Red, White, and Blue Christmas Wreaths for the VA Home

We had another fun event with Team Red, White, and Blue.  This time we were being creative for someone else.  We had a social to make Christmas wreaths for the Clarksville VA Home.

We started out with some noshing.

Himself brought his 'world famous' chocolate chip cookies in both 'nutty' and 'chippy' varieties.  I contributed the stuffed eggs.

We overheard this little guy ask for a cookie.  His grandfather responded "What kind?"

His answer... "The REAL ones!"

For the wreath making we were each to bring items to decorate the provided wreaths.

Himself guarding the supplies.

Everyone spread out and got to work.

It was a wreath making palooza!

I brought a lot of items to work with... but I seem to have forgotten the most important one...

...my crafting mojo.

RWB Eagle Charles kept the kids going on making Christmas cards for the Vets.

Why not a blue Christmas tree?

Love how they wrote inside.

SO cute!

Here's just a few of the finished wreaths.

Mine is not in there.  It was so ugly that I asked (begged) that I could take it home to redo and bring it back in a few days.

Mojo back...and I finished my wreath.

A huge group from Team RWB had a decorating party at the VA Home on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  I can't wait to see out it looks!

Care for a Cuppa?

Two things I really enjoy are a cup of hot tea and doing swaps.  Stephanie at the blog "The Enchanting Rose" ( http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/ ) hosts a tea cup and mug swap twice a year.  I just missed the one on the spring so I waited all summer to get in on the September swap.

The basics of the swap are you decide if you want to do a tea cup and saucer or a mug.  You can do both which is what I decided to do.  After the cut off date, Stephanie assigns swap partners and you put together a lovely little gift to be sent to your person.  A different person will have your name.  You mail by a certain date and enjoy the parcel you receive.

This is the parcel I put together for the 'mug' swap.

And here is what I did for the 'tea cup & saucer' swap.

Both of my swap partners are named Amy.  I hope they liked their packages.

For the tea cup, I was sent this lovely parcel from Freida.

The cup and saucer are so unusual!  I love them.  Those tea towels are adorable and are brightening my kitchen.  The little "Harvest" sign is going to be incorporated into a Thanksgiving vignette.  And the Werther's...ummmmmm!

Thank you so much Freida.

However, my mug swap didn't work out.  I'll leave it at that.

I am already planning to join in the Spring swap.  Maybe I'll see you there?

Thanks for the Blessing of Autumn

For the last two nights we've slept with the windows open!  That is all it takes to get me in the mood for autumn!  Out came the autumn boxes!

First place to be decorated was my fireplace.

I already knew that this year I wanted it to be all about being thankful for our so many blessings.

I started on top with the mantel.

My little step stool is perfect for my littlest pumpkins.  

The framed piece reads: "Greet each day with thanks.  In all things give thanks.  Give thanks for many blessings for all they are the best gifts you can receive."

Our incredible copper art is from Tanzania.  We love the lady reading her Bible next to the fire.

The tool box I recently made over stuffed with silk mums.

And here is our hearth.

More pumpkins.  I love pumpkins!  The Pilgrims giving thanks on this pumpkin is so special.

The the wording on the angel is "Give thanks to Your Holy Name".

OK autumn!  I'm ready to give thanks for you!

http://www.housebyhoff.com/2015/09/gydo-falling-for-fall/  

Hurray for the Red, White, and Blue!

Time to change out the front door decor!  Summer is the patriotic season around here.  I usually have things changed out by Memorial Day but this year I made it in time for Flag Day.  I love the flowers I found this year.  Besides my white apple blossoms, there are blue Forget-Me-Nots and red Poppies.

Quite appropriate, wouldn't you agree?

Love The Home You Have: A Welcoming Courtyard and Porch

Welcome to our home!

We've been working all spring to fix up our entryway into a warm and welcoming area.

A place where you can be comfortable.

I made-over these inexpensive chairs I found at Lowes.  When I started out they were bleh tan.  You know the color  LOL!  I sprayed the entire chair with the robin egg blue.  Then I masked off the frame.  The birds are masks that I made by tracing onto contact paper and sticking them on the chair backs.  SO easy to do.  Then I sprayed the seats and back with cocoa brown paint.  The rusty chippy table was done in the cocoa brown also.

That's all there was to it!

I love my angel sitting in front of the Leeland cypress.  In a few years when they get some size to them, we will transplant them into the yard and get a new pair for the courtyard.

One of our five birdbaths.

A little accent area we put together.  The 'wall' was made with a couple pieces of slab board given to us by a neighbor with a portable sawmill.   The bench was left here by the previous owners.

I think geraniums are so cheerful.

The primitive angel was a gift from my Mom.  There are different decorations for her to hold for each season.

Down on the bench are a variety of planters and lanterns.

I use a lot of sedum and succulents since they are so easy to care for.  This area gets some pretty intense late morning sun so these plants are what can tolerate it when I forget to water.

This lily is thriving here too.  I think since the pot is on the ground it doesn't get as hot.  I can't wait for it to bloom!  It has big white flowers.

Here's a glimpse of our rare rattlesnake ... Crotalus cerastes concretus.

But don't worry!  The roadrunner has his eye on him.

The hen on the front porch is watching too!  LOL

I used more planters and lanterns up on the porch.

More of my hen and chicks.

One of Himself's favorite plants.  It's an annual called "Persian Shield".  The leaves glow so pretty.  When it gets to about 2 1/2 feet tall I'll start pinching it back so it will get bushy.

The only hanging plant that stands up to the heat... Purslane.  How about that cob web?  There are SO many spiders this year.

Welcome!  Glad you're here!

In case you're curious, here are the "Before" photos from just a few weeks ago.

Much better... yes?

http://www.housebyhoff.com/2015/06/get-your-diy-on-outdoor-decor/

http://www.posedperfection.com/2015/05/creative-ways-link-party-55-and-features.html  

http://www.stonegableblog.com/the-scoop-172-2/ 

http://www.commonground-do.com/2015/05/share-your-style-15.html