Thank you for stopping by today! I hope my fellow Americans had a wonderful 4th of July celebration -- and that my international friends are having a fantastic week! Me? I spent the long weekend crazy-busy preparing for my Vintage Linen & Dish Auction "one-year-of-blogging" celebration to be held right here at My Place to Yours. It's only two weeks away! But can you believe it? The entire holiday weekend spent inside at the computer while the rest of America was grilling and watching fireworks. Only for you, blog friends ... only for you! I hope you're making plans to join us. But today... It's just too dark and rainy at My Place to do justice to the ... Keep Reading...
Search Results for: very best tablescape
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The Wedding Closet
It's June ... a popular month for weddings -- and Stephanie of Angelic Accents is hosting her 2nd Annual To Have & To Hold Wedding Blog Party. We're all invited! I love weddings! I love the anticipation ... and the flowers ... the dresses ... This is my youngest daughter -- Little Man's Mommy. These are her wedding pictures. She and her husband celebrated their 5th anniversary last week. the details ... the venues -- however elegant or simple ... I love the romance ... And, oh please, when a couple marries -- let there be commitment ... I love the "whatever we face, we're in it together" ... I love the hope ... that unseen ... Keep Reading...
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At The Picket Fence Supports Hope Unlimited for Children
A BIG thank you to Heather and Vanessa of At the Picket Fence for their Inspiration Friday feature of my recent posts about the ministry of Hope Unlimited for Children. To see what they said, click HERE. If you missed those posts and want to go there directly, just click the titles: * The Very BEST Tablescape Ever * Why I Blog: Still Morphing ... To learn more about Hope Unlimited for Children, click HERE -- or the logo above or on my sidebar. To visit Hope's new blog, the least of these, click HERE. If the children in your life don't live like this, click the picture below to see how a measly $10 will help ... 'For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and ... Keep Reading...
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The French antique that (almost) got away …
We were just completing our first DIY bathroom remodel, and I was searching for the perfect piece of furniture to complete the space. It had to meet very specific guidelines concerning size and function—and, of course, it had to have "the look." I finally lost my heart to a beautiful French hutch at my favorite auction house in Alexandria, Louisiana. Made of walnut with carved fruit and flower swags, reed-and-ribbon detailing, bell-shaped flowers, and beautiful brass hardware, the old piece was a perfect complement to the antique dresser-turned-vanity we had already installed. After measuring and re-measuring both the furniture and the space (and looking closely at our budget!), Renaissance ... Keep Reading...
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Going Green at Christmas
Can we really make a difference in our world? Sometimes it seems we ask ourselves that question more at this time of year than any other . . . and we're a little more intentional about trying to make that difference. If you've spent much time here at My Place (thank you for that!), you know I'm all about making a difference in the lives of children. Holiday shopping in our family includes local giving opportunities like Angel Tree and Coats for the Cold and Christmas in Jefferson County. I hope you're looking for those chances to give where you live, too. There's one topic, though, that isn't "first" in my mind during the holidays, but I started thinking about it recently when considering tips for “going ... Keep Reading...
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DISAPPEARING DOILIES: Packing away Yesterday’s treasures
Still packing here and preparing for adventure! The past couple of days I've spent a lot of time sorting and packing vintage linens. LOTS of vintage linens. If you've spent much time here at My Place, you know I love vintage linens! Every time I thought I'd gathered up the last one, I'd find another . . . and another. I had no idea I used so many little vintage beauties in my "everyday" decorating, but I do! Do you? Little touches of Yesteryear tucked in around the house add such nice warmth and softness. I wonder how many I can sneak into my Adventure housing (aka travel trailer) to enjoy while we build our Finally Farmhouse? What about you? Do you ... Keep Reading...
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ONE WOMAN’S IMPACT: Pat Summitt (1952-2016)
It is what it is. But, it will be what you make it. Pat Summitt Legendary Lady Vols basketball coach University of Tennessee Pat Summitt, the "winningest" coach in NCAA Division I basketball history, died today—two weeks short of her 65th birthday. This post is not about sports. If you're interested in women's basketball, you already know Pat Summitt "by the numbers". They're very impressive. She was impressive, and flags fly at half-staff today here in Tennessee in celebration of her life and legacy. There is, however, one number associated with Coach Summitt that gets my ultimate respect: 100% of her student athletes graduated from college. She set the bar high for ... Keep Reading...
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Field Trip Friday #8: New Old House in the Country
Believe it or not, school will be in full swing again around here next week, so this is our last Field Trip Friday. I hope you've enjoyed them. Today's field trip takes us to a beautiful valley in East Tennessee—Dumplin Valley—and to one of the oldest farms in our county. Only a mile-and-a-half from the little farm Renaissance Man and I own, the Brotherton Farm is part of the land settled in 1785 by William Bradshaw and Richard Rankin of Pennsylvania. Finding two fine springs, the pair set to work building a small house each, cutting logs to sizes they could handle. They then worked a 2-acre plot for each man; clearing, fencing, and planting their crops. Only then did they return to a nearby county to ... Keep Reading...
