Gratitude & A Giveaway Winner

On another cold, cloudy breezy day here at Heaven's Walk,

I spent the day washing linens;

reveling in the scent of my favorite detergent and dryer sheets filling the warm house with sweetness.

Pillows were stripped and piled high on sofas.

New pillow slips were pulled from the linen closet.

I tossed and arranged.

Re-tossed and rearranged.

Grumbled and complained how the mix of fabric patterns just wasn't making it.

A quick look at a friend's blog post photos.

Back to the linen closet.

More scented pillow slips in my arms.

Do the "dash and turn".

Frown.

Sigh.

More re-tossing and rearranging.

Another "dash and turn".

Hmmmmm...

My goal was to create a mixed goodness of shabby chic prairie-type patterns.

A room of simple rustic sweetness with a touch of elegance.

A mish-mash of dusty pink, smoky blue, sage green, and white.

Florals spilling over stripes grounded by solids.

I truly think there is a special talent in creating the perfect blend of patterns.

Magic takes place when it's done right.

While I contemplated my feeble attempt at this magic,

I was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of gratitude.

Gratitude for a warm house on a cold day.

For down-filled pillows held in my arms.

For the sound of the dryer rumbling softly in the basement.

For fresh roses in vintage vases.

For big old barns and acres of trees.

For another year of being able to hug my mother and father.

For a loving, devoted husband.

For my furry little heartbeats at my feet.

For a God who loves me fiercely and unconditionally.

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A sighed whisper. 

"Thank you, Lord."

I reached for the basket which held slips of paper with friends' names on them

who had entered my giveaway for Rachel Ashwell's new book, 

"Couture Prairie and Flea Market Treasures".

I closed my eyes.

"Thank you for my blog sisters, Father."

I reached in and picked out a slip of folded paper.

It read:  Maureen Hayes

Congratulations, sweet Maureen!

I will contact you for your address!

Maureen has a beautifully inspiring blog called "Being Chronically Ill is a Pill".
Please stop in, say 'Hi", and leave an encouraging message for her.
You will be blessed by her thoughtful, giving, and grateful heart!

♥

Thank you ALL for being such supportive and encouraging followers.

 Thank you for your sweet comments,

your outpouring of love,

and your continued prayers.
You ladies rock!

I feel so blessed to be a part of this wonderful community!

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I pray for you each

Comfort

Peace

Health

Healing

Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone!

Eucharisteo!

~  Blessings  ~

Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar.

Autumn Day

Leaves rain gold onto emerald grass

skitter across the drive

catch in roses bushes

whirl across the yard.

I look out onto work.

Hours of work.

Grateful for a backpack blower,

warm winter mittens,

and a full can of gasoline.

It would take that much to complete my task.

Wind turning cheeks pink with cold;

skies a mix of blue and white ~

I push large piles of leaves back into the woods;

leaving the lawn neat and clean 

...for the moment...

until brisk winds grow to gales.

Gales bring rain lashing at the windows.

Unexpected thunder growls.

The furnace blows warm air as

I squeeze and roll earthy scented clay in my hands

and push it out onto the bread board with an old rolling pin.

A Hope Heart takes shape.

Tiny clay petals hold my fingerprints.

Dream catcher streamers catch the warmed air and flutter in big farmhouse windows.

My eyes travel from one to another and I smile.

My mind envisions them in their new homes.

"Winter Willow" and "Playful Pink" dream catchers.

Baskets of shabby flowered fabric,

containers of round beads,

tubs of clay,

a box of shipping supplies ~

all litter the floor of the studio.

My head bows to continue working.

Trees groan in the wind.

Wet leaves paste to pavement.

Temperatures drop.

Winter knocks.

My head bows in grateful prayer.

Eucharisteo.

Wrapped loosely around my wrist.

Held gently in my heart.

Leather cuff: Michelle Verbeek, Etsy.

Grateful 

for a warm house.

A creative studio.

The thick Turkish rug beneath my feet.

Maizie snoring softly on the sofa.

Sophie, a small ball of calico fur pressed against the register.

Dinner simmering in a crock pot.

Husband working in his tool room.

Autumn bows to Winter.

The clock ticks quietly.
Candles burn in the growing twilight.

Rose petals drop silently to the tabletop.

Raindrops fall heavy outside.

Eucharisteo.

~  Blessings  ~

There is still time to enter my Thank-You Giveaway here!
Giveaway ends on November 23.

Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar.