Christmas Memories

I can't believe it is December already!

As I decorate and listen to Christmas music I wanted to share some of my favorite Christmas posts from the past~ 

Christmas 2009

It was a blue Christmas in 2010

Vintage pinecone dishes were shared one year

A brunch table

This was a fun table!

Oh and the cubbies from years past!

Before I found the third shelf for the cubbies...2009

2010 and more vintage items to share!

Last year's cubbies!

The kitchen tree

The last time I used the bigger tree was 2011

Who could forget the Pink tree

The Charlie tree

and of course

The Tiger Tree!

With a new home my decorating will change this year.  I can't wait to share it with all of you! 

Wishing you a Joyous week!

I'm joining Seasonal Sundays and a look back at Christmases Past!

Linda

Fall In The Mountains!

I want to thank all of you for the kind comments about little Tiger breaking his arm.  He is doing great and not letting it slow him down much at all!

Last week I took a trip to the mountains to enjoy some Fall weather and pretty leaves!

We stayed in this great little motel in North Carolina!   It was nice and so reasonable!  

We had breakfast and headed out!

This was our first time driving this skyway and it was so pretty!

The Cherohala Skyway (Tennessee State Hwy. 165 and North Carolina 143) links two small towns and follows a mile (1.6-kilometer) high ridge in the Unicoi Mountains. Designated a National Scenic Byway shortly after it opened in 1996, the skyway is the costliest road in North Carolina. It took more than three decades and $100 million to build, but many say the views along the route are worth it. You can complete the drive in as little as two to three hours, but take your time. This route was built for sightseeing. The highway clings to four peaks over 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) in elevation and nine peaks above 4,000 feet (1,219 meters), offering—when the often-fickle weather permits—amazing views of mountains, foliage, and waterfalls. The Cherohala Skyway climbs high into the Smoky Mountain air, ascending from an elevation of just over 930 feet (283 meters) near Tellico Plains to 5,390 feet (1,643 meters) at the road's highest point, the Santeetlah Overlook. Nearly half of the elevation change comes in the ten-mile (16-kilometer) stretch after Tennessee–North Carolina state line.

We were past the peak of the leaves, but still lots of pretty colors to enjoy!

We took our time and stopped at many of the pull offs to take photos!

Such a gorgeous view!  My photos don't do it justice.  We took a picnic lunch and stopped and ate cold fried chicken and it was so good!

The sky was so blue!

Mr. C and I had a great time! 

We are thinking of going again in the Spring! 

I'm joining Seasonal Sunday

and 

Kathe with an E for

You're Gonna Love It

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Shell We ?

Here it is the end of August already! 

Summer has been so busy for me!

Cuisine Kathleen challenged us to do a Summer Fun table.  

That can only mean one thing to me...

The Beach! 

The beach means sand, sun, blue water and of course shells!

I put together my centerpiece using shells I've collected from all my beach trips!  Using bubbled glass cylinders and candles added another element to the table.

I love the colors and texture of these Crate & Barrel plates.  I found these at a thrift shop and have been waiting to use them in a tablescape.

I started with a dark blue place mat to anchor the place setting.  A white charger plate, the dinner plate and salad plate topped with a blue shell glass dish. 

Thrifted flatware in a sea green color pairs well with the dark blue napkin 

and the fish napkin ring

I love these goblets with the blue/green stem

The swirls make me think of waves

Looking at the photos I'm thinking I should have used a white tablecloth on the table first.  I do enjoy the wood of the table, but it makes it a bit dark.

The marble jar filler looks like bubbles to me!

I love the texture of shells....I wish I had time for a beach trip this summer, but this is as close as I'm going to get it seems.

These salt & pepper shakers were a gift! 

Everything on this table was thrifted, gifted or found!  

Shell we??  

Thanks for joining me at these parties!

Let's Dish

Fill Your Cup

Thrifty Things Friday

Seasonal Sunday

**Less then two weeks until I'm on my way to Paris!!  I'm hoping to do some getting ready posts next week!  I am so excited!!!**

Merci,

Linda

I'm A Turtle!!

Move is going well!  Just a fun post for you today! 

What Birthday Are You??

Look Up Your Birthday And See What You Are.....

