Seasonal Bouquet Project

Today, I am linking up with Erin (Floret) and Jennie {Love ‘n Fresh} with their new "Seasonal Bouquet Project".  You can read all about it on their blog:  https://theseasonalbouquet.wordpress.com/.

A photo of your own locally-grown, seasonal bouquet.   Rules:  All the ingredients in the bouquet must be sourced within 25 miles of your home, ideally including flowers you grew yourself.

Of course Erin and Jeannie's flower arranging are magnificent...something I hope to get much better at.  But, all flowers are beautiful and I get enormous joy in bringing them inside to admire.

I moved 29th October and when I did I dug up all my flowers and brought them to the new house and have mixed them in with what was here which was pretty nice.  So it will be a surprise how everything looks together this season, I've also ordered quite a few new items to plant (dahlias, David Austin Roses, and tons of direct seeds to sow).  So, I hope to share lots of garden photos on the blog in the next 7 months.

For now the only thing in bloom are Daffodils, tuplips are in bud.  Not sure if they will make it the same time for more variety in an arrangement.  I'm hoping not to have to go buy anything and use just what I can from my small yard with lots of floral beds and more to be created.

The daffodils are so bright and beautiful, love bulbs that come back every year.  Especially these, low maintenance ones.  I can't wait to see some of the newer ones I planted bloom, hopefully getting some very diffierent varieities of color and design to show you next time.

Here's a few more photo's, some in the garden and a few more inside.

No altering in photoshop, just straight shots today.  Have a wonderful day.

Blessings, Michelle

Granny Squares and spring seeds sown

Linking up with:
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-eden-roses-are-blooming-show-and.html
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2013/04/pink-saturday-april-13-2013.html

A look at what's been going on here the last couple of weeks, a little crochet and seed sowing.  This newest crochet blanke tis going to be designed with smaller squares done in two color combos, I think it resembles the amish quilt style a little bit.

I'm hoping for the next post to be able to add a video tutorial for crocheting a granny square and switching yarn colors.

I'm using wool, washable, but does not go in the dryer. 

In the works, gowing food, for a somewhat healthier life.  I've started some organic heirloom seeds, indoor sowing.  Getting the titming down is a little tricky.  First you sow them and each type of plant can vary on when to sow and what zone you live in, then there is transplanting them and holding them until they can go outside.  This year has been more difficult with that than last year for  me for various reasons.  But here's where I'm at:

There are tomatoes, peppers, basil, brocoli, and cauliflower, cateloupe and watermelon, and a couple of flowers seeds black knight scabosia and stock.

I'm afraid my melons are getting a little leggy, and some of my vegetables, don't look like they've made it with some cooler temps in my unheated sunroom, even though I've added a space heater a little too late, probably.

If you look closely at the tall seedling you can see how the watermelon seed hasn't fallen off yet, kind of neat how these gown and emerge.

Well, with any luck maybe after all the hard work I will get some of these beauties, but this is just the first stage with more hurdles all spring and summer long to get a final product, with all the work it's no wonder a watermelon will cost $7. 

Here's the seed sowing stage, the other photos above were transplanted seedlings.  Below is a close up shots of seedlings.  These are the scabosia and stock.

Off to buy more soil to transplant, have a great weekend.  Blessings to you, Michelle

God sized Dreams

Did you think I gave up on my God sized Dreams...I've been missing in action on the blog with these posts since January 29th....I can't beleive it!  But, I do have to report that so many activities have been going on with several of my dreams.  I have been working hard. 

These art tags I made up were so much fun, lots of creativity which I want to pursue this year and also they serve as bookmarks which I use for giving away to encourage others, this is one of my dreams to use my spiritual gift for God.  I have card club this Friday and am looking forward to growing it, so far I have tive coming this week.

Another dream for this year is to grow my long arm quilting business and the month of February has brought me some business from some of my previous customers. 

My "book", has not been forgotten either, I've been working digilently on the computer with photoediting and organizing and things are moving along nicely.  I also spend lots of time with family the month of February, both my children had birthdays, so lots of partying.  My girlfriend also had a birthday, so some nice time with a friend there too.

The biggest news is as I've been praying, this God sized Dream has started to happen, Lose Weight, Get Healthier.  It is truly from God, this one, because I think I probably would have just kept this goal in the "going to get to starting it" position for a long time.  As I've been praying for all my dreams, and me making them try to work, He just decided to show me what He wants to help me with.  My good friend, emailed me about a contest for weight loss with a company she works with and encouraged me AGAIN to get in the program and get FIT.  So, I read the rules, decided since I've not been feeling well, I HAVE to do this NOW, no more excuses, it really is NOW or NEVER. 

 On March 1st I've started the first week of detox and am half way thru it and it really is hard work, but this time I feel like I can do it thru HIM who gives me all strength, everything is POSSIBLE.  I even made three days into the "diet" wonderful deserts for Monday night bible study, I know, crazy temptation for me, addicted to sugar and carbs...guess what, I did not cheat one bit and have even a lick or bite, which is really saying something, Monday nite I took my piece of fruit while the others indulged and I did not even feel angry or sad that I couldn't indulge.  BELIEVE me when I say this is really a huge deal. 

The program is 12 weeks long and did I mention there is a possbility of me winning one of the three prizes of loot, of course the top prize would be wonderful, that's a GOAL for this year too, to get financially fit also.  I do admit that this is NOT EASY and it's like a small part time job to get special groceries, prepare food, journal everything, pariticpate in teleconverences, and start an exercise program, whew...on top of everything else....BUT I REALLY WANT THIS DREAM!

I'm linking up with Holly, today over here:  http://holleygerth.com/

So just to catch up on some of the week's I've missed that Holly challenged us to here we go:

What's one thing you can decrease so you can increase you Dream?
One of the struggles I have is to get away from the TV...it's so easy to sit down and rest and then you get sucked in...there's not much good on there anyway, so I'm trying to say NO and have more time to work on my dreams....that's one of the things I need to decrease.

 Take this “do what you can” step for your God-sized dream?
This really happend to me with the Weight Loss Contest and how it all came about from SOMEDAY to PROACTIVE IMPLEMENTATION.

God-sized dream story that inspires you?  Well this one I'm going to have to save for another post.

“A Letter to the God-sized Dreamers”
Dear God Dreaming Sisters,
This will be short and sweet.  I'm studing the book of Colossians in small ladies group bible study-- and as Paul has encouraged them I encourage you, {don't give up, don't quit, don't get discouraged}, we need to encourage each other {we can do ALL things thru Him, He is for us, He Loves us}.  That's how we each succeed and WIN the prize, how we stay on course.  Go get your bible and read Chapter 1, vs. 1-12 with empasis on 9-12.  Give me an AMEN, sister!

You’re Made for a God-sized Dream - You can get all the info about the book here.
I pre-ordered this one and will be downloading it to my noon, can't wait to get reading this from our amazing Holly!  It's a MUST.

Thank you for visitng, and sharing my life, blessings to you all, Hope, Faith, and Love, Michelle

God Sized Dreams-snowman card

Holley's {http://holleygerth.com/} assignment for us  this week to:   think back to another time when you took positive action in your life.  What’s one thing that helped you move forward that you could apply again now and someone else could benefit from hearing too?

As I was pondering this, it's not so much what one thing I did, but it's what God has done, doing and will do.  He's given me HOPE.  Every time I have had an obstacle, was challenged it was hope that moved me forward, kept me going.   Praise God!  I me really Praise God, sometimes I feel like that is all I have is Hope and you know what I think that's all I need, because with hope I have faith and with faith I have trust in all His promises to me.

Those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength   They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and net be faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Blessings, mercy and grace, Michelle

God Sized Dream Buddy

I'm choosing my friend Beth for my God Sized Dream Buddy.  She is such a sweetheart, she is always "up", smiling, positive, supportive, encouraging, has vision, overcome obstacles herself, and most of all she is a Christian Sister.  Plus we have know each other for a few years and she "knows" me, some of my obstacles and I know will make the time comittment and will be consistent.  She's also working on a dream God has given her and I hope I can offer being a God SIzed Dream Buddy for her too.

Celebrated my birthday and my youngest sister's birthday on Saturday, her's was actually Sunday, with my other sister and daughter.  Out to lunch and some pampering in the afternoon and then played some cards on Monday night.  So a wonderful weekend, with family time, the next two Saturday's I have two friends who want to take me to lunch...love going out and having some girlfriend time.  Especially valuable with everyone's busy schedule.  But, part of the dream is to carve out that time and balance.  I've actually been accomplishing quite a bit this whole month on steps to the dreams, I've had a great month and there's still a week or so left.

Grace and peace to you, Michelle

God Sized Dreams

God Sized Dreams....I have numerous dreams/hopes and goals for 2013. I'm linking up with Holly for this series of posts for the year, it will be exciting to look back in December at the journey this year will take. I want to work on so many dreams this coming year, not sure if I have just one huge dream but many loves in the making. So here goes a list, not in any particular order:

1. Creative-book-I want to get an idea I've had for 7 years created...not sure of the outcome, but creating it is the priority...whether it is published, an e-book or something printed just for me and my family, we will see. Photocards. Increase photoshop skills.

2. Financial-cut flower business-I know another side business...what can I say it's another one of my passions

3. Finanical-grow my card club-in reference to stamping and Stamping Up Business

4. Financial-change my quilting business-from quilting for others to renting time on my machine

5. Physical-get healthier-grow organic non modified seeds, preserve food, cook more, exercise

6. Spirtual-use my gifts/talents to glorify God

7. Social-Spend more time with family and friends.

There you have it, this is what is shaping up for me. It will be varying degrees of progress and I'm ok with that, I want to enjoy the journey.

Blessings, Michelle