Odds and Ends /Wednesday Treasures

Today was one of those days that I wasn't quite "up to par", and so I stayed home and didn't do much of anything.  I did do some scrolling through my Pinterest site...I haven't been on there in ages.  There's a lot of stuff that keeps showing up there that I guess they (? Whoever they is) thinks I would like on my pages.  This was one of the pictures that showed up, why, I'm not sure, but I did like it.  I sent a copy to my blogging friend Debbi at Debbi's Front Porch because she's raising chickens nowadays, and I could just see us having a good old time like this in her hen house.   I named it "Time for Tea in the Henhouse".  These two old ladies crack me up.  

I saw this picture of this puzzle on Facebook, and I saved it to my Pinterest page because it reminds me of a place where I would LOVE to be...I've always wanted a little cabin on a lake where the family could gather for the summer...or the fall...or whenever... Actually, I wouldn't mind living there all the time, but then I guess the uniqueness of it might wear off and it would become ordinary...Nah...I don't think that would happen.  LOL.

Here's something else I pinned not too long ago. I saw this picture of this kitchen and really loved it, so I saved it. I love the big long farmhouse style table, and I especially love the high rustic ceiling and the big windows at the end over the kitchen sink.  This looks like a kitchen where I could just settle down and live. LOL.  It would also be plenty of room for ALL the family to gather for holidays and other celebrations. (as long as they all bring food and help clean up! LOL)

I love this picture of this bedroom because it is arranged a lot like our bedroom, and I would love to have a pine wood accent wall like that behind our bed:

Here is how our bedroom looks now:

I recently bought this new bedspread because our old one was getting little tears in the quilted pieces and I didn't want to ruin it any further. This one was inexpensive at our local "Roses" store...

Here's a close-up of the pillows...The one in the middle of the Butterfly came with the bedspread and two pillow shams.  The two little side accent pillows were a gift from my DIL's sister Sherrie...she made the pillow cases for me for Christmas...they have butterflies and birds on them and say "The Joy of the Lord is My Strength",   (Strength is my One-Word for this year!), and "Under His Wings You will Find Refuge".     The owl pillow I've had for a long time. It was a gift from my sister in law Peggy because she knew I loved owls.  The teddy-bear was a gift from my hubby during my last hospital stay. We call him "Bear-Bear", and he sleeps with me every night.   The "Tumbling Block Quilt" on the wall was made by my sweet Daddy one year for Christmas. It is made out of wood, and each piece of the blocks are different pieces of wood.  He was very talented.

I didn't realize until after I had bought the new bedspread that it was named "Lavender and Lilly".  Not sure why, there are no lillies on it and it isn't lavender, but I LOVE lavender scent/flowers, and of course you all know I love "Lily".  

This is the actual design on the bedspread: Butterflies and flowers.   

Back to the Pinterest pictures, I would love to have a pine accent wall in our living room too, to give it a more "cabin-feel"... so this is just an idea of a foyer/entry wall:

And here is another idea, although I prefer horizontal boards to the vertical ones.

Here is a picture of our current living room, and that is the wall I would love to do the pine accent wall, from the wainscoting up, again, to give it that "cabin feel".

Here's the corner of that wall and back wall where the glass doors are looking out to Still Waters Pond. I took this picture the other day, I think it was Saturday, because hubby was watching FOOTBALL already! My thoughts were, "Hey! It must be almost FALL, because he's watching football!"  Oh, how I wish it was cool like fall, but alas! It was 95 today with a much higher heat index. So we still have a little wait before fall gets here...

It's funny, because just yesterday in our Tuesday 4 meme, the first question asked:

1. Do you find yourself day dreaming about your situation and things you would love to do if only...?

And I answered it this way:

"Sometimes...but I try not to think about the "if only" part so much, because I've learned in life that it is best to live in the present and do the very best you can with what you have. Day dreaming about what you would do "if only" can lead to wishing you could change your situation and sometimes that can get you into trouble. I mean, it is okay to have dreams and goals that are positive and uplifting, but the best thing to do is make the best of what you have and be thankful. Sometimes we have to be careful that we might get what we wish for and find out that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but not necessarily as wonderful as what you already have."

And now here today I seem to be contradicting what I said above.  Well, not really.  I think it is okay to have ideas and "dreams" about things you would like to do and/or change in your home if the circumstances would allow you to do so.  There's nothing wrong with self-improvement or home improvement.  It's just that if we allow ourselves to dwell on things that we can't have or wish we could have so much so that we become dissatisfied with our home or life, then that is what becomes a dangerous habit or trap to fall into.

I have found these verses to be helpful in keeping me in the right frame of mind on this subject:

Philippians 4:11-13 NIV

11 "I am not saying this because I am in need, 

for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, 

whether living in plenty or in want. 

13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

As for all of the "pinterest ideas" above, that's all they are.  Ideas. Probably not anything that will ever happen, but it's fun to imagine how it would look if I could do that.  However, we can have that homey-cabin feel anytime just by being together and enjoying our family and friends and making memories. The walls don't really matter so much as what is said and done within those walls!

I've used this quote before:

And with that, I will say good night!

The last moments of sunset just now on Still Waters Pond: