The birth and passing of 7thJoy!

 

Several years ago, as I was puttering along with my “little” design business, a friend and I decided that it would be fun to create together. 

Exactly what, we weren’t sure…

but determined we began 7thJoy. 

The name, just a little reference to our July births and the joy that creating with your hands can bring!!!

I first met Robin McCarty McKay when St. Philip and I moved to Timbergreen near Tomball and had the pleasure of hosting part of the neighborhood Christmas progressive dinner.  Robin showed up in her MoveOverMartha fashion, with a thoughtful hostess gift of homemade Fireside Coffee in of course, the sweetest little gift tin...

and I’ve been impressed by her talents ever since!

 

This wasn’t the Christmas Party…but an example of the fun she can be with friends in tow…Bunco night joke played on me by her & cohort Alisa!

It wasn’t until much later though...a move away from Texas and back to Tomball (me not her), boys growing up (mine and hers), my oldest getting married (her by my side, God bless her!); that we realized we had much more in common than living outnumbered in our male dominated homes and our love for creating beautiful things.   

And as we’ve weathered through these past 12+ years, getting to truly know each other, realizing our common obsessions, our shared interests, our strengths and weaknesses…much more has happened than creating together!  

And I am forever grateful!

  

 

Many Madonna pillows, corporate gift baskets, paper wreaths, sweater scarfs, Christmas ornaments, crosses and infamous peasant bags later, we are bonded by a triple stitch strong sisterhood!

 

 

 

 

7thJoy shenanigans in our past, she weary and off to new adventures, myself busy with sweet clients and GraceReclaimed, I reluctantly let our 7thJoy website/domain go this past month.  Bittersweet of course!   But nonetheless graced by its part in an everlasting kinship!

 

So Happy Birthday Robin, my talented, BetterthanMartha Friend!  It’s been a ride!  Thanks for sticking with me through the creative bliss, the calamity of guy raising (all of them!) and this thing we call mid-life!  And thanks for teaching me that rule following isn’t always necessary!  You are a beautiful blessing!  Love, b
 

“Shawfarming”

[GraceReclaimed Full Blog Here, Promise it's worth the click

I would just as soon it was a spa….

Old Barn being torn down slowly, plan on using the wood in the new farmhouse, sans bugs!!!
 

II  The phrase would just as soon means the user would   II
prefer one option to another.
It is a comparative phrase that sometimes
leaves off the second half of the comparison.

The confusion comes when the phrase is heard instead of read.
If the speaker’s annunciation isn’t clear, 
as soon can be interpreted assume.
 In some cases, assume can make sense in the sentence
(e.g., I’d just assume it was a spa),
but the actual phrase is as soon.

In regard to Shawfarming...

“The Farm” is the next best thing to a spa! Really!!

It is peaceful and calming…

It’s a place to get away from it all, you really don’t have to do anything, or you can sweat out all your toxins (just requires a bit more physical activity).  You can clear your mind and your head just sitting on the porch feeling the refreshing Moulton breeze.  You can listen to the peace and quiet of birds singing and branches rustling or you can turn up the music as loud as you please (the cows might mind, but who cares!).  You can don your robe, put your hair and your feet up; then read a book for hours without distraction.

Except for the constant sound of St. Philip relaxing in his own way…constructing!  For now this is his happy place, his spa of sorts.  I’m sure he’d enjoy a good novel or a good nap, but there is work to be done and
here it doesn't seem so much like WORK! 

One weekends work (the wall)

  And every once in a while, if necessary I join in….

 

 

Even if it's just decorating the almost finished space!!

 

Gracefully Spafarming, B

  

Psalm 128:2  You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you