What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Friday, March 29, 2019

Friday Foto Friends: Pamela's Victorian Cottage Fixer Upper Update

Hello Friday Foto Friends out there in "Blogland"!  So glad you could join us today for another episode of "Pamela's Victorian Cottage Fixer Upper"!  I'm sorry that it's been over a week since our last episode, (which you can visit HERE), but I've been a bit under the weather and haven't felt like working on a full blown production of this popular show for a few days...so please forgive me for keeping you in suspense!  Not a lot has been happening, but then again, a few things have been added that you might enjoy! So here we go:

One thing that has been on my mind that this sweet little mother of five girls and one little boy might need is a sewing machine!  I mean, can you imagine trying to keep up with all of the girls' dresses and the little boy's patches on his knees (because he's always praying by his bedside! Click here for pictures of the children at play)

So last week I was scrolling through some pictures online and found  this picture, which I fell in love with:(In the Garden of Faith, Hope and Love, on Facebook)

And I thought that would be a perfect sewing machine for my little mother to use in her house, so I printed the picture out and then cut out the sewing machine and glued it to the wall. And now the family also has a cat!!!


This little mother reminds me a lot of my husband's grandmother, "Nanny Martin", who had four daughters to sew for...and she also made lots and lots of quilts, which she sold to make money to put my mother in law through beauty school!!!  "Nanny Martin" looked a lot like this little lady above, with her white hair pulled up into a bun on the back of her head. My first thought about this little house and family was that it was kind of like the story of "Little Women", but the more I think about it, it's more like Nanny Martin and family, except they didn't have a little brother...Oh well...some things have to be imagined..

For more about "Nanny Martin's" story you can click HEREAnd HERE.  We may include more episodes about her life and family here in the future.

For now, I want to move on to a few more additions to the family homestead:

It seems as though every woman's dream these days is to have a "she-shed" or a garden shed of some kind...and our little family definitely needs a garden shed because they obviously will need to grow a big garden to keep everyone well fed:


The garden shed itself was originally built by my son, a.k.a. "Ben's Country Woodshop", as a gift for his grandmother, my mother in law,  "Nanny Steiner" (yes, one of the daughters of "Nanny Martin", mentioned above).  It is a bird house, but too nice to be put outside where it will get ruined. So Nanny Steiner kept it safe in her house, and when she passed on last year, this little bird house came home to live with me.
 I found this cute little farm boy and girl and some of the other accessories at the Dollar General...
 Some of the other things I already had in my "craft supplies" .  I love the little rustic table and bench above, which has a little teapot and cups set out and ready for tea time in the garden. (Do you see a doggie in the background? I think he is one of the farm dogs that helps keep the animals herded...)

Maybe it is time for another tea party!  The little boy and girl invited the sweet little fairy from the garden at the big house to join them. They are each holding a special little friend:  The little fairy is holding a baby fawn, the little girl is holding a gray squirrel, and the little boy is holding a brown squirrel. That along with the birds and butterflies should make for a lovely little tea party in the garden.


Well, I hope you have enjoyed this latest episode of Pamela's Victorian Cottage Fixer Upper.
There are still a few more things that I hope to "fix up" in the big house soon, so I will let you know when that happens.

In the meantime, here are some thoughts for us to consider from the book of Joel, chapter 2:

21.  "Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice,
For the Lord has done marvelous things!
22.  Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;
 (Yes, the deer are back in our yard! Picture taken Thursday evening as they ran away from me when I appeared in the yard, then turned back to look at me)

For the open pastures are springing up,
and the tree bears its fruit;
This young pine tree is sending out new shoots as it grows and prospers. I thought they looked unusually interesting as they reach out every which way.

The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
23.  Be glad then, you children of Zion,
And rejoice in the Lord your God;
For He has given you the former rain faithfully,
And He will cause the rain to come down for you...
The former rain,
and the latter rain in the first month.
24.  The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
25.  So I will restore to you the years 
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the crawling locust,
the consuming locust,
My great army which I sent among you.

