Cotton Hancock

Peter's Pottery Rabbit

What $1.00 Can Buy

Yay me! How cute is this?

Linking to Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Minding the Madness

I've always been an observer.  I am extremely mindful of how people act, what they say, how they say it, how they look...  Sometimes this can be a good thing and other times not so good.  I have been especially mindful of people this holiday season.  I watch the employees as well as the shoppers in town as they frown, grumble, fuss at children, etc.  Most of them appear to be insanely miserable.   I'm not sure why we allow ourselves to become so overloaded and miserable when this is suppose to be " The Most Wonderful Time of the Year".  

So... I have made it a point to put a smile on my face while I am out shopping even when I may not feel like it.

OR when the lady at the service desk was not ready to open this morning and I stood at the counter for ten minutes without her even acknowledging me or another lady while she opened her register appearing as if she would like for us both to disappear.

OR when the cashier threw my holiday cookie in the bag and I just knew she broke it.  And she did!  Hard to see here, but it has a crack running all the way up the right side.  And the bottom button is smashed.  This was going to be a gift.

OR when I got this:

AND got home to realize I had forgotten the gift boxes I bought because they were not bagged.  I am sure they were standing upright on the side of the buggy and I didn't see them.

Am I still smiling?  You bet!  I do not have to get back out into the madness!

Hooray and Merry Christmas!

Santa's List

Chalkboard I made this past year all dressed up for Christmas:

Whimsical tote I found at T.J. Maxx last year:

Linking to Wow Us Wednesdays @ SavvySouthernStyle

(H)ALL Done

Well, not exactly, but closer.  I am not sure we EVER actually finish projects around here!!  It seems like they get to a certain point and then come to a screeching halt.

BTW: It was no accident that I did not take pics before the bare concrete floors.  I could not "bare" showing that nasty carpet to anyone!!  As I stated before,  I refused to even turn the lights on in there it was so bad.  I had shampooed it many many times, but it was no longer "cleanable."

Here is a sneak peak of what I want to put on the end wall although I am not sure it will fit. According to the measurements it will fit, but I'm afraid it will look crowded.  The only way to tell is to put it there and that's not going to be an easy task.  It is very tall and very heavy.  And then if I DO place it there, it will have to be moved again because I want to refinish it.  I painted it a couple of years ago, but have never really liked it.  I have an idea of what I want to do, but it's going to take a lot of work.  We'll see!

Here is the runner I placed on the floor.  Not too crazy about it, but it was cheap and will serve its purpose for a little while: to keep it a little warmer in the house and to protect the floors because this is such a high traffic area.  We bought it at Lowe's and was sold by the foot.  It only cost $37.00, so I will leave it until I just can't stand it anymore.

Here is a closer look:

 I also want to create a wall gallery in here with family photos.

See, I told you!  So close and yet so far!

Ornaments

Not all ornaments are hanging on my tree. See:

Santa in cloche

Santa in curio cabinet 

Shiny Brites in apothecary jars

Three tiers of Shiny Brites

Bowl of acorns and bells

Tree & Mantle

Not happy with the pics of my tree. I think it looks better in person. I only put one up this year instead of the two or three I usually do. With the floor projects we have going on right now it was just more than I could deal with.

Same with the mantle. I don't think the greenery looks as skimpy in person as it does in this pic.

I also did a little re-decorating on the piano and tweaked a few other areas.

Working on my porch now. Hope to have it finished tonight.

Brass Tray

I bought this tray last July at an antique store in Oxford, MS.  Only $4.00!!  I LOVE the claw feet!  The other thing I love about it is something that use to drive me nuts: Tarnish!  When I first got married, I had a set of pots and pans with copper bottoms.  I hated them because I thought I had to keep them sparkling and shiny.  Not anymore!  I love the patina.
    

I put it in "storage" (aka known as my dauther's bedroom) knowing one day I would brainstorm a good use for it.  Last night the brainstorm came.  

Don't you think this looks better than just having the remotes scattered around everywhere?  I may think of a way to trim it out for Christmas, but then after that I'm pretty sure this is where you will find it hanging out!

Linking to Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday; Knick of Time Tuesday

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl

Today is my daughter's 24th birthday.  We celebrated in New Orleans over the weekend.

At LaFreniere Park:

 With daughter and her dad

We also did some shopping,a LOT of shopping as a matter of fact.  Displays in one of the malls:

Christmas

More decorating.  Probably not finished, but here's what I have so far:

Small table on one side of tree:

Other side of tree:

Manger scene on table in family room:

A favorite, Santa birdhouse:

On top of curio cabinet:

Curio cabinet:

Hall tree in foyer:

Dining room buffet table:

Piano:

Collection of Santa's:

Coffee table:

Cloche on coffee table:

Hutch in breakfast room:

Breakfast room:

Linking to Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch