the heart of the home...

Would you like to take a step inside my sister's kitchen & look around?

 

 

You'll love it here, it's one of the coziest places I know.

I love to sit and chat over a cup of tea or coffee by the big picture window that looks over her patio where the kids are playing, and her flower garden where bees are buzzing & butterflies are fluttering.

 

When a kitchen sink is as gorgeous as this it makes washing dishes a joy!

 {And how perfectly does this vintage tablecloth that's doing duty as a skirt apron match the cabinet?! I just can't get over it.}
 

 

 Some of those flowers usually find their way indoors, bringing their freshness & sunshine with them.

 

 

 Kitschy kitchen goodness is in every nook and cranny.

 

 

Of my three sisters, Beth & I probably have the most similar decorating style.

We both love anything cheerful, farmy, kitschy, & vintage.

Which can make garage sale-ing together a little tense.

Just kidding. We share pretty well. ^_^

 

 

In Beth's country kitchen there's always sure to be some fresh veggies about the place this time of year.

That's bound to be when your husband is a landscaper & expert gardener with about 4 or 5 vegetable patches.

{I've lost count how many actually...there seem to be more every year!}

 

 

Even her ceiling fan is cute for cryin' out loud!

We affectionately call it a fandelier.



 

I helped her paint her cabinets this beautiful shade of Annie Sloan chalk paint, Henrietta, a couple years back. The insides are painted with Antoinette & have Hello Kitty liner on the shelves. I neglected to take a piccy of that, but I'm sure you can picture it.

There's nothing like climbing around on the counter tops with the Beatles playing in the background whilst sipping endless cuppas with your sister.



 Speaking of cuppas...

here is the all important coffee counter.

*angelic choir music plays*

{I'm irritated with myself for accidentally cutting off the head of the cute crocheted chick-i-poo on top of her lil Keurig. Bah. Didn't realize I'd done it till I got these piccies on the 'puter. You can see it un-decapitated in the previous photo though!}

 

{A refrigerator isn't complete without some artwork!}

Even the fridge got a makeover!

She glued a pretty wood decal thingy on & then painted over it.

That chalk paint really does stick to anything.

I gave her this old metal garbage can & gave it a coat of Antoinette.

{Oscar the Grouch simply couldn't make his mortgage payments anymore & had to move to a smaller can. ^_~ You know, the economy & stuff.}

 

 

Everywhere you look there's something cute to make you smile...
this corner cabinet which belonged to our great grandma is a home to all sorts of cute tchotchkes...
vintage hanky bunting adorns the window...
and some adorable vintage wicker umbrellas hang jauntily from a hook.



 

Possibly one of my favorite things about Beth's kitchen is that she always has something yummy baked. {And she's always willing to cut you a slice} It was yummy zucchini bread this time with zukes from {one of} their garden{s}.  ;)

If you're interested in the recipe she said she uses Better Homes & Gardens' Recipe, but without the nuts cuz eww. ;P

I hope you've enjoyed your visit to Bethie's kitchen!

Much love,
Miss Michelle ^_^
{Photos by yours truly}

the colors of my life...

When I was a little girl I sang in our local civic chorale's youth chorus for a few years. We sang a wide variety of types of songs from show tunes to Psalms to oldies. {and one weird song about an ocelot of all things, "Saucy Little Ocelot", which contained the line "Saucy little ocelot, likes to fuss & boss a lot." Which my friend who sat next to me during practice & I thought perfectly described another girl in the group. We would elbow each other & try to keep from giggling...but I digress...}

 One of the show tunes we sang was called The Colors of My Life from the musical Barnum (which I've never actually seen.)

 

Some song lyrics tend to take up residence in my brain and never leave.

Such as the lines

 

"The colors of my life are bountiful & bold." sung by the fella

 

and

 

"The colors of my life are softer than a breeze." sung by the lady.

 

Every so often I think about these words & I wonder which color schemes would I use to characterize my life?

I really like both bountiful & bold AND softer than a breeze colors.

The only colors I'm not too terribly fond of are neons.

And in moderation even they can be tolerable.

 

Picking out colors for a new knit or crochet project is one of my favorite parts of the whole creative process. I love trying different color combinations. Nothing pleases my eye so much as just the right balance of colors. In my life there is a time & place for bright & cheery as well as pastel & pretty. I like to incorporate them both into my wardrobe & décor.

 

Since it was the lady who mentioned the gentle colors we'll take a look at some of those first.

{Ladies first ya know.} ^_~

 

 

 gentle

 

 

peaceful

 

 

lovely

 

 

calming

 

 

cozy

 

 

like a relaxing day at the beach

 

 that's what I think when I see pastels.

 

~*~

 

Now as to all things bright and beautiful...

