Friday, January 6, 2012
Hail the Bison!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Pizza & Lutefisk
Merry Christmas and safe travels to you and yours! Is this beautiful driving weather or what?!
We are heading to the Big City to spend the weekend with my family cooking, eating, visiting, relaxing, gifting, going to church, and playing intensely-competitive board games with a Wii bowling tournament sprinkled into the mix. We'll maybe even take a drive through the park to see the holiday light display and hopefully get pulled over by a merry Santa who hands out candy instead of speeding tickets!
Monday morning it is back to the daily grind, so we'll make the most of the weekend while anxiously awaiting future years when holidays fall on weekdays instead of weekends.
A couple of weeks ago we commemorated Christmas with our other side of the family, so we are lucky enough to have an extended celebration. [Almost] everyone was in attendance, and we feasted on- believe it or not- pizza and lutefisk!
Eating lutefisk is a Christmas tradition that I married into, and it is always served with mashed potatoes, white gravy and melted butter to combat the tastelessness and Jell-O-like texture. :)
That same weekend we had the honor of being named our newest niece's godparents at her baptism. Her middle name is "Joy," so it was extra-special to have her baptized into the Lord's family during this joyous time of year.
Happy Holidays!
We are heading to the Big City to spend the weekend with my family cooking, eating, visiting, relaxing, gifting, going to church, and playing intensely-competitive board games with a Wii bowling tournament sprinkled into the mix. We'll maybe even take a drive through the park to see the holiday light display and hopefully get pulled over by a merry Santa who hands out candy instead of speeding tickets!
Monday morning it is back to the daily grind, so we'll make the most of the weekend while anxiously awaiting future years when holidays fall on weekdays instead of weekends.
A couple of weeks ago we commemorated Christmas with our other side of the family, so we are lucky enough to have an extended celebration. [Almost] everyone was in attendance, and we feasted on- believe it or not- pizza and lutefisk!
Eating lutefisk is a Christmas tradition that I married into, and it is always served with mashed potatoes, white gravy and melted butter to combat the tastelessness and Jell-O-like texture. :)
That same weekend we had the honor of being named our newest niece's godparents at her baptism. Her middle name is "Joy," so it was extra-special to have her baptized into the Lord's family during this joyous time of year.
Happy Holidays!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Oh, to be a child again.
Christmas is not Christmas without the joy of children. To see the excitement of Christmas in their little eyes is a complete blessing.
We are taking a “hands-on” approach to teaching our son the meaning of Christmas. Last year, he received a Nativity set from his godparents, Auntie and Uncle. Luckily it isn’t breakable, because L plays with it for hours at a time. He thinks the stable is Jesus’ house. He thinks Joseph is Jesus, because every picture he has ever seen shows Jesus as a grown man. He knows Mary is Jesus’ mama, but Baby Jesus…well, he thinks it is completely appropriate that the Baby would take rides on a pirate ship. He corrals his horses and places them next to the scene. Also, he thinks firemen, trains, elephants and pigs were present at Jesus’ birth.
Sadly, Baby Jesus went missing for about a month.
We searched the house high and low.
Then, one day, I glanced over at the Nativity and there he was, sleeping peacefully in the manger like he’d never been missing at all!
Quite the analogy, don’t you think? Jesus has been present all along…
Sure, our toddler knows about Santa, Christmas trees, ornaments, lights, stockings and presents, but we’ll teach him the true meaning of Christmas when we sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. (He loves that song!)
Every night we say prayers. He folds his little hands, and repeats slowly, “God bless Mommy, Daddy, Lucas, and all of our family and all of our friends. Amen.” Then he always, always exclaims, “JESUS!” and we add, “And teach us to be more like Jesus. Amen.”
I don’t know how it happened, but he knows that Jesus goes with prayers and family and God.
So, Christmas is alive and well in our home. Decorations are hung, shopping is [almost] done, goodies are being baked, and we even have an early Christmas celebration on Friday when nearly our entire family will be together. 'Tis the season!
We are taking a “hands-on” approach to teaching our son the meaning of Christmas. Last year, he received a Nativity set from his godparents, Auntie and Uncle. Luckily it isn’t breakable, because L plays with it for hours at a time. He thinks the stable is Jesus’ house. He thinks Joseph is Jesus, because every picture he has ever seen shows Jesus as a grown man. He knows Mary is Jesus’ mama, but Baby Jesus…well, he thinks it is completely appropriate that the Baby would take rides on a pirate ship. He corrals his horses and places them next to the scene. Also, he thinks firemen, trains, elephants and pigs were present at Jesus’ birth.
Sadly, Baby Jesus went missing for about a month.
We searched the house high and low.
Then, one day, I glanced over at the Nativity and there he was, sleeping peacefully in the manger like he’d never been missing at all!
Quite the analogy, don’t you think? Jesus has been present all along…
Sure, our toddler knows about Santa, Christmas trees, ornaments, lights, stockings and presents, but we’ll teach him the true meaning of Christmas when we sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. (He loves that song!)
Every night we say prayers. He folds his little hands, and repeats slowly, “God bless Mommy, Daddy, Lucas, and all of our family and all of our friends. Amen.” Then he always, always exclaims, “JESUS!” and we add, “And teach us to be more like Jesus. Amen.”
I don’t know how it happened, but he knows that Jesus goes with prayers and family and God.
So, Christmas is alive and well in our home. Decorations are hung, shopping is [almost] done, goodies are being baked, and we even have an early Christmas celebration on Friday when nearly our entire family will be together. 'Tis the season!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Attention Deficit
If it seems as though Living in God’s Country is having some sort of identity crisis mixed with a case of attention deficit, we make no apologies: this blog is still serving its original purpose of keeping our family and friends up to date (minus the play-by-play status updates containing mundane details of our lives).
I will, however, apologize that this blog is similar to its writer: goal-orientated but easily distracted.
One goal of this forum is to keep our far-away family updated, although occasionally you’ll see posts about décor and design. And if you consider this blog to be design-based, please don’t be surprised when it takes a personal turn and depicts our latest family adventures.
I appreciate you readers, and thank you for following along, even though the road is curvy and branches out quite often:)
I will, however, apologize that this blog is similar to its writer: goal-orientated but easily distracted.
One goal of this forum is to keep our far-away family updated, although occasionally you’ll see posts about décor and design. And if you consider this blog to be design-based, please don’t be surprised when it takes a personal turn and depicts our latest family adventures.
I appreciate you readers, and thank you for following along, even though the road is curvy and branches out quite often:)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Cornice Valances
Another decorating trend that is better described as a "staple-that-I-am-finally-noticing" rather than a fad-like "trend" are cornice valances. They are an easy way to add fabric, color, and pattern to a room. I re-upholstered my own in a fun print. (Pics to come soon, but it has yet to be hung.) Cornice boards can be a basic rectangle shape...
Or, they can have a scroll/scalloped bottom...
Also, as a kitchen designer, I tell my clients that adding a fabric window treatment can add warmth and softness to a room typically filled with hard surfaces...
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| domesticadventure.com |
Or, they can have a scroll/scalloped bottom...
 |
| littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com |
Also, as a kitchen designer, I tell my clients that adding a fabric window treatment can add warmth and softness to a room typically filled with hard surfaces...
 |
| hometowngirl.typepad.com |
Monday, November 21, 2011
Tufting
Check out this sectional from Restoration Hardware...
Soooo amazing, yet unfortunately impractical for my home because I think my toddler would leave little presents in all those nooks & crannies. A vertical application of tufting would be better suited for me, like this headboard from Norwalk Furniture...
I love you, Sarah Richardson...
Soooo amazing, yet unfortunately impractical for my home because I think my toddler would leave little presents in all those nooks & crannies. A vertical application of tufting would be better suited for me, like this headboard from Norwalk Furniture...
I love you, Sarah Richardson...
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Upholstered headboards
To continue my series of design trend posts, I would like to devote today to one of my personal favorites, upholstered headboards. Here is some eye candy I found on http://www.pinterest.com/...
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| Check out the tufting! blog.addicted2decorating.com |
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| Hello, nailheads! http://www.potterybarn.com/ |
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| jensidea.blogspot.com |
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| http://www.mycandicedesign.com/furniture/item.dT/beds-others |
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| images.meredith.com |
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| http://www.ivillage.com/ |
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