Showing posts with label Celestina Marie Design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celestina Marie Design. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

One Last Mother's Day Dinner!


Happy Mother's Day
Mother's Day is special to me,
 not only because my family blesses me with their thoughtfulness,
but because remembering my mother is a gift that I can reopen each year. 
A treasured gift that lives in the depths of my heart.



This story begins on a gorgeous Mother's Day in the year 2000. 
The day was warm and sunny accompanied by plans for a special dinner for my mother in our home.
You see, after my father passed away in 1998, 
I brought my mother from Michigan to live with me in my home in Texas. 
God brought my family 2 years earlier to this very home that would have a room just for my mom.
 A home where just outside our subdivision, and across the road, was a care facility.
 Little did we know at the time, there would be a need for that care.
 But God knew and was preparing us for what lay ahead.
At that point, mother settled in with me and my family and life continued by the grace of God. However, little by little my mother's health was failing. 
She had medical issues and needs that I could no longer meet.
 I tried, I really tried. I cried and  prayed for the strength and courage to continue, but that was not going to be the plan.
 Now the help of that very care facility in our area was needed. 
So close by and so easy to visit every day. 
What a blessing it was.
Mom once again settled into her new home. I decorated her pretty space, with all her treasures to give her comfort and feel like home.
 Not a word of complaint was ever spoken from her lips, 
not a discouraged attitude was ever reflected in her pretty face. 

She was showing us the grace and dignity of a life in its final days.
 It had to be difficult for her making this huge change.

The grand lady who worked and retired from the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, 
 was also a homemaker, gardener, decorator, crafter, cook, wife, mother, sister, church faithful and friend to all.
As time went by, my family and I spent every day stopping in to visit my mother.
 Mornings, afternoons and evenings we all stopped in to spend time with mom.
 I planned special events, picnics outside mom's room,
 sing  a longs, birthday parties and so forth. 

It was still a time to soak up much to learn about life and the fragility of our days on earth. 
Mom still had so much to tell me and show me. 
She was an angel on earth and her work here not yet complete.
By now the first Mother’s Day after mom’s move was approaching. 
Mom was doing well enough to come home for the day to enjoy dinner 
and spend time with the family. 
We all were looking forward to the outing mom would take to be with us.
 I cooked and cleaned to make everything just right.
 I prayed for our day to be as special as could be, and it was.
I can still see mom as my husband brought her home for the day visit.
 He wheeled her up the walkway in her wheelchair and my heart beat quicker with the excitement to entertain my mother. 
She was dressed in a pretty lavender suit. 
The color was gorgeous against her pretty silver hair.
 A little blush on her cheeks brought out those gorgeous brown eyes that danced and glistened like the pearls around her neck.
 It was easy to see how happy she was to be in our home for Mother’s Day.

Dinner was wonderful as we all talked and laughed sharing family memories.
 I played the piano for mom and we sang her favorite hymns. 
We went outside on the patio to enjoy the sunshine of this perfect day continuing the laughter and family stories.

As the day came to an end, I cleared the dining room table and cleaned the kitchen as mom sat by talking and laughing just like many times before. 
What a gift when I look back. How fast time marches on as life moves us forward.
When it was time to take mom back, we all rode along to settle her in her pretty room for the night. We gathered to say a prayer as we always did in parting, knowing we had been blessed once again with a memory that would last us forever. 

Mom passed away just 3 and half months later.
 Just 14 weeks from that special Mother’s Day and last dinner.
The last time she would ever be in my home. The last time I would see her in that gorgeous lavender suit, hear her voice at the dinner table and see her generous smile. 
 With fragile hands, mom stroked my hair as we said goodbye.
 Thanked me for a lovely dinner and special day.

 I can still see her hand wave as we walked out of her pretty room.
 “See you tomorrow, we all said.”  
Tomorrow's did come and go in those weeks before mom took her final move to heaven.
 Looking back  on those days were the best of my life.  Times in which I learned so much from my mother.  
The one who always had a smile on her face and kind word for all.  
Generous to a fault and a giver of time.  
 Encouraging and a cheerleader to everyone.
Learning's that will never have a last time!
This Mother’s Day will once again give me the moments to look into my heart and reopen that gift from the past. 
 It will be a time to be thankful for the dear mother I was blessed with and the mom I hope and pray I can be, set by her example.
Mom used to say to cherish the moments, 
take time to be kind
 and in all ways ask God to direct our path.
 Insightful words from a wise lady. 

I hope your days are special
 and blessed by gifted moments
 shared with family, friends and Mothers.     
 (c)Celestina Marie

Many Blessings Always.

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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Going South~

Welcome to another

Looking back on my trip to
The Silos
at
Magnolia Market,
I found some great country side scenes.

Like this one~
Goats enjoying life and grazing away!!


Barbed wire fencing that seemed to go on forever.


A few took a moment to look up and say hello.


Then went right back to mowing the pasture!!


This is not the fence the goats are behind,
but thought this up close fence was interesting
to see how it was made.

