spring. . .

The possibility of a Season might come to mind for many, 
especially after this unSeasonable Spring for 2013.

But for me, 
since 1967 during my first visit,
Bennett Spring State Park at Lebanon, Missouri
is forever etched into my heart, mind and soul.

31
     And he said unto them,
     Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place,
     and rest a while; for there were many coming and going,
     and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
                                                  Mark 6:31

So~o~o. . .
each Autumn "Mr. Ed" and I heed the Scriptures
and literally come apart and rest a while.
Over the past two decades, our desert place has been 
an Annual Trout Fishing Trip to Bennett Spring State Park.

This annual homeage we take On Crooked Creek
is the retreat that helps to bond us closer together 
as man and wife. . .
and draws us into a deeper relationship with our Lord.

Away from the coming and going of our everyday lives,
we are afforded the leisure time 
to listen and hear His direction for us.
The beauty of Bennett Spring State Park 
is certainly no desert place~quite the contrary.

What better place to inwardly 
and outwardly experience God's handiwork?

spring. . .


Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com

Mary @ Little Red House 

for Thursday's Inspirations!

Be sure to visit

for you’ll come away

filled with amazing inspirations!

Sky. . .

Kansas skies, 
On Crooked Creek, are the bluest during the Summer months!

As a child, 
I remember lying on my back upon the warm ground
and watching the clouds softly floating overhead.

The hopeless romantic in me
would envision a dragonslayer drawing his sword
as he saved his Princess from what might have been a fiery fate.

Othertimes, 
I would float softly along with the calm winds
and find myself on a butterfly winged boat 
similar to that in the film, Puff The Magic Dragon.


As I grow older here on the Prairie,
I watch the Kansas skies,
for warning signs of our ever changing weather.



These photos were taken prior to my first blog post, July 2010!


Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining 

www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com

Mary @ Little Red House 

for Thursday's Inspirations!

Be sure to visit

for you’ll come away

filled with amazing inspirations!

Blossom ~ By ~ Blossom. . .

I adore this message. . .
Blossom ~
                   by ~
                           Blossom,
                                             Spring arrives!

. . .and so it does ~

On Crooked Creek!

While living in South East Kansas,
many, m a n y  years ago,
I purchased these verdigris petite wall pockets.
The name of the unique Antique and Gift Shoppe 
was The Brass Pig!

The Southwestern Turquoise hue with intricate detailing 
of the embossing on the iron wall pocket had stolen my heart!

These exquisite wall pockets were purchased
to line a narrow wall in the Laundry Room of our "Dream Home"!


Affectionately known as the "Mud Room", 
the walls were decorated in a subtle palette of tan,
honey yellow with a hint of blue plaid wall paper 
that had large Sunflowers, with a scattering of bees, butterflies, 
dragonflies and ladybugs throughout the wide border.

The whimsical wrought iron butterfly, dragonfly 
and ladybug hooks were the perfect accessory 
on which to hang these wall pockets for our area there. . .
and here in our Dining Room On Crooked Creek!

So many of my dear blogging friends 
have either made a major move in the last year,
are in the process of building a home,
or relocating to a new home ~
that I felt compelled to share these sweet wall pockets with you.

They made the journey across the Prairie 
with "Mr. Ed" and I.  Much like many of you,
we faced numerous doubts, frustrations and 
uncertainties that are commonplace with any move.

But much like these petite wall pockets,
we found the "Perfect Place" here on this side of the Prairie!
Through determination and perseverance,
we count it all JOY for having made the decision to move
to be close to our son and daughter~in~law!!!


Until next time. . .

* * * * * * * FYI * * * * * * *
In dedication to my life~long friend, Rosann!
May you, too, find the JOY your heart desires ~
combined with the peace of God ~ as you follow 
your path full of new adventures 
in your journey of life here upon Earth!!!
Your Best Friend Forever,
Pat
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tied Up With String. . .

Brown paper packages,
tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things!!!

I  l o v e paper!!!
I  l o v e string!!!
These are a few of my favorite things!

Imagine my excitement when I found
Hemp in the same hues as the color palette 
for the updating of Studio One!!!

Visiting with our local shop owner @ Roadhouse Antiques,
I inquired about purchasing some wooden spools. . .

Aren't they a m a z i n g ???

While I patiently await on paint and mod podge to dry, 
I release my inner creativity on the small details 
that make a huge impact on my design for Studio One.

Strand ~ by ~ strand. . .

those fibers send mental messages. . .

that become locked into my visual memory.

Fibers with imperfect qualities ~ and yet perfect shades of gray!

Placed beside the usual black and white. . .

these shades of gray bring peace and tranquility 
to my creative space.

Nestled together 
as a complimentary vintage decor accessory
in Studio Ones updating!

A vintage tatting lace doily
simply inserted into a vintage sewing basket.

Each spool patiently awaiting
that moment when used for
tying up a brown paper package!

These are a few of my favorite things. . .

Until next time. . .

www.stonegable.blogspot.com

On Crooked Creek will be joining

Yvonne @ StoneGable for

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits!

Be sure to visit

for you’ll come away

filled with amazing inspirations

for use in your own home décor!

Between Seasonal Changes. . .

The calendar On Crooked Creek
states it's officially half~past Winter
and a quarter ~ "til Spring!


With that in mind, 
I've set a between Seasonal changes tablescape!

Keeping the streamlined approach
while still craving Traditional decor, I chose black and white 
with soft buttery yellow accents for this tablescape!

I adore this petite, crystal compote with frosted base!
It's filled to the brim with faux grapes 
which mimic the soft buttery yellow beaded candle rings
on the silver single candle holders and yellow marbled tapers.

A simple centerpiece
set in the center of our round dining room table
allows for free~flowing conversation between "Mr. Ed" and I.

Everyday Oneida stainless flatware,
rests beside a gathered linen fagot edged napkin
held with a soft butter yellow beaded napkin ring.

A gift from "Mr. Ed", 
I added my crystal salt cellars with 
silver spoons as an added touch of elegance.

Simple classic white dinnerware with embossing and scallops
that accentuate the black and white scalloped place mats.
Claret wine stemware serve as our water goblets. 

Place settings for two 
atop a white linen fagot edged tablecloth.

 * * * * * FYI * * * * *

As a child, 
I would often accompany my MoMa into the Townhouse Hotel
where she was employed at Albertees Beauty Salon 
as a Beautician.

Many times, 
we would have breakfast in the Upper Level Coffee Shop.  
While MoMa finished her coffee and the morning edition 
of the Kansas City Star, I was allowed to observe as the 
staff prepared the formal banquet hall for the noon dining. 

I thoroughly enjoyed watching, 
perched from high above, as the staff  layered the starched 
damask and linen table cloths across the length of the long
tables.  

Almost as precision drills,
the staff clan in black and white uniforms, would make an
inverted pleat at each end of the long tables. As that task 
was completed, with precise timing another staff member 
would enter and place square white linen cloths atop the damask.  As I viewed the entire stretch of the tables, 
it was as if  the cloths had formed diamond points 
down the outer edges of the banquet tables.

MoMa thought my sighs were those of boredom. 
Quite to the contrary, they were ^sighs^ of full bliss!!!
Being the ripe age of six, I thought this one of the most
fascinating sights I had beheld!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sunlight streaming through the double patio doors
brings thoughts of the onset of Spring.

Candlelight chases the chill that still
lingers in the cool of Winter's evenings.

Time passes rapidly On Crooked Creek 
between each Seasonal change
whether it's half~past Winter 
or a quarter ~'til Spring!


Until next time. . .

www.betweennapsontheporch.net

On Crooked Creek will be joining 

Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for

Tablescape Thursday!

Be sure to visit

for you’ll come away

filled with amazing inspirations

for use in your own home décor!

L O N G Over~due!

L O N G  over~due
is the perfect phrase On Crooked Creek
for Studio One!

Studio One began as the creative space
in the unfinished portion of our lower level
of our 1970's Ranch Style Home!





This is the space where I do card making,
scrapbooking, gift wrapping, floral arranging and c r e a t i n g!

Several years ago, I owned and operated a
Handmade Cards with a Vintage Flair
home~based business in Studio One.



I've come full ~ circle
and Studio One is once again my c r e a t i v e space!

After 8 years,
not only have my needs for this space changed,
but my choice of decor for this space is changing, as well.

My first design choices were a Spring theme.
There are no windows in Studio One.
Having a Spring themed decor
allowed me to be surrounded
by soft pastel shades for continual inspiration.




Returning from our Annual Trout Fishing Trip,
after a week of rest and relaxation,
I now had a vision for utilizing Studio One's space.


With new floor layout in hand,
I began the task of moving the furniture
I deemed necessary into place.



Then the task of re~organizing each area began.
Donations to our local Thrift Shop and Goodwill,
along with some major furniture pieces being sold
@ Bits 'n Pieces this past Autumn, gave me the space
I sought to bring about those changes.

  One of those needed changes is a the addition of  a painless window.I view this as my "window of opportunities".

Pausing briefly,
as I began the preparations for
Celebrating Christmas On Crooked Creek,
I've now finished re~organizing of the storage shelves
that flank one entire end of Studio One.

 

 

Having defined the needs of my space,
I will begin to make the decor changes to enhance each area.

In keeping with a Vintage Flair,
I want to incorporate a more streamlined decor here, as well.
Adding soft hues, lightening some of the dark furniture
and the addition of fabrics to soften the concrete walls
are a few of the updates I have projected.

I am, truly, inspired and motivated to see
a soft palette transformation in Studio One.
Stay tuned and I'll reveal each project as we go.


Until next time. . .

Thank You ~
for your patience while I was encouraged and advised
how to continue without a browser button to upload photos!
I appreciate your continued patience
while I'm still trying to work through this handicap!!!