friday fun...

I.am.stepping.away.

Stepping away from the computer;

specifically, from pinterest.

pinterest, we love you.

but

you are a huge distraction.

 I have already pinned more ideas

 than I could possibly ever do in my lifetime.

But if  you are in need of a tiny break

you can check it out here:)

while I'm cleaning...

(can you guess which room I am supposed to cleaning?)

...here is a bit of good news.

Yes,  baby G is on the way...

and 

we are  a bit nervous scared excited

but  

and 

choosing 

to rejoice 

in life 

today.

is it too late...

 to make my summer to-do list?

August 1

 2/3 over

or

 1/3 left?

31 days remaining of  my summer vacation

I didn't make my list

in  June because I was preparing for the sale

or 

in July because I was recovering  from the sale.

But it's been here

swirling in my mind

I am writing  it down

so 

I can choose what is most important to me

and

to see what I get done by the end of the month.

• Re-decorate  my girl young-in's bedroom…it's time to make it her space… here’s a peek at what we are starting with

• make pillows with said girl...for said bedroom

• order wallpaper for dining room redo…coming next fall

• plan and do something  extra-special  with my Mr.

• paint my back door...I have  some ideas…I can’t wait

• read a book, or 2 or 3…this is what's on the nightstand

• decorate my newly painted porches (soon they will be  newly painted) this is  what I am most excited about with the new paint job

• put together a gallery wall for all of these  family photos taken last fall

• eat dinner on the patio and have  tea on the porch

• spend a day with my bestie

• garden...I've missed it...my girl and I have been spending time together weeding, deadheading roses, and I’m likin’ it…

• paint a few furniture pieces for me...my stuff is always last

• clean my kitchen and then

• add some farmhouse details ...and of course, blog about it

• organize my outside inventory storage spaces

• get back on the de-clutter train…speaking of organizing...remember this?...I need to get back on track...to get rid of 5 things per day is my goal…this may be a lifelong project

• host an event ...it will help us to keep going and get the  house finished ...we love need deadlines... 

• go shopping with my girl(s)

• learn more about my camera/photography

• Keep working on my craft room/studio…one of the days years I will get to join the where women create party…which also  means we will get to  eat at the dining room table again

• Sort through my homeschooling curriculum…this one’s going to be hard, girls

• Have a fun day/evening with my grandbabies

• Wash the outside of the windows…to match the new brand-spankin’ clean paint

• Reserve the right to throw the list out the window if the  Lord brings something else or I get a better offer. 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord...colossians 3:23

where am I ?

(warning: keepin' it real post ahead)

This post has been brewing for some time.


Should I  share?
Should  I keep quiet?


 If this is about  MY PASSIONS;
then this is what I'm all about 
right here, right now. 

I am here

 and here

and here.

Donna at Everyday Elegance 
has encouraged me to 'fess up.

I am a keeper.

I am NOT a clean-freak.

I have this quote at my desk.

 a creative mess is better than tidy idleness

I have always been this way.

I am too sentimental.

I love pretty things.

I LOVE old stuff.

I love a bargain.

I can NOT make decisions.

I LOVE old stuff.

I have an antique business.

I need inventory.

I LOVE old stuff.

That, my girlfriends, is a recipe for disaster.

stuff

it 
has taken over
 my home 
and 
it has taken over my life

it is everywhere

to say that there has been conflict is an understatement

conflict with my children

conflict with my husband

conflict in my own heart

every morning 

i would wake up

 and say 
today i will win, today i will  make progress

everynight

I would make my way through the path 
of piles 
to my bedroom

(we have the  last room in the house) 

and fall asleep thinking 
about what a failure I was

everyday. everynight.

when viewing a hoaders episode

I did NOT think

those poor people...why do they live like that?

I would think, "I am so close,

that could be me living like that"

my husband moved my stuff last fall

and I was so  mad 

I could have spit nails

wake-up call

last  winter when my newly, married daughter and her husband

wanted to come stay the night

I didn't have a place for them

in. this. great. big. house. i. did. not. have. a. place.

wake-up call

but the final straw was 
when I finally came face-to-face

with the fact 
that my family was embarrassed by the mess.

I was an embarrassment to my children.

I was an embarrassment to my husband.

wake-up call

ouch.

How did I let it get so out of control?

I was trapped.

Trapped by my stuff

enough is enough

Since January,

I have been on a mission

a mission to

reclaim my home.

It is a long and difficult task.

I am getting there,

slowly.

I still have so far to go.

but 
I  am determined.

Now, every night 
I ask my Mr.

Do you see it?

Somedays it is just a bit

but

progress

is

progress.

Donna's post came just at the right time.
(10 weeks of this and I'm only this far?)

I was feeling tired and discouraged

but she has encouraged me to keep going.

THANKS Donna

over the next few days
 I might share some of my strategy

or 
I  might  not.

My computer time has been limited

because

I am here

oh, progress

sweet progress




my sweet friend reminded me of one of my favorite verses:




"The unfailing love of the LORD never ends!


By his mercies 


we have been kept from complete destruction.

Great is his faithfulness;

his mercies begin afresh each day.


 Lam. 3:22-23




thanks jane, for the words of hope 

just peachy...

She's learning to ...

carry on family tradition.

This has been a long-time family favorite.

I think this is the most-used page from

my vintage (wedding present!) Betty Crocker cookbook.

It's why we can peaches...

Another family tradition...girl time!

We'll be doing that again soon.

When the Elbertas are ripe-my favorite.

Mmmm.

Have a peachy day,

Rene'

summer delight...

I posted recipe this last summer-
It's still one of my favorite summer-time treats.

There's time to make it

if

you hurry!

Did anyone try it last summer?

Lemon Meringue Ice Cream



MERINGUE

2 egg whites

1/8 tsp salt

1/3 c. sugar

Put a rack in middle of oven, preheat to 250 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat whites and salt in med. bowl with a mixer at med. speed until whites hold soft peaks.
Add sugar 1 Tbsp. at a time, beating at high speed until meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks, about 1 minute. Spread meringue into a 9in. round (like a blob!) on parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake until firm to touch, about 1 hour. Turn off oven and let meringue stand in oven 1 hour. Transfer meringue (on parchement) to a rack to cool completely.Peel off parchment and, working over a bowl, break meringue into1/2-to1 in. pieces.



ICE CREAM

1 1/2c. heavy cream

1 c. whole milk

3/4c. sugar

4 tsp. finely grated lemon zest

1/8 tsp. salt

6 egg yolks

2/3c. lemon juice

Combine cream, milk, sugar, zest, and salt in 2-3qt. heavy saucepan, bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally.Meanwhile, whisk yolks in med. metal bowl until smooth. Add hot cream mixture to yolks in a slow stream, whisking constantly, then pour back into pan. Cook custard over moderate low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until custard is thick enough to coat back of spoon(170 F). Do not let boil.Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into clean metal bowl and stir in lemon juice. Cool custard to room temperature, then refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 3 hours

Freeze custard in ice cream maker.
Transfer ice cream to bowl and top with meringue.

Yummy!

ENJOY!

Happy Summer Days!

Rene'