~a mother’s heart and aqua palette~

Hello friends,

It’s good to be back! 

2013 has been a little rocky for the raggygirlvintage household.

 In January my daughter became very ill and her health deteriorated at an alarming rate. Long story short she has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

 It has been a slow and rocky path to recovery. Thankfully the past two weeks her health has stabilised somewhat, and we are feeling some degree of normality again. 

We are still figuring out how to manage this long term, but as I posted on fb recently, an uneventful day is a good day right now! 

Here’s a photo of our sweet girl, this is one of her grad shots this year.

As any of you who have had a critically ill child will know, it is hard on a mother’s heart. 
So hard. 

I am so thankful for the friends and family who have supported us through this time, and our church community who have stood with us in prayer. 

I can tell you this journey has been all about choices, choosing to trust God in desperate situations. Sometimes I have failed miserably, but I like to think that the roots of my faith are that much deeper having walked through this time. 
Faith is really in the walking peeps.

I want you to know that you also have been an encouragement to me. 
When my world was in crisis and each day was focused on surviving and getting through, it was just so awesome to pop on your blogs/fb and see beautiful creativity still happening. 

The world was still turning. 

I was blown away by how it seemed every time I opened my instagram feed there was a scripture or word of encouragement that spoke right to my heart, and mostly from gals I have never even met.

God is in the small stuff, peeps, He really is!

So, I hope that wasn’t too heavy, but I wanted you to know why my blog has been silent for a while

Now let’s move on to some fun stuff shall we!!
 The last few days have felt like spring up north here in Canada, blue skies, sunshine, such a treat! 
I have to admit, I started thinking spring even before it brightened up, and as I’m still in love with the aqua, beachy palette I’ve been changing things up a little in my living room.

For starters I switched my old barnwood door around so it’s back to it’s aqua side. 

How do you like the mini bunting I have up there, so fun and easy to make!
 I love the look of mini bunting like this draped over a door or mirror.

I change this little table up a lot!

 I love the white hydrangeas against the aqua, they sure are springy!

I also pulled out a couple of nests and popped them here and there. 

Tucked on the mantle…

…on my chippy ol’ chair

I do still have my basket of birch wood beside the fireplace and cosy throws around as I know we’ll have plenty more rain yet, but I love the lighter, brighter elements.
 Our fireplace is gas (shhh), but I love the look of birch! 
Plus I paid an arm and a leg for the stuff!

I did a copycat floral arrangement which I’ll share on Thursday, it was so effective, I also want to show you my raggy bunting which I am now totally addicted to making! 

If you want a sneak peek you can pop over to my fb page here or follow me on instagram @raggygirlvintage

Well, it’s good to be back! I have missed blogging soooo much! Look forward to hearing how you are changing things up for spring!

hugs,

Tracey

~chocolate eggs and stuff~

Hello peeps, had your fill of chocolate eggs? Me too! 

They are yummy, aren’t they!

We had unseasonably warm weather for our Easter long weekend up in the Pacific Northwest, what a treat! 

It was my turn to host Easter dinner, so here are a couple of peeks at our day and decorating, super simple and springy.

 

White flowers in small ironstone tureens. I had planned on white miniature roses and tulips, all sold out! These worked too.

 

Flatware dumped stacked in a pretty container.

More eggs and bunny marshmallows.

We had some Easter and coastal and spring all happening on the mantle! I think this vintage egg cup is so sweet, even if it is missing one eye.

These Easter nests were yummy, I’ll have to remember to post the recipe before next Easter! Loving the robin’s egg blue of these eggs. 

Here’s a quick trivia fact for you: Cadbury chocolate eggs in the US and Canada are not the same, the US ones are bigger, the Canadian ones are prettier colors. All sampled as a courtesy to bring you this important fact of course!!

Of course the day would not be complete without an egg hunt! Do we ever outgrow egg hunts? I think not…

Look easy to find? Hmmm, actually took them a while. Sometimes the obvious spots are the best! 

Certain teenage boys in the home had to line up their loot military style and engage in bunny battles. No comment.

My favorite part of the day : having the family share what Jesus means to them.

Well I’m off to raid the kids stash, hope you had a lovely Easter.

Tracey