Sunday Dreaming

I'm already thinking about Spring.  It's blustery here today, though I'm so happy we are finally getting rain.  Aren't these flowers dreamy?

xo,

Kimberly

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January at Home

 I've been spending a lot of time at home lately.  I look forward to January each year not only for a fresh start, but for a chance to get things back in order.  A place for everything, and everything in it's place is my motto.  Taking down the Christmas decorations makes things feel bare so I like to decorate for "Winter."  Here are some photos that I hope you enjoy! 

I painted my chalkboard red for the season and my niece came by and left a message!

One of my projects was to plant my planters out front.  I chose cyclamen to last through the season.

As you can see, we've been having a lot of sun for January.  In the center of the urns I placed an Italian cypress. 

My bunny gets decorated each season.  He just hauled in some wood for a fire!  I think he needs sunglasses.

I added more of my favorite "Friendly Village" plates by Johnson Brothers around the mirror.  They are each a scene from Winter, Spring, and Summer.  I guess I need one for Fall...

My candle sconces are dressed in pine.

Allergies forced me to clean out my fireplace and put pine cones and a wire urn filled with greens in it instead.  I have candles lit inside to make a warm glow.  They smell great too.

Every year I send my dad on a pine cone hunt for me.  I use them all around including the chandelier where I've nestled greens and cones.  Thanks Dad!

I love decorating this cast iron bunny.  Isn't he handsome?  Of course, HE is wearing a bow, but I don't care.

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I picked up some ivy at the grocery store because it was on sale.   I think this lovely planter makes a nice home for it. 

This bark-basket carried a gift of goodies for Christmas.  I have to admit, I was more excited about it then the goodies.

My moss bunnies sit atop my bookcases flanked with pine cones and ivy topiaries.

Our sweet Victoria Valentine went to Heaven before Christmas and I've got her pictures all around me.  I miss her so.

Our antique family Bibles with an appropriate sheep statue.  I love this.

Another "Friendly Village" tiered piece sits on my table with eggs and pine cones.  There is Vicitoria in the background again.

I threw this basket together with some leftovers.  Makes a nice coffee table piece.

Here is my mantel. I love how wintery it looks.

Can you spot the bunny?

I love mercury glass.  It's so pretty.  I hope to find more someday at a bargain.

Part of organizing meant that I had to clean out my garage cabinets.  I chose to store my serving pieces above the kitchen cabinets to make more room for less "pretty" things.

I also put pictures I took in Paris up there.  There are a string of lights above each cabinet that lights everything up at night.  I like this feature a lot.  Simple Christmas lights. 

Every mirror should reflect something lovely. 

I hope my French is correct here.  It's "The little rabbit cafe," and there is a little rabbit right there.

See?  I put it on a teeny carrot plate.  Aww, how cute :)  

What do you do for your January home to make it cozy?  I'd love to hear.  Coming soon, gardening in January for a bargain! 

Warm hugs to you and yours!
Kimberly

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New Art!

I have been in the house for over a week with a terrible cough and cold.  I think I may be turning a corner - hooray!  What misery!  I hope everyone else is well or at least cozy with all the necessary accoutrements if you happen to be sick.

Here is my latest painting available as cards, labels, stickers, and postage over at my card shop.  Check for the daily holiday sales that are happening over there too!

There are several Christmas cards to choose from in my "Holiday Cards" section.  Click on the image below and you'll be taken there.  I think there are a few more sprinkled in their own sections as well, I am working on getting them all together.  Enjoy!

"Behold, the Lamb" by Kimberly R. Hodge

 Hopefully I can take some photos of my Christmas decorating and share them with you soon!  Take care and snuggle with someone you love!

xo,
Kimberly

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A Proclamation of Thanksgiving

Looking to Google for answers to one of my daily questions, I found an article that is worth sharing.  The question of the moment was, "Why is Thanksgiving celebrated on a Thursday?"  Google replied true to form with thousands of answers.  But it was providential that I would select one that delved deeper into the meaning of Thanksgiving; deeper into our history as a nation and into the hearts and minds of those humble beginnings.

There were many different proclamations by our forefathers as to when we would celebrate Thanksgiving, but it was the explanation of why and and to whom we are thankful, not the when that truly struck me to the core; not because I didn't know it is about being thankful, but because the words so eloquently written were then executed as a community of people with a like-mindedness to honor the one and true God, humbly thanking and praising God from whom all blessings graciously and abundantly flow.

I hope you enjoy this excerpt as much as I did.
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Jonathan Belcher was the colonial governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire from 1730-1741, and governor of New Jersey from 1746 until the year of his death, 1757. In addition to serving these terms of office, Governor Belcher also founded the college now known as Princeton University. His goal was to promote knowledge of both good government and Christianity.
A draft text (with spelling modernized) of Governor Belcher's 1749 "Thursday in November" Thanksgiving Day Proclamation is given below:

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    By His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esqr. Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of New Jersey and Territories thereon depending in America, Chancellor and Vice Admiral in the same & etc.
    A Proclamation for a public Thanksgiving taking into consideration the manifold blessings of Heaven to a sinful and unworthy people, in particular that it hath pleased Almighty God in much mercy to preserve the life of our most Gracious King and the rest of the Royal family, and to bless His Majesty's Councils and arms, by restoring a general peace among all the nations engaged in the late war. To continue our invaluable privileges both civil and sacred and that it hath pleased a Gracious God in many respects to smile on this Province, and not to punish us as our iniquities have deserved, to favor us with such a plentiful supply of rain after a sore distressing drought, and to grant the smiles of Providence upon the former and latter harvest, filling our hearts with food and gladness; which unmerited instances of the Divine Goodness call aloud for our public, humble and most grateful acknowledgments to the God of all our mercies.
    I have therefore thought fit with the advice of His Majesty's Council to appoint and I do hereby appoint Thursday the twenty third Day of November next to be religiously observed as a Day of Public thanksgiving and praise to the great name of God our most gracious and bountiful benefactor, hereby exhorting both ministers and people to join in a public and serious manner in offering up their devout and thankful acknowledgments to the God of all our mercies and at same time to offer up their humble and hearty supplications at the Throne of Grace for the advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ in the world and that his blessed Gospel may run and be glorified among all nations and in particular among the Original Natives of this land and for all in authority over us, particularly that the best of blessings may descend on our Gracious Sovereign King George, the Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke, the Princesses the Royal Issue, and on every branch of this illustrious family that the Protestant Succession may abide before God forever, that this Province may ever be remembered of God for good, that He would mercifully heal our divisions, restore peace and tranquility, humble us for our sins, prevent the judgments we deserve, that He would incline us to lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty under the government placed over us, that He would graciously prevent the growth of sin and impiety, revive pure and undefiled religion and make us a people zealous of good works, and all servile labor is hereby strictly forbidden on said day.
    Given under my hand this fourteenth day of October Anno Dom 1749.
                                                                    J. BELCHER
    By His Excellency's Command.
        CHARLES READ Secretary.
            God save the King
 

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(Courtesy http://www.belcherfoundation.org/thanksgiving_day.htm) 

May you be blessed,  
Kimberly

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