Class Luncheon

Some of the girls from my high school graduating class many, many years ago get together every couple months to catch up and reminisce about the good old days. Today the ladies came to my house and everyone brought something. We had soups and salad and deserts and a lovely afternoon together. There were 10 of us today, one of the girls told me not to mention what year we graduated, so I'll just say we are oldie but goodies. Our next luncheon is March 30 at Bread of Life in McAlisterville, it's Martha's birthday!

I found the snowman soup bowls at the dollar store. I'm guessing the reason they ended up at the dollar store is because the "carrot" nose was painted red, they were made in China so I'm guessing that the red -orange thing got lost in the translation somewhere....

It's All Cleaned Up!

Christmas Eve, a Christmas brunch and then a big Christmas night meal and it’s all cleaned up and all but the last of the dishes that are still in the dish washer have been put away. I was up till 11:30 last night vacuuming and mopping the floors after every one left. My sister brought games this year and they were a big hit….we played trivia, “wheel of fortune” and “family feud”. She even had prizes and an auction with quite nice prizes…. I was fortunate enough to get a Barnes and Nobel gift card and a basket of stuff that included a mug and hot chocolate along with a bag of mini marshmallows. I later “sold” the marshmallows to my nephew for 5 pieces of candy (the bargaining chips) who wanted them for his 18 month old boy who loves marshmallows.


Today's photo is of the brunch I served on Christmas morning, I didn't really get any photos later in the day when we entertained about 12.

Christmas 2009

Just wanted to post some Christmas photos.... this is my living room. In the winter I watch TV in here because of the fireplace, it's a warm, cozy room. I did my tree in browns and rusts this year but I'm not sure that I like it with the white tree or maybe I'm having a hard time liking such non traditional colors on a Christmas tree.

What does your tree look like? Do you have a particular color that you use to decorate it, or do you use a collection of whatever you have that you have collected throughout the years? I think I need to do more than just one or two trees so that I can use more of the ornaments and stuff I have. hmmmm, if I had another week or two I could probably pull that off....

Shabby Swap

I am a member of a group of women who like the shabby cottage style of decorating and we did a Secret Santa Swap this year and Trish and I exchanged gifts. This is what she sent me. A plate that will be a perfect accent in my sunroom, I love it and a book that I can't wait to read. I paged through it briefly and can't wait to actually read it. She also sent another little wall hanging that will be perfect in my bathroom...

Trish sent my package from Florida on December 1 and I finally received it today. It didn't look like it had been lost in the bottom of a truck somewhere, the box wasn't beat up or anything, I guess it just found its way onto a slow truck to Pennsylvania. Thanks Trish for everything you sent.... you brightened my day!

Christmas Preparations

This was the year that I was going to be prepared IN ADVANCE for Christmas and for awhile I was afraid that once again I’d be wrapping gifts on Christmas eve and not sending out Christmas cards but I have rallied this weekend and in spite of about four weeks of distraction including the death of my father, I think I will be prepared. I have finished my decorating this weekend, I have all my gifts wrapped, not all bought yet, but I know what I need and have it all written down and that is half the battle! I also addressed all my cards this weekend and am working on grocery lists of what I need from now till after my Christmas company goes home sometime after Christmas. So, there is no panic yet here…. How about you do you have lots of preparation yet to do or are you ready to focus on the meaning of Christmas?