After all, it's January!

We had snow a couple of weeks ago - just an inch, but it turned to total ice overnight. And with temperatures so unusually low in Virginia, it stayed frozen for days and days.

I admit to developing cabin fever and finally went out, slipping and sliding through my neighborhood until I got to the regular streets which were clear. A woman has to do what a woman has to do, right?!

Now they're calling for snow again this week. I was complaining to a friend about it, and he said, "Well after all, it's January!"

That's fine, except we have had many January's with no snow and no single-digit temperatures - and I vote for more of those.

Which turns my mind to dreams of Daytona Beach. Some research revealed it's a mere 10 hour drive from my home. And I'm always up for an adventure. Hoping we might make the trip in February. And if these low temperatures continue, we might stay.

photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

Not really. My husband has to get back to his job. My dream of the beach can only become reality for a few days.

How is the weather where you are?

Mary

P.S. the letters above are wooden (from Michael's) with scrap paper cut-outs glued using Mod Podge. They sit in my window. Just to remind me that .... well, it's still January!

Christmas Vignettes

Instead of putting up a Christmas tree this year, we decided to simply have Christmas vignettes in each room of the first floor. But first, a friend and former high school classmate sent me this picture - it's of the house I grew up in, and the picture was taken during a recent light snow. Even though someone else now lives here, it will always seem like home to me.

It's such a sweet little cottage. When I was growing up, I thought we lived in a mansion. This house was filled with so much love from our parents, we felt rich!

Now on to the vignettes:

The foyer:

The breakfast room:

This year has been all about simplicity. My niece gifted me this little domed vignette, which is in the foyer:

And now I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Mary

Last Minute Fall Pictures

I've decided to wait until the first weekend of December to decorate for Christmas. Trying to decide whether to use our regular large tree in the den, or to buy this Target tree.



The kids are grown now, things change. Either way, it's about family and being together ... and the birth of the Savior.

Mary

Nature Photography Challenge

A friend invited me to join her in a seven-day nature photo challenge. It's been fun -  when you start looking for picture opportunities, it really opens your eyes to the beauty surrounding you.

Mary

Irma - and Prayers

We have quite a few family and friends all over Florida. Please join me in praying for the safety of everyone there. Also for those evacuating to be able to get out without the dreaded gridlocks we are hearing so much about.

Let's Call It Fall

Even if it’s not technically fall, when school opens I think fall and I’m ready to decorate.

So down came fall tub from the attic. It had less to choose from this year as I’d gotten rid of a lot,  always thinking “simplicity,” one of my favorite words and ways to live.

I decided to put together a vignette on the dining room table – the only new item is the cute sign. I saw it on my way out of Hobby Lobby and knew it would make the perfect completion to the items I’d already put in my wooden box. 

 I love this vignette so much, I keep the light on in the dining room, even when I’m not in there. I enjoy it as I walk by on my way to the stairs or front door.  It brings a smile to my face.

 This scarecrow has been in the family for decades; he's a keeper.

The only other decorating we’ll have for fall is the mantel, and for some reason I had a hard time putting this together. And I’m still not crazy about it. So I tweak …

Idea No. 1:

Idea No. 2:

Which do you prefer, or do you think it needs something else altogether? 

We enjoy these cooler days in Virginia, but wishing Hurricane Irma would head out to sea. Family and friends are in its current path, and I’m emailing them to come to Richmond for safe housing with us. Our country is having so many natural disasters, sending prayers for Houston, California (wild fires), and the southeast U.S.

Mary

Sharing at:
Metamorphosis Monday
Wow Us Wednesdays

Fabulous Summer

What a great summer this has been. I thought I'd share pictures to tell most of the story.

A beautiful park on the James River ~ 

My daughter and I took a quick trip north to the Poconos in Pennsylvania to visit cousins. We packed a lot of fun into three days. 

This is the original 120 Spring Street in Scranton, PA, the house my dad and his four brothers grew up in. We hadn't planned to go by it, but when I got up Sunday morning and insisted on driving miles out of our way to get sweet tea from Chick-Fil-A ... and nearly there remembered they're not open on Sundays (lol), but then realized we were on Main Street - well, of course I got excited and kept on Main Street until I found Spring Street and the rest is - a photo op! Such fun.

My cousin Ryan happened to be having a graduation/going away to college party for his son on the Saturday evening I was in his town, Waymart. I saw cousins I hadn't seen in 15 years, and met cousins I'd never met before - I loved every minute of it! 

New (to me) cousins (aren't they the cutest, they recently became engaged!):

And already known cousins (the older guy is my first cousin Jim): 

(Ryan, the party host, and me)

The next day my daughter, Ryan, and I visited nearby cemeteries where our ancestors are buried. Since we've been working this past year on our Roberts family genealogy, it was wonderful to gather dates from the stones in each cemetery.

For our family vacation, we returned to our favorite spot on Lake Gaston, NC. The weather was great and we had a wonderful week with our little boat. The highlight for me was when one of my high school classmates invited us to her cottage and took us on boat rides with rafts behind - so much fun for everyone. 

Kathy and I on her front porch. I have to tell you about my hat, I thought I was really something in that hat ... until it blew off into the lake! Someone turned the boat around really fast as I watched my new hat sinking, sinking ... and then my son reached way out and grabbed it - victory! Of course it was drenched, but even if it hadn't been, I was afraid to put it on again, lest it blow into the water. 

Note to self: next year a buy straw hat with strings! lol

Til next time  ~ 

Mary

By the way, I've been pinning like crazy recently - 

follow me on Pinterest if you'd like and join in the fun!

I'm sharing this post at Kim's Savvy Southern Style:

Wow Us Wednesday

Happy Easter

Remembering the Lord's death and resurrection. Thankful that He washed away my sins. Blessed to look forward to heaven someday. Hallelujah!

Mary

The Old Oak Table

Most of you probably have one furniture item in your home that you love the most. Mine is this table which belonged to my parents. They bought it second hand soon after they moved into the new house Dad built in 1950.

Our family of five ate all our meals at this table ... well, except when we had the preachers come for dinner during revival week - they earned seats in the dining room :)

Mom was an amazing cook - homemade yeast rolls, pies, 
cakes were always available at this table. Fried chicken, 
pot roast, beef stew.

Back then, the table was painted white. Funny, Mom had it white, but when I got it, I couldn't wait to get it back to its natural oak. (Mom decided she'd rather have a chrome and formica one.)

And instead of using it as our family table, it's always been my desk. No drawers, but there are lots of ways to get around that.

I'd love to hear about your favorite piece of furniture - and the history behind it.

Mary

Shared at:

Savvy Southern Style
Sunny Simple Life
 

All you need is love ... and a little red

It seems that red went out of style a few years ago, but I still find ways to sneak it into my decor ...

especially during February, the Valentine month.

When I first started blogging, a commenter said, "You're a minimalist!" That was a few years back, and as I was new to blogging I didn't know whether to be hurt - or proud :)

I still love simple things. A homemade apron or table runner. A wooden box with Ikea faux greens and an old Valentine's gift bag.

A mantel filled with family pictures and pink faux flowers and wood candle holders. And yes, my red birds from Christmas are still flittering beneath the mantel.

It only takes a little red to keep some of us happy. 

Mary

Sharing at:
Savvy Southern Style

A Horse of My Own

When I was 12, my friend Becky and I loved riding the ponies on my uncle's farm. Their names were Princess (she was so sweet) and Dynamite (also well named ha!). Since then I've had an interest in horses. My children took riding lessons when they were growing up - some of the happiest days of their lives.

Recently I learned my cousin in Pennsylvania has two horses, and while I knew I didn't want the work and expense of ownership (not to mention we live on a quarter acre in a subdivision!), I still love horses.

While in Home Goods last week, I met the horse of my dreams. Beautiful, regal ... no upkeep, no expense. Perfect.

During that same visit to Home Goods, I spotted a red (burgundy-ish) table that would fit perfectly into my hall foyer. This foyer is narrow, and I've tried every table in the house in that spot - nothing fit or looked just right. But I knew this table was going to be IT, and it is! Hard to get a good picture on this very cloudy day, the table color is more akin to the pic above.

Exactly the right size, shape, and color for this spot, and my new horse looks perfect standing on it. Of course she needed a name, so I chose Buttons since I love to sew.

Mary

Sharing at:

Sunny Simple Life

Botanic Bleu Monday Social

Pinterest Pick January 2017

Well hello, 2017! I hope you'll be a good year to all of us.

This year I plan to remove the pressure of posting here by sharing some of my favorite Pinterest pictures.

Art and Sand is one of my all-time favorite blogs, so it's only natural I begin the year off by sharing one of Carol's New Year pictures ~






Wouldn't that be easy to copy for next year? I love an easy but fun craft project. This one tops the list.

Happy New Year ~

Mary 

From Our House to Yours

Turkey Day in the USA!

A few of my most thankfulness-es:

Family ~

 

 (Connecting with Roberts clan members on Facebook and Ancestry.com)

Friends ~

(Johnna beat cancer this year!!!)

 (Mini high school class reunion twice a year!)

Things ~

(Franklin Graham prayer rally pre-election at the Virginia State Capitol)

And so much more!!!

Have a wonderful day being thankful!

Mary