ABCs of the Word – V

Pam at Grey Like Snuffie hosts ABC’s of the Word to focus on a scripture in which the week’s letter is highlighted.

This week’s theme letter is V

"Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour."
1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

The Contemporary English Version puts it this way:

"Be on your guard and stay awake.
Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion,
sneaking around to find someone to attack."

We have to be always on the lookout for situations which might trip us up on our Christian walk. We must focus on God's promises to guide and protect us.

For more ABC’s of the Word visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie.

clipart - DoverPublications.com

Thrifty Thursday

Thrifty Thursday is hosted by Leigh at Tales From Bloggeritaville.

A visit on Tuesday April 21 to a local thrift store was just to give me a breather between a doctor’s appointment and several errands. It turned out to be a very good visit.

First I found 2 wood paper towel holders. I replaced the one in the kitchen which was all wobbly

The other is now in my bathroom since I need both select-a-size and full-size towels there.

Two Johnson Bros. white ironstone bowls and one bread and butter plate caught my eye next.

A cherub napkin ring to go along with one I found in the same store a few months ago. That other one has been on my dresser displaying a dried rosebud:

A tin bowl with blue and white design. The wide border surrounds a pleasing central landscape:

Appealing to my passion for blue and white dishes was a large Corelle Livingware dinner plate in a Blue Onion-type pattern called "Blue Floral".

I was glad to add it to my Blue Onion items that I posted about here. Since then I have acquired a total of eight of the "Blue Floral" dinner plates. As sturdy almost unbreakable wares, they will be useful for summer meals on the deck.

I also found 8 children’s books to send to my sister for her grandkids, plus one Children’s Letters to God, which was for me, but I’m sending it to my sister as well. The sign said 10 cents each.

When I went to pay at the counter, the clerk quickly looked over my items and said: $4.20. That included 5% tax. of 20 cents!

Find out about other delightful thrift finds by visiting Leigh's blog .

Footed Bowls or Compotes

Three or More Tuesday is sponsored by Tam at The Gypsy's Corner. Please visit her for more participating posts.

2nd Time Around Tuesday is hosted by Diane at A Picture is Worth 1000 Words. Visit her blog for a list of more participants.

My three or more consists of footed bowls or compotes. Two were gifts, but the others were bought at second-hand sources.

The first was a surprise gift. The school year had ended at the secondary school where I had been working and I was about to move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I was invited to attend a picnic for faculty and staff of the nearby elementary school. As I was going through the ample buffet line I noticed that people were putting cash in a glass dish at the end of the table. “Oh-oh…I didn’t bring any money with me,” I thought. But as we were eating a presentation was made in my honor and I was handed the glass dish with all the cash! It was my going-away present from those gathered.

The glass dish is seen in the photo below. It is of pressed glass with intricate detailing on the sides.

It has worked me well over the years to serve various foods, including fresh fruit and fruit salads.

The second one I received from my sister-in-law as a Christmas gift in the 1980’s. It is by Princess House and has etched floral decoration in the “Heritage” pattern.
I used it to display Christmas glass balls in 2007.

The third one is milk glass, bought with other pieces at a second hand shop. It’s open border can be threaded with ribbon for a pretty decorative touch.


Another glass compote is a more recent find at a local antique shop. It is red and the bowl has a wavy edge. The price tag said $15 but I asked for a discount and it was reduced to $12, which was fair for this special piece. So far it is just for display.

This is a Fenton milk glass piece. It is one of my favorites with it’s lovely ruffled edges. This is a Fenton piece is one of my favorites, with it’s lovely curled edges. I got it last September at a fleamarket booth, where they unpacked more milk glass for me to see. I did get several additions for my collection.

Another milk glass compote is a generous size for versatility in serving and decorative uses.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today and I hope you will come again soon. Your comments are most welcome.

Celebrating Presidents of the United States

Blue Monday is sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.

I’ve been watching programs on the History Channel on various presidents of the United States – Washington, Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. This brought to mind some miniature books I have which were published by Achille St. Onge of Worcester, MA. The books were finely printed in Holland and bound in genuine leather in France. The sizes are approximately 3 inches high by 2 inches across. The subjects chosen by St. Onge for his books included many titles relating to presidents of the United States:
Here are two bindings of the text of The Declaration of Independence, one in dark blue the other in light blue:

Paul Revere’s Ride: A Deposition – The personal account by Revere of his famous ride with an introduction by Esther Forbes. The cover is blind-stamped with an illustration of Revere on his horse.

Historic American Stamps are illustrated with actual U.S. postage stamps in the Historic Flags Series. Alongside the leather bound St. Onge book is a knockoff on cheaper paper and cardstock made by the Merrimack Publishing Company. Both have blue covers.

Two books by U.S. Presidents – Science and Freedom by Thomas Jefferson, and The Wants of Man by John Quincy Adams.

Two books on Abraham Lincoln. The first is the text of an address by Carl Sandburg before the U.S. Congress on February 12, 1959. The second, Abraham Lincoln: The Song in His Heart by Kenneth A. Bernard, tells of his love of music.

The next three books record the inaugural addresses of presidents Eisenhower, L.B. Johnson and Nixon. LBJ’s is bound in light blue and Nixon’s in navy blue.
The Inaugural Address of John Fitzgerald Kennedy was published in three editions, with slight changes to the bindings which were all navy blue leather. On the back covers of two a gilt-stamped wreath surround the president’s famous initials and his birth and death dates.


From another miniature book publisher, Ward Schori of The Schori Press in Illinois, comes another Lincoln book – Lincoln the Literary Genius by Jacques Barzun.

The first book I got from The Schori Press was Washington’s Farewell Address. Note the gilt-stamped portrait of Washington in a decorative oval and the floral motifs on each corner or the brown leather cover.

Each Independence Day gives us another opportunity to enjoy focus on those who made contributions at the highest leadership levels to the development of the United States of America.

I am also linking this post to Today’s Thrifty Treasures hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

I made a brief brief visit to the thrift shop on Thursday hoping to find some patriotic items. I found three wooden items:
A wood star painted yellow with a flag motif heart cost 25 cents. The 7" high star has a wire hanger. The tiny 1" wooden star was free.

The other item is a 15" tall wall hanging. A girl with red white and blue clothing has a flag-motif heart and is suspended from a banner which declares, "Let Freedom Ring"

Thanks for your visit; I hope you will come again soon. Your comments are welcome.

ABCs of the Word – U

Pam at Grey Like Snuffie hosts ABC’s of the Word to focus on a scripture in which the week’s letter is highlighted.

This week’s theme letter is U

Immediately the father of the child cried out

and said with tears,
"Lord, I believe;

help my unbelief!"
Mark 9:24 NKJV

This father’s cry is fascinating – while he asserts his belief that Jesus can heal his son, he begs for help with any unbelief which might keep him from receiving the blessing he needed.

So many times we have a belief in Jesus Christ which allows us to be called ‘Christian’; but only the Holy Spirit can give us the belief which will produce true Christian perspectives and behavior.

Here is a song which expresses a prayer for true belief.

I Believe, Help Thou My Unbelief

Written By Bill & Gloria Gaither

I believe help thou my unbelief
I'd take the finite risk of trusting like a child
I believe help thou my unbelief
I walk into the unknown trusting all the while

I long so much to feel the warmth that others seem to know
but should I never feel a thing I claim him even so

I believe, help thou my unbelief.
I walk into the unknown trusting all the while
I walk into the unknown trusting....

Here is a recording of the song on YouTube:


For more ABC’s of the Word visit Pam at
Grey Like Snuffie.
clipart - DoverPublications.com

Outdoor Wednesday – Arbors

I am just taking a break from preparations for work to begin tomorrow morning here at the house. Finally, at 8:00 am the water-damaged ceilings in my loving room, kitchen and bedroom will be repaired and painted. Earlier this year, I had a complete new roof put on my house, which was built in 1987-88.

Anyway, I haven’t been able to post as much as I had hoped this week. So my post for OW will be brief this time. Later I will write a more thorough account of a visit to a former co-worker’s extensive garden this past Sunday June 28. I just have time now to mention one feature which was most delightful—there were at least five arbors throughout the gardens. Here is a look at a few:

This arbor leads from the Hosta Garden on the side of the house to the front garden. It is made of cast iron with roses carved all over:
The next two photos show the arbor leading from the front lawn to the back. It is covered in a deep burgundy Clematis.

This is the entrance to the Secret Garden. It is a wooden arbor and echoes the many wooden birdhouses in this area of the gardens.

Note one of the many pathways made of wood chips.

That’s all for now…I still have much to do before turning in. I tell and show much more about my visit to this personal botanic garden very soon.

Be sure to see more Outdoor Wednesday posts at Susan’s blog, A Southern Daydreamer.

