signs of fall

fall
rain pelts at my windows
it bounces and spatters on the ground
puddles form all around
it’s perfect for jumping in and splashing

fall
wind rustles all the leaves
that cling so ferociously to the trees
while multi-colored leaves already
lay haphazardly on the ground

fall
pumpkin-filled porches are everywhere
children excitedly deciding on their costumes
while the scent of cinnamon and clove
wafts ever so gently on the air


fall
it’s a time to snuggle ‘neath the warm blanket
for savoring the glow of the fireplace
with a book in one hand
and a mug of warm tea in the other

oh yes,
I do love
fall

phone friday

my life in pictures.
yes, it is insta friday!

these are what my life has looked
this past week.
caught on my phone.
yes, this is my life. ha.

what i wore for my birthday outing/lunch

more outfits from the week. ;)

i finished this book in a day!

i highly recommend it. so very good.

flowers from my 2 year old grandson

for my birthday.

chili for super bowl sunday. 

some sunday card playing. :)

on my luncheon birthday outing with my husband.

found these two sweet owls. :)

a morning walk

taken right outside my house.

and finally

olive was in a valentine photo contest. :)

she didn't win but,

she is a cutie!

have a wonderful weekend.

may you see beauty 

it is there

if you are willing to look.

shine~

welcome

welcome;

a word or kindly greeting,  as to one

whose arrival gives pleasure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i have a book

that i 

take down from

the bookshelf

about once a year

to inspire me-

the book is:

welcome home

by

emilie barnes

this book has

lots of wonderful ideas 

about making your home

warm & welcoming-

not only to visitors

but, to the family 

who comes home

at the end of the day.

it is spattered with

ideas, verses,

quotes and little tidbits

to savor & inspire.

"why do we love

certain houses,

and why do they love us?

it is the warmth of

our individual hearts

reflected in our

surroundings."

-t.h. robsjohn-gibbings

after a day away from

home

there truly is nothing

i love better

than walking through

our back door.

i am home.

i am loved.

i feel welcomed.

my wish is

that all who enter my

home 

would feel

this way...

loved & welcomed.

it is a goal

for me,

because,
too often i get caught up

in the presentation

of our home;

is it clean?

are things in place?

do i have something nice to serve?

i tend to get all consumed

that i sometimes

feel i am so preoccupied...

maybe i am not

 offering a welcoming

smile

or making the guest

feel loved.

i want to try  

to put

some of the self imposed 

stress aside;

to enjoy having those

guests

and to always,

always have

a welcoming

home!

when my now grown

children walk 

through our door,

i want the scents of home,

the warmth of our home

and the love,

yes love...

 to envelop

them.

that they can draw a deep sigh...

feeling welcomed

and 

say;

there is no place like home!

Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer.

as  Christmas draws closer and the busy schedules get beyond crazy
it is easy to get swept up in the hectic schedules and commitments...
the CHRISTmas parties and present giving

I take a moment towards the end of this day
to think on the goodness of the holidays,
the goodness of THIS day...

time spent with the ones I love, a house decorated in CHRISTmas spirit
a tree filled with gold, silver, green and chocolate browns
stealing time away today to sit over a cup of coffee with a friend
practicing in the choir tonight, getting together with others (  & standing next to my daughter) to sing and lift our voices!

Yes, it is easy to get caught up in it all
but, sitting here tonight I am blessed and happy.

what do you do to relax and not get caught up in the crazies?


a peek at our Christmas tree 2010

may you find time to sit and relax and enjoy the season-

melody

feels like home

dear house
I know you think I have lost my mind
maybe I am a bit ADD when it comes to you
one day I want you to look and feel one way
the next something different
I have been feeling like
you need to be brightened up a bit
maybe some white pillows to go with the white curtains
to bring a bit of spring and summer to you
but then again, tomorrow I could wake up and think
something all together different again...
dear house
I do love you
you are not just a house but our
home-

a christmas gift from the kids, a portrait of them framed in the family room

I love the wall of calendars

the family name in the dining room

the wonderful huge black shelf in the family room with the willow tree nativity set from my girls

no explanation needed

the eclectic collection of pictures!!
all of this and much more this is why I love you-

I am linking up today:
here!

Beauty of Spring

I love how my grandson Jack, is ever so gently touching these few precious tulips in my yard...how sweet is that?


My youngest daughter, her boyfriend and I plan to make the trek to the annual Tulip Festival in a neighboring town on friday. I have never been to this festival even though they have been having it for 25+ years! I so wanted to get all my little family to go one Sunday but it never worked out and now this friday is the last day... Guess I better make plans earlier next time! I hope by the time we get there they still have some tulips left...we have been having a lot of rain... Hoping to get a few nice pictures?!

This is our apple tree in the backyard. We were given this as a wedding gift 30 years ago. The first year... it had ONE apple that bent the little tree almost all the way over. Amazing how huge it is now. I love it when the tree is covered in apple blossoms! The wind had come up and I was afraid I wasn't going to get a picture before the blossoms were all gone...

blessings-