Valentine's Day Decor

Snow and ice are falling in Arkansas....WHAT? ...It has been some time as we are not used to such cold winters!  The second week of February is always seemingly the coldest of the year, and this year it is way over normal cold so I treasure the tie sitting by a warm fire while I write this post about the WARMEST season of the year....Valentines Day!  

Our stone fireplace throws out so much heat to warm the room. 

It  is a luxury to smell the perfumed woodsmoke 

and back up to the warmth especially on a day like today.  

"Winter ...is a time to gather golden moments, 

embark upon a sentimental journey, 

and enjoy every idle hour." 

- John Boswell 

Here is what my garden fountain looks like...

I keep it running so the little birds will be able to drink.

 Earlier I pulled out my vintage candy boxes 

and love this red velvet one. 

This figurine of children sledding seems quite appropriate 

for now as I hope our two grand littles will 

come by this afternoon 

for sledding adventures on our hill. 

The front porch is dressed with a few more 

vintage chocolate Valentine boxes. 

And the wreath on the front door holds 

a red truck full of valentine hearts.

In the south, porches are considered another room, but not today!

I have pulled out some of my vintage Valentines along with the chocolate boxes. 

This die cut lacey  one is so sweet. 
They are displayed on embellished vintage door knobs .  

The door knob displays are easy to make and dressed

 with a bit of broken jewelry.

Antique stores are usually full of vintage postcards 

and ephemera or small greeting cards. 
This little robin Valentine is a fold out favorite .

With their vintage appeal, some like this one

 with excellent graphics have become highly collectible. 

The first commercial Valentine's Day cards in America

 were designed in the 1840's by the Esther A. Howland, 

who embellished them with lace and ribbons.  

Through the ages, they were given as an expression of love, 

and also as tokens of friendship. 

Vintage cards with birds and especially doves steal my heart. 

 The ones from about 1895 to 1910 are very recognizable. 

It is easy to add a touch of seasonal decor with a simple postcard. 

Lots of valentines feature a locked heart and key too. 

"Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow 

or reap or store away in barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them..

 Are you not much more valuable than they?  

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"   

                                    __Matthew 6: 26-27

In the 1950's this cartoonish style became quite popular

especially grade school children to share with friends. 

As much as we love our wooden boats here at Magnolia Hill 

and handmade canoes, this one made me smile....

I am glad I snapped a few photos of our camellia bush

that is so beautiful in bloom before all the ice.

 They are a favorite of southern gardens for something blooming 

in the middle of winter is a luxury. Glossy rich greenery 

in the middle of winter, and soft sweet blooms.  

I picked several blooms

to float in a bowl and enjoy. 

This one is called Mrs. Lincoln. 

 Here's hoping your Valentine's Day is spent warm and with someone you love. 

 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

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Christmas Afterglow

Hello Friends!  I hope your Christmas was wonderful. We made it through December, and today finds me in a quiet place as all the Christmas decor has been put away for another year. It is a rainy foggy and cold day, a day meant for reflecting and counting my blessings for it has been quite a year that none of us could have ever predicted. 

Our family truly embraced the season and held tight the meaning as we attended Christmas Eve church service ...in our cars holding candles out the window singing Silent Night.  

No question the holiday season of 2020 was by far

very different from all our past celebrations. 

I truly missed those family members 

who could not be with us this year. 

 We all needed a little joy in our lives and

 so grateful for those we love whether physically near

 or in our hearts this year.       

Come on in our home...the door is open and our hearts are full.

Tradition at our house is cutting a real tree 

and decorating it with family ornaments...

including  a few Shiny Brites from my childhood.

 The antique engraving over the fireplace is quite special as my husband 

surprised me with "Meeting the Carriage" one Christmas.

My needlepointed tree skirt has seen many Christmas's!

Water is kept nearby for the tree drinks several pans of water a day!
Each ornament holds a memory of a special person or a place. 

Some of the ornaments I made before I was even married!

The handmade sled underneath the tree holds 
the Christmas books that love to be read year after year.

A roaring fire in the fireplace and 

the aroma of a real tree...smells of the season!

A place of honor for the nativity scene

Music plays an important role in our family as both

of our sons play the violin. 

This violin was their great grandfathers.

In the kitchen of our 102 year old home is the light fixture

adorned with fresh greens, berries and white doves. 

A bit of greenery and red velvet ribbon dress the kitchen clock .

Our kitchen is tiny by todays standards, but I love it.

Salt and Pepper shakers from a friend makes the red truck!

Vintage glasses and my grandmothers butter dish

The green lamp was a wedding gift to my mother and dad 

who had very little to begin housekeeping.

Nothing says warm and cozy more than 

a warm glowing lantern in the corner of the kitchen. 

Even my laundry room has a Christmas mouse or two.

And the Christmas cactus went crazy this year.

On a low kitchen shelf is a row of lighted treasures

 for our little ones to admire. Just perfect height 

for a two year old to "twiddle".

A Christmas plate my mother gave me 
the year we were married is a treasure I bring out every year.

Needlepoint pillows are my favorite.

I have such amazing memories as a child, especially of my grandmother. 

This book on a side table was a Christmas gift from her teacher in 1905 ! 

My mother used to read it to me before bedtime.

Christmas dinner was just different this year. 

Not all our family was together, 

and it just seemed so strange. 

No added leaves in the table, No tablecloth this year, 

but a gold table runner just seemed right. 

A favorite little boy helped me clove the oranges.

Though I could never forgo a candlelit Christmas meal 

on my Christmas plates, 

it is who sits around my table

 that really matters. 

 

 So today finds me in a quiet place, as we end this crazy year...

grateful for all my loved ones and blessings granted. 

However your holidays unfold, whether shared with an extended family

 or a small circle of loved ones, I wish you joy in the coming year and

may God hold us all in the palm of His hand.

I love when you leave a comment.

I read every one of them! 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

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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 !