"From Our House To Your House"

A Labor of Love

The small white mailbox with red trim and a red flag has a story.

A lady in our church cross-stitched one of these for each of the church members and gave them to us at Christmas. The lid really does open and inside there is a white dove showing the words:

"May The DOVE OF PEACE Be With You...Merry Christmas--Happy New Year!!"

Her gifts are truly a labor of love. When I showed her the mailbox and dove this morning at church and told her I wanted to write a story about them for my blog, she laughed and said she remembered making those.

More than ten years have passed since receiving her gift, and two new mailboxes, that I picked up at Thrift stores, have joined the small white one. All three mailboxes are located in different places in my kitchen and living room. 

"From Our House To Your House"

These mailboxes remind me how much I love receiving birthday cards, Valentine cards, cards of cheer, and thank you cards in the mail.  They remind me, too, that others like to receive cards and letters.  I like sending cards and writing short notes in them.

Receiving a card can make a world of difference in someone's life.  I hope you like mailboxes after you read my story.
 

Two Hours of Free Shopping

 

Christmas Corner at Free-For-All Shop

By 9:30 a.m. the church parking lot was already filling up and families were lined up outside the church door. In the basement, church volunteeers were organizing fall and winter clothing containers on long tables tagged with cards marked men’s, women’s, and children. In addition to looking at summer clothing placed on racks in a different room, we wanted to give families a chance to search through these containers because we have a lot of seasonal clothing. 

We always provide one very, large, clean bag for people to put treasures in but today we provided an additional large bag for clothes in these containers. We also wrap glassware and breakables in newspaper and place these items in separate boxes.

On the last Saturday of July, our Free-For-All shopping is held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Woodycrest United Methodist Church in State College, PA. 

All items are donated. All items are given back free to whoever comes to shop. One family travels almost thirty miles one way because there is nothing like this where they live. 

Our church has held this event for several years and has helped hundreds of families. Church volunteers take donated clothing, place on hangers, and then hang the clothing on designated racks. Kitchen items, books, videos, and other items are carefully organized on shelves and tables. Toys and children’s items like bikes are placed in a separate big room where children can play with the toys and ride the bikes. 

Many volunteers have made sorting and placing these items their career. They volunteer many hours each week in the shop and are always on call.

You can see pictures of some of these items in my July 11 post.

Trees

On one of our morning walks, I expressed to my friend how much I loved looking at trees, whether they are in full-leaf during the summer, or in the winter when they stand bare or are covered in snow. My friend, always sharing gems of wisdom, replied that trees never move and see all the changes that go around them over their lifetime.

What she said really made me think and I wanted to share her thought with you because I feel it is very powerful.

March 2013
 

Thanksgiving snow 2014
 

Can you think of a tree that you enjoyed looking at as a child, or one that captures your attention when you are walking your dog, or even a clump of trees you see when you travel to work? Was there a tree at your family home that had a strong limb that secured your swing or that you and your friends liked to climb? That tree saw you and your friends grow up and may still be watching over your family home.  Can you see that tree in your memory and let yourself slip back into your childhood and your growing-up years?

Fisherman's Paradise 2014
 



When you see a tree that has no leaves, study how its limbs might bend in every direction or twist and turn, yet the tree still grows strong, reaching for the sky.  Do the branches remind you of the twists and turns in your own life, yet you grow strong, and always reach for the sky.


 

Facebook Opens Up A Whole New World For Me

Facebook has changed my world! And I want to share why with all my friends and those around the world who read my blog. I know those who know Facebook inside and out are saying, okay...but I am still very excited to share what I have seen on Facebook just in case some of you are hesitating to sign up.

To be honest, I never had a Facebook account until I needed to set up one for a Social Media class I am currently taking during the 2016 Summer Term at South Hills School of Business & Technology.

Using Social Media like Facebook has made me feel a bit nervous until our teacher helped me set up an account and walked me through the process. I still have much to learn but here's what I have gained in the couple weeks I have been on Facebook.

