Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Happenings at the Berry Patch

Good beautiful afternoon friends!  Spent the morning with the Lord in His Word, then in the beautiful outside.  I (along with Pepper, our miniature schnauzer) went for a walk along our country road.  Praising God for such a gorgeous day, beautiful blue sky and sunshine, wonderful breeze, pretty flowers to stop and smell along the way (as Pepper marked the trees, haha).  It is a gorgeous 72 degrees out there.  I'm not trying to rub it in, so sorry for those of you that are covered in snow.  I would gladly take some!!  We went all winter with only 2" of snow (at different times) that was gone by the afternoon.  You all stay safe, be careful out there!

It's been a busy time here at the Berry patch.  It's so important for me to be praising God right now because there are some things going on that I wish were different circumstances but I will praise God for whatever He brings our way!  While we still don't know what is going on with the American Airlines bankruptcy; after much prayer, Rich and I have decided it's best for me to go back to work part time right now.  I spent two weeks filling out paperwork and training to substitute teach at the 5 schools here in Catoosa.  I'm ready to go now... but my body isn't.  I have been sick for a couple of weeks.  I thought it was a really bad sinus infection and was treating it as such.  I would feel better so I tried to do things around the house and it would wipe me out. It was a continuous cycle, lol.  It's so hard to be down!  Rich finally made me go to the doctor yesterday, thank goodness!  I have bronchitis.  Ugh!  So after my first round of steroids and antibiotics, I am feeling so much better already.  But a very long ways to go to normal.  I'm also contagious so I have to stay away from the kids.  =[   Hopefully by next week, I will be doing well.  Gonna go talk to my old boss about working at Hobby Lobby again over the summer.  Not liking being sick, not looking forward to working again... it's so hard when there are 3 kids here to tend to and take places.  But I know this is what needs to be done.  Prayers would be appreciated!  Thank you much!!

Yes, there is still much to be thankful for and I will praise God for blessing me even though I don't deserve it~

I am really behind on showing you so many goodies that I have won and bought these past 2 months so I will break it up into a couple of posts.  First up is this awesome hand stitched Easter egg tuck that I won from Marilyn over at Fanciful Stitches!!  She is beautiful, such an adorable bunny!!  I have been following Marilyn's blog probably for a couple of years now and so very thrilled to have something made from her talented and creative hands!  She is such a sweetheart too, love that gal!  Go pay Marilyn a visit and see what she's stitching up.  Thank you again Marilyn, I LOVE it!!  Although all my Easter/spring is packed up, this sweetie is staying out.

Just look at the attention Marilyn pays to the little details!  Cute little butterfly embellishment on the front.  Beautiful vintage bead trim around the edge (wish I had gotten a close up picture of it), and such a pretty print on the back.

Marilyn has another blog that you all might like a little bit better for it is a prim blog: ~Harvest Moon Primitive~.  But I'm here to tell you that both of her blogs are wonderful!

Since I'm talking about blog friends, I think I'll share with you next what sweet Carole over at Prim n Raggedy gifted me with.  She did a post back in March about some lovely soap that she had made.  One was daffodil scented!  Ooooh, being a daffodil lover, that caught my attention right away!  I commented that I would love to smell it and asked her if she was selling it.  Gracious Carole said she would send me a sample in the mail.  For some of you this is no big deal, but I was pretty excited to receive "Royal Mail", hehe!

Rich was ever so curious, haha!  He thought that was pretty neat that Carole would just send me some of her homemade soap all the way from the UK.  I told him that's why I adore my blog friends so much!  Not for the gifts, lol... but for their ever so big hearts!!

Tucked away in these cute little bags were 4 different soaps that Carole made.


I mainly wanted them to display in my bathroom but Carole suggested I try it on my skin for they are made out of goat's milk.  Not to let the name fool you, because it smells SO much better than monkey farts (I don't know what they smell like but it can't be good).  I use the Monkey Farts scented soap in my bathroom when I wash my hands and it is wonderfully soft and smells so good!  Carole made sure that I knew that is the name the manufacturer uses, not one she came up with, hehe.

My daughter laid claim to this one.  Oh dear, I forgot which scent it was but it smells wonderful!  I think it was an Abercrombie scent?

With the Honey Wash scented flip flop, I shared my gift with my swap partner Linda.  I let her know where it came from and the details about it.  Isn't it darling?  The honey wash smells heavenly!

The daffodil scented soap is in my main bath with some other flower shaped soaps but none smell as good as this one!  It is wonderful!

Carole was such a sweetheart to send me some of her handmade goat's milk soap!  Thank you again Carole!!

