Family Weekend

Photo taken by Kyle 😊

Late night photo, weary travelers, family.  We haven't been all together in two years.

When some family live 15 hours away and other family live on a different continent, its a blessing and a joy to be together, even for a few hours.

We were missing Tim's sister Virginia.

We had a wonderful weekend of family time.  Laughter, singing, joy.

Thankful for these dear ones.

Scenes From My Week

Today we're headed to Tim's brother's home for brunch with the extended family, then a running a few errands and then home to prepare for our Texas friends!

Due to health issues with Tim's sister's mother in law in New York, they are headed up this weekend instead of mid-week, and so they'll be here tomorrow rather than Wednesday.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  

Hospitality:Preparing For Guests

I'm never happier than when we are hosting family or friends.  It's a joy to care for people when they are in our home, and we've got a lot of guests coming in the next few weeks.


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We are having sweet friends, who've become family,  coming for dinner on Saturday night, Tim's sister and her husband are coming to stay overnight on their way to New York for Thanksgiving and hunting, then other friends who are family - do you have friends like this?  Aren't they the best kind? - will be here that next day to stay for four days on their way to New England for Thanksgiving.  Then the day after they leave, Emma, Vinnie and Isla will be coming up for Thanksgiving.  I'm not certain whether they'll be staying here or at Lindsay and Joseph's yet.  Its up to them.

So the cottage will be hopping with comings and goings and I'm so excited!

   An Ornament to a House

are the Guests

who frequent it

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quote, don't you?

We don't have a guest room, but we do have a very nice space that we set up downstairs when we are having guests.  We have comfy beds and a warm woodstove for keeping people comfy.  Its a really nice space to sleep in.

I'll be stocking up some special treats, and making sure there are plenty of nice things to drink, too. This time of year its fun to have hot cider, eggnog, special teas, and hot cocoa on hand. I always check for any food allergies, or preferences.  

I'll likely have some small gifts, because we won't see most of our guests at Christmas. Ornaments, small pillows, local made candies, or candles make wonderful gifts.  

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Home Keeping: Living Room Rearrangement

Okay, you know how thinking about one thing, can lead to another thing?

I've been thinking about the holidays and one of the big things every year is where to put the Christmas tree.  I always have to rearrange furniture, which is fine with me since I love to rearrange.

You can guess what's coming, right?

A total room rearrangement this afternoon.  You can see how it was arranged in this post.  

Of course, this is just a peek at the rearrangement because I have some wall decor to rearrange before I show you more.

I really like it.  I think the bookcase looks better on the shorter wall.  It looked a bit small for the long wall.  I'm happy with the changes.  Hopefully I'll get to the walls tomorrow, but we have co-op so no promises for tomorrow, but maybe Friday.

What do you think about the layout and arrangement?  Do you move furniture around like I do?  Sarah told me today that when she gets her own house she is not going to move things around very much. "Once I find a good place for everything, its going to stay there."  She takes after her Grammy in this way! (smile)

What I'm Wearing Now That Cold Weather Has Arrived

After a mild summer, and a warm autumn, cold weather has arrived!  Its going to be chilly most days this week, and very cold overnight, with an expected high temperature of 36 on Friday!  

Its been crazy to try to figure out what to wear, since the autumn temps were unseasonably warm.  It would have felt odd to wear sweaters, scarves and boots with the temps they way they were.  That is now not an issue.

My current wardrobe is pretty casual - 

I have three long sleeve knit dresses, four short sleeve dresses (I can wear these with cardigans) several skirts, 4 pairs of jeans (one black, 2 darker blue and 1 olive green), two long sleeve tees, four cardigans.  I have three pairs of leggings, to wear with the dresses.  I have a long, thick grey sweater (purchased from Costco several years ago), a denim jacket, a navy blue quilted field jacket, and I think I still have a short grey peacoat style jacket.

For shoes I'm wearing my slip on Skechers, black booties, black tall boots most of the time. I have a pair of black, faux fur lined, ugg style boots.

All of my things mix and match, like a good basic capsule wardrobe should.

Here are things I have - 



This is from Old Navy.  I'm short so on me it hits at the knee and I'm wearing it with leggings.  I have this in a dark green also.





These jeans are great and are from Dress Barn.  They have some stretch in them and wear great without losing their shape!  I also never wear my shirts tucked in - with my body shape that is not a good look for me!

