Thursday, November 19, 2009

Knee Deep....

...in boxes of FALL decor to finish packing up...
and CHRISTMAS boxes of STUFF to put out!

I don't usually decorate for Christmas this early, waiting until after Thanksgiving. But Josh was down Saturday, and I needed the extra manpower to bring in the trees and boxes of STUFF...lots of STUFF. I've been forbidden to buy ANY MORE Christmas STUFF, (or even bring something home FREE!!!) ...but some sneaks in every so often! LOVE CHRISTMAS, so what's a girl to do! :)

And of course, there is the extra cleaning, (i.e. ...dusting! ), that has to be done between the transition of seasonal items. David says my problem is that I am "overly cleanive!" {To a 10 year old boy, any cleanliness at all is...."overly cleanive!"} LOL!

So, I'll be breaking from blogging until next week. Hope everyone is doing well! Lord willing, I'll be back soon! ~Rhonda

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Preparing for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving will be upon us before we know it! A time to reflect on our blessings...
As I type and prepare this post, I am thankful that I'm dry and warm. We have had showers, remnants of Ida, since Tuesday. Fortunately, we haven't experienced the flooding locally that was anticipated. Although, I hope other areas faired as well. But boy, is it wet and dreary!!! ...the perfect weather to stay inside and plan for THANKSGIVING.

Below is recipe for a pie that I recently discovered at Webster's Manor, in Mullins, SC. ....Buttermilk Pie. It's so delicious, it has to be a sin! :) I don't have their recipe, but found this one in "Sweets, a collection of soul food desserts and memories," by Patty Piner. {Great book by the way!} I intend on trying it for Thanksgiving. Maybe you'd like to add it to your menu....

Buttermilk Pie
1 unbaked 9" pie crust
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, salt, and nutmeg. Mix thoroughly. In another large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the buttermilk, butter, and vanilla extract to the beaten eggs. Gradually add the buttermilk mixture to the sugar mixture. Blend well. Pour the filling into the prepared pie crust and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack before serving.
Sorry the color of the pictures isn't too great. The weather and indoor lighting was not cooperating. You might remember this wood basket from previous post. I found it a yard sale in the spring of '08, for $1.50. It was a strawberry basket, made by the seller's grandmother out of scrap lumber and a tree branch, for the sole purpose of picking strawberries in the fields. Of course I didn't know her, or even her family, but it has certainly become a treasure to me...so full of character.


"For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
For more Thanksgiving Inspiration, click on the button below...


Also linking up to...
Foodie Friday, at Designs by Gollum.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

....We Thank You, Our Veterans, Our Heroes

To those who so galliantly served our great country, we Thank You!

To those, who are family members of fallen soldiers, making the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country....

We Thank You!

Heroes of a true kind. May God richly bless OUR Veterans and their families!
~Rhonda

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The House Tour

Friday morning, the sign went up for the Festival Home Tour, scheduled to begin at 1:00, after the Queen' s Coronation and Luncheon.
Tour Times:
1:00-4:00
5:00-7:00

To say I was nervous, is an understatement! Early that morning I was still tweaking, doing last minute sprucing, and stuffing stray dust bunnies in the pockets of my old sweat pants! At 11:30, I was "swiffering" the master bath floor one last time, after my shower, my hair still ringing wet!

But at 1:00 when the first guests began to arrive, my "stage fright" quickly evaporated and I had a ball! Every person that came through was very friendly, and it was a pleasure to chat with them! Our home is about 10 minutes from where my parents were raised, and I met several of their old classmates. That was really neat and interesting.

Below, is a picture of the "Pecan Belle" and Cadet assigned to our home. The Pecan Belles consisted of local eighth grade girls, chosen through an essay contest. The Cadets were young men from Camden Military Academy.
They were both sweet kids and made a very handsome couple! Isn't she beautiful in her lavender gown!

The Pecan Festival Queen visited our home as well, Dixie Light, from Atlanta, Georgia. Not only was she a beautiful young woman, she had a lovely personality. Dixie was escorted by Bill Thompson, local author/well traveled speaker, who is also a writer for OUR STATE Magazine.

