Counting my Blessings!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed precious time with your families.    We had quite an unusual Thanksgiving this year, but I have never been more thankful in my life.

We had my family over as planned, minus a few, and my son who lives in Charleston.  He didn't make it home because he is a young chef in school and working in one of Charlestons best restaurants.  I knew that was coming!  We had a very nice early evening dinner after delivering dinner to my in laws earlier in the day.  The cancer has progressed making it very difficult for my FIL to get out, since we are the closest of all the children it was an honor to be able to take it to them.  Only we weren't expecting to be delivering this meal with our youngest son on crutches.

Unfortunately our youngest son was involved in a very terrible automobile accident on Tuesday afternoon.  Four teenagers were involved in both cars.  It was an absolute miracle that all four teens are okay!  The wreck was only a few miles from our home.  Fortunately, I was home and able to get there right away.  Seeing your child pulled out of a car that has to be pried open by the fire department, strapped and braced onto gurneys and put into an ambulance along with two others is just plain terrifying!  I am so blessed to be able to say, all three teens were released from the hospital late Tuesday night with minor injures, praise God!  My son who took the brunt of the hit, had several cuts and scrapes from all the glass, bruising and a fractured fibula in his lower leg, thus the crutches.  It is a small fracture and should heal quickly according to the orthopedic surgeon we went to on Wednesday.  He is doing quite well, though yesterday wore him out a bit too much. 

Today I am skipping black Friday shopping and staying home to enjoy my wonderful family and put up the Christmas decor.  I can hardly wait to get started!  I have so much to be thankful for right here at home!  I wanted to share a little of last years decorations with you.  I hope to make some improvements this year but we shall see.  Please overlook the quality of these photos as they were definitely before blogging days.

This was our den last year.  Quite a few things have changed in here this year.

Here's my mantle from last year.  I told you I usually just do berries, I'm rethinking that this year.

Last years tree in the den, hopefully it will look quite different this year.

The dining room is going look quite different this year too, but I do love the way this room looked last year.

I always do a gold and silver and white tree in the dining room.  That will not change this year, but I have a few new things to add to this.

Last years front door.  This is going to be a challenge this year, I haven't even begun to think of what to do here other then a new wreath.

But...this is one thing that I hope will stay the same!  I just love it!

Hope you are enjoying the start of the holidays too!  I surely am!  There is no better way to enter into the holiday season then with a thankful heart.

God Bless!

Mary

Thrifty Christmas Decorating

I have been very busy accumulating a few new things for Christmas this year.  Would you believe that I really haven't updated my Christmas decor for some time?  I mean I've added a few new things here and there for years but have not changed up the main look towards a whole new direction in some time.   

This year I have finally decided to go for the lime green Christmas look and I am just so excited about it, that I just have to show you bits and pieces.  I have been a plaid Christmas decorator for some time and I will still keep quite a bit of that but I am going to attempt to bring in some lime green now too!  If you know me, it should be no surprise there.  I actually have a wonderful deep lime green master bedroom, two limish green bathrooms, and many lime green clothes!   I just love that color! 

I don't think it will be too obvious but it will be different for sure!  Let me show you a few things I have recently purchased to work towards that direction.  Last week I went to Hobby Lobby and was quite pleased to see they were having a 50% off sale, then I went to Carolina Pottery and picked up a few more items I was looking for, here's last weeks haul.

I have done the candy theme on a small scale in my kitchen for years but this year I am ramping it up a bit and adding that in the den some too.  I really think that the candy look will be complimentary to the lime green as well as all my Santa's.  Well, I hope so anyway!

Aren't these some of the cutest ornaments you have seen in some time?  I thought so, especially at 50% off!

I have greenery already but am going to actually use it more and add a bit more filler to it too.  I usually just do a very berry look, but this year that's changing too.  Again more greenery was 50% off from Hobby Lobby.   It was certainly worth the drive this year!

OK, here's my new ribbons I plan to use somehow this year.  The red, white and lime green tulle ribbon on the bottom spools were from Hobby Lobby at 50% off.  I am still unsure as to how it's all going to come together but I am getting there.  There is 100 yards on each of these spools.   I have got to be able to use that!  What a deal!  The green spool on the top was from Carolina Pottery and only 20% off but, Oh, so pretty and sparkly!

Speaking of Carolina Pottery, I got these ornaments from there too, I just love them!  So cute and just look, it's lime green on those red flat balls!

Here they are up close in front of my bag that has something else I got from there.   You'll just have to wait to see that after I am finished decorating.  It's a surprise!

Today I made it out one more time before getting back to the Thanksgiving preparations.  I went out looking  for items to update my outdoor wreath.  It's getting the lime green treatment too of course.  I only needed to go to one store for this, though! 

