Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Ho Ho Ho


Things are just about over. Here are 2 pictures of ornaments on the Prissy tree. Scott loves the birdcage and bird and I love the older striped one.













We had to change last night's dinner plan due to unexpected company and had the oyster/mushroom stew for lunch today and it was just perfect and so very filling.

This morning we had pancakes and then went to the barn to feed and I got to play with the babies. One totally adorable one soaked my shirt, not just wet it, but that tiny thing soaked me. Then we came in and opened our presents to each other. I got the last 2 Harry Potter movies I was missing and some fantastic cookies, my favorite Springerles. There was a lot more, things like balls for the bunns and cutting boards they can rest on. All good things. Scott got clothes for work, his favorite cookies (white chocolate macadamias nut), colognes galore and I think he really liked the little photo album I put together for his confirmation. Scott took a nap and I made lunch. Much later was a fast and so easy dinner and then I fell asleep. There are more people to see for Christmas 2009 but I consider it another successful Yule. And I hope yours was too.




Thursday, December 24, 2009

The day before Christmas

Twas the day before Christmas and all thru the house not a creature was stiring except for ME! I have a full day ahead of me. Below is a batch of soap I need to wrap, actually there are 36 more bars on the other side of the kitchen. Then I need to make Scott's favorite holiday dish, MY special cranberry sauce. Have to wrap presents today and later make tonights dinner - oyster/mushroom soup with a loaf of a thick crusted bread, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Lucky Scott, he gets to work.



Here is our last tree, the prissy one. It is covered with glass ornaments with gold, silver, and my fancier vintage ornaments. It truly is a lovely tree and my favorite each year. May you all have a Wonderful Christmas



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

2 more days




ALRIGHT! Only 2 days left and they are going by so fast. Here is a small collection of mine that I really enjoy. Well, DUH! Of Course there is a story behind my Gurley candles.






Grandma had some Gurley candles and I loved playing with them. When they down sized they disappeared, ALL except for 3 choir singers and I started replacing them maybe 10 years ago. She had some of the larger deer and the skating snowmen in a larger size and so far that is the only one I haven't been able to find.









































































































































Tuesday, December 22, 2009

3 more days

Wow, just 3 more days until Christmas morning. I am really looking forward to it. I hope your's is wonderful and full of great moments.


First this morning is our mantel. I really enjoy it as it gives me somewhere to hang sockings from. From the left is; Scott's with Buddy on it. Buddy was an orange Netherland Dwarf rabbit we used to have. He was the friendliest bunn ever. Then is mine with a white hen on it, no one I ever met. Peacer Kittie's you can't see - it's a massive purple velvet with white fur cuff and best be full. She loves the scent of moth balls. No joke, we had them in with all the ornaments, etc and she went wild with some that became her toys. Sadly the scent is gone and she doesn't like them anymore. Scott's and mine were made by Wonderful Fabric Artist in Canada (Hi Marilyn!)

Here is a closer view of mine, it shows how much work it took. LOVE IT

Ok, you knew there would be a story somewhere, didn't you? Here is is. WE made the topiaries ourselves and Scott swears he is not crafty at all. He fibs.


Here is the other side of the mantel.


This is Scott's tree and it is totally a Yule tree. Very natural ornaments with little birds and bird houses, fruit, and the like including an outhouse he stole from me. It really is a very nice tree. It started as all fruit and vegetables after I showed him a picture of a tree of Jeff Smith's with all fruit and vegetables and he was impressed. After a couple years he started adding the birds and things to go with it. I think he does an excellent job with it each year.






Monday, December 21, 2009

Solistis Dinner

No pictures from dinner, just a report on too much good food. We worked from the Italian 7 Fish dinner. Before dinner we put out a tray of crackers with smoked oysters, sardines, smoked fish spread, and a super spread of Crab, artichoke and spinach. A wonderful platter of boiled shrimp and cocktail sauce was presented also.

There was an excellent crusty bread, a simple salad of mixed greens with a very simple dressing (this might have been my favorite), Clam sauce with pasta, steamed mussels (wow), a great mix of seafood, tomato, and spinach in a very light cream sauce with pasta and a very good mussel, crab, and clam tomato "stew" that was Scott's favorite, and baked cod. There was just so much food and it was all great as was the company.

Later was coffee with apple pie and a wonderful vanilla ice cream. A nice lighter ending for such a great meal.

I am still stuffed.

Happy Solistis


HAPPY
SOLSTICE!
It's truly the season now, but does it have to be this cold? I am shivering








This is the guest bathroom and it is really toned down this year. Last year it was heavy in purple and blue ornaments with a fiber optic tree and since you asked, yes there is a story about it and SURE! I will gladly share it with you. Scott's mother, Marlene, used to live with us and finally she needed nursing home care. Her first Christmas there we got her an almost cute fiber optic tree of many colors and changing all the time. She kept it plugged in all the time and seemed to really enjoy it. When she passed we kept it and had it in the guest bath and it really worked. Last year it bit the dust. We weren't going to replace it until we saw this silver thing. Scott LOVED IT! And I had some small ornaments left from my Martha Stewart feather tree. I actually approve of it. The Santa was a gift, not the kind I would have picked, but I really like him.





Aww, the Rudolph ornament, Another story but a nice one. One of the few times Marlene and I got to talk with out her letting me know I was nothing to her we talked childhood ornament stories and she really remembered this one. I, ME, bought it on EBAY and got it for her. She never admitted it to me, BUT it turned out it really meant something to her (see? I am not really all that terrible).When she went to the Home we brought her deer with her. It now hangs on out Prissy tree and I love it.

Side notes - in the top picture is the bottom part of a goose painting my mother did and a gold mirror from the Smallest Little Whore House in Texas (REALLY!) and where I was conceived. No, mom didn't work there, my parents were married - to each other - and just a dumb little story I always told because it upset mom. It was a rental house that they had when based in Texas and the former renters left it. He was pimpin' the Mrs and after they moved there were many knocks on the door all night looking for the former renters. See? Totally innocent, like me.

That's it for today, maybe something after dinner.




Sunday, December 20, 2009

Just the little things




Today it is just some of the smaller parts of the season. First is a wicker sleigh filled with little gifts and delivered by a clown, fairy, elf and an angel That my grandmother gave me for Yule when I was 5 or 6. This year I added a snowman and a Santa to make deliveries easier on them.




I have 12 Nativity scenes, but this is the the one I hand chalked and I think it turned out fantastic, the colors are softer and so crisp. Other ones i have include both sets of grandparents and the one I was given when I was 12 and asked for one for Christmas.





Here is my very small tree collection. On the R is a cloth one made for me by a very creative friend. On the left is one I chalked of all child angels with musical instruments












Last year for Yule (or the year before) I received this tray, hand stained and very nicely lined and candle holders made by her husband. Neat, aren't they? I added the filler and isn't it simple, country rustic and attractive?



Yepp, there is a story to this Santa too. Tired of them yet? Several years ago (10 or more) Scott and i went to Michael's and he saw and fell in love with this Santa, so did I, but he passed on it because they wanted $80 for it. I went back the next day because I had a 25% off coupon and found out it was marked down 50% already AND I got him for less than $20. Outstanding! Scott isn't tired of him yet.


Here's a picture you might never see again - ME! I don't mind this one at all so, Here I am World! Hmm I look light haired and that I am not, no hair loss at all.

























Saturday, December 19, 2009

Let's try to finish the first room



This is a garland, lights and a few ornaments. The shelf holds old books, even older bottles.













Here is something I hold special and dear. It is a paper cutting of Santa and his reindeer. HAND CUT! I also, have the complete Nut Cracker hand cut also. Special person.













The Santa is handmade by an arist in Minnisota. It has the most pleasant face. The sliegh is my age and I am not sure if it was painted by Aunt from Norway or one of my grandmothers. And the quilt is by a wonderful friend in Canada who is an arist in fabric.













how do I delete a double picture?













an example of what is on the tree














When I was young I was an alter boy, yes me! We were called Chuch Mice. One of the church ladies made these for all of us. Love this one and ho;ds a valued place in my heart




And the tour begins

First on the tour is our "media room." It used to be our dining room but does better this way. This tree is 80% hand made ornaments and some vintage










This is the tree topper, every tree needs one , but doesn't have to be a star or an angel. Mine is 2 pointsettas made from milk weed pods. Very nice, yes? If we had milk weed I would have garlands full of these.

There are more pictures from this room but the puter keeps freezing on me, more later.











































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Happiest time of the Year

Here is our porch door. Each year a friend makes something for it and I think this year might be my favorite. It is simple and rustic with a touch of color. The bell is to our left of the door, so please ring it and come on in, I'd enjoy the company.