fire and ice

-We've been waking up to this scene-

snow covered roads,

and

fiery skies.

The first days of spring here in the northeast brought snow,

cold air and a just a little relief with a few days of
long awaited sunshine.

It's been wonderful to have more sunshine streaming in my windows at school.

...And...
I love how the sun is still shining at 6:30pm.
Daylight savings time is a life saver!

...Let us keep walking towards the light my friends...

Sunrise photo taken by my husband this Thursday, March 21, 2013. 

Wishing you all God's sweetest blessings

as you continue to be a

blessing to all you meet.

♥
Love,
  Maria

Life is . . .

beautiful and full

 So much has happened since early autumn.
and
a wonderful JOY came to us at Christmas time.
...Amanda is now engaged to Nick...
He asked for her hand in marriage on New Year's Day and
he proposed a few weekends later.
We are all so thrilled.

Nick is such a sweet man.

They have known each other since childhood, and their love story is one to tell.

♥

Chris and I feel so blessed to have these wonderful men in our family. 

Our son, Jason; Rachael's husband, Juan; and Amanda's fiancé, Nick.

So, wedding plans are well underway.
The dress and venue are chosen.

{A peek at the venue is in the collage}

♥

Early last fall, just after school started, my father, of 88 years, came to stay with us for another long convalescence.  

He needed lots of TLC and physical therapy...
He is doing much better now, and continues to need care and patience.

Dad returned to his home a few weeks ago and is making big decisions about these very tender years.
My siblings and I will be making lots of trips back and forth to help him in the meantime.

~

Just before Thanksgiving, I got away for an overnight to NYC.
It was a girls' weekend with Amanda, Rachael and Jason's girlfriend, Krystel.
We had an amazing time!

    Christmastime was wonderful with family all around.

Every moment was amazing.

Even the day after Christmas snowstorm was special because Jason hadn't seen snow in two years!

{Yes, it will be two years that Jason has been in Austin, Texas!}

 The sunrise photo I took on the way to work. 

I've been putting in 10-11 hour days and that is a topic for another post!

~

Our dog, Misty, is almost 18 years old and is very frail. 

She, too, needs a lot of TLC.  

Misty gave us tender love for so many years, 

she deserves our time now.
{Here she is, wearing her warm fleece vest, snuggled up and cozy 
with her life-long favorite toy, "Squeaky."}
 

I thank you for keeping in touch with me through this busy time in my life.
♥ and especially for your prayers ♥

I will be stopping to visit as many of you as possible this weekend.
♥ I hope life has been sweet to you ♥

Many blessings to you all!

Love,

Maria

...Now you are light in the Lord...

Live as children of light 

~ for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth ~

Ephesians 5:8-10

That is my prayer each and every day...

because it's just so easy sometimes "to make that comment"

or "think that thought" that lets the darkness creep in.

It's so good

to be reminded that we are light in the Lord.

~

 How is everyone doing?

I miss everyone!

Our Christmas decorations are going up slowly.

The tree in the sunroom was decorated last weekend.

My smaller tree that stands with the Christmas village had

its turn tonight.

It's

very

slowly

happening

here

Ever since "my little birdies" flew the nest, Advent seems

to rush by.  When they were small, wiggly children, Chris and I worked so hard 

before and after supper to create a special time for Advent prayer and candle lighting.

The forty days of Advent seemed so long :o)

~

Now, before we know it, these next couple of weeks will breeze by.

Faces of loved ones will be at our front doors and

gathered 'round our tables.

and

the winks and smiles

  the unstoppable laughter

the endless baking and cooking and

coffee and more tea

and another hug

please

is all we really truly wish for

♥

I wish you all happy and joyfilled moments

in the coming days ahead

and always,

Love to all!

