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

Bella the kitty

My little kitty has grown up. 

She spent the day at Adopt-A-Pet getting spayed. I was so happy to bring her back home. She is still a bit wobbly and drugged, but she seems glad to be home!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Fall Blooms

I thought I would share a few photos from the garden. We have not had freezing temperatures yet in South Texas.

Y'all come back,
Lorilee

French inspired bottle rack

I have admired French wine bottle drying racks for some time. I've seen them used for cups, glasses, terra cotta pots, vintage Christmas ornaments and even wine bottles. I really wanted one, but they were far too expensive for me. I was thrilled to find this one at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home.

At the moment, it is displaying some of my vintage cups.
Blessings,
Lorilee

Fall at the cottage

Besides my "new" mercury glass pumpkin centerpiece, I though I would share some of my other fall touches.

The framed graphics are from "Graphics Fairy".

My mom made this stuffed turkey for me many years ago!

My poor scarecrow is seldom in the chair. The cats like to attack him, so I frequently find him on the floor!

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving,
Lorilee

Faux Mercury Glass Pumpkin

I love my fall centerpiece! I won the glass pumpkin at Bunco last year. This year, I decided to use Looking Glass spray paint and give it a faux Mercury Glass treatment. I found the cake stand at Hobby Lobby for 60% off.

I found the big acorns while walking in the neighborhood with my husband. The seed pods are from my Golden Rain Tree.
Blessings,
Lorilee

Birthday Roo!

 I celebrated my 47th Birthday in October. This handsome rooster was a gift from my Pop and Stepmom!

I think he is so handsome!
Y'all come back!
Lorilee

 A few weekends ago, I arrived home well after dark. Hubby had fed the pets, but Bella (our youngest kitty) had not come from outside to eat. I went out to look for her. I called and called. I heard owls hooting in the distance. Then I saw a big rat snake on our privacy fence. There was a smaller rat snake crawling     up the wire fence under our bat house. I was feeling pretty creeped out and upset that I couldn't get Bella to come. Brian came home from work and started helping me look for Bella. Then he decided to catch the snake. The other cats were also interested in the snake. It let out its defense odor. YUCK. He did catch it. He put it in a bucket, promising to relocate it in the morning. Bella finally came--early the next morning. That evening, she knocked a basket with a 1/2 dozen eggs off the counter. What a mess. I was ready to put her back outside with the owls and snakes. Oh, and Brian did let the snake go--right back in the pasture behind our yard. I'm sure I will be meeting it again, probably in my chicken coop.

Y'all come back,
Lorilee