Tuesday, December 17, 2013

A Zeigler 2013 Christmas

Good Evening!
When we moved into our house the end of October I honestly couldn't stand the thought of decorating for Christmas. As far as I was concerned, a simple tree would do the job for this year. But as it does every year, motivation struck sometime around Thanksgiving.  I'm sure my kids are glad!!
Today I went around with my real camera, not the phone camera, and took some pictures to share with you. I love details; details are what take words and make a story, details are what makes a few lyrics a song, details are the little things that always have big impacts. So come along and take a close up look at the details in our Christmas. 
I find myself really getting into the idea of having more than 1 tree in the house. This year we have 3. This little Gingerbread tree sits by the back door to greet all our guests. 
This friendly feller will greet you from the outside. He makes me 
smile :-)

I didn't do the volume in my kitchen that I used to do. My snowman on slate and a pine sprig is the only thing.
The dining room turned out to be my favorite room as far as Christmas decor goes. I am a snowman lover. They seem to be the thing that always catch my eye in a store or at a yard sale. The dining room is a winter wonderland.
Lanterns filled with sparkly, red ornaments light your way to a festive meal around the table.

Kid gloves lay nearby in case you need to warm your hands from the chill.
My beloved Roo :-)
One of the 3 trees is in the dining room and it is nothing but snowmen. It's my favorite!
A key ingredient to a good Christmas!
Patches - my favorite snowman!
I have a china hutch that pretty much has everything but china in it.  Simply because I don't want just any dish. Royal Albert "Old Country Roses" is my dream china. So until I can find them at a price I can pay or find something else that speaks to my heart my hutch remains china-less, except at Christmas time. About 3 years ago I was in a thrift store and found just a few of these. 
They are a "Victorian Christmas" by Churchill. I have not found anymore but I keep my eyes peeled. I would love to find everything.
They look pink in this picture, but they are a pretty red.

Trimming the real tree...
The colors on this tree are red, gold, and chocolate brown. I love it!
Tucked among the branches - a cute, furry tailed critter. All the way from Arizona.
The reason for it all!!
The animals rest nearby...
And that concludes my tour.  I trust that amidst the almost ridiculous craziness that this time of year tends to bring that you will take a moment to look around you and enjoy the details. Especially, the details found in the Christmas story, for that is where you will find calmness and peace for your soul.

Merry Christmas from this Zeigler clan!! 


Blog Partying @:


























I am back with Minor Changes

Good Evening or should I say Good Morning since it is 11:59 est. I have not burned the late night oil like this in a very long time. Its been a slow evening doing neglected things such as downloading pictures, editing pictures, reading a few blogs.  I haven't done any of that in a very long time and it feels good to be back at it. I didn't realized how much I've missed blog reading - some of you out there really know how to inspire, motivate, and encourage. I hope I can do the same for someone else.
It has been a long time since I wrote a post - not having internet other than our phones has kept that from happening.  Hopefully, I am back in the saddle of writing. Did you notice the title at the top of my blog? I am changing streams just a wee bit.  For some time now I've had a strong desire to share via pictures and writing things that will inspire, motivate, and point people back to the most essential place, Home. So many homes are broken, dysfunctional, haphazard, empty, lonely, hurting, etc...  I believe that in the heart of every individual is a desire to have a home. A place where love and beauty abound. A place where their soul and mind can find rest.  My goal is to tug at your heart strings and help to guide someone(s) to make where ever they are a home.  I'm no expert but I love all things homey. I love love and warmth and happiness. No doubt I will even learn things in this new chapter.
Is your home ready for Christmas? We are ready and waiting! Even Rancher Roo is feeling festive these days with his pretty ribbon :-) Next week!! My kids are excited and wondering if the things they want will be under the tree Christmas morning. I hope they are, but don't tell them!! 

Well that's all for tonight. We will be back soon!! 
Goodnight!



