Happy New Year to one and all!!!

Well another year has flown by me again!!
Yes I recall my elders speaking about how fast the years were going by, now I am that elder!
Gee when did that happen??

2011 has been a year of ups and downs, happiness and sadness mixed in with some unexpectedness and a lot of everyday sameness.
Loved , laughed and cried with our family and dear friends.

We had to say the final goodbye to some dear loved ones and see other loved ones suffer while we had to sit by helpless.
Up note was seeing modern medicine at work saving a loved ones life and helping yet another cope with cancer.
Thankful for doctors and surgeons who are working at the top of their specialty!
Experienced the wonders of new drugs and old drugs that kept us going for yet another year. Course not every ache or ill was healed .
There have been a few heartbreaks, ups and downs along with acceptance of what cannot be changed. This is just part of living!

We shared in the joy of many birthdays, a few milestones from 90 yrs of a life lived well to 16 yrs young with loads of dreams ahead!!

No, not all of our hopes and dreams for 2011 were realized but in some instances that was a good thing!
Not every want we have is good for us!
I feel very blessed to have a roof over my head, enough food to eat and clean water to drink.
DH and I are not rich but to some so much less fortunate, we are rich beyond measure!
We have enough!
Sometimes that is a blessing we over look when we are thinking of what we do not have or things we wish we had!

We lived in an amazing time in the year 2011!
Yes was one filled with much sadness in our world but at the same time a year filled with wonder as well.
I want to wish everyone a very Happy Healthy New Year and that you will have enough in 2012!!!

Did finally get the carpet installed. Sure did put things on hold for a spell.

Worth it though. Really love it . Nice and soft underfoot.
Has a texture to it. Very suttle .

Keeps the room open.
Our home is small so darker carpet or floors would make rooms feel smaller!
Yes that is huge Miss Marmalade there on 'her' sofa! Big kitty! ;-)

Went with a smaller tree on the old oak chest.

Still have lots of special ornaments on it.

Old and new ones.

A couple grand cuties pics on it as well

Not sure if you can see the candles or not.
Think they give it that old fashioned feel.

New spot for snow star runner..;-)

My one crafty thing this year. Made this ornament wreath on a hanger.
Next one I do will glue on a wreath form!

Miss Nellie's 2vintage deer grace each side of mantle.

Added the shed antlers up there too.
Went sort of low key this year on decor.
Was late getting going and health is not the best.

We are enjoying the company of some very much loved ones Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. What more could we need or ask for!
Wish the same for everyone!

Can go here to see the white tree in dining room!

Had Great Day.

We spent Thanksgiving with our son, his beautiful wife, her parents and of course grand dog Beamer(named after VaTech coach of course). Was a lovely day!


I had cooked the ham on Wed. so DH was giving some slicing 101 classes to Son.


Beamer is so wishing Grandpop will drop it!!!!
Is that not a pup doll face!!!


Table was all set with the napkins I had made for her along with the thrifted tablecloth.
Fit their big table and worked out great!

DH also brought along his dough for rolls.
Sweet DIL and Son did an amazing job on everything else!
Must say DIL is becoming quite the good cook!
Her Mom even had to say she had come a long way from that first Thanksgiving spread!;-)
From the hors d'oeuvres to the dessert and coffee ending of the meal, all was yummy!
We all left full of food and thankfulness of having loving family to be with on such a
special day.
I have to say I was feeling a bit sad that we could not be with the other children as well.
Such is life though with so many family members living so far away.
Times are tight on families too with gas prices and airline tickets costing so much.
Have to be grateful for the ways we can be connected!
Cell phones, face book and emails!
Yes they are blessings too!!!

DH is off today doing some shopping.
I am at home trying to do some things as well.
Will be Christmas before we all know it!!

Happy Thanksgiving

May your day be filled with loving memories from the past while making new ones in the present.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day filled with family, love and many blessings, big or small.

I extend this wish to all my readers whether you are celebrating the US Thanksgiving or not!;-)

Take care,

Lola

Have posted some home Fall décor pics on my other blog.

Better late than never!

Last of summer...

What you are asking?? Summer??

In newsprint??? Yeah right!

See! Last of Summer's red goodness!
We took the last green tomatoes, wrapped in newsprint .
Set aside in cool place.
Ripe tomatoes for Thanksgiving!
This is an Aunt Dot trick she shared with me!

Look who is STILL in the house!

Miss Marmalade!
Yes she will whine at door from time to time.
For a cat that did not want to stay inside she has settled in nicely!
Better inside away from the big eagles, owls, fox, coyotes and other things that are hanging round here these days!
Now her and Miss Cocoa are never going to be best buds.
They can be in same room now without so many hissy fits!

Well Well...

