Auction for A Great Cause

IF you knew that there were two children

languishing in an orphanage in Bulgaria...

would you wish to help?

IF you knew that these children had parents

longing to bring them to their forever home...

Would you wish to help?

Well, IF you are so inclined there is a very specific 

way to help.

Since my friend, Susanna has come back into my life

deep in the midst of an adoption of her own

my eyes have been opened to the needs of 

children in Bulgaria.

Thankfully, the money is nearly in place for 

their little Katerina.

Joe and Susanna are now in the waiting stage

for the Bulgarian government to assign 

them as Katie's parents.
Then they will go for a first visit

before a second allows her to come home.

However, Shannon and her family are 

still in the fundraising stages for their 

two......they are holding an online auction

on their facebook page.

Currently, I have a hot chocolate mug

in this auction, My friend Sheila has a cosmetic 

bag and there are all sorts of items including adorable hats,

earrings, baby shoes

a shrug, a bracelet and other things that 

have slipped my mind.

IF you are interested you can visit

the auction by clicking 

ON THIS LINK.

Just leave your bid in the comments under

each photo.

We cannot ALL bring home children

from other countries.

However most of us can 

assist those who have been 

called to this ministry in their homes.

In addition, let me show you the photo 

of a little girl who is in desperate need

of a life saving adoption.

This is Teri Lynn...

She needs help now.

Susanna has a more current photo

on her blog post.  I have linked below.

Much of the money has already been raised...

all Teri Lynn needs now are willing hearts and

a home......

I share this because I never know 

who God might lead to click on 

this blog and who just might be the 

family, individual or couple to 

save this young girl's life.

For more information about her

please read Susanna's telling of 

her story.

I can not tell it better.

To learn the miracles happening
in behalf of Teri Lynn you
can read what
No Greater Joy Mom has written.

Thank you for reading

and for anything you can do 

to spread the word.

Hooked on Auctions and Adding Beauty to our Home!

A blog post that is linked to both Hooked on Houses Blog Party
and A Beautiful Life with Melissa at The Inspired Room.
I will not be online much on Friday but will do my best to
catch up with the links on these parties as I can.
I appreciate your visit!


What was I supposed to do?
No one else was bidding
and I do love frames...truly!

These had caught my eye as I did
a walkthrough upon arriving
at the auction just down the street.

How sad that this Estate Auction
had to happen as that meant we lost
a gentle and quiet neighbor.

Anyway, I had talked myself out of
these pictures and their frames at
first glance, but all was quiet except
the Auctioneer's sing song voice.

I found my hand flying up and the
Auctioneer yelling, "Sold!".

In two brief transactions, I held
three frames for a total of $3.00.

My dear husband kind of sighed as
he mumbled something about "more
stuff" coming into the house...but
as fate would have it this all happened
shortly after he purchased some tools
that weren't exactly flying out of the
auctioneer's hands....hmmph!

Now, I had three very sizable frames
to work with.
I did the whole debate
in my head...
should I be chic and paint
them white?
Or follow my heart and stain them?
I went with the latter.

These frames were sooo very dirty.
The cleaning cloth came away so very
black. But the details
are gorgeous, in my opinion
so it was worth the time spent.

Before:


After:



Oh Vee, I am so glad you didn't want them
to be white!

Of course, there was the question of what to
put in them...however, having become a recent fan
of Snapfish I knew that poster sized prints
were available.
This would be my plan.
Two 16x20 poster sized photos
taken by yours truly.

By the way, if you click here you will go to their site.
I have nothing to gain from this,
but I have been very pleased with
the speed of their service and the quality
of the work.

Before:


After:



There were those photos of the barn from the
our experience at the surprise barn sale
and gnome home.
What could be better?
Maybe landscapes when I am tired of
these...but at less than $15 per print,
I am willing to change them out occasionally.

Before:


After:


Before:


After:


I am so hooked on auctions.
Going to them.
Bidding.
Getting Bargains.
Refreshing or repurposing tired items...




Putting them on a waiting wall...



The third frame continues to hold
the vintage photo of an infant
but the frame has been revitalized.





I believe I will list it on
eBay...just in case there is interest.
If not, I will find something to put
in it that better suits my existing
decor...


Thanks for stopping by today.
Hope you'll come again.

I found something NEAT today!

We were just getting ready to hit the books when
the phone rang. It was a neighbor whose husband
had called her to inform her of an amazing amount
of flowers and plants for sale at his "Hay Auction."
He just knew she would be interested. Now she wanted
to know if I, or either of the Moms, might be interested
in going with her as these would have to be purchased
in larger than usual quantities.

Oh, my goodness, YES!

First, I love auctions!

The rush of the bidding.

The sound of the auctioneer as he/she works the crowd.

The competition...

You name it...I love it!

Neither Mom was available so Arlene
and I headed out on our adventure. We had
not been here before but that just added to
the anticipation.

We arrived to find a large warehouse full of
neatly aligned carts brimming with flowers, vegetables,
hanging baskets, even strawberries.

We quickly got our number and scoped out our choice
flowers. I was elected to be the bidder while Arlene
served as scout. We make a pretty good team!

Ahhh...success.

We came home with:

15 Hot Pink Geraniums
3 flats of begonias
15 potted zinnias

These have been divided five ways and are
already adding color to our neighborhood
flower beds.

The plants are healthy and beautiful.
We will be going back for other varieties.
They should have flowers for the next few weeks.

I love the sense of community in a place
like this. The older farmers casually taking
in the excitement while waiting for their
turn to sell their hay...or in some cases to
purchase hay.

The flowers are an aside for these men, but I think,
a fairly welcome one. It gives them opportunity to
chat with their neighbors and friends. I delight in
stepping into a Norman Rockwell environment.
This day reminded me so much of being in
one of his paintings.

What a gift that came my way today!

Loved IT!!!

By the way...the kids did not miss out on
school. They continued working on their end of
the year reports, Chelsea did some math
and then we had bowling this afternoon with our co-op.
We are not going to fall behind at this late date!
We are ready to be done!