SUNDAY...THIS AND THAT

Warning~Long post ahead...lots of photos too!

Church was incredible today. It's always good, but some days are just over the top and today was one of those days. I'm so thankful for my church and my church family.

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Speaking of my church family...two of my friends chaired a great project for the Children's Volunteer Health Network, a faith-based organization which facilitates the delivery of comprehensive direct medical, dental and mental health services to low-income school children throughout our county and surrounding counties. They partner with a network of physicians, dentists and healthcare providers that give their servies at no charge to the children. Just think about that...what a wonderful organization! I didn't really know alot about it until recently, but it's an organization that I want to volunteer for.

Today we visited one of their fund raising projects called Cottages for Kids. The cottages have been on display now for a few weeks and the auction will be held on November 24th. Just look at these wonderful playhouses!

This first one is called the "Bau Wau Haus". His big red tongue is designed to stick out so you can slide into the pool of fun. If you look closely there is a swing between his ears and his collar has a big bell.

Back view - how cute is that?!

Inside - look at the doggy shaped seats and the dog bone shapped table!

Okay, these next two are great!

The one in the background is called "The Pinwheel Windmill". It was inspired by the timeless storybook cottages of Europe and the eclectic windmills of the Dutch. It was my favorite on the inside.

The white one in front is called "The Fanciful Folly". So cute.

This was the back door.
Here's two photos taken on the inside of "The Pinwheel Windmill". I love all the details.


The children loved climbing to the top and playing with the puppets.

This one is called "Dun Wishes & Dreams Castle". Can you imagine how much fun kids would have? It even has a working drawbridge!

Just turn the crank to work the drawbridge.

This next one is called "Pineapple Under The Sea". I didn't see SpongeBob SquarePants, but this would be perfect for him and his friends, don't cha think?
A climbing wall outside and inside a sandbox with sea shells!


Here's a view of lots of the cottage all in a row. I didn't get a good photo of the yellow one toward the back. It was so cute. Not pratical to put in a back yard unless it was very private (since it was bright yellow), but it was a cute idea. It was called "Citron". A giant lemonade stand shaped like a perfect lemon. It had a bright green door and when you entered, you climbed spiral steps to the top.


This one got my vote as the best (yep, at the end of the tour you voted). I loved the looks of many of the others, but the children LOVED this one and had the most fun. Inside and out it had lots to do. It was called "Slide-Away Hill". The children could climb up the grass hill, slide down, climb up to the lookout and it even had an escape hatch. Very cool.

They could use the rope or the hand grips. I wanted to try it, but......

This is called "The Perfect Play-Fort". I loved this one, inside and out. So cute and look at all the details. The front doors slide open and closed. I loved the tin roof.

This next one was called "Behind the Sky". Inside was a sandbox, but it was designed to hang a hammock inside to allow the lounger to view the sky through the open roof.

See the white one off in the background? I didn't get a close-up photo of it either. It was called "Green Top Cottage". Two sides with a patio between covered with a canopy.


One side had a room for fun with all kinds of activities and the other side had hammocks for naptime. Really cute.

This one was called "The Fibonacci House". Very plain, but the boys seemed to like it.

This one was called "La Petite Salle". Another very plain one. It looks more like one an adult might like to use to do meditation in.


This last one is called "Dickens Cottage" and is the 2007 Raffle House. For a $5.00 donation, I just might win it....sure hope so!



Here's 2 more views looking down the lawn. I hope you enjoyed your tour. I sure did.

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Boy, this was a weekend of birthdays!

Yesterday was not only the birthday of our granddaughter, Kaley Grace, but also the birthday of Terri at Lakewood Manor!

Today is the 40th birthday of Sandy at I love to dream, live to create and hope to inspire. Go by and let her know that 40 isn't bad - at all! Don't they say 40 is the new 20? LOL

Happy Happy Birthday Kaley Grace, Terri and Sandy!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Speaking of parties ~ our daughter's friend held a party for dogs in honor of her dog's birthday. Here's a couple of pictures she e-mailed me. Too cute! What a fun idea!

Our daughter Bree is on the left holding our grand-dog, Hershey.

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Heather wrote a great post entitled "Holy Crap"...I know, it made me say "What?", but it really is a wonderful, thought provoking post. You can read it here.