"Ring out the Old, Ring in the New"

Welcome!

                                                       Photo by Greg Arnott

"Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring happy bells across the snow;
The year is going, let him go."
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

"A new year is unfolding-like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within."
-Anonymous

As the old year ends and the new year is poised to begin, many of us are evaluating the year past and are looking forward to the fresh start of a brand new year.

As I assess this past year, I decided that the lesson for me personally was that you can't please everybody.  You have to be true to yourself.

"Refuse to accept anyone's definition of who you are.  Define yourself."
-Justin Chase Mullins

What are the lessons you learned in 2013?

I'm also thankful for all my blessings of the past year, especially for all my loved ones, friends, and others in my life who have been helpful, respectful, and supportive.  (Isn't this the type of people we'd all like to have in our lives and the type of people we all need to be?)

What are you thankful for as 2013 comes to an end?

My New Year's resolution is this:  To raise my vibration level to help not only myself, but those around me, as well.  That means to be as positive as possible every day, throughout the day, no matter what.

What are your goals, resolutions for 2014?

"We will open the book.  It's pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
-Edith Lovejoy Pierce

May 2014 be your best year ever!

Positive thought:  "Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day." -Michael Josephson
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Christmas, in Words and Pictures

Welcome!

And, welcome winter and Christmas!

                                             Doe River Inn Bed and Breakfast

The Christmas season can be one of the most wonderful times of the year. 

Here's the essence of Christmas on this blog post from our perspective, in words and pictures:

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
-Norman Vincent Peale

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."
-Burton Hillis

                            Mitzi and Kallie, Checking out the Christmas Gifts

 Mike and Betty's Buddy, Checking out the Christmas Buffet

"Visions of sugar plums danced in their heads."
-"The Night Before Christmas"
-Clement Clarke Moore

                                Talented Cousin Bruce's Christmas Decorations

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."
-Hamilton Wright Mabie

"The message of Christmas is that the visible material world is bound to the invisible spiritual world."
-Author Unknown

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
-Charles Dickens

"May you have-
Walls for the wind
And a roof for the rain
And drinks beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire."
-Traditional Celtic Blessing

Positive thought: May you have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Our House, "Before" and "After"

Welcome!

And, welcome to our newest Follower!

Greg and I have had a lot going on lately.  (Of course, this is a busy time of year for everybody!)  We compressed almost all of our Christmas activities into the last ten days.  All family, etc. Christmas get-togethers in 2013 are now history for us.  We had a great time, but we're pretty tired, and Greg and I are planning to spend a quiet, relaxing Christmas day at home.

Speaking of home, since we moved to our new house six months ago, we have been working to get things in order, to fix everything the way we like it. 

Here, in words and pictures are some "befores" and "afters" of our house:  (I've always loved "before" and "after" pictures of anything, as you can see just what has been accomplished, whether it's your own accomplishment or someone else's like in a magazine.)

Our living room-

Dining room-

Kitchen-

Bedroom-

Guest Room-

Study-

It's beginning to look and feel like home.  (But, it's still a work in progress and a labor of love.)

Positive thought:  Try to surround yourself with things you love.
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Maury Christmas Tour of Homes

Welcome!

I'm running behind on my blog posts this week, as we've had a busy weekend.  On Sunday, we attended a wonderful Christmas open house.  On Saturday, Greg and I went on our first Maury Christmas Historic Homes Tour of Columbia and Williamsport, Tennessee.  

On this blog post, I'll share with you highlights from our Christmas Tour of Homes.  Twelve sites were featured on the tour, but we only had time to work six into our schedule.  That was plenty for us.  We felt as though we'd gotten our money's worth.

Here, in words and pictures, is the Christmas tour, from our perspective:

We began our tour at the home of President James K. Polk where we bought our tour tickets.

Greg, trying to stay warm, as I took a picture before we entered the Polk home for the first time. 

It was a very interesting place. 

We then visited The Athenaeum which used to be a girls' school.  Money from the homes tour tickets helps in the restoration of this site.

                 Kaitlyn, in period dress, was our tour guide for The Athenaeum.

Next, we enjoyed visiting St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

                   Ethereal music greeted us as we entered this lovely old church.

There was a wonderful exhibit called "The Nativities" which consisted of dozens of nativity scenes that church members and people from the community had brought in for display.

We'd been to Elm Springs before (Please see my 6/2/12 blog post for more about Elm Springs.), but not when it was decorated for Christmas.

Greg checked out the antiques and decorations while...

I checked out the great-looking food on display in the lovely dining room.

We loved Skipwith Hall in Williamsport which is an old home that has been restored to its former glory. 

It is now available for hosting events such as weddings.
F.Y.I.
904-994-3315

Pam Garrett, a tour guide in her period costume, added ambiance to this already lovely house.

Every home should have a chandelier and a fireplace in it's bathroom as this one does.  I fact, every room in this house seemed to have its own fireplace.

Also on this property was a cozy little cabin with its own Christmas tree, and its own fireplace.

Our final home on the tour was also a private residence, Montview, which is "a work in progress."

Although it was after dark and there was only ten minutes of tour time left, the owners graciously let us come in to see this lovely old home.

 I've always loved "An Irish Blessing," and this version was beautifully displayed.

Beatrice walked us to the door as we left our final home on the tour, tired but happy.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Maury Christmas 2013 Historic Homes Tour and look forward to next year to see more homes on the 2014 tour.

If you like old homes, you'd really love these, at their best, all decorated in their Christmas finery!

F.Y.I.
Tour Headquarters:
The Athenaeum
808 Athenaeum Street,
Columbia, Tennessee
931-381-4822
www.maurychristmas.com

Positive thought:  "At Christmas all roads lead home." -Marjorie Holmes (From a Maury Christmas Historic Homes Tour brochure.)
Thanks for visiting!  Until sometime during the period between December 13-17-another busy weekend!, Becky

Gift-giving Ideas

Welcome!

With all the talk the past few days about Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon.  I'd like to give a few gift-giving ideas since the Christmas rush for finding gifts has officially begun.

Here are some ideas that are unique, that you won't find just anywhere:

Pet portraits in pastel or pencil-

"...I always like the gifts I get,
But how I love the gifts I give."
-Carolyn Wells

Appalachian Mountain coal jewelry-

"It is in giving that we receive."
-St. Francis of Assisi

Home organizing-

Last Christmas, a mother gave her son and his wife the gift of having their home organized by Home Solutions.  (What a thoughtful gift!)

Paranormal book, "Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind" by Becky Arnott-
(To purchase, please see the widget above and/or see my "Spirit Photographs"11/2/13 blog post [ www.spiritphotographs.blogspot.com ].)

"Do give books, religious or otherwise, for Christmas..."
-Lenore Hershey

The above-mentioned gift ideas are not just for giving at Christmas.  They can be given any time during the year.

F.Y.I.
beckyarnottartist@gmail.com

Love and appreciation!

Positive thought: "Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone." -Charles Schultz
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday (or Monday), Becky