• Connect and get caught up with family and friends I rarely see
• Watch travel and special event videos of friends and relatives
• Find people just by typing in their name and can see their pictures and videos
• See names and stories of people I used to work with but lost contact with
• Found a high school classmate I haven't talked with since we graduated
• Read inspirational stories and poems that friends upload
• Facebook lifts our hearts when we see what family and friends are sharing

If you don't have a Facebook account, have a friend help you sign up and help you decide how you want to use it.  It will open up a whole new world for you.

A Special Christmas Clock!

 One year for Christmas, my coworker gave each of us in our work group a beautifully wrapped gift.
 Before she handed us our gifts, she asked the six of us to wait and open our gifts at the same time.

When we opened our Christmas boxes, we found this beautiful Christmas clock with a snow scene of Mr. Snowman and his family in front of a pine tree backdrop, a blue sky, with snow all around.
When you look at the scene, you feel like the Snowman family is right outside your window looking in at you. Do you agree?
When I brought the clock home and my son placed it on the wall next to my front door, he stood back and said "Time is like looking through a window of opportunity". 

Time means many things to each of us and clocks help us keep track of time.

To me, this clock is magical because it is a gift from a wonderful coworker I will never forget. 

It's also a reminder of the wisdom my son shared when he placed the clock by my front door where I see it when I both leave and return to my home.  The clock also reminds me the Snowman has a happy family that is always watching me...

 

 

 

 



The Toad That Stayed All Afternoon and Then Left During The Night!

Have you ever had an interesting creature spend the afternoon and then leave during the dark of the  night?

One sunny afternoon in May 2015, I was out mowing my yard and enjoying the day because I love to mow. My yard is not too wide or long so I can pretty well see anything that might be moving through it --so I thought! Somehow, I missed this creature moving in until, out of my side vision, I saw a brown lump sitting near my fuel tank.

Getting up close, I realized it was a toad--those are the ones you don't touch -- you'll get warts, or is that a frog?  I was later told my visitor was an American Toad. The toad seemed tired and uncaring that I was staring down at it.  I thought it might be building a nest because it seemed burrowed down, surrounded by gravel.

The toad never moved while I finished mowing the yard. It seemed uncaring about the noise of the lawn mower. It became an attraction as people came and looked at it, but never once did it seemed like it cared. It never moved.  Could Mr. or Mrs. Toad be sick?

Day turned into evening and my vigil continued. At 9:05 p.m., I took my camera and a light and went out to check on it and this is what I found--Toad heading out.

Toad heading out
 

Deciding to give it some space, I went back inside and came out a little later and the toad was gone.

If you have any clues about this mystery, I welcome your thoughts.

One-of-a-Kind

Today, I visited Frank's display area in the Granary at the Lemont Fest in Lemont, PA.


Frank at Lemont Fest
 

Frank is my grandson who enjoys creating things with his hands.

At his area, I saw all kinds of things from lamps to birdhouses, and some objects he had to explain to me. I am thrilled he has the ability to create these things which can be useful in the home or outside in the yard.

Each item is one-of-a-kind created from wood, metal, copper, and pieces of scrap from somewhere. 

Frank's wants to show how scrap can be made into beautiful things.

At Lampology, you can view more of Frank's creations.

"All Shook Up"

The Cast
 

Last evening, I had the great pleasure to join a friend and her family in front row seats to watch "All Shook Up" at the Nittany Theatre at The Barn in Boalsburg, PA.


Nittany Theatre at The Barn
 

Listening to the beautiful singing of Elvis' songs brought back memories of his time. The play was fast moving, with quick-changing scenes, beautiful singing, dresses from Elvis' era, and lots of references to "Don't Step on My Blue Suade Shoes".

By the end of the show, which I didn't want to end, I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes, which all the actors wore a pair, sometime, or most of the time, during the show.

Are you looking for an evening of absolute fun and entertainment? This play will be here through July 23, matinees at 2:00 pm and evenings at 7:30 pm. There is lots of free parking!

"All Shook Up" is a jukebox musical with Elvis Presley's songs and a book by Joe DiPietro. The story is based on William Shakespeare's 1602 play Twelfth Night. The broadway musical opened in March 2005 and closed in September 2005.

 

Free-For-All Shop

 

Every Item Is Free!

Does your family or a family you know need any of the items below?

• Seasonal clothing for the whole family
• Shoes for the whole family
• Cooking utensils, dishes, bedding, suitcases
• Toys for children
• Books, games, videos
• Christmas items from The Christmas Corner

 
What:     Free-For-All       Everyone is welcome! Shop FREE for two hours. Bags provided.
Where:  Woodycrest United Methodist Church, 219 West Clearview Ave., State College, PA 16803
When:   The last Saturday of every month, next date is July 30, 2016
Time:    10 a.m. to 12 noon 
 

Summer clothes

Summer shoes
 



Books, videos, games
 



Kitchen items



Christmas Corner!



Celebrating Grandson, Frank

Frank turns 28

Celebrating birthdays is a wonderful time to honor those you love.

On Saturday evening, July 9, twelve of us celebrated Frank, who turned 28.

Frank (our grandson) is always upbeat, tells good stories, and is a hands-on person who can fix things, take broken things and create other things out of them, and has had a lot of adventures to talk about in his short life span.

Frank chose Duffy's Tavern in historic Boalsburg to bring the family together for his special day.

Happy Birthday, Frank!!

Joyful Poinsettias

After -   Joyful Poinsettias

Before

Every year at Christmas, the base of our church altar is lined with large pots of red and yellow poinsettias. The poinsettias are watered every week and are kept inside the cellophane wrapping to keep the leaves and flowers from falling onto the floor. After the new year, everyone is welcomed to take the poinsettias home. I love poinsettias. They remain beautiful and resilient if given just a small amount of care.  This year, I brought three home. I want to show you a before and after picture of how the poinsettias transformed in very little time.

After the cellophane, wire, dead leaves and flowers are removed, the poinsettias spread out over the pots and welcome you to admire their magnificent beauty of reds and yellows.

Don't throw away your poinsettias if you think they may not have life left. Just a little bit of love and attention will help restore them and you can admire them for weeks, even months.

A Special Christmas Tree

A friend surprised me one Christmas with a very special gift, a ceramic Christmas tree. She had heard me say several times over the years that I wished I could find a ceramic Christmas tree but never could even during the Christmas season. On this one very special Christmas, she gave me a gift-wrapped box that had a cross sticking out the top. I couldn't see what was below the cross.

But when opening the box, very much to my amazement and surprise was a beautiful ceramic Christmas tree.  My friend and her sister were shopping in an antique barn and found this ceramic tree. She replaced all the bulbs, added words of encouragement and put the cross on top. The tree sits on a separate white base that has a light bulb so that when the tree is placed on top of the base, the colored bulbs light up  when the electrical cord is plugged in.

Big surprises can come in gift-wrapped boxes. This certainly was a surprise that I am still amazed by today. The tree sits on a bookcase shelf in my living room all year round and turns on it beautiful lights at Christmastime.  If you click on the picture to make it larger, you can see some of the words on the tree and the careful detail of the ceramic finish. The word below the cross is "Love". My friend put a lot of love into redecorating this spectacular tree.

A Sister's Inspiration That Lasted a Lifetime

My sister's inspiration

When I was nine, I knew I wanted to be a secretary and work in an office after my sister inspired me when, at 18, she went to work as a court stenographer. In the court room, she took the down the hearings in Gregg shorthand and later typed them into court history on a typewriter. When it was my turn to learn Gregg shorthand in high school, I could not take dictation at the speed my sister could, so I knew shorthand would not become one of my job skills after graduation. But, I loved typing in high school and won the award for being the fastest typist in my graduating class. We used manual typewriters back then.... Yes, that was awhile ago.

My career did start in an office as a secretary where I needed my typing skills. Throughout my work history, I have always worked in an office, where I needed typing, so, my sister’s inspiration has lasted me a lifetime.

Throughout our lives, we have mentors who inspire us. We often model our lives after those we trust even when we don’t realize it.

Who has inspired you along your journey in life and have you shared that inspiration with that person?