Simple and to the point ....

Thank you Weeping Cedar for a beautiful picture. May you all share a Thankful moment tomorrow ....

Quick as a Flash ....

The holidays are breathing down our necks hard and fast. They just arrive earlier and earlier each year, I don't know how it happens but it does. Thanksgiving is late this year making the holiday hustle seem even more intense. To help in easing the frenetic pace I decided to begin my decorating. I have most of it done and will finish after Thanksgiving day by putting up our tree and decorating the outside. To help me remember how I do things from year to year I like to take pictures. Here are a few I can share with you blogging gals!

Above the TV

Family room ....

With the help of my daughter we picked pomegranates from the local junior college. There trees were bursting and no one else was interested in them. I picked up the great pineapple while I was in Ohio at Curry's Homestead.

Nestled on the center of my dining room table is one of Santa's Reindeer.  A shop in Iowa by the name of Gatherings is were he heralded from and I just love him to pieces.

 Bath room, Love my Arnett Americana Santa

Bathroom ...

And ... my bathroom! A wonderful stitchery from my friend Penny Hunter ...

Family room, one of my small quilts and another hand stitched piece from my friend Eileen ...

Kitchen island ....

Kitchen ...

Dining room, a huge dough bowl filled with Santa, candy canes, doll quilts, skates and so many other treasures!!

A few of my angels ...


I hope you have enjoyed your journey through my holiday home! May all you days be blessed as you begin the holidays ....

Colonial Chesterfield ....

My dear friend Paula had purchased two tickets for a Harvest Feast at the Hawks Head Tavern deep inside Oak Glen. Sadly she and her hubby were unable to attend so she offered the tickets to my daughter and I! I have wanted to go to an authentic Colonial Thanksgiving feast for quite some time and it has never worked out until now.

Saturday evening we took the one and a half hour drive east to enjoy a traditional harvest feast.

Once we wound up the curvy pitch black road we arrived. Luckily I found a parking spot right next to the entrance into Colonial Chesterfield. Beyond these inviting lights is a pitch black dirt lane taking us to the tavern. I clung tight to Tiffany since I am still a bit unsteady on my healing knees!

It was chilly outside and of course I was not appropriately dressed. We arrived at the tavern with chattering teeth and cold fingers. Once we stepped inside the tavern the colonial "feel" instantly kicked in.

 

When we stepped inside the tavern we were greeted by this sign .... alas! We were there!

Each table had a tureen sitting in the center filled with harvest gatherings and a candle lit lamp. The entire tavern was lit only with candles making it very warm and cozy. My pewter tankard is filled with icy cold water and another was filled with piping hot delicious apple cider made right there at the colony.

Our seats were perfect. Next to me was the step in fire place which roared all evening keeping the tavern warm. The floor space in front of the fire is were all the tavern activities took place. Wait staff arguments, toasts, mini theatricals etc. Prior to our meal being served we all gathered outside to witness a duel between two waiters. One of them had drank the last bit of brandy and this was so unacceptable that a duel was ordered. After The death of Jacob Quinby we were then led over the river and through the woods to witness Tomahawk throwing. All of this was in the pitch dark of course!

Eager to get back inside the warm and cozy tavern and our warm cider Tiffany and I headed back a little early.

Here is our menu. Each serving of food was served individually ... the English term is a "remove" When the waiter removed your plate a new food would be introduced. If you are familiar with history it is common knowledge that  English food is not very tasty, keeping with the historical aspect of the feast the meal was authentic ... need I say more? If you are ever offered a serving of Bubble and Squeak I advise you to say no thank you. It is shredded potatoes and cabbage fried together. The cabbage will cause you to "squeak" later if you know what I mean. My favorite item on the menu was the very tasty corn pudding. As for the rest of the feast .... pretty dry to the palate.

Tureen's filled with piping hot Pumpkin soup were carried around the room and served.

 

While we dined this three piece music trio played continuously. Two violins and a piano, it was very lively happy music.

To finish off the evening we were served this enormous Caramel topped Apple Dumpling. It was huge, and rather dry and bland. With the exception of the apple in the center it lacked flavor.

But it was big and it was beautiful to look at!!

As the 9 o clock hour rolled around Tiffany and I had a long drive home. What we could have used was a nap! 

Thank you Paula and Darrell for giving us your Feast experience. It was very interesting and a lot of fun. I love history, especially early American history. I've often thought how fun it would be to spend time in Colonial America .... think I've changed my mind. 

She's Baaaaak!

Yep, Miss Betty the Basket Elf is officially back. She disappeared shortly after the grand kids went home. I was told these little elves come and go as they choose. Although I was sad to see her go I guess that's how it goes. This morning I woke to the sound of my sewing machine downstairs. Since I am the only person who sews I was a little freaked out! 

I tip toed down the stairs to see who was sitting at the machine and much to my surprise it was Betty!

Wow, there she is, sewing her little heart out!

 I had purchased some Elf on the Shelf fabric to make some pillow cases for my grand kids. I guess Betty found out it was here and decided she needed to get them made in time to get them sent up north.

Little Betty was so focused she never even knew I was behind her snapping some pics!

