A 31 day series.... beginning October 1st! We're going to take off on brand new, and for me, unexplored territory.... Get ready to join me for 31 days straight as I write... 31 Extraordinary Days! This will be challenging and stretching for me. I hope you'll join me in the adventure. The success of this will depend on you, too. I know how it is....we click and read and click away. I'll be hoping that you will click and read and comment. Please? It will be a great way for us to develop our own little community here. How fun is that? If you aren't a … [Read more...]
It's leaf peeping time! Right now the trees are just beginning to turn color. It's my favorite time of (F)all. The mostly green leaves provide the perfect backdrop for the riot of yellows, oranges, and reds. I'm sure you'll agree...it's extraordinary!! Just a few days ago, I spied these leaves when out for a walk and shared about it here. But there's more to the story. Several of you have commented that some of those leaves looked almost unreal. They certainly were striking. And I'm certain that I've never seen any quite like them. So, when I finished my photo session with the … [Read more...]
Everyone's doing it. Decorating their mantels for Fall. But, not me. Nope. In order to decorate a mantel, one must have a mantel. It's one of those details that makes all the difference. I had a mantel. Once. It was lovely. Of course, I just might be a little biased since I designed it. That was my Michigan mantel which surrounded my favorite brick, and housed a firebox where we burned cherry. Mmmm. So fragrant. I loved that fireplace. The mantel too. On a fall evening I could be found tending the fire, almost sitting in the firebox, to get … [Read more...]
This afternoon I realized I had a smile in my heart. It's been a good week. A really good week. A week of joy here at An Extraordinary Day! I've enjoyed sharing special stories. Readers have been blessed. And that in turn blesses me. An Extraordinary Day has gained new subscribers, and has almost tripled this week in views. {Pinch me!} And all of that has happened despite the fact that I'm still limping along with some computer issues. But, even that is a blessing. A friend loaned me his old laptop, though rather slow, it helps tremendously. Plus, in the evening I get to use my … [Read more...]
Happy First Day of Autumn! Time for a little leaf peeping! What do you love most about Autumn? It's so lovely.... ...and so fleeting. Hope you can take time to soak in the sun, the scents, the brilliance, and the drama. Wishing you An Extraordinary Autumn! Diane Sharing at... A Rural Journal + Sunday Snapshot + Simple Things Sunday ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for reading! Please stop by Longaberger Lifestyle A lovely basket to be filled with extraordinary Autumn goodness!! … [Read more...]
Fresh-Picked Pumpkins in our Home Decor What did you do today? Me? I had one of those very fun girlfriend kind of days. The kind where you both pick up pumpkins, go back to her house and create a magical moment with your stash? Yes, one splendid day. And what a nice afternoon it was. The temperature was perfect. To take advantage of the sunshine, we flew out to her patio and engaged in the grown-up version of playing Barbies. Only we used fresh-picked pumpkins in our home decor. Did I tell you we had fun? We arranged a little sitting area and filled it in with all kinds of fall … [Read more...]
When you hear the word wedding what immediately comes to mind... Prince charming and his fairy tale princess vowing to love each other, dancing the night away, and finally stepping into their coach on their way to living happily ever after? Perhaps your mind goes to the expense and planning and expense and details and expense which consume the engaged couple for a year or two or more? We know that many weddings don't fit either of those categories. But, we do know that every couple wants to have a wedding day that is memorable. And maybe even a bit … [Read more...]
Are you a sky watcher? When I lived in Michigan, Autumn always brought what we termed "El Greco clouds." One September I spent the month touring the beautiful country of Spain. While there I visited Toledo where I discovered works by the painter from Crete, El Greco. I was fascinated with the cloud formations and unique lighting in his paintings. As we would look westward, in Spain or Michigan, at twilight I would notice that same etherial lighting and magical cloud formations, just as El Greco painted them in the late 1500's and early 1600's. The beauty would make my … [Read more...]
Fall garden. For some, fall and garden do not go together in the same sentence. I remember back when I lived in Michigan I pretty much threw up my hands in exasperation by the end August. It was a sad sight. Can you relate? When I moved to New York I knew that my next garden needed to be an all-season garden. Since I love the colors of fall and being outside, I made sure to select perennials that would bloom in September and into October. My husband even says that he likes our fall garden best. For me, that's success! I wish I could show you photos of that … [Read more...]
This weekend we hopped in the car and drove to New York State to attend a wedding. The daughter of one of my closest friends was getting married. The weekend weather forecast was perfect.....for Friday. The wedding was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. We checked the weather bug on the iPhone many times. Thunderstorms, 15-25 mph winds, and 100 percent chance of rain for Saturday was forecast...every time we looked. We awoke on Saturday morning to dark, heavy clouds, loud claps of thunder, and driving rain. My heart was as heavy as those clouds. As with every wedding there … [Read more...]
This morning, after watering and fertilizing my porch pots, window boxes, and hanging baskets, I took a stroll around my "garden." Really all I have is a rolling, bumpy, rough-around-the-edges yard. It isn't really a garden, yet. Though I do have a small but lovely island of various Sedums, Euphorbia, Goat's Beard, Iris, and Geranium in the middle of my backyard. In the back corner, someone, long ago, had a garden. I've pulled multitudes of weeds from that corner, leaving behind strawberry plants which I had hoped would bear lots of fat juice red berries. Ha! Unfortunately they are not that kind of … [Read more...]
One of my favorite baskets is the Longaberger Picnic Basket. I ordered mine way back in 1992. I know because the weaver signed and dated the bottom of the basket. Let me be right up front with you. I'm going to tell you all the reasons I'm in love with this basket. And the reason I'm doing it, because it's a retired basket and not in the regular Longaberger line. However, it is being offered as an ONLINE EXCLUSIVE from Noon EDT to Midnight - Wednesday, September 5th. Also, I am not planning to be all selly on this blog. occasionally I will let you know about something Longaberger that I … [Read more...]
Happy Labor Day! What does the holiday mean for you? An end of summer hurrah? One last day or two at the lake or beach? Maybe a gathering of friends with a fire or cookout? A chance to knuckle down and get a DIY project done? And maybe even for some, it's no different than any other day. There is a bit of history behind Labor Day and why we celebrate it which I won't get into that here. Instead I am thinking, if we have work...be it for someone else or we're our own task master...we are blessed. Recently I heard that the "real" unemployment numbers are more … [Read more...]
Thanks for joining me for another Joy Day! A day where we count blessings. A day where we celebrate God's overwhelming goodness. A day when we take a look around us, with His eyes, and really see. My birthday was a few days ago. It was a great day. And, because it was also Tim's regular day off, we enjoyed the whole day together. Our day concluded with walking "downtown" to the wonderful little Connections Cafe for Sharon's yummy grilled-to-order pizza. I choose mine topped with grilled veggies, Tim choose his topped with mushrooms & spinach. This is the most … [Read more...]
The other evening Tim and I went for a stroll. I no doubt needed a power walk. But, I can't leave home without my camera and then that power walk ends up becoming a stroll. Yes, I married a man who has incredible patience with me and my camera. On this particular night I came across these lovely yellow wildflowers. I haven't yet discovered what they are. I think they might be a variety of Coreopsis. Do you know? As I was going through my photographs this stunning bit of yellow inspired this post. Years ago my dear friend Kaye gave me a book, Creating a Beautiful … [Read more...]
A few weeks ago I did a bit of entertaining. As I was preparing my home I looked around and thought, "That 4th of July decor has got to go!" I had been noticing it. It was sort of sticking out like a sore thumb. But, if no one was coming over, I could put it off. And I did. It's not like I didn't have a plan up my sleeve. For nearly two months I've been wanting to get out my old blue canning jars and play around with them. Finally I did. My guests came. My guests left. And the clouds came and I didn't take any pictures. I need a sunny day in order to make pretty photographs for you with my pocket … [Read more...]
Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 CEV the Bible Have you had one of those weeks that if you had read that verse, "Whatever happens, keep thanking God..." you would have said, "Are you kidding me?!" I did have one of those weeks. I'm really trying to "keep thanking God." But, seriously, it's not easy. Since beginning this blog and faithfully publishing a Joy Day! post each … [Read more...]
