Tablescape Thursday

For more TT be sure to stop in at Between Naps on the Porch! You'll be glad you did!!!

Easter is a 'comin'!
I can feel it in the air.,,
  the robins are a 'singin'
and  there's a scent all around
  of flowers all a'bloomin'
and petals  on the ground!
The breezes are a' breezin
  for the wind is all unfurled
Easter is a 'comin
  to bring light into the world!

The bunnies are a' groomin
getting ready for the  day
  they're all gettin' together
plannin' their Easter Day parade!
They a re the herald, don't cha know,
of this special time of year
  when  Christ the King
 conquered death
 New life on earth to spread!

I chanced to set about my table  when what to my eye should I see,
but a gathering of bunnies seated there, on the table so carefree..
So as not to disturb them then, I set  about to create
 a pre Easter  scape  on this rather dismal drear, rainy date!

The bunnies didnt seem to mind
  when I sat out my latest find..
  My brand new flatwear...  oooo how I love it!
JA Henckles  Vintage 1876 ---  I just got it!

It catches the light and gives it right back to me
  It's balance and weight   is a joy!
  And with my flash it resounded   its gladsome radiance
  I can hardly contain my glee!

On sale this month at Amazon  half price
 One cant go wrong
  when you can purchase such loveliness for  barely a song!
I think the bunnies are rejoicing with mirth
 Over this tablescape,  why not,, it's just so nice!

As we approach  this  wonderful  season
  commemorating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
  we are ever thankful for all the benefits of His sacrifice..
 our atoning redemption and access to the   Father, God of heaven.
  May everything beautiful  in springtime sing praise to the majesty of Christ, the King!

Mosaic Monday

  When I visited Mary's site this morning and saw her theme was memories, I was, as always, flooded with memories of our family,,, all centered about our darling Amanda.  When we adopted her in 1985 we   had no clue as to the depth of blessing she would and continues to add to our family!
  Always full of joy and vivaciousness,  she is and always will be the light of our lives... just last night on the phone ,  seeing her enveloped in the hand of God, as he is leading her through the progressions of life   and helping her to find direction and purpose in her chosen  career,    and how He brings  people  whom she cares so much about  but who are living so far away... back into their lives even as far away as Boston,  is awesome  because it demonstrates how wonderfully  God does care about us in such tangible and personalized ways...My most cherished memories a re ever in the making as I see God's Word being lived in our child...  His marvelous love, mercy, care, and provision!  
Visit Mary at the Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday!!

The SImple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...I am trying to overcome my disappointment with the cold, blustery, flurrying day....   it just doesnt compute with the daffodils, bluebirds, and bird song in the air!


I am thinking...how marvelous is the activity of God in our lives... how He sends His Holy Spirit to prompt other believers  to administer His truth, His deeper hidden  ways,, that manifest His presence in our lives...how He orchestrates even the most basic things we do to bring forth His kingdom...  and therefore  I am learning to be so much more attentive that I do not miss Him in the process of just living


I am thankful for...  every blessing, every brother and sister in Christ, every act of the Almighty  that touches me...

From the kitchen.. nothing...

I am wearing... khakis, and a cozy blue cowl neck sweater


I am creating...  a tone of restive peace in our home, touched by the arrival of springtime and refreshing!

I am reading... A Praying Life, by Paul Miller  The Peace Maker by Ken Sande  both of these are for bible studies at church!   The Peace Maker   is for our Sunday night Pastor's study.  I am preparing to teach  a couple of chapters from  the praying book this week.  This has been a marvelous study on prayer and how to approach God more effectively!I will be leading the talk on Listening to God and Prayer journaling!

I am hoping....have the opportunity to mentor a friend this week.... a relatively new believer!   Please pray toward that end with me.

Around the house.... the house is in good shape....of course, however, the laundry is never ending around here.  But thankfully, I have done a load already this morning!

One of my favorite things....planning....  I know I get this from my mom.   I have a project to begin right before me,,, but knowing how to edit it to something actually doable... that is the dilemma for me... when I have it figured out, I'll share about it


A few plans for the rest of the week:
Hoping to find some time in here some time to meet with my dear friend, Dottie... we seem to have been missing each other lately
Monday - lunch with the girls,  evening out with my hubby,  Symphony night
Beethoven's Ode to Joy
Roanoke Symphony  Orchestra

Roanoke Symphony Chorus
Bridgewater College Concert Choir
Liberty University Concert Choir
Radford University Choral Union
Roanoke College Choirs

Beethoven - Fidelio Overture
Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 ("Choral")




Tuesday-  allergy shot, Mom to the doctor,   marketing , work on Bible Study

Wednesday- Wednesday evening dinner at church and  Bible Study

Thursday- small group Bible Study in the evening

Friday-

Saturday- Prayer in the church chapel


Here is a photo Id like to share...


This is what I am longing for... the moving ahead with springtime and renewed vigor in life,... but alas, when I look out my window, the air is full of flurries... so fiercely full that I can hardly see  the street!    BAH!!!  Well, this too, shall pass,,,  I can hear my brother in Christ say to me,, "Rejoice in all things,,, they a re all gifts from God!"  Therefore, I will refuse to be daunted in my joyful approach to the day  come whatever may!

For the 2011 edition of The Simple Woman's Daybooks visit Peggy here!

Pink Saturday

Happy PINK Saturday!!

Happy Pink SaturdayVisit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more PINK SATURDAY!!

I know I have spoken here of this many times before,, but it just so happens that I spend every Saturday morning  with my prayer sisters...either first and third weeks at the prayer chapel in church or second and fourth weeks in the home of Lynne,  our coordinator  and inspiration..  Lynne has such a child-like approach to the Father... her worship is free and heart-felt, and her vivacious spirit motivates us every week...   her home just has a wonderful , relaxed and welcoming atmosphere and we so enjoy our times there...  we take turns bringing the goodies,   and last time  Lynn had everything decked out in pink!


  She always serves the very best coffee with every delicious creamer  one can imagine, and the banana nut bread and fruit were simply scrumptious!


Don't you just love these dishes!  Lynne inherited them from her grandmother and they are just the sweetest dishes... everyone  loves them!
  This week I take the goodies....  I  baked a strawberry breakfast jam cake, served with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top, and an impossible quiche since we are meeting more  at the brunch hour.  Perhaps I'll have pictures of that next week!
  Meanwhile, please enjoy your PINK Saturday!   There is always something special to celebrate and stay in the Pink!!

Sky Watch Friday

Check out Skyley for more wonderful photos!

Thankful Thursday

This being the first Thursday of Spring 2011    I am just so thankful for the refreshing of God's creation  as new life springs forth  in profuse color and simplicity....  everywhere one looks the blossoming trees are laden with their pale pinks and whites,,the budding leaves on trees that loveliest shade of spring green....   blazing forsythia   brightens every hedgerow   and flowers are popping out all over...  it puts a lilt in my voice, a song in my heart and delight in my steps...  why, just to glance out the window one lightens the mood and thrills the eye, spring's  grandeur is everywhere!

Whether I look out the back..

 or out the front,,,  the promise of spring is there!
Some windows offer much more!


  I just missed capturing the female bluebird building her nest in our bluebird house... glory to God!
 So as I step back to take my shot, I see the evidence   of springtime is manifesting itself inside, as well as out!



Indeed, the whole room is showing off a bit of spring time loveliness!

Ah,,, yes,, spring is here and with it all the glorious color and life of God's perfection  coming back into the the world,, and for that I am most thankful!

"The garden shares its secrets with those who come away into a world where time is measured not by clocks but by the sun's long fingers....
Where one petal is a universe, and the cares that life beyond the garden gate are swept away on the gentle evening breeze..  "  from Beyond the Garden Gate, by Thomas Kinkade
For more TT click here.

Thursday Tea Talk

1.  My tea cup is filled with the Yorkshire Breakfast tea  as I celebrate elevenses this morning


2. I'm  feeling....very hopeful and full of expectation... a friend this morning called this a day for fun and planning and so that is what I am up too....

3. On my  mind....  As I enjoy this warming brew, I am contemplating the book,  A Praying Life, by Paul Miller.    I will be teaching a couple of chapters in this book,  Hearing from the Lord, and Application of Prayer Principles, next week...  and one of the principles is creating prayer cards for directing your prayer life  so I have been creating like mad over my tea...

4.A quote or two:
."If you try to seize the day, the day will eventually break you.  Seize instead the corner of His garment and don't let go until He blesses you.  He will reshape your day!

Now you will wish to join Ruth for more  Tea Talk  !

Simple Pleasures

The  lovely blog, A Collection of This and That by Dayle,    hosts this great theme each week.  Simplicity is my goal now that I am retired and attempted to scale back....to contemplate those  simple things that fulfill and bring pleasure...  a couple of weeks ago  it was breakfast for two... and in this instance it was breakfast for my Son-in law, Joshua, who lives in Boston.  His bride, our daughter was attending a bridal brunch that morning so I had Joshua all to myself.

 A rarety to say the least,  for family dinner conversation usually runs along the lines of work, sports, and other innocuous topics...  but this morning,  Joshua and I  enjoyed a lovely chat along more personal lines and the pace was lingering and the the mood was light.  A real simple pleasure!

Word Filled Wednesday

Click the above photo to return to Cafe Devotions!

Three or More Tuesday

We have always been completely entranced by the glories of God's magnificent creation.   The beauty of the earth and the heavens enchants  us so we take advantage of every opportunity to  partake of any unusual phenomena  in creation and this past weekend we experienced the Super Moon... We drove up on the Blue ridge Parkway to  a wonderful overlook that captures the setting sun to thew est and the rising moon to the    east...  Situated on a ridge  that overlooks Bedford County,  we arrived right as dusk fell.

After about 15 minutes the evening shadow lengthened and the moon began its lazy ascent into the bare tree branches.  I hung   there like a fiery balloon caught up in the trees for some time..   My camera would not capture the rosy fiery hue that spread around it in the navy   blue night sky...


The lights of far away Bedford lay just beneath the rising fireball...  so deep was its hue  it tantalized the eyes!

It was hard to leave our perch on the crest of the mountain  but we had a distance to travel home... and as we turned into our drive,  the misty night was threatening to swallow up the evening pearl,  but the trees seemed to hold it there in their midst until we could capture one last frame!

Visit Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for more TOMT..

Mosaic Monday

This morning I was out bright and early on my way to my doctor's office to get my allergy shot...  Ahh, the advances in medical help for these horrid allergies  I get this time of year.... but this morning it was so glorious   with the top   hatch open and the warm air smiling in on me, I took  my favorite route down this country lane.  The awakening colors were singing to me as I sauntered along,,,their song filling my spirit...  I slowed as I came to the end of the lane because there before me  lay, like an opalescent jewel in  the morning dawnlight,  my dream property.... I dream about living in such a placid, pastoral locale...  the shining light reflecting off of a tree lined lake,, and a comfortable farmhouse nestled there in a glen...the mountains situated just right all about...  yet this property is within hootin' distance of all my favorite haunts... perfection in reality..

Visit Mary at the Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday!!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...It is the first full day of spring and it couldnt be more spectacular!   The sun is warm, the air fresh and clear!  The flowering trees and spring posies are radiantly in bloom and the earth is supple and ready for tilling..  I love this wonderful season!


I am thinking... how marvelous is the   Word of God!   How Jesus used the simple parable and metaphors to describe life in His kingdom The references to planting the ground,  tilling the various types of soil, preparing it to receive new seed,  or the metaphor of prayer being like the gardener who plants,  then waits for the the seed to germinate,   while he see how God is going to answer the prayer ,   then works to bring in the crop...  God inspires His children to  operate within  the kingdom  with the gifts He provides   through instructions that they can readily understand through experience.... and their wisdom of things of Him and knowledge of His true nature develops and grows...

I am thankful for...  there is some improvement in my mother's overall well-being.  she suffers terrible arthritis and is experiencing debilitation pain, yet her attitude is improving and a bit more sunny..

From the kitchen.. cooked last night so  Im hoping for   dinner out this evening...

I am wearing... jeans,  white tee and red light weight sweater,  and sandals...


I am creating...  an atmosphere of spring in my home


I am reading... A Praying Life, by Paul Miller  The Peace Maker by Ken Sande  both of these are for bible studies at church!   The Peace Maker   is for our Sunday night Pastor's study.  I am preparing to teach  a couple of chapters from  the praying book next week.  This has been a marvelous study on prayer and how to approach God more effectively!



I am hoping....   to go to my favorite consignment shop this week... Love to visit there each season and see ho it is decorated  and find something new to revitalize a room or two.  The price is always right there!


Around the house.... the house is in good shape....of course, however, the laundry is never ending around here.

One of my favorite things....is anything English...  I am behind the times I suppose but I ams till very excited to finally upgrade our cable tv and now we have BBC America.     I am looking forward to finding perhaps at least one  new show that will tickle my fancy.  And I look forward to a fresh perspective on world news in the BBC news network...   Our liberal media here becomes quite mundane after a while   and a fresh perspective appeals to my hungry ears.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Monday - Bible Study and clean house

Tuesday-  allergy shot, Mom and dad  to the doctor,   marketing , work on Bible Study

Wednesday- Wednesday evening dinner at church and  Bible Study

Thursday- shopping at the consignment shop,  small group Bible Study in the evening

Friday- our 39th anniversary... dinner   at our favorite restaurant overlooking the city...  Looking forward to my favorite....  chicken marsala!

Saturday- Meet at Lynne's house, ( I'm bringing the refreshments...  I'm thinking perhaps a nice quiche and sweet bread and fruit)

Here is a photo Id like to share...
A bit of spring gardening produces a refreshing   atmosphere  at our rear entrance to our home!







For the 2011 edition of The Simple Woman's Daybooks visit Peggy here!