Something New~Something Old

One of the things I love about pulling out the Christmas decorations are the memories they evoke.
A handmade gift from your child, or something he saved up to buy just for you.  Maybe it is  gift from a friend, or something of your mom's that start the memories flowing!
The centerpiece I used for this table is a pine cone basket I made for my mom years ago when pinecone crafts were the rage.  Remember those cut fingers from trying to get the cones onto the form?  Ouch!

I filled it with two small fresh poinsettias.  I hope they last till Christmas!
The new is the plate and salad plate I used.

I have been wanting dark green plates for a long time.  Never could find any.  I finally gave in and ordered them from Pfaltzgraff  last week.  30% off the sale price, free shipping and 7% back from mrrebates.com.

Come St. Patrick's Day they will be getting lots of use!
The salad plates are Better Homes and Gardens from  Walmart. 

The covered crock is from World Market.  We don't have them here, but you can buy on line. Individual butter domes from WSonoma Outlet. 
Deep red charger is from Pottery Barn, as are the napkins with embroidered holly

The napkin rings are little wreaths from Cmas Tree Shops last year, and were .69.

I hung a tiny ornament on the ring to serve as a place card.  This is one I have used in past years.  We have a group of friends that we always socialize with, over 36 years now.  Our dear friend Don passed away suddenly last May, and finding this ornament with his name on it reminded me of the many holidays and good times we all shared.  I know it will be very hard for his family this year, and my prayers are with them.
I remember him commenting that I needed to get a bigger ornament as no one could read the names without their glasses!
  The glasses I have had for at least 20 years.  I bought them on Christmas Eve one year on the way to Mass.  They were marked down 50%, so I grabbed a few boxes.  I have the on the rocks size too, but we use them for juice!
The candle holder is an old cheapy one I sprayed with ORB.  Still looks black to me!  :)

Flatware by Cambridge via CTS, and S and P were from a little closeout place Alma, The Tablescaper,  and I frequented, called Mace's.  Long gone, and they were .99 for the pair!  Always an adventure there, treasure amongst the junk.
When people used to ask where I got something, I would say Mace's.  They thought I said Macy's, and I let them think that!

I am joining the Porch Party too.


The little dots of light are the candles in the upstairs windows.




I filled the plant stand with some faux holly garland and added a plaid bow.  The child's rocker holds a cutout fabric doll I made years ago, and since she is dressed in plaid, she is invited to the party!
The side door is red too, and decked out for the season.
Thanks for visiting me, I know how busy everyone is!
I am also joining Beverly for Pink Saturday, but it is holiday decor this week.
Susan at BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Holiday Tables
Diann for Thrifty Things Friday
At the Picket Fence for the Porch and Door Party
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.
Natasha's Christmas Linky Party

December Busy ness

IMPORTANT NOTICE!
I AM GOING TO CANCEL THE TABLESCAPE PARTY.
NOT ENOUGH INTEREST IN FINDING A PIC FROM A MAGAZINE OR NET TO COPY.
Thank you to those who were willing to take part.  Plus I didn't realize that another blogger does a copycat party.  Mine was going to be just tablescapes, but close enough.
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I know everyone is busy getting ready for the holidays.  All the cleaning that must happen before the decorations can be done, windows washed, curtains changed, etc.  It seems to take longer and longer each year.  Add to that 4 days that I was gone all day, and man, I am behind!
We have had such great weather, so today I spent the day out side dragging the outdoor decorations from the garage, testing lights, etc.  I would say I am 3/4 done out there.

I don't know how people can get it all done in one day!  It would never happen here!
We got new doors last year, the side door got painted red, but it got too cold to do the front, so it had to wait.

 The old door was blue, and last year the wreath looked so plain against the unpainted door.
You can't miss it this year!  Let's say it looks nothing like the color on the paint card!

This year I got a battery operated wreath from QVC, and added some fresh greens.  The week before Christmas, I add fresh Baby's Breath.
You can set it to clear or colored lights, blinking or not.  Technology!
 

A little more tweaking, too much plaid going on there, and some better pictures needed!
I wish you a good week, with lots of progress on your preparations.
I am joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday
Susan for Metamorphosis Monday

It's MOvember, No Typo :)

Do you know about MOvember?  I saw a little story about it on a news show, but it wasn't till  I saw my son that I put it all together!
Just as October is the month for Breast Cancer awareness, November is for for men's health, prostate and testicular cancer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movember
People pledge donations for clean shaven men who grow a moustache, or "MO" for the month.
I had never seen my son with a stache, so I was a little taken back, but when he told me why, I thought it was a great cause.
So far he has raised over $5,000 !
To give him some MO support, I found a moustache candy mold, and Tgiving Day all the kids posed for a picture with their dad.
Here are his 2 youngest with their MOs.
If you know someone who is taking part, I hope you will support them with a donation if you can, in honor of your grandfathers, fathers, brothers, sons, uncles, nephews and male friends.  It is a worthy cause to keep the men we love healthy!
We spent Thanksgiving at my dil's sister's home.  Last year as a newly wed she hosted for the first time, and this year she graciously agreed to do so, this time, a few months pregnant!  So next year another little Pilgrim will be with us.  She did a lovely job on the tables for this large crowd.  There were too many of us to fit in her dining room, so it involved a lot of carrying things up and down to the entertainment room.

