Happy Thanksgiving, from Heart and Home

Welcome!

I appreciate your visit.

I am regrouping for the holidays,

taking some well-earned time off to spend with my family.

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues."

Marcus Tullius Cicero

I am grateful for the time we've had together, here at Heart and Home.

I thank you  for your continued support and encouragement.

I thank you for the inspiration and the creativity you've shared,

 for the insight and wisdom,

and especially the humor

A joyous Thanksgiving Holiday

filled with the love and laughter of friends and family

is what I wish for you, my Heart and Home friends.

Eat, play, relax, and give thanks for all your blessings.

Be well.

Enjoy the warmth and the spirit of the coming days.

Until we meet here again, I will be thinking of you.

Until next time,

XO

Heidi

Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.--Estonian Proverb

Wednesday Gratitude #31, and Blue and Brown at Heart and Home

“To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.” -Albert Schweitzer

Thank you for being here for

 Wednesday Gratitude!

Today I'm thankful

for the slight chill  in the air this evening, as the weather turns to Fall.

I'm thankful for the sun streaming through the windows late in the afternoon,

and the long shadows and changing leaves.

But, I'm not ready to redecorate the living room for autumn, not yet.

It's still warm and summery during the day.

I'm thankful I have extra space in my house

to store all these very important accessories!

A few Fall-ish items are just what's needed

 to ease us into the season.

And, since I'm joining Cindy's Blue and Brown party today,

there's some of that around, too.

Blue and white are the basics in this house.

I love the combination, and it works so well with just about any other color.

It's only natural to add a little brown, for Fall.

I collected a bunch of orbs for the mantel.

What are they for?

Does it really matter?

I like the way they look!

Their spherical shape is echoed

in this bunch of dried Love-In-The-Mist.

I gathered these in my garden

and left them on the hammock in the sun to dry.

Brown leather cushions

 and a striped woven table runner say "Fall" to me.

I'm leaving the painted sisal rug in here for a few more weeks.
(For the how to go HERE)

It's too early to bring in the dark wool one,
but soon enough we'll be glad for the extra warmth on our feet!

Year round, white candles are a staple in this house,

I always keep plenty on hand.

I love using lots of cushions to make things nice and cozy!
I whipped up these burlap ones this weekend.

They have a knife edge with a double row of black top-stitching.

I decided not to monogram them, but may change my mind.

For now I think they look nice just the way they are.

Sometimes simple is best, in my opinion.

Speaking of simple:

Here's Maggie, in one of her favorite spots.

I wonder what she's thinking about?

She's probably thankful for her sunny nap-spot,

 her bowl of food, and the bacon-flavored treats she gets when she's good.

At least, those are the things I'd be thankful for, if I were her.

As for me, I appreciate all the pleasure I get from this home,

 the joy I feel making it warm and cozy,

and the happy anticipation I have for the coming season.

Until next time

XO

Heidi

Linking to Cindy's Cottage Instincts, for the Great Blue and Brown party.

Thanks, Cindy!

Heart and Home: And the Winner Is...

Happy Monday! Did you have a good weekend? Are you still enjoying summer, and trips to the park or the pool or the beach, and long, long days, and flip-flops and iced tea and watermelon?

I'm glad you stopped by today, and I'm happy to announce the winner of Heart and Home's One Year Anniversary Giveaway.

Thanks to all of you who entered with comments, and many big thank yous to all  of Heart and Home's new followers!

I'm honored and pleased that you chose to add H&H to your reading list or blog rolls. I hope you'll be back to visit often.

These are the prizes that will be wrapped up tight and sent to you.

Adorable bird salt and pepper shakers, to add some spice to your life.

Several specially chosen necklaces from my collection, to add a little pizazz.

A pretty, vintage tea towel, for beauty you can use every day.

A couple of cute little note pads, a softly fragrant bar of French soap, and some sea shells and pieces of sea glass from my collection, too. Just for the heck of it!

You know how I feel about sea glass, so the fact that I'm parting with some of mine says a lot about how I feel about you!

Oh, and let's not forget the best part, the $40 gift certificate from Lisa Leonard Designs.

Wow, all those nifty gifts, just for you! Congratulations,  Allison, at A Glimpse Inside.
E-mail me with your address, and I'll get this package in the mail to you right away.

All the rest of you, well, don't despair! I plan on sticking around for awhile and there will be more giveaways in the future.

So drop by anytime, and leave a comment when you do! In the meantime, feel free to look around, check out some of the older posts you may have missed, and let me know what you'd most like to see here at Heart and Home in the future.

See you soon.

Until next time,
XO
Heidi
linking to Making the World Cuter Monday. Drop by and say hello.

Lisa Leonard, a Luster-ware Tablescape, and a Giveaway at Heart and Home

Welcome back everyone! Thanks to all of you who joined Wednesday Gratitude, and for all the supportive comments. You ladies are the best, I really appreciate your kind words! There's always room for anyone who wants to join in, so feel free to link to the party next week.

I'm happy you've dropped by today, and I'm happy to be participating in Susan's 100th tablescaping party.  Stop over at  Between Naps on the Porch when you're done here, and prepare to be amazed.

Susan is one of the sweetest hostesses around, and I know you'll be glad you went by to say hi.

Tell her Heidi at Heart and Home sent you!

For this special occasion I pulled out the vintage luster-ware tea service I've had stuffed in a box and in storage under the house for about 3 years.

I ironed and layered the cut-work linens I got for a song on E-Bay. Well, I didn't actually sing, but you know what I mean.

I thought the Lily napkin rings added just the right touch of drama!

I imagined a tea party for just the two of us, you and me.

There are warm lemon-cranberry scones in the oven.

The water is starting to boil for a nice pot of tea.

I love green tea with jasmine, but you can have your choice.

I've got 2 or 3, or 20 to choose from.

And honey, and lemon, and milk. Fix it how you like it!

Or, I suppose I can make a pot of coffee, if you'd rather. But it's not the same when you have a tea party with coffee.

I know it's the middle of the day, but I'll light the candles anyway, 'cause it's a special occasion.

Besides, I always light the candles.

There's something extra nice about eating by candlelight.

My girls have grown up having their meals that way, and know how to get wax out of a tablecloth!

Isn't love wonderful? These two seem to think so.

Please, no smooching at the table.

I borrowed the tulips from the vase in the living room.

They look perfect in here and really brighten up the table.

And, in case you're in a really festive mood, I put out the gold-rimmed Noritake crystal wine glasses.

Because this is a celebration after all.

A glass of wine a day is good for you, or so I've been told.

The luster-ware was a find on E-Bay a few years ago.  I was the winning bid at $10.99 for a service for six.

It cost me $15.00 to have the box shipped.

Still, I thought it was a real steal for something so pretty, and vintage to boot.

There's a reason it's called luster-ware. Just look at that shimmer.

This set was made after the war, in "Occupied Japan"

Some was made in Bavaria, or later, in just plain "Japan".

I have a nice collection of different sets, but they are all packed away, waiting for that perfect dining room hutch that doesn't seem to exist. Believe me I've looked.

I'm not giving up hope that I'll find it one of these days.

In the meantime, I don't mind unpacking boxes, and digging through tissue and newspaper and bubble wrap, and unwrapping this treasure to share with you for our special tea party.

Congratulations, Susan, on 100 inspiring Tablescape posts. Thanks for letting us tag along and for sharing your creativity with us!!

And now, I've got some exciting news!!

You know there's a giveaway going on here at Heart and Home, to celebrate my one year blogging anniversary.
You do know that, don't you?
Well, the prizes just got even better, because Lisa Leonard, yes THAT Lisa Leonard, is throwing a $40 gift certificate into the pot.

That's a whole $40 to spend however you'd like, at her shop.http://lisaleonardonline.com/
If you like jewelry like this:

or this:

You'll want to get in on this deal! The gift certificate is in addition to the already fabulous prizes I've been collecting for you. Because I want to thank you for one very special year of bloggy heaven.

Believe me, if I could enter my own drawing, I'd do it just for the gift certificate. I really want one of those necklaces. Maybe I'll treat myself...

To enter, leave a comment.
For extra entries, become a follower or subscriber (or let me know if you are or do)
Refer a friend, or post about this giveaway and wow, that's two more entries!
It's so easy, the winning entry will be chosen July 31. Good luck! (for the official giveaway details, go here.)

Until next time,
XO
Heidi

Of course, I'm linking up to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

In the Closet and a Giveaway at Heart and Home

Calling all followers and subscribers!

I know you're out there, why don't you

drop by for a visit, and learn about the giveaway!

I hope all is well with you.