Click READ MORE below to view the entire list

January 01 - 09 ~ Dog
January 10 - 24 ~ Mouse
January 25 - 31 ~ Lion
February 01 - 05 ~ Cat
February 06 - 14 ~ Dove
February 15 - 21 ~ Turtle
February 22 - 28 ~ Panther

March 01 - 12 ~ Monkey
March 13 - 15 ~ Lion
March 16 - 23 ~ Mouse
March 24 - 31 ~ Cat

April 01 - 03 ~ Dog
April 04 - 14 ~ Panther
April 15 - 26 ~ Mouse
April 27 - 30 ~ Turtle

May 01 - 13 ~ Monkey
May 14 - 21 ~ Dove
May 22 - 31 ~ Lion

June 01 - 03 ~ Mouse
June 04 - 14 ~ Turtle
June 15 - 20 ~ Dog
June 21 - 24 ~ Monkey
June 25 - 30 ~ Cat

July 01 - 09 ~ Mouse
July 10 - 15 ~ Dog
July 16 - 26 ~ Dove
July 27 - 31 ~ Cat

August 01 - 15 ~ Monkey
August 16 - 25 ~ Mouse
August 26 - 31 ~ Turtle

September 01 - 14 ~ Dove
September 15 - 27 ~ Cat
September 28 - 30 ~ Dog

October 01 - 15 ~ Monkey
October 16 - 27 ~ Turtle
October 28 - 31 ~ Panther

November 01 - 16 ~ Lion
November 17 - 30 ~ Cat

December 01 - 16 ~ Dog
December 17 - 25 ~ Monkey
December 26 - 31 ~ Dove

If you are a

Dog : A very loyal and sweet person. Your loyalty can never be doubted. You are quite honest and sincere when it comes to your attitude towards working. You are a very simple person, indeed. Absolutely hassle free, humble and down-to-earth!! That explains the reason why your friends cling on to you! You have a good taste for clothes. If your wardrobe is not updated with what is trendy, you sure are depressed. Popular and easy-going. You have a little group of dignified friends, all of them being quality-personified. Repost This If It's True For You.!!

If you are a Mouse : Always up to some sort of a mischief! The mischievous gleam in your eyes is what makes you so cute and attractive to everyone. You are an extremely fun-to-be-with kind of person. No wonder people seek for your company and look forward to include you for all get-together's. However, you are sensitive which is a drawback. People need to select their words while talking to you. If someone tries to fiddle around and play with words while dealing with you, it is enough to invite your wrath. God bless the person then!Repost This If It's True For You.!!

If you are a Lion : Quite contradictory to your name, you are a peace loving person. You best try to avoid a situation wherein you are required to fight. An outdoor person, you dislike sitting at one place for a long duration. Popular and easy-going. You are a born leader, and have it in you how to tactfully derive work from people. People love the way you always treat them. You love being loved, and when you receive your share of limelight from someone, you are all theirs!!!!Repost This If It's True For You.!!

If you are a Cat : An extremely lovable, adorable person, sometimes shy, with a passion for quick wit. At times, you prefer quietness. You love exploring various things and going into depth of each thing. Under normal circumstances you're cool but when given a reason to, you are like a volcano waiting to erupt. You're a fashion bird. People look forward to you as an icon associated with fashion. Basically, you mingle along freely but don't like talking much to strangers. People feel very easy in your company. You observe care in choosing your friends.Repost This If It's True For You.!!

If you are a Turtle : You are near to perfect and nice at heart. The examples of your kindness are always circulated in groups of people. You, too, love peace. You wouldn't like to retaliate even to a person who is in the wrong. You are loved due to this. You do not wish to talk behind one's back. People love the way you always treat them. You can give, give and give love, and the best part is that you do not expect it back in return. You are generous enough. Seeing things in a practical light is what remains the best trait of you guys.Repost This If It's True For You.!!

If you are a Dove : You symbolize a very happy-go-lucky approach in life. Whatever the surroundings may be, grim or cheerful, you remain unaffected. In fact, you spread cheer wherever you go. You are the leader of your group of friends and good at consoling people in their times of need. You dislike hypocrisy and tend to shirk away from hypocrites. They can never be in your good books, no matter what. You are very methodical and organized in your work. No amount of mess, hence, can ever encompass you. Beware, it is easy for you to fall in love....Repost This If It's True For You.!!

If you are a Panther : You are mysterious. You are someone who can handle pressure with ease, and can handle any atmosphere without going berserk. You can be mean at times, and love to gossip with your selected group. Very prim and proper. You like all situations and things to be in the way you desire, which, sometimes is not possible. As a result, you may lose out in some relationships. But otherwise, you love to help people out from difficult and tight spots when they really need you.Repost This If It's True For You.!!

