Outdoor Wednesday

A Sunset view off of the Sponge docks at Tarpon Springs Florida.

Outdoor Wednesday

Saluting.........

..............the Red, White, and Blue.

Tea Time Tuesday

Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday

Martha's Favorites

Table Top Tuesday

A Return to Loveliness

Tablescape Thursday

In memory ...........

A week before the battle of Bull Run Sullivan Ballou, a Major in the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers, wrote home to his wife in Smithfield.

---

July 14,1861
Camp Clark, Washington DC

Dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. And lest I should not be able to write you again I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more.

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us.

If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name...

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!...

But, 0 Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you, in the brightest day and in the darkest night... always, always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again...

---

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the 1st Battle of Bull Run.

¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13 (NIV)

In memory and honor of those who have fought and died to keep our country free.

S.E.A.

Wow it has been such a busy, BUSY week! We have been getting things ready for my daughter's trip to S.E. Asia. This Missions trip will be month long, and we would greatly appreciate your prayers.

The updates will be posted on this blog - http://thechroniclesofci.blogspot.com/
If you would take a few minutes every day to pray for the hearts of the children and for the team that has traveled to the other side of our world, it would be greatly appreciated.

The Lord bless you.

.....and He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers..... Mal 4:6

Spiritual Sundays

Vintage chair

The chair belonged to my hubby's 90 year old Aunt.

It had been recovered a couple of times. When we took the layers off, we discovered the seat was stuffed with straw.

My very dear friend undertook the task of recovering this chair.

It was amazing to see how she took the old upholstery apart and used it as a pattern for the new fabric. And in the end, it turned out beautiful!

I am joining Coloradolady's Vintage Thingie Thursday
and Furniture Feature Friday.

Outdoor Wednesday

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...........





I love my afternoon walks in the neighborhood.

But this is what I love most.........

Welcome Home!

Outdoor Wednesday

An Afternoon in theTea Room

Last week I visited the ever charming Tea Room with a new friend. She had never been before, so it was a real treat for both of us. We decided that we would have lunch instead of High Tea, but it was still a glorious afternoon. A wonderful time to get to know each other a little better.

Wouldn't you love to spend an afternoon here, sipping tea and having some delightful conversation? I never tire of visiting this wonderfully tranquil place.

I am joining Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday

Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday

Martha's Favorites

Table Top Tuesday

A Return to Loveliness

and Wayfaring Wednesday

Foto Finish

I'm joining Cat Patches for Foto Finish this week. The theme for this week is "Drama in the Sky".

This is right out of the camera, as I don't know how to do any of the photo enhancing programs. I was driving home one evening and the sky was just ablaze with color. I opened my window and started taking pictures of the gorgeous sky with the palm trees as a backdrop.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Vintage Thursday

I'm not sure these things would be considered Vintage, but it was my Good Will score for last week. So many times lately when I visit the thrift stores, they are truly lacking, and Good Will is certainly changing their way of selling. Our Good Will stores are marketing more and more new items. Which makes me wonder, what has happened to all the wonderful treasures they used to pass along to the normal thrift store shopper? Are they selling them online or on ebay??

A couple of weeks ago I came across three really pretty pieces of stemware. I looked them over, put them in my cart, but after thinking about them I put them back, as I knew it would be hard to match these little gems to find a fourth glass.

Last Friday I was shopping with my daughter in an Antique shop and guess what I found! Yep, these same glasses. Only there was a pretty big difference. The glasses at Good Will were priced at -

and the stemware in the Antique shop were priced at $7.00 each. Again I passed on these glasses.

Not to be dismayed, the next day I went back to the Good Will, thinking that I certainly would not find these little beauties again. But I immediately found two of the glasses high on the top shelf. In my mind I could not imagine someone just buying one and leaving the other two. So I searched and looked, but could not find the third glass. So I walked around in the Good Will, holding the two glasses in my hand. Before I went to check out, I walked back over to housewares and looked again. And there it was! Stuck behind a vase on the top shelf. Yay!! Score! If I ever get back to the Antique shop, I will shell out the $7 to add to these very pretty glasses.
I am linking up with Coloradolady's Vintage Thingie Thursday ,

Treasures and Trinkets Thursday and

Treasure Hunt Thursday.

Outdoor Wednesday

A little stroll in my backyard.


Have a wonderful day!

Outdoor Wednesday

Some Enchanted Evening

One special evening.

Please take a moment to visit these lovely parties -

Tea Time Tuesday

Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Table Top Tuesday

A Return to Loveliness

Tablescape Thursday