~~~The Reason For The Season~~~~

 THIS is the reason for the season, as we all know. We are celebrating the birth of Christ on this very HOLY day. My wish for you all is that He will bless you all abundantly with what it is you need and fill your hearts with love.  This is my Hummel nativity and every piece is precious to me. As you saw I have another nativity under the tree but this is right in the foyer to greet our guests.  Joe started this collection for me for our 25th anniversary. Our best friends gave us the creche that year too. I love setting it up every year and seeing it every day throughout the season.

 Gradually we added the wise men,

 the shepards and the fabulous camels and other animals.

 Aren't they beautiful. I actually didn't want Joe to get the camels, thinking they were too expensive but I am sure glad he didn't listen to me!

 The shepards and a tiny angel keeping watch

 This is Joe's favorite one. He loves the expression of humility on his face.

 The donkey and cow keeping the baby warm.

 This little guy playing a song for the baby.

 The wise men humbly offering their gifts.

I want to thank you all for being my loyal followers and friends! It means so much to me that you would take time to visit me and my blog and even leave a comment. Wishing you all a truly BLESSED Christmas!!! XO, Pinky
Linking to:

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Judy @ DIY by Design for Sizzle Into Summer Wednesday

The Dedicated House – Make it Pretty Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict - The Scoop
 A Stroll Thru Life – Inspire Me Tuesday

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME

Happy List Tuesdays~
Worthing Court - Home(work) Wednesday

Kim's Place: Savvy Southern Style

Ivy @ Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

Let’s Dish!, 

Fluster Creative Muster Party, Wed.

Katherine @ Katherines Corner for Favorite Things Thursday Hop

THURSDAY’S INSPIRATION

Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

All Things Thursday Blog Hop

Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for A Favorite Thing.
Between Naps on the Porch – Tablescape Thursday

Treasure Hunt Thursdays

Create It Thursday

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits, Home and Garden Thursday, Be Inspired Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Be Inspired Friday

Dakota Creek Chic for Weekend Beautiful Blog Party

Fabulously Creative Friday Feathered Nest Friday
Show and Tell Friday, Seasonal Sundays

~~~A Haunting Entry!!!~~~

It's getting time for Trick or Treat and even though we don't get any trick or treaters:(:( I still want to make our entry an inviting spot, so I have added a few thing. Yesterday Joe and I took a little day trip and I got this small "bushel" basket. I could have gotten a full sized one but chose the smaller one for this space. I also bought some gourds to put in it. I started taking pictures at dusk and kept taking them til the light was just right! BTW, does anyone know how to get stains out of concrete? The workers evidently got something on the step and I can't seem to get it out and it is bugging me:):)

 I have mixed real and faux gourds, can you tell which are which??

 I also wove a berry garland around.

 And added some votive candles to light the way.

 Each votive holder has a different shaped leaf hanging from it. We have 2 of these black lanterns, one is on a hook by the sidewalk. Joe was collecting lanterns WAY before they were all the rage:)

 Ah, now the light is good

 Please, come on in!

Thanks for your visit. Happy Halloween week everyone! We have a halloween party at the clubhouse next week so today I got some things to wear:) I didn't dress up last year so this year I will. Have a great week!!!!

XO, Pinky

I am linking to:

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Judy @ DIY by Design for Sizzle Into Summer Wednesday

The Dedicated House – Make it Pretty Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict - The Scoop
 A Stroll Thru Life – Inspire Me Tuesday

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME

Happy List Tuesdays~
Worthing Court - Home(work) Wednesday

Kim's Place: Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wed.

Ivy @ Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

Let’s Dish!, 

Fluster Creative Muster Party, Wed.

Katherine @ Katherines Corner for Favorite Things Thursday Hop

THURSDAY’S INSPIRATION

Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for A Favorite Thing.
Between Naps on the Porch – Tablescape Thursday

Treasure Hunt Thursdays

Create It Thursday

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits, Home and Garden Thursday, Be Inspired Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Be Inspired Friday
Fabulously Creative Friday Feathered Nest Friday
Show and Tell Friday, Seasonal Sundays

