Moss initial

I've seen moss covered initials all over used in decorating and have been eyeballing one in the Ballard catalog for quite a while. But I decided to make my own. It wasn't that hard..just buy a large thick initial at Joanne Fabric and cover it with sheet moss I love the way it turned out. 

They have been used many ways. Sometimes they are used for wedding decor. 

Normal days

Don't you love just normal days?  Every day doesn't have to be special. Sure we love the excitement of visitors and doing new things but a quiet, normal everyday day is so welcome too. It's a chance to maybe catch up on household chores or catch up on reading. It allows the freedom to have your own time. Enjoy a normal day.  This quote is borrowed from Kim Klassen's blog. She is going through really not normal days as she journeys with her husband through his cancer. Say a quick prayer for John. 

Something new, something blue

Getting ready for cold weather always involves bring out the winter coats, scarves, mittens, boots etc.  dressing for winter here is an affair. But this winter I will be happy to don my new winter coat. It's a cheery royal blue which will stand out against the white snowflakes. I also bought a multicolored infinity scarf to wear with it.  Now the search is on for a pink angora beret.  

A few more snow quotes and then I'm done

Snow thoughts

I have snow on my mind today. It has come, like it always does to cover the ground chasing everyone inside with colder temperatures. So today I leave you with some snow quotes. 

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?

“It's very ugly' I said generously. 'But it looks as though it would laugh at snow. And, if you hit a deer it would hiccup, and keep going.” 

― 

“I love snow for the same reason I love Christmas: It brings people together while time stands still. Cozy couples lazily meandered the streets and children trudged sleds and chased snowballs. No one seemed to be in a rush to experience anything other than the glory of the day, with each other, whenever and however it happened” 

― Rachel Cohn, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” 

― Carl Reiner

“She went to the window. A fine sheen of sugary frost covered everything in sight, and white smoke rose from chimneys in the valley below the resort town. The window opened to a rush of sharp early November air that would have the town in a flurry of activity, anticipating the tourists the colder weather always brought to the high mountains of North Carolina. 

She stuck her head out and took a deep breath. If she could eat the cold air, she would. She thought cold snaps were like cookies, like gingersnaps. In her mind they were made with white chocolate chunks and had a cool, brittle vanilla frosting. They melted like snow in her mouth, turning creamy and warm.” 

― Sarah Addison Allen, The Sugar Queen

tags: cold, freezing, snow, weather, winter

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Ctags: car, deer, snow

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Let your little light shine

Are you a candle kind of gal?  As the days grow darker there is nothing better than the little glow of a candle to make your spirits rise. Maybe it harkens back to the cave women huddling over the fire but I really enjoy watching a flickering flame. There are so many candle scents to choose from but I dismiss the florals and seem to like the spicy or citrusy ones. 

    Are you a purist and only burn wax candles with real flames?  I used to be until I discovered luminara candles with the flicker of reality. And who doesn't like a candle that turns itself on and off?  

  So I have both in my house and love to see candles burning. They add such ambience to a room. Linda gave me this laurel candleholder for my birthday and it is my favorite. 

Write a blog

OJust some randomness for a Sunday. 

Just a little ole tool box

Don't you love patina?  When Don brought this old green tool box home I immediately absconded with it. After cleaning it up a bit I arranged an orchid and hurricane candle in it. It makes a nice addition to my kitchen. 

Snow pouring down

It's so nice cuddling inside while looking at the snow pouring down so fast. It's our,first snowfall of the season. The white covers all the gray of the hills and creates sculptures of the trees outside. There is something exciting about the first snowfall it's like when you were a kid and couldn't wait to get out the sleds. We would don our snow suits, mittens, hats, boots and scarves..so much on that we could hardly move. Our parents would send us outside where we would join all the neighboring kids and play and play until the snow filled our boots and our faces were practically frost bitten to force us back inside.  Mom would pull off our boots and fix us some warming hot chocolate. Then we would get out the board games and spend the rest of the day with Monopoly. Do today's kids do that? What fun we had. Enjoy this awesome day. 

Ten questions

Here are ten questions from the blog Still and All by Shirley Galey. I thought it would be fun to answer them. If you want to play along just comment below the post. I'd love to hear your answers. 

1. What is your favorite season?

I love fall best of all...those brilliant colors and crisp nights. 

2.  City or country?

I live nestled in the hills of western pennsylvania and it is definitely country here. Our nearest large cities are both an hour and a half away. Close enough for a daytime shopping trip. When I vacation I want to see something different so I love to go somewhere more populated with lots of things to do and see. I've never spent time in a large city.  I wish I knew someone in NYC to visit and show me around. 

3.  Do you prefer black and white or colour photography?

It's color all the way for me but there's something about a black and white photo that is captivating. 

4. Who do you look up to?

I admire people who have the fortitude to peruse their dreams no matter what. I admire authors who can put words on the page that are thought provoking or stir emotion. I admire courageous people, people who speak out against injustice, and those whose lives are a higher standard. 

5.  If you could travel anywhere where would it be?

Provence, of course. But my adventurous soul would like to go to Spain too. 

6.  Tea or coffee ? What is your favourite beverage?

A nice cup of hot tea on a cold day just can't be beat. 

7.   Do you have a favourite place to visit ? Where is it?

My favorite trip is to visit my children and grandchildren. I don't see them as often as I'd like. 

8   What is your favourite recipe? Your fallback recipe?

My mother's chicken pot pie recipe. It always evokes the most wonderful memories of times at the table with her. 

9.   Christmas fan? or do you love another holiday?

I love the Christmas holiday with all it's traditions and decorations. 

