Hymn of Promise

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. ~~ words & music by Natalie Sleeth, 1986 United Methodist Hymnal

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Mother's Day Breakfast Table

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! Mine was, well, I've had better. I really don't want to sound like a whiner but things in our household have been, shall we say, a little tense?! I'll put it to you this way...I have three men in my family...my DH turned 50 last Nov., my son's turned 17 and 21 in Feb. and March...I don't ever want to hear how bad women's hormones are!!! Testosterone is running rampant in my household of alpha males, indian chiefs, Peter Pans, whatever you want to call it! But the kids came thru for me last Sunday. My 21 yr. old loves to cook and being a college student, was without funds, so he made plans to make me breakfast. That Saturday night I was up fretting about how to keep peace in my family so as I was cleaning the kitchen up I decided to set a table for my Mother's Day breakfast! Then I could use it for Tablescape Thursday! Which I have not participated in for awhile! Tablescape Thursday is of course hosted by the most talented and lovely and sweet Susan at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/. So be sure and check out all the tablescapes posted on her blog!

The plate is Southern Living "Gallery". It's so large I use them as chargers too! Of course, I had to add the coffee cup & saucer of my George Briard everyday china! I have to tell you! My 6'5" 21 year old that was on the offensive line for the Tigers of the Univ. of Memphis football team, drank his coffee from this cup just for me! He was trying so hard to use good tablemanners! Usually we're all swigging down the caffiene with humongous mugs!

Here I am trying to imitate all you talented and artsy photographers out there! I love my scalloped round placemats from Marshall's! The blue glassware is from Big Lots! I showed you these in a previous post! They have the most beautiful butterfly design etched on them!
The flowers are for my mom! Usually I do my own florals but I just loved this compact little arrangement with dark coral roses, daisies, mums and asters! I love the pot too! And what do you think of my birds?! I bought them in the floral department at Schnucks when I got the flowers! They were $6.99 ea. but I just couldn't resist! I don't think that was such a bad price! They look much more expensive! The little votives I picked up one time at Marshall's. They're all different colors! I used the dark purple, yellow, green and dark pink!



These were taken at night, but breakfast was wonderful! My youngest, the 17 yr. old, gave me a beautiful cross necklace! Unfortunately the DH was pouting about a 'disagreement' in teenage management 101! (You know they do that sometimes!) But I'll forgive him! He did take me to the Biltmore you know! Men! Gotta love 'em!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Sayings to Live By!

Good morning ladies! My post today is to share 2 wonderfully witty statements I discovered on my trip last week! Some friends of ours own a chocolate shop in Knoxville. We stopped there on the way back to pick up some goodies for the ladies in my husband's office. On the wall above their counter hangs 2 absolutely adorable art pieces. They were collages that featured the following statements on a woman's life that I thought you all would enjoy so I wrote them down! I've added my own pics from the web for effect!


"I am fairly certain that given
a cape and a tiara, I could save the world!"




and

"Life is tough ~~ so I recommend getting a
manicure and a really cute helmet!"

Saturday, May 2, 2009

It's Good To Be King!

Well, here it is, The Biltmore! George Vanderbilt was only 33 yrs. old and a bachelor when he opened his home on Christmas Eve 1895. Talk about a most eligible bachelor!!! What a bachelor pad! The Biltmore is not measured in square footage but acres! 4 acres to be exact! This little country house has 250 rooms: 33 family rooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, 3 kitchens and an indoor swimming pool! The 125,oo0 acres of surrounding grounds featured farms and a dairy, 250 acres of wooded park, 5 pleasure gardens (see previous post) and 30 miles of roadways! So now for the closeups! I love architecture and this house was incredible! No cookie cutter stuff used here! Every little nook and cranny was unique and beautiful! I thought about waiting to post these on wordless Wednesday because no words are needed but I couldn't keep ya'll waiting!







These were on the side of the house where the spiral staircase is! It's too the left of the front door.

You can tell the sun was coming in and out that day!
The Italian Garden! on the left side of the house!


The conservatory sits one terrace down from this formal garden! You see the top of it!

Details of the front of the house! I could've gone on forever!






Details from the back veranda!

Even the copper gutter spouts!

I wonder what this little guy was playing!

I just loved this owl! Look at the fabulous artistry!


And an elephant! Do you see his trunk coming up underneath the scrollwork?



Out of the window as we were leaving!

I know this post was long, but I hoped you enjoyed it! If you're not too tired and don't have anything else to do today! you can look at my previous post to see the beautiful gardens!