A little showing off

Look!  I just have to show you what my Sweet William did for me.  I found this buffet at the thrift store in November and the right side door and compartment were coming apart.  Still I wanted it.   I called my SW and put him on face time so I could show him and plead.  

Usually we buy pieces that we can resell.   I really wanted this one for myself.  I showed him where it had a little trouble and he said he could fix it.  And he offered to come in his truck to pick it up, right away. 

I had to make sure that he understood I wanted it for myself and not to sell.  I wish I would've taken before pics.  I am bad at that.  I have to do it as soon as I get it  because once he gets something like this he starts working on it right away. Fixing the door and bottom shelf only required a couple of screws.  

I think it is just beautiful and he finished it in time for Christmas.  I don't know if I want to change out the handles or if I'm going to keep it in this spot. But, I do know that I'll be keeping it for a long time. 

I'm joining these parties:
Share Your Cup
Home and Garden
Home Sweet Home 
Vintage Charm Party

Merry Christmas from my heart to yours

Merry Christmas to you.  Thank you for reading my blog and leaving your sweet comments.  It has been such a joy to make friends from near and far through this blog.  Blessings to you all! 

It's been a hard couple of years for me with lots of family stuff happening and I remember how last year I just felt that the whole season was ruined by selfish and uncaring actions.   I was hurt and didn't want to celebrate.

But, I just love this season and though it took a little while for me to resolve some things in my heart, I decided that this year I would move forward.  With grand kids in tow, once again enjoying the pretty Christmas decorations, the holiday baking, the Christmas plays and shows, singing songs and carols, and simply being together.  I love that all of my grand kids (9 at this time) all attend the same church.  That we see each other regularly.  That we all believe in the reason for this season.  

And, that is what I love most.  That God gave his only son, Jesus Christ, to all of us for Salvation,  to give each of us Eternal Life.   He gave us a free gift and all we have to do is accept it.  BELIEVE it.   Believe that He was born of a virgin, died for our sins, and then rose again.  

 For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believes in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

- John 3:16 –

This is the reason we celebrate!  

The simple gospel.  He died for our sins so that we could spend eternity in Heaven.  AND NOT ONLY THAT, but while we are here, in this hurting, dying world, He gives us Hope.  He gave his Holy Spirit to walk with us, daily.  To help resolve things that cut deep into our lives and hearts.  He makes his face to shine down upon us if we only BELIEVE.  He brings us comfort.

~Over the past several years we've had to take on the challenges of raising more children than my husband and I thought we would raise.  5 years ago we gained custody of two nieces after both parents (my brother, and later his wife) committed suicide.   One niece is now grown and has moved out of our home and the other has just started high school.  Also 5 years ago one of my daughters and her husband got caught up in drug abuse and we were given temporary custody of 3 grandchildren.  They eventually cleaned up and all were back together for a time.  A little more then one year ago I took the initiative and brought my grandchildren back to our home because of the same issues and they have been with me since.  The drug involvement is ongoing and one parent is now incarcerated.  It is total selfishness and a falling for the ways of this world.  It is a hurting, dying world.  

    It is in all of this that Jesus has helped me to resolve things in my heart.  To make the best of everyday.  To create loving, fond memories with our nieces, and our grandchildren.  To show them that there is another way.  To bring them to church, to pray with them and share the Word with them.  To teach them to forgive, to seek forgiveness and to pray.  And to remember and live these things for myself as well.  To continue into the New Year without resentment or bitterness, but with LOVE.~

This is why I celebrate.  And why when the kids sing this song, I cry.  Because I am so grateful.  Even though things around me aren't perfect, He is.  And I only need to look up. 

Happy birthday, Jesus I'm so glad it's Christmas   All the tinsel and lights and the presents are nice but the real gift is you

Happy birthday Jesus I'm so glad it's Christmas, All the carols and bells Make the holiday swell but it's all about You

Happy Birthday Jesus, Jesus I love you

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

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 

Luke 2:8-14 NIV

I've joined other inspirational blogs at Home Sweet Home

Christmas Tea Time

I don't know what started it, but somewhere in time I fell in love with tea cups and tea things.  I started collecting a "few" and then dear ones in my life gave me a "few" more.

