Wings of Eagles (via Mowser)

Friday, February 17, 2012

Show and Tell Friday Angels

Click the photo to return to The Romantic Home and more Show and tell Friday!

I love my collection of angels.. most of these are from the Jim Shore collection... I love the attention to detail in the folk art painting... precious.... angelic!

Katherine hosts this blog hop each week where participants share their favorite things.... and this week I am looking ahead to March... I suppose it is the teacher in me... once one holiday was past, it was time to concentrate on the upcoming one to decorate the classroom and gather ideas that would entice the 8 years old to write and paint and inspire them to think with their right brain a bit... a respite from the fervent attention paid to the ever looming standardized tests.... so today I changed my blog music to my Celtic list and getting a bit into my highland moods of late!
Time to lay aside my heart pendant and bring forth my Celtic Knot medallion representing everlasting life!

I also find that my mind wanders along the lines of dream itineraries yet again as the days of March begin to come into sight on the calendar..

One of my most favored places on my bucket list of "must sees" is Eilean Donan Castle ...

I actually took this photo myself using this amazing web cam situated by the site... I love to check in there at various times of day and take shots of this marvelous castle and its environs!
I fell in love with castles when we lived in Germany and I could actually see one from my parlor window.. we lived very near the the Odenwald mountains dotted all along their length by feudal ruins from ages past.... My love of all things medieval grew out of that study years ago...
and as you can see is reflected in some of the decorations in our home today!

Follow Me Friday

Finding the Inspiring....
Follow Me Friday, is a delightful opportunity to hop about blogland sharing enjoying all things inspired!

If you haven't discovered Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience,

then you are in for the best to be found in blogland.... I first discovered her insightful blog when I started doing her theme on 1000 gifts a couple of years ago...then imagine my surprise and delight when I realized that this is the one and same AnnVoskamp who authored one of my very favorite books I am currently reading...

One Thousand Gifts:

A Dare to Live Fully

Right Where You Are

Now I not only get to relish every word of the written text of her book, but also am inspired ongoing through her daily posts ...awesome! If you havent connected with this amazing woman... now is the time to be blessed and truly led to the brink of heaven's gates through her soulful writing...

Skywatch Friday

Through A February Window
Check out Skyley for more wonderful photos!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Green Pastures

Click the above photo to return to Cafe Devotions!

What a relief it is to know my Savior leads me and I can rest in HIM!

Monday, February 13, 2012

WIll you be my Valentine?

If it's Valentine's Day there will be roses!

Visit Mary at the Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday!!

Blue Bird Return???

Click the image to visit Smiling Sally and more Blue Monday!

Until the blue birds return to the the nesting season I enjoy this indoor fellow...
Perhaps it won't be too long until I will watching for him!

The SImple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 13, 2012

Outside my window...A sunny, but very cold day outside.....

I am thinking... I love the music on my blog but it is time to make a change don't you think??

I am thankful..for Lynn and my life together.... goodness we are coming up on our 40th anniversary next month!

In the kitchen... simplicity is the spice of life... Hotdogs hahahahahha

I am wearing...turquoise turtleneck ,green sweats, green and turquoise socks... hahahaha I am a hoot today!

I am creating...nothing much this week!

I am going...to the Symphony tonight for the Romantic Showcase
the programme::
Bernstein One Hand, One Heart from
West Side Story
Mahler Adagietto from Symphony No. 5
Hanson Symphony No. 2, "Romantic"
I love the Hanson! The kids played it several times in different concerts in high school and college.It brings back such fond memories.. Oh, how I miss those days!

I am wondering...what to wear this evening... I want to look good, but not be too cold either.. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

I am reading...

Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts... this is a book to savor.. the writing is so deep and poignant... I dont want to miss a single nuance or figure of expression!

Book of James
Beth Moore's study, James Mercy of Triumph

I am hoping..well since nothing got done last week,,,,I am still hoping to make a huge dent in getting mom's house ready for painting this week...
I hope I dont have to write that one week after week!

I am looking forward to.... next year's mystery night at the library
We attending our first one on Saturday night and it was a blast... Loved it from start to finish!

I am learning...to let go and have fun when I can!

Around the house..my house is on hold for the next week or so....

I am pondering... the importance of staying focused on seeing God in every circumstance and not giving sway to the lies of the deceiver whose voice is so much like my own it is hard to differentiate....

A favorite quote for today...
When people cast fear to the wind and spend themselves and risk their lives and fortune in the cause of God's truth, and in love for other people, then God is revealed for who He really is: infinitely valuable and satisfying--so much so that His people don't need the fleeting pleasures of sin in order to be content. John Piper

One of my favorite things...The Hanson....enjoy it for yourself

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Monday: Bible Study, laundry, computer time, symphony
Tuesday-allergy shot,breakfast out, marketing, take dad for his laser treatment on his eye
Wednesday- work on my Bible Study, dinner at church, Adult Bible Study
Thursday- Choir practice, Luncheon with the choir, Ladies' Bible Study on James
Friday- catch up day

Saturday- Sunday School Dinner a t Bellacino's
A peek into my day...

Ive spent a lot of time today on Bible Study and computer time ... otherwise you might find me driving over to see my parents, or thinking about my family or dreaming of springtime... They say it is a'comin!

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook here for more offerings...

Friday, February 10, 2012

Pink Saturday is Coming up Roses!

Happy Pink Saturday

and Happy Valentine's Day

My dearest and sweetest Valentine, Lynn has already given me my valentine flowers so I can enjoy them in anticipation of all the lovely things coming up from now til actual Valentine's Day!

To My Valentine'

The rose is red, the violet blue

The honey's sweet and so are you

Thou art my love and I am thine,

I drew thee to my valentine...

The lot was cast, and then I drew,

and fortune said it should be you!

Roses always will be my valentine choice of flower.... they resound with the strong essence of romance and long lasting love and devotion.. so dont be surprised to see them around the house this time of year!

the mantle declares definitively this is Valentine's season!

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Love abounds on both sides...

Thou art mine and I am thine!

here our dearest daughter, Amanda and her valentine, Josh..

Their violin music brought them together over 10 years ago!

A love song is just a caress set to music.

Sigmund Romberg , 1887- 1951

So what are all the marvelous events that shall lead up to the Cupid's day of romance??

We are excited about the this very mysterious event on Saturday night...

Saturday, February 11

Valentine's Day conjures up thoughts of romance, poetry, and . . . murder? Take a trip to 1966 and help us solve the poet's murder at our sixth annual Mystery Night, "Love Writes a Deadly Verse." Tickets are available at South County, Hollins and Vinton Libraries. Evening includes a night of super sleuthing thanks to the assistance of the library's acting troupe, food to keep your mind sharp as you delve into the unsolved mystery, and the unveiling of whodunit. Won't you join us, Sherlock?

Looks fun, doesnt it... then Sunday night dinner at our favorite restaurant... Carrabas.

Of course I'll order my wonderful Chicken marsala!

"Served with a cup of our homemade soup or a side salad, and your choice

of the vegetable of the day, garlic mashed potatoes or cavatappi amatriciana.

Topped with mushrooms, prosciutto and our Lombardo Marsala wine sauce"

ON Monday night we will enjoy

Romantic Showcase

Roanoke Symphony Orchestra

David Stewart Wiley, Conductor
Bernstein One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story

Mahler Adagietto from Symphony No. 5"Love letter to Alma"

Hanson Symphony No. 2, "Romantic"

and it isnt even Valentin's Day yet!

Oh, I love this time of year!

For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly of How Sweet the Sound!

Finding the Inspiring....
Follow Me Friday, is a delightful opportunity to hop about blogland sharing enjoying all things inspired! I am always inspired when I visit Miss Janice... the quintessential Southern Lady who exudes charm and grace... Her posts are filled with beauty and the most creatively inspired ideas!

Skywatch Friday

A lovely early February morning seems almost like a day in May as we pass by our church!

Check out Skyley for more wonderful photos!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Morning Brunch with Special Friends

For more TT be sure to stop in at Between Naps on the Porch!

To follow this theme visit Katherine's Corner!
These two sites are just terrific and make Thursdays doubly fun!!!

This posting so very well applies to these two Thursday themes!!! Playing with place settings is one of my very favorite things to do!
Saturday I am hosting a light brunch for my dear prayer Sista's and I am so pleased to be able to incorporate my beautiful long stemmed roses Lynn got me to enjoy early for Valentine's Day.....

