I absolutely love the wonderful dogwood tree that graces the front yard of my old house. When I saw that Mary at Little Red House had chosen TREES as her prompt this week, it seemed like the perfect time to share these pics with you. From the upstairs windows, it's like looking through lace ... a view that brings a smile every.single.time. From the other direction ... Do dogwoods grow where you live? ... Keep Reading...
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FESTIVAL OF TABLES BRUNCH: A Celebration of Gratitude
A recent call from a blog reader wanting to purchase Restoration Linen Cleaner led me to new friends ... and a chance to share with you yet another tablescape event. Donna, I'm so glad you called! Thank you to all of the wonderful women in Rutledge, TN who welcomed me to last weekend's Festival of Tables brunch. Your tables and hospitality were delightful! Now it's my turn to welcome you to My Place to Yours! If you're a new visitor, I invite you to look around awhile. As you'll see, tablescapes and tablescape events are a big deal here. I promise ... you'll find lots of Pinterest- and Google+-worthy inspiration! By the way ... When I share a tablescape, my goal is not necessarily to show you the entire table but ... Keep Reading...
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A STITCH (BACK) IN TIME SAVED: Treasure in a Trunk
There it sat. An old trunk once belonging to my Great Aunt Floe. My heart raced. I'd been wanting to go through it for years, but it was stored away at my parents' house. But last November, when I arrived for Thanksgiving, Daddy had it sitting out in the garage ... and said I could go through it if I wanted to. IF I wanted to? Are you kidding? There was enough in the trunk for weeks and weeks worth of blog posts, but today I'll just share with you the one special thing I got to take home: one of Aunt Floe's notebooks ... an early "loose-leaf" style, no less. There's no date, but she graduated in 1923, so it's prior to that. Check out the class ... DOMESTIC ... Keep Reading...
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Promises, Promises …
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a ... Keep Reading...
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Spring Favorites Tablescape
Sunshine and Springtime ... I love them both! I also love how these softly-colored salad plates from Williams Sonoma really "pop" when set atop my Italian basket weave plates. The six plates each have a different handpainted design ... and the flowers, butterflies, and insects just seem to shout SPRING! I've never used them in a tablescape here before. Don't you think it's about time? I thought these vintage damask napkins with their showy dahlias were the perfect complement to the yellow rim on the plates ... and the morning sunshine streaming onto the breakfast table. This Fitz and Floyd tea set is something else I've never showed you. It was a Mother's Day gift years ago, and I absolutely love its vibrant ... Keep Reading...
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A SEE-THROUGH Notecard Party
It's time for the monthly Notecard Party at A Haven for Vee which means it's time to share four pics previously used here at My Place to Yours that could be made into notecards. You know me. I like themes, so here's my theme for April ... See-through NYC Tablescapes: What Color is Tiffany Blue? HERE Split Personality HERE Grand Hotel Expectations: Mackinac Island HERE The Big House HERE For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 King James Version Another translation ... easier to understand: Now we see things ... Keep Reading...
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Lord of the Rings 1st Birthday Party … and How to Make Hobbit Feet
4/22/13 update: This party received the Best Decorations badge from Party Pail for the hard work, creativity, and dedication of Little Sir's parents to making their son's birthday spectacular! We like stories in our family, especially when they include big antics of little boys ... and last week was full of them. It's hard to believe that an entire year has passed since Little Sir's stories began. Little Man and Little Sir's parents have a philosophy: Because one-year-olds are too young to choose their own birthday party theme, the parents get to pick the one THEY want ... since it's the only time they'll be able to. Guess what theme Mommy and Daddy wanted? It was a magical afternoon complete with an ... Keep Reading...
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SPRING CLEANING SPREE …
Happy Monday to all! Has Spring arrived at your house? It has at mine ... finally ... and with it come blue skies, baby birds, vibrantly-colored flowers and "Spring cleaning." Those of you who come here often may remember that Carbona is one of my favorite go-to companies for non-storage stains in vintage linens (or everyday laundry). I love these babies ... I also smile when I use these. I wrote about them HERE. If you're getting ready to do some heavy-duty Spring cleaning, do yourself a favor and check out Carbona. By the way, if you have storage stains in vintage linens and want to do some Spring cleaning on them, I recommend Restoration Linen Cleaner. It's available HERE in my Etsy shop ... and ... Keep Reading...
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Spring Farmhouse Table
Spring is finally in the air here in East Tennessee, and Renaissance Man and I have been getting out of the house every chance we get! Over the weekend, we took a drive in the country and passed this wonderful farmhouse. I couldn't resist taking a picture for you ... and yes, I was "seeing circles" and thinking about shelter! I asked myself what kind of table I would set this week if I lived in an old farmhouse in the country ... and I decided this house called for a traditional mix of blue and white dishes. Some of you have seen this table before, but with fields being plowed, skies turning bluer, and daffodils smiling, it's a good time to share it again. I hope you enjoy ... Keep Reading...
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Because …
Happy Easter! Last Sunday I shared with you a palm branch-laden cross ... and told you the palms would be replaced with flowers on Easter. Isn't it beautiful? Our church members bring whatever flowers are blooming in their yards and add them to the cross ... in celebration of Jesus' resurrection from the dead and the eternal relationship he offers to each of us. Because Jesus didn't stay in the tomb, my life is full of joy and hope ...even in the hard times. Because he died for me, I am never separated from the love of God. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow ... and whatever it holds. Do you know this song? Because He ... Keep Reading...
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An Angel’s Perspective on Easter …
A few months ago, I shared An Angel's Perspective on Christmas. If you didn't see it (or want to refresh your memory), you may wish to read it now and then come back ... because this is Part 2 of the story. Characters: Finney - new resident in Heaven Zyor - Finney's guardian angel Elyon - Creator of the universe, God Michael - archangel The angel who viewed Christmas as "the heart and soul of the cosmos itself" continues... "And just when we thought Elyon could not surpass this greatest miracle with another, there came the greater one." Zyor stood, and his voice trembled, not only with awe, but now with unmistakable anger. "That little hill, where little men were permitted to do unspeakable things to ... Keep Reading...
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BUNNIES AT THE CROSS: An Offensive Easter Tablescape?
I'm wondering... Does this picture offend any of you? I really do want to know. As I was putting together this tablescape, I started with the tulips and bunnies, adding the cross almost as an afterthought ... which is odd because the cross is never an afterthought when I think of Easter. In fact, without the cross, there IS no Easter. As I reflected, I realized my Easter tablescapes always have either a "religious" or a "Springtime" theme -- never both. When decorating, vignettes have always been either/or. Hmmm ... Working on this Easter table, I found it interesting that what came to mind was the first time I saw a Christmas nativity set with Santa at the manger. I don't mind telling you it was a bit off-putting for me. I did ... Keep Reading...
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Between Seasons …
Lenten Roses and Daffodils in the snow We woke up this morning to a beautiful dusting of snow here in East Tennessee ...and I couldn't resist taking a couple of "between seasons" pics to share with you. How's the weather at your house? Are you still snowed in ... or has Spring finally arrived? Join me for Mosaic Monday at Little Red House. ... Keep Reading...
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Palm Sunday Blessings
Today is Palm Sunday. In churches across the world, the story is read of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem at Passover ... and songs of Hosanna are sung. The great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!" John 12:12-13 This is one of my favorite Sundays because it's Part One of several transformations. In our church, the children walk down the aisle waving palm branches as the choir and congregation sing. When the first child arrives, the cross is bare ... but as each child's palm branch is added, it is transformed into a ... Keep Reading...
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A Little Birdie Told Me …
It's the first weekend of Spring ... Enjoy! I'm joining Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound. ... Keep Reading...
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The Fabric of Our Lives …
I discovered a new-to-me blog this week. It "reached out and touched me" ... perhaps because I have two grandsons ... or perhaps because I read a few posts that grabbed this mother's heart. (They'd have grabbed my heart if I were a dad, too ... or if I only had daughters.) Click pic to visit Blue Cotton Memory I also discovered a new online company I think you'll love ... Click pic to check out Pressed Cotton This tablescape is my favorite from their site -- but I had a really hard time choosing! What's your newest discovery? Leave a comment and share it with us! You know I love a good theme, but I can't decide if it's a good thing -- or kinda ... Keep Reading...
