Houses Become Homes

I like to go back to my hometown, The Motherland

And take picture of some of the houses there.

It seems they have so many of the old homes,

that have been taken care of. I like to see a home that is well care for.

I think it says a lot about a person, Someone who takes care of their home and 

surroundings in my opinion is a good steward to the things the Lord has given them.

I believe we have lost something by not taking pride in our homes.

As I ride around the town I live in now, there seems to be so many who

don't take care of their yards, and their houses.Weeds grow in front of the house,

 no flower beds, and no trees. You can tell from the outside that the inside

is also in disrepair.What a sad thing it is. . . parents are not teaching their children to

take pride in their surrounds,and to take care of things.

But, who am I to judge? 

As for me, I like a tidy home,  and the outside is as important asthe inside. 

 I don't like my surroundings to be in shambles. So having said that, I thought I would show you some of

the lovely old homes from my hometown.

Just look at that front porch. Is that not gorgeous? So inviting.  Oh, how I wish I had a big porch.

I think I would spend all my time just sitting and enjoying the outside and listening to nature.

This home has always been well taken care of. When I was a young girl, a friend of mine lived here.

It was beautiful 60 years ago, and is even more beautiful now. The front is actually a build in porch. 

 So charming.

Behind those trees sits a gorgeous home, with a history. Few people in my hometown or in 

Utah know about this house.Let's see if you recognize the architecture

If you guessed Frank Lloyd Wright. . you are right. The plans for this house are from Frank Lloyd Wright.

It sits on a corner lot in The Motherland. And few even recognize the unique design of the home.  

I have not been inside for many years. But, I am sure it is still beautiful and well taken care of.

This picture was taken about 30 years ago.  You can see how lovely it was then. 

It has had several owners, and each one is a great care-taker.

This house no longer stands.  It is one of my ancestors home. When the Pioneer's entered the great valley of

Salt Lake, the Prophet Brigham Young sent families to various areas in the territory. 

 He told them to take care of the land, to build homes, and grown orchards, and gardens.

And we are still counseled today to take care of the land.We are stewards of this great earth.  

We are too be responsible and take care and replenish it. One way is to take care of the little plot of 

earth we call ours is. Our homes, are to be well taken care of.  Flowers, trees and vegetables are to adorn our yards.  We should be industrious, and work to keep things in good repair.Cleanliness, is of up-most importance.

The earth is ours to borrow.  

We have not inherited the earth from

our fathers. We are borrowing it from our children.

(Native American Saying)

The Garden In August

Well, I am a few days late in greeting 

AUGUST

With a grand Hello.

None the less she is welcome as could be.

Beautiful August!

It is a good thing I took these picture of my

flowers yesterday, because today

the wind is blowing and the rain clouds are

rolling across the sky.

I am happy as could be at how well the little plot of a garden is growing.

My oh My!

The Zinnias as beautiful.

And the sunflowers are growing so tall

They will soon be blooming.

Just look at how pretty the color is!

It is even prettier in it's natural place.

The potted plants are looking good on the back porch.

I will bring them in when it gets cold so I can continue to

enjoy them. 

I even did a little changing on the front porch.

I spruced it up for late summer

until I September comes

then I will change it to Fall-ish.

I spray painted a few little glass bottles

to put in the wall basket.

I sure am glad I found that cute little

metal wall hanging at Hobby Lobby's last year.

I have fun putting different things in it according to the season.

(Just another thing to fuss with)!

Oh, what pretties!

I am enjoying these little pretties in the late summer of August.

But, I have my eye on the catalogs for next spring.

You have to keep ahead of the season, and think of what will come next.

But, for now I will enjoy 

August

and my little plot of flowers.

How does your garden grown?

She who loves a garden

likes to make the earth more lovely

and enjoys the beauty she's contributing.

(Mary Engelbreit)

Linking with

Cozy Little House

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

A Stroll Thru Life

Love Plates ~ Love Blue

Well, Hello!

Another beautiful summer day.

Amazing that July is almost over.

Where, oh where, does the time go?

Today I want to show you somethings that were given to me.

Yes, given to me. . .cost me nothing!

A lady here in town had these for sale on a 

little vintage web page.

I commented that I would like them, 

but I didn't have the money

to buy them at this time.  

(Retired means I am on a strict budget.)

A few days later the sweet lady contacted me and said 

She would like to give them to me.

She wanted them to go to a good home.

Oh, my heart fluttered!

How did she know I had a love affair with PLATES?

And BLUE is my favorite color!

Not only plates, but just look at the adorable 

Sugar Bowl, and Creamer.

And. . . .I love tea pots! Look at the cuteness!

Oh My, I have wanted one of these little cute cows.

I believe it is a creamer. . I see them in other blogs,

And I have wanted one for a long time.

Now just look at the cuteness of this platter.  

It tells a story. . .well that is what I think.

On the back it says it is hand painted from Portuguese.

I am so thrilled with these new treasures. And to think 

the lady was so sweet to give them to me. . .Ah!

I will use them for displays, in my little "Aunt Carol Hutch."

Blue makes me happy!

The only problem is now I have to get rid of some plates.

I have so many, that my new rule is, when new ones come in

I have to get rid old ones that I no long use.

It is a hard thing for a collector to do.

But hey, I will pay it forward and give someone

The plates I no longer use.

Hope you day is beautiful.

And that you have blue skies and sunshine.

Every house where love abides

And friendship is a guest,

Is surely home, and home sweet home

For there the heart can rest.

~Henry Van Dyke

Linking with:

Dwellings The Heart of Your Home. . Amaze Me Monday

A Stroll Thru Life.. . Inspire Me Tuesday

Cozy Little House. . Tweak It Tuesday

My Heritage ~ Mormon Pioneers

I pause today and give thanks for the 

Heritage I have.

I descend from Mormon Pioneers.

168 years ago today

Brigham Young

spoke these prophetic words

THIS IS THE PLACE.

From that time in history, thousands upon thousands

crossed oceans, rivers, deserts, towering mountain peaks

to forge a new life in the great western desert valley's.

Deseret would one day become Utah!

The wagons and handcarts have long been put to rest.

But the souls they carried over the rugged  trail

Will never be forgotten.

The wagon wheels may now be at rest, but

 their imprint still remains today on the dirt trail of

the high plains of Wyoming and Utah.

More importantly the people they carried and the stories

they tell are serried on my heart forever.

They built roads, and cities, schools and churches.

And Temples to the Most High God.

They brought water to a parched desert land.

And planted gardens and orchards, and provided 

for their own.  All the while building and trail blazing

the American Frontier.

Within the walls of their humble homes, 

young boys and girls were taught the values of life.

Man's destiny, and the power of an 

Almighty God.

And while they toiled and worked,  miracles occurred,

The desert land blossomed just like a rose.

But in my mind, I tend to believe, the rose was much more

than the beautiful bloom of the flower.

The blossom of the desert was the families they produced.

Nothing can be more beautiful than families

that are bound by love, joy, toil and tears.

Sealed with Heavenly Father's promise.

"Many times I have looked back to see 

who was pushing my cart,

but my eyes saw no one.  

I knew then that the angels of God were there"

(Quote from a pioneer journal of Francis Webster)

Linking with:

How Sweet The Sound

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Cleaning Grandma's Yard

Oh, thank goodness for 

HELP!

My poor little tiny yard. . 

It has been looking very bad.

It was looking good this spring,

And then the heat hit hard

I do not do well in anything over 80 degrees.

So when it is over 100, I stay in the house

where it is air-conditioned.

And then to add to my sad little yard,

I have very poor soil.

I need to bring some good soil in to help

the little plants and shrubs.

My flowers just don't grow like I want them too.

The drought has really taken a toll on the flowers.

The Hosta's have done fairly well.

But something is eating the leafs.

Oh, dear!

And as you can see the flowers I planted in the

pots did not do well.  It was too hot!

My little backyard gets quite a bit of sun.

The only things that have grown are so 

Sun Flowers that I planted.

I just threw the seeds here and there

and low and behold they are growing.

Oh, how I hope I have big Sun Flowers.

Well, today was 

"Help Grandma Day".

Four of the Grand kids came to Grandma's rescue.

They were a delight to have.

So willing to help me, and so much fun.

And let me tell you they worked hard.

My tiny backyard looks much better, and I feel better.

(I didn't show all the weeds)

Suffice it to say the roots on the weeds, went to China!

And as you can see the little Terrorists, Teddy and Cash

got in on some of the fun.

They love the Grands!

Now it is up to me to keep the weeds away.

So much work still needs to be done.

I have arranged and re-arranged my little back yard,

Almost as much as I do my inside.

Some day I will have it the way I want it.

Hope you are loving your little or big yards.

"She who loves a garden loves the wonders of creation

and appreciates the joy  that flowers bring."

(From Mary Englebreit's book, She Who Loves A Garden.)

Joining-
Cozy Little House- Tweak It Tuesday

A Home With Character

It seems there are just some homes that are full of

Character. . . My Aunt Colleen has such a Home.

Her yard is so interesting. . I am always wanting starts from her flowers.

He has made many of the pots she has sitting around.

Summer days on her patio are so relaxing.

 

She finds the most unusual things to place in the right spot in her yard.

Now remember my Auntie is 85 years old.

She has slowed down in the past year.

She definitely has a green thumb.

Not only is her yard interesting but the inside is even more interesting.

She has all the family heirlooms.

And she is an artist.

The top two pictures she painted a few years ago.

The bottom left picture is an old family heirloom

It is a tea pot, sugar and creamer.

It once belonged to my Great-Great Grandmother.

 

From the walk ways to the inside of her home.

It is full of Character and Charm.

The best thing is ALL are welcome.

She makes you feel so at home.

I dread that she is growing older. She is such a precious soul

I want to spend all the time I can with her, so I will never forget

Her personality, her style, her charm.

To everything there is a season.

Linking with:
Brenda at Cozy Little House

Family Reunion~~Huge Success!

WOW!

I would say over 150 people at a 

Family Reunion

is a Huge Success. . !

Me and My Brother and our First Cousins.

I have 36 first cousins. 31 are still living. 16 are in this picture.

I am so proud to have so many beautiful loving first cousins.

I can honestly say we love and cherish each other.

There is never discord, nor unkind words.

Just love, understanding and compassion for each other.

I am truly blessed!

Aunts, nieces, cousins. . .and more cousins. 

Did I say there were cousins, and more cousins.

A lot of visiting and catching up.

There were first cousins once removed, and second cousins.

And cousins and their families. . .Oh My!

Connecting and Re-connecting with family was amazing.

A lot of family stories were being told and re-told.

It was an incredible time being together.

So many memories were shared and new ones made.

Hearts were filled with the healing balm of family love.

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!

I have a family here on earth

They are so good to me.

I want to spend my life with them

Through all eternity.

Families can be together forever

Through Heavenly Father's plan

I always want to be with my

Own family. . .and the Lord

Has shown me how I can.

Families can be together Forever!

(Children's LDS Hymn)