What a Difference...

...a year makes! Our little Augie is all grown up! It hardly seems possible that he's been with us a year now. It sure didn't take him that long, though, to train us. 

The best seat in the house isn't a seat at all; he's the resident "hearth hound"!

He's filled our hearts and home with pure, unconditional love over the past twelve months.

And in other news around the house, (I'm trying to catch up!) the Christmas Cacti decided to put on their show a month early, I suppose they're Thanksgiving Cacti instead.

My parents sent this, a Swiss Cheese plant, when I broke my wrist at the end of August; it's already doubled in size! Have you ever seen one of these before? It was new to me.

These treasures were gifts from my mother, they belonged to her mother and are at least 100 years old. The smaller, clear glass cake plate is also a pedestal style, I tipped it up to show the detail. I'm so grateful for these and can't wait to use them for Christmas entertaining. 

I was privileged to be asked to create paraments for Advent for our sanctuary at church.

They were dedicated and placed into service this past Sunday. 

We watched this movie recently, if you like happy endings like I do, you'll love it! ⭐⭐⭐

I've got this pretty piece under the needle currently; this top is one of MANY (in the 100's!) left behind by a lifelong quilter who passed away last year. Her daughter is donating them to charitable causes, I'm honored to help her bring them to completion as blessings to others. 

So, back to "what a difference"... how about twelve years? Augie's not the only one growing up at the speed of light. Mason is driving now, he's not four anymore; and I tried SO hard not to blink. Sigh. 

Life is Good!

For the Love of Plates...

 ... and bowls, and cups, and saucers, and platters and sugar bowls! Okay, you get the picture, I love dishes! There was a time in my life when I considered Christmas dishes a worthless and unnecessay extravagance; I'll admit that I turned up my nose at plates with holly leaves and bowls with Christmas trees... "why would anyone want to commit space and resources to dishes that can used for such a limited period of time" I thought. And then I saw Villeroy & Boch's Naif Christmas pattern. I remember the exact moment that these dishes spoke to me. We were living overseas, in Geneva, and I was downtown in the Globus department store browsing through the china aisles when my eyes fell upon these. It was immediate... I knew then that I needed them. Maybe it was the charming folk-art scenes, or perhaps it was the lovely, delicate, cranberry-hued edging, but the thing that reeled me in then, and still does, is this nativity platter. 
You can read the story here of how I came to acquire this set of dishes; but, please, read on. Over the years I have developed the custom of getting these dishes out in early December and keeping them in the cabinet clear through January so that my husband and I can fully enjoy them over a period of weeks with their precious winter scenes. They have become all the more special to me now; as I place the stacks of plates, bowls and mugs in the cabinet, I am reminded of the number of dear friends and family who have gathered with us at Christmastime and been served off of these plates. I am truly thankful for them and for the gallons of tea and coffee, over the years, that has been poured from pot to cup... from heart to heart. These dishes have come to represent such abundant blessings in my life; looking back, maybe it was no coinicidence that I wandered into the china department of Globus on that day so long ago. God changed my heart to one of welcoming hospitality and opened my eyes to the treat that awaits if one looks beyond the ordinary and unnecessary to what might just be considered something of true and lasting value. That's a lot to ask of any plate, but I can happily confirm that these dishes have delivered all of that... and much, much more!

Life is Good!

My Lucky Day!

Today is my lucky day; I feel like I've won the Strawberry Sweepstakes!  This particular china pattern, California Strawberry, has resided in the cabinets of all the homes we've lived in over the last 39 years. It was my chosen pattern for everyday dishes when we married in 1975 and we have been blessed by gifts of many pieces over time. We've done our share of replacing pieces, too, along the way. It is still used, loved, and treasured... every single day.  A few weeks ago a friend asked me if this was the china pattern I owned. "Yes", I replied. She went on to tell me that she had a set she was willing to let go; she has owned it for ten years longer than mine and hers was lightly used, if at all. We agreed upon a price for the entire lot and here it is! I am just as excited today as I was when I was a newlywed bride opening my wedding gifts of this very same pattern. There are pieces here that I've never owned: the pitcher, the shallow cereal bowls, the covered casseroles, larger serving bowl, small platter and the precious cream pitcher! There are other pieces that I am happily reunited with: the butter dish, the tea pot and the large platter! I am happy today; and ever so grateful that my friend and I crossed paths and somehow made this china connection. Thanks, Judi, I promise you... these dishes have found exactly the right home in which to live!

Life is Good!

Catching Up

I took the last quilting stitches in Gregory's quilt early Thanksgiving morning, I pulled a stool up alongside the front while I worked so that  Mason could sit and observe the process for a little while. It was a satisfying start to an otherwise busy day!  With all the prep work and hand washing of dishes afterwards, Thanksgiving is the only day that I completely run out of dishtowels and the bottom of that drawer is fully visible; I can make up an entire washer-load of only dish towels one day a year! That's where I've been. All the dishes are done now and safely stored back in the cupboards; just in time to switch them out next Saturday to my Christmas/Winter dishes! I refuse to begin until December! The Christmas tree lots sprung up, seemingly overnight, on Wednesday last week. I won't pitch myself headfirst into Christmas until I can sit back and catch my breath from Thanksgiving. The good news is I'm ready for binding on this one and the quilt and the big boy bed will be delivered together... soon! I have named this one: "Do You See What I See: Fish, A Frog, and a Floating Dog".

Detail shots (above and below): "F,F, and a FD"
It is quilted in the sashing and inner border with NiteLite thread.
There's lots of fun things to search for and find on this quilt.

I spent yesterday catching up on this month's block from the Bless This House class, block #8.
I decided to personalize this one with a year and an initial, ditching the assigned flowers in the center.
I agonized over the decision of which year to put in the heart... the year I began or the year I hope to finish!  I've got my work cut out for me now, I've committed to a time frame!

All eight blocks arranged on the design wall.
Each block measures 16", the next block is a four blossom Christmas Rose;
a long, triple, landscape panel spans the top before the final borders are added.
Life is Good!