February’s Romantic Makeover…

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Susan

February Twilight…” I stood beside a hill, smooth with new-laid snow,
A single star looked out, from the cold evening glow.
There was no other creature, that saw what I could see,
I stood and watched the evening star, as long as it watched me.”
~ Sara Teasdale,

February is a month of promise, hope, warm fires kindling within in our hearths , snowy days, icy nights, star filled skies, flirtatious snowmen and of course, Romance.

The renowned author and actor ‘Steve Harvey” calls February, “the month of Love.” A special time where dreams really can come true, as we go out of our of way to demonstrate to that “special someone,” just how very much we love them.

I like to think of this month as the last real month of winter bliss… Yes, March is also a rigorously cold month, (on our eastern coast) but spring is busily sending forth its illustrious tocsins, to let us know it will be arriving soon… thus, why not take advantage of the December equinoxes’ prodigious and majestic ending.

What are some of the ways to celebrate and enjoy the benefits of this romantic month of February?

In California, perhaps a serene walk with the one you love on the San Clemente pier at sunset, or upon the the glistening sands of a moonlit beach, listening to the endless , lulling tunes of the waves sauntering into shore, watching the evening sky light up with its spectacular display of scintillating stars.

In the Midwest, (with all the Brobdingnagian winter storms hitting hard this month, the temps in the negatives…) my sister will have to be a little extra creative with her celebration. I can just see her conjuring up a scrumptious heart shaped chocolate mousse cake, lighting her myriad of candles, and enjoying her collection of ‘romantic movies,’ Weathering Heights, Jane Eyre and Pride and prejudice. (Continuously thanking the good Lord, she has heat and is warm.) Compared to their weather, ours is mild!

For us on the east Coast, we enjoy the warmth of our homes as the miraculous snow falls, bringing an abundance of white fluff to our once, verdant green lawns, quilting the trees branches with shimmering slush, later turning into gracefully sculptured ice cycles. There is nothing quite as romantic as catching a snowfall in action over our towns Junoesque pond …the once placid water is frozen over, its icy surface glistening with a lulled pink hue… or taking a drive through the country roads, admiring all the LOVE-made, frolicsome snowmen, cheering our spirits up as they happily greet each passerby. Have you ever noticed, there are no two snowmen alike? Its magical to see how snow flakes (with a little TLC,) can be transformed into real life characters. 🙂 We love to bundle up and take Graham to the meadow after a freshly fallen snow, amazed by the abundance of beautiful wildlife hidden behind the tall trees. We watch the grandeur red birds and blue jays flutter from branch to branch, the flocks of snow geese flying above us, singing their HONKy- tonk tunes, ( that we’ve grown to love,) and the grey squirrels, playfully scurrying up and down the trees, stopping every now and then to nibble on natures “power bars” made especially for them! 🙂 All very romantic…but what warms my heart the most is looking down at Graham as we all walk in the snow… he is totally unaware that his dark, heavy fur coat has turned to white…the polar air not bothering him one bit, (as he continues to sniff, observe, look and listen to all the meadows enchanting inhabitants.) 🙂

I can certainly relate to the quote by Charles Baudelaire;

“I watch the springs, the summers, the autumns;
And when comes the winter snow monotonous,
I shut all the doors and shutters
To build in the night my fairy palace. ”

Whether you live in Southern California, Texas, Maine, Alaska or in other countries, places such as , England, Italy, Japan or the Swiss Alps…how you celebrate this romantic month of love will depend a great deal on what your weather and climate is like….but no matter what state or country you live in, we all have one thing in common...for this month of ‘celebrating love,’ we can all create a romantic ambiance right within our home…bringing forth an atmosphere of amour.

Our bedroom is the one room within our home that is always embellished with a romantic motif. For February, I try to spill a little bit of its allurement throughout our entire house. For me, a wintry romantic ambiance would include an abundance of alabaster whites accented with rich burgundy’s, regal golds, hushed rose and sage green. I have decorated our home with a few dried floral arrangements, white lace tablecloths, my wintry china, a medley of candles, a cherub angel or two, and yes…a few red hearts, dark chocolates, (in case a friend comes by for a cup of coffee,) 🙂 a touch of Hallmarks Valentines decor…and SNOWMEN! Yes… can you believe it? I still have them out! 🙂 Here is the skinny on that….Christmas was like a dream come true this last year… saying goodbye to its splendor, putting away our jovial Santa’s in January was very difficult, thus I left my cheerful, jubilant snowmen out to keep a touch of the festive spirit within our home. When February arrived, I was perplexed.…our neighborhood was draped in a brilliant white… Our snowmen were so happy being out of the attic and they were all dressed in romantic colors. It was tough call… But I finally came to the conclusion that there has got to be a story written somewhere about a Romantic snowman and his Valentine… thus, we voted and they got to stay for February’s celebration of the “month of love.”

Its the perfect month for a romantic home-makeover…enjoy the last weeks of winter’s attire as you know spring is right around the corner and your home will be dressed up for an entirely different season… For those of you whose motto is ; “Less is more,” and your not a fan of the commercial decor of cupids, hearts, garlands and lace doilies, I hope a few of these romantic rooms will bring you some new ideas in creating a subtle romantic ambiance within your haven. If you do love all the ‘bells and whistles’ of the season, then I am sure you will find a few creative notions as well. ENJOY!

THE DISTINGUISHED QUOTE CORNER

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
~Edith Sitwell

Away in a meadow all covered with snow, the little old groundhog looks for his shadow,
The clouds in the sky determine our fate, If winter will leave us all, early or late.” ~ Don Halley

“The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.” ~ Gertrude S. Wister

“Standing in a valley,with the mist coming in,
Berries grow on the holly bushes. Robins hide in snow-ridden woods.
If I could stay here, I would.”- Bethan Williams

Now you know, I had to put in a few thoughts about chocolate, romance and snowmen…February’s other bestowals of joy. 🙂

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” ~ Charles M. Shultz

“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” ~ Linda Grayson

“What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate.”~ Katharine Hepburn

“I’ve fallen in love many times…always with you.” ~ Unknown

“A heart that loves is always young.” ~ Greek proverb

“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.” ~ Ingrid Bergman

“Valentine hearts beat more passionately than every day hearts.” ~ Unknown

“Romance is the glamor which turns the dust of every day life into a golden haze.” ~ Amanda Cross

“Snowmen fall from heaven, one flake at a time.” Unknown

“Snow flakes are one of natures most fragile things, but look at what they can do by sticking together.” ~ Unknown

“Snowmen fall from heaven…unassembled.” ~Unknown

Cupid’s tour of ROMANTIC HOMES is now boarding…

Our glorious verandahs and welcoming front doors are our guests and family’s first impression of our homes… Capture their hearts with a little romance as you create your expressions of ‘amour.’

This beautiful fresh green heart shaped wreath is not only romantic, but very creative with its blush pink garland of petite roses…

Five hundred imperial and gallant red roses… Breathtaking!

A picturesque, alluring porch for two! (I love the vintage red and white goblets.)

With its array of baronial wicker chairs,white sheers, lovely pillows, throws and a bouquet of roses, this piazza brings forth a beautiful romantic flare… (The ferns are undoubtedly a touch of added elegance. )

You can definitely see that this cozy berth is in the “mood for love.”

Bring a smile to your valentines heart, give this little guy some red roses and a box of chocolates to greet your sweetheart! Not only is he uplifting, but a fabulously, creative way to say “I love you.” 🙂

The romance of nature itself! I love it!

This beautiful and splendorous homemade Valentine wreath is heartening, love-some and is sure to bring forth many a smile.

“OUR BEDROOMS, THE PLACE WE CHASE OUR DREAMS.” A room that is simple to ‘dress up’ with such a spectacular motif as Romantic love.

If ever a bedroom exuded romance, this decorator has sure got the secret. Mixing lush wintry shades of white, intricate and stunning wrought iron, a white sheer canopy, along with an abundance of pillows, baronial candle stick holders and a variety of fresh and dried roses, creates an air of mystique and royalty.

Beautifully romantic…The layers and textures on this canopy bed is incredibly enchanting…All it needs is a stellar arrangement of yellow roses! 🙂

More hues of the glorious shades of white… The color of pureness. For this special month, perhaps a splash of red with a bundle of Victorian dried roses and a divinely scented valentine-red candle! I love the natural sunlight.

White, in any of its magnificent shades, represents purity, birth, simplicity, peace, innocence, youth, winter, snow as well as marriage. This enchanting and beautiful Bed Room says it all… Perhaps an arrangement of bustling, colorful , fresh flowers would be the icing on the cake to this eminently romantic hideaway! 🙂

Are you one that is blessed to have “a spectacular view from your window,” as part of your rooms allurement? The city skyline is exceedingly romantic, along with the captivating wooden sleigh bed with its layers and textures of fluffy white…I am thinking some dried , refined, hushed white roses? 🙂

This fluffy white guy, princely teddy bear dressed in his tux,(with his top-hat beside him,) amidst a wispy white, sheer canopy is plenty of romance for me! 🙂

I adore this vintage bed with its bright whites, layers of exquisite linens and intricately designed furniture… the petite antiquated vase filled with the blush rose colored flowers is the perfect touch… Maybe a thick, cuddly throw for the cold February nights that are in the one digit numbers. 🙂

The ample gifts of blue and white…Blue is the color of sleep and bliss…This felicitous bedroom can be likened to laying upon a hammock with a blue sky and a few puffy clouds that occasionally dance by the sun…Its very inviting and definitely dressed up for love… Maybe a few splashes of red to bring forth a bit of passion, or a large bouquet of becalming pink roses with magical babies breath?

This delightful bedroom already has a built in Valentines, romantic flare… I love the paneled arched ceiling, the striking red check couch amongst the dainty, delicate white lace and this grandiose four poster bed. Maybe a few flirtatious red hearts on the wall would add that special touch for this month of love?

This charming and quaint bedroom , (without a touch of red,) is absolutely gorgeous and not only whispers, but DECLARES,” ROMANCE.” I love the special touches of natures bounty with the fresh spray of green and white roses.

Sometimes simplicity says it all. 🙂

Curl up for a blissful night in a bouquet of roses!

I adore this fourposter bed with its gossamer canopy, romantic floral pillows, tone on tone designed madras duvet and damask throw… Maybe a few single stem roses for that “finished romantic touch.”

OUR KITCHENS, THE HEART OF THE HOME, NOT ONLY WHERE WE CONJURE UP THE MOST DELICIOUS CUISINES, BUT THE PLACE WE HAVE SOME OF OUR MOST INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS. THIS MONTH OF LOVE, SAY “BON APPETIT,” WITH A LITTLE ROMANCE ON THE SIDE.

OK. You know how the saying goes, some feel “MORE is more ” and others, “LESS is more.” THIS IS DEFINITELY MORE! Romantic, grandiose, kaleidoscopic and heart stopping! A little potpourri of “everything valentines.” 🙂

With its soft lighting and warm, cozy cabinetry, this kitchen is eminently beguiling and romantic. I still think it needs some hints of red to celebrate the annual occasion! 🙂 Red roses, whether dried or fresh would be the perfect touch!

These cheerful and lovable little guys would brighten up anyone’s heart …I can just “feel the love” in this room! All dressed up in their earth tones with an abundance of red! Definitely awe-inspiring.

This hutch, with its pastel, idyllic plates embodies a tranquil charm, along with the creative valentines decorum … OK, I’d say this one is ” LESS is more,” and I love it! 🙂

With its cheery, luminous ambiance, alluring reds and rich sky blues, this kitchen is dressed to a “T” for this month of passion! (I adore these enchanting chandeliers with their resplendent, authentic lampshades.)

With its romantic, enticing , soothing, and unassuming splendor, this romantic decor would bring the ‘air of love’ and awe to any room! I have never found anything more magical as well as enchanting, than the glow of candlelight and petite, sparkling white lights! They never fail, for any celebratory fete. 🙂

Another eminently romantic kitchen…the pastel pinks and hushed blues together are very soothing and charming. I think it just needs a few symbols of “Je T’aime” … one of Valentines quintessential trademarks, the adored HEART!

A crisp, pure and creamy white kitchen opens up ample opportunities to add Romantic accents for celebrating love. How about some white bone china tea cups with a matching teapot, filled with a medley of dried roses and greens, creating an enthralling and galvanic flavor.

Another inventive, creative idea for celebrating the season is to display a black chalkboard in your kitchen…(whether on a easel or hung on your kitchen wall…) Its great for messages year round, but what a wonderful way to bedeck a room for the special holidays and festive occasions. I love the pastel hearts and romantic sayings! Great idea!

Add a multimedia of color and texture for this gladsome occasion… mason jars and creative canisters filled to overflowing with red and pink candies along with chocolate hearts amidst white lace doilies. These decorative displays would put anyone in a “fabulously romantic” mood. 🙂

A cozy kitchen table set for two…Exceedingly romantic and lovely. This exhilarating flower arrangement takes the Valentines spotlight in this room! 🙂

In this stunning, inviting and resplendent kitchen, the decorator has taken the same kitchen from above, with its luscious butter cream whites, amidst the regal black marble, but this time, expressing that “Less is definitely MORE.” Eminently Romantic with its grand accents of Valentine RED, noble golds and soft whites. Who wouldn’t feel the emotions of “amour” in this cozy room? 🙂

Some more romantic, winsome and canty little snow guys, adding buoyant color, animation and FUN in this joyous time of the year… February’s month of amoire.

Accent towels are always a complete giveaway of the season as well as the patina of your kitchen! 🙂

OUR DINING ROOMS…THE PLACE WE GATHER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, SHARE MANY A TALES OF OLD , LAUGH, CRY, AND ENJOY A MEDLEY OF THE MOST DELICIOUS, SAVORY CUISINE OF OUR LIVES. ITS A PLACE OF CELEBRATION AND IT TOO, WANTS IN ON THE “FLAVOR OF THE MONTH,” 🙂

This Romantic, mysterious yet inviting dining room motif, is not dressed up in the typical valentine decor, but it exudes the very essence of romantic dining. What beautiful and authentic chandeliers…the layering and mixing of fabrics, colors and textures with this decorators table linens is sublime as well as alluring.

A dining room tablescape, created with a wintry mix of nature ‘s bounty, would not only look speculator, but would be delightfully soothing to the senses. Void of bright colors, it’s beauty alone is breathtaking and would enhance any festive get together.

Nowadays, with as many fabulous slipcovers that are on the market, you can transform your rooms with the color of the season. This wintry medley of magnetic earthiness, warm whites, rich tans and regal black, is undoubtedly striking with a romantic flare…I envision an exquisite arrangement of striking red roses, to liven up this already inviting tablescape.

Charming, elfin, enchanting, fairytale like and undoubtedly, exceedingly picaresque. This stunningly beautiful dining room evokes all kinds of “romantic emotions.” I truly believe you can never go wrong with WHITE! The centerpiece is lovely with its verdant greens and bright colored blooms. I would add a little more warmth and romance with the table-settings done in the passionate color of red.

I love the maritime slip covers for these dinning room chairs. The soft white amidst the pastel blues is refreshing. This table scape would come alive with some chargers topped with calico red plates or a luxurious table-setting in sparkling off white china…(I always put a small token gift upon every guests plate.) Valentines day or not! 🙂

Another inviting room of repose and rejuvenation…a Wintry masterpiece. I would add a creative, cheerful and snowy centerpiece to add a bit of festivity to the table.

Don’t forget to keep the month of February exciting, bringing forth a feeling of “being pampered” with choice, fragrant candles that fit the “romantic mood!” I bet The Cinnamon Frosting is divine! 🙂

This decorator has GONE ALL OUT! Very festive and celebratory!

The decadent wintry cake with the beguiling candle lights, creates a very intimate and luxurious table! This gets a “10” in my book! ( Fresh cut wood, kindling in this gorgeous fireplace would of course, be a welcomed added touch for a Romantic evening!) 🙂

A mixture of pewter and fresh flowers gives a very rich and polished presentation! (I love the wintry grapevine garland.) 🙂

There is nothing that says “Romance,” like a fairy-tale village, magical snowflakes, glistening white lights and a dapper little snow guy… A perfect tablescape for your dining room sideboard table, to add a touch of allurement and romantic flavor for this month of celebrating LOVE!.

Whether for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving or a Romantic Valentines dinner, white damask linen with silver, white china and soft, golden candlelight is timeless. Absolutely stellar!

This Valentines I chose to use my wintry cardinal china, mixed with an array of blues and whites… (All winter colors.) And of course, my snow guys with romantic, dried yellow roses and soft candlelight. Every time I walk through our dining room and see this cozy, colorful tablescape, I smile! 🙂

I also added my new 2014 collection of ‘birds.’ These ‘bluebirds of happiness’ were a special gift from my husband this Christmas…They can stay out ALL YEAR LONG! 🙂

My faithful bunny, ( our 7th year wedding anniversary gift from Kit,) also stays up all year long… (I change his wardrobe to fit the season. 🙂 For February, he is embellished with a fairytale-like, elfin wintry attire…

I am impressed with this ‘winter wonderland’ dining room hutch, with its snowman themed plates and entrancing , romantic snow guys.

Talk about “melting hearts!” This guy is also a keeper!

OUR LIVING ROOMS…THE PLACE WE LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE TOGETHER...I may not always decorate our bathroom for this romantic month, but I never miss bringing out a few decorative items to highlight the flavor of ‘romance and love’ for the room we live the most in.

This living room is beautifully simple yet elegant and sophisticated…With its quiet highlights of red, it brings forth the cheerfulness of this holidays’ celebration.

Another cozy, romantic living room…spacious , great lines and a perfect arrangement for a lovely get together. I would add a few accents or two, to bring a little more festivity. (Perhaps an array of throw pillows and fresh garden flowers, to bring some warmth and a motif of romantic-love) 🙂

PERFECT!

“I heard it through the grapevine” that ‘purple‘ is the new color this year for Valentines day…Undoubtedly romantic, alluring and passionate! 🙂

For those of you who are not a lover of reds, cupids or valentine decor, but are in love with romance, these two living rooms exude the mystique and romantic patina, with the beautiful colors of rich tans and royal blues, or hues of gold, butter-cream whites and taupe…the furniture style, candle light, flower arrangements and small decorative items are lovely “just the way they are.”

“A Room with Two Views.” 🙂 I adore the red florals amidst the stripes, with accents in red, white and blue… Romantic and bedecked for the holiday!

Out of all the living rooms, this particular one captures my heart the most! Its got everything! Feminine touches amidst a baronial, checkered ottoman along with the noble and rich, dark woods. The floral couch, inciting valances and white paned windows are exceedingly warm, snug, and festively romantic.

Another wintery, exotic flower arrangement for your Romantic home makeover…

I love the potpourri of colors this decorator has chosen…This room looks a little formal yet I have a feeling, it is a room that has experienced a lot of love and living. For Valentines and a touch of romance, I would add a few decorative pillows that flavor the room with a flashy valentines motif, along with a few cozy, February scented candles.

“One can only imagine that ‘Winter Night’ smells scrumptious.” 🙂

Very simple, a white damask couch, a potpourri of throw pillows, (a romantic snowman throw,) 🙂 and a box of Sees chocolates from California. (If any of my brothers are reading this blog, please, no more Sees candy for awhile…it was WAY to good! 🙂 )

I would love to have a fresh arrangement of white flowers or white roses for my coffee table , (If my husband is reading this blog, please take note of what next Friday is.. 🙂 ) I love fresh flowers in the house…their fragrance as well as natural beauty, are very pampering to the soul. 🙂

Yes, my Christmas tree changed to a snowman tree in January. For February, I added dried red and pastel yellow roses along with red and gold wired ribbon to create a bit of romance. My other little guy is just glad that he doesn’t have to fit in that tree as he loves spaciousness, and dislikes crowds. 🙂

A few of my favorite wintry pillows… I love the white bear snowman! He is so original, colorful and adorable.! 🙂

Another favorite pillow that I keep out for this “sweethearts season,” 🙂 is the one my sister made me for Christmas. You already know who the Boss of this house is…”Sir Grantham.” He truly is a “heart wrapped in fur” and I will keep this gorgeous pillow out year round as she made it with his photo, (in my living room colors…) Its a keeper! He is one of my valentines too …he’s my heart!

This living room is magical with its romantic lighting, heartening fireplace, white woods mixed with the dark and the beautiful highlights of blue… For February , I would add a few throws, bright, motley pillows and an arrangement of yellow roses… but it truly is captivating just the way it is. 🙂

Absolutely stunning, romantic and complete! I wouldn’t add a single thing!

Very Romantic, filled with the beautiful bounty of natures wintry colors. A Victorian flare with its swags embellished with glistening white lights and roses…all in line with Valentines Day, as well as warm and cozy for the winter. The only things I’d change would be, replacing the white pillar candles with pomegranate red, and adorn the bunny rabbits with petite grapevine wreaths with roses (to keep their necks warm!) 🙂

I hope after taking this Romantic tour that you have gleaned a few ideas to take home to your own romantic and cozy haven… I know I have. Just a few changes around your home can make a big difference. Enjoy this last full month of winter… Majestic February. Take a stroll through the woods in the snow, light some wintry scented candles or bake a batch of heart shaped valentine cookies. While your spouse is taking a shower, draw a heart on the steamy mirror and tell them how much you love them…celebrate the month of love and make it special for yourself as well as your household.

In closing this ‘Romantic Makeover vignette,’ I wanted to share with you a few of our favorite chocolates for your “Valentine,” (if you aren’t already sold on one,) as remember Valentines DAY is a special holiday for all the senses… and chocolate is at the top of the list! ) Now, if you really stretched it, you could consider a box of chocolates as ‘Romantic home decor.’ Some of the heart shaped boxes are created so luxuriously and look so beautiful.(They add an abundance of charm and elegance, just resting upon your coffee tables.) 🙂 (just sayin! ) 🙂

Our #1 choice is See’ s candy….always a must when we visit California. Our 2nd is Ghiridelli, 3rd, Dove Chocolates, 4th. Godiva and 5th, Harbor sweets 85 Leavitt Street, Salem MA. Lastly, Harry and Davids Chocolate mousse crunch! (Kits very favorite!) If your still looking for a ‘sweet treat’ for your Valentine, I hope these suggestions are helpful!

If by chance, you are a Trivia person, here is a little “Info” on this particular box of candy;

Harrods is the proud creator of this Valentines box of chocolates, noted to be the most excellent chocolate in the world. There are 49 pieces, all studded with Swarovski crystals, hand wrapped in Indian silk, with platinum and gold linings, and each peace is padded with a crystal flower…for only a mere $10,000. SO,you can buy these for your sweetheart for Valentines Day, or a new car. 🙂

Have a wonderful and blessed Valentines day !

PHOTOGRAPHS: In placing your computer mouse upon any of the photos or graphics, it will display where the picture has originated from.

The felicity of Winters Hush

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Susan

He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter… In winter the stars seem to have rekindled their fires, the moon achieves a fuller triumph, and the heavens wear a look of a more exalted simplicity. ~John Burroughs

Its hard to believe that the last day of autumns glory has departed and the start of a new season has begun. Winter always arrives in a magnificent splendor as it is introduced to us in the height of Christmas. What season can top that prelude? It is a season that embodies an abundance of new beginnings, peaceful times of reflection, warm, cozy fires in our hearths, as the wind howls in an harmonic melody accompanied by the pristine white snow as it wondrously falls outside our double-paned windows. Suddenly, we are enriched with an entirely new ambiance surrounding our days…the December equinox enchanting birds have arrived, bringing a luminescent array of rich colors and new songs. Our hearts bounce with excitement when we have days where we actually feel the warmth of the sun as it is making its way through the overcast skies, with its welcomed accolade and bright , gleeful radiance. Our neighborhoods are filled with nostalgic aromas of fresh firewood kindling , and we begin to get use to natures new attire of white and are surprised when we are no longer longing for the ” the lush green” like we did in the beginning. Every season has its brilliance… When I think of all the cliches of this season, “I leave my home in the winter time and take up residency in Florida for three months,” “Winter is a depressing season” or ” Winter makes me lazy and all I want to do is be a couch potato,”) I find myself feeling just the opposite. True, this season does not gift us with springs vivid and extraordinary, kaleidoscopic blooms, summer’s warmth and the sandy beaches splendor, and the magical three months of fall with its vibrant reds and golds, but, it undoubtedly exemplifies a rare beauty all of its own... Brighter night skies with the air eminently colder and refreshingly crisp. The stars shine lambently and the moon graces us with its tranquil radiance… the trees, now stark and bare, silhouetted against a galvanic sunrise or sublime and flawless sunset, causes our hearts to skip a beat with its stellar beauty. There is nothing like the first fallen snow, blanketing all of nature in an opalescent, fluffy white ….everything looks and feels pure, fresh and clean. As the sun glistens upon the snow banks, and we are snugly wrapped up in a million layers of wintry clothes, thick gloves and scarves covering our faces from the sting of the bitter cold, we feel like little kids again as we trample through the dense yet ethereal, frozen white snow, hearing our boots crunch with each step..if we fall over , no worries…we feel as if we are wrapped up in gigantic pillows…after making a snow angel or two, (we giddily get back up into a standing position and keep going.) We know its time to come in when we can’t complete our words any longer as our mouths are frozen … we quickly barrel back to our welcomed warm homes, and within five minutes, we are down to one layer, happily sitting on the brick hearth, soothed by the sounds of crackling wood and the warmth of the flames upon our backs…we are in heaven! We drink an abundance of coffee, hot cider or steaming cocoa, as we warm our bodies and feel our internal temperature gauge slowly rising to “normal.” 🙂 Now its time to enjoy the beauty of winter from the inside of our homes…we smile as we KNOW the snow will be there in the morning.

Do you ever wonder why people are drawn to the seasons they are? Could it be that it truly is within our genetic makeup? In a way, I liken it to our preference of cuisine… most people either “really love” spicy, Mexican or Asian food or they prefer lightly seasoned cuisine, some even bland. Why am I a “salty” person where as my husband adores sweets… I have two close friends that are in many ways, very much alike, yet one adores autumn and winter, where the other, dislikes the chillier seasons so immensely , she can hardly wait for springtime to arrive. The lover of spring is an April baby, where the other entered this world in the Fall…Is our ‘birth month’ one of the reasons we are drawn to one season more than another? Grantham is definitely a lover of Winter with his four layer fur coat accompanied by his curiosity and excitement with the ‘white-icy-slush.’ 🙂 Our black lab Patch, preferred being inside on his cozy bed when winter arrived in Virginia, dauntlessly avoiding every attempt we made to get him to go outside and play in the snow. As I have grown older, I have come to love and appreciate all 4 seasons, winter and fall more so, but there is such a beautiful bestowal with each one. For myself, winter is a time that evokes a myriad of creative juices to begin flowing.… Living on the east coast, and in many countries with polar temperatures, we can’t do all the things we are use to doing when the weather is gorgeous, warm and the sun brightly shines amidst our green, verdant lawns…But,this wondrous, mysterious season of winter has so much to offer with its many diverse gifts. In this blog, I hope to share with you some imaginative and inspiring ideas, (21 to be exact, 🙂 ) to bring forth an abundance of joy, fun and laughter to your winter months, (perhaps even change your mind a little bit, and take this placid and tranquil season off the bottom of your “favorite season list.” ) 🙂

DISTINGUISHED QUOTE CORNER

“And there is quite a different sort of conversation around a fire than there is in the shadow of a beech tree…. Four dry logs have in them all the circumstance necessary to a conversation of four or five hours, with chestnuts on the plate and a jug of wine between the legs. Yes, let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.” ~Pietro Aretino, translated from Italian

“There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you…. In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.”~Ruth Stout

“Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.”~Bill Morgan, Jr.

“Welcome, winter. Your late dawns and chilled breath make me lazy, but I love you nonetheless. “~Terri Guillemets

“I watch the springs, the summers, the autumns;
And when comes the winter snow monotonous,
I shut all the doors and shutters
To build in the night my fairy palace.~Charles Baudelaire

“The days are short
The sun a spark
Hung thin between
The dark and dark.” ~John Updike

A wintry mix of a few adventurous and innovative ideas of bliss…

If you are already counting the days from New Years to March 20th, (the first day of spring,) how about planning your garden in front of a roaring, cozy fire? Strategizing, envisioning and researching is half the fun of creating your delightful spring garden. Treat yourself to a new garden book, a photo album, a drawing pad, colored pencils and start envisioning your garden from start to finish… Create a photo album of last years garden and decide what you want to replant , what will come back on its own, what new flowers or array of vegetables do you want to plant this year? Where will each, “soon to bloom” treasure be placed within your “enclosed beautiful amphitheater?”

One of my favorite things to do on a piercingly brisk afternoon is to have a Themed Kitchen “creation day.” First off, I decide my motif… Italian, Mexican, vegetarian, Indian, home cooking or perhaps a decadent dessert. Secondly, I research the web or my repertoire of inherited family cookbooks for NEW recipes and pick one that is to tempting to pass up … I brew a fresh pot of coffee, put a classic movie on my petite, kitchen TV and begin to conjure up something delicious …I am always on the hunt for THE BEST spaghetti sauce out there… (but I still believe that my mom’s ‘secret sauce’ will always be my very favorite.) Not only is it fun to throw caution to the wind and add an array of new seasonings, fresh herbs from the grocer and be daring and try different types of tomatoes, onions and spices, but just the aroma alone, wafting from my kitchen stove, is a fabulous gift to our home as the savory sauce fills the air with the most “homey and nostalgic” fragrance, while it simmers all day on the stove. I make extra sauce so I can save some for another day or give a jar to my neighbor. (Another fun thing to do during this stay-warm, indoor season; canning, making jams and jellies and sauces for gifts! )

NO GUILTY PLEASURES HERE! The weather channel has predicted a winter storm for the day, the roads are already icy and the fireplace is beckoning you to come and enjoy its abundance of warmth and mesmerizing, candescent flames. It is the perfect time of the year to curl up and get lost in your favorite authors new novel. Whether atop your cozy bed, snuggled up on the couch, or favorite chair nestled close to the kindling wood, your minutes of intrigue, romance or self help ideas will turn to hours of total repose and escape.

Is nature calling you to, “Come and enjoy some fresh air?” It is no secret that many of us dream of a “white Christmas”…How about a “White” New Years, Peoples choice awards night or Valentines day? If you live in the part of your country that is blessed to have real “snow days,” take advantage of this resplendent gift and enjoy all the felicity of a fresh snowfall…There is nothing quite like the thrill of riding down a slippery snowbank in an inter tube, or being hit by one as you forget to move out of the path when you stand up, suddenly frozen with fear as you see the next inner tube arriving in ‘fast motion.’ (Yes, true story.) 🙂 For many its the exhilaration of snow skiing , creating your first snowman of the season or watching your “Precious cargo” frolic and play the Eskimo way, in the abundant white fluff. (When Kit and I lived in Connecticut, Grantham went out one morning, after a midnight snow storm that delivered over a foot of snow. We called him, (as usual,) and he was nowhere to be found….as we began looking, we heard a muffled bark and as we looked to our right, there he was, burrowed under a beautiful canopy of white, with only the tip of his black , wagging tail visible. He was having the time of his life and no allurement of a beefy bone or bacon strip would get him back in the door.

With the academy awards, People Choice awards and Grammy’s coming up, January is a perfect time for a “HOME MATINEE PARTY.” Plan a special movie day …ask some friends over and make some savory, ambrosial snacks, appetizers, (you have to have an endless bowl of buttered popcorn,) start a fire in your fireplace, light some candles, and begin your “Cinema adventure.”

