Thursday, November 19, 2009
Knee Deep....
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
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....
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
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
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The House Tour
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.
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...
Isn't this little prince a real cutie....
Monday...
Monday, November 2, 2009
Guest Bath Makeover
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