WordFilled Wednesday - Ecclesiasites 3:11

Clipart, DoverPublications.com

He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Also He has put eternity in their hearts,
except that no one can find out the work
that God does from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

For more Word-Filled Wednesday please visit Extravagant Grace.

More Consignment Shop Finds

This post is linked to Today’s Thrifty Treasures and Blue Monday.

Today’s Thrifty Treasures is hosted by superb shopper, Rhoda, at Southern Hospitality.

Blue Monday is sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.

Here are some more items I’ve found recently at my consignment shop. These prices reflect the fact that the store had a half price sale on the lowest price on the merchandise tag.

This tall mug will hold a lot of hot chocolate or other hot beverage. Cost 88cents. I was attracted to the pretty colors and the cup and mug graphics.

This large hurricane shade or glass candle chimney cost $4.38. It is 12 ½ " tall and 6 ½" diameter top and bottom openings.
A Royal Albert "Country Roses" salt and pepper set came in at $2.76.

A Royal Albert "Country Roses" teacup and saucer went for $4.38. I had been wanting this set for quite some time but did not want to pay the regular asking price of $15.99 at the stores. Sure glad I held out!

For my blue and white teacup collection I got three cup and saucer stands for $2.75.

This rose tea cup and saucer, at half off the lowest price, cost $4.50
This pretty china leaf dish was $1.88. Notice how it is divided into sections.

Not from the consignment store but the thrift store, I found this nice modern vase. I was attracted to its lovely blue color. It was 75 cents.

Well, those ar my thrifty treasures for this week. I hope you enjoyed seeing my latest bargains. Please leave a comment and come again soon.

Share a Garden Sunday - Hydrangeas

It's time to share our gardens. Visit Color Outside the Lines to enjoy more shared gardens.

Last July I bought a couple potted hydrangeas at Agway. The plants were all suffering from the hot dry conditions outside the store, so they were priced to sell. I couldn’t miss the chance to finally have some lovely hydrangeas in the garden. Here they are on the front steps waiting to be planted. The white one was the bigger plant of the two. All its nurture went into producing more and more leaves.

The blue one was a smaller shrub, but had more blooms.
Just after my purchase I was looking over a garden magazine in my mother’s doctor’s office. The doctor also gardens, so she wanted to know what plants I had. When I mentioned the Endless Summer hydrangeas, she said "Ah, those will probably not even bloom next year."

But here are those plants now, in photos taken a week ago and also this morning. This is the white one on the back corner of the house:

The blue one is still much smaller, and is in the garden bed at the back fence. But it has blooms also.

From summer 2005 to June 2008, nothing was done with the outside, so I am very happy at the improvements that have taken place since then. As a result, last week was Share-a-Garden-Week here on Oak Rise Cottage blog, as I did three blog posts on the new things happening outside. After sharing on Sunday about how I was developing the new white garden bed, I shared the New Front Garden on Monday. The new Back Yard Enhancements were the subject for Outdoor Wednesday.

Thanks for stopping to see my improving garden. I hope you will come back soon to see more. Your comments are welcome.

Independence Day Tablescape

For my Independence Day table setting I decided to use dishes and glassware made for the US Bicentennial celebrated in 1976.

For the RED: Avon "Cape Cod" ruby red glass dishwares, based on an 1876 design.
For the BLUE: Staffordshire "Liberty Blue" transferware with historic engravings.
And for the WHITE I decided on milk glass pieces, including a patriotic motif plate by Westmoreland.

Staffordshire "Liberty Blue" dinner plates are placed on the slightly larger "Cape Cod" dinner plates. Avon Cape Cod ruby red bowls are for a first course salad. The flatware is Oneida"Raphael."

The two goblets are Avon Cape Cod ruby red goblets and Fostoria "Virginia" in blue.

The tablecloth is white with blue embroidery and napkins are white cotton with blue swirls. The napkin rings are Cape Cod.

In the centerpiece the white milk glass patriotic plate under "Cape Cod" vase is Westmoreland’s Flag Eagle and Fleur de Lis 7 ¼ inch plate.

The Westmoreland Doric candleholders with open-lace base, hold red tapers.
Among the bounties of summer are home-grown tomatoes and strawberries. So I scattterd ceramic strawberries and tomatoes to add a dash of true red.


Thank you for stopping by. I hope you found the table setting pleasing. Do visit again soon, and please leave a comment.

See more tablescapes at Susan’s blog, Between Naps on the Porch.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!