Psssst! Check Out This Giveaway!!!

Hey Chickadees!

My friend Linda, at Prairie Flower Farm is having a super sweet giveway and I just had to share it with yall! She is featured in the Country Christmas issue of the Create & Decorate magazine, for her homespun snowman cookies! Are they not adorable?!! If you enter and win her giveaway, she'll not only mail you a magazine, but promises to make the winner one of these cute little cookies! So click on the link and visit the Prairie Flower Farm. If you've never met her before, she's even more adorable than these snowmen and can I just say her light shines so brightly!
Go enter! (I did too!)
Her party ends October 23.

Have a wonderful day!
And congratulations to you Linda!
We're soooo happy for you!!!
Lea

~Give Away!~

Greetings and Holykisses,

Since tomorrow my friends and I are starting the Ruth study; I thought it would be fun to give away one of the books. If you too would like this book, ... leave a comment on this post and say: "Ruth"

Deadline will be midnight this Friday night: July 9th.. my time. You don't have to be a blogger, but make sure to leave your email address with me at pottingshedroses@gmail.com in case your name is drawn. I'll post the winner on Saturday so hopefully I can get your book out to you on Monday. You don't have to live in the U.S. to enter.

Thankyou to all of you who visit the Shabby Olde Potting Shed!
holykisses xoxo
Lea

We Have A Winner..................

Today is the drawing for the lil prim bluebird, as well as.....
this devotional: Jesus Calling!
Had to fight Urina Maria for my hat to throw all the names in for the drawing. She's a bossy thing and demands to wear my favorite clothes. (I see she's been in my closet again and stole my scarf WackyJackie gave me for Christmas. Tsk tsk!)-- Try not to mind the fact that we still have no trim boards in our bedroom. *sigh I almost deleted this picture when I noticed how obvious that is, but what the heck... gotta keep it real right?! Onnnn with the winner! Daisy drumroll************************

Miss Irma....of Irma's Rose Cottage, this little bluebird just landed on your shoulder!
May she sing to you every day, and I hope you enjoy the devotional as much as I do.
Make sure you write soon with your addy so I can have your package sent asap!
Holykisses xoxo
Lea

Biblical Garden Plans ....and Prayer Closet

Greetings and Holykisses,

I'm daydreaming...... The grass is freshly mowed, and everything's weeded- neat as a pin and in full bloom. The fragrance of lilacs, and stargazer lilies is in thee air. Butterflies are overindulging in zinnias and bumble bees are visiting every rose of sharon blossom.

Soon; I keep telling myself. Soon, you can till the soil and start planting! And opening my mailbox today, got me even more excited. Inside, was a package came from RH Shumways. I ordered new seed that I'm really excited about. Job's Tears, and Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate. I also purchased two packs of Love Lies Bleeding. I used to grow it and absolutely LOVE it. Usually the seed is saved for the next year, but I couldn't find it. I don't know what happened to it, and had to re-order. I'm so thankful that I was able to find it! ~ I can't help but think of the women of days gone by. Gardening was a way of life for them all. A garden was food and what they canned got them through a winter. Flowers were many women's finery! And seed was precious and priceless! They took such care of their seed. Even protected it!

I want to grow a biblical garden. I googled it and came up with a few things but the bible is the true key to finding these plants. I'm hoping yall will help. If you can think of plants of the bible... please comment and share the ones you know. I think it would be a lot of fun to set aside a special area .... it'll be like a tiny Garden of Eden.

This is probably my favorite place to be. This is my prayer closet.

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:6

This is where I get away from it all. To my back, is a row of Red Tip Photinia. They've grown so much in the last year, and they are beginning to hide me. I'm trying to plant alot of shrubbery so you can't see my garden from our country road. I love to bring my morning coffee and bible out here, and I'm longing for warm mornings where I can do so. I left this table outdoors almost all summer last year and it weathered badly. It's now inside a shed, and will only be brought out on sunny days, when the roses have guests. So... I'm now on the lookout for a small, round, metal table, with a couple of chairs. Something that can withstand the elements for a while. Also I'll be putting up more lights. I love twinkle lights in my garden, and look forward to sitting among the moonflowers and hummingbird moths by twinkle lights.
From my lessons this morning I pray all my seed is sown in fertile soil.
And soon....I hope flowers will be blooming again!

*Patience. Learn Patience.*

Now don't forget my lil giveaway... If you want to toss your name in my garden hat for a drawing just click here and leave a comment on that post. Friday at noon is the deadline.

