Pre-decorating (otherwise known as the cleanup)...

A good part of today was spent cleaning the living room. Not just straightening up, but really cleaning in preparation for the Christmas decorations that will be coming up soon. As you may have noticed, our living room is teeny tiny, so the fact that the cleanup took so much time should give you a good idea as to how many dust bunnies were living in, around, and under furniture!


I changed the throw on the wing chair to a simple white king sized bedskirt, with a vintage "pink rosebud" pillowcase covering the seat cushion.


Last week when I showed you the "bargain of the century" painting, a lightweight blue floral spread was covering the wing chair and blue & white pillowcases were covering the brick hearth. They were all waaaaaaaaaay overdue for a trip through the washer.


Now that the wing chair was covered with clean, fresh linens it was time to decide what to do with the hearth. I thought this vintage sheet looked like a good choice for the holidays... a nice cottage green...


... with white polka dots, pink rosebuds and a scalloped design on one end.

When we closed in our brick fireplace a couple of years ago and painted it white, the pillowcases and/or sheets that we layed across the hearth were meant to be a temporary fix (until we decided how to finish off that area), but I've come to really like them. It's fun being able to change colors and patterns, so as far as I'm concerned, the hearth is officially done!


And I know I've mentioned this little guy before... doesn't he look like a little imp? I bought him as a Christmas decoration at TJ Maxx many years ago, but I really like him so he stays out year-round. I think he looks like he's playing Rock, Paper Scissors with someone. (I suspect he was meant to be holding something, but that during assembly that certain 'something' was omitted by mistake!)


Okay, I'm pooped after all this cleaning so I think I'm going to sit down and rest a while before starting supper... I wonder if there are any roasted vegetables left....

Donna

I believe in angels...

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."

Hebrews 13:2

Although I don't have an actual collection, I have accumulated several angels over the years and I thought December was the perfect time to share some of them with you...

This beautiful angel was purchased as a Christmas decoration many years ago from TJ Maxx...


Well, he never did get put away with the Christmas decorations that year because I fell in love with him. So now we enjoy him year-round on the living room hearth next to our church birdhouse.


This cast iron cherub door knocker is sometimes used as a decoration, sometimes as a paperweight...


This is another angel that started out as a Christmas decoration. She was originally painted gold when I got her from Wal Mart but I repainted her and hung her above the family room window seat. That was years ago and she's never been taken down.

I've applied full bodied cherub appliques to my dining room hutch...


... and cherub head appliques to the jelly cupboard...


During the summer, a pair of cherub heads (actually curtain rod holders) are always nestled among the flowers on the deck... (Oh my - it's going to be a long six months before I'm able to enjoy flowers out on the deck again!!!)



Donna

An October's eve stroll through the cemetery...

“A cemetery is a history of people – a perpetual record of yesterday and sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering – always.” (William Gladstone 1809-1897)

Cemeteries, especially at this time of year, are often portrayed as very spooky places (which, of course, they are not)… I actually love walking through cemeteries and I took my camera along this last time in case you wanted to join me... Most of these photos were taken as the sun set and the moon rose above the trees...

You'll always find a wide variety of religious statues and artwork while strolling through a cemetery...

And you'll find yourself surrounded by angels of all shapes and sizes...

Many stones, especially older ones, are chiseled or cut to form crosses, some very simple and some quite intricate...

But what tugs at my heartstrings most are the everyday garden statues, most likely a personalized token of love from a family member or friend...




Well, the sun has now set, after painting the sky with beautiful peaches and pinks, and the moon is now out, so I suppose we should be going. (Even though cemeteries aren't spooky places, I don't think I want to be here in the dark!!) But thank you for joining me on this early evening stroll...

Donna