Christmas Inspiration and an Award

Well today, Zeb and I went Christmas shopping and marked just about everything off the list! I've never had this much done before Thanksgiving before. I'm hoping that since I have this taken care of, I can just relax and enjoy spending time with family and friends in the month of December.

I was looking on the Better Homes and Gardens website this evening, and found some great Christmas inspiration photos and thought I'd share them with you.
A cute kissing ball...wouldn't this be sweet to hang in a doorway?

I thought this wall tree was super cute. It would be perfect if you had limited space and couldn't put up a big tree.

These snowman nametags are just adorable. They'd make nice ornaments too!

Now he's my favorite! I know he'd be perfect outside to give the perfect holiday look!

Finally, I'm honored to receive an award! I received the Sassy Southern Blog Award from the blog Sweet Tea and Biscuits. Thanks so much! Go and visit all of her southern sassiness. I'm supposed to pass this on, but everyone has such wonderful posts, so it's yours for the taking! If you'd like to receive this award...be my guest.

Tablescape Thursday: Thanksgiving Blessings

It's Thursday, so that means Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, hosted by the gracious Susan. I never pass up an opportunity to play with dishes!
I've set my dining room table for a Thanksgiving feast.

I decided to use various patterns of brown transferware plates for each setting. A gold tablecloth and Thanksgiving toile placemats make a great backdrop. I also added a beautiful fall garland, pumpkins, pilgrims, and turkeys for a festive Thanksgiving table.

A few Thanksgiving touches here and there...

Mrs. Pilgrim

and Mr. Pilgrim, too!

Don't forget Tom, Tom the Turkey that is!

A cute little Pilgrim boy with his turkey friend

A cute pair of turkey salt and pepper shakers were a steal last year after Thanksgiving at Hobby Lobby for only $1.10!

Have you counted your blessings?

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Thanksgiving and Tablescape Thursday to you!

Sharing Thanksgiving and a Tease

I'm joining Debra from the Bunny's Bungalow for Sharing Thanksgiving. We all too often skip right over Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas, but it's nice to reflect on all the blessings we have in life that are all-too-often taken for granted. So let's gather together and share Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is always such a busy time of year because there are so many gatherings to go to all on the same day. Between my husband's family and my family, we go to four different Thanksgiving celebrations. Three of those are on Thanksgiving Day and the other one is on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Although, it's always wonderful to gather with family and have a delicious meal, my favorite gathering is the one at my parents' house. After my sister and I got married, Mother wanted to start having a Thanksgiving meal for just our immediate family and our spouses, but after eating three other meals of turkey and dressing, we really didn't want any more of that type of food. She started cooking a big breakfast on Thanksgiving morning, which we all look forward to. She makes a huge spread of homemade biscuits, bacon, sausage, country ham, gravy, fruit, and my all-time favorite...Chocolate Gravy!

I made some biscuits and chocolate gravy for supper tonight, and I thought I'd snap a picture of what it's "almost" like on Thanksgiving morning. It's definitely not the same as Mother's (nothing ever is), but here's my version of Thanksgiving Breakfast.

Biscuits

2 c. self-rising flour

1/4 c. shortening

3/4 c. buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk, just use sweet milk and a dash of lemon juice or white vinegar)

Cut flour and shortening together until it resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in buttermilk. Knead on floured surface and roll to 1/2". Cut out and bake 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Split and butter while hot.

Chocolate Gravy

1 c. sugar

4 Tbsp. cocoa

1 c. milk

1 stick butter

Mix sugar and cocoa together in skillet. Pour in milk. Cook until boiling. Reduce heat to medium and add butter. Stir constantly until thickened. Serve over hot buttered biscuits.

Give these recipes a try. You won't be disappointed!

I'm also giving you a tease or a sneak peek of my Thanksgiving table. Be sure to come back on Thursday for Tablescape Thursday to view my Thanksgiving table.

Be sure to visit Debra and everyone else during "Sharing Thanksgiving." May you and your family be blessed with a Thanksgiving filled with good food, happiness, health, and love!

Tablescape Thursday: Tablescape Recollections

I'm joining Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to visit her blog and check out all of the beautiful tablescapes. It's always filled with such wonderful inspiration and eye candy! I'm kind of at a stand still right now in designing tables. I guess I have "tablescape block" just as an author would have "writer's block." So today, I've decided to show six of my past tablescapes. These are some of my favorites. Be sure to come back next Thursday for a brand new tablescape, all decked out and set for Thanksgiving!If you like red transferware, then this table might be for you! This is the table I posted on my very first Tablescape Thursday back in the early summer.

Next, we have a table perfect for any hot summer day. Watermelon is a great summertime treat that's bound to cool you down and bring a big, sweet, syrupy smile to your face.

Then, I've set a table for a garden party in shades of blue and yellow. This is one of my favorite color combinations.

One of my all-time favorite tables was the one I set for the 4th of July. I just walked around my home searching for red, white, or blue items. When paired all together, I thought it turned out great.

Once again, I've used that famous color combo of yellow and blue. The hydrangeas came from a neighbor's bush. Aren't they beautiful? I've used more transferware here, but this time it's blue. Do you see the little bunny peeking around too?

Finally, is one of my more recent tablescapes. I set my dining room table like this for part of September and October. The pumpkins and leaves are terrific for fall, and I think the candles add the perfect ambiance.

Thanks so much for joining me today as I recollect some of my favorite past tables. Which one is your favorite? Don't forget to come back next Thursday for a Thanksgiving Tablescape. Also, I'm participating in "Sharing Thanksgiving" over at the Bunnies' Bungalow on November 17. Thank you for visiting and happy Tablescape Thursday to you!

Veterans Day

Thank You

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things"

Today, I thought I'd share a few of my "favorite things" in my home.

FAVORITE THING #1. USING PLATES AS WALL ART A grouping of plates above a bunny picture and candles on my kitchen wall.

More plates in the kitchen

and again

Plates are perfect for filling in the space above a doorway or closet.

More plates surrounding a picture

Plates add height above the vanity mirror in my bathroom

A few plates in my bedroom

Plates surround a hutch in the dining room

FAVORITE THING #2 TOILE

The cute red toile bowls from the new Country Living Section at K-Mart (I just had to have them, can you blame me?)

Cranberry toile curtains in the dining room (a super deal from JC Penney Outlet)

More toile curtains, this time in the kitchen. Blue and white are perfect against yellow walls.

A toile tea pot and cup and saucer

FAVORITE THING #3-NEEDLEPOINT

This beautiful needlepoint chair was a gift from my in-laws. It came from an antique store in Huntsville.

A beautiful framed needlepoint. Would you believe I was able to get this for only $1 at a local antique store!

This cute stool was a Christmas gift from my sweet daddy.

Finally, this needlepoint hummingbird pillow sits beautifully on my bed.

So, these are a few of my favorite things. What are some of your favorite things? Please share them with us!

Tablescape Thursday: Jewelry Party Entertaining

It's Tablescape Thursday, so you know I'm playing with my dishes! Thanks to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for being such a gracious hostess.
On Monday night, I hosted a Premier Design Jewelry Party. If you've never heard of this collection, I highly suggest you check it out. They have beautiful and affordable pieces and a wonderful hostess package! I was able to get nearly $400 of FREE jewelry! I just can't wait for that package to arrive on my doorsteps. I'll be sure to post pictures of all the great jewelry when it arrives.

Now, on to Tablescaping...what kind of hostess would I be if I didn't offer something to munch on? I set the island in my kitchen with all kinds of goodies and snapped a few pictures before the party began. (Click to enlarge any pictures) I've bunched up a fabric remnant of blue toile and used my Currier and Ives dishes for serving pieces. I've placed various boxes, bowls, and cake stands beneath the fabric to create different levels. Next, I added a tall wrought iron candle stand with blue candles and a few little birdie tealight holders (from the Dollar Tree).

So, what did I serve? Veggies and dip, a delicious Cheese and Strawberry Ring, Tortilla Roll-Ups, Pigs in a Blanket, Apples and Caramel, Ham and Cheese Appetizer, Hershey Bar Brownies, Lemon Cake, and Bayou Brownies. To drink, I had sweet tea (of course!), different cokes (in the south we call all sodas "coke"), water, coffee, and hot spiced cider. I had a wonderful turnout! Thanks to all the lovely ladies who came. I hope you enjoyed the party. I know I certainly did!

Thank you for visiting and Happy Tablescape Thursday to you!