Howdy-do Sugar Pie Darlin’s! This Mama Hen has gathered some Springtime ideas to share with you! Slowly but surely I’ve been Spring cleaning and sprucing up The Farmhouse…clearing the clutter…making things shine. Oh honey, does it ever feel great! It must be that ol’ nesting instinct that seems to bubble up in our homemaker hearts this time of year. The grey winter chill has melted into warm, soothing breezes and sunshine. The trees and flowers are bursting with color, the birds are singin’ their happy tunes once again. My goal in decorating for this happy season was to keep things simple and cheerful and spring-y!
Well, come on in and take a peek of how Spring has sprung at The Farmhouse…
Little white bunnies hippity-hopped upon my mantel leaving a trail of glittered Easter eggs…
I happened to be at Target last week and found this sweet little “Spring” banner for around $6…I was wanting something fresh ‘n’ new and this fit the bill without costing a big bill! The white letters are painted on burlap with a happy-colored felt backing. This would be so easy to make! The sweet white shabby bunnies were also from Target, everything else I already had.
Down in the meadow the flowers appear,
Blossoms all pink and white make every garden bright,
Sing, Sing, Springtime is here! ~German Folk Song
My vintage yard chickens…a flea market find...made themselves right at home in front of my new/old ‘n’ chippy hayloft barn door…
A white pitcher of fresh daisies greet the folks who stop by…
A new lampshade made of ripped strips of muslin was another new find (found at Leola’s Antique store in Ozark, MO.)…it reminds me of the rag curlers back in the day…you would roll your hair up tight in a strips of cloth, tie it in place, go to bed and in the morning remove the strips of cloth to a head full of curls!
Under my simple Easter egg tree, photos of my son J.J. and daughter in law Tiffany’s wedding. They’ll be celebrating one year in June!
“Our family members will carry the atmosphere we create in our homes for the rest of their lives.”~Mrs. Dunwoody
God decorated my front yard with a beautiful bouquet of Dogwood blossoms and a Cornflower blue sky!
I love the way He decorates!
Snowy white blossoms on my Apple tree bring apple pie promises!
A little yellow bee gathering some nectar to make some “American Honey”! (love that song!)
“She grew up on the side of the road
where the church bells ring and strong love grows,
She grew up good, she grew up slow’
like American honey…”
~ American Honey–Lady Antebellum
Do you ever intentionally look up to the heavens through the branches of soaring tree tops? Up passed the cotton candy clouds and into the boundless blue sky? It’s moments like these that I take a deep breath of thankfulness to the Lord for His goodness and love! He could have created a black and white world but there would be no delight or comfort in that. He created a world full of beauty to bless us, comfort us, refresh us. He planned glorious gifts in each season to bring us joy, but we have to stop our busyness, striving and fretting, to be able to see and fully enjoy them.
When the things in life bring us down we need to remember to look up!
Look up to our Heavenly Father!
Psalm 23 makes it so perfectly clear
that the Lord wants His peace and tender loving care to flourish in our heart.
What a comfort!
Psalm 23
1THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.
3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him–not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.
4Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
6Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.
If you’ve been following me on Facebook then you know that my dear daughter-in-law Tiffany(read about her and my son’s wedding here) was recently diagnosed with a blood clot in her lung. The first two weeks were quite difficult and painful for her. Talk about “walking through the deep sunless valley…” of Psalm 23! She felt the comfort of the Lord through the many prayers of those of you who prayed for her! Thank you darlin’s! She is doing wonderfully now…feeling great…and will be going back to her teaching job after spring break! Praise God!
Another “valley” our family is going through right now is my brother’s illness. The same week Tiff was dealing with her issues my brother was diagnosed with Chronic Leukemia. He has been in the hospital for two weeks. Although he is doing better he is very weak and still needs prayer.
Can I tell you how comforting it is to know that the Lord holds us close to His heart?!
