Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Creating A Cozy Christmas


Welcome To
~ Creating a Cozy Christmas ~

If you hopped over from my friend, Cecelia @
My Thrift Store Addiction, I know you are feeling inspired.
Cecilia always has fun vintage or thrifty finds to share, and her holiday projects using upcycled thrifty finds is a perfect example.  

This is the 3rd year of the 
Cozy At Christmas Blog Hop
Thank you to Katie @ Let's Add Sprinkles 
for organizing this hop each year.
  You can read my previous Cozy At Christmas 
posts here and here.

Cozy, the adjective
enjoying or affording warmth and ease
marked by or providing contentment or comfort

Each Christmas our tree is decorated with lots of
Courtly Check and Tartan.

A look around our home this time of year, 
yields a touch of tartan scattered about.

~ A Parade of Cozy Christmas Tartan ~
No words needed. 
 Let the piping begin!













It's almost December and time to start thinking about Christmas. 
Have you begun your holiday decorating?  How do you create a feeling of coziness during the holidays?
I'd love to hear your ideas.

Sadie and I hope you enjoyed our little parade of
Cozy Christmas Tartan
Perhaps a photo or two has inspired you to add a touch of
tartan to your own cozy holiday home?

Next up is Amber @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home.  
Amber has a natural flair for designing cozy spaces 
with vintage style on a budget. Hop on over to see 
Amber's Cozy At Christmas vignettes.

A complete list of links for the hop is below.

Hyacinths for the Soul  (You are here)


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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Gratitude!



Gratitude ~ the quality of being thankful; 
the readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Welcome Friends!
~ Thanksgiving Wishes From Our Home to Yours ~

I pulled this post out of the archives, edited it to update it since it was first published five years ago. Regardless, the message rings true at any moment in time, and is sincerely felt by yours truly.

As is tradition, we host a Thanksgiving meal 
here in our home with friends who join us to celebrate.

Plans for this year's Thanksgiving meal kept changing.
Utlimately we decided not to cook, but rather have it catered.  There will only be five of us, but a traditional meal it will be.

The weather in recent weeks has given me
cause to be grateful for a perfect Autumn with 
sunny skies and crisp cool days.

Just enough chill in the air to cozy
up by a fire with hot tea
in the late afternoon.

~ Autumn ~
A time to savor and appreciate the 
rich spectrum of seasonal colors    .   .   .

To relish morning walks along a creekside 
as water flows from recent rains   .   .   .

To bask in the beauty of Mother Nature's
change in the seasons   .   .   .

To huddle in the warmth of a favorite sweater
and snuggle up with out sweet Sadie girl   .   .   .

To reflect on the gratitude one feels for   
the many blessings of our lives.

For our blessings  
are plentiful!

We've abundant  
food on our table   .   .   .
A warm home to
shelter us day and night   .   .   .

And beauty can be found
all around us.

I'm especially grateful for the good health and love
of my wonderful family and friends,
and for each of you who visit and comment here at
Hyacinths for the Soul.

It has been five years since my final
good-byes to several women close to my heart.

At times sadness still rushes over me, but even with death, we can
choose to be grateful. I choose to cherish each special memory,
to honor these amazing women and feel grateful for the beautiful
 life each led, the incredible legacy each left behind, and
especially so for the love and friendship we shared.


"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it 
is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
                                              William Arthur Ward
Research shows it is helpful and important to make 
an ongoing list of the things for which one is grateful.
On this Day of Thanksgiving, I thank you 
for allowing me to share a grateful heart.


"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way."
                                                              Native American Saying

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Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Hocus Pocus ~ It's Halloween


Hello, my little lovelies. 
 Glad you've stopped by for a visit.
We have a recent dinner party to share.

The dinner was for a group of girlfriends 
who have been getting together for over 30 years.

Each place was set with a stack of fall favorites.
~ Courtly Check, by MacKenzie-Childs ~ 
~ Wexford Orange Plaid, by 222 Fifth ~ 
~ Country Estate Autumnal Traditions, by Juliska ~

Plaid napkins in the colors of autumn 
were purchased at World Market twenty years ago.
The unusual napkin rings were found on my fall trip to France?
Each of these are sterling antique baby teething rings.
All but one was purchased from a variety of venders
at the Chatou Antique Market just outside of Paris.



This is the one that prompted my new collection.
You all know I have an affection for bees and bee related items.
Can you see that this is a bee hive with bees buzzing about?

I knew I had my own baby teething rattle tucked away at home.
All I would need to do was polish it, and I'd have two to use
as napkin rings, one for "my chef" and one for me.
You can see my 1940s' version, on the left, 
has a flat ring with a belt motif clasp. 
The French pieces, date from late 1800s, 
are more ornate, and often have clasps that 
attach directly to an ivory or bone tubular ring.
Once I began to notice more at various dealer's booths, 
my new obsession / collection was spawned!
Small and easy to pack, they were a perfect souvenir to bring home.
What do you think?  Would you use these as napkin rings?
Did you have one of these when you were a baby?

By the time everyone arrived the table was 
filled with party favors for each to take home.

 The mug filled with old fashioned candies like those from
our youthful Halloween days was a favorite.

An appetizer of trout spread served on sweet potato crackers
and lively conversation was enjoyed in the sunroom before dinner.

 Dinner was individual crustless chicken quiche
served with a side salad and roasted tomatoes.

 ~ Dessert was a visit to the buffet ~
Courtly Check, vintage style paper maché 
Halloween containers, and lots of sweets.

~ Skelton Gingerbread Men with Ice Cream ~

~ Halloween Candy Treats ~

~ Chocolates from Paris ~

It was indeed a sweet evening 
spent with treasured friends.

Wishing each of you a Happy Halloween
filled with all your favorite treats. 

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