“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Hello sweet friends and welcome to Everyday Living’s five year blogiversary…I can’t believe it has been five years! Many of you began the journey with us, but so many have joined us along the way. We are forever grateful for you our readers. Without you there would be no blog. As we have shared our lives with you, many of you have shared your lives with us…prayer requests, celebrations, memories and much more. Most of us will never meet this side of heaven, but we share a beautiful virtual friendship.
Because we have the very best readers, we have a fun giveaway! Read how you can enter at the bottom of this post. Now let’s look back on a few memories.
Tablescapes Tuesdays have been weekly since the blog began. I have been setting tables and hosting dinners for many years learning from the best teacher, my beloved mother. When I first joined Facebook, I would occasionally share a tablescape and from so many encouraging comments, Tablescape Tuesday was born. I chose this one from the archives…autumn is my favorite season, so why not a box of autumn?!
You rarely see a peek into my kitchen, but this is where the day begins!
Long-time readers saw my red dining room for more tablescapes than I had time to count. Christmas tablescapes were perfect with the Mediterranean Spice walls, “plaid tidings” remains a favorite!
My Renaissance Man and I love to travel. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to visit five continents and forty-two countries…from the coast of West Africa…to the Greek Islands…to St. Petersburg, Russia…to one of my favorites, Venice, Italy. This was our second trip and it was just as magical as the first!
A rainy day on Nantucket was one of our most popular travel posts.
Visiting the Holy Land was a dream come true!
Many of you have followed the progress of our garden that was established in late spring of 2015.
One of our most asked questions is where did we find the bronze statue that is the focal point of the garden. It was sourced locally and came from an estate in Atlanta. In its former life, it was a fountain.
Limelight hydrangeas always provide a lovely show!
Another often asked question is what are the chartreuse-colored plants? They are sunshine ligustrums and I love the different shade of green that they add to the garden.
In March of 2018, I joined three bloggers to bring you floral inspiration on the first and third Monday’s of the month. This picnic is one of my favorites with lots of memories that I shared.
Who wouldn’t love a breakfast tray brought to your bed?! Carnations are often overlooked, but they made for a pretty and easy bouquet!
You may have noticed that I don’t show the interior of our home very often. One reason is that I am not one to change things. For over twenty five years I have loved the look of English Country…the mix of colors, patterns, and textures…where rooms evolve over time. Last year we did make a few changes. We had our natural cedar walls in our family room pickled. The natural wood still shows through, but it definitely gave the room a little facelift.
The brick fireplace was painted “Dove White” which made me so happy. It took time to convince Butch, but he gives it thumbs up now.
The biggest change came in the dining room! We went from red walls and silk window treatments to “Palladian Blue” walls and natural linen curtains.
Simple + Southern Sunday began about three months after we started the blog. The purpose was to share things that caught our eye that particular week, and to really take notice of what is around us in our everyday living. This Sunday will mark number 250 and that is hard to believe! Butch has taken over the writing of each one, but I am still the main photographer with help from Seth, Katy, and a few others along the way.
Cotton fields are beautiful to see in rural Alabama during autumn!
Sunsets are always a favorite!
You graciously welcomed our first grandchild, Ella Mae, whose picture has been in almost every Simple Southern Sunday since she was born. She turned three in May. If she isn’t in the Sunday post, many of you say you missed seeing her. You have warmed our hearts with your lovely comments.
Once again, you welcomed our second granddaughter, Emma Kennedy born in March of this year. Both of their photos were taken on the cross-stitch quilt that was stitched and quilted by my mother many years ago. It was completed while Seth was in elementary school and carefully wrapped and put away for a wedding present when he got married. She didn’t live to see any of her three grandchildren marry, but each one had a special gift made by her loving hands. You have indulged me as I have shared so many memories of my beloved mother.
My grandmother name is PJ which are my initials…Pamela Jean. When Butch and I started dating, he began calling me PJ. It has been around for forty nine years.
Now for the all important giveaway!
