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ContessasHome formerly Contessas Garden and Gift, LLC

~ Vintage fine and decorative art, lamps, mirrors, chandeliers, small occasional furniture pieces, classic "hard cover"books, vintage "smalls", and handmade decorative art craft

ContessasHome formerly Contessas Garden and Gift, LLC

Category Archives: Tonight’s Thought

Gardening Friends

24 Tuesday Jan 2023

Posted by ContessasHome in Gardening, Gratitude, Professional Services, Reflections, Sharing, Tonight’s Thought

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Today we visited each of your garden spots. You didn’t know we came by….it was intentional because we came just to view the process of winter. It’s been a mild one so far and the growth and dying back process is about where it shouid be. We did do a few things at each property. With two more full months of winter likely, we are making notes and planning tasks and thinking about new ideas to introduce to each of you…….come spring

We are fighting flu like symptoms but a much needed outing helped us to fight off the chill and fever. We needed fresh air, space and some filtered sunlight. It seems we accomplished soaking up these attributes from our much needed outing. We are feeling somewhat better this evening. Hoping our chilled feelings and mild symptoms of winter flu are giving in slightly…..to the rest we have cherished and so needed over the last seven days. It’s our winter hibernation of sorts. Plain old fashioned rest.

We have made notes and have some ideas we will share with each of you as we get closer to spring. Mother Mature  certainly knows what she is doing…. and our brief respit is perhaps her intentional way of slowing us down. The earth is at rest and so are we.

And now we will sleep. And so will each of your properties also rest. And we can work out visions in our mind of “new” projects for each of you when spring arrives.

Good to be in touch and good to see your lovely spaces today. We will communicate individually with all of you between now and March 15th.

Do take good care….and be well  

“Contessa”

Dragonflies….the keeper of dreams

20 Friday Jan 2023

Posted by ContessasHome in Evening Prayer, Faith, Gratitude, HOPE, LOVE, Reflections, Sharing, Today's Update, Tonight’s Thought, Writing

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Magical

 

Dragonflies are the keeper of dreams,

the energy within, that sees all our true potential and ability.

Dragonflies inspire individuality and creativity

They help us on the path of discovery and enlightenment.

•  ••••••••••••••••••••  •

They remind us, that anything is possible. In almost every part of the world, the Dragonfly symbolizes 

change,

transformation,

adaptability,

and self-realization.

The change comes with mental and emotional maturity

and understanding the deeper meaning of life.

PRAYER

LORD, my omnipotent Father God…may I call out to your mercy and kindness. I wish to change, and transform my life. Help me to adapt to new ways and fulfill the possibilities of my mental and moral qualities. I know that these changes can only materialize with growing in your maturity. Teach me your ways O Lord, that I can become the woman who appreciates all of life, and help me to understand the true meaning and purpose for my life path. I only wish to honor you in all that I do. I now pray to be granted the dream your dragonflies are keeping for me. I await, I trust and I know that anything is possible with your blessing over me. Amen.

Tea Time…….

18 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by ContessasHome in Gratitude, Handmade, Reflections, Sharing, Special Events, Tonight’s Thought

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Today we received a special “gift” sampling of nutritional, medicinal, herbal tea recipes. The art of herbal tea preparation is a ritual of creating the perfect delicious blend and flavor balance. It encompasses a mix of select herbs appropriately measured to create flavor, nourishment, and served in calm and peace ….with love and care.

Enjoyed by those who treasure

“the art of tea.”

• ••••••••••• •


Tea Pots

Tea Leaves

Tea for 2

Tea Prep

Tea Cup

Tea Lover

Tea & Writing & Books

Tea Party

Tea and Sympathy

Tea….a hug in a cup

Afternoon Tea

Tea Sandwiches

Wedding Tea

Art of Tea

Tea Samplings

Tea Mixing

Tea Shop

Sweet Tea

…….thank you dearest friend…….

……having tea now……

feeling very warm

and very relaxed!

