Everyday Living

Our Refuge

~ Decorating

A refuge is a place of peace and protection. It’s a place to escape the anxiety and stress of everyday living, and to just “be”. We have found such a place- our kitchen! We not only nourish our bodies, but we energize our souls and refresh our emotions. We have found it to be a place to talk and listen, read and pray, laugh and cry, plan and reflect, cook and eat in our “refuge”.

Our kitchen has welcomed family and friends, and yes, even strangers through the years. And we find such joy in doing so–it is truly “the heart” of our home! Today, we invite you to come in and join us. Please sit back and have a cup of coffee in the room that we share stories of God’s goodness and memories of places visited.  As you see the pictures, you will get even more of a glimpse into our everyday living.  Our “refuge” was previously a two car garage. Eleven years ago we transformed the space into our kitchen and laundry room–very little has changed over the years. Therefore, it is a room full of timeless memories and treasured gifts. Everything– down to the tiniest detail– holds sentimental value and has a story to tell!  But above all, it is our hope that our “refuge ” reflects God’s mercy and his love!

We have, indeed, tasted the goodness of God!

“Oh, taste and see that The Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Psalm 34:8

The eight foot island is perfect for a buffet

Our favorite place to sit, read, pray, and just spend time together.  Spode “Woodland” plates surround the French painting on the wall. The prints above the lamps are from Old Jerusalem, and between the chairs sits a country French chest.

Another view of our sitting area with the patterned hooked rug

Glazed English tiles make up the backsplash and I found the decorative towel at my most frequented stop, TJ Maxx!
(Decorating tip: this is a very easy and inexpensive way to add a pop of color to your kitchen!) 

Handpainted ceiling with chandeliers ordered from Gadsden Lighting

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An original oil painting of the Paris Latin Quarter by Gadsden artist, Craig Reynolds, hangs above an antique writing desk

The first place you can find me each morning– my coffee and espresso nook!

Glazed and distressed island cabinetry and limestone tiled floor

Detailed view of maple cabinetry and farmhouse sink

Vietri bowl and Italian canister setr11Antique hand-painted muffin stand

Double ovens and a warming drawer have become a necessity for holidays and family dinners!  A framed photo of my Mother sits in the space to the right as a reminder of her gift of hospitality and love for cooking.

The antique pine desk is a treasured gift from my friend, Patti.  The juxtaposition of the silver service and the country desk, along with the colorful fruit pattern of the Schumacher fabric and bamboo shades makes for an interesting little corner! The pair of prints (barely visible) are from Tallinn, Estonia.

The four prints were a street find in Paris!

Butch gave me this Italian pottery and plate

A gift from Seth many years ago

“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.”
Psalm 5:11

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies , Thoughts From Alice, Creatively Living, Rustic-Refined,Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, 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

Tablescape Tuesday: September Summer ‘scape

~ Food & Entertaining, Tablescape Tuesday

In these waning days of summer, I decided we should celebrate the beach. I love the laid back style of coastal living! The colors of the sand and sea often bring back many wonderful memories of vacations spent along the Gulf Coast. As a young married couple, Butch and I would often take weekend trips to Panama City Beach. I could not wait to smell the saltiness of the ocean air and sink my feet into the white sand! Now, I mostly enjoy the beach from a covered balcony or a brisk walk along the shore as the sun rises–with a steaming mug of french roast coffee in hand, of course! I could really get used to everyday living at the beach!

So, today you are invited to kick off your shoes and pull up a chair at our beach-inspired table, but please no wet swimsuits!!

Let’s talk about layering and texture for your tablescapes. The  linen table cloth purchased from Horchow at 30% off is the first layer. Grounding the center of the table is a beautiful quilted runner I found in Sete, France. I often use placemats as a layer over the cloth.

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To add texture, I used wicker chargers and tray.

This shell box was found at an antique shop and it becomes the focal point.

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Since I love details…

The hurricane globes are in my tablescapes on many occasions. Notice the sand and small shells. The pillar candles add subtle color to the table.

I had everything on hand and did not purchase anything for this beach tablescape!

The linen napkins were a true find at Pier 1– the embroidery is exquisite! The shell napkin holders are one of my favorite items on the table.

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A close-up of the resin tortoise flat ware, ordered from Horchow.  I use them often during the Fall season!

 

“Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and
everything that moves in them!”
Psalm 69:34

Don’t Whittle it Away!

~ Faith, Guest Posts

Butch and I (along with Seth and Allison) are taking a few days to enjoy God’s beautiful creation. Please stay tuned for lots of pictures and stories to follow!  In the meantime, we wish to introduce you to our very first guest blogger, Katy Watters.

We have known Katy for about two years, but our hearts were immediately knit together in common faith. We have welcomed her into our family and she has become like our daughter. She has an amazing God-given gift of writing and I strongly recommend that you follow her blog here.  Now, I will let you in on a little secret: Butch and I would have never been able to put this blog together without her!!

Don’t Whittle It Away!

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Noccalula Falls is where you can find me on any given weekday during my lunch break. I guess you can say it has become a part of my everyday living. When the clock strikes noon, I head up the mountain to enjoy my hour of respite from office work. Last Wednesday, something different happened and I feel like I learned a little lesson in living.

Staying true to my routine, I sat at one of the picnic tables in the shade as I ate my lunch. I was catching up on Instagram posts, emails, and Facebook from the morning. I was nearly finished eating when I noticed a man walking close. He was headed towards MY SWING. Now, I guess that needs a little explanation. I have a swing that I usually sit in after I finish eating lunch every day, and I love it—it is so peaceful! For some reason, it is rarely taken and I like to think that God reserves it just for me. But today, my swing was going to be occupied. And I was just going to have to deal. And I am sure glad it was!

The man sat down, and he had this long stick and a knife. Weird combo for most, but I knew what he was about to do: whittle, of course! You see, when I was a little girl, I loved pigs. (Random, I know, but don’t we all have our quirks??) Anyway, my dad had one of his co-workers carve me a little pig to put on my night stand. It was one of my favorite things—that whittled pig. This man was about to whittle—sitting right there on my swing. So I just decided to ask him about it. “Are you about to whittle?” I asked him. He perked up…”I sure am, what do you know about it?” So I told him the story about my whittled pig. It got us into conversation, but what he said next–I hope and pray–will stay with me for the rest of my years. “I like to whittle. It passes the time for me. I need something to help me waste time these days.” He said a few more things that I didn’t really hear because I was still processing the previous comment. He was whittling his life away. We talked about his previous marriages, his grandchildren, and his retirement from the Steel Plant. But I couldn’t help but think of how this man was literally and figuratively whittling his life away. It is what he was spending his days doing. As I looked at the shavings on his lap that would soon be part of the dirt at his feet, I was learning a lesson in living. We have a choice as to how we approach this life:

We can waste it and whittle it away or we can invest it and live.

And it seems very fitting that I would be asked to do this guest post and then God, in his providence, would bring the whittling man into my lunch hour.

And just so you know…Butch and Pam told me I could have freedom to say what I wanted on their blog today, so I will take advantage: 

You see, the whittling man showed me what it looked like to waste my days, while The Richardson’s have shown me how to live my days. I have been most blessed to be “adopted” into the Richardson family. They have truly invited me into their everyday living. And by that, I simply mean we do life together. And there is much wisdom to be learned from their lives. I love to watch them invest their lives into each other and into the lives of those around them. They enjoy life and people—because they see that both are good gifts from The Father. And I am sure glad that they do, because my life is different because of it!! There is a clear difference when you live life with purpose—and that purpose being the glory of God and the good of all peoples. As I grow older, I want my life to count. I want to make an eternal impact. I want to truly live.

I just love how God meets us in our routine, often mundane events, and shows us more about himself. And if we just take time to listen to others stories, which most of the time I never do, God always shows up. He reveals himself through nature, people, random scenarios, and even the random whittling man who steals your swing on your lunch break.

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12