One more picture for today, this post is already too long, with too much of my rambling, lol.  I was so excited to get out and go antiquing with a friend last week, on one of the days I actually felt decent and thought I was better.  I had $$ to spend so you can probably guess what happened... it was a bust.  =[  I should have left my money at home, then I would have found all kinds of awesome things, haha!  I found a few pieces of homespun for super cheap, a little Americana box (with some of those old flag stickers still inside) that will go on my old school desk, and an old very worn out Amish doll that I felt so sorry for and had to bring her home for a buck.

I was afraid someone might throw her in the trash so I thought I better rescue her.  I was going to throw away her bonnet, but she can't have a new bonnet with an old faded dress and worn out stockings so she will stay like she is.  She was well loved!!

Sorry for such a long post friends.  I appreciate it dearly if you stayed with me till the end.  =]  Remember... there is always, ALWAYS something to be thankful for~

29 comments:

  1. I sometimes wish I could find a part time job.But they all want weekends and evenings here.I miss my old job but the economy downsized most business in our rural area.Sweet gifts from your blog friends.Always nice to find a surprise in the mailbox.I gotta get busy doing RAK's again.I agree we sometimes need to count and actively seek our blessings some days it'll surprise you how many your missing worry about things you can't change.Hugs!~Amy

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  2. Hi, I hope you are feeling better, so glad your hubby made you go to the doctor. Working at Hobby Lobby sounds fun!!! Your soap gifts sound wonderful, hope you have a great week ahead.

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  3. Angie,
    Enjoyed seeing your pretty soaps and finds from your antique shopping. I am praying for you to get well soon. Great post :D
    Hugs,
    Susan Montgomery

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  4. Goodness Angie, I hope you feel better soon. It is especially hard on a Mama to be sick. You may enjoy working part time again. I have always enjoyed having a bit of structure that a part time job helps to bring. Other wise I waste a lot time.lol good luck in what ever you do. God never closes a door that He doesn't open a window.

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  5. So many wonderful gifts to treasure!
    I hope and pray you continue to know God's nearness and blessing through the hard times.
    Christine

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  6. Aw shucks, I forgot to tell you I love the egg/pinkeep and your soap. That bunny was beautiful.

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  7. Goodness Angie, you certainly have had a lot of things going on at the Berry Patch! I hate to hear about your Bronchitus~it always seems to take forever to get rid of it!
    That stitched bunny from Marilyn is adorable and I don't blame you for keeping it out longer.
    The soaps from Carole look wonderful! I can't imagine what 'monkey farts' would smell like, but glad it's a good smell and not a bad one~ too funny! Carole sent me some scented wax tarts a long time ago and they still smell wonderful!! Yes, she is a sweetheart and it's fun getting mail from overseas.
    That little Amish dolly looks like it's been loved a lot! Nice of you to rescue it.
    Yes, there's always things to be thankful for~ hope the job transition goes smoothly for you and I'll be praying for you to feel better real soon!!

    Have a great week my friend!
    Tanya
    (yes, I did take notes)! HA

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  8. So sorry to hear you're feeling punky - bronchitis is no fun....Unfortunately, I know. Glad you went to the dr and got it properly diagnosed and got some meds. Love the little bunny egg from Marilyn. I've followed her "Fanciful Stitches" for a while, but never realized she had a prim blog too....Yikes! What have I been missing? Will definitely be checking that out... Hope you get to feeling better soon, and your rough patches smooth out....Yes, you'll be in my prayers....Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

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  9. Oh Angie, I so enjoyed your blog post. Girl, look at going back to work as an adventure. I use to work part time for a friend and I loved it. Had something to talk about with the mister at night. And the money was a plus also. Now you take that medicine and get yoruself to feeling great again. Being sick is no fun at all especially in the Springtime when the weather is so pretty out. Love all your goodies you have recieved in the mail. Bet that soap smells great. Glad you were up to a day of shopping. Yep, that's the way it is,,, if I have money I don't find much, I go broke and could buy out the store. Oh well, that's just life. Yes we all have a lot to be thankful for. You take care and have a blessed week my friend.
    Angela

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  10. Hi Angie,
    Hope you feel all better soon.
    What an adorable egg tuck with that sweet little bunny on it.
    How cute is the handmade soap.
    You are so right...there is alwaya something to be thankful for.
    Keeping you in my prayers.
    hugs,
    Cindy

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  11. I think it's funny, that when I stay home I wish I could have some type of job somehow. And if I had a job, I would wish I could just stay home and keep my own schedule with the kids. You seem to have such a good attitude about things. I hope it all works out. I am also glad you are starting to feel better. Sometimes....doctors know what they are doing:) I think your new soaps are so beautiful. I wish there was smellternet so I could smell them. What a wonderful gift. Everytime I have some cash to spend I can never find what I am looking for either. And when I don't, I find everything I have ever wanted. Good job for rescuing Dolly.
    -Steph-

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  12. I was talking about you to my hubby this weekend on the way to Texas, about needing to set a date to meet. I do hope you are feeling better soon! Take good care of yourself and let me know how you are doing.

