Enjoying the Blessings of Being Together!

Hosted by Richella.

Whew, it has  been  a powerful heat wave  across the southland and the country,  so  even though it is summer, I try to stay cool with  the cooler colors of the season.  I got my inspiration from one of  the Lord's most  magnificent  creations,  the hydrangea!

I love  how during the  hottest part of the season the hydrangea   goes through various changes  from the color of its blooms to the  actual drying of them.  All of these blooms are from my one  hydrangea bush  and I  love the colors!

I was ,also, thinking of  next week when my daughter's family with my  2  awesome granddaughters will be here..  those  beautifully  artistic  cherubs love  an interesting  table scape.

Vivi, age 4 and Leila, age 7

Hence I wanted to pair the blue  transfer ware with the green of the  blooms and use  green  placemats, not something I wouldn't naturally expect, but I do love the effect. The flowered  placemats mark the spot where the girls will sit!

I am  a hearty Anglophile,  and so I always choose transfer ware  with an Olde World British theme,   and this  Wedgewood pattern, called Countryside is perfect for lazy, hazy days of summer!

The family will  enjoy their first meal with us,  breakfast, on this  refreshened table  next week.  Homemade blueberry waffles   and  fruitcup will   be  heartily enjoyed  as we kick off our  week of  loving and delighting in  each other.  This will be our first  and probable only   visit of 2020.  Keeping everything special    will be my highest  aim, with God's help!  

Imparting Grace~He Has it in His Hands

Hosted by Richella!

What a week  we've  had.. I mean, all of us! I don't know about you,  but this whole pandemic  sort of took me by surprise..Yes, I know it started in China and   was  seemingly racing   about from nation to nation last week.  I  was  so saddened and upset by the toll it was taking in Italy, but I suppose  I still felt rather far removed from it all. Then  last week it was on our mainland.. and to tell the truth we had no idea it had been hidden away  within its hosts, as it lies  silent for  several days  before it rears its ugly head.. well, there is so much we do not know about it  that is the part that is rather terrifying in and of itself.  We just learn about it a little more each day until now  less than a week later  we  only really know what we  have gleaned   from reports  coming for the other countries affected.  But we, also, know that our very best resources are frantically working around the clock to keep us as safe, as we are willing to be,  given our  obedience to the guidleines that are being set before us.. 

I will confess, at first, I thought it was mostly politically motivated, this being an election year. Then my  scientific  daughter and son in law got ahold of my mind and heart and convinced me of the seriousness of  co-vid19. Now I just  so wish that everyone was taking it seriously and  staying at home...  not   going out and spreading  it around...  for  top doctors are saying the numbers are exponentially more than  are being reported,  and even areas like mine that   appear to be  clear of  the contagion are absolutely not!

But,  even knowing and finally understanding the ramifications of this, I am not  afraid..  I'm 70,  a type II diabetic,  and have  stage III kidney disease, because of long term meds a doctor had me on...I have no fear of  this  encroaching  virus... it holds no sway over me. Oh, I'm practicing self quarantine and  washing my hands  like mad.. but my mind and  heart are  completely at peace about it all. I know  the Father...  His love,  His provision,  His watch care over me..  that anytime I even do stupid things  and put myself in jeopardy,  He has been there to pick me up,  or even keep me from falling!  Consequences, yes, Ive suffered  those...  but  they taught me to put my  entire trust and faith in Him and not in myself. He has seen me through   skin cancer and skin grafts on my face,  torn meniscuses   and  severe pain and  inability to be mobile,  he has  seen me through  the most excruciating pain imaginable  during these shingles I've had  this winter,  and through it all I know now His presence and loving care  over me..  even when I cried out "WHY?"    He answered softly,  "Because, in your suffering you  are  understanding the love I and My Son  have for you..You are aligned in the suffering my Son endured  to  ransome you  from the precipice of sin, death,  and  separation from Me." 

It is all for love!  And I  understood  and  praised Him even more..I have learned so much.. and I almost feel like  it was  in preparation of this new  season of my life...  where  we are walking into unknown  paths,  but knowing He is right here beside us, actually carrying us,  I know there is absolutely nothing to fear!

So I am spending my hours  thinking Spring 

and loving the the  gardens coming alive outside!

         

 

And enjoying and praising  God for each new day what e're may come 

It is all held fast in His hand!

Spring Has Sprung Early Around Here!

Hosted by Richella!

Come and let us seek together
Springtime lore of daffodils,
Giving to the golden weather
Greeting on the sun-warm hills."
-  Lucy Maud Montgomery, Spring Song 

Our yard is    yellow with  bunches of daffodils springing forward,,..welcoming the gentle winds of spring, which is right around the corner! So  my go to  spring decor was  my  beloved yellow and blue combination!

Beginning in  the dining room  I love to  put away winter and bring the blue and white transferware out which  never fails to give me a boost..!!

I love to collect transferware.. My collect includes blue, red, green and black.

So out came the blue!

  

I saved  my  daffodils for  the weekend so I just picked some for the table!

How lively they look.. such a grand addition to the table!

I think they look wonderful in my mom's umbrella vase..  I  loved it when she would bring it out  to herald the  coming  springtime!

For continuity, I, also, used the blue  transferware on the mantel..!

I am loving it, myself!

A time to Celebrate

Hosted by Imparting Grace!

Merry Christmas!

What a joyous  celebration we have already shared!!  This season Hubs  family discovered  two   first cousins  who were  adopted out of the family  as  very small children due to   very sad circumstances  and  everyone lost track of them over 60 years ago. Lo and behold  they  had been living very near us  all this time... We were brought together due to Ancestry.com and the DNA analysis!  Knowing we were hosting a cousin's party  this last week, We paid  a little extra attention to our  festive decorating and  food planning!

I always get most excited about deciding how to  decorate the mantel..  we hadn't used  the  "village" in some years, mainly because I couldn't find where I'd stored it!

Once I  have  it completed it seems to set the tone for the rest of the  seasonal decor!

 The years we decide not to  have a live tree,  we  use our  small trees  which are so much easier to manage!

Since we were going  Old English in theme, out came the stags and antlers!! 

I love this  wrought iron  arranger.  I keep the  flowers in it all the time,  then seasonally I add to it  whatever is appropriate.. It always leaves a natural as if it grew there feeling  Haha, I always leave the blue hydrangea there  which  seems to get lost in the overall look because  blue flowers have a very  appropriate meaning for me."Peaceful blue is said to convey serenity and openness. A flower delivery of a bouquet containing blue flowers may be a sign to slow down, relax and release the stress."

With that  the west side of the room was   complete!

I then revert to the dining room!

This year, Hubs so sweet to help with the  house cleaning!

I love the simplicity of red and white!

I always  enjoy  doing up then hutch!  Whatever did we do before  battery operated lights..  I love to light up everything!!

The matching  small tree beckoning one and all to come for refreshment   is  aglow with  battery operated  illumination!    And don't you just love the leopard throw I found on Amazon for a song   this  season! It  is so luxurious!

 As I said, one can never have too many lights..  after all Jesus  is the Light of the World!!

 From west to east.  all is  done! 

Even the kitchen got into the  fun!

So our cousins' Soiree'   was  celebrated last evening..  everyone brought a dish  and   the evening was  festive and  full of joy and  sharing..Stories  were told  and hearts  were  touched and  love was  spread abroad.. 

and a very warm  welcome  was  showered on our    beloved cousins we  were  able to  finally  bring into  the clan!!

God bless us everyone!