26.  You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
 (those same deer in our yard, before I accidentally scared them away...)

and praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.
27.  Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel;
I am the Lord your God
and there is no other.
My people shall never be put to shame."

These verses were spoken from Jehovah God through the prophet Joel to His people Israel, in which deliverance was being promised to Israel if they would repent...
I believe God is also speaking to us today here in our land...if we will repent and stay faithful to God, He will not allow us, His believing children, to be put to shame.  This is also reminiscent of
II Chronicles 7:14, which says:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

As we approach Easter, may we pray more and more for repentance in our nation, and may God forgive our sin, and heal our land.
Amen.

Now, let us go over and visit with our other Friday Foto Friends, who are gathering at Deb's Place at Breathing In Grace, and see what beautiful things they are sharing today!! Have a blessed and wonderful weekend!!

29 comments:

  1. I enjoyed read about Pamela's Victorian Cottage Fixer Upper and look forward to the next chapter. As usual all your photos are great. Have a day of blessings dear friend.

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    1. THank you, Toni. I'm glad you enjoy my little make believe world. I guess this is my version of your "creative adventures". Hope your day is filled with blessings too.

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  2. Beautiful!!! I have the same cottage--and I just love the color--mine is white with pink trim. smiles.

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    1. Really? I didn't know that! Please post some photos!! How interesting!! Do you still "play with it"? Hope you are feeling better!

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  3. Pamela: I enjoy your update on the cottage. I especially marvel at your imagination. The she-shed is something I don't think I would have thought of. As always, your pictures of the deer are precious. Peace and blessings.

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit to the cottage. It's fun to use our imaginations and pretend again. This week I've been kind of "out of it" with a sinus issue, so this was a good diversion. Peace and blessings to you as well.

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  4. I love visiting your cottage! It makes all sorts of ideas spring to mind. I love your creativity! The sewing machine is adorable. And the quilts!

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    1. I'm so glad you could pop in for a visit. Sometimes it is good to just let our little inner child back out again. At times I think mine wants to just come out and stay and play all day long. LOL. Maybe that's not a bad thing...?? 2nd childhood time... LOL.

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  5. I just love coming here and reading about your doll house episodes, Pam. :) You have made that family come alive and I just LOVE your creativity! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

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    1. Thank you for enjoying this little family with me. I am glad there are kindred spirits out here who understand and enjoy playing along!! Have a blessed day my friend.

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  6. Pamela, your Victorian Cottage is so sweet and you are just so creative with it and have a great imagination. It's just like being a little girl again scrolling through and thinking about cutting out pictures and placing everything just so to create that atmosphere for your little family. I love it! My Grandma had a sewing machine like that and sewed and quilted. My Mom made all our clothes up through 8th grade and then only a few things. Blessings today, my sweet friend!

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    1. My mom also had a sewing machine like that (but electrified), and she made our clothes, but she also taught us to sew so that we could take over. My sister was a good seamstress, but I kept it pretty simple. Remember when "shifts" were in style? A-line shifts and skirts? We had to wear dresses to school back then, but I was happy when the styles were simple like that... have a blessed weekend!

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  7. Oh its lovely Pamela,every little detail in every single room speaks volumes of love in that sweet little home.
    What a beautiful sewing machine and to think it came with a cat as well.😉
    Your garden shed is absolutely perfect and your dear Nanny Steiner would be so happy to see what you have done with her beautiful hancrafted gift from your son.
    You have done a beautiful job Pamela ❤

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    1. Thank you, Debbie! Yes, I thought the cat was a nice addition to the family! And yes, I believe Nanny Steiner would enjoy seeing all of this, especially since I am thinking about her family that she grew up in as this family, (sort of). I'm happy you liked this...it's simple but fun. (A Lot like ME! LOL) Have a blessed day!

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  8. I love seeing what you've done with the cottage. Amazing! And Joel 2 is a chapter I love to read again and again. Have a blessed weekend.

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    1. Thank you, Karen. I am glad that you appreciated the scripture references as well. Just seemed to be what the Lord put before me to read and meditate upon at this time. Since I don't have a little granddaughter to come and play with me, I have to "pretend" I have playmates. LOL. Blessings to you and yours!

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  9. It's a wonderful cottage and the little family will be very happy there. I remember a story on Twilight Zone about a girl in a doll house and the man who wanted her to be real and so she became real.

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    1. Oh wow...that was an interesting story...I may have to look that one up. My husband loves watching old Twilight Zone episodes. My little family seems to be quite content in their new home, and I will let them "live" on in my imagination. Not sure I'd have room for them in the BIG house! LOL>

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  10. Love it so much! Like an escape from other junk to come here and take a deep cleansing breath. I love you Pam!

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    1. Do people in real life call you Pam or Pamela?

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    2. Dear Susie...I already replied to these comments on email...I wonder if you got them? I didn't realize they were on here, but my replies don't show up. Anyway, the short version of the LONG message I wrote you there is, I am known as "Pam" in "real life", except when my mother was alive, I was often called "Pamela Anne Mursch" get in here right now!! You will have to read my full response on email...I think I wrote you a little "book". LOL.

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  11. I love seeing your latest improvements in your sweet little house! The garden shed is such a cute idea and a great way to use that birdhouse! I also love the deer and wonder if the bears are still around?

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    1. Thank you, Terri. We haven't seen any bears or even footprints in a long time. Plus, we don't have our outdoor wildlife camera anymore, so we don't know if they are out there at night or not. But I don't think they are as we have not seen any footprints, and that is usually my first "sign" they've been here. Not sure why. But they may be still deeper in the woods and not wandering out too close to people yet...I've been watching...

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    1. Hmmm, maybe I can find some at Hobby Lobby or some such place, if I ever get there...They usually come out with deer around Christmas time, so I may have to wait. But I agree, I need some!

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  13. Hi Pam! I enjoyed the latest edition of Pamela's Victorian Cottage Fixer Upper; had to chuckle at how the family acquired a cat while getting the sewing machine! How clever of you.

    That young pine tree with all the bright green shoots looks like a celebration! Speaking of celebration, I am thrilled that our next door neighbor has planted a large Bottle Brush bush just outside his guest room window, which is almost directly across from my [new] kitchen window. We had a Bottle Brush tree in Jax and I loved the bright red flowers (brushes). This one is much closer for viewing and such a delight. It looks like a Celebration to me!

    Enjoy your weekend! We are busy unpacking and loving every minute of this season the Lord has given to us.

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    1. I am so happy for you to have a Bottle Brush tree outside your kitchen window! Is it blooming yet? Be sure to watch for hummingbirds! The LOVE bottlebrush flowers...and butterflies will too! So that is the nicest welcome to your new home gift your neighbor could give you, even tho it is on their property! Be watching, as the hummingbirds are back here now!!

      I like your idea of the pine tree celebrating! I agree! It is celebrating its new growth and life and springtime. We should also be celebrating! God is blessing in so many ways, and we are "growing" in Him...so Celebrate!! That is one of the songs in our Easter cantata that we are practicing.."Celebrate the Risen Christ"... I will think of this happy little tree celebrating the Risen Christ when we sing that. The Bible tells us that the trees of the wood shall clap their hands...so, celebrate!

      Re: the little cat...yes, it is the nicest kind of kitty...doesn't need kitty litter or to be fed or anything! It just sits there and purrs...

      Can't wait to see more picture of your new home...Celebrate!!

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  14. Oh, I love the work you've done on the fixer upper! You have such a wonderful imagination. I bought a little fairy garden set today at Family Dollar with a little black fairy... so fitting for our grand girl.💜

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  15. Oh Pam, I'm so very far behind and LATE. However, I simply love what you're doing with the sweet Victorian cottage.

    Blessings!

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.