Friendship: A Proper Chat

I am in the mood for a right proper chat this morning.  I'm even going to include a few links, for you to enjoy.

First off, with blogger being weird, not all of the comments (which are moderated), come into my email anymore.  I do check the blog dashboard usually once a day, but this past weekend I checked everyday, and there were none.  Late last night all of the sudden there were 10!  I published them right away.  I don't know when you may have commented, but they are published now!  Dotsie and Debbie seem to be the main regular commenters that this affects.

I know many of you are Downton Abbey fans.  I thought you might like to see this photo floating around FB from a Harper's Bazaar cover shoot, of the women of Downton.

From the left by character - Mrs Hughes, Daisy (in front), Lady Mary, Mrs. Patmore, Phyllis Baxter (Cora's lady's maid), Lady Edith, Anna Bates, Lady Cora, Lady Rose.

I often get asked about Lindsay and Joseph's 'courtship'.  Here is a post on Like Mother, Like Daughter that pretty much sums up our view of the whole courtship/dating with a purpose vs traditional dating, etc.  That Auntie Leila is a wise woman.

I have been having some lovely chats with my darling niece who lives far away from me.  She sent me a link to this blog post at Generation Cedar - The Good Life and What Matters - What School Doesn't Teach  I told my niece that Yes!  This has been my heart about education for years.

For those of you on Pinterest - have you seen this board?  Tweed and Tartan.  Be still my heart!  I love it!

Here are a few samples…

They all make me want to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book.

We had quite a storm blow through last night.

It poured and the wind blew pretty well, but no damage here.  Lindsay and Joseph were here for a piano lesson and a movie and arrived home to no power.  It was still not on this morning.

Photos during the storm…

 And after…

We love how the sun shines on the tops of our trees but we are starting to be in shadow in the late afternoons.  During the Autumn it is stunning with the sun on the changing leaves!

Rachel has her cello lesson this morning, and Tim is working second shift right now, so it will be tricky to time our main meal together.  We try to eat together with Tim on his schedule so when he is on second shift we do our main meal at lunch.   I may just do BLT's!

Tomorrow we are going to breakfast with Tim's brother Dan and our sister in law Sharon.  I'm looking forward to it.

What are you up to today?  Have any good links to share?  Let's chat!

Meme

One of my favorite things is reading.

Outside my window is grey and white, both sky and ground.

I am thinking of the day ahead.  The gift of bunkbeds - double bed on the bottom, twin on top for the girls bedroom and a short road trip and dinner with my daughter.

From the kitchen there is the hum of the refrigerator and tea brewing.

I am wearing my jammies still.

I am reading Death Comes To Pemberley by P.D. James.

I am hearing the chatter of my daughter home from her early morning violin lesson, and my boy playing my iphone.

I am hoping that business for the store, both physical and online, will increase.

Around the room are children just waking and pets sleeping.

I am going to check on the house of a friend who is out of town.

I am creating a Home; a place of welcome and refuge.

I am Thankful for grace, mercy, forgiveness and love.  All gifts from God.

Here is a picture thought .....

 

  Dreaming of these!

I decided to do this after reading Vee's post this morning.  Feel free to do it too.  If you decide to do it, let me know in the comments.

I am playing around with the look of my blog - slowly....if you want to read the blogs in my blog list click on the link under pages.

  

        

Let's Chat Some More

Well, I finally did it.

I made my own background for my blog!  I kinda like it too.  Vee shared Auntie's tutorial last week and tonight I did it.  Why did I wait so long?

While I was wallowing in the mess of my 'organizing' this week, our state wide homeschool magazine winter issue arrived.  Inside, is an article that I wrote in the late fall.  The new editor is a gal from our co-op and she contacted me about writing for them.  I was honored and scared!  I thought that I would just rework an old talk I had given a few years ago, but the Lord changed that.  I wrote about fear!  My kids said "I didn't know you were doing that!"  

Tomorrow we are having visits from two special friends of ours.  One is a gal and her daughters, whose family has moved to New York, and the other is a sweet church friend and her kids. It will be so much fun!

This coming week, the kids and I are headed to Cheryl's home for a day of visiting and fellowship!  We are so excited! 

I am grateful for the opportunity to still be involved in encouraging moms, especially those who have chosing the challenging task of home educating.  

Have a wonderful weekend - I know I will! 

Year In Review

So, I've been reading all these great blog posts reviewing 2012, and with a word of encouragement from Cheryl I decided to do it!

Here we go!

January - Let's Talk Herbs 

This was the most popular post with a post on My Creative Kids,
coming in second.

Herb's are a subject I'd like to discuss more in the coming year.

February - Homemade Laundry Soap 

This post was very popular.  This is still what we do for laundry and are also now making dishwashing detergent for the dishwasher, and making our own toothpaste.

March - Vee's Notecard Party!

This post got 30 comments - not much for some of  you but a lot for me!  This continues to be a big post for me every month, and I have met some sweet new friends through these posts!

The second most popular in March, I only mention because it was about my new glasses!   I can't believe it was way back in March that I got my glasses!

April -  Vee's Notecard Party gets the vote. 

I also spent time missing part of my family as they were in Senegal, but my favorite things in April were our Titanic event at church, and my tulips.

May - Tending To My Home was a favorite.

June - Vee's Notecard Party where I showed off my Hydrangea!  So gorgeous and looking at them now makes me look forward to Summer!

July - My orchid photos for Vee's Notecard Party got the most comments. My Pondering post was a highlight as well.

August - Pumpkin Bread,  Rest and Fellowship, and the August Notecard party, were popular!

September - Evening Glow,  I Lead A Rich Life, Taking Time To Nurture Relationships were your favorite posts.

October - Saw me sharing Hospitality tips for Cheryl's Blog Party, we Chatted, and I got to meet Cheryl and her lovely family on my birthday (October3rd) in Am I Supposed To Be Having This Much Fun?

November - Our Cyber Monday Giveaway was huge success! I have not yet heard from the winner of the scarf.  If I don't hear from her by tomorrow at noon (December 31st) I will pick a new winner!

December - We shared Tea, you sweetly comforted us, and enjoyed our Christmas decor!

It has been quite a year!  I am thankful for you my friends, old and new.  

May you all have a wonderful New Year!  
 

Linking Today...

to Debbie from Words on Wheels.

She wrote the best post on Keeping Peace.  I was blessed and challenged by it, and I think you will be too.

In these times when there is uncertainty due to elections, heartache due to natural disasters, and more, it is so good to know the source of peace. 

My sister in law is arriving today, along with her family!  We are all excited to see them and Sarah is thrilled because the cousins will be sleeping in with her!  I'm not sure how much sleeping will happen, though.  


I'm off to the shoppe (it's closed today) with Lindsay to finish our holiday decorating.  I'll take some photos to show you.  

Oh, and speaking of the store the online store should be finished today!  I have a give away planned so stay tuned for that if you love wonderful hand selected jewelry, handbags, and scarves!  Oh, the scarves!  70% cotton, 30% silk...divine!

Don't forget to go read Debbie's blog... it will bless you.