Valentine's 2012 at Happy To Design

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!

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As you are reading this...I am on my way to Texas to be with my

 family.  As many of you know, my Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer

 over the Christmas holidays.  He is not doing well at all and it's time that I

 went to be with him and my family.  I sooo appreciate all of the kind words and

 prayers that you have sent to me and my family...thank you!!!  Your love and

 support mean the world to me.  I would just like to say that my Dad knows

 the Lord and has served Him for many...many years.  He is ready to go

 home.  Even in light of this...the coming days will be very difficult so

 please keep praying for my dad and my family.

  Thank you, dear friends!

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On a lighter note...

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A few days ago, I took a few photos of Valentine's day at my place. 

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The Christmas decor of my dining room buffet has now evolved

 into Valentine's day decor.  I really haven't done much...just a few simple

 changes here and there.  Since I already had the photos, I thought that I

 would share them with you.  I hope that you enjoy! 

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Warmest wishes to you and yours for a Happy (early) Valentine's Day!!!

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Here we are...in my french country dining room.

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The buffet is all dressed up and ready to celebrate the "day of love"!

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The photos are pretty self-explanatory...so I'll just shhhhsh and let you

 take a look around.

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I crafted this heart tree for my Christmas buffet...we celebrated

 a Swedish Christmas this year.  The Swedish love their hearts at
Christmas!

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The beautiful heart ornaments are made of glass. 

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The red hearts laying on the tray are cookie cutters.

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A white ceramic tray filled with mercury glass ornaments and

 a couple of vintage silver heart shaped cookie cutters serves as a

 Valentine's day centerpiece for the dining room table.

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I love mercury glass...pretty, pretty for the cold wintery months!

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Oooh...bejeweled mercury glass!  Does it get any better?  Hehe!

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Happy Valentine's Day, sweet friends!
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I'm joining Laurie's Valentine Party...
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Valentine Party...hosted by Laurie over at Bargain Hunting
and Chatting with Laurie.
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Thank you, Laurie...for hosting this lovely party for us!
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~Be Still My Heart~...A Valentine Place Setting

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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I am doing pretty good...still trying to get "caught up" after my
 trip to Texas.  For those of you who follow my blog, you know that
 my Dad was diagnosed with cancer over the Christmas holidays.  He is
 not doing well and it is thought that the cancer is spreading rapidly.  With
 all that is going on, I am having a difficult time getting back to blogging.
  I sure do appreciate your patience and all of the prayers that you are
 sending my family's way.  You sooo touched my heart with all the
 sweet notes that you left for me on my last post.  Thank you, from
 the bottom of my heart, dear friends! You guys are the best!!!
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On a more "upbeat" note...I did finally get all the Christmas decor
 taken down and put away at my place.  Eeeks...it's nearly
 February...guess it's about time.  Hehe!
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Today I thought I would share with you a Valentine post from
 last year....called "Be Still My Heart".  This is the first Valentine place
 setting in a series of three.  I hope to share the other two...later on.
I hope that you enjoy!
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~Be Still My Heart~
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With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I have been doing a little
"dish playing"! I have been playing with a few different place settings for
a Valentine table. So far I have done three different table settings. I haven't
quite decided yet...which one that I will use for Valentines Day. In the
meantime, I thought I would share one of the place settings...called
"Be Still My Heart". I hope that you enjoy!
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Here we are...in my french country dining room.
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 I really do enjoy creating Valentine tablescapes! As you can
 see...the walls in my dining room are a deep red color...making
 Valentine decorating a cinch! Hehe!

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Several weeks ago, I decorated my dining room buffet for
 winter...adding a little Valentines Day flair to the vignette.
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A red, white, and silver color theme for the buffet's decor

 with a little greenery thrown into the mix. A white metal bird cage,
 silver candlesticks, mercury glass finials and orbs...just sing an "Ode to
 Valentine's Day"...and then....there are the cherubs!
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 What is Valentine's Day without cherubs?

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This sweet cherub is made out of masonary and is quite

 heavy. He is holding a pretty silver satin ribbon with a key.

Ahhhh...the key to my heart!

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The place setting for "Be Still My Heart" was created around the

 buffet vignette and the exsisting table centerpiece.

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If you would like to see more of my buffet vignette and table centerpiece

 (the how to's)...just click HERE.

