Kay Ellen

God Bless America

Happy Fourth of July!

When I think of the fourth of July I remember back in Elementary School when I was required to memorize the The Declaration of Independence: We the people of the United States of America in order to form a more perfect union,establish justice,insure domestic tranquility... Do you have this same memory? Julie are you reading this? We would recite it to each other until we had it memorized. We knew we would have to say it in front of the whole class! So we didn't want to get it wrong :-) I still enjoy stating it today!

I hope you have a chance to sing a patriotic song on this special holiday: God Bless America, Grand Old Flag or Proud to be an American... just to name a few.

Let us wave our American Flags high in honor of ALL who have fought and still fight for our freedom.

Words cannot fully describe how I felt when I went to the Arlington Cemetery in Washington DC and saw the graves of all the men and women that had died defending our country. I was humbled and grateful for there courage to protect the United States and our Freedom.

May we all reflect on what this holiday means and truly have thankful hearts for Gods many blessings in our lives.

God Bless America!

:kayellen

Party Time

Getting Ready...

Planning and preparing for any party is always a lot of fun and a Tea Party is especially enjoyable! Teapots have so much character - I love this one. I will have it on the table for the party tomorrow.

I can't decide what dishes to use....maybe I will use these?

The day before any party I enjoy attending to some of the smaller details that make a party special - like setting up the entrance to my house by adding flowers to my birdbath. Special touches help set a festive mood!

With all this planning I also like to take time and have a cup of tea or drink some pink lemonade and think about any last details for the party.

I'm making my final list of goodies and I'm off to shop (another benefit of throwing a party). See you all tomorrow!

:KayEllen

Many Thanks!

Hello fellow bloggers!

This has been an exciting last week. So many wonderful things to blog about! First I would like to mention Vanessa Valencia at: http://afancifultwist.typepad.com she is a sweetheart and incredible story teller and artist! I am so excited about her virtual blog tea party coming up on June 28! Thank you for stopping by my blog Via Vanessa! She has kept me in suspense waiting for the tea party reveal! I have two critters I sent off to join in her fun! Who wouldn’t have FUN at Vanessa abode?! Have you seen her pictures? I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next! Thank you Vanessa for taking such good care of my bunnies!  I hope there are thanking you for your hospitality and full bellies!

Secondly, I need to thank my new Flickr friend Joy. We immediately connected and shared a kindred spirit for creative things. To my surprise she honored me on her blog on June 16 http://www.thejoyof.blogspot.com , with the Arte Y Pico Award, this award is “dedicated to many who nourish and enrich the spirit and creativity” as described by its originator- http://arteypico.blogspot.com  Wow! Do I feel special? I am new at ALL this creative blogging and really appreciate the mention!

 

I emailed  Joy right away and thanked her!  I am enjoying the current flickr group called: Shades of Inspiration, where I met Joy. If you enjoy taking pictures join in the fun! This week our photos are shades of Blue. Check out the details on http://sadieolive.typepad.com

 

Thirdly, I need to thank Heather Bullard for urging me to join her in blog land! This process took me over a year to decide to join in and give it a try! I started out slow and now I try to blog once a week. I am learning as I go. I try to journal ideas that inspire me or post articles about: gardening, travel, interior design or my family. Because of Heather, blogging is now a part of my everyday life and I just love it.Thank you Heather for all your encouraging words and not giving up on me! You must stop by and see her blog it’s incredible!!! http://www.heatherbullard.typepad.com

Lastly, I want you to know I have an step by step article coming out next month. I’m thrilled for the opportunity. I need to be patient and not share any details about the article. The only hint I can share is that I created something with my parent’s Sealah Tape!  Check it out at: http://www.jodeesinc.com

Hope everyone has a wonderful week and until we meet again here at my blog…. or of course I hope to see you at Vanessa’s: Mad Tea Party on June 28!

Bye

:KayEllen

Light the Candles

I love candles, because when you light them you add a special ambiance to any table setting. I have a candelabra above my dining table and one in my backyard arbor. Candles provide a feeling of peace and tranquility or even a little romance.

Some people will wait for special occasions to use candles, but why not use them for an ordinary evening at home. Your table will have a soft, inviting, romantic glow and the food should look amazing under the candlelight - what a perfect setting.

This summer, try to add candlelight to your next evening meal, maybe eat it outside if possible and see how your family reacts.

 

What's happening tonight, is it a special occasion? Just smile and reply... it's just because, I love you.

Have fun lighting your candles!

Joined in another photo stream with Shades of Inspiration "click below" and take a look!

 

Shades of Inspiration

:KayEllen

Old with New Purpose

Hello fellow bloggers,

I have a quite a few OLD things around my house (my grandmother and my mother have saved many attractive treasures) and I enjoy discovering new inventive ways to give them a NEW PURPOSE in my home and garden. I love them all and I am sure that's why I enjoy shopping for vintage treasures.

