Missing Mom

Two years ago today I lost my mother. It was not unexpected but never easy. My mom had lived with us for 13 years in a little apartment in our house. So to say I miss her is an understatement. My daughter is expecting her first great grandchild she would have been so excited.                                                    

 So for this morning Sadie and I will watch the birds, my mother's favorite past time.

 And have a nice hardy breakfast before work. If you still have your mom give her a big hug trust me you will be glad you did.

 Tonight I am off to a cookie swap. I have been promised a mimosa mmmm and I get to see my women's group they are so fun. A great way to celebrate the Christmas season.

How are you celebrating the Christmas season?

My Christmas Tree

I am linking up with nesting place and once again linking up to house in the roses  to show off my Christmas tree. I love my tree yes it is artificial first because my daughter was allergic and then even after she grew up and left I loved that I could keep it up as long as my heart desired.                                                                                      

 I have a mix of warm memories and glorious vintage. This is a picture of my daughter on her first Christmas. She is now 27 and waiting for her first baby any day now.

 My daughter took dance for a lot of years. This is an ornament for the first time we took her to the Wang center in Boston to see the Nutcracker. She was about 7 years old her big thrill was riding the escalator in the hotel. My little country girl. She sat on the edge of her chair the whole show. So mesmerize by the ballet.

 And then there are the vintage ornaments. This soft large pink is so sweet.

 This is another large ornament that is hand painted with sailors so sweet.

 I use reproduction lighting on the tree and real old lead tinsel it feels warm and familiar. The angel on the top is a replacement from my childhood. My childhood angel was lost in a house fire that my parents had. From my house to yours a very merry Christmas.

Thank you for your visit, I enjoy reading your comments
                                                                             

A Very Full Weekend

It is snowing outside my kitchen window this morning which cancelled a trip to my daughters.

 So I plan to snuggle in and watch old Christmas movies. The Christmas party was a great success. I am not sure if I ever said that my husband teaches at a tec high school. He teaches building trades. 2 of his coworkers brought guitars. one is a plumbing teacher, the other is the auto tec teacher. We sang carols sooooo wonderful! And ate amazing food that everyone brought.

 On Saturday two friends and I went to a couple of Christmas open houses. They were selling craft items and antiques. This is the second house. She told us she plans to put it up for sale in the spring. It is in a small amazing New England town and the house is old but has been redone inside and out. Both of my friends turn to me and said you should buy this house. Well first I have a house, and second I want to be closer to my daughter and this would be 1/2 hour further away.

 It is in the center of town, This what it over looks. I did buy a few things a Susan Branch Christmas book, a pair of tin sconces, and some yummy Russian tea that she mixes herself.

 We made a few other stops and had lunch such a fun day. I got myself a few goodies along the way. a whole box of vintage ornaments for 6.00.

 My best find was one more piece of the pottery I am collecting. Not good color in this picture but the top is a blue green and the bottom a chocolate brown.

My husband and I went Christmas shopping last night and parked in front of a supermarket was this coke truck. Amazing right! The whole side was light bulbs.

Most of my Christmas shopping is done I may pick up a few stocking things when we go away next weekend. We do not do a lot of Christmas shopping I buy all year at yard sales and thrift stores now before you gasp in horror it is something that my daughter and I set up last year, we loved it so much we did it again this year. For my two close friends we do the same. And you would be amazed at how many things I find with all the tags on them. Does it really matter where it comes from if it is new? It makes for a less stressful holiday. I hope your weekend was fun or relaxing. have a great day.

Cleaning, decorating, and baking DONE

Well the party is tomorrow night I have worked myself to death and I pray they don't open a closet. I am as done as I will ever be and I am done baking,decorating, and cleaning, These are yeast rolls with cranberries.                                                                                                                                           

 this is one of my favorite christmas decorations. He is a needled felted santa.  My daughter went to  college in Rhode Island. Once when visiting we attended a holiday fair and I bought santa. He was very reasonable and handmade by a lady in town.

 After we left Ashley went back to the fair, got the name of the lady who felted him, and had her make me a mrs santa. The lady said "well I have never made one but for you I will give it a try" This is my favorite decoration! how could it not be? I have the most amazing daughter and she still amazes me everyday. Ok yes I am gushing. How could I not?

 My kitchen tour a few people wished they could see out the window in the sitting area. I get to see the sun come up and have my coffee in the morning.

