Hat's Off to the New Year

My sister and  neice and I decided in the early fall that our Christmas gifts to one another had to meet special conditions.  They had to be either handmade or thrifted!  So with that stipulation in mind I made my neice and sister these hats from a pattern that I thrifted for .35 at the Goodwill.

 They were made of black twill and lined in a grey and white paisley fabric.  I added a black and white polka dot ribbon to the outside and on the side there is a small black and while polka dot bow.  They both loved them and called them their "Going to estate sales hats"! 

Silly girl!

My sister was also thrilled with the 1950's house coat that my neice bought her!  It is so pretty!  She is going to feel just like Doris Day wearing that around the house.  This beautiful robe only cost a couple of dollars!

And I got 3 boxes of these beautiful vintage Christmas balls!  I can't wait until next Christmas for them to adorn my tree!

We had so much fun with our vintage and handmade gifts and not only were they great gifts, we didn't have to break the bank buying gifts for each other!  

I wish everyone the Happiest of New Year's!  I pray that 2012 is your best year ever!

Blessings

Linda

Christmas Fun!

Good Morning!  It's a blustery day in SW Virginia.  No snow yet!  Drat!  And of course we didn't have a white Christmas, but it was a beautiful sunny day!

My dear husband and son are the two most thoughtful gift givers in the world.  They really think about what I love and this year was no exception! 

All my life I have had an obsession with Teaberry gum!  I would search it out in little stores when I was a kid spending my hard earned allowance on it!  Then it became almost impossible to find.

At my grandparents farm, the teaberry plant grew wild in the hills by the creek and Grandma and I would hike up to her "secret" patch and chew the leaves or she would make tea from them!  I tried several times unsuccessfully to get the plants to grow at my house.

Then when I was a teenager (and a strange teenager who collected antique dishes) I found out that Teaberry gum had it's own Vaseline glass store display!  Unfortunately, it was way out of my price range to  purchase.  Every time I am at a antique store I look for the display dishes and they are always more than I can afford.  So you can imagine my surprise Christmas morning when I unwrapped this:

 You can't tell from my awful photo, but the base of the stand says Teaberry Gum!  Not only did he get the stand but found a small ruler and ledger book with the Teaberry advertising logo on it!  You can not imagine how excited I was!  Then to put the icing on the cake my son gave me this to match:

 A beautiful Vaseline glass cream pitcher!  I can not tell you how pretty this is!  I was so surprised!

So this weekend I am heading out to Cracker Barrel to get me a stash of Teaberry gum to put on my stand! 

I hope everyone had a happy Christmas!  Looking forward to a brand new year with no mistakes in it! Yet!

Blessings

Linda

Away in a Manger....

Do you have a nativity or manger scene?  I love to see all the styles of Nativity scenes that there are available. 

Mine is very unique because it is a hob-cobble of various pieces.  It's also been described as very ugly.  But you know what?  I don't care because every single piece of it is so special to me.

 See.....The Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, the chalk angel on the right and the one chalk king belonged to my Grandmother who bought them when she started working at age 16.  That would have been 1928.  It originally of course had two other kings and a sort of cardboard type manger however that fell apart when my parents started using it in the early 1960's.  At some point it looks like someone tried to repaint the holy family and didn't do much a great job!

 My mom added the shiny plastic angels and the shiny plastic wisemen on their camels.  When I was little this set under our aluminum tree and when the light wheel spun it's colors on the wisemen it looked just like they lit up and I would lie under the tree and watch it until sometimes I would fall asleep.  The sheep I won in Bible school when I was little by memorizing verses and the chicken my son added when he was about 3 or 4.

 The colors on the wisemen are starting to wear off now.

The actual stable my husband made for me when we first got married 31 years ago.

Just like me, my Nativity set is imperfect.  It's not beautiful, fancy or costly.  But I wouldn't trade it for a million dollars!  Every year when I set out all the figures I think about how my grandmother and mom would put it out each year and it brings me closer to both of those dear ladies who are celebrating Christmas with Jesus.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

Blessings

Linda

How I met the "Real" Santa - My Favorite Christmas Memory

Long ago, back in 1966 my Mom and Dad decided to have a Christmas party on Christmas Eve for our extended family as they had just bought our new house that year and wanted to have everyone over to see it. 

Mom called up the family and said "Come on over Christmas Eve and bring a dish for everyone to share! "

My Great Aunt Clara and Uncle Roy came early to help us clean and get ready for the party.

Around 6:00 everyone started showing up!  What fun to see cousins and Aunts and Uncles that I had not gotten to see very often.  Gifts were layed on the freezer in the basement where the party was being held and coats were put on the beds.  There were kids everywhere and the food was abundant!

Around 8:00 the doorbell rang upstairs and Aunt Clara went up to answer it.  Imagine our delight and surprise when down the stairs she came with Santa Claus!  We were so excited!  All except my 1 year old sister who was terrified and jumped on her spring horse and tried to make a getaway!  (We have that caught on 8mm film, and it is hysterical!).  Anyway, Santa joined in on our fun, had some treats, then passed out the gifts that the kids had brought for each other.  (I got stupid underwear with the days of the week on them from my cousin and I had given him a wonderful fire truck with a siren that worked!). 

Around 9:00 he said he must hurry on because he had so many more houses to visit.  He went out the basement door and walked down the road until we could see him no more.

Soon after all the kids and kin left except Aunt Clara and Uncle Roy who were spending the night.  That next day, Christmas Day, after all the gifts were open and we were eating breakfast Aunt Clara says to my Mom. "That was a great idea getting Santa to come to the party"!  Mom looks at her bewildered and said. "Uh, I didn't get him to come to the party, I thought you did".   Aunt Clara said "Nope, not me".  Dad and Uncle Roy are questioned, they say no, they have no idea, they thought Mom had him come.

Calls are made through the family, who asked Santa to come to the party?  Everyone says they didn't do it!

To this day, no one knows who the Santa was who came to our Christmas party on Christmas Eve!  But I have always believed..... it was the real "Santa"

Hope everyone has a wonderful and stress free Christmas week!

Blessings
Linda

Peanut Butter Blossoms

There are some things that are a MUST for our family at Christmas and one of those things are the making of Peanut Butter Blossoms.  These are hands down, my favorite cookie.  I mean, what's not to like?  There's chocolate and peanut butter! 

Peanut Butter Blossoms

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar ( I use colored sugar for Christmas!)
48 Hershey kisses, unwrapped

Preheat oven to 350F.  Combine the 1/2 cup brown sugar, butter and peanut butter in a large bowl.  Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add egg, vanilla, and salt and continue bating until well mixed.  Add flour and baking soda.  Continue beating until well mixed.

Shape into 1 inch balls (you may have to refrigerate your dough if it's too sticky, usually I don't have to.) and roll balls in colored sugar.  Place on parchment lined cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden.  Immedicately place 1 kiss in the center of each cookie, lightly pressing down.  Cool on wire racks.

Grab a glass of milk and eat approximately 10 of these while they are still warm!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Blessings

Linda

Hello my name is Linda and I'm a Christmas decoration addict!

Does anyone know if there is a local chapter of Elves anonymous is SW Virginia??  I need an intervention!

This weekend Yngie and I went out to a local flea market where I had previously sworn I would never go again because of all the crappy, cheap, new junk that every vendor seemed to have.  But as usual I ate my words and went because I was looking for something "Harley" related for my Dad for Christmas. 

After perusing the "Biker" shop and finding absolutely nothing, I decided we could walk around a little.  I heard some Bing Crosby crooning from a downstairs basement shop and decided to follow the music.  Imagine my surprise when I walked upon a whole floor of a mother and son duo selling all vintage items!  No new junk and very reasonable prices as well.   I could have spent a fortune in there, however I don't have a fortune, so this is what I bought.

 Now depending on your taste, these are either "evil" looking pixies (so my son says) or absoultely adorable pixies (so I say)  either way there are making their home in my Christmas Happy Shelves.

How can you not love an elf on a shoe?

 

 It was so funny that the lady selling these elves insisted that the knee hugger elf HAD to remain in the creamer and wouldn't sell them separately.  However it was only $2.00 for the elf in the creamer so I was okay with that!

A cute little angel candle holder and Mrs Santa

I

 I think the mouse is from Cinderella but I'm not sure.  The angel is kind of weird.  She has a pipe cleaner body with a nylon bust and a china head.  Odd, but I loved her sweet face.

Chrismas decorations weren't all I bought.  Oh no!  I like to diversify!  I bought a box of paper dolls!

 This doll originally came with a record however it wasn't in the box with her but she has some beautiful clothes!

 These Shirley Temple dolls were in the same box, with her clothes too!

 Also Desi Arnez with some fabulous outfits.

 And this little doll just says Flowergirl and has the sweetest clothes.

And I'm not really sure who the singing cowboys are.  Maybe Gene Aurty?  I know it's not Roy Rogers and maybe they don't have names but I really like their outfits.  I'm thinking of framing these paper dolls and hanging them in my craft room.  Maybe an after Christmas project.

So, now I'm thinking about going back next weekend.  See!!!  I told you I need an intervention!

Blessings

Linda

It's Beginning to look alot like Christmas!

Good Friday Morning!  It is a cold but sunny day here is SW Virginia and it looks like it is going to be a beautiful weekend.  Hopefully I can get outside and finish putting the wreaths of my windows and decking the outside of my abode!

Inside however, I've been digging through bins of Christmas treasures and having a grand old time decorating our home.

I love it when I finally get to put out all those little decorations that I buy at estate sales over the summer!