If you are a Monkey : Very impatient and hyper!!! You want things to be done as quick as possible. At heart, you are quite simple and love if you are the center of attraction. That way, you people are unique. You would like to keep yourself safe from all the angles. Shall your name be dragged or featured in any sort of a controversy, you then go all panicky. Therefore, you take your precautions from the very beginning. When you foresee anything wrong, your sixth sense is what saves you from falling in traps. Quite a money minded bunch you people are!! Repost This If It's True For You.!!

Decisions!

I have had to make some hard decisions about my collections!  

I have collected Waechtersbach mugs for several years!  During this move I decided to edit out a few I just don't love....hard to do but!

I did get rid of 4 mugs!  The sailboat was given to a friend and the others were donated. 

I also collect pottery planters

Over 15 years of collecting.  I decided to edit out a few that again, 'I Don't Love'.  

These were all donated

Along with these three....no regrets yet!

I also thought about donating this set of snack plates and coffee cups

Blue Ridge Pottery

I love the blue with the grey fleck and decided to keep these.  When my blogging ladies come to visit me in my new place, I think I'll use them!

It is hard to edit down our collections, but over the years some you love more then others and it's great to lighten up and keep the one's that are truly special to you.

I'm joining
A Favorite Thing
Seasonal Sundays

Wishing You JOY,

Linda

I Love Blogging!

I really really do love to blog! 

The best part is making new friends, and when you get to meet those friends in person...Awesome!

This week I was able to meet Kathy from Happy Mrs. C!  She and her husband Jeff live a few hours away from me and we have been planning to meet for a couple of years now.   Finally Kathy and I managed to meet half way and enjoy a wonderful lunch!  We chatted like we had know each other all our lives!

Kathy is going to have a booth on the Worlds Longest Yard Sale this year so I took her a carload of items since I am downsizing.  I plan to visit her and maybe even help in her booth in August! I know Kathy and I will again chat like we have know each other forever!!

This week I also had another blogger get together at my friend Sue's (Rue Mouffetard) home.  It was a birthday celebration for myself and another good friend Denise.  Sue went all out with a beautiful table featuring my favorite pink and.....wait for it

FLAMINGOS!

Sue gave each of us one of the 100th Anniversary Ball jars with yummy lemonade cookies in them.  She added these adorable little Flamingos!

The table was stunning!  The quilt in shades of pink and green was a perfect backdrop for pink polka dot dishes and white milk glass.

Pink Flamingo straws...loved them, with our choice of Pink lemonade, iced tea or water!

Oh and the amazing Pasta Pesto Salad! 

Sue making sure the table was perfect and it was! 

She served Italian Wedding Soup, made to order turkey club sandwiches, the pasta and fruit.  

It was all so good!

Dessert was mini cupcakes and key lime pie!

We ate and chatted for a couple of hours! 

I love blogging friends!  Oh and there were gifts!

Yes I'm spoiled and I love it!

Cheri (Chez Cheri) gave me the Paris je t'aime book...it's for photos and very cool.  Sandie (Chatty Crone) gave me this darling little Love book to write in and some adorable ceramic birds.  No photos of those as I already packed them! Whoops!  Denise, the other Birthday girl, gave me those cute as pie green gardening gloves and some other items also already packed!  Denise received her own wonderful gifts but I failed to get photos.  Of course I forgot my camera and took the shots of the table with my new  smart phone...not bad! 

Our hostess Sue gave me this adorable Flamingo throw from IKEA!  Isn't it cute!

AND....Kathy gave me a gift when we met for lunch!

This adorable watercolor of 'me' shopping in Paris! 

I can't wait to find a sweet spot in my new home for this! 

So yes, I love blogging! 

I've met some friends who have been close for several years now and a new friend I've met in person for the first time.  And I'm still hoping to meet YOU someday!

Linking to 

A Favorite Thing

Seasonal Sundays

**Please visit Deborah at The Fairfield House.  Her Mother will be celebrating her 80th Birthday this month and Deborah is hoping to have 80 handmade paper butterflies to hang in her Mom's room.  Her Mother has Alzheimer's and it's left her lost and depressed.  Deborah is hoping to make this a very special birthday and her Mom loves butterflies.  They need to be to her my June 25th, and I'm hoping some of you can help out.  I'm going to make one tomorrow and mail it Monday!**

Wishing you all JOY,

Linda