Magnoliawhispers

The Rains Came Down

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:04:00 +0000

The rains came down
and the floods came up,
The rains came down
and the floods came up,
The rains came down
and the floods came up.
But it's better than snow,
and that's why I'm here, you know.

Several rivers around here are in danger of flood stage.
A year ago, there was a drought.

11 Things

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:28:00 +0000

1. Making fudge that turned out this time.

2. Visiting my friend Nancy who just lost her husband Paul and seeing how well she's doing.

3. Seeing my friend Anne get a new red wig from another friend in Sunday School class.

4. Wrapping little gifts for grandkids that I got at Ikea in Charlotte, so cute.

5. My Dad telling me "Buenos Noches" 1 more time and that he needs more "snacks" and if I know his address. Hearing his joy at being at the cottage.

6. Watching Tillie leap through frosty grass.

7. Seeing red berries on my holly bush from my chair here in the room.

8. Watching Jack try on a new black leather blazer, almost as fun as actually buying it.

9. Hearing a friend talk about eating oysters, shrimp and crab cakes after being in his hometown of New Orleans.

10. Remembering how much Alison loved Christmas.

11. Laughing at the Vintage Aluminum Christmas tree we got at an auction and realizing only 1/2 of it was in the box.

Furniture R Us?

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:42:00 +0000

My new experimental budget furniture shipment is here! The guy unloaded 19 crated pieces into our garage! It's a investment that I hope will pay off. And hurray....it's made in the USA!

Operation Christmas Child

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Got to see my favorite charity in operation today. Took a trip to Charlotte to visit the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child processing center, where hundreds of volunteers come each holiday season to process the shoebox gifts that are donated to children around the world. Franklin Graham was there to thank everyone and cheer everyone on. I really wanted to get his autograph or have him sign my book, but just couldn't get that close. It's a really nice organization, there were also several people there who themselves had been recipitents of shoeboxes in the past and now are serving God by volunteering themselves. The reception included serving lunch to all the volunteers and I stayed and had Chic-Fil-A with 'em.

Busy Beavers

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:55:00 +0000

We're busy beavers, but we're not shopping or getting ready for Christmas around the house. We're:

-Finishing Decorating and stocking the shop for Christmas.
-Waiting on customers, it's getting busy already in December.
-Making airplane reservations and transportation plans for IN.
-Cleaning out the garage to get a big truckload of a new experimental line of budget bedroom furniture for the shop tomorrow!, like 19 pieces that will need to stored in the garage until we make room for it.

-Getting ready for garage sale Sat. to get rid of extra junk in garage.
-Getting hair recolored (needed a little something more)
-Deciding what clothes to wear to the wedding and bringing Christmas gifts for the kids, and how we're going to get it on the plane, no big purchases planned.
-Praying for specific people who are suffering.
-Talking creatively about what jobs Jack could apply for besides CAD.
-Taking little drives to downtown Camden and around Lugoff to see the Christmas lights, stopping at Sonic for a Mint Blast....hmmm
-Jan is planning on going to Charlotte on Thurs. to attend a non-invitation needed party for Samaritan's Purse Operation shoebox gathering, and hopefully meet Franklin Graham! (exciting)
-Raking the leaves in the yard (they're still falling here)
-Listing Christmas items on Ebay.
-Cooking supper when I get home from work and then collapsing.
-Thinking about when I'm going to get some time to do my Christmas baking and jelly making.

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK AND JAN A DULL BOY AND GIRL!

-

The Manhattan Declaration

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:44:00 +0000

Read the Manhattan Declaration and sign it. Possibly one of the most crucial documents of our time www.manhattandeclaration.org

Phew.....