~ Maria

Photo taken inside the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas

Gratitude

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

    Author: G.K. Chestertoni

A Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Blessings always,

~ Maria 

Hello Orion

chilly nights

extra blankets
fuzzy socks

*
Orion

{source}

I love Orion.

rising and setting in the late autumn sky,

a constellation

a heavenly drawing

to remind me

that God

has a flare for creating amazing beauty.

On Monday, October 22, Chris woke me up before dawn to see the Orionid.

{The Orionids are cosmic leftovers — bits of rock and ice that remain behind from Halley’s comet, 

which last passed through the inner solar system in 1986.}

I didn't get to see any shooting stars, but Chris saw three of them.

The second one he saw while I went back into the house to get my camera.

My father was sleeping in the bedroom downstairs, so I had to be very quiet.

While I tried to find the right setting, I snapped the pic above prematurely.  I was happy to see that I actually captured a few stars!  It was then that Chris spotted another shooting star.

I really like the first photo.

It is from flickr and looks so similar to our view from the backyard.

Orion was framed so beautifully between our tall white pines.

Here are two great videos I found on flickr of an Orionid meteor.

 

 and closer:

 

“Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.”

 Henry Van Dyke

Enjoy more skies at Sky Watch Friday!

Enjoy your weekend and always look on the brighter side of life!

Stealing a moment or two

Today,

I stole a few moments for myself.

 September was such a busy month at school.

~

I just had to come up for air

...and take myself...

somewhere where I can easily lose myself 

... wandering through the past...

at Something Olde ~ Something New

{my favorite consignment shop}

...where I found this sweet gem of a teacup

and the little birdie that looks so cozy inside

and this adorable Warren Kimble hen and chicks lamp

that is now on my kitchen table.

 The sweet cross stitch tablecloth was a must.

as was the milk glass hen and chicks covered dish.

...now....

..I didn't stop there...

 

I also found a J Jill cashmere sweater set for a steal.

... I think I need the soft and cozy hugs of this sweater set 

along with all my prayers

to keep me sane at school :o)

{I love my students - they keep it real... it's all the state and national pressures making it unreal!}

 Oh... and for just a few dollars, I picked up fresh new Liz Claiborne reading glasses for my purse.

Can you believe how many things are typed in size 9 font these days!?!

~     ~    ~

 I love visiting this consignment shop filled with vintage treasures.

It makes me feel like I'm touching the past

...like I'm back in the days of my mother and grandmother...

a wonderful

and comforting

feeling

♥

Wishing you all wonderful and comforting October days.

Blessings and Overflowing Grace

to you

always,

~ Maria

 

summer makeovers

I love looking back at little projects that

still put a smile on my face.

This little dresser was $15.

It had chipping and peeling icky brown paint.

"Please bring me home, Maria"

 (Okay :o)

I was so happy when I brought it in the house all clean, creamy white and with 

its vintage brass knobs polished and pretty.

Barkeeper's friend brought the shine back like a dream!

 This worn little side table was only $10

but because it was so sturdy, I took it home and rescued it from a rainy garage sale day.

It just needed a little elbow grease

polish and stain.

 I smiled when this was finished.

$10... not bad!

I forgot to take a photo of the very, very old cottage dresser that I bought for my sewing room...

but I gathered the drawers for a "group shot" that would give you the idea of how it looked before.

For me this is another icky color.

It reminded me of that old "avocado green" color of the 70's.

I love using Stix Primer.

It really does stick to any surface.  The dresser got a little rough sanding first...

nothing too serious... and then two coats of Stix Primer.

 The gallon of creamy white Behr Paint in "heavy cream" refinished so many pieces this spring and summer... and there was still plenty to use for this dresser too.

It's great looking back to see some work finally done... some sweet little rewards of summer...

My spools of thread are all organized in the top drawers and folded fabrics in the bottom drawers.

Many of my patterns are in the drawers of the little dresser.

 ~

My feet are up tonight.

Back to school week is always so exciting.

I hope you had a great week too!

Blessings always, dear friends and family  

♥

 {Happy to be participating in Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday}