No Place Like Home

Home is the heart of life... Home is where we feel at ease, where we belong, where we can create our surroundings that reflect our tastes and pleasures...Making a home is a form of creativity open to everyone. ~ Terence Conran

Hello dear friends and welcome! A month from today is Christmas Day and it is that time of year when we are all thinking about the Holidays. My American friends are celebrating Thanksgiving this week and then they will move right on into the Christmas season. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

When I think of Thanksgiving, I always remember the holiday is not only for family and friends to gather together for a special meal but it is a time to give thanks to the One who has supplied us with the abundance of the many blessings that we enjoy every single day. It is from His hand that we receive these blessings.

There is tragedy and turmoil in different parts of the world and I am blessed to be able to sit here with a roof over my head, food in the fridge, lovely china in my cupboards, pretty clothes in my closet, and just a few minutes away, the love of my life is working at a job he enjoys. We have a loving family and good friends. One doesn't have to go too far to find someone who can lend a hand should we need one. 

Life is a gift! Today, and every day you wake up, is a gift from God. Remember to thank Him for it.

What are you thankful for, dear friends? Would you care to share?

Yesterday, Hubby and I went out for dinner at one of our favourite restaurants and because I admired their tree so much, he snapped a picture to share with you. It is a lovely welcome when one enters the restaurant. The tree is always decorated the same way each year, but it is so pretty; very simple, yet festive with the berries and ribbons.

I am in the middle of decorating my home now. The tree is up in the living room and the mantel is decorated. I'm just adding a few touches here and there, then I will finish in the kitchen and family room.

Daytime

Nighttime

The mantel is simple because I didn't want to detract from the deer. But I also wanted it to tie in with the tree. 

I am so thankful for this time of year! I have always found November to be a drab and rainy month, {when we're not getting snow like we did last year}, but Christmas decorations and the anticipation of the Holidays makes it lovely. The music and going out of one's way to make someone's day, giving to others, makes it all the more beautiful. So, take a deep breath amidst all the busyness of the next few weeks and focus on what is important. Make this the best Thanksgiving and Holiday season of all.

I am delighted to have you join me today. If you have something to share, simply let me know in a comment and I will add your blog to the list of participants. I will be happy to come and visit you.

Please share any of the following: Cooking and baking, recipes, antiquing, artwork, ceramics, crafts, crocheting/knitting, quilting/sewing, collections, floral arranging, home decor, homemaking tips, hospitality, refinishing furniture, tea time, tablescapes, thrift shopping etc....Maybe there's a new baby in the family or you have a new fur baby you would like to introduce us to. They are welcome too! 

Anything and everything which makes your HOME more enjoyable to come HOME to, for your family, your friends, and yourself. 

Lord, this humble house we'd keep 
Sweet with play and calm with sleep. 
Help us so that we may give 
Beauty to the lives we live. 
Let Thy love and let Thy grace 
Shine upon our dwelling place. - Edgar A. Guest

Party Participants:

The Legacy of Home
Just A Little Southern Hospitality
Mrs. T's Christmas Kitchen
Kitty's Kozy Kitchen
Thelma's Days
Tea in the Valley



Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

No Place Like Home ~ What is A Homemaker?

Hello dear friends and welcome to another week of No Place Like Home!

Ever since I was a little girl, all I ever wanted to be was a homemaker and even though I have worn several hats, nothing has ever brought me the joy and contentment that staying home and being a mom and homemaker has brought me. You see, I thrive on bringing beauty and comfort into my home for my family and friends to enjoy.

I am a domestic diva and home is where my heart is. 


Yes, I am one of those women who enjoys the scent of clothes fresh off the clothesline, baking special treats, and I like keeping house. Perhaps I'm a rare breed today. 

I do know there are many ladies out there who work outside the home because they have to. Or perhaps they want to. I know my sister-in-law had her children and went back to work when they started school and she couldn't wait to get back to her job. Her children are two very fine, well-adjusted adults today and you couldn't find a closer family. So, whether you are a stay at home mom or a mom who works outside the home, I believe it all depends on the love and quality of care the children receive that matters. In any case, I salute you all because I know you're doing the best you can.  

What is a homemaker, you may ask? Well, according to one dictionary, it describes a homemaker as a person, usually a woman, who cares for her own home and family by cleaning, cooking nutritious meals, doing laundry, running errands, caring for pets, etc... I am delighted to call myself a homemaker!

In the front of one of my recipe scribblers, I have penned the verse from Proverbs 31:27 -

"She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness." 

It gives me great joy to see the smile of appreciation on the faces of the ones I love. Like baking an apple pie.

It's Hubby's favourite.

Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness. ~ Jane Austen

Now picture this...There is a nip in the air and the frost is beginning to paint lovely pictures on the windows but it's warm and cozy inside. A fire is dancing in the fireplace and cookies are fresh from the oven. Big mugs of hot chocolate are being savoured by those within.

Mom has made home a nice place to be.

When my children were growing up, I took great pains to do special things for my family. I loved having the smell of fresh baked cookies, cinnamon rolls, or spicy apple pie greet their noses when they came home from school and work. Actually, in my home, cinnamon rolls were always called "Snails." It was the name my oldest son put on them because they reminded him of snails. He was always the nature lover. *smiles*

My nesting instincts brought me joy. They still do.

Setting the table with my favourite china; Rose Chintz, a pattern I have loved since I was a little girl...

...makes me realize I am living my childhood dream of being a homemaker. Some believe that is a very high calling.

Homemaking is surely in reality the most important work in the world. ~ CS Lewis 

When you think about it, where would we be without homemakers? 

What does homemaking mean to you? Is it a joy or is it a drudgery because you're tired out from working all day? God bless you ladies!

Now I want to give each of you a chance to share what you are creating in your home to make it a delightful place for your loved ones to come home to. You are under no obligation to join my party but if you would like to, simply let me know in a comment and I will add your name to the list of participants. 

You are welcome to share any of the following: 

Cooking and baking, antiquing, artwork, ceramics,

crafts, collections, crocheting, knitting, quilting, 

floral arranging, home decor, hospitality, 

photography, tea time. That also means a visit to a 

tearoom because I would love to hear about that 

too. Thrift shopping, or perhaps you have a new 

member of the family. Even fur babies are 

welcome here.

You get the picture! Anything and everything which makes your home more enjoyable to come home to, for your family, your friends, and yourself. 

There really is No Place Like Home. Thank you for visiting and have a lovely day.

Lord, this humble house we'd keep 
Sweet with play and calm with sleep. 
Help us so that we may give 
Beauty to the lives we live. 
Let Thy love and let Thy grace 
Shine upon our dwelling place. - Edgar A. Guest

Party Participants:

The Legacy of Home
Just A Little Southern Hospitality
This Beautiful Life
Thel's Kitchen
Tea in the Valley
Kitty's Kozy Kitchen
Across My Table
And Then We All Had Tea 

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

No Place Like Home

But what on earth is half so dear-

So longed for- as the hearth of home? ~ Emily Bronte

Hello again, dear friends! Thank you for joining me today and thank you to everyone who participated in last week's No Place Like Home party!

On Saturday, Hubby and I drove to Summerside to one of my favourite stores where they were having their annual Christmas show. I meant to take some pictures of their trees and ornaments but the crowd was too thick and made taking photos too difficult. So I will share some of their trees from their website. It truly is a lovely place to shop.

I loved their pillows and bottle brush trees!

Hubby liked this red tree. I am more into soft and pretty although I do love the colour red.

I was hoping to do some Christmas shopping while we were there but I really didn't see anything I was looking for. Being the last day of the sale, I suppose I missed out on a few things earlier in the week. 

I did however find this pair!

For several years, I have been on the look out for a set of deer for my mantel, but I could never find what I wanted until I saw these. These two were just the right size and were pretty cute. I couldn't resist them. The only problem was they were a bit pricey. But I oohed and aahed over them and with twenty-five per cent off each piece, well, what could I do? I bought one and Hubby got the other for me for an early Christmas present. I can't wait to set them on the mantel with the evergreens and lights! I plan to decorate the mantel this week.

Has anyone else started to decorate besides my friend, Debbie at Debbie-Dabble? 

Statistics show, the earlier you decorate, the happier you are. I believe that is true. When my children were growing up, I started in early November and I always had the Christmas music playing too. My friends used to tease about it but Christmas just made me happy! How about you? Does the "most wonderful time of the year" make you happy?

I wish we could put up some Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. ~ Harlan Miller

If you have a post you would like to add to my party this week, just let me know in a comment and I will add your website/post to my party. I will not have the thumbnail linky set up as it's only until the week of December 16th that I am hosting. We will see what happens in the New Year. 

Please share anything that is home related but no advertisements or Esty items. Everything that makes your home cozy and more enjoyable to come home to, for your family, your friends, and yourself is welcome. 

Posts including artwork, antiques, baking and cooking, collections, china, crafting, decorating, knitting, quilting, tea time, etc...all are welcome.
Thank you so much for coming and God bless you!

