Our Christmas Table

The new addition to the table this year is the green, blue and red plaid tablecloth found at the Christmas Tree Shop (called And That!). It makes a different look on the table this year.


Also new are the reindeer sparkling with glitter.

The plates are Fitz and Floyd and the silverware I found at a gift shop several years ago.

I use this centerpiece from Jan Williams almost all year round.

And on the backs of the chairs are crystal wreaths.


I wish you all could hop through the computer and come and visit.

Oh, little Christmas tree

I haven’t put up a large tree since 2006 when the addition was put on. This small tree in an urn sits on the table in front of the window and I like it just as well.

There are just a few snowflakes and white decorations but this year I added Sadie’s personal ornament.
It says on the back…”Let the dog in.  Let the dog out.  Pet the dog.  Get unconditional love forever.”
I still love mercury glass this year and have touches of it about the room and on the tree.
The paperwhites (faux) in the mercury glass bowls sit on each side of the tree.


I love to look at this table at night when the fairy lights are shining.

A philosophy of life

 

Do you have a philosophy of life that guides you? Do you notice that there are some people who are just naturally happy and full of life while others grumble and blame the world for their troubles?

Life is a learning game. Some people learn the rules sooner than others. Age has a way of making you smarter at learning life's lessons. There are things I know now that I wish I would have know a lot earlier in my life. I wouldn't have fussed so much when things didn't go my way. And there are so many things that wouldn't have bothered me. And I would have not taken life so seriously. And I would have realized that things would pass. And I would have know how to separate the trivial from those important things.

But even though it took me longer to get here than some the great thing is that I can appreciate every moment, every day.

My philosophy now.....be peaceful, be happy and keep learning.

 

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Getting things done

 

The snow is over, the roads are clear, and I think I'm finally back to normal. All week I've had a sore throat with a few sniffles. It was probably just a result of running around in Virginia.

And the living room is back to normal too. The curtains are all back in place. We needed a new bracket but you must realize that we live in a small town with not too many resources. After checking Walmart, two hardware stores, and the Internet Don decided to take a ride to the nearest town to check out JC Penney's. There is a small drapery department there but he didn't have any luck. Not wanting to wait for an online order to come in he fixed it himself. Over the years he has been Mr. fixit around the house doing all the plumbing, electrical work, digging, landscaping, ...there is no end to his talents.

I finished wrapping some presents. And of course I thought I was smart by buying some jewelery early and now I can't find it. Does that ever happen to you? One year I bought some chimes in the summer and never found them in the hall closet until the next spring.

A little video of our Thursday evening snowstorm.

 

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This is what it is like to live in the north

You buy your tickets months ahead of time. You look forward to going to a Christmas concert. The Empire Brass was coming to town for a Great performance. Then it snows...and snows...and snows. It gets deeper and deeper and the roads get slippery. The idea of going out quickly becomes the idea of staying home and staying safe.

So often in the north we need to look at the weather before we plan anything. Having a summer cookout? Check the weather first.

Going for a boat ride? Check it out.

Planning an outdoor wedding? You fool.

Going on a trip...watch the weather first to make sure you won't be driving through a storm.

In the summer there is rain and in the winter icy roads that hamper your travel.

So I stayed home last night . I'll get my Christmas spirit watching tv specials this year.

This morning I went out to meet the Coffee Girls. Since I don't have my car back yet this is what I faced.

 

 

So I grabbed a broom and a nice scraper and cleaned off the truck.

The snow was rather deep but I had on my higher boots. In the south do they have an assortment of boots?

Soon I was on my way. The roads had been plowed but there was still packed snow and slippery places on the way. When I returned our snow guy had plowed again and the driveway was clear.

The rest of the day I will stay in and finish wrapping some presents. I hope I don't have as much trouble as Disney's Donald.

 

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The season of giving

You can find gifts in the most unexpected places. Today this youtube video blew me away. What a different and awesome rendition of Silent Night by Elevation 120. We woke up this morning to everything covered with snow. So peaceful. It was a perfect silent night. Excuse the fact that we haven't fixed the curtains yet. That will happen today.

Please enjoy and just relax. My gift to you.

 

 

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a little advice from Maxine

Everyone needs a sense of humor.  How else could you survive life? I envy those folks who have a laugh for every situation and they get through life just grinning and laughing and making a tragedy a funny story. 
    
   Maxine is one of those cartoon characters who just makes you laugh so I’ll leave you today with some Christmas cartoons from our favorite grump.