Since I love tablescaping and the autumn season, I decided on these new Pumpkin Patch salad plates from Pier 1 for the giveaway. The four plate set is made of durable ironstone and features four different beautifully detailed autumn gourds. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me what you love about autumn. The contest is open to residents living in the continental U.S. The winner will be announced on Monday Morning Blooms, August 19.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love and kindness you have shown us over the past five years. We look forward to sharing more of our Everyday Living with you!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, A Stroll Thru Life, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home, Life and Linda, Celebrate & Decorate, Me and My Captain, Imparting Grace, Calypso in the Country
The Lord has done a lot through Everyday Living. Thank you for your faithfulness. I’m thankful to have been a small part of it while I was. ❤️
I’m glad you started your blog. I have followed you about 3yrs. Love everything you post and Bible scriptures! Happy Blogiversary
Blessed to have read your blog and thank you for your faithfulness in showing God’s Love and I love God’s creation watching the beauty of changing colors , weather it be leaves , mums or pumpkins!
There are soooo many things I love about autumn, but I guess my favorite is the change in the temperature. The repressive summer heat and humidity have gone and been replaced by cooler temperatures and refreshing breezes. I love to be outside in the fall enjoying my flowers. Add in beautiful fall colors and that makes autumn so perfect!
Those plates are gorgeous! Thanks for the giveaway.
Congratulations Pam and Butch on your 5th year blog anniversary! I so enjoy your blog! You’ve brought such joy, inspiration, new and interesting places, and the sharing of your beautiful family and home is a very special treat, thank you!
What a lovely collection of autumnal plates! I love the beautiful colors.
I like that in the fall they play that old song,
When Autumn Leaves start to fall 🎶. It was my mom’s favorite.
Happy Blogiversary!
I always look forward to autumn, because of my love of cooking. Cooler temps make it not so unbearable in the kitchen and the variety of hearty produce increaes.
What a grand event–blogaversary.
Many more to come.
I love the cooler weather. I love college football. I love the beauty of the leaves as they change color. I like the Thanksgiving holiday that comes in Autumn.
One more thing. My wedding anniversary is in the Autumn month of November.
Wow Pam, congrats on five years of beautiful blogging. Your talents are loved by so many people and your beautiful soul. Autumn is a wonderful time of year. The leaves change colors and the air is crisp. Cozy up to a lovely fire with a cup of hot chocolate is one of my favorite things to do. The pumpkin plates are lovely. I was on their site this morning. Good luck everyone and many thanks Pam for sharing your gorgeous tables.
I love the cooler weather and the fall foliage. It is great for taking nature walks!
Oh, my goodness! What a beautiful home and happiest of anniversaries full of His abundant goodness and faithfulness. Now for autumn… the changing colors, the crisp air, the aromas of cinnamon, and the hope of an amazing Thanksgiving spread.
I just wonder who has time to set those beautiful tablescapes! I’m glad that you do. It inspires me for the future and they are all so pretty.
Liberty @ B4ANDAFTERS.COM
Let’s just say I am busy. I keep my 3 year old and 4 month old granddaughters three days a week and love it.
I am so thankful for you and your beautiful blog! I am one of the newcomers to it and wish I had found it and met you sooner! Congratulations on your 5 year blogiversary!! May God bless you to see many, many more happy blogiversaries! You are such a dear blessing to so many and are such a bright spot in this dark world. I especially appreciate that you always include Scripture and/or Godly words that are so edifying. I just love autumn for so many reasons. There is a song by Clint Black called “A Change in the Air.” It sort of puts it into perspective for me and expresses my feelings. Here is the link, in case you don’t know it and would like to hear it. It is one of my favorite songs about my very favorite season! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlmYMkHlb9E Thank you for the chance to enter your lovely giveaway, sweet friend!
Congratulations on your 5 year blog anniversary! I’ve been reading your blog since close to the beginning and have thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful tablescapes, garden photos, travel, and pictures of your grandchildren. I love everything about autumn, but my favorite is the dappled sunlight shining through the colorful leaves.
