Lantanas and High Tea

Orange and gold...

Sweetness and joy.

The wonder of life.

Psst....! This happens to be our 100th post.

For my Dearest

My dearest companion, my closest friend, the sister of all my struggles, Johanna Sue, turns 17 today.

She is a more than talented photographer.

She loves children, loves her family, loves taking pictures of them.

She, like the waves that crowd the shore, yearning to touch it, presses towards her Heavenly Father, and touches His heart.

She is a friend you can always trust, a friend who advises and encourages...

Faithful beyond the meaning of the word.

She sings like an angel,

Acts, with talent and energy and passion,

And loves,

With all her heart.

And, can I say? She is absolutely, undeniably, beautiful.

Happy Birthday dearest!

Emma

and all the Ramsey Clan

Photo credit to the following:

Molly Pearce

Cate Pearce

Keslie Smith

Grace Ramsey

Sam Ramsey

Uncovering Treasures

A new adventure, like the dawn of the new day, can come upon one suddenly, overwhelmingly...

... And with ever so much breathtaking wonder.

We've discovered, in our quaint East Texas town, a house, built with loving hands, and neglected sorely over the passing years. Its story is an unforgettable one, of lives touched with courage, of the people who dwelt within its walls and made it a home.

But others came in, made their own lives when others were gone. New walls were erected, new paint over old wallpaper, the grand old staircase pulled out and a new, straight-laced one put in.

We have been uncovering so much beauty,

So much that whispers of the family who once lived here,

The wallpaper, on walls and ceiling, from the early 1900's, with fabric backing curiously printed like old flour sacks,

The ballroom, hidden beneath new walls, the high ceilings lowered for the sake of new wiring and plumbing.

But we will reawaken history. We will pull off the sarcophagus, and find the gold beneath.

Heaven

Truly, it is....

Rows and rows of fabric... quaint and quirky shop owners, who are so helpful they are unforgettable...

Joy, at sudden discovery.

Seeing one's companions, disappearing between aisles of color, then suddenly popping up again.

It is, truly, a little Heaven on Earth.

Ava

News, my friends! Ever so happy news!

No. I haven't finished my book. My heart still awaits the day I can tell you that.

But..... I have been selected as one of the five finalists for the Christa-Taylor Design Your Dream Dress Contest!! How exciting is that?

The final competition all depends on reader votes now. So.... cast your vote! I won't say vote for me, though I'd dearly love you too, because I want you to vote for your honest favorite. Here's the blog page.... Christa-Taylor Blog

And here's my dress... The AVA.

The Ava summer dress, a lightweight creation in a perfect blend of rayon and cotton, hued with the brightest of summer colors, is inspired by the classic silhouette of the 1930’s. The combination of a quaintly fitted waist, a bias cut skirt, and the subtle touch of vintage crocheted lace about the neck and armholes, makes it perfect for that simple summer outing. It includes modestly cut armholes, as well as strap holders to keep you in place.

Yumminess

One carefully rolled pie crust, a little bit of this,

and a little bit that, topped off with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Mmmm... summer.

A Smallish Sort Of Update

I am trying hard to keep our blog more often updated, but due to the current tide of my life, it is my other blog that finds me oftenest updating. I've posted quite a lot!

Check it out... Thoughts On Wandrian

from a very thoughtful,

Emma