*~You can't always Get What You Want*~

I was racing home last week to see,

of all things, a premiere of a favorite TV Show.

It was a race against the clock,

one in which I was sure to lose.

I was so intent on pressing my gas peddle

closer to the floor with one eye on the passing minutes

on the clock, that I almost missed it....

A georgeous Missouri Sunset.

I immediately went from rushing home

to rushing to the next hill

that would give me a better view.

I had almost missed seeing it,

a beautiful sight that has me still smiling

as I think about it.
I can only say Thank you God for allowing

me this glimpse of your created glory.

*~*

And I think... how many times have I missed

the precious small gifts of life

because my eyes have been focused on something else,

Something bigger or more important in my mind.

~*~

When the truth of it is

I have more than I need to make me happy

if I would just slow down and look around me.

~*You can't always get what you need,

but if you try sometimes...

You get what you need*~

Here to you getting just what you need this week!

I acturally dressed up as Mick Jagger one Halloween. All I did was wear some

tight Levis, one of my brother's white tank tees, and I

drew big lips on my face with liner. When I chose this picture

of Mick to use, Mark said, "He looks so human"

Well the picture is dated 1969. I don't think he had his crazy

freak flag flying so high then. But the Rolling stones have given

us some memorable sound bites to our lives.

~*LiVe SiMpLy ~ LoVe EveRyOne**

*

Friends,
*

I read this quote on a picture which stated

lessons I learned from my dog.

*

Live Simply ~ Love Everyone

*

I may not have a dog

(But if I could

have a dog

this one

is the kind

I would choose)

*

I think this quote

really says it all.

*

A valuable lesson

in our journey and study of life

in working with

difficult to love

people and hard situations.

*

Most of the difficulty

is centered around

*

Me..,

thinking

that somehow

I

am

more important

than them,

*

and

the situation.

*

When I change my view

*

and begin to think less of me,

*

then I find

that it is much

easier to live with them

and the situation.

*

My friends

sometimes call this

choosing your battles wisely,

*

I call it...

a

beautiful

*

Peace-filled

*

release!

*

May you find happiness

in whatever situatio you find yourself in today!

*

blessings Aways,

*

kt

*

Unless stated otherwise, the vintage photos found on my blog are from my own

personal and private collection and may be used in your art work.

*

~* Winter's Last Dusting *~

Sugar sprinkled lawn

quiet soft blankets of ice

winter's last dusting.

D*E*A*R* F*R*I*E*N*D*S

I woke up to fresh white snow falling on our rooftop.

It was very beautiful as it covered up this boring time of winter

as we await Spring's awakening.

Here's hoping your weekend is dreamy and magical!

Blessings,

Katie

photo is by bonsaikipth. Haiku by k. struckhoff 2/28/09.

~ToNiGhT~**

Dear Friends ~*

I just visited Janet at her blog and saw her Night at the Oscars post

and thought it would be fun to play along ~

so here is my night at the Oscars ~*

My dress~

My shoes, my bling, my date ~*

Now that I am finished playing ~

The reality *

The dress ~*

The shoes ~


My date ~ especially when Mark sees that I've chosen Dermot Mulroney first, well, at least he's wearing a tux!

I hope your night is lovely ~ whatever you choose to do! Blessings, Katie

~*HoW VeRy SwEEt It Is*~

Dear Friends ~*

When I joined Blicky Kitty's Valentine's Karm-a-thon

earlier this week, I thought I had already decided what

and who I was going to blog about for it.

But then...

I met Eureka in all places ~ Wal Mart

(where I hardly ever go to, "don't even get me started",

just went by to buy a DVD of Fireproof for Valentine's Day)

I was checking out the art supply aisle

when I heard a voice behind me say,

"my daughter likes to make things with beads"

I turned around and there stood a wide smile

on a face missing a few teeth, make up, and

framed with long matted hair.

Her body had long gave up the battle for taking care of it, and was covered

in sweats, and pushing a cart loaded with Valentine items.

(Quite a contrast to "seemingly by all outward appearances to superior

and humble"

me

(this is where you LOL)

standing there polish and so clean in a black trench coat

with freshly pedicured toenails)

"Having a hobby is always a good thing," I said politely

yet uncommittedly back to her.

What happened next was a totally unexpected

impromtu friendly conversation

about her making baby quilts, and how working with

your hands on creating things for others is

the best stress reliever.

Then she called out,

"Hey gorgeous! I'm over here!"

A very shy handsome man in his mid-forties peeked

down the aisle and waved.

That's my husband, and tomorrow we will be celebrating

24 years of being married."

"Congratulations, that something in this day and time!" I responded.

As she strolled down to meet him,

she stopped her cart and stuck out her

chubby unguarded hand for me to shake,

"So very nice to meet you, my name is Eureka!"

I grabbed her hand and lovingly shook it looking into her eyes

and said, "my name is Katie."

And what happened next was totally so out of character for me

(and my semi-Sandra Oh-Grey's character-Christine personality

when it comes to touching strange unknown people)

She pulled me close and bear hugged me for a full 20 seconds!

We continued to part exchanging pleasantries and goodbyes

walking opposite ways down the aisle

until finally we turned our corners

and left in separate directions.

My life was so changed for the better and kinder after that ~

Call it human connection

maybe it was a "God thing"

Or just a touch that sparked and brought out

a bigger joy and love for others

all others for the rest of the day

and it is still lingering in my mind this morning.

A Valentine Karma.

We all can do it, just by reaching out to those around us

and interacting with those who are different and seemingly

have nothing in common with us.

Albert Schweitzer said it this way

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again

into flame by an encounter with another human being.

Each of us owes the deepest thanks

to those who have rekindled this inner light."

Thank you doesn't seem adequate to those who have

flamed my light and restored my fire this week,

just to name a few....

Anna

Melissa

Sally

Vera

Don

Tom

Dulcy

Sloane

Sandra at Thistle Cove Farm

Patricia at The Unfinished Flower

Heather at Creative Solace

Blicky Kitty

My precious Mark

AnD of course...

EuReKa!

Blessings my sweet Friends,

Katie

~*In the Midst of Winter....~*

Dearest Friends,


In the Midst of Winter,

I finally Found



There was in Me

An Invincible Summer
~ Albert Camus

This has always been one of my most favorite quotes
for most of my life! I have always felt the need to create
whether through pen, or paint, or glue and paper. For a while

I created poetry and found this poem while reading for inspiration in my early teens. I didn't know it then,
but I had the gift of Faith.
Faith that things will change and get better ~Always,
for every cold winter ~ summer will come,
For every death ~ A resurrection,
for every depression ~ a moment of awakening to joy,
for every disappointment ~ a celebration!
I have faith in the goodness and faithfulness of God!

I found a story in a book I am currently reading that illustrates
this so wonderfully ~ In the book:
Becoming the Answer To Our Prayers,
Shane Claiborne writes:
" ...We have created a way of life that does not need miracles.
We get hungry, we go to a store,
when we get sick, we go to a hospital.
But when people have little, they still believe
and rely on miracles to survive. A friend of mine was working down in
Latin America in a health clinic. They had very little supplies and one day
ran out of everything except a bottle of Pepto-Bismol.
So when people showed up with all sorts of illnesses
and injuries, all they could give them was Pepto-Bismol.
And people were getting healed !
A crowd of folks gathered from all over,
and he said somehow that little bottle never ran out."

And this is the kind of faith I strive to have!

I have been having so much fun getting out and meeting

new bloggers through the One World One Heart Event

If you would like to be a part ~ please click on the badge

on the post right before this one and join in on the Fun!

Blessings, Katie

Frothy White Window from Reddy, Girl in the snowy night from Rose Hardy, Vintage photo from personal collection.

Letting My Creative Muse Soar!~**

Dear Friends,

As I take down the last of our Christmas decorations (O'k.. almost the last... the snow people are safe for a few more weeks) I always think of the long chilly weeks ahead. When I was in college, my friend Melissa and I use to beat these seeming long periods of winter activity drought with concerts in our room. We would lip sync along with some of the very best songs. Imagine the part in the movie P.S. I Love You, (where Hilary is dress in her husband's boxer shorts and few other needed costume assessories) singing her lungs out with into a kitchen utensil microphone.

As I watched Mark pack up the last of the outdoor lights,

I checked email

and what did I find?

An email from Teresa McFayden announcing the Silver Bella's Winter Ezine!!!

I went to her website and found several creative ways to beat the winter

"waiting for a snow day, couped up in the house too cold to get out,

No good movies on the Dish,

not feeling in the mood for anything

because nothing is exciting" blues.

Click here

to find out more about what I am talking about.

AND

Please leave me a comment telling me what

YOU like to do to get through these long

Winter Weeks ~ I would love to hear your answers!

As for me I am off to make chocolate chip pancakes

(that I watched Paula Dean make yesterday)

Blessings,

Katie

MaNy NeW yEaR bLeSsiNgS~**~

May Your New Year Dreams Take Flight!
Dear Friends,

WiShiNg YoU mAnY NeW YeAr BleSsiNgS!!!



I have decide that the theme of 2009

will be re~connecting!

God has been whispering this into my ear

throughout the Holiday Season~

reconnecting with old friends,

reconnecting with what is really important in my life,

reconnecting with simplicity,

reconnecting with creativity,

And

reconnecting more often with Him!

Those are my dreams for 2009~

What are yours?

(The winged manequin is from Leola's store window in early December)

**~A * MeRRy * HeArt~*

*~ Has A Continual Feast!~**

Proverbs 15:15

*~Dear Friends~*

Wanted to be one of the first to wish you

A Happy Thanksgiving!

May your heart be bursting full of Thankfulness

Your table never empty of family
and true friends,

And your mind and memory

be filled with a bouquet

of Happy Moments and Blessings.

