The Wonder of Light

   You have until November 10. Then the lights and the magic go away. 

You still have time. And rest assured, it is worth every penny you will pay. 

So bite the bullet and make haste, if you have not done so already. 

You are in for a display of light that will stun your senses and give flight to your imagination. 

What is it? The Bruce Munro Light Exhibit at Cheekwood right here in our very own backyard.

Is the child in you emerging yet? Keep gazing. It will. 

Oh, and Peter Pan and Tinkerbell would be right at home here. 

Look carefully.

Remember Tiger Lily? Think "One little, two little, three little Indians..."

I like to think that these are fairy houses (like condos), stacked one upon another...

Every fairy knows you slide down this instead of a bannister...

Star shower falling to earth

Springing forth to new life...

Fireflies dancing in the moonlight

Joined by the moon and her sisters...

This is the genius behind it all. 

A self-effacing Englishman who says that he was a poor academic student, 

a not-so-good painter, and one who finally, in desperation, stumbled upon his true vocation.

Aren't we glad he did?

To learn more about Bruce Munro, visit http://www.brucemunro.co.uk/

To learn more about this exhibit, visit www.cheekwood.org

Spring Fling with Etsy

Spring has been a somewhat elusive character around here. Case in point, Nashville recorded the coldest March on record in several decades. And this week, we will be lucky if the highs break 50 degrees. One good thing is that the flowering trees will hold their color a bit longer because of the chill, and that makes me happy.

In pursuit of our quixotic and unpredictable Spring, I found myself drawn to these lovelies from my perennial favorite shopping paradise, Etsy. It's a good thing that I do love to "window shop," which is definitely a good thing for the budget. Warning: Get ready, some of you will likely be tempted to BUY!

When I think of spring, I immediately think of flowers. This lovely little wreath offers a fresh take on the traditional spring florals!

Buy this lovely here

And what woman wouldn't want to add this gorgeous silk scarf that goes by the name of Forest Fairy to her wardrobe? The hues are exquisite. It is guaranteed to be a treasure for years to come, yet another reason to make it your own!

Find it here

Sometimes the sewing bug bites. Can't you just think of a hundred things that would look adorable in this adorable collection of perfect for spring fabrics from XOGigi!


Easter might be over, but I am betting that your table will be happier sporting this lovely quilted runner any time of the year! Sew You Like It has several lovely options from which to choose, but this one caught my eye!

I know, it's another table runner, but I could not resist. I am loving this clean vintage look for my kitchen table or my table on the porch.

North Country Comforts got it right!

This handpainted bone china teapot brings a smile to my face and definitely looks like an explosion of wildflowers waiting to be picked!

Kaori will gladly ship it to you from her shop in jolly ole England!

And what could be more appropriate than this watercolor print of two robins by Christy Dekoning entitled, "Spring Song!"

And now for the little people in your life...check out this adorable kite and cloud mobile

Find this lovely here

And speaking of kites, this dress from Belle and Boo is wooing this grandmother's heart...

I just couldn't resist sharing another view...

I don't know about you, but I am ready to fly some kites, plant some seeds and welcome the gentle touch of the sun on my face. C'mon, Spring...we are ready and waiting for you to arrive in all your glory!

O Come Let us Adore Him

    Since the Advent of the Christ, man has sought to capture the story of the Savior's birth with music, pen, and brush. I am drawn to the classical artists and their interpretations of the Nativity. I invite you to enter into the scenes pictured below and to become an observer. Perhaps you, too, will kneel in the straw to pay Him homage.

Gerard Van Honthorst, 1622

I love this interpretation of the Nativity. See how the light emanates forth from the Christ Child, and how he is the center of adoration. Joseph has laced his hands on the horns of the cow and seems comfortable with what is transpiring; his gentle smile says it all. I love the humble faces of the shepherds, and in particular the boy who is turning aside to say something about the baby while he points his finger at the child they have come to see. I like to think that there are other shepherds standing outside the cave, awaiting their turn to see this Savior whose birth had been announced to them by an angelic host.

Caravaggio, 1609

Here an exhausted woman reclines, just having given birth. Mary's weariness is portrayed in the bent of her hands, but her love for the babe she has borne comes through in the tilt of her head and the expression on her face. Note how the angel bends low as he seeks to look into the face of the long awaited One.

Adoration of the Shepherds, Georges de La Tour, 1644

This is one of my favorite paintings. The artist, Georges de La Tour, invites you to become the sixth person in the scene, bidding you to come and worship. All is still and quiet; you can almost hear a pin drop. Even the lamb does not utter a sound. There is such simplicity and stillness bound together with a sense of wonder and awe. Note that the illumination in the painting comes from a candle shielded from view by the left hand of Joseph. I love that Mary's face seemingly has an oriental cast to it and her robe is reminiscent of a kimono.

Here's a close-up of the lamb and the Christ-child who was born to be the Lamb of God. 

The following verse was written in 1656. That year, under the reign of Oliver Cromwell, England was in the middle of the Anglo-Spanish War, which began in 1654. Before it ended in 1660, the conflict had pulled in the Caribbean, the Canary Islands, and the Spanish Netherlands.

from THE NATIVITY 
Peace? and to all the world? sure, One
And He the Prince of Peace, hath none.
He travels to be born, and then
Is born to travel more again.

~ Henry Vaughan (1622-1695), Welsh physician and poet