This is what I picked up to update my front door wreath from the Dollar Tree, woohoo!  Yep, only $1.00 each!  I'm going to do a little change on some of this too.

And check this out!  No, I didn't buy this to use to display my Christmas balls.  I bought this to use while working on my Christmas decor.  I also like to paint Christmas balls and this is a perfect piece to use to let them hang while drying.  It was actually even marked down to .25cents.  I may need to go back to get another one so I can do assembly line painting.  LOL!

And finally, I have to let you peek at these too!  I also found these at the Dollar Tree.  I plan to do something wonderful to use them inside, just you wait and see!

I confess I usually do not shop for new Christmas decor this early but I am so glad I did.  I especially love that I have found such interesting things to update our Christmas decor this year at such a bargain too.  I like to decorate the day after Thanksgiving (well really the whole weekend) after Black Friday shopping.  I can hardly wait to get started now!

I am linking to the following parties to share my wonderful holiday deals.

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

and

Friday Junking Finds

Hope you are getting in the holiday spirit too!  Thanks for stopping by!  I hope all of you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Mary



Our Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving at our house is typically a casual affair with just a touch of formality.  How can it not be somewhat formal?  Giving thanks for all of God's blessings just like our forefathers did many years ago is just so rich with tradition.  It is a day that commands thoughtfulness and appreciation!

I am very happy to have finished setting the table and preparing the dining room this early.  Now I have plenty of time to finish planning and preparing the meal.   I'm posting this early because I'm sure to be too busy next week and since I always get so much inspiration from all of your tablescapes I hope to return the favor.  As in, if there's anything you see here you might want to use, you still have time!  LOL!

I used my gold damask tablecloth layered with a checked black and beige fabric for the runner.

As I said, it's casual at our house and I am so thrilled to be able to use our newest casual dinnerware.  The Franciscan Ivy is sure to be our annual Thanksgiving china service now since it holds so many fond memories for both my husband and me.

I started with the Ivy dinner plates

Then switched out to my newest Lenox salad plates, although these will actually be our dessert plates for this meal.  I am sure we will want lots of plate space for sweets.  I don't serve salad at Thanksgiving anyway.

Then on the very top I used the ivy bread plates.

I decided to use both brown and green embroidered napkins for this tablescape.

I also mixed crystal with glass drinkware, a bit of casual with formality remember?

Stainless from my wedding.

I  printed out these fabulous place markers from one of our blogging friends at The Graphics Fairy.  Just pop on over to her site and copy off some for yourself.

This is how they print out.  She showed how she used these as napkin rings also.  Very neat idea!

I have serving pieces ready on the main table as well as my side tables.

A little touch of silver here and there.

I used my cloche for the centerpiece again.  Are you getting tired of seeing it yet?  I am!

Don't worry I will put away the cloche for Christmas, I promise.  But come on, the pilgrims are just too cute aren't they?

On the marble side table I have set up additional serving pieces.

What would Thanksgiving be without a gravy boat?

A casserole dish.

And a basket for dinner rolls!

On the sideboard, bit's of holiday decor will mix with desserts.

I just found this at a local store, Carolina Pottery, the other day, I just love it!

Can you imagine a pumpkin pie here?  Yum!  I can hardly wait!

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, are you ready yet?

 Please be sure and visit Tablescape Thursday for many more beautiful tablescapes and I am almost positive there will be a lot more Thanksgiving inspiration to see as well.

Thanks for visiting today!

Mary

Outside my Window

Monday I couldn't help but enjoy the wonder and beauty of the season outside.  This year it seems the colors are much more vibrant and beautiful then previously.  I know this probably isn't true, and that it is more likely the fact that I am here at home to enjoy these radiant colors outside my window.

Today for Outdoor Wednesday I want to share what I am seeing outside my windows this year.

Take a look at those colors outside the french doors from my den.

Beyond the screened porch the trees are just radiant!

It's such a warm cozy feeling to see this outside.

From the kitchen doors...

Our backyard is a riot of color.

The large window from my bedroom overlooks the backyard too.

The side windows in our bedroom overlook the side yard and it is beautiful too!

Looking out the dining room window I spy a beautiful golden treat.

From the front porch I was able to capture this beauty.

After seeing that beautiful yellow tree in the front I just had to come out on the deck in the back yard.

I am just in love with the mix of colors everywhere.

Oh what a beautiful sight!

Have you noticed how incredible the colors are this year?  I am very thankful for so many visions of warmth and vibrancy.  It's like God has decided to do some decorating outside for Thanksgiving too.  Hehe! 

I hope you enjoyed peeking out my windows today too.  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Outdoor Wednesday!

Mary