I was really trying to capture a shot of the deer running through the field, 
but this deer was too fast for me to get a good photo.
So the fence design will have to do.

joining
Stop by and visit
for more great photos from around the world.


Also joining

Stop by and join in the fun
from all over blogland!!


See you  next time!!
Celestina Marie
xo



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Friday, February 12, 2016

Hearts and Treasures


Anything with  hearts
has always been
very special to me.


 I don't decorate a lot for Valentine's Day,
 because I enjoy hearts year round
among my treasures.
Vintage or new,
hearts are timeless.
Hands to work, Hearts to God

Keepsake treasures
fill the heart.
Forever Friends
Stitched by my mother,
near the end of her life.
Life is sweet,
enjoy a treat!
Love and Roses
Heart and Home
Grandma crocheted hearts
as she sang in Italian.
I can still hear her voice.
Lovely heart pin cushion
created by grandma's hands and heart
so many years ago.
Tokens of love
here and there.
My Sweet Guy who always holds my heart!
However you spend this Valentine weekend~
fill it with love.
Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day
Hugs,
Celestina Marie

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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Going South ~ Good Fences

Happy Good Fences Day Friends!

Here we are in the last week of January.

Can you believe how the weeks flew by?

Well on with the year right?

As you may know,
I visited Waco, Texas
 and
"The Silo's and Magnolia Market" last week for a long weekend trip.

We had a wonderful time and I have lots of pics to share soon.

Along the way going south to Waco,
I used the opportunity to spot some great areas with fences.
I hope to share those in the weeks ahead.

On this beautiful blue sky day during our trip,
I shot some great bridge fence photos
over the Brazos River.


Looks like a longhorn to the right~~~


Such a pretty blue sky day!


Yes it was a longhorn in bronze displayed on a cattle drive.


This cowboy driving the longhorns around the river.
Ye~Ha~~~~~~~


Life size and beautiful!


Like you're riding along~


You can almost hear the thunder of  cattle as they run by.


The patina on the longhorns is gorgeous!


This cattle driver shot against the blue sky, is my favorite.

We had a great time and I will share more soon.
Especially the Magnolia Market.
The Silos.
The Magnolia House.
Shops that the Fixer Upper duo visit.
and 
much more!!

See you soon.

Thanks for stopping by
as I join the fun
at

Have a fence shot? 
come join the fun!!

Celestina Marie
xo

ps.
Did you notice your followers for google friends connect?
Phase 3 hit and bloggers lost lots more followers.
Hope followers will follow with "google plus" instead to find us!
It's easy to add your blog and puts your posts in more search engines.
I added it and it's working well.
Good Luck!



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Monday, January 25, 2016

Living Room Winter Refresh!

As I've been sharing~
it's been a season of
clean out, reorganize and refreshing my Texas cottage.

Like so many of you in your homes,
 January has brought about change.

I shared a few changes in my living room last week
and 
now this is the rest of that story.

It all started with the moving of two chairs.
Making a swap from my living room
to a guest room and so forth.

Anyway, not to go over that post again,
I'll just say,
The pictures will share the new look.

Adding red by bringing in a vintage red plaid chair
I brought down from the second floor
gave me the opportunity to add red.

This chair was one I had custom designed 
when we lived in Ohio over 20 years ago.
It's  a sturdy well built very comfortable chair.
It's been in my red guestroom which has now changed too.
All about that another day.

Starting with the mantel,
the winter freshen up begins with my winter banner.
I simply turned around the Gather banner and stenciled the new letters.

Adding geraniums in winter? Why not~
It brings in the color.

Birds and their house, perching here for the season.

Vintage books from the 20's help to bring in a bit of red.

Old architectural elements fill a metal basket on the hearth.
The old ceiling tin  has a little saying my grandmother used to sing to me.
"I love you
a bushel and a peck
and a hug around the neck"
Love this treasures.

Tall Lavender fills a basket and brings in a touch of nature.

Moving around the room, 
touches of red blend here and there with black 
and winter whites.
It's working with red and I am loving it once again in our living space.

Burlap with red roses says winter with the hope of springtime to follow.


High on a old pillar is another sweet bird.

This water fountain urn was made by my mother many years ago.
I love to change this out with the season.
Hydrangeas have arrived early
 and give me hope for mine to bloom
 better this year
then last.

Another bird takes his home behind the glass in this frame.
A painting I did in a study last year. 

Winter whites soften the new look.

This dear garden girl watches and waits for spring.

A little red with Le Poulet
Paris Pillow. 

Music always close by.


Yes, the red plaid chair is working.

And, in the pattern of the plaid 
is a small square of dark aqua.
Could that be more perfect for when I add a touch of aqua this summer?
I ask you, why didn't I bring this chair here before?

Well, it's here now and enjoy it I will.
  

Have you been making changes this season?


Thanks for coming by.

Have a great week
and see you soon 
as I am getting back from
The Silo's at Fixer Upper on HGTV.

Happy Birthday to my Best Guy!!
xo
Celestina Marie

Joining
a new link up starting today called


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