Design Seeds

If you read my previous post about the rain and flooding that is happening in my area, you'll understand why I have a need for pretty colors and sunlight. One of my favorite websites is called Design Seeds, and if you click here, you can read about Jessica and how she came to create Design Seeds. All of the photos below are from Design Seeds.

I do not live well with bright and bold colors. I tend to use quiet colors both in my clothes and in my house. I like to use colors as accents to a neutral background. I am not a great designer, but I enjoy looking at the designs other make. Jessica has a gift for creating her designs based on photos and clever names. Enjoy!

spring pollen

cottage rose

vintage floral

morning light

cottage color





canine color

glass stones




Jessica also has published her beautiful work into 4 books, and the latest can be viewed online:



Make yourself a cup of tea or a glass of lemonade, depending on your weather (I'm having tea!), curl up in a comfy chair or in your backyard hammock, and click here for the link to see this pretty book.

Rain, rain, go away...

We have had an abundance of rain in Montana, in fact, in eastern MT where we live, we have had just in May 8.79 inches of rain, and normal rainfall is 2 inches. It has been raining or cloudy most of April and May, and as I write I am wearing jeans and sweater over a t-shirt - no capris these days! Normally, we would be thankful for spring rain, as we do not get much rain after June and things really dry up. But this year, flooding is a big problem.

While our small town is not having a problem with flooding so far, many communities are. Here are a few photos...

This is Crow Agency, about 1 hour southeast from us - it is totally flooded...

and Interstate 90 is flooded there...

you can't get to the Little Big Horn Battlefield...

To the southwest of us, there is flooding in the town of Joliet,

and students are being held at the school for safety unless their parents can get them

without having to drive through flood waters.

Here is some flooding going on in Billings...

These photos are just a few of the flooding that is happening in eastern MT.

And it continues to rain.

We feel surrounded.

Yet, we remain safe and only have a wet basement, and

no flooding is occurring here. We are thankful, and we know our

prayers are what are needed.

Prayers for the people whose lives have been disrupted and homes destroyed,

as well as for the families of the 2 people who have died because of the flooding.

We pray for the many responders that are out in the rain trying to sandbag and help people

get to dry and safe ground, and for those who have provided shelter to those displaced.

The flooding may be widespread, but our God is bigger than

 any flood,

any tornado,

any volcano,

any tsunami,

any earthquake,

anything that seems to be out of control.

He is IN control,

He is sovereign,

and He is good.

So we will watch for the rainbow!

Happy Birthday, Maya!

Our sweet granddaughter, Maya, turned 3 years old in April,

and the only thing she wanted was a chocolate cake with blueberries.

I am so proud of her - not toys or new clothes or candy,

but

c.h.o.c.o.l.a.t.e.

A child of a child of mine, for sure!

Not to worry, though, she did receive toys and clothes,

and no matter what the item was, she received each one with

great joy and glee. One special gift was an amazing dollhouse found

by her dad last summer and stored in hiding at our house.

Mommy and Daddy scored big on that one.

Thank you, Jesus, for this precious granddaughter,

Maya Christine Kane,

who has the tender heart of a caregiver

and plenty of hugs to share with all who ask.

Her name, Maya, means "nurturing mother",

and You have given her a heart that loves others.

She loves to sing and dance and to be outdoors,

swinging and singing and loving the sunshine.

Perhaps because her Mommy and Nana have sung

"You Are My Sunshine" to her since she was a newborn baby.

Maya is truly our sunshine, Lord; thank you so much for giving her life!

This song's for you, Maya!

Brotherly Pancakes

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, age five and Ryan, three. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson so she said; “Now boys, if Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.’” Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus.”

I found this recipe on the Taste of Home website: 

Puppy Dog Pancakes

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 tablespoon chocolate syrup

2 drops strawberry syrup

8 semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another large bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk and butter. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Place 2/3 cup of batter in a small bowl; stir in chocolate syrup. Place 1 teaspoon of batter in another bowl; stir in strawberry syrup.
• For puppy ears, pour eight 1 tablespoonfuls of chocolate batter onto a lightly greased large hot griddle. For muzzle and eyes, spoon eight 1 teaspoonfuls and eight 1/4 teaspoonfuls of chocolate batter onto the griddle. For tongues, spoon four 1/8 teaspoonfuls of pink batter onto the griddle. Turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes; cook until the second side is golden brown.
• To assemble, arrange ears, eyes, muzzle and tongue on plain pancakes; top eyes with chocolate chips. Yield: 4 puppy dog pancakes.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 224 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 63 mg cholesterol, 483 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 7 g protein.

 

Every Thing

(photo)

I felt nudged to post this, and perhaps someone who sees it

needs to be reminded of this as I do. Perhaps you struggle with what to wear

once in awhile. I know I do. I put on several outfits yesterday before I finally

settled on something that didn't make me feel frumpy.

Perhaps you struggle with worry, and there is much to worry about

these days. I won't make a list of things we often worry about; you know

what you are dealing with and you don't need a list.

In fact, I am posting this because the Holy Spirit prompted me to.

I leave the reasons that it may be intended for you, for you to share

with the Father. Perhaps it wasn't meant for you, but someone you know and love.

Consider this a gift from God, a reminder that He loves you so very much,

and that the God of the universe, who made the beautiful lavender in the fields,

also made you. You are beautiful to Him.

You may trust Him with your self image, your worries, everything.

E  V  E  R  Y

T  H  I  N  G

Cast your cares on the Lord
and He will sustain you;
He will never let
the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 55:22