A Hen Party...

I was going to call it a 'soiree' but when I looked it up in the dictionary I found that meant an evening gathering. Then I found "Hen Party"~circa 1885 and it means 'a party for women only'. I got a giggle out of that! :-)

Yesterday at noon, I hosted a Hen Party! ;-) Thinking, because it's after Christmas and all the hub-bub and busyness has died down, it'd be a perfect time to invite some gal pals over.

I snapped a few pics before everyone arrived, then totally forgot to take any pictures after that! Oh well.

I made Poppyseed Cake, Cucumber Sandwiches, Tortilla Pinwheels, and Chicken Salad Sandwhiches..several ladies brought goodies to share, too.

Courtney made to-die-for Shortbread Tartletts!! Soooo good! She's the resident baker in our family.

Coffee and two types of tea for refreshment..

Everything was served on snack-sets..remember them from the 50's? I have several sets of them and they come in so handy..the cup fits on the plate with the food and the ladies were free to sit where ever they wanted in the house..including the dining table.

I had candles lit everywhere...the flickering light was so pretty!

About 20 ladies showed up and we all had a lovely, relaxing time. I think I may be on to something..hosting Hen Party the week after Christmas every year!

I think Steve and I will ring in the New Year quietly tonight..I'm fighting a cold and getting cozy by the fire sounds like heaven to me!

Hope you all have a Happy New Year!

Tablescape Thursday~Men's Ministry Dinner

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday, where our hostess, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, is hosting her
70th Tablescape!! (You can click on any picture for a larger view)...

My husband, Steve, is one of five guys that serve on the Men's Ministry team at our church. We invited the men and their wives over for a Christmas gathering a little over a week ago. I wanted to honor the men by making the table a little more 'masculine'. ;-)  I used my Dad's Birthday for my inspiration.

I had made napkin rings out of my dad's vintage ties and used them again here. Plus old cabinet cards underneath the forks marking where the woman and men would sit.

I have a collection of old Bibles, devotional books, and hymnals, as well as old scripture cards that I strewn across the center of the table..

The centerpiece was a silver tray holding glittered reindeer (that I purchased 80% off last year!), an angel display under a cloche, and greenery with silk roses tucked in here and there, finished off with gold beaded garland.

My handpainted goblets of pinecones and berries fit right in!

The guys got a kick out of Steve's place setting with the picture of an old bearded man under his fork!

We had a fun time..and I was tickled to be able to give a nod to the men in this tablescape!

Be sure to visit Between Naps on the Porch for other beautiful tablescapes!

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And I pray you have a most wonderful, joyous Christmas as we celebrate our Savior's Birth!

Meeting Lindy...our first grandchild. Sigh.

Lindy...two weeks old. Resting on the blanket that her Auntie Courtney crocheted for her.

Proud (and thrilled)  Grandpa!! (and the pink beanie Courtney made too!)

Feasting our eyes on this precious bundle!!

Mommy and Daddy are still in awe!

This is what I did all day Thursday. ;-)

Nestled on Daddy's shoulder.

Can't get enough of that sweet baby smell!!

Lindy only has eyes for her mama!!

Made German pancakes for  breakfast..just like my mom used to do!

oh- so- proud grandparents!!

A sweet little family!

These next few pictures are of Zac swaddling Lindy~ he acted like he's been doing it all his life..I am amazed at how natural Zac took to fatherhood! Just like his dad. :-)

"Thanks, Daddy! I feel so cozy and safe now!"

Here is Lindy's room:

Amy made the cornice board over the window..

I love her bedding!

The grouping above her crib. We got the 'L' for her..

When Zac was born my mom embroidered this sampler for him. I gave it to Zac and Amy when they announced they were expecting Lindy. Amy changed out the frame from brown wood to pink and it fits in Lindy's room great! I love that they have a little 'heirloom' of my mom's!!

Amy's Birthday was Dec 13, and this was one of the gifts we gave her..I'd printed out pictures she had emailed me and framed them. The pregnancy pic, leaving the hospital, and Lindy newborn.

Thanks for sharing in our joy of becoming new grandparents! We're already planning a trip back down in February!

My Fifteen Minutes of Fame

So the article about our house came out in the Sacramento Bee last Saturday..

I made the front page!! Tee-Hee..must've been a slow news day..

and two pages inside!!

You can read the article and view the slide show here http://www.sacbee.com/165/story/2406827.html

I want to clarify a couple of things..the reporter was very nice and I appreciated most of the article, but clearly her perception differs from mine in a few things. When she wrote about me being home with three kids and to fight boredom, I started decorating. As if being a full time mom was boring. For me, boredom isn't even in my vocabulary! I don't think I've ever been 'bored' in my adult life! And later in the article she wrote that I began blogging out of boredom. NOPE! I told her I started it out of LONELINESS! My very first blog I found was Debra at As I See It Now ~we became long distance friends and she encouraged me to start my blog. I don't know why it bothers me so much, but it does and I am grateful that I can get that off my chest here! Oh yeah, and it doesn't take "months of preparation" to get ready for Christmas..it's more like a week or so..

So besides that, it was fun to be featured and I think the photographer did a beautiful job!

We just got back from Southern California and meeting our beautiful, adorable, two week old grand-daughter..pictures to follow. Warning: I'll probably become one of those obnoxious grandmothers, so please bear with me as I navigate my way back to earth...I am over the moon in love with her!! ;-D