On The First Day of Christmas

I decorated the dining room.

My snowmen get to play on top of my china cabinet

all winter long until it is time to decorate for Valentine's Day.

They sit on top of the cabinet that holds

my pink depression glass.

This is part of my collection of pink depression glass.

I have more packed away because it was bowing the shelves in my cabinet.

Most of my glass is Mayfair Open Rose pattern.

This happy fellow twinkles and shines

so is assigned to night duty.

A pair of rolly polly guys take a sleigh ride to admire

the winter scenery.

The top of the buffet is a snowman's playground.

The sit and gossip as they wait for it to snow.

These happy guys wave to passersby hoping they will stay and play.

The desk in the corner that usually holds only those dreaded bills

is now hosting a snowman conventions.

Even the crystal chandy is dressed for the occasion.

And on the 2nd Day of Christmas??????

What Do You Do With 27 People?

Some of us cooked and served. Our son-in-law has a meat company and is very into cooking so he made us a Turducken for dinner. We got mixed review they either loved or hated it. But I think they decided it is a do again dish.

The foods finally ready and the girls have to eat last. But they don't look too unhappy about do they?

From left to right: My youngest daughter, my sister-in-law, my oldest daughter, my daughter-in-law and my niece.

While we were getting dinner set up the girls had to wrestle with their uncle who is my oldest son.

The girls are all my granddaughters expect for the one in his lap who is my great-niece.

The boys in this family are so out numbered by the girls they chose to sit at their own table. The young man in the white shirt is my oldest grandson who is 19.

The one seated at the table is my great-nephew.

The guys just sit around telling tall tales while the women get the dinner on the table.

From left to right: my youngest daughter's husband, my niece's husband and my oldest son

From left to right: my oldest son, my youngest son and my brother-in-law.

Papa has to tease all the girls by getting in the girls picture.

So for those of you who ask this is what we do with 27 people in the house. It was great fun and Christmas is coming. Here at our house we do Christmas Breakfast.

It Was A Wonderful Thanksgiving

Well it was a good Thanksgiving. All my guests have finally departed. I love them you know but a week sometimes gets a little long. I had hoped the basement would be really complete but it didn't happen. But if you will check out my post from November 11, Almost There, you can see we did make some progress. It was complete enough to hold 27 people for Thanksgiving Dinner. I was so thankful for all the extra room.

The sconces are hung. But ----

They can't be turned on because the post where the switch is going to be is not completed yet.

However all the Pergo is laid and the floors are beautiful. So nice to have something to walk on besides cold cement floors.

Papa Bear's chair was in place for all the football games.

The curtains are up, there is a rug on the floor and the fireplace was burning brightly.

Most importantly the big screen was in place so the men could root for their favorite team.

I added some extra seating to the room with this black bench. Later I think I will make a cushion for it so it is a little more comfy.

A few fall decorations on the mantel an this room was ready for the party. Now all we have to complete is the trim work and oak treads for the stairs.

I hope all of you had a festive Thanksgiving and have your Christmas plans well under way.

Thanksgiving Tablescape

Company will be here Tuesday so I have been trying to get my house in shape. You know dust the guest room and guest bath. I have even taken time to set the table for dinner the night they arrive. I'll just throw a table cloth over it for the time being so no dusty dishes.

The center piece is wax fruit and as you can see some of our fore fathers have come to share the bounty.

The bottom plate is one I bought at Garden Ridge many years ago. The plates are larger than usual so the men in the family like them for family dinners.

On top of the Poppy plate I place a plate from Artuino called Tuscan Rooster.

I found these cute maple leaf dishes at CVS on sale. Won't they make cute

salad bowl?

I stumbled on to these silver candle sticks at an antique mall. I just loved all the intricate work on them. They have a makers mark on the bottom but I need stronger reading glasses or a magnifying glass to read it.

I have placed an antique mirror in the corner of the dining room so it reflects back the table. I hope if you double click you can enlarge the picture so you can see it better.

I did take pictures of the silverware that I am using but they didn't turn out well. I had so much shine from the flash you couldn't really see the silverware. If any of you could give me some hints for taking pictures of silverware I would be grateful.

I have much to be thankful for but I am already thankful this week that the house is ready for my guests. Have a wonderful weekend.

First Snow

When I arose this morning at 5:30 a.m. and looked out the window I had a wonderful gift. We had our first snow of the season. It was suppose to stay far north of us but what does the weather man know anyway.

As I have gotten older I try to make a point of enjoying the small things life sends my way. This morning the view from my living room window was truly breathtaking as fluffy white snow flakes drifted down to cover a rose bush completely covered in red roses. The picture does not do the scene justice but I wanted to share with you anyway.

I know my Blue Heron was thinking he should have given up his lifeguard duties at least a month ago and gone south for the winter.

So let's ring in a new season with joy and thanksgiving for the small moments . I hope your week is filled with delightful small moments.

Almost There

We have been working every spare minute on the main living area of our basement hoping to have it ready to use for Thanksgiving. Mainly because this is where the largest TV is and you know men have to watch football on Thanksgiving. It's tradition!
















Last week I put a white primer coat on all the wall and the ceiling. Notice it still has bare concrete floors.
















I painted the walls a pale Harvest Gold.

We tried to hang the light fixtures on each side of the mantel but we had the wrong electrical boxes. Off to Lowes again.

We decided instead of carpet we would install Pergo wood floors. I think they will be easier to maintain than carpet but certainly more labor intensive. My SIL was over last night to help lay the flooring and of course we were short a few boxes. Off to Lowes again.

Friday was grandparent's day at school so I had four granddaughters when I decided to pick up the rest of the flooring. It was fun as they helped me put all the flooring in the cart and push it to the cash register. Out to the car we go.

Well I am sure you know that little trick of always measuring before you buy something. Guess who didn't. Well my little PT wasn't built to use as a truck. But we pushed and we shoved and the girls groaned. But it worked we got all the flooring home.

Hope I can show you finished pictures on Thanksgiving.

Salute to our Soldiers

On this special day we have aside to remember and thank the men and women who have fought for our country I have two special men I would like to thank.

First, my Dad, M/Sgt John W Williams who enlisted as a young man just barely out of his teens to fight for our country in World War II. As a career Army soldier he did two tours in Korea and one in Vietnam. When assigned to a second tour of Vietnam he chose to retire. He said he couldn't write one more letter to grieving parents to tell them their 19 year old son was gone. It is sometimes hard to believe that one man would fight in three wars for his country. He was proud to serve his country and truly believed in what he did. My Dad died of cancer several years ago but I hope he knew that I appreciated all the years he choose to defend our country.

Second, my brother CW3 John W Williams who was only 19 when he choose a military career. My brother was a helicopter pilot and proud to serve his country. He crashed his helicopter while on tour in Vietnam and survived but never got over losing his co-pilot.

Upon returning to the states my brother became a member of a special group that provided helicopters for special operations called the Night Stalkers. On September 21, 1981 he was in a troop plane that was practicing night landings in preparation for a covert operation. The plane crashed in the mountains of Colorado and my brother was one of the nine men who did not survive the crash. He was only 32 and left behind a daughter and two sons.

So to all the men and women out there who have chosen to protect our great country a very heart felt thank you.