At a glance...

...it’s nothing special

Just an ordinary day

Creeping up against the shadows

In an ordinary way

But if you observe it closely

You can see the Giver’s face 

In this extra-ordinary gift

Another day of grace.

~~~ Janet Martin ~~~

I love this sweet photo of my dad reading to my daughter.  She was about 2 years old... 4 years ago ~ how the time does fly!  

She'd just had a bath, and 'Papaw' Ross was sitting with her on her bed, reading a book about monkeys.  I remember hearing them first, then grabbing my camera to try and 'capture the moment'.

They were so involved with each other, they didn't even notice me standing there.  It was truly a beautiful gift to see the love between a little girl and her grandpa... an example of an extra-ordinary gift given on an ordinary day, that could've easily been forgotten, overlooked, or missed entirely.

But it wasn't ~ and for that I'm thankful.

Isn't it good to know that even our most ordinary of days are filled with beautiful gifts from a God who loves us enough to send them our way?

Thank you God, for opening my eyes to see your blessings 

in the midst of daily tasks.  Thank you for helping me to see You... everywhere I go, and in everything I do.

 At a glance, it's nothing special.   

Just an ordinary day...

October's Beauty

"There is no season when 

such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, 

and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, 

as now in October."

~ Nathaniel Hawthorne ~    

Every day I notice a little less color beyond my window panes.  

In an effort to preserve a bit of October's beauty, this morning, 

I grabbed a jacket and headed outside.  I visited a few golden maple trees, 

a mixed up forsythia, which always blooms in Autumn 

instead of Spring, and my hydrangea bush.  

Once I'd gathered the branches and blooms, and after I'd enjoyed a little walk around the yard, I came back indoors.  Originally I'd wanted to make a kitchen table centerpiece, but soon realized everyone would probably be eating on their laps if I used the large branches... so I moved on to my blanket chest in the corner.  Much better.  There was more room to spread out and be dramatic.

I started with an old wooden tool carrier, and placed 3 large canning jars inside.  Next I dusted off my blue kitchen scale, added a shallow dish with apples on top, and set that to the right of the carrier.  An old tin, with 3 candles inside, went in front and slightly to the right.

I added water to the canning jars, and re-cut the branches at a 45 degree angle, then smashed the ends with a hammer.  I know it seems like a lot of trouble to go through for a few branches, but it makes the arrangement last longer, so...  After the branches were arranged to my liking, I added hydrangea, but grouped them more toward the left/center, to balance the tin and scale on the right.

 

I gathered up some little green gourds my mom gave me... they harvested quite a crop from their compost pile... and placed those around the tin.  There were leaves all over the floor from the branches.  Too pretty to waste, I used them as filler... tucked in here and there next to the apples and gourds, or placed between the branches.

A few things to remember ~ always keep leaves and flowers 

a safe distance back from burning candles, 

and of course, never leave them burning unattended. 

Hope this inspires you to look outside your window 

and bring a touch of October's beauty in to your home as well...
before it's too late!

Scarlet

"A solitary maple on a woodside flames in single scarlet,
recalls nothing so much as the daughter of a noble house
dressed for a fancy ball, with the whole family gathered
around to admire her before she goes."
 
~ Henry James ~ 





Click here for the lovely lady's image credit, and here for the maple tree's. 
Hope you have a beautiful day ~ thanks for stopping by!