Books and Vintage Friday

I am SUCH a book hound.  I just can't help myself.  I would like to "blame" my mother, but that would have negative connotations, when I really mean, "Thank you, Mom, for sharing your love of books with me!!"  I just love them so.  So.....today I received my shipment from HomeStyle Book Club:  (Oh.......the JOY!!!)

I have done a cursory view of each and am LONGING for a day  (or more) to myself to devour, read, and savour EVERY WORD.... I am beyond happy.... I have no more words.....  (Christmas break is coming...almost 2 weeks off!!  Plenty of time for reading....I hope.)

For Debra's Common Ground ~ Vintage Inspiration Friday....I really love vintage everything.  However, today, these two pictures really spoke to me.  I know when a space works for me because I instantly feel calm.  Just looking at these two pictures brings calm to my mind and heart. 

I'm actually not one who usually like too much white.
I love color, HOWEVER, what I love, love, love
is that sink mounted in that beautiful antique dresser.
The different shades of whites and creams, and
the different textures bring enough interest to me
that I feel I could live with it.  BUT, don't you think
if the walls were painted the palest of greens, it
would be just perfect??  See....I can't help myself!

I could live here....year 'round...24/7.
If you need me, I'll be sitting in the wicker chair
enjoying a cup of tea and reading one of those
books listed above. 

Enjoy a most perfect weekend, my dear friends!!

Two bottom picture credits: 

Sink, etc.:  Robin Stubbert Photography via inspiracionline.blogspot.com

Garden sitting room:  homehousedesign.com

Book Giveaway and a Birthday!!

I have mentioned my favorite gardening blog A Way to Garden before.  Margaret Roach is giving away an advanced copy of her upcoming book and I shall have some peace there.  It is ON THE TOP of my must-read list.  I am hoping to win it, but won't dally at all in ordering it for myself.  Please pop on over, take a look, and enter.  The deadline is Saturday, December 11. 

On another note, we are enjoying some cold weather here in South Florida.  It was 46 degrees on my drive into work this morning.  So far I haven't had to cover my roses yet, but I am guessing I will before the end of winter.

And finally.....today is my Aunt Claire's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Aunt Claire!!!  I wish you a most special and blessed day!!!

I'm Happy to say....

....that I won!!  I won a giveaway from Plays with Paper...Shari Replogle's beautiful blog featuring her beautiful work.  Maybe you remember my mentioning that I met her at the Country Living Fair in Atlanta here.  I raced home, pulled up her blog, became an instant follower, and BIG fan of all her work.  I will be sure to share pictures of the lovelies....a beautiful handmade Santa necklace and some beautiful handmade tags.  Can't wait!!

Linky Party - Christmas Vignette

  

I remember the first time I ever heard the word "vignette."  It was while devouring my first Victoria magazine....the original one....many years ago.  I was in my early 20's and a friend had that magazine.  I instantly became a faithful follower.  It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship with decorating and learning my own style. I fell in love the word and the concept on the spot. 

Today I share with you pictures of my Christmas vignettes and join the Linky Party you see above.  Please check out Rhoda of Southern Hospitality to see so much loveliness and inspiration.

I am still tweaking my home and will do more this weekend.  I want to add more natural elements, plants, etc.  So I'll add more pictures next week.  But for today.....Welcome to my home.

This is my favorite vignette.  I repurposed the chicken wire
and burlap cone I received from Donna with
poinsettias, wooden beads, and greenery.
This little area is my "tree" space.  More little trees to be added.

Thirty years of collecting Santas.

If you live in Florida, you must have Santas on the beach.
I think it is the law.

On the buffet under the tv.  I love this very old
Christmas card.  The theme here is
Woodland Christmas at the Seashore.
(Hence....the lighthouses.)

I always felt I couldn't get away with decorations that were too
girlie when I was outnumbered by my son and husband.
So I collected a more masculine, rustic decor that I have added onto
over the years.  I still like it.  The lighthouses were added for my
husband who is in the yacht business. 
So me to be accommodating to all.

This year, I added a new tree.  It is the girlie tree I have always
wanted!! She is a beautiful 4 foot, table top tree
in an urn.  I decorated her with burlap and birds
and other treasures.  It is the Mimi and Kloe tree
(me and my granddaughter).

This is one of my favorite Smith & Hawken ornaments. 
Oh, how I miss them, especially at Christmas!
(I will have to see if they are back online....
I heard a rumor....)

Okay, I will admit that I cleaned out our local
Pottery Barn.  I couldn't help it.  I just love
their Christmas story this year.  I will continue
to add some hand-made and natural elements.

It's not Christmas without the Nativity. 
This one was once my grandmother's
(I think), then my mother's. 
I love the natural cream against the warm wood.

Front porch vignette.....Florida style.

I noticed that we do a lot of "welcoming" here.
The first one...

A double whammy!

And yet a fourth....from my days of collecting
for the Woodland Christmas.

And some "warm wishes" thrown in for good measure.

The scene all lit.  Sprout is on our tv 24/7 for Kloe.
I think I know all the songs by heart!!

Santa came early!  Gracie takes a nap.  I think
she likes the burlap tablecloth.

