pumpkin patch & picnik pictures

Who loves picnik, raise your hand!!! Right now you can go to picnik.com and upload a photo for free, then go to edit, then create, then stickers. They have stickers that you can add to your photos (like the one above). There are cute little masks you can put on faces, etc. Picnik is also where you can make the photo collages and add text- for free!

So who did the pumpkin patch this year? What about carving? We did carve this year. The seeds are waiting to be roasted......

Home Tour: Pastor & Nancy

Welcome to our Pastor & wife's house! I love how Nancy decorates, but what is even better is that Nancy gets practically everything from thrift stores, off Craig's list, from a yard sale, or on clearance! This is the kind of creativity that I admire. This house is beauty on a budget!

Yes, she has a green thumb! I love the vines on the porch.

First stop- the guest room. A cozy spot to relax. Any guest would feel right at home. Nancy found the old mantle at a thrift store and painted it a lighter mossy green than the walls. Many fun and eclectic things going on here. My favorites are the little pedestal bowl, the ceramic bird, the fern canvas, and the large jar of shells and rocks.



Some old pictures of family members. Something I didn't get pictures of was an old trunk that has been in Nancy's family for years- inside she has many family heirloom type things- an old wedding dress of a grandmother, the flower girl's dress from her wedding, a maternity shirt worn for a pregnancy. I love this idea! We have stuff like that around here- but stashed in drawers and in boxes in the attic. I think putting these items in a special place shows your children the love and importance of your family members and your heritage. Thanks for the inspiration, Nancy!

Nancy made these trays in her pottery class. You will see lots more pottery!

Guest room bed- love the idea of the art hung a little lower to give the impression of a headboard.

A bargain chair found on Craig's list. Lots of character in that chair!

Cabinet in the dining room. Lots of great pottery- most from thrift stores.

Nancy's own creations from pottery class.

Kitchen looking into dining room.

Another tray- great color.

Pastor went to Nancy's pottery class with her and from what I have heard picked it up with ease. These are his creations. Pottery is not easy- I could never get a pot to look like anything besides an ash tray (and we don't smoke!) Pastor has the knack!

Nancy says this quote all the time! So I had to make her a painting for her wall- now she can just point to it when she wants to say it to her kids :)

Master bedroom- cozy & warm

Living room

Pastor & Nancy- this photo was taken when they were working on the upfit of our new church building.

It is evident when you walk into this house that there is a mother and wife who takes great care of her family and loves them (and the Lord) very much. Nancy is a good example to us all of a Proverbs 31 lady!

I have more pictures of the teen girls' room- but those pictures are worthy of a post all their own :)

Thanks for letting us invade your house :) It is a true inspiration!

Love is Patient, Love is Kind....Giveaway

The fall color has been beautiful this week! Wow- God! You are the Ultimate Artist!

Nice enough for a good ole rousing game of croquet....

Here we are....if we are sitting, she wants to be in our laps. Sweet dog!

Hope you are having a great Tuesday.....

I have a giveaway for you- just for fun....and I am trying to clean out my art room and regain some order. Here is an original painting for you to win. It is an 11x14 canvas- sides are painted black so you can hang directly on the wall. It is a great reminder of God's love and the love that we are supposed to show to others.

If you would like to win this piece of art - just leave a comment telling me what you would choose if you were to order a custom painting done by me....anything- quote or verse, or color scheme, etc. I will pick a name in a few days.

funky pumpkins

We had a fall festival with the kids from church at Monica's house. The kids had a great time. I got to help out with the pumpkin painting table. What a great idea, Monica! The kids loved it. Very cute and colorful li'l punkins.

pumpkins*mini caramel apples*owls*spiders

Pumpkins- what is cuter than a pumpkin??? (pumpkins against a chalkboard wall- that is what is cuter).
Mini Caramel Apples! This idea is from Family Fun- you can see the recipe here. We tried these last week and they didn't work. I skimmed the recipe real quick and thought that we could use regular caramel. That doesn't work- it slides off the little apple piece (you take a melon baller and carve out little circles of apple - then dry well with a paper towel). If you use the butterscotch chips as they have plainly written in their recipe it will work fine! This is especially nice for kids because who wants the huge caramel apple mess that they eat 3 bites of and then hand it off to you?!

When will I learn to read directions carefully?


Here's a fun website- brightideas.com- lots of cute recipes like these, Owl cookies and spider cupcakes.

Pumpkin cheese ball- this would be fun to make for Thanksgiving- see the recipe here.

That's What Your Love is Like to Me

I have been waiting for this day!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't decide what I like the best:
*watching his hands while he plays
*listening to his voice
*savoring the words that speak to my soul
*knowing that he's mine :)


You can go here to download the songs- there are 2 vocals and the rest are gorgeous piano love songs. (.99 cents/ea.)

Bob's Monkey Bread

The story starts when we lived in SC. Dave came home one day from the men's prayer breakfast and raved on and on about this monkey bread that Bob had made. I mean Dave would go on and on about this wonderful bread and that Bob had these secret methods to the bread making! This has turned into a huge joke and we always laugh when we talk about "Bob's Monkey Bread"

So when we were in Greenville a few weeks ago- I saw Dave talking and laughing with Bob and Lyn- and immediately knew the subject- YES- that infamous bread!

As you remember the Mayes came to visit us last week and guess what- they brought the secret recipe.
So here - for all the world to see- Bob's Monkey Bread Recipe. Step by step instructions from Dave.

First you have to crack open those little biscuit cans....(2 tins)

Cut each biscuit into quarters

Put quarters into a large ziplock and shake around with 1/2 c. sugar plus 1 tsp cinnamon. Shake well.
Put into an ungreased 7x11 glass casserole pan. Pour remaining cinn- sugar mix over top.


Pour 1/2 stick melted butter over the top (as always- you come here for the healthy recipes...:)

Bake at 350 -18-20 min.

Pour glaze over hot monkey bread (2 c. pwdr. sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla & milk to make pourable glaze)
Lick the mixing bowl.

Thanks, Bob! We ate every bite and practically licked the other bowl too!! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm