Simple, Natural, Beautiful

In the days long before blogs, I used to be into the country Victorian look.  I had burgundy velvet curtains, round side tables with long fabric tablecloths, cherubs…I had a love/hate relationship with Scarlett O'Hara and I adored Queen Victoria.  I still like the Queen very much, but I decided that that look is really not me. 

Living on one income I became good at pulling a variety of items together and it looked good.  I called it cottage, but it may have been a bit more eclectic. People seemed to like it, but most importantly WE liked it and it fit our budget. (By the way, I've NEVER had a decorating budget!)  I love to shop a good resale store, but I try to not just shop for stuff.

I try to live by the statement by William Morris, "Have nothing in  your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

I wanted to show you the plate rack in my bathroom.  It holds at least one book usually, and the jars on the top hold cotton balls and q-tips.  Of course, I like to put some pretty things with them!

When I saw this vintage styled Noel sign, I knew it would look perfect in my bathroom, it is the French term used for Christmas, and the name chosen for our grand baby that was lost.  

I've had this tiny red star for a very long time.  It's cute and adds a pop of red.

These little birds looked funny on the white shelf until I added the greenery yesterday. 

Remember my little pottery set that my friend Amy bought for me in Williamsburg?  I hated to put them away for Christmas time so I moved them into the bathroom.  I love the boxwood in the creamer!

It's all so simple, natural, beautiful.

Last year Vee encouraged me to take some effort in wrapping gifts.  I just love her, don't you?  I had fallen into the habit of  just writing with marker on the white paper.  The tags and wrapping make the anticipation of the gift fun and special. 

This year, I decided to do a take on "Brown paper packages tied up with string" and use our white paper (my husband works for a huge printing company and has an endless supply of paper available) and tie the gifts up with string, with a cute craft paper tag added as well.  

Simple, natural, beautiful.

Don't You Just Love…

This time of year?

 The tree is decorated, the stockings are hung (don't look too closely - I need to change the ribbon they are hanging on!)

 Even the oxen, donkey, sheep and shepherd are in awe of His coming…

We're still giving thanks here at our cottage.  I bought it as seasonal decor but I love the daily reminder.  We have so much to be thankful for!

I still have some shopping to do.  What about you?  Do you have all your shopping done, yet?  I don't like to wait until the last minute, so buy a bit here and a bit there.  The challenge this year is that I have been buying stuff for the wedding too, so I feel as if I should be done shopping by now and yet there are some people without a gift from me at all! I'm not worried, on Christmas day everyone will have a gift and there will be joy in the gift of the Savior as well.

I have another beautiful Christmas song to share.




Have you ever heard this song?  

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

I've been working on a Christmas playlist on Spotify, and really enjoying adding the songs that mean so much to me at Christmas time.

This song is a favorite and I thought I would share one of my favorite versions of it with you.  The Piano Guys are very talented musicians and this video and the song are beautiful.



I hope you enjoy it.

We have been decorating our home for the season and I was thinking tonight of how beautiful this time of year is with the lights.  Lights add beauty and warmth to our homes, and chase the gloom of coming winter away.

We have to find a new place to get our tree.  The place we've gone for many years is nearly out of trees.  They grew trees for years to pay for their son's college expenses.  Several years ago they told us he had finished and that they wouldn't plant any new trees, but that we could keep buying one as long as they were available.  This year there weren't very many left and none that suited us, so we are off to a new place Monday morning.

I also will be finishing preparations for our Christmas Tea at church, and doing a modified school day during the month of December.

I hope to remember to take lots of photos this season.  Today I'm going to share one that I took on Saturday.  My friend Amy and I went to lunch and she brought Kay and I both a special gift.  When Kay and Nate lost their baby, I encouraged them to give the baby a name.  They decided that since they didn't know whether it was a boy or girl they would name it Noel Morgan (Morgan is Kay's middle name). 

I will hang this on my tree every year and remember my grand baby that is with the Lord.  One day I'll get to hold this precious life in my arms.

Do you have a favorite ornament that you keep to remember someone?

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

At least I think so.

My favorite holiday season is upon us.  We had a delightful day yesterday, feasting and reveling in God's goodness to us.  It's unmerited favor.  We know it and are so thankful for His grace.

 Love these guys, so much.  We're proud of them.

 The lovebirds.  Their wedding is now 12 weeks away.

My beautiful kids…

Dad and Mom.

So thankful for our family, and our friend Denny, who spent the day with us.  He's family too.

Emma and I are headed out early to get groceries (all we have in the house is thanksgiving leftovers, and that won't last long around here!), and then we will begin decorating.  

We are savoring our time as a family as this next year will bring so much change.  Nate and Kay will soon be in their own place, likely planning a wedding, Joseph and Lindsay are getting married in March, Emily will be headed to Bible School in the Autumn.  

Lots of change but it's all good.

I thought of you all last night and today as we were cooking.  Thinking of you preparing your food for the meals you were sharing with others today.  I trust is was a blessing to you as it was to me, to be making a feast for our family to celebrate and be thankful.  I'd love to hear about it!

Have a lovely weekend!

My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness

It's Quiet In The House

I am thankful for this quiet, this morning.

I am preparing my heart, for the coming holidays.  For communicating Thankfulness to my family (and for my family) and for gearing up for the JOY of the Christmas season.

I'm making a last minute run to the store, and then the cooking begins with pies.  I am making Chocolate Surprise Pie and Rachel has been requested to make her fresh apple pie.  She found the recipe on Pinterest and basically you bake a pie crust, chop up Snickers and put into pie crust, slice apples into the crust,  drizzle with caramel sauce, put whipped cream on top and maybe drizzle with chocolate sauce, whatever she does with it, it's really good!  I'll have her give me the exact recipe if you want it.

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We are having a family day tomorrow, with my parents, of course, Uncle Denny and our nieces Carrie and Shelly coming by sometime tomorrow.  Our niece Kaitlin will be with us for the first time EVER on Thanksgiving!  So fun!

Tonight my turkey goes into the oven to slow roast overnight!  Here is a post where I explain how to do this.  Everyone who tries this method, loves it.  I love it because it makes Thanksgiving Day so easy!

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I am thinking of you friends, each preparing food for a meal of thanksgiving with family and dear ones.  I'm praying for those of you who have suffered loss, that your hearts will find comfort in the Comforter.  I love you all.

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Like the Pilgrims of long ago who journeyed out into the unknown holding on to God, we too, are headed into unknown territory as a nation.  I am trusting in the One who holds it all in His hands.

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Let's Talk Wedding Plans, Shall We?

I am endeavoring to keep a record here of the many ways that God provides just what we need for the wedding, so I am going to tell you that Lindsay found her dress and we have it in our possession!

This was a concern for me as all the shops mention how you need like 5 months to order your dress.  We don't have 5 months, so I knew we were going to have to find it at a consignment shop or buy a sample.  A sample is simply a dress they have in the shop for girls to try on, and then order in their size.  Fortunately Lindsay fits the sample size perfectly, and they were willing to sell it to us at a discount, because others have tried it on!  The only alteration that she needs is a bit of adjustment in the shoulders and for length.What a blessing!  Big sigh of relief from the mama here!

We bought her dress at a shop recommended to me by a friend whose son got married this past summer.  Classic Weddings in Lititz, Pennsylvania was a delightful experience.  They are very professional and yet personal.  My mom, myself, Emma, Rachel and Sarah all went with Lindsay and it was fun!  Sarah said, "I want to give my opinion, but I don't want to be like those people on 'Say Yes To The Dress.'"  If you've not seen that show, lets just say that some people have their own idea of what the bride should wear, even if it is not what the bride likes.  Awesome thing here?  The bride's favorite was also our favorite!  

Lindsay and I are going to look at a church this morning.  We already have our favorite and it seems as if this is just a formality to say that we looked at several, when in reality, I think we should have just booked the one we like!

With these two things accomplished I will breathe a bit easier knowing that two major things are done.  The next thing is to find bridesmaid dresses.  Lindsay is having Emma as her maid of honor, Rachel, and Joseph's sister Laura as bridesmaids, and then Sarah and Joseph's sister Jane, as junior bridesmaids.  She took them all to tea last week and asked them.  They were very excited. The big issue, besides the fact that the majority of bridesmaid dresses are um, well let's just say too short and lacking material up top, there is a vast difference in the bridesmaids ages and maturity.  Emma is the oldest at 19 and the other two bridesmaids are 14.  The maturity gap is 5 years, and we don't want the younger girls to look like they are wearing dresses meant for someone older.  Then we have two junior bridesmaids who are girls yet, so we are thinking that we will, at least for the bridesmaids, and junior bridesmaids, buy a bolt of fabric and find patterns to suit them.  They would match by wearing the same length and fabric and will look fine.  Emma as maid of honor can wear a different style completely but hopefully the same color.  This is the next thing I want settled. We have 12 weeks to go.

I am also trying to get an idea for the tables.  I am looking online at elegant but disposable plates.  Trying to decide if we want plates that look like china or the kind that look like clear glass.  Do you have any recommendations for me?  

Once the holidays are over we'll be on the fast track to the wedding.  Thanks for coming along for the ride!