 

fresh & juicy

 

 

cheerful

 

 

playful

 

energizing

*like a cup of coffee for your eyes*

 

 

warm

 

 

 like childhood summer days

 

 

That's what I think of when I see cheery brights.

^_^

 

As you can see I've been keeping busy with granny square blankies.

They are my most recent obsession, and they lend themselves very well to experimenting with different color palettes. I've just started on one I've been calling "pastel rainbow" while also working on a vintage beachy sweater in pale coral, light blue, & white. {Seen in some of the pics at the top.}

 

~*~

 

So these are the colors of my life.

Both light & lovely AND bright & beautiful.

 

What colors do you prefer?

Is there a certain scheme of colors that characterizes your life?

 

Much Love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

{Photos by me apart from the one of Mema & me. That was taken by Aunt Liz.}





hulloooo there...

Remember me?

I'm Michelle.

(You know, that gal who writes this blog.)

Hee hee, saying "hulloo" always makes me think of Winnie the Pooh ^-^, but I digress.

So, I've been doing well.

The Lord is good.

So good.

So faithful.

My life has been quite filled with good things.

Blessed.

That's what I am.

I kept meaning to get back on board with this blogging business.

Time just kept slipping away bit by bit.

Before I knew it months had passed.

It's a bit like jumping into a swinging jump rope.

Well, I mean, it's not like I'd get smacked in the face with a rope or anything, but still.

I think you catch my drift. ;)

Lately, I've been Instagramming a lot.

I'm kind of into making Bible verse or godly quote pictures such as the ones above.

And this...

Oh, and just to thoroughly confuse y'all my name on there is now miss_strawberry_shortgirl.

It's completely random.

Don't ask me why.

I just thought it would be fun to have a...well...fun name...just for fun. ;P

My mind can be so like a butterfly flitting from one pretty thing to the next.

I am trying to discipline this mind of mine more.

Dwelling on lovely things is good, indeed it's scriptural.

But I can't just stop there.

I'm trying to delve deeper.

To know.

To know Him.

More & more everyday.

The depths.

The riches.

Unfathomable.

But I'll do my best as far as He enables me.

No more scratch & sniff Christianity for this girl.

Nope.

He paid far too great a price to make me His.

Also, just lately I've been crocheting like a fiend.

(If fiends actually do crochet. Don't quote me on that...I'm not 100% sure.)

Having been an avid knitter for so many years I was skeptical as to whether crocheting was even a necessary skill for me to acquire. After all, just about anything crochet could do knit could do better, or so I thought.

I can see now why people are so in love with the craft.

It does work up so fast.

And ya just can't beat a classic granny square for that old fashioned kitschy charm.

I've heard people say crochet is easier than knitting, but that I don't see.

I think they're both easy once you get the hang of it.

There are definite pluses to both.

Oh, and I've just been spending as much time as is humanly possible with my babies & my sisters.

These truly are the good old days.

I know I will miss these days terribly when they're passed & gone.

So for now I cherish every moment that will soon be a memory.

I stare at their little faces to try to memorize them.

I always give them a sniff & a squeeze so I can always remember their smell & squishiness.

For it won't be long before they're all grown & patting me on the head.

As I said before...

blessed.

I'm blessed beyond measure.

Well, sorry about the barrage of pictures.

All of them shamelessly stolen from my Instagram feed.

Thank you for all the kind words from those of you wondering just where I'd got to.

Here I am though.

I hope to stay.

By His grace.

For His glory.

Much Love,

Miss Michelle

aka

miss_strawberry_shortgirl

^_^



"When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby..."

There He was,

hanging on a cross,

suffering unspeakable agony.

"But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister,

Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby,

He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"

Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"

From that hour the disciple took her into his own household."

{John 19:25b-27}

I read the beloved disciple's account of Jesus crucifixion earlier this week,

and I was simply stuck by this tender scene.

Looking down from that old rugged cross,

battered & bruised,

Christ the mighty Maker dying for man the creature's sin...

He saw His mother.

Even in His utter agony He thought,

so sweetly,

of her care.

What a wonderful Savior!

While He was suffering for her sins (& mine) He made provision for her earthly care.

In this I note His faithfulness.

As her first-born it was His responsibility to care for her needs.

He shirked none of the things the Father required of Him.

From the greatest to the smallest.

I also note His tender care & compassion.

Oh, how kind!

Perhaps, even at this moment the sword of Simeon's prophecy in Luke 2:35 was piercing her soul as she watched Him suffer that day.
What a comfort it must have been for her to know His love.

Take notice that He left her to the care of His beloved disciple.

He didn't just leave her to the care of His half brothers, James or Jude.

I read in a study note that, at this time, they did not yet believe.

He was surely even concerned for her spiritual well-being in placing her in a believing household.

I was just overwhelmed by this little morsel of goodness the Lord showed me from His word.

