The Flowers have Bloomed

Today I put up phase 3 of the "growing" bulletin board at our church. I was going to change the board last week but here in the northeast we had hot, humid rainy days that turned into cold rainy days. Not the kind of weather that makes you think of flowers growing and thriving. 

I have to say this third phase is my favorite of this board. Yes, the flowers are artificial. The morning glories, sunflowers and gladiolus were purchased from a local floral distributor which insured having quality pieces. The pansies were purchased at Michaels. I also purchased the monarch butterflies from the floral distributor.  

I wanted to make sure that the board stayed consistent through all its phases so my goal when placing the flowers was to have it appear they were springing from the seeds and bulbs. The flowers were attached with hot glue and floral wire that was secured into the foam board and bulletin board with thumbtacks (which have been well hidden). 

The most difficult part of phase three was changing out the original blue background with this sunny yellow one. I did have to remove the watering can, shovel, gloves, grass, picket fences and trellis. Once that was done, I removed the paper keeping the "dirt" in place. I was able to cut the yellow background piece so that I could tuck a small portion behind the "dirt" and staple it back in place securing the yellow paper. 

Because of the height of the flowers, I chose not to place the verse on the yellow background.  Instead, I chose to make a "plate" that I attached to the watering can. The verse chosen for this phase of the board is I Corinthians 3:7 "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." 

In order to show the progress of this board, here are pictures of the first two phases.

Phase 1: the planting phase

Phase 2: the rain phase - the trellis was also added in this phase

 Phase 3: flowers blooming & butterflies flying

Imitating: Its a Good Thing!

I've come to realize that my life includes a great deal of imitation. Imitation of ideas (crafts, decorating & recipes), people (family & friends), etc.

I remember as a kid not liking it when I being imitated. I'm sure you'll recall in your own memory saying a few times, "Stop copying me". As a kid, being copied was annoying. You wanted to be your own person and someone doing exactly what you were doing whether on purpose or not was unacceptable.

As you get older, you learn that life is a lot of imitation but it is what and who you choose to imitate that is key. 

One person whose idea I've chosen to imitate recently is my brother, Dennis. Dennis is a lover of nature and that includes birds and bird watching. On my recent visit to his home, I spent some time sitting on the family couch looking out the window at the bird feeders outside. It inspired me! Emily has always loved birds and her Uncle Dennis has sent some bird books our way that have found a permanent home in her room. For several years, I've been wanting to get a little more decorative and creative outdoors, birdhouses included, but haven't known where to start. Our yard has been treeless for 5 years now and making holes in our home's exterior for decorative purposes is not really something I wanted to start doing. In my brother's yard he had a bird feeder station. Basically it looks like a hanging plant holder but it is for tree houses. Well, I am happy to report I found one at my local Lowes and this weekend we are installing our own bird feeding station. Of course, my brother does have other attributes that are worth imitating too, like being an amazing dad and husband, a man of integrity who makes decisions and stands by them, and so many more ........ oh and did I mention he makes the most amazing tacos and chips.

Another person I've chosen to imitate often is my very good friend, Debbie. Debbie and I have so many things in common, I think we just have to be related somehow. She is my creative soundboard when it comes to working on bulletin boards, my crafting co-conspirator for making decorations for our homes, my Hobby Lobby and craft store shopping buddy and most importantly my sister in Christ who encourages me and keeps me accountable.  

Recent imitation of her has been in the area of color. My home has tended to be decorated in earth tones and muted colonial colors but oh, the color that has been running in my veins lately! For the last two days, I've been painting my home and the colors are bright and vibrate just like my friend. As a matter of fact, even her daughter mentioned that my house is starting to look like their home which I consider a true compliment. Oh and I did get her stamp of approval when I completed the color change. 

Of course, I imitate others...... Pinterest alone has given me an astounding amount of craft & decorating project ideas and recipes. 

My biggest source of imitation - my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I truly want to be a imitator of Him. I pray that my life shows my love for my God and His amazing love for me. The incredible gift He's given through His Son, I desire to live the life He wants me to live for His glory. I pray that He may be seen in my words and my actions. Will I always get it right? No, but living the way He wants me to He will be seen.  

So, let me encourage you to take a different perspective of being an imitator and not to be upset if you are imitated. It truly is a good thing if you choose wisely and always keep in mind the effect your imitating will have on others.  

Crimson - My Kind of Red

Today was day two of painting here in the Wessel home.  

I was a little more efficient and did the taping of the dining room last night which meant painting began a little after 8 a.m. The early start was possible because Dave took the kids to school like he usually does on Fridays.

Painting started right away mainly because the way my body was feeling from painting the day before, if I sat down I would not have gotten back up.

I started painting in the far corner of the dining room. We decided to keep the original color heading up the stair well. It flows with the "Crimson" paint color I also got at Lowes. It is part of their Eddie Bauer Craftsman Bungalow series.

Once again, the cutting in was not a favorite chore but thankfully there was much less to do today than yesterday.

Here is the  finished dining room with a view of the new yellow color in the kitchen. I took this picture around 2 or 3. 

This is a view of the dining room looking into the kitchen. Of course, the walls look a little bare but oh do I have plans for that wall. Another plan is to remove the "glass" in the cabinets and replace it with some metallic tile, like you would see on a kitchen ceiling or backsplash. Also, the hardware on the cabinets would be changed to black wrought iron. 

I took this picture this evening around  6 when  the sun was setting in the front window. What I love about the color is that it is not too dark. This was also before I put up some white linen sheers on the windows.  

Well, my paint brush has been put to "rest". Two straight days of painting takes its toll on a body but I'm not done. Matt's room is the last one on "official" docket. I say it that way because all this color change has me wanting to change the color in my craft room.  

Truly a little paint can make a big difference!  

Yummy Yellow

The last two days I've been busy changing the color in two rooms of our home. 

First up was the kitchen and hallway. On the walls currently is a "Apple Spice Cake" color. For several months, I've been eyeing up the Lowes Valspar color "Grand Hotel Awning Yellow" which is from their National Trust for historic Preservation series. 

I really wanted to make the color change this spring so Wednesday after I worked on the bulletin board at church I took the plunge and purchased the painted needed to transform the rooms.

UGH!! The worst part of painting is cutting in and there is so much to be done in a hallway and kitchen. This is where I started my effort.

It took me from 9 to 3 along with another hour once I got the kids home from school to tape and do two coats of this color. The picture doesn't really do the color justice.

Here is a view from the dining room into the kitchen. The wall to the left in the picture is the most painted wall space in the room. You can see how the color varies from the picture above.

This is another angle from the kitchen. You can see again with the change of angle and the light from outdoors the color transforms to a brighter yellow. 

Also from this picture, you can see that the current color in the dining room (Acorn Squash) doesn't flow with this new color. Even Dave noticed its lack of flow. Oh and he does like the new color which is a major win!! No worries about the dining room color its next on the docket to change. 

One room down, one to go.

Soupdillicious!

Once again, I have found another absolutely amazing soup recipe. It is truly scrumpdillicious or should I say soupdillicious. 

I made this Monday night while the boys were at a baseball game. Emily and I did not stay for the game due to the cool, rainy weather along with her homework load. While she worked on her homework, I made the soup. I found this recipe for Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup at the website Key Ingredient through Pinterest.  

This is such an easy recipe. I didn't make any modifications this first time. Next time, I may use a light cream in place of the half and half to lighten it. Oh, I also didn't add the Parmesan garnish, just remembered that. The boys reheated the soup when they got home from the game and it was a BIG hit. We all gave it a thumbs up and the request was made that this soup be made again when the next cool, rainy day passes through.  

Its a soup you definitely need to try!