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.” John 10:11
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
“The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 28:7
The joy of the Lord is my strength! Even though my family and I have been going through some hard stuff I have the calm assurance and comfort that the Lord has us in the palm of His hand. I’m so thankful that He loves us sooooooo much! And that is exactly what Easter is all about… God’s lavish love for us!
“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send His Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.” John 3:16,17 Amplified Version
(If you want to know more about God’s love for you…click here.)
So Sugar Pies this Sunday let’s put on our darlin’ Easter bonnets,
head to church and rejoice in the amazing love God has for us!
I’m wishin’ you a happy church-goin’-Lord praisin’-egg-huntin’-flower-filled Easter with lots of chocolate bunnies and little kids giggles!
God bless your darlin’ hearts!
You are loved!
Aunt Ruthie
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No one gets through life without troubles but without the Lord’s strength and help to get through them, life would be very difficult indeed. Trials just keep us focused on what really matters in life…Jesus!
What a lovely post, your mantel is just darling! Have a blessed Easter!
O Aunt Ruthie My Easter Day will be filled with all those things. With a grateful heart that my Lord died because of his great love for me.
Blessings to you.
You’re mantel and all of your spring/Easter displays are just beautiful as always! I’m very glad to hear that your daughter-in-law is doing so much better. I will be praying for your brother and your family. Thank you so much for always sharing the love of our Savior! It truly warms my heart!! We are truly blessed by God if we only choose to see it! ~ Jamie
I love Spring and I love your decor! Beautiful.
Thank you for another beautiful log post – sorry about your brother, though!!
I pinned some of your blog photos on Pinterest (the correct way!!) on my ‘Aunt Ruthie Cuties” board..hope that is okay!! (http://pinterest.com/lizzied123/). Have you noticed an increase in readership with people finding out about your blog via Pinterest??
Have a great week!
“He is Risen – Alleluia!!”
Love your decor especially the lamp, it’s gorgous. My prayers go out to you and your family. Have a blessed Easter!
Beautiful pictures and thoughts.
How blessed we are!
May you have a blessed Easter.
Lovely, Aunt Ruthie. You and your posts are like a spring fresh breeze, light and comforting and affirming. Thank you for being you!! You bless us all.
Love this post and the whole blog for that matter!
Ruthie, the joy of the Lord is always evident here. Thank you for another beautiful post, one that takes a reader away to beauty and right thinking. So glad that your daughter-in-law is feeling so much better and your brother will be in my thoughts and prayers. A blessed Holy Week to you and your family.
Thanks again for sharing your beautiful home with us! I am so glad that Tiffany is better. I will keep her and your brother in my prayers! I remember begging my mom to do my hair up in rags on a Saturday night so I could have curls for Sunday School! Have a blessed Easter.
Bless you Ruthie. I said a prayer for your d.i.l. and brother. We too are going through some tough family illnesses, all feeling worse by my being thousands of miles away. I keep your words in my heart today and wish you and your family a Blessed Easter.
Just love your Easter decorations.
Hi Aunt Ruthie,
I love your decorations, they are so wonderful.
I’m so sorry to hear about your brother. I hope they can help him feel comfortable.
I am happy to hear that your daughter in law is doing better.
You are such a sweetheart. All the best to you and yours.
Have a happy Easter.
Blessings from The Netherlands
Aunt Ruthie, you are always so uplifting and encourageing and your writings always bless me right when I need it. You would never know you were going through hard times. God bless you and your family. Have a blessed Easter.
As always, your seasonal decor is fabulous, Ruthann and your inspirational words are uplifting! I love your festive mantel (and, as I mentioned on your FB page, have the same, fun “Spring” banner on our mantel, too)! And, thanks so much for your thoughtful note about my Easter kitchen … I’ll keep our tree going as long as I can. LOL Thoughts and prayers continue for your family. *Becca*
Thank you so much for the encouraging words! Happy Easter to you! Thankful we serve a risen Savior!!
