Monday, December 8, 2008

New Lights


There's a new chandelier in my dining room and it's all decked out for the holidays! I used greenery around the lights, keeping it well away from the bulbs, with a few red berries and wooden cranberries. Simple and festive. It's fun to decorate your dining room or kitchen chandelier. You can go more elaborate with ornaments and bows or keep it simple with greenery.


My old chandelier was a relic from the 80's and there was no way to decorate it. New lighting is an inexpensive way to update your home. Lighting fixtures start at around $50 and go up from there. If yours has a nice shape and design, but is bright brass, try using spray paint. Take it down and use blue tape to cover what you don't want painted and use a flat bronze spray paint.




The husband is a handy fellow to have around to do the wiring! I'll do the decorating.







There is another 80's relic in the entry foyer that I have a new matching chandelier for... but that will require a tall ladder. While I have the husband on a ladder, the foyer could use a fresh coat of paint!



Some wise men from eastern lands arrived
in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the
newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star as it rose and have come to
worship him." Matthew 2: 1,2


Blessings,

Coleen

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Cosy fire on cold winter morning


As I sit by the fire on a cold winter morning, drinking my coffee and looking forward to my day as I get ready for Christmas and reflect on what blessings I have. I adore making gifts for the family I love and decorating my home for a season of entertaining much loved friends. Suddenly, something doesn't smell right! The husband asks, "Did we open the flue?" As the smoke detectors sound and off the little yorkie runs yelping, we look at each other as I say," I moved something in there." I debate whether to open the windows to let out the smoke and risk having our neighbors call the fire department! In a few moments, the smoke is clearing and the detectors are sputtering and the yorkie comes out of hiding. We sigh with relief, as we sit back and finish drinking our now cold coffee.


The mantel holds greenery wrapped in wood cranberries. The surface is narrow and painted with high gloss.



These are the stockings, hung on the fireplace. They are miniature and don't hold very many goodies, but are so cute!


The coffee is now warm and the yorkie is snuggled up next to me. I am reflecting on Christmas as the most wonderful season to remember the gift from God of his son, Jesus.



"Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,
which means 'God is with us'."
Matthew 1:23



Blessings,
Coleen