Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Peppermint Treats

We had such a fun day here. I started to try and photograph the making of these fun treats but didn't get very far.
We had too much fun so I didn't get a chance to take many pictures. Hope you all had a good day.


Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Peppermint Table Setting Inspired by Eddie Ross

I really need to get some sleep but I wanted to share this with you first. The other day I saw the post that Eddie Ross did about table settings. He did one with a peppermint theme that I thought would work with what I had on hand, or I mean with what I could drag out of Mom's attic, out of my own storage spaces and from the shelves of TJmax.
Here is what Dana & I came up with this afternoon between two children's Christmas programs where I, of course, forgot to bring my camera........nice job grandma, take pictures of your table for your girlfriends party but not of your grand children's Christmas programs. Not to worry, the parents took plenty of pictures.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little Eddied Ross inspired table setting.

Tomorrow I'm making a cute little dessert using little candy cane shot glasses that I had hesitated to buy on line when I was looking for them and found out they were about $8 each, but when I found them at Target in the $1 bin I decided to give them a go. When I start making them tomorrow I'll show you how they turn out.


Well, better go wash my face and think about getting some sleep. If you click on Eddie's name you can see his really pretty table settings.

Good night,
Sue
*******EDIT********
So sorry for the bad Eddie Ross link! His site is in my sidebar if you want to check out his site.




Monday, December 15, 2008

Christmas Fresh

Rhoda over at Southern Hospitality is having a party too. She has gorgeous fresh decorations adorning her lovely home this year.
So, instead of cleaning this morning I thought it would be a safe time to go out in the yard and clip a few fresh boughs to bring in and join her party.

Here's a view from the stairs that was supposed to be at the top.


Some fresh holly branches from the bushes out front and arranged casually in this ice skates planter that I picked up early this morning a the new Christmas Tree store down the street that just opened last Friday. Very cute things for very little $.



The fresh arrangement that I picked up at Costco to take up north with me to decorate the peppermint table that I'm doing for my ladies dinner on Wednesday night.




Holly over the sink.
Merry Christmas y'all.






~Welcome~

Welcome to our house!
It is still a little dark here this morning as I head into the kitchen for a cup of coffee to get things rolling. Can I pour you a cup?

Santa and his elf's are busy packing up toys for all the good little girls and boys.


We have his plate ready to leave him cookies on his busy night.



Ah, there are the coffee cups. Help yourself to a cookie from the cookie jar to tide you over while touring all the lovely homes today during all the parties going on in blog land.




The nutcrackers here in the dining room are at your service.





A few festive dish towels to clean up any spills.






Shall we sit by the Christmas tree?








I'll turn on the fake fire to keep you cozy.







There, that's better.









Well, thanks for coming by. I better head upstairs and start my Monday morning Flying.
Thank you Julia for having the tour of homes. I hope to get around to visiting all your participants soon. Why don't your head over to Julia's at Hooked on Houses and join in the fun.
Merry Christmas everyone if I don't talk to you before the big day.
























Sunday, December 14, 2008

~ Thank You Brooke ~

The lovely Brooke Giannetti from the beautiful blog Velvet & Linen just e-mailed me.
She e-mailed to inform me that I am one of the winners of her 100th post anniversary.

How lucky am I to win one of these precious charms by Cathy Penton? Brooke's blog is just gorgeous and she is such a sweetheart. Be sure to visit her if you get a minute.

Thank you Brooke!

Hugs,
Sue




Thursday, December 11, 2008

Home Again

Yesterdays trip home from up north was a bit nerve wracking but once I got on I-75 the pavement was dry so it didn't take long from there. On the way home John informed me that the appraiser was going to be at our house at 2:00! Most of you know that we live in the Detroit area so you know what that means.......falling home prices by the day. I won't make any political comments about that other than to say that we are not involved with the auto industry.
Any way, you know how your house looks when you leave for a day. Well, after being gone for a good part of the week and coming home the house probably isn't ready for an inspection. Mine sure isn't any way. John does a good job of keeping things picked up but the dirt, laundry and clutter sure has a way of piling up and that awful carpet in the great room and through out the rest of the house doesn't stand a chance of staying clean.

I got home an hour before the appraiser arrived and did the best I could to put things in order so we will see how it turns out.

It was so fun spending time with family and friends up north but it is also so nice to come home again and get things fluffed up and fresh for my sweetie who is so good about fending for himself so that I can be away for a few days at a time. We spent the evening curled up by the fire leaving the cares of the world on our door step if even for a moment.

Blessings to all, and especially to those who are involved in the auto industry.




Tuesday, December 09, 2008

~ No School Today ~

We have about 5" of snow now and are expecting it to keep snowing until 1 am
Wednesday morning.
We are having fun playing inside and out.


Monday, December 08, 2008

~ Random Christmas Love ~

On a snowy winter night in the middle of Michigan

Dana & my favorite son-in-law before the Christmas party.

Aaron and Riley, the only two members of their family that were not sick.


Mom & Dad








A tiny tree






Kyle & Carrie





The littles.







These were the entertainment today.








I hope the warmth of love is filling your heart and home this snowy winter night.










Hugs,
Sue










Friday, December 05, 2008

Time To Clean Up

The house is pretty well done. Now it is time to try and pull myself together and get ready for the big family picture tomorrow. We haven't had one taken in 20 years or so. Hum.....a lot of pressure to get fluffed up for a picture that will probably be around for another 20 years.
Maybe I shouldn't have eaten all those Christmas cookies.

Have a good weekend. I'll be back Monday.

Hugs,
Sue


Thursday, December 04, 2008

A Little More Christmas

I was nervous when I started the decorating because I couldn't find my manger scene but lo and behold it turned up last night. It is wearing a bit thin on top but that only serves to remind me of when the kids were little and they liked to play with it.

John put the tree up last night and strung all the lights for us while I was out running errands. I called him before I came home to see if he needed anything. He sounded a bit sheepish so I asked him if something was wrong and told him I was on my way home. There was a pause.... and then he said I broke something. Well, what broke was the garland on the mantle. The whole thing crashed to the hard marble hearth and shattered about 15 of the bulbs. What a pain. Bless his heart, I know better to leave when he starts a project ~


Any way, I found a few Christmas towels at Marshall's. Nancy ~ at Southern Lady has several darlin' towels in her kitchen so I borrowed her idea. Click on her name to see her gorgeous decorations. Hers are much cuter, but these are a big improvement over my old tattered ones that these replace. If I get a minute I'll add some ribbon to them to spruce them up.



I really had to dig through the place mats and napkins at Marshall's but it payed off because I found these Ralph Lauren placemats and napkins to match. The napkins are on the ends of the table sitting on solid red mats.




Here's Santa looking up at me while I untangle ornament hooks.





Some of my favorite ornaments.























Well, I better go put away the boxes and move on to the next project.
Have a great day sweetie's
Hugs,
Sue