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My Winter Wish for You:

I hope you have a healthy and happy New Year!

Happy 2015!!!


Until next time...

New Year's Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Winter Wish

Wednesday, December 31, 2014




Merry Christmas, My Lovelies!!!  I hope that your holiday season has been Scrooge and Grinch free!!!



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…..with the exception of some yummy Grinch cookies.  Y'all have probably seen these cookies all over Pinterest, and when we saw them we just had to make a few!








"Le Grinch détestait Noël, oui, il le détestait!  Pourquoi?  Personne ne le savait.  Etait-ce sa tête qui était mal vissée?  Ou ses chaussons qui étaient trop serrés?  Mais si vous voulez mon avis, la vrai raison de tout ceci, c'est que son coeur était trop petit."


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These sugar cookies have hearts that are three sizes too small in honor of one of my favorite Christmas stories.  All you need to make these cookies:  Your favorite sugar cookie and icing recipe, green food coloring, and Wilton jumbo heart sprinkles (I ordered mine from Amazon).


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I hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas day!

Until next time…

Merry Christmas!
Ricki Jill

Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 25, 2014


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Good Morning, My Lovelies!  I hope y'all are having a wonderful Christmas Eve!!!

I hope that you've enjoyed my Advent Journal this season.  It is my Christmas gift to you!!!




John 1:14  New International Version (NIV)

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.



Until next time…

Happy Christmas Eve!
Ricki Jill

Advent Day 24

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

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Matthew 2:9-12  New International Version (NIV)

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.



Until next time…

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Advent Day 23

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

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Matthew 2:7-8  The Message (MSG)

7-8 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”


Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Advent Day 22

Monday, December 22, 2014

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My favorite Christmas carol seems to change from year to year.  This year "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is my favorite.  What's your favorite Christmas Carol?




Matthew 2:3-6  New International Version (NIV)

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”


Until next time…

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Advent Day 21

Sunday, December 21, 2014

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This year I have appreciated simpler Christmas decor on blogs and in magazines.  I will rethink how I decorate next year.  What are your thoughts: Simple Christmas Decor or Over The Top?





Matthew 2:1-2  New International Version (NIV)

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”


Until next time…

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Advent Day 20

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Good Afternoon!  I hope you are having a wonderful day.  We're staying close to home due to the protestors scheduled to block our local highway and mall. We'd planned on doing some last minute shopping today, but we've changed our plans.

On Wednesday, we put out some fresh greenery for Christmas.  I wanted to put more garland out, but I only put it around an arched window on our front porch (and of course I forgot to photograph it).

We also planted a few pansies out front.  Here are the photos:


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I found this bright lime green ribbon at Pier 1.



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This year's mailbox saddle.  They are popular here in the South!



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Of course magnolia leaves and pinecones make it Southern!


We will bring in fresh greenery for inside the house on Tuesday.

Do you decorate your mailbox for Christmas?

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Fresh Greenery

Friday, December 19, 2014


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Methinks Finlay is back on Santa's Nice List!


Micah 5:2-5  New International Version (NIV)

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.
5 And he will be our peace
    when the Assyrians invade our land
    and march through our fortresses.
We will raise against them seven shepherds,
    even eight commanders…


Until next time…

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Advent Day 19

Happy Christmas, My Lovelies!

I wanted to share our latest rather large project.  In July, Mr. Art @ Home hired a conman contractor to build a patio, back garden, and update our deck area. It was a complete nightmare.  He ran off with our money left before finishing the job, and NONE of the work was to code.

We then hired a reputable and capable contractor who first ripped-out everything the other contractor had done, and then redesigned the space for our needs.  Here is the reveal!


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Bluestone stepping stones and brick steps lead-up to Finlay's play area.


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The same area viewed from our deck


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Gate to Finlay's play area


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Courtyard view from deck


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Deck


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Outdoor kitchen area with gate to sideyard


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Fireplace sitting area


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Sitting area with steps up to deck


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Sofa looking onto deck


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View of sideyard


Here are a few of the planters:


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We had to contend with two "builds," one after the other.  It took over five months, and the noise was a huge distraction while trying to homeschool. The project was completed just a couple of days ago, and I'm so thankful to have it complete and built very well by professionals.  We are enjoying it so much!

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Shanley Belle, Lily, Finlay, and Shelley enjoying the fireplace

I am done with major projects for a very long time.  Truly!  ;P

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Courtyard and Deck Reveal

Thursday, December 18, 2014


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Hello, Lasses!


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My name is Finlay, and I like to dig!  I could dig all day long.  My Mommie RJ planted some pansies in my new play yard.  I don't like stinkin' pansies!


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There is something *great* under this sod, I just know it!  I like to dig-up grass, too!  I could dig all night long.



This is my friend, Lily.  Shanley Belle belongs to her:

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Lily Potter Treleaven


Lily likes to run.  She can run all day long.  She can jump, too.  Do you see this wall?  She can jump OVER it.  I can't do that because I have a dwarf gene.


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This wall is no match for Lily!



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Methinks I need a nap after all my shenanigans.  



My Mommie RJ called me inside so she could clean-up my pansy-killing spree. She says I'm on Santa's Naughty List!


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Santa, I can explain....


My Mommie RJ and Mr. Art @ Home had a nice backyard built and planted just for me (and Mr. Art's Big Green Egg addiction).  Please come back later on this evening and see our new space!

Thanks for sharing, Finlay.  I hope you're enjoying your new play space, and I want you to learn to love pansies!

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Hi! It's *me*....{Finlay.} Guest Post #3


Hello!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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