "manure" of yesterdays mistakes.

 ^"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

Ephesians 2:4-9



By the way, I only feel this way about MY chicken coop I would get no wonderful sense of accomplishment from cleaning out yours. :)

Signs of Autumn

There is something about morning light filtering through the trees onto my bedding that reminds me of autumn.






Our slowly filling woodshed is another sign.

~~~~~~

 Have you seen any signs of Fall?

A Blog Post From Scamper

"This is not one of my better moments."

Stinker

See that little blond fellow on the far right?

Well, he just turned two, and he is out to prove it to the world.

He threw all my baby bottle nipples in the trash yesterday.

I had JUST WASHED them.

Given a chance he will sit in mud puddles--

flush bathtub plugs down the toilet--

stop the dishwasher mid-cycle, 

and generally cause chaos wherever he goes.

When you scold him for something his response is to shout "All right!"

He recently discovered that wacking people with a fly swatter is much more exciting than killing flies.

But when he asks me if he can kiss the baby, and gently brushes her tiny cheek with his pudgy lips..........

my heart melts.