Time for Holiday Decorating

I can pretend this is our front door.

Or that this is in our conservatory. 

Five years ago we spent some time at Biltmore during the Christmas season.

The place was grand and lovely.  I suspect the Christmas decorations alone rival the value of our home.

My favorite Santa collection.  These are all by a USA company by the name of Vaillancourt.

The are made using old ice cream and chocolate molds and then hand painted.

The fun of getting them out each year is looking at the details.

The white one in the center is the first.  

I bought it when I fell in love with the painting on the back of Santa's coat.

Sometimes the back is a lovely as the front.

 The snowmen are so cute.

Thanksgiving Blessings

Today is Thanksgiving and also my Mom's birthday.  She was born on a Thanksgiving during the depression.  It is told that her twelve year old sister prepared the meal for family and relatives that day. 

I am off to cook and then join my parents and family to celebrate a

Birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

November 20th

Today is our lovely daughter-in-law's birthday, a nephew's birthday, and our anniversary.  

We are glad to share this date with Stacey.  

She spent her 21st birthday with us when we celebrated our 25th wedding Anniversary.

That evening we took our kids and my parents out to eat. 

Stacey at 21

 The rule is that I do not get gifts with a cord.

Warren thinks that a battery powered drill counts.

I do not!

Diamonds do count!

We spent a wonderful week in Charleston.  

It was a beautiful place to visit.

Lots of historic homes, great dining, and early US history to absorb.

We had a great time while Rhett was back home fighting

cold, snow, ice, and help that did not show up. 

Fall Pictures

Once in a while I get a good photo.   

What a wonderful sky!

This one was taken on a morning with a little fog.

 Our farmstead looking south into the fog.

Fall is Cider Time

Spiked Hot Apple Cider

8 oz Hot Apple Cider

1 oz Sourpuss Apple

1 oz Butterscotch Ripple Schnapps

Cinnamon Stick to garnish

Trust me it is great...and it will keep you warm. 

 

I found this recipe on the blog veranda interiors.

She used 6 oz of cider I used 8 oz.

 

More Fall

It has been a month filled with physicians appointments for my parents.  

And the sudden death of a dear longtime friend.

I have neglected much of my housework and all of my blog.

Right now things are on the upswing.  I hope!

 

It is time to put away the Halloween and replace it with Thanksgiving.

 

 

I won this arrangement at a hospital luncheon.  

They gave away 40 lovely purses first.  No luck, until the very end.  

It was lovely until the pumpkin started to rot.  

I knew there was a reason I used the plate under the arrangement.

By the time I discovered the pumpkin was weeping liquid the plate was my salvation.