I received a quite a few emails about the hanging vase in my RED post. So I decided to let everyone know about this clever repurposed item...

I was wondering how many of you noticed that this vase is actually an old light bulb! Isn't it great?! Rita at The Barn sells them and I just fell in love with it and had to add it to my "New Purpose" collection.

In a similar way, I just love old cameras they have so much character and they are part of special memories from my childhood. Recently, I purchased a similar camera to the ones I loved to play with when I was young. Looking through the old lense and seeing the image was as fun now as it was back then. I brought it home and my photographer / husband used it to capture some interesting shots...what do you think?

I'm also kind of crazy about birdbaths...and this one is on my side yard it's visible from my dining room. The bird bath is about ten years old and I am sure that the the old window hanging behind it is nearly sixty years old...I added it as a backdrop for charm...I couldn't throw it away!  (Oh no, that sounds just like my mom). Anyway, at least I gave it a new purpose.

So, don't forget to look for Old things this Summer and then give them a New Purpose, if you get a chance please take a few snapshots of them and share them with us All in Blog Land!

:KayEllen

Project Red

Hi blogging friends,

I was surfing online looking for creative blogs and I ran across Sadie Olive, a very beautiful BLOG that caught my eye. She inspired myself and other bloggers to join in her fun and take pictures of things that are RED and share them with everyone.

This is a great way to start out the month of June with a creative challenge and connecting with bloggers I have never met before.

Can't wait to see all the pictures and introduce myself to everyone.

Thank you Sara for your challenge to inspire!

Enjoy the pictures!

I

:KayEllen

Adding A Personal Touch

Family photos can add a personal touch to your home and I've always enjoyed helping my clients chose just the right photos and frames to assemble a creative display. Before you run out to purchase the typical ready-made frame and matting try some of the following ideas that I have found to be a bit more creative and fun to put together. These are a few of the successful display ideas that I have used in my own home and for my clients.

• Add creative touches for example letters that spell your last name.
• Add a plaque that says "Family" above your collection.
• Use an old weathered window as a clever way to show off photos.   
• Print photographs in gray scale or even sepia tones.
• Change the scale of some of the photos in your grouping.
• Add tightly cropped (close-ups) mixed with far way photos to add interest and depth.
• Have fun; mix your frames sizes and colors, they don't have to match, It's alright to be different!

   

I would love to see your ideas!
Email me with your "Personal Touch" you have added to your home.

:KayEllen

Calm Sunday

Hello Blogging friends,

I thought I would share how thankful I am today; my husband was admitted to the hospital Thursday but now he is home and I am very grateful. He had a problem with medication he was taking and his pulse dropped to 30 beats per minute. His normal pulse is typically around 60 beats so after the ER doctor stabilized him, ran a bunch of tests he decided to admit him until his pulse was normal. That evening continued to be crazy as the tornado weather you all heard about on the news arrived just a few miles from where I live. My kids were home and I was at the hospital so I just kept thinking of various Bible verses and that helped me have peace even in the midst of all the stress.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.       -Philippians 4:6-7

When I got home my kids and my animals all gave me big "hugs" and attention. I told them that Dad was doing better but he had to stay overnight and that we just need to pray for him.

My Friday morning cast cutting ceremony sure changed for me, I took the kids to school and headed for the hospital for a visit. I Didn't want to leave until the doctor came in and of course the minute I left the doctor arrived. When I arrived, cast-free, I was glad to hear that his pulse was returning to normal and would be able to come home soon.

Today, Sunday, we are  relaxing, enjoying the white clouds, the sound of our fountain, and some delicious food that our dear friends made for us!  Thank you Faulkner Family!




We are thanking God for all of His blessings.

:KayEllen

Summer IS Here

Hello Bloggers!

We hit a 100 degrees in Southern California! When it gets that hot here,I like to head for the coast.
I live about 45 minutes away from the beach, so even with gas prices so high, I try to mix business with pleasure and do some shopping for clients,then hit the beach!

Some of you bloggers have heard about my hot pink cast. Yes, I broke a bone in my hand playing Tennis, well technically not by playing but from falling while playing. And let me tell you - this hot weather is not fun with a cast. My cutting off ceremony is next Friday, not soon enough for me, but I have made it this far... I just have to hang in there a bit longer. I am right handed so this has really been a challenge with everything I now need to do left handed. It's amazing how we can take things for granted until we find ourselves struggling to complete the typically easy tasks. Somethings I have had to keep a sense of humor about it and ask for help if I needed it.

:KayEllen

Enjoy a few pictures from the beach...