PARTY TIME

I got these cute Cross My Heart invites at Mint Julip Paperie.

Now I just need to address them. Having our party late so future SIL can make it. We're so excited that he is on his way back to the US from Iraq. 2007 will be the best Christmas ever!

Stockings

Been working on new Christmas stockings. Here are 2 that I think I have completed. We like them big so Santa can stuff with lots of goodies.

Christmas in the Living Room

1. 
   
   My tree is up. Only put up one tree now as oppossed to the three that I put up for many years. When we repainted everything after Katrina, I just had to buy new decorations for the living room so the colors would blend. The watercolor of the pelicans is an original Kathe Calhoun , a local artist from our area. It was a present to me from my best friends. They: he, she, and 9 year old son, lived with us at my MIL's following Katrina for 3 months. Their home was "slabbed". Katrina-speak for a home that was completly gone, except for the slab. All of us cramped in an 1800 SQ FT home, gloriously happy the we did not have to be in a FEMA trailers. I love this picture.
   
   

So I had to use golds, coopers, and a hint of the turquoise from the pelican picture. Love the purple in the watercolor, but didn't want to use the purple on the tree. Feared it would look to Mardi Gras -ish.














I do love to wrap presents.

CHRISTMAS DECORATING

My Christmas theme in my kitchen is Winter White with icicles dripping, frosted grapes, and snowdrops glistening. Kitchen is painted a soft Mexican sand brown with white as the only accent color. It is soothing and cool during our hot summers.

At Christmas, the white and crystal icicles just seemed like a perfect way to further play the cool feeling.

I love the fullness of this 14 FT garland. It does take time to put on all the different ornaments.

7 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME

First here are the rules:1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.2. Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog..

I've been tagged. So ....

1. I love Christmas. I go overboard decorating the house for Christmas. I have at least 10 different colors & themes, only use a few of them now. Not color coordinated with the way house is decorated now.

2. My first car was a Austin Healey Sprite, 2nd was a MG B-GT, and my 3rd I bought brand new was a 1976 MG B-GT which I think was the last year that MG's were made. After we got married in 1977, my husband traded my MG in for a car he wanted. I'm still mad about that.

3. I have to have the toilet paper over not under. You inherited that quirk from me, Miss Tie the Knot!

4. I once entertained an Admiral in our home. Spur of the moment, husband called to say a business associate was coming over for diner and bringing an Admiral. It was Christmas time and home was glowing in all it's holiday glory. Somehow I whipped up a meal, had 2 perfectly behaved children, and pulled it off. I was so nervous about an Admiral coming to our humble house. He graciously told me his experience at our home was as lovely as all the palaces, 5 star restaurants, and State events he attended all over the world. What a warm and fuzzy that was.

5. I have 4 Koi fish that are like my children. They get excited when they see me. Actually they are excited cuz they know they are about to be fed. Cinderella is an all white butterfly koi, Grey Beard is a butterfly, mostly black but with a grey beard, Sharkey is an all black butterfly, and an orange and black one that I haven't named yet. Any suggestions?

6. I started riding horses at 2 years of age. After many falls and concussions, doctors say that my herniated disc is most likely a result of my childhood passion.

7. I had 7 horses thru my childhood. Lady, a retired show horse, Sir Justin Southwick, a retired race horse, Mickey,a quarter horse that dumped me every chance a could, Eyore, an adorable Shetland pony, Shrinking Violet, a very gentle Palomino, and Sundown, a Bay.


Every one has all ready been tagged. I guess I'm too slow. Back to Christmas decorating....

