Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Still tweaking...

Are you the sort who does all your Christmas decorating in one day or weekend and then put away the boxes and go on your Merry way?....or do you tweak, and tweak and then tweak some more? I fall into the last group. I'm finally finished though....I think. Actually, I think that never ending decorating started when my kids were little. I learned that I could put out all the decorations and they were fine, but once the tree went up...they could hardly contain their excitement. We learned to wait until the Saturday before Christmas to put up the tree, even if Christmas was on Sunday!


I found this cute little light up Christmas tree lot at Kohl's a couple of weeks ago -- I was thinking I could put it in a cloche, but none of mine are quite big enough. Right now it's with my village, but it's not the right scale or time period -- it will find a different spot next year....and I'll be on the hunt for a bigger cloche.



My friend Jane found me the cutest gift! I love this little metal box all tole painted for Christmas. Isn't it just darling?



This is the top -- to give you a little perspective.



And the backside. I have no idea what it's actually for (perhaps you know)...but I found the right use for it....



...it's a perfect little mistletoe holder!



I tied it to the end of my swagged banister. Do you see a little guy watching from the steps beneath the swags?


That would be Clapton -- wondering when "Santa Paws" is coming to fill his stocking with treats.



And this poor little guy is all worn out from following me up the stairs and down as I bring more decorations down and take the boxes back up.



I love to add a few ornaments each year to my trees. This was an angel I found at Marshall's for my dining room tree.



Some of you know I got a VW bug this year and my husband found this ornament for me -- so cute! This is the same color as mine (except mine is a convertible. I had to add that, since it's the only convertible I've ever had! LOVE it!)




This is my fourth year White House Christmas ornament front and back. I hope to go back and get some from earlier than 2007. I know that this is a bit blurred -- but I love the patriotic band. It shows the United States Marine Band performing on the snow covered North Drive at the Army Navy Reception at the White House in 1900 as the guests arrive in their carriages. The reverse side shows the band playing patriotic airs for President and Mrs. McKinley and their guests in the East Room.



These are a couple of little candy ornaments that I found this year and used them in my "Nutcracker and Sweets" tablescape last week.



This is a little antique chair that came from the children's Sunday school department from my Grandmother's church. Years ago they sold them to raise money for new tables and chairs and she gave this to our son for Christmas that year.


This was my father-in-law's sled from his childhood. So sweet.



This was my husband's sled from his childhood. How fun to have them both for decorating! The child size skates were purchased this summer at an antique store.


This wreath with apples and pinecones came from Garden Ridge years ago. I was going to do more decorating outside this year, but we got an early snow and I never got around to it.



So that's about it, other than a little garden flag.



Now one more thing....about this gingerbread house I posted about on Tabletop Tuesday....I need to make a confession...I honestly didn't mean to mis-lead you but....




...I didn't make it. In fact, I've had it about 5 or 6 years. It is a Buyer's Choice piece. I suppose it came out about the same time they made their gingerbread caroler's series. I love you for thinking that I made it though. It does fool people, even in person!

The weatherman's saying we'll get 6-8 inches of snow here on Christmas day. I think I can count the White Christmas's we've had in my lifetime around here on one hand. How about you? Will you have a white Christmas too? Whatever the weather is in your little corner of blogland...I'm wishing you the Christmas of your sugar plum dreams!

See ya!

Update -- My husband says he thinks the little tin box is a tobacco box. And I went on eBay to check on the gingerbread house and see what they had -- it is from 2005 and Holy Cow! They're asking almost $200 for it! I didn't pay that for mine....I was working at Hallmark and got a good discount, so I'm thinking I got mine for @ $50.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Tabletop Tuesday - Gingerbread House

Marty over at "A Stroll Thru Life" brings us all tabletop inspirations every Tuesday. She always has such wonderful ways of "tweeking" her tables -- I'm still doing a little Christmas "tweeking" here and there...how about you?



This was my "Gingerbread" village that I posted a couple of weeks ago on my house tour....but it was still unfinished.




You can see that gingerboy had a peppermint tree on his side.....


....but gingergirl didn't have any sweet landscaping on her side. That was because I ran out of peppermints.



Also -- my tree didn't have a "topper" until I found this little cupcake ornament.


...and a different on for my second tree. I decided to use a variety of candy for the second tree.




And now everybody's got a sweet Christmas tree!

Thanks Marty, for providing the tabletop fun. Be sure to stop by and take a peek.

See ya!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Tablescape Thursday - Nutcrackers and Sweets

It's time for Tablescape Thursday and you know what that means.....lots of tabletop inspirations all across blogland to see. A real treat for us "dishaholics" week after week!


This week I've set the table with some old friends in mind. My nutcrackers have been packed away for the past few years and I was glad to unpack them to enjoy once again this year. This week they are the inspirations for my table.


I've set this table with my grandgirls in mind---looking forward to taking them to see "The Nutcracker" ballet when they get a little older, just like I did with my daughter when she was taking dance lessons. Wonderful memories.


Tabletop overview.


Centerpiece overview.


Little wooden mice tucked in here and there -- I've always put out these three little mice with my nutcrackers...don't ask me why....I just do.



Four nutcrackers....


.....stand guard....



.....for all four.....



...place settings.


Some sweets here and there as well....maybe THAT'S what's attracting those mice!



A sweet peppermint candle in the middle --- I've looked and looked this year for a peppermint striped candle and can't find one anywhere --- this was as close as I got.






Four different little Santa mugs for each place.



Nutcrackers on each plate.



My mother made these napkins for me years ago -- I've always loved holly.



Gibson Clairmont dishes, plain and simple....except for one funny little thing.....




....this plate looks like it might run away! Since my table has a leaf in it, two of the plates completely cover the little figures appliqued on each corner of the green overcloth -- but two don't quite cover ...want a peak at what's under each plate?



A quizzical little reindeer....


...an adorable angel....



...a perky bow-tied penguin....



...and a lovable snowman.


Time to light the peppermint candle and wish all my friends across blogland a most Merry Christmas. Be sure to visit Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" each Wednesday night to get a peek at what everyone's pulling out of the china cabinet and setting on the table.

See ya!