Update, New photos, new decorating

My beautiful red camilias match the red furniture in the family room

It has been awhile since I entered anything new here, my apologies. I went through a bit of writers block, but have recovered sufficiently. First, though, I took to redecorating our living room, well not really redecorating, but rearranging. I went through the house and gathered pictures and tables that I was tired of seeing in other rooms and switched them out. Also, I have included a picture of the beautiful camellias from the garden, since the roses are not in bloom yet. 

THe entry - this picture was in my Bible study Room and the stand was in the dining room

A combination of the elite and the salvage, Figurine is Armini,  the fern is from Safeway, an the blak pot is from the thrift store. THe table wads in some corner, and it is neat beause under the glass are tiny elephants and Japanese goodies.



My Yardrow elephant with my $5.00 bouquet of red roses from Wal-Mart. The coffee table is an end table that stands tall and makes a fine coffee table between the love seat and sofa.



The mirror was too heavy to move, it was over the stand in the entry. The tea cart was in a corner and it fit just right between two dining room chairs.
 

 THe table behind the loveseat was in the entry

 my office, turn your head sidewise, don't know how to fix it. Pictue in the background was in the entry.

   I went through a bit of writers block, but have recovered sufficiently. I had entered a partial story, an allegorical fantasy, but was I really stuck on an ending. I finally decided the story should just be set aside for another time.

   Finally afterthe holidays, I became inspired with a really wonderful allegorical fantasy – inspired by God. I have to give him credit, of course. And how do I know He inspires me, because during my Bible study time every morning, I always come up with ideas of what to add to the tale.  Anyway, I am having fun – what is the story about? I don’t want to give anything away, but I can say that there is a variety of characters. Some are celestial, some regular humans, and of course the bad guys.

   I have joined a critique group, Sunrise Christian writers, http://sunrisechristianwriters.blogspot.com/ and the critiques’ I’ve had from the group are good, and they love my allegory. That is encouraging, so much so, that I have written daily for the first time since the summer. This will be a long novel, so I will not be putting it on the blog, like I did the short stories.
         I am still waiting to hear from Waterbrook Press, Random House’s evangelical division about my story of Jesus, Joseph and Mary’s trip to Egypt, ‘Gifts for the Road’. It has been almost a year, and there’s been not a word.  April 3, I will email the editor and give her a week to respond. If she doesn’t, I will start sending the story out. Thank you Lord, for I am rarely discouraged, just persistent.

Christmas Time and Holiday Decor

 

 Table decor

 This is the first year that my husband and I are staying home without any family and that I have not put up my myriad of Christmas Decorations. I kept it real simple with just a tree and part of a large Manger Set. Getting the tree was great fun, I went to the 5:00 am Black Friday opening of Home Depot, around the corner from us, and purchased a 7 & 1/2 ft. tall pre-lighted tree. I can make the lights either white or colored. I love the color ones. We  entertained guests for supper, you can see part of the table above. I used pomegranates, parts of small pointsietta branches and favors stuffed in coffee cups - the favors were little fuzzy bears, snowmen and reindeer ornaments from Costco in an 8 pack for $4.97. Such a deal! The beautiful red and white dinner dishes and cups were from, of all places, the $1.00. I was shopping one day and had my basket full when I discovered these dishes. Well, I promptly emptied my basket and cleared the shelf of dishes, cups and bowls of service for 6. These are just a few of my secrets.

 The great tree.  

Partial Manger Sceen

The butlers pantry with Lenox Snow Queen

Close up of Snow Queen, the two snow birds were my mother's

Thanksgiving decor

Thanksgiving décor/dinner

The entry table

Dinner for 8

     Well I am at it again, doing one of my favorite things, flair & daring as I get things ready for company for Thanksgiving dinner. This year we will have 8 people – just the right amount. For our table, I purchased at the $1.00 store, little picture frames for place cards.  I always like to seat my guests rather than give them a choice; that eliminates the possibility of having all the talkers sitting together and incorporates the silent ones so they are not forgotten. I have never had anyone complain about suggesting where I want them to sit.

     For the plates at the table, I picked them up at the dollar store also, a great buy that I needed when I hosted a dinner for 12. The silverware is sterling, inherited. The table cloth is from Ross’s and the runners are from the dollar too. 

Priscilla & John, Pilgrims


Flowers in family heirloom

 

     The décor on the coffee table is of a $5 mum plant put into a true family heirloom, as are the 2 vases on the entry hall table (one vase is on its side on purpose (if in an obvious place, most people want to stand it up) the turkey next to the vases holds a votive – I’ve had that for a while and can’t remember where I got it.    

      In the pantry is a large pumpkin with a lid from my mother, as the small pumpkin on the side table that I put flowers into. Back to the pantry – the orangey vase in background, I picked up at the Goodwill and paid too much – I think $3. Wow. In front of the mirror the red vase, which I got at the grocery store for $10 – another big expense, is standing with two pilgrims – Priscilla and John - that I bought at a craft fair on sale for $7. Now that was a bargain and I love them.  The porcelain pumpkin in front of the candles I got at the dollar store – love it. Well there you have my Flair and Dare Ideas on how to spiff up your decorations on the cheap. However, I always think it is good to mix expensive with not so dear, it keeps me humble. Oh yes, I forgot to mention the most important thing - the menu: Vegetable Tray, crackers & cheese spread, Roasted & Stuffed Turkey..Cranberry sauce, jellied & home made, Curried Pea, Mashed PotatoesTurkey,Taragon Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Rolls & Butter, Fruit Salad, Pumpkin Desert

Pumpkin with flowers

Flowers in family heirloom

Mothers pumpkin with lid and goodwill vase behind Armani figurine of girl walking dog, pangry includes a cheap plastic night light of Jesus, given to me by grandaughter, Samantha

More Flair and Dare – decorating a narrow apartment

Stove pipe hidden

 

Before pictures - from the kitchen to the front door

In front of kitchen area

Looking toward kitchen

   Last week I spent four and a half days helping my sister decorate her long, narrow apartment—the bottom half of an older home in the bay area. The pictures show a little of what it was like when I got there, and then what we ended up with. Since the rent is cheap she had to do a lot of moving furniture that belonged to the owners upstairs.

     I knew shortly after I started my own decorating business many years ago that I was not and never would be a famous top notch designer. What I did discover was that I am great with helping people make their home beautiful without having them spend a lot of money. I realized that most people want their homes to be beautiful but don’t know how to use what they have and don’t have the money to spend on new furniture and things.

     Often I find that friends and family have wonderful treasures either hidden in the corner of a room, or stashed in a closet, or even just put in the wrong room – like the attic or garage. Well, I have I love to help people use what they have as much as I love writing stories.

      I adopted the name of my decorating talents with two slogans – one is “Have Hammer Will Travel”, and “Flair and Dare”. Flair and Dare is the official name because I don’t mind taking chances. I hate pictures unframed and or sitting on the floor or a room. Correcting this when I go to someone’s house does wonders for moral and for the beginning of a great new outlook. Lots of times it is someone’s fear of making a hole in the wall so they never hang a picture. How silly is that. Who cares if there is more than one hole behind a picture that wasn’t hung right the first time?

    When I got to her place the furniture needed to be arranged in to several different spaces as the room when you enter is very long. In addition there is a stove pipe heater almost half-way in the room. She won’t use it, but it can’t be moved either so we had to use that as part of the décor.



Treasures from Sally's added to the bedroom

    We spent each day shopping at her favorite (high-end) stores – Sally’s, Anytime Thrift Store, and Wills, plus Ross & TJ's (not truly high end unless you find the best buys that someone else once owned). We bought a great assortment of colorful throw pillows, rugs, mirrors, plants and throws. Aside from that we used what she had.
Here are some finished pictures:



Her intimate dining area in front of kitchen

 

What I Do

    Well, now I have two Christian Fantasies on my blog - The Naja Haje Abyss and Desert Spice. I love to write and am currently working on a Christian allegory that may turn into a novel. I haven't decided whether or not to put it on the web.
     I am still waiting to hear from Multnoma Publishing (evangelical division of Random House) about my Gifts for the Road - biblical story about Jesus, Joseph, and Mary's trip to Egypt when Jesus was a baby. It has been over 6 months since they requested to see it, but the agent did say that it could take up to a year before I hear from them. I look at my email daily to see if they have said anything about it. I am not discouraged - just being patient and enjoying my other stories. I must admit, though, that the urge to write often wanes.
     I have truly loved setting up my blog and working on a web site that I am able to do without tech help. It is so simple now days.
     About the decorating - my company name is Flair and Dare. I take what people have and decorate around it. I have been doing this part time over the past 25 years, and have done it mostly with family members and friends. I never believed in charging clients for what I could sell them - most professional designers mark up the goods and make their money that way as well as charging for their time. I think I did not feel like I had enough talent for high-end design as well as education  in that field (I do have some college credits in it). The things I am best at are color and organization....Either way, I love flair and daring rooms by incorporating what people have.
      It has been some time since I actually wrote on my blog and this is fun too. Sometimes I am not sure what I like best, but the one thing I have stuck with since 1984, on an almost daily basis, is taking the first hour of each day to have time with God and study His Word.

Desert Spice, THE END

     After a refreshing bath and a sound sleep that lasted twenty-four hours, the well-rested wanderers stepped from their rooms and simultaneously breathed a deep sigh.

      “Where are we? That smell makes me nauseous. Is it cinnamon?” Alexi said.

            “It has the aroma of cinnamon, but it is actually something quite different.” Silver Wing stood before Alexi. “For those who acknowledge the Son of Man as their Savior, He spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved, and those who are perishing—to the one we are the smell of death, and to the others we are the fragrance of life.”

            “Are you saying that being here is as if we found the fountain of youth?” Brandon asked.

            “I don’t think that's what he means, Brandon,” Alexi spoke kindly. “It’s something different, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.” She looked at the angel and asked, “How can I make it a sweet aroma to me?”

            It is a choice you can make, let me introduce you to the King of the Desert Spice. The angel looked upward and said, “My Lord, this young lady, as you know, has a question.”

            Appearing before Alexi came the Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a solid gold sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like blazing fire, and His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace. His voice sounded in Alexi’s head like that of rushing waters.

            Though Brandon saw no one, Alexi could not bear to look. She felt dirty and afraid, and then she slumped to the floor. When she came to her senses, Brandon was bending over her, brushing the hair off her forehead. He looked worried, but the angel behind him moved him aside and reached out his hand to help Alexi up.

            “You see,” he said. “The choice is yours.”

            “What happened, Alexi?" Brandon questioned. "One minute you were holding your ears and the next you hid your face. You started to cry and then fainted.”

            She looked up at him then at the Son of Man. “The angel is right, I have a choice, and I have decided that I want to be a sweet fragrance not the smell of death. I choose you Lord Jesus as my savior. I confess with my mouth that I am a sinner, forgive me. I believe in my heart that you are the Son of God. I see now that only through you can I have eternal life. Thank you for dying for me.”     Oblivious to Brandon’s presence as soon as she confessed her sins, she felt a peace fill her soul that she never believed possible.

            “Brandon, I see it.” She jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. Don’t you know that Jesus died for me and you? All you have to do is accept Him into your heart and you will be saved—you will have eternal life.”

            “Nonsense,” Brandon laughed. “That’s hogwash. Never in my life have I heard such a thing. I’ll have none of it, but I am happy for you.”

            Alexi looked sad and then began to cry. “Oh Brandon, you can’t feel that way. Don’t you want to be filled with joy and peace?”

            Before he could answer, he disappeared.

            “Where did he go,” Alexi asked.

            “He went back to his old life on earth, where he will later decide that he should make the right choice, as you have. But he will suffer much before that happens.”

            “What will happen to me?” she said.

            “You will return to earth, but you will be a different person. Your life will be blessed and the Lord will walk with you and be your friend. And when you ask, he will help you in all your endeavors.”

            “Will I see Brandon again?”

            “Perhaps not.” The angel put his hand on Alexi’s shoulder and said, “The Lord bless you and keep you, and may His light shine upon you. May you always walk in the path of righteousness.”

            The next thing Alexi knew, she was surrounded by her family looking down on her as she lay in her hospital bed. “We are so happy that you regained consciousness, Alexi. The doctors held out little hope but then suddenly you opened your eyes. We love you so much.”

            “I was in an accident, wasn’t I? There was a young man involved, I think. Do you know of anyone else that came to the hospital with me.”

            “There was someone, a former Navy Seal, one of the nurses said. But he was released with minor injuries two days ago. He checked to see if you were all right and when the doctors said there was nothing they could do, he left.”

        Alexi frowned, suddenly remembering everything. She was sad for Brandon, but then smiled, and said, “I can’t wait to tell you what happened to me.”       

The Beginning

 

Desert Spice, Part 14

     Without further explanation, Imri turned sideways and Brandon landed gently on the ground. Imri left Brandon dazed, facing a huge opening to a cave surrounded by nothing but sand. The unicorn flew away. Brandon walked into the cave and stepped onto a narrow walkway made of sharp, pointed rocks and small stones. The going was slow as he stepped gingerly to avoid piercing his feet on the jagged path.

     He passed the first and second pools of poison water and then spotted Alexi. She appeared to be floating face upward in water that seemed as buoyant as salt water. As he came closer, he called her name.

     “Alexi.” He watched her drift closer to the shore, clearly in a stupor. “Give me your hand.”

     She reached up, and keeping his balance with his other hand on the wall as Imri had instructed, he stretched beyond what he thought possible. He had a hold of her for a moment but then Sambalat, the albino, appeared from nowhere and ordered Alexi to go back into the water. She slid from Brandon’s grasp and drifted into the pool of poison.

     Brandon turned to see the strange, ugly creature, swung his left fist at him and knocked him into the pool next to Alexi. Sambalat growled and started to crawl out of the water, but Brandon kicked him in the chin and shoved him back down. Then he picked up a large rock and threw it between the albino’s eyes, blinding him long enough to call Alexi again.

     She heard his voice and slowly drifted near him once more. He stretched out his arm until she grabbed his hand and quickly pulled her out of the water. Sambalat started toward them with one eye closed and bleeding, but Brandon, dragging Alexi, got out of the albino’s reach. Before realizing it, he and Alexi had passed all the pools of water and were standing in front of the cave opening. As Imri had told him, with Alexi leaning on him, Brandon picked up a small, smooth stone and touched it to her lips.

            “Stop,” King Bravai ordered. “I will have this woman to wed and you shall be a husband for my sister.

             “Oh my God, what do I do now?” Brandon moaned.

            Silver Wing appeared out of nowhere.“You called my Lord, how can He help.”

            “The flying unicorn, can he come and get us?” Brandon said.

            “And where do you want him to take you?’

            “To a place where we can have a hot bath and rest.”

            “I know of such a place. Follow me,”  Silver Wing said.

            Before he could ask where, Brandon and Alexi found themselves surrounded by the heavy aroma of cinnamon. As it invaded their soul, the Angel of Kezia met them. “Come rest,” the angel beckoned, motioning Brandon to one room and Alexi to another.