Happy New Year everyone! I can't begin to tell you how much I've looked forward to this new year! The past few years have been so full of crazy schedules and projects and stresses that somewhere along the way (8 or 9 months ago) I stopped in the middle of what I was doing ... looked at Renaissance Man ... and slowly said: "2012" He probably thought I'd finally lost it, but then I calmly explained that I'd decided 2012 would be the year I was going to take time to re-group ... before I really did lose it! I was going to do what I wanted to do ... like checking things off of my Sally List (how's yours going, by the way?), maintenance projects (they can only be put off so long when you live in an old house!), cooking more ... Keep Reading...
CLEANING VINTAGE LINENS: How to Make Your Holiday Linens Love You!
Christmas celebrations are passed ... and I suspect some of you have vintage linens you had hoped to use at Christmas ... but you never found/made time to get out the storage stains before the holiday rush. Maybe next year, right? May I offer a suggestion? (It's also called The Voice of Experience.) NOW is the perfect time to take care of those stains ... while schedules are still offering a few slower-paced days than usual. My favorite all-time favorite linen cleaner.? It's called Restoration, and it's available HERE at My Place to Yours on Etsy. You can read the testimonials -- Click the Vintage Linens tab above, then select Restoration ... or you can just see for ... Keep Reading...
2012: A Clean Slate
I always love the week between Christmas and New Years. If I'm home without company, I take down Christmas decorations and start the new year with not only the proverbial "clean slate," but a clean house as well. If, however, I am blessed to have after-Christmas company or am traveling, that just has to wait a little longer. This year, it has to wait. After a quiet "table for two" on Christmas Day, Renaissance Man and I drove to North Carolina to visit our youngest daughter and her family (aka Little Man and his parents). We're playing and working on some DIY projects they wanted to tackle, so today's post is a tablescape inspiration board -- because I've had no time to tablescape! (I hope to show you some DIYs ... Keep Reading...
The Carpenter and the Staircase
Have you had a good Christmas? At our house, we've been celebrating the birth of God's son and our Savior, Jesus. How amazing it is to think that, for reasons I can't understand, the Creator of the universe loved me -- and you -- enough to send His only son into our fallen world of humanity ... and in the form of an innocent, dependent child no less. I always marvel at who God chose to be His son's earthly parents; a young girl and a carpenter. God must have seen really special hearts in those two. Hearts that were both compassionate and strong. Hearts that could recognize miracles while providing earthly love and protection ... yet could endure danger and gossip and immeasurable pain. Just a young girl and a carpenter ... ... Keep Reading...
The Light of the World …
L u x A u r u m q u e Lux, Light, Calida gravisque pura velut aurum warm and heavy as pure gold Et canunt angeli molliter and the angels sing softly Modo natum. to the new-born baby. The angel said... “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2: 10-11) The words of the angel still ring true. There's no cause for fear. Our Creator gave each of us a gift in the form of a baby. His birth is cause for celebration and joy. The Messiah, the Lord, is born! Merry Christmas to each of you! ... Keep Reading...
SEASONAL SIMPLICITY: A Lenox Holiday Tablescape
It seems from your comments on last week's Berry Pretty post that many of you love red berries as much as I do ... So let's continue the theme! You can imagine how I felt a few years ago when I spotted four 5-piece place settings of virtually unused Lenox Holiday china at an estate auction. I'd never owned any fine Christmas china (and I'd long admired the beautifully simple holly pattern of Holiday), so I was excited when I got it for only pennies on the dollar. Obviously, it's the perfect choice for today's berry-theme tablescape. When using gold-rimmed china, you can either turn UP the ritzy/glitzy factor ... or turn it DOWN. This year I'm enjoying simple, so I turned it down. A large pedestal ... Keep Reading...
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
Children add a special *sparkle* to Christmas, don't they? I loved watching the twinkle in Little Man's eyes recently as he helped decorate the Christmas tree in "Poppa's room." He loved putting the brass ornaments and antlers and pheasant feathers on the woodland-theme tree. I'll admit it ... and if you are kind enough to visit My Place very often, you already know: Children hold a special place in my heart. Their kindness and innocence and common sense are so refreshing ... and I've always thought that the most important job I ever had was raising my daughters. I'm not a perfect parent (who is?), but I'm a darn good parent -- and grandparent -- and I take that role very seriously. So ... Keep Reading...
WAITING FOR THE SUN … The Coming of the Light
My internal clock was still on Eastern time ... but I was on the West Coast for The Big Event ... when I had an Advent experience. That was two months ago. Waking long before my alarm, I walked to the window of our 24th floor hotel room, and this is what I saw. In person, it was absolutely stunning. Catching my breath, I reached for my camera. A new day was trying to dawn, and for me it was going to be a very busy one ... but I stood there in awe, just waiting ... waiting for the sun ... while below me commuters, oblivious to the beauty overhead, fought the early morning traffic ... parking lots filled up with office workers ... and passengers on airplanes prepared to land. Oblivious. Yet ... Keep Reading...
Berry Pretty
They have names like Pyracantha, Privet and Possumhaw. They come in a wide variety of colors. Click post pics to enlarge them. They slip quietly (but quite noticeably) into our decor in late Summer ... and stay there throughout the holidays ... and into the Winter. I especially love the red ones! They're a favorite holiday motif that's been showing up on our Christmas cards for many years ... ... and gracing the pages of our magazines. Southern Living They have no problem jumping right in the middle of our Christmas decorations ... both inside and out. They dress up our mantels ... And at our house, they even show up on our stockings. Little Man's train is the most recent one I've made ... ... Keep Reading...
The Love Letters
The conversation began several months ago when Renaissance Man's mother was here for a visit. I learned that my 91-year-old mother-in-law has a collection of love letters written by her grandparents ... in 1888. Actually, the first letter was written December 16, 1887 – 124 years ago this week. Frances asked if I would help her divide up the letters between her three children. I told her NO. I couldn't stand to think of treasures like those getting separated! However, I said I would make a nice set of copies for the boys -- and her daughter could have the originals. She liked that idea and said she would mail the letters to me. NO again! Let's keep them where they're safe until I can come get them in ... Keep Reading...
Ho Ho Ho … A Vintage Christmas Tablescape
This week I've been in a Vintage Christmas mood, and today we're going with the fun, kitschy side of vintage Christmas. My inspiration came from these little flocked Santas. You either love 'em ... or not! (Little Man's Mommy thinks they're "creepy." Personally, I think they're fun, and I've played with them for years, but I've decided that this is the year to start cleaning out a few things. This post will serve as my "scrapbook" for memory's sake... This tablescape was the perfect time to pull out "all things vintage" ... Dishes ... and linens ... ... including this handmade tablecloth. It's very large! Think of the work that went into making ... Keep Reading...
Sally’s Been Traveling …
So how's your Sally List going? Yes, this is the accountability I promised! It keeps me focused, too ... If you're wondering, "What's a Sally List?" go ahead and click HERE to find out. We'll wait for you. At My Place, Sally's been getting into the spirit of the season. Isn't she cute? She's also been helping me make plans to deliver some Christmas cheer around our community. The recipes are being selected and shopping lists compiled ... and next week the baking will start. Sally's also been traveling. This morning I found her visiting Kelley in the Philippines! It seems that my Sally List inspired Debbie to write hers ... which inspired Kelley to write hers. I ... Keep Reading...
