All posts in category Joy

Birds and Dogs

I can’t believe that it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted.  Where does the time go?

It certainly hasn’t been because I’ve been busy.  In fact, just the opposite.  The heat here in Arizona makes it difficult to be what you’d call active.  Hubby and I have been spending our early mornings out back watching the birds.  Yes, that’s about as active as I can be in the heat.  We have been having the very best time!  The weather is perfect early in the morning.

Sugar Plum insisted on waking me up at 5:15 almost every morning.  She just wants to play fetch and tug o’war.  After a few rounds of that Meeka is up and we go for a little walk.  I recently read about someone’s beloved dog dying and he said if he could do anything any different, he’d let his dog sniff more, that his dog always wanted to stop on their walks and sniff everything.  That really hit me so I’ve been letting them stop and sniff a lot more.

Speaking of the girls, here is a couple of before and after pictures, yesterday before the groomer and today after the groomer.  Since it’s so hot here, I asked them to trim them down quite a bit, but not so much that they could get sunburn.

Meeka before

and after

Sugar before

and after

You can tell they feel so good because they are running around in circles and having a great time.

Such cuties.

Yesterday we sat and watched a bird build a nest in the tree.  I can’t believe how patient these birds are.  She or he, whoever builds the nest, would fly down on our block wall, look around then go off to get one little scrap or twig.  She would then come back to the wall and sit for a few seconds and then go into the tree to place the scrap.  A moment later, she would come out to the wall again, sit for a second then fly off for another little tiny scrap, then back to the wall, as if to show us what she had this time.

I took pictures, but since I am NOT a photographer, they are not the best.

Here she is on the wall before she gets her scrap.

Here she is with a little scrap

She is building the nest in the tree right there, with each little tiny piece at a time.

We watched her for a good hour and a half.  I believe she must have been busy all day.

What fun we had.  Nature is a wonderful thing.

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10 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on June 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Inspiration, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on June 6, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/birds-and-dogs/

Some Things That Make My Heart Smile

Just wanted to share a few more things that add joy to my life.

Backyard in summer time.  Ready for BBQing and swimming.

 

Backyard hibiscus

Roses in front yard of my son’s house.

 Next cake which is much much better than the last one.

 Flowers we learned in cake decorating class last week.

And my favorite.  This is my great-grandson, 2 year old Deegan and his Daddy, Ryan.

Deegan was misbehaving and is getting a serious talking to!  I love the look on his face, so serious, but listening to every word.

Hubby always tells me that it doesn’t take much to make me happy.  I think it’s because I’ve spent time in both “unhappiness” and “happiness” and  I must say,. happiness gets my vote.  It’s a choice I make each and every day.  Like I always say – Life is ALWAYS Good no matter what might be showing up at the moment.

Happy Mother’s Day!

11 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on May 12, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Family, Food, Gratitude, Holidays, Inspiration, Joy, Uncategorized

Posted by Ellen Beeton on May 12, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/some-things-that-make-my-heart-smile/

Mother’s Day Tablescape

I’m very happy to make my Mother’s Day tablescape in honor of my mother.  She has been gone now 25 years, but I can still hear her voice and see her smile.  My mother was extraordinary.  Her life was devoted to her family.  She always tried to make things special for each of her children and grandchildren.  I remember her at the sewing machine for hours on end when I was a little girl, making all my school clothes and clothes for all my dolls.  She also loved the horses, racing that is.  She asked her minister if she could tithe her winnings.  He said yes, absolutely!  My mother was very lucky too, hm… interesting.

I am fortunate to have received her china.  I don’t know how old it is, but I remember it all my life and I’m 62.  It is plain, white with 24 carat gold rim.  Mother like to use color with her white china.  Today I’m using gold.  I picked it because gold is a treasure, just like my mom.

 

I chose a linen while table cloth to cover the table and then a delightful gold smaller table cloth that is so very beautiful.

It is one of my treasure I got from the Goodwill store along with the vase, the napkins,the gold chargers and the stemware.

You can’t really see the label on the dishes, but it says

Royal Continental from Germany.

 Of course I got both sets of my napkins at the Goodwill too.  The napkin rings are from Steinmart.

These gold napkins are simply gorgeous.  I couldn’t wait to use them.

Here is my Mother’s Day cake.  Not perfect by any means, it’s only my third cake since I’ve started cake decorating classes.

I enjoyed making it just the same.

I have been scouring the Goodwills for a beautiful cake plate and haven’t had any luck yet.

In the meantime, I have many beautiful crystal plates that were my mother’s so

of course I used this lovely plate for the cake.

I love fresh flowers on my table, but this time it’s just JoAnn’s fakery!

 They still are very beautiful.

 I’m very proud of my 5th tablescape.  I think I caught the bug!   I’m hooked on tablescapes!  I hope you enjoyed my very simple, but I think elegant table.

