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Happy Christmas Day!!!

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In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. 
Luke 1:26-33 


Sharing with
Feathered Nest Friday ~ French Country Cottage
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Merry Christmas to you!
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Sunday Sentiments ~ How "The Girls" Came to Be and a Cinderella Story

How “The Girls” came to be a
part of the gardens we have had 
over the years is actually 
nice little story…


I’ve always liked statuary since I was a little girl.
My friend Kathy had several 
angels and other lovely statuary 
in her front and backyards.
These were scattered about and you’d 
come upon them tucked into each planter bed 
while taking a tour around her 
gorgeously green gardens
checking out all the roses and 
flowering plants 
that would be in bloom.

It was a bonus when you’d sit outside 
at one of two sunny sitting areas where
you could admire a few of these
ethereal statues while
enjoying an alfresco luncheon
or while
talking over tea and dessert.

She had this same angel as mine on 
the little patio to the left of 
her front door entryway.
Every time I’d come over to tea
I’d see this beautiful cement angel
with a lit candle in her heart~shaped dish
surrounded by mini dried pink 
noisette roses.
Other times this angel held just larger
rose petal blooms in her bowl
which would waft their glorious scent
heavenward
perfuming the entire front entry!

I had admired this angel for about a year
or so when I finally asked Kathy
where she had found it and 
its twin in the backyard.
She had found both at various
HomeGoods.

From then on I was on a quest…

For about a year I haunted the Temecula
HomeGoods looking for an angel
I could call my own but 
never finding one.
When one day while we were out shopping
with friends from our
Victorian Tea Society tea group at 
HomeGoods in Poway ~ turning an aisle corner 
finally found one in 
the garden area!



I could hardly believe my good fortune!
I wasn’t letting “her” out of my sight…
Somehow I wrestled this big girl 
into my cart.
{you see, these angels aren’t light little things but rather very solid
being that they ARE made of cement and weighing in 
at about 50 to 70 pounds or so}
Everything else that day became superfluous.
I didn’t need another thing.
I was happy and ready to go home and 
decorate with this angel girl!
🙂

The group was planning on going to 
two more thrift stores
looking for elusive treasures.
Didn’t matter to me ~ I’d found what
I was hoping and dreaming for already.
I had my sweet angel!
🙂
Surprisingly, I found a second angel
a few months later…
for 
$29.00 on clearance!
Of course, she came home with me, too.
😉

The Vineyard Girl came about
while wandering about in
Old Town Temecula, California.
There is a little garden shop situated between
two western~style buildings right on
Main Street as you come through the middle
of this antique district
which sells those perfectly swirly rusty 
wire furniture and chandelier pieces.

When this store first opened for business
the owner carried more of 
what I call
ethereal pieces for your garden
and this 
lithesome lovely lady 
who forever grows and
gathers grapes from her garden
was there waiting…
It was meant to be!

She was the first big statue I brought home
to our then new house ~ our Big House.
The Angel Girls came later.

Now a funny story! My son and daughter and I
 always carved pumpkins with crosses and 
hearts and such for Halloween night 
to share our faith
in a quiet way
as children and teens 
would come calling to trick or treat.

That year after I’d found the front yard angel
{as I’d come to call her}
I thought I’d put a nice candle in among
the fall potpourri
scenting her little heart~shaped bowl
to welcome our little dressed-up friends
as they rang our doorbell.

She looked lovely that evening!
Her candle glowing brightly
when viewed from 
out on the sidewalk.
The pumpkins glowed pleasantly, too
and gave off a faint scent of pumpkin goodness
as you walked towards our front entryway.

All was good that night ~ no tricks to be had as
children came and rang out their merry
“Trick or treat!!!”
and 
we gave away 
many a nummy
chocolate goody that evening.

Next day though I noticed something
not so good
when we came home from school…
Our poor angel girl’s nose was 
permanently burnt!
🙁


No amount of cleaner would wash
the soot from her face
so…
from that day forward 
her new name was…
Cinderella.
😉

And now you know the rest of the story!
Drop me a line and tell me your 
favorite story of 
something you found and 
how this treasure 
came to grace your home.

Looking forward to reading your stories!
xoxo Barb 🙂


“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”  Psalms 91:11


Sharing with
Dishing It Digging It ~ Rustic and Refined
Refresh Restyle Inspiration Monday ~ VMG206
A Life in Balance
Inspire Me Monday ~ Create With Joy


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Sunday Sentiments… Grace


Grace ~
I like the fact that God gives us grace
instead of giving us forever
without Him!


For all the little things we do wrong,
it’s nice to know that we can be forgiven.
Just like a parent who has to
discipline his or her child,
God will discipline us
…but only for a time.
🙂





Jesus got us the invitation to the table…
We just have to accept it.
Today’s message at church was from
Hebrews 13:17-25.
The emphasis was on
obeying your church leaders and praying for them
so that their work can be a joy
and
it comes back to you.


The last scripture in verse 25, the author
(it is thought to be Paul, the apostle)
writes:
“Grace be with you all.”
(which is Paul’s signature trademark ending to his writings, usually
saying, “Grace and Peace to you all.”)


So, it stuck with me…
Grace is an ethereal word,
hard to describe…
just like when we see a beautiful painting,
a glowing sunrise or fiery sunset,
sweeping landscapes with blowing grasses
as far as the eye can see,
the sweet look and smile of a child as the parent enters the room,
a happy couple holding hands while walking
along a beach, then sharing a kiss…


It makes us joyful and happy!


last spring’s garden


What things are you thankful for today?
I hope that grace is always a part of your home.
🙂


Grace and peace to you,
my friends!


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Studies in Black and White and Sepia

Just a study in black and white today…
Few words,
just photos…
A photograph I took of our cat, Tigger, back when I was 15 years old with an old 110 Kodak instamatic camera.
I went out to milk our goats. She hopped up on the milking stand. I had the camera. She turned her head ~ and this is the shot!

Tip:
Still learning about photography
and changing to black and white…
I did not realize until now
that one has to lighten up the photograph
if the original photograph was shot
in color
or it will appear dark.
🙂
What’s your favorite way to photograph?
Hope you have a great weekend!
Barb 🙂
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White Christmas & White Furniture

The little trees I created with mini clay pots & small glass jars ~ hot glued in and some with candle wax melted in to hold in the little trees.  And, of course, the monster Christmas tree with its cut-down base to fit inside the antique ceiling fixture now held inside with epoxy and cement.
 One last look at our Christmas…

I normally have a lot of white around the house: 

The French-style dining chairs painted white in the dining room (because I got tired of them being brown and because my friend Kathy hasthe most gorgeous home all white and shabby! and I want to capture that here!), the 1980’s/1990’s coffee table that I finally decided to turn white, and the slipcovers just made for the living room and the matelasse slipcover on the easy chair 
bought off the former homeowner of this house that is now upstairs in our bedroom.
To me, there isn’t enough white ~ 
I like white!

To me, it’s very calming, very soothing
after a tough day at work.
It de-stresses me.
My kids aren’t overly fond of white furniture for some reason (I have no idea why!)
and we do have a lot of darker furniture pieces; I am a purist for some.
My late 40’s/early 1950’s Drexel desk
is one piece I am not intending to paint.
But…
One never knows!
Every piece of furniture that is more of a natural pine or darker stained piece
has white glass rings on them due to some cold beverage being set on them without benefit of a coaster…
So…
The painting may continue!


I haven’t gone a full
White Christmas yet…
But,


two years ago my daughter
and I put up only the white
Christmas tree.
We filled it with only silver and white
ornaments and it was stunning!
A favorite ornament found a couple of years ago at Michael’s. Love, love, love birds and have hung many different bird ornaments from our chandelier, on the trees ~ sometimes all year! From the chandelier, I mean.
😉

From our Christmas tea in early December ~ Love using the white plates found at Marshall’s a year ago or so with the thriftshop silver-plate tray used as a charger.  

The fork is part of a set given to me by my sister-in-law, Linnea, from when she and my brother were living in England.  They were a Christmas or birthday present one year.  She knew I loved silverware just as much as she did.  She found a box of silver place settings at their base thriftshop on RAF Molesworth. 

Here is a recent post where I made these bleached Christmas trees if you’d like to make some of your own.

White is ethereal…
it is everything that is
me!
it calms,
it refreshes the soul,
it promotes healing…


I am finding as I get older I am looking for more white objects from china to curtains, 

“Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.” 
― Coco ChanelChanel


to candles and tables,
picture frames, baskets,
and of course,
all kinds of decorations!

a view of our mantel glowing in brilliant white lights and sparkles



White is right
for me.
🙂
Hope you have enjoyed this tour of 
white!

(funny how a post starts off one way and morphs into something completely different!)

Thanks for sharing!




Blessings to you,
home decor, Uncategorized

At Christmastide


Christmastide
(also known as ~ Love Came Down at Christmas)

Source: The Poetical Works of Christina Georgina Rossetti, with a 
Memoir and Notes by William Michael Rossetti (1904), page 159

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.


Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?


Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.


Before 1886



I had heard this poem before in a shortened version,
thus I used it in the titles of
these last four weeks’ Sunday blog postings.


In reality I have just found the poet,
Christina Rossetti…

Our Italian Nativity this year: though not seeing most of the figurines’ faces, making Baby Jesus’ the most relevant.


Ms. Rossetti wrote many poems about Advent, about Christmas 
and Jesus’ birth…
I have just scratched the surface
for you and for me!