Have a great weekend!

Party Time

Last weekend we went on a Christmas house tour put on by the local garden club. There were 5 houses decorated for the holiday in all different neighborhoods. We were not to take pictures. This was the first house and it was up for sale so all bets off. This is the only picture I got. While the inside was lovely it had all the original woodwork and it had a wonderful feel. I was a bit disappointed in the decorations.  In fact all the houses were nice but decorations were very disappointing. The last house was amazing and I would gladly move in any day. It was large on 200 acres of orchards, high bush blueberries, horses and the most amazing view of Gunstock mountain.  the house and the barn were built of brick. Even thought it was large it was homey and comfortable, just right. and the best decorated.

 On the way home My husband said well you out do them in decorations. I think I go over the top a bit but I love it, so here is a little peek. This is a couple of branches from a tree in the yard stuck in the ice bucket I got at the thrift store not long ago. This holds all of my little gnomes.

 How could you not love this sweet face??

 Or these two hiding behind the mushroom?

This cupboard is in the family room. When my husband's family were going to sell their long time home he said he wanted the cupboard in the basement. Well 3 men and a lot of work out it came. I had never seen it before. It was a mess but with a lot of elbow grease, I white washed the inside it came out pretty good. The first family member to come in the house asked where the cupboard was we pointed to it his words??? "Dam I wish I had taken it." some people can't see the beauty under the dirt. It is solid oak. and has adjustable shelves it was used to display shoes. My husband's grandfather was a cobbler. Oh well on with the decorations. I use it for my vintage santa collection.

 This is my transportation shelf.

 I am in full as my friend says party B---- mode. that is when you want the house to look great for people you only see once a year. and your stressed out about it.Ha True these are my husband's coworkers. One of them is my very good friend so she knows me flaws and all. One of the comments on my kitchen tour said something about everything in its place. I just moved the junk from one side to the other to take the pictures a great way to have a tour. Have a great weekend and thank you all for your wonderful comments.

Kitchen tour

This is my first link party, I am joining house in the roses to show off my kitchen. It is not an up to date expensive kitchen in fact except for a few updates it is over 20 years old. The first is my cupboards I chose these when we were building the house about 23 years ago. I love them more every day.

we have added the tv over the stove it fits nicely in the little cupboard. My husband is trying to get me to buy a new stove but no way I love this stove. It has cast iron burners.

 across from the stove is where I do my blogging and eating. We added this bar a few years ago. From here it goes into a family room that has a table for when a couple of friends come over for cards.

 Some of the things that are under the cupboards. I did not drink all the wine, but I collect corks so everyone helps. the little draws are from an old sewing machine all fixed up. Back splash is recycled tin ceiling.

 This light you have seen before it is my find from a yard sale. I love my shutters!

 I have a lot of space over the cupboards. My husband made the little house that lights up from a yard sale find wooden box. The plate my daughter did in preschool when we were building the house. This is her version of the house it is suppose to be a salt box.

 This is my favorite part of the kitchen. We removed the table when we put the bar in and put a love seat here. It over looks our gardens and the woods behind our house. no matter who comes to visit they always end up here, including the cat.

 And behind my sofa is my feather tree. It is really homey and comfy.

Thank you for your visit and I hope you enjoyed the tour. I can't wait to read your comments.

Still Decorating

I am still decorating! Ok I go to work in between and I have had a cold. But I am still decorating.

 This snowman is one of my husband's creations. He is pretty cute,(the snowman and the husband). As you can see what snow we had is now gone but more is on the way.

 This is on the my husband's shop the door is a brighter red not this orange.

 And of course the potting shed.

 Today was dump day and I found a good one. This is a vanity mirror. I thought is might be a new one pressed wood ,but no way it is maple and has a very old heavy mirror. It needs to be cleaned up but it is in great shape.

 Then on to the thrift store to drop of a donation. Ok I couldn't just drop and run could I ???? I found this cake plate. I have to go to a cookie swap in a couple of weeks and I think this would make a great hostess gift one whole dollar. I also got a new white blouse in my size from Talbots with  all the tags!!!!!                                                                       I have  a sore throat so I am off to take a nice hot shower and get into bed early. Welcome to my new follower! Let me know what you have all been up to and how your holiday decorating is going. Have a great night