Some sewing FINALLY got done around here!!
Simple enough but was great practice for using the left leg!
Made napkins for my daughter-in-law.

The fabrics go so well with this pretty linen table cloth.
Was a thrift find from a while back. Have to say think was $1.99!!!
My thinking was niece could use for cross stitch but was too small a weave.
Turns out fits DIL's large table perfect!

This fabric is so very pretty and vintage looking!
Bought it at Hancock's.
They had 60%-70% off on holiday fabs a couple weeks ago.

Nice Fall ones as well.
Have that same light color green as in the linen!
Was meant to be! ;-)

Rewarded myself with a mug of Earl Grey, toasted (DH made) beer bread with peanut butter!

Stop on way home...

I saw this thrift store was open so pulled in.
All proceeds go to the county animal shelter.
It is not open all the time so I seldom catch it.
This is an old Smithfield gas station that became a seafood shop now a thrift store!!

Bought these 2 tablecloths for 8 bucks! Nice dark red color.
One fits our harvest table perfectly.
Not sure what I will do with the second one.
It is long! May do some window valances with it.

These six plates came home with me too!!
75 cents a piece!
Nice creamy color and that vintage red!

I am thinking diner or hotel plates but they sure have not seen much service.
Not any fork marks or chips.

Homer Laughlin Best China USA.
I plan to use these some with my green Homestead China for Christmas.
Check out post on my other blog, Cedar Cottage Farm for more plate love.

Drive Home Part Two

Crossing Stallings Creek. Beautiful Cypress trees.


Favorite play ground for squirrels!

Soybeans ready to harvest.
They are now all picked and Winter Wheat has been planted.


Coming round the bend.


This is the Olde Mill Bridge.

These trees went down in last storm.
Hard to believe it was underwater not to long ago!
Still one of my most favorite scenes in Fall and on a snowy Winter day.

Up the hill. Almost home now!

There we are up ahead on the right!
Today we have wind, rain and cold temps back again!
More like Winter than Fall!

I also made a stop on my drive home.
Will share that tomorrow!

Drive Home Part One

The drive into town was an early one and quite foggy .
So no pics . Decided to take some on way back home.








All the above were on the by pass around Smithfield, VA.

As I have stated before we do live a ways out of town in the country.





This is one of the older homes I pass.

Pretty changing colors against the green of the Pines and Cedars.



Most all cotton has been picked and those fields sown with winter wheat.


Lots of twists and turns!


Getting ready to cross Stalling's Creek here.
Was so dry not long ago , not now.

Will post Part Two in next post!
So many pics. Did not wish to over load!! ;-)

I do enjoy the drive when it is so pretty and I am not rushed!
Now when we have ice and snow it is pretty but would rather just stay home!!
Hope you have enjoyed the ride so far!!

Weekend Past

This past weekend we celebrated my birthday.
Had a wonderful day Saturday, the actual day, with DH.
He fixed one of my favs for supper, fried oysters!


Also hush puppies, cole slaw and baked fries.


As a special treat he made something unique, marshmallows!


They are yummy and do taste so much better than the store bought ones!


Sunday the kids came over.

DH cooked another one of his specialties.
Like a Mexican Lasagna.
This was before baked.
Serve with chopped lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream.
Must have not got a pic of after!
He made a dump cake for dessert.
Was a grand day spent with family!

Kindle gift card! So must decide on some books!

This wonderful scented candle came from the folks in NC!

Smells like butter cream frosting!
Also in package was 2 books. Some fun reads.
All in all an enjoyable couple days spent with loved ones in person and those close in loving thoughts.

Been a busy week here with med/dental appointments and other goings on.
We went to vote Tuesday. So up early to go with DH at 6AM to do that.
Had a prob with a machine but ended up using the old fashioned paper ballets!
Sometimes pays to have a back up plan!

I do hope to be sewing again real soon!
Miss it.
Want to make a few simple things for Christmas gifts.
I do love an old fashioned Homemade Christmas!

Still loving my Fall decor here.
We have enjoyed it! Have had fun hosting some Fall meals with family.
Will be planning the switch to Christmas soon!
The cooler temps we have had made it fun to plan for a Winter holiday.
Was even humming Christmas tunes!
Not around DH though. He would think I was pushing it a bit!!;-)
Watched some holiday movies on Hallmark Channel too!
Love Christmas movies and books!

We are off later today to look at front doors .
Also make order for carpet.
Sunshine and cool temps. Tad windy though.
To be back warm again for weekend and in 70's next week!!
Up and down the temps go!

Should be a pretty drive to Suffolk with all the Fall colors aglow!!
Will share my drive home yesterday with you one day this weekend .
Was beautiful!
Made a fun stop at a neat thrift store!


Take care all... have a grand weekend doing what makes you happy!!