Everyday Living – Page 538

Be Our Guest!

May 14, 2015~ Decorating

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness”
Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭26-27

Don’t you look forward to a little get away? I always love it when I arrive somewhere and it feels inviting! Whether it be a fabulous resort or someone’s home, the atmosphere can just announce “Welcome-we have been expecting you!!!” We all have overnight guests in our homes at some time or the other…so, how do we extend a warm welcome and make them feel comfortable during their time with us? I have often read that you should sleep in your guest room(s) to make sure that everything is inviting and that all the creature comforts have been provided! This guest room is small with only a twin bed, but there is a large writing desk and chair that provides a great place to read and relax! Come take a look…we invite you to be our guest!! What guest would not love being served breakfast in bed!! The twin bed is an antique with a rich patina and is outfitted with a custom canopy. I have a love of fabric and have used different patterns and textures in this guest room! The floral fabric is the primary one with a peach stripe as a secondary! Solids, plaids, animal prints, and a touch of toile add rich layers to the sage colored walls! The large neck roll pillow is great for your feet or for propping your neck while reading! The top of the duvet is a Schumacher floral fabric and the underside is a peach stripe with a fluffy down comforter inside! A light breakfast of coffee and a blueberry muffin is served on a wicker tray along with the morning paper and a current magazine for leisurely reading! I love to fill a basket with water, fruit, chocolate, shortbread cookies, and chips, in case our guest gets the late night munchies! A scented candle is always a nice touch in a guest room! Books are stacked on the desk for reading or just thumbing through! The old hand-painted tool box contains a sewing kit and a few items that a guest might need. I like to furnish toiletry items-we all need a little pampering, occasionally! A small florentine tray holds soap, bath salts, and hair products! Fresh flowers say you are special and we are glad you have come! A magnolia bloom welcomes our guest! Three travel books and a book by a Pulitzer Prize winning author that is a professor at the University of Alabama provide reading for a guest that might have a longer stay! The writing desk has a distressed top and a beautiful antique finish. The sheep painting offers a calm and serene scene!
A floral needlepoint pillow contrasts with the velvet animal print on the chair! Have you noticed I like color and pattern?! This room is definitely a feminine space! How do you welcome an overnight guest?

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 , 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, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home

Tablescape Tuesday: Everything’s Coming Up Lemons!

May 12, 2015~ Food & Entertaining, Tablescape Tuesday

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬

Everyone has heard the saying, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”! The phrase is meant to encourage optimism in the face of adversity. Lemons suggest bitterness, while lemonade is a sweet drink-according to Wikipedia!

May I suggest a different attitude about lemons. I have discovered that adding a hint of lemon juice or zest to vegetable dishes brightens the taste and adds a unique freshness! So, what do I do with all the lemons? I will make lemon ice box pie, lemon poppy seed cake, lemon zest will be added to pasta, asparagus, and spring peas, and of course, I will make lemonade! Lemons certainly brought freshness to our dining room! The new tablecloth is the inspiration for this setting! The centerpiece is a simple one. When we were at Blackberry Farm in February, Butch bought me this wonderful charcuterie board. It is made from old European barn wood. (You can read more about it here: It’s Not What You Think!). I placed three hurricane vases filled with lemons on the board and voila…an easy centerpiece! Glassware with amber base, amethyst stem, and peridot bowl complements the setting! The Italian tablecloth is made in a shop in Florence and is very good quality for a very reasonable price!
The charcuterie board lends a rustic feel! Detail of the old wood! Simple setting…rattan chargers, white dinner plates, and chevron cotton napkins! My often used resin tortoise flatware! A couple of things I really like about this tablescape…the texture of the rattan chargers mixed with the old wood of the board and secondly the chevron pattern of the napkins juxtaposed with the tablecloth! I love to mix it up! I have ten of these vases which I have used for flowers, candles, and, of course fruit! Practical and inexpensive! Fruit makes a great centerpiece! I will enjoy using this tablecloth on the patio when our outside project is completed! You can see progress here: Backyard Beginnings. What is your favorite way to use lemons?The Details:
Tablecloth and napkins – TJ Maxx
Charcuterie Board-Blackberry Farm
Hurricane vases – Hobby Lobby
Rattan chargers – I don’t remember
White dinner plates – Home Goods
Stemware – Tuesday Morning
Flatware – Horchow.com

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver”
Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭11‬

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Linking with Pieced Pastimes , It’s Overflowing , Be Different Act Normal , Silver Pennies , Life on Lakeshore Drive , Thoughts From Alice , Pink When , 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 , Craftberry Bush , Posed Perfection , Katherines Corner , My Romantic Home , Chic On A Shoestring Decorating , Rooted In Thyme , Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home

Backyard Beginnings

May 11, 2015~ Outdoors

“The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us”
Psalm 67:6

Many of you have commented and have been interested in our landscaping project, so I wanted to give you an update! Last Wednesday, the crew arrived after lunch with a caravan of trucks, trailers, and equipment. They didn’t waste any time…they unloaded and got right to work! We can see progress and we are excited! Be sure to check out the other posts about our backyard project here:
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Patio Possibilites?

Two former steelworkers discuss the future of our back yard. Frightening!

This is only part of the rocks that showed up in our pasture. Butch wondered if we should go to the highway and erect a sign that says “See Rock City” with an arrow pointing our way!?

The nature of the work when the boss has left the scene to pick up supplies…our foodie landscapers dined on Vienna sausages and pickle juice!

A relief to see that the stones really do have a purpose as work gets underway!

This is really taking shape. It’s our first full week of dry weather in a long time and the guys are taking advantage!

There are many decisions to be made concerning plants, flowers, grass…you know, all that “stuff” that goes into it. You could break the bank with all the great options, but we have to be reasonable with budget and maintenance! On Saturday, I made a quick trip to a nursery about sixty miles from home. I wanted to see some of the trees and plants that the landscaper recommended and look at decorative pieces for the garden!

I will be using two large pots (containers) in a green space! They had many to choose from!We Southern girls love our hydrangeas!We will be using limelights for sure!I really liked this bench, but it won’t fit into the budget!Hydrangeas…never met one I didn’t like! I have enjoyed a small herb garden for years. Now I will have more space-so I can add new varieties! Beautiful roses! …and I don’t have much success with them I will be planting perennials and annuals! I have always liked box woods…the basic and quintessential shrub! Ahh…the smell of gardenias! Lorapetalum provides relief from all the green with their burgundy leaves!

All of your suggestions and comments have been most helpful! We can hardly wait to see the finished project…and share it with you, our faithful readers! Who knows…we might just have a patio party when it’s all said and done! Thank you for joining us in our everyday living!

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