~NEW YEAR TRADITION~

A New Years Day Tradition

Having black eyed peas, for luck or prosperity, on New Years Day, for 60+ years hasn’t hurt.  Who knows, it might have helped a time or two! 

January 1, 2010, we’ll have our black eyed peas with ham, fried potatoes and cornbread.

Do you have a New Years Day tradition and/or resolution?

We don’t make resolutions. We just try to do the best we can.

I’ll be back Sunday, with a regular post. I’ve enjoyed visiting with you during the holidays.

Wishing you all the best in 2010, from our Back Porch to yours!

Pat, J & Molly

~Dashing Through the Snow~

  

Front Porch

&

Winter Garden

 

 Hearth Room View

~Linked to Mary’s Mosaic Monday~

 

This Nativity scene music box plays O’ Little Town of Bethlehem.

   For Christmas and winter, I switched from the cream duvet cover to the red cover and shams.

  

This is my last regular post, until after Christmas.

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!

Pat, J and Molly, too!

~Christmas in the Kitchen~

In the meadow we will build a snowman.

Instead of ribbons I’m using raffia, for gift wrapping, this year.  I didn’t have enough in my supply, so I needed to stop by Michael’s, last week.

I saw the snowman, in October, when he was first placed on the shelves at the front of the store.  It was love at first sight, but I resisted the temptation to invite him home.

I saw the snowman again, as I was checking out with my raffia and a couple of other things, because we all know you can’t pop in at Michael’s for just one thing!

He was sitting on the floor, wearing his original tag.  I spied a 50% off sign.  With hope in my heart, I asked if he was included in the sale. Yes, he was.  Without hesitation, I scooped him up and brought him home, where he found a new home on the little chest, at the end of the kitchen island.  It was meant to be!

A Christmas Story~1983

 Cleveland Elementary School, in the foreground and Ralphie’s house, under the cloche.

 

  

 

 

Breakfast for Two

Dinner plate, Lenox Holiday, mug, Lenox Holiday Tartan, salad plate, Certified International Florentine.  The napkin is vintage. Stemware is Mikasa.

I purchased four of the snowman stockings when I stopped at Michael’s to pick up the raffia.  The placemats are about 20 years old, a gift from eldest daughter.  I have them turned on the reverse side, for this setting. There is a blue house on the top side.

The houses on top of the refrigerator and two snow figures are Jim Shore~Heartwood Creek.

The snow figures and winter scenes will remain in the kitchen and breakfast room through February.

Christmas morning brunch will be served from the kitchen island.  I’m still working on the menu that will include fresh fruit and veggies, bagels, biscuits and a casserole, among other things.

Answer

Christmas at the White House, mentioned HERE, is a beautiful new book available from Fife and Drum Press. Click the book title for information.

I’m linking this post to Tablescape Thursday.

The Inspired Room Holiday Linky Friday.

Deck the Halls Tuesday

(December 22)

Merry Christmas!

~A Christmas Home Tour~

Sunday afternoon, J and I saw several homes, around our town, in all their Christmas glory.

The highlight of the day was visiting the home of Charla, of For the Sake of Time blog.

Charla and her husband’s home is beautifully decorated.  Many of the furnishings, decorations, keepsakes and accessories hold special meaning for the family.

You can see this gorgeous home at For the Sake of Time.

Our thanks to  Charla and HD for their hospitality. We truly enjoyed our time with them.

I’ve turned off the comment option here and ask that you leave a comment for Charla, when you visit For the Sake of Time.

Merry Christmas!

 

~Christmas in the Living Room~

 

 

Christmas at the White House.  An early Christmas gift.

T’was the Night Before Christmas

We had not planned to put a tree in the living room ,this year, until we stopped in at Lowe’s a couple of weeks ago.  I was there to find scrap tree trimmings, in the garden area. I went inside just to have a look around.  You know how that goes!

I found gorgeous Poinsettias and a Rosemary tree, for the kitchen.  I also found lots of beautiful Norfolk Island Pines.  The price was right, so we found a place in the car to bring one home.

I put it in an urn and set it on the round table in the living room.  I believe the branches are too fragile to add lights, so I decorated with a few light weight ornaments.  I added greenery with lights around the urn and decorated it with ornaments, ribbon, and a Santa, dressed in green and gold.

All through the house…

 

 

 

 

 

And on the Back Porch, too!

 

Powder Room

 I’m linking this post at Mary’s Mosaic Monday.

The Nester’s Christmas Tour of Homes

Deck the Halls Tuesday

Answers

I was asked about the plates, in the breakfast room plate rack, shown in Country Christmas.

These are salad/dessert plates; part of my collection of Lenox Winter Greetings Everyday. 

I began the collection with these plates.  I’ve added dinner plates and accessories, through the years, at after Christmas sales and Lenox Outlets.  I miss those outlet stores!

Another question was about the sleigh and Santa, seen in the  hearth room, same post.

The photo below was taken in the dining room before Thanksgiving.  It shows the two pieces better than the photo shot in the hearth room.

The Santa and sleigh are Jim Shore~Heartwood Creek.

I’m still working on the kitchen.  It seems that room is always last, at Christmas time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!