The "Gift" of Giving

Christmas is known as a time of giving of gifts and receiving them.

 Today I was the recipient of two such precious gifts

from two equally precious ladies.

This fall, Jill from Gypsy Brocante hostess-"ed"

a weekly party, "Vintage Black Friday".

It was a dream party for me,

 because I have a lot of black in my world of decor.

And thanks to her darling son,

 I was the name he drew out of the hat!

She graciously awarded me a gift certificate

 to her wonderful site and etsy store

This is what I so happily chose!

I had to show the "after" photo first!

It came in a box with the sweetest

 pink floral fabric and ribboned bow.

Is it not just  "the best"?!!!
Can't wait to wear it!

And Donna of Brynwood Needleworks had the most fun game for us to play. She listed 10 facts that were to be about her life and we were supposed to pick the one that was false.
Well, let me tell you, this girl has lead one "crazy life". I loved hearing all about how she answered all the questions. And of course she was snickering because she made them just as wild and crazy as she could. Read about it here.

So you can guess that I picked

the one thing that wasn't "Donna".

This is a wonderful needle book or "cozy"that she made. And wow, do I need this! I'm challenged in the sewing department, so this is perfect to help me keep track of my little needles and pins. Look close at the darling acorn, her logo!

And today I want to share about the true

 spirit of Christmas giving.

Deb at "Faded Ladies" and her co-blogger Rose

 have a wonderful place to visit and be inspired.

Today, Deb shared a Christmas memory

from her past that you simply must read.

It will bless you more than you can imagine!

Find the link here.

1Week to Go!

Blessings,

Debra

Ring Ring... Hello?... Trash it's for you!

GOOD GRIEF, Charley Brown!!!

Am I the only one here with enough Hudzpuh

to show up in her REAL Jammies?

(I better get some extra points for this!)

Now I have cup full of HOT Dr. Pepper,
not luke warm, but steamin'!

I'm expecting some Fritos, Bean Dip
and some Pepperoni Pizza!


The Trash Queen is having one fabuloso
Slumber Party
and we're all invited!

So everyone get your furry slippers on and run over to

Debbie's place for her big blow-out of a PAR-TAY!

Check it all out right HERE!

She has 100,000 hits, and you know
at least 300 of them are mine!

She's everyone's favorite Trash Diva

so let's help her celebrate!

OK Everyone, quit hiding the toilet paper!!!

Sanctuary

It's a long story about how we found the house we live in now. It was right after my heart bypass surgery six years ago. We knew we were going to be moving. (anyone else get these gut feelings?) And we had been looking at houses for a year. We were waiting for God's perfect timing but I was worn out with it. Then the heart attacks happened and at the most "unlikely" time in my life I was faced with a monumental move.

I couldn't lift boxes. Had been in the hospital for a week with pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining of the heart pericardium. Generally speaking I was like, "God, you have to be kidding!" But no, He wasn't. Everything happened, and my husband and  I felt like we were on a "ride". It was going to happen no matter what.

Our Living Room really is just called "the Sanctuary", because it is a place that you can really feel the Presence of God. I try to keep it a place to come and rest and read. Because of that, whatever I do in here needs to be glorifying to Him. Lee left me a wonderful compliment on my last post. And it is true, He is honored in this place.

This clock and chair were an anniversary gift

from my husband right before we moved.

This is an old armoire that we had stripped and I refinished. We bought it the third year of our marriage. It's like a Chinese puzzle box, It breaks down into about 10 pieces. It holds a small television and a CD player and stereo. I love to listen to music in here, and because it is central to the house you can hear it in every room.

The above photo is a more true idea of the color of the walls. In some photos they look gold, but they are a custom khaki color, my favorite, by Benjamin Moore.

I love this pair of jacquard sofas. They are so comfortable you could sit there for hours. The shape and layout of this room calls for symmetry and balance. It has windows on three sides with an entrance to the sunroom and kitchen.

Photos of the girls and their weddings.

As you can see, I like to "layer" things,

To me it adds depth, richness, and personality.

This Christmas I did something totally different. I used browns, creams, silver and gold. The faux hydrangeas are found in several places here, and in the Entry and Dining Room.

I had decorated everything when I found this vintage "foil" portrait of Jesus. It truly was a "gift" this year, as it personified exactly what I was doing.

Below is our 2009 Christmas Card.

Our Christmas tree in the daylight...

And at night.

I put it in my black goat cart to give it more height.

Bar area where I keep a lot of my vintage silver.

View to the Entry

Metal Crucifix that I found this last summer

 at the flea market.

Back to the Entry. The Dining Room is on the left.

I've had several people ask to show

complete views of the rooms.

(Anne, the vacuum shot is coming.)

Sometimes I forget that I concentrate mostly on vignettes. Hope you enjoyed the visit to my house, I'd love to have you all here in person!

I still have a few more areas

to share downstairs.

Hope you are having a wonderful week

in preparation for Christmas Day.

Blessings from my home to yours,

Debra

White Wednesday, Christmas Gift Books

A few years ago I found my first old

Christmas "Gift Book".

Their petite size and precious graphics of Christmas

caused me to begin a search for them.

These are from the 1880's until 1913.

Sweet inscriptions of love and devotion;

friendships and relationships,

most dated "Christmas Eve".

They are displayed on my Italianate

black desk in the Living Room.

This is the oldest from 1888, in pristine condition.

Entitled "A Bugle Song and Other Poems".

"Kept for the Master's Use". Love the title.

Here is a daytime shot of our tree in the Living Room.

Next post I'll show the rest of the Living Room.

Please go by and see Kathleen at

 Faded Charm

and the rest of the

 White Wednesday participants.

I'm sure there is plenty of gorgeous

White Christmas to be enjoyed!

Have a Wonderful White Wednesday!

Debra

Christmas Doors of Welcome

Merry Christmas!

Come on in.

It's pretty cold out here!

Today I'm joining in the Doors of Welcome

for Christmas.

Please drop by and say Hello to Karen

our wonderful Hostess,

at Some Days are Diamonds.

Our front porch faces south,

but we still have a lot of shade out on the walk.

My husband has a pretty time demanding job,

and the weather is so cold in January here,

that we've never done the "outside lights".

I'd rather have just my two little topiary trees

 that twinkle, and not risk having

 Christmas lights up until June.

anyone else with that problem?

I always use my "vintage themed decor"...

the park bench seat,

my watering cans tied with plaid ribbon,

and this year a large bucket filled with

the most gorgeous candy cane pointsettias.

Oh, and if you look closely in the door,

you will see the welcoming committee.

This year I had fun with this old metal

 and striped fabric shopping basket,

probably from TG&Y or Ben Franklin from the 60's.

An old window is propped up on the bench behind it.

Inside, I have a birch basket hanging on the door

 filled with greenery, roses, holly and ivy.

Hope you enjoy the tour of great outside

Christmas Cheer and Welcome!

Debra