Cast Your Vote and Once Last Chance for a Giveaway

Now, it's time to cast your vote.

Which table will it be?

Table #1:  Blue Christmas

Table #2: Happy Birthday, Jesus

Table #3:The Christmas Bird

Table #4:  Silver and Snow

Table #5:  Sand and Sea

Table #6:  Simple Elegance

Table #7:  Black Tie

Table #8: Red Berries and Balls

Table #9:  Pink with Promise

Which do you prefer?

Giveaway winner announced this evening.

Table #9: Pink With Promise

Just got back from the city, 

HOT 'lanta!

I'm telling you, 

I was country come to town

but that's another post!

Table #9 is

Pink with Promise

I guess you know who's table this is.

Does this look familiar?

Of course, it does.

I chose Pink Georgia transfer ware 

made in England.

The stemware is Pink Swirl by Noritake, 

both compliments of a couple of my friends. 

I added some silver with the pink.

I filled my milkglass baskets with silver bells. 

Each guest at my table got hugs and kisses:)

I bought this ornament at the end-of-the-season sale. 

It is one of my favorites this year.

My shop, my blog, my table is always about PROMISE!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders,

and He will be called Wonderful, Counselor,

Mighty God, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace, 

there will be no end."

Isaiah 9:6-7

Jesus, yes Promise...

For His government and peace will never end!

Bonnie:)

A last look at the tables tomorrow.  

I will announce the winner of the Giveaway tomorrow evening. 

Happy Birthday Jesus and a Giveaway

I can't pick a favorite table. I loved them all, 

but this one made me smile.

I'm so excited to look at Christmas once again 

through the eyes of my three year old grandson.

When he gets excited, it's like seeing Christmas for the first time.  

Jesus said that our faith should be like that of a child.

Children know how to celebrate birthdays

and so it is easy for them to sing 

"Happy Birthday" to Jesus. 

There's no way I would ever leave Jesus out of Christmas.

He IS Christmas!

I hate to see X-mas.  It even makes me mad.

However, I think Jesus enjoys our joy-

whether we are telling His story or Santa's story.

Can't we all remember when visions of sugar plums danced in our heads?

I know The Star "shined brightly" but I just imagine 

Jesus likes sparkles too. I kinda think the star sparkled.

Let me tell you, I believe Jesus lives even in the heart of Santa.

Read another less familiar Christmas story.

The sleigh was all packed,
The reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt
By the side of the bed.

"Dear Father," he prayed,
"Be with me tonight,
There's much work to do,
And my schedule is tight."

"I must jump in my sleigh
And streak through the sky,
Knowing full well
That a reindeer can't fly."

"I will visit each household,
Before the first light,
I'll cover the world,
And all in one night."

"With sleigh bells a-ringing,
I'll land on each roof,
Amid the soft clatter
Of each little hoof."

"To get in the house
Is the difficult part,
So I'll slide down the chimney
Of each child's heart."

"My sack will hold toys
To grant all their wishes,
The supply will be endless,
Like the loaves and the fishes."

"I will fill all the stockings
And not leave a track,
I'll eat every cookie
That is left for my snack."

"I can do all these things Lord,
Only through You,
I just need your blessing,
Then it's easy to do."

"All this is to honor
The birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us ...
Your most Holy Son."

"So to all of my friends,
Least Your glory I rob,
Please Lord, remind them
Who gave me this job."

~ Warren D. Jennings ~

 Don't forget to leave a comment for the Giveaway,

follow and tell a friend.

Read here.

I'm looking forward to seeing Jesus and Santa.

I Believe, 

Bonnie:)

Riverfront Antique Mall: Meeting Distressed Donna Down Home

What a day of pickin'!

You know me, I got lost took the scenic route again,

with the help of Google.

I'm headed to Riverfront Antique Mall 

in North Augusta, SC, 

home of the famous blogger

Distressed Donna Down Home.

I called Olive at 

OliveOut

who lives across the river somewhere close-by.

"WHERE IN THE WORLD AM I AT?"

 How was she to know?

"Where are you?  What do you see?"

She knew exactly where I was.

I was going in circles.  

Go Figure!

Olive said, "Look for Aisle B."

And there she was!

My first meeting with a real-life blogger!

I was so excited I didn't get any photos of Donna's booth

but I did buy some things. 

She's my kind of gal.  She even had two baskets of FREEBIES.

I'll share my findings later. 

They are still packed in the trunk.

I do mean packed! 

I asked the owner, 

"Can I take pictures?"

"Uhhhh.  Not sure."

OOPS! TOO LATE.  

I shot these before I met Donna. 

The above display was the first thing I saw when I walked in.  

What an impression!

Shabby and Chic
and
Pretty in Pink

Rusty and Crusty
or
Linen and Lace
you will find at Riverfront.

A rusty, crusty plant stand, 

NFS.

Is this not the cutest?

Crates and wooden boxes,
Painted furniture and chalkboards
were everywhere.

This was another darling booth.  

I was shopping for resale 

so I had to pretend these were NFS.  

Several things in here were 

"For Display Only."

After all, 

presentation is everything. 

Well, for some. 

Honestly, I prefer a good dig. 

I didn't check the price.  

I can't believe I passed this by. 

This would have been perfect in my milkglass room. 

Distressed and framed scrapbook paper.  

What a grand idea!

I left with a trunk full of goodies and some good ideas!

This will not be my last trip to Riverfront.

Fun!Fun!Fun!

Bonnie:)

I'll be sharing my finds on my next posts. 

Hodgepodge Wednesday

From This Side of the Pond

My friend, Linda at Just Simply Linda

(you'll find her link at the bottom)

links up with 

From the Side of the Pond

(you'll find her link above)

to answer random get-to-know-you questions.

I thought it would be fun to do this 

since I'm having a blogger's block today.

1. Do you manage your own money or do you have a financial planner who helps in some way? I do a horrible job of taking care of the money because there never is enough to go around and I must confess sometimes I rob from Peter to pay Paul when I go to see my children.  That's been alot lately.

2. The second week of October is Pet Peeve Week. Off the top of your head, share TWO of your current pet peeves. Clutter on the dining room table.  My family knows this.  The house can be a mess but the kitchen table must be clean and clutter-free.  The other thing that peeves me is people not being real.  Say what you mean and mean what you say is my philosophy.

3. What is one thing you'd like to learn right now, this very week if you could? As for life -lessons to learn, I'd like to learn to be content.  As for the how-to lessons, I'd also like to take a photography class. 

4. How concerned are you about the recent health related news concerning Ebola? How about Enterovirus D68? I'm more concerned with the state of our nations and our relationship with Israel.  I'm more concerned about terorrist attacks and the future of our country spiritually, economically, and with international affairs. 

5. Garfield, Nemo, or Tigger-your favorite orange cartoon character? I'm a hyperactive Tigger, and I'd like to adventure out like Nemo, but I let fear hold me back.

6. I'm going to see Gone Girl with my neighborhood book club this week. So often books made into film are disappointing. What's a book turned film you thought was well done, in that the casting was 'like you pictured' when you read the book, and the film plot remained mostly true to the book plot? The Notebook by Nicolas Sparks. Both the book and the movie were heart-wrenching.  One of those good-cry writes. 

7. What is one story your family always tells about you? The time I got tickled during family prayer time and peed in my pants. My daddy was praying and passed gas and kept right on praying. Me and mama got tickled and puddled the floor.  Seriously!

8. Insert your own random thought here. Blogging has become my favorite hobby.  Since my parents death, I find it hard to connect with "real" people, but I'm finding that the friends I've made here are more real than the people I meet on a daily basis or that I've known forever. Sad, but true.  I'm so tired of the pretense. 

Hodge Podge Wednesday with Linda

Ironstone and Primitives or Lace and Promises?

I hear the rumblings of rain.

Oh, how we need it.

I miss my children on Sunday nights 

more than any other time in the week.

So I blog and find connection.

It's here that I find the community 

that I so long for. 

I found this great book at Goodwill in Nashville.

Thumbing through the pages, I thought of Francine 

at Primitive Stars.

Meet Francine

The book is full of Primitives. 

I love ironstone and primitives and white lace and promise

so I flipped to my favorite pages. 

Yesterday I found this pretty ironstone platter 

in one of the shops.  Two platters for $4.

I love the scalloped edges. 

I recently added a stack of saucers to my collection 

of ironstone.  I will go back and pick up 

the stack of plates if they are still there this weekend. 

When the kids were little, mama always grilled hamburgers

 after church on Sunday nights.

When my parents became "little", I made

breakfast on Sunday nights. 

Feeling a bit melancholy tonight.

Blessings for a great week, 

Bonnie:)

Taking a Break

I have enjoyed a great weekend in Nashville.

Got lots of mooch time with the babies

and

celebrated with Chad and Christina 

the precious dedication of our angel, Cora Joy Hitchcock

to the Lord.

Enjoyed all the new adventures of Connor-man.

Shared baby ideas with my baby girl 

and was absolutely overwhelmed 

with the walk with Christy and Troy through 

Babies R Us.

How did we ever raise our children

without 

5-10 varieties of strollers, with or without 

carrier and carseat

Pack and Play, with or without

bouncer, carrier, bassinet swing or sound,

5-10 different kinds of pacifiers, bottles or nipples,

bathtub, bath bouncy, or spa baby,

Car seats for newborn to so many pounds that 

will convert to this many pounds 

until you arrive at that many pounds. 

Whew!

Our newest GRAND girl is growing 

and is now the size of a lemon or a lime

and my baby girl is now wearing 

cute little bubbles with a bump.

I am pondering many things

and will be taking a short break from blogging.

Don't turn that dial, 

stayed tuned for more after this break...

Linda and Deb's Linky Party

http://justsimplylinda.blogspot.com/

Okay, Linda, I'm joining you and Deb.  I kinda like this one even though I don't usually do the linky parties.  This looked like fun!

Aprons - Y/N? If yes, what does your favorite look like? Goodness no.  I like them.  At one time I collected them, but wear them??? Too much fat around the middle.

See I told you!

Baking - Favorite thing to bake? I bake cookies brought from the freezer section. You know, the little squares ones.  I'm just not Susie-Homemaker, for sure!

Clothesline - Y/N? No, I had one growing up and when my first born was small.  I don't like how everything feels stiff when dry.  

Donuts - Have you ever made them? Actually, I have.  I made from frozen canned biscuits, cut hole in the middle with a lid, deep fried and coated with powdered sugar.  Did the same to the holes:)

Everyday - One homemaking thing you do everyday? Clean off the kitchen table.  I hate a cluttered table. 

Freezer - Do you have a separate deep freeze? What do I need with a freezer.  My frig isn't even full.  I buy one meal at a time.

Garbage Disposal - Y/N? I have never had one.

Handbook -What is your favorite homemaking resource? It used to be my mama.  I miss her so!  Now, it's google.

Ironing - Love it or hate it? HATE, HATE, HATE IT! Did all of it as a child.  No more!

Junk drawer - Y/N - Where is it? The question should have been "How many?" Yes, ONE IN EVERY ROOM.

Kitchen - Color and decorating scheme? Blue and White.  I wanted a beach cottage kitchen.

Love - What is your favorite part of homemaking? Raising my children.  I loved being a mommy.  It's all I wanted to be. 

This is the only photo of my kids when they were small that is on my hard drive. They were 10 and 7.  

Mop - Y/N-Yes.  Mr. H did it before he got a herniated disc.  Now it's me unless I hire my niece for $5.  

Nylons - Wash by hand or in washing machine? Nylons? Too hot for those in Central Georgia. 

Oven - Do you use the window to check on things or do you open the door? The door. 

Pizza - What do you put on yours? I like specialty pizzas.  I love spinach fettuccine pizza and chicken Alfreda and mushroom. YUM!

Quiet - What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? Pray, Read, and Nap

Recipe Card Box - Y/N- I have my mama's. 

Style of house-Ranch style, eclectic style. Of course, the shabby chic is my favorite room.

Tablecloth and napkins - Y/N- Table cloth, but nothing when we eat.  We don't have guests.  Our home is so small that we usually eat in the den/living room. This is for-display-only photo.

Under the kitchen sink - Organized or toxic wasteland?- YIKES!  Afraid to look!

Vacuum - How many times per week? Once

Wash - How many loads per week? Probably two per day.  

X's - Do you make a daily to do list and check it off as you do things? Sometimes.  I feel better when I do.

Yard - Y/N Who does What? Mr. H.  I hate to sweat! No, I'm not a prissy girl.  Just hate the heat.

ZZZ - What is the last homemaking task you do before you go to bed? Declutter the den.