Remembrance from a Holy Place

A very small gold colored cross, about four inches tall,  with several tiny red stones sits on a counter in my small apartment kitchen.

It came from Turkey and is a beautiful remembrance of a trip that included a part of that country.

A house where the Blessed Mother of Ephesus  supposedly actually lived, after the death of her son, is visited by thousands of people every year.

It is like a national shrine. A gift shop on the grounds is where the little golden cross was purchased.

It is one souvenir I hope will be with me for the rest of life on earth.

May your Sunday be very blessed. 

For those in areas where the weather is bad, please be safe and keep warm. 

Bowl of Hearts

While looking through the very top drawers of a tall dresser, guess what was found?

A whole baggy filled with Valentine hearts!

I wondered where those had been stashed. 

Now I know.

They were placed on a lovely crystal dish that managed to escape going into the "charity" bin.

Some of the hearts have little messages on them. 

They are so sweet.

Some red, sparkly hearts have also been inserted next to a gold decoration in Christmas cactus. 

We just cannot have enough hearts preparing for the day of love!

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY?

Greeting Cards for Love

 We are still quite a bit away from celebrating the day of love, namely, Valentine's Day on February 14th.

(But shouldn't we celebrate love every day of the year?)

Why not decorate a little bit in anticipation of that fun and heartfelt Valentine holiday?

Now, greeting cards of all kinds I absolutely love.

Consequently, I save Valentine's Day cards from year to year so there is already a nice collection of them taped to the inside of the front door.

Some of the loved ones who sent those cards are even no longer on earth but it makes me happy to read their notes inside the cards and remember.

After all, special friends live forever within our hearts.

Day by Day

One of life's greatest lessons is to live in the moment, not in the past, nor in the future.

Right now, this minute, is all any of us really have, right?

We must make every second count as they are gifts in our lives.

Little by little, a rental storage unit, filled with pieces of the past, has been being emptied out. 

Some of the things that have been in storage no longer tug at the heart. 

They go to straight to charities.

Some still make a smile flash on my face, like the little teddy bear in today's post. 

Now somebody made this girly girl teddy.

Her body is made from pink and white chenille, probably from a bed spread, as well as rose-covered fabric in beautiful pinks.

However, looking at her, after five years in storage, I think she needs eyes. 

Do you think that?  

Would eye improve her?

 Or should I leave her "as is?" 

Thinking of Valentine's Day

This is day number two of being snowbound at home.

There's just too much snow to think about going out and riding around.

It's been a very light snow (thank goodness), like salt, but a lot of it.

Last night, while watching a movie, I cut open a package of felt hearts and sewed them into a banner.

Now,  the banner hangs on three little houses located on a bookshelf.

Even little touches of holiday decor bring a feeling of happiness.