Tomorrow I'll be out all day. I have errands in a nearby town; but while I'm there, Hobby Lobby is on my to- do list! (I know you feel sorry for me. lol) I have two more birds already sewn and also want to make an angel this week as well. Unfortunately, I ran out of polyfil. A girl needs her polyfil! I've had a goal of getting things made up to go in my Etsy shoppe for so long. It's long overdue. So, my Hobby Lobby list includes the items I need to finish up a few old projects as well as more birds on springs! So please be watching for an open sign on my little shoppe. I'll also be listing a few vintage finds. Happily, I'll also beable to stop off at my favorite thrifts tomorrow. Who knows what's waiting?

If you can think of plants named in the bible, please drop a comment and help me add to my list.
I love all your comments and your friendships mean so very much to me.
Holykisses!
L

A *BLUEBIRD* Give Away From The Shed "Matt 6:26"

Greetings and holykisses Yall!
It's been way too long since I've had a give away here at the shed!
So last night I started stitchin up a lil hand-did from lil ole me... to thee!


This little bluebird was created out of muslin, using the pattern I won from Barefoot Primitives last year. Her wings are primly stitched on, and no glue was used on her at all. She's painted, and sanded to look olde and worn.... and if you look close- Matt 6:26 is on her left wing: a reminder to trust our Lord. ~Her eyes are a couple olde snaps that I found in my button tin, and the spring....; well....I cut it out of an old bench seat from a 67 Chevy pickup.

The tag, was still a little wet when I snapped the picture. But it has Matt 6:26 on it, as well as old string, dryer lint, a strand of hair I found in a real bird nest, and a little bird seed. ;)
I'm also including this book. My friend Sara gave me my own copy, and I love it so much I went out and bought one for the winner of this give away. I hope it blesses you as much as it does me!

To enter this give away, leave a comment on "this" post, to let me know you want "in!"
You don't have to be a follower of "me" ...but I'm hoping you're a follower of HIM! Also, it's open to anyone in the U.S.! Comment away! Deadline is noon on Friday, February 26th. At that time, all the names will go in my straw garden hat, and one person will be drawn.

Smoochy holykisses xoxo
Lea

Forward and Not Backwards

Greetings and Holykisses,

I found this sweet surprise in my rocking chair on the porch today! Tracy from My Cup Runneth Over, had a give away to celebrate her birthday and I won! WooHOO! I was so surprised! And isn't it just like Tracy to give a GIFT away on "her" birthday? She has an incredible giving heart, and I love her! If you don't know her yet, go visit her blog coz you're gonna love her too!
I remembered that the giveaway was for a Gooseberry Patch cookbook, and I remembered seeing the little snowman cookie cutter. But I didn't even realize that there was a snowman plate beneath the cookie cutter? It is so stinkin cute! It even has a sugar cookie recipe on the back of it! Notice the little "cookie" ornament? It's now gracing our Christmas tree! ~ What a treat!-
She sent a beautiful card, and even a bookmark. I can't wait to get my jammies on and curl up with the cookbook. If you've never looked at a Gooseberry patch cookbook before, they're so much more than a cookbook! They're a good "read." Chock-full of decorating ideas, little stories, gift ideas.... -- I love em! I didn't have this one, and I'm thrilled!
I've not yet made my christmas cookies either. In all honesty, I'm not a great roller -outter? My Christmas cookies usually rise up to look nothin like the cutters... but I slap some frosting on em and eat em any ways. lol This year, I hope to hone my sugar cookie skills. Forgive me, I'm married to a mechanic. Who says "hone?"-- I try so hard, to not let things like that stick inside my little head but all the motorhead talk does take its toll.
Ohhhh Tracy,.... this is SO what the Dr. ordered. Just gazing at this makes me sigh, and brings me back to the true meaning of Christmas. This is one of my very favorite Christmas decorations! Thankyou Tracy! You blessed me so much! I love your birthdays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! heehee Thank you again!!!
Well... I've started to do a little Christmas cookin, but not much yet. I'm tryin to hold off until just before Christmas, so I can go door to door (kind of like on May day,) and drop off a little Christmas cheer! But... there IS a very special someone who likes nuts. ALOT. Like, if they are in a little santa mug on the side of the couch,.... he's a happy man.

A long time ago I made him a batch of candied nuts. He remembers it, and it was even mentioned recently. Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.... I started hunting recipes and came across one from one of the beloved Gooseberry Patch cookbooks.

This recipe is for pecans. The ones I bought were not roasted yet, so I roasted these in a little melted butter. Paula would have been SO proud of me. Real butter!
This is how they turned out. -- I hope he likes them! They're now wrapped and tomorrow will be on their way to ..................................................South Dakota! ;)

In case you want to try them, here's the recipe:

Spiced Pecans

1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups pecan halves, toasted
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Combine sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, cloves and water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium low heat stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Cook 9 more minutes on medium low or until a candy thermometer registers 236 (soft ball stage.) Do not stir. Place pecans in a large bowl; pour hot mixture over pecans. Stir until they start to lose their gloss. (I forgot that part; oops!) Spread pecans on wax paper and separate with fork. Cool completely and store in an airtight container. Makes 3 cups or serves 1 Fil (father in law) ;)

Other than that, not much new. I loaded up my truck and headed to the PO today, not realizing they closed at 4 or 4:30. Oh well,... Lord willing, tomorrow will be another day. On my way home; I saw something unusual. A boy was walking down the road.......................................................................... backwards? I noticed that he was walking like that, long before I got up to him. He was just just hoofin it down the road.... turned the wrong way. As I got close to him I slowed way down... you know; I guess staring? lol. He smiled from ear to ear and waved to me! He was a cute kid... probly 13-14 years old. I smiled and waved back, and then as I went past him, I watched him in my rear view mirror and he kept right on walkin down the road backwards? Why? Beats me. He sure got my attention. I don't think that was his plan... to be trying to get peoples attention. He just seemed... happy... and carefree. Then I started thinking about my own walk, and my heart returned again to the book of Jeremiah.

"But I gave them this command: obey me and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff- necked and did more evil than their forefathers." Jer 7: 23-26

I'm not implying anything about the boy; he was just being a kid. -- But he did get me thinking how easily I can get going the wrong way, and even start walking backwards spiritually. I know someone who has a GPS in their car named Mandy. Mandy tells you when you start going the wrong way. If you take a wrong turn, she immediately tells you to turn around. If you listen to what she says and follow her instructions; she'll get you back on the right track. I guess, in the same way, listening to God and doing what He says, keeps us from taking similar wrong turns,........ or even going backwards.

One more thing before I sign off. I want to say a special thank you to the ones who've been signing my guestbook. I was so excited to read your messages and love your beautiful pictures.
I have no way to contact you, through that slide, so I just wanted to thank you. Your visits mean so very much to me, and I'm blessed that our paths have crossed. God bless yall!

The Winner Is.........

The winner of my little giveaway is:
Katy of The Country Blossom!

Let me know where I can send your package Katy!
Hope you enjoy it.


Lea

400th Post GiveAwayYyYYyYY

Smoochy holykisses!

I can hardly believe it's happened. Here we are, at #400. It's been an incredible journey and more than anything I'm amazed at all the wonderful new friends God's placed in my path here in blogdom. How did I get so blessed GOD? !!!

To all of my friends here, I thank you for sharing your life, and walk in faith with me. The time you have visited me, leaving emails, comments, lifting prayers.... well;.... how can I properly thank you?
I can't! I have no words to do yall justice. I've learned so much from many of you, and have felt your prayers and encouragement with all my heart. I love you.. honeys!!
To celebrate this day, I humbly share this little bottle I altered for you. It's filled with micca flakes and prim pearls and the cork is glittered with German glass. All tied off with a little netting and vintage venise lace. A little something "from me... to thee." (Nope, I didn't do the soldering or anything... the bottle was jazzed up already when I bought it!)

Alls you have to do is leave a comment sharing two Godly pearls of wisdom! That's it! Just two things, you'll share with the world, about God. It might be a revelation He showed you,... a life lesson, a favorite scripture... -- ~GOD THINGS!~

You don't have to become a follower of the potting shed, and you don't have to post this on your own blog unless you just want to. It's not about any of that. Let's just give God some glory for all the things He's doing in our lives okay?




To start you off, I'll share my two pearls: (it's so hard to pick just two)
1. Asking Jesus into my heart has changed my life forever!
2. His grace sees me through every single day. I love you Jesus!

Okay yall, now it's your turn! The drawing will be Friday night at 7:00 pm for anyone in the U.S. You don't have to have a blog, but I'll have to beable to contact you if you win okay?
I'm sure there will be room inside the box, for an extra little "surprise." I love surprises don't you?!!!

