Hearth and Home

I think it's a wonderful way to end the year--with images from a photo shoot of a couple in love.  I'm not talking mushy and feely-good (though that still happens).  I'm talking long term here, the long haul, the complete journey.

I'm usually ready to grab my gear and go at a moment's notice, which is a good thing because this session happened in almost literally a moment--one phone call and I grabbed Ellie and my things and drove off.

I love this couple.  They have a rather major anniversary coming up in half a year, and I think I'll end up being the planner and coordinator (and photographer!) for it.  Yes--I'm related to them.  :)

A gray head is a crown of glory!

Proverbs 16:31a NASB

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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A Spot of Tea

I shot a few macro images of my friend's tea cups for another project I was working on.  Which one is your favorite?

[1]

[2]

[3]

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[The children of men] drink their fill

of the abundance of Your house;

And You give them to drink

of the river of Your delights.

Psalm 36:8 NASB

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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365 Project -- #351-357

This is the time in my week when I look back at the images I've captured

throughout the previous week, and choose my seven favorites.

These seven--one for each day of the week--are featured below.

December 17 - December 23


Last week was filled with preparations for Christmas Day.  (I have a theme for my images!!)  Here are some of the things that happened (or were prepared) during last week:

Jacob is so helpful, but he's always spilling things.  :)

 [351] Spilled tomatoes

I hung decorative rope along our stairway, and used craft clothespins to hang all the Christmas cards and letters we received.  It's so fun to look at them as I walk by, and remember the blessings of friends from all over the world.

 [352] Stairway of cards

While my grinder was filling the bowl with wheat pastry flour, I decided to snap a picture.

[353] Grinding grain

I made eggnog banana muffins with the freshly ground flour.

[354] Eggnog banana muffins

I bought a pineapple to cut up on Christmas Day.

[355] Pineapple

The boys helped me rearrange--just a little bit--our family room in order to create a little more space for our extended family.  Our whole clan is only 11 people, but our family room is small.  I love it when the room is clean and inviting!

[356] A clean family room

We placed Frasier fir boughs along our fireplace mantel.  The boughs were from our Christmas tree when we cut off the lower branches to fit it in the tree stand.  Then, we randomly placed some of my mom's crocheted snowflakes among the branches, and stuck a felt bow in the middle.  I put a photo of my parents in the branches as well.  We hung the stockings--all made by my mom--and put a vase of flowers (from my flute student) in front of the fireplace.  Pretty!

[357] Christmas fireplace

Everything was set to go!  We had a beautiful Christmas weekend, with a peaceful Saturday together, and a bright, happy Sunday which started with church and ended with family, with celebration sprinkled throughout.  I hope you also had a wonderful Christmas weekend!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Let It Snow!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

This post is just for you, in case you need a little down time during your weekend while you celebrate Christ's birth.  Sit back with your tea (or coffee), and enjoy the warmth of my home for the next few minutes...

I love snow.  And I love snowflakes.  They mirror the amazing complexity of creativity of the Lord.  No two are alike!  Imagine--each time it snows, millions of flakes fall.  I cannot grasp the concept that the Lord crafted each one.  Then I think--how much more His creativity with us, and with me!!

Though I do love snow and snowflakes, I tend to always be cold all winter.  Sometimes, it's good to bring the outdoors inside, and the Christmas season is my time to do that:  a tree, boughs on the fireplace mantel...  Lovely!

And snowflakes!  In the early years of my marriage, I purchased a set of plastic glitter snowflakes for our family Christmas tree.  Over the years, other snowflakes have been added to the mix.  Eventually, it became official--each year, I purchase one or two unique snowflake ornaments for our tree.  These are some of my many snowflakes.

Snowflake on my mantel spruce--crafted by my mom

I love blue, too--in my opinion, the glitter looks like snowflakes!

One of my original snowflakes--plastic can be pretty!

New this year--wooden snowflake with pom-pom center

Another new snowflake!  (a gift from my sweet flute student)

A crocheted snowflake from my friend Norma

A stocking decorated with snowflakes!

I also collect glass icicles, though I have just a small handful.  Eventually, our tree will be covered with icicles and snowflakes, and I will enjoy them from my cozy spot on the couch.  :)


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Christmas Tea

I love tea!  I inherited the enjoyment of tea-drinking from my dad, a Brit by ethnicity.  I never seemed to pick up on the coffee craze, though my mom is Italian and she frequently drank the brew and even shared it with me.  (I fondly remember taking sips, then commenting, "Eee-yuck!")

To drink a cup of tea is a delight.  Even more delightful is sharing tea with friends--girl friends!  As the only girl in my family, I treasure tea time with other girls (should I say ladies?).  Okay--girls young and older!  So when one of my friends hosted a Christmas Tea, I brought my camera along to capture the afternoon.

A Christmas Tea means decorations on the table

Tea pot, and goodies to share

Each lady brought her own tea cup to use; what fun to see all the different kinds!

The ladies took turns sharing the story behind their tea cups.  Every tea cup has a story, from thrift store find, to an heirloom from a beloved grandmother.

Amid laughter and merriment, we partook of treats and fellowship.

The lone boy at the party!

Lori prepared a short devotional for us.

She even made gingerbread men, with the devotional attached, for each of us!  I took mine home, but never got a chance to put the buttons or face on.  Hungry boys appeared in the kitchen upon my arrival, and the gingerbread man did not escape.  :)

How sweet is the fellowship of my sisters in Christ!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Jump for Joy!

Although I shot this family on a beautiful late autumn afternoon, I'm posting these particular images today.  After all, it is the season of joy!  When I think of joy, I recall the phrase jumping for joy.  Joy is something we cannot contain--it wants to burst from us in movement and in voice--whether jumping, shivering with excitement, singing, or shouting, joy must come out!  Enjoy these mid-flight shots.

The boys were "rewarded" with trampoline time if they smiled for me when I shot their portraits.  They put forth a tremendous effort to do as I asked as I posed them among the trees, so their mom freed them to jump.  Which they did.

Caleb "jumped" out of this shot.  :)

I love how Katie "fit" herself into the corner of the frame.

Of the three siblings, Katie was the wild one!  The boys kept trying to hold her back.

Look at that Michael Jordan move!

This is one of my favorites--Russel did an awesome job scrunching up just a bit to fit himself into my viewfinder frame.  ;)

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice,

you righteous ones;

And shout for joy,

all you who are upright in heart.

Psalm 32:11 NASB

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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