Tiny Bibles

Pitter patter goes my heart when I find an antique Bible.  Not the large ones, but rather the small hand size ones and even smaller.  The size that could be tucked inside a woman's purse or a gentleman's coat pocket.  Covered in leather, softly worn around the edges and perhaps a note or two written inside - maybe marking a favorite verse or a thought written that may pertain to a passage.  Not all are in English, some I have are written in Danish, German and Swedish.  Some dating back to the mid 1800's.  Precious Catholic prayer books, a Lutheran song book (that belonged to my great, great Grandma) intermix with the other cherished books.  For now I have about 25, but am always adding to one of my favorite little collections.  They are nestled inside an old wood cabinet with antique transferware, a crucifix, rosaries and other tiny odds and ends.  My newest one traveled back from Germany in the suitcase of my friend, Waveney.  It was my gift from the antique club that just visited my home.  It is dated 1900, bound in leather and has the sweetest metal clasp closure.

If I could close my eyes and see the person who once held these gems.  If they could take me to church with them one time and we could read from the Bibles as the minister gave his sermon.  Take me back to the simple white church with the hard wood pews and listen to the choir sing.  Show me the hands that once cradled these precious books.  

For now I am the keeper of them.  And that makes me happy.

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Cozy is that feeling...

Cozy is a feeling of warmth, comfort and contentment.  A bowl of soup on a cold day, a stack of pancakes for breakfast, a crackling fire in the fireplace to warm your cold feet or being snuggled up in bed with a good book and a favorite blanket.  It could be as simple as a bouquet of flowers that deliver a sweet perfume with every deep inhale.

Cozy is that feeling when something feels right and makes you want to linger and saturate the senses.  A scent or a flavor can conjure up that mood, or state of mind, that just makes you sigh and tell yourself that all is good.  A moment that your heart will remember.

Cozy is a favorite pillow, a bed layered with beautiful linens and squishy down pillows;  a stack of quilts that are worn to a buttery smoothness.  Candles burning, homemade cookies baking in the oven, a favorite pair of slippers and flannel pajamas.  Reading the morning newspaper while eating breakfast and drinking that first cup of steaming hot coffee.

Cozy is when your dogs are snuggled up on each side of you on the couch, asleep and having doggy dreams.

"As snug as a bug in a rug" is an old saying that originated somewhere in the late 1700's and basically is another way of describing a cozy feeling.  I remember tucking my boys into bed at night and saying that they are as snug as a bug in a rug and then saying a goodnight prayer with them.

Cozy is the feeling that when you walk into your home, you are happy and think "ahhh, home, sweet home".  Life is good.

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I have linked Parachute Home's website in my post.  They have beautiful linens and I am seriously thinking about treating us to their beautiful linen striped duvet cover.  We are redoing our bedroom and it would be beautiful with the nautical accents that we have there.  I love the story behind the company, too.  It goes to show that if you follow your heart, anything is possible.