Weekly Happenings

Hello friends and happy almost Friday! I wanted to take time to share a few happenings from Willie Mae Lane this week! First, you may remember me saying I was going to get back to walking every day. I am happy to report that Mama and I (and Sadie) have walked an average of 2 or more miles every day this week. We even went today in the windy cold! Earlier this week after one of our walks, I picked some camellias off one of Mama's bushes. This thing is huge and loaded with blooms. Look at the carpet of blooms on the ground as well. All of her camellias are blooming like crazy too!

Here's a close up of one of the blooms....so pretty!

I replaced the small vase of blooms on my table with these. The other blooms were falling off the stems. That's one thing about these flowers...they fall off the stem after just a few days. But, the blooms do look pretty floating in a bowl water as well.

Another goal I mentioned was eating healthier. I am happy to report that I have been practicing diligence in that area of my life as well. I have prepared very healthy suppers each night and have been packing a healthy lunch to take to work as well. I am only drinking water too...:) Here's a shot of my grocery basket a couple days ago. I made a yummy and healthy soup with that chicken tonight! It's so cold and soup hit the spot!

You may be wondering what this next photo is all about!

We had a freeze last night, so yesterday before I went for my walk, the hubby and I helped Mama and Daddy get their citrus trees covered. 

He built this amazing system to protect his trees during a freeze. The framework he built is about 12 feet tall and can be covered with these blue tarps. It is then closed off everywhere so not much air escapes or enters. He has a heater inside and fans that circulate the warm air and keep the plants from freezing. After the cold spat is over, the tarps come down and the trees get the sunlight they need. One good thing about Florida is our freezing weather never lasts more than a few days at a time. We will take the tarps down on Saturday.

I came home to some happy mail a couple days ago. I love Amazon boxes! These contained most of the supplies I ordered to get started on my new hobbies! I can't wait to get my second art journal challenge and prompt on Saturday so I can use my new watercolors!

Here's my new journal for the project. I have to put my first pages in. I shared those in this post. I also need to decide how to decorate the cover.

And here's my supplies to get started embroidering again. I am still waiting for the book I ordered, but I have another project I may start this weekend. I'll be sure to share if I do!

I am also proud to say that I have been diligently been reading my bible and prayer journaling each night. I look forward to this part of my day. It brings me great satisfaction and is a nice winding down and reflective time for me. Here's my prayer journal. It's just a composition book that I put some labels and washi tape on to make it pretty. 

Here are a couple pages inside. I like to copy scripture down along with prayers...:)

I'm trying my hardest to live my life with diligence and so far it's working. 

Praying it continues! I hope you have a wonderful Friday. 

Until next time.....

 

 

A Little Sunday Afternoon Piddling

Hello friends! Happy Monday!

I am back at work today, preparing my classroom and lessons for my sweet kinders to return on Wednesday. I can't wait to hear all about their Christmas. Yesterday, the hubby and I did a lot of what I call piddling. Lots of little projects completed. I will share a few things with you today. I took down my New Year's decor from the buffet and replaced it with some of my favorite items. 

I love using my Scrabble tiles to spell things out seasonally or whatever is on my heart or mind. Lately I have been reminding myself to do this.....

If I start to worry too much, or get stressed or overwhelmed, all I have to do is remember to let go and let God. He shoulders the burdens for me. I added several of my vintage books to the buffet first and them built my vignette around them. Milk glass, vintage bobbins, mercury glass, and so on. I like to mix things up. 

I like this look and it will probably stay until I decorate it for Valentine's Day.

Another project I completed was painting my shelf black. It was a jadeite green color. I was ready for a change.

I like the sweet little vignettes I created on the shelves.

I am still loving my bees...:)

The hubby got three of our interior doors installed and the trim installed around them. Not we need to spackle and paint! My little hall area is transformed with the new doors. I'll share a photo soon. While he was working on the doors, I decided to bake us a batch of chocolate chip cookies. We are going try cutting sugar and white flour out of our diet in the coming weeks, so we decided to satisfy our sweet tooth for a bit. Our goal is to eat very healthy 6 days a week and eat something we love one day a week. So, no sugar or white flour 6 out of 7 days each week.....I'm hoping I survive! I'm a sugar addict....:)

Anywho, this is the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever made. I knew they were good because I made them a couple years ago. I know good cookies...they are my favorite dessert! If you want the recipe, you can find it here.

Oh my goodness...they are heavenly! 

Soft and chewy...just like a cookie should be!

I wanted to tell you that I am being so diligent with practicing diligence so far! I know it's only a few days into the year, but I am proud none the less! I have read my bible each day, journaled in my prayer journal every day, finished my 5th book over Christmas break, and many other things. I wanted to share another journal project with you. I am participating in the Documenting Life 2015 Art Journal project by Art to the 5th. I am super excited about it! Basically you get a challenge and a journal prompt each week. This week the challenge was to use book paper and the journal prompt was Be Your own Goal Keeper. I chose to use my word for 2015...diligence. Here is my completed page....or actually 2 pages.

My goals are written on the tag.  I used distressing ink, vintage dictionary pages (with my word on the page) and part of the book spine, stamps, and a few other things to complete this project. I love how it turned out. I am going to delve into using watercolor and acrylics to do these pages throughout the year. I have watercolors ordered as well as some items for my other new hobby for this year...embroidery. So excited!

Well, that's it for today ladies. Thank you for stopping by. I always enjoy your visits. I hope each of you has a wonderful week. 

Until next time.....