So....a few more pictures will follow, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to play along and join the party!!  Now I will browse around all the others.  This is a mighty big party and I don't want to miss a thing!

P.S.  Please click on the "freckled laundry" button above to enter Jami's great giveaway!!



Thanks for Giving....

....me such joy....such Joie de vivre.

**A poem for you.**

Nature XXVII, Autumn

The morns are meeker than they were,

The nuts are getting brown;

The berry's cheek is plumper,

The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,

The field a scarlet gown.

Lest I should be old-fashioned,

I'll put a trinket on.

~Emily Dickinson

Yes...I got a trinket to wear tomorrow to dinner at my brother's.  (Emily said I must.)  I debated all day whether to shop for a Fall-colored outfit of some sort.  However, I have a new lightweight sweater in that very popular color that I call "blush"....you know, not really pink, not really beige.  I really like it.  I scored a lovely trinket at Anthropologie today to wear with that sweater.  In the grand scheme of things, it was not a major bargain.  It was an Anthro bargain, however. 

Isn't she lovely?  The blush beads coupled with
two sizes of clear beads.  Ooh la la!!

Do you love the fabric pouch she was put in?
Simple drawstring with snappy cotton fabric.
Love it!

All their jewelry hung from these simple tags with ribbon loops.

The best part....ON SALE!!
(Not the Made in China part.)

Are these exclusive to Publix?
Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim salt and pepper shakers.
I have a "thing" for salt and pepper shakers.
I didn't realize it until I counted them one day.

Another set...



One of several little Autumn vignettes with another s/p
set.  All will get put away Friday when I start on the
Christmas decor.

Tomorrow we will enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's new home.  We will make our rounds to other family homes as well.  I pray you all will enjoy a most special day with whomever you choose to spend it.  Families come in all shapes and sizes, and consist of friends as well.  Enjoy a blessed day.

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.  They are consumed in twelve minutes.  Half-times take twelve minutes.  This is not coinsidence.  ~Erma Bombeck

(Wasn't she wonderful??)

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.  But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.  ~Robert Frost  (One of my favorite quotes by one of my favorite writers.)

And finally, as I write this, I am wearing my new trinket, paired with an old brown plaid flannel shirt.  One can never be over accessorized....right?

May Thanksgiving blessings abound to all! 

~~ Coming Up for Air! ~~

That is what I feel like I am doing today.  It feels like FOREVER since I have posted.  The shower I worked on for my colleague turned out beautifully.  I have since been asked to help with two other parties.  I find when I have some creative downtime/slow times, I serve a snack, a meal, a little party to get the juices flowing.  Parties are not really what I want to do on a regular basis, but I enjoy them every once in awhile. 

That is how I came to cater a wedding.  Yes, a wedding.  I had hosted a party (along with my mother) for a family member and one their friends recommended me for a wedding.  So me....the one who has a hard time saying no....said okay.  What....was.....I.....thinking?  It was a great many years ago now, and I believe it turned out very well for what it was.  BUT....the couple had met doing karaoke.  It was a pasttime they participated in often.  They sang throughout their entire reception!  No band needed here, folks!  The first song....dedicated to a relative who had passed and could not attend, was touching.  We (I had recruited my mother and husband to help me that day) thought that was sweet.  Then came another song, then another, then another.  They had a captured audience who could not escape!  It was hilarious to us back in the kitchen.  I wish I could have taken a picture of the guests' faces after about the tenth song.  I didn't do any more weddings after that one.  Not because of the singing....it just wasn't my forte, I guess. 

But....I digress once again....  I enjoyed preparing for this shower and exercising my creative muscle.  Here are some pictures.

The beverage center.  I had used these strung pages in my
booth years ago and had just found them. 
I decided to cover some not-so-pretty pictures
hanging on the wall.  Coffee, tea, French lemonade,
Italian soda. I swear I really didn't notice the
wrinkles in the burlap until these pictures!!

The overall look.  It is a conference room, after all,
but I think it came together nicely.  The paper chains
were a big hit and worth the many hours to put together.
The menu:  3 different quiches, mixed fruit with dip,
meringe cookies, and petit fours.

I glittered some "B's" of different shapes/sizes to use throughout.

Cone favors with sugared pecans.

I think we surprised her!

Another view of our conference room turned garden party.

So sorry it has taken me so long to get these pictures posted.  I have been working with two new bosses at my "real" job and have just been pooped by the end of the day.  I enjoyed this past weekend at home getting all caught up with my favorite blogs that I follow.  I've missed being around my friends so much.  Isn't that funny how that happens?  Friends we've never met, but miss so much when we're away. 

I especially enjoyed reading Privet and Holly this morning.  Suzanne polled her family this past weekend to see what they would do with a completely free day....if they "played hooky."  I took a nice quick trip to my "hooky-land" deciding what I would do with a free day.  It was a great start to this day!

I wish all my bloggy friends and family a most thankful Thanksgiving this week.  What are your plans?  The day after Thanksgiving I will start my Christmas decorating.  I just can't stand the thought of putting anything up until then.  Pictures??  Oh yeah!