~ Let It Be ... Mother Mary comes to me....

There will be an answer, let it be...

I looked for quite a while for a vintage Mary statue like this one. One that had just the right amount of age, a few chips here and there. One that reminded me of my childhood when you truly believe that prayers could be answered. One that would remind me that maybe they always are answered, even if it isn't the answer that we think we need or deserve.

I found her at Renninger's Extravaganza in Mt. Dora a couple of years ago. The dealers were very nice people and had picked her up in either France or Belgium. They were not sure. Now she lives with me. A long journey to a new heart waiting for her.

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of Wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness, she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of Wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be , let it be
Whisper words of Wisdom, let it be

And when the broken hearted people, living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

* Lyrics by Paul McCartney *
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I have always thought these words were inspired.
Not that I feel Paul McCartney is a saint.
But it gives Hope to all of us, who are not saints,
that we too can give the world
something that
is inspired.

See Y'all Soon
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** Hearts For Haiti at Etsy...
Currently raised for Doctors Without Borders (after fees):
$25,065.32 as of 9:00am EST 2/1/10**

~ One World One Heart 2010 GiveAway at The Decorated House

COMMENTS CLOSED.
WINNERS ANNOUNCED MONDAY AFTERNOON
...........................................

~ 3 Winners will announced on Feb 15th ~
Good Luck to All!
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Oh, yes it is time for all those who "don't usually leave a comment"
to come on out and say Hi!

One Wold One Heart 2010
The Decorated House ~ Participant Since 2007!

(Click on image above for list of all blogs.)

There is so much excitement in the air! Why?
Because it's that time again!
The sweet Lisa Swifka, of A Whimsical Bohemian Blog, is hosting her annual

One World One Heart.

Starting in 2007, we had about 90 participants. Last year Lisa had to keep track of 911!!
And at that rate, there is no telling how many blogs there will be this year. Thank YOU Lisa so much for creating such a fantastic worldwide event.

Over the years we have all had such fabulous time meeting so many wonderful people and their blogs from all over the world. I know you will so enjoy this Magic Carpet Ride!

This year my gift for the GiveAway are a couple of my Vintage Style Art Prints like the one pictured above in my frame, and below as it will arrive to you as an 8 x 10 inch print. They would look so lovely in any frame you would put it in. They are reminiscent of an old grain sack but brought into the new millenium, but still using such beautiful muted colors. They would be a welcome addition in any home, whether it be a cottage or a mansion.

8 x 10 inch Art Print.
(Printed on 8.5 x 11 inch
High Quality Photo Paper.)

Maybe you like a more rustic look mixed in
with a bit of French Elegance.
The winners may choose from either Art Print.

The one below features a rustic and shabby burlap background.

To enter the GiveAway on my blog,

just leave a comment on this post.

You do NOT have to have a blog to enter here.

But you must leave a blog or email address.

so I can reach you if you win.

Enter by Feb 14th, midnight.

Winner announced on Feb 15th.

Have a wonderful Magic Carpet ride!
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Please stop by
Hearts For Haiti Etsy shop.
HeartsForHaiti.etsy.com
Currently raised for Doctors Without Borders
(after fees): 10 pm EST 2/12/10 we have raised
$29,677.27!! Wow!

Beau Bunny Rabbit has been proud to be part of this wonderful effort.
See Y'all Soon

~ Rosemary & Time

                           

When it's time to put away all the decorations after Christmas, most of us either miss the baubles because the house looks empty, or you are thrilled to have less clutter. For me, it feels like a breath of fresh air, and it reminds me to start the year fresh.  Time to start anew again.

I love the smell of rosemary. Usually at Christmastime  you can find some really pretty cone shaped topiary rosemary plants. (Lowes, Home Depot and many garden shops carry them.)  This one has been sitting on the window sill in the kitchen where I can see when it needs water and it has been doing very well. It's really wonderful in the living room window, but we'll see how long it can stay there without me forgetting to water it.

The pot is terracotta which was painted a few years ago. First I painted it a creamy white, then aged it with some brown/taupe glaze and added a bit of mossy lime green to imitate the moss that would be growing on a pot left outside. 

A little word of warning about these Santos cage dolls. I have recently seen them being sold as "vintage" and they are not. Although they look a little older, they are being made today and imported. Sticking a vintage label on them seems to garnish a higher price.

Thank you for the nice comments on the Hearts For Haiti shop. It is doing so fantastic!

See Y'all Soon~

** HeartsForHaiti.etsy.com Currently raised for Doctors Without Borders (after fees): $16491.12
(as of 6:15 pm EST, January 24, 2010) **

Beau Bunny Rabbit Joins Hearts For Haiti Etsy Shop

If you have thought about adding a Beau Bunny or Abigail Bunny Rabbit Art Print to you collection, now would be a great time to do so.

I have donated a few Prints to the Hearts For Haiti Etsy shop, which is raising money for Doctors Without Borders one of the top rated charities in the world.
If this link is sold out, please look for another listed.

Take a few moments to look around and do a little shopping. There are hundreds of donated items to choose from.

If you would like an Abigail Bunny instead of the Beau Bunny ones they have listed, just buy a Beau and let me know that you want an Abigail instead. I will get it right out to you. The shop will notify the donors and each shop sends out the items.

(The price is $11, the same as in my shop after shipping is added. There is no shipping fee in the Hearts For Haiti shop, it is included in the price already.)

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We can make a difference, together :)

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

HeartsForHaiti.etsy.com Currently raised for Doctors Without Borders (after fees):
$10,037.37
(as of 8:30 EST 1/21/10)

~ Hearts For Haiti, Shop A Little - Make A Difference

I hope your weekend has been a good one. CNN has done a remarkable job covering Haiti. Sometimes the sadness is just overwhelming. It has made me feel like keeping my little family close and just enjoy some quiet family time.

Since you know I believe in the work by Doctors Without Borders, I hope you don't mind if I encourage you to do a little shopping. Yes, I do realize it is right after saying how I planned not be buying more stuff and being happy with using what I already have.

Well, this is a little different.

A shop on Etsy, HEARTS FOR HAITI,

has been set up with all the money from the sales being given to Doctors Without Borders. So have a great time shopping, and doing a good deed at the same time!

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A few answers and replies....

In the pictures of the kitchen, the walls are a medium golden yellow. They are being changed to a parchment color. Just a little change.

Thank you for telling me that our wild and crazy puppy will be a calmer dog someday. Everyone who has ever had a lab or lab/mix smiles with a funny twinkle in their eye (which I can see even in your notes!) and we love hearing your knowledge about him. And now that he is 15 months old, he is quite a bit better than when he was 6 months. We just hope someday we can leave him alone for more than 2 seconds without him getting into trouble.

And thank you for sharing about your skin cancers. I know mine was minor compared to many people. It was a big surprise to me, but the the doctor said certainly not unusual with growing up on the beaches of Florida. I am much more careful now. We were just really ignorant about sun exposure back then.

~ Light In The Darkness

This blog may be a bit boring in the coming year because I am determined to enjoy decorating, nesting and fussing by using and moving things around that I already have. And buying very few new things. Especially anything that I don't actually "need." Not only do I still have more stuff" than I actually need, but buying less will help me appreciated some of the things I have even more. Then I'll use them and not be out looking for more stuff.

This angel was not expensive, but I have really loved it ever since I found it. Over the last year she had gotten lost in the shuffle. She is quite lovely with some candles and the light dancing around. It's a simple example of things that I can use over and over again in different ways.


Maybe the reason that I tend to bring out more whites to decorate with in the winter is because it is a bit "darker" during the cold months. Most people lean towards more color in the winter, and then feel the need to lighten up as the seasons change. Instead I need more white around me in the cold months to combat that the days are shorter and there is less sunlight.

A couple of days ago I had a skin cancer spot removed, and I wanted to whine a little and get some sympathy, or at least ice cream and a cookie. Then I found out a close relative was going in for a breast biopsy the same day. Thankfully it turned out negative and it put my little boo boo in perspective. I felt cooped up with not being able to go walk the puppy as we usually do the last few days because of the stitches. But then I learned that my sis who had shoulder surgery today, would be going through therapy for 3 months. I'm thankful she is home now, with some mending ahead of her though.

Then the devastation in Haiti. I realized I have not one single thing to complain about. The amazing organization Doctors Without Borders was already in Haiti working. They have suffered greatly from the earthquake and their center was destroyed. They continue to work in the worst possible conditions because so many depend on them for their lives right now. They continue to bring Light in the Darkness.
You can visit them here.

See Y'all Soon~

~ New Year Resolution ~ More Turquoise

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to have more Turquoise, as in the color of the fabulous Tiffany Blue box fame. Not that it will be anything from Tiffany's. I just love the color.

It has been such a good love affair. Turquoise goes beautifully with the whites I love and the Lime/Kiwi Green seems to enjoy the company as well. They do get along so well together.

Art in Etsy Shop.

A good resolution to start the year off right!
See Y'all Soon~

~ Welcoming Magic & Wisdom on the Epiphany & The Nativity Dog

When Sweet Daughter was quite young, we began celebrating the 12 days of Christmas to extend the Holiday Season. Instead of having all the gifts on Christmas Day, I would give her little ones on all 12 days. It ends with the Epiphany, when the Magicians/Magi arrived in the Nativity story.


I was given a wonderful old Nativity set almost 40 years ago that had been started by a family member, whom I loved dearly, when she was in her 20's in 1948. As time went by I was more interested in getting a bigger, more elaborate one because I had lost interest in anything that was old or used. You can get like that when you spend your younger adult years not being able to go out and buy brand new. After I purchased a couple of larger beautiful sets, I kept the old one for my daughter to have in her room at Christmas.

It wasn't until this year that I really longed for that old simple, vintage one. It reminds me of the one we had when I was a kind, which had fewer pieces, and of the one I mentioned above from a very saintly woman who gave me mine. Over the years I had broken 2 of the pieces and that began my search on Ebay to replace them. And that is when I discovered the forgotten character from the story. The Nativity Dog!

You see by the time the Great Magi found the birth place of Jesus, others had already found their way, including many animals. And of course one of these was the Nativity Dog. Who could be more protective and caring to keep watch over the new baby? (Disclaimer: You might not find this part of the story in any of the books of the bible. But we like to think a faithful dog was there in attendance.)

This year I added the dog and some sheep, along with a couple of camels
and a new shepherd .
Mary, Joseph & the Baby are Italian rather than the
original ones made in Japan.

I'm sure the little dog greeted the Magi with the same respect that he would give the donkey or his friends the sheep. After all you know that dogs think we are just one of them.

We have a tradition of a very simple, peasant meal to celebrate the Epiphany, French Onion Soup, with a Fruit Salad and a loaf of French Bread. It is one of my family's favorite meals and that is what they chose many years ago.

~ Hoping & Praying for a New Year of Magic and Wisdom ~

~ Is That Snow?

It's even cold way down here.

But no snow, thank goodness! As much as I love seeing the snow pictures on blogs, I am really happy that we will not need to shovel our way out tomorrow morning. Instead we go out and uncover the semi-tropical plants that we put sheets and covers on to protect them from the freeze. This is extremely amusing in the beginning to people moving down here.