His New Camera... Garden Images

Yes, it's the end of November and this

is how our garden looks in the winter.

It is a lovely and peaceful

place to be.....

However....old fashioned girl

that I am, I've been dreaming of

a white Christmas.  Well, not

exactly white but at least cooler

than the 85 degrees we had today.

When oh when will the heat

break?

 I'm walking around

singing Christmas Carols....sleigh bells

ring are you listening...just doesn't

seem right somehow with the

air-conditioner still running up

our ever-loving power bill.

-

The photo shown....not mine.

The Mister got an early

Christmas gift...a new camera

that does more things than I care

to learn about.  Together we are

turning out some beautiful images.

The photo shown is his...I'm

really liking what I'm seeing.

All those "bells and whistles" must be

doing their thing.

Later in the week we'll go out

to the island and take the cameras along.

-

Have a blessed week....Dee Dee

Loving Pine Cones for Christmas Decor

Again Country Living ideas, using

pine cones and a little imagination.

I haven't thought of spraying

them gold for a while and come

to think of it....silver would work

well with the white on my tree.

Always making a nice presentation

while leaving a lovely fragrance are

pomanders, using oranges and cloves.

Plenty of citrus around here....

maybe even lemons and limes

would do...I think so....very nice.

Great table setting idea shown.......

I'm loving the simplicity of kumquats

on a small silver tray, and bits of evergreen

 tucked along side a name card.

-

I'm lagging behind in my home

Christmas decorating, still

working on that book for the

children.  A few more hours

and I'll have them finished.

I have a feeling this is going

to be well received by everyone.

-

Have you had your first

glass of eggnog of the season?

I have...hmm...yum...love...

Blessings....Dee Dee

Pretty Ideas....

Grasses and ornaments...

Gorgeous greens for a white kitchen....

Loving old vintage pink mercury Christmas balls...

Elegant gold....beautiful composition.

Silver pine cone....on mirrored tray....I'll look for these.

-

Elegant and simple....borrowing some

ideas from Country Living.

I've been visiting all sorts of

designer decorator sites, looking for

Christmas ideas.....this

can last for hours and oh how

I love to do it.

At my fingertips is pure loveliness.

So many beautiful things to behold....

I'm finding that less is

sometimes more, and

that's how I hope to decorate

this year.

Keeping it simple....

while remembering what it's truly about.

The birth of our Lord....

Blessings.....Dee Dee

A Scene From My Christmas Story

This year I'm being a bit more creative

with my Christmas gift giving. Having  given

it a lot of thought and with the

encouragement of my children and

the Mister, I'm writing a Christmas story.

Shown here are some of the characters,
from this long ago tale, brought into

existence by  my own illustrations,
using my well-used pencils and watercolors.
Although written for children, this
magical little story,  seems
to have found a place in the hearts of
many of my adult friends, who will
receive special copies. 

-

This has been somewhat of a dream

of mine, and in more recent times

I've realized it as a real possibility.
-

There is no better place to begin my writing, than
 a time in history,
when God came to earth

 as the Christ child.....
Savior of the world.
-
More about this later.....
-
Blessings.....Dee Dee

The Handing Down of Customs

She made us proud, as we watched the

handing down of Thanksgiving customs.

All the right elements were in place,

all the foods were those we

 remembered as our

favorites.  A great grandmother's

turkey and stuffing recipe

won applause from everyone.

"Tell me how to make your sweet

potato casserole."  It had a

brown sugar glaze that closely

resembled a plate of chocolate fudge.

The children, all seated at a

special table for them,

wore Indian headbands with

feathers.  Having studied all

month long about the first

Thanksgiving, they felt

a special  kinship, I suppose

with the settlers and the Indians.

Family, the Macy's parade, football,

great conversation,

children's laughter,

"Black Friday" sales....

on and on the list goes for

things that made the day perfect.

It's  kind of nice, handing the

customs down to the next generation.

-

Thanking Him for it all this evening.....Dee Dee

Thoughtfully together in the golden evening.....

.....for a long time they were silent.

"When you wake up in the morning,

Pooh," said Piglet at last, "What's the

first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh.

"What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to

happen exciting to-day?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully.

"It's the same thing," he said.

-

Funny little thoughts of

Pooh and Piglet this evening....

and I too will awaken with

great anticipation for what

exciting things will happen

as we dine with family

and friends.

It happens each year on

Thanksgiving eve....

remembering family and

good times past.....

while enjoying good smells

from the kitchen....

Happy Thanksgiving

dear friends and family.

Lord bless.....Dee Dee

Thankful for a land which the Lord looks after......

We're finished with the garden, for now,

and just in time for Thanksgiving.

Our selections of Crotons,

in a variety of variegated colors

was a good choice.

Planting these days,

is a labor of love....

harder bending over,

but so worth the effort.

-

Well, lots to do today in

preparation for Thanksgiving.
-

Even though  our world seems

to be all in turmoil these days,

with lots of grumbling and

murmuring,

be not discouraged.
After all,
the King of Kings

and Lord of All
is still

running things.

We've so much to be thankful for.

-

A land which the Lord,

your God looks after;

His eyes are upon it continually

from the beginning of the year

to the end.

~Deuteronomy 11:12....The Holy Bible

-

Good blessings for you this day.....Dee Dee

Always "Thanksgiving"

THANKSGIVING

Bringing in the harvest

Sweet gathering of fields,

Bowing heads and saying grace

For all that Nature yields.

Voices lift to praise Him,

Our Father high above,

Grateful for His blessings,

joyful for His love.

~Bea Lotz

-

Be not discouraged, no matter

what your hearing.

This is National Bible Week!

They were actually reading

the Holy Bible on the

courthouse steps in

Philadelphia today.

Now.....

that is something to

be thankful for.

-

Blessings....Dee Dee

.......a dress this color?

Wow!

I'm still standing in

utter amazement

at these Petunias.

The coolness of

early morning....

beautiful and

bright sunshine...

daily watering

from the garden

sprinklers....

all conducive

to growing perfectly

gorgeous and velvet-like

Petunias.

I'm thinking

this color would

be lovely for a

holiday party dress.

-

This promises to be the

busiest week of the

year for me.

Celebrating Thanksgiving

and decorating the house

for Christmas.......

just getting started.

-

Blessings.....Dee Dee

Not Your Traditional Christmas Colors.....

The colors are

not so traditional,

but I'm really liking

this combination.....

Pencils and watercolors

 coming in handy

this time of year.

I'll print  them

on cardstock,

 add some sparkle,

and 

pretty gold silk ribbon.

I'm getting excited now,

and having all sorts of
Christmas  ideas.
I'll post the finished
products  later on.
-
Blessings.....Dee Dee



Enjoying White

On my coffee table.....At Home With White

If your like me, your getting your thoughts

together for how you'll decorate

your home for Christmas.

I'm really thinking of

having all white on the

tree in our living room...

maybe snowflakes and

ice-cycles.

While looking on the Internet

for holiday ideas, I came across

these beautiful designs

by Camel and Yak.

I'm so enjoying white....
and the simple beauty of the Christmas tree seen here....

 we'll see how my decorating goes
beginning the day after Thanksgiving......
can't wait!.

Good weekend blessings....Dee Dee

Think On This....

Life isn't about waiting

for the storm to pass....

It's about learning

to dance

in the

rain....

-

Have a blessed day,

dear friends and family....Dee Dee

Sweet Petunias

"Keep love in your heart.

A life without it is like a sunless garden

where the flowers are dead.

The conciousness of loving and being loved

brings a warmth and richness

to life that nothing else can bring."

~Oscar Wilde

Just a sweet ole pot of Petunias that set in our garden courtyard.

Love their fragrance and have

you  noticed how like velvet the petals seem?

They love the Florida weather this time of year, and

should bloom all winter. 

I took quite a few photos in the garden today, and that cool

breeze coming from the north not only made my heart happy,

but the flowers seen here seemed to be singing.

All the bedding plants are thriving and for the next

few post, I'll let them show off a little.....they'ed like that.

"What a beautiful world, I see......"

Blessings....Dee Dee

Discovery-Kate Forman

Velvet Hearts

Velvet Bears

Linen Bears

Velvet Stockings

Gathered Shades

Laundry Bags

These are the best!

Fabrics by Kate Forman....
and all the adorable things shown here,
I just had to share.
There is much more to see, and

just in time for Christmas ideas....

Have a look here...and be inspired.

http://www.kateforman.co.uk/

So sweet.... can-do things.

Lord bless.........Dee Dee

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear......

"Abraham"

"Solomon"

"Silas and Timothy"...... in the foreground....

That I live close to the ocean,
it is no wonder
I find  these

rather noisy "seabirds"

 fascinating to watch.

Some  have

 distinguishing marks,

or certain behaviors

that identify them, to me.

Some, are worthy of drawing

painting,naming and

writing stories about.

These shown here,

had the best auditions,

showing amazing stage presence
and believability.

Perhaps a Christmas story

is in the developing stages.

to be continued......

-

Blessings.....Dee Dee

 

Discovery.....Jezebel Charms

Jane Austen

Marie Antoinette

Shakespeare

They are all lovely and so apropos.

With my face in a Jane Austen book at
any given moment,
lover of all that is Shakespeare,
and in awe of what is
current  interest in Marie Antoinette.....

Be prepared to drool when you visit

-

http://www.jezebelcharms.co.uk/

-

I promise, you will be pleased just as I am.

Blessings.....Dee Dee

A Poem

Fair Play

Cool morning air

Mingling rambunctious children sounds

Mega-phone announcing call to prayer

Bowed heads

Teaching parents and coaches engaged

To play the game of life

While wearing orange uniforms

Running, running toward the goal.

Kicking, kicking toward a mate

Dedicated to community spirit.

Glancing parenthood approval

Trust, reliance, self-assurance

Well-read lessons.

Congratulatory hand claps

Well done my fellows

My life-learning team players.

~Dee Dee