Everyday Living

Pam-perings: The November Edition

~ Pamperings

 November is a beautiful and colorful month down south!  It can also bring a mixed bag of weather…from days warm enough to eat outside to frosty mornings that require a heavy coat!  We got our first frost of the year this month, yet my hibiscus is still blooming…you just never know what to expect!
November brings one of my favorite holidays – Thanksgiving!  We celebrate with a bountiful table surrounded by our family that joins hands and hearts in thanks to the Giver of all good gifts…including the small things we enjoy in our everyday living!1A picture is truly worth a thousand words.  I start my day with a cup of coffee, as I’m sure many of you do as well.  My favorite coffee mug, a sweet gift, is a powerful reminder to have a heart of gratitude!!  It is truly life-changing when I start my day by looking at the good gifts that God has given me.  The Eiffel Tower objects were not purposely gathered because of the recent events in Paris, but they are a mainstay on my French chest in the kitchen.  They have served as a reminder to pray for Paris and for our world.  The tragedy that took place over a week ago reminds me to live in light of eternity.  Our hope cannot rest in anything on this earth…only in Jesus Christ.

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
1 Peter 1:22-25
IMG_2098If you need a simple appetizer idea for the holidays, here is your answer! I recently discovered this cheese – Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries – and it is beyond delicious!  Serve with Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps (Trader Joe’s) and dried cranberries…and voila…the perfect combination of sweet and savory!  It has become my go-to lunch! IMG_2230Don’t we all enjoy finding a terrific item at a great price?!  On my weekly shopping trip to TJ Maxx a few days ago, this leopard robe jumped into my buggy!  Funny how that happens, huh?  It was completely justifiable, as I really did need a robe and I am a push-over for anything leopard!  Let me just say, I feel so pampered in this plush robe and it was under $30.00!p1  Bookstores…everything about them are always a favorite!  Traveling with Butch a couple of weeks ago on a day trip, he dropped me off at Barnes & Noble while he had business appointments!  Sitting quietly by myself with coffee, a pumpkin muffin, and thousands of books to choose from…bliss!
2 The art of glass blowing is fascinating!  I first saw demonstrations of the centuries-old technique of mouth blown glass by the expert Venetians on my first trip to Venice.  I wanted to bring a piece home but the prices were prohibitive!  Recently while in Berea, Kentucky at their artisan center, I happened upon this gorgeous bowl made by a local artist!
Happy Birthday to me! As November draws to a close, out come the Christmas decorations!  I will be in full Christmas decorating mode starting this weekend!  Our yearly tradition and my favorite is to always place one of our many Nativities as our first decoration.  Without the birth of Jesus, there is no Christmas!  It is important for us to focus on the true meaning as God gave us the the greatest gift of all, His Son!side Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined

Pam-perings: The October Edition

~ Pamperings

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭73:26‬ ‭

Without reservation, October is my favorite month of the year!  We welcome a refreshing break in temps, the colors transform into natural hues of umber, sienna, and ochre, and lastly…it’s the month I was born!  In the words of Anne of Green Gables “I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”.         We, along with the pumpkins, mums, and asparagus ferns, welcome you to our kitchen porch! The stack of pumpkins sit on a vintage churn found at a junk store years ago and the crotons fill a small wooden wheelbarrow…making this space one of my October favorites! I love sweet potatoes.  You can bake ’em, roast ’em, fry ’em…you can even casserole ’em…any way you can think of!  But my very favorite is sweet potato cobbler.  On my birthday my Mother would always make my favorite dessert which was Sweet Potato Cobbler or Hummingbird Cake…but I usually didn’t have to choose…she made both!  Last weekend I made the cobbler for myself!Since I have basically retired from decorating and designing, I often travel with Butch across the Southeast on his business trips!  We were in Kentucky on Monday and Tuesday of this week.  Riding shotgun with him, talking, listening to music, and taking in the scenery is at the top of my list! During cooler months, most days I enjoy an afternoon snack…or as I call it a pick-me-up!  It’s something I always look forward to!  My favorite is an espresso and one square of dark chocolate.  It is hard to limit myself to only one square, but most of the time (wink) I succeed!   I realize that Halloween hasn’t even arrived but everyone seems to get a jump on Christmas.  Every year I am excited when I receive the annual “Christmas with Southern Living” in my mailbox.  This tradition started with my Mother over 30 years ago.  I have her collection and I keep adding to it yearly.  The book is full of holiday inspiration – party menus, decorating ideas, and mouth-watering recipes.  This year, I received my book early and I pulled it out this past week!  I love thumbing through all the old editions and once again, read the recipes and ideas from many years ago!  The collection brings back many wonderful memories!

What do you love most about October?  Is there a favorite memory?  I love hearing from you and read every comment!

pam closing

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, TheEnchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home, My Flagstaff Home, In The New House, Natasha in Oz, Vintage Refined, Rustic & Refined, Must Love Home, Grammie Time

Pam-perings: The September Edition

~ Pamperings

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭96:11-13‬ ‭  

When I think of September, I always think of an old song I remember from my childhood that said, “See you in September, see you when the summer’s through.”  With school days beginning after Labor Day (which I was never excited about), the song’s melody and lyrics were melancholy for me.  But my, how things change!  Now, the mention of September takes me to pleasant thoughts of college football, warm days followed by cool nights, perfectly round bales of hay in the pasture, and of course those beautiful sunsets!  I enjoy everything that September offers and here are five of my favorites!
As summer turns to fall, I start thinking of cups of hot chocolate, espressos, and lattes!  One of my favorites for this cooler weather is pumpkin spice latte.  And my favorite place to enjoy this cup of autumn is…you guessed it…on my patio!  I am including this easy recipe:As I have mentioned before, I have developed allergies in the last few years.  I always have enjoyed scented candles, but most of them now cause all those allergic reactions!  But who doesn’t love the warm scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, lavender, bay leaves, apples, and oranges?!My alternative is to add these ingredients to water and slowly simmer my own concoction on the stovetop.  No allergic reactions to these lovely natural scents of autumn!   When I catch up on housekeeping, gardening, cooking, and yes…blogging, I love to take a few minutes to relax and peruse my favorite magazines. I’ve just gotten my hands on the fall editions of Southern Lady, Southern Living, and Victoria’s Autumn Bliss!  As a Southern girl, their recipes and ideas are just the best!

 Butch and I absolutely love pasta!!  A favorite pasta for this time of year is penne with butternut squash sauce that is purchased, not home-made (sshh…please keep Dave’s Gourmet Sauce our little secret)! I do add my own ingredients such as fresh parmigiana reggiano, basil from my garden, and freshly grated nutmeg!  For meat lovers, you can add Italian sausage!  It is a perfect September dinner!  Buon Appetito as the Italians say!

 One of my very favorite pleasures is to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.  September skies are one of my very favorites!  How can I not praise the Creator?

“Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing 
Power and majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands, forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand,
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You”
Darlene Zschech

What are some of your favorite things about September?  I love to hear from you!!

pam closing

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, TheEnchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home, My Flagstaff Home, In The New House, Natasha in Oz, Vintage Refined, Rustic & Refined, Must Love Home, Grammie Time