10. Your favourite film?

Mama Mia...for happiness. 

The sixth Sense....for twist ending. 

The English Patient..for complicated romance

The Great Escape...for war movies. 

THe Shawshank Redemption..for perseverance. 

Inception...for deep thinking. 

. 

White

I really am trying to resist thinking about and talking about Christmas. There is plenty of time for that later...wait a minute. No there isn't. As soon as thanksgiving is over the decorations come out and the whirlwind begins. 

   I love a white Christmas. No, I'm not talking about snow. I mean a white room, white decorations and a touch of green. I'm drawn to that color scheme every time I see it In a magazine. It must be my Scandinavian roots but I drool over the simplicity of those pristine rooms. Now you know they are so not me. I like contrast and vignettes all over the place. But here are some Christmas pictures that make my heart start singing Christmas carols. 

What are you watching?

We are well into the fall television season. Have you found some new programs that are holding your interest? For a few years it seemed that programming was getting worse on tv. There were tons of reality shows or comedies that depended on sexual jokes for laughs.
    But this season seems to be a whole lot better. Are you watching Blacklist? Here’s a little teaser:
 

For decades, ex-government agent Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader, "The Office," "Boston Legal") has been one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives. Brokering shadowy deals for criminals across the globe, Red was known by many as "The Concierge of Crime." Now, he's mysteriously surrendered to the FBI with an explosive offer: He will help catch a long-thought-dead terrorist, Ranko Zamani, under the condition that he speaks only to Elizabeth "Liz" Keen (Megan Boone, "Law & Order: Los Angeles"), an FBI profiler fresh out of Quantico. For Liz, it's going to be one hell of a first day on the job.

What is your favorite television show this season? ( I know we all can’t wait for Downton Abbey).

From parent to child

These wise words are not from me but they are so good I had to pass them on. I think I will also,send them to my grandson. 

1.. Stay true to you. Never forget to listen to yourself before anyone else.

2. Remember that your sibling is your friend forever. When you feel like no one is on your side…they always will be.

3. Even though you don’t want to listen to me at times, I will continue to talk and try to guide you. I know that you are hearing me even if you don’t want to acknowledge.

4. Sometimes friends won’t always act like friends. It happens. Forgive and move on.

5. Take time for your passions. They will always bring you joy…even when your old like me;)

6. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh. It is the key to staying young. Laugh often. Laugh hard. Laugh until you are crying.

7. As you get older, you will be given more responsibility. It is our only true job. To help you become happy, independent and helpful people.

8. Make your decisions carefully and with a mindful heart.

9. Remember that grades are only one measure of success. Just try your best…truly your own personal best is all we will ever ask.

10. Remember that we look at everything you do online…if you wouldn’t stay/do/pose etc..…in front of us…then it shouldn’t be online for the world to see. Period.

11. From the time we brought you home from the hospital…we had to start letting you go. Remember to be patient with us…it is really hard to do sometimes.

12. Nothing good happens after midnight. It’s just a fact….so you won’t miss anything. Don’t worry about it.

13. Don’t assume things of other people based on appearance. Because what you are thinking in your head is usually very far from the reality.

14. Eat real food. Like fruit and vegetables. It will always help you think clearly…and makes your skin pretty ;)

15. Respect your teachers.

16. Empty the dishwasher…when no one is looking. Small acts of kindness will help make your heart sing.

17. Let me always hug you and give you millions of kisses on those cheeks.

18. Spend time with you Grandparents…when you are old you will miss them.

19. Nothing disappoints us more than lying. Just tell us the truth…no matter if it is ugly…we will always understand more than a lie.

20. Don’t forget to listen in church. It will help you solve every problem in your head.

21. Keep smiling.

22. If you catch me staring at you….it is just because sometimes I still see your little baby face and it makes me happy.

23. If you see a friend in a tough situation…be the one to help…because when you don’t help you are just as guilty as the one who is being mean.

24. When the world seems like it’s handing you too many problems…we will make chocolate chip cookies and we will solve them together.

25. One best friend is better than a dozen sort of friends.

26. If all else fails….watch some home movies. They will make you laugh…and help you to remember all your blessings.

27. I will call you peanut and bear when your 40…just get used to it.

28. Take the high road. Sometimes it seems that no one else is…but it proves to be the best path…always.

29. Always look for the next adventure…but be mindful to live in the moment.

30. We love you…more.

 

Is it the photographer or is it the camera?

Here are three photos that my grandson Scott took this weekend. He has a great eye for composition and knows how to take interesting pictures. For his birthday he got a DSLR camera and it takes such clear pictures. 

  I am still using a point and shoot.Fuji with some extra features. I have hesitated to get a DSLR because of its weight. I'm not sure I'd like to carry a heavy camera around. But when I see the difference it makes I might have to whisper in Santa's ear. 

 

Thompson Square

don and I had a great date night. We went to the Seneca Allegany Casino for a concert. Thompson Square is a husband and wife duo who won best vocal duet last year. I had heard them on the radio but wasn't all that familiar with them. They put on a fantastic show, very professional. My favorite part was when they sang together with just an acoustic guitar and of course their encore..You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not. 

November

“November comes

And November goes,

With the last red berries

And the first white snows.

With night coming early,

And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn

And the kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest

Until next spring.” 

― Clyde Watson

tags: clyde-watson, fall, november, poems

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Look outside your window

It wa s rainy and windy this morning but for an instant the morning sun came out to shine upon the weeping cherry tree and lit up the climbing hydrangea on the garage.