Prayers for Tennessee and surrounding states in the Southeast where fires and tornadoes left death and destruction behind.  This Holiday season will be very hard for many who have lost everything.  During this season of "giving", let us do what we can to help, whether it be donations and/or prayers.

Decorating

This gloomy rainy day found me decorating the Christmas tree and redoing the mantel.  I decided to put my collection of caroling altar boys/girls on the mantel.  I would rather the Nativity Set be in its Stable.  The little faces on these figurines are precious.  

He's Back!!!

This huge Snowman visits every year for the Holidays at Tanglewood's 581 and Electric!!

Gems and More

 Went to the Roanoke Valley Mineral & Gem Society Show this afternoon.  Lots of Glimmer!!!

My crepe myrtle keeps gifting me with a deeper beauty each day.

It was a perfect day to walk by the Roanoke River.

Loving the Clean Windows

Cannot believe the temperature.  It is SO beautiful out ~ spent the morning cleaning the windows ~ can see our mountains clearly now.  Joy!!!

Thanksgiving Day

 Just home from meeting Casey, Amanda, and her family at the Natural Bridge for Thanksgiving brunch.  It was a beautiful calm 68* day and being with them for a few hours made the day perfect.  I am SO thankful for family and friends.

Thanksgiving 2016

My friends, I hope you are all able to share Thanksgiving Blessings with loved ones.  Drive Safe! Enjoy!

Christmas Mantel

 I opted to go simple on the mantel this year.  I love seeing the Nativity scene every day throughout this Holy Season.

City Tree

Passed through downtown today and saw that our city tree is decorated.  I will have to drive down there after dark one night to get a photo of it lit up.  It is becoming more and more clear each day that Christmas is truly right around the corner.

Autumn

 There was still some amazing beauty out there today.  A lot of bare trees and brown trees, but a stunner here and there!!

Sunny Cold Monday

 It's a sunny, cold, Monday morning here in Virginia.  The Bluebirds are playing outside my studio window right now and I am loving it.

Indian Summer

 Sunday threatens cold and snow flurries, so I took these photos yesterday while out running errands.  This past week has given us a perfect Indian Summer with beauty and warmth.  This lovely color will soon be a pleasant memory.

Saturday Morning Sunshine!

6 More Days

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Susie !!

Sending BIG Birthday Wishes to Susie Spear Bruhn today!  This photo is from August in Ohio.  Susie has been a friend since childhood ~ a long long time ~ a member of the "St. Paul's Forever" group.  She has been fighting cancer for almost 2 years.  She has kept a smile on her face through all the treatments, and her positive, faith-filled nature is bringing good results.  I would love it if anyone seeing this post would say a Birthday Prayer of Healing for Susie today.  She would love it, too!!

Happy Birthday, sweet friend.

A PERFECT Day

More red beauty.  This is why I love Autumn.  Today was PERFECT ~ sunny, warm, and beautiful.

Be A Maker

This bird will be EATING, not EATEN, on Thanksgiving Day!!

A Gift

My embroidery thread arrived today from Lulu (MyPinkTurtle).  Along with it, came this lovely wood plaque of the Blessed Mother and the Christ Child.  It is beautiful, Lulu, and such a nice surprise.  Thank you, sweet friend.  I think you know how much it means to me.