About Us

11 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by ContessasHome in Reflections, Sharing, Tonight’s Thought, Writing

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Tags

“zerotohero”, Birds, Blooms, Bushes, Creatures, Faith Journey, Flowers, Gardening, healthy cooking, Houseplants, Insects, Nature, Photography, Plants, Prayer, Scripture, scripture study, Weather


Hi…. I’m “Contessa.” I’ve been blogging as Contessa since 2010. I opened a garden and gift shop in 2008 and began blogging two years later in 2010. This was my choice to communicate using a social social media platform, so as to communicate, with the locals in my community. I was new to social media, but I had heard about WordPress from an intern I had hired to come to work with me during my first six months in business. I began by purchasing a WordPress account, with a yearly subscription. Prior to that, I had been operating a home-based gardening business for three years. It was actually my first attempt at owning something that was my own. It sustained me for three years, but I had always wanted and dreamed of owning a small retail shop. So after almost ten years of searching for a spot to begin my dream, I found a vacant location, signed a five-year lease, and began moving a few pieces of garden furniture and antique furniture, along with “antique smalls” of my own, into my new building suite. Once in…and open for business, I began contacting vendors from previous relationships at a business where I had worked part time, prior to owning my own shop. That previous part time job, gave me enough knowledge and confidence to venture out on my own. In fact, that was the very reason I had taken that position. I searched for so long to find a place to launch my own business, and the day I finally found it, was very exciting. My own brick and mortar store had become a reality. My official name was Contessa’s Garden and Gift, and I was now a retail business owner. The storefront I chose was in a trendy growing community called Delray. I opened my doors on March 1st, 2008. Little did I know…..that combining a gardening business and a retail shop was going to mean that I had bitten off slightly more than I could chew. I thought I could continue serving my gardening clients in my neighborhood, about one mile away from my new store. Within two weeks time I realized it was going to be either the gardening business or the retail store. But in my mind and heart….I did not put the idea away of gardening again. My home was in Parkfairfax about one mile from my new shop. It’s a known fact that starting a business from the ground up requires hours of one’s own “good will” and very hard work. I literally worked every day for six months from 7 am to 7 pm, and then at 7 pm, after closing my store, I would work until the midnight hours to unpack, price, display, clean, balance my books and go about setting up new accounts with over thirty nationwide vendors, so that a flow of new merchandise could be timed appropriately to arrive each season for my new customers. All of this was part of my huge dream of shop ownership. I’d achieved my wishes. Tears of joy and gratitude came.

Social media was the best way to reach my audience so I chose WordPress as my communication vehicle and began photographing with a digital camera and posting new arrivals of merchandise every day. I was so pressed for time as a sole proprietor, that I posted mostly pictures in the beginning. I was trying to win my audience by “wowing” them with daily photography posts. Within a year I purchased an Apple iPhone and my digital camera became history. Technology was moving fast and I had to learn very quickly to keep up. I was writing by now and content was very important. During this time each store visitor signed a contact roster when they came to visit. My contact list grew so rapidly I hired a Russian student part time to come three days a week and enter my new contacts into my customer contact database. It worked and became successful enough to put me “on the map” so to speak. I taught myself how to navigate WordPress and the rest is history. I was on social media and it really helped me grow my business.

It’s now Jan 2023  I’ve closed my store and once again I am back to my first love…. Gardening. My posting on WordPress has taken on many new posts related to my gardening projects, my Yoga practice, my Etsy selling activity, spiritual reflection, cooking and recipes and my faith based beliefs and highlighting the profound relationship I have with my creator, nature and my gardening endeavors. I believe God is calling me to write and to share through and with my faith. And…..the “love of my life” is encouraging me and politely “pushing” and attempting to stretch me, in his own loving way, to become the author and the person he knows…..and I know….has the skills and gifts to achieve all these dreams.  Amen!

So….where do I go from here. I believe I am being called to become a writer. I’m at the stage of contemplation. Do I write my “story,” do I write about gardening and nature, do I write about my faith journey… and how it has led me to this important calling in my life?  I’m praying about this and I know the Lord will bring me to his plan and path for his greater glory. I wait…and I pray….I am still… and I trust.

May I put my heart out there to those of you who might shepherd and encourage me. I’ve led a long life with so many blessed experiences and plenty of real life barriers, and a few mountains to climb. But I am confidant that I have an amazing opportunity to share how I have come this far, and how my creator has led me and changed my heart and my life. I feel chosen to share with others….so that I might make a real difference in others lives, as it relates to their future spiritual paths and calling from their God.

