I must have done something good...

...that is what I am thinking anyways.
My hubby popped in the door a few days ago and handed me a dozen passion roses.
He sure surprised me!
Don't get me wrong, he does it periodically, but it still surprises me every single time.

They sure are a bright spot of color in my otherwise pretty neutral home. I took the photos of this bunch
when there was rain on the window...thus the spots, but I like it.

in L.O.V.E. with these postcards that are JDL...got them when I ordered a magazine last year.

up close and personal

I split them up into two different containers. These are in the kitchen on my long white shelf and
the others are in my living room.

I guess he is still a keeper...for now anyways. Just kidding!!
I intend to grow old and senile with this man. lol.
{I am already well on my way. My cousin told me that I sent her TWO Christmas cards within a week of each other... I told her I at least hoped they were different cards and she said, Nope...same card, but different things written in each one so she is keeping them both! ha!} 
Happy weekend everyone and see you on White Wednesday post this week!

I started with an old wooden berry picking box...

 ...laid it on it's side and started embellishing. {it was already painted white}

First I added white cheesecloth and then an angel graphic from The Graphics Fairy. I glued lace around the edge of the angel photo and then I added a feather, tag and tiny vintage ornaments.

I LOVE the wonderful patina that is found on old Christmas ornaments. You just can't get that in new ornaments.

I thought for a sudden burst of creativity that it turned out pretty good.
What do you think?

First time around I added a candle {and I even lit it}, but that was before I added the feather and I really didn't want my home going up in flames, so I opted for the vintage ornaments instead. You could use a battery powered votive though and I think it would work just fine. I see all kinds of possibilities with these embellished with holy cards and candles etc.  I hope to work on some more after the holidays.

Pretty paper ♪♫♪...pretty ribbons of...♫♪♫...and a WINNER!



...♪♫♪...BLUE...ooo...♫♪♫♪..wrap your presents...♪♫♪


Wait a minute...stop the presses!
...no blue ribbon around here this year!
Just beautiful gray and silver.



I received my goodies that I won from Ozma of Odds and I was over the moon just viewing the packaging.
Seriously...I didn't even open them up until the next day because I just wanted to stare at them for awhile! So beautiful and so Rosemary!!

She didn't miss one little detail from the silver ribbon to the tags, fabric flower and book cover.
Every little detail was perfect.

I know that I have told you before that I am a *detail* girl.
I so appreciate all the little details in life and I just ooed and ahhed over the detail on my giftwrapping.

What a gorgeous tag on the package that my dream catcher was in!!
{I will get to that one of these days, but this post is just about the wrapping..hee hee}


I also can't help but think how much more gorgeous these photos would be with Rosemary's addition of white flourishes etc. I just love her blog and her extra touches on her photos, but I haven't a clue how to do that. Well , I kinda do know how it is done, but ME actually doing it...now that is another story.

Thank you so much Rosemary!! You made my day, I mean week, oops, I really meant month,
okay ,okay you made my YEAR!

Linking up with Faded Charm today as I do for every White Wednesday celebration.

...and now for the winner of my giveaway....
drum roll pleaseeeee.......

*FLEURCOTTAGE*
Congratulations to Esther! I will send out your goodies as soon as I receive your mailing addy.

Winter ONEderland party!

 12.10.2011 little Ms. Ainsley celebrated her very first birthday and of course we were there to help celebrate. It was her Winter ONEderland party and she had a grand time.

This is the beautiful cake that Ainsley's daddy made and her mommy decorated. Chocolate cake with strawberries between the layers and strawberry frosting. It was soooo good! In face I just ate a huge piece that I brought home. :)

Marshmallows and a little snowman that Ainsley's mommy made. Too cute!!

The birthday girl!

Ainsley was much more interested in playing with the boxes and paper than she was opening her gifts. This box was pretty well smooshed by the time she got done crawling all over it and standing on it. Thankfully it was not breakable. :)

Annika got Ainsley a cute little ornament for her birthday.  I think she had just as much fun as Ainsley did and it was a beautiful party for our precious little granddaughter.

THEN...
Friday evening my older sister was blessed with her first grandchild...a little boy named Greyson Matthew. She was a nervous wreck living in PA and her daughter giving birth in Alabama. We stayed in touch via facebook and I didn’t go to bed until about 1 am Saturday. I was sooooo tired. At one point she put on facebook, “PLEASE pray for Megan...Greyson is being stubborn”...the next post was “they are prepping Megan for a C-section”. She did end up having a C-section, but mommy and baby are doing just fine and my sister is heading for Alabama tomorrow.




He just missed being born the 10th. {He would have been born the 10th if Alabama was not a hour behind us} Had that happened we would have FOUR family members with birthdays on the 10th , but it was not to be. My sister , Ainsley and my niece LaShawn all celebrated birthdays yesterday and it was a grand day for all!

Still a favorite

Point of Grace

{photo from online source}



{click on arrow to hear this holy song}

Oh this song...this wonderful song...still a favorite Christmas song of mine. I cry every time I hear it , but I have to listen. It pulls me in and I play it over and over.  It IS the embodiment of Christmas...it IS a holy song. Young Mary giving birth to Baby Jesus and how she must have felt.  Laboring on the cold cobblestones...in a dirty stable.  I can't even imagine it.  He came for US in the most lowly way possible, but yet He came.  For me and for you.  I am so very thankful that He came!

LABOR OF LOVE

sang by Point of Grace

It was not a silent night

There was blood on the ground

You could hear a woman cry

In the allyways that night

On the streets of David's town.

And the stable was not clean

And the cobblestones were cold

And little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

Had no mother's hand to hold.

It was a labor of pain

It was a cold sky above

But for the girl on the ground in the dark

With every beat of her beautiful heart

It was a labor of love.

Noble Joseph at her side

Callused hands and weary eyes

There were no midwives to be found

In the streets of David's town

In the middle of the night.

So he held her and he prayed

Shafts of moonlight on his face

But the baby in her womb

He was the maker of the moon

He was the Author of the faith

That could make the mountains move.

It was a labor of pain

It was a cold sky above

But for the girl on the ground in the dark

With every beat of her beautiful heart

It was a labor of love.

For little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

It was a labor of love.

It was not a silent night
On the streets of David's town...


I intended to add a copy of this CD in my giveaway here, but totally forgot about it so I will be doing another giveaway in a few days. Be sure and stay tuned! It has many wonderful Christmas songs on it...peppy ones too! :)
In the meantime if you haven't already signed up for my giveaway click here.