A couple weeks ago, I told you I had found a church. Today I'd like to take you on a mini tour of the building and grounds. There are so many more pictures I could have taken, this is just a small sample of the beauty that surrounds me every Sunday.
This is the altar area, it was the middle of the week so the elements were not there, nor the flowers. But still I think the beauty of the church can still be seen. If you click on the pictures, you can see the carved angels that are mounted where the pipes are hidden for the organ, and Pastor peaking from the side. The stained glass windows around the church are magnificent! The corner stone was laid in 1895.
This is the lectern, there are several awesome carvings throughout the sanctuary.
Children at Grace are very well behaved. This is due in part to the children's chapel, where proper church behavior, and respect are taught. This is the window over the alter.
Alongside the building, is a piece of Heaven in the middle of the city. The wrought iron fencing encloses beautiful gardens and statuary, and benches for those who want to sit and just soak in the beauty of the surroundings. People from the neighborhood are most welcome to come into the garden and enjoy the peace it offers.
Today was the baby shower for my niece/daughter (long story) Becky. Little Preston is due in 5 weeks. I love the way Becky carries her babies, little rockets!
Her favorite color is green so that's the colors I did her cake in. The wheels are made from sugar cookies.
Mitzi, pretty as a picture!
Several posts back, I showed the cup and saucer collection I thought I'd lost forever. In the center was this dessert plate and tea cup that were the remainder of my grandmother's china. Diane, of Pinecones and Roses, told me it was lustreware, made in Japan in the 30's and 40's. I set out to find more pieces, and found a sugar bowl and creamer, for $50. I tried to get them, and was so disappointed when she sold them to someone else. Well yesterday, my dear husband sat a huge box in my lap, with "Happy Mother's Day!" (He couldn't wait that long, never was good at keeping surprises.) I opened the box, and here, the tea set for four, I thought I'd never see in my home, as it was sold in auction. I had no idea it was my husband who won it! Not the same color, but I don't care, it's the pattern I loved. This will be a treasure to me always!!! So thank-you Diane, you were right! I didn't get the others for a reason, and best yet, the whole set, in mint condition, was $12 less than just the sugar and creamer! If you had never told me it was lustreware, I never would have found this beautiful set! I'll still add to the other as I find pieces, but this is a definite keeper!
The blossoms are huge, and the color, awesome.
The flowers reach to the sky, I've never seen one this spectacular!
Molly is a special little dog. She started out with my son until she was 6 months. With their work schedules, she needed more attention. She lived with Mom and Dad, and after Dad died she stayed with Mom until she could no longer care for her. So that's how Molly came to live with us. Molly was from a breeder who showed AKC dogs, but because of scarring on her face she wasn't show material, so she went to my son and daughter-in-law. Molly is a quiet little dog most of the time, and very easy going. She is about 11 now, and our little sweet heart!
I get to eat this really yummy special cat food now, and was trying to eat when Mitzy decided to get in on the action. She actually had the nerve to keep hitting me in the head with her paw while I was trying to eat.
It's here that I had to take action, and decided to stake my territory. With the last slap, I growled and swatted back. Mom had the camera on us, but it happened so fast that by the time she clicked, I had already fought back and was chasing her out of the room,
leaving my half eaten food behind! Yep! We're fighting already, so everything is back to normal!
Andy had to be taken to the "hospital" this morning, and he needs your prayers. He can't pass urine, and what little he did was blood. He'll be there for several days with a catheter inserted to flush out his bladder, for tests, and hopefully get him stabilized. Needless to say, I'm a wreck. Andy is a one person cat, and I am his faithful follower. I pray he'll be ok, and home with me soon.
Saturday, I had to do a wedding shower cake for our friends daughter. Steph is about 26 now, I've known her since she was 2. I don't know where the time went. The first time I saw her, she was playing with her brother in the sand box. Now she's a law school graduate, marrying a medical student graduate! Her brother completes his law classes in May. Great kids, I love them both.
Then today, I have to give a sample of the cake I'll be doing for a wedding in June. This one is a layer of home made carrot and a layer of homemade banana. Cream cheese icing over all and covered in fondant. I made the shells from candy molds and white chocolate, then brushed them with different colors of pearl dust to give them a real feel. The pearls are also fondant rolled in the dust. Of course, this is just a mock up. The real cake will have the pearls put on like strings of pearls, a clam with pearls in it, and I just put the extra chocolates on top, the real cake will have their cake topper. It will be 4 tiers. I'm hoping this is ok, but I'll make any changes they want.
Miss Lucy is laying in the cats bed. Excuse the glowing eyes! At her mouth is a wash cloth, Lucy is always carrying something around, usually a slipper or a sock, sometimes a shoe. When she wants out, she'll come to us with one or more of the above in her mouth, I guess the more urgent she needs to go, the more she grabs! Lucy is quite the character though, love her to pieces.
