Thankful Thursday

Every Thursday I like to post about what I am thankful for and today I am thankful for:

daily photos of our newest grandson

my blue and white china

second son's phone calls

daughter's phone calls

I know how to sew

Christmas dishes

good bye kiss every morning from my husband

phone call from our oldest son

laughter in our home group

apple crisp

third son's opportunity for new job 

pictures of grandkids running on our computer

These are gifts #212 - 224

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Rhondi xo

Mosaic Monday

How are you on this Monday morning?  I got our tree up yesterday and took a few pictures of some of my favorite ornaments and made a collage of them for Mosaic Monday at Mary's.

I am very slow at getting the house looking like Christmas this year.  So far all I have done is the tree in our living room and the tree in our kitchen.  I think some of the things I usually put out will go back up in the attic unopened. 

Boy am I getting forgetful! Last year I bought some Christmas plates from Dollar Tree but I couldn't remember where I put them.  As I was checking in the back corner of the kitchen cabinets I came across a set of dishes with holly on which I had forgotten that I bought this summer at a yard sale!   I was so excited and  now we can have all our meals this month on Christmas dishes, which is something I always thought would be such a luxury.

Today I am joining in with Mary At Little Red House for her Mosaic Monday.   If you have the time to visit her, you will love looking at all the beautiful photos that are linked with her Mosaic Monday today.

My TO DO list is growing longer each day.  How about you?

Rhondi xo

Rest and Be Thankful

Just a reminder in the midst of this busy season.  Take some time to rest and be thankful!

 Rhondi xo

My Love Affair With Books

I love books.  I like to read them, look at the illustrations, feel the covers, and admire their beauty. 

I have books  everywhere                       

on tables...

in baskets....

on top of the fridge....

on the floor..  oh and in bookshelves too!

 I have a quite a few lovely Christmas books.

Earlier this week I found this book, Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury.  Do you know Jan Brett's books?  I LOVE her illustrations.  They remind me of Carl Larsson, a  Swedish painter whose work I admire.

 
 Each page is a work of art.

  

One of the stories in the book is The Twelve Days Of Christmas.  It is so beautiful I just had to show it to you.

 

I hope you enjoyed looking at this book as much as I do.

When I was a child my favorite  Chrismas book was The Littlest Angel.  I felt so sorry for that little angel living with all those grown up angels in heaven!

What was your favorite Christmas book?

Rhondi xo

Thankful Thursday

Being thankful changes my attitude, gives me a postive outlook and helps me focus on what is good about my life.  All the things I am thankful for are gifts from God.  I like how Ann at Holy Experience says it.  She refers to each thing she is thankful for as a gift.  I decided to join her One Thousand Gifts challenge to "give intentional thanks and gather fresh joy" as I work my way toward that one thousand mark, counting things I am thankful for each day.

These are gifts #168 -178.
beautiful sunrise
quiet house in the morning before the day begins
warm house
food in the pantry
clothes to wear
Spencer growing
daughter's phone calls
flock of mourning doves on front yard
shelter from the rain
Lynnette's blog
phone chat with  my grandson today


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What are you thankful for today?
Rhondi xo

Good Morning

 I was thinking this morning about how amazing  blogging is.  There are some of you that I've been connected with for 2 years, some I've gotten to know and care about, some I've met in person and some that sneak in each day, have a look around and leave just as quietly as they came.

There are many talented and generous bloggers and one of them is Erin at The Painted Garden.  I was lucky enough to win a a giveaway with a gift certificate to Anthropologie and this original painting by Erin.  The colors in it are perfect for me. I love it!

. 

Gift # 176 cardinals everywhere flitting around just outside my window.  If you don't know what the gift thing is I'll explain tomorrow.  If anyone wants to join in for Thankful Thursday please copy the button on my side bar.  I'll have a mr linky up for you tomorrow.

I just wanted to say "good morning". I hope you have a wonderful day!

Rhondi xo

P.S. I hope those of you who love Christmas will forgive me for my ranting and raving yesterday :)

Bah Humbug

I've started a little decorating for Christmas in my studio. I got this tree last year at a thrift shop and saw a similar one in the Pottery Barn catalogue for $149.  I think I paid $2 or $3 for it!

I've filled a bowl with red apple garlands and wooden beads.

Got out my favorite snow globe that plays Silent Night.

Put a red cloth on the table and gathered a few cardinals from another room.

I like making our home look festive for Christmas.  Like many of you, I enjoy fussing with the house all year round, so there's no presssure to make it look more special at Christmas.  It's starting to look festive, but really at Christmas I often don't feel festive.  I feel like Scrooge.

Do you have time for a cup of tea while I tell you my story?   . 

  I don't like shopping and am not good at it. So I get in a panic every Christmas. I don't have a clue what to buy and often when I ask, my kids don't have a suggestion because they are able to buy whatever they need!  I am great at shopping yard sales and thrift shops, but their tastes run more to Pottery Barn and Gap.  In the past I have given up trying to buy gifts and just give them money and I feel guilty because it is so impersonal. 

Now we have grandchildren and you'd think it would be a delight to shop for them, but I still wander around the stores , not knowing what to buy.  I really don't have to buy very many presents.  Even so, I get in a panic.   I want to avoid the whole present thing and then I feel like Scrooge.

We all have so much in this country and none of us need anything and our family is no exception.  This year with the economy being the way it is and jobs aren't secure I feel the pressure even more.  

Is there anyone else out there like me? 

This year  instead of presents under the tree for our adult children,  there will be some families in Africa getting some goats and chickens. Now that kind of shoppping I can do!

Happy birthday to our oldest son, John who is 34 today.  He is an amazing son, husband and dad and we are so proud of the man he has become.  Happy birthday John.  We love you.

Rhondi xo