My "Ode to the Pecan," a vignette of pecans and a vintage metal dog nutcracker, borrowed from my dad.If you follow my blog, you have seen my home countless times. But I would like to share a few of the fresh flower arrangements I created for the tour. Whenever we entertain, I try to always incorporate live flowers. Even at Christmas, with all of the silks and faux greenery, I love to throw in a burst of the "real stuff," and enjoy the mood it creates.

These aren't elaborate, most were very simple. I didn't want them to compete with the settings, only compliment the areas. And no offense to any professional floral designers, ...I made six, (some rather large), arrangements for less than I could have purchased one arrangement from the florist. Bundles of bagged bouquets purchased from Sam's Club, were metamorphosed into beautiful arrangements.

Arrangement for Kevin's study, housed in a silver bucket found on eBay.

Arrangement placed on the surround of the master bath. Monogrammed hankies, also found on eBay. Below is an example of WHAT NOT TO DO! These beautiful orange roses disintegrated in just a few short hours, from what I assume was the heat off of the lamp light.
A few arrangements outside...

Arrangement for the Guest Register Table. The green vase was a yard sale find.


Isn't this little prince a real cutie....
And lastly, just a few shots from outside...

The faux pumpkins on the candlesticks were painted white last year, and then retransformed into orange again, this year. The candlesticks which were originally white-washed, were spray painted black.


Back Door....

Bailey enjoying the freshly strawed beds. I think for the next few days, I'll take it easy and bask in the beautiful fall days we are having, too! ~Rhonda :)
I will be linking this post to the following...
Monday...
~ Metamorphosis Monday, at Susan's blog, Between Naps On the Porch.
Tuesday...
~Second Time Around, at Diane's blog, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.
~It's so very creative, at Cheri's blog, It's so Very Cheri.
~and DIY-Do It Yourself Day, at Kimba's, A Soft Place to Land.
And On Wednesday...
~ for the first time to Outdoor Wedsnesday, at Susan's blog, A Southern Day Dreamer.
Please take a moment and visit these gracious and creative ladies who host these blogging events! :)

Monday, November 2, 2009

Guest Bath Makeover

Unfortunately,
I can't find my "before" picks of the guest bath. But it is easy to describe...
white, white, ...harsh, stark white!

The walls were covered with white on white striped wallpaper. At one point, the plumbing surrounding the toilet must have been repaired, because the wallpaper behind the "stall" was pieced together, depicting a "patch job." (After removing the paper, I found that the sheetrock had been cut and replaced in sections, also.)

I decided to make the space more cozy, by removing the wallpaper and painting the space a soft greenish gray. Once on the walls, the paint took on a bluish green appearance. (Blue being the dominant tint!) I was disappointed, because it wasn't what I had envisioned in my mind, but it is such an improvement, it quickly grew on me!

Most of the accessories were just as before.
The sketches of the Cape River Steam Boats were bought at an auction years ago.
Glass shower doors covered by a shower curtain.
The little mice doorstop was a new find at Stein Mart. Hope they don't scare my guests! :) My son took a double-take when he saw them!


The piece over the toilet was purchased at a local resale shop, The Ivy Cottage, in Wilmington, a couple of weeks ago. If you ever venture this way, it is a wonderful place to stop and shop!


I was thinking, that much like the piece below, I have a lot of "refurbished second-hand" pieces in my home! Those of you who regularly visit my blog, know that I {heart} junk! :)
I began to wonder, if any of those perusing my home this Friday during the Home Tour would recognize or spot any of their cast-aways that I might have picked up at a yard sale, consignment or thrift shop! Wouldn't that be a hoot! :) ~Rhonda

Post Linked To:
Metamorphosis Monday, hosted by Susan,
~~~
Blue Monday, hosted by Sally,
~~~
Second Time Around, hosted by Diane,
~~~
Edited to Add: After a few comments, I thought I would clarify...The wallpaper was a real booger to remove! One of the toughest rooms I've ever attempted! But thank goodness, it was a small space and well worth it for the transformation. One of those jobs you put off, but are glad you did it when it is over! :)