 

~~~My Fall Mantle!!!~~~

Hi everyone! I am excited to show you my Fall mantle cause I love how it turned out! I wanted it to be FULL of Fall goodness and that is what it looks like to me. I have used a large berry garland, vases with orange stems, 2 blue and white jars and acorns and candles! I think the combination of orange and blue and white is FABULOUS! They are opposite on the color wheel so that works for me! Come see. This is my view from the kitchen in the morning when the sun is streaming in!

 I used 2 sparkly pumpkins on the ends and the yellow ceramic one in the middle.

 I placed 2 brown glass pumpkins on candle sticks. They have flameless votives in them for at night.

 I love the large fauz acorns, they are all over here! A few years ago I went crazy for acorns.

 The arrangements are a bush of the small flowers that acts like a base and then the other stems can be added. I love the Chinese lantern flowers!  I have had them in my stash for a long time and never used them before. Then I added some sticks for height and drama:)

 I placed my leaf pillow on the chair by the fireplace and added a sunflower pick to the vase of greens.

 I took these night shots the other night, but now I have added mini orange lights all along the garland. I will try to add a picture of that tomorrow:)

 I got this berry garland several years ago where I worked and it has held up very well.

 Another shot from the kitchen.

Thanks so much for your visit. I will be linking to:

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Judy @ DIY by Design for Sizzle Into Summer Wednesday

The Dedicated House – Make it Pretty Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict - The Scoop
 A Stroll Thru Life – Inspire Me Tuesday

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME

Happy List Tuesdays~
Worthing Court - Home(work) Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays 

Ivy @ Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

Let’s Dish!, 

Fluster Creative Muster Party, Wed.

Katherine @ Katherines Corner for Favorite Things Thursday Hop

THURSDAY’S INSPIRATION

Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for A Favorite Thing.
Between Naps on the Porch – Tablescape Thursday

Treasure Hunt Thursdays

Create It Thursday

All Things Thursday Blog Hop

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits, Home and Garden Thursday, Be Inspired Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Be Inspired Friday

Dakota Creek Chic for Weekend Beautiful Blog Party

Fabulously Creative Friday Feathered Nest Friday
Show and Tell Friday, Seasonal Sundays

~~~OH Say Can You See!!!~~~

 Hello my friends! I am wishing you all a happy 4th and want to THANK all of our veterans and soldiers currently serving for preserving all the wonderful freedoms we enjoy. Since we don't have a deck yet:( I decided to revisit my table (one of several) from last year to help celebrate and show off our patriotism!!! I am so blessed to live in this country.  This table is FULL of patriotic love! The centerpiece is a vase of BLUE hydrangeas from my yard. I have been going over tyhere and cutting them, there are 10 bushes of them at the old house!!!! The white lanterns are very versatile. I placed a red votive in them for the 4th.

 The glasses are plastic but perfect for outdoor dining. Love the stars on the stems! A red COSMO looks beautiful in them:):)

 Some have blue stars and some have red.

 The table cloth is layered over a plain blue one since it SHRUNK in the wash:( I did buy a new one this year though so will have it next year!

 On the table cloth I have a round red placemat, my white chargers, a red dinner plate, a blue salad plate and a checked dessert plate topped by a STARS AND STRIPES plate!!!!A Stars and stripes teatowel serves as our napkin since usually there is some type of barbequed meat on the menu!!

 I forget now where I found these adorable buckets. They are filled with some flag mints and some red fluff along with a flag.

 The blue goblets are from the Dollar Tree, I think! Do you see the flag S and P?

 I love to use my blue and white flatware for any patriotic setting too.

I hope you all have a great day and maybe get to see some fireworks! I love fireworks and hope we can see some tomorrow night too. Be safe. XO, Pinky
Linking to:

Let’s Dish!, Metamorphosis Monday, Inspire Me Tuesday, Tutorials Tips and Tidbits, Wow Us Wednesdays, Tablescape Thursday, Be Inspired Friday, Foodie Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Seasonal Sundays

Ivy @ Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Pamela @ From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

  No Minimalist Here

Create It Thursday

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

2805 for Potpourri Friday~

At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday~

~~~I Forgot To Show You!!!~~~

I don't think we have stopped since we have moved in here. Right now we, and by that I mean Joe, are BUSY doing landscaping. We choose the bushes etc. together but HE does all the planting.He counted yesterday and so far he has planted 60 bushes and 3 trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He NEEDS a vacation and thank God we are leaving Sat But that is not what this post is about. I decorated the morning room for Spring when I did the kitchen but forgot to show you!!!. So here are some shots I took tonight. The theme is birds, birdcages and NATURE! This birdcage is new this year. I placed a large candle ring inside to look like a nest and a large, carved wooden bird sitting on it.

 There is a sweet bird on top. The whole top lifts off so it is easy to fill!

 This little garden cart is an old piece. I painted it green several years ago. It had been blue when I got it. I added the garden hat, and the little signs.

 I love this chippy bird house that reminds me of a church.

 I got 2 of these pots with nests several years ago at the place where I worked. And my Hummel lamp is a nice light in the evening. I LOVE being able to have alot of houseplants in this house with all the sun we get.

 This is a hawks feather that Joe found in the yard the other day. So pretty!

 I placed this birdhouse on a pedestal and put some faux grass around it and a twiggy ball in front.

 I made this napkin holder MANY years ago! Painted it, added the pots and flowers and birds. The candle holder, ring and candle were a housewarming gift from our dear Yvonne!

 and on the other side a mini basket.

 This cloche had a bunny in it at Easter, do you remember?

 This little vignette is behind the screen in the living room but visable from the morning room table. I stacked 2 plant stands and put a small plant on the top and a green sphere on the bottom.
Thanks so much for your visit. Have a GREAT weekend everyone. XO, pinky