The weather:::
Rainy Monday morning..... dreary..dreary... dreary!!!
Rainy Monday morning..... dreary..dreary... dreary!!!
As I look outside my window:::
I need to refill the peanut butter nugget feeder.. poor downy woodpecker is having a hard time!!!
I need to refill the peanut butter nugget feeder.. poor downy woodpecker is having a hard time!!!
Too wet to go out yet. ... they say by noon the sun will shine! Hope so!!!
Right now I am:::
Impatiently awaiting my first cup of coffee.... it was so dark outside we were latter than usual getting up...
Impatiently awaiting my first cup of coffee.... it was so dark outside we were latter than usual getting up...
Thinking and pondering:::
I have a lot to do around the house to prepare for my guest this weekend.. A very special cousin, Pam, is coming for a couple of days with us before continuing on her week long sojourn here in Virginia...She and her husband are semi retired living in the mountains near West Jefferson, NC, in a very beautiful log cabin they designed... She is such a perfect hostess and a visit in their home is such a treat, I am feeling that I want to plan a special time for her here.... good food, good fun, and great conversation!!! So planning menus and activities this week!!!
I have a lot to do around the house to prepare for my guest this weekend.. A very special cousin, Pam, is coming for a couple of days with us before continuing on her week long sojourn here in Virginia...She and her husband are semi retired living in the mountains near West Jefferson, NC, in a very beautiful log cabin they designed... She is such a perfect hostess and a visit in their home is such a treat, I am feeling that I want to plan a special time for her here.... good food, good fun, and great conversation!!! So planning menus and activities this week!!!
On my bedside table:::
Along with the regular meds, tissues, and phone. .... I have this month's edition of Southern Lady magazine
This periodical really gets me in the mood for seasonal changes... this issue is exceptional for spring ideas and recipes.
Two springs I was so taken by these gorgeous hydrangeas I bought two; one was eaten down to the ground the first night!!!! The other is very slow growing... I think I really need to have hubs move it to a new location!
Two springs I was so taken by these gorgeous hydrangeas I bought two; one was eaten down to the ground the first night!!!! The other is very slow growing... I think I really need to have hubs move it to a new location!
My new magazine has a delicious looking leek soup recipe I am thinking of trying for this weekend!
On my tv:::
We really enjoyed the dvd series of Cranford, a novel written by Elizabeth Gaskrell.. who also wrote North and South of which I wrote about last week..
On my to do list:::
Bible Study
Wash guest room matelasse bed cover and get the bed all comfy looking with fresh sheets, pillows etc... vacuum, dust arrange a floral arrangement for the room ..I like to do up the room as if it was a Bed and breakfast offering.. latest magazines, flowers, wrapped chocolate, scented candle,..etc
do a bit of bird watching
dust and vacuum house, mop hardwood floors
general pick up around the house
My simple pleasure:::
I am such a bad girl... I have a real weakness for dishes... and my white dishes were looking poorly... a bit of a nick here and there.. I had purchased them prob 25 years ago or more at Mikasa's back room, and I wasn't exactly happy about mix and matching them with my other dishes because they had a sea shell embossed on the rim... So I had been looking at Replacements and dreaming about how to replace them and for just 6 plates of my choosing it was going to cost over $100.00. Then last week while browsing at Tuesday Morning I found almost exactly what I wanted for $30.00 plus matching soup/salad bowls, for $20.00.. so I got a much better bargain and a style that suits me to a tea!
I am such a bad girl... I have a real weakness for dishes... and my white dishes were looking poorly... a bit of a nick here and there.. I had purchased them prob 25 years ago or more at Mikasa's back room, and I wasn't exactly happy about mix and matching them with my other dishes because they had a sea shell embossed on the rim... So I had been looking at Replacements and dreaming about how to replace them and for just 6 plates of my choosing it was going to cost over $100.00. Then last week while browsing at Tuesday Morning I found almost exactly what I wanted for $30.00 plus matching soup/salad bowls, for $20.00.. so I got a much better bargain and a style that suits me to a tea!
I simple white with a gentle scalloped edge..
that compliments whatever mix-matched salad plate I might wish to pair with it!
BTW, I was careful to note they were not made in China, but Portugal which I do feel better about. I have some very nice serving pieces from Portugal!
So now I have a set of 8 each of plates, salad plates, and soup bowls to pack up and take to a yard sale next month to raise money for a young lady's mission trip.. and my daughter should be happy... I traded 24 dishes for 12...making much more room in my cabinets!WIN-Win!
Lesson learned the past week:::
I am loving just being much more intentional about what I do each day.. that is to say I am being much more attentive to the details of nature around me! I think I may get out the oils and do a bit of painting this spring!
Looking around the house:::
Last week I spoke about how bare the wall above the mantel looked since we had taken down the tapestry for a while... Nothing looked good on the mantel with nothing on a bare wall..I shopped around upstairs and found an original oil painting my mother had purchased at a Starving Artists show several years ago and it had hung in her living room for some time...I brought it down and it fits just fine!
Last week I spoke about how bare the wall above the mantel looked since we had taken down the tapestry for a while... Nothing looked good on the mantel with nothing on a bare wall..I shopped around upstairs and found an original oil painting my mother had purchased at a Starving Artists show several years ago and it had hung in her living room for some time...I brought it down and it fits just fine!
From the camera:::
My lovely cousin, Pam from her trip out west last summer!I snatched this one from her FB.. Hope she doesn't mind!
My lovely cousin, Pam from her trip out west last summer!I snatched this one from her FB.. Hope she doesn't mind!
Prayer List:::
The Bible tells us to, first of all, pray for our nation and leaders that we can live peaceful lives in harmony... we certainly need that! So...Our country.. the division, the deception, the social issues that seek to destroy families and individuals, that our government would govern for the sake of the people not for their political gain!
Praying for families as they deal with pain and loss.
Several friends at my church struggling with debilitating illness..major surgeries this week..
A couple of family members plus all who are serving our nation overseas
Bible verse, Devotional:::
Hope you see the sun soon. I'm enjoying it so much today after a whole week without seeing it. Love hydrangeas, can't wait for the neighbor's giant one to bloom. Adding the thought to check on the one I rescued from the garden center today, wonder if it is still out in the yard. Hope you have a wonderful week and visit with your cousin!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of getting a couple of indoor blooming ones to put out on the porch just for the weekend and keep them in sunroom until later in season... that is if the weather during Pam's visit is nice enough to sit outside!
DeleteI really enjoyed your post! Congratulations on your new dishes they are stunning and are perfect for tea! I hope you have a wonderful visit with your cousin! Hope you have a blessed week!
ReplyDeleteWe ate our chef salad from the new bowls.. I am so excited to have these and at such a great price! The bowls are English and only cost 3.00 each!!!
DeleteHave fun with your guests! Enjoy your time together
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the visit and the encouragement... I know we will have fun.. but I really want to make this visit as special as I can.
DeleteLove the bunnies on that table! Have a great week!
ReplyDelete