Finally back home and trying to blog

Where has the time gone? We had a great Thanksgiving, daughter flew in on Sunday, son home after his hunting trip on Tuesday. With deer meat to freeze & process. Of course my fridge & freezer was full due to Thanksgiving food. Son left Friday after golf with Dad, went back to Ole Miss as he had a full week of tests and projects due. Daughter and I left early Saturday morning, driving the car we gave her and fiance. Had horrible rain most of the way to Shreveport. And the temperature kept dropping. It was so cold and miserable when we finally arrived. I knew I was getting sick. But I promised her I would go to Jayne Marie's http://www.jaynemarieoncrosslake.com/home.html as the http://www.thebluebirds.net/schedule.php Bluebirds were playing that night. This is the awesome band that we've booked for the wedding. We had a wonderful meal, heard great music, and yes, I even got out on the dance floor. Actually, I was dragged out there, but it was fun. Mental note to myself that night....husband and I need to take dance lessons before the wedding. Had productive meeting with wedding coordinator. Got stuck in Shreveport airport for 8 1/2 hours , trying to fly home. Made it home late Thursday night. Got lots of stories to post, just little time to do so.

My big, wonderful, happy surprise is below.

My husband and daughter went shopping on the Monday before Thanksgiving and had this made for me. They surprised me with it on Tuesday. After some 30 + years I'm in love all over again. Life is wonderful....

Counting Down to Thanksgiving

Last week daughter was here, she left on Saturday only for a week. She flies back this coming Sunday for Thanksgiving. Likewise, son, comes home on Monday. Have not seen him since Labor Day. So I suddenly realize that Thanksgiving seems to be a week early this year. I've got too much to do. But I did find Horchow's DREAM SALE on Saturday. It is still going on!!!! I bought gifts and things for the house also. Monogrammed towels for 2 guest baths. I'm on a huge cleaning binge... scrubbing baths, purging unwanted items, clutter, dust, cobwebs...where did they come from?



My Katrina damaged furniture in dinning room has all come back, refinished and looking grand. Had to leave drawers and doors open for 2 weeks as the odor was so strong. Now I'm washing the 3 sets of dishes, washing the antique Rose Medallion that sits on the hutch, polishing silver, to put everything away in it's rightful resting place. These family treasures have been boxed up, moved from house to house, garage to attic, and attic to house since Katrina. Nothing was left in our house during it's renovation. Some poor things took a beating just being moved around. the antique Rose Medallion, from MIL, so fragile and thin, survived. The beautiful set of blue & white Japan China Phoenix Bird dishes still are scattered in peices, up in my attic. I have not been able to face them yet. They came from my Mom's in MA and are very old. I feel so guilty. Hubby and daughter have said " Lets get them down and maybe repair what's left." I can only move forward in baby steps.

Mary Mahoney's | Restaurant in Biloxi

For Classic Bride....here's a Coast classic that might work for you. Mary Mahoney's is a Coast tradition nestled in the old town Vieux Marche Biloxi, MS. It claims to be one of the oldest homes in America. It hails back to the French settlement of this area in the early 1700's.

The courtyards are beautiful with live oak trees. It exudes that special "New Orleans" feeling where life is to enjoy. "Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez"

The orignal home had a brick cellar, which is unique to our flat landscape.

What a beautiful setting for a courtyard wedding or reception.

They have a variety of dining room choices, each with it's own special flare.

Mary Mahoney's Restaurant in Biloxi

Bellingrath Gardens and Home

For CLASSIC BRIDE ...Mobile AL is an hour away from Biloxi and is full of beautiful wedding venues. Here is one famous spot...

Bellingrath Gardens and Home is a beautiful venue for a wedding no matter what time of year. It is located in Mobile, AL which is about an hour away from Biloxi, MS. They are constantly updating the gardens with seasonal flowers. They have a wedding link on their site which explains their policies.
The only drawback is that they require your event to begin by 2:00PM so that can have every one out by 5:00PM for clean up.
Bellingrath Gardens and Home - Home

Back Home

I've been home for a week, just have not got around to blogg. We had a great time in Boston and the Cape. Weather was beautiful with lots of golds, yellows, and reds falling around. Just like my childhood memories. Now it is November and I've got to get it together to be ready for holidays. Got the highboy and lowboy back, refinished and looking beautiful. One more hutch to be delivered, then I can put dining room back together for Thanksgiving.

I'm supposed to be doing my Christmas shopping, but....I brought back things for me like...

Kate Spade sunglasses and her Tarrytown Samson purse in red. Love it.