Let's give God some praise!

I Won Deena's Giveaway!, Thrifty Finds, and Thee Best Cherry Dessert Recipe!

Greetings and Holykisses!

What an awesome day! I hope yall are havin a great weekend as well! First, I had to show you the beautiful print that came in my mail just today! Deena of Can I Be Pretty In Pink, had a giveaway to celebrate her 400th Post! If you haven't met her yet, Deena is beautiful inside and out, sweet, courageous, a true inspiration, and it has to be said, she's beeeeautiful in pink! Please drop by, read her story, and say hi! I know she had a lot of comments to win this cute picture and I couldn't believe it when she wrote me saying she drew my name! I tried to time the days to when the mailman might be putting this beautiful picture in my mailbox. We had a hunch today was the day, and it was!!!!!!!
I had to have Myguy take a quick picture, but goodness, that's some picture alright;! But I had to show you Deena how HAPPY I am to have this... -- not only because I totally love the print, but because it's from YOU! I love it and I still can't beeelieve that ....
she matches my china dolly! Thank you sooooo much Deena! You'll never know how much this means to me!!! I'm blowing you holykisses to Illinois all the way from Arkansas! ;) ahem...please note: ( I really do wear shoes*) heehee (sometimes)
I told yall this mornin that I was going yard saling! They were everywhere today! I really didn't find very much, but liked what I did find! ~So I already told you, no more dishwasher for me! I love washin dishes by hand! But ... I never said ANYthing about lovin to dry* heehee Ohhh it's not that I don't like to, but ya know, good ole fresh air does wonders for dryin dishes! I've just been putting towels down on the counter because I don't like those plastic strainers at all. They look too new. lol So when I laid eyes on this olde girl today, .... Ohmystarsngarters! She came home with me! ....Yes, so did the brown transferware plate!
This was my favorite thing, and cost $4.00 Another brown transferware... with pink, yellow, and a little aqua!
It's FRUITY! It reminds me of the fruit of the spirit! I look in this plate and remember:

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." Galatians 5:22

(If anyone knows the name of the pattern, please let me know... I don't feel like googling it.)
Another "mater pincushion," and milk of magnesia bottle. This bottle is older than the last I came across, and it's marked hazel atlas.
This little garden print standing in front of it, was in a picture frame that I already tossed. It was even beyond altering; but the print is what I liked anyhow. Nasturtiums, birds, watercan, and painty-peely bench.... - I think it was the front of a greeting card maybe- but I'll turn it into somethin.
This afternoon, I felt like tryin a new recipe. If only I could hand you a piece through cyberspace!
I came across this recipe blogging and I can't for the life of me remember who's blog I found it on? If any of you have seen it somewhere please let me know so I can give credit where it's due!
This turned out so good.... it's my absolute NEW FAVORITE!
What do you think? The recipe called it Cherry Almond Squares. I promise you, it tastes 10 times better than it even looks and .... looks pretty yummy don't you think?

Try it... I can hardly wait for a potluck, because I'll definitely be bringing one of these along!

Cherry Almond Squares

(oven 350)
1 cup sour cream (I used half regular and half fatfree but next time it will be all fatfree)
1/4 cup water
3 eggs
1 package Betty Crocker super moist sour cream white cake mix. (I used plain white because they didn't have the sour cream cake mix)
1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling. (Next time I'm trying strawberry, and then blueberry!)
1/4 cup sliced almonds
Frosting glaze (recipe below)
The recipe says to grease and flour a jelly roll pan that is 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" and 1" deep BUT, I just used a plain ole 9x13 cake pan and sprayed it with Pam
Mix the sour cream, water and eggs and then add the dry cake mix. Spread into the pan. Then drop pie filling by generous spoon fulls on top of the batter. It almost covers the whole top of the cake. Bake until cake springs back when touched about 25-30 minutes. Let cool.
Sprinkle with almonds and drizzle with the glaze.
Glaze: 1 and 1/2 cups pwd sugar with 2 Tablespoons milk. Add more milk if you need it; just don't make it too thin.


Here's your piece! It looks so much like those bear claw pastrys only with cherry filling.
Hope you like it as much as we do. I took Trent a hearty slice and he gave it *****FIVE***** stars!

Thanks to all of you who have been signing my guestbook and leaving such sweet comments.
You'll never know how you make my day! And Deena I soooo love my picture! Thank you with all my heart!

Holykisses Yall,
Have a great sabbath tomorrow!
God's good!