Blessings Surround Me

I got up early this morning and as I walked from room to room, I caught myself smiling.  I realized it's the little things in life that make me smile on a daily basis.


I started the day off by baking a rhubarb custard pie with steusel topping. I was pulling it out of the oven just before 8:00 a.m.  Now mind you, that is quite ambitious for the likes of me.

I spotted a deer right out the kitchen window.

I love my collections of glass bottles and cookbooks.

I adore this little teapot my Aunt Gerry snuck into my suitcase when we last visited her, just because she knew I loved it so.

And as you know from prior postings, we like wine. So I displayed a wine bottle surrounded by an ivy draping from a birchbark basket, setting alongside a grape motif plate box.

I recognize my blessings, large and small and will never take them for granted.

Wine: The Nectar of the Gods

I did this 'WINE' scrapbook page a couple of years ago and seeing it again inspired some thoughts.

I have to admit, my husband is not a God ~ but he does like his wine! But who doesn't like wine? I just prefer mine a little sweeter than what he prefers his.  I know, it has something to do with that huge sweet tooth I've inherited from my father. 

As I was looking at the snow surrounding the arbor we built last summer, I was daydreaming (actually hoping) that the grapes we planted last year will survive our winter and crawl up and over the arbor within a few years, producing an abundance of fruit.

The leaves canopying the arbor like a little sanctuary, providing privacy from the outside world. Long white sheer panels swagged to the side lofting gently in the breeze, a bench, flowers, candles and wine glasses toasting last years harvest, while setting there gazing at those Concord grapes, hanging in mass, ripening for the present season.  My bottles are ready and waiting. Mmm ...  the scene, the scents, the ambiance.

Sigh...Ok, I'm back now.