When a Swallow Falls...

A female swallow was injured when she was hit by a car  as she swooped low across the road. Her mate brought her food and attended to her with love and compassion. When he brought her food again, he was saddened to find her dead.       He tried to move her which was a rarely seen effort for swallows.       Aware that his sweetheart was dead and would never come back to him again, he cried with adoring love.       He stood beside her, heartbroken by her death. Finally, aware that she would never return to him, he stayed beside her body chirping out his sadness and sorrow.       You have just witnessed the love and  sorrow felt by all of God's creatures. The Bible says that God knows even when a tiny sparrow falls. How much more He cares for us! In this new year ~ may you live simply love generously care deeply and  speak kindly. Grace is God reaching down Faith is man reaching back. [ Blessings ] Linking to the parties on the lower right of my sidebar. Just click on the buttons.    .

Merry Christmastide

I need to
thank you.

I need to tell you how much I appreciate
your friendship and encouragement,
your prayers and support,
your love and generosity,

and your inspiration.

I truly believe that God led me to the blogging world
as a way of melding me with some amazing relationships
with fellow sisters-in-Christ ~
who not only have an appreciation for the beautiful world around them,
but for creating peaceful and meaningful atmospheres in their homes.

 Thank you.

You are treasured.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

“God carries in His heart the fulfillment 

to all the desires He has placed within yours.”

May the desires of your heart be fulfilled beyond comprehension this joyful Christmas season.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…
that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life.
John 3:16


Merry Christmas!

[ Be the Light ]

 [ Be the Love ]

♥

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Silent Night

"Silent Night

     Holy Night..."

Heaven's Walk Joyeux Noel house tour
continues with a look at the bedrooms.

As we head up the stairs,

there are three little cedar saplings nestled in vintage pots

 on the windowsill at the landing ~

complete with a little jingle bling.

A peek into the guest room

reveals more simple, nature-inspired Christmas decor.
Things that I will probably keep out all winter long
because of their simplicity.

A rustic wire gathering basket on the bedside table holds my JDA magazines.

The beautiful grain sack coverlet on the bed 
is from Michele's wonderful Etsy shop,
maisondemichele.
Three grain sacks were sewn together to create this wonderful linen.

The linen/hemp is luscious feeling to the touch.
It's heavy and clean and crisp feeling.

This just may travel to the master bedroom eventually...
or even across the back of the sofa in the living room ~
but for now
I love seeing it as I pass the door of the guest room
at the top of the stairs.

Wire heart: Faded Plains

A simple burlap wrapped pistol pine tree sits in a chippy urn
on top of the dresser with a vintage mirror and frame.

"All is calm..."


The master bedroom has a little more sparkle
with a mercury glass candlestick standing
next to an old, worn candlestick
atop the frantel headboard.

Yes, that is a vintage frantel-turned-headboard.

The library-door-turned-footboard is completed and will be attached very soon.

You can see how we made the headboard here.

The wreath is actually two wreaths bound together ~
one being white pip berries
and the other magnolia leaves.

Mercury candlestick: Target; wooden candlestick:  Hobby Lobby; wood salvage piece: antique market

A small faux fir was plunked into a vintage bucket
and trimmed with simple small white lights.
I topped with a small pair of angel wings purchased
at Target.
They remind me of the larger pair of "Toby Wings" that
Sandi sent me that hang on the birdcage in the kitchen.

I wanted a little reminder of my sweet boy as I slipped off
to dreamland every night.

"All is bright..."

"Sleep in heavenly peace..."

Christmastide at Heaven's Walk


Simple.
Natural.
French-Nordic.
Garden inspired.
Peaceful.
Calm.
Bright.



If you missed the tour of the other rooms,
you can see the kitchen here,

and the living room here .

 Peace to all of you, my dear friends.

May you experience the joy, wonder,

and true meaning of Christmas

during this blessed season!

[ ~ Merry Christmas ~]

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The Joyeux Noel Tour Continues...

This sprawling mess in the living room 

was spillage from the

sprawling mess that was going on
in the kitchen last week.

(click here to take that tour)

But I was sure having fun.

(Maizie....hmmmmm.....
not so much.)

More cedar and juniper boughs,

terra cotta pots,

white candles,

mercury candlesticks,

garden statuary,

grain sack stockings,

and paper whites

were placed on tables and along the mantel. 

Simple,

natural,

Jeanne d'Arc.

See my JDA magazine there on the coffee table? I used it as a reference.

I nestled paper whites in my vintage French gathering basket
among white candles and pine cones,
The bare spots were filled with moss.

The gardenia topiary was embraced with service berry and juniper.

The TV armoire was topped with my favorite berried juniper bough
and treasures that usually reside out on the deck during the summer months.

I later added a vintage looking French clock face to the vignette.

French clock:  Wuslu

I love it's shabbiness.

Even the knob on the armoire was touched with a little wintery love.

I love my fireplace in the living room.
It used to be stained a golden oak color
until I painted it a couple years ago.

It made a huge difference in the whole atmosphere of the room.

Now it blends in with the creamy white walls
and looks much more French-Nordic.

Anything I dress it with just pops now.

I placed small LED tea lights in the mercury glass votives.

Mercury glass acorn:  Target; mercury glass votives:  Hobby Lobby

This angel statuary was nabbed at the Dollar Store.
She was originally gold colored.
After painting a base coat of ASCP in 'Charcoal'
and a sloppy top coat of 'Old White',
she now looks vintage and worn ~
and adds a calming presence in the room.

Mercury glass candlestick holder and glass snowflake:  Target

Beautiful Christmas stockings, who were handmade by
my sweet, talented friend, Sandi at Wayside Treasures
were hung with care from the mantel.

A tin heart hangs on the shutters behind the chaise.

Tin heart:  A Beautiful Life

This is the view out the front window.
The small tree is full of tiny white lights
that will sparkle into our living room
on the cold, snowy nights ahead.

Our living room is quite small cozy.
We tried squishing a regular sized Christmas tree in there a couple years.
Even though we could have a nice, tall 12' one
because our ceilings are so high ~
we had to move so much furniture out to accommodate the width of a tree,
we gave up on that idea.
It just felt cramped and the tree overwhelmed the room ~
even though the fragrance was intoxicatingly beautiful. 

So, we settled for a small one plunked in a vintage iron urn
outside of our window for us to enjoy
and to share the holiday spirit with passersby.

Little boxwood wreaths hang on the vintage trifold doors
from white gossamer ribbons...

Wreaths:  Farmhouse Wares

And a French cross sits among a juniper sprig on the end table
reminding all who visit here
what the true meaning of Christmas really is.

Peace

Joy

Unconditional Love

Forgiveness

A peaceful, heavenly Christmas at Heaven's Walk...

photo taken from kitchen hallway doorway

photo taken from front doorway

photo taken from corner chaise

photo taken from study/studio

Muslin tag: Wayside Treasurers

Next week: The bedrooms!

[ Christmas Blessings ]

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and check out the beautiful Christmas ideas!