The year past....

This past year has been one of travel...projects...surprises...family...fun...what have I forgotten? Oh, yes, food....sunsets at both the east and west coasts....Disney....turning older than dirt. But most of all, the love of my cherished family and many friends.
I lost a dear friend this year and that brings home the importance to cherish each day as well as those we hold dear.
HaPpY NeW YeAr, dear blogging friends! I wish you blessings as well as fun in the coming year!

Goodbye CA-Hello Home!

We spent the last three days with our oldest son in San Francisco. He showed us wonderful scenery, great restaurants and even met his new lady love. What a wonderful way to end our visit to California.
But I must admit, I am yearning to arrive home and see my kitties and sleep in my own bed.
There is no place like home....and my derrière is sore from sitting so long in airplanes!

PS In the last picture, you will see our (licked) clean plate from dessert last night...the best pecan tart with caramel ice cream!
Now back to reality and the need to count calories!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

We celebrated with our family on Christmas eve-so wonderful to spend time with our sons (plus one girlfriend and one grand puppy).
Family means so much this special time of the year...the love we feel for these two men is overwhelming at times like this.
Showing a few of my gifts-how cute is this charm bracelet?! And I recieved not one but two Wee Forrest Folk-one is still on Santa's sleigh.
May your Christmas be filled with laughter, fun, and love!
Make sure you have a few goofy moments! Hugs!

Another Day of a Most Excellent Adventure....

We traveled to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville one day during our adventure. The Inn has a gingerbread competition every year so we were able to see most of the entries....except for the winner. The picture of the winning entry left me wanting more but there were so many on display, I found myself enchanted. I now have something new on my bucket list....to make my own gingerbread house.
Our family spent a week at the Grove Park Inn way back when the boys were young (unbelievable to find so many years have passed) so it was fun to see the wonderful Inn again. We had a delicious breakfast there next to the windows where we could enjoy a view of the mountains. After our tour of the gingerbread houses, we visited the shops and an art gallery on the grounds. I came away lusting for many things. Another terrific day!

We found these adorable, mouse sized miniature shops at the Biltmore as well as at the Grove Park Inn. We each now own three to remind us of our adventure.

New (Already Cherished) Christmas Ornaments

I love ornaments...especially those made of glass. I bought several last week and am showing off a few. The second one is hand blown and has a partridge in a pear tree inside the glass. The workmanship is amazing! The egg ornament is especially dear to me...love the mice!
The sayings on the last two are sweet...and true.
Good thing I had to come home...my tree would topple from the over abundance of wonderful ornaments!

A Most Excellent Adventure-Day One

Oh, so lucky to have great friends...
I was able to travel to Asheville, NC this past week to visit one such friend.
We drove up to have tea at the Biltmore Inn (as well as a glass of the bubbly) before taking a candlelight tour of the Biltmore Mansion. Pictures were forbidden inside but I was able to capture a picture of one of the dozens of beautiful decorated trees (I am so naughty!). It was a wowser experience! The moon was full and the lights were magical.

Family Love

Thanksgiving has come and gone and so have our sweet sons (plus one girlfriend).
The past week was a bit of a blur with all that we did but I am left with a heart full of love and happiness.
Maybe it's my age...but time spent with family is what I treasure the most.
I even went shopping several times and crafted with the lovely girlfriend of our youngest.
I love my family....

Good Things....

I have been remiss in posting...but decided to share a few good things that have happened in the past week.

I finally visited Krispy Creme...and came away hooked! Melt in your mouth good-I was right in staying away from this place...hope I can hold myself back from a daily donut (or two).

I was lucky to be home yesterday afternoon when these beautiful flowers were delivered. I have a thoughtful Mom.

I stepped by an estate sale a week ago on the last day when everything is marked down fifty percent. I didn't notice until I got home that Bob's name was stamped on this bowling ball. Not sure if I can turn it into a garden ornament since Bob the cat knows that it should belong to him and since I only paid $1.50, maybe it can.

Our sons will both be home next week! I expect to have a wonderful week and hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I traveled to Howard City (MI) last Friday for two stores holiday open houses and was charmed by both!
This small farm town is in the middle of nowhere-or so it seems to me-and has a charming shop on Main St. I went with two friends I have known since pre-school and we enjoyed shopping as well as having lunch at a little deli. Two of us stopped in our hometown and shopped a bit more. I fell in love with the giant wreaths on a stores window so included a picture.
This is just the beginning of the holiday open houses-many more this week. Looking forward to seeing fabulous decorating!
Enjoy the season!

HaLLoWeEn Decor

Before I begin the deconstruction of my Halloween decor (small sob), I thought I would share a few more pictures.
The hanging spiders on the sliders are new this year. The super sized spider moved in several years ago-found after Halloween on sale. I love a good sale!
I have found the stairs are a good place to display holiday fun.
I am still amazed at myself on how much I adore my witch hat lamp. This year, I added tinted eyeglasses along with a green wand from 'Wicked'. There is also a pair of sparkly (lit) witch shoes on the floor below.
I made the scarecrow five years ago at a mouse event (notice the mouse ears on his hat?). He hangs in the garage all year, waiting to come join the fun every fall. My husband argues that his hunting boots do not belong outside with Mr. Scarecrow. I sneak them out....teehee!
This year I went a bit crazy and bought a special wig for HaLLowWeEn. My main mummy seems to enjoy getting a bit crazy.
I will miss HaLLoWeN!

HaLLoWeEn Crafts!

Last minute crafting, just in time for our HaLLoWeEn party!
My sister, Lynne, and her daughter, Tori (our maiden name was Torrey!) came over last night and made their own candy corn topiaries. This is very easy & fast-compared to making the ribbon topiaries, that is. One big tip-do not use Brach's candy corn(which is my favorite!). It tends to break, as I found out when a good friend and I were making our first one. I bought more expensive candy corn which had a wax coating (locally, I found it at Sweetland Candy Store). We used a smooth foam 3" ball and hot glue in a pot.
The other topiary was made with 'Dot' candies. I used a 3 1/2" styrofoam ball for this one. Not sure I like the colors as well...
I hosted a HaLLoWeEn potluck lunch for my friends from high school Thursday. Most of us dressed up and looked very goofy (hard to believe we are really old ladies!). One creative friend brought acorn cookies. Adorable and tasty! She used Hershey kisses, small Nutter Butter cookies and peanut butter chips, with frosting holding it all together. Yum!
Finally, my cat, Bob, snapped this picture of me acting goofy....
I do have FUN!
Enjoy your weekend!