I will be celebrating with Let’s Dish at Cuisine Kathleen and

 Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life 

21 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on May 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Family, Gratitude, Holidays, Inspiration, Joy, Tablescaping, Uncategorized

Posted by Ellen Beeton on May 9, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/mothers-day-tablescape/

Look Who’s 9 Years Old!

Someone came into our lives nine years ago and has stolen our hearts forever.

Meet Meeka T Kalani Beeton

Just a tiny ball of fur.

Playing with her big sister, Sugar

Lying right in the middle of the toys and loving tug-0-war.

Meeka came to live with us while we were traveling the country in our RV.  For the first 4 years of her life, she was princess of the road.  (Queen of the road being her big sister, Sugar)

She loves riding in the car too, as long as she is on something so she can see out the window.

Hey look!  Now we have a home where we can run and run and run! 

Look at the fun places I can get into!  I think I saw a mousie in here.

 Hey guys, there really is a mousie in here.  (Look at Goldie’s arm around Sugar!)

Got lots and lots of mud on me trying to find the mousie.

All grown up now.

Keeping an eye out for daddy to come home.

At Christmas

Nighty night!

I’m trying to sleep Mom and you keep taking my picture!

Just give me a window to look out of and I’m a happy girl.

Meeka is one of the best reasons I have joy in my life.  A true meaning of unconditional love.

Happy birthday sweetie!


16 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on May 5, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Joy, Pets, Uncategorized

Posted by Ellen Beeton on May 5, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/look-whos-9-years-old/

Luncheon/Dessert Tablescape

Come join me for lunch!

I got these cute little luncheon plates at the Goodwill awhile ago.  I loved the purple in them so they were my inspiration.

Many years ago, so many it might have been in a different life, I was a Princess House consultant.  I still have all my Princess House crystal and wanted to use it with my purple dishes.

Goodwill is my new favorite place to shop.  Just on this table alone I got the tablecloth, the purple placemats,  napkins, napkin rings, tea pot, and the stemware piece in the center.

 I think it makes a very lovely sweet table.

For dessert, I served cupcakes which I decorated in cake decorating class.  They are not gorgeous by any means, but they were cute and I’m already getting so much better than this, but I’ll post them anyway.

Remember:  ALWAYS EAT DESSERT FIRST to make sure you have enough room.

 

Thank you for joining me.

Today I am joining Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life 

For this Wednesday, I will be joining Let’s Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

33 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on April 24, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Food, Joy, Tablescaping

Posted by Ellen Beeton on April 24, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/luncheondessert-tablescape/

Hobbies

Well, I promised pictures no matter what they looked like!

On Monday night I went to my first cake decorating class.  I took this same course about a year ago and didn’t do too well.  So I’m trying again.  Tonight there was a lot of instruction on making the proper icing for the cake, for the flowers and for other decorations.  We learned lots of little hints that I didn’t hear about last time, so I’m feeling good about this instructor.

We only used one decorator tip for making stars.  We practiced and then applied our “skill” on cookies.  We were told to bring six.  I bought 12 because I knew I needed a little extra help.  Yes, I said bought.  I wanted them to be round and not the strange shapes my “round” cookies turn into.  We also learned a tip for getting round cookies!

Anyway, here are my results.  I’m so glad I can’t hear you laughing at my mess!

Those top two are my attempt at bunny ears!!

 

 

I tried to make them pretty by putting them under glass. 

Next week we are to bring in a cake (which I will bake) to decorate.

 I might have bitten off more than I can chew though.  Hubby and I are in the midst of taking this great class on prosperity at church.  Since next week will be our 10th and final class, we were asked if any of us wanted to bring a treat for a little party.  I said I would bring my cake that I will be decorating.  Gosh I hope it looks okay.  I’m pretty sure it will taste good though and luckily there will be other yummy desserts too.

A few posts ago I showed you the fabric I got for my spring table runner. It went much faster on my second attempt at quilting. I cut out everything and I’ve completed two of the five squares. I have to sew the other three together. Here’s what they look like so far.

 

 

  It’s really going to be pretty I think.  I’ll take pictures when I finish it and post them.

Since my family is coming in tonight for the week,  I might be too busy to post for a few days.  So, I’m wishing you all a very joyous Easter filled with lots and lots of love, friendship and great food.

16 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on April 4, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Family, Food, Holidays, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on April 4, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/hobbies/

More Easter Stuff

Hubby and I volunteer at church every Thursday.  We are actually called “Service Angels.”  Generally we fold the handout for church the following Sunday.  We usually have about 10-15 people show up so it doesn’t take long.  We have to tri-fold 1500 handouts.  We also do anything else that might be needed in bulk.  We stuff envelopes, well, just all kinds of things.

