{Posted from} Home

The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest ~ Sir Thomas Moore ~


hOMe is where the heART is …


Wednesday, December 29, 2010

One Word A Week Wednesday...

52/52
Await
***
For last years words
belong to last years language
and next years words
await
another voice
and to make an end
is to make
a beginning
~T.S. Eliot~
***
Hard to believe this is the last O.W.A.W.W.
Here is a re-cap of 52 words a week Wednesday ~
1/52 anticipation
2/52 simplify
3/52 sentiment
4/52 reach
5/52 play
6/52 protect
7/52 shelter
8/52 question
9/52 hidden
10/52 walk
11/52 luck
12/52 breathe
13/52 attention
14/52 create
15/52 clarity
16/52 aspire
17/52 faith
18/52 home
19/52 persuasive
20/52 friendship
21/52 solitude
22/52 dream
23/52 bloom
24/52 shine
25/52 joy
26/52 focus
27/52 magical
28/52 thought
29/52 wisdom
30/52 embrace
31/52 gift
32/52 taste
33/52 art
34/52 fragrance
35/52 remember
36/52 dwell
37/52 eternity
38/52 quietly
39/52 perceived
40/52 happiness
41/52 belong
42/52 heart
43/52 kind
44/52 prevail
45/52 enthusiasm
46/52 beauty
47/52 talk
48/52 essential
49/52 peace
50/52 grateful
51/52 memories
52/52 await
Happy New Year ♥ May you have Health, Happiness & Peace
And may all your Wishes for 2011 come true!
~d~

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Thankful {things I love} Thursday...

At Christmas
all roads
lead
Home
~Marjorie Holmes~
With Abundant Wishes
for a Very Merry, Magical Christmas!
~d~

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

One Word A Week Wednesday...

51/52
Memories
***
God gave us memories
that we might have roses
in December
~J.M. Barrie~

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Ernie's "Gotcha" Day...

Today, we celebrate our 1 year Anniversary with Ernie ♥
My blog friend Kit @ dog daze used the phrase "gotcha" day when speaking of her Lab and I fell in love with this sweet term of endearment :-)
Sweet Ernie, you have been an absolute joy and left paw prints all over our hearts xo
We are so happy we "Gotcha"!!
***
An old dog
even more
than an old spouse
always feels like doing
what you feel like doing
~Robert Brault~

Friday, December 17, 2010

Each day ...

Grant me the ability
to be alone
May it be my custom
to go outdoors
each day
among the trees and grasses
among all growing things
And there
may I be alone
and enter into prayer
to talk with
the one
that I belong to
~Rabbi Nachman~

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Thankful {things I love} Thursday...

I've had a real urge to purge this year :-)
If something hasn't been worn, or used within the previous year, it has been donated.
This is a real switch for me as I have been referred to as "the squirrel" in the past by more than one friend. I have always been someone who saved every little thing from ribbon & tags on presents, drying flowers from bouquets, and that was even before having children. That started an entirely new collection - every little scribble and school artwork piece, etc...etc...
This year, I crafted & created with items I had on hand in Sparrow Studio, before purchasing anything new, and I can see a huge improvement in the organization of my storage cupboard (although I am a bit sad to see only a few pieces of vintage lace left in a box that was spilling out before). It's amazing how once things get tidied, you realize just how many duplicates of items you have!!
Tastes change, and some items I once loved, I am now ready to part with.
My hope chest also had a big tidy up ... although I think I spent most of the afternoon reading through all my cards . I save them all and that won't change :-) My hope chest is the perfect spot to keep them, tied in ribbons, safe and sound.
There are some things, however, that I am so thankful to have held on to.

Lots of memories ...
And each year, I think they become just a little more special ♥
Memory
is a way of holding onto the things
you love,

the things
you are,
the things
you never want to lose
~From the television show 'The Wonder Years'~

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

One Word A Week Wednesday...

50/52
Grateful
***
No longer forward
nor behind
I look for hope
or fear
but
Grateful
take the good I find
The best
is now
and
here
~John Greenleaf Whittier~

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Garden Glimpses ...

Ernie patiently waiting for me to put on my boots, hat, coat, scarf , mitts etc etc ... :-)
It is C....O....L...D today!
I tossed some bread out for the birds and peanuts in their shell for the squirrels
A little pop of colour from the berries in the garden
snow capped hydrangea
my sweet little Shadow watching my every move
garden urns with all the bells and baubles covered up in a blanket of snow :-)
and little lanterns ...
A Winter Blessing
May Blessings be upon your house
your roof
your hearth and walls
May there be lights
to welcome you
when evening's shadow falls
~Myrtle Reed~

Monday, December 13, 2010

We Have Snow ...

The first fall of snow
is not only an event,
it is a magical event.
You go to bed in one kind of world
and wake up in another
quite different,
and if this is not enchantment
then where is it
to be found ?
~John Boynton Priestley~
We have snow ...
lots of snow ...
and someone is
VERY happy :-)

Friday, December 10, 2010

Snowmen ...



I ♥ love ♥ Snowmen.

These little battery operated flickering tea candles are perfect. I use to keep a regular tea candle in this holder but now, I can turn on the light and enjoy it all through the evening without worry :-) He's tucked into a book shelf I have in the kitchen.

Each year, we all get a new ornament for the Christmas tree ...

I have lots of little snowmen.

I painted this folk art picture on a chalk board years ago.

Snowmen just hangin' around everywhere ...

Part of my Dicken's collection ...

Blown glass snowmen ...

tucked in amongst the needlepoint pillows ...
I made the Nutcracker needlepoint pillow about 20 years ago.

Snowmen on the kitchen table...

More in the Christmas tree...

I love their happy faces ...

and wide open arms ...
but mostly, I love all the special memories each holds ♥

May no gift be too small

to give

nor too simple to receive

which is wrapped

in thoughtfulness

and tied with love

~L .O. Baird~

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Thankful {things I love} Thursday...


Trish from sister act catering had stopped by and dropped off the sweetest parcel.

The smell of fresh lavender was amazing.
I placed the soap on a small glass dish for our downstairs bathroom.
And I plan on using both the tote and wine bottle holder on the table next week when I host a Christmas tea and scone afternoon.
I have a small artificial tree that I think will fit nicely inside the gift bag ...
Our home is decorated in a Country Christmas theme and the burlap will be perfect.
Thank you Trish for your generosity!
~d~

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

One Word A Week Wednesday ...

49/52
Peace
***
May
Peace
be your gift
at Christmas
and
your Blessing
all
year
through

Friday, December 3, 2010

An Early Christmas Gift ...


I promise to love you forever ~
every single day
of forever ♥
~Stephanie Mayer~

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

The little sprinkling of snow we had soon disappeared.
It did however, bring lots of birds and squirrels to Sparrow Garden.
I love sitting by the window watching as they all find a feeder, knowing that they will be well taken care of at our home.
I noticed that the Sparrows were finding shelter under our deck
crawling through the lattice.
We have feeders filled with an assortment of seeds,
suet baskets
peanuts
coconut halves filled with suet and raisins
orange halves

and then of course
we have our "resident" squirrels
who have a peek in the kitchen window
waiting for their peanut butter sandwich :-)

Later in the day we had some shopping to pick up.
We took a drive along familiar country roads.
I had my camera (of course)
and these sweet horses are becoming a regular to take photos of.
I think this one even recognized us :-)
When snow falls
nature listens
~Antoinette Vankleeff~