These gorgeous roses, of course, made me think of my wonderful Royal Albert Old Country Roses salad plates... which will be just perfect for our morning brunch!

Playing with various dishes and accouterments is so much fun, isn't it??

A bit of sunshine to brighten a rainy day... which unfortunately is our Saturday forecast.... and these roses will lighten the mood and set a stage for sharing and enriching our delightful fellowship!

I always adore my Zwilling J.A. Henckels Vintage 1876 flatwear which will simply go with anything I think and the feel of it and lustre is simply divine!! Today it is paired with the Classic Old Country Roses and my vintage cut glass goblets.... all set on Waterford Irish Damask linens.

Today I am using deliciously sheer and exquisitely rose strewn paper fan shaped napkins placed coquettishly in each goblet...
As I've said many times china is my weakness and I loved the Royal Doulton Outlet shops which by the way seem to be a dying breed here in Virginia very sad to say.... but on every visit I would purchase a lovely tea cup which I am also pairing with each setting....
My setting will have my favorite one rich with violets and beautiful wild flowers..

Another is set with this gorgeous rose cup...

and I love these sweet cups that are companion cups to the salad plates

Now I can hardly wait until my dear friends arrive and we can pour our first cup of morning tea!

As the sun is lower on the horizon and the daylight will be slipping away I can now begin to plan in earnest my morning menu..... now that is a worthy and delicious pastime as well!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Overcoming Boredom and Apathy

I am excited about this new meme, Marriage Monday, created by Chrysalis ....it seems this appears every first and third Monday and this week is something a bit new and different. I am just jumping in at Secret #9!

How Marriage Works:
21 Secrets Every Couple Needs to Know

Secret #9: Overcoming Boredom & Apathy

Q. Can you suggest some practical ways we can connect as a romantic couple on a regular basis?

A. Lynn and I will celebrate 40 years of marital bliss in March.... and I have to tell you we havent exactly worked out every secret there is to know about life together.... it is an unfolding adventure that has its highs and has its lows... But through it all we have learned to be content with whatever comes our way.... and we certainly would never wish, either of us, to have to have endured what we've been through without the other...one thing we can say assuredly is there are as many levels of romance as there are stages in life.... we have experienced them all... Whether the romance was hot and spicy or cool as a cucumber one thing never changed... our deep devotion for the other.... and due to circumstances beyond our control with our respective families, and family responsibilities or our own personal health issues, there have come times when it is more than rocky in the romance department... so marriages that base their love and commitment on the physical alone may never make it .... it takes hard work to persevere through the dry times... boredom and apathy can take root but for us it took togetherness!...

Supporting one another with our love, our tenderness, our concern for what the other was doing, sharing , but also knowing when to give the other space to be alone and work out some things has also been integral to our longevity... It helped us to have separate home offices where we each have the space to expand and grow and develop new interests apart from one another. For me, I learned to love blogging, and Lynn loves to study topics on the internet like the stock market and race car driving....

Otherwise, we spend quality time together in church activities, event planning, Bible Study, and small group social gatherings...

We, neither of us have been exactly sports minded... spectators but not participants.... and over the years we have enjoyed our daughters sporting events which also led to shared interests in college games... but our deepest interest we've shared has been in the area of musical performance..... Our daughter plays classical violin and we have had seasons tickets to the symphony for years... some contemporary concerts and Broadway productions are favored joint pastimes... We enjoy planning vacations around favorite performing artists' concerts.. music is and always has been a unifying factor in our love relationship... when things just get downright quiet around our empty nest, my sweetheart will serenade me with a favorite song from the 60's....and joy of joys this eyar since lynn retired he ahs joined in our church senior choir and we are working on a Rodgers and Hammerstein programme which is the greatest fun to share together... show tunes we all love to sing.. this has been a true highlight in our life together now!

As we are both retired, eating out is a great deal of fun for us.... nothing especially fancy... mostly breakfasts out on Tuesday or Saturday, or a Diner's Club offering midweek... small tidbits of time carved out when we can just focus on the other.... from the very beginning of our marriage we noticed how older couples would just sit in restaurants silently never talking and eating in silence... we vowed we'd never ever do that... and it is still a vow we take with us when we dine out... we are both very conscious of keeping the communication going with spirit, enthusiasm and that dear knowing little smile we share together, remembering!

