What Really Matters...

It had been done a hundred times before.

This time it turned out different.

My husband took some trash out to burn in our fire pit.
Just some cardboard and some magazines.

I even had him check this morning to make sure the burn ban was not in effect.

And a short time later I heard him yell from outside for help...

The flames had jumped the pit and were out of control.

The medical person in me reacted in a triage fashion:

Call 911...

 Make sure the animals are okay....

Move the cars so the fire trucks could get inside the gate...

Rush back outside to help him put out the flames.

 We are still in our "old" house way out in the country.

It took the volunteer fire trucks almost 20 minutes to arrive.
Twenty long minutes, and I thought for sure our home would be engulfed before they got there.

But arrive they did.

All four of them.

 Our siding on the back side of our home was burned, and the flames came right up to the house.
We both inhaled a fair amount of smoke, and I have some burns on my feet.

However....

 we are safe.

 Winnie is safe inside.

Havok and Belle are safe around to the side of the house.

And we still have a home.

And our lives.

I am shaken beyond belief, but so grateful, 

as I know that we came very. very close to losing everything today.

Everything materially, that is.

I'll be away for a bit as I process what happened today.

Giving thanks to God above....

My Perfect Weekend

 A wonderful package...

beautifully and gracefully presented...

 that extra special, thoughtfully personal touch...

And inside?

My weekend plans!!!

My wonderful new Jeanne d'Arc Living magazine arrived!

So while I might not spend all  weekend 

with my nose buried in these luscious pages,

you can bet it'll be holding my attention for a good bit of it!

Merci, Tracey!

Happy Weekend!
What are your  plans?

Fiona and Twig Features...Buckets of Burlap

Happy Wednesday!

Once again, I am privileged to introduce you to a truly exceptional blogger

that you might not have already been acquainted with.

I was ecstatic when I won her 

enamelware pitcher giveaway last Fall ( that's it on the far right, below ),

and as I spent more and more time exploring her blog, 

I fell more and more in love with her classic, farmhouse style.

{photo credit: me}

She has a generous heart and infectious spirit, 

and of course, buckets and buckets of style...and burlap!

But the best part?

She is a lovely, devout woman of God.

I am so very pleased to announce my featured blog for the month of February,

Buckets of Burlap.

Pull up a chair and get ready to indulge in some truly amazing eye candy!

I told ya, buckets of style, right?

And here's darling Becky and her too-cute-for-words family...

{photo credit: here}

Please head on over and say hello to Becky,

and be sure to tell her I sent you!

You can find the link to her blog right over there, to your right.
Just click on this image on my sidebar...

Have an absolutely wonderful day!

{ all photos here unless otherwise indicated}