Sunday, November 29, 2009

Fiona and Twig Giveaway


Pop over to Fiona and Twig to congratulate Anne and enter her Giveaway celebrating her 100th post!!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Tablescape on Friday...


We are celebrating Thanksgiving with the extended family on Friday, so I snapped some pics Thursday night.
I was able to work on it today..while Steve watched football, then we went with our daughter and son to see "A Christmas Carol" in 3-D. It was an impressive movie, but wouldn't recomend small children to see it...
Anyway, on with the tablescape! ;-)

I got the teal candle holder at the thrift. I have been really attracted to teals and browns lately, and wanted to incorporated it into the Thanksgiving decor..


I started out with my everyday blue and white plates..but got vetoed out by Steve and Courtney. Then went to all white, but Steve thought that looked to stark. I pulled these out...(had bought 'em at a yard sale and never used them) and thought these looked JUST RIGHT! ;-)


I had so much fun working on the place cards~got Thanksgiving stamps at JoAnn's for 75% off and used one that reads "so thankful for you"..


Here's a close up of the placecard.



More shots of the table. The gorgeous table runner was a gift from Laura, and the pumkins are from the Dollar Store last year. Both candle sticks are from the thrift store..




The sweet little teal bird was 80% off at Beverly's Craft store last year~I got two of them not knowing what I'd do with them, but knew I'd use them somehow!
I've got a dear friend coming to visit me from Eureka, Ca. Well, she's doing more than just visiting...she's going to help me purge and organize this weekend. I am so excited for the help! While I'm doing that, Courtney's going to start decorating the family room for Christmas, and I'll start Christmas decor on Monday. Gonna be pretty busy the next several days!  I'm  sure most of you are madly putting away fall and bustin' open all the Christmas adornments! Hope you've got Christmas music blaring and apple cider mulling on the stove! ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, for love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~


Come, Thou fount of every blessing,



Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.


Streams of mercy never ceasing,


Call for songs of loudest praise.


Teach me some melodious sonnet,


Sung by flaming tongues above.


Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,


Mount of God's unchanging love.






Here I raise my Ebenezer;


Hither by Thy help I come.


And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,


Safely to arrive at home.


Jesus sought me when a stranger,


Wand'ring from the fold of God.


He to rescue me from danger,


Interposed His precious blood.






Oh, to grace how great a debtor,


Daily I'm constrained to be!


Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter,


Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee.


Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,


Prone to leave the God I love.


Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it,


Seal it for Thy courts above.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Metamorphosis Monday~Before and Afters


So I thought I'd show you before and after..from summer to fall! I think this qualifies as a Metamorphosis ;-)!
The above pic is the summer look...and below is the fall decor:


The candleholders are the same~just changed out to darker candles. The cloche is a little different..bought that cute angel from a friend's garage sale..


That neat victorian purse is from Laura..she found it at the thrift store! Isn't it beautiful?


Here's the summer look of my coffee (tea table)..and next is the winter look..

I put in and old tapestry under the glass..and made a little arrangement in a gilded container.


And here's the mantle...


and close up's of the goodies! ;-)


I love that picture of the sweet victorian kitties! A garage sale find..


My talented friend, Judy, painted the cherub holding the flowers...and I decoupaged the cherub plate years ago..

..and this sweet girl graces the end of the mantle.
I've been having such fun getting ready for Thanksgiving! We'll be celebrating on Friday so the whole family can attend. I'll share pics in a few days!
Be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more wonderful decor ideas!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

A Home Tour of My Folks' House


Hi there! I recently returned from a fun visit with my dad and his wife, Leilani. They now live in a beautiful retirement community called Covenant Village in Turlock, CA. Their house is so lovely I thought I'd share pics! The first few are of the living room..



And here is the dining room:


The hallway..


Several of the books on top of this secretary desk are my grandmother's diaries..my dad's 87 yrs old, so these diaries are~well, you do the math!! ;-)
Here is the guest bathroom..Leilani made the shower curtain:





The kitchen, tiny but functional!


and the guest room, where I stayed..the sofa pulls out to a bed:







It's even cute when the bed is pulled out!

Here are Dad and Leilani:

..and my dad and me!

I've been getting ready for company. We'll be having Thanksgiving dinner here on Friday, when everyone is off work and can make it. (My brother- in- law is a fireman, and his wife is a flight attendant~both working Thanksgiving day.) Hope you are all enjoying the festivities and fun that these holidays bring!!