One thing I might add refers to something that I am learning in church this week... We all tend to erect our little kingdoms of what we expect out of life.... I worked outside of the home for 30 years teaching school and during that time I dreamed of retiring and moving to live by the lake... at one time we might have afforded it, but as the time came to really think about the possibility, the prices were out of our reach... one wall of my kingdom came tumbling down.... but that was ok because the other walls were staunchly supported by my huge dream of touring Great Britain.... I have planned and planned my dream itinerary spending the most of my time in Scotland... oh, it would definitely take at least 3 weeks on our own driving all over the Island to see what all I "have" to see.... but as the time arrived when I might actually be putting my feet to action.. God threw me a curve ball. Circumstances are such that I dont see a trip anywhere in my future for some time to come....I can dream , but I cant allow my hope deferred to make me ill as the scriptures say it is wont to do! Learning contentment with things just the way they are is key to happiness and life together... make the most of everyday.... loving and living and sharing, and caring.... and look for little joys along the way because God has miracles great and small for us if we are watching and expecting!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 6, 2012

Outside my window...a superlative day for February.... a light jacket kind of day!

I am thinking... what a roller coaster each day can be.... hurry up do this... wait.... oh, no not that.... oh, my!!!

I am thankful..that God's Word is effectual in helping me to prepare for what may come!

In the kitchen... leftover...all leftovers

I am wearing...yellow turtleneck , brown jeans, bare feet

I am creating...nothing much this week!

I am going... to try to stop by the hospital this evening to see my dear, dear friend who will soon be leaving this plain! At 95 she has certainly brightened many a day of her many friends and family.... she touched my life in wondrous ways in these last 10 years that Ive really known her.

I am wondering..how to negotiate my to- do list... what things arent important and I can give over to the Lord and which are expedient that I get right on to.... Simplify my life, Lord! In Jesus name!
I am reading...

Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts

This book is such a treasure to me... I read it slowly to savor every nuance and figurative speech,.. the author has such gifts of expression!
Book of James

I am hoping..to make a huge dent in getting mom's house ready for painting this week...

I am looking forward to. a more cheerful, happy time

I am learning...odd to say, it seems that what I think I learn, I soon forget... at least i fail to apply what I learn....

Around the house..my house is on hold for the next week or so....

I am pondering... the importance of staying focused on seeing God in every circumstance and not giving sway to the lies of the deceiver whose voice is so much like my own it is hard to differentiate....

A favorite quote for today...
It's a sad fact that the vast majority of people who sit in the pews on Sunday never tell anybody about Christ on Monday. Dr. David Jeremiah
One of my favorite things...

eating breakfast out.... hopefully, that will come to pass in the morning.... lovely!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Monday: Eye appointment, paper chasing, conference calls
Tuesday-allergy shot,breakfast out, marketing, appt. with our pastor regarding the National Day of Prayer
Wednesday- work on my Bible Study, dinner at church, Adult Bible Study
Thursday- Valentine's Luncheon at church, Ladies' Bible Study on James
Friday- make a decision finally of whether or not we will be going on the trip to Lancaster, PA. I sure hope we do go!

Saturday- catch up day
A peek into my day...

Today I have been focused on prayer initiatives in our church as part of our prayer ministry team, thinking about my Bible Study for the week, doing some research online, and juggling appointments for the rest of the week.

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook here for more offerings...

Family Crests

Genealogy has always interested my family. I have learned that where I have hailed from in good measure helps to determine the course of my life. All the good influence of our forebears, their prayers, their endowments, filter down through the generations and help to develop the inner being of their subsequent progeny. I know that today I enjoy the generational blessings I have inherited from forefathers and mothers. To pay homage to some of those forbears I would like to share some of the family crests in my lineage. Below you see the coat of arms for the Blair's, Higgins's, and Clan Lindsay Crest.

I pray the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparable great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of the heavenly realm far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given not only in this present age, but also in the one to come.
Ephesians 1:19

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Friday, February 17, 2012

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Monday, February 13, 2012

Friday, February 10, 2012

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Monday, February 6, 2012

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Waltham Abbey, Essex, England

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My maternal grandmother was a Higgins, Originally known as O'Higgins of Waterford, Ireland

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