Thursday, October 10, 2013

Where we are headed

I thought I would fill you in on our moving process to let you know that we have not fallen off the face of the earth :) As most of you know we sold our house
Because we took too long to find another house and we had to vacate the old house 5 days after closing we have been living in a 2 bedroom apartment until we close on the new-to-us house. I am grateful to have a place to stay that is very close to the school but its far from home, we are all very much looking forward to having this experience behind us.

This is where we are heading to.
I must tell you. This is the very first house we went and looked at right after we got a contract on the old house. But we kicked and screamed (not really) and dragged our feet coming to terms with this place. It's a beautiful, old house. But it is surrounded by these things called neighbors. EEEK!! Where we just came from we did not have those. What do you do with them. Even though we like to be around people and love hanging out with our friends and enjoy a good game of corn-hole like everyone else; we are a bit of hermits when it comes to neighbors. haha 

So we continued to look but there was NOTHING!! We knew we needed to make a decision because it was coming down that we were already running out of time to close simultaneously on both houses. Which is what we had really wanted to do because we didn't want to live out of boxes temporarily. We both decided to go for this house. Location wise, it really is perfect. It's less than 2 miles from school/church. Our savings in gas was going to be huge. It might not be our dream setting, but since making a mutual agreement the place has really really grown on us.
It really is a charming place that does have a little more land with it than what we did have so we are gaining all the way around with this place. Even if some of that gain is neighbors :-)  The original owner, the man who built it and lived here for most of its existence, was a doctor and he had many similar interest. For example the back yard is totally private. The trees, shrubs create a private paradise. The property is full of deer trails and lots of dropping under the old crab apple. 
Back yard taken from the patio.
This huge picture window is in the living room and gives us a wide open view of the back yard (above). Looking forward to seeing what all deer come to visit.
This huge bay is the dining room.
Up-close. I love this window! It makes me think of an English cottage which speaks to my English blood :-) and the shrub directly in front of it is similar to a Mountain Laurel which speaks to our Pennsylvania roots :-)

A tree lined driveway - pretty cozy if you ask us. It's as close to living in the woods as it's going to get. It makes us smile.

Mr. Z's man cave as he calls it. I love the screen door. One more thing that makes me smile.

Part of my cave :-) I love the shape of the ceiling in here. Gives it that cottage feel.

Standing in kitchen looking at the back door. The door the left is the master bedroom.

The master bedroom.

This chandelier is another thing that makes me smile. It hangs in the dining room.
Inside view of dining room with it's huge bay. I'm going to feel it with real Ivy that can be located all over the property.

Bad picture. But this is another small detail that has me smiling. All the inside doors have clear, glass knobs.

Front entry.

The other side of the living room. Hard to get a good picture because of the bright sun streaming in. We are looking forward to cozy evenings around a real fire.

That's all the sneak peaks for now. But this should give you a good idea of where we are headed. We can't wait!!

Take care!!  




















Thursday, August 22, 2013

A Call to ALL Christians on Facebook

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.                                Galatians 6:2-3 NLT

A few months back I took a facebook sabbatical. I felt like I needed to detox myself of it because it had become an addiction. Plus I had become sick of what it had become - a meme book. Without going into boring details I reopened my FB because I felt like it was God's calling to me outside of my family. After getting out of full time ministry I felt lost and void of meaning for a long time. I would ask God over and over where I fit in. I wasn't content to be just a pew warmer. I wanted to help/love people. It seemed impossible when you are just another stay-at-home mom who see no other human outside of Walmart, school functions, and church.  God kept pointing his finger toward facebook. I balked because I really didn't want to enter that world again. 

You probably wonder how can facebook be a calling from God. Well it fits my lifestyle quite perfectly and God knew that. I can be a part of 100s of peoples lives while taking care of my family and going about my daily life. It's not about the things I post or say but rather, the post I read. On a daily basis I see hurting, angry, frustrated people. I see sick people. I see discouraged people. I see people struggling with this, that, and the other thing. I see confusion. I see rebellion. I see sinners.  If I were to never login to facebook and I would choose to live in my nice, quiet world I would never see people who need a Saviour. I would never be able to help carry their burden to the Father.

