Head Shots

Today is such a beautiful day. There's a cool breeze blowing, the sun is shining and it looks like the weather is only supposed to get better this weekend. We've got gardening work on the to do list - lots of edging, weeding and mulching.



I much prefer to get it done in the early spring before the heat and the gnats settle in. We also need to take down an apple tree in the side yard - but that'll be another weekend. It has such a hole in the main trunk that you can see clear down about 1 foot. Bucky told me that she's planted flowers in hollow trunks like these, but ours is coming down.


After putting away the Easter decorations I brought my head vases out of the curio cabinet to add interest here and there. I love them! They were a birthday gift from my parents a few years ago.


But, this is my favorite head shot today. It's of my parents and 2 of my darling nieces on our front porch on Easter. Family love is what it's all about. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the recent storms and tornadoes.

I'm linking to Beverly's How Sweet the Sound for tomorrow's Pink Saturday. Thanks Beverly for hosing this fun event!

Mellow Yellow

Well, the washing machine needs to be replaced so I never ventured to Home Goods on Monday after the doctor. I knew that if I went in that I'd just have to buy something and I don't need to spend money with the added expense of a new washer. The doctor's visit went well, now I just have to schedule my mammo. I know that it's not something we like to do, but I urge everyone to have their yearly check-up and mammo.



Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes for our Fireman. They offered him the job - Yeah!!! He's thrilled and so are we. I am asking for continued prayers for his safety and happiness.

We're supposed to have thunderstorms throughout the day. It's not raining yet, but the winds are really picking up and the skies are gray. It's the kind of day when you sit on the couch with an afghan, a cup of tea or hot coffee and curl up with a good book, or settle in to watch on old movie. I, however will be tucked in at work. By the way, these beautiful flowers were Easter gifts - the tulips were from Flyboy and Chelsea and the Daffodils from my MIL.

Wishing you blue skies my friends.

Happy Rudolph Day

For all of you newbies out there Rudolph Day is the 25th of the month. It's a day to take some time and plan, create or just enjoy a little Christmas. I try to do something that helps me take some of the stress out of Christmas - update your Christmas card list, buy some stocking stuffers, start a list of holiday homemade gifts, anything Christmassy.


It's so warm here today that I have the dining room window open - the fresh air sure smells great. Our Easter was wonderful, everyone had a great time. I have the day off and scheduled my annual "doctor" visit. But, am going to treat myself afterwards with a visit to Home Goods:)

The washer repair man should be here shortly...it's still working but doesn't ring out all the water. I've been running it through the spin cycle a few times. What a pain!

Please say a little prayer for our Fireman today, he's been called for a 2nd interview. This would be such a great move for him!


Well my friends, I have a few more things left on my to-do list, so I'm off... enjoy your day!

Little Pink Studio

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter, ours was. But, before I run on about our weekend, I wanted to let you know that Cerri over at Little Pink Studio is having a Spring Basket Giveaway! Her blog is so full of creativity, I am always so inspired when visit.


I've even bought a few things from her sweet shop The Little Pink Studio. It's wonderful and packed with so many sweet things. I may just have to buy something this week. Be sure to pop over and enter to win!

Good Friday

Good Morning Everyone

I'm off to pick up 2 of my darling nieces and my Dad this morning. We're headed to Zern's Market for our Easter kielbasa, ham and a turkey breast (special last minute request from my brother). The butcher - Burt's Farms has a booth in the farmer's market and his kielbasa is the best around!



We're dying eggs this morning and then making peanut butter melt-away eggs this afternoon. I'm also going to have them help me set the table - we'll cover it with another table cloth or a clean sheet so that the dishes don't get dusty.




I've got a full agenda this weekend, but it's all things that I love to do. It reminds me of the days when our sons were younger and I was a stay at home Mom. I LOVED staying home, and doing everything at my leisure - cooking and baking, doing the laundry...running the sweeper. All of the things that I now have to schedule in.




Not that I didn't have a schedule back then, but it didn't feel as if I was on one of those hamster wheels all the time. Being a stay at home Mom was the best thing I ever did in my life. Yes, we had to give up a lot of things...a second car, new clothes for me and Mr OP, eating out other than an occasional Burger King or someplace a little nicer on a special occasion...but it was soo worth it. And, ya know what I'd do it again in a heart beat.




On Good Friday we are reminded that the best things come from sacrifice.



Hope that you enjoyed the Easter Cards that I made this year! If you have the time, pop over to Beverly's for Pink Saturday - it's going to be full of Easter Goodness. Wishing you all a blessed Easter!

Readying

I started spring cleaning and such this weekend past, readying the house for company and Easter dinner on Sunday.I wrote the title of this post, then actually went and looked it up on dictionary.com to make sure it was a word. It is, it means to prepare, but after I typed the letters it looked and sounded wrong. But, I assure you that readying is a word.


This is a four day week for me. Our company closes for Good Friday and Easter Monday - what a great mini-vacation. Flyboy is coming home Thursday night, but has to work Friday and Saturday (he needs the money, so it's good in that respect). I've got a list a mile long of his favorites to cook and bake, I just need to narrow it down. I like to send food back to school with him and he told me last night that he was wondering what "good things" I would be making this weekend.


Easter dinner is all set - Ham with brown sugar glaze, Homemade Potato Pirogi, Corn Bread and Sausage Stuffing, Pickled Red Beets and Eggs, Coleslaw, Proscuitto wrapped Asparagus, Brussel Sprouts, Corn, Peas, Pineapple Fluff, and Homemade Rolls (actually everything will be homemade), and Greek Easter Bread with the red hard boiled eggs. I've made a pound of chocolate covered pretzels already and have peanut butter and coconut cream eggs on the agenda as well as a few other desserts.


I make hot cross buns for Good Friday and there's always fresh keilbasa from a local butcher around during Easter. I'll probably make baked ziti and a few other dishes on Friday and Saturday for Flyboy to take home. Our Texans won't be coming home for Easter, but they will be with us in spirit. I'm really missing them!


This is the little photo album that I told you about. It's a little metal "cd" type case (although it's not for cd's). I made it for Pam's new grand daughter who's expected arrival date is early July. Sorry for the dark photos. The colors are actually bright yellow and an orange-y red called poppy. This was so easy to make and I love how it turned out! I'll tuck it into her shower gift, along with some other things. I think it will be a fun place to put her first photo's in, and you know that there will be plenty. They are going to call her Audrey Rose. Isn't that pretty? Soo old fashioned.

Anyone else planning Easter dinner?

It's Official...

The peonies are on the front door so that means that spring has officially come to The Old Parsonage. I love decorating the front porch for every season and when spring comes I pull out these bright pink peonies and put them in a basket on the front door.




I've been looking for a pillow for this old pew bench for a few years now. I always think that I'll find one in the spring or summer. It's not a standard size and two or three don't work either, so I'm thinking I may have to have one made for it. Remember...I don't so any sewing other than an occasional Halloween costume here or there. I recently put this lap quilt on it, but want what I want and that's a creamy off white pillow. I've also been contemplating painting the bench white, but I'm not sure. See how dark the foyer wallpaper is? The wallpaper is actually a darker version of our dining room paper. I love it though!




I've got another load of laundry in the wash this morning, but will have to toss it in the dryer. I don't really like to hang out the whites unless it's between rows of other clothes. Last night I tried Zumba (I think that's how you spell it). It's a Latin dance fitness workout. Holy mackerel! I am soo out of shape, keeping up with the dance moves is hard. But it was soo much fun, Pam ordered the DVD from QVC and took it to my Mum's. Then, she, Aunt Cathy, Mum and I danced 'til we cried laughing.



We're going to try to get together a couple times a week. If nothing else, it's time well spent with family. I'm hoping to scrub the walls of the bathroom down tomorrow and then get a coat of KILZ primer on them. Just trying to squeeze another project in before Easter - wish me luck! What are your plans for Pink Saturday?

Squeezing it in...

Good Morning All... Looks like it going to be a glorious day. The sun is shining! Yeah, after two days of rain it seems even brighter. I got up extra early this morning to throw in a load of laundry and post something before heading off to work. The laundry is spinning out and I'm writing so check and double check!




Last night, I went to workshop that my friend Kelli hosted. She is a Stampin' Up! consultant and so darn creative! We made mini-tin photo albums (I'll try to snap a photo today to share with you). It was great to see some of my friends from club that I haven't seen in months.





Remember these eggs that I made last Easter with my nieces? I completely forgot all about them. I made two and they each made six and took theirs home. I hope that they still have them, some people (who shall remain nameless) don't save things for their children. We had such a great time on Good Friday last year. We went and got our Easter ham and keilbasa from a local butcher, then we colored eggs and painted the wooden ones. I may ask to have them again next Friday. Although it's not my brother's weekend to have them, so I will have to ask the one who shall remain nameless if I can have them.




This was an Easter gift from Mr OP last year. Isn't it darling! I fell in love with it at the Kutztown Farmer's Market over and over again. Don't you know that it showed up here at The Old Parsonage Easter morning?! It's in perfect condition, although the photo was supposed to be vertical...hmmm....not a blogger problem, a photographer problem.

Well, the washer stopped so I'm off to hang out the clothes before finishing up my morning routine and heading to work. Enjoy your day!

SpRinG

I love spring! It is my second favorite season after fall. Nothing is overgrown, and there are hardly any weeds to contend with. The air still has a crispness to it and we can have the windows wide open. I know that I've told you before, but summer and I don't do well. It gets so hot and humid here and I melt:)




Thanks so much for all the well wishes. I am feeling better but still not 100%. This Hull vase was a recent find at Adamstown weekend before last. There was a slight chip in the bottom so it was marked down and then the woman gave me an additional 10% off - YIPPEE!! It's a similar version of the one that was my Nan's, so I had to get it. The daffodils were free from the backyard, we have hundreds of them. Spring flowers are another reason to love spring. Although in the past few years I seem to have developed allergies and everything coming into bloom gives me headaches. No matter, they are still lovely and Claritin does the trick.




This vase was my Nan's. I love seeing it full of flowers. I can't remember her having ever used it. I always wondered why, it seemed a waste to have such a pretty vase and not have flowers in it. I love pairing it with my Lefton lambs, they go together like jam and bread.




My Mum and I went to Home Goods on Saturday. What fun, there's one about 5 minutes away and the bargains are terrific. I got a few scatter rugs, a new pillow and some other odds and ends. I'm trying to lighten things up a bit for spring. The weather was warmer this weekend and today it's supposed to get to 80 degrees - the toes are out! Just wish I didn't have to head to work.

Gotta run...have a wonderful day!

Thrifty Finds on Pink Saturday

These are the last of my "Free" cash at the thrift store finds. Six flowers for 50cents - perfect for crafting, and what a steal! Can't wait to use them, they'll be great on Easter cards.



I finally got out our Easter decorations last Sunday afternoon (in between visitors). My parents walked down to see us, then Pam came over (she could have technically walked too). I love having family living close by. My parents live 4 houses up the street my MIL 2 houses down the street and Pam, my cousin about 3 streets away. Right before dinner my SIL, Amy stopped by too (although she lives about 15 minutes away - still relatively close). What blessings!




These darling pipe cleaner bunnies are a new addition to our Easter tree this year. Aren't they adorable? I found them in Adamstown last Saturday, in the back of someones booth, buried in the bottom of a case. I knew to look there because I had bought some other great things from her before. Oops, there's a little Christmas in the picture below. Can you spot the elf?




Thank goodness today is Friday. I had a terrible stomach bug this week and missed 2 days of work. I'm still not feeling 100% but definitely better than earlier in the week. The hyacinth still smells wonderful! I see there are a few in our flower beds popping up this week ready to great the spring.

Thanks so much to Beverly for hosting Pink Saturday each and every week. Be sure to pop over and see what pink goodness is going on there!

The Smell of Easter

After bopping around from flea market to flea market on Saturday we stopped at Shady Maple Farm Market in East Earl on the never ending quest for a hyacinth. I knew that they would have one there. Well they did have ONE and only ONE. I couldn't believe it, it was so scraggly looking I just couldn't justify buying it. So instead Mr OP and I each got a soft serve ice cream. Mmm... we hadn't had one in years - what a treat!



To make a long story short, we found this beauty at our local super market - who would have thought? It smells just like Easter to me, throw in the smell of some hard boiled eggs and Easter egg dye and it would be Good Friday! The entire downstairs smells wonderful. I LOVE IT!


I finally sent a package off to my distant cousin in Washington. She and another relative devised a system to photo copy and number everything in duplicate sets then mail one copy to each other for identification. I sent my package off to her on Saturday and can't wait to get hers. I'm so glad that she found us and am so enjoying this unexpected journey of family history!

Snow?

Remember that quick little reminder from Old Man Winter last Friday that I told you about. I took this first photo and then not even 5 minutes later took the second. The grass soon became totally covered, about 1in or so - I even had to clean off the car before heading in to work. But it quickly melted. I know that some of you got several inches so I'm really not complaining.


Saturday was in the 50's as we headed off to the Kutztown Farmers Market. There were only a few vendors outside and the same old, same old inside, so not much of a story to tell there.


I got this stack of "chick-let" books with some of my fab cash at the Thrift Store. Nothing too heavy duty, just a little romantic fun. Although with the weather warming up I'm not sure how much time I'll devote to reading now.

Tomorrow, I'll show you the treasures I got from our second stop on Saturday in Adamstown. Thanks so much for stopping by, I really enjoy our visits!

Counting Cards...

My cousin Roberta retired last week. She has worked non-stop for the past 46 years. The Monday following her retirement she told my Mum that she needed to get a job. What was she going to do all day every day?


I decided that she needed a special card. The front says "rest a minute then..." and on the inside it says "celebrate the little things in life." I can't imagine not know what to do, I have a list a mile long. Her husband, Don retired from the Post Office last year and he always has something to do. She just needs to remember to breathe.


Next up is a card that I made for my brother in law, Scott. He and his family live in CT. It's sad to say, but we haven't seen them in years. They have three beautiful daughters who we hardly know. Anyway his birthday is today - 47yrs old - Happy Birthday Scott!


Friday's weather was whacky to say the least. It started out snowing to beat the band, then turned to rain and then the sun came out. Oh well it was the beginning of the weekend and that's what counts! I had a fab time with Mr. OP this weekend. I found that elusive hyacinth. I'll share photo's of it and other things later this week.

Enjoy your week my friends!

All That Jazz Give Away

The girls at All that Jazz are celebrating! It's their one year anniversary and that's something to celebrate. They are giving away everything in this photo plus a surprise gift from Pottery Barn. Stop on by and enter before the 10th. Good Luck!!!