When Things Dont Really Match..Yet

    When I think of August I think   of the glory of sunflowers...  so  this week at the market I  bought a lovely bunch of  the  sunny  blooms and  thought about how I could incorporate them  with  what I have,.,, 



  you see, I do have  at least  7 sets of  china that I absolutely love..    but I only believe in using what I have and making it work..just let  creativity  lead me... and see where it takes me. I have to say I  am  rather enamored with this very  bohemian   setting...  that sort of goes together  in a rather  cozy and    homey   manner!

  

 I began with  my  tan Sturbridge plaid  cloth that I havent used in quite some time
and  paired it  experimentally with the  placemats  I generally use  around the holidays... but  the  rosy  pink and  green   looked quite nice with the   cloth so I continued...wondering which china plates would bring in the sunflowers...  and then I remembered  my antique china from Hub's mother...
Portland from Syracuse.













I still wanted to accent the  golden yellow...  but   didnt really have the right thing  so I improvised...








I used my Williamsburg  green, red, and  yellow  Jacobean  napkins    doubled with the  earthy brown...
 I love how mixy.. matchy  this all is..  nothing really goes together,  yet, it works in a very unconventional  way!

 Oops, just like me my homes magazine is peeking out at me...  well, that is  reality!  Hehehehe!

Tablescape Thursday

         Home Sweet Home

Summer Travel

This time last year we were planning our trip north that we always break into2 equals parts... stopping always somewhere in Pennsylvania... One of our favorite inns is Swiss Woods Bed and Breakfast in Lititz right outside Lancaster...

Fresh flowers from the expansive gardens are always a welcome  greeting..

 

We can count on  gorgeous sunflowers this time of year!

Beautiful views out of the chalet windows  bid one to  step outside and  wander the  beautiful well manicured grounds...

Every deal both inside and out  calls back to the  Swiss beauty...

Cups of robust coffee are ever ready  along wiht  homemade biscotti....  one of my favorites! I have collected this mugs  for  about 8 years and have a lovely collection in many complimentary colors.. I love the way they feel in my hand!! And of course, remind me of the many  wonderful places we ahve stayed!

Just the right  treat to  take outside  and  just  enjoy a  lovely spot  in one of the many seting areas  through the gardens

I particularly enjoy the area around the fountain.. trickling wter is so soothing!

This  gorgeous bench is not only calling my name...

but it is also right outisde the private entrance to our garden room!

When hubs comes out to join me we'll  retire over under the tree and  enjoy the  cooling evening  air serenaded by  birdsong and the rustle of the breeze...

If I know my man.. he would have  found the cookie jar in the lodge and have a fist full of  

Oatmeal Cookies

This article is  written on the  webpage  ...  shared here for your convenience...and to  advertize   this wonderful    B&B.

"We love this chewy cookie. We used both kinds of raisins in this batch but have made them with only dark ones and with only golden ones. Make sure to not over bake to keep the wonderful chewy texture. Soaking them is the other secret to the perfect cookie."

INGREDIENTS

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar - (packed)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 large eggs

2 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup rolled oats

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups mixed raisins - golden and dark

1/2 cup boiling water

1 cup walnut pieces

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees..

Pour the boiling water over the raisins...

Mix the sugars, softened butter and shortening...

Add the eggs and vanilla...

Mix the oats, flour, salt and baking powder...

Add to the butter/egg mixture...

Add the plumped raisins and walnuts...

Using a small scoop place balls of dough on a parchment-lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart..

Bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. DO NOT over bake.

Swiss Woods Bed & Breakfast Inn

http://wwwswisswoods.com

Debbie Mosimann , Innkeeper

These cookies  make a great  accompaniment to  a cup of tea or coffee..  especially great for dunking!

This week we are planning our late summer turn to see our kids  in MA.  Maybe we will stay here or maybe  a new  place... Deciding  is half the fun, after all!

Bernideen's Tea Time, Cottage and Garden Blog Party

Teacup Tuesday

No Place Like Home

Thursday Favorite Things

Home and Garden Thursday

Grace at Home

The Simple Woman Day Book

For Today~ July 25, 2016

The Simple Woman Day Book

Looking out my window... 

Haha, it is so hot here, we are keeping the blinds drawn attempting to keep the extreme heat at bay.. scorching outside!!!

I am thinking..

about our daughter and her family... who have bought their new home, then put their condo on the market... they are learning by the fire of experience the ins and outs of home ownership, the real estate pitfalls, bids and offers.. and desire to make it all work out to every one's advantage.Praying for God's best for all concerned.

I am thankful..

for air conditioning and praying for the power companies to have no spikes or failures!

I am wearing...

my khaki shorts and dark green cami and green gauze cover shirt... stying cool and inside for today...

I am watching...

I so enjoyed the Signed, Sealed and Delivered marathon yesterday on Hallmark... I don't know what Id do without Hallmark... 

I am still reading...

both books that I received for my birthday last week.. both are fabulous!!!!

#1 New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas delivers an extraordinary book that is part history and part rousing call to arms, steeped in a critical analysis of our founding fathers' original intentions for America.

and 

An inspirational guide to help women explore their relationships with themselves, their mates, and with God, teaching women how to transform pain into fuel for future achievement and closeness to the Lord.

I am listening to...

Pandora...my Celtic station.... so soothing!

I am hoping... 

for rain tomorrow and some the rest of the week..

I am learning...

find my peace in God alone... peace that lasts and is trustworthy!

In the kitchen...

yesterday I made a pitcher of fresh squeezed lemonade , today I will make a lovely chef salad for lunch and probably have left- overs for supper.... this is definitely not a cooking kind of day! 

In my garden~

just trying to keep things watered... especially my poor baby hydrangeas.... and the potted plants on the porch!

Otherwise, it is all I can do to keep hubs in the house.... he stays outside too long working these days!

Board Room

shared from my pinterest board 

on days like these this is my secret place..

Saved from 

teresamoolman.tumblr.com 

Shared Quote

A moment from my day...

my joy!

Closing Notes

Psalm 33

1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;

it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

2 Praise the Lord with the harp;

make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

3 Sing to him a new song; 

play skillfully, and shout for joy. 

4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; 

he is faithful in all he does. 

5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; 

the earth is full of his unfailing love. 

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, 

their starry host by the breath of his mouth. 

7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars 

he puts the deep into storehouses. 

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; 

let all the people of the world revere him. 

9 For he spoke, and it came to be; 

he commanded, and it stood firm. 

10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations; 

he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 

11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, 

the purposes of his heart through all generations. 

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, 

the people he chose for his inheritance. 

13 From heaven the Lord looks down 

and sees all mankind; 

14 from his dwelling place he watches 

all who live on earth— 

15 he who forms the hearts of all, 

who considers everything they do.

Scripture Garden

Today I am sharing on Pink Saturday.

Last week a group from my Sunday School class toured a local church, St. John Lutheran's  Scripture Garden.. member and research author, Carolyn,  shared    about the many planting around the  church...  most all of which  were  spoken about in scripture...  like these reeds...  like the ones in which  baby Moses was hidden  in Egypt!

 Carolyn has  research many  historical botanical studies  form  Israel and it's environs  and she very carefully  has added  specimens  that tell amazing stories.  Many  believe that the manna that  rained from heaven   was  closely connected to coriander..  seen here  with its  white blooms...    beside that to the right is mustard.. although this is not the mustard that grows into a tall tree from the parables.

 Careful arrangment of all types of plants  makes for a beautiful entrance to the church!

 I love the lamb's ear with its velvety  texture.. We all know   of whom this refers!

 Many herbs  are mixed in with the  shrubs and trees..  each one that  has a specific  scruptural reference  has  its own  garden sign with name and  text printed on it.I wish I could remember all the species  mentioned.

 Many of the various blooms  of flowers  in scripture had already  bloomed out this season...

 Another  space was designated just for  plants of the desert regions.. including aloe, yucca,  prickly pear,  and  sage brush..  

 I love these onions in bloom!!

and this Israeli thistle  is gorgeous , but watch out!  Yikes! 

Nearby is the gorgeous fig tree  ... Eve  sewned these leaves together to hide their nakedness.  I dont think I'd want to wear fig leaves.. the would be quite scratchy!

 All in all,   it was a  wonderful  garden that  honors the precious Word of God!

Friday's Fave Five

click icon to return to Susanne's Place.

Last weekend  Hubs and I  enjoyed    attending  our  family reunion..it was the 70th year  and  is very keen on genealogy...
 
it is held each year  at  Glenwood Church   where  my grand parents  attended church  and which their forebears  built. In the early days of the church it was serviced by a circuit riding preacher who rode his horse  over several miles preaching at country churches  along the Allegheny  ridges.
When my parents retired and moved back to be near their parents  they found the church had been closed for several years,  and  my mother was  hugely responsible for getting the  church reopened ... my  dad and a couple of other  neighbors  dug out the basement of the church with  shovels and  buckets... and created a lovely   fellowship and Sunday school room...as well as  restrooms.  So this church means so much to me and our family!It is  so sad, though, that in this generation there is no interest in  family ties or  genealogy  it seems..  I can remember when almost 200 folks would attend from all over the country..  This time  maybe there  were 25 in attendance.
 Later in the day Hubs and I visited  some cousins whom we  just don't get to see  nearly as much as  we'd love to...  such precious memories we share of our Granny and living in the  backwoods   of  SW Virginia.  He  urged me to  travel down past granny's home  to visit the family cemetery which had recently been beautified... I  am so glad we did!


First of all, it was  a fabulously beautiful day!

As I searched for my  family sites,  
I was  mesmerized by the beauty of the  surrounds..

So glad to find my grandparents stones..

and the stone of one of the four babies  who died before my dad was born.

Lastly,  I was  so  glad to be able to come away  with a tangible memory  of  my past...
  I  love this photo... I am the oldest of the cousins on both sides... here,  we are standing on grandma's porch... and I am holding Cindy... the look on my face says it all.. "Hurry, take this baby before I drop her down the steps!!!!"

circa 1957
What a bunch of urchins!!