Here I am in my jean jacket (Old Navy) and one of my short sleeved knit dresses (also Old Navy).  I can 'cold weather this up' by adding a scarf, leggings and boots.

What are you wearing for the cold weather?  Any favorites you want to share with us?

Precious In The Sight Of The Lord

  'Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of His saints.'

Psalm 116:15

My heart is grieved at the death of people who were in their place of worship.  I know that God was with them during that time, and will be with those who are left.  Half the members of this church are gone. Eight people from one extended family are gone.  We know they are with the Lord, but for their loved ones they will be dearly and deeply missed.

Praying for our nation, and the world.

Hearth and Hand

So did you go to Target for the opening of Chip and Joanna Gaines' Hearth and Hand line?

We had our fall fest so I wasn't able to go but my instagram feed is full of all kinds of folks who went to their local Target stores!

I saw some adorable things online this week from the Hearth and Home line and here are a few of them - 

Pretty vases


Great pillows



Dreamy Dollhouse!



I have a thing for great lanterns


Pitchers



This cocoa pot 😍



These kitchen towels


These adorable wooden houses


I can't wait to go see the collection in the store.  So many great things!

What do you think?  What are some of your favorites?

Fall Fest

Our annual Fall Fest was supposed to be last Sunday but we were rained out.  The forecast early in the week was not looking good for this Sunday either, but that has changed and it looks as if its going to be clear and mild.  

Not sure how many people will be here, since the date had to change but we'll have fun anyway.  

We'll be busy with preparations today, and then the FF on Sunday.  I'll be sure to get some photos and share them with you all on Monday!

Happy Weekend!

Foliage and Knitting

One of my maple trees in the front is looking so beautiful.  I see this tree when I look out my front window.  This tree framed by my new gold curtains is a beautiful sight.

The other tree is still mostly green, though there is change, and several of our trees on the property are still mostly green.  Such an interesting year.

So far this fall I've knit three cowls, two scarves, a baby hat and I am working on a hat for me!  This is the softest yarn and a lovely heathered grey.

I'm starting to get busy on my list of gifts for people, and I believe that we will continue with our pattern of gift giving.  I'll talk about that in a post soon.  

Happy Friday Everyone!

Out and About: Christmas at Pier One Imports

There were, of course, many Christmas items at Pier One, these in particular caught my eye.

These cute Christmas pillows - 

They have a lot of dishware and this guy made me smile - 

There are also these beautiful things as shown on their website - 

The website has a lot more fall/Thanksgiving items than the store had.  Much of it had already been sold and some items were being clearanced out when I was in the store on the 31st.

They have some cute things though -

 

I'm planning to do more of these Out and About posts during the holiday season.  I know some will not want to see much about Christmas until Thanksgiving is over, and I do understand that.  I don't like to rush the seasons or skip over important holidays.  But I do love to plan, and see what is available for the holidays, Christmas in particular, since I am going to make some changes to my decor (hopefully) this year.

I am interested in having a conversation about holiday decorating and when you think its appropriate to begin putting out your Christmas decor.  But that's for another day!

Let's Talk Turkey

Well at least Thanksgiving!

We are now three weeks away from this day that we set aside as a nation to give thanks, and I'm thinking through the menu and the table settings.

I think this year we will have all our kids and grands with us on Thanksgiving.  That'll be fun!

I always cook the turkey.  I use Emilie Barnes method for Perfect Everytime Turkey.  It is so easy!  You can read about that here!

I've been looking at Pinterest for some tablescape inspiration.

Aren't these colors great together?


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I love the simplicity of this tablescape and all the natural elements.


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Wouldn't this be amazing if you lived in a warm weather state?


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I'm thinking of trying this dish for a side dish this year. Zucchini and squash au gratin.  


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So, what are your plans for Thanksgiving this year?  Making anything new? Are you hosting or going somewhere?


In family news - My mother in law turned 96 years old on the 31st!  Tim's sister sent us this sweet photo of her 

Isn't she beautiful?

And thank you for your continuing prayers for my cousin Rob.  He is at home but he has hospice involved now.  They are helping him manage his pain, giving him meds for nausea, and giving him something that is helping him to sleep at night, too.  The family have worked out a schedule so that someone is always with him.