Barnstar...

Barnstar (or barn star): a decorative painted object or image, often in the shape of a five-pointed star but occasionally in a circular "wagon wheel" style, used to adorn a barn. Most commonly seen in German-American farming communities. Having no structural purpose, they are mainly used for their general aesthetic appeal and are even considered lucky, akin to a horseshoe mounted over a doorway.

The tradition of the barn star in America can be traced back to the 1700's, and to at least the 1820's in Pennsylvania. Barn stars were most popular after the Civil War. On many older American barns, particularly German farms, one could see a large decoration in the shape of a star mounted on the face of the barn. Sometimes they were just aesthetic, but sometimes they represented the trademark of a specific barn builder. It is our understanding the original star shape was a three-pointed star but has changed throughout the years. Colors had significance with the Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch barn paintings. These folk art designs, many of which were star shaped, were painted directly onto each end of the barn, and date back to the 1850's.

Color significance:

Black- Protection, also used to blend or bind elements together.

Red- Emotions, passion, charisma, lust, and also creativity.

White- Purity, power of the moon, allows energy to flow freely.

Blue- Protection, peace, calmness and spirituality.

Green- Growth, fertility, success in things and ideas that grow.

Yellow- Health in body and mind, love of man and the sun, connection to God.

Brown- Mother earth, also can mean friendship and strength.

Orange- Abundance in career, projects and matters needing an added push.

Violet- Things that are sacred.

A barnstar was viewed as a symbol of good luck to farmers "way back when", as they are still viewed by many people today. The popularity of one or even multiple stars displayed on a garden wall, or side of one's home is a very popular decorative accent.

Day Trip...

The hubby and I took a nice little day trip this past Thursday. Just thought we would get out and enjoy the weather and maybe do some site-seeing. Here are some pictures we took along the way of a beautiful old covered bridge and a house in Elizabethton, TN.

It is one of two bridges in Tennessee identified by a Tennessee Historical marker and is included on the National Registry of Historic Sites.
Built in 1882, the Covered Bridge is believed to be the oldest such bridge that is still in use for pedestrians.

"Happy Mother's Day"

"Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)

Wishing you a happy Easter and a great weekend!

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

Wishing you all a happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've been very busy lately working on some new projects. I'm very excited about it, can't wait to share. Hopefully it will be very soon. Will post as soon as it's up and running.

Have a great weekend!

Amy

Disbelief...Anger...Worry.....

These are the emotions in the air this week at my place of employment....which could soon be unemployment. Watching friends, co-workers walk out the door, some temporarily...some forever. Being employed in the automotive industry for the last 16 years I have seen ups and downs, highs and lows. But never...never this low. Myself, being layed-off 3 times now since July, I am feeling the hardships of this unemployment thing. But still I worry about these friends and co-workers that I see with worry and fear in their eyes. Fear of loss, worry of unpaid mortgages. How will they feed their families? There are no other jobs to go to. I wonder.... what will happen to them. I pray for them.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:11-13

~Flea Market Finds~

Well, I finally had the time to go by and visit my local flea market, well it's actually a "Trading Post". And I'm pretty happy with these finds. I thought they were a little pricey for a trading post, the owner had $10 on the box and the other two weren't priced. But luckily my aunt works there a few days a week and she happened to be there yesterday. She gave me all 3 items for $10.

I'm pretty happy with them. I'll probably re-do the spoon rack and candle shelf as soon as I can decide on what colors I want. I'm in the process of redecorating my house and I'm having a hard time with color coordinating. I would like to paint one of them blue, but I have absolutely nothing blue in my house. Oh well, maybe now is a good time to sneak in some blue, huh?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a Blessed Day,

Amy

Just wanted to wish everyone a ~Happy Valentine's Day~ and hope you have something special planned for the day.

I Corinthians 13:

Valentine's Day is a day of love,

For showing that we care,

And if we read the Bible,

God describes love there:

If we speak like celestial angels

From heaven up above,

All our words mean nothing

If we don’t have Christian love.

Love is patient, love is kind;

It doesn’t brag or boast;

Love conquers pride and envy;

It is never self-engrossed.

Love is not rude or angry;

Forgiveness counters wrong;

Love stays away from evil;

It sings a truthful song.

Love is full of trust and hope;

It always perseveres;

Love never fails; It’s faithful;

To the Bible it adheres.

And if you give this kind of love

To your special Valentine,

You’ll be loving right in harmony

With God’s own sweet design.

~ Joanna Fuchs

Praying....

My heart is breaking tonight after reading the story of this sweet baby girl...

"Tuesday Fiona Whitt"

who went to be with the lord just yesterday.

This story has touched my heart in so many ways I can't even begin to explain. It is so tragic to know that a horrible disease like cancer can possess a beautiful little angel like this...only 2yrs old.

I only found this sweet angel tonight, but wish I could have known of her sooner so that I could join the thousands that have been praying for her along her journey. I will be praying everyday for her precious family to get through this loss and hope that all of you will do the same.

Please visit the Whitt family's site and read about their journey.

Click on Tuesday's name above and it will take you there.

Valentine...

Some sweet Valentine images I wanted to share with you.

The Bible Says: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."(John 15:13)

God showed us this love by coming in Christ to die for our sins. And St. Valentine demonstrated this love when he died for his friends. This is the kind of love that Valentine's Day is really about.

Projects...

Hi, I know I haven't posted in a while but I've been busy with new projects. For one, we have a new addition to the family, Toby. It's been very time consuming trying to house train him. I've also been working on my kitchen table. As you can see by the pics below I'm still not finished. The whole table used to be the light color that you see on the legs and the chairs but I sanded the top off and stained it a darker color. Pretty happy with how it turned out. Now I want to paint the chairs and the legs of the table. Took me a while to decide what color but I think I will go with black. Have been working on some new graphics too. As you can see I change my banner frequently (I like to experiment). I will post some new graphics soon.

Weekend

Hi, hope everyone is having a great weekend. Just wanted to leave a few cute vintage Valentine images for you. Hope you enjoy them.

I actually used the picture above in one of my own projects. Here is a picture of the finished box below.

Bitter-sweet...

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential." ~Ellen Goodman

"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."

I have made no official resolutions for this new year, because they always seem to be forgotten faster they are made. But this year I'm not making resolutions, but more what I would call vows. I have vowed to myself to adapt some life changing habits. Like always eating a healthy diet and staying in shape. Not just for my weight but for my health and happiness also. And most of all I vow to not take the little things for granted.

This past year has been a bitter-sweet one for my husband and I. We have been through some somewhat trying times financially, which are still not over completely because I ended up being laid off for the past month and probably until Feb. Which I have to say that I am very much enjoying my time off, just hate being broke. But for the sweet part of this past year, my husband got a great new job in Aug. which he loves, and I thank the Lord everyday for that. So I know that we are truly Blessed .

So my wish to everyone is a sweet New Year without the bitter.

New Year

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850