I found these plates for the kids last year at a sidewalk sale at The Pottery Barn Outlet.  I had to be aggressive down right pushy :), as other nanas wanted them for their gkids too.  I wish I could have grabbed more, as the family is growing!

.50 cents each, full size plate.  I think I will look on ebay for a few more!

Lemon Cream Cake made in the Heritage Pan. I used Ina's Lemon Cake recipe and made a cream cheese icing that I swirled through.

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie with Caramel, in a gingerbread chocolate crust, delicious!  It was from a small ice cream store on L.I.

Carvel turkeys for the kids...and donuts too.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, the weather here was wonderful, another blessing!  I can't remember a better Tgiving weekend with 4 days in a row of sunny above normal temps.  Perfect for that touch football game with the kids.
I am joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday and
Yvonne for On the Menu Monday.
Now on to Christmas!

Time to Give Thanks

I know everyone is busy with their preparations for tomorrow.  I bet the kitchen smells heavenly!
The winner of the Cookie Party Kit from William Sonoma is Carolina Jewel.  Please send me your address so I can get it out in the mail.  Congratulations, Jewel!  I hope you share pictures of your cookie exchange with us!

I don't have a new table to show tonight, so I'll share a few from the past.
This from 2008...


And a less formal table.  I love the cloth ,my friend gave it to me.  It is a piece of fabric, and it looks like acorns.  :)





I used my Cornucopia pan from WSonoma Outlet to make one of the desserts for tomorrow.
Laurie, at Bargain Hunting with Laurie won one too, I wonder if she tried it out?  I see she posted, I have to pop over for a visit!

 
It's a pumpkin cake, I tried a new recipe.  I will let you know how it is in the next post!

I'll put the glaze on before serving.  Trying a new glaze too, I am adventurous serving it to other people without trying it, LOL.  How bad could it be?

After dinner tomorrow the children get their traditional little gift.  The countdown to Christmas  begins!


I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I hope you will count your blessings, I count all of you among mine. :)

I am joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday
Gollum for Foodie Friday
Thank you so much for visiting!

November~Deep Purple~Poached Pear & Chicken Salad

You know I don't like orange. {and chickens!  :) }  I thought I would get away from the orange and rusts this week, and do purple.

I took a white reticulated pedestal bowl filled it with a leaf garland, purple mums, dusty miller from my yard, and mini white pumpkins from Tues. Morning.

I started with a deep purple cloth from CTS, white chargers from Noritake years ago, and purple plates from le Wal Mart.

Clearance, 1.50

The dark purple dotted plate is made in Portugal from Pier One, clearance a few months ago, 1.68

The Italian bakers in deep purple are from HG.  I recently found some in blue at CTS for less than half of what I paid in HG!

The flatware is gold, purple and gold are fallish, and I never remember to use the gold.  It is by Farberware. 

I used a purple and a white napkin with a purple flower ring from BBB, clearance .99

Gold spreaders, a gift from The Tablescaper, and little white butter plates from CTS.

I have white turkey salt and peppers, but they flew the coop, or they are up  high and I didn't feel like climbing the ladder, so I caught these birdies from Pier One and pressed them into duty.

The purple stems are from Villeroy and Boch when they closed their store here in  Southampton.

With only one more week till Thanksgiving , I know many of us are thinking Christmas.

I also know many of you have been looking at magazines and Pinterest for ideas.

SO ARE YOU READY FOR A THROW DOWN?

Instead of doing a Winter White party this year, I would like you to find a Holiday  tablescape  you like from a mag or the net, and recreate it.  It can be simple or elaborate, your call.  The party will be on Dec. 14th.  I will be celebrating 3 years of blogging, and there will be a giveaway to go along with it. 

So start thinking about it, I hope it will be fun.  Are you up for the challenge?

Show us the original and your take on it. 

I know it is a busy time of year, so no pressure if you can't join in.

I haven't found mine yet, so I will be looking for one too!

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We have dinner salads here about once a week.

I add in chicken, or shrimp or steak.

This time I poached some pears in a little butter, cinnamon , sugar and apricot liqueur. 

I pounded the chicken cutlets thin, seasoned them and dredged in flour, yes, just flour, no egg or anything.

Brown them in a little oil, remove to a paper towel, and slice when cool enough.

Toss baby spinach in a bit of sugar and salt and pepper to taste.  Sliced red onions,  crumbled bacon, feta cheese, or another to your liking, Foley,:)  sliced tomatoes , etc.  Arrange the sliced chicken on top of your other ingredients, place the poached  pears on top, and pour the rest of the poaching liquid over the salad.  Top with toasted nuts.

If you think you might play along for the throw down, let me know.  If I get at least 10 it's a go.  The more the merrier but it doesn't have to be the event of the season!  :)

I have this adorable Cookie Exchange kit from WSonoma.  I know some of you do cookie exchanges, this would be great.  And maybe some have thought about having one, so do it!

Open to all followers who are interested, just leave one comment saying you want in, ,no tweeting, bleating, face booking  etc. easy!

Winner announced this weekend so I can get it into the mail .

I am joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday

Gollum for Foodie Friday

Sherry for Open House Friday

Diann for Thrifty Things Friday

Thanks for visiting!