A Little More Christmas

It is starting to feel a little more like Christmas to me. I got a call today from my boss, and I have tomorrow off. Yea! I don't go back to work until Monday...I needed a little break. I am enjoying catching up on some blog reading and relaxing this afternoon. This is my little computer nook.

and a few other little Christmasfied areas in the house.

a hot cocoa and spiced tea station...

And today, our dear friend, Betsy and her husband Jimmy, came for lunch.
I used small stockings to hold flatwear and napkins.
Betsy brought a delicious Butterfinger cake and a plateful of cookies.

I made a chicken and rice stew

and a chili dip.
The dip was a recipe from my boss who brought it to work last week. You spread a brick of cream cheese in a baking dish. Pour a can of Chili Magic over that, and top with 1 cup of grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly, and serve with Fritos. It was really good.

The best part was the company, but we did not take a single picture. I am so disappointed, but I think we were too busy chatting to think about it.

It was good to catch up and share with friends...it did me good.

Rudolph Cake Balls

I made cake balls today. Rudolph cake balls, in fact.

You bake a chocolate cake and break it up and mix in a container of chocolate (or any flavor you desire)icing into it. Dip out spoonfuls and with damp hands, roll them into balls. Refrigerate for about an hour.
Then dip them in melted chocolate wafers and place a red M&M for the nose.

Some white icing and a black dot of gel icing for eyes.

Break up some pretzels for the antlers. They do take on their own personalities. One looked like a bunny rabbit, and one reminds me of Mrs. Potatohead with her "angry eyes" on. But, in all, I think they turned out kinda cute.

My Christmas Table

I am sharing my Christmas tablescape today. This was the table set last week for my extended family dinner. Sadly due to our wreck, we did not get together that day. We will try again after Christmas. Anyway, I really liked the way the table turned out, so I will use if for our Christmas Eve dinner.

My idea was to use what I already had this year, so I scavenged the attic, the buffet, the pantry, and, yes, the backyard.

I used a basic green tablecloth as the base.

I made the centepiece from those branches you have seen many times. These are like the ones we used at Shawn's wedding. I hung some old chandelier crystals with some vintage gold ornaments that I had purchased from an estate sale.
I retrieved the silver vase from my attic.


I nestled a pine cone, some greenery, a little white ceramic bird, and some more crystals atop some moss in the vase.The soup tureen is from the Goodwill. The hurricanes were also used at the wedding. I filled them with rock salt and placed a candle inside. I snipped some greens from the yard to tuck into the "snow", er I mean salt. The white plates are just plain buffet plates dressed up with pretty soup bowls from Goodwill.


The wicker chargers came from Wal Mart a few years ago.

Doesn't the caramel cake look good on the milkglass cake stand?

The little ceramic birds clipped to each charger were also a Goodwill find...I was lucky to find a whole box full of them.

I had to take some pictures, so I can recreate this for Christmas Eve.

I don't follow the "rules" when it comes to table setting. Who makes those rules anyway? I just use what I have, and what I like.
I am joining in this week's Tablescape Thursday. Hop on over there and feast your eyes on some beautiful tables.

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-tablescape-twelve-days-of.html

Thanks for looking at mine.

Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me

You may remember the song from Hee Haw that says , "If I had no bad luck, I'd have no luck at all...". I believe that must apply to me. We were supposed to host my family get together today, but plans can change very quickly. We had rain here in Memphis yesterday, and we had just left the Honeybaked Ham store with a 10 pound ham to come home and prepare for our company, when this happened. A young lady hydroplaned on the wet street, unable to make the curve, and she was heading straight for us in our lane. Thank goodness Joey was driving, and he tried to veer right to avoid hitting her head on, but we were on a 2 lane street with no shoulder. We ended up being hit down his side of the car and landing down a little embankment. Thankfully no one was seriously injured, but we were very shook up. Our air bags deployed, so we were not allowed to drive the car the 1/2 mile to our automotive shop. We had to pay $125 for that wrecker call. My brother in law came to rescue us and deliver us home. (Word to the wise...always go to the bathroom before you get in the car for a long drive, because the wait for a wrecker might be over 1 hour. I'm just saying. Rick drove me down to the shop for bathroom privileges and brought me back to wait with Joey until the wrecker came. At one point I thought I might have to knock on someone's door and beg to use their facilities. ) After being out in the very cold, windy rain we got home about 2 hours later. The adjuster won't be able to assess the damage until Wednesday. Some of you remember that the reason I had this car in the first place is that we were hit last February, and our last car was totaled.

I wonder if this one will meet the same fate...

Joey and I are both very sore today. My side and right chest area are tender from the seat belt. I think Joey is going to the doctor tomorrow morning to get checked out. His hand is swollen, and he has some bruising on his back. He can't raise his arm to get his shirt on, and he is an auto mechanic. It hurts to laugh--maybe a broken rib. I dont know.

Our family might have to stop celebrating holidays: last Halloween Jackson had swine flu...Memorial Day he had pneumonia...right after Father's Day daddy had a heart attack...4th of July Hudson had a stomach virus...Thanksgiving Hudson had his seizure...and now this. ENOUGH, thank you.

We are truly thankful that in all these hardships, we have all come out safe and sound, just a bit frazzled. God is good!!! As Psalm 121:7-8 says, "The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life: the Lord will watch your coming and going both now and forevermore."
Be safe everyone,

The Real Meaning of Christmas

I am joining in the Nativity Party at

http://happierthanapiginmud.blogspot.com/2010/12/welcome-to-reason-for-season-party.html

I have also linked to a second Nativity party I found here.
http://www.crapivemade.com/

This lighted Bethlehem nativity set was purchased from Costco years ago. I have only used it one other year, and to be honest, I kinda forgot I had it. I have a Dickens Village, Snow Village, and a Disney Village, so I guess it got lost in the shuffle. My Mother reminded me I had it and asked me to use it this year.
This is a closeup of the manger scene.

Other shops and homes in the village.

This is on the entry table.


My mother took ceramic classes about 35 years ago, and she made this beautiful nativity set. I use it every year.

Not really a nativity, but a sweet collection of glittered churches.

The nativity plate on the mantel was a thrift store find. The angel came from Old Time Pottery.

The Santos Wisemen came from Southern Living at Home about 5 years ago.

Another resin set on a side table.

A pewter set on the sofa table.

A balsa wood set on the buffet in the dining room. I found this a few weeks ago at Goodwill.

I hope you enjoyed my nativity collection. I look forward to seeing all the others.

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and the holidays, but remember that Jesus is the reason for this season. We can have life eternal because He came to Earth and gave His life for us.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life".

John 3:16

Blessings,

Oh, Christmas Tree

I seem to have more trees than I realized, so I am joining in Thrifty Decor Chick's tree party. There are already over 350 trees to view. Click here to see them all.
http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-christmas-tree-party.htm Here are some of mine. The first is a lighted tree made by my aunt and uncle and given to me in 1973. They used to make ceramics, and it has the date inscribed on the bottom. I put it out every year..They also made this lighted white tree around that same time for my grandmother. She used to display it in her front window. Now I have it, and treasure it, too. The ceramic nativity was made years ago by my mother.
I have a small glittery candle tree on the dining room table. I will post the tablescape next Thursday.
Another picture of my beaded tree I wrote about in my last post...

And our big tree in the den. I really couldn't find a place to put all the ornaments I have collected over the years.

And my favorite tree pic of all...my adorable grandsons. Even their shirts have trees on them.

That just makes me smile.