I am so Thankful for all of you

who inspire, fill me with hope,

and Bless me!

I began with one favorite scripture verse

and leave you with another blessing from one~

May you and all those you love,

Go out in PeAcE

And Be Led Forth in JoY!

Isaiah 55:12

Your Friend,

Katie

Something to get you inspired for the days ahead!
A Christmas pillow hooked by talented Sherry!

(I will be posting on Holiday Inspiration in the next few days ahead!

Hey! to my friends who went to Silver Bella ~ can't wait to hear about it!

I am definitely attending next year!!!)

~**Barn~*BuRned*~DoWn*~

Barn burned down.

Now I see the moon.

-Basho

Dear Friends,

This quote is in response to all of my friends

who will be disappointed with tomorrows outcome.

As I have dear friends on either side

I know I can be confident in this sharing.

It is a really tough or emotional choice for many

and tough choices are not always right versus wrong.

Sometimes they are right versus right.

Whatever happens -- this I know

we will be all right.

I have complete faith and trust in God.

Enough said, I just wanted to share pictures of the

finished Pumpkin Man hanging on my door on

a hanger my dear friend Relyn gave me.

Love, Peace, Joy

Blessings,

Katie

~*ThiS cOuLd Be tHe StArT oF SoMeThiNg BIG!~*

~**~ HAPPY FALL ~**~

I love this pumpkin couple from Leola's

Dear Friends,

Things I love about Fall!

The beginning of a new rug for my Fall front door~

Mr. Pumpkin Man

Top picture, my good friend Dulcy,
rug designer extrodinaire.

Below, is Tammy, our rug hooking teacher

and dyer of the most perfect colors of wool

for rug hooking.

Visit her blog here ~ Skip To My Ewe

1. Rug Hooking

with friends at Simply Fibers

on Wed. nights.

2. Putting together Fall

arrangements

to decorate our home.

3. Being Inspired to create new things!

4. Going to Leola's

for friendly coversation

and fabulous vintage

Fall-themed merchandise.

Here's hoping all of your

Fall Days are days

you love!

~*WhEn*LiFe*HaNds*YoU*A*LeMoN*~

My Perscription

For A Better (not bitter) Self

Sometime life and all of it's relationships hurts.

Sometimes friends let you down.

Sometimes you feel like you

have put a lot of energy

into something or

someone only

to see it

come

bac

k

and

bite you

in the tooshie!

And sometime you let others down too.

What's a girl to do (besides buy shoes and a handbag?

... Write a perscription for yourself!!!

Thankfully, I am surrounded by creative people both

in my physical world and in my blog world. So

I borrowed a few bits from others

and added a few of my own. So here goes

my perscription to myself:

Look up

and see, enjoy, breathe in

the beauty surrounding you!

(even if you can't see it, it is there!)

Give Kindness

without expecting anything back

Wear a smile ~

Play the game who can smile first

with everyone you meet.

Forgive freely...

yourself,

others,

especially those who are

closest to you.

Go to the closest park,

playground, or school

and swing!

Pick (or buy) some bright

fresh pretty flowers

and spread them around

your house.

(take some to the neighbor across

the street and next door)

Wish Love

on everyone you come into

contact with.

Write sweet affirming notes

on your bathroom mirror

to yourself and those who live with you!

Have a good full belly laugh

about something every day!

Read out loud to others.

When you start to feel crabby

take a nap ~ if you can't take a nap,

take a step back from others.

Did I mention Forgive?

I wish you happy

I wish you peace

I wish you blessings!

Why ThE ChiCkeN diDn't MaKe iT aCroSs ThE rOad!

Dear Friends,

An update on my

Heart and Art!

~*--------*~

It has been hectic and charotic

in my household lately ~

But that's LiFe, huH?

*----*

Please excuse my lengthy absence

from the computer and blogland.

On our way home from Florida

we hit a chicken crossing the road.

Not only did we drive into West Plains

with gray feathers stuck in our wiper

blades and antenna, but when we stopped

to get out to stretch and eat

we discovered that the chicken had put

a huge dent in our hood.

*~*~*

We arrived home to a leak coming from our

upstairs shower. We had 4 holes knocked out

in our kitchen ceiling for the plumbers

to try and locate the leak.

*~*~*

Put all the above with my car search

(before teacher meetings start up again,

way too soon) and you have a recipe for

not much time at the computer!

*~**~*

All of the above are in very stages of

getting fixed and done now. So I am here

to share pictures from what I have been

doing (in above post)that is more interesting

than all of the above.

*~*~*

Fairy Girl Bird Box Winner

is Patti from Altered Attic!

*~*~*

So friends I leave you with these words ~

(from Carly Simon's Into White CD

comments,upon discovering a new song)

"I just made some french toast and

understood it was all over.

Life would never be the same.

... Life Is Good." carly simon

*~*~*

(so if you see a pearlized blue Honda Accord

Coupe (couldn't find another CRV I liked)

and these words are on the back of it ~

It just might be me!