I'm feeling fine, thank you!

That darn root canal went well, and I can relax,

until my return appointment next week!

-

I so appreciated your words of encouragement!

 I will admit I was a little anxious about the whole thing.

I don't like people putting their fingers in my mouth,

unless those fingers are holding french fries.

I finished a small task this afternoon.

This is my bedroom,

(more of that here, here, and here, if you're interested)

and behind this door

is the (hard to photgraph because it's kind of dark in here)

 master closet where, beside my clothes,

I keep many of my treasures.

 The newest are these photographs I purchased from Mimi Charmante:

They arrived wrapped up in brown paper and tied with a string.

Charming! 

Aren't they lovely?

Kimberly shoots the most beautiful photographs,

and recently returned from a trip to France where these were taken.

I finally framed the prints,

and hung them where I would see them every day.

French market flowers in the softest colors

look great on the pale lavender wall.

They compete for attention

 with all the stuff I've managed to accumulate over the years.

I  may have a slight obsession with funky, beaded necklaces.

Wearing one makes me happy,

 but wearing two or three at the same time

is even better. 

A girl can never have too many baubles, in my opinion!

The antique dresser top below the vintage mirror

holds my jewelry box, and little trinkets and

beloved items given to me by my children.

Believe me when I say

I have a hard time getting rid of things

 with sentimental value. 

I only recently tossed the envelope full of baby teeth

I had collected over the years.

I finally realized I was letting sentiment rule a bit too much! 

But, the ribbon tack board is exploding with

dried flowers, pictures, ribbons, tickets from shows, pins,

 fortune cookie fortunes,

and hand made cards from my husband and daughters.

Every now and then I put everything in a big, dated envelope, 

and start the tack board collection all over again. 

I made a spot for Helga and Ruby,

my two favorite babies from childhood.

They are guarding my shoes.

All the girls in this house wear the same size.

Which isn't always a good thing, if you know what I mean.

 Besides baubles and lipsticks,

shoes run a close second in the obsession department.

  What can I say, I'm a girly-girl!

 

Now, here's some exciting news:

For Heart and Home's one year anniversary on July 27th,

 I'm having a contest.

(Contest open to residents of continental USA only.)

The upcoming giveaway will include

 one of these necklaces,

chosen just for you!

I've also got some vintage linens, pretty cards,

and lots more lovely things I know you will love.

The best part:  You can enter as many times as you want!

Contest ends on July 31, 2010.

You'll be entered every time you leave a comment,

from now until then.

Become a follower

(or let me know if you already are) for an additional entry.

Refer a friend, have them leave a comment with your name,

and you both get entered!

(That's one more entry for you!)

Mention the giveaway on your blog and,

yep, you guessed it, one more entry.

(just remember to let me know!)

WOW! So many ways to join the fun.

I've got three weeks to find even more cool stuff to add to the prizes!

Don't miss out, start right now and leave a comment!

From one girly-girl to the rest of you,

Until next time

XO

Heidi

linking to the fabulous Show and Tell Friday at

the fabulous Cindy's. Thanks!

A Heart and Home Deck Garden

Hi Everyone! I hope you're enjoying a wonderful weekend.

For Sunday Favorites I'm re-running this post which was first seen in September 2009. Thanks, Chari, at Happy to Design, for hosting this party and giving us the opportunity to see posts that we may otherwise have missed.

From September 1, 2009:

In my garden I've planted geraniums, lobelia, petunias and allisium. But there are others that live among the garden plants. I spy a fat little bird, and a sweet, chubby, little angel.....

and a stately copper dragonfly come to rest upon the jasmine.

A fairy ball, and a petite wooden bird are nestled beside the flowers...

watching the angels living cheek to cheek with the lobelia

and alongside the petunias, as they play heavenly instuments while breathing in the sweet scent of the purple and blue flowers,

in my little deck garden, here on the redwood coast.

If you look closely, you will recognize some of these pictures - they were used to make my blog buttons!

My garden is starting to look just like this again, now that it's late spring.
Every year after the hard winter rains I replant the pots, and this year I have tomatoes growing on the deck for the first time, because we have so much more sun out there now.
I'm looking forward to Caprese Salad, made with homegrown tomatoes, by the time September rolls around. I guess I should plant some basil, too! Delicious!

And, for a look at some fun Jewerly in my Pink Saturday post, click here.

Until next time

XO

Heidi