Lord, this humble house we'd keep 
Sweet with play and calm with sleep. 
Help us so that we may give 
Beauty to the lives we live. 
Let Thy love and let Thy grace 
Shine upon our dwelling place. - Edgar A. Guest 

Friends taking part in No Place Like Home this week:
Kitty's Kozy Kitchen
Mrs. T's Christmas Kitchen
Thelma's Days
The Legacy of Home
This Beautiful Life
Delightful Repast

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

No Place Like Home Resumes Tomorrow

Dear friends, No Place Like Home will resume tomorrow.

The photo above is of the Remembrance Day service at our Charlottetown cenotaph this morning, taken by Island photographer, Michele Lawlor.

Today we remember our heroes for their sacrifice and service. God bless them all!



Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

That Little Red Headed Girl for "No Place Like Home"

Home is where friendships are formed and families are grown;
Where joy is shared and true love is known;
Where memories are made and seeds of life are sown. 
This is the place that people call home. ~ Author unknown

Hello my lovely friends! Welcome to No Place Like Home! As I mentioned last week, I am hosting this meme until the week of December 16. It is an exciting time of year when most of us are busy preparing for the Holidays and I thought now would be a wonderful time to host this party. There is lots of baking and decorating going on, so let's share away! 

 My post today is about "That Little Red Headed Girl" we all call Anne. She is my guest today and I hope you will join us.

Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world. ~ Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery

This Anne was my last Christmas present from my father as he passed away a few months later. I cherish her just as I cherish my memories of my daddy. 

Anne has always been one character in whom I have felt a kindred spirit. I'm sure it comes from being a lonely child growing up because my family moved around so much, thus making friends very difficult.

Anne and I both possessed a lot of scope for imagination as children. A great deal of time was spent daydreaming about silly romantic notions although it proved to be beneficial, as our way of expressing ourselves. She couldn't help but express herself verbally, whereas I liked to write my thoughts down on paper. And in case some of you may not know; Anne's character was based upon Lucy Maud Montgomery's life. 

Anne is standing next to a beautiful ceramic pumpkin piece that Bernideen sent me many years ago when I had won her give-away. Isn't it lovely? The table topper beneath was also a part of the give away. 

I always receive compliments on this pumpkin but soon the pumpkins will be going away to make room for all the Christmas pretties. So I thought I would make it a part of my setting today. Anne certainly approves! 

This pumpkin holds a surprise! When you lift the cover, you will see this lovely message inside. 

I have served many treats inside this pumpkin; mini cheesecakes, butter tarts, even sandwiches, but today I am serving mincemeat tarts and a few squares.

I know Anne would have a twinkle in her eye to sit at tea and enjoy these goodies from such a whimsical dish. 

I believe I could be a model child if I were just invited out to tea every day. ~ Anne of Green Gables 

I am using my Friendly Village china today. November is here and it's the perfect month to bring it out. 
Each piece of Friendly Village depicts a scene from our past; an ice house, a covered bridge, a school house, among other things. A truly old-fashioned pattern which suggests a life of hard work yet such wonderful sentiment. I thought this china perfect for my tea with Anne as she would have been familiar with many of these buildings in her day. 

The story Anne of Green Gables, written by our beloved author Lucy Maud Montgomery, was first published in 1908 and has since been read and treasured by millions of readers all over the world. Anne is our most famous celebrity here on the Island and she draws folks from all over the world every year. 

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive- it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half as interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?" ~ Anne of Green Gables 

Mark Twain once said of Lucy Maud Montgomery's writings, "The sweetest creation of childlife yet written." 

Those of you who have never seen the 1985 Kevin Sullivan TV series starring Megan Follows, I highly recommend it! You are in for a real treat! It is the most endearing and best version of Anne of Green Gables you will ever see. 

courtesy of the internet

I hope you have enjoyed having tea with Anne and me. If you have a post you would like to add to my party, just let me know in a comment and I will add your website/post to my party. I will not have the thumbnail linky set up as it's only for a short time. Please share anything that is home related but no advertisements or Esty items. Everything that makes your home more enjoyable to come home to, for your family, your friends, and yourself. 

Posts including artwork, antiques, baking and cooking, collections, china, crafting, decorating, knitting, quilting, tea time, etc...all are welcome.
Thank you so much for coming and God bless you!

Lord, this humble house we'd keep 
Sweet with play and calm with sleep. 
Help us so that we may give 
Beauty to the lives we live. 
Let Thy love and let Thy grace 
Shine upon our dwelling place. - Edgar A. Guest 

Blogs joining the party:
This Beautiful Life

Closed Doors, Open Windows
Kitty's Kozy Kitchen
The Legacy of Home
Thelma's Days
Mrs. T's Christmas Kitchen
Tea in the Valley
A Debbie-Dabble Christmas
Delightful Repast


Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi