It was a wonderful day to start the New Year. We gathered with family and friends to celebrate one of my girl's birthday. Just before our guests arrived when the house is set and waiting.
I was going to buy some flowers but decided to use beauty from the yard. Gathered warm hued candles and ripe oranges from the garden. Why not think of unusual but no less lovely items to grace our tables.
It has been a year of changes for us. Some very good, some I resisted but have learned to adapt to and thrive. It has been a year of some good changes personally and I think as a woman ages there is a freedom you gain. Time has lent us enough wisdom to know what we really want out of life. There are things I will never waste any time or energy on ever again. You are older and know what your focus is and what brings you the most peace and happiness. None of us knows what lies ahead and what the coming year will bring but I am so thankful to have my life really centered on what is best for the family and for myself. Here I am. What you see is what you get as they say. Thank you so much for another year of friendship and support. You all find a way to confirm what I am thinking and feeling. A group of women drawn together by a love of home.
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38 comments:
I love that you used the oranges instead of going out and buying something - that's going to be my goal for 2013, to try to keep things simpler. I'm learning a lot from you, seriously. Thanks, Mary
Happy birthday and happy new year to your little one..she's adorable!
Hope your new year brings you everything you want, smoothly. Thank you for your kind and perfect description of us bloggers..we are people who share the love of home and family...it can't get any better than that!! Looking to further our friendship in 2013.
FABBY
Happy New Year Elaine! I love this post; such truth on so many levels. I also love your tray with the "Cuties"-another word for tangerines and candles, how creative but that is one of the reasons I love visiting with you. Happy Belated Birthday to your girl.
Have a great day!
Noreen
Great post with a powerful message. Happy New Year.
Happy New Year! I agree that as we women age we realize what is really important! You have your priorities straight for sure!
hugs, Linda
There is a contentment that comes with our growing years, as we mature into the women we are meant to be. And I love this table piece...so much nicer than flowers. I was going to comment on it as soon as I saw it, even before you described what you had done and why. It's truly beautiful in it's simplicity.
Beautifully said Elaine! Happy Birthday to your daughter. And I adore the centerpiece wit
the oranges!!!
I had a dream about you last night. That I was feeding your chickens for you while you were on vacation!
xo Kris
the oranges look so pretty! Happy New Year
gorgeous centerpiece. i'm glad you did not get the flowers. these are perfect. so earthly. like!!
i love get togethers with the ones we love. such special memories. ( :
If I could pluck oranges from my yard in January, I'd copy that lovely centrepiece! Your home always says "family love" to me.
How wonderful to have gorgeous oranges like that growing in your own back yard. What a blessing. Table looks beautiful. So was it little Q's birthday or was she helping her older sis to blow out the candle? xo
You are so right, as women age they gain more wisdom. There is little time or room for wishy washy things and we seem to have our feet firmly planted on the ground, unlike when we were young and undecided about so many things. I think being a mom helps to put our priorities where they need to be, our hearts in the right place with an understanding of what is really important, God and family. We know that without one we would not have the other. Happy New Year to you and your family. Love your center piece, so great that you can walk right out the door and have oranges at your fingertips!
(((HUGS))) Susanne :)
I love that first picture of your home, it's so serene and aglow! Looks like your little one is having a good time, too! I can't imagine the fun it would be to pick oranges from my own tree!
Blessings,
Leslie
Happy Birthday to your daughter Elaine! I love your oranges in that tray with the leaves on them! That is awesome! Amen to being older and wiser and knowing there are things you don't have to waste time doing again! Have a blessed New Year!
Sherry
Happy New Year to you and your family. I love your centerpiece made with oranges - very frugal too!
Your home is lovely and your little girl is beautiful.
I agree, sometimes it is nice to let the old year go and hang on for the adventure of the New Year.
We do not know what lies ahead so I say lets just roll with it.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
blessings & bliss
Sue
You're right: A group of women drawn together by a love of home. This year I'm pledging to use more of what I have. Repurpose things I might normally just toss in the trash.
Brenda
Happy New Year. I always realize when I visit you that you have your priorities in order. I love the community we have here.
Makes sense to me! :) And lovely photos of your warm and welcoming table and house
Your centrepiece with the oranges is sweet - great idea!!
Love the box of oranges and leaves. It's beautiful.
What a lovely birthday celebration for your daughter. Drawing on what you had at home made a charming centerpiece!
Mary Alice
Oranges from the yard in January??? Sounds impossible when it's so cold here! Lol. What a great celebration for your daughter. Every year is so special! Enjoy that warm weather!
Judy
Happy New Year!
GREAT post, Elaine. I agree- I have found things that I will never again waste time or energy on either. Blessings to you and I hope you have a wonderful 2013..ups and downs...and all- xo Diana
:D Super post, and you are a lucky duck that you can decorate with oranges from your yard! I'm fortunate to have a flower market close by, so I can get some nice arrangements for the cost of Starbucks!
We are budgeting, paring down, and living a bit more simply in order to reach a few goals for the family. It will be so worth it, so we might have beans more often in order to pay for trips to the flower market!
xo,
RJ
Elaine you are so right about TIME giving us freedom and WISDOM helping us to know what we want in life.
On both accounts-- feel behind after having spent too much time on the slippery slope of 'EMPTY NEST'. Just now at the 4 1/2 year mark of all my GROWN KIDS being moved out...but still hovering like satellites around my home, it has been a difficult transition for me. Having the Littles here on a weekly basis, I thought would be great...but found out that balancing all that out is HARD!
So here I am again, not knowing all that the future holds, making a plan; more like a SHORT LIST...something to go by, and meeting with you and all my other lady friends who can somewhat understand what I go through day to day--but still have the no nonsense approach to life!
As always I love your take on family life and simple living...and look forward to another year of reading together.
Pat
Love the oranges, and soft glow of the candles... so inviting.
Happy birthday to your daughter, and Happy New year to you and your sweet family.
Hope it's a year filled with blessings, and laughter, and much happiness.
Beautiful post, beautiful home, beautiful children! You are surrounded by beauty! Aren't we all so blessed? Happy New Year!
Your house looks beautiful...I especially love the centerpiece with candles and oranges. Blessings to you for 2013!
The oranges & the greenery is perfect! Nature's beauties. Happy New Year.
Wonderful post and photos! Happy New Year to you and your family. Blessings~Sara
Beautiful post, Elaine and I love that you used things from your yard to make your centerpiece. A gathering of women and a love of home is definitely how I am feeling this year.
Hugs,
Laura
I wish you a ☆ :: * Happy-New-Year * :: ☆ From Japan.!! God bless you during 2013!
Ryoma Sakamoto.
Happy New year Elaine! So true what you said, and I embrace it:)
great post to start the year.. to thine oneself be true.. have the happiest of years ahead.. xo marlis
I love what you did with the tray putting the candlesticks and fruit in it! I have two similar trays that I can never think of what in the world to do with them. Thanks for the idea! Love that little wood snowman, too. I ADORE snowmen :-)
Hi Elaine,
Love the oranges in the box for the table arrangement. It made me smile when I read that you picked them from your garden. I went out into the garden today to snap a few pics. I was up to my knees (well, not quite) in snow. Live is much more relaxed now that I am older. No trying to impress others. If they don't like me by now, they probably never will. lol! Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
Hugs,
Jann
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