Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread House

My youngest dude and his cousin, my sister's daughter, created a masterpiece today!!

The bakers, decorators and artists....

A fun and creative afternoon with lots of memories made!

Somebody is ready to open presents.....

 

Every evening Little Oliver makes his way over to the Christmas tree and starts checking out the packages.

He sniffs the boxes and walks around the tree.

The narled up gift in front of him is for me from my youngest dude.

I've asked is it food of some sort??

I've been told that it is not.

As you can tell, Oliver has taken "a likin" to my gift!

After a few minutes he decides to take a nap, in front of the tree.

Every evening.

For the record this is not Oliver's first Christmas.  This is his 4th and he has never acted this way in the past.

Apothecary Jars for the Holidays

 

 

Yet another collection, vintage light up Christmas figurines.  

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus are from:

Union Products, Inc.

Leominster, Mass

Over the past few years I have collected 6 different varieties of Mr. and Mrs. Claus from various thrifty locations.  I imagine one Christmas doing a large grouping of them. Just not this year not enough time or energy left in me at this point in the season. 

These beauties have started showing up at antique stores with  price tags higher than I am willing to pay.

Recently I went on a Christmas Home Tour.  Tucked into a corner of the dining room, amongst a few Christmas trees was the cutest little vintage light up Frosty the Snowman.  My heart skipped a beat.

I need him.

I want him.

Maybe one day I can find him cheap at a thrift store or a yard sale.

I'm linking this post up to Seasonal Sunday's at The Tablescaper's Blog.  

Beautiful Words

A Few More Decorating Pictures....

 

 

Hubby and I bought our Angel Tree Topper the first Christmas we were married.  We were stationed in Germany.  She is made by Goebel, same company that makes Hummels.  She has a porcelain face and hands.   The price tag is still on the box, $35.00.  She is just beautiful!!

This tree is in our living room.
I never, ever can get the lighting right in this room for a good picture, sorry.

This tree is in our family room.
Do you see what I see?

Gracie the Cat!

Tis The Season....

  As folks start to decorate their homes for the wonderful season we are in they will discard many old decorations.

So this is what we all must do....

Drive to local thrift shops.
Stop.
Park.
Walk quickly to the decorating/household section.
Scan the shelves and isles for vintage Christmas decorations and dishes.
Trust me, there are treasures to be found!

Example of found treasure:

This just cracks me up!!  Makes me think of a mug shot!

I just adore my vintage Annalee Rudolph.  I found him looking so lonely in a plastic bag along with a couple of other discarded Christmas items at a thrift store in Alexandria, VA.  Hold onto your seats ladies...I paid .49 cents for him!!  He stand 9 inches tall, quite a handsome gentledeer!  His tag reads:
U.S. A.
Annalee
Mobilitee Dolls Inc.
Meredith, N.H.
1965

He is actually older than I am!

Here he is in all of his glory. 

I will treasure him and always provide a home for my wonderful Rudolph the Annalee doll.

So go forth my friends and find some treasures!!

Baking Tip

I interrupt my holiday decorating postings to bring you a healthful holiday baking tip.

I sprinkle 1 tsp of flax seed into all of my baking, not just holiday.

I also sprinkle 1 tsp in my dudes' smoothies in the morning.

No one tastes it or knows it.  I'm sneaky like that.

My family is healthier for it.

See, I do love them.

Here is a link that tells you more about flax seed.

lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/flaxinfo.htm

OK~ this post is dedicated to my friend, Lydia.  She doesn't like it when someone sneaks something healthy
into her food!!

Fondly,
Ann

Disclaimer: no one from Hodgson Mill  asked me to post this, nor do I know anyone at Hodgson Mill
Also, please, please read any and all package labels before consuming
and finally read the link as it does list some harmful effects of flaxseed.

Chistmas In My Kitchen

As promised my kitchen decorations....
(and as always, you can click on any picture to enlarge)

 

 

 

One of my many, many collections is vintage Christmas decorations.  I've tried to mingle some of my collection in with my gingerbread village. Yes, I realize that some of the flocked reindeer are much bigger than the house they are watching over!!  But that's just the way it is in my village. :o)

 

I found these stockings last year after Christmas at Tuesday Morning.  They were $3.00 each!!  I love them!

Fiesta "Scarlett" dinner plates
64 cent salad plates, purchased after Christmas last year at Fry's
Glasses and pitchers purchased in Nogales, Mexico

 

My kitchen wreath...thanks to my girlfriend Lucille and ME magazine. We had a neighborhood wreath making

afternoon about 11 years ago while stationed at Fort Lewis, WA.  So much fun.  This wreath is easy  to make ladies.  Start with a regular artificial pine wreath and just add vintage kitchen items, fake veggies or fruit, some ribbon or cute trim, a few whimsical ornaments and top it off with a dish towel bow!!

 

 And finally....the reason I started my blog, The Tattered Tassel, to showcase my tassels.  Which I haven't done much of in the past 10 months.  I just love the colors of the ribbon that I used on Mr. Frosty, also doesn't he have the cutest little face.  He makes me smile every single time I walk by him.

I'm linking this post up to Rednesday at It's A Very Cherry World.

It's Starting To Look A Lot Like Christmas....

First, sorry for the Thanksgiving post being up on the ole' blog for way too long.

Every morning I would tell myself "you've got to change the blog today."

Every night I would lay my head on my pillow and say "shoot, didn't get to the blog today."

I've been sick.

Littlest dude has been sick.

Lots of volunteering going on.

Big, big Christmas party last night.

But, as my heroine Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is another day."

Today is that tomorrow.

Without further ado some of my Christmas decorations....

 

Fake wreath with fresh cut cedar, magnolia, and holly branches from the back yard.

(Hubby bolted the monogrammed "S" to the door, "so it would stay put", now it is so much trouble

to remove...easier to try and hide it under the wreath than to remove it.)

 

 

 I just love Pansies.  They do very well in our southern winters.  

 

When you enter our house the first room to your left is the dining room.

 

More decorations photo's to come over the next week.  Stayed tuned for my favorite, favorite room, the kitchen!  I just love the whimsical and vintage decorations that I've used in that room, love them!!  Hope to have those pictures up on Tuesday.

I'm linking this post up to The Tablescaper's blog party, Seasonal Sundays.  Head on over to view some wonderful Christmas ideas.

Be safe my friends.

Fondly,

Ann