I am in awe over His tender care & concern for His own.

It is a good reminder too, in seeing John's example of obedience to Lord in this,
that if the Lord places in our care one of His own to treat them as just that - His loved one that we have been given the great privilege of caring for here on earth. Whether it be a little child or an aged parent or whatever. It's an honor & a privilege to serve Him in this way.

Of course, at this time of year my thoughts naturally gravitate back to His humble entrance into this sin-cursed world. As that Baby unlike any other.

Son of God & Son of Man.

The woman's Seed Who would crush the serpent's head.

So, of course, I have another song for ya. ;)

Cuz, that's just how my brain works.

I think I must think in song.

When we were kiddos my friends & I would play a game where someone would say a random word, and we would try to think of a song with that word in it. I think I was only stumped once. (That was before you could just google it too.) ;P

Music has just always been very dear to me.

I love to sing.

As a little girl a family rule was legislated just for me.

"No singing at the supper table" was the decree from Mom & Dad.

(Apparently they did NOT want me singing for my supper.)

I think music is very dear to God too though.

I'm so thankful that He has chosen it as a main means of praising Him.

Oh, how wonderful it is to sing praises to our Redeemer!

Just lately I've gotten kind of irritated with most "Christmas" music.

Sorry but Jingle Bells 75 different ways just doesn't cut it for me.
(That's not what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.)

I've been craving real CHRISTmas music.

I absolutely love all the Christmas hymns.

(Hark! The Herald, Joy to the World, all that good stuff.)

I've just recently discovered the Getty's Christmas album & I. am. in. love.

Here are songs of substance.

(And it doesn't hurt that they're Irish, I am a wee bit Irish myself. Lol!) ;)

I love every song on the album, but here is one of my faves.



 I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
My other faves are "Fullness of Grace", "O Savior of Our Fallen Race",
& "Joy Has Dawned/Angels We Have Heard on High." ^-^
You better believe I'll be dancing like a fool with the kiddos to some of these...
pretending I know how to do those jigs & reels. Lol! #sorrynotsorry ;P

~*~

I'm not making any of my Christmas gifts this year, but I do have a few knitting projects I've been working on. Hopefully I'll have some pics to share soon. Do you remember the vintage pixie hat I made for my niece, Annelise, last year? Well, she's naturally outgrown it so I made her another in a larger size. Thankfully, last year's version shan't go unused this year though, because my sister had another baby this year too! Yay for more babies! So, sweet baby Joel & Annelise can have matching hats of adorableness. ^_^ (RolyPolyJoely is that cutester in my profile pic.)

~*~

i'm thankful...

I'm thankful that He made me weak...

that His power might be mightily shown.

{2 Corinthians 12:9+10}

 

I'm thankful that He made me small...

that His greatness may be magnified.

(as the small fish & few loaves made to feed a multitude)

{Mark 8:7}

 

I'm thankful that He made me lowly...

(though I'm not even as lowly as I need be)

that I might know how very high He is.

{Psalm 138:6}

 

I'm thankful that He made me childlike...

that He, my Father, may be trusted in all things.

{Matthew 11:25}

 

I'm thankful that He gave me a quiet life...

that He may be all people hear in me,

& that I may clearly hear His voice.

{1 Thessalonians 4:11}

 

I'm thankful that He made me to know the very brief span of my intellect...

that I do not try to confine Him or His thoughts and ways within that infinitesimal sphere.

{Romans 11:33-36}

 

I'm thankful that He made me loving...

that I might have an inkling of His great love,

and I strive to exhibit His perfect Calvary Love more and more in my hopelessly imperfect way.

{1 John 4:7-14}

 

I'm thankful for the "talents" He's entrusted to this unworthy servant...

that I may strive to double them before my Master's return.

{Matthew 25:14-23}

 

I'm thankful that He keeps this heart that is prone to wander on a short tether...

because He is faithful to complete the work begun in me.

{Philippians 1:6}

 

I'm thankful that He, the King, made me His daughter...

that I can only be joined to an approved suitor, for the furtherance of His Kingdom.

If He so chooses to join me to one of His sons.

If not...

I can wait 'til I'm joined, with the rest of His church, to His most Beloved Son,

Who gave His life to ransom mine.

"...to the praise of the glory of His grace..."

{1 John 3:1+2} {Ephesians 5:27}

 

~*~

 

Caleb & I broke up nearly 2 weeks ago.

We had a disagreement.

I don't know what the end result of this will be yet.

The Lord has taught me so much through this.

I just wanted to share...

to testify...

of what He has been teaching me.

<3

 

Many psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs have been a great blessing.

This one is particularly dear at the moment.

"Christ the Rock"

 

~*~

 

Please be praying for us both.

That the Lord's power would be perfected in our weakness.

For His glory.