For your home movie day, rent the movies that are up for awards this year or if you have already seen them, here are some “all time” great movies to rent, depending upon your mood…

For those who love the CLASSICS; Two great picks are “Rear Window” and ‘The Sixth sense.’

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ADVENTURE: ‘Sky fall’ and ‘White House Down,’ will get your adrenaline flowing.

ROMANCE and Kleenex movies, (guaranteed to evoke emotion,) …. The renowned and beloved author Nicholas Sparks’ two galvanic novels that were made into films…’Safe Haven’ and ‘The Lucky one .’

If you are a lover of suspense….Alfred Hitchcock’s, Rebbecca and Now you see me, will keep you on the edge of your seat…

FOR THE LITTLE ONES, (and the young at heart,) Happy feet and The Legend of the Guardians, The OWLS of GA’HOOLE are wonderfully entertaining with exquisite animation.

Winter is an ideal time for starting your abundance of Home Improvement projects. (I can’t help but smile as this always reminds me of Tim the Tool man Taylor, in the popular sitcom.) 🙂 Whether building a bookshelf, refinishing your hardwood floors or transforming an old piece of furniture into something that looks brand new, plan out your projects, purchase all your needed items and get lost in your creative skills… If you love handwork, needlepoint, quilting, painting ceramic plates or scrap booking, treat yourself to all the materials you will need and bestow upon yourself, a time to relax and unwind as you are bringing forth an abundance of beauty. It is not only fun , but recreational to use this season of cold, overcast days to engage yourself in a project you really enjoy doing, that will also, enhance the aesthetic charm of your cozy haven..

Plan and create a pleasurable day with friends and family…Cook up an array of delicious cuisine, bring in a few extra , comfy chairs, giving your guests a front row seat to an exciting and much looked forward to, Superbowl Game gathering.

If you love to decorate and have the time, let your creative juices begin to flow and bring forth a cheerful, colorful and welcoming ambiance for your Superbowl guests!

Sounds scrumptious! (And I would definitely add the chocolate chips!) 🙂

Rent a cabin in the mountains for a dulcet weekend or relishable “seven days of heaven.” Enjoy all the sights, smells and sounds of winter in the country. There is nothing quite like a roaring fire, a cup of steamy hot chocolate and a junoesque snowfall amongst the wintry woods or the elfin glow of a lake, covered with the glimmering shine of incandescent ice.

How about an organized family game day? Whether playing competitive video games, an old familiar table game, Crazy eights or charades, being with your family and friends, getting ‘a little’ out of character as you change into your ‘competition mode,’ 🙂 is a great idea on a “refrigerated.” wintry day. (If you feel like being a lone, challenge yourself with some rounds of solitaire, a one man video game or an in depth crossword puzzle.) 🙂

I will never forget a few years back, when we experienced a snowstorm like never before. Our power went out so Kit and I could not work on our computers, use any type of electricity, watch a movie, listen to music… we decided to get out our games… As we lit a myriad of candles, we had more fun playing Scrabble Slam, Uno, crazy eights, and what surprised me the most is we took out a deck of Old Maid cards and we laughed so hard, (til our jaws ached,) 🙂 with that game (both of us putting on our poker faces, (or trying to anyways) to fool the other into picking the old maid out of the few cards left in our hands. 🙂 We would have never done that if it was a normal day! A winter storm has many advantages! 🙂

Do not laugh, until you have tried it! 🙂

I have yet to do this, but have heard rave reviews on hosting a Grammy party at your home with friends and family. (We love watching the Grammys and sharing it with others who adore it as well, would only enhance the fun!) Add a touch more excitement and mirth by asking each of your guests to come in costume…dressed up as their favorite Grammy nominee…have a few door prizes ” ready for the winners!”

If you really feel creative, make up some voting ballets for your guests to vote in their favorites for the awards ceremony… create a celebratory ambiance in rich, lively reds or classic black and white… If you have time, bake up some savory , delicious Hors d’oeuvres for your guests and send them home with a palatable, decorative box filled with their favorite confections.

Conjure up some intrigue and suspense as you create an unforgettable evening with friends and family…Have a “ Murder Mystery Dinner.” (See my Blog; “A murder Mystery at the old Carmine Estate in Mystic.” ) Plan your guests, characters and plot, create a “suspenseful atmosphere” and cook up a cozy , comfort dinner of Beef Stroganoff, Shepherds Pie or a big pot of homemade chili! Guaranteed to be an enjoyable and memorable evening! (Half the fun is also in the planning and creating!)

If you begin to feel a little bit of the “winter blues,” bundle up and give a few hours of your time to your towns or city’s nearest Soup Kitchen. I always find that one of the richest , most fulfilling activities I can partake in, is giving my time and self to others who are in need. Seeing the gratitude and joy on others faces will only bring that same joy to yours! 🙂

Decide on the perfect evening and MC a concert in your home ...whether with family or friends, pick a few DVDs of your favorite musical artists and stock up on the munchies, appetizers, festive drinks and enjoy a home concert! (And if you feel like dancing, dance until your heart is content!) 🙂

A few highly recommended and delightful concerts! (My favorite being Michael McDonald’s, “A gathering of friends.”

Planning a ladies afternoon tea for a chilly day, or calling a few girlfriends to meet you at a resplendent and fancy tearoom for “High Tea” would be a wonderful and enjoyable afternoon!

You can go with a formal home Tea…

OR, make it cozy and simple! Its the camaraderie and laughter shared with one another that will make this a memorable wintry gathering…. the ambiance you create is “icing on the cake.”

A casual High Tea at a nearby Tea Room… ( Our city’s Tea Room embodies a Victorian motif, with beautiful English china and magical Tea hats and scarfs to create a delightfully pampered experience for its guests.)

It is also a delightful treat to meet at a regal and prominent Tea Room in a renowned Hotel for a Formal Tea…. (They do all the work for you!) 🙂

A trip to your local Borders or Barnes and Nobles for a wonderful day of browsing through your favorite magazines, listening to the newest music at the CD listening bar, reading a great novel while sipping on a scrumptious caramel macchiato and a delicious fruit scone! When Kit and I lived in Alexandria, the Barnes and Nobles across form our home, allowed Graham to come in with us…every Christmas season, we would go for hours, get our magazines, books, coffees and sweet treats and find a cozy corner with chairs. The three of us were “more than content,” as we browsed through our books, listened to Christmas music and talked with others doing the very same thing. (Graham was just elated that he didn’t have to stay in the jeep on our afternoon excursion…going into a place where he was welcomed and could hang out with us and others, was like ” Doggy-heaven” to him.) 🙂

Adopt a pet... With the sunshine taking frequent vacations, and our days more overcast with chilly temps, winter is the perfect time to create some new joy in your home with an adorable pet that is in need of some love and a warm home…. It could be a project with your children or with your mate… YES, its a little extra work, (OK, maybe a lot,) but adopting a pet and bringing love and a safe place to these little, (or big) guys, is a gift to you and your family of endless warm fuzzies and abundant felicity.

A great resource for pet adoption is 1-800-adopt-a-pet or contact your nearest SPCA.

Get your leather gloves, wool scarves and jackets out with your helmet and heavy jeans… This scenic season is a glorious time to take a bike ride... whether to the beach, a country road or to the bustling city, its a front row ticket to enjoy all the beauty that winter brings .Think of all the engaging sights you will behold on your days journey! (And the places you will undoubtedly stop at for hot coffee, hot chocolate and, steaming bowls of savory soups ! 🙂

Plan an actual Play date with your pet in the magical and miraculous snow! Some pets love this over abundance of “white fluff,” its great exercise and brings a heart full of joy to you,seeing your “babies” having so much fun.

If you are feeling the need to “create a neat and more orderly life,” It is so easy, (as well as a lot of fun,) to CREATE your own personalized 2014 Organizer!

All you will need is a notebook, your choice and style of fabric, ( I personally change my material for each season, making several fabric designed notebooks at once,) a package of at least 24 designed sheets of paper, filler paper for making your
daily “To Do List,” Sharpie pens, glue gun, scissors, stickers or cutouts for “special occasions,” such as birthdays, anniversaries or the date “The Voice “comes back on TV in the spring. 🙂 ) Just joshing. I make my own organizer every year with a different notebook and designed paper…Its is not only personalized, but a really fun project for a cold, rainy January day! (And it truly helps me to organize my thoughts, plans, goals and brings me an abundance of peace throughout the new year..)

Exchange your jubilant Christmas decor with a winter-themed snowman motif!

For my family, when the wondrous season of Christmas is over and I fell a bit wistful as I pack up and store all of our Christmas attire in the attic, I purposefully leave out all my cheerful snowmen. If you are a lover of snowmen as well, bring your cheerful guys alive by creating a winning and captivating , wintry corner in your home, turn your Christmas tree into a “Winter Wonderland extravaganza ” or dress up your dining room with an amiable, resplendent snowman table scape…bringing a smile to your family and each winter guest! (I keep my snowmen up through March, as living in Delaware, we have at least three months of cold, icy or snowy weather. 🙂

I love this bright, fortuitous, wintry tree … What a great New years Creation!

Lastly, another favorite winter tradition our family has is a “Home day at the spa.” Everything has to be “just perfect.” for our relaxing and rejuvenating adventure. Our bed made up with soft cotton sheets and down comforter with an abundance of pillows…(Check.) The chicken quesadillas prepared and placed in the oven, (check.) A fresh pot of coffee brewing, (check.) Two of our favorite movies ready to go in the DVD player , (check.) A potpourri of diverse candles lit (as we don’t have a fireplace, (yet,) 🙂 (Check.) We then, flip a coin as to who gets their back massage first. Also included is a heavenly foot rub, facial, neck and hand massage. It is a perfect day…not only is all the stored tension in our muscles long gone, but we feel entertained, are enjoying great food, one anothers company and the day couldn’t be any better if we had paid a professional and gone to the spa… we don’t even think about what the weather is like outside, (in fact, we are secretly hoping for snow flurries.) 🙂 It truly is a wonderful day filled with blithesome hours. This idea definitely goes on my “highly recommended” list.) 🙂

***** On (kind of) the same note, this last year, our Grantham was diagnosed with arthritis as well as suffered from a torn tendon in his leg. We were blessed to discover ‘The essence of Rosemary oil’…It truly is a miracle oil… its so fabulously soothing to him, easing his acing joints, so much so, that he falls asleep with one massage…and its great for us humans too! 🙂 We are so thankful that his leg is healed and his arthritis soothed!!! 🙂

I hope that this blog has inspired you with a few ideas, (you haven’t already thought of,) 🙂 to add some joy, sunshine and FUN to this winter season!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2014~ Bonne annee, ~ Felix sit annus novus, ~ Felice anno nuovo!!!

PHOTOGRAPHS: In placing your computer mouse upon any of the photos or graphics, it will display where each picture originated.

“HOME”, for the holidays!

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Susan

“Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house; Our minds are astir with a medley of thoughts; “Did I wrap all the presents? How long does the roast cook tomorrow? I hope all of our FedEx packages arrived safely and is that TRULY the right “unforgettable moment- Aha gift,” I chose for my spouse? ”

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, “Did I get Graham the right toys and beefy bones? Kit the right pens, flashlight, pocketknife, ornaments and his favorite Dove dark chocolates? Speaking of chocolate, I pray Graham doesn’t get into Kits stocking tonight or tomorrow morning, there will be more than the sweet aroma of fresh pine, lingering in the air.”

Grantham is all settled, nestled snug upon his tapestry bed, while visions of our homes ‘mascot,’ bunny rabbit and a winsome deer in the meadow, stand dauntlessly before him, daring him with their flirtatious eyes, “Just try to catch us…go ahead.”

Mama in her kerchief, (that’s me? What the heck is a kerchief?), Kit never goes to bed in his cap. Restlessly, there I lay, wide awake, praying, hoping and longing for at least 6 hours of blissful sleep, OK, perhaps maybe just a 4 hour, refreshing nap!

Doesn’t it seem that our Christmas celebration begins the moment we dry our last Thanksgiving dish? Already we are busily planning what kind of tree we will buy, where it will go and whether our Christmas theme this year will be ‘Angel’s,’ ‘Santa’s,’ or ‘Snowmen?’ Excitedly, we set our alarms early for the next morning to either participate in ‘Black Fridays’ notorious shopping sprees, or begin our felicitous trips to the attic to gather our cherished Christmas treasures and decor. We stand back in awe as we behold our home after its finally decorated. It looks magical, filled with bliss and an elfin charm that we wish we could ‘capture in a large bottle,’ so we could borrow some of it’s resplendent essence, whenever we need a ‘bit of magic,’ in the new year that lies ahead. Suddenly, the date on the calendar reminds us that its time to write our Christmas cards, we have three holiday parties we have answered a “yes” to, Christmas shopping, the candle light service at Church, gift wrapping, caroling with our neighbors, cooking, baking and YES, we are “having a lot of fun” yet we are beyond exhausted! It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this season, and forget to take time to smell the “evergreen branches, sugar cookies baking in the oven, unmatchable aroma of the firewood kindling in our hearths, or the delightful fragrance of the years first snowfall.”

This vignette, “HOME, for the holidays,” is for you my readers, a gift of PURE ENJOYMENT! There is no “hustle and bustle here…” 🙂 First of all, light a fire or some candles, fix yourself your favorite holiday drink… a steamy mug of mulled cider, a caramel latte, a cup of Earl Grey tea in your Christmas china, a glass of Merlot or Chardonnay, ice cold beer or a cup of coffee…(with delicious peppermint-chocolate creamer…of course.) Sit back, relax and enjoy a delightful Christmas Home tour, beholding beautiful rooms festooned for this wondrous season, glistening Christmas trees that will touch your hearts and spirits and just enjoy some blissful time of repose and rejuvenation as you reflect on this fabulous season… I hope you ENJOY!

“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays
Cause no matter how far away you roam,
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
For the holidays, you cant beat home, sweet home

“Welcome to A kaleidoscopic, magical Christmas Home tour for this delightful and heartwarming season! Instead of just one or two homes, this tour holds a potpourri of resplendent homes, embodied with all styles and motifs of this magical, magnificent season. (Is your Bing Crosby playing in the background?) :)”

THE FRONT PORCH

Lets start at the very beginning…Our front porches, festooned for an eminently “Welcome Christmas” ambiance. Whether for your children arriving home from College, the UPS guy delivering gifts, greeting festive carolers or your friends and family for Christmas days fete, it’s your Havens “first impression” and a tempting “peak” at what is laying wait for them beyond the front doors, inside. 🙂

How can you not love a red door at Christmas? Lovely!

A touch of Holiday flare!

Simplicity at its best!

Regal, inciting and royal!

Soft and glowing, exuding the comfort of HOME!

A beautiful reminder of Christmas’ past!

Quaint and inviting…

One of Winters hallmarks… Boy does this bring back nostalgic memories! 🙂

Celebrate with a parade of lights!

You can’t beat the traditional medley of fresh foliage amongst vibrant reds.

One of my favorite “looks” for the holidays! It reminds me of an old fashioned English Christmas! 🙂

Is this wintry snowman adorable or what? He is certainly a “cheerful greeter” for any visitor arriving to your home.

A beautiful porch bannister, festooned for a classical red and green Christmas!

This photo says it all! It reminds me of the antebellum homes in the south with their long porches, adorned with the renowned white rocking chairs…Beautifully bedecked for the holidays!

A grandeur stairwell, embellished in a polished and splendid attire. “Simply Marvelous!”

Even your mailbox deserves a “touch of Christmas!” 🙂

Our fair haired friends dressed up for a festive occasion. (Wonderful Christmas decor for the little ones and for all of us “Teddy bear lovers.”) 🙂

A Romantic and felicitous Christmas wreath… I’ll take ten of these, please! 🙂

THE BACK PORCH

Don’t forget ‘the extra square footage’ of your lovely home…your back porch! A special and private nook to grab a few moments of repose, a cup of hot cocoa and a breath of “really fresh air.” BRRR! Bring it alive with fresh greens and the vibrant colors of the Christmas season!

I love this choice, fresh cut evergreen wreath, bedecked with red silky ribbon, rustic pine cones and brilliantly hued apples. Unique and eminently creative.

Subtle yet enchantingly stunning!

Nature’s bounty reflects this joyous season.

Another medley of undeniably aesthetic Christmas decor for your outside retreat…fresh greens amidst grapevine… It’s perfect plain, all by itself, or a great foundation for an abundance of Christmas color!

THE FOYER

How about your Foyer, entrance way, vestibule, passageway or lobby…. Make it unforgettable, a “holiday~love~at~first~site~encounter!”

I can’t think of two better “greeters…” A heartwarming Christmas tree with cheery, happy snowmen.

Walking into a “Winter wonderland!” 🙂

Warm, colorful and beautifully welcoming!

“Angels we have heard on high.” I am an angel lover…there is nothing more festive and adorable than a chubby cherub angel dressed for Christmas…

Who wouldn’t feel welcomed, snug and cozy inside with these two beautiful, glistening hurricane lamps filled with opalescent candles, amongst beautiful tapestry? Absolutely gorgeous.

“Hark the Herald angels sing…” There is nothing more elegant, serene to the spirit and lovely to the eyes, than an Angel tableaux, or nativity scene, adorned with soft glowing lights and wondrous “glad tidings” to bring!

THE MANTLE

Now that we’ve journeyed past all of the “entrance ways,” behold OUR main room, beautifully dressed for this “oh so special” occasion! Many of us spend most of our time in this cozy, blissful room, so why not go all out for Christmas and create a room full of your favorite Christmas colors, characters and decorations? One of the focal points of this favored room is the fireplace mantle… WOW! What a beautiful array of diverse decor!

This mantle is classic and will most definitely, have every “little one” guessing where Santa is, and why has he left his bright red boots in the chimney for so long? 🙂

Dreamy, romantic and a fireplace mantle I could look at all day, (and night) long! 🙂

The architecture alone on this spectacular mantle is breathtaking. It’s “less is more” decor motif is perfect and brings this living room to life with it’s regal and festive ambiance.

Heavenly! The soft lighting, crisp white linens amidst the animated and lively ivy is absolutely winsome and warming to the heart.

This mantle reminds me of an old fashioned Christmas celebration with its abundance of golds and greens…brick hearth fireplace with charming homemade stockings… I love it!

“A resplendent symphony of Christmas tidings…”This festive and colorful patina is not only original and creative, but is filled to the brim with warmth, holiday cheer and an old English charm.

Elegant and beautifully simple!

Does it get any more spectacular and gorgeous as this? Mesmerizing!

With it’s fresh green garland entwined with a medley of glistening white lights and Jolly Old St. Nicholas and Frosty’s cousins , this beautiful mantle is sure to bring home the Christmas spirit to the child in all of us! 🙂

The combination of the timeless reds and greens amidst the alabaster white mantle is breathtaking! Don’t you just adore these spirited, animated old world Santa’s? (They look like they have a wondrous tale or two to share from all their magical journeys.) 🙂

Not quite your traditional Christmas mantle, but lovely all the same. The medley of the blues and whites is a “welcomed patina” at any time of the year! Very festive!

THE BANNISTER

If your cozy haven is two story, then you have the gift of creating Christmas on your stairwell. These festive bannisters are not only creative but eye-catching ! This balustrade is “heavenly” with it’s array of greens, bright orange , shimmering ribbons and berries amidst this gorgeous stairwell’s ornate and unique architecture!

Perfect ambiance for all of you Nutcracker lovers out there! Fabulously stunning!

This outdoors, kaleidoscopic display of bright reds, greenery and hushed berries is entrancingly chic and classy!

My favorite color combination… a striking fresh green garland with soft, creamy white , opalescent ornaments….Does it get any more romantic than this? 🙂

Not only fetching and soothing, this traditional and dapper green swag garland, amidst a brilliant white staircase, is also engagingly simple as well as elegant. I can hear it softly declaring; “Christmas has arrived!”

Color changes everything and sets our mood! This festive bannister is alive with joy, gladness and celebration! Beautifully done!

THE LIVING ROOM

Now we enter the grand room itself! Our festive living rooms dressed to a “T” for this wondrous, magical , long awaited Season! These living rooms evoke within us Christmas and all its joy and felicity.

“The hostess with the most-ess.” I adore these creative and diverse, festive topiary trees! A perfect way to dress up any room for the holidays!

This inviting and alluring mantle is certainly the “main attraction” in this living room. The color combination of striking greens and lulled, butter-cream whites, is not only soft and welcoming, but, again, augustly romantic and lovely!

I’d be sitting by this fireplace all day long! 🙂 (A perfect place to read The Christmas story to your kids on the most dreamed about night of the year.) 🙂

Galvanic, creative and festive! Those sweet treats are making me hungry!:)

A beautiful celebration of enveloping greens, rich golds and warm reds… fabulously snug and cozy!

Here come those adorable cherub angels again… This combination of pastel colors, amidst the fresh greens, with its resplendent baroque motif is one of my favorite…regal and noble, simple, yet elegant. I love it!

Come and share a Christmas cup of tea! This room is not only cheery, bright and warm, but your heart fells welcomed the minute you walk through its doors.

I’m speechless! (just kidding!) 🙂 It goes without saying that mixing the exuberant colors of purple, rose and blue amidst the traditional golds, greens and reds is absolutely magical, elfin and STUNNING! Maybe Next year? 🙂

This inviting, cozy, serene gathering place is definitely an ambiance where “LESS, truly is more.” I absolutely love this patina! It speaks loudly of Christmas with all it’s splendor, without a lot of flamboyant or flashy decor! This living room reminds me of a remote cabin in the mountains, nestled on a serene, placid lake. It gives off the feeling of warmth, camaraderie and a big Christmas hug! 🙂

A delightful and refreshing ambiance with it’s cozy faux painted walls, bright red and yellow poinsettias, luscious greens, and simple yet elegant setting!

THE KITCHEN

“No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they love my kitchen BEST!” Isn’t that the truth! So many wondrous and intimate conversations take place in our cozy places of creation…These kitchens are “decked up” with an abundance of Christmas Cheer!

Simple, yet snug and cozy! I love the combination of the green and gold!

This aesthetic and buoyant kitchen is not only elegant with it’s highlights of green amongst it’s stellar whites, but is refreshing and roomy, all ready for Christmas baking! 🙂 The warm wood, shiny copper and touches of green and red create a cozy, relaxed and comfortable kitchen for the holidays!

WOW! My favorite Christmas kitchen so far… With its rainbow of inciting colors and Christmas patina, I would spend most of my time looking for a reason to be in my kitchen. 🙂 It even has (what could be,) a writing desk. 🙂

Adorable and creative…I am impressed with the gingerbread man motif!

How about dressing up a kitchen corner with a plate rack, filled with your cherished Christmas plates, adorned with swags of green garland and miniature white lights, to bring a little magic to the room?

One of Christmas’ hallmarks….The traditional Snowman…A great decor peace for any of your rooms this holiday season.

THE HUTCH

Whether your hutch is in your kitchen, dining room, living room or bedroom, it is the perfect place to display your favorite Christmas treasures!

This vintage hutch with it’s adoring collection of Santa Clauses is not only magical and jocund, it adds a colorful display of Christmas cheer to this rooms ambiance.

Traditional, classy and blissful! (I love the butter cream yellows with the vibrant reds.)

I do not think that the color combination of blue and white will ever go out of style! This hutch is so classy , festive and refreshing…Exceedingly elite and polished!

I always tell my husband that sending and receiving Christmas cards or ornaments is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I keep every card and ornament, (and Christmas decoration someone blesses me with,) as it brings forth so many wonderful, gladsome memories of Christmas past! This “Santa and Penguin sleigh” is a gift from my beloved brother Jim… Unique, just like he was! 🙂

How can you go wrong with a flourishing wintry wreath and a country snowman?

Candy canes amongst fresh greens and bright red berries…a timeless and festive motif for your Christmas hutch.

This antiquated, shabby chic, blue hutch with its abundant array of Santa’s, accentuated with the pewter is magical, creative and overflowing with Christmas cheer.

Every Christmas, I can hardly wait to get out my nativity collection, and display it upon our living room hutch. Its found its home! 🙂 Our hutches are such wonderful places to share our hearts aren’t they?

THE DINING ROOM

The one place we gather with our beloved family and friends, sharing exquisite cuisine, old family recipes to die for, laughter and many a story of Christmas past…Our Dining rooms! This year I decided to go all out for our dining room with an Old English Christmas motif. What is your theme for your Christmas dining room tableaux this year?

I have always loved mixing my china patterns together… I used do it even before it was the “in thing.’ 🙂 You already know me, I am a “more is more” person! 🙂

I would love to be a dinner guest at this beautifully created holiday table! The chandelier with its soft lighting and festive decor is stunningly creative and alluring.

There is nothing more regal and fancy than a freshly polished silver goblet…add some Christmas greens and reds and its like MAGIC! A tablescape fit for royalty!

This dining room, all decked up for Christmas is blithesome, light some and full of splendor. An exceedingly soft display of the holiday spirit with it’s gorgeous whites, vintage red table and fresh cut greens…I love the way the decorator has used the white , sheer material to dress up her dining chairs with that “extra” added touch of elegance.

A step back in time… This dining rooms motif is abounding and flourishing with beauty and grace, with its array of alluring colors and unique, charming style. I love it!

Okay! My new favorite Christmas dining room! Not only is it ‘ Victorian at its finest,” but beautifully romantic and overflowing with warmth!

Resounding and golden! What a refreshing Christmas motif.

I was wrong! This is my favorite Christmas Dining room of all time! 🙂 This room looks like a dream with its resplendent and ornate fireplace and mantle architecture, Victorian evergreen tree, rich tapestries, brilliantly white linens, antique china and fresh bouquet of wintry flowers… I would never get up from the meal! 🙂

A formal Christmas dinner with a a roaring fire…This looks like something out of a fairytale. 🙂

This room is abounding in rich color and most certainly embodies a festive ambiance of Christmas cheer.

Also within our dining rooms, our delightfully festooned sideboards for the holidays fetes.

This gorgeous sideboard has been decorated with class, an abundance of rustic, fresh garlands and looks beautifully tailored. Perfect for all the “extras’ from your bountiful Christmas feast.

I think one of the most irresistible animals on this earth is the cuddly, innocent and “oh so cute” Polar bear. What a great idea for a festive and celebratory sideboard table-scape in your dining room.

Elegant, heart warming and filled with charm!

This beautiful cherub angel with its subtle attire of reds and greens is stirring and amazingly radiant. If our home was really big, I would definitely have an abundance of these “adorable guys” all over my house. 🙂

This year, for our old English Christmas dining room theme, I brought out my Tutor house village collection… It looks so romantic all lit up at night on our sideboard…(I can’t fit any extra food on it while we are dining, but hey, it looks good!) 🙂 .

A playful snowman to brighten the room… this sideboard has a little more room for food …OK, who really needs a sideboard for food at Christmas anyways? Would you rather have a Santa Claus, jolly snowman, Polar bear gracing your room, or a side dish of broccoli casserole and basket of bread on the table? 🙂 I know what my husbands answer would be. 🙂

THE BEDROOM

For our special place of respite, dreaming away in slumber land, our bedrooms need a little touch of the holiday festivity as well.

This bedroom is undoubtedly dressed for Christmas! I love the red plaids amongst the crisp whites, the fresh greens wrapped around the bed posts and the simple, yet winsome and classy Christmas tree with its soft amber lights!

I never think of pink or rose as being a Christmas color, but I have sure changed my mind! This bedroom is gorgeous! It looks like a room where you would sleep peacefully with “visions of sugar plums dancing in your head.” 🙂

This delightful bedroom is simple, yet embodies an ‘elegant flavor’ of Christmas.

This room resounds in abundance with it’s breathtaking color… Waking up each morning with all the gorgeous shades of red, blue, greens, whites, gold and yellows,would make for a great start to any day! Very beautiful and festive for the Christmas holidays!

Cozy, snug and mirthful!

Now this is the way Kit would like our bedroom to look at Christmas… Very clean lines, rustic yet warm with beautiful earth tone colors…It’s handsome and baronial yet enchantingly charming.

Ah! A hot cup of Christmas tea, a roaring fire and a good Christmas novel…That sounds like a perfect night for this stunning bedroom.

Subtle touches of Christmas cheer make this room welcoming, fresh and delightful! I adore sleigh beds!

The combination of Christmas plaids with Victorian needlepoint pillows is undeniably polished, as well as festive and inviting.

Absolutely galvanizing! Earthy, yet amazingly heart- stopping-gorgeous!

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

Leading up to the grand finale, THE CHRISTMAS TREE, we spend a lot of time finding just the right ornaments from our collections to create the “perfect Tree” we desire each year. My older brother Jim started me on collecting Christmas ornaments when I was in Jr. High school and I have kept it going, (one of our families traditions,) each year.

My very first Christmas ornament from Jim in the 70’s. 🙂 Every year, I think of him when I find the perfect place for it to go, upon our Christmas tree.

And my collection just keeps on growing! 🙂

What a colorful and festive, jolly Santa!

With every ornament we place upon our tree each year, there are an abundance of warm, happy cherished memories that run through our minds and warm our hearts. That’s what I love about decorating the tree…

What a unique Old world Santa Christmas ornament!

These exquisite ornaments are for all you Victorian lovers out there… So delicate and lovely!

Nostalgic and magical!

THE GRAND FINALE**** THE CHRISTMAS TREE

One of my favorite memories as a child, was the day after Thanksgiving when my mom, six siblings and I loaded up in our station wagon and went to FIND THE PERFECT EVERGREEN TREE! I can still smell the fresh pine, hear our laughter and bantering… It was a perfect day! After the last decoration was placed upon our tree and the lights turned on, it was as if a magic wand touched our entire house, filling it with enchantment, love and gladsome hearts. To this day, I feel the same way!

Incredibly authentic, inspirational and this little angel toddler is precious! 🙂

Light hearted and debonair…this maritime Christmas tree is nurturing to the eye as well as the soul!

Whether in an array of heart stopping reds and greens, or vibrant blues and golds, both of these festive trees are authentic and stir up ample dramatic and festive celebratory emotions within, for the magical season.

These Old fashioned Christmas trees awake the convivial spirit within … Incredibly jovial and enrapturing.

Is there anything more magical and childlike than a teddy bear Christmas tree?

Amiable, welcoming and heart warming! The classic red , gold and green Christmas tree will never be outdated… Its timeless!

Another cordial and heartening classical Christmas tree! (With a patriotic touch!) 🙂

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…” I love this unique and authentic tree with its spruce charm.

This tree reminds me of our Christmas tree growing up in the 70’s and 80’s…Classic! (I can still hear my fathers voice saying; “Kids, your putting way to much tinsel on the branches.) 🙂 (Then he’d take some off when we’d go to bed, not wanting to take away our pride from our “work of art” for the evening.) 🙂

Another elegant and soft bethnic Christmas tree with its seafaring theme! Abundantly refreshing!

Vivacious and winsome! I can just hear the Carol of the bells, playing in the background. 🙂

An absolutely stunning Victorian Christmas tree…I could keep this up all year round! 🙂

Original and authentic…These beautiful trees are “top of the line,” as well as ingenious.

It looks like the elves were “super busy” bedecking this gorgeous, romantic tree…It definitely lines up with the “more is more” motto for decor! 🙂

Last, but not least, this modern, vibrant, kaleidoscopic tree is not only dramatically alluring but definitely festooned with gladness, cheer and good will!

The finishing touch of each family tree is it’s creatively wrapped packages. (Half the fun of receiving a gift is being able to “guess” what it is, before unwrapping it 🙂

Sensational! Beautiful choice of colors!

There are so many creative ways to wrap your Christmas gifts this year… Even the Christmas gift bags are beautifully decorated! 🙂

I love these Toile wine bottle covers… They would be a beautiful display year round on your ding room hutch or sideboard!

Bright and festive colors make all the difference! What a gorgeous combination of textures and hues!

Now, there is one Festooned part of this home tour I have left out? Can you guess what it is? No home, that hosts beloved ‘pets,’ is complete, without your precious cargo arrayed in a little, (or a lot) of Christmas splendor and cheer. (They are so eager to get in the Christmas spirit and they adore all the extra attention!) 🙂

Oh my gosh…this gentle giant is so adorable! (And brimming over with Christmas spirit.)

Our little, (big) Grantham, decked out for the holidays…(Sitting in his favorite wing back chair.) The next thing you know, he’ll ask Kit or I to get him a cold glass of milk. 🙂

Precious! We do not have any cats, but these cuties sure tug at my heart to go to the nearest pet store! 🙂 How adorable!

More treasured and beloved kitties enjoying the Christmas season.

For all of you Horse lovers out there… These big guys love ‘dressing up’ for the occasion, just as much as our indoor pets! 🙂

Grantham, when he was just a little puppy, dressed in his red Christmas sweater. I could not get him to wear the reindeer antlers for the life of me. 🙂

Is this not the cutest Christmas photo ever? What a cutie pie! This needs to be framed and put on the mantle… I love it!

I hope you have enjoyed this Home for the holiday tour for the Christmas season, your latte or glass of wine, your time of repose and that perhaps an idea or two has ‘jumped out at you’ to add to your Christmas decor this season! Merry Christmas!

PHOTOGRAPHS: In placing your computer mouse upon any of the photos or graphics, it will display where the picture originated from.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours…

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Susan

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and BEHOLD, everything is softer and more BEAUTIFUL! ~ Norman Vincent Peale

For all of you, my readers, I wish for you and your loved ones, a wonderful, happy and blessed Christmas. I began this site, Living Winsomely, in February 2013 and I feel so very humbled by all of your kind words and responses. Thank you all, so very much for your wonderful and much appreciated encouragement and support. I am looking forward to the time I will be able to start writing creative blogs once again for the Living Winsomely site. It is my heart, to continue to bring forth an array of inspirational vignettes, that add a touch of beauty and winsomeness, to not only your homes, but to your lives as well, . For all of you in other countries, (not knowing if you celebrate this holiday, or a holiday likened to it,) as well as all of you who celebrate Hanukkah, I pray your seasons of celebration are filled with laughter, joy, an abundance of new memories, love, family and dear friends.

Here is a little “Christmas” from our household….TO YOURS!

In celebrating the “REASON FOR THIS MAGICAL, JOYOUS SEASON,” I wanted to share one of our favorite Christmas Carols , written and sung by Michael McDonald.

“On This Night,” ~ Lyrics by Michael McDonald

In a world of no hope, a light will shine brightly
That all men might know the meaning of mercy
And of love beyond all love, peace that rests the soul
The heart will open and search no more

Behold I bring You tidings
Tidings of great joy
The world has found it’s answer
In a child that’s born on this night

Sing out across the seas, cry out from the mountains
The son of man is born, let’s sing of His mercy
And the peace beyond all peace, the King of kings has come
Let every heart surrender, every soul reborn

Behold I bring you tidings
Tidings of great joy
The world has found it’s Savior
In a child that’s born on this night, on this night

Behold I bring you tidings
Tidings of great joy
The world has found it’s answer
In a child that’s born .

May your home be filled with beauty, joy, celebration, scrumptious cuisine and love! Merry Christmas! Susan, Kit and Grantham!

PHOTOGRAPHS: All photographs are from Living winsomely, except the beautiful snowman greeting card at the top, which is from Google Images.

Yours always, HOPE!

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Susan

“HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS, THAT PERCHES IN THE SOUL, AND SINGS THE TUNE WITHOUT THE WORDS, AND NEVER STOPS AT ALL.” ~ Emily Dickinson

When the ‘first flicker’ of creating my blog site, “Living winsomely” entered my heart, I envisioned it to be a site where every writing would be colorful, felicitous, resourceful and filled with beauty, as my whole concept of writing these blogs has been to inspire you, my readers, to bring more beauty, joy and winsomeness into your lives. I stared thinking the other day, about how much strength, beauty and life, HOPE brings to our lives. HOPE changes everything… The hard part of it is, that we usually have to be in a difficult place, or “season” of our life, to really appreciate the powerful gift that lays within this resplendent bestowal. I decided to write this blog on loss and hope, because loss is a part of all of our lives in one way or another...especially peaking its head out during the holidays, as we have such a treasure of golden memories during this festive time, of those we no longer have with us. In this blog, I want to share with you a writing about the loss of a love that only comes once in a lifetime. It is a true story that I wrote, when something magical happened, in facing the loss of my my best friend for 33 years, my mom. I want to share it with you, because it is a writing of HOPE and when I was given this gift in my ‘letting go stage of accepting her death,’ it truly changed me inside, bringing a peace I never wanted to leave my soul, and it changed me prodigiously… I will always love this word HOPE. ( But it is so much more than a word,) 🙂 …I look for it everyday in the small things that come about that are in need of its help, but always know I can count on it 100%, when the monumental storms of life hit. Hope never fails!

We all suffer losses everyday, in many forms… relationships, our health, jobs, a miscarriage, financial stability, our beloved pets, a friendship, a dream deep within our hearts, a home or the loss of ourselves, from being abused.

When we experience loss, there are such a wide range of emotions that flood our soul…we try to “avoid those emotions,” for as long as we possibly can, but they always seem to surface and come out in some other way. (Don’t they?) (I always have loved the “numb stage”.) 🙂 Someone very wise once told me that when we suffer a deep cut physically upon our bodies, the body goes into a place of numbness and we do not feel the injury’s “real effect and pain” until later. The human body is built that way…it protects us. In the same way, our minds protect us from our emotions that seem unbearable to allow ourselves to feel. When we do “Feel” and embrace them, the miraculous gift, that begins to unravel, is the gift of becoming whole again and healing. I myself would not dare to “feel” loss, alone…that is where my faith comes in. We all have different ways of coping, different beliefs, faiths and tools for accepting and grieving our losses. For me, it has always been my faith in God. (Not to say that at times, it took longer to get to the place to be able to receive the precious gift of hope that comes in our losses, than others.) When I lost my brother Jim unexpectedly, ( who was also one of my best friends in life,) it took me a lot longer to connect with God and for some reason, I took the elongated way around! But the HOPE came, then the healing and now instead of sadness and what seemed an endless well of despair, when I think of Jim, I feel a warmth, love and a joy... I miss him now more than words can say, but with such a gratitude that I was able to love someone so deeply, that in loosing them, I could feel such a magnitude of grief and loss. I thank God for allowing me to have him in my life on this earth for 52 years, as he was one in a million. I smile now, (inside and out,) at all of our treasured memories, (which are many,) and my tears are happy tears, celebrating that I had such a phenomenal person as my big brother, in whom I KNOW I will see again one day. HOPE CHANGES EVERYTHING…

To give you some background for this writing, let me tell you a little bit about my mom and I… We were like two peas in a pod…knew exactly what the other was feeling, thinking, loved to spend time together, were each others confidants, and she taught me so much in life about Love, forgiveness, family, etiquette, cooking, decorating, joy, fun, makeup, apparel, humor, laughter, truth, unconditional love and acceptance. She was actually the one who introduced me to the Lord , as she had been praying for me , (and all my 6 siblings,) for many, many years. I was blessed beyond words to have her for my mom and best friend. My mom got married young and started her family early with a beautiful baby girl, then after four baby boys in a row, (she whispered to the Lord; “I’d like another little baby girl again…these boys are wearing me out.”) 🙂 (Sorry guys…) and low and behold, she had twin baby girls, my sister Kathy and I. (One of us was a BIG surprise as she had no idea when giving birth, she would be delivering two babies into this world, instead of one.) 🙂 It was a happy time for her as we were her special gift from God, fulfilling a place in her heart that she had prayed and longed for. Suddenly and unexpectedly, my twin died when she was 8 months old and my mom , (as well as our entire family) suffered a tragic loss and went through a very dark time… I was told that It was in loosing my twin, that my mom and I began to form the close bond that we were blessed with in life…She protected me like a mother hen looks after her baby chicks, never wanting to loose her other precious ‘care-package,’ God had just given her. ( Three years later, she did have one more baby boy,) declaring to the world; “Okay, 8 is enough!” 🙂 ( My baby brother was not only magical, but a true bundle of joy to my mom, family and everyone who knew him, and he still is, ) but that will have to be a whole other story! 🙂

As we enter into this Thanksgiving and Christmas season, and you are personally going through the loss of a loved one, or a loss of any kind, I hope that “my story” will bestow upon you a ray of hope, and that in some way, you will feel a strength and peace in the midst of your journey and season of loss.

Yours always, HOPE

I will never forget the arduous day that changed my life forever. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, late in the month of June. I drove from Irvine California to Laguna Niguel to visit my folks just like I did a few times each week. I loved going to parents lovely home. Every time I’d open their front door, I would always get that same warm, gregarious feeling. I don’t know if it was because of all the heavenly and familiar aromas cooking and simmering in my mom’s kitchen, (her legendary shrimp creole with a ‘southern touch,’ savory brisket stewing together with red potatoes,carrots and onions or her scrumptious, (secret sauce,) spaghetti and mouthwatering, “seconds please,” beef stroganoff.) Perhaps it was the buoyant and content sounds of laughter, a favorite television show playing, melodic music wafting from my fathers study upstairs or the voices of one of my 6 siblings, conversing over a cup of freshly brewed chicory coffee with my mom and dad. All I know is I always got so excited knowing I was going to my ‘second home.’ I headed upstairs to see my mom as I knew she would be resting. Her cozy, southern style, beautiful bedroom had become “the gathering place” for our family since she had been recovering from her illness. Being a southerner and a connoisseur of coastal, daunting yet thrilling, summer lightning storms, ( Southern California did not offer that amenity very often,) 🙂 she always asked me to put her “Thunderstorm tape” in her boom box beside her bed …she played it over and over again, as it soothed her body and soul. 🙂 ( Twenty-two years later, I find myself listening to that same tape, feeling its magical comfort each time.) 🙂 Everyday, she looked like a radiant angel, in her pretty nightgown and matching robe, always smiling as she greeted us and asked us about our day… You see, my mom’s whole life was about her family and she was ALWAYS interested in every detail of our lives…each one of us could talk to her about ‘anything,’ and WE DID! 🙂 Even our friends felt the same way!

My dad met me on the stair landing, where he stopped me and spoke the very words my heart had dreaded and feared the most.

“Susan, after your mom’s appointment today, her doctor told me that her cancer has returned and has spread throughout her body. He doesn’t expect her to live beyond six to eight weeks time, though they are going to run more tests.”