Thank you for hearing my story. I am happy to hear your comments on where and how I move forward from here. I have great hope and am anxious to proceed. Your comments and encouragement are most…. Welcome!

“Contessa”

Birds and Blooms

28 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Birds, Blooms, Houseplants, Sharing, Tonight’s Thought

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November, 2022 Issue


What’s your definition of “getting out into nature?” Maybe for you, it’s sitting on your deck in your very wooded neighborhood watching for the birds to come to the feeders you’ve placed around. Your favorite feathered friends love to come so they can grab a morsel. Or….is your favorite adventure a hike to a national park. Both of these experiences can bring you the sense of peace we all enjoy and deserve. Carve out some time to enjoy the bounty of nature. Your soul will heal and be lifted. Nature is so healing and it may come to you with a sense of “peace” that you deserve and were secretly seeking. 

If you are looking for that same peace and a soothing atmosphere indoors, bring nature into the house by having a few houseplants. Very often your very own mental health can be lifted in your “inner soul” by placing some greenery indoors. Plants can nudge your brain into mindfulness and they create a relaxing and cozy atmosphere in your personal space. All of us need this in the winter months, so that we can keep a “healthy balance .”

I myself bring about ten…end-of-summer plants indoors for the winter. I have taken a few pictures of examples of a few plants from the magazine that you might consider. Plants help to purify the air indoors….so consider one in each room.  Houseplants do make for a healthy and pretty home.  


Tomorrow I will feature the December issue. I thought it worthy to post today on a few features of the November issue.

(We regret the glossy cover photo, but the hard copy of this magazine is “high gloss” and difficult to photograph).

We cannot stress enough, the modest cost of a subscription to this quite informative publication, and if you wish to view it in person, we always offer to drop it by your location for a one week viewing. And then we can pick it up and pass it to another viewer.

“Contessa” says….. it’s a very good thing!

A writing career…my new endeavor…!

26 Monday Dec 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Today's Update, Tonight’s Thought, Writing

≈ 1 Comment

How to get started? The holidays came. My gardening work came to a close on Friday, December 16th, a little earlier than last year, primarily due to weather., My momentum was triggered by personal preparation for the holidays, and well to be honest I felt like I needed a “break,”’ But for a self motivator that break has turned into a detour into procrastination. So now I will begin  transitioning my disciplined normal self, back to “getting started” again. It’s time to start writing in my New direction

I admit it I’m in a zone. I want to write but I have been writing for my blog for over ten years. It had been great fun and challenging to meet my personal deadlines and communicate to all my followers. Which is not a huge audience. Pressure to keep my gardening clients caught up on my latest gardening tips, and video editing of ongoing projects, whilst working jobs at the same time. This was my most busy year. I’ve completed and posted announcements about holidays, information about specific deadlines for completing certain gardening deadlines, keeping in touch with my audience about ETSY sale activity, yoga class updates and spiritual reflections aimed at my own self improvement, inner spiritual growth and keeping loved ones in tune with my activity  And now I am deciding to expand my writings. But what direction do I go, and do I start a new blog or continue with my current platform and just….matter of fact….just write and see where it takes me…with no specific plan in mind.

So today I happened upon an article;

Number #1…..Re-read all of the things you have already written 

#2…..Make a List

#3…..Read a Book

#4…..Outline your next story

#5…..Brainstorm

#6……Ask a Friend

#7……Go for a walk or a run

#8……lock yourself in a room with no distraction except a piece of paper and a pen

#9….Shut Up and Write anyway

Hey…. I’ve just begun. Tomorrow I’ll start knocking off on this list and see where it takes me. Do Stay Tuned!

“contessa” 

 

The Birth of Jesus

21 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Advent Prayer, Advent Study, Evening Prayer, Faith, HOPE, Lighting, LOVE, Scripture, Sharing, Tonight’s Thought

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CHRISTMAS TOUCHES THE WHOLE OF CREATION

Sometimes we think a good Christmas is songs, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and many sweet words.

Christmas is saying “yes” to something way beyond emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying yes to a “hope”which has nothing to do with what I think or feel. Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is Gods work and not mine. And into this broken world “a child is born” who is called son of the Most High, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:1-8

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered….All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you Lord that you came independently of my  feelings and thoughts. Your heart is greater than mine. I welcome you.  

• A M E N •

….tonight we illuminate the candles representing peace, hope, joy and love…..

Contessa Explores A Writing Career

16 Friday Dec 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Books, Faith, HOPE, Professional Services, Reflections, Sharing, Special Events, Tonight’s Thought

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Hello ContessasHome Friends….

After blogging for fourteen years, and writing about gardening, yoga, my store in Delray, daily reflections and my spiritual prayer times, I am led to pursue my newest “calling.” I want to write a book. I have gazillions of thoughts and ideas in my head about things to write about. I have decided to pursue a writing career. My blog is and will remain a continued communication tool, in order to be able to keep in touch with all of you…..my gardening friends. 

I have been thinking about writing professionally for about two years. Today I visited the library to find a few books about how to start a career in writing. I will be doing some studying and some writing. I’m not sure where I’m going exactly…but it is all about getting started. Will it be a novel, or a series of short stories, a devotional, poetry or a collection of daily spiritual reflections. I do not know that yet. But “beginning” is where I will start. Creating characters possibly, making characters come to life, inventing a story and a writers style all come in to play. Being a writer will require some solitude, research, writing and rewriting and using the inner resources of my mind to gather all the material I’ve stored in my brain for these last fourteen years while I was blogging. My inner urge to write comes from my creator. I am no accident and neither is my inner urge to write. It’s all part of His plan for me. My best self so to speak. Diving deep into my mind to explore so many things I have learned about my life, my previous careers and just simply about learning. Life long learners are interesting folk. We have lived and grown and shared. This new adventure is a place I’ve not been before. But it’s been planted as a seed in my heart and so I will begin…..and I bring with me, for support and encouragement, my best friend, and the love of my earthly life and my soul mate. [JB/MP]

Tonight I’ve brought four books home with me from the Duncan Library in Delray. All very different. Each focusing on writing……and so now, for a week or so…. I will become a student of others research about writing. I will share with you as I go along in this new and scary, but exciting writing journey.

“Contessa”

Do You Stand Out and Stand Up

20 Sunday Nov 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Evening Prayer, Faith, HOPE, LOVE, Scripture, Sharing, The Sabbath, Today's Update, Tonight’s Thought

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Sunday

Nov 20

Philippians 2:13

“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” 

▶︎ LISTEN TO THE DEVOTIONAL
If you and I were jerked out of the world, would we leave a noticeable hole? Would anything be missing from the world that would stand for God in Christ or His righteousness? God did not create us to merely exist. He wants to make a difference in this world through your life and mine.

You see, God made us to stand out and to stand up for Him, and He equips us with everything we need to do just that. So take time to thank God for the work He is doing in you and look for ways you can work for His good pleasure by being a blessing to others.

Prayer…..Sunday Evening 

My Lord…. Teach me  I wish to be a blessing to others. I do this in one way, and that’s working in my folks gardens. I take my iPhone and my speaker with me to my client job sites. I find my favorite music soundtrack and I listen to what I refer to as “your music.” Your music is prayer, it is spiritual, it is worship, it is my time with you. Most often my clients will come out to “catch up” with me as I tend their gardens. When they are chatting with me they sometimes ask me about my beautiful music. I know it stands out. They hear it. It is intentional in some ways, and yet it’s really your music that keeps  me steadfast, grounded and faithful and close to you. I am then Faithful to my tasks for my clients.  Sometimes they acknowledge my music. Sometimes they do not. It’s fine. You are with me, you are in me and so together we are opening doors, we are opening hearts and we are building and nurturing souls one client at a time. You are making a difference in me and them, through your life and mine together in my gardens. Yes Lord….we are nurturing souls.

Thank you Lord for your songs. Amen……

Gallery

Autumn happenings…..

20 Sunday Nov 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Art, Birds, Blooms, Reflections, Sharing, Today's Update, Tonight’s Thought

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This gallery contains 24 photos.

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