Pam, I have enjoyed following your adventures in tablescaping and in life for four years. Which was about the time I discovered that tablescapers love blogging! What is it about autumn that I love? I think it’s all the contrasts — crisp mornings and warm afternoons, vivid blooming flowers followed by the drama of trees turning from green to fiery, lazy weekends and the renewed energy of M-F activities. And celebrations of all types!!
Congrats on your 5 year Blogiversary!
What I love about Autumn is the smell of leaves and campfires in the country.
I miss that so much since living here in the city.
Lisa
As always when I sit down for a moment and read your blog it refreshes me. Your kind words of encouragement and Scriptures are a blessing to me. Autumn is also refreshing to me. I love the cooler evenings, the beautiful changing colors and the bounty of harvest. Spending time canning fruits and vegetables are very rewarding for my family. The most special thing about fall is our Anniversary, we were married the first day of Autumn 40 years this September!
Congratulations Pam! I loved walking down memory lane with you here 😀
And your granddaughters photos are so precious on your mother’s memory quilt. ♥
Bless you,
Jennifer
It’s been a great journey and you’ve done more in 5 years than most of us do in a lifetime! That garden alone would take me 50 years to complete. Love your beautiful things and even more, I love that you appreciate them and know they are blessings. Beautiful home and attitude!
I love the colors of fall but most of all I like the cooler temperatures. Then I can spend all the time I want in my garden without sweating so much.
Happy Anniversary, Pam! I loved reading about all of your precious memories. You have such a beautiful blog, and you have been such a kind and dear blogging friend. Here is to many more wonderful blogging years, sweet friend!
Thank you sweet friend!
lovely
Oh, Pam and Butch, this is a lovely post!!! And happy 5th anniversary to your blog!!!!! <3 I do enjoy seeing your granddaughter and now your newest! I guess I didn’t know your nickname was PJ. I have another friend who is also PJ and she is the one whom I sometimes shared her dog Rusty (our Yoda’s best friend back at Wagon Master RV Park).
My son Peter married his college sweetheart and her name is Justine so they are P & J. PJ is a good name! 🙂 I love that you have this special quilt from your mother. Truly a gift! <3
Happy Sunday to you both,
Barb 🙂
Thank you sweet Barb. More PJ’s out there! 🥰
Thank you for your blog! I love the fall leaves.
Thank you for your lovely blog posts. I appreciate that you share the Bible verses. My favorite things about autumn are decorating with pumpkins and enjoying the fall leaves.
Love autumn because summer is over, things are less scattered and family seems to gather more. Holidays ahead mean time together being grateful for family and our blessings. Love seeing your blog and your sweet granddaughters. Cherry
Thank you so much Cherry!
I love EVERYTHING about Autumn– the colors, the pumpkins, but most of all the cooler temps. It’s a sweet reward for surviving the heat of an Arkansas summer!
I love everything about fall The colors, football, cider, pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving….the list goes on. I enjoy reading your blog and love your floral arrangements and tablescapes. This Wyoming girl enjoys seeing the flowers from the south and other regions. Happy 5 years!
Happy Blogaversary!!! I always enjoy my visits to your blog,and it’s a joy to have you sharing each week at TFT too. xo
Thank you Katherine!
Congratulations on your 5 year blogiversary Pam! I always enjoy having a virtual seat at one of your tables, taking a stroll in your garden, joining you in some flower therapy and seeing your sweet grand girls! I would love to see more interior photos and your beautiful kitchen if you’re ever scratching your head and wondering what to post next. 😉 My favorite thing about Autumn is everything…:) …pumpkins, cooler temps, sweater weather, sitting by the firepit and fall foliage. My dish pantry runneth over but I know one of your readers will be thrilled to win that gorgeous Pumpkin Patch salad plate set. ♥
Thanks so much Mary. Can’t wait for autumn and cooler temps❤️