Sometimes Life Is Hard

Sometimes life deals blows that make us stagger; I'm grateful to be able to take it to the Lord in prayer.

Philippians 4:6

I'm off to a slow start . . .

With my Christmas Decorating.  I ran by GW yesterday ~ looking for something else, but . . . since I'm already there I need to, have to "look" a little bit.  I rounded the corner of the Seasonal Decorating aisle and sitting there waiting for me was this!

Isn't he wonderful? He's ceramic, there is not one chip on him!  I pounced! I think I did the evil villian laugh (boowah~hahahah) I wrapped my arms around him and ran for the cash register before anyone else could see him!  He is an amazing addition to my Santa collection, the colors are PERFECT for my home!  His presence inspired me to pull out all the Christmas storage boxes and bins which are now sitting

ALL OVER THE ENTIRE HOUSE!

My dogs are so confused!

Right now he is residing on the sofa table in the Living Room, who knows if he'll stay there.  I may just carry him around with me all day!

Because I love my "new to me" Santa so much I dug through the bins and boxes until I found another of my favorite men.  My "Tah ~Dah" Santa (to me he looks like he's thrown his arms in the air and yelled "Tah~Dah!).  I just love him, he makes me smile.  I keep him in the kitchen next to the sink so when I'm working in there I see his smiling face (my kids have threatened to have me committed, periodically I throw my arms in the air and yell Tah~Dah! Yep, way to much homeschooling).

Tah~Dah it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by, I enjoyed our visit.

Until next time!

P.S. Thank you so much for the lovely comments!  I was so surprised I almost fell off my chair.  Then I cried, you all made my night!

LeRae

I'm linking to French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

and

To My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

http://myromantichome.blogspot.com/



Thanksgiving Table

 I've been such a bad blogger!  I started in August (I think) and then all the great Blogs in Blogland and some pretty intense "real life" situations brought me to a place where I felt I had nothing to contribute so I just stopped.  Today my youngest daughter told me I should post pictures of our Thanksgiving Table (since she thought it was so pretty) on a blog -- I told her I had one; she stared at me and asked why I hadn't told her -- okay, again with the nothing to contribute . . . so here is my table with my thrifted Turkey Soup Tureen and Pumpkin Soup Bowls; and the really cool Turkey salad plates I found at HomeGoods; the leaf place mats are from the Dollar Store and the Place Cards are from TJ Maxx.  I'm so glad my family felt special today -- that was my intent.

I'm linking to French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, I enjoyed the visit

LeRae

Mini Friday Project

I have been looking for Green Lamps for my Family Room after I saw the ones Thrifty Decor Chick found at Home Goods!  Loved 'em!  Sadly, my Home Goods didn't have Green, they had Turquoise which will not work for me.  So the waiting and longing and looking began.  I think I was very patient and THEN ~ ~  I N S P I R A T I O N ~ ~ struck.  Somewhere in Blogland (I can't remember which site, I'm so sorry!) I saw the yummy Rust-Oleum Oregano Spray Paint and my gaze landed on the wrought iron lamps . . . hmmmm?!  Oh yeah! In the car, down to the Home Depot and

All taped up and ready to go

a few short burst of spray paint and a short few minutes of drying time ~ boy this stuff dries fast!! Then back in the room!  Just the hit of color I was craving

Oh Yeah Baby!

What a nice way to start the weekend.  Happy Friday ya'll.  I enjoyed your visit ~ come back often, I love company!  I'm linking this mini project to http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for Met Monday! 

LeRae

Long Hard Day

After a long hot, hard day it's nice to shower and get cleaned up.  My family room felt hot and sweaty yesterday ALL DAY!  So my loving Husband obliged me and shampoo'd

He moved all the furniture,the sofa sleeper is a beast; we moved that AFTER we started

Man on a Mission

How did Shedder #1 get in this picture????

12 Hours Drying Time Later ~ all done, put back and looking fresh as a daisy!
Ignore the PS3 on the TV Tray, he deserves "play" time after all the hard work yesterday!

Thanks for dropping by, I really enjoyed your visit!

LeRae

Wednesday ~ Baking Day

So, when I woke up this morning I was thinking I wanted to clean, clean, clean; but after several cups of coffee while grazing through my favorite cooking websites I decided to make cupcakes instead!  First, I found this

Ran to gather all the stuph (love the dog food bag in the corner of the pic!)

Didn't have a German Chocolate Cake Mix so I used Devil's Food (hope it works)

Baked some of that into these

Made the rest into Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting ~ yum!

And waited and waited and chased the men in my life away from the warm cupcakes!!  They haven't been frosted yet!  Decided I better go take the donations to Goodwill or I would eat warm cupcakes too. Stopped to shop for a few minutes ~ found 3 things I could not live without (more on them later).

Made it home to frost the cupcakes. I don't expect them to last very long, my Daughters are on their way over right now! But for the moment I am pleased with my accomplishments.  Off to make dinner, beer can chicken and fresh picked corn!!

Maybe I'll clean tomorrow . . . maybe not

PS how do you change the date on your camera?  Mine says it's the 6th amazing!!

Ready? Set? Go!

After MONTHS and months of stalking amazing blogs like Thrifty Decor Chick, Between Naps on the Porch, My Romantic Home and Lynne's Gifts From the Heart I finally got the courage to start my own!  I'm not sure I have much to say, but here we go.  The name of my blog is "Chez Nathanael" which stands for, Chez - my Frenchy version of Chateau or Home and Nathanael which in Hebrew means "Gift of God" so my home is called -- "Home Gift of God" I'll add pictures soon!