Faith, Family and Friends: Holidays

Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Winter In the South

i love winter. won't make any bones about it. it's a time of rest. reflection. hot chocolate and a fire in the fireplace. a time to slow down. soft talks at night. soup and crusty bread. endless cups of coffee with various creamers for the holidays. it's my favorite time of the year. always has been.

cardinals. my favorite bird. especially the males with their colorful red in a white world with green hollies in bloom. they remind, and i know not why, of being messengers. they turn up to make one smile. they seem to know when you need to see them. could they be sent to make us remember better times, loved ones no longer here, eternity that will be filled with peace. watch for them. they come when they sense a need. truly. as do dragonflies. but that's another story.

walking on a bridge in a snowy wonderland. romantic. i wonder how many engagements have taken place here? how many have expressed love here? how quiet the snow makes our world. it blankets out loudness, animals settle in to hibernate and sleep. daily outside noise vanishes. all lies dormant. beautifully so.

i know not where this is other than a street my heart takes me to in my dreams. belgium? rome? paris, oslo? i pray that he will show me these places in my dreams once this life is over and there's beauty i still haven't seen. i wonder, do the people who walk these streets wish to walk the streets here? hmmm ~

sadness. so much sadness. 84 deaths and counting just in our state alone. from flu and flu related illnesses. death is no respecter of persons. we've lost family, friends and oh, we've lost our young. those that die with our dreams. this year has been a terrible one with this illness that takes us to such sickness.

our youngest and her family. just prior to going to look at the christmas lights in the town, suburbs and various areas that still love to decorate and set out luminaries. i miss that as our current home is in a suburb that doesn't but oh, we've lived where they do. and it's not only beautiful but brings us back to the heart of christmas with the lighting of a candle. a star.

Thankfully Blessed ~

we are so blessed

to have such loves

and to be loved

our children grew fast

and the grandbabies even quicker

truly, where does time go

we are so proud of the adults

they are becoming

and the parents they are

the grands?

very proud of those young ones

that are already moving into

the teen years

our hearts runneth over

with thanksgiving and deep love

Easter Yummies on Pinterest

Click HERE to find lots of Easter yummies to make and serve. From decorated eggs to bunny cakes and cookies, you'll find it here. Hoping you're planning to nice time with family as we celebrate His resurrection and welcome in the beautiful Spring weather. Blessings!

Christmas 2015

Praying yours was filled with His blessings and the

remembrance of a King that came to earth

in the form of a baby that lay in a lowly manger.

He grew, was tortured and killed by his own.

When he arose and ascended into Heaven,

he carried our sins with him

to lay at the feet of God, his Father.

Our Christmas was a nice one, a quiet one,

a day that began with heavy water fall,

startling lightening flashes, and flooding. And

ended with dinner at a daughter's home, a warm bowl of soup,

fresh from the oven cookies, and the giggles of grandbabies.

Now one begins to think of Winter and its barrenness.

Happens to be my favorite season. My very favorite!

I pray you and yours are safe, warm and grateful ~

for with all the ugly in Life, He sends gifts.

Blessings as we head toward a brand new year ~

Autumn Is Still UP?!?!

Yes, Autumn is still up in our household. Horrors!! That's only happened one other time, and we like to forget that December. However, we have been busy with various things you care nothing about, that with my memory I'd have to go get my calendar to fill you in. Yeah, that kind of crazy busy.

And I had to, HAD TO, finish painting the hall. The back hall that I've been working on since, well, since last Autumn. I think. Pretty sure. So I was determined not to put up Autumn and pull out her Christmas dress until that hall was painted! And trimmed! Trimmed twice, as a matter of fact. I had no idea how marked up doors, facings, and baseboards get marked up! Man!

I would post pictures to prove to you, but they're the same ones you have already seen {Rolling Eyes font} like in, September, maybe?!?! But I CAN show you some ideas I plan to implement next week! Because I plan to finish painting the hall this weekend! Drag out the HuGe container that holds Autumn and clean the house. Then, I can begin unpacking closets and boxes and containers and make the Hood go up in the attic for the greenery and wreaths. Aaaaaah, makes me happy just thinking about it.

Oh, and this year I get to add the pieces I bought from Southern Born hand crafting!! You can find them by clicking on the name or going to septemberbornshop.etsy.com. We love the pieces we've purchased and he is making us a customized dining room table, so yes, I highly recommend them. I'll be sure to point what I purchased once this house is dressed in her finery. (Oh, I miss the icons. I could use a Christmas tree one right now!)

I plan to try this for the buffet table in our breakfast room.

