After and Before and a New Painting

The wheat grass project is going down the tubes tomorrow. Hannah and I will drink the grass in a green smoothie. 

I'll grow more...and drink it as well. 

This little bird will go into the guest room...

Now that she is free from distress...

I'm not sure about the lamps. I like this one in the living room...

I was going for the look of a weathered baluster.

Layers of ASCP French Linen and homemade Plaster of Paris faux chalk paint were layered for effect.

I like it better than the original brass finish.

Last but not really a before or after is a painting I did for the family who opens their home to host our Wednesday Bible Study group.

They have a cozy, colorful, comfortable home. They share it often. 

Detail of the gold leaf and acrylic paint.

Word for the Day:
Hebrews 13:2

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/	Cottage Style
Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/	Primp Your Stuff Wed
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Penny Pinching Party
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://www.thestylesisters.blogspot.com/	Centerpiece Wednesday
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://vintageinteriorblogs.blogspot.com/	Weekend
http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com	Shabbilicious Friday Link Party
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Saturday Nite Special

87c Treasures on Monday

Do you have one of these? I thought I needed one - for .87c at the thrift store on Monday.

Don't you want one, too? Sorry, it was the only one. I've seen them below rocks and shells and objects that look good lit from below. Now, to find something to PUT on it...
That's another trip!

How about this treasure...cute, huh? An industrial apple. 

No self-respecting, industrial-elegant-cottage-style dining room would be complete without one. 

It had funny green plastic leaves wired to it - probably by the former owner. I prefer my industrial apples plain, so I removed them.

This treasure basket will be given a new lease on life - with paint of course. Maybe it will happen tonight!

This pretty vase is perfect just as she is; no paint needed. No tweaking for this lovely periwinkle blue girl. (I say girl, only because of the ruffles.)

You just gotta love a good ruffle. And a wire apple. And a lighted base for some future objet d'art. All for only .87c each.

Word for the Day:
Genesis 43:23

He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

Note about today's scripture:  I usually type in a key word to find a fitting scripture for the day. Today, I typed in "treasure." If you've ever used www.biblegateway.com, you know that one word can bring up hundreds of scriptures. I used the first on the list, because it was fitting, and because half a dozen below the first one called US God's treasured possession. Which I KNOW is true, otherwise we would NOT be celebrating the most Holy day of all on Sunday. 

How about THEM apples? Cool, huh? We are his most treasured possessions. 

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/	Cottage Style
Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/	Primp Your Stuff Wed
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Penny Pinching Party
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://www.thestylesisters.blogspot.com/	Centerpiece Wednesday
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://vintageinteriorblogs.blogspot.com/	Weekend
http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com	Shabbilicious Friday Link Party
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Saturday Nite Special

HOLY WEEK GOALS and Last Week's Accomplishments

Last Week's Goals: 

1. Finish sorting clothing for garage sale and pack away keepers for fall/winter. STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS. I really need to pare down my wardrobe...but it's hard. I hold on to basic things that never go out of style. (60 percent of my wardrobe.) I hold on to things I've grown out of, thinking I'll shrink back into them. 
But, I at least need to get rid of stuff I don't feel cute in. That's doable. 

2. Move black table to guest room. NOT DONE. Change of priorities. The Kitchen moved into first priority at Hannah's suggestion.

3. Photograph Dining Room changes. NOT DONE. See above.

4. Try the wheat grass thing again. Soaking now.

5. 5 new Etsy listings. NOT DONE.

6. Finish changing and styling the living room. MOSTLY DONE.

7. Eat low-carb. No cheating. Continue Green Smoothies. Not a bad week. Still loving the green smoothies.

Today was Palm Sunday.

I always love to see the children waving palm branches at worship services. Yesterday it was 70 degrees and clear. Last night, a cold front blew in and we got down to the teens, I think. We had a few snow flurries, and it was cold this morning. I got sort of excited - I got to wear the new jacket my friend Marsha sent me! It's beautiful, and I got so many compliments on it. One friend said, "You look like the queen of Norway!" Ha! 

Marsha has obviously been better about cleaning out her closets than I have been. She'd shrunk out of this lovely jacket, and it still had tags on it! She sweetly packed a box of some lovely things and sent them to me a few weeks back, and we've had warm weather since then. I liked that cold front today, and felt special in my new jacket. When I told my friends how I was blessed, they said, "I didn't know you actually made friends blogging!" I didn't know either. The "human" element of blogging was a wonderful surprise. Marsha has been a MUCH better friend to me than I have to her...She sent me this lovely painting earlier this year, along with some pecans from Alabama! I love pecans...

I finished painting the kitchen today, made a Greek Salad to take to a Passover Seder Dinner tonight. It was my first experience - a Messianic Seder. Julie hosted it at her house. It was so special, and I definitely want to do it again. 

This Week's Goals:

1. Be mindful of HOLY WEEK. 

2. Be thankful for Christ's sacrifice.

3. Be grateful for God's grace.

4. Attend Bible Study on Wednesday.

5. Attend Maundy Thursday Worship.

6. Attend Good Friday Tenebrae Service.

7. Invite Mason and Hannah to Attend Resurrection Sunday Services with me. 

Those are my main goals. In addition to those things, I hope to make some preparations for Hannah's arrival and our family dinner on Sunday - freshening things up and clearing the ETSY items off her bed for starters! If I can get around to it, I might start hanging some decorative items and things I've saved back for a kitchen update. If I don't get around to it, it will save for a couple of weeks. Just having the chartreuse and red gone makes the kitchen feel fresher.

This year, I haven't been as "connected" feeling during Lent. I don't want this week to pass without feeling the gravity of the sacrifice, realizing how amazing God's love and grace is, and appreciating it. 

Lord, please help me think of Jesus, and where he was during the last week of his life here on earth. Help me know how he felt. Help it be as real now as it was then. Help me know how I can show you how thankful I am. 

Word for the Day:

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

I'm not sure how much time I'll have for blogging this week, and I didn't take photos on Saturday like I usually do - for blogging purposes. If I don't post, I'll still check email!

Have a blessed week, sweet friends.

-Revi