what was I thinking!@#?

I have been told that I have "a good eye" for finding second hand treasures.

Well, yesterday as I was perusing one of my favorite thrift stores I came across this beauty...

Doesn't look half bad with all those glittering lights, hmmmm....

until you turn off the lights...

yuck, blech, yuck, ugh...
I hereby apologize to my family for bringing this hideous monstrosity into our home.
Please forgive me everyone...

You see I have been seeing these silver trees here and there lately and I honestly thought it would look pretty, really...all I can say is I hope this was just a momentary lapse in judgement.

Let's just call it a donation to Mennonite Central Committee and call it a day.

P.S. If any of you have one of these silver beauties in your home I bet it looks really great!

where have I been...

All I know is that it has been a flurry of activity around here.

Yesterday was the Artisan Fair at our parish and it was very, very nice.

So last week I was filling these...

with boxwood, rosehips, baby's breath and whatever else I could think of. My friend Pam gave me lots of boxwood from her yard, for which I am so grateful. I also have to give a shout out to Suzanne who is always on the lookout for good milk glass containers for me. Thanks girls!
My husband made his wreaths. I made the bows.

Here is my end of the table...

We are so blessed at our parish. We are community, no doubt about it. Friends came out and supported us and that is a really good feeling.

It was great to spend time with good friends. This is Heather's table. She makes beautiful gift baskets, yummy treats, jewelry and some really lovely rosaries. She also coordinated this event for us-thanks Heather! (sorry about the pic-I can't fix it)

Michele was across from us and I got to stock up on all these wonderful books and get my planner for the upcoming year.

Oh, and the mothers group had our first bake sale. It was a huge success! We didn't set prices on anything and did it on a donation only basis and wow, people were most generous. Pop over to Michele's and look at the amazing pictures. It was the classiest bake sale I have ever seen!

A great day, God is so very good!!

from her sketchboook...

recycling bin fun...

As the little one was sitting on my lap this morning as I perused the paper. I thought it would be fun to cut up the supermarket flyer and make her own little "food book".

We cut, we glued, we labeled and now she has this handy dandy little book. She said she will use it in her "kitchen", for her grocery list.

OK, I have way too many sprinkles, this is only the beginning of my collection (eek!). There are dinosaurs, race cars, abc's, autumn leaves and more

Little one had a friend who is a boy over yesterday and he just wasn't into playing house, dolls, etc. which is perfectly understandable so to liven things up a bit I pulled out a roll of the old slice and bake and they piled high and had a blast.

Here is a tea cozy and quilted hot pad I finished up this morning. I love this combination of color and patterns, I think it's very British Edition Country Living-esque.

Since my parents were born and raised in Ireland, tea time was most definitely routine at our house. I have many memories of sitting around the table drinking tea with family and visitors. I even remember putting tea in my baby sister's bottle-oh yes, times have changed...

These days I'm pretty much a coffee girl, but tea will always be a comforting memory.

I'll be adding this to the etsy shop later today.

We have to get ready for our Rosary Group now.

Have a wonderful day and a Blessed Thanksgiving!

pretty in pink...

I have been wanting to try to make one of these little tutus for a while. It wasn't hard and you can find instructions all over the web. For anyone who is not inclined to tackle this one yourself, I will be posting this pouffe of pink made for a little girl under 3 on my etsy shop.

and this apron made with Ava Rose fabric...

sorry tutu and ava rose apron sold

and this one made with April Cornell fabric...

I went out with a few friends from Mothers Group last night, it was a birthday celebration for one of the girls. We went to a place in town with the most delicious Ceasar salad I have ever come across. They take a head of romaine lettuce cut it right down the middle and put it on the grill for a minute, add a wonderful dressing, an extremely tender tasty sliced chicken breast and crispy croutons and wow, what a treat!

Since we are in wreath making mode around here, I thought a wreath would be a nice gift for the birthday girl. Of course it's too early for Christmas but I made this one earthy for Thanksgiving and then if she wants she can change the bow or anything else and dress it up for Christmas.

To the wreath I added pine cones, acorns, tied on strips of burlap and a raffia bow, and wella! one totally organic, biodegradable wreath, minus the metal frame.

OK, I think this is pretty much the last of the garden, I think I've said that before, but I really think this is it. Hubby brought in a bushel of cauliflower. Today I must puree it for the freezer and pull it out sometime on a chilly mid-winter afternoon and make some cream of cauliflower soup. It's pretty much the only way we will eat cauliflower. It doesn't require too much cream to make it yummy. I have made it with cream, half and half and even 1% milk and to me it tastes just as good without all the fat.

Have a great day!

November 24, 2008

Outside my window...It is still quite chilly...

I am thinking...about the errands I have to do...

I am thankful for...a fun weekend. Time with friends, family and I got to fill in down at Lulu and Tutz Friday and Saturday afternoon-it was so fun-I loved it!

From the learning room... a few of the books we are currently reading...

The Man Who named the Clouds by Julie Hannah and Joan Holub

Rivka's First Thanksgiving by Elsa Okon Rael

Give Thanks to the Lord by Karma Wilson

The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern

From the kitchen...We just made blackberry muffins, with these blackberries from the freezer.

I am wearing...it's not pretty but it is comfy...

I am creating...lots of things...

I am going...to make this quick so I can get in the shower...

I am reading...Mothers Rule of Life by Holly Pierlot

Real Learning by Elizabeth Foss

I am hoping...for a productive day

I am hearing...splish splashing coming from the bathroom

Around the house...The usual Monday clean up...

One of my favorite things...Thanksgiving...

A few plans for the rest of the week: sew, clean, make bows for the wreaths, spend time with my family=)

A picture thought I am sharing with you...we learn as we do...

Thanks for hosting Peggy!

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

brrr....

It feels like the middle of January around here...brrrr.........

My in-laws live down the block from us and across the street along this creek. I have spent many hours over the years reading down there by the water as hubby and the kids fished.

This is the view from their sunroom, isn't it so pretty?

We came across this wonderful farm yesterday with the lovliest poinsettias I have ever seen.

I believe it was Amish owned so this buggy is the real deal.

Yes, I know it's too early to start thinking about Christmas for many, after all Advent hasn't even started yet, but hubby has begun those wreaths, so around here it is begining to look a little like Christmas.
These were so healthy and beautiful and a picture just doesn't quite capture the beauty.