Calm Energy

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

We Celebrate the Old and Welcome the New

January 2010

First
We opened up our table.

We spread the gold and silver.

~ Then ~

We lit the candles.
We laid out the winter plates.

We filled the glasses with wine.

We gave God our Gratitude for all His Grace.

We Celebrated the Old Years

and

Welcomed the New.

~ ~ ~

In the warm glow of the newness

Let's find love, peace and joy

within

and then let's pass it on!

~

I'm participating in Tablescape Thursday this week.
My Christmas / Winter dishes are called Silent Night by Sango
I use them all winter long especially when it snows!

The starry candlesticks are from Pier 1
My napkins are from Bed, Bath & Beyond
Napkin rings - Christmas ornaments
mini silver salt & peppers - estate sale
For the kids:
Corelle 'Farm Fresh' plates & a Debbie Mumm Snowman plate.
Mini stockings were used to hold their spoon & fork.

Join Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
...and many others who share their creativity and hospitality!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Making the First Day Back Fun

A few nice things you do for yourself

and others

Can make a day seem so much better!

It can be just a little thing...

Like a sweater vest.

My daughter, Amanda surprised me last week with a package in the mail.
She bought a darling sweater vest at Sears that I just loved...

I went out to find one too... but to no avail - they were sold out!
After she got back to her town,

she found one at her Sears and surprised me with it!

We match on our first day back after vacation ~vests, shirts and even bags!

How Fun!

* * *

...Then...

...there's Kathy Alderfer's sweet jewelry I bought this December.

I saw her jewelry after visiting Anneliese's post, and purchased earrings for my daughters and a bracelet set for myself. They are indeed as lovely as they look online.

They're shipped ready to gift!

Amanda LOVES pumpkin pie ...so she got the pumpkin spice earrings.

Rachael LOVES peaches... so hers are the swarovski "summer peaches."

With my new sweater vest ready to wear and the bracelet set that just happened to match...

...it was actually FUN getting ready for work today.
*

I'm grateful for those early moments of fun before I drove off on the ice!

Hope you find a little fun in your week!

* *
*

Sunday, January 3, 2010

a Day of Rest

On days like today...

I dream of Pemberley.

It was a busy January 2nd.

My father, 85, left this afternoon with my brother.

We spent the morning

packing a few last minute things...

sorting a few last minute things...

like his tenderly, carefully wrapped packages.

It was sad when he left.

Then,

We had to help Rachael by picking up her boss's-boss's two dogs and cat at the kennel.

(She had promised to help him, but Rach and Juan were caught in traffic

and would not be back upstate by the kennel's closing time).

So, after a busy morning,

...off we went - 50 minutes north of here to a kennel to pick up these two great dogs and a cat (in her little crate). These animals were so happy to see anyone outside of the kennel where they'd been for almost two weeks. Chris had to switch to passenger seat to control the weimaraner,

who tried to climb to the front of the car!

A wonderful benefit was that I could visit with my sister and her family who live 10 minutes farther north.

* * *

We got home late in the evening.

No cooking, I declared!

... just snacking on leftovers.

Brie en croute...veggies... peanut m&m's

Tea . . . Popcorn

* * *

And now,

. . . Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett . . .

Pride and Prejudice one more time ;o)

~Entering Pemberley in my mind~

"Every disposition of the ground was good; and she looked on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it."

Jane Austen