I am drawn to them in the thrift stores and yard sales especially.  To me it seems people don't realize what they have, but I do, and I snatch them up.  So many of them I've gotten for just pennies.  

Like any collection it grows and grows.  These are just what I have in the Christmas theme.  I love putting them on display at this time of year.  It adds such a  festive touch to my dining room.  (Or as some have called it my tea room)  My favorite though is the "diamond room" as one of my dear granddaughters called it when she was learning to talk.

I have minis that I just adore.  They were probably meant for child's play and I do play with them on occasion with my grands. 

I do use all of my cups, at least once. If you come over for tea I'll let you chose a cup to use.

But when we are through, I will wash and dry it and carefully put it back on display.

Here is a vintage coffee or chocolate pot with a bowl.  I've not used it but it does show signs of use.  This beautiful Vintage Merry Christmas cup and saucer is a favorite.  

I also collect snowmen!  Now they really multiply - I'll post about those soon too.  I just love the Snowmen teapots that I have acquired over the years.  

This one I've had the longest.  Just love his rosy cheeks!

Here is another Christmas mini with a Snowman Teapot peeking out from behind. 

This teapot is my most used Christmas teapot.  It is such a generous size and I love to serve Cranberry Spice tea from it.  

Another teapot...this one a kid on a sleigh.  So fun!  I've not use this one either.

These are a part of my Christmas China.  I do have the whole set but display just these for now. On Christmas day we will use the set and then carefully pack it all away once the festivities are over. 

And last in my "diamond" room I want to share with you my mini tree with the mini mini teacup and teapot ornaments.  And my mini nativity scene.   They're so cute!  I couldn't resist. 

 I hope you are enjoying this Christmas season.  I am linking up with Creating Christmas Link Party and with Home For Christmas Link Party.  For more Christmas inspiration go check it out.  There is so much to see! 

Christmas Time

Welcome to Christmas time in my home.  This year I finished all of my decorating before December 1, can you believe it!  I knew the month was going to be busy and fly by so I wanted to get a head start. It helped that we had almost a whole week after Thanksgiving before December rolled in.  

  These pictures are of my living room tree and some of the other decorations in this room.  The nativity scene is from Italy and it's a soft pastel color.  I just love the way it looks.  I only have the pieces in the photo though as I bought it from an estate sale and it goes so well with the whites that I like to keep  in this room.  Whites are so peaceful and refreshing to me. 

I have collected these ornaments over the past several years.  Some are new, some are vintage, some aren't really ornaments at all, I just use them that way! 

The white roses will once again be displayed in their vases after the season is over. Many of my decorations I have found at thrift stores and estate sales. I love finding them off season. It keeps Christmas alive all year long!  

It's always a fun challenge for me to reconfigure the furniture settings when it's time to put up the tree.   

This year I put an end table behind the couch and added height by grouping tall pieces together.  

And I didn't loose my cozy reading spot. It's perfect for my morning coffee and bible reading.  

I just love shabby whites.  The white looks almost like you don't want to touch it for fear of getting it dirty but the "shabby" worn part invites you to cuddle up and be comfortable.   

On top of the piano is a beautifully cross stitched Silent Night.  I have it displayed near another Nativity Scene.  

This one I've had for a long time.   Honestly it probably came from KMart or Walmart many years ago.  I don't remember.  I do remember that I had to have one, more than I wanted a Christmas Tree.  A Nativity Scene is how I first learned what Christmas was all about.  I remember my mom explaining that it was the birth of Jesus that we celebrated on Christmas as she carefully displayed hers under the Christmas tree. 

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my Christmas home.  Next I'll show you my Christmas tea cups.   

I'm sharing my Shabby White Christmas at Creating Christmas Link Party and with The Home For Christmas Link Party.  You guys have got to go check it out - so much Christmas inspiration over there.  

My First Tea Cup Exchange

Oh I am soooooo glad I finally got to participate in this Tea Cup Exchange hosted by beautiful Stephanie of The Enchanting Rose blog!   In the past I was always too late.  I would only get to read about it and drool over all the pictures of the exchanges.  Not this time though!  I happened to notice it was coming up and jumped on the opportunity to participate. Even though it came at a very busy time for me.  I was running the kitchen at my church for a week feeding about 400 people everyday.    A lot of prep goes into that...and it all happened the week we were to send out our exchanges!   None the less, I was determined.   I sent my package to Kelly of Homespuns 'n Hayfields blog.    I had such fun looking through her blog and her past teacup exchanges trying to figure out what she would like.  It was so neat learning that her fave color is the same as mine - Yellow!  Not many can say that.  She also likes antiques and  ironstone - so do I!  We are both Grandmom's already...  What a great match!  I sent her a vintage ironstone transferware teacup and saucer in brown, from my collection, along with some other little goodies. Here is picture of what I sent: 

   
Then, oh....my....goodness.....  I received the following from Linda at My Sew What Blog.   I felt so spoiled!  

  

Just look at all of this beautifulness!  Everything was wrapped and stamped with a teacup stamp and tied with gold ribbon.  Even the wrapping was pretty.   I can't even pick a favorite thing...

  

This handmade bag...lined, zippered, has lace...I love lace....enough said.

This vintage napkin, wrapped around a crocheted placemat and tied together with silk flower and honey spoon!  It's just so pretty I didn't want to take apart!  I love vintage linens.

These mercury glass votive holders.  Love how they add a little more sparkle to the table! 

Yummy tea in these cute little tins!  

Who doesn't love handmade soaps, and these face scrubbies!  The smell is wonderful.

Maple syrup and honey.  Yum.  I mean I didn't expect all of this goodness!  

And chocolates...Does she know my weaknesses or what?  I was in heaven. 

And I confess, ate the whole box while taking these photos.  Yummmmm.  

And of course, this absolutely beautiful tea cup and saucer!  Just look at her standing all sassy on her gold feet.  I love it.  She has already taken the top spot on my teacup stand and will stay there for awhile I'm sure.  See if you can spot her in upcoming blog posts!  This was such fun and I can't wait for the next exchange.  Thank you Stephanie for pouring your heart into this.  Because of you, we all have received gifts from new friends that I am sure we will treasure!   

Funny Story ~ The "Bird Bench"

Funny story...I wonder if any of my readers have ever experienced something similar?

In 2011 I found this kidney shaped bench at an Estate Sale run by family where everything was priced too high. (Something about emotional attachments I think)  I was able to talk the owner of this wobbly old bench down to $12.00 from $20.00. I just really wanted it I guess.  I brought it home and made it over.   You can see the original post here

It was so wobbly I wouldn't sit on it.  I took it apart and re-glued the legs and just tightened it up and then went on to refinish it like this.

Brought her to my booth and it sold, rather quickly if I remember right, for $28.00.

This past summer, while out treasure hunting guess what I found!  This little bird bench!  They were only asking $3.00 for it!   LOL!  They told me where they bought it -  at American Classics Marketplace.  I confessed to them that they actually bought it from me and gave her $5 and brought my little bird bench back home.  I cleaned her up, tightened her up again, and yup, put her back for sale in my booth for $30.00 (inflation you know!)   Once again she sold rather quickly!  I wonder if our journey is over or if I'll see her again somewhere?  

There was another table that I painted and stenciled and put up for sale in my booth ~ this one:

Again, while out treasure hunting, I happened upon it at another antique mall here in town, marked up just a little more than I had it.  I did not buy it back!  Just thought it was funny and I was honored that another vendor liked my stuff enough to do that.  Also learned to price my wares accordingly...I was still fairly new to this business!  

My booth, February 2013

Have you ever had this happen to you?  Please share your story in the comments or feel free to link your story so I can read about it. 

 I'm sharing this post at Share Your Cup with Jann Olson.