TREE ORNAMENTS

A few random shots of my tree ornaments.See Olive Oil,do you remember watching Popeye? I have the whole set-just for fun.

I have been making Christmas goodies today, well actually I have burned two pans od cookies and made fudge that stuck to the pan-so I think I need to quit for the day!Heck they sell that stuff premade don't they?

GOVERNOR'S MANSION TOUR

I toured our Governor's mansion last week, the  decorations were all natural evergreens, magnolia leaves ,and cotton. The main foyer had a huge vase of cotton stalks and magnolia leaves, very different and really striking. The huge Christmas tree was stuffed with magnolia branches and cotton stalks as well.Sorry no picture taking allowed inside. This is the outside .

This horse stands on the grounds out front. It is named Delta Glory and was painted by a group of sixth graders in Merigold,Ms. It contains scenes of crops in Mississippi ,native wildlife a Delta juke joint and of course the famous highway 61 blues trail. This  horse is normally at the Delta Arts Alliance in Cleveland,Ms. Very talented sixth graders!

MAKING A LIVE CHRISTMAS WREATH.

We had our annual wreath making class for the public last week-the Master Gardener's that is. We have done this for the last three years and everyone gets help making a fresh wreath. We have some people that have come every year-of course they know by now how to make a wreath, but they say we have such fun they keep coming. This is the one I made for demonstration. Fresh cedar(my favorite) arborvitae and pine. I kept it simple with just a nest and a seguined hummingbird.I love, love cedar, it is my favorite tree, smells so good! I put this one on my back door,because I am letting the dogs out a million times a day and get to enjoy it. This was made on a wire wreath form, but I have made them on a grapevine wreath. Just cut pieces of greenery 8-12 inches long and grab a handful and wire it together-then wire it to your form.Tuck the stems of the next bunch under the fluffy end of the first one and continue around. Easy Peasy.Last year I made one using an old square picture frame as a form, I loved that one too,cause I like to be different!

ELEGANT BUT CHEAP

You don't have to spend the big bucks for a beautiful holiday arrangement. This arrangement was made with cuttings from my own garden and an urn bought at a floral shop going out of business sale.I know a lot of people say that they can't arrange flowers, but truly anyone can. Practice is all it takes! This is cedar,holly and pine. I am joining Kim at http://www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com  for Wow Us Wednesday.Visit the Wally World craft department and buy a package of wet floral foam- it is not wet-you soak it and push it down in your container. Start at the back and put in the taller stuff, then add the sides and start filling in the middle. You could just use any evergreen and fill in where the holly is with Christmas decorations.  Now to find the perfect place to put this beauty.Also joing http://www.bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com

OLD EGG NOG BOWL

This depression era egg nog bowl is one of my favorite Christmas items. I always put some of my old shiny bright ornaments in it. It is not very large as most egg nog bowls are. I have never seen another one like it. Of course I have never used it for eggnog-we don't do egg nog, unless its mixed with ice cream. I did egg nog mixed with ice cream-almost like a thick milkshake, for a garden club party one Christmas-boy did they scarf it down. Good thing I don't put liquor in mine, those ladies might have gotten rowdy!

I used a gold mesh runner and some of my mercury glass trees around it.

Close up of some of my old shiny brights. I love the bell shaped one.I am joining Marty for Tabletop Tuesday at http://www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

CHRISTMAS VIGNETTES

Wow two posts or maybe three in one day! I am joining http://www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com  for the Christmas vignettes party.I love this sweet little shepard. I bought this several years ago when a florist shop was going out of business.I always try to go to these sales, you can find wonderful bargains.I bought the topiaries on my mantel at another floral going out of business sale.I don't remember where I picked up these little fellows, but don't they make you smile?Very simple. I can't seem to resist these little glass trees.

I AM DONE

I am done! Well actually I have about ten more boxes of ornaments, but I am DONE-I am tired and don't want to do anymore!I don't want to turn into the Grinch, so I am going to stop while I am ahead!Time to sit back and think about what Christmas is all about.I love my mish mash of ornaments collected over the years. I love looking at the perfecct designer trees, but they are not for me. I enjoy pulling out the ornaments and remembering where they came from or who gave them to me-special memories.I am joining the Tree Party at http://www.twenty-eight-o-five.blogspot.com

CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

Remember when I bought these beautiful glass dishes at the flea market last summer? I thought the color would be perfect for a Christmas lunch.

I have had these plates for years-they are so heavy-but I thought they went well under these dishes. The white placemats are from McRaes years ago too.

Ruby colored vases for a centerpiece. Notice my mantel, this was before I finished with it.Nothing like doing two things at once!

Silver snowflake napkin rings are perfect with this setting. I am joining http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com  for Tablescape Thursday and http://www.nominimalisthere.blogspot.com  for the Christmas Dining party.Oh yeah below is my Christmas mantel in case you missed that post. I am also joing Beverly at http://www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com  for Pink Saturday

FRONT DOOR WREATH

It has been raining here for the last five days, so a wreath is all I have done for the outside of my house. And the photos may not be too good since I had to dodge the rain to take them! BAH HUMBUG!

I just took a fake wreath I already had and added the green mesh-love that stuff! Then I added picks and ornaments I also already had. I will be teaching a class tomorrow night in making live evergreen wreaths, so I will probably replace this one, but it was the best I could do for now with all this nasty rain.I am joining http://www.atthepicketfence.com  for their Christmas block party.

CHRISTMAS MANTEL

I finally got my mantel done-well maybe I will frame the painting over it-but anyway I wanted to join in the mantel parties. I am joining http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com  and http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.blogspot.com .

Lots of antlers-something I never thought I would use in my house! But I am really liking the natural look this year.

This is a painting I did a couple of years ago. I have a beautiful frame for it, but never got around to framing it-I really think I need to.I am also joining Marty for Tabletop Tuesday at http://www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

TIME TO START ON THE TREE

Well I have started the tree, but it is slow going. I put so many ornaments on that it takes about a week to finish. My ornaments are not fancy, just ones I love and that have special meaning.

I love my sock monkey and the little pink marshmallow looking fellow is an old one-probably from the fifties. The first place I go to at estate sales is where the Christmas decorations are.I have lots of the old Shiney Bright ornaments.Now to add about a hundred more ornaments and it will be done. I think I need to work on the top of the tree too-it looks like I set one of Maedeas hats on top!LOL! I am joining Kim for Wow Us Wednesday at http://www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

CHRISTMAS DECORATING HAS STARTED

I am ever so SLOWLY putting out Christmas. I can't seem to get in the groove this year!I did do a table in my entry.

 Very simple.Apothacarys filled with fake snow and some red berries and Christmas balls.

Sprinkled some snow around the glass trees and called it done. I don't know maybe I will get the energy to do something different, but this kind of makes me feel like I've done something to get started.I am joining Marty for Tabletop Tuesday at http://www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com