Well it's finally come, my Birthday!

Today my twin bro and I celebrate our 69th Birthday....one I can't hardly believe is here...Most of the time I think of myself as middle aged...hummm do you suppose The 60s are the new 40s these days??  I actually don't feel any older, in fact I feel younger than I did a year ago.  I've recovered from the second knee replacement, and am walking much better.  I'm just so thankful God is allowing me to still be around...course I'm not afraid of dying cuz I know I'll go to a better place....but there are things I want to finish if it be HIS will.  I called my twin bro this morning finding him in good spirits too.  We have a connection even tho we don't see each other as often as we'd like.  He's in Maryland, I'm in Virginia...maybe a couple hours apart.  It's a shame we get so busy that we can't see our way to go visit.  I think this year will be different...I'm going to make a point of taking my hubby down so we can visit....I'm thinking of going to GA next year to visit my dear sister, Mary it's been about 3 yrs now since we last saw each other.  Perhaps I'll have a birthday party for our mom who will be 94 in April...that would give us all the chance to visit...

In the front yard

On the side of the house

Beautiful tree in the back yard

beyond our fence in the back

Love this tree with the sqirrel nest

Christmas Cactus blooming again

Napoleon running for the back door thinking he can

catch the dog on TV

Napoleon watching TV

Napoleon getting ready to pounce

Now I want to share some new photos of what it looked like very early this morning...what  a pleasant surprise, but it's now after 2pm and the trees are clear and the sun is shining some.  Of coursh I got the ones of Napoleon backwards..eheheh!!!

Hope all of you have a Birthday today our sometime in Feb. are having a wonderful day...God has been good to me and I'm so very thankful for His Love and peace and grace!!
Blessings to all my friends out there in Computer land~

I got this recipe from a friend, and love it...

Good morning, I was taking a break from creating new jewelry a couple days ago so decided to bake an "Apple Dapple Cake"  I have to say it was a big hit for those who stopped by before it was all gone..hehehe~~

Apple Dapple Cake
1 1/2 cups oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 cups (all purpose) flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup coconut (you can use the frozen if you like)
1 cup black walnuts chopped (you can use regular walnuts)
3 cups peeled apples ( I used apples I'd canned in water)
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup raisins ( I used dried cranberries instead)

Mix oil, sugar & eggs at once.  Sift together flour, soda, & salt then add to mixture.  Chop together raisins, coconut, walnuts and apples, add to mixture along with the vanilla.
Bake @ 325 F for 1  1/2  hrs in tube pan.  Batter will be thick!
Icing
1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup butter then boil for 2   1/2 mins.
If you want a more sweet cake use long picks to puncture cake so you can drizzle icing down into the cake.  I just brushed on the icing all over the cake...
I have to tell ya, I've baked many cakes, and I think this one is my fav.  I'll have to share my " Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake" (when I find the recipe) hehehe!!

Blessings as you go thru your busy day, and remember to start with God's word for it's the only true guide for our lives here on earth!!!  (((hugs)))

Well it's well into the New Years already!

Can't believe it's already the 5th of Jan 2012 and I'm just now post a Happy New Years to all of you.  It's been said the older you get the more quickly the time goes by.  I can't imagine it going any faster than it does now...at 68 soon to be 69!  heheheh!!

I've been doing some painting the past couple days after working for weeks creating jewelry to sell at the Christmas Bazaars during Nov and Dec 2011.  Now, we've had a little snow (maybe 2.5 inches), and the bitter cold we've experienced the past 2 days has changed to temps in the 40's and promises to be in the high 50's over the weekend.  Yay!

We've really had a very gentle winter so far so we can't complain here in the East.  My concern is that this will be the trend in the coming years making it difficult for many animals who thrive in the bitter cold.  We must get serious about changing things that will help, don't we?

I painted a black and white painting on canvas measuring 18x24" for my dear hubby.  He'd loved one I created a couple years ago, but sold to a friend who's actually made arrangements for him to get it in the event she should pass away before he does.  What a special friend I have in her.

I thought I'd share some photos of what it looks like here at home after the little snow we had a couple days ago, and of the painting in black and white, and the one I did for my daughter, Missy and her BF for Christmas.  She wanted a folksy village of sorts with NO animals. (not even a bird) hehehe!

Dewey's painting

Missy & Skip's painting

the tree that fell and busted the fence down back last week

A very cold morning!

The sun coming up this morning!

Beautiful...

Happy New Year to all

Blessings

I'm thankful for.....

Knowing in my heart true peace comes only when I become submissive to God's will in my life why then did I try to do things in my own strength?  Too many times I'd fall into the snares of the world around me creating heartache and disaster.   Being a child of God creates a struggle in, and against the world,  by keeping HIS word uppermost in my heart and mind brings complete peace. Then  God takes up my whole heart!   Being in my Father's arms keeps me safe as a baby feels when tucked in his mother's arms.

But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ.  Phil 4:19

Photoes of jewelry I've created for another Christmas Bazaar. 
Blessings as we think about all that we are thankful for during this Holiday season.. Bevie

very delicate

little goldtone earrings

Closeup of pendant on necklace

This is very long and spunky!

I love these little Elephants

Look at our old guy sitting beside a little statue!

Giving makes my heart sing!

Good morning my dear friends!  I've been very busy getting ready for the Christmas Bazaar this weekend, Nov 5th at our local Fire Department.  I've never done one before so am really looking forward in meeting and greeting people who stop by.  I've got small earrings for just a dollar, and necklace and earring sets for $10.00 making it easier for those of us living on a very restricted budget to be able to find something nice for family and friends.  I'm adding some Christmas paintings to my table most of which are framed, and lots of scarves and hats that I made.
Many of us at our Church are members of our Outreach Program and I'm happy to say have make some lovely things for one of the local Nursing Homes in the area.  We also provide food from our "Closet" for those in need.  Here are some of the lap blankets I've made to give.

I know for me, giving makes me so happy...we don't have much money, but there other ways to give...your time, your love, compassion....just think about the ways you can give of yourself to others!!!

Blessings.

Bevie

Our prayers are being answered.

I mentioned that my hubby lost his shop several weeks ago, however a friend and his parents sat down with them and offered a portion of their large shop for as long as it's needed...Good Christian family who believes God wants them to share.  We are so blessed!!  This shop is in WV so we've decided to sell our home in VA if we can buy one in WV making the trip to work a short one for a change.  Dewey had been traveling 45 mins to and from work spending big bucks on gas.  This will help keep us within our budget, and get us closer to our children (all but one lives in WV) Yea!!  It's actually 3 houses from Dewey's daughter so I'll be able see that Harley gets on and off the bus when school starts.  We love our little home in the mountains with all the tall old trees....but there's a huge shop on the property with no restrictions so the guys can work from home!!  Keep us close in prayer if you will...God is in control and we have Faith that things will be as HE wants them.

My therapy should end in the next couple weeks because I'm progressing well.  Knee bend @ 103 degrees, needs to be @ 110.  It's perfect with it straightened.  Hurray!  I've lost 29 lbs since the surgery and pulling out clothes I've had stored away for at least 5 yrs...eheheh!!

Here's a photo of my sweet, little therapist and me!

Me going for therapy!

One of my latest necklace set!

This is from the Message

Ephesians 3:20-21

God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!

Glory down all the generations!

Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

The sun is shining in my heart

Yesterday I woke with the second migraine in over 6 yrs.  I'd been troubled by them for the better part of my adult life making normal everyday living difficult.  I'm sure those of you who have suffered with them know what I'm talking about.  I would have them several times a week, nothing to cheer about.  Then when I was forced to retire in 2005 they left.  I suspect the pollen may have something to do it them...there's usually a trigger...how knows...Today I'm feeling the welcomed sunshine in my heart as well as on my face.  This is a photo I took a couple days ago after some rain showers...some trees beyond our fence, but still on our property.  Look how green!

See the one in the middle?  I call if the 3 in 1 tree...

This was taken on our Sat drive near our home.

There's nothing more beautiful that God's creations...

The Dogwood Tree

We drove thru Middleburg, VA where you can take all day to visit all the unique stores and shops.  This Church is called the Chicken Church by many...they have an indoor flea Market most days!!

I'll leave you with this...Blessings my friends and neighbors!!

As we celebrate Easter

I sat here yesterday wanting to start a new post, however my puter wasn't being cooperative because of all the rain.  I'm not complaining tho, I see today greener grass, little shoots popping up from the ground which will grow into some beautiful flowers very soon.  Oh the sweet smell of those flowers I can almost smell!!

Good Friday is just two days away, and as always my heart feels such sadness thinking about that day so long ago when our Christ Jesus was nailed to that Cross at Calvary.   He was pure, without sin yet He became the sacrific for all of us.  Just think about it!  God came as a man to give all of us a way out...a way to live in Eternity with Him forever.  I have to tell you it's kinda bitter sweet for me...it always has been.  Our precious Jesus died the most awful death, BUT on Easter Sunday they went to the tomb to find HIM gone...He had arose from the dead.  How can anyone in their right mind refuse to accept this truth?  There are so many still how refuse to accept this free gift, and my heart cries for them...I praise God for HIS awesome sacrific and for the knowledge that I will one day be with HIM!!! Thank you Lord!!!  Many blessings to all who happen by this blog.  Jesus loves you and so do I!

Whimsical Wednsday Wk2

Wednesday the 17th was the 2nd Wk of participating in this fun blog

http://dthaase.blogspot.com/2010/11/make-sure-you-check-out-more-whimsy-tab.html 
This is a 5x7 acrylic painting on canvasboard..

The Cross

Good morning...it's been raining here in VA since yesterday evening, and I am thanking my Lord for answered prayer! We are over 7 inches low in water at this time so the 3 to 5 inches we are to get in the next couple days is awesome...I wanted to share with you a little about my Faith...I had been a member of a Baptist Church where we'd lived before moving up to the mountains further north in VA...almost to the Berkeley Springs WV line. ( I believe God allowed us to find this little doublewide that's nestled down in the middle of huge old trees on 5 acres of land...in previous posts I've share some of the remodeling we've been doing in the last 5 yrs of living here. My hubby has been amazing as he's certainly leaped out of his comfort zone by not only painting the outside, but even atempting carpentry which he had no knowledge at all. I'm proud of him! ) Now I got way off track, but hey those who know me are used to it..hehehe!! Since there wasn't a Baptist Church in our area I started attending the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church just around the corner from where we live. Then Pastor, Jim Markle is a very loving and caring Pastor who shares his love for our Lord with his sermons...it's a very small Church with only about 22 members each Sunday, then he goes off to a it's sister Church a couple miles away where he shares another sermon with their larger congragation!
WELLLLL, yesterday I joined that Church for I've found the members to be loving children of God who share that love with each other and me too!!! My way of thinking is it really doesn't matter which denomonation we belong to it's the fellowship with others that counts...Bible Believing Churches who believe in sharing the Gospel with all those we come into contact with, as well as sharing what God has blessed us with along the way. We are to help those we see are in need...isn't it awesome when we reach out to give a little something to others how it not only helps them, but it makes our hearts sing too? Soooo I have painting a little painting of a cross in memorance of my joining!!! May we all reach out to help those in need for God will provide a way for us to do just that!!!
Have a wonderful week my friends waking early to have your quiet time with God...that has become the most precious time for me!!!!

One more photo!

Well a couple more.. Now the walls are greenish, just need to add the chair rail, and trim so the room will be finished..it's take a couple years actually to update some things...Time and ability has been the main reasons for the delay! hehehe
My hubby isn't a painter nor is he a carpenter, but I'm proud of his attempts!

Golly the older I get the faster the days in the week go by!! Can't believe it's Thursday already....one more day and then I have my hubby all to myself for the weekend. I'm like a kid in a candy store waiting our time together...after 28 yrs it's even more important to me!!! Is it true with you as well? Do have a great day creating and praising the Lord for all He does in our lives!!! (((hugs)))

A lovely weekend!

We took our usual Sunday drive through the countryside enjoying all the old farm houses along the way. This time we stopped by one that had been empty for probably years. As we walked around we could almost feel the life that filled it long ago. We could imagine children running all over the grounds playing hid and seek, Mom coming out to let them know dinner was ready. I could almost see what I was imagining! Leaving there we drove down to The National Park where people were setting up for lunch at the camp sites, and we could hear children screaming with delight as they cooled off in the creek! As we reached the edge of the water I kicked my shoes off and waded in too...awe, that felt so good after days of temps that reached up into the 100s.

As we traveled on I tried to capture some of the buildings, and landscapes we were seeing, but as usual we were traveling too fast for me to capture much. We enjoyed a nice meal at a Chinese Restaurant then headed back home only to see hugh dark clouds appearing as we got closer. Rain was coming down in buckets as we reached Rt 522! There were times we had to slow to a creep when we couldn't see a foot infront of us. (We later discovered the winds were up to 60 miles an hr.) Cars were pulled off to the side of the road traffic going the other direction was at a stand still because of several huge trees the wind blew across the road. Luckily only tree limbs scattered our road...as we reached home the rains had slowed some keeping us from get drenched.
It's amazing how just one good rainfall can reverse all the damage done by weeks of little or no rain. I can actually see new growth this morning!!! Yey!!!












Have a wonderful week creating!!!