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Shimmering siver and a deep rich red make for a very romantic
 table...don't you think?
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"Be Still My Heart" Place Setting....
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A silver charger plate with embossed roses around the rim.
A solid, deep red colored dinner plate.
A white dinner plate with a silver "ringed" rim.
A solid, deep red colored salad plate.
A red toile dessert plate.
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Layers and layers of pretty plates!
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And...the place setting is topped with a mercury glass heart
 with swirly...twirly...white organza ribbon!
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Ahhhh...be still my heart!
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I found the pretty red toile dessert plates at TJ Maxx last
 year...this is the first time that I have used them! Something
 new...and something special for Valentine's Day!
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The manufacturers mark says "Queen's" (with an ensigna of a crown)
Est. 1795...made in Malaysia.
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Ahhh...red toile with beautiful bucolic scenes!

Definitely one of my favorite things!

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Stemware...embossed with beautiful winter scenery!

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A rich, red colored satin dinner napkin to coordinate with

 the place setting.
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You know...I think every color looks pretty with silver, but dark

 red paired with silver is my favorite!

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Using one of my favorite silver teapot napkin rings.

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A pretty stack of extra dessert plates and a cherub to serenade us!

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A second mercury glass heart decorates the stack of dessert plates!

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 I found these pretty ornaments at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. I have

 used them so many times in my teas and tablescapes...they are definitely

 one of my favorite things!

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Another pretty ornament sits at the feet of the cherub.
 Oooh...so silvery...so frenchy!

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I wanted a few photos of the mercury glass heart with the
deep red dinner napkin. They really do make a beautiful picture...
don't you think?

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"Be Still My Heart"

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Well my friends...I hope you enjoyed the "Be Still My Heart"
 Valentine place setting! I sure had fun creating it! I hope to share
 the other Valentine place settings that I have been working on soon.
  So stay tuned! I love playing dishes! Hehe!
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I am joining these fabulous parties...
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Open House Party...hosted by Sherry over at No Minimalist Here.

Tablescape Thursday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.
Feathered Nest Friday...hosted by Courtney over at French Country Cottage.
Home Sweet Home party...hosted by Sherry over at The Charm of Home.
Potpourri Friday...hosted by Honey over at "2805".
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Thank you, dear ladies for hosting these great parties for us!

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Well dear friends, thank you so much for coming by today!
 I always enjoy your visits! Please leave me a note and let me know
 that you were here...I would love to visit with you!
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Warmest Wishes!

Honey...I'm Home!

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Pictured from left to right...my daughter Lisa, me, my daughter Aimee, and my daughter Jenni.

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Christmas 2011 with my family in Texas

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A photo of all three of my daughters and their families. All of my grandchildren were present with

 the exception of my oldest grandson Tony Jr. who had to report back to his duty station in Arkansas.

 We were having dinner at a fabulous seafood restaurant located at Corpus Christi Bay.  There was

 a total of 17 of us!  I loved it!!!

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Hello my friends...I hope that you're having a fabulous day!

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Wow...I bet you guys thought I dropped off the face of the earth!

  I apologize for not posting before now.  I have just been busy with life!

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As many of you know...honey and I recently made a trip to Texas to spend the

 Christmas holidays with all of my family.  I had a wonderful time getting to have

 Christmas with all of my children and grandchildren.  It had been many years since

 we were able to be "all together" for Christmas.  We were able to spend an entire

 week just catching up...and I loved every minute of it! 

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As much as I enjoyed all the Christmas festivities with my daughters and their

 families, it was a difficult trip as well.  Just before leaving for Texas, I received

 news that my Dad has cancer.  My Dad has suffered with several health issues and

 because of this, he is unable to receive treatment for the cancer.  My folks also live

 in Texas so I was able to visit with my Dad nearly everyday while he was in the

 hospital.  These things are never easy.  I sure would appreciate your prayers

 for my Dad and Mom and the family.

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Well...as you can see...I have had a lot on my mind and life has kept me busy!

  In fact, Christmas is still up at my place.  Yes, you heard that right.  The Christmas

 tree with all the trimmings and all the Christmas decor is still up.   I just haven't

 been able to "catch up" after our Texas trip.  Hopefully I can get caught up on

 everything soon.  Last week I missed hosting the Sunday Favorites party.  I'm

 sooo sorry!  I am cancelling the Sunday Favorites party until further notice.

  Thank you so much for your understanding and patience with me!

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I just wanted to let you know that even though I may not be posting...I will

 still be visiting with you and checking out all of your fabulous creativity!  I have

 missed you, my friends!  I really do hope to be "back up and running" soon! 

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Have a wonderful weekend!

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Warmest Wishes...