What a perfect day today!!

It was such a perfect and beautiful day today! John and I had breakfast with our friends from the old neighborhood. That new restaurant Skillets we found is wonderful!

Then Megan came over and she and I went for our pedicures! Just wonderful-what a fabulous place! I had the best pedicure I have ever had!! I will be having another one right before Christmas and a manicure too!

She and I then headed over to Home Goods. I found 2 silver candleholders for the mantel for Christmas, a DVD for Jenny, 2 small pictures for Megan and tea for John's stocking. I have some things for all of them already, but I need a few more things! I still have to shop for the son-in-laws, my sister and her family and my Mom. I made a calendar on line today for my Dad. I had taken alot of pictures in NJ when I was visiting them in October and I incorporated them into a calendar on Vistaprint! He will be really surprised!

Then Megan and I headed on over to Target. I bought some makeup things I needed, found another mercury glass silver candleholder and 4 mercury glass votive candleholders for the mantel and some Christmas Gift tags. I'm going to get a glue pen and write the persons initial on there with the pen and then put Martha Stewart's fabulous silver glitter on it-it should look so beautiful on the packages!

Megan and I then decided we were really tired and shopped out! She came in and visited with John and I for a little bit and then went home. John and I have been doing some odds and ends around the house the rest of the afternoon. I am now going to watch TV and knit with John. What a perfect day!! Hope y'all had a great day too!!

The Sixth Surrender by Hana Samek Norton

I had the privilege of reviewing this book for Feed Blitz. Here is a little bit about the book and the author:

The Sixth Surrender is a transporting debut novel set in thirteenth century France—a time when chivalry reigned and treachery ruled.

In the last years of her eventful life, queen-duchess Aliénor of Aquitaine launches a deadly dynastic chess game to safeguard the crowns of Normandy and England for John Plantagenet, her last surviving son.

To that end, Aliénor coerces into matrimony two pawns;Juliana de Charnais, a plain and pious novice determined to regain her inheritance, and Gueérin de Lasalle, a cynical, war-worn mercenary equally resolved to renounce his.

The womanizing Lasalle and the plain and pious Juliana are perfectly matched for battle not love, until spies and assassins conspire to reverse their romantic fortunes.

Populated by spirited and intelligent women and executed in flawless period detail, The Sixth Surrender is a compelling love story that heralds the arrival of a major new talent in historical fiction.





About the Author

Hana Samek Norton was born and raised in the (now) Czech Republic where she first learned the difference between a halberd and a hauberk. She currently lives in New Mexico with her husband.

My Review:

"The Sixth Surrender" was a very detailed historical novel. Set during the last years of Alienor of Aquitaine. This novel starts with an unconventional marriage between two people who were so different from each other. Juliana wanted to take back her ancestral home of Tillieres and the only way she could do that is if she got married so her husband can hold the property. Guerin de Lasalle , a mercenary was forced into marrying her and the only reason he agreed to marry Juliana was so he could own the property. He refused to consummate the marriage and wanted to have the marriage annulled.

The plot is multi-layers. It makes you want to read more to find out how it ended. The characters were believable. I think if you love detailed historical fiction this is the book and author for you.

New items on my etsy site!

If you need some retail therapy, I have added some new items to my etsy site! I have also changed some prices and shipping and handling costs of items that I had previously listed. Here are a few of the new things and I'll be adding some things almost daily. Christmas is closer than you think everyone! NOTE:To get to my etsy site just look on the right side of my blog and there is a reference to my site and you just click on that! Enjoy!:


Christmas Tree Copper Wire Earrings


Oo La La Zipper Pull --HAS SOLD, BUT I WILL BE MAKING MORE ZIPPER PULLS



Flutter Zipper Pull--SOLD BUT I WILL BE MAKING MORE ZIPPER PULLS

Pat Conroy's New Release

Open Road Media asked me to post about the ebook release Pat Conroy has. The book is called The Boo. I have read alot of Pat Conroy's books and while I haven't read this book I have always liked his writing style. Here is Open Road Media's synopsis of the book:

At the South Carolina military academy, amid the tumult of the 1960s, Cadet Peter Cates is an anomaly. He is a gifted writer, a talented basketball player, and a good student, but his outward successes do little to impress his abusive father. Instead, Cates is mentored by Lt. Colonel Courvoisie, an imposing and inspiring man whom the cadets have nicknamed “the Boo.” But when Cates writes a searing letter condemning the school’s meek response to a stabbing on campus, his bond with the Boo will be threatened as both are forced to confront what it means to be a man of honor.

Set against the richly drawn military school backdrop that Conroy would return to in his bestseller The Lords of Discipline, The Boo is an unforgettable story of duty, loyalty, and standing up for what is right in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

Thanksgiving Table Arrangements

I was thinking about how I would decorate my Thanksgiving table the other day and I thought I would look up some ideas. Here are some of the ideas I thought I would share with you:


I think this picture is one of my favorites! The ornamental grasses are just beautiful!


The gold turkeys in this table setting would definitely make a statement!


What a lovely way to give thanks.


I have always loved pheasant feathers! Putting them together with hydrangeas makes a beautiful arrangement. You could use this arrangement later on, it wouldn't just be for Thanksgiving.


This table setting is simple but very elegant. I love the red napkins with the white table cloth!

Our Sunday!

Today was a really nice family day! First we had Church, which the girls and Kevin, Jenny's husband joined us. John was being inducted into the Stephens Ministry today. There was a lovely ceremony at our 11:00 service. Then after church we came back to our house and had lunch with the girls and Kevin. Then Jenny and Kevin left to go to IKEA and I went to Megan's. Her husband is sick with bronchitis. Then Megan and I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond, World Market, Michael's and Costco! We had alot of fun but I'm really tired! Here are some pictures we took at the Church! Yes Jenny dyed her hair red again and it didn't turn out quite the red she wanted!! That girl will never learn-oh well she could have done something worse like green or blue!


Megan, John, Jenny and Kevin


John and I.

I also found out we have a grandchild on the way! Jenny and Kevin are pregnant! I am really praying for them. They have had 3 miscarriages and I am hoping they have a great pregnancy this time. Please keep them in your prayers!!

Mercury Glass one of my all time favorites!

I have been thinking about how I'm going to decorate the house for Christmas this year and mercury glass items are definitely going to be part of the decorations this year! Mercury glass has that old-time, antique, well-loved look that I want to have around my house. Here are a few suggestions and some pretty pictures of these wonderful items:


I just love votive candleholders. This is definitely a lovely grouping!


I'd love to have this mercury glass lamp on my bedside table. Arranged with a few books and the old clock really makes a complete vignette.


These pink roses are gorgeous just by themselves but put them in a mercury glass vases and they really look stunning! These would look love in a guest room or powder room!


You can use these vases for flowers or layer different items in them for the holidays. Greenery always looks so beautiful, red berries are another festive holiday item to add to the vases for that extra punch of color!


These tealights are offered by Pottery Barn. A part of the proceeds go to St. Jude's Childrens Hospital. What a great offering.


I have never seen a pendant lamp in mercury glass, but I thought this was just gorgeous!


I just love this picture!! Pottery Barn always has the great ones don't they! The mercury glass chunky candlesticks add just a hint of sparkle to the room and not just for the holidays!


I have quite a few mercury glass ornaments that go on my tree every year. I have some old and some new. These are new ornaments in this picture but if you look in antique stores you can almost always find these antique treasures.




I would love to decorate my mantel like this!


This mercury glass bowl holds some antique mercury glass ornaments. I love this idea!! Just so beautiful!!