The Outdoor Decor 2012

There's a bit of a nip in the air today and it helped me get motivated.

I just finished the outdoor decor for Christmas.

Same as last year.  Same as every year.  

One word: Color!

I love color, all the time, but especially at Christmas.  

None of those plain Jane white lights for me at Christmas, no siree.  

The brighter and shinier, the better.

Mr. Grand hung the lights this past weekend

and they look wonderful.

Multi-colored icicle lights everywhere. 

And multicolored ornaments everywhere, too.

On the wreaths...

And in the window boxes!

Giant ornaments in bright, shiny colors.

I like some decorations to show up in the daylight

and these certainly do!

The front entry is decked out in all its seasonal finery...

I hung a sparkly needlepoint stocking instead of a wreath on the door.

The sled and the little red boots are ready for the season 

and hopefully a little snow!

    Wreaths on either side of the door, complete with shiny ornaments

And a shiny star hung from on high

You can never have enough shiny and bright...

The lights come on at dusk...

I love how Mr. Grand strung them across the porch, too-

because of the view from inside!  

Here's to Christmas Joy!

Linking to:

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable
Thursdays ar Your Days at 52 Mantels
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Birds Nest Notecard

It's my friend Alice's birthday today and I wanted to do something special for her.  

She has one of those holiday birthdays that kind of get lost in the shuffle 

and it is not always celebrated properly. 

Sometimes her birthday is on Thanksgiving, 

sometimes it's before Thanksgiving and sometimes it's after. 

Shes a very good sport about when it gets celebrated, 

but 

this year, I'm ready!  

Alice loves birds.

I printed this lovely birds nest off of the Graphics Fairy website:

Then I used my super-sharp little scissors to cut it out, 

leaving a tiny white edge around the whole nest.

I used a small strip of double stick foam tape to adhere the nest to the notecard.  

I like the foam tape because it gives the cutout some dimension.

Here it is-

Ready to go.

I paired the card with a gift and this gorgeous bird tag 

from Jennifer Rizzo and Room 363 in Naperville, Illinois.

I think Alice will like this...





Linking to
Brag Monday at Graphics Fairy
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Thanksgiving Tablescape

 

Come on in...

The table is set. 

 

Darling Daughter arrives home from college today, 

Freshman year,

her first Thanksgiving visit home.

Do you remember what that was like?

I do, like it was yesterday.

The excitement was almost unbearable,

the hugs, the squeals, the sights and smells of home...

It's like that again for me today.

I cannot wait to see her!

 I am pretty sure I saw this idea on the blogoshere somewhere, 

and I had all the parts, 

so this lantern filled with Fall colored glass ornaments sets the stage.

The boxwood plants are from IKEA...  They can go anywhere.

Must get some more...

 I alternate the place mat colors.

It's kind of a thing I have....

I alternated the fabric on the chair seats 

and the shades on the chandelier, too.

 

I'd like to say it's a fancy design trademark

but it's really more like indecision

or plain old greed... 

I can't resist all of the pretty colors and fabrics and textures

so I use them all....

The leafy little green plates are from Pottery Barn.

The china and the sterling flatware and candlesticks are my Mom's.

I love the mix of the past and the present. 

I am thankful for all of it.

Now don't forget to make Aunt Dottie's Pickled Peaches 

from the recipe I shared with you last year... 

And here's a recipe for the Best Cranberry Sauce ever...

You can make this several days ahead, like I just did.

Cranberry Sauce with Port

1 bag of fresh cranberries

1 cup of good quality Port

3/4 cup of sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Wash cranberries and drain.  Place all ingredients in medium saucepan. 

 Boil over medium high heat for about ten minutes 

or until almost all cranberries have popped, stirring frequently.  

Sauce will thicken when cool.  

Serves 8. 

Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Linking to:

The Cure for the Common Monday at Lines Across

Make The Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Masterpiece Monday at Boogie Board Cottage

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper
Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things
Sunday Showoff at Twigg Studios
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Uncommonly Yours Link Party at Uncommon Designs
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Fall Into Fall at DIY By Design
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage