Clippings Snippings

The last few days have been my favorite of the summer so far.. because they have been spent with my cousin and best friend, Paige, who came all the way from Grand Ol' Texas to visit me! Though much of our time has been spent napping, lounging, napping, and talking, we decided to try our hands at a little card-making yesterday-- which ended up drifting into the wee hours of the morning today. 

Our good friend, John Wayne, looked lovely along with 

whimsical patterns and romantic pressed flowers. 

The beautiful Paige working on one of her creations..

Never take yourself too seriously. 

Some intense crafting is going on right there.

A "congratulations" card for my sister, 

who has just finished her residency. Go, Dr. Amy! Love you!

Paige's masterpiece: a beautiful wedding card. 

Small Things are Sometimes Sweetest.

While living "out here," one can learn a lot about the concept of time. It takes more time to get to the market. It takes more time to send an email. It takes more time for your coffee to be prepared at the coffee shop. And it definitely takes more time to get directions from the clerk at the gas station- perhaps you've observed or even had a conversation with the very gentleman I'm talking about- ever heard the phrase (spoken in a nice, country drawl, of course) "You can't get there from here" ?

But the luxury that makes all of that waiting worthwhile lies in the fact that, yes, one actually has the time to spend time. Living in a more rural area, I'm not constantly on the phone or waiting in line, or stuck in traffic. So, I do have time to drive a few extra miles to see a friend, or to get a cup of coffee, or to stop and say hello to the owner of my favorite antique store, or... to bake lemon raspberry muffins.

These muffins were a labor of love themselves, but I was able to share them with my mother's and sister's friends who came over for some prayer- I hope the muffins made their conversation and prayer all the sweeter- as well as my darling baby niece, whose smile upon nibbling these made them worth every ounce of time. And.. they were made (of course) with raspberries tended to and picked by my dad.

The next time I'm tempted to complain about time, I will remember to slow down and thank God for the beauty in small things.

Curiosities and Collectibles

I was lucky enough to have lunch with my mother today at one of our favorite places in town. The Tavern, as we sometimes call it, attracts quite an eclectic crowd, ranging from gentlemen farmers to motorcycle junkies. It's a curious place, classy enough to have a fountain outside (as seen above), but scruffy enough to make it welcoming and comfy (see the endearing "bikers welcome" sign below).

On the way home, we stopped by a little store with a basement art gallery.

We marveled at all of the beautiful paintings, sculptures, and rugs...

... as well as the novelties upstairs.

Our last stop was an antique place...

... situated next to an old whiskey distillery!

It was a beautiful, blessed day.

Where it All Began: Town Mouse Pays a Visit.

I just spent the loveliest weekend with the adorable Eva, one of my dear friends who attends college in the city. We spent our time scouring bookshop shelves and meandering around the farm- nibbling on my dad's homegrown raspberries and collecting farm-fresh eggs. Her appreciation for the country life reignited my love for my home, inspiring me to begin documenting my adventures, no matter how small they may be.The picture above is of me in the front yard, using Eva's vintage, yellow suitcase (in perfect condition and purchased for only twelve dollars- quite a steal!) as a prop. Here's the lovely Eva below, snooping behind a Sherlock Holmes volume.

Below: Eva says "hello" to the goats. Left to right: Glowbug, Guineviere, Sarah, and a delighted Eva.

I lounged a little on the rocking chair.