Soap and Baubles

...in my shoppe!

And don't forget to say "hello" at the Skep.

The Colours of Autumn

... in my shop.

And you can visit us at our new spot in a snap by clicking on the picture of the bee skep to the right.

A New Place

Thank you all for your kind thoughts, encouragements, and blessings! I'm inspired too by your great ideas for using this experience for good. That's what God promises, right? "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

I'm going to hang on to this little blog for the time being, but I would like to invite you to visit another one I've been working on, about our new adventures. You can find it here: www.honeybskeptical.blogspot.com

I hope to see you all there! And I've been making my way to each of your places too ~ now that we're connected to the world again! =)

The Bend in the Road

"When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes ~ what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows ~ what new landscapes ~ what new beauties ~ what new curves and hills and valleys further on." Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

A few months ago, my road seemed straight and unvarying. I was sitting at home, not necessarily discontent with my life, but feeling a little unremarkable. I LOVE being a wife and mommy and I would never give up that blessing, but I decided that I would tell God that I was ready for whatever new adventure He might have planned for me. I wanted to actively claim His blessing. Well, my goodness! How He did jump at my offer! I must admit that my heart was not prepared for what the Lord had in store for me. Maybe a new project, a little trip or something, but I hadn't expected to lose my home. You see, Mr. Browning has been quite uncomfortable about our living in such a junky neighborhood for some time, and finally decided to take advantage of the buyer's market.It has been quiet around here lately because the Brownings are no longer at the Greenhouse.

Instead we have been at the BIG...GREEN...HOUSE.


The Greenhouse:

• sits on 1/2 acre
• is roughly 1000 sq. feet
• has a total of 7 rooms (with a stinky basement)
• 2 bedrooms; 1 tiny bathroom

The Green House:

• sits on 2 1/2 acres
• 2,690 sq. feet
• has 13 rooms (with a 3-car garage)
• 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (and you've gotta see the jetted tub!)

You may be wondering how I could feel anything less than enthusiasm over this move. Well, I'm not exactly conventional. Space and luxury aren't really important to me. I love my humble little home, with its uneven walls, extremely low ceilings, and even that stinky basement. I spent nearly a third of my life there, planning, remodeling, dreaming. It truly suits me. I put so much of myself into every corner. I brought my babies home to the little Greenhouse...

I know the argument: I can still do stuff to this house. But to me, putting a few pictures on the wall doesn't really make a house a home. This place is already done, new, complete. It doesn't need me. Someone else has chosen the details that reflect their tastes. I know it will never be "OK", but I must be like Anne and expect that my future can only hold good things. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have taken a step in faith and been obedient to my husband as he leads us. Now I am waiting for the blessings God has for us here, and looking for ways that I can be a blessing, too. Will you pray for me?

A Quiet Respite

Not everything in this room is black and white, but these are the colors I tend toward for a soothing, restful place to sleep.

Like the embroidered vintage pillowcases (from my dear Mama again). And black and white pictures of our babies in place of a headboard.

Curtains instead of doors on the closets (were supposed to be "temporary", but have been up for a few years) a~buzz with regal honeybees.

A little place for writing notes. My sister painted the beautiful rhododendron bloom on the wall above the desk.

I kept the wonderful bouquets of wheat from our wedding, behind a picture of us as bride and groom.

Sweet maidenhair fern.

Isn't this a lovely stained glass? Grapes and vineyards just thrill me!

My Laundry Room

Those of you who know what's going on will understand why I'm hurrying to finish my "virtual tour" of the Greenhouse.

My laundry room is always bright from the sun shining through the south~facing glass door.


A roomy storage cabinet built by Grandpa Tucker and Great Uncle Tom. (They actually put in the wall too, since it was just a few flimsy closet doors hiding the stairwell when we moved in. Now there's a nice door to the basement ~ novel idea, right?

A sweet little clothespin bag, sewn and embroidered by my Mama.

And an old window frame from Gram's house that Mom painted and embellished with dried flowers from her garden. I thought it looked happy next to the little switch plate I found.

Bird houses above the sink.

Lavender

...in my shoppe.

Blueberry Fields

This trip to the Bellevue Blueberry Farm was a couple months ago, but I thought I'd share the pictures anyway since it was such a nice walk.

The Farm is near the Mercer Slough (there's another at Larsen Lake) and was established in the '40s. Both farms sell blueberries (you can pick them yourself, too) as well as veggies and cut flowers. A delightful way to preserve the local gardening heritage.

Some vegetable beds at the head of the trail.


Rows of lovely blueberry bushes.



A view of the pond between the plants.

I just love lily pads. They bring the story of the Frog Prince to my mind.

Maybe I can peer through the shadowed waters and see the golden ball that the spoiled Princess unhappily lost.

This bright bloom could have been an inspiration to the writer of the fairytale. Looks like a golden ball to me.

The historic Winters House.

The porch swing was a big hit!

If you're in the area and would like to visit or pick some berries, you'd better hurry! Blueberry season is usually over in September!

The Greenhouse

...is actually white.

Fruit~Full

I was photographing my latest store addition ~ a black cherry frock, in the fruit tree ~ when I looked up to find a sweet surprise...


...a blessing of juicy, succulent plums.

I know, it's not a cherry tree; but it was as close as I could get.

Sunflower Sun Hat

I finished another goody to put in my shoppe. And Raegan makes her debut as a model.

A New Endeavor

Or at least the beginnings of one. I've been working on a few new things around here ~ working hard! May I show you one of my new projects?

I've been pondering an Etsy store for so long, and I have finally figured out the basics (computer illiterate here). If you'd like to take a peek, click here.

First Love

It's high time I made good on a promise (from months ago!) to show you my heirloom silver from Grandma Dottie.

Isn't this the sweetest pattern?! So elegant, yet unpretentious.

And the name...simply romantic...

By 1847 Rogers Bros. I've been doing some research on silver and it appears that this isn't sterling, but inlaid silver (indicated by the IS) which is silver over another stronger metal. Not as valuable, but then ~ I treasure mine for the fact that it's from family. I am also under the impression that this particular set was manufactured (or at least first introduced) in 1937.

I found some other small forks of a different pattern called Parkway in the silver chest. They are just darling, too, I think.


What have we here!? The poor, unsuspecting soul who is served soup with this utensil will be quite disgusted...till they realize he's only plastic. =)

If you are interested in learning more, visit these links:

Martha Stewart's Language of Silver Marks

First Love

Today's Harvest

One little green egg and a handful of carrots. These are the simple things that just thrill me! This is life!

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10b

Tip from Gram: keep your homegrown carrots in a glass of water in the fridge (and oh, if you have clear, sweet Skok Valley well water ~ all the better!).

Winners of the Soap Giveaway!

Thank you all, dear friends for entering my first giveaway! I've had so much fun hearing from each of you; and meeting new friends, too! I hope you've enjoyed the contest as much as I have!

It's been two long weeks; are you ready to see the winners?

Shall we plunge into this bowl of "bubbles"?

Oh, goodness! Someone has heard about the soap giveaway and asked if he might help! He LOVES sudsing up!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." Psalm 24:3~5

~*~*~*
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51: 7~10

~*~*~*
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." John 15:3

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Patience is a virtue... =)

OK, the first winner is...

Tobitha!

And the second winner...

Roo and Wren's Mama!

And lastly, but not least...

Ivory Spring!

Thank you again, dear ones! Winners, please leave me a comment or e-mail to let me know where to send your little parcels. And enjoy a long, soothing soak!