Everyday Living

Simple + Southern Sunday No. 14

January 25, 2015~ Simple + Southern Sunday

“For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy”
‭Psalm‬ ‭92‬:‭4

We kept the roads hot this past week…from Lafayette, LA to Raleigh, NC- but unfortunately not together! Butch had a business trip to Louisiana and I had a fun trip to North Carolina. Hope you enjoy images from around home and three other states in our beautiful South!

Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in Lafayette, LA

The Peach Water Tower in Gaffney, SC is called the Peachoid and is 135 feet high and holds 1 million gallons of water. It is undergoing a new paint job due to last winter’s harsh weather.

Our local beavers have been busy on Turkeytown Creek!

Cute Max is serious about reporting for work-gotta punch that time clock!

An original one room school house built in 1880 now located in Gaffney, SC.

I have never met a dessert that I didn’t like, and this was no exception-Bananas Foster in a Raleigh restaurant!

Thursday morning sunrise over our pasture

Who knew you could have fun tasting balsamic vinegars in an olive oil shop in Raleigh?!

Live oaks draped with Spanish moss line this street in Franklin, LA

Flowers always make me smile!

“I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”
Psalm 122:1

Linking with: Pieced Pastimes , It’s Overflowing , Be Different Act Normal , Silver Pennies , By Stephanie Lynn, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice , Creatively Living , Rustic-Refined , Three Mango Seeds, Pink When , Mod Vintage Life , Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, 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 , Craftberry Bush , Posed Perfection , Katherines Corner , The Vintage Farmhouse , My Romantic Home , Chic On A Shoestring Decorating , Rooted In Thyme , Share Your Cup, Alabama Women Bloggers

Guest Bedroom Tour: A Breath of Fresh Air!

January 22, 2015~ Decorating

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life”
Job‬ ‭33‬:‭4‬

This past weekend, Katy and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and took a road trip to Raleigh, NC to visit my long-time friend, Patti and her husband, Mike. We had a wonderful time and made lots of new memories by eating good food, sharing lots of laughs, and of course shopping! We also had a tablescaping marathon that will soon be making it’s appearance on the blog! I first introduced Patti to the blog here: Everyday Living at Patti’s and also shared two tablescapes here: Roadtrippin’ and Tablescapin’ and It’s A Girl Thing from her home. I must share with you again her love for the color blue, antiques, and traditional style. I have guided Patti in decorating her beautiful home for years even across the miles! Today, I hope you will enjoy visiting one of her guest rooms. The weekend was a breath of fresh air, and I think you will agree that this room is, too!

This lovely guest bedroom has been named “the Chatham” by me. Chatham is Patti and Mike’s youngest daughter, and this was her room while she was growing up. The room was decorated by Patti and me in 2000 (we think). Fifteen years later, it remains a welcoming space, as Patti is the consummate hostess!

After Chatham left for college, Patti decided on twin beds for this bedroom. A client of mine was selling these English mahogany beds and I thought they would be perfect for the guest room.

This antique French walnut display cabinet definitely makes a statement! On the middle shelf is a coconut sculpture that Patti and Mike discovered on their Hawaiian honeymoon in 1984!

The floral fabric is by Schumacher and we mixed it with a blue and yellow check. The window treatments are traditional in style and are custom made along with the bedding.

This cute pillow was made by a sweet relative. Note the date, 1984- I love that Patti keeps these memories displayed rather than packed away!

An antique Victorian lamp of brass and marble sits on an antique mahogany table between the beds

Fresh yellow roses placed in a vintage Rosenthal vase that Patti discovered on a trip to Germany

A unique Ethan Allen pull-down desk made of walnut wood

Lovely cross-stitch needlework that was made as a wedding gift for Mike and Patti!

The antique gold mirror brings additional light to the room

A small peek into the guest bath with its blue and white toile wallpaper and framed watercolor painting!

Print by English artist John S. Goodall

The guest room receives winter sunlight which makes it warm and inviting!

Patti provides comfort for her guests with the English mahogany antique chair for reading or relaxing!

A pair of prints hang over the beds with a family portrait in between.

Once again, we are grateful to you, our readers, for joining in our everyday living! Stay tuned for more of Patti’s home in the very near future!

“This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me
And I’m desperate for you
And I’m, I’m lost without you”
-Michael W Smith

Linking with: Pieced Pastimes , It’s Overflowing , Be Different Act Normal , Silver Pennies , By Stephanie Lynn , Life on Lakeshore Drive , Thoughts From Alice , Creatively Living , Rustic-Refined , Three Mango Seeds, Pink When , Mod Vintage Life , Coastal Charm , Knick of Time , 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 , Craftberry Bush , Posed Perfection , Katherines Corner , The Vintage Farmhouse , My Romantic Home , Chic On A Shoestring Decorating , Rooted In Thyme , Share Your Cup , Alabama Women Bloggers

Tablescape Tuesday: Soft Shades of Winter

January 20, 2015~ Food & Entertaining, Tablescape Tuesday

“How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year”
– Thomas Higginson

Wasn’t the weekend a (literal) ray of sunshine? As I have said before, I do not mind the winter months. I have learned to embrace December and January with it’s serenity and solitude. The past few days have caused me to reflect on the beauty of the light of Christ when he comes into our lives and shines into our darkness.

“For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”
2 Corinthians 4:6

First day of sunshine in what seems forever…grabbed the opportunity for morning shots!

I decided on a cream and pale blue setting-perfect for winter!

The cloth is a blue and cream paisley. The softness of those two colors play beautifully together.

My sister in law gave me the beautiful Italian ceramic container that I filled with rock salt and placed three pillar candles for a simple centerpiece. The china pattern (used very often) works in any setting. I often use the matching chargers and mix them with colorful plates! The embroidered linen napkins are a go-to…and the crocheted napkin rings are a treasure!

Cute snail place card holders!

Close up of one of the six cream votive cups on the table. There are three different patterns and I found these a few years ago through the Wisteria catalog!

The metal tole flowers normally sit on the mantel. As the saying goes: “shop your house”!

You first saw these birch containers here: We Gather Together and they are one of my best purchases from Highlands, NC. So easy to work with…a few grocery store stems and voila!…an arrangement!