This 'n That

Hi, everyone. I hope you all had a great week.

Our weather here yesterday was 70°...hard to believe for January. Then, last night it dipped into the 30s, what a swing!





Just a little peek of winter here...these are seed pods on our Rose of Sharon. I thought they looked like little brown flowers.



Our bare flowering cherry looks like he's keeping warm in his ivy coat. :)



Katie missed school Wednesday and Thursday because she was sick. I think she must have gotten what her dad had last week. She's feeling better now and even made a chocolate cake. What can I say....she is her mother's daughter. :)



Unfortunately the bug decided to visit me too. *sigh* At least I have the weekend to recuperate. I hope to be feeling better by Monday. Thankfully, this bug doesn't seem to be too bad or last very long, mostly just a low fever and tiredness.

I wanted to give you an update on my cousin's wife, Tanya. She is still in the hospital fighting the cancer. It has spread to her lymph nodes and stomach, so she is going through treatments for that right now. The doctors are hoping that the cancer was caught early enough, and that she'll be OK. She was moved to the rehab floor of the hospital today, and she's hoping to go home in a couple of weeks. Thank you for your prayers for her, and please continue to pray for her and her family.



As I've read through my friends' blogs lately, I've seen so many troubling things...financial problems, sickness, death of loved ones, loss of jobs...I've been praying for so many of you. Many of my own friends and family are struggling with problems as well.

Does anyone else remember this old hymn?

The Solid Rock
words by: Edward Mote
verse 1-My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
verse 2 -When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the vale.
verse 3 -His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood; when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
chorus -On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.


It's wonderful to have the blessings of a job, health, home, and family, and I'm so grateful for my blessings, but God has been reminding me lately that we should be putting our trust in Him first.
Loved ones will pass away, jobs will be lost, and health will deteriorate. But, when all these things happen, God will still be there. How comforting to know He's with us, not just in the good times, but also in the trials of our lives. No doubt this world is on shaky ground, but I'm glad God is in control and none of the world's turmoil catches Him by surprise.

Thanks so much for dropping by. Welcome to my new followers, too. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Take care,
~Melanie

We Have a Winner!

Good afternoon to all my friends. I hope you're all having a good Saturday. It's chilly here in Virginia. We had some snow and ice last night, but it's all melted away now.

Well, my husband drew the name for my giveaway and he chose...

Sandi at The Primitive Skate

Congratulations, Sandi! If you would please e-mail your address to me, I'll get these mailed to you right away! :)

Thank you all so much for your entries and your sweet comments. Enjoy your weekend!

Take care,

~Melanie

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window... It is after 8pm, and it is still 60° outside! We had a lot of rain today...too warm for snow. :(

This is not usual January weather for Virginia!

I am thinking...it's been a long time since I did a daybook post.

I am thankful...that everything went well with my mom's recent cataract surgery. :)

From the kitchen...BBQ chicken strips and steamed squash.

Around the house...cleaning, getting some things together for Goodwill, gathering all our tax information.

A few plans for the rest of the week...work everyday, church on Thursday, groceries and errands on Saturday. I hope to get to the thrift store too! :)

One of my favorite things...an empty clothes hamper!

I am praying...for my husband to feel better soon. He's been sick a couple of days.

I am also praying for my cousin's wife. She's been in the hospital a month now with severe blood clots in her legs. The doctors also discovered a malignant tumor. She has started chemotherapy. She's only 36, and has 3 children at home. Thankfully, they have family around who can help care for her children while her husband is at work. A praise report...If you remember back in September, another one of my cousins was in a very bad car accident. He was severely injured, but was finally able to go back to work last week! Thank you for your prayers for him.

A Scripture to share...But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. ~Matthew 6:33-34 KJV

I know this is a very familiar Scripture, but it is so true.

A picture I'm sharing this week...

A very special Christmas present from my mom. She made this runner for me. Isn't it beautiful? I'm so blessed and thankful to have such a wonderful mom.♥

Please visit Peggy to read more daybooks.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week. Don't forget about my giveaway that ends on Friday! :)

Take care,

~Melanie

A Valentine Giveaway!

Hi, everyone.

I hope you're all doing well, and getting back into the swing of things. All of our Christmas decorations have been put away for another year, and it always makes me a little sad...but I DO keep my snowmen out during the winter! I like their cheerful little *smiles*.

Our weather here has been chilly this week. We woke up to a dusting of snow yesterday morning...it did my heart good to see a little snow.♥

Well, I thought it might be nice to do a giveaway for Valentine's Day, so I have made up these five little hearts to give away (basket not included). Katie helped me cut them out. :-)

You have three chances to win.

First, you need to be a follower of my blog, and leave a comment on this post telling me you'd like to enter. New followers are welcome!

For a second chance to win, you may use this picture to do a post about my giveaway or put it on your sidebar with a link back to this post.

If you'd like to follow me on Pinterest, I will enter your name a third time. Just click the red Pinterest button on my sidebar...by the way, I think Pinterest is wonderful!!

Let me know if you post this on your blog or follow me on Pinterest.

If you do not have a blog, please be sure to leave an e-mail address where I can contact you. If the winner doesn't claim the prize within 3 days of the drawing, I'll draw another name.

The giveaway will start today and end on Friday, January 20th, so the winner can get them in time to display for Valentine's Day!

Have a great weekend, everyone! Thanks for stopping by. :-)

Take care,

~Melanie

All My Sweet Giveaway Wins!

Well, if you remember before Christmas, I told you I had some giveaway wins to show you. I won three giveaways all within a week's time! I want you to please understand I do not show these pictures to brag. Honestly, I feel a little awkward having won so many beautiful items! I show them to give credit to the very talented ladies who donate their time, talent, and resources. Please do visit these lovely ladies' blogs and etsy shops.

The first giveaway I won was from The Old Farmhouse Gathering. It was a giveaway of ten items made by different ladies who are part of a very talented group! I have received seven of the items...not sure where the other three may be.

Natalie sent this sweet north pole can. I think the penguins are too cute. :)

Kris sent this potpourri, and as an extra little treat, a bottle of sugar cookie scented room spray. They both smell wonderful!!

Mary sent this tea light. I really like the little snowman picture.

Marilyn sent this so cute snowman hat...love the song on front.

This snow angel was made by Barb from Barb's Heartstrokes. Isn't it sweet?

This lovely hummingbird teardrop ornament was made by Robyn from Motherlode Toad. It is beautiful!

This sweet little snowman make-do was made by Vicky from Vicky's Art. She also tucked in a little buttered rum tart. It smells wonderful!

The second giveaway I won was from Kitty at ShabbyKat Primitive's Sundries 'N Such. Her giveaway was a mix-n-match, which meant I got to pick any two items from her etsy shop! I chose the Star Ornie Fixens and a set of her grubby battery candles. These smell wonderful, and I love the little star pan. She is a very talented lady who happens to be a cat lover as well.♥

The third giveaway I won was from Laura at The Quilted Pumpkin. She was giving away a very sweet handmade snowman who was busy decorating his tree for Christmas. She named him Sam and I thought it fit him perfectly. :)

I'm going to have a giveaway of my own very soon, so be sure to check back!

It was 16° here when I got up this morning! I hope you're all staying warm wherever you are. Enjoy the rest of your week. :)

Thanks for stopping by.

Take care,

~Melanie

Christmas Salad

Hi, everyone! I hope you all had a nice Christmas and New Years. We had a very enjoyable Christmas with our families, and spent New Years at home.

It's hard to believe school starts again tomorrow! Vacation went by so fast! Anyway...

While we were visiting my parents at Christmas, Mom made this Christmas Salad, and I thought you might like the recipe. This is delicious, and pretty when made in a clear glass dish.

~Christmas Salad~

First layer:

In an 8x8 inch glass dish, dissolve a package of raspberry jello in 1 cup of boiling water, then add a can of whole cranberry sauce. Mix well. You may add a 1/2 cup of nuts if you'd like. I believe my mom used walnuts. Refrigerate until set, at least a couple of hours.

Second layer:

This will need to be mixed in a separate bowl.

Dissolve a package of lime jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Add a can of drained crushed pineapple and 1 cup of cottage cheese. Mix well and spoon on top of the cranberry layer. Refrigerate until set.

Third layer:

This will need to be mixed in a separate bowl as well.

You will need an 8-oz. pkg. of cream cheese. Beat this well, then fold in a small tub of whipped topping. Add to the lime layer.

Enjoy!! :)