Warm Wishes For 2010!

The countdown begins to say good-bye to 2009 and welcome with open arms 2010

Here's a toast to the future, a toast to the past and a toast to our friends, far and near. May the future be pleasant; the past a bright dream; may our friends remain faithful and dear. ~Anonymous~

Bringing in the new year always reminds me of opening an exquisite gift. I admire the beautiful wrapping before I untie the ribbon, carefully letting if fall to the sides. I gently open the paper trying to savor the beauty of the moment. All along as I unwrap the beautiful gift I wonder what is inside.

My friends may 2010 bring love, joy, happiness, good health and good fortune. However you bring in the new year, be safe, enjoy and as always make it a golden one.

Happy New Year!

Many hugs...
Joyce
xo

New Year's Day is every man's birthday

~Charles Lamb~

Candlelight Dinner For Two

Hi my friends! I hope you had a nice Christmas.

This was our Christmas Eve table for two plus one pup right in front of our fireplace. It was a special night spending it with my love and Kelly. Gary and I went to church and came home to a wonderful candlelight dinner. I'm sure the dinner in the oven keeping warm was giving Kelly some yummy dreams. She laid in her bed right by the fire while we ate and got a special treat afterwards.

I'll be back in a few days. In the meantime take time to enjoy and relax!

Hugs,

Joyce

xo

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas my friends! Thank you for another year sharing your corner of the world with me and for visiting mine.

Many Blessings,
Joyce
xo

Breakfast With Santa

Over the weekend went to our favorite place Lindy's to have breakfast with Santa.

Well, it was more like Gary took me to breakfast so "I" could have breakfast with Santa!

I did happen to whisper in Santa's ear a couple of things I would like under the tree.

This photo is one of my favorite holiday treasures. It is a vintage snowman I got at from The Backdrop. He is a very heavy snowman but adorable with his one eye missing.

Just a couple more days and the holidays will be here!

Warm hugs my friends!!
Joyce
xo

A Glass Of Bliss

This Saturday Gary and I went to our local wine and gift shop, Bliss

There was standing room only and shelves full of wondeful bottles of wine and champagne.

There was also a harpist playing

holiday music

Penny Currier audience list is very impressive. Her music is as beautiful as she is.

She was not only dressed for the holidays

so was her harp!

Wishing you a day full of spirit my friends!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo

Christmas Came Early For Me

I have received not one, but two beautiful packages from two wonderful friends. Since starting this little blog it amazes me, all the friendships I have formed and have yet to met some of you.

I'm sure I have shared before, how having you stop by and visit, even when I am unable to visit your corner, your words of encouragement, support and sweet comments mean the world to me. It truly is like having Christmas all year long. I am so blessed.

This gorgeous bag was made by my friend and yours, Trinsch at Et Lille Oejeblik . She filled it with pecans all the way from Israel! She also made the beautiful banner and card.

The bag can be used for nuts or bread. The day the bag arrived I immediately used for a visit to the hospital for a test. I carried the icky drinks I needed to drink in it. It made drinking this stuff so much better as I looked at my beautiful treasure.

Then the other day another beautiful box arrived, this time from Spain. Our friend Ibb at Living in a matchbox made the dazzling card and stunning leather vase. I didn't know leather could look so good.

All the love and time that went into both of these gifts are priceless and truly incredible. Thank you!

I hope my friends, your weekend holds a special gift. May it be the gift of feel, seeing or touch, a gift of a special moment or a beautiful wrapped gift- it is yours waiting to be enjoyed.

Have a golden weekend!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo

"A friend is a present you give yourself"

~Robert Louis Stevenson~

One For You, One For Me

The other day I mentioned I was out in Woodstock

to see my friends at The Backdrop and another friend Charmaine

She is a fabulous jewelry designer and by day works for The Anti-Cruelty Society

Charmaine had a trunk show

to present her latest designs

and her trademark bracelets

I'm lucky to own several of her pieces, but what is a girl to do, when another pair of earrings are calling my name? Good news to share is, next year Charmaine will open up an Etsy shop.

Do you ever go into a store with the intent of buying a gift for someone and you land up buying yourself a gift too?

Have a golden day my friends!

Hugs,

Joyce

xo

Corner View: Books

This week's corner view topic is books. I enjoy reading good books, magazines and even have been known to read a box of cereal.

We have several books throughout our home, but thought I would share some of the ones close to my heart. As I write this post I realize the books I picked go hand and hand in our home.

(the bible was at the church at my friend's wedding in Florida)

One important book is the bible. I don't read it as often as I should, but it is always within reach. At times Gary and I have taken turns reading parts of the bible to one another. I love these special moments.

Some other favorite books are my cookbooks. A few of my cookbooks saved Gary from a burnt meal or another box of macaroni and cheese in our early years of marriage

Last but not least this special book is our wedding album. With the celebration of our 19th anniversary, next Tuesday this book will be taken off the shelve and looked at as we share a bottle of champagne in our toasting glasses, looking through the pages reminiscing of where did the time.

Do you see how all the books tie into our life?

If you want to see how important books are to others, visit our corner view friends (the list of our cv friends is located on the right side of the page) to see what they are reading.

Have a golden day my friends!

Hugs,
Joyce

xo

"To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul"

~Cicero~

I'll Be Home for Christmas

On Saturday night I took a quick ride out to Woodstock, IL to see my friends and received the spirit of the season, a family receiving the best gift ever, having their son home in time for Christmas.

A community coming together to give a warm welcome home for 23 year old Sgt Ordaz, from his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq.

The square was not only full of Christmas lights, but cheers and happy faces

and horns, sirens and bells going off

It was breathtaking to see so many American flags

in the mist of the snow and twinkling lights.

And to see so many family, friends and neighbors

come out in the chill night to welcome a soldier home

Little ones buddled up

and pups dressed for the occasion too.

Welcome home Tony and to you my friends a golden day!

Joyce

xo

Snowballs...

Sending you, my friends warm wishes for a "snowball" of a weekend!

I took this photo on the way to the airport of my nephew, Anthony. He, was going back home and my mom was going along to celebrate Christmas in warmer weather.

I'm off to wrap a gift or two.

Have a golden one!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo

Tis The Season To Be Wrapping

Lately I have been selling ribbons, bags and gift tags in all directions. In town last Saturday and this weekend I have a little table to wrap gift cards and small items

I use to wrap with fancy paper of the season, now I like to use paper, boxes, containers and vintage things that can be reused and used all year. What about you, do you use seasonal paper?

Even my little Etsy shelves are getting bare.

I had some ideas for my little shop, but time slipped away. Oh well, there is always next year.

I like collecting vintage photos and cards. With my little collection growing I decided this year to make a couple of gift tags using the images

Some I added a bit of glitter to add a highlight on the image. Then I stamped a "to and from" to the back of the tag. Punched a hole on top, adding either a little jingle bell or glittered snowflake, finishing it off with a ribbon to tie it to a gift.

Do you wrap as you shop or take a night and wrap all of your gifts for Santa?

Have a golden day my friends!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo

Corner View: Evening

This week's corner view is "evening". Most of our weekday evenings are home relaxing after a day of work.

One of my favorite things in the evening is watching Kelly sleep, snoring a song away, running or barking in her sleep.

Or during this time of year sitting by the fireplace with a warm fire.

Weekend evenings we either go on a date or spend it with friends

Sharing a bottle of good wine.

My toast to you: May your life be filled with happiness, good health, warm memories and golden friendships~

Don't forget to peek into the evenings of our corner view friends (list on the side bar) to see how they spend their evenings.

Have a golden day!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo