Sonnenburg Gardens

June 2011, a Garden trip to "Sonnenburg Gardens" in Candaigua New York.  A hot, sunny beautiful day, glad we arrived early morning, by 1pm we were ready to go.  Had a lovely time with my cousin admiring the amazing estate and gardens, took lots of pictures.  I've created a digital scrapbook with my stampin up digital studio, used templates...but it still took me a long time to put this together...hope you enjoy viewing it.


Have a wonderful Lord's Day, all priase, honor and glory to Him, Michelle

1000 Gifts-Birthday Wrappings

Linking up with Ann over at http://www.aholyexperience.com/.  Stop over and feel encouraged.

Birthdays, last Thursday was my birthday and Friday was my youngest sister's {by 15 years, I might add}.  I add a lot of fun this year spending time on making her packages look extra special, I purchased some dollar store books to use for craft art.  Then I used a variety of punches, dies, glitter glue lace, ribbon, bling and even some dried baby's breath to add to the effect.

She loved it, said she was going to save each piece and then put them in her scrapbook when she does the photos. 

We went to a lovely little bakery/bistro for lunch, and the third sister. 

We split this lovely desert, a tiramsu, which yes was delicious.

It was a very hard choice to make, there were so many that looked fabulous.

Yesterday, the three of us went cross country skiing, a perfect winter day and condition, warm like 37, no wind or precip, sunny and packed down just enough....not too many days like that.  First time I've been out in years...note to self stretch first and lose a few pounds and then it would be more enjoyable without so much huffing and puffing...but it was lovely to be outside doing something different for a change.  I really had a great weekend.  Another post, I'll share my couple of presents from my two sister's and daughter, so stay tuned.   Hugs, Michelle

1000 Gifts and Counting.....
Birthdays
Lunch with Sisters
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother's womb.  Psalms 139:13
Birthday desert, tirimasu
Birthday Presents
"Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  It is amazing to think about.  Your workmanship is marvelous-and how well I know it."  Psalms 139:14
Birthday cards, texts, facebook comments, emails, and phone calls
Birthday hugs
"You were there while I was being formed in utter seculsion!.  You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.  Every day was recorded in your Book!".  Psalms 139:15-16
Birthday cake with co-workers
Birthday childhood memories
"How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly!  I can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me.  And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!

Blessings, peace, hope and joy to all of your!

The Meaning of the Snowman-1000 Gifts

Linking up with Ann over at http://www.aholyexperience.com/.  Stop over and feel encouraged.  Her post is absolutely wonderful today...answer to Anxiety!  Read and be lifted from stresses today my friends.

Since we have snow here outside, I thought I'd share some snowman I made indoors, hand stamped cards, along with a cute little poem.

The Meaning of the Snowman

The white snow stands for the purity of souls filled with God's grace. The circular snowballs represent God's everlasting love.
The pieces of coal used to make the eyes, mouth and buttons symbolize God's Almighty power.
The carrot nose reminds us that God gives us everything we need to live and grow.
The scarf suggests the warmth of God's tender care.
The top hat reminds us always to keep faith our top priority.
The arms are outstretched to us, as God's always are.
The broom made of starw and wood signifies that Jesus was born and died to cleanse us of sin.
May your heart be ever warmed by the good news of God's great love for you!
Author Unknown

1000 Gifts and Counting
Healthy and able to clean my house
Privilege of being in Christ's family and being called by his wonderful name-1st Peter 4:16
son  who snowblows driveway
Special abilities God has given me-1st Peter 4:10
daughter who is compassionate
Partner with Christ in his suffering...wonderful joy of sharing his glory...1st Peter 4:13
sister who is kind and thoughtful
...God will never fail me-1st Peter 4:19
girlfriend who takes me to lunch for my birthday
Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.-1st Peter 5:7
flower seeds collected from my garden
...give me his eternal glory...He personally will come and pick me up...and make me strong than ever...-1st Peter 5:10

This music video is Vicki Beeching sing "Cativated"-hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I have one of Vicki's albums and I just love listening to her sing.
 Blessings, hope, joy and peace to you, Michelle

Praise God-Making Fougasse Bread

Linking up with Ann over at http://www.aholyexperience.com/ today, 1000 Gifts.


Breadmaking-this was my first attempt at making Fougasse, and it was very successful.  I can't believe how good this bread tasted, and how easy it was.  I did the par baking for some of the batch to freeze and even when I took them out of the freezer and finished the baking they were delicious.  I will definitely be making these again, they are such fun to shape.

I highly recommend Richard Bertinet's book "Dough-Simple Contemporary Bread". His book also includes a DVD and he has such great simple instructions with photos for step-by-step procedure. There are lots of recipes and variations, I've tried about three different breads so far. You will never want to buy that store bought bread again.

I'm even a butter person for bread and you don't even need to put any on this, that's how good it is.

1000 Gifts and counting-joy and contentment come from thanksgiving/gratitude.

oven for easy baking
availability of good grain flour
clean water
Dough book for instruction
homemade quilted potholders
sense of taste

"How many loaves do you have?"  Jesus asked...He took the seven loaves...gave thanks....and they were all satisfied.  Matthew 15: 34-38

Blessings, Michelle

1000 Gifts-Praising God

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/01/what-the-new-year-needs-most/

Linking up with 1000 Gifts Today.

Geese walk on water raindrops falling.

He is enough.

Lavender's calming sweet scent.

All is grace.

Chocolate chip cookies.

Koinonia-Communion with God, Commnity with God's people.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.-Job 19:25

Keep counting, blessings, Michelle

One Thousand Gifts-& the Winner of the Giveaway from Sunday

I am linked over to Ann's blog:  http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/10/when-its-hard/  This is really a great posting , I encourage you to read through this one.

#163 getting "fun" mail
#164 Pumkins with curly stems
#165 cornstalks
#166 Fluffy white clouds
#167 His unfailing love, cited over and over again in the Psalms
#168 blue spruce pine needles
#169 Another Day
#170 The Lord's Prayer
#171 time browsing faviorte book store B&N
#172 orthopetic drs., x-ray technicians
#173 fall scented hand santizer
#174 ice cold bottled spring water
#175 live Jesus painting video



Blessings, keep counting, keep thanking,  keep looking up! ....Michelle

The winner from Sunday's post is.......all five of YOU who posted comments, I could not bring myself to choose just one, email me your addresses and you will each receive a packet of handstamped cards from me, I hope you use them to bless someone else, so they can count a gift and most importantly thank the real GIVER!

Praise God-Fall Blessings and a Give Away

Today's Praise God post is on "counting my blessings"...check out Ann's blog:  http://www.aholyexperience.com/, "One thousand gifts" is her incredible book I am reading.  I can't put it down, started it on 8th of October.  I was playing with photoshop textures so the book does not look so grungy in reality.  Ann writes from the heart, she puts herself out there for all to see, her writing is poetic, a marvelous read!

So today I have about a dozen moments I'm counting as gifts.

#94.  Jesus Lover of my soul
#95  There is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out fear.  1 John 4:18
#96  Son frugelness-buys hair clippers
#97  Chai Tea Latte's
#98  Daughter's gift to Mom-ceramic mug
#99  My name in the Book of Life
#100  Rejoice in the Lord always, I say again Rejoice.  Philipians 4:4
#101  Color tinged tree tops dancing in the wind
#102  Mums-yellow, purple, white and maroon
#103  Cousin who chats with me and listens
#104  Delicious Apple cake
#105  Photos of Fall to treasure

One of my faviorite songs!  Keep looking up...Michelle

*Just noticed that this is my 100th post this year, leave a comment and I will pick a winner, A "gift" to count.  A pack of handmade cards and tags all in a Fall theme.  :)

Walk with Him Wednesdays-One Thousand Gifts

"A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are"

One Thousand Gifts....

# 71    Autumn Pumkin Muffin with crumbled topping
# 72    October Frosted Cream Cheese Pumkin Bread
# 73    Fall Flying Honking Geese
# 74    Christian Radio Station

Praise God, Michelle