Is it too early to think beach?

It's one of the fun word books. It's in progress. But I wanted to give you some inspiration for a "cool" summer project. Maybe you've got some older beach pictures? Maybe you've been to the beach over spring break. Jump in, take a break and see how much fun it is to create something summer-y!
I chose some scenic beach papers for my book. I also added travel and beach themed embellishments.
To add a few more pages to the book, I cut sheer pages in the shape of the "previous" letter page to insert between the letters of the book. To explain a bit more, I overlaid the "b" page on a sheer acrylic page, traced it and then cut it out. It fits perfectly behind the B, only showing through the opening in the letters when the book is closed. Insert a page between each letter, you'll see how cool this looks.
Here the tag is clipped to the sheer E page.

Here the 'a' page sheer insert shows up very well over the C page.
Loved these resin beach shells!

I'm still looking for something to dangle from the o ring on the H!

I loved the California beach sheer overlay! I know I've got some beach pictures from there too.
One more resin shell...

I hope you find some inspiration, I hope you get some ideas whether they are for a beach themed book or a simple page..

Stop and smell the wisteria!!

I love spring! It's just so charming when the beautiful blooms appear. I have made nothing, I have sewn nothing, I have crafted nothing. But, I have started the spring clean up in the yard. The yard guys were supposed to come, but they seem to be lost? Oh help! My contribution is all about Lowe's, the garden center, nurseries and making decisions. I think that's fair.
After all I chose the tulips that were kind enough to bloom a second year. Decided where they should be planted. Picked the colors, type and supervised their planting.
But this is the muscle. He's planting the yellow roses on the sunny side of the yard along the fence. No grass yet, but it will start coming in soon I'm sure.
I also decided to plant some sweet broom this year. Then I read the care and some evals on the web. Oh what havoc did I create?? Many people have had a hard time with this plant. Any suggestions? I'm all ears.
Holly has these sweet yellow blooms. If the blooms this year are any indication of how many red berries we will have in the winter, then we are in for an abundance of bright red berries. Or is this the other way around?
This is however what I want to share! Can you smell the perfect scent of wisteria? It wafts in through the open windows infusing the house with it's perfectly clean aroma. It grows all along the back fence. This year just as last, we have a masses of blooms. Last year the last freeze created a purple carpet. I pray we are through with any freezes.
I'm loving this bench more and more. Faded colors, beneath the spring greenery on the tree, next to a bed or tulips and surrounded by wisteria! A delightful spot in which to enjoy a good read.
Gotta fix some of the fence because the wisteria has grown through the slats.. but it's worth it.
I think this weekend will be spent with the leaf sucker/mulcher!! Better 'splain that to the helper very gently.
I so wish i could share this heavenly scent with you!

"Don't hurry and don't worry,
Life's too precious to be rushed,
Take time to hear the blackbird sing
When the evening's hushed.

Don't stumble and don't grumble,
We're only here a while,
So smell the flowers on your way,
Enjoying every mile.

Don't groan a lot, or moan a lot,
Or dwell on stress and strife,
But see the wonders of the world
And all the gifts of life.

Don't hurry and don't worry,
Enjoy the sun and showers,
We're here for such a little while -
Take the time to smell the flowers."

~Iris HESSELDEN Smell the Flowers

Spring has officially arrived!

Miss Priss sits as if guarding the green shoots bursting forth from the barren ground. Pictures were taken last week, Monday March 29th, 2010. I love the spring. Bulbs bursting forth is a great healer for enduring all the snow we had this past winter. We've even had our first really bad series of dust storms. The storm chasers won't be far behind.
A Narcissus/daffodil peeking out from under a bench.
A crocus strains her face to the warm of the sun.
The tulips, still from last year, not newly planted ones, are showing their heads in abundance this year.
This beautiful red tulip has spread her petals to harvest all the sun she can to weather the cool nights still to be.
Forsythia blossoms spring forth on the barren twigs. Only one is in bloom, could be the last frost was too much for the other plant.
I planted these snowdrops last year and not a one of them shot forth. I figured it was an error on my part. What a surprise to see them popping up everywhere this year.
Aren't their faces so beautiful. I love the lime green on the tips of the petals.
A flowering tree in one corner of the yard. Note to self, plant more flowering trees. So beautiful in the spring.

The Vinca is sporting blooms everywhere.

And inside, the geraniums on the kitchen window are full of blooms. Red petals against the vintage yellow tile. I can't imagine a prettier sight.
Miss Priss has grown tired. So she rests behind the new greenery. She's virtually invisible isn't she... Who wants to guess how many kittens she has :-(

So the yard work begins. We've started gathering the leaves, picking up the branches strewn about by the spring winds, and started the never ending watering. But it's all worth it in the end. Life is good.

Happy Easter - He is Risen

Easter Lilies- The white blossoms of the Lilly, symbolize the purity of Jesus. Lilies, emerging from the earth in the spring, also symbolize new life and the resurrection of Christ.

In Roman mythology white Lilies are associated with the Queen of Gods, Juno. It is said that when Queen Juno was feeding her baby son, Hercules, some milk fell from the sky forming the Milky Way and creating white lilies, from the drops that fell to earth.

The Lamb - The Lamb is the oldest of the Easter symbols, and was originally offered as a gift to the Gods. In Christian tradition, the Easter lamb stands as a symbol of God sacrificing His son "the Lamb of God".

The Cross - The Cross symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, reminding us of the sacrifice He made for the sins of man. An empty Cross, on the other hand, symbolizes Jesus' victory over death, indicative of the resurrection. Thus the Easter Cross is a sacred symbol of faith, representing both the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ.

The Butterfly - is a significant symbol of Easter. It's whole life cycle is meant to symbolize the life of Jesus Christ.

In the first stage, the caterpillar; stands for "His life on Earth". The second phase begins from the cocoon stage; portraying the "Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus". The third and final stage, is the complete Butterfly; representing "His Rising from the Dead and New Life".
Taken from here.

Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (NIV)

The last bit of easter decorating and Good Friday verses

Last year's Spring Heartfelt swap ornaments on the white feather tree. This year I elevated the tree in a Mexican silver dish. I've added the eggs from the last post and a few more goodies I'd love to share with you.
Some gold dangly ornaments that my mother sent me from Germany. I think they have some of the best Easter decorations. I just wish I had more. I think we'll have to work on that!
A close up. I have several different styles.
I found these frosted eggs at Michael's last year.
In the crystal cloche, I've taken the glass bird and a faux planted snow drop and one of the beautiful German crafted eggs that are available at Tuesday Morning.

I found this Bunny at Hobby Lobby this year. It was supposed to become a tassel. You know, add a bit of ribbons and yarns beneath the base, let it dangle from a key in a cabinet. Time got away from me. So now, this exquisite specimen simply adorns a shelf. That chocolate bunny is simply divine!

My people, What have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you out of Egypt; but you led your Savior to the Cross.
For forty years I led you safely through the desert,
I fed you with manna from heaven,
and brought you to the land of plenty; But you led your Savior to the Cross.
O, My people! What have I done to you that you should testify against me?

The Crucifixion

²⁶As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. ²⁸Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' ³⁰Then
" 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
and to the hills, "Cover us!" '^{[a] 31}For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

³²Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."^[b] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

³⁵The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

³⁶The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

³⁸There was a written notice above him, which read:|sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

⁴⁰But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

⁴²Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[c]"

⁴³Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."