Happy 2012!

"Every man regards his own life as the New Year's Eve of time."

-Jean Paul Richter

"Every person regards his own creative life as the 

New Year's Eve of oh, so many new things to create!

-alexa

To a happy, fulfilled and creative 2012!

Thanks Neighbor!

I am not a floral arranger!!

But my neighbor has awesome shrubbery!

These simple bows of pine tree are stuck everywhere!

Smells good!

Looks Christmasy!

Awesome!

Thanks neighbor!

Christmas Traditions!

I am a Mary Englebriet fan.  This limited edition print was acquired (I have no idea how) 7 or 8 years ago.  It has sat on my mantle every year since.  It is truly the essence of all things Christmasy to me.  Then, to add to my awesome print are these precious, old plastic snow globes I found at a thrift store about 3 years ago.  Love the combo!

Some traditions are simple and necessary.  These four items are my "go to" favorites.  

Christmas is coming.......

Stain or No Stained?

This is a small stack of the many cloth napkins I am ironing at the moment.  I absolutely love vintage linens and these soiled, stained, somewhat worn napkins are no exception.  

The use is evident in many different ways.  Oddly enough, I have come to appreciate all the years of spots and how they came to be a part of this linen history.

Just sitting here mulling over their imperfections and have come to love the darkened circle as much as the bright colors.  There have been many years a stain soiled linen would get chucked into the rag bag...no more.  Stains are just as memorable as the fabric or the napkin.  The spots now indicate use, and more importantly the likelihood that something fun happened to cause the stain.

Stain or no stain?

I choose stain.

"Blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself,

for he shall never cease to be entertained."

-John Powell

Yes, if I couldn't laugh at myself this would be waaaay too serious.  I have been completely absorbed in preparing my home for entertaining.  

FYI:  I have cleaned small sub-cultures of dirt-life that had started mini eco-systems in crevasses of most every corner of my home.  The dust balls had evolved into tumbleweeds. My vacuum has refused to suck up anything else until I give it a un-electrified sabbatical.  Plus, I have purchased gallons of Windex.  

I generally think of myself as a semi-clean person.....my was I wrong.  Obviously, the "sweeping the dirt under the rug" syndrome has been going on quite a while.

FYI:  Upside to this story....my dwelling is now CLEAN!

Sunday is my last soiree for the Christmas season.  A simple family gathering of 22 people.  All eating a meal I have cooked.  Insert:  quote above.

It took the consultation of two of the best cooks I know to guide me through this process.  Menu is now set...food purchased....some food made....and table set.

Another small trauma was the need for dishes.  I refuse to use paper goods.  Now, here comes the easy part for me....gathering the dishes.  My first thoughts were to make everything match....but, I don't own 22 identical things.  So, I took the route of not one plate, glass, butter pat, napkin or piece of silver will match.  Mucho easier for me.  Although, I did have to take a few plates off the wall to add up to the magical 22.  

FYI:  Finally, my hoarding has paid off.

My table that seats 22 people looks like a quilt of beautiful mish-mash!  I love it!  

Once again:  Insert quote above.

Laugh at your inabilities and you will be continually entertained.