Don't Waste It

Andrews and McMeel of Kansas City published a series of Mary Engelbreit mini books. As they say, "it's an irresistible combination ~ our Little Books and Mary Engelbreit's enchanting illustrations." Only 3" x 4", they are the perfect little gift to pop into a special someone's stocking.

DON'T WASTE THE MIRACLE, is one that celebrates "the wonder, joy and miracle of Christmas" through a collection of Mary's illustrations.

My copy was a Christmas gift to me from Kate, a first grader in my class in 1994. Sixteen years later, I still enjoy the message of this little jewel. The simple, heartfelt words that accompany each illustration remind me to slow down and appreciate the simple things around me during the holiday season. "There's a miracle in Christmas, and the miracle is love."

M. E. Monday @ The Cherry Chick

Autumn Delights

November is quickly coming to a close, 

and I'm savoring some favorites of the season.

Pardoned Turkeys

Hooray for Apple and Cider!

Mini Pumpkins

Pecan Pie

Bowls of Horse Apples

And Bowls of 

Pumpkins and Acorns

Natural Horn Votives

A Favorite

Piece of Vintage Silver

Redware Pottery 

and a Vintage Candy Container

Shawnne Pottery Squirrel 

and Courtly Check Acorns

Pumpkin Pie

Familiar Faces

Tom Turkey from 

Midwest Importers, c. 1980s

Redware Turkey Platter

Another Favorite 

Vintage Turkey Candy Container

Rum Cake

Amber Turkey Dishes 

from William Sonoma

Turkey Tureen from Portugal

Honey Glazed Texas Pecans

Onion Walnut Muffins ~ Eatable Acorn Style ~

Folk Art Wooden Turkey

by Beaver Creek Woodworks, Beaman, Iowa

A Bountiful 

Thanksgiving Dinner 2010

Followed by 

Too Many Choices for Dessert

All Guarded by this 

Handsome Whimsical Critter!

Hope you enjoyed time 

spent with family and friends.

Linkiing to

A Few of My Favorite Things @

Bargaining Hunting & Chatting with Laurie

Seasonal Sundays @

The Tablescaper

Simple Pleasures

~ A Quiet Evening ~

~ Candlelight ~

~ Table for Two ~

~Amber Turkeys ~

~ Layers of Rich Colors ~

~ Autumn Details ~

~ Vintage Accents ~

~ Roast Turkey Breast ~

~ Stuffed with Spinach and Pine Nuts ~

~ Rice ~ Green Beans ~

~ Sweet Endings ~

~ A Heart Full of Gratitude ~

~ I Wish You a Thanksgiving of Joyful Abundance ~

~ Click on the Links to Join ~

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Vintage Thingie Thursday @ The Colorado Lady

Feathered Nest Friday @ The French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Over the River and Through the Woods . . .

OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS

by Mary Engelbreit, 1994

According to Wikipedia, the ubiquitous Thanksgiving song, "Over the River and Through the Woods" was originally written as a poem entitled, "A Boy's Thanksgiving Day". Lydia Maria Child wrote it in 1844 to celebrate her childhood memories of visiting her Grandfather. Sometimes it is written about Christmas rather than Thanksgiving.

So with Christmas in mind, Mary Engelbreit wrote her own version of OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS in a sweet little gift book in 1994. Her version starts out with "Over the river and through the woods, there's a holiday mood in the air." It features ten of her "enchanting illustrations" and "celebrates the unmatchable magic of Christmas spent with family and friends."

I pull this little book out

to warm my heart ~ Engelbreit style.

M. E. Monday @ The Cherry Chick.

Click here to see a list of others who are celebrating the art of Mary Engelbreit.

Joyful Abundance

Pink Peonies ~ Orange Tulips ~ Sunflowers

Welcome one and all!

Admittedly there isn't much pink to be found here at the moment, but orange, the color of fall, is definitely peeking out here and there. I so wanted to participate in this week's Pink Saturday so I'm taking a feng shui approach. Pink the yin is gentle and friendly, while orange, the yang, is energetic and passionate ~ a perfect balance.

The above photo is for all my sweet friends here for Pink Saturday and Shadow Shot Sunday. My friend, Jacqueline @ Purple Chocolate Home has a Pinkalicious Puerto Vallarta post to share this week. Be sure to stop by and give her a visit.

There's a little acorn fun to follow,

so please keep scrolling.

The squirrels are happy around here because there is a "joyful abundance" of acorns this year.

The critters are 

scampering in from the right . . .

And from the left.

And for me, there has been a "joyful abundance" of Courtly Check that has come my way this fall. My sweet friend, Linda @ My Shabby Rose Cottage has been busy with the paint brush again, and I've been on the receiving end of her generosity. Just look at these cute little CC pumpkins she sent as a little Fall surprise.

But wait! That's not all. 

 Courtly Check acorns 

have now arrived in abundance!

Acorns are one of my 

favorites of the autumn season. 

 Add a few in Courtly Check, and 

my heart really begins to sing.

That's not to say I don't still adore 

these big ceramic acorns that I found 

last year at Tuesday morning. 

 They have enhanced a bowl of horse apples 

that you can see here as well as 

last year's Thanksgiving table here.

This season I've mixed them in 

with some real pumpkins in the wonderful 

muted colors available this year.

I'm glad you dropped by today 

because I've baked us some little spice cakelets 

in the acorn pan I picked up last year at William Sonoma.

They are filled with a cream cheese 

icing and dipped in brown sugar crystals.

These beautiful acorn napkins were 

a little "thank you" gift from our favorite house guest. 

 You can meet Mabel here.

They are the perfect accent for

our tray of acorn cakelets.

Acorn leaves on 

the silver pastry server,

A few little fallen 

acorns from the trees,

Along with a few little 

glittered acorns scattered about.

All set the stage for this vintage teapot 

in Furnivals Brown Quail pattern. 

 My friend Donna @ Conghaile Cottage 

introduced me to this charming pattern. 

 A visit to Donna's cottage is always a treat.

See that little acorn finial. 

 That and those sweet puffy quail 

are what enticed me to find one of these.

Our hot steeping tea fills the teapot, marked 1913. 

It's waiting for us on a vintage hand carved butter dish 

inset with a transfer ware plate in the 

Blue Willow pattern, a little souvenir from my

first visit to London's Portobello Road.

So pull up a chair by the fire 

and join me for a cup of hot tea and 

one of the little acorn cakelets.