                         Such sweet little Christmas Angels!

An adorable little Josef elf and an elf on a bell.  Love my elves!

I loved the praying angels the very minute I saw them.  And doesn't that little elf look mischevious?  And I payed .79 for the Frosty Friends Hallmark ornament!  The Annalee lady cost me an entire $1.00!

And last but not least, this plastic Santa rounded out my finds for the summer.  I'm quite proud of the fact that I didn't buy as much stuff this summer as I have in the past.  My Chrismas collection is getting out of hand as you can see!

On the top shelf of my Happy Shelves, is where most of my "Santa's" live.  One of my favorites is the tiny troll Santa in the front that my son bought me for Christmas last year.

I bought this Santa on a tricyle, in it's orignal box a year or so ago.  Don't you just love the bright colors!

And look at this face!  Oh my goodness, I could just kiss those big, ole' plastic cheeks!

This is the only kind of mouse that I want in my house.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings

Linda

Estate sale finds

Happy Friday!  Are you still stuffed?  I am!  But the best part of the Thanksgiving feast takes place today, TURKEY SANDWICHES!  With mayo and cranberry sauce, you just can't beat it! 

Being a holiday weekend there are no estate sales in our town this week, but I thought I would post a few things that I bought last week.

 This is one freaky, deaky Santa!  It is actually a bank and when you put money in the slot, the Santa will ring the bell!  I haven't put batteries in yet to find out if he works or not.  How in the world does a Santa that big think he's going to make it down the tiny chimney in this little house?

I loved the detail of the Christmas tree in the windows of the little house.

 This adorable litte carnival doll was stark naked and had a big dent in her head.  I felt so bad for her and she was only $1.00 so I took her home and worked some magic on her and now she is so happy to be dressed in her Chrismas finery and now she sits right in the top of my aluminum tree.

 And this is a monkey in a cowboy suit!  LOL!  I have no idea why I think this is hysterical, but I do and had to have him.  And what does one do with a monkey dressed as a cowboy?

 Well, hang him in the Chrismas tree of course!

And isn't this pretty, pink childs sewing machine just the cutest thing ever?  There is a piece missing where you thread it but I don't care.  It now sits under my Christmas tree but after Christmas will look just darling in my sewing room!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  I guess I will head out to do some Chrismas shopping.

Blessings

Linda

p.s.  I am linking up to http://romantichome.blogspot.com/ for Friday Show and Tell.  Hop over and check out all the wonderfully, inspirational posts!

A Quick Hello!

Just dropping by my blog quickly to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I am off work Wednesday and Thursday and will be back on Friday. 

I will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner again this year and I am a little sad that our family keeps shrinking.  There will only be 6 this year unless my nephews surprise me and show up, but I doubt it.  Oh well, it will be fun anyway. 

The table is set, the turkey is thawing in the fridge and I have already done all my other grocery shopping so tomorrow I can start cooking!  I love my new glasses found at an Estate sale for $2.00 for 8. (LOL I see the baby gate in the background.  That's for the dog, not a baby)

Buffet all set to hold all the pumpkin pie, pecan pie and Coca Cola cake.

 And I have already started decorating for Christmas!  If this photo doesn't put a smile on the Scroogiest of Scrooges, then there's something wrong because this is just one big cabinet of happiness!!

Red and Green overload!!!   Next week I will give you a closer look! 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and

Don't gobble 'til you wobble!

Linda

Show and Tell Friday

TGIF!!!!  It's a cold, blustery day today in SW Virginia.  But the sun is shining and it looks like there will be great weather for the weekend ahead. 

I am participating in Romantic Homes Friday Show and Tell.  You can find some very inspiring, and creative ideas there.  http://romantichome.blogspot.com/  Pour yourself that second cup of coffee and pop on over there and be prepared to spend some time! 

This week I'm showing the rest of the goodies that I bought at the auction sale last month.  I admit, I went a little overboard, but I absolutely love everything that I bought and don't have a bit of buyers remorse.

 I love this Eastlake chair and got two of them that match.  I have two already that are very similar and I am going to use them with my antique table in my kitchen.  They are newly upholstered, however I'm not digging that color and will re-upholster in a color that goes with the cobalt blue in my kitchen.

 I love the detail on the top!

 This spinning wheel is gigantic!  It's called a great wheel and really, it's just too big for the space I have it in so it will probably go up for sale.  I really like it though.

 I loved the colors in this Austrian dish.

And last but not least, a Shirley Temple pitcher in great condition!

I am headed to an estate sale today at lunch.  About a month ago I went to a sale and bought this set of dishes:

I got a complete set except there were no cups to go with it.  Today they are selling the items in the basement of the same house where I bought the dishes.  I am hoping that perhaps the cups got separated from this set and may be somewhere in that basement!  Wish me luck!

Have a great weekend!

Linda