Sweet Gifts!

I want to share some of the sweet Christmas gifts that I received this year. The Bath and Body Works goodies, bottle of wine and ornament are from 2 of my clogging friends. The wine bottle bag and ornament were made by my friend Martha. She is super-talented and has opened an Etsy shop.

She also  made this little "apron" for the wine bottle.

My sweety gave me these "King Ranch" shot glasses.

My teaching partner at school gave me this sweet fern.(along with an ivory poinsettia.)

One of my students brought these beautiul Meyer Lemons to me! I am hoping to plant my own tree this spring.

My sweety also gave me the "Conga Roo's" as I call them. They fit perfectly on a window ledge. 

This pretty Christmas Cactus was one of several gifts from my parents.
I had a very Merry Christmas!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Bits of my Christmas decorating

Yes, it IS after Christmas. But I am still catching up on sharing my Christmas happenings, including some of my decorating this year. I changed my bow on the greenery in the doorway. I like it so much more than the bow I was previously using.

 I bought this silver pitcher at a church rummage sale this summer. I decided to use it for my Christmas centerpiece. The metal snowflakes around the base are waiting to be painted shiny silver. Hopefully they will blend with the two shiny snowflakes I already have hanging on the branches. I received the first snowflake at our Bunco ornament exchange. I decided it went perfectly with my centerpiece, but I was only able to find one more like it at Target!

 The candlesticks are Fostoria Americana, as is the large glass tray. The tray is currently being "stored" on my table because I haven't decided where else to keep it. It is quite large! I just found the mercury glass Christmas tree/candle at Target when I was looking for more snowflake ornaments.

 I am thinking that more of the silver snowflake ornaments would look nice hanging from my light over the table. I like this arrangement so much, that I will leave it out through January.

 Santa is over my cabinets with my bubble lights.

 I received this beautiful ivory poinsettia as a gift!

I bought the red poinsettia from a neighbor (fundraiser). My paper whites are about to bloom here. They are actually blooming now.
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Pre-Christmas Surprise!

During the week of Thanksgiving, I was surprised with a gift from longtime friend. The bird curio that belonged to my husband's grandmother was moved to our dining area and the barrister shelves took that place. Many of the items in the shelves are from my friend as well. I am so honored to be entrusted with these treasures.

I have admired them since I was in High school. They still contain the original wavy glass.

I also received china and Fostoria. I spent several days doing some major re-arranging in my large curio, hutch and other cabinets! Then the Christmas decorating began, which didn't leave much time for blogging. Now that I am out of school until the New Year,so I hope to catch up on blogging and many other things.
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of blogland!
Blessings,
Lorilee

Music on our patio

I know I am WAY behind in updates! We went to the Texas Renaissance Festival the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This is our big purchase! We both love the sound of bass chimes. This set is called Whole Note. Hanging them was an adventure!

First, we planned to hang them on the other side of the patio. When my sweety went to put the hook in the ceiling, he kept catching just the edge of the rafter. After several holes, we got the hook in and hung them. THEN we decided the chimes were too long and just didn't work with our gas grill on that side. We didn't want to move the gas grill, SO we moved the chimes. At least this time the hook hit the rafter on center! Oh, did I mention that the chimes weigh 50 pounds! I stood in the middle of them, holding the ring. Sweety guided me up the small ladder while he was on the bigger ladder. Then he had to lift them onto the hook. Quite literally a pain to hang! Ouch my neck and back. They sound awesome!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee