Welcome Spaces

Join Shannon   on this    Cozy theme!
Last week I shared about  a new book I  purchased,
 In the Royal Manner,  expert advice on   Etiquette, entertaining , by  Paul Burrell... 


Of particular interest to me is page 23... 
Guests to Stay in Your home... 

We are reminded to 

• check the lighting and a bedside table lamp is essential because there should be  interesting books and magazines readily  available  on a table
• Make sure  there are extra blankets  for your guests  in case of  cooler weather  as  our  author has spent many a  sleepless night in draft old castles! 
•  Fresh flowers are a must  to  ensure a  cheery welcome,  as well as   bottled mineral water  placed with a glass  in  the guest bathroom.  Check that there are adequate towels and an assortment of  bath salts and oils would be  a special touch!
• 
• Adequate toilet tissue and  a fresh box of tissues  make guests  feel  welcome and comfortable, of course...  but a spare tooth brush, paste, disposal razor and  cotton balls   would also  be  a delightful find.
•   
• A guest book  makes  guests feel exceptionally  cozy and   their  loving comments  will warm your heart long after  the guests have  departed...  especially   if the  shared  time  was in celebration of life events...  memories shared become invaluable.. I like to consider  some of the bed and breakfasts  we have  enjoyed...   the lodgings were always  very   welcoming...

Hanover, PA



Lexington, VA

Christiansburg, VA

Williamsburg, VA

Lynchburg, VA

Warwick, NY
 Attention to details make  for a very cozy, welcoming space!

May Flowers

Join Shannon   on this    Cozy theme!

Today I am sharing a montage  of   the gorgeous colors and textures of my  May  garden!  This  year  we have been blessed with April   (Springtime) showers which have  been a huge boon to our May flowers!

Ralph Waldo Emerson  once said, 
" "The Earth Laughs in Flowers."

Our garden is definitely smiling!

  Thanks so much for  your visit....  

May Breakfast Al Fresco

This morning  I am  celebrating a return to loveliness    with more time spent  on the porch.....   the weather has been perfect....   cool and  temperate in the mornings... not muggy...  no insects....   jsut  a lovely time to spend with the birds!!

So looking out the screen door   I see a table set for two....
 upon a closer inspection...



it looks like a bit of morning repast....

Pairing the black and white Royal Stafford, The Herdsman, pattern   is a striking  contrast to the  pale green cloth and delicate posies...   but the black  coordinates well with the wrought iron...

Keeping it  simple with the ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS Flatware

I never tire of  my latest pattern....  so  perfectly balanced and    weighty in the hand...  the  patina  and lustrious shine  yet simple pattern   compliments  every setting!
 
A lovely opportunity to   try out  my  baked eggs  and  freshly picked home-grown strawberries!

as well as  delight in the  ethereal beauty of the  rose and peony    flowers,  one last time  for this  season!


I will also be sharing   on 
Cozy Home Scenes
Tabletop Tuesday 
Tablescape Thursday 
  Thanks so much for  your visit....  

A Bit of This and That

If it's Tuesday, it's time to join Shannon at  The Cozy  Home Scenes.
Collections of things that have special meaning  to me and our family  make  a house a home....

My  love for the primitive weeping willow  as  depicted in the previous post


As stated before the  weeping willow design  means eternal life which is our most  precious  attribute as a Child of God...

My   tastes usually run more  toward Olde World  , medieval  decor...   probably due to my  unwavering interest in genealogy  and my    year of living  in Castle  Country(Germany) our first year of marriage.  I can't help  but be drawn to castle  and  cottage miniatures..

Especially since my maternal  grandfather  hails from the Cotswold area of  Britain... then I get all excited about sheep 

Which somehow  naturally leads me to a love of English teacups.....  and if you can follow that  line of reasoning..... but to me it makes  perfect sense!!!

Our house  translates  the  intricate  patterns of  life and history that make our family    who we are....  and  brings  our  being all together   in  our home!

Reclaimed Orchids

If it's Tuesday, it's time to join Shannon at  The Cozy  Home Scenes.
In the previous post I mentioned the great finds  to be found  in a basement cleanup.....   and     this post continues along that vein....

Our daughter, Amanda  got married  in 2005 and   being Asian  she gravitated to   beautiful orchids of all kinds in her florals..  This   great brass planter was used on her head table, so I  took many of the silk orchids we had and  re-positioned them for  this mantel arrangement... 

It seems bunnies are still on the loose in the house and they have sought shade   beneath the overhang!!!

We just love to share our cozy home with these   happy little hoppers!

Our Cozy Home

If it's Tuesday, it's time to join Shannon at  The Cozy  Home Scenes.
When  holidays occur  around the house it is  very meaningful to  our family to  have  certain items that then become family heirlooms  filled with the  loving memories of  years gone by... when the family gathered around them for  special purposes....  I am thinking this morning of    our Passover  dinner...Our daughter  gave us this   beautiful pewter Seder plate a couple of years ago ...such a wonderful  treasure to  pass down through the generations.... 

  Then  a few years go when  our family started realizing how important it was for  Christians to  reconnect with our  Jewish roots and heritage...  I mean after  all we are grafted into  David's line.....joint heirs with Christ, who himself celebrated  the  old  festivals...    anyway...  I found this  wonderful bronze candlabra which reminds me of  but isnt exactly like a Mennorah... 

It has one more light that I liken to the Light of Christ... We use this  at all the  Christian holidays and it is a blessing to our family..

Items like these make our home  cozy,as loving sentiments attachment themselves to them  over the  seasons  of our life together.