A Little Bit of Christmas

After I finally thawed out from the cold this weekend, 

I wanted to share a glimpse of our Christmas decor. 

 So many families came for pictures with our red truck

 and enjoyed a sunshine but COLD day.

Lori Sparkman Photography

This sweet fellow just melts my heart!

100 years...that is how old we are!  

Driving through the front gates, Miss Magnolia wears her winter scarf.

Several of the families that came for pictures had been married here. 

The boat house wears twinkle lights all year long.

Buddy kept a roaring bonfire for us to warm up by.

The "Wedding Crashers" had to swim 

and check out the Christmas tree in the wooden dory boat.

The red tuck looks so cheery with Christmas lights. 

We have wedding planning meetings during the holidays, 

so the front porch is decked out and ready for guests. 

The kitchen gets a splash of Christmas too.

One hundred years ago, kitchens were rather small. 

As if stepping back in time, 

our kitchen is all original.

Since we are on the Historic Register it still seems to work. 

Silver gets a fresh polish this time of year.

The breakfast table window is filled with photos from Christmas past. 

Most family and friends

 come in our laundry room door on the back porch, 

so we have a splash of Santa there too. 

The wooden  Christmas tree filled with suckers is from my children's past 

and now gets to be enjoyed by their little ones. 

My vintage Santa mugs are perfect for this little table....It stays ready for a party!

More family photos this afternoon..not quite so cold and the sun is shining! 

 This wonderful old estate is made to share the past with the present. 

I will be ready to warm up by a cozy fire again tonight! 

Thanks for stopping by...

 Hope you all are enjoying this Christmas season !

Fall Favorites at Magnolia Hill

Hi everyone, Autumn is the favorite time 
of the year for many of us, and
 I wanted to share some 
of my beloved aspects of fall.

At Magnolia Hill October is 
our most popular month of all 
for weddings...and engagement photos. 
 The days grow short, the air has a chill to it, the stores are full of mums ready to burst into color, 
and the pumpkins swell on the vine.  

 The red Chevy proudly made a trip 
to the farm store for a few bales of straw.

The trip to the farmers market is 
something I look forward to all year.



 I adore bringing out the fall decorations
 and making the trip to the
Farmers Market for pumpkins, mums and apples. 

That in itself speaks autumn love to me!


Late afternoons are filled with a time for picture taking.
Leaves floating on top the water signal of the changes to come.  
Perfect background for a dreamy Engagement Photo Shoot.

Sterling Images

The vintage red color of our 100 year old home 
is original and blends perfect for fall. 




Autumn is a time when nature fills the senses 
and decorating is easy 
with colorful leaves, harvest produce 
and of course the American flag.

  Oh my goodness, 

love is certainly in the crisp fall air!

 Our front door announces the wedding 
of the day with a bountiful fall wreath.

Autumn is a time of gathering in and feeling cozy.
 I bring out the quilts 
and drape them over the front porch rockers.

And my favorite taste of fall is 
simply
 my mother's recipe
 for Wagon Wheel Apple Cider.
Served in a mug or enamel cup.

A vintage picnic basket is perfect 
for a cozy weekend 
getaway for two. 
 A thrown quilt, warm cider, cheeses
 and comfort food set the mood.  

Crisp apples, crunch bread, crackers 
and assorted cheese 
make for a perfect casual picnic. 

Wagon Wheel Apple Cider

I like to collect old Thermos bottles 

from tag sales so that every person or couple

 can have their own thermos of hot cider. 

1 gallon apple cider

1 cup light brown sugar

4 2-inch cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon allspice

2 teaspoons whole cloves

Pour the apple juice into a clean 30 cup electric, percolator style coffeepot.
Pour the cider in the urn and put the basket in place.
Drop the cinnamon, sugar, and spices into the basket and let it perk as usual.
Serve hot with a cinnamon stick in each thermos or mug.

"Whoever you are... be noble;
Whatever you do,do well;
 Whenever you speak, speak friendly. 
Give joy wherever you dwell."
 

Hope your fall is filled with love too  !

Thinking Fall Gatherings

When school starts in September it  makes me start thinking Fall. 

Lunch boxes and school bells are long gone from my house

 but I am grateful 

for a time of "Gathering in." 

 Gathering in for a wedding, gathering in for a reunion or just 

gathering in my husband

 at the end of the day !

Days are shorter and it seems that it is even a bit easier

 to gather Buddy my husband, when the sun sets earlier. 

I am sending him tomorrow to get more corn stalks and pumpkins.  

This cool crisp air has me excited for fall.

At Magnolia Hill, fall is the most popular season 

of all for weddings. 

It is quite busy around here getting ready for all the families 

that will pass through our gates.  

 

 I am grateful that most Southern families make it a priority to get together..especially if it is a wedding. 

Sometimes gatherings among relatives just happen, 

but once a year in our family

 you can count on a family reunion ...always

 the 2nd Sunday in September. 

 I have only missed three of the gatherings in my lifetime. 

 This year was the 87th reunion of cousins, 

nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles 

and a few friends tagging along.   

There were a couple of new babies to be held, and 

prayers for those no longer with us. 

 In the spirit of the old hymn, "We Gather Together"

 the harvest we give thanks for 

is a precious one of families and friends. 

Of course at any of our family gatherings there is always 

an abundance of food...not just good food, but great food. 

A single dad cousin brought muscadine grapes to share 

that he had grown and picked. 

And there was jelly he and his daughter made complete with 

a county fair blue ribbon !

Good food, good friends, good family 

make good memories. 

I have a list a mile long of stuff to do today- 

but hopefully I will 

get it all done in time

 to snap a few photos to share with you 

before the guests 

arrive for the wedding this weekend.

And Buddy has to get more corn stalks!

Hope your autumn is off to a great start

Happy Fall Ya'll ! 

Sunday Afternoon Lakeside

Happy July everyone!
     It is HOT here in Arkansas now....I can't remember when it has been this hot, this early in the summer but it has been HOT!  We have been so busy this spring and summer I have not even had a chance to put up our new hammock.

Buddy and I went to church this morning and watched a grand finale children's program from Vacation Bible School.  Everyone had someplace to be, so Sunday afternoon was the day, and it was perfect for a lakeside weekend waterview weekend. 

We have been so busy this spring and summer

 I have not even had a chance to put up 

our new hammock until now. 

  A spot by the water seemed perfect.

Blessed beyond measure to have our own private lake, I never take it for granted, and enjoy looking out the window at it from the moment my feet hit the floor every morning.

The flower garden seems to be thriving on this heat.

We did have a bit of company at the lake...

The roses on the fence are old fashioned fragrant roses that thrive in the heat as well. 

The birdbath got fresh water, and the hydrangeas were watered to keep them blooming.

This water view never gets old.

Have a good week everyone, hope you are enjoying your summer.