ABCs of the Word - X

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 letter is X.. Pam has indicated "thinking there aren't scriptures to choose from for this letter SO, how about if we share a scripture that holds X extra meaning for us right now. For whatever reason... share the Word that He has brought to life for you recently."
*clipart letter X
"The day appointed for the Jews to do this
in all the provinces of King Xerxes
was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,
the month of Adar."
Esther 8:12 NIV
"The Jews assembled in their cities
in all the provinces of King Xerxes
to attack those seeking their destruction.
No one could stand against them,
because the people of all the other nationalities
were afraid of them."
Esther 9:2 NIV
When an irreversible royal decree would have all the Jews destroyed, a providential turn of events made it possible for the Jews to defend themselves.
[The book of Esther is unusual since it does not refer to any name of God. So while there is never any acknowledgment that the turn of events were under divine direction, yet one can assume that God worked out all the events so that the dramatic outcome was a blessing to his exiled people.]
For more ABC’s of the Word visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Word-Filled Wednesday Genesis 11:8,9

Clipart Doverpublications.com

“So the LORD scattered them

from there over all the earth,

and they stopped building the city.

That is why it was called Babel

—because there the LORD confused

the language of the whole world.

From there the LORD scattered them

over the face of the whole earth."

Gen. 11:8, 9

The illustration is from the Bedford Book of Hours done between 1423-1430 AD. It interprets the building of the Tower of Babel on a plain in Shinar or Babylonia.

The multiplication of languages was used by God to keep humans from following through with their unholy goal of making a way to heaven by their own means. ["Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens…]

Christ is the only solution to our human dilemmas and the only Way to fulfill our full potential

For more Word-Filled Wednesday please visit Amydeanne.

Gifts That Feed a Passion for Blue and White - 1

Blue Monday is sponsored by Sally at Smiling Sally.

For my Blue Monday contribution I’d like to present some of the gifts that feed my hankering for blue and white. Family and friends know that I love blue and white dishes and other lovelies, so over the years, they have gifted me with many different items.

Salt and pepper set – from two youngest sisters when they lived with me in Texas while they attended college.



Staffordshire shoe with daisies– from another sister, Noelle, when she lived with me in California while she attended college and I attended graduate school.

"Liberty Blue" Staffordshire dishes – from middle sister. She collected four place settings at a local supermarket that featured these for the U.S. Bicentennial.

Meakin "Palma" dinner plate - Again from my middle sister, whose boss brought it in to work to use under one of his plants. My sister told him she needed it for my blue & white collection. Later, I found the cup and saucer at Ross Simons for my blue and white teacup collection.

Wayside Inn plate – From professional colleagues at a conference. The plate depicting the Old Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA was presented to me at a banquet, the evening following our visit to the Old Wayside Inn. We had a delicious meal in the historic inn. While visiting the gift shop someone overheard me remark on my love of blue and white dishes. When I opened the gift presented to me as host the next evening, there was the lovely plate, a reminder of a delightful stop on our tour.

Crocheted pot holders, pair – Made for me by a talented co-worker.

Crocheted pincushion chair – Made for me by a talented blog friend, Esther Sunday.

Next week I will share blue and white linens and textiles I've received as gifts.

See more Blue Monday posts at Smiling Sally.

Metamorphosis Monday – Front Steps

I almost completely forgot about the first installment of Metamorphosis Monday, which is hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.

My 90-year old mother has been in the hospital since Thursday night, when I took her to the hoapital emergency room. We had been there Wednesday morning, but had returned home by mid-afternoon. So I am a bit out of touch with my blogging activities.

I will just do a quick post about the front steps as I found them in 1992 when I bought my house. The house had been built in 1988 so it was four years when I moved in.
The lower front steps consisted of railroad ties in terra cotta red, with gravel and terra cotta stepping stones for the lower landing. The wood was quite rotted so I had to replace them.

In 1994 I hired a mason who designed a curved lower stair.

After all this time I still need to add railings to aid in going up and down when it is wet or slippery.

For more posts in this new weekly feature, go to the listing for Metamorphosis Monday, at Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.

Friday Show and Tell – Corner Cabinet

Show and Tell Friday is hosted by the very talented Kelli at There is No Place Like Home

About two months ago I saw a white painted wood corner cabinet in the local consignment shop. At this shop the price goes down the longer the item is in the shop. The lowest price of $69.99 was for January 4, 2009. A customer may leave a check in the amount of whatever price point you wish to pay. If no one buys it at a higher price, then you may get the piece. Otherwise your undeposited check is returned to you.

I went in on January 2 and to my delight it was still there. I handed over my money and promised to return on January 4 with my brother to pick it up. Just as I went in the door on Sunday around 2 p.m., I swung around and saw a couple coming in behind me. My brother’s teenaged son helped the owner take my cabinet out to their car. After they had stowed it in the car, the owner told me that the couple had just asked to buy the corner cabinet. He told them that I had bought it and was taking it right then!

Here it is in the corner of the dining room where I had had a bookcase on which I stored the pink and white English, German and American dishes. The unit is white with black metal hinges, gold knobs and gilt brass pull on the drawer. I hope to have it painted to match the dining room walls and to change the hardware.

The dishes fit behind the glass doors of the upper section very well.

The lower portion of the cabinet has a small drawer and additional storage behind solid doors.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my thrifty storage find. Visit more Show and Tell at There is No Place Like Home.

ABCs of the Word - W

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 letter is W

Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV

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

Word-Filled Wednesday – Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together,

saith the LORD:

though your sins be as scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson,

they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18 KJV

When we look on all the white stuff around us, we can contemplate God’s sure promise that he will cleanse us from our sins. This is possible when we look on pure white snow when it first comes down, or the grey stuff when it has been soiled with traffic. God's grace is powerful in all situations.

For more Word-Filled Wednesday please visit Amydeanne.

Tablescape Tuesday - Hurry-up Luncheon Setting

Tablescape Tuesday is sponsored by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.

This weekend I had a short time to put together a luncheon for a friend whose visit had been suddenly moved up due to impending snow storms. There wasn’t time to pull together a detailed tablescape, so I just went for something elegant with a bit of color and a clean fresh feeling.
Having just taken off the holiday table setting from the dining room, I had a bare tabletop. I quickly pulled out the following elements:

Round aqua woven mats I had gotten in December at Marshalls
Spode "Consul Cobalt" dinner plates
Mikasa "Crown Jewels" dessert plates
Mikasa "Estasi" flatware
Ivory napkins in gilt floral napkin rings
Clear crystal "Vendange" goblets
Clear glass salad bowls on "Consul Cobalt" bread and butter plates
Clear footed gravy boat

Two silverplate candlesticks on another round placemat and a small silverplated candy dish served as a very simple centerpiece.

Under the goblets were cream and gold ceramic coasters which I bought in Athens in 1993. I gave my guest the one depicting Sunion, Greece, which she and I had visited on that wonderful trip.

A tasty menu of: Yellow Rice,Sauteed Tenderbits in Mushroom Gravy, Mushroom Gravy in Sauce boat, Green Peas, Corn, Romaine Salad, Apple Fritter Bread slices, Cranberry Juice, Apple Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream.

My guest, a fine cook and exquisite hostesss, approved the menu and tablesetting and expressed that she had had a wonderful time.

For more delightful table settings please see the list of participants at Susan’s blog.

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 letter is V

I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15: 5 KJV

Only by a constant connection with Jesus can our spiritual lives be maintained. May we continue to seek Him and to receive Him daily.

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