Was so happy to see a new blog post…and then my heart was blessed from all of the scripture you shared! Your mantel is lovely and I must get one of those Spring banners :) I will keep you and your family in my prayers….miss you on FB. (I took a break for Lent) I will be back after Easter. Hope you and your family have a blessed Easter!
My Dad is battling leukemia. He got some bad news last week. It seems that it is progressing. I will continue to pray for his healing and most of all that he accepts Jesus.
Happy Easter Aunt Ruthie! Luv ya!
I am so sorry to hear the news about your daughter-in-law and your brother, Ruthie. I will keep them in my prayers for full recoveries.
Have a very blessed Easter! {{{ Hugs}}
Your post is so beautiful!
and the photos are wonderful.
Happy Easter!
My azaleas are putting on quite a show for my neighbors this year and this morning I looked out to find real shade in the back yard . My view is not as spectacular as yours is, but that shade made my day. Do you have a hammock in a wonderful shady spot ?. Spring is truly a gift from God. Sending prayers for your family . Thank you for a lovely distraction from all the bad news. This just proves that nobody is immune from bad things ….It is just that we believers have a healing balm that others don’t . Prayers have such healing power.
He is risen! Hallelujah!
Love your blog! Love your heart!
This was like a fresh breeze blowing through my mind and heart.
Thank you!
Praying God’s protection and healing around you and yours.
May the sure promise of Easter bring peace.
Hugs!
Loved this post! Have an amazingly blessed Easter full of joy and peace, laughter and smiles for you and your loved ones, the Lord bless you and keep you!
Thank you, Ruthie. You cannot imagine what a miracle it was seeing your blog at the top of my email inbox this morning. I pray for your brothers complete recovery and for all to go well with your sons wedding and your DIL’s complete recovery. Blessings on you and yours, from Hawaii…Connie
Happy Easter! A time of the year for new starts in your life and in your heart. Refresh…renew! Thank you for the wonderful messages and pictures. Inspiring!
Hi Aunt Ruthie, Happy Easter a time to rejoice and give thanks to God the life he gave up so we could live. This Easter I will be spending most of the day with mom at the nursing home. She is excited I will be attending mass at the home with her. Then lunch and returning for dinner. We never know just how much time is left with loved ones, so everyone out there have a wonderful Easter with family and friends thanking the good lord for each day were here. Hugs Paulette
Happy Easter Aunt Ruthie and your family. So happy to hear that your daughter-in-law is better but sad to hear about your brother. I will pray for him and ask my family to do the same. The Lord works his miracles and we must put our trust in him. Hope he is better soon and and can be home with his family. Thank you for always giving us the word of the Lord and sharing with us your home and family. God Bless, Sandy
I love your Psalm 23. It has always been my favorite Bible verse. I love Easter bonnets for Sunday. Thank You.
I’ll keep your daughter in law and your brother in my prayers. Thanks for sharing your sweet and gentle spirit with us and for sharing the joy of the Lord!
Hi again!Great Easter Message!God is Great I will say a prayer for you and all the families going through hard times.Bless God to keep us all safe in HIS arms!!Love the decorating comment about God!He certainly gives us unbelievable beauty to feast our eyes upon!!I Wish you would have shown pictures of your kitchen!I just love it!Hubby and I are building a new farmhouse on our farm in Idaho and I am using your design above your stove!Love the mantle idea !I will have a large country kitchen and also a baking center to put all my roosters,cookbooks and treasures!God willin!Thanks for ALL the kindness you give us!!Happy Easter,Cindy Lou HU
Oh sweet Ruthann! What a precious post! You sure brought back some memories, especially your last sentence! I am excited to go church on Sunday (every Sunday) and praise the Lord! I am so grateful for His atoning sacrifice. Centering Christ in ours lives sure makes life happier! I love your darling Easter decor! You sure did give me a GREAT idea! Hubbie has torn down part of our fencing, you know the fencing in our neighborhood :) and I keep looking at it thinking I know I can so something with it … well there you have it! Your white fencing you have behind your entry table with the chickens! I love it! Now I just need to get some white paint and get to work. Thanks for your continuing inspiration! Wishing you and yours and very Happy Easter! Love ya, Maryjane
Hi Aunt Ruthie – I am sorry I have not commented in awhile. I too have been in the “valley” – on March 1st, my only child, my amazing 24 year old miracle boy Jonathan Paul Daily, died when his apartment caught fire. I am so broken right now – I am clinging to Jesus with all of my might. I never inagined that I would be walking this path of grief. But I am being lifted by family and friends. If you would say a prayer for us, I’d so appreciate it. I know God gave his only begotten son so that we may live – but I never thought I’d have to give my only child as well (insert many tears here).
I’m so sorry to hear about your family troubles – rest assured I will be praying for you all.
Have a blessed Easter.
With love and gratitude,
Diane Taylor
Hi Aunt Ruthie, We too are in the midst of some bad times healthwise with my brother-in-law and his daughter, our neice. I don’t know what people do who don’t have faith in the Lord. He carries us when we are suffering the most. He is closest to us when we are in dispair. I am sorry to hear about your sorrows. We know what God has done for us giving us his only Son for our sins. The good times end and the bad times end. We must always trust in the Lord and his will be done. Have a blessed Easter and keep your happy spirit-we have much to be thankful for. There will be good times again-there always is. Our friends and family are our angels. He always sends them.
LOVED your “springy” blog!! Your decorations are wonderful. Thank you for the good memories and the traditions. Most of all, I am thankful that the Lord has risen and we have someone to turn to when going through the valley. Praying for your family and pray that everyone enjoys a wonderful Easter with family and friends : )
Ruthie,
I love your website. I wish you had not changed the wording on the 23rd Psalms though.
Sweet Ruthie – this post (and all of your posts) blessed me! He has Risen indeed! Glad to hear the good news of your dtr-in-laws recovery. Will keep your brother and family on my prayer list. Easter Blessings to you and yours. :)
So sorry to hear about your families illnesses!! I hope and pray Tiff and your brother gets better.
Yall are in my thoughts and prayers!!
Ha! You have “Papa’s Wife” on that mantle of yours! I read that years and years ago and LOVED it. I still remember it. So nice to find a little hidden gem in your picture and be reminded of a good read. Thanks. :)
I love all of your photos and the vintage photos are great. Your words are also inspiring. Thanks.
Hi Aunt Ruthie,
I love your beautiful, inspirational Blog. Thank you so much for bringing me so much pleasure. Your home looks so fresh and Spring like. Love the lampshade and the door especially.
I am so happy your Daughter-in-law, Tiffany, is doing so well. We will say many prayers for your Brother’s recovery. Wishing you and your whole family a Very Blessed Easter. And to Diane Taylor, we will keep you in our prayers.
Glad your daughter-in-law is doing well..Your mantle looks beautiful and I have the same rabbit weather vane on your table..I will keep your family in my prayers..Happ Easter to you and your family..
I’m happy your daughter- in-law is better. I’ll keep your brother, Brain, in my prayers! Thank you for this lovely post! You have reminded us of our precious Lord’s love and concern for us! May God bless you and your family at this Easter season! Your mantel is perfect! I love it!
Aunt Ruthie, Your post was so uplifting, and I to want to wish the very best for you DIL and your brother. We will be praying for them both a speedy recovery. We really never know what someone else is going thur as we go thur our daily lives? Thanks for taking the time to be a “blessing” to all of us!
Blessings,Becky
Oh, I’ll be praying for your fa mily, Aunt Ruthie!!!! I know that these things are hard to walk through, but one thing I do know for sure is that God is bigger than all of this :) :) I’ll pray!!!!
I just love your Easter decorations, and I love the soft touch that it all has :) :) It’s beautiful :)
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)
So enjoyed your wonderful photos as usual – down here in Texas Spring really came early ! Our beautiful azaleas have already come and gone, and with the rains we’ve been blessed with recently, the bluebonnets and wildflowers are putting on a big show this year.
Sending up prayers for your brother, and for Tiffany.
Happy Easter !
What a lovely post! I always enjoy reading your posts – they always leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling! This is the first time I’ve posted (and it’s beyond me why I didn’t think to do it sooner!), but this post really moved me to let you know that I’m thinking of you and your family and will keep all of you in my prayers.
I also wanted to reach out to Diane Taylor to let her know that I’m also thinking of her and keeping her and her family in my prayers. I have no words to express how sorry I am that she has such unthinkable “valley” to go through. I wish I did, but I will reach out to the Lord for you Diane … to bring you comfort… peace.. and people in your life that can help.
As always, your blog didn’t let me down. I adore all your posts. They make me so homesick for my Missouri roots. I now live in the Colorado mountains. Hoping to get to KC within the month and for sure, travel down to the Ozarks and check out your shop space! I will begin blogging myself as soon as I figure it all out!
I have been waiting for a new post!! Aunt Ruthie, there is something about the way you write that is uplifting to everyone of any faith. Thank you so much for sharing your gift. Happy Spring.
I just wanted to let you know that I gave you the “Sunshine Award” on my blog, posted at http://scrapbookingez.blogspot.com/2012/04/sunshine-award-my-10-fav-blogs.html. Your blog is one of my all time favorites! Thanks for all your amazing posts and everything you share. Have a wonderful Easter!
Ruthie, Happy and Blessed Easter to you and yours.
Keeping your daughter in law and brother in my prayers for
complete healing. You are such an inspiration!
Thanks for sharing your home and heart with us! That was the sweetest vintage picture of the beautiful young woman wearing a pretty Easter bonnet. Loved it and the music too! Please know I continue to pray for you and your family. Have a wonderful Easter!
Love from Texas~Donna
Blessed Easter… Aunt Ruthie.. and all! God bless our hearts all..! Thanks for your loving words. Jesus Loves! Amen. :-))
I will keep your family in my prayers. Yes, it is comforting to know the Lord has our best interests at heart!
Very pretty spring decorations and finds!
~TJ
Have a blessed resurrection Aunt Ruthie! Indeed God is good.
We celebrate that Christ is raised from the dead, we will likewise rise in the same way.
We dont say Happy Easter as the word easter comes from the name of the pagan goddess Eostre, the Anglo Saxon goddess of spring and fertility, for whom a spring festival was held annually, as it is from this pagan festival that some of our Easter customs have come such as giving easter eggs, chicks and bunnies which are symbols of renewal. For me greeting happy easter to everybody is like worshipping the goddess Eostre; instead I greet:
Blessed Resurrection!
Im realizing I never left a comment this time around on as-always lovely post. Love all your sweet decorating of course and your reminder that we always look to Jesus this time of year as we celebrate Easter. God bless you, Aunt Ruthie, I never miss a blog post!! :)
I Just Love Your Webpage Blog Here. It Is Adorable
God Bless You Sister
In HIS LOVE,
Chrissy (Your Sister In CHRIST)
Oh, I just loved the comment you made about your muslin rag lamps. About having your hair curled in the rags! … My mom did that for me when I was young. Did your mother ever do it and get it backwards like my mom did? Wrap the rag around your hair? Straight hair, but curly rags!!!!! Memory.
Thank you so much for your uplifting words. Of comfort, joy, brightness and many more adjectives. From someone who always tries to be positive and know He is the light and the way, you speak whats on my heart. In a world where people question their actual value because of what we hear and see on a regular basis in this world that seems to getting more and more shallow by the moment, I’m so glad to know He is alive and well in other peoples lives. Our value and worth is placed by Him not what society says. I lost my mama 7 years ago. She was my best friend and I miss her more and more every day. I love coming to Sugar Pie Farmhouse. It reminds me of her and I know she would have loved it! Thank you!
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I would like to post that Mama chichen with the eggs in her apron.