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:14:00 +0000

Phew,alot's going on! Tom proposed to Niki at the Marine Corp. ball last weekend, of course she accepted they are talking about getting married in 2 wks! Jack is going up there and now I may have to book a flight too. Then have to find a dress.
Put an ad in the Camden newspaper for "Christmas is Here at The Red Door" advertising 20% off with coupon, hope that will stir up some increased holiday sales. People starting to buy Christmas stuff already.
Got my hair colored yesterday, wanted a few more red streaks in it, so may go back. It looks good, someone told me I look younger :)
Gotta go pick up some furniture today, may go to auction tonight.
Going to friend's house tomorrow for T'Day. Will be cooking pies, sweet taters, corn and maybe collards. Yeah, we don't have to eat at a buffet this year!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
I'm thankful this year for my husband, my business, my family, my home, cars, health, friends, and for my Lord who watches over me and provides everything we need.

Tillie Gets Ready for Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:50:00 +0000

Tillie hates the wet grass, so we're trying these boots. She was compliant in having them putting them on, but she's walking like a cripple. Is this torture? She also got a new hoodie wrap and a few treats in the process. FuFu to the max.

A Little Encouragement

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:38:00 +0000

A little encouragement goes a long ways. I have a friend that has been helping me organize things at the shop. She has a traumatic and abusive background. Her self esteem has been in the basement. She really enjoys coming to the shop to escape her present situation and she's quite good at making neat displays of the items.
She wrote me a Thank You note and I wanted to share it. I'm not bragging, I really don't say that much to her, I think it's just an attitude of acceptance.

"Dear Jan,
Thank you for letting me work with you. You make me feel like a person of value. I was delighted to discover a useful talent that lay hidden in me. You did that. I am happy to be your friend. Most people don't bother with the pounded down, self-esteemless. That''s what makes you and Jack so special....your kindness :)
Please don't beat yourself up over what your other family has done. It's their loss. I think knowing you is first rate! Love, Cathy"

LIFT SOMEONE UP AND ENCOURAGE THEM TODAY, A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY!

My Kitchen Counter Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:23:00 +0000

HELP: My kitchen counter gets messed up as soon as I pick it up (I should say we, because Jack helps with this). We bring stuff home (esp on the weekend) that needs to be fixed or sold on Ebay and it all ends up here.

On my counter right now:

-Chatty Cathy Hallmark ornament (needed tiny battery put in)

-2 Vintage Retro clocks (need cleaning or something)

-Receipt book from the shop

-Kleenex box

-Book about Country Crafts (like I was going to find time to read it!)

-Checks that need deposited

-Frame that I'm going to put something in for a friend

-Bananas

-Batteries

-Dirty coffee cup

-Scizzors

Note*****A Creative Mind is Not necessarily an organized mind!

P.S. My "Barry Kieselsteine- Cord" purse is now up to $207.00 on Ebay!

Waffles and Purses

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:29:00 +0000

Kinda of a strange blog title. Oh well. That's what's going on at the moment. Thanks Jack, for making delicious banana, choc. chip, flaxseed waffles for breakfast. Comfort food. Nice and yummy on a cool, foggy Sunday morning. We are trying to incorporate Flaxseed into a lot more foods.

Have you ever seen or touched a $2,000/retail purse? I hadn't until Friday. A lady came into the shop with a "Barry Kisselstein-Cord" made in Italy, designer purse, desperate to sell it, needing money. She said it was given to her by a wealthy lady who she worked for in CA. I researched it and indeed, yes, it's up there. His signature logo is a bumpy frog. So, I offered her $100.00 for it and will list it on Ebay of course. There are some listed starting at $700. Whoa, that's some high dollar doo doo, but I don't think I'll be that greedy. Christmas is coming! I hope I make at least $75 on it.

Church this morning: Gotta go find something to wear, my worst challenge on Sunday a.m. besides getting up. Well, to be honest, my other challenge is talking to people in class. I have to push myself to talk to people after talking to customers all week. Oh... Mar, along the church lines, we had a good time at the "Praying for Your Adult Children bible study we started going to on Tues. nights. There were about 8 friends there, and I sat and knitted during it and felt perfectly relaxed.

Healthy Smoothie

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:51:00 +0000

For the past week or so, I have been making a healthy smoothie in the morning. My friend Anne, suggested the ingredients, which I modify sometimes. It makes me feel fuller and more energy. Any combination of the following is pretty good.

Here's a list of some of the stuff I use: (not everything, all the time)

-Banana (always)
-Frozen blueberries (always)
-Frozen strawberries or raspberries
-Acai juice
-Pomegranate juice
-Orange juice
-Romaine lettuce
-Apple
-Flaxseed oil (always)
-Almond milk or sliced almonds
-Honey
-Avacado
-Vit. C powder
-Fiber powder (always)

Tailend of the Hurricane

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:03:00 +0000

We are getting the tailend of Hurricane Ida. It rained alot yesterday and even more today. It's really windy, but not storming. Our windchimes are chinking merrily. The tall pine trees are swaying. Tillie is a nervous wreck. I like days like this because I can stay home from the shop (it's really slow in this weather) and get some stuff done at home. Like list stuff on Ebay. Not that there's stuff I can't do at work, because it feels like I have 2 homes to take care of. But it's dark and creepy there in this weather and I don't like being there by myself when it's dark and creepy.

Happy Veteran's Day and Happy Birthday to my Mom in Heaven.

The Lord Provides

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:24:00 +0000

Jack got asked to be a pallbearer for a friend's funeral tomorrow. He needed a new black suit. We found one in a ritzy neighborhood garage sale yesterday for $10.00 It's a wool Oscar de LaRenta, his perfect size: 44L/36w. Which is hard to find anyways! It's just tad bit large in the shoulders, but looks great.

I Feel Like a Slob Today

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:31:00 +0000

-my hair roots need covered
-I have bean dip on my jeans that I wore last night to a movie get-together
-I have a headache
-My house is a mess
-My leg hurts
-There's clothes on the bed that need putting away
-The crockpot for the bean dip I made for last night is sitting on the counter with crusty edges
-I have onion breath
-I chewed a couple fingernails off while driving around this a.m.

BUT....

-we had a very successful morning of garage saling
-we had a successful day of selling at the shop
-my husband loves me and is working for me today
-my dog loves me and is at my side
-it's sunny and warm (high 60's)
-I can take my time cleaning up the house tonight
-I found some sweet things at the sales this a.m. that I can mail to baby Elijah
-I can snuggle in my warm flannel sheets just a little bit more this afternoon if I want

The Circle of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:27:00 +0000

An amazing thing happened yesterday. My niece Michelle had her first baby, a boy named Calan the morning of her Grandpa's funeral. She had hoped to make it another week so her parents could have a little break. But at 4:30 a.m. she had to make a rushed trip to the hospital. My brother and his wife came into the service beaming. Joy and sorrow mixed. God's blessings abound!

Lots to Pray About...."Pray Without Ceasing"

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:21:00 +0000

If you are in a praying frame of mind this week, here's some urgent things to pray about:

-The Buchanan family, Grandpa C. passed away.

-The Mallard family, our friend Paul, went to be with the Lord yesterday.

-Stellan, the sweet 1yr. old, who is having SVT again and is going to fly with his McMama to Boston today
to evaluate him for another heart ablation. www.mycharmingkids.blogspot.com

-Timna P. who is in ICU in Michigan, with renal failure and sepsis, a very grave situation.

-Our friend Anne B. who is battling Stage IV breast CA. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/buck/journal

-Family and students of a Camden Middle School teacher who died last night of Swine Flu complications.

Depressing sounding news yes, but does God hear and answer prayer?
Yes, He Does! Why does God ask us to pray? To align our hearts with His, and to show us His will.

Amelia, the Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:29:00 +0000

A nice safe movie to see. Nice clothing. Great views from the plane. You know what's going to happen at the end, but it's still a shock. A little slow, could've been reved up more about how adventurous Amelia Earhart really was. Richard Gere was oh, so sweet.

Mrs.Humpty Dumpty

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:33:00 +0000

Mrs. Humpty Dumpty was up against a wall.

Mrs. Humpty Dumpty took a great fall.

All the Kings helpers,

and all the Kings men,

Could not put Mrs. Humpty together again.

Almost 10 years ago,

Mrs. Humpty tried something terrible.

She fought some great battles,

And made many people rattle.

With the help of God

and Mr. Humpty Dumpty,

She's together again,

making good out of bad.

It's really quite a story.

Mrs. Humpty would like

to give the Great King the glory!

An Estate to Remember (not)

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:35:00 +0000

(not the real photo of outside of house)

A lady arranged for us to go to Winnsborough, SC (45 min away) to check out the estate of her 95 yr old mother. The niece had told us there were quilts galore, the kitchen was filled, and there was carnival glass. We met the lady at a grocery store and followed her to the house.
The house was dinky and there were shutters falling off. Not a good sign, but we proceeded.
The house was a total mess, the cinderblock walls had mold on them and the kitchen stuff was covered with grease.
No quilts were found, just a few mangy bedspreads. No carnival glass. Just a bunch of greasy casserole dishes and old crusty home canned goods.
I picked out several things, including a cute little homeade twig table, a Last Supper picture, and an antique picture of what looked like Hiawatha looking over the mountains.
We gingerly picked through the kitchen and loaded up some vintage casserole dishes.
I also took some old linens from a box that produced a cockroach when I emptied it.

We got out of there and I quickly cleaned my hands with disinfectant.

Next time I'm bringing gloves!

A Couple Flowers Left

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:19:00 +0000

1 Rose, 1 Gardenia and a couple small Hydrangeas due to the warm weather last week :)

God Gives Bonuses!

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:42:00 +0000

God gave us a bonus this week. A lady came into the shop and sold Jack a bag of costume rings for $15. We found 2 pieces of gold (one was a wedding ring). I took them into the pawn shop and got $70. Then today we were coming home from church and I told Jack to stop so we could pick up a McDonalds bag that had gotten thrown away near our house. When I opened the car door, the bag contents fell out and there was a wet $10 bill. If the bag hadn't been wet, I would've thrown it into the trash without looking. God gives us encouragement along the way!

Veda, 8 mths.

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:54:00 +0000

Do We?

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Do we go our blinded way
Avoiding the uncomfortable.
Pretending it doesn't exist...
The horrendous murder of children,
violent rape, slaughter of innocent?
It sickens my gut.
What! Let's not think about it?
It's right at our car and our back door.
The evil lurks ready to pounce.
It's there, we don't want to admit it.
Life should be good we say.
Until it happens to us.
Then we're shocked.
Beyond numbness.
Oh, it really does happen we say?
I wasn't prepared,
I was just doing my thing.

Not here. Not now.
Not wanting to think.
The thoughts too difficult.
Prepare for evil.
Be on gaurd.
Why can't we admit we're so vulnerable?
Be awake, ready to intervene for them.
The horrifying lion prowls.
Love them.
Pray for devine and angelic protection,

Pray for wretching, grieving loved ones.
Instruct and campaign for prevention.
All uncomfortable, yet so, so urgent.

...Written In Honor of Ruth Postif (died Oct. 18, 1973), Somer Thompson (Died Oct. 19, 2009)
and countless others

Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Magnoliawhispers) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:20:00 +0000

DIY Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Latte (Just Like Starbucks!)
Many fans of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte eagerly wait for it to show up on menus again in the Fall. It made its annual re-appearance last week. However, for those of us on a budget, those little cups of goodness can add up. Making your own at home will not only save you money, but you can also enjoy them year-round. In addition, you have more control over the ingredients, so you can tweak the recipe to your liking.

You can change the sugar and fat content of this recipe quite easily.

Pumpkin Spice Latte ...makes 1-2 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin OR 1 teaspoon of Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup (your choice)
2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute - you can halve this amount
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1-2 shots espresso (about 1/4 cup of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee if you don't have an espresso machine.)
Directions:In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. If you don't have a blender, don't worry about it - just whisk the mixture really well with a wire whisk.
Pour into a large mug or two mugs. Add the espresso on top.
Optional: Top with whipped cream and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon on top.