When it rains it pours

You know how it is. Everything I going along well when....whammy! It started with a light coming on in the dash of my car. Don took it to Auto Zone where they put it on the computer and said it was the alternator. Before Don could get it home it quit on him. Luckily he was in the Arby's parking lot. He had to have it towed to our local garage where they confirmed it. Drats! That's not a good Christmas present. It's one of those pricey parts.

Since I always look on the bright side of things I was glad that I hadn't taken the car to Virginia. How bad would it have been for that to happen somewhere on the road halfway to Virginia?

So I accepted it. Then I was sitting in the sunroom, heard a sound and looked at the living room windows and the whole window treatment including the sheers and valance just fell down off the wall! What the heck? One of the supports had pulled out of the wall. So that is another thing to have to deal with. Wow! What a day!

And it started out so well. We signed the contract with our contractor and he will start the remodeling of the kitchen the first week in January. So exciting! The cabinets are ordered. Now we need to pick out the granite.

So this has been a crazy day...and I didn't even have time to unpack my suitcase.

 

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Giveaways

Do you particate in giveaways? Some bloggers are very generous and from time to time offer some items for raffle. I have won twice. Once I received a wonderful silver starfish necklace with black cord. Another time I got some small clothes pins with French writing, a cup, and some linens. It is fun to think that something might be coming your way.

Kathe with an e has joined 21 other bloggers to host a huge giveaway. Some of the items are only offered in Canada but most are for the US too.

To enter Kathe's giveaway you need to post on your blog about the best Christmas gift you have ever received. Mine has to be the year my boyfriend, now hubby, surprised me with an engagement ring. It was the Christmas when I was a senior in college. He had already asked my father for my hand...do guys do that anymore? And he secretly showed it to everyone we visited Christmas Eve. He waited till we were alone and got down on his knees. I was shocked and so blissfully happy. In January we will be married for 49 years.

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Mr. And Mrs Fox

Aren't these the cutest salt and pepper shakers? And they look so good with Linda's new plaid dishes from Williams Sonoma and her plaid tablecloth from All That..the Christmas tree shoppe.

Our family has a special connection to foxes. My mother' side of the family are Todds who originated in Scotland. Todd was originally Todhunter or hunters of the fox. Our family crest has foxes on it. Recently I made a family history book for the members of my family. I think it is important to know where you came from. I was lucky to have some research done by a family member. I will share this with you later.

 

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Steven Hawking

Before today I knew two things about Steven Hawking...he was a brilliant scientist and he was in a wheelchair and couldn't speak. But after seeing a biographical movie...The Theory of Everything...I have a deep respect for him.

 

1. In the 1960s, Cambridge University student and future physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) falls in love with fellow collegian Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). At 21, Hawking learns that he has motor neuron disease. Despite this -- and with Jane at his side -- he begins an ambitious study of time, of which he has very little left, according to his doctor. He and Jane defy terrible odds and break new ground in the fields of medicine and science, achieving more than either could hope to imagine.

   This was an excellent movie. I highly recommend it.

 

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Where is Aunt Dorothy when you need her?

How am I going to fit all this in the car???

I am used to having my big Town and Country van but this trip my friend Linda rented a car. I thought I didn't buy much but when it's all together it seems like a lot. Some of it was Goodwill shopping...a brown case for oil paints, some hats for the kids dress up box. Some shopping at All That...a plaid tablecloth. Nothing big. But don't forget I have some big black bags full of greenery that I have to manage to fit in the car too. Oh my!

I had an aunt who was an expert packer. She would finagle all the boxes and bags and could fill every space. Boy do I need her now!

 

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Jan Williams

 

This is Jan Williams home/flora/gift shop in the summertime. I wish you could see it now all decked for the holidays with wreaths, garlands, and angels on the roof. It is a must stop for us every time I visit my sister.

Each year Jan donates her time and materials to raise money for the local James Monroe Museum by creating floral arrangements at Mary Washington college. The program is called. deck the Halls. After. Some sweets and tea we anxiously awaited Jan's creativity and she did not disappoint. She decorated some centerpieces, a huge boxwood wreath, some sparkling silver stockings and some small baskets. Afterwards they raffled off all the decorations. One year I won a boxwood wreath but this year we didn't have such luck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the fresh greenery was collected at the college and afterwards they put out large black garbage bags full of holly, magnolia, nandina, and pine for people to help themselves. This year not so many people took things home so we were rewarded with tons of fresh. Ate rials to make live arrangements with.

After a nice lunch at Ilene's Bakery we journeyed home to rest a spell before heading out to the museum. They had an open house with harp and piano music with hot cider and cookies.

Now we are in our Jammies and settled down for a quiet evening.

 

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