Already collecting the older bibles that have been passed

down and other small hymnals.

And I'm thinking this for the mantel.

Not the usual silk greenery I use or the ribbon,

but I love the natural look of it and it'll go

through Winter well.

And this photo down here?!

I'm a child of the King and I love that He gave

me a love for snow and cardinals. This photo, found

on Pinterest, says it all. sigh ~

blessings to you and yours.

I'm in Love ~

on december first, i consider winter to be here!!

i love winter, with autumn a very close second.

praying you've had a great two day start for the month

and check back for tablescapes, recipes, decorating tips

and beautiful free printables. along with christmas hymns

and poetry. i love it. i just love this season. hello, dear december!

A Week of Thanksgiving ~

we are truly thankful for God's gifts, mercy & grace

not our mantel but isn't this easy to copy & says it all

again, pinterest with oodles of beautiful tablescapes

this came from my board titled 'thanksgiving'

this sweet pup caught my eye on my way to my board

the photo didn't lead to a breeder of aussies but i'd love one

may you have a blessed week

filled with love, laughter, and reasons to feel blessed

in my darkest days, i've always found at least a handful

to say, 'thank you, father'

we all have that many and more ~

A Few Tablescapes For the Season

Oh, how this makes me feel like we will be with a grandmother. Peaceful and neutrals. One of my favorite color themes. And I love love love the table! You can find this photo and more about her style and home here! I couldn't find this particular photo but I didn't have much time this morning looking. However, I DO intend to add her to my blog list and keep up with this blogger!

Another one of my favs is Stone Gable. Click and go see her eye candy design sense. I have these leaf dishes and love them. Now, if I could find the white set. Oh my downfall. Dinnerware!!

Like me, she loves to decorate for all the seasons and holidays. Although, I have to admit I don't decorate as I did when the babies were at home and the grands were young. I still decorate enough that the mister grins and patiently helps me bring it all out, but I'm finding as we downsize that less is more.

On Stone Gable's far right bar, scroll down and you'll see where you can be redirected to her Fall Tours. Have fun! Take notes!! Leave her a comment. Bloggers 'heart' comments!

Need an elegant Fall tablescape? Inessa Stewart's Antiques can help you set it up and be ready to impress! Good food, great friends, conversation that ebbs and flows with laughter, memories of times past ~ sigh. Perfect time together.

I remember well our Thanksgiving meals in the past, meals on Autumn Sunday afternoons after worship, and how the heart still remembers with clarity the ones present, the ones that have gone on, the little ones that began gracing us with their births. Life is a precious circle of those that have been, that are, and that will be. Make the most of these times, my friend. Time is fleeting and moments pass. The heart remembers and for this, sweet Father, I am most grateful ~

It's Hot In the South!

Is this not too cute!!

Paint or buy a happy flower pot, some ribbon in colors you love, a few silk flowers to match and cheap-o flip flops! There you have it ~ an adorable table centerpiece for a foyer or table. Just think of the ooh's and aah's you'll hear, along with, "I'm going to make one of those!"

Many things I love about this tablescape ~ the double skirting, the napkins extra large and folded as placemats until used, happy centerpiece in a wooden bowl with either silk or fresh flowers and fruit. Just a simple but happy and casual setting for your family and friends. Bring in some good food and lean back and listen to the chatter and laughter.

One of my best friends actually made these one Summer and they were too cute! And very easy. Nutter Butter cookies with a bit of icing from a tube, edible candy flowers, and there you go ~

Talk about easy. Who doesn't like Mason jars, burlap, & plaid?!

And a FREE printable to run off and frame!! Right click & save to your computer!

Our Summer has been busy, as I'm sure yours as been. We are very thankful for the gifts He continues to rain upon us and our family. With current events threatening to surround us with doubt and worry, it's easy to let satan drape us in fear for the future. But you know what?! God's already there! And He promises to always be there for His children. We don't need to do anything more than remember who the Victor is and Who holds our hand and promises Eternal Life. Now, if we could just get the temps down to around 65 degreees tops, I'd be doing my happy dance! {Giggle font}

It's St. Patrick's Day, 2015

Here's a look through past posts on this Irish holiday ~

St. Patrick's Day, 2015

St. Patrick's Day, 2014

St. Patrick's Day, 2013

St. Patrick's Day, 2112

Celebrated with Deborah & Richard by driving to Fairhope and joining in with the Arts & Crafts Fair - which was HUGE - then having a traditional meal at McSharry's Irish pub. Yum!!! Below is a precious model for her mommy's talents! Elle says, "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"