An inviting place for individuals to share inspiring ideas
I dream about ReNoVaTiNg little cottages and cool old buildings. This old school house in the cute little town of Greeley, KS is one that captures my ImaGinAtioN everytime I pass by it on the way to Kansas City. Just thought I would share!
Couldn’t you just imagine one huge great room on the first floor. I also love how the basement windows are up so high taking away the dungeon-y feel!
This is just one of many building I love. I’ll share more later!
:)
Robynn~
One of my personal “TrAdiTioNs” each summer is to go off the HiGh-DiVe at least one time. This past summer I was in great company during this yearly AdReNaLiNe RiTuaL of mine. I was the only female in the deep end and (at age 43) brought down the average age of the 12 or so swimmers to AbOuT 10-YeArS oLd. Get the picture?! Did I feel out of place? Just a little!
Taking the HiGh-DiVe pLuNgE is something I do for no better reason than just the ShEeR ThriLL Of It. At first I feel this scary, but exciting feeling as I look at the water below and step over the edge, then, in a second it is over. This reminds me a lot of getting the momentum going in almost any project you want to take on. Many times it takes a whole lot more energy getting to the stepping off point than it actually does for the rest of the task. Then “GrAviTy” seems to take over.
If you are wanting to complete a task, especially one that you have procrastinated on, TaKe ThE FiRsT StEp. As you do, you may find that “gravity” kicks in and that the hardest part is over!
:)
Robynn~
I love the HoLiDaYs. If you’ve been reading our recent posts you may already know that. However, my EnThUsiaSm and JoY is tempered with CoMpaSsioN for others because I know of many who are going through great PaiN and SorRoW at this very moment. Some have lost jobs or struggle to make ends meet, others have been given a grim diagnosis, and others have experienced loss in one form or another. My heart goes out to them, because although I may not be feeling that kind of pain at the moment, I have felt it in the past and it HuRtS.
WhErE aRe YoU? Maybe your life at the moment is pure bliss. Or maybe you are experiencing the extreme opposite. Or maybe you are somewhere in-between. Where ever you are…
GoD.
Is.
TheRe.
He’s either in because you’ve let Him in or He’s KnOcKiNg at the door, but in either case, He’s there.
If your life is full of cheer ShArE it with someone not as fortunate.
If your life is full of pain and saddness turn to the source of CoMfOrT, PeAcE, and JoY because…
He’s only a prayer away.
:)
Robynn~
I know I shared this a couple of years ago, but I just had to share this again for anyone that may have missed it! I LoVe this homemade potpourri! It is super easy to make and will smell up your entire home for the holidays! Try it out and let me know what you think!
3 Cinnamon Sticks
3 Bay Leaves
¼ C. Cloves
2 Lemon Wedges
1 Orange Peel
(Top 3 ingredients are found in the dry spice section of the grocery store.)
CoMbiNe all of these ingredients in a small crock-pot. Add water to cover top of all ingredients. Leave on low temperature. As the smell fades, continue to add water and various ingredients to keep the mixture moist for a continuous yummy smell! EnJoy!
*Be sure to unplug your crockpot at night because all the water will be gone by morning and the potpourri will be burnt!
*If you are ready to start a new batch, drain the water and set out the old potpourri to dry. Even as dry potpourri it smells AWESOME! Place the dry potpourri in a pretty bowl on a table as another way to smell up your home and extend the life of your potpourri!
Need a quick X-Mas Present idea?! Throw the ingredients into a basket or mini-crockpot and give as a gift! Include a printed version of the recipe by clicking here!
~Lara
ImAgIne sitting down for an interview with Osa Johnson when she was alive. Well, that’s exactly what the Suede Sofa did. We asked SaFaRi MuSeUm CuRaToR JacKie BorGeSoN if she could find quotes from Osa on a couple of questions regarding this InCrEdibLe WoMaN from Chanute, Kansas, LiViNg HeR DrEaM. The answers were amazing, as if we actually did interview Osa (they are actual quotes of Osa’s). We hope you are InSpIrEd to “LiVe ThE AdVeNtUrE” of the life you were DeStiNeD to live!
Check out our post on Safari Museum Curator Jackie Borgeson by clicking here.
Hey, all you ChaNuTiaNs and SoUthEaSt KaNsAs folk, here are two great events occuring in Chanute, KS!
On Saturday, November 12th you can help the following ChAriTabLe CaUsEs:
The TuRkEy TrOt – A 5K run/walk that starts and finishes at the ReHaB & FiTnEsS CeNteR (Just West of The Hospital) at 9 a.m. Proceeds go to the FaiTh HoUsE, an organization that houses people in need. Cost is $15. This includes a t-shirt. For more info. call 620-432-5379.
The KiWaNiS PaNcAkE FeEd – A pancake feed from 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Masonic Temple on Highland and Elm Street. Proceeds will go to help children in need at Christmas.
These two events are always held on the same day and this has become a FaMilY trAdiTioN. My husband runs in the Turkey Trot while my girls and I cheer him on and then we head over to eat ThE BeSt PaNcaKes EvEr!! And I’m not just saying this because my father-in-law is a Kiwanis. They really are AwEsOmE! In fact, I really don’t eat pancakes anywhere else (except maybe at home) because they just can’t “StAcK-Up”! You just have to come and try them yourself!!
I’ll try to get a video for you!
:)
Robynn~
I LoVe banana-nut bread. LoVe It! I don’t think I would put it in my top 3 favorites, but it’s up there. However, when it comes to waiting for it to come out of the oven it tops ALL. I just can’t help but to keep opening up the oven door, checking to see if it is done. Maybe it’s because it is one of the few things you don’t have to let cool before you take a bite of it. Maybe it’s because it MeLtS in your mouth. Whatever the reason, I know that waiting the 1 hour for it to bake is going to be excruciating for me. I have even tried taking it out of the oven before the 1 hour of baking time is up and here is what I have ObSeRveD:
1.) Banana-nut bread batter is YuMmY.
2.) Banana-nut bread that is piping hot out of the oven is even MoRe YuMmY.
3.) “HaLf-BaKeD” banana nut bread is nasty. The only one who is eating that is WaLteR, our chocolate lab.
So, what’s the point, you may be thinking. Well, this reminds me of life and how from time to time we find ourself in circumstances and situations (A.K.A. TriAls) that seem more than we can handle. It’s as if the heat and pressure are turned up and no matter what we do, how much we pray, or how adamently we plead with God to “GeT Me OuT oF HeRe!” we’re not coming of the “FiRe” until his work is complete. The crazy thing is how God can use something we think is so terrible to perfect us. How did He do that?!
When you find yourself in this uncomfortable place remember that God has the AmAziNg AbiLitY to “work All things for His good for those who love Him.” Romans 8:28.
So, although you may be squirming, HaNg On Baby! Its not forever. It just feels like it. :)
Robynn~
P.S. One of these days I’ll share my Banana-Nut Bread recipe!
I was SeArChiNg the internet and local stores for something to display my ChRiStMaS cArDs. I have a little basket for most of the cards, but I wanted something that I could use to display the picture cards that FriEnDs and FaMiLy send of their kids. Everything I came across was either too small or too expensive. Not willing to spend $75.00 on the one I really wanted, I decided to MaKe My OwN.
Picture #1
I bought a plain wood frame at my local craft store for $8.00.
Picture #2
I painted the frame green to symbolize Christmas and because it matches the décor in my living room.
Picture #3
I sanded areas of the paint off and stained it to create an “older” look.
Picture #4
I used a staple gun to fasten ribbon to the frame.
Picture #5
Finished!
Picture #6
Bring on the holidays!
Picture #7
Great to display sight words for your kids!
~Jersey Girl~
I don’t know how many times I’ve been in a situation where I left my camera at home and I wasn’t able to cAptUre that perfect picture of my kids. I kick myself for not being more prepared, but it seems that even in “prepared” situations, the mOmEnt can pass you by before getting out the camera! This happens a lot in our family, especially when we head outside and our kids do cUtE and unexpected things. I’m sure you can relate!
If you don’t have a camera HaNdy there is no reason why you can’t take a MenTal picture. Doug and I take these on occasion in hopes to capture a snapshot of something we don’t want to forget. Believe it or not, the actual act of taking the mental picture seems to help us REmeMBer those moments more easily.
P.S. I remember looking out the kitchen window one day and seeing Doug take a mental “picture” of Leanne doing something cute. It just melted my heart :)
~Lara
Ok, so sometimes it’s the ElemEntArY TrUtHs we need to be reminded of the most. This is something I talk to my kids about frequently. And they talk to me about it, as well!!
We like to compare the words we speak to HoNeY and ViNeGaR. There’s a Proverb that says:
“Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.”
When we say KiNd and GrAciOuS words its as if our lips are giving others honey. When we say UnKiNd and UngRaCiouS words its as if our lips are giving others vinegar. We have even tasted honey and vinegar and decided we definitely don’t want to be speaking words that taste like vinegar! We also remind each other to speak right by asking, “ArE tHoSe WoRdS hOnEy or ViNeGaR?”
How about you? Are you giving others words that are SwEeT and bring HeaLiNg?
:)
Robynn~
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