    Bear Hugs & Blessings~Karen

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  13. Hey Angie....sure hope you get back to your old self again (not meaning that you are old, but you know what I mean!!). My prayers and thoughts are with you during this trial that God is handing to you both but in the end, it shall be worth it!!

    Brenda

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  14. Sorry to hear you have to go back to work. It is hard when you have school age children. Prayers being offered.
    Love your gifts and finds.
    No such thing as a post too long!

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  15. Oh Angie, sending prayers your way. Hope that you are feeling better soon. The soaps look very intriguing.How special to receive them form across the Atlantic. I absolutely love the pinkeep, so adorable. Keep on Keeping on. Blessings ~Sara

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  16. Angie so glad your on the mend, and i'll lift you in prayer for good health and work!!
    And look at all your special gifts just beautiful..

    Blessings
    Heidi

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  17. Angie

    I can totally relate to your thinking about the job/stay at home mom stuff. I'm so confused myself right now. I'm having 'decision-stress'. :-)

    Take care!

    Goedele

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  18. Good Morning Friend
    I hope you are feeling better soon.
    SO glad you went to docs.
    I am lifting youin prayer friend.
    What wonderful treasures you have recieved.
    Thankful for a brand new day!
    Hugs Trace

    www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

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  19. Hello Miss lovely...what a beautiful post...especially the very first part. How wonderful to have a walk with God...just beautiful Angie.

    I pray for better times for the Airline industry and that you may soon not have to have a part time job. It's so difficult with a family at home yet. I can feel your anguish and yet I feel your need to help out because it's needed.

    Love your soaps and the scents sound wonderful too. What a sweet thing for Carol to do...there are all wonderful blog friends out there...haven't found any yet I don't relate to...love them all.

    I'd say Marilyn blessed you with this adorable bunny stitched on the egg...so sweet...oh and I just realized the butterfly looks like he's in relief...not stitched flat...how cute.

    Your new finds are wonderful...love the old doll...she looks like someone loved her very much.

    Hugs and prayers to you and your family Angie.
    Karen

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  20. Hope you start feeling much better Angie.
    Praying for you and your family-hard times for sure.
    Wonderful goodies-Enjoy them all!
    Barb

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  21. Hello Angie~
    I hope you are doing better today. Sorry to hear you've not been feeling well. Someone took my energy and hasn't brought it back yet! Will keep you in my prayers, for your health, family and jobs. We're in the same predicament too. Hubby hasn't had work in far to long and with my legs, not sure I'd get hired ;-( Leaving it all in the Lord's hands.
    Your gifts are lovely and very thoughtful too.
    I really like the lay out of your blog page!
    Wishing you a sunshine filled day.
    hugz,
    Sheila

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  22. Hope you are soon back to good health. You will love the goats milk soap! It is excellent for dry or sensitive skin and will leave your skin soft without any residue. I make and use goat milk soap and wouldn't use any other kind. Love the little Amish doll!

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  23. Hope you feel better soon. Sending prayers for your job situation. Thanks for visiting my blog and leave your comment. I appreciate your visit. You are right, my house does not need to have magazine look, I must surround myself with things that fill me.And Jean' idea was great. Thanks for your advice. Hugs,

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  24. Hi Angie...I'm so pleased that you liked your soaps! I did reply to your email, hope you got it alright...so Sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well, I hope you are on the mend now...not much fun being under the weather :0(
    I couldn't believe it when I read that your dog was called Pepper, as that is what our black lab is called also! Take care Angie
    Carole x

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  25. It's fun to catch up with you! I sure love those beautiful soaps and know you do, too! Happy May...enjoy your week!

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  26. Hi just ran across your blog, love it! I am also from Missouri about 2 hours from Branson
    Kim

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  27. Angie,
    Thought I was already following you!....geeze...I am now!..have a great day.

    Blessings,
    Ronda

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  28. Hi Angie! It has been a while since I have come gone and visited friends blogs and I am sorry I haven't come on sooner. I see a lot has been going on but you have such a uplifting positive attitude. I will be keeping you and your family in prayer. I am sorry you were so sick too. Hope you are feeling better now. My daughter just got over that with the steroids and nebulizer. I have thought about getting a part time job myself, it would help things. Hope you have a great weekend. XO

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Thanks for stopping by for a visit ~