This week we stuffed Easter eggs for the children’s Easter Egg hunt.

 Some of those darn little eggs wouldn’t close!

 We expect about 500 children so our little fingers were working as fast as they could.

We loaded container after container.  I can’t wait until Saturday to see how the kids do.

 So I already posted my Easter tablescape, but here are some of my little decorations around the house.

I got this cute little Easter tablecloth at the Goodwill (of course).

Actually, I got the basket, the crystal candy bowl and the beautiful  spring candle holder at the Goodwill too.

The Lennox vase we got as a wedding gift.  The little bunny came from Walmart.

 This cute little table is the first thing you see in my entry way coming into the front door.

This shelf below, which I just painted, holds some of my cute decorative plates.  It is just above this little table.

 

 I also wanted to show you my new candle holders I got, guess where from!!!

Yep you are right, the Goodwill!

These are on my counter by my table.

Aren’t they pretty!

 Well that’s about it as pictures go.

I’m so excited for tomorrow because my son and daughter in law, Brian and Linda, are coming for the week.  The Saturday before Easter, another of my sons, David, will be coming for the week.  Their visits are going to overlap so we can all get to spend Easter together.  They are bringing with them three granddogs for the visit.  Sugar and Meeka love it when their furfriends arrive.

 Life is certainly GOOD!

6 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on April 3, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Family, Holidays, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on April 3, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/more-easter-stuff/

Easter Table!!

I love decorating for Easter.  It’s so bright and cheery.  The pastels are my favorite.

Here is my Easter Tablescape.

 It all started when earlier this year I found this adorable table runner.  I loved it and decided to decorate around it.  I love the colors.

 

I finally found yellow, pink and purple candles.

 I found my gold chargers and dishes at the Goodwill store too.   The China is called Winley.   The smaller plate under the bowl which I will show in a bit is from my mother’s china.

Actually, I got the tablecloth, the pink basket (which I painted because it wasn’t pink),  the cute little bunnies, the napkins and the largest candlesticks at the Goodwill store too.    It’s my new home away from home.

 

I alread had the stemware and flatware along with the two other pairs of candlestick holders. 

 

 

 

 I couldn’t find any napkin rings that I liked within my budget, so I just tied bows around the napkins and I think they look so cute.

 

 

 

 

This was the most fun I’ve had creating a tablescape even though it’s only my third one.

I’m already planning more.  I think I’ve found my new hobby and I owe it all to you wonderful tablescapers out there in blogland.

27 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on March 31, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Holidays, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on March 31, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/easter-table/

All is Well With the World

Just a quick post to announce that Sugar Plum is back to her old self again and all is well with the world.

I just knitted the girls their St. Patrick’s Day “necklaces.”   They have so many different colors already I’m surprised that they didn’t have green.

I took some pictures of the girls playing and wanted to share them with you.

 You can see that Sugar is able to chew on and play tug o’ war with her toys again.

Meeka wants to join in the fun too.

Silly doggy!

Mom, Meeka is trying to take my toy.  “No I’m not!”

Mom, I can’t find my toy!

Don’t ask me where it is.

 Okay, who has it?

I think I smell a rat!

I can tell by the look on your face!

 I found it!  All is right with the world again.

17 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on March 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Joy, Pets

Posted by Ellen Beeton on March 9, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/all-is-well-with-the-world/

Cats and More Fun!!

Just got home from California again.  This time Hubby and I both went.  It was a quick trip, but we packed in quite a bit.

Friday night we went to Granddaughter, Summer’s first school play, Cats.

If I do say so myself, she was adorable.

How could anyone not love that adorable kitten??

 

Summer is a student at Encore High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

It is a great school that combines the regular academic curriculum with these types of arts.

Summer is in the 8th grade, so over then next four years we will probably be heading out to California for several plays and concerts. 

Our family took up most of the front row.

An added bonus for me was that I got to see my granddaughter, Melissa who is carrying my great-grandtwins.

Now that’s one pretty mama!!

We spent Saturday at daughter, Karla’s house and played games most of the day which was topped off by a fantastic BBQ.  Yummy yummy.

On Sunday we celebrated daughter-in-law, Shannon’s birthday.  Monday we drove home.

For those of you who might be wondering – Sugar Plum is doing so much better.   We took Sugar and Meeka with us because they love to visit all their fur-cousins.  Sugar played just like her old self.

So today is back to our regular routine which is always welcome – but not for long.  We are having company coming on Friday for the weekend.  We live in the midst of baseball spring training land.  Lots of games to go to next weekend.  Excited because I love baseball.  I want you to know that I really appreciate all of you who come to visit and leave comments.  Until next time….

11 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on March 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Family, Joy, Pets, Travel

Posted by Ellen Beeton on March 6, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/cats-and-more-fun/

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