ADIEU 2011

ADIEU

French for goodbye, farewell...

You would think we are all French these days lol...

I confess, I love the language... The sound as it rolls off the tongue...

Do I speak the language? No. 

As I bid 2011 adieu I have some thoughts to share...

Ramblings if you will.

I have no resolutions like weight loss or starting an exercise program...

But I do plan to do the following in 2012...

Cultivate my faith... My love of God...

Be a better wife, mother, grandma, mother~in~law, daughter, sister, friend...

Make the most of the gifts I have been given...

Just be grateful for what I have because it is so much...

I'm going to water my own grass and I encourage all of you to do the same...

Happy New Year Friends!!!!

Blessings to all of you in 2012!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

To each and every one of you who takes time from your busy life to read my little blog

and

to those of you who leave thoughtful and MUCH APPRECIATED comments

I wish you a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS and many thanks!

Here are a few more pics of vignettes around my Christmas home.

WISHING YOU PEACE AND JOY IN 2012

I have an affinity for wee trees...

For the first time in years we went with a real tree this year, and I have loved the look and the fragrance of it.

I used an antique lace and muslin skirt for the tree skirt.

A smattering of bling...

A slim tree left bare in the dining room...

I love the reflection in the mirror behind my wreath...

Remember the banner I made at CRAFTERNOON in the previous post?

A final thought before I go...

Amidst the hustle and bustle of shopping and decorating and all that the holiday season brings

let us always remember

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

CHRISTMAS CRAFTERNOON

My sweet friend BECKY hosted another of her fabulous soiree's last Saturday

where I rubbed elbows with the likes of RUTH  (THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE), VICKI (RUSTY ROOSTER VINTAGE), JESSICA (STELLAR JUNK), and CAROL (no blog but still fabulous).

CRAFTERNOON PART DEUX

BECKY'S home was gorgeous as always and she blew us all away with the tablescape.

The centerpiece on the table was a Martha Stewart pompom studded with vintage Christmas ornaments.

At each place setting was a hand~selected goody basket assembled with the recipient in mind.

Fleur de sel caramels 

Some enjoyed wine, some mango margaritas. After a bit of nosh, we sat down to get craftin'.

 Left to right: Ruth, Becky, Carol and Vicki

Left to right: Becky, Carol, Vicki, Jessica, and Ruth

Left to right: Becky, Carol and Jessica

Left to right: Ruth (foreground), Becky, Carol, Vicki, and Jessica

The craft~du~jour was a banner. Here's mine in the initial stages. I'll show you in another post where it ended up.

Here's BECKY'S...

PAIX...French for PEACE.

And finally, JESSICA brought the neatest hostess gift.

Several of these FABULOUS reusable shopping bags fashioned after antique grain sacks.

T*J*MAXX!!!!

You best believe I went straight there after the get together and snagged an armful!

Stay tuned for the wrap~up (lol) of my simple Christmas here in the LAND OF PEA.

SIMPLE...

If you've been reading this blog for awhile you know that the word that best describes my holiday decorating style is

SIMPLE.

My Christmas mantle is no exception.

Tinsel and bottle brush trees in antique containers like brown transferware and tarnished silver as well as mercury glass candle holders mingled with my ever present wasp nests ( check out the huge wasp nest from my friend Euna)  and a teeny bird nest. 

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who left a sweet and much appreciated comment on my last two posts TRANSFORMATION and SHABBY CHIC ON FRIDAY. 

I love you all and have the best intentions to thank each of you personally. Life just gets in the way sometimes.

Hope you understand.... 

SHABBY CHIC ON FRIDAY FEATURE

I received the sweetest email earlier this week from Francy, an Italian blogger who features a different home each Friday on her blog

SO BEAUTIFUL THINGS

She asked if she could feature my home for this week's post.

uh yeah...

Thanks Francy for sharing my little slice of the shabby world with your readers in Italy and beyond.

Here are a few pics she used from my blog and a link below to the post.

http://sobeautifulthings.blogspot.com/2011/11/shabby-chic-on-friday-la-casa-di.html?showComment=1322260325639#c7928416264351401185

Thank you again sweet Francy!!!