By the time I got up she had two done and two to go. I think she loved the elf fabric.

 

All done!! I stayed out of her way. Cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming and doing a bit of laundry.

 With the pillowcases completed it was my turn to step in. I tied a fabric bow to each one and prepared a shipping envelope. I will send them early next week allowing them plenty of time to arrive by December 1st when Betty's cousin Sparkle is expected to arrive at their home.

Pressed, folded and tied up with a bow. The kiddies will be so excited!

 

Let it Snow, Let it Snow ....

Where I live is Southern California we have NO SNOW! That's OK with me most of the time. However, when the holiday season rolls around I find myself longing for snow on the ground and watching it fall while sitting inside by a warm cozy fire. This thought quickly passes when I hear the temperatures are dropping below freezing, pipes are bursting and many homes are without the necessary power to heat homes.

To help ease my need for snow my lady

friends and I made snow men ornaments.

So simple and so fun. 

Tanya and Donna just painting away ....

This is mine complete with a north star .....

All you need to do to make your own snow people ornament is paint the palm and fingers of your hand with white paint and firmly grasp an ornament. Paint your snow people any way you like, add some snow flakes and a north star if you like and poof, you have your own scenic snow day!!

The snow ornaments drying from my chandelier. 

 For me this is what the holidays are all about, spending time with friends creating memories together.

A Veteran Senslessly Lost

Sunday evening in a small town in the valley a young Army veteran was celebrating his recent acceptance into the California Highway Patrol. His honorable discharge from the Army was only four months past. He had his life before him and it was looking pretty good. While in the front of his home saying good bye to some friends when a black SUV came cruising slowly up the street. Within a few seconds a spray of bullets hit the young veteran and he was gone. He survived the horror's of war in the Middle East only to be murdered in a place he was sent to protect. 

As we celebrate Veteran's Day tomorrow I will be thinking of our men, young and old that have given their lives for our beautiful country. My heart will ache for the young Veteran who lost his life while celebrating his future.

A Visit from an Elf

My son and his family stopped by Monday evening for a short visit on their way to the Glamis Dunes. I was already asleep when they arrived. Very early Tuesday morning I had two little monkeys jumping on my bed eager to share with me all their news. Top on the list was the important news that an elf was nestled in my collection of Longaberger baskets hanging in the family room. Completely unaware of what they were referring to I was hustled out of bed to see my new guest.

Here she is .... the Christmas elf hanging out in my basket. Excuse the fuzzy photo but in my excitement to see her I couldn't keep the camera steady!

This Christmas elf thing is new to me but the kids new all about it. They wondered how she got here, and why was she so early?? "Early I asked, what do you mean,  I thought you kids brought her with you." Oh no grandma, the Christmas elves come to you.

After a lengthy conversation I learned this ...

* Christmas elves usually come on December 1st.

* The poses magic and you can not touch them.

* If you do they lose their magic power.

* They are here to be sure that children are good.

* They report to Santa what they see.

* The get into mischief now and then.

* And, as magically as they arrive they disappear.

Hummm, was all I could say. I was sure someone in my son's family brought her here but of course no one would claim her. Well, since she was here I felt she needed a name. I chose Betty the Basket elf since this is where we found her. All day Tuesday she sat nestled in the cozy basket watching my three grandchildren play. I actually forgot about her until Wednesday morning. My granddaughter came running into my bedroom to tell me Betty was gone! She had left the basket and was no where to be found. Calm down I said. You told me they can magically leave so she left.

Once I finally rolled out of bed and began my day I eventually strolled into the kitchen to do dishes and fix breakfast. YIKES, I turned around and found Betty the elf. She had mysteriously moved into the kitchen and helped herself to the chocolate chip cookies!

What a mess Betty made. Cookie crumbs were on the counter, floor, her dress and all over her face!

Look at her messy face!

How she opened the cookie container has me baffled. I have a hard time opening it. The kids were right, she was full of mischief! 

Hours later I discovered a cleaned up kitchen and a missing elf. Scanning the house I found her on the dining room table sitting in a little chair. This is too much ... someone is messing with me.

My son and family were leaving early Thursday morning. I went to bed early while he was packing the motor home preparing for a quick get away. I was sure the little elf would be packed up by the time morning came. Nope, no suck luck. Again my granddaughter came in to let me know Betty was at it again. This time she was sitting on the table coloring and playing tic tac toe! She even got into another book and did some painting.

She doesn't do a bad job coloring!

The  painting is a bit messier. I don't think painting is her "thing."

 The kids left for the dunes, I waved a teary goodbye and set about cleaning up the house. Betty was gone, color books too, she was headed to the desert.

Ummm, not so fast. I was sitting on the couch resting my achy knees and guess what I saw ....

Holy Moly, she still here and hanging from a basket!!

The questions are ... does Betty poses magic? Is she staying here or will she move on to another grandma's house? I guess time will tell.

November 1 ... Day of the Dead

In several cultures November 1st is a day to celebrate loved ones who have passed on. In Mexico a woman's face is painted like a skeleton and they, along with others will parade through villages to the local cemetery.

These two are my families idea of Day of the Dead ...

My daughter in law and Grand daughter ....