All of the hope, faith and confidence I had clung to that her cancer was healed and gone, deserted me. I felt as if the wind was knocked out from under my feet, and I truly believe it was at that moment, that God Himself, filled me with His strength and grace. His arms were holding me on that stairway as I didn’t collapse or run out of the house, screaming in despair. Without preparation, notice and totally unexpected, I was just told that the best friend I had ever had in my life was going to die. I was flooded with so many fearful and angst emotions. A deep sadness overcame me and I felt that a part of me inside was beginning to die as well. The HOPE was gone. I don’t remember what I said to her that day, (as she had not been told yet.) I don’t even remember driving home…

My husband Kit held me close as I shared the news with him that evening. He tried so vehemently to comfort me in every way he knew how, but his loving arms and kind, compassionate, words could not penetrate the pain in my soul. Oh, the awful pain…I never knew a heart could hold something so massive.

The warm summer days passed. All I remember is that I was merely functioning. Although I was a new bride and should have been feeling blissful joy, and pure felicity with Kit, the man that I had always dreamed of being married to, I felt lifeless. Going to visit my mom , with the knowledge that this time she was not going to recover, I felt empty, helpless, dismayed, fearful and my heart was overwhelmed with anguish, especially because she had not yet been told the full truth. ( Amongst my melange of multifarious emotions, I TREASURED every moment spent with her, holding on so tightly to everything she said, her smile, touch, the scent of her favorite perfume that she wore everyday, (Carolina Herrera,) not wanting to miss out on even one moment of the precious time we had left with her.) I remember the afternoon I sat in my grandmother’s old rocker, caddy-cornered to my mom’s bed. She was sitting up that day, her animated, beautiful brown eyes filled with excitement as she spoke to me in her sweet southern accent about us returning to her home town in South Carolina the upcoming fall.

“Susan, won’t it be wonderful to visit Marion and see all of our cousins this autumn? The fall leaves will be so beautiful with bursts of reds, amber and yellows, and the air will be so crisp and cold. Maybe we’ll get a few thunderstorms while we’re there? We can drive down to Pawley’s Island and Murrell’s Inlet, see the Spanish moss on the huge old oak trees and eat as much fresh crab and shrimp from the inlet waters as we want.”

My heart was breaking inside as she spoke these words for I knew that this trip would never be. How I hid my pain from her that day, I will never know. (She knew me so well.)

I begged the Lord not to take my mom. I prayed like I had never prayed before for a miracle… (I believed with the faith of a child that God could do anything and I ached for Him to intervene in this paralyzing news my heart kept trying to reject.) The heaviness in my soul would not lift for somehow, I knew in my heart, that this time, her cancer was not going to be healed, the way it was the year before or in the way we expected . I had a knowing, deep down, that the Lord was going to take her home to be with Him and that would be her healing. At other times, when my mom was ill and I felt the fear that the Lord was going to take her home, (her cancer when it first arrived, and the 90% blockage in the major artery to her heart), He would always assure my heart that it was not her time. This time, He was silent.

My visits to see my mom were much more frequent and more difficult, (yet in a strange way, a bit freeing,) now that my dad and the doctors had shared with her how progressively her cancer had returned, spreading throughout her body and that unless God gave us all a miracle, she was not going to live much longer. One of the hardest days of my life, yet now one of my most cherished, was the day my mom and I sat together on her bed talking. With her captivating and warm smile, ( almost as if she was reliving time, 24 years earlier,) she told me that she wanted me to have her grandmother’s Haviland rose china, because when I was a little girl, I admired and reveled in its beautiful roses, each time she took it out for special occasions. She cried as she shared how hard it was for her to know that she would never meet my children. She and I had always talked about the day that Kit and I would have a little baby girl …’Kathryn Anne’, (named after her of course.) 🙂 She told me that she was so happy for me that God had brought Kit into my life, that he was a great man and that she truly adored him, and knew I would always be taken care of. Lastly, we both acknowledged that God had given us a bond like no other and what a wondrous and special blessing it was in both of our lives. Our tears at that moment were endless as we embraced and held each other, allowing our selves to feel the pain and fear of her death, our loss and having to say goodbye, together.

One evening in the midst of all of the disquieting and daunting pain and sorrow, Kit asked me to take a drive and get out for a little bit with him. (He is always so thoughtful.) We decided to drive down to Dana Point Harbor. (The place we met, courted, fell in love, and got married, so YOU KNOW it brought great comfort every time we visited it’s maritime charm .) Upon arriving to this quaint port side community, we drove up to the marina . There before us were an abundance of admiral boats, tied up at the docks, bobbing up and down from the strong wind and choppy waters. The harbor was astir and alive with all of the summer visitors, bright lights and the sound of musical bands that often entertained during the summer season. I needed and longed for a quiet place where Kit and I could be alone. Kit drove further down the road, and we arrived to the jetty. This long strand of jagged rocks with the ocean waves calmly caressing their intricate banks, was perfect. Kit and I were the only people sitting upon the serene and quiet quai that evening. It truly was the place my soul needed. Kit held me so tight as we sat there in silence. It was a bit chilly with the cool wind blowing off of the ocean, but we did not care. Together with Kit, yet so terribly alone in my despondency, I looked out into the vast ocean, the grey, damp fog and the darkness. It was then, I cried out to God.

“I need you Lord so much! Please will you speak to my breaking heart.”

Loosing my mother, my dearest friend in life for 33 years was the hardest thing the Lord had ever asked my family or I to walk through. I was so frightened and terrified, of what life would be like without her. Outside of Him and His power and grace, there was no way that I could go through letting her go. I absolutely, no matter how hard I tried to muster up the faith and BELIEVE we would all be OK without her, could not surrender her to God.

As we continued to sit on the jetty looking out into the ocean, I saw two brilliant lights together out at sea, looking as if they were floating in mid air. They were the lights upon the main masts of two boats traveling side by side. The darkness and fog hid their forms so that all I could see, were two shining lights nestled together. Suddenly, one of the lights disappeared. I found myself surprisingly impelled to look for the lost light. I searched everywhere to find it, but it was no where to be found. I only beheld the one light. I felt a stabbing pain in my heart, as the lost light reminded me that soon, my mom would be gone and the ‘fearless duo’ and best friends we had always been throughout my entire life, would no longer exist. In this uncertain and capricious world, she would no longer be beside me to share my heart, laugh, cry and pray with. I would be without her presence for evermore. I became overwhelmed with a sense of devastation and fear, in an even greater amount than I had been feeling since my dad told me the news. I began to speak to the Lord again;

“Why God are you allowing me to feel this horrible pain as I am crying out to you? Where are you Lord? I felt chilled to the bone and so alone… It seemed like God was silent.

The fog began rolling in, becoming more dense. As I looked out to sea, I could barely see any light at all as the heavy mist continued to thicken. I stopped searching for either light for awhile, very aware of my despairing emotions, until in a sudden moment, I looked up to my left and there to my surprise, adjoined to the shore line, were the two lights together again, beaming ever so brightly. It was at that moment that a peace, (I had not felt in weeks,) permeated my soul… I Knew it was Gods presence and I felt the Lord begin to show me and minister to me in a way that changed everything…

This is what I believe He was speaking to my spirit;

” Susan, look. Now the two lights are together again, safely arriving to the shoreline. It was but for a SEASON that you did not see your light that you thought was lost out at sea. Like the fog, hiding from your sight the glowing light out in the ocean, the light was still there….you just could not see it… so it is with your mom’s parting. Your mom is only switching places, she will still continue to live, only she will be with me in a new place. It will only be a season of time before you see her again. And Susan, oh what a glorious time of reunion the two of you will have together in heaven.”

With this new revelation, and the peace that had laid rest upon my soul, my heart felt so much lighter. My spirit embraced a hope it had not known. I felt a new strength to face my days ahead, as hard as they may be. I thanked God over and over for ministering to me as He did, and enjoyed the HOPE and peace that continued to fill my soul, praying it would never go away.

I do not believe that it was a coincidence that Kit and I drove to the harbor that particular evening or that God used the ‘lights’ to set my heart free from it’s hopelessness. He knew that I could not bare to loose my closet friend, my mom. Gently, He showed me a new perspective, His perspective and through His mercy, power, grace and kindness, I was able to begin to let her go, with the knowledge that one day, she and I would be together again, and at that time, we would never have to say goodbye again.

It was but a few weeks later when we were all called to my parents home in Laguna Niguel. The day was August 14^th, a Wednesday morning that will always be engraved upon my heart. The hospice nurse said that for all purposes, my mom should have died in the midnight hours, but she would not give up, and continued to fight for her life. It was not until the last of her seven children arrived to her bed side, and she had the opportunity to partake in her goodbyes, that she was free to “let us go.” I remember when all of us arrived that morning to the house, my father told us, that it was very important that we each let my mom know that it was OKAY for her to go. (She needed to hear those words.) Because of the revelation and HOPE the Lord had given me that night at the harbor, I was ready and able to do just that, truly LET HER GO.

As she and I looked at each other, we both knew with confidence (and I spoke it as she could not) that our goodbye was but only for a season of time and not forever. I told her how much I loved her and would miss her beyond what my words could express, but for her, it would feel like only seconds when we’d all be together again…her yes smiled. She took her last breath after the last of her seven children said their goodbyes. My father was holding her, and we, her devoted and adoring children, surrounded her as she was laying in her beautiful bed . What a wonderful gift that God gave us all to be with her, as well as with one another, as He took our beloved mother to be with Him. She was no longer in pain or sick with cancer, but free and full of joy, already having a marvelous reunion with the Lord, her mother, her little girl,( my twin, Kathy,) her grand parents and all of her loved ones that had gone before her.

I will never forget how God rescued me that chilly summer night… His peace, loving words and the HOPE He bestowed upon my soul and spirit was undeniable. His Hope changed everything. The days were not easy, as grief never is, but there did come a day, I was free of the devastating pain, and instead of that heaviness and mourning, my heart began to fill up once again with joy and happiness and a grateful heart that I was given such a beautiful gift and stupendous mother and friend for 33 years of my life. I knew in my spirit that she was not “gone”, she was alive, just in a different place.I think of her every day, always with a humongous smile or tears of joy, I miss her augustly, but I am assured and looking forward to that reunion day that God so graciously showed me. His wondrous gift of Hope…

Hope never fails…Hope changes everything…Hope is not a word, Hope is God and a very real gift to us, His kids.

PHOTOGRAPHS: In placing your computer mouse upon any of the graphics or photos, it will display where the picture originated from.

Living Winsomely

A site to share home decorating ideas as well as ways to bring an abundance of beauty into your lives.

Author Archives: Susan