Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! A recent drive on backroads led us to this abandoned schoolhouse. I hate seeing it deteriorating and wish that I could I restore it. I imagine the children who played and learned in this "lovely to me" school. Do you remember being taught the golden rule in school? I can picture the neatly lettered sign in my first grade classroom and I remember having to recite it. It seems like a pretty simple rule to live by, but darn, applying it is not always that easy. Everything Jesus taught was this golden rule principle: love each other, bless people, don't judge, be kind. Being human is messy and hard and hurtful sometimes, but before we act, before we speak, we need to pause and ask ourselves, are we treating this individual how we would want to be treated? 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! We finally got some days of sunshine this past week and I am loving it. The other morning the much welcomed morning sun was shining through the window and casting a shadow on the wall that looked almost iridescent. Light--it makes such a difference in how we see and in how we feel and react to things. We are called to be a light to each other every day. We don't need to wait for the big gestures to shine for others. Be a daily light in the small things and in small ways: include rather than exclude, be positive instead of someone who complains and is negative, be polite in your interactions not short and rude, listen to someone rather than talking at them, give grace instead of impatience, smile. People notice light, they notice the subtle differences in people who let Jesus shine through them.

Spring Signs

Supposedly robins have been spotted in the area. However, I haven't seen any yet and as we speak, my hubby is helping to clear the high school track of two feet of snow. But, I know spring will arrive eventually. In the meantime I made some signs for spring.

(affiliate links)

These signs are approximately 15" x 15" and painted using These Folk Art Stencils (BUY HERE) and Funky Junk Old Sign Stencils (BUY HERE). 

I painted them on some salvaged plywood and framed each one out. Each sign is a little different and I am selling them locally.

Which is your favorite?

Thrifty Thursday Planters

Spring is upon us, although looking outside it is hard to tell because it is still a sea of white snow. But, inside I am ready for color and new life and green.

When I bought this small, silver chafing dish I had no idea what I was going to use it for, but soon found a use for it.  

This Thrifty Thursday project is not really a project at all. But, the thrift store is one of the best places to get unique planters for house plants. LOOK for tarnished silver containers, metal buckets, vintage pottery, kid's galoshes, great baskets, pretty teacups, cowboy boots.

If you have something that you can't drill drainage holes in, be sure to put a little gravel in the bottom or use a plastic planter with a saucer inside the thrift store item.

The sunny yellow pot and the green make me feel a little warmer and I love a simple, thrift store repurpose!

Rustic Indian Paintbrush Painting

Last summer the Indian Paintbrush flourished in Montana. I love it, but hubby has a tough time seeing it because he is color blind and the red is hard for him to see amidst the green. We joke about it and he often has to be right on top of it to notice it. 

I snapped this picture of the Indian Paintbrush on one of our hikes. It was a day that was hotter than we expected, and we got lost going to our destination (the helicopter pad at the top of Bridger Mountain) so we hiked a few more miles than planned, and we didn't have enough water. But, we finally made it to the top and the views were spectacular. 

I decided to paint some Indian Paintbrush, using ONLY wood scraps as my paintbrushes and a piece of plywood as my canvas.

I have shad some people ask about a tutorial on my process. I am not sure I am ready to share that yet, nor do I know if it is something I can teach. But, I will say I just grab little craps of wood from around my chopsaw and dip it into paint--some craft, some latex, and paint. I layer the colors.

When I am done. I do a little sanding, add a frame and stain the whole piece. 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time before Easter where we focus on Jesus's sacrifice on the cross. Many people give up something for Lent or fast during the season to refocus their relationship with Jesus and to remember he gave up. After realizing I have been doing too much complaining lately, I have decided to do my best to give it up (and hopefully it will become a permanent habit!). I am working on focusing on the positive, on seeing the good in tough situations, on turning negative conversations around. And while I know I will still have moments where I grumble, I am keeping this verse close by.

Great Growler Makeover

So, here's a fun fact for you: Montana ranks second in the nation for number of microbrews per capita. Y'all, we like our beer. And as a result, there are all types of growlers in the thrift stores. For those of you who do not know, a growler is a container for beer bought by the measure (official definition there!). People take their growlers to the breweries to get them filled and take their beer home.

I had been keeping my eye open for a clear one because many of them are brown (which are a fun, warm color for display). I finally found a clear one that looks like it might have been used for home brewing.

After removing the label, I painted the growler with Martha Stewart glass paint. Mine is at least five years old, but I think you can still get it at craft stores. 

I decided to build a wood crate for the growler. Using scrap wood, wood glue, and my brad nailer, I hobbled together a crate for the jug. Historically, large 5 gallon jugs would be shipped in a wood crate that looked similar to this mini one I built for my growler.

I clipped some bamboo branches from our solarium to add a bit of green to our otherwise too snowy, too white world. Bamboo is supposed to bring good luck. It grows like crazy.

Always look at the jars and for growlers at the thrift store. There are so many different ones and they make great display pieces. Line up a bunch on a sunny windowsill, use wide mouth jars for STUFF, or use them for a centerpiece like I am.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I have been studying this past week for some online work I am trying to do. I have to take a test to be approved to do the work and I am nervous. I graduated from college 31 years ago and other than some continuing ed. classes, I have not had to study, let alone take a test in a long time. I have been busy scribbling illegible notes on scratch paper to try to trigger the ol' memory keeper. And let me tell you, I have said more than once, "I can't do this!" and have felt like I am not smart enough. We all have times when we feel like we are not enough--not smart enough, not pretty enough, not a good enough parent or partner, not rich enough. Sometimes it is our inner dialogue and sometimes it is someone else who makes us feel like we are not enough. STOP! God says with him, you are enough. He doesn't see you as a fixer-upper project, but loves you and honors you just as you are. With Jesus on your side, YOU ARE ENOUGH! Believe it, know it, and live like it.

Rustic Spring Flowers

Like many of you have had this year, we are smack dab in the middle of a big ol' winter storm. Honestly, February weather has been bad--so many sub zero days and finally, lots of snow. 

A few weeks ago, while I was wrapping presents for my dear daughter's birthday, I was inspired by the wrapping paper and decided to paint spring flowers, even if it is still winter out. When life gives you winter, paint flowers might be my new motto!

If you follow my blog, you know I have recently started painting with wood scraps. I am not sure how or why this cam about--just something I decided to try that I really enjoy. I grab scraps of wood from the ground near my saw and dip them in paint and paint away.

I used a piece of quarter-sawn barnwood for this painting, giving the background extra texture. 

I framed it out with a wood and painted it white and then stained it all. Fresh flowers to add a little color to the sea of white outdoors. Stay warm friends!

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! This past week I was talking to someone who has never been to Yellowstone Park. I was trying to give some hints and tricks to navigate the park in the busy season, but added that we avoid Yellowstone in the middle of the summer. She commented how lucky we are to be able to do enjoy it during the quieter months. We all have things in our lives that we take for granted--our surroundings, our spaces, our circumstances, our people. But, if I know anything, it is that life is ever-changing and we don't know what is going to happen next. We need to appreciate when things are going well and hold on when they are not, knowing that God has us in his hands. Let's work on not taking life and the many gifts it has for us for granted.