Joyful. Joyful

Finally, the  Christmas   box is out of the living and   things are  shaping... perhaps not   completely  but  well  enough to make me  happy  with my  quiet time in there! Because of a   decorative light problem I  did  some  changing about to make it all work....  the mantel  and  the  tree in the corner  are   finally    complete!

Here is one of the  several changes that have  happened  that I  wrote of in my previous post....

We have arrived at  a juncture in life when  neither of us  was willing to put the big tree up....  so  We are enjoying  our year round trees  in new   venues and new purposes....  it surely is much easier!

I had   a  lovely  wrought iron planter  as the centerpiece for the mantel,   but  it was  a  royal pain  plugging the lights in  so  I switched it for this   sweet  medieval lantern

So now the living room is aglow with  lights.....  I do enjoy them so!

The  creche   in candlelight...  

The  sweet  vintage  ceramic  tree  hubby's mother made  over 50 years ago....  hard to believe   we lost her over 45 years ago.

So there by the door is   my   favored  arched planter.... I like it there because  that   outlet is connected to the   switch by the stairs and serves as our night light in the evenings!
But because of the  rough iron I  must use   cloths  on the  surfaces..... 

  A bit of a wider view on into the  dining room... 

I must say the lights of  Christmas  certainly  dissipate the  drear of  rainy days

I am still loving   the    Christmas tray  that I mother painted and sold in a Guild  craft show  at least  25 years ago   that I found  in a  local consignment shop...  I  posted about it last week.... It really  boosted its  persona  when I simply  removed the sad ribbon and   sanitized it nicely....  I can feel mama smiling down on me as I am typing this post!

I know, previously, I  had  Mr. and Mrs. Fox  visiting  on the   hutch....  I think I am liking the  look  just fine this year....   everything in its season of life!

This year I am loving the  red and white gingham ribbon  with the red and white  dishes....  I really must  find another roll of that ribbon...  maybe a trip to Michael's is in my future! 

Make It Pretty

Return to Loveliness

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waiting....

Hydrangeas!
Hydrangeas blooming everywhere
throughout the park
At each turn another
Different yet the same.
Pale snowballs dot
one verdant bush
While another thrusts
her gaudy pink
pom-poms in my path.
A third holds blue globes aloft,
like a celestial clown
juggling earths.
Flat topped soldiers in
variegated uniforms
line one walkway
their soft blue flowers
intricate and lacy
undermining their authority,
while at the gate
spiky red giants
stand guard.source

source
  I missed spring here  on the home place   for a  great reason in deed.. I was in Ireland,   but   now I  am  awaiting  with all the hope within me   on  my  blue hydrangeas....   they   didnt bloom last year,  and the  blooms seem very slow this year... So I am   cheering them on with  posts from the past that  highlighted their   happy  presence in  our lives.

My  lovely bush from   a few years ago.. I love them no matter what color they choose to be... but  blue is my favorite!

Loaded with blooms.. begging to be picked!

  This was last year's single bloom...  

Other years the blooms were so   heavy  and  radiantly blue!




I love when  they beckon me through to window and   come play in their  shadow!

last year I resorted to silk   ones  to get through the season....   sigh

When previous years   they   were  invited guests to our  morning    soiree's on the  porch

or noontime luncheons ... they  set  such a happy mood  for us both!

It would be grand to hang them from the  doors

But last year  the silk ones  saw me through   my  teatimes

TEACUP~ Monthly Botanicals by Royal Albert       Teapot~   Purchased  at a   gift shop in  Gatlinburg  over 25 years ago....  no label
when I would sit and      think  happy plans  for   the  coming get togethers

remembering happier times when the  true  blooms   fought   for prominence with the tea  itself!




Was it the tea pot   that   spoke  loudest,,,   "don't you just love my  delicate lines!"

Or were the blooms    stealing the   entire show!


And then sometimes the   blooms surprise   me....  a lovely green

I loved them so much!

But this year...     not  much showing  even yet....  So I wait.
 Home Sweet Home

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Valentine Memories

Valentine's Day  is  such a great  holiday... nothing more preceious  than  showing your preferencefor others  in love... 
As a third grade teacher,    our classes  looked forward to    making the valentine  box,  

the best one I could find  (HEHEHE)  ours were always much better!
 then in later years creating their own  puppy  dog  valentine  holder made out of  2 paper plates and  construction paper...

  the valentine bulletin boards  bedecked in  red and pink hearts and  paper doilies     to  present  our best penmanship....

 alas,  so few classes  hold lovely penmanship    of value  anymore!
But valentine's day  is   an expression  of all things  lovely...
roses.... petit fours.....  lace..... valentines'


SO  now well into my sixties,  I enjoy  the valentine memories in my heart  over a    warming  cup of tea!

My  collection of  red transferwear is  a hodgepodege....   but I love  finding  choice  pieces in consignment /thrift shops. 

Meanwhile I pour out a cup of  Cinnamon Spice  on  this    brisk and windy day....  there is a hint of snow  in the wind!

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Dreamin 'o' me Homeland

 Today my mind is   consumed with the  marvelous  trip we are planning to Ireland  in a few months.. this morning  I actually  enjoyed  a meeting with  several of our friends who are going on this trip with us, and just to be together and  chat about  our expectations  was  so  exciting.  I  didnt realize just how many great friends are going on this trip with us...One o f my favored places we will see is  Waterford.

Mainly because  one of  my family line hails from that  area...  the O'Higgins's!

  So no wonder when  I  picked out my  favorite  Waterford crystal it  was named for  this  gorgeous  Lismore castle.

But  when  we stop by  there I dont intend to    purchase more crystal...  because   we will also be stopping in  

Belleek....   and  I certainly would love to add to my very limited collection  which includes this  delicate  sugar and creamer

and the pitcher  seen above which was passed on to me by  a very dear cousin  before  she left this life.
To  truly commemorate our trip,  this   Bunratty Teapot 

would   be   perfection as we will be  enjoying  a medieval banquet at Bunratty.




Aw, the  glorious dreams and expectations of   a long awaited and longed for  experience of returning to  the homeland..the anticipation  makes the  trip that much more exciting!

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