Contemplation

To contemplate: To look at attentively and thoughtfully.

To consider carefully and at length; meditate on or ponder.

To have in mind as an intention or possibility.

You know, there are some things that are better to just look at in life rather than to try and take them on.

One thing we don't need to think too much about is how much we enjoy our walks. It is good to do these things to clear the mind and rejuvinate the soul.

And we do it best with a leaf stuck to our beards!

These next few days are going to be quite busy around our house as our Maw is deep in thought about something. She keeps mumbling about getting things done and how thankful she is to have so many wonderful blogging friends. One thing us scotties do know is that she has been preparing for a little Christmas giveaway….so stay tuned. Till then…..happy trails to you…and to you….and you...and you.

addendum added 12-1-09: are some of you having problems with your comments not showing after you approve them? Not all of you have blog owner approval, but just to let you know, if you left a comment (Brenda and Jean) it is somewhere in cyber world. Just know that I read them and am sending you a ((hug)).

Time & Measurements

How is everyone doing? I hope that you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving day. We had a lovely dinner with our first BBQ’d turkey done on my husband’s Traeger….oh and it was reallllly good. After much of Kim’ sweet potato casserole, a sausage and apple stuffing, sweet and sour green beans and a fabulous no-flour chocolate cake with raspberry sauce….well, I should just say that I am avoiding the scale for a week! Now only if I can find some TIME in the refrigerator…then I’d be content. Do you ask yourself where this year has gone? Time sure does fly………But, before I start in with the decorating and hustle and bustle.....I would just like to kick up my feet and just relax. What about you?

Giving Thanks….

 

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

I am thankful for so many things and am thankful for all of the kindness and love that you have given me this year.  Grateful, blessed, humbled ~ all of these things of which I am.

God BLESS our military men and women who unselfishly give of themselves each and every day.  For them, I wish you peace, love and safety.   Bobby, Blakely, Steven, Joel, Brian, Andrew….all of you wonderful Airmen and brothers to Jordan…may God blanket you in safety.  Know we are praying for all of you and for your safe return back home.

Blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving Day.

xxoo

Gearing Up...

Are you gearing up for Christmas? Man! I just cannot

believe that it is a month away! To get in the mood, I have pulled out

some vintage Christmas tablecloths and stitched up a few

goodies for my ETSY.

A little pennant banner...
...and a pocket pillow.....
...to hold cards, candy and notes for Santa.

You can find them HERE at my ETSY shop.

There have been a lot of you who have shared your gift giving and decorating ideas on this post!!

If you would still like to share with us one of your all-time favorites, please leave me a comment and I will add you to my sidebar. And speaking of the sidebar, be sure to check out the wonderful giveaways that are there!! A sweet birds' nest ornament, from sweet Kelly in England, and a French General book and wonderful pincushion from sweet Sinta!!

Have fun shopping and getting ready for the big Turkey day!

Till next time......

Winter Whites In Our New Dining Room

As I mentioned many moons ago, I have been steadily working on making our once family/ computer room/den into a formal dining room. I had a vision, however I didn't want to go out on a whim and buy just anything. Each piece had to speak to me - you know how it is, don't you?

So come on in. It is a rainy day here and the light is soft and on the dark side, but I love days like this.

The once green antique hutch got a new coat of a creamy white paint.

All of the walls were painted with Sherwin Williams' Latte color.
An antique Italian toleware chandelier hangs over my new/old table. The table is actually a vintage desk that I bought from my friend Sandi, who has a fabulous antique store that I blogged about HERE. I honestly intended on painting the apple green base a creamy white, but the green just grew on me and the rest is history. The top of the table is a wonderful brown that really blends well with the chandelier.

My lucky day was finding those four chairs! They got a coat of paint, new upholstery and
drop-cloth slipcovers.

Little touches of green are in the old birdcage, around the edges of vintage restaurant dishes and inside this old ironstone bowl.

I love mirrors to reflect light and to make the room seem larger. This tall and narrow one simply leans in a corner of the room.

Baskets and dried hydrangea for texture...

...and a vintage tea cart in the corner to hold old plates and serving pieces.

Victorian napkin rings are nestled amongst old linens and a bowl of old worn wood finials.

On the wall are two antique English pictures that Wave found while shopping in San Francisco. They have the softest colors and are the perfect addition for that side of the hutch.

Some fun old stuff to collect - trophies, a child's shoe form, rulers and antique Victorian picture frames.

A favorite old cabinet with great chippy paint.

Touches of brown here and there coordinate with the brown table top. Sweet Cherry made these NEST letters - I just love them!!!

The curtain panels are from Ikea and are the Matilda pattern - a sweet swiss dot. They allow just the right amount of light through the windows. Sometimes, when it is really sunny outside, I pull them all together so that it looks like a wall of curtains.

Sometimes my inspiration comes from the smallest of things. This bowl of sea shells were my nudge from Mother Nature to create a room that evoked a peaceful and calm feeling. Thank you, Mother Nature - thank you Lord for blessing me with inspiration.

added November 21: Thank you, Cindy, for your "crush" picture on your blog! You put a smile on my face this morning! xoxo

I would still love to add you to my list of homemade and handmade Christmas gift ideas. Just click HERE to link you to the post where you can leave your link or suggestions in the form of a comment.

Have a good weekend!!

Let's Share!!

I am really enjoying reading various blog posts about family traditions, recipes, gift giving ideas and decorating for the holidays. Everyone is so inspiring and really creative. So, what I decided to do is have a link on my sidebar, just below this jolly vintage Santa, of recipes or ideas for homemade and handmade gifts to give. There is something so personal and sweet in receiving a gift that a dear friend took the time to create. Wouldn't you agree?