Do enjoy her works;


they point to our Saviour!



Please find many of her poem-carols at:
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com

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Sunday Sentiments

What are you thankful for
this fall season?


I am thankful that I have a job I really like.
I am thankful for my family
and our home.

I’m also thankful for some money in the bank.
🙂


I am thankful knowing that our Creator 
is watching over us
and is our Guide.
I‘m thankful for long-overdue honey-do projects
finally getting done around the house
(our most recent: taking out and regrouting
the downstairs shower! Yeah!)


But mostly ~
I am also thankful for you, 
my friends and family!


photo taken through our front livingroom window


I was thinking of a series of postings 
called
Sunday Sentiments
each Sunday here 

in November.

November is such a lovely time with leaves 
changing to their fall colors,
the morning air turning crisp,
the days are still warm here in 

Southern California,
then
the evenings turn cooler, too.

Sunday Sentiments will share
French Ethereal’s lovely table settings,
tea times,
and more
lovely fall photos from our area

and…
since it is Sunday,
some lovely Scripture.




Today’s verse is:
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8  



             

Our fall and winter china ~ The Friendly Village by Johnson Brothers, England and one of my favorite engraved “B” teaspoons found at flea market!



Blessings to you on this wonderful
Sunday evening!

Feel free to share this post, thank you!

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Happy All Saints’ Day!

1Let brotherly love continue. 2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing  some have unwittingly entertained angels. ~ Hebrews 13:1-2

Happy All Saints’ Day!


What are your 

favorite angel quotes?


After posting 
my garden lady yesterday,
looking rather spooky…


I thought today that I would 
share our resin
angel
which lives out front
in the planter bed 

with the roses. 

Eden with a second blooming here in the fall!



Please share your favorite
angel quotes
with all of us here!













Blessings to you and 

to your family,

Uncategorized

Faith, Hope & Love ~ My Inspiration

Love is patient
Love is kind
and envies no one…



Such a hard thing for me to do sometimes.
I am not very patient, but I have become better at it
over the years.
Working with special education students one learns
a great deal of patience.
😉


Love is never boastful,
nor conceited, nor rude;
never selfish,
not quick to take offense.


In the times that I have been boastful, God quickly
reminds me to knock it off!
I was very proud of something I was doing a few years ago,
and it quickly became apparent that I shouldn’t have been
that way as I landed a Big Correction.
😉


Love keeps no score
of wrong-doings; does not gloat
over another’s sins,
but delights in the truth


Here’s a biggie… Do you have trouble with this?
My husband would definitely have something to say
about this one and me! 
I do apologize when I know I have been wrong
and… do delight in the Truth.
🙂


It’s a wonder to me that so many people don’t believe 
in God.
To me, His presence is seen everywhere!

I see God in the sparkles on a dragonflies wings and
on some lilies.
We can creat sparkles from ground up bits of glass
and metal creating beautiful things with glitter.
These insects and plants though have
always had theirs…


A little birdie I found at one of the craft stores sharing its own glittery sparkles!


People today look at the Bible as a bunch of made-up
stories, and we Christians don’t do a good-enough job at 
promoting God and doing the right thing ourselves.
We are imperfect.
I know I certainly am not perfect.
Fortunately,
God uses imperfect people to do His work.
🙂



When you read through the Old Testament,
the genealogy of Jesus IS all these
flawed people!
Tamar was a prostitute who slept with her father to have a son.
King David lusted after and slept with
Bathsheba and had her first husband killed.
They lost their first child because of this sin.
(Also: Did you know sin means 
“missing the mark?”
It means we aren’t doing something right in God’s eyes.)

Anyway, Bathsheba eventually got it right with God, 
and Proverbs 31
is about her value and her real beauty. 
🙂
She was the mother of King Solomon
and Nathan.

Jesus comes from both of these lines:
the cursed line of Solomon (he strayed away to other gods) 
~ through his father Joseph, who adopted Him, 
and the not-cursed line of Nathan 
~ through his mother, Mary.
Jesus was wholly man (born to man) 
AND
wholly God 
(given to Mary by God through the angel) 
and this is part of the reason why
He is Who He says He is. 
🙂


photo from my copy of the lovely magazine ~ Jeanne d’Arc Living,  9th issue 2013


There is nothing
love cannot face;
there is no limit
to its faith, its hope,
and its endurance.


In a word,
there are three things
that last forever:
faith, hope and love;
but the greatest 
of them all is
Love.

1 Corinthians 13



There is a whole lot more to the life and story of 
Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ. 
I used my New International Version study Bible
to look up and get correct information for you
(make sure I was right!).
The 1 Corinthians 13 quote is from the New Testament, 
but these exact words are from a print I have.


***Feel free to “Like”, “Share” and repost this message, thank you!***

Just a little Sunday sentiments… 
Happy Sunday to you!