I cannot believe tomorrow is February... the month of love and sweet remembrance! And when Im in a remembering state I really love the joy of vintage valentines... Why didnt we ever keep all those sweet sentiments of friendship and blooming love..., well, I know why, but it is too bad we couldnt have squirrelled them away some place... many of them are probably worth quite a bit today.. but even then, it would be a shame to part with any of them.. This one is a dear tribute to tea... and tea was on my mind today as I dressed the mantel! First of all, I had to remove all the wintry decor in the living room and bring out the red roses...
As I removed the Christmas greenery and candlelight garland I thought whoa.. time for a change.. so I shopped the dining room for the pair of small lamps.. That felt wonderful to have a fresh perspective...
then I dug out my valentine artifacts..I love the velvet candy box Hubs gave me last year..
To celebrate tea this week I placed my lovely pink themed Royal Albert Country Rose cup under the cloche at one end
and at the other end of the mantel my precious English Thatched Cottage tea pot with heart roses above the door... If I lived in England, I'd chose to live there in a cosy cott with my love!!!
So with that I shall continue my sweet reverie with the following Victorian valentines... that
spark loving memories of bygone friends and special times with loved ones!!
1. Can you believe it's the end of January? What was the best day of January 2017 for you, and why?
I believe it was Inauguration Day... I know I looked forward to it a long time and I enjoyed the patriotism it evoked... I loved the parade!!!
2. What sounds make up the background noise in your life?
Unfortunately, for me, it is Hubs radio on talk radio.. when we updated our kitchen we moved my computer to one corner of the kitchen and hubs keeps this radio on 24/7.. not kidding.. all the time ....on talk radio.
anger outbursts, people who put you down, regret, negative self talk, being a people pleaser, the notion you need to be perfect, the past (but keep the lessons learned!), gossip and judgment, comparing yourself to others, and the word hate (focus on what you love instead)
Which thing on the list do you most need to drop? Are you trying or will you try?
Well, since I do have talk radio on drumming the rhetoric and the hue and cry in my ear all day,, I would have to say it would be anger outbursts.. So many things about our "politically correct", "tolerant" and divisive society can really get my craw.... I will find myself beginning to seethe and my angst begin to boil.... I really don't need this.. I'm a conservative 66 year old retired school teacher... I'd much rather be devoting myself to pleasantries and planning visits with my family... but it is what it is.... when we made this move for me to the kitchen I had no idea how my environs would affect my emotions!!
4. What is sacred to you?
The Word of God and knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!
Time spent in His presence...I do not like to be disturbed and really enjoy my privacy during those times...I enjoy singing, praying and talking to Him aloud!!!
5. January is National Oatmeal month. Are you a fan, and if so how do you like it?
I love oatmeal.... but I must have it sweetened and fruited... for
example, I really like those individual packets that are cinnamon apple with non sugar sweeteners... to which I add hot milk and raisins... I , also, love cooking with oatmeal .... cakes, crisps, cookies... etc.
6. What feelings does twilight stir up in you?
I love twilight... it takes me back to my youth when we kids were outside playing until almost dark... I had a lovely unobstructed view of the sunset... and I loved watching the evening star come out.... That violet color of the sky at twilight when the rosiness of the fading sunlight melts into velvety night is one of the most gorgeous sights I can recall.. I don't know if it is the innocence of an unaffected life when all I did was play and enjoy every gift God gave us in his world, but the idea of coming night was so sweet because it meant cosy hours with family gathered around sharing experiences of their day... over time with age and experiences of the impact of evil in our world.. nightfall has lost a bit of its charm for me... for example, now I don't like to go out after dark alone... sad to say,,, where we live now,, we can not see the glory of a blazing sunset and the wonder of twilight is lost to me.
7. Something you're looking forward to next month?
I love Valentine's Day... Hubs always treats me so well.. He is a great sweetheart!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
This morning I will be leaving soon to go to church to lead a small group in our Women's Bible study... I do look forward to the, for lack of a better word, the demand it puts on me to really dig into the Word and listen more carefully to what the Spirit has for me to share...I always come away from these weeks set aside for intensive study with a deeper love and understanding...This study, Finding the I Am.. holds great promise!!
We got a very slight skiff of snow last night and it is very cold out this morning!!! The kids who attend across the street got a 2 hour late schedule today... I used to love those days...
I am thinking... I am so glad it is a no go day for me and I can live in my jams today!!! The rest of the week will be busy as all get out so I will revel in today!!!
I am thankful...
for the Holy Spirit alive and active in me... I don't have a clue how unregenerate non-Christian people can stand life today... in this uncertain world filled with divisiveness and hate... praise God His Spirit is available for all who seek Him, repent and ask Him into their heart!!
I am wearing... my cozy flannel PJ's.
I am creating...
I, instead, will be working on studying up for leading my small group tomorrow...
I am wondering..
when this week we will do face time with our girls... they are always on my mind!!!
"Now, Love Bug, when you twirl in a tutu, be sure you are graceful, even your arms!"
unfortunately, Hubs is in here with me and he has Glenn Beck on the radio.... I need ear plugs! I am just tired of the rhetoric!! But to be fair Hubs did bring me my coffee and my yogurt... He is wonderful that way!!!
I am learning...
to try to hold loosely to things of this earth
I am hoping...
Now it isn't really my fault... Hubs is working on redoing his office, and all of this furniture in in the guest room where my scarf drawer and sock drawer are located and I cant get to it yet... But I am hoping that this week I get
to tackle my lingerie, scarf, and sock chest today and clear up at least one whole drawer by ridding myself of enough socks and scarves to combine them. This is the third week I have written about this hope..... but truly.. not my fault!
In my garden...
the ground is frozen and not looking great...
In my kitchen...
I have the most lovely left overs.. stew from Friday that I hope Hubs will finish off and I have my delectable copy cat Panera broccoli cheese soup from Saturday... I love that recipe so easy and really cooks up fast....
A favorite quote/scripture for today..
One of my favorite things...
home shopping.. you know the kind where you shop from one room for another... it really saves on the pocketbook...
like this nest and birds from the bedroom upstairs brings a bit of spring into the dining room
and this fragrant candle I got for my birthday last summer had always been in the living room but again its verdant color accents my spring theme in the dining room.
From the dining room these pewter cups with their bright shine lighten up that drab bookcase in the parlor...
and I just cant pack my carolers away.. can't they move to the parlor and just sing joyously through the quiet days of winter... I think so, so they moved from the dining room vignette...
Board Room I have my own board for home office in small spaces... for ideas... but, no we wont have all these built in but aren't they great!!!
When we bought our home 28 years ago we were busy with our baby girl and I was also teaching school.. plus, we had a lot to do to this fixer upper so when hubs decided to create a home office in the small unheated attic room built into the dormers around the fireplace flue he just settled it and made it work.. and over time every bit of space in there became overcrowded with odds and ends... a couple of file cabinets, a large bookcase,,, 2 desks plus a computer cabinet... it was a mad house in there. Now this was a rather ugly little space to begin with and hasn't been updated at all.. I mean the wall paper was OLD!!! and there were serious cracks in the walls! When he started moving stuff out of there it was places haphazardly around upstairs.. full drawers here.. files there, computer cabinet dragged down the steps and is now sitting in the living room waiting to be taken to the good will... what a mess... At first, then after getting the smaller items out.. he moved the larger items around the room so he could get that wallpaper off and the walls prepped.
Thankfully, today he is putting the finish coat of paint on the walls and soon will be painting the woodwork... Saturday he and I shopped at Michael's who was having a 50% off sale on baskets and we purchased several of these for storing items on the bookcase..
