Valentine Wishes

Sending Heart-filled Love 

Your Way.

Happy Valentines Day

to My Sweet Friends.

Thank You for Your 

Love and Support!

No Turkey Mantle

I know many people start their Christmas decorating in November, however, 

I love celebrating Thanksgiving. 

I enjoy spending a month concentrating on giving thanks and acknowledging my blessings. 

Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays! I relish in decorating for turkey day. This year I decided to forgo the traditional turkeys in my fireplace decor, replacing them with mercury glass owls that I picked up on clearance. 

I used the same pumpkins and mercury glass candlesticks that were on my mantle for Halloween, changing out the black garland with fall leaves. 

Then I threw in some touches of gold. 

The banner was an easy DIY using burlap, jute,  store bought stencils and spray on gold glitter.

I have much to be thankful for and 

I count YOU, my blog friends, 

among my many blessings. 

Have a blessed week!

I'm Baaaaaaack!

Oh Goodness! It seems that I took an unintentional hiatus from blogging. I've missed it and YOU! But I just needed to let something go in order to focus on the needs of our family. I truly appreciate your concern and kindness. Thank you!
It only seems fitting that since I left three months ago with a mantle post that I should come back with one.

 Here's my Halloween mantle. 

A bit more sparkly than spooky but I still included a few spiders and a glam skeleton. 

God Bless The USA

Happy Birthday America!

My Love of Frames

Hello friends! I am a bit behind in announcing something wonderful about this little blog. It seems that Joys of Home has been nominated for an award but I need your help. If you would be so kind as to take one minute to go to Jackson Design and Remodeling (just click HERE) and cast your vote. You'll find Joys of Home in the Interior Design category. You can only vote once per computer. And while you're there you can check out the other incredible blogs that have been nominated. THANK YOU! I am humbled and grateful for your support!

 I have been collecting picture frames for years.

  I am drawn to the chunky and ornate. 

A few years back I spray painted many of my frames black but now I enjoy them in their various shades of gold.

On a whim one day I decided to pull my frame collection together and line them up on the antique tin shelf in my dining room. I find it to be quite a stunning display.

Do you have something you've been collecting for years that you could put on display to bring joy in your home?

Another Mantle Post

I apologize for the lack of creative posts. It has been a l-o-n-g winter! My creativity and the view outside my door seem to be one and the same...dull and boring.

 Between adjusting to widowhood and (what seems to be an endless amount of) gloomy weather, I've had little desire to do any decorating. One of the few creative outlets has been my mantle. 
I appreciate that you have tolerated my (what seems to be an endless amount of) continuous mantle photos. I, like the weatherman, promise that there will be changes soon. But until then, here's a look at the state of my mantle today.

It reflects the weather outside---browns, creams, with a glimmer of gold (the hope of sun shining through the clouds/smog).

A Compilation of Cupids

It's that time of year when my home becomes 

infested with little winged angelic creatures 

that symbolize love.

They can be found on pedestals,

mantles,

 

 

tables, 

 

and under glass.

Winter Mantles

January's mantles at my house are 

a reflection of the weather. 

 Although I am honestly a bit tired of 

the snow outside

 there is such beauty to be seen after 

a winter snowfall;

the bright blue skies contrasted with the 

sparkling white snow.

  I suppose I wouldn't mind another snow storm

 or two before spring,

   as long as I can stay warm and cozy 

 inside with my family. 

Through the Years

One of the best things about having a blog

  

(2008) 

is being able to look back (2009)

through the years (2010)

to see how I've used many of the same decorations (2011)

 in different ways. (2012)

Bottle Brush Tree Mantle

My love for decorating for the holidays comes from my mother. Every year she would adorn our home with the trinkets and baubles that represented each celebration. Both she and my father knew how to be creative on a shoe string budget. It's been many years since my father passed but I think of him nearly every time I build something just as I think of my mom whenever I decorate, expecially at Christmas.
  
Although my mother is still alive she is suffering from the affects of Alzheimer's. The other day as I decorated her home for Christmas I reminded her of Christmases past and of the work she would go to to make our home festive and beautiful. I am so very grateful for her and the effort she made to create wonderful memories of home. 
  Some of the decorations I remember from my childhood are brass reindeer and bottle brush trees. Because those things are associated with happy memories I have managed to collect a few along the years.
This year I thought it fitting to decorate our family room mantle with the symbols from my youth and share with my children the stories of years gone by.

Linked to: The Lettered Cottage  

Savoring The Season

I love the Thanksgiving season.

I am happy to spend the days appreciating

 and savoring the joys of life.

 Although it has been a most difficult year,

 I still have much to be thankful for. Thank you 

for your love, support and prayers 

for me and my family.