Buffet Decorated for Christmas

I am finally getting some pictures taken of my Christmas decor for this year.  Here is a look at the buffet all decked out for the holiday.

I decided since I have so many little Christmas trees to just display all of them on a silver platter on my buffet this year.

 

I made the one in the middle by just cutting some strips of sheet music, looping it in half, and them pinning the loops on to a Styrofoam tree shape.

It turned out pretty cute and it was so easy to do.

And I just love this little crystal sleigh I bought at the antique mall.

Well, that is all for now but there is a lot more to come.  See you soon!

Sharing with...

LaurieAnnas Farmhouse Friday

Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

At The Picket Fence Inspiration Friday

The Charm Of Home's Home Sweet Home

Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday

How Sweet The Sound's Pink Saturday

Tatertots and Jello Weekend-wrap-up-party

A Thoughtful Place Holiday Vignette

Brown Paper Packages

I just love getting packages in the mail, even if I ordered it for myself.  There is just something about getting a brown box delivered to your door.  It probably seems so special to me because it happens very rarely around here.

I have been traveling visiting family the past few days and am currently back home working on getting my Christmas decorations up.  Why does it always take longer than it should to get all these decorations up?  I am hoping to get it all done in the next couple of days so I can share them with all of you.  Oh, by the way, here is a sneak peek of what was in that brown box.

Hope all of you are having a relaxing Holiday weekend and have recovered from over eating on Thursday.  See you soon.

Playing In The Leaves

Meet the baby of the family, this is Oliver aka Ollie.  He is the sweetest little pug ever.  He was outside earlier this week and I just couldn't resist getting out my camera and snapping some pictures. 

Here he is striking a pose.

 Isn't this just the cutest face ever!?!

I hope all of you enjoy your long weekend and get a jump start on you Christmas shopping and/or decorating.  I know that is my plan.  I would get a lot more done if my sweet little puppy wouldn't distract me so much.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

A House Tour

My friend Jessica is beautiful inside and out so you know her home had to be beautiful as well.  I love walking into her home.  It is always so warm and inviting, so much so that I convinced her to share her lovely space with all of you.

I love the way she arranged these photos...

 and the lampshade and the curtains.... Gorgeous!!!!

I love all the white wood work in her home.  Of course it was not that way when she moved in.

And this little coffee station......Adorable!

One of my favorite parts of her home is the painted wood stairs.  This photo does not do them justice.

Her kitchen is adorable also.

I just love the words she has added here.

Thanks for stopping by and letting me take you on a tour of my friends home, and thank you Jessica for opening your home up to all of us.  Your home is truly beautiful!

Sharing with:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia's Tuesday's Treasures
Faded Charm Cottage's White Wednesday
Michele Raven Designs Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style's Wow-us-Wednesday
Common Ground's Vintage Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday
The Bramble Berry Cottage Time Travel Thursday
Laurie Annas Farmhouse Friday

Carmel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Pudding

I love bread pudding and have rarely come across a recipe I do not like but this one is fabulous.  It would be great to fix for Thanksgiving breakfast or Christmas morning or any time in between.

I made my bread pudding in a 9 x 13 pan but it would be neat to bake it in individual ramekins for a special added touch.  The orginal recipe also calls for pecans which I left out since my girls do not eat nuts.  I am hoping this is something they will grow out of.

Click here to get the recipe Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin-Bread-Pudding

ENJOY!!!!

I am joining Stone Gable for On The Menu Monday
Designs by Gollum's Foodie Friday
At The Picket Fence Inspiration Friday

Christmas Past

I usually put up my Christmas decorations the week of Thanksgiving and, Oh My Gosh, that is next week.  I was looking through some of my pictures from last year to get some inspiration and thought I would share a few of them with you.

Last year the whole bottom half of the lights on this tree decided to burn out so I am shopping around for a new tree this year.  Hopefully I will get one purchased this week.

I am planning on doing my mantel totally different this year.  I am thinking mercury glass.

You will have to come back for a visit when I get this years Christmas decorations up.  Thanks for stopping by.


I am joining these parties
Laurie Annas Farmhouse Christmas Inspiration
The Charm of Home's Home-Sweet-Home
Common Ground's Vintage Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday
2805's Potpourri Party
Stuff and Nonsense Fridays Unfolded
Romantic Home's Show-and-Tell-Friday 

Apple Bread

When it gets colder outside I find myself in the kitchen more and this last week I have been in the kitchen a lot.  One of the recipes I tried this week I had to share with you.  It is a recipe I found in a Mary Engelbreit book.  I made it because I had some apples I needed to use up and was in the mood to try a new recipe and this one is definitely a keeper.

Just look at those chunks of apple.  YUM!  The recipe says to leave the peel on the apples which is something I usually don't do.  I don't like apple peel but for this recipe I left the peel on and I think it makes a huge difference. 

This is a recipe you all need to try and it is so easy.  It even looks good before it is baked, the dough tastes good too.  Shhhhhhhhh!  I snuck a taste.

Here is the recipe:

Apple Bread

Beat together
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs

Stir in
1 1/2 cups chopped, unpeeled apples
1/4 cup walnuts
1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest

Sift together
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Add to apple mixture.  Do not over mix.

Pour into a 9 x 5 loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes.


Today I am joining
StoneGable On-the-Menu-Monday
Designs by Gollum's Foodie Friday

Pumpkin Quilt

I purchased this cute little pumpkin quilt at a quilt shop years ago.  I just thought it was adorable and it is just the right size to display it with my old Singer sewing machine. 

Here is a close up of the quilting and don't you just love the row of little pumpkins at the bottom!?!

Above the sewing machine I have hung an old pane window which I hung a fall wreath in front of.

I can't believe that it is almost time to put the Fall decorations away and start getting out Christmas.

Hope you all have a fun and relaxing day.  Thanks for stopping by.


I am linking this post to
Savvy Southern Style Wow-us-Wednesdays
Faded Charm Cottage White Wednesday
Michele Raven Designs primp-your-stuff-Wednesday
Very Merry Vintage Style
Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home home-sweet-home
Romantic Home show-and-tell-Friday

A New Dress Form

I have wanted a dress form for the longest time and last weekend I finally purchased one from my favorite antique mall in town.  They were having a weekend sale and this is what I came home with.

The  pendant and pin were purchases from that same antique mall last year.  They look so pretty on my new dress form.  The lace collar I have had since the 80's.  I have always loved lace.

Here I put a lace cardigan on her that I already had.

Here you can see the whole dress form.  I can't believe I finally have one.

 

 Here I draped one of my favorite tablecloths over the dress form.

It sure was fun dressing her up.  This last photo is just me playing around with Photocape.

I am linking this post to
The Polkadot Closet Dress-form-linky-party
Faded Charm Cottage White Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesdays
Michele Raven Designs Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
No Minimalist Here open-house-party
Common Ground Vintage-Inspiration-Friday
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday
Romantic Home Show-and-tell-Friday 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!

An Old Screen Door On The Front Porch

We brought this old screen door home from my hubbies uncle's farm a few years ago.  It was the door he had on the chicken coop.  I just fell in love with it when I saw it.

We hosed it off, feathers and all, and set it on the front porch to dry and there it has stayed.

It just seems perfect there and I think it fills up the space nicely.

The tray I bought at a garage sale this month for only seven dollars.  It looks so cute dressed up for Fall.

Since I didn't have a plant to put in the hanger I just put in some pumpkins I already had.

And of course I can't leave out this cute little witch.

 I just love her big feet.

Here is the view of the porch from the front.

I am wanting to change the color of the front door.  Any suggestions on what color I should paint it?

As always, thanks for stopping by for a visit.  I love having you over!

I am linking this post to
Common Ground Vintage-Inspiration-Friday
The Charm of Home Home-Sweet-Home
Stuff-and-Nonsense Fridays Unfolded
Romantic Home Show-and-tell-Friday
French Country Cottage Feathered-Nest-Friday
Savvy Seasons Fall Party 

Ironstone, Silver, and Burlap

I can not believe the luck I have had at garage sales lately.  We have had more than usual this fall and I think it is because this summer was just to hot for them.  I had to show you some of my thrifty finds.

Everything you see on the table I purchased at a garage sale including the piece of burlap.  I got the burlap piece for only fifty cents.

The largest pitcher was seventy-five cents and the other one was only fifty.

 The round silver platter in the picture below was only one dollar and it is Oneida.

 This sugar and creamer set was only seventy-five cents and it is Federalist Ironstone.

 This small soup tureen was four dollars.  Isn't is cute!?!

 You can never have to many platters.  I love the look of them stacked up. The largest platter was two dollars and all the others, including the bowl, were only fifty cents each.

 Here is a picture of all of my loot. 

If you haven't been to any garage sales lately maybe you should stop by the next one you see.  You never know what you will find.

 Thanks for stopping by and happy garage selling everyone.

I am linking this post to
Coastal Charm Nifty-Thrifty-Tuesday
Faded Charm Cottage White Wednesday
LaurieAnna's Farmhouse Friday