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25 YEARS AND COUNTING: Celebrating commitment, family, and marriage
May 26, 1990 In a beautiful old house on the Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas, I married my Renaissance Man. I've had old house love for a really long time! A few months prior, he gave a beautiful diamond ring to me—and sweet little birthstone rings to my daughters—and invited us to join our lives with his. He promised to love, protect, and stand alongside us to the best of his ability... forever. For 25 years—through life's beautiful highs ... and some very difficult lows—he's never wavered from that commitment. Now that we're in the empty nester stage of life, a Table for Two seems like a nice way to ... Keep Reading...
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Digging into the Blogger’s Tool Box
When I first started blogging almost 5 years ago, I barely knew how to crop a picture (much less take a decent one). I certainly had no idea how pixel size translated into what I'd see on my computer screen... or how to "make pics talk" by adding text to them. I also had no clue what a URL was. NOTE: If you aren't a blogger—or aren't the least bit curious about the "behind the scenes" of blogging—then feel free to take a pass on this post. Otherwise, let's press on together... Before we take that first step, though, I should mention that I do my blogging on a Mac, but most (all?) of the software I'll be mentioning is compatible with Windows as well. Fortunately, by personality—and usually by necessity—I'm a ... Keep Reading...
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January WHITE AGAIN Sale on Restoration Linen Cleaner
Ever since 1878, when merchant John Wanamaker declared January to be a great time for a "white sale," retail establishments have followed his lead. But now—in 2015—I'm going to change it up a bit ... because vintage linens have been on my mind a lot lately—and because I know some of you (still) have old pretties stuck in drawers and attics. Just for you... through the end of the month, it's a January WHITE AGAIN Sale at My Place to Yours. RESTORATION—my all-time favorite linen cleaner for vintage linens—is on sale in my Etsy shop through January 31. Just click HERE to purchase -- then enter coupon code WHITEAGAIN15 to receive 15% off of each 2 lb. jar. I can often ship at least 2 jars (sometimes 3) for the same low ... Keep Reading...
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The JOY of Simplicity
Every time I walked into the room, I smiled. Every.single.time. It didn't hurt that the view was breathtaking and the company delightful... or that the food was "to die for" – but I smiled because I experienced the JOY of Simplicity. Rather than filling the dining room at The Cliffs Preserve (Patagonia, Chile) with an overabundance of flowers and "expected" table decor, the staff practiced what is perhaps a tablescaper's best kept secret: ... Keep Reading...
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Feeling discouraged? Read on…
Bom dia (Good morning) from Brazil! The last time we were together here at My Place, I wrote about young girls in Chile... but I've spent the past week in Brazil with the kids at Hope Unlimited for Children. The days have been long – and the nights short – but we've accomplished a lot. We introduced the children and staff to two prospective Board candidates – and gave the candidates an "up close and personal" look at the organization. We welcomed two women from an El Salvadoran residential care facility (as well as a mutual donor) – and trained them to use our highly-successful graduate transition program with their own students. We're still working with a world-class photographer and his ... Keep Reading...
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#RiskRejection: Unsubscribe if you must
Have you noticed? RISK has been a common topic here lately. Even before Amy Sullivan issued her #RiskRejection challenge – and I accepted it – risk was already happening. I guess without intentionally choosing one, RISK has become my word for 2014. Throughout the month of December, as I wrote my daily Themes of Christmas series, I'll admit: My heart wasn't completely in it. Oh, I enjoyed writing those posts – because I always love playing with themes – but I was distracted. Distracted by impending risks. My very first post of the year spelled it out: That’s where I find myself here at the beginning of 2014: stepping into the unknown. . . . the more I watch God work in lives of desperate children, the ... Keep Reading...
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How to use a theme at Christmas: Oh, Christmas Tree
Oh, Christmas Tree (scroll down below this list to read the post) A Partridge in a Pear Tree The Greatest Gift: Nativity Peppermint Parade Snowmen Peace on Earth Whimsy Christmas Winter Wonderland Holiday at the Beach Gingerbread Traditional Woodland A Child's Christmas Blue Christmas Country Crafts Pretty As A Peacock Yuletide Tea Party Mountain Cabin Teddy Bears Cardinal Song Christmas Wedding Nutcrackers Vintage Santa Claus Oh Holy Night Shepherds Angels Stars Royalty (The Wisemen) Bells Light Hello, all. I hope you U.S. friends had a safe and blessed Thanksgiving with lots of great opportunities for memory-making... and ... Keep Reading...
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Grateful: Around the Thanksgiving Table
Thanksgiving 2013 What will it look like at your house? Will you decorate with leaves? Real or faux? Will you use family treasures? Candlelight and colored glassware? Will your dishes be formal...or casual–or both? Will the Pilgrims join your celebration? Will conversation flow easily... or is this a challenging year for your family? When you think of everything for which you're grateful this year, what's the "bright spot"? I'm grateful to be here sharing this season with you again this year. I'm grateful for the new friends I've met this past year–both in real life and here in Blogland. You "imaginary" friends are some of the best! Thanks ... Keep Reading...
