Sprinkle Love

I was raised that when you feel down or sad, doing something for someone else will make you feel better! 

I believe this.

Thursday would have been my Mother's 86th birthday.

She and I butted heads, as most mother/daughters do, but I always knew she was a good mother.

She LOVED.

She told most everybody that she loved them--yep, even strangers.

Today, (Friday), a FB friend is flying high with the angels.

She was quirky, fun, positive, and full of encouragement and love.

My heart is broken for someone I never met.

She made a difference in my life, and I already miss her.

My prayers are for her puppies--Max and Mia, and her husband, Glen.

She was a true Renaissance woman.

Life is fleeting.

We are here to fill our chairs, only for a brief moment.

Most of us have empty chairs
in our lives. 

Live your life so that people will notice your empty chair! 

Love people.

Encourage others.

Support your friends and family. 

Leave a trail of love 

Everywhere you go!

Sparkle on, my friends.

I am simply blessed to create~charlotte♡

Sprinkle Love in pdf is found by clicking here.

Note: this pattern was created as a free giveaway in www.toletown.com during Christmas.

I am blessed to be a designer on their team this year. I will be doing 4 of my FUN, FAST, and FABULOUS designs for them. Please join our town. 

On the First day of Christmas...

On the First Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....

I thought I would start the First Day of Christmas by Sharing my treasures that I received from friends, far and near.

Of course, Santa did NOT forget about sweet little Charcoal..

EVEN though he was very naughty, he STILL made out like a bandit, proving again, it might not matter if you are naughty or nice, Santa still forgives and delivers...

Never has Charcoal had more than one tennis ball at a time, and he was hilarious!  I took one ball out of the bag, and soon, he had 5 out!  Yep, 2 are who-knows-where...time will tell.

Spoiled baby got some treats from Miss Gloria...so did Mommie! 

Crystal sent me and Charcoal some treats...

Always happy art, a reflection of her!

Jolanda, from the Netherlands, 

sent this hand-painted Charcoal...
LOVE IT!!

Christine, from Germany, sent these beauties for me.  

Beautifully painted and I love the domino!

Sweet Lynn, who sends treasures 

all over the country, 

made this awesome Santa for me.

Now, here is the problem...

I got ready to take the picture 

and a four-legged, furry child, 

STOLE and ATE my candy Cane...

heavy sigh--PAPER and all!!  

This was the only Candy Cane 

I had in the house to use for the photo...

Yeppers, 

He LOOKS all 

sweet and innocent and laid back, 

but I tell ya, he has some "thievin'" in him!!

Miss Linda sent this to me, 

but CHARCOAL thought it was his 

since it has "Labrador" written on it.  

We are still in negotiations...

And then, Wendy sent Summer Sausages...

He is getting his share....

I took time on Christmas eve to do this drawing 

with Prismacolor Pencils.  

It was fun to just play! 

I am getting a bit better, 

but so much more to learn.
Design is by Amy Mogish.

Yes, Charcoal...I SEE YOU...

I brought a little bit of my 

Christmas Tradition with me on Christmas Day. 

 I cooked Country Ham, Biscuits, 
Garlic Cheese Grits, 

Creamed Corn, Fruit Salad 
and a Tomato.

It was so very yummy and brought back precious memories.
Served on Mommas white plate.♡

My friend Wanda brought us this Nativity Flag...

And a bucket of 3 flavors of Popcorn

I love getting Popcorn!

Karalee sent me these cute ornaments!!

I adore them!

Nancy set this pretty ornament with a planning calendar.

 Do I dare TRY to plan?!!  LOL

This is a better picture of the mug.

I got this cute Gingerbread Ornament from Michele...

This is DA Naughty Boy with his haul from Santa...

As we enter the 12 days of Christmas,

 may we NEVER forget to keep the 

Spirit of Christmas Alive all year.

I am beyond blessed for those 
who thought of me.

My prayer is that I will take opportunities 

in this coming year

to Pay it Forward with 

Random Acts of Kindness.

I hope you will each do the same.

I am GRATEFUL and BLESSED!...~charlotte♡

Terrific Tuesday!

Yummy!  I just finished eating the BEST salad.  I LOVE when food is better than you were hoping it would be!  I even had multi-grain Crackers to go with it.

Let's be honest.  The "Multi-grain" is probably some crumbs they had left from a previous batch of something, so they put it in the crackers and called it multi-grain, making people think it would be healthier, and then buy more...YEP, I'm one of those suckers!

But, anyway, YUM!

I went to the Postie yesterday to mail a special order, and to pick up a package that I knew was waiting for me from Pennsylvania.

I KNEW it had a special froggie in it.

The poor froggie has had a tough time.

Moses, was accused of LICKING him, and was accused 

of trying to take him into the Jaws of Death...

He survived a wreck, coming back from Kentucky, 

SO, hopping to my house was a blessing for him.

Besides, I have REAL ones that keep coming into the house...

Last night was 2 nights in a row for the real one, and before that maybe 4 others?  I have lost count.

This is my Birthday Froggie from a Special Friend, 

Wendy Young, of Olde Moonlane Primitives.

Getting something she made is a treat.

Her designs sell almost instantly when she posts!

Is there any wonder why??

But wait.

There was more.

As I said, her designs sell faster than hot cakes, 

and being able to get one is a Treat.

Earlier this year, I was able to buy a 

birdie and a flamingo Ornament...

AND THEN, she took special orders for 

a giraffe, a bear and a froggie!

THAT is even more of a treat, because she 

doesn't take many special orders.

I am not whining, in any way, but this year has been a tough financial year.  I have had EVERY single thing that I have needed, and it is amazing to watch God work things out for me, JUST exactly as He promised, but it still makes it 

tough at times to keep the FAITH.  

I have stood at the checkout counter wanting to buy a candy bar, but refusing, because Charcoal needed a treat far more than I needed those calories. He shouldn't have to suffer because of me.

All this year, I have kept 2 $100 bills tucked inside my billfold for emergencies.  ONE was set aside to pay for the 3 ornaments that I had ordered.  Yes, I will confess, I was being selfish.  I prayed that God would please not let her get finished earlier, because I feared having to tell her that I just didn't have the money.  I did not want to go back on my word~~something I try very hard to keep.  I also did not want her to know that I was having a tough time, nor anyone to know, for that matter.  I don't want the pity and Yes, I KNOW that is pride--a sin.  :(  Hey, I struggle like everyone does.

WELL, sure enough, I had been able to hold on to that one bill...

She said she was sending invoices...

I waited...

I waited more...

I got no invoice...

I waited...

I thought that MAYBE she just forgot and didn't make me any...

sadness...BUT it is ok, because at the end of the day, sometimes things happen, and we don't get everything we want...

nor should we get everything we want...

sigh...

BUT HOW in the world could I ever stay sad because she made something that I loved JUST FOR ME...

Not for just anybody, but ME!

Oh my...how could I stay down.

I have an Olde Moonlane Primitive Froggie!!

How blessed am I!!

BUT again...WAIT...

I went to the Postie and opened my special package, that the Posite Lady LOVED and in it I found all 3 of the ornaments I had ordered!

I wanted to cry, but the Postie is next to the Policie and I didn't want this CRAZY LADY to be hauled off to the jailie!

No, my life would have gone on without having gotten these, BUT I have a Heavenly Father, who allowed me to have something that I wanted.

I learned another lesson in FAITH, that He wants us to have some things that our heart desires.

Yes, I KNOW they are just "things" but these are SPECIAL THINGS made by a person who BELIEVES, Trusts and uses her talents for good...to put smiles on the faces of people...who is exactly as she claims to be.  Wendy is one of those special people who always goes the extra mile and turns the other cheek. She is willing to be used as an instrument of peace--I have seen it!

I in no way want to EVER compare myself to the hell that JOB experienced in his life, but it is a lesson we are taught in the Bible about faithfulness.  We ALL go through tough times, and there are always different people around~~some just can't wait for us to fail, or to see bad things happen to us, some cheer us on, even though they have nothing specific to offer, other than support, and those who do what they can to help.

We need all of these people in our lives.  Yes, even those nasty ones, whom I believe, are in our lives to keep us focused on our journey and to remind us that we CAN make it because the 23rd Psalm tells us that He prepares a FEAST before our enemies.

WOW...just WOW...I am so glad that I am learning that good things happen to me, not because of something I have done, but because of special people who are, well, just special!

Thank you, Wendy.  I don't think you truly know what a blessing this is to me, but I hope that I have explained it some.

Oh, and I went and bought Charcoal some treats with that other $100 I had stashed away, because, I have tried to make sure he has what he has needed, and he deserved some new treats, too!

I rattled one of those pieces of candy in the box, 

and well...this is what happened.

He decided that he wasn't seen, so he moved his head closer...

Now, I need to see what I can create with these items 
and MAYBE I will have a craft post for this week!!

Again, I posted this not to brag or to show you 

how good I am or blah, blah, blah...

I posted to show you to HANG on.

If you are going through tough times, just hang on 

and do the best you can.

We do NOT serve a Father who enjoys seeing our tears...

He is a Loving Father who HURTS when we hurt and He is with us every step of the way, and yes, He often gives us the desires of our heart, but sometimes, He asks that we TRUST HIM and wait for the BETTER things He has in store for us.  It might not be something that can change the world, but it can change US, and that is a step in changing the world.

I am so blessed~~charlotte♡

A Good Salad, Good Friends, and Living Gratefully

Finally, I made myself a Greek Salad!

All of this comfort food during our snow storms (bwah...storms is so dramatic!) made me hungry for a big salad.

I admit, if it has mild banana pepper rings in it, then chances are that it is something I want to eat.

This is what I usually put in my Greek Salads:  Romaine lettuce, mild banana peppers, appetizer olives in dipping oil, Roma tomatoes  (they are usually pretty good all winter), cucumbers (Charcoal 's favorite!), green pepper, sweet onion, quality feta cheese, a light sprinkle of Good Seasons Zesty Italian dressing mix (use it dry), juice from banana peppers, drizzle of the appetizer olive's oil! TOSS and enjoy all day long-I make a big bowl.

I was in salad heaven! AND it was yet another reason I haven't gotten a blog post done.

This is another reason:
My friend in California sent me this pattern on Tuesday night, and, well, YES, it had to be painted!

This is the fun background using a Laurie Speltz word stencil and the stamp by Tracy Weinzepfel's Totally Tracy Textures...I love this stamp!

I adore this happy fella and humbled that Cheryl thought of me. She wanted to warn everyone to be careful when you put #tags on things--using "weeds" will get you lots of Pot houses and Marijuana followers! ;) ROFL

I have painted many of Cheryl's bears and they are so much fun.
You can find this pattern as an instant download in Cheryl's etsy shop, UnderTheLemon, by clicking here

AND then, I had to look for a pattern I had sketched, and shamefully found this gift from my friend,  Karalee, that had fallen off of the table...it is now safely on my freezer. I shared with her that I never realized it, but I missed having someone to pray for me everyday.

My mother did that, and I believe her prayers protected me on many occasions when I didn't know.  I know that Karalee is doing that for me now! ♡

The next post has been in my head for a couple of weeks.  I  went to the Postie (WHAT would I do without this word, my friend, Lynnie Poo Poo? ♡ ), and found this beautiful tag that was painted by Paula from WV. I was blown away! I love sheep. This design is by Betty Bowers and painted by Paula.

THEN, inside the package was this beautiful bear and pup painted on slate. Tears filled my eyes as I wondered what I did to deserve this. There was also a magnet, stencil brush/stylus, and chalk pencil.

I was reminded, again, that so often, we don't get what we deserve--we get so much better!

I know, people probably roll their eyes when I put that I am blessed, But there is no other word to describe these acts of kindness.

We don't agree on everything...we don't chat every day...BUT these are some of my peeps! I have a great group of people around me--supporting me, encouraging me , praying for me, laughing  (at me on too many occasions ) with me, and loving me! WOW...just WOW!

PLEASE...if ever you feel a gentle nudging on your heart, don't ignore it...
You might have no idea what just a little note, prayer, gift, or some kind words can do for someone. YOU matter. YOU are needed...AND , when you do for others, ALWAYS, it will come back to you bigger and greater than your initial action--that is how God works!

I have noticed that GRATEFUL people do little complaing...I have noticed that GRATEFUL people gather grateful people...that grateful people might not have all of their needs met, but they KNOW they will get exactly what they need when they need it...seems these are some good reasons to live gratefully!

Thank you, my friends, for loving me!  I wish blessings to YOU!...~~charlotte♡

Serendipity ... Tuesday, November 10, 2015

What a NEAT SURPRISE!!!

What a frustrating day trying to find the note that was enclosed!!

Yep...the pup...I had opened the box on the back porch as the pup played and he brought me a stick only to promptly get it wrapped in my purse and dump EVERYTHING on the ground...sigh...

After searching high and low and outside again and again, I found the note INSIDE my purse...I guess Charcoal was just helping me to put it in a safe place...silly pup!

The note read:  This is made of cedar and finished with Danish oil.  The little bird is cut from Tru Stone, a material turners use to make pens.

And then the cute little Pup...oh dear me!!

The note continued:  The other two items I left unfinished in the hopes you will enjoy painting them.   

Me:  I think I should name this pup FRECKLES!  

And THEN to be able to see how she cut this cute little owl was amazing to me!!  Funny, My scroll saw doesn't do ANYTHING like this!  =)

The note continued: I left one enclosed in the block to show how they are cut.  Open it up, there's a surprise inside!  Just throw away the pieces that fall out.  They were all made on the scroll saw, which is my area of expertise,  I only dabble at painting and it isn't something I'll ever do that well...lol  But it's given me something to do while being sick so long.
 

The owl and puppy are made of sugar pine (smell it, it's my favorite perfume...)...Diana

This package smelled like the stripping room where Daddy cut wood...nothing smells better than fresh cut wood!

I have had a woodsie candle burning tonight in hopes of bringing more memories to my mind...aaaaaahhhh~~peace....

Thank you, Diana...you have no idea how special this was to me!


What a TREAT...Today, I am thankful for serendipitous gifts...I hope that all who read this KNOW the joy of getting something like this in the mail for absolutely no reason...Be sure to live your life paying it forward.  The one thing I am sure about that has been proven to me time and time again, is that you CANNOT OUT GIVE GOD...I wish BLESSINGS TO YOU...~charlotte