Tag Archives: weekends

Kentucky Derby

The Run for the Roses…The Kentucky Derby!

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It’s amazing the celebrations and planning that go into an event that is less than 5 minutes!  If you go to the restroom….you’ll miss it! The running of the 139th Kentucky Derby is coming up this weekend…..and here in the U.S. it is highly celebrated all week.

Kentucky Derby

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Growing up there was a family here in our town that hailed from Kentucky and grew up in the box seats each year with their family.  Each year they would host a huge Derby Party on Derby Day on the lawn of their antebellum estate.  Everyone looked forward to it.  Due to sickness, the past few years there has been no Derby Party….and there always seems to be a bit of a void on that day.

Much of Handsome’s family lives in Kentucky…..and we have enjoyed spending time at the Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Derby Museum over the years.  When Handsome returned from there this past January he brought be back a pair of horseshoes that had been used by one of the racehorses in last year’s Kentucky Derby….they still have track dirt in them.  This weekend they will grace our table as part of the centerpiece. =)

We grow Kentucky mint in our garden…..we brought it back from Kentucky years ago. Even though we won’t use it for mint juleps….we do have fun putting it in our iced tea.

If I was attending the derby this year……this would be outfit…….

Kentucky Derby

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Some fun derby party ideas………

Kentucky Derby

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You don’t have to be in KY to celebrate and join the fun…..this Saturday you could turn your dinner into a fun family derby party.  Here’s some fun, free printables ………

Kentucky Derby

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Kentucky Derby

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If you’re headed to the actual derby here’s some hints as to where you might want to be….

Kentucky Derby Traditions: The Infield, just across the track from the clubhouse, but worlds away in social strata, you’ll find the infamous Infield scene. There are several distinct experiences found herein. The third turn, so named for its relationship to the race track, is home to a raucous crowd of singles and young-at-heart party goers. If that’s not your scene, head to the grassy first turn where family and picnic types go for a modicum of Southern mores and etiquette.

Whether at home or at the derby…you will definitely want to make Derby Pie…..featured yesterday in the New York Times. {Click the link below for the recipe.}

Derby Pie

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Have you ever been to The Kentucky Derby?  If you went….what would you wear?

Smelling, not running for, the roses~

daune

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Vintage Wooden Folding Chairs

Vintage Wooden Folding Chairs……

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Thank you all so much for your sweet comments, e-mails, and special little gifts that you’ve sent in honor of Cottage in the Oaks being 2! =)  You guys are the best! I have the best readers!

If you haven’t, already, be sure to enter the big, super-huge giveaway!

I hope you all had a great weekend. It was beautiful here and we spent most of it in the garden.

Vintage Wooden Folding Chairs

A few months ago we were gifted with 56 vintage wooden folding chairs from this wonderful place. We have two big events within the next month that will be taking place here at our cottage….and we plan to use these lovely chairs for both. BUT, they had been stored in the top of a barn, buried in hay for many years. I thought I would share how we cleaned them up…and show you how great they look!

We began by making a 5 gallon bucket of cleaner with Murphy’s Oil Soap. We had them all spread out in the driveway…and our whole side yard smelled great! Using a scrub brush with stiff bristles we scrubbed every square inch of each chair with the cleaner. Then, we allowed them to dry overnight. {You can find Murphy’s Oil Soap at most grocery stores…it’s great!}

The next day we used one of our favorite products for wood…Howard’s Feed-N-Wax. {This is not a sponsored post….they have no idea who I am….I’m just sharing what we like to use with you, because I think you guys would like it, too!} In some areas you can find it at hardware and home improvement stores; but I shared the link to it on Amazon in case you are interested in using it and can’t find it in your area.

Howard's Feed-N-Wax

Each chair was completely rubbed down in Howard’s beeswax……look at the difference:

Vintage Wooden Folding Chairs

We love this stuff!  We use it on our front door and porch swing at least once a year.  These chairs were so dried out…the poor wood was thirsting to death. Raw wood needs to be ‘fed’ at least once a year.  These chairs are absolutely gorgeous now!  We can’t wait to use them. =)

What did you do over the weekend?  Have you ever used this particular beeswax on your wood? If you try it, let me know how you like it!

Happy Monday~

daune

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Finding the Lovely…….{No. 7}

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I’m getting excited about our new design….what you see is just a ‘holding’ template, NOT the new design….but it will work for now while we get everything designed and in order.  I hope it’s worth the wait!

And I hope your weekend is full of loveliness…everywhere you turn.

Finding the Lovely Week 7

1. A sink full of delicious berries…ready for the weekend

2. A quick respite….

3. Vintage porcelain colander full of blueberries {we’re a berry kind of family!}

4. A sign of a fun weekend had…..girls’ bags everywhere!

5.  A quiet morning reading spot

6.  Gorgeous floors in an old train depot turned concert hall

7.  She shopped until she dropped…our time together was very lovely….

8.  Handsome, Jr./No. 1 Son waiting backstage…his violin concert was most lovely

9.  This little handmade goat bowl made me smile..smiling is always lovely.

Be lovely~

daune

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Waiting on The Conductor…..

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If you follow me on Instagram…you got to see some of the fun pics from one of our violin concerts this weekend.  Some of these pics aren’t that great..I took them with my phone.  I have learned so much from watching our children perform over the years.  God has taught me so much as an artist and performer….and now He is also teaching me as I watch my children perform………..

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This past weekend was spent in concerts.

It was a pleasure.

All three of our children are violinists.