If you would like to share your favorite recipe or handmade gift giving idea, just leave me a comment on this post with a link to your post - or somebody else's post. If it is ok, I will add the link to my sidebar list. Won't this be fun? It can even be a traditional decorating idea! Personally, my mind is always spinning with ideas and sometimes I just need a nudge to get me going and motivated.

Two years ago I found Sharon's homemade caramel recipe and have made it for gifts - and they were a hit!! They are melt in your mouth good!

My first link is to sweet Maryjane's Chocolate Popcorn recipe in a paint can! Now isn't that just a SWEET idea! She even shared the image of the vintage Santa above, so you can copy and paste it to your file to use.

Can't wait to get this list going!

I know that there is a lot of talent out there in this big world of ours!

xoxoxo

Sending YOU A Wish...

for a SWEET day....

because YOU are SWEET!!!

So Long Sweet, Sweet Bonny Jean....

Sweet little Bonny Lass...

Your strong will, loving heart, boundless energy and loyalty will

be missed by all who had the gift to know you.

My dear and sweet friends, Doug and Wave, said their goodbyes to their beloved little 15 1/2 year old Scottie dog, Miss Bonny Jean. Bonny was the matriarch of the home and big sister to Maudie McPhie and Hank. Bonny enjoyed swimming in the canal (with a life vest), long walks, playing fetch and seeking out rats. Every morning she rose at the crack of dawn and stood by the French doors barking for her maw and paw to wake up and feed her. Bonny loved to give kisses and greet visitors at the back gate. But most of all, Bonny was dignified, graceful and a blessing to have known.

Bonny has crossed over the misty Scottish moors and onto the Rainbow Bridge. Her crossing is bitter-sweet because little Bonny passed away on Jordan's birthday. I prayed that she would not go that day - and even asked her not to, but God had bigger and better plans for her.....as I know that my Jordy was given the gift of lil' Bonnie Lass that day.
left to right: Bonny, Maudie and Hank

This photo was taken in December 2008 of pretty Bonny. I just LOVE her Scottie profile! You may remember reading about Wave when her beautiful Scottish Cottage was featured as

January 2009's Cottage Of The Month on our friend Jennifer's

website, The Old Painted Cottage.

Sweet ...

...sweet..

Bonny Lass.

It has been a true HONOR to know you.

I will remember you for always.

For Doug and Wave, God will bring back your Bonny someday....

life is just a blink of an eye. I love you both....

comforting...

Nothing beats a good baked rice pudding.

It not only warms the belly, but it brings back fond memories

of the wonderful aroma as it baked in my mother's kitchen.

For a good recipe, try Paula Deen's.....just click here.

What is your favorite comfort food? I would love to hear about it!!

~~My family would like to sincerely thank all of you who left heartfelt words for Jordan's birthday post. Your comments are all very comforting to us.....thank you......~~

Happy Birthday, Our Sweet Jordy Boy.....

...today you are 26...

26 years ago God blessed us with you ~ a fuzzy headed little bundle of pure joy. You gave us 25 years of laughter, joy, pride and love. Your life, your hugs, your laugh, your impersonations, your ability to walk in a room and make everybody smile and laugh - all of it is was the biggest birthday gift that you, Jordan, ever gave to all of us. Now you belong to Heaven and the stars spell out your name....Jordy Boy.

Though your candle burned out long before due,

we shall always remember this day and YOU.

Your friends and family miss you so very, very much!!!!!!

Keep doing the butterfly drive-bys...we know you are around us.

We love you, always and forever....

***

They that dwell under his shadow shall return;

they shall revive as the corn and grow as the vine.

Hosea: 14:7

Pssst....There's A New One......

A new one? Yes, a new one - as in a NEW and wonderful shop to discover!!

Vintage Market is now open! This beautiful shop has a big city loft feel with old used brick walls, talls ceilings and wood floors. So come on in.....

Let's browse, shall we?

Care for a snack?

Good idea here for a burlap tablecloth treatment.....

My friends have this space and they specialize in French linens, white painted furniture, vintage textiles, Santos figures and garden adornments.

Recognize the hearts below? Yes, I own a pair just like these and just love them.

They remind me of something you would find at The French General.

The shop is looking a lot like Christmas.

Teresa, the shop's owner, has a sweet vintage kids section. Check out this western pillow with an old license plate tied onto it. Very cute!

I LOVE this lamp! It has a galvanized shade with old crochet lace along the edge.
Wrapped around the lamp base is a piece of an old quilt with an appliqued Sun Bonnet Sue.

Little bits and bobs turned into magnets and attached to a funky old metal piece. This would be a great piece to have hanging low in a child's room with the magnetic ABC's. Decorative and educational.

Little trays with acorns, moss and twigs.

The chicken pillow was handpainted by a local artist. It is just wonderful!

LOVE these vintage ski pictures. They remind me of the times I spent cruising the slopes when I was younger.

....AND....Christmas is just around the corner! Great gifts can be found here...

as well as these pillows that can be custom ordered. They are burlap with stenciled letters done in black paint. I am inspired here....

This wonderful market is full of fun eye candy, like this bowl of vintage rings.

Vintage kids do ROCK and so does Vintage Market! If you live in California, or perhaps are planning a trip to the Central Valley area, be sure to take some time to stop in Turlock, California. There are other wonderful shops tucked along Main Street, too.

Be sure to tell them that I sent you!

Vintage Market

210 Main Street

Turlock, California