Wednesday, December 30, 2015

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Welcome to my annual year in review posts--a chance for us to look back on the past year's favorite projects.
favorite things, DIY, projects,  http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/these-are-few-of-my-favorite-things_30.html

Monday, December 28, 2015

These are a Few of my Favorite Things--2015 in Review

It hardly seems possible, I mean I am pretty sure I just got accustomed to writing 2015 rather than 14, but it is time for my annual year in review posts.
year in review, favorite things, reclaimed wood, projects, DIY, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/these-are-few-of-my-favorite-things.html

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Sunday Verses

god's word, inspiring verse, bible verse, love one another, commandment, flannel shirt, cozy,http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/sunday-verses_27.html
Happy Sunday! Do you have the post Christmas blues and exhaustion? We get so busy making sure everyone else is taken care of during the holidays that we sometimes (okay, often times!) forget ourselves. After all, aren't we supposed to love on others? Yes! But, we forget the second part of this commandment: Love others like we love ourselves. Wait, it is alright to love ourselves and take care of us? Yes! We need to remember to take time for a little self care and self love. If we don't, we aren't going to have anything to give to others. Now that you have done all the shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, activity planning,serving--loving others, let's focus this week on loving ourselves and taking care of ourselves. Rest, relax, take time for a favorite activity--do what you need to do to show yourself some love! Amen?

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Sunday Verses

god's word, bible verse, inspiring verse. Christmas verse, winter photography, Montana, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/sunday-verses_20.html
Happy Sunday! By this time next week Christmas will be done, over, finished. Some of you will have your trees down and the home undecorated, presents will be opened, some returned or broken already, leftovers will be dwindling and we will be lamenting everything we ate, but shouldn't have. What will be left? My hope and God's plan is that we will have peace, the peace that Jesus came to give us. Peace that is internal and can't be taken away from us by the things going on in our lives. My hope is that we will have a continuing sense of goodwill towards others--those tough to love folks, the broken and hurt. Enjoy this week leading up to the celebration of Jesus' birth and may He have the glory while we rest in His peace and goodness.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

12 Days of Christmas, Day 12, Last Minute Gift

Here we are, a week away from Christmas eve.  Are you ready?  Still need a gift for someone special?
Christmas ideas, DIY, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-12-last-minute.html
With some scrap wood, hooks, and about an hour's worth of time you can create this gorgeous coat hook.
Christmas ideas, gift, coat hook, reclaimed wood, DIY, Minwax, cabin decor, stcoking hanger, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-12-last-minute.html

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Sunday Verses

inspiring Bible verse, god's word, verse for hope, winter, photography, Montana, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/sunday-verses_12.html
Happy Sunday! When I was a kid, a favorite song from Sunday school that I liked to sing was, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love." I am guessing that just about every day we encounter people who do not know God, do not know His love and saving grace. We might be the only "sermon" they ever hear, the only "Bible" they read, the only light to shine in the dark for these folks. Some days I forget this. I do not show God's love and patience to others, I do not let them see God's goodness in me. In this season, when things are busy and rushed and hurried, when some people are depressed and lonely, others angry and hurt--let's remember to let God's light and good deeds shine through us so that others might know Him.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

12 Days of Christmas, Day 11, HOW TO Make Simple Wreaths

When we moved into our old schoolhouse, I knew the large, original windows in the great room needed simple wreaths hanging from them at Christmas time.
wreath, DIY, christmas decor, how to, rustic christmas, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-11-how-to-make.html

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

12 Days of Christmas, Day 10, How to Upcycle Stockings

Christmas ideas, DIY, stockings, upcycle, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-10-how-to.html
What do you do when you are changing your Christmas theme (again), but you don't really have making all new stockings (again) in you?

You upcycle some old stockings with "boot socks".
stockings, Christmas decor, 12 days of christmas, DIY, Sewing stockings, winter woodland,http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-10-how-to.html

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Home for Christmas, Home Tour & Blog Hop

home tour, Christmas, country living, hometalk, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/home-for-christmas-home-tour-blog-hop.html
Hello, and welcome to the Hometalk.com and CountryLiving.com Christmas Home Tour and Blog Hop.  Settle in with a mug of something warm and yummy because there are many wonderful homes and Christmas ideas to see.

Sunday Verses

bible verse, inspirational verse. words when you are stressed, winter photography, Jesus, hope, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/sunday-verses.html
Happy Sunday! During this Christmas season I have been thinking about the song O Holy Night and in particular the line, "the weary world rejoices". How, when there is so much turmoil and strife in the world, are we to rejoice? We rejoice because we trust that God is still God, and while we may be tired and weary, He is not. We celebrate, knowing that God is resilient, He never gets worn out or stressed. It takes faith and hope to rest in God, but Jesus came to earth to give us hope, hope of an everlasting life with our Father who NEVER gets weary and that is something to celebrate!

Friday, December 4, 2015

12 Days of Christmas, Day 9, Easy, Outdoorsy Ornaments

Christmas ideas, DIY, budget decor, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-9-easy.html
I needed a little more woodsy, a little more nature on my tree so I got crafty.  I love being able to create what I want--so much easier than searching stores for the perfect item and MUCH cheaper!!

When I was a kid one of my favorite Christmas activities was making salt dough ornaments.  Mom would make the dough from flour and salt and we would roll it out, use the Tupperware red cookie cutters, pray the dough would not stick, cut them out, bake them and then paint them. I wanted to make them year after year, and did. 
model magic, ornaments, animal prints, fusion mineral paint, Christmas, DIY, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-9-easy.html
These ornaments are reminiscent of those salt dough days--except easier and not as fragile because they are made with Model Magic.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

12 Days of Christmas, Day 8, Woodland Christmas Centerpiece

12 days of Christmas, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-8-woodland.html
So, it is confession time--centerpieces have never been my forte.  A bowl of fruit in the middle of the table, some mail scattered around it and I was good.  

But, the last few years I have had fun creating unique, SUPER inexpensive centerpieces with items I find around the house.

This year was no different. After making my Christmas table runner (details HERE) and picking my woodland theme, I knew a centerpiece to fit the theme would be easy. This year's centerpiece took less than 30 minutes to gather and put together.
Christmas, candles, pine branches, copper paint, centerpiece, DIY, woodland, logs, pinecones, fusion mineral paint, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2015/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-8-woodland.html