We have two that play in a pre-professional orchestra…and one that prefers to play,

but not perform.

It is such a joy to watch your children flourish in different areas as they grow up.

To be affirmed in their hard work and talents….

On Saturday their concerts were here locally…

but on Sunday they performed out of town in a historic train station that has been turned into

a performing venue….so cool!

Afterward there was a reception in the depot to celebrate a weekend of hard work.

Aren’t these floors awesome??!!  They remind me of our floors throughout our home..which were taken out of a 200 year-old Civil War home here in the South US.

Relaxing before the concert starts…

Entering in…….

Waiting for the conductor’s baton…..

Pouring out lovely music……

As I watched these performances this weekend…..I was reminded of life.

We have seasons of relaxing….gaining strength for what lies ahead….soaking in.

But then we get the call…the nudge…the leading…and must enter in to what it is we know we need to do.

We need to find our assigned seat and make sure our music is ready.

A new season.

But even after taking our seat, we need to wait for the Conductor’s baton….just the right timing…because the Conductor knows.

Another season.

Then comes the doing, the pouring out….we’ve been given all we need to do it….and we have the Conductor’s baton guiding us through the whole time if we keep our eyes on it.

Another season.

I was reminded of a problem I have.

In life I don’t always wait for the Conductor’s baton.

Sometimes it takes too long….and I wonder if He forgot about the concert.

But He didn’t.

The Conductor’s timing is always impeccable and always to be relied upon.

He knows things, like…when there’s a musician whose instrument isn’t quite in tune and ready to play.

Wait.

Or when there’s a musician that is on the wrong page of music.

Wait.

Or when the audience is ready to receive the gift about to be given to them.

Wait.

Yep, the Conductor knows things that the musicians don’t.

Waiting for the baton~

daune

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Finding the Lovely Week 2

Finding the Lovely {Week 2}

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Yaaaaayyyyyy! It’s time for the weekend!

I hope you have had a lovely week….and if not, I hope you are able to look back and see that amidst the hardness….there was loveliness, too!

Finding the Lovely Week 2

My lovelies for this week????

My daily morning green drink…..gets me going!

A fun note/request added to my grocery list…with the addition of ‘thank you for being cooperative’ added in. =) Love. It.

A bird’s nest found while running errands

A special treasure found and brought home

Some fun new chairs for the cottage dining room!

My favorite soap for getting off paint, etc. after doing artwork

A cozy robe waiting….

Bed pillows!

My heart rock collection

A costume morgue neatly organized and ready…..

A winter camelia blooming in the garden

A clean kitchen floor

God finishing off a day in a spectacular way…

A fun Valentine Mantel

Tie-dye soap in the car wash!

Handsome’s lips……oooooo-la-la! Very lovely, indeed! ;)

Have a lovely weekend, friends~

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Winter Scenes and Ponderings…….

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I wanted to share these beautiful winter images with you…just for your weekend. We don’t get a lot of snow here in Eastern NC….and we are expected to get some today! Woohoo! Even if it is only slush….I will have fun enjoying the view. Snow is such a great insulator….you feel like you are in another world and there is so much peace and quiet. Everything slows down and it seems your senses are heightened.

Eye beauty……

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Something to ponder for your weekend, too. When Handsome and I were praying about the new year approaching and making decisions about directions we desired to go with businesses, etc. …..the hardest thing to figure out is:

When do you persevere and continue to strive and hang on…..

and when do you know it’s time to let go, regroup, and move on?

How do YOU know?

Sometimes that still, small voice is SO still and small…..it’s more like a squeak. So, how do you KNOW?  =) We finally got it….but it was hard.

Something to ponder for a cozy, winter weekend……

Stay warm~

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Couldn’t leave you without a fun chuckle….this is SO me:

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Bwahahahahahahahaha!

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Ever Wonder Friday {No. 9}

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I hope you are off to a wonderful weekend…full of refreshment!

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1.  What makes something beautiful?

2.  Is it really always better to be safe than sorry?

3. How do you find happiness?

4.  Where do you draw the line between possible and impossible?

5. Do you love everybody you love?

Sending you a virtual cup of cider……..

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Preparing & Celebrating…..

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You guys are such a blessing! Thank you for your notes, comments, and e-mails about the loss of my grandmother last week. They were all sweet ministry to me. It has been quite a week…..but God has seen us all through and is pushing us into a new season.

This past weekend we got to celebrate this lovely ‘little girl’……

{She’s always been my ‘hat buddy’….we both love hats!}

who now looks like this…….

and turned 15 yesterday! She blesses us each and every day and we had fun celebrating our middle one over the weekend. She is a treasure. Today we are headed out to get

THE PERMIT! {Prayers are very welcome…..}

She’s so excited. Just another facet of this new season.

We are also preparing to head down to Atlanta to see Nanna & Papa…always a fun trip. We will get to go to some fun places and have some fun adventures.  I’m excited about all of them…but I think I am MOST excited about The Country Living Fair!

I’ve always wanted to go, and it was such a fun surprise to find out we would get to be there this year.  Have any of you ever attended?  If so, be sure to let me know some ‘not-to-misses’, etc. :) It will be nice to get away for a bit.

I will be sure to share pictures and tell you all about it when we return.

Hope you week is off to a great start~

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Ever Wonder Friday {No. 6}

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1.  When will you ever have more time than you do right now?

2.  What are the five things you value most in life?

3. Do you treat love as a noun or a verb?

4. What is the one thing that you think of that always makes you smile?

5. Can you really be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you?

I hope you weekend is full of autumn!

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