Showing posts with label Grace at Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace at Home. Show all posts

Thursday, July 11, 2019

English Country

Yesterday  all  patriotic   themes  were  put away and    summery  country cottage  came out  in the dining room!


Inspired by  my  fresh garden flowers  I   decided on a  summery, yet cool  yellow and blue    theme.



I collect blue and white transfer ware   and which helps when I only have a set of  napkins or  place mats..  you can mix and match those, as well.. I put  use one color  at the heads of the table and use the others on the sides  when I am setting for 6.

This is  such a cheerful combination...  It is  a  happy  setting for  morning breakfast    when the family comes to visit.. it is, also, most suitable for a ladie's luncheon which I  have  planned for next week!  The   pewter tea pot,  shakers and  candlesticks  look  so nice  and add a bit of bling to the whole aspect!

Since the  transfer ware   sports  English country living,  I thought   my collection  of sheep would  look right at home    with the arrangement..  I, also, love the  April Cornell linen napkins ...not only do they  look fabulous,  but they  laundry up    so  fast  and  delightfully.. no ironing  necessary!
I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for  Tablescape Thursday  Grace at Home    with  Richella. 

Friday, November 30, 2018

Emmanuel Has Come

Since we have already shared Christmas with our family  over Thanksgiving at Folly Beach, S.C.  which was  delightful , therefore, I  am making slow progress to  decorate here around the house. I need a bit of inspiration.... So, I am taking a walk down memory lane...
In 2011 I must have been in quite a rosy mood...  I suppose that  was because my husband had retired,  but ,also, because I had just  recovered  from a rather serious  operation and was  found to be  cancer free.



2011  must have been a great Christmas because I did see that it was  the first year our  kids came home on the train  for Christmas.. so I can understand the enthusiasm


I do love  candle lit rooms  ...  the Christmas glow is magical!
Image result for rejoice rejoice emmanuel

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Preparing is so Much Fun!!!

So this is a very busy week.. working on the house and  getting things  done in preparation for my lovely tea party..
I have my menu planned...
Assorted teas
Cranberry  Orange Scones
Assorted tea Sandwiches
Cranberry orange compote
Triple  Chocolate  Cake Squares
These are my tried and true and everyone's favorite  Christmas scones!!  My best friend  put in an order  for them at the tea!  photo christmasparty110.jpg
Most of the dishes  have been  brought out of storage, washed and    ready to set..  now stored under cover on the table.
Most of my cups are  from my Royal Albert collection  ... I  would buy one every year on vacation.



I brought out my mother's Fostoria set of  party  ware.. 


The party favors, Dove Candies are  wrapped in tulle and  ready to be presented.
Menu cards for  each place setting are  ready,

My  fairy collection is  offered as a type of theme... remmembering and sharing    our best memories of long ago!  We'll see if we can remember!.! 
The serviettes are ironed and   ready...

and now I'm off to polish silver...  on my,  where is a stool?!?!
PS: Today I sat the table..tomorrow I will   arrange the flowers..

Each place setting has a  tea  time quote  and a menu card 

 I love this tea  sign!
 The food will be served from the parlor!
Everything is now under wraps  waiting for the big day!!!

Friends Sharing Tea 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friday, October 6, 2017

Counting My Blessings

What a  beautiful morning  here in the Mid-Atlantic states...  the  sky is  so clear and air  rather  crisp  but  the  sun's warmth will not fail us today!  Not too many more  truly warm days it appears on the weather calendar.  we, here in  SW Virginia  are  really hoping for some of that rain from the tropical depression heading north!Today  I am wanting to share some the blessings   I  am receiving..  One just happened  this morning!!!
1.  While I  was perusing face book  a message popped up from our daughter  asking us to  visit via face time while she and  tiny grand  have their lunch!!!

Now that  the older grand is  in pre-school  it is   very  calming to visit  with  Amanda  and her wee one.. more like the tender days when  Birdie  was  not quite two and  hadn't  developed into  a precocious  4 year old ... Now  wee one has  the opportunity to be  center stage  and  we get to  spend quality time with her...  God is  so good... we treasure these times!!!

2.  Yesterday  God came on me suddenly  with  a huge answer to my prayers... I ran across this quote today and it is so true.
"
God’s suddenlies are like a tsunami. You experience it suddenly, but in God it started way back." Joseph Garlington Sr
I have been trusting God  for His best for me   all along  with this  skin cancer on my nose.  But  sometimes his best comes  in  various ways and times  along with a bit of testing to see  if  we will  accept the  row boat that comes to rescue us!!  A friend contacted me on the phone and we chatted about MOHS surgery...  her story really  moved me.. I have been experiencing a long wait  .. first 11 days to get the biopsy back..  a few days to  hear about my surgery date..  which was Nov 7,  I was fortunate to call and get it moved up to Oct 18th, but  that is just for  a
consult and  knowing the  scheduling  for the surgery is  booked up  I  have been  quite anxiously  watching  my  spot on the tip of my nose  appear to  grow...My friend shared her story about calling  Charlottesville,  near  the Medical School,  and  getting much, much  quicker  attention... She actually got her  biopsy back in one day and  within 8 days  had her surgery behind her... since we both  have  squamish,  I  quickly got on the phone and called    Charlottesville and  and so thankful to say I have my pre-op scheduled for Monday... Praise you, Lord for  working all things out according to your plan..I will confess I  have another friend I see more regularly who also gets her  dermatology done  by the same Doctor in Charlottesville,  and who  had  been  pushing me to  get an appt  even  2 weeks ago,  but  it isn't in my nature to opt  for  that...  My husband  had  a very successful  MOHS here  by  our local  doctor and  I  was content...  but  yesterday,   God's sudden  move  on me  was too compelling to  resist...  OH, Lord, I hope to always  be in Your Perfect Will!!!
3.  Even though  I haven't actually been  in the  mood to  take a road trip  to enjoy the 
beauty of  the season,  yet,    the days have been so glorious  Hubs and I have spent several afternoons just sitting in the shade   and  reveling in the color and the  backyard friends  who visit us..


 Jays
 and  finches

Chipmunks 

and bunnies!!

and the sun just    makes  things explode in  its  autumnal radiance
 

 


4.  Even at this moment  I am being  so  eternally blessed...  Dearest is washing the morning dishes  while he is listening to our fall music on dvd  so we can practice our choir music at home  and he is singing his part...  while I sit here typing... it doesn't get any better than that!!!
5.  To top off my week of blessing  I am reminded that tonight is  my favorite night of the month... Every first Friday we attend  Intercessors for America...  We meet in a friend's home...  he  was my  Bible Study teacher  at  a previous church...  He and his wife  have  done missionary work in the most    dangerous  areas of the world... eastern jungles of  India,   the Sudan,  and others... the  folks who  faithfully attend  these meetings are   probably some of the most  dedicated prayer warriors in our  community..it is  such a huge blessing to  just  being the same  room with these  precious  Children of God.  The presence of God is tangible  through  the   sweet incense of  prayer and worship  that  emanates from  their home.  I love to seek out  groups  like this here in our valley... Concerned Women for America and Ladies Aglow are  a couple of others...   don't be mistaken that we are so political...  in these groups  we  seek  beyond the  political  to the  warring in the heavenlies and  do  battle in the spiritual.  So edifying to spend an hour  on your knees with  God's people!!!
Image result for spiritual warfareImage result for spiritual warfare


Thursday, September 29, 2016

October Surprise





I  do not celebrate Halloween... but I certainly love October... I loved  decorating my classroom with  golden moons and  cats  caterwauling on fences,  I loved   fodder shocks and pumpkins... and  going to see  my dad  over the years after he retired in the country I loved arriving to see what October surprises he had created...living there he had access to all kinds of autumnal farm items..  bales of straw...   corn shocks.. you name it. and he usually had some kind of  scarecrow  that he created out of his old farm clothing... he had such a tender, merry heart.
Image result for october scarecrows
Very reminiscent of his handwork!  Found online..
So I guess I would like to share my October surprise...
the fall fairy has  come and sprinked  a bit of  autumn around the house..

I exchanged  my  autumn arrangement  seen now on the sideboard  

for my pumpkin pie  pumpkin  who doesnt know it yet,  but its days are numbered!!  hehehehehe 
I am using my black transferware... by Johnson Brothers.... 
because they go so well with my   Thanksgiving dessert plates
 Yes,  in November  my  decor will only require a bit of tweaking!
I love to use my  antlers  that I have been collecting the past couple of seasons...

This year I added the smaller  antler  wrapped votives...  all of which I find at Pier One ...
Continuing into the parlor...  I  see the seasonal tree is decked out for fall...  

as well as,  the mantel.. 

wait.. what have we here....   an uninvited guest it seems...
Welcome , little fellow...  
so enticed by the  harvest table..my little omnivore   couldn't help  but hop up there to glean and nibble! You seem to  be polite enough to stay!


Farewell

 After  17 years of   blogging  I am  pretty sad to  just fade  out  with  hardly  anyone showing any   farewell,  concern  about my  surger...