 

 

what would Beatrix wear?

Hello there, my dear ones!
As I mentioned in my previous post we've been enjoying somewhat cooler Springtime weather lately. This sort of cool & rainy weather always makes me think of Beatrix Potter. I like to imagine that this is what the weather she experienced in her beloved Lake District was like.

My apparel is oft times inspired by the weather.
{And I don't just mean by what the mercury reads - though that is a big factor.}
Say it's the middle of Summer & the sort of day you could envision yourself at a county fair eating funnel cake, sipping a lemon shake-up, & admiring the livestock.
I'll go for the farmgirl goes to town look. {Think Jeanne Crain in State Fair}
Or if it's a crisp Autumnal day fit for an apple picking. A couple scenes from
Anne of Green Gables might ramble around in my head and spark an outfit idea.
Or if it's a bitterly cold day of Winter when the sun hides behind clouds & the wind whips relentlessly through the barren branches, I may wear an ensemble that heavily features wool
inspired by Helen from All Creatures Great & Small.

Well, good ol' Beatrix was the inspiration for this particular ensemble.
I thought to myself as I smiled out the window at the delightfully gloomy grey sky,
"What would Beatrix wear if she'd been born in this time?"
Here is my answer. :)

 

A feminine hairstyle, wooly goodness, & earthtones combine for a look that is unmistakably Beatrix.
~*~
Outfit details:

~*~ Dress: Thrifted ~*~

~*~ Sweater: Handmade by me ~*~

~*~ Tights: Wal-Mart ~*~

~*~ Shoes: Thrifted {Clarks} ~*~

~*~ Necklace & Earrings: LC Lauren Conrad from Kohls {No longer available} ~*~

~*~ Scarf {in hair}: Thrifted ~*~

 





I think Mr. McGregor would heartily approve of my little trowel earrings. I'm so fond of Kohls' Lauren Conrad jewelry. Well, lots of the clothing too, but the jewelry in particular. Her jewelry is always so delicate & lovely. It more often than not will be rather kitschy too! I have a necklace with an antique sewing machine charm, pink ladybug earrings, vintage camera earrings, & a little pink teacup on a necklace - just to name a few! Since I love to play in the dirt er garden I get quite a kick out of these little trowels dangling from my ears. ;)
 

These brown suede oxford booties were quite a find for just $3 at my favorite thrift store. Oddly enough they are not my size, {a size & a half too small} but they fit quite well & are very comfortable. Perhaps they are incorrectly sized & that's how such a nice pair of shoes found themselves at a thrift store. In any case I'm so grateful to have them. I think they lend themselves well to the 1930s look in addition to my Beatrix attire.

 



My brown wool cabled cardigan is so snuggly warm. It was my very first cable project - made around 5 years ago. It's made of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in Nature's Brown using this pattern. (I never made the sash that is supposed to go with it. I just wear it open.) It's a terribly useful sweater & I wear it quite a lot in the coldest weather. Having already acclimated to the warmer weather we had been having I was thankful to be able to pull out this old friend to chase the chills away.

 



While I had the camera out I simply couldn't resist taking pictures of the lilacs & the chickens.

You don't mind do you?
The chickens always hastily run up to the fence when they see me coming - they must assume I come bearing food. Unfortunately for them I only came bearing that shiny black doohickey that makes beeping sounds this time. That's Freckles the Speckled Sussex, Pepper the Barred Rock, & Oswald the Rooster {I think he's an Ameraucana, but I'm not sure.} You can just see Philippa the Ameraucana in the background & the ducks at a safe distance. They still don't quite trust me as they were a few weeks old by the time I got them from a friend.

 

I think one reason I really find a kindred spirit in Beatrix is because of her love for the country.
I recently watched the episode of The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends featuring The Tale of Johnny Town-mouse. The story is the classic tale of a town mouse & a country mouse experiencing each other's way of living & each much preferring their own.  One line {a direct quote from the book} at the end of that sweet little cartoon caught my attention.

 "One place suits one person, another place suits another person.
For my part I prefer to live in the country, like Timmy Willie."
~Beatrix Potter - The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse

To which I give a hearty "Hear, hear!"
Much like Beatrix, I wasn't raised in the country. I lived in a small town until I was 17. When we moved to the country I just felt it was home. {Though, I loved that little town & still do.} Perhaps it is because I have Farmer in my blood on my Mom's side that I love the country so...

~*~
 

Well, I'm planning this as an ongoing post series to feature other
"what would         wear?" outfits every so often.
More than likely featuring some of the aforementioned characters!

 

~*~

 

Does the weather inspire your attire?

 

Is there a person or character you're particularly inspired by?

Do you prefer the town or the country?

 

{Photos by me. Taken sheepishly with the timer.

 Hoping my family wasn't looking out the window & rolling their eyes.}