Sometimes its easy to get carried away scrolling down real fast ignoring posts because, well, I've see that whine before. God has to remind me that they need Him.  I've not always posted wisely myself. Ha ha In fact, I've experienced some real humiliation because I offended people and they let me know it. Like it or not, those moments were good for me. They helped open my eyes to see nonsense that I might not have ever fixed otherwise. 

My title might give the impression that I think all Christians should treat facebook as a mission field from here on out. Let me make myself VERY clear that is NOT my goal here. What I want to say is as Christians we are responsible for how we respond to what we read. Many of my friends use facebook as a prayer chain so to speak, calling their friends to pray for this need or certain situations, etc...  My question to you and myself is "how do we respond?" Do we ignore it knowing that one of their other upteen friends will cover the base? Or do we acknowledge that God has allowed us to see that need because He has a job for us to do. The job of "bearing one another's burdens". Whether we like it or not we are accountable of how we will respond.  I have a friend right now whose baby grandson is in serious need of a physical touch. She is pleading with God's people to pray. I shouldn't even be wondering if I am going to pray or not. I better not be thinking someone else is praying so I don't need to. No way Jose!!! I better pray!! 

I leave you with a Macedonian Call because as Christians we aren't to sit on the sidelines twiddling our thumbs. 

  1. There’s a call comes ringing o’er the restless wave,
    “Send the light! Send the light!”
    There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save,
    Send the light! Send the light!
    • Refrain:
      Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
      Let it shine from shore to shore!
      Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
      Let it shine forevermore!
  2. We have heard the Macedonian call today,
    “Send the light! Send the light!”
    And a golden off’ring at the cross we lay,
    Send the light! Send the light!
  3. Let us pray that grace may everywhere abound,
    “Send the light! Send the light!”
    And a Christlike spirit everywhere be found,
    Send the light! Send the light!
  4. Let us not grow weary in the work of love,
    “Send the light! Send the light!”
    Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
    Send the light! Send the light!
  5.                         --Charles H. Gabriel, 1890

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Can you believe it.....?

Such a nice subject header to get your attention :) :) I just wanted to share with you something I spotted while enjoying a moment of solitude on my front porch sipping lemonade. It's a rare moment for me and I try to soak up as much as I can when opportunity knocks. But alas, that is not what you are hear for - to read about my porch sitting moments.

Do you see anything special about this picture??  If not then you are not in-tune with the greatest season ever - Autumn :)  Yes yes I know, it's only August 1st but don't you see it? Orange leaves peeking through the green around it.  I saw that and my heart sang :-) So up I bounded to get my camera so that I could share with you that Autumn is just around the corner or in my case just across the road. 

The Trumpet bushes are loaded with oodles of juicy berries for the birds.  I love having trees, bushes, whatever that naturally draws my feathered friends to my yard. Across the road in the woods is a cat bird who "meows" to us every time we are outside. I love to sit in my Adirondack chair with my eyes closed enjoying the perfect weather and listening to the sounds of nature-birds, cicadas, cheepers, crickets. It's really some of the best music.

The apple trees are loaded with their fruit.
Before you know it apple butter will be simmering in the slow-cooker, apple sauce will be bubbling in their jars, and their will be a crispness in the air. Not to mention freshly crushed apple cider.  Are you getting excited yet? :-)  I am!!

A very cheerful corner of the house. Black-eyed Susans always make me smile. They are happy flowers. Reminding us that August is here. I didn't plant any Sunflowers this year so I'm really enjoying these.
I trust your summer is going well for you.  It's been a very wet one for us. Quite the contrast to the drought we had last year. Lakes had been little trickles running through grassy fields. Now they are staying up over their banks. This summer is one I must confess I'm looking forward to putting behind me. Our lives are forever in limbo with this house being for sale. We've tried to lead normal lives but it's hard when your heart just isn't into it.  I'm looking forward to future with great anticipation of the good things God is working out for us.  This lesson in patience is getting really hard though and I'm ready to get on with my life :-)

Enjoy the rest of summer!!








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