Blues, Awards and New Rug in the Foyer

It's Monday and again, I have been busy taking pictures so I can join both Blue Monday and Met. Monday, which I enjoy. Thanks to both Sal at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ and Susan at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for sponsoring these fun events! Please be sure you visit their blogs and then visit all the other participants. I know you will really enjoy them.

Last Saturday, I took you to Our Blessed Virgin Mary's home near Ephesus. I

have made a little home for her in our house too, which I would like to share with you now. This is in a short hall connecting the family room and the kitchen. We have a little niche which I thought would be perfect for her home and for Baby Jesus and my collection of Saints.Isn't she beautiful? Please click to enlarge so you can see her amiable face.
Right across her little home is a wall where I hung a picture of our Lady of Fatima with the 3 children, Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia who witnessed the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Cova da Aria while tending to their sheep.
We bought this in Fatima, Portugal. Would you like to go there one of these Saturdays? The picture is made out of 6 tiles and we had it framed here.

There's Baby Jesus! Do you see the saint who is laying on one side at Jesus' left side? That is Saint Cecilia, the patron Saint of musicians. She was beheaded and was buried in the catacombs.

Isn't Baby Jesus handsome? I bought Him from a flea market in Barcelona, Spain. He is not exactly blue but we make Him feel blue when we are being bad.

Here you will see exactly where the niche is.

Let's take a little break before I show you my Met. Mon. post.

First, I would like to thank Shelia of http://notesongs.blogspot.com/ for presenting me this wonderful Best Blog Thinker award. I just received this award from Marty of http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ a few days ago and posted the rules on my Holy Cottage in the Mountain post so please refer to that for the rules.

Another award? I cannot believe how wonderful my friends are at Blogland. These are just too much awards for me. I don't think I really deserve them. This Sisterhood award was presented to me by Laura at http://tomariescabin.blogspot.com/ and Susan of http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/. Ann of http://ann-jamesaskletonyahoocom.blogspot.com/ presented me this award also a few days ago and just like the Best Blog Thinker award, I posted the rules on my Holy Cottage on the Mountain post. Please refer to that also. Please visit all these wonderful ladies. They are what makes blogland a lot of fun!

Now, it's time to show you my Met Monday post.

This is the "before" picture of our foyer.

and "after" Can you spot the difference?

Before

and after

Before

and after. If you noticed, I replaced the mirror with a rectangular one. It is framed in black slate so even if the oval mirror matches the chest, I think the slate in the rectangular mirror goes well with the black slate floor.

Here is a close up of what's on top of the chest now.

Before

and after.

I still have the same frame, the same vase with Bird of Paradise flowers but I replaced the bamboo stool with a marble top pedestal with a small Buddha fountain on it.

Here's a close up of the fountain. I think it gives the space a relaxing atmosphere.

A view from the formal dining room.a little closer

the view from the formal living room.

This is a really cheap picture I bought from K Mart a long time ago. I just love what it says.

A cherub and a live plant on the right as you enter the front door .

I hope you enjoyed the changes of the foyer. I really like the round rug with scalloped edges. I thought it matched the chest perfectly. Best of all, we got it for free yesterday! We stumbled into a rug store that is closing and everything was sold at 75% off. We bought 4 larger hand knotted Persian wool rugs and I negotiated with the seller to give me this for free. And he did! It never hurts to ask, isn't it?

Now, I am off to see the other posts. Hope to see you all there.

Thanks Sal and Susan, for sponsoring Blue and Met Monday.