Now the second desk in the room was one I inherited from my grandparents... and I had access to all those drawers but a lot of it was paperwork for care of my parents as their executrix... But I did have a couple of drawers of lovely stationary and various greeting cards.. you know the scads of them you receive in the mail... but never use..plus, the long drawer was full of all kinds of goodies. I cleaned it out and have a box of fun stickers, notepads and stampers to send to my granddaughter and I have taken 2 baskets to organize office "stuff" and cards for my own use... We are determined to have a room that we wont have to close the door to every time family comes to visit!!! I'll post photos once it is all finished... but it will take a while because we are ordering shutters from Budget blinds! YAYAYAYAYAYA
A Moment in my day.....
after I finish this post I will be taking our new Bible Study book and I will begin reading and gathering my thoughts.. I bought a fresh new journal to use and I am excited to be sitting in His presence this morning!!!
Postscript I know not why God’s wondrous grace To me He hath made known, Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His own. Refrain: But “I know Whom I have believed, And am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.” I know not how this saving faith To me He did impart, Nor how believing in His Word Wrought peace within my heart. I know not how the Spirit moves, Convincing men of sin, Revealing Jesus through the Word, Creating faith in Him. I know not what of good or ill May be reserved for me, Of weary ways or golden days, Before His face I see. I know not when my Lord may come, At night or noonday fair, Nor if I walk the vale with Him, Or meet Him in the air.
1.This week I got a call from the Women's Ministry team asking if Id like to be a small group leader for our new study starting next week..
Being a small group leader means I need to really be tip top on answering the questions and researching the one's I'm not quite sure about.. I probably get more out of it thank the others do...
2. Today I am using my cast iron dutch oven for the first time... I love my skillet, so I have high hopes for this pot..
Hopefully, tonight we will be enjoying a lovely stew on a cold winter's eve!
3.
What a blessing it is to be grandma to 2 precious granddaughters,, but alas, they live almost 800 miles away!!
4.
When we were out and about Wednesday morning the wind was blustery, the sky was wild... it seemed like it was March...
5.We are in the process of completely redoing Lynn's office... those drawers had items from 1990 when he first moved into that room..
I'd say it was about time to deal with the wallpaper in there and spruce up the paint... it is shameful how much stuff one can squirrel away in any available space... In a book on the bookcase we found several old photos... This one is circa 1971... looks like early spring .... home on a weekend from senior year at college and I thought I looked chubby.. wish I was that 'chubby' now!!
OK, as is my pattern... along about the middle of a season,, I become just ready to move on.... This week, I have officially removed all semblance of Christmas... OK, I do still have a wintry living room... but all the spring catalogs, and magazines
coming to the house just wear down my resolve to wait.. and then, happily, nature helps out... the forsythia is budding out..
the first real sign that spring is right around the corner... Well, the mild rains of January are responsible, as well, so I refuse to take all the blame.. even though I am tickled pink! Oh, it felt so good to put those snowmen away!!!! So this week, we were at Michaels for another purpose, but when I saw their new chargers, I got to change some that were looking sort of ratty... and then at Tuesday Morning I found a gorgeous transitional table cloth that would look fabulous with those chargers.. so I was half way there already... hehehe! Then I packed away Christmas and found a bit of forsythia and I was really on my way! Note to daughter I did get rid of 3 table cloths and a set of chargers and some placemats because of this purchase... Man, she keeps me straight....
The robin's egg blue china is a pairing of Johnson Brothers, Vintage Charm with a salad plate made in Portugal , both of which I found at Home Good's and the color is a sing out to the wonderful bird song I am already hearing in the early mornings here!
I dug out this great flower box that had been packed way back with old sickly flowers and rejuvenated it with greenery and sprigs of forsythia!
I am loving the tablecloth.... the pattern is so classic and I feel will accent so many themes because of its neutrality..
I really enjoyed packing up the lit pine garland and putting up this airy pre-spring one that I simply added a couple of sprigs of forsythia into...
the light blue mercury goblet style candle holders look pretty snappy flanking the flowers...
I have found that I really enjoy doubling coordinating napkins... it is nice to have two at mealtime sometimes especially since I am planning an Italian meal.... and each glass hosts a different pairing but in the same tones... I think they look pretty cute~~ Tablescape Thursday Home and Garden Thursday
1."The cure for anything is salt water-tears, sweat, or the sea." (Isak Dinesan) Would you agree? Of the three, which has 'cured' you most recently?
Well, it has been 10 years since I was by the sea, so I'd be pretty pent up in that time... tears come easily for me... especially now that both my parents have passed and I think of them often.. but when I'm mad and upset over something I can get a lot of housework done in my frustration.. I take it out on the dirt and mess!!!
2. What's something you can't eat without salt? Do you normally salt your food a lot, a little, or not at all?
I agree wholeheartedly with Joyce...I definitely need salt on mashed potatoes and rice... as well as fresh tomatoes,, but I probably season food rather liberally.. I think that may have something to do with the cooking shows that generally expect liberal seasoning...
3. Sands of time, bury your head in the sand, built on sand, or draw a line in the sand...which sandy phrase could best be applied to something in your life right now?
My Hubs and I were just commenting on how fast time is flying by... It was just Wednesday yesterday wasn't it, and here it is again today.???.. truly someone has drilled out the sand timer and the sand is free flowing these days...
4. A favorite book, movie, or song with an island setting or theme?
A great recommendation for you is this book I happened upon at our library book sale... I love it and have had everyone I know read it and they love it, too!
A review here! Trust me you will love this book!!!!
5. Yesterday-did you run your day or did it run you? How so?
Yesterday was a pretty uneventful day... We took Hubs to doctor for a routine blood test then stopped at Pete's Deli for breakfast and shopped a bit for storage baskets... it was raining so we came home and I got back in my jams and did nothing the rest of the day.... I kind of like days like that!!!
6. You're on an island holiday. Will I most likely find you parked in a beach chair, shopping in town, on the back of a jet ski, or snorkeling off the back of a catamaran?
That beach chair would be calling my name... but I may also have my paint brush, easel, and oils in my knapsack.
7. What do you think we humans most take for granted?
I believe it is time, as well... I know for me I can waste a goodly amount of it.... but particularly, I think, we assume we have all the time in the world and I tend to put things off.... thinking I will definitely get to that a bit later... but later seldom comes.. so different from while I was working.. I could get so much done... I would multitask everything... I was a dynamo .... but no longer...retirement has ruined me.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I bought the cutest tablecloth yesterday and I am dying to redo the dining room.... but I am thinking spring with it... is it too early to do a bit of spring.... naw.... now that is one thing I do intend to do... TODAY!!
same as last week..dark and drear, but mild and extremely wet!!!
I am thinking... a lot about the inauguration... it's pros and cons... our nation has really shown itself this weekend.. protest, violence, vulgarity, lack of understanding, false news... the spiritual enemy is really unhappy with this transition...and is rearing its ugly head.
I am thankful...
to live in a nation that has the freedom to have differing points of views but I fear that in the name of tolerance, there are those who practice extreme intolerance...
I am wearing... my cozy flannel PJ's.
I am creating... to be honest not a creative bone in my body today
I am wondering.. gee... not wondering anything.... now that is scary.
Book of Judges for Sunday School Jesus Calling Devotional
One Year Devotional, Walk with God
A Thorn in my Heart, by Liz Curtis Higgs
I am listening to.... talk radio... now I'm beginning to think that is my problem.. its all my hubs fault. ... he keeps changing the station.... I am learning...
to try to hold loosely to things of this earth
I am hoping... OK really... this week I hope
to tackle my lingerie, scarf, and sock chest today and clear up at least one whole drawer by ridding myself of enough socks and scarves to combine them.
In my garden...
all is brown and sodden from the recent rain...no plans for the gardening this week.
In my kitchen...
Thankfully, Hubs got us take out for lunch yesterday and we had leftovers.... so now.. for supper... uh!!! Probably a lovely salad with sliced buffalo chicken on top.... nice and easy!!!
A favorite quote/scripture for today..
One of my favorite things... planning home ideas for the upcoming season... I am already thinking 'spring'!
Board Room Impossibly easy dinner recipes.. link on Betty Crocker
