Finding Beauty in Rusty Old Things

I have collected a few interesting pieces of antiquity that I like to put in my flower beds. Old wagon wheels have great meaning for us because Rob has an ancestor who was a well-respected wagon-maker in West Virginia. Old tools whose wooden handles have rotted off make me wonder about all the years of labor someone put in using them. Parts of a VW Beetle remind me of my childhood watching Herbie Rides Again. Here is a link to some really enthusiastic fans of that movie. (Maybe I should look for that on Netflix?) An old pitcher pump and an old milk jug bring back the pioneer days.

So I guess I saw something totally different than my children did when I looked at those beauties from the past. I didn't realize it until they came to me one day with a handful of pieces of rusted metal broken off of who-knows-what-source of tetanus. "Look, Mommy! We found these for your rust garden." I can't even imagine what they thought of my collecting habit, but they apparently recognized the pattern and were willing to contribute.

I guess I need to be a little more careful about the safety of my acquisitions and perhaps not keep everything old and rusty. I am not a hoarder like on the popular television show, but I could stand to get rid of a few things, maybe even a few beautifully rusted memories of the "good old days." There is a fine line between ecclectic and cluttered. I would rather be on the ecclectic side of that line if I can help it, but I have a feeling my kids are going to have some stories to tell regardless. I took them to the local junkyard with my husband and while he turned in the not-so-collectible metal we found on our property, we explored rust heaven. We found some cool rusty old funnels and more old milk jugs. One even had a modern spigot attached. When I get a good picture of it, I will post it.  A waitress friend of ours saw me at her restaurant and ran out to her car, returning with an old rusted cast iron dutch oven for my rust garden (in the picture above). I hope at least my children will learn to see the beauty and value of things from an older, simpler time. I hope they learn to repurpose and recyle. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Every little discount helps

Confession time:

Okay, so I have grandiose dreams of saving every penny possible, but reality looks a little different. I go through phases when I clip coupons like crazy, take them to the store with me once or twice, then lose the coupon folder in my clutter. I think couponing is a great idea, but I know my personality. As much as I would love to not spend an extra dime, I am just not organized enough to sustain the habit.

Rebates are an even worse downfall of mine. It is so tempting to spend more up front on the brand name product because it will be "free" (or at leaster cheaper than the off brand) after rebate. The problem is, I lose track of what forms need to be completed, what receipts go with them, and when the deadlines are. Again, my organization habits (or lack thereof) are to blame.

I really succeed at saving with up-front discounts and freebies. I know I can always get free shipping at Land's End and Amazon (with Amazon Prime). I know if I get anything full price at J. C. Penney I paid too much. And I have gotten so much cool stuff from freebie bloggers. No longer do my kids ask, "Is there anything for me?" when we get the mail. Now they say "Are there any freebies?" Hopefully I will have a freebie I can give away soon for you, my followers. I am just getting started at blogging and learning the ropes. Getting advertisers is the key to benefiting from blogging. So, without further ado, I am going to tell you about a company.

Drumroll please: .... My first advertiser is: Zulily. I have to confess I have never bought anything from Zulily, but I LOVE to read the emails. A regular email comes to your inbox with products from different companies for moms, babies and kids. The brands Zulily features are top-name brands, and some you may not have heard of, but everything is SO cute. It is not just clothing that they offer - baby bottles and toys show up there, too. I sometimes think I would have another baby just to get such cute things... or maybe not (just checking to see if my husband is reading). Luckily I have 2 new nieces who need lots of cute things. I have talked to friends who have bought things through Zulily and they have all been very happy with it. With Christmas coming up, I am going to have to stretch every dollar so I have to buy things at a discount.

So give it a try, join Zulily. Daily deals for moms, babies & kids. Every little discount helps. And if you get to look at cute baby things in the process, all the better.

Click here or on the ad above to sign up for Zulily:
http://click.discountclick.com/go/click.php?tid=912671

Humble Award, or, Should I Talk About My Good Deeds?

Rob likes to tell a joke that goes like this: "I won the Humble Award at summer camp but they took it away because I wore it."

So I wondered if people would think it was innappropriate for me to share things we do as a family to help others. We love to help people just for the joy of it. Wouldn't others want to share our joy or try the same idea? But always in the back of my mind is the thought that giving should be a private thing and we aren't supposed to brag about our good deeds. So I hope you won't take away my humble award if I share some stories about ways we found joy and contentment in giving to others. I hope you find some joy in them, too, and perhaps you will pass it on.

One of the things that brings me the most joy and contentment is gardening, especially when I can share the harvest with others. It was fun to put in all the work when I saw how much fun my husband and children had picking beans and corn. It was even more fun to be able to give a basket of vegetables to our friends who just adopted two adorable girls from the Congo. Things are tight for them because of the huge sacrifice they made to give these girls a better life, so their smiles made all the work worthwhile.

Proverbs 11:24-25 ESV     

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Making Do

This week my husband and I started talking about ways we could earn more money for Christmas money and bills. Things have been tight, we have been cutting back, but it never seems to be enough. Then came the unexpected car bill, medical bills. I am sure you have the same story at your home. So now I find myself starting a blog to document our experiences with making do with less. Not just less money, but fewer belongings, less television (we cut out the satellite provider last month), less greed. Who knows where it will lead, but I welcome you to join us as we seek contentment.

Christy

Philippians 4:11-12 ESV
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.