Extraordinary Days

Kathy of   The Delightsome Life  hosts this  beautiful theme each week...   July is birthday month in our family....   my birthday is coming up next week followed  by  dad's and  then our dear daughter, Amanda's, at month's end...  To celebrate,  the kids are  coming home in mid July  and  it is my  distinct  pleasure and joy to be preparing for their  visit!! Therefore, I am reminded of one of my favorite  books on the topic....
Extraordinary Touches for an Ordinary Day.... by 
Jo Packman..

Of course, this isnt to say when the kids are home,  it's just an ordinary  day...    just the opposite is true....   so this book is exactly  what I need to   to pre-consider   what I  can do to make their visit   extraordinary! 
  The inside jacket reads...."Simple tips range from placing fragrant, tasty fruit in bowls around the house to leaving flowers and books in the guest room. Bring out favorite objects for a romantic dining display when you entertain a lover, or heirlooms during holiday parties. For everyday freshness, maximize natural light and fresh air, and make quick emergency sweeps before company arrives. It’s the special, thoughtful features that clearly show you care."
The guest room  looked like this last summer..


  A bit too floral and    busy....
 then  mom  had this  amazing  velvet  quilt made and Im keeping it for Amanda  for awhile  and it  was a cosy addition  through the winter.   The bedroom looked like this  this morning...

  You have to admit that a velvet quilt just isnt  the  covering of choice  during a heatwave we are experiencing this summer...
So   I  have been thinking  lighten up....   a lot!  And since  the  charm of this room is the country  English      quaint look,   I  thought of  my  wonderful heirloom  coverlet  I found at mom's house...
  made by my great grandmother  on her loom with  hand  crotcheted    fringe!

 I love this look  with the  wonderful vintage  photo I  found   for over  the bed...  this is the  print grandma  always had over her bed...



The book calls for fresh flowers,  but  with the  terrible heat and dry  weather, my flowers arent in good stead,  so I am using    my daisy  arrangement.. light and airy!

  My tea pot for one  is  ever ready for a  nice refreshing  cup of tea... a gentle reminder  of how much  our  darling daughter  loves a fresh brew in the morning!
Some other accents that    bring to mind a romantic  bygone era  are the pillows...



I love this    beautiful  tapestry pillow  with its madrigal  singer wooing his lady love



  and another heirloom,, the double wedding ring  pillow my grandma made for me..
 Other areas of the room.. not quite so busy...

 Yet more areas set aside  for the guest to  enjoy  the   accoutrements of  the hostess.


  And the text of the book reminds us to  offer  items  not only of a personal nature,  but  of an entertaining nature...
for Amanda, extra  linens, and a few books  that would interest her sensibilities..


  Hee, hee, hee,  I do spy  some  reminders of Amanda's   sweet  girlhood, as well,   !!!!
 And little something special for Joshua as well.



 a bit of light and heavy reading  perhaps??
   Well,    so far so good.. Im well on my way now  in preparing  the  room for   their visit...    well in advance of their arrival  and  this gives me  plenty of time to  consider  the menus and other    lovely touches,  like    laying out a  tray of  light refreshments ,  fruit,  cooling drinks,  and  perhaps a basket of    healthy snacks....  and  I  am  very excited to now have the time to  plan  the birthday celebration  coming up  mid month...   I'll post about that as I  go along!