Lanterns Light My Way

Lanterns in decorating are a big hit.  I love them tall, short, chunky, round, square and on and on.  There are so many options.  Lanterns are extremely versatile and can be used indoors or out.

Here we have three differant styles and sizes of lanterns to create a gorgeous vignette.  For the larger lantern in the back, the topiary in the terra cotta pot is highlighted with the tea candles surrounding the base. 

Allhomedecors

Beautiful grouping displayed with natural materials and creamy white candles.  Simple but elegant. 

Homedesigndecorates

I found a great selection of lanterns at Old Time Pottery.  So many styles and I can imagine them decorated with candles and fillers. The prices were extremely reasonable with the largest size being 29.99.  The galvanized would be gorgeous on a screened porch or sunroom. 

This idea from Nell Hill takes my breath away.  She placed lanterns outside so that they sparkled through the windows.  Wouldn't this be gorgeous on a cold, snowy night.  Does that woman ever have a bad idea???

Nell Hill

I'm crazy about this idea - again from Nell Hill - for placing an urn on a garden planter and dressing up with ribbon and greens.  This is stunning and could be easily duplicated for maximum appeal. 

Nell Hills

I'll be making a trip back to Old Time Pottery soon...I'm trying to decide which style and sizes I want.  I think you will agree that I can't go wrong with any choice I make. 

World's Largest YardSale 2011

I was a bit disappointed in the World's Longest Yardsale this year.  The Yardsale is an annual event that stretches along the 127 Corridor for 675 miles from Hudson, Mi to Gadsden, Ala.  We always take off on Saturday morning early and go as far as we can during the day...maybe next year, I'll take some time off work and we can travel farther on the Corridor to see differant vendors. 

I bought a couple copper jello molds from an 80 year old woman who had set up a booth at her home with her husband.  She said this would be her first and last yardsale.  She was setting her yard sale up like my Mom does.  My Mom is also in her 80s.  She was constantly rubbing on things to keep them clean and as a result, she was just worn out.  My Mom will work for days to wash and dry all her glass items and she is constantly cleaning things up throughout the sale.  She absolutely cannot stand to see something with a little dust on it.    Thank goodness she only likes to have a yardsale once yearly. 

There is one lady who has a booth every year that I always visit and buy a sign or set of boxes for Halloween decorating.  I bought a sign this year and will have to find just the right place for it in my Halloween decor. 

I found a three tier metal shelf for $5 that I will use for scrapbooking supplies and a set of green trees from Dept 56 for $1 that I will use with my North Pole Village. 

There were a lot of things that I might have brought home for the right price, however, I felt that most folks were really pricing their items in the ridiculous range this year.  When I go to a yard sale, I am looking for a bargain and I didn't find many of those this year.  Did anyone else participate in the Sale  or shop during the long weekend sale?  Did you find any great bargains or did you find that most things were way overpriced? 

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My 2011 Wish List

2010 has come and gone...we had good times and bad....gained a couple new members in our extended family and lost some others.  We laughed, we cried, we made memories that we will treasure.  I nosedived on home improvements and crafting in 2010, but it's all good as I now have a whole new year to make those To Do Lists. 

Here is my Wish List for 2011....I'm hoping for a great success rate at the end of the year, but I'm extremely flexible if it doesn't happen as I would like.  I've got all my extentions crossed, just to give me an extra edge and if I can find a rabbits foot, I'll rub it as well.

2011 WishList
Total kitchen renovation/family room buildout

Renovate downstairs bathroom

Pantry buildout

New full glass entry door with sidelights

New Desktop

Canon Rebel EOS

Rhino

What's on your 2011 Wish List??

Santa Sent Some Frosting Our Way

Tennessee rarely gets snow, other than the occasional flurry and later in the winter we might have a dusting on the ground.  There is of course, the occassional surprise and we got one yesterday.  It started with beautiful fluffy flakes of snow and as the day progressed, we started seeing it cover the ground...in the south we call that laying or sticking to the ground.  By nightfall, we had a couple inches and the snow was continuing with small flakes peppering from the sky. 

The whole weekend veered from plan...Mike and I went shopping Saturday morning.  We had planned to leave home around 8am so we could finish up and get back home in time for the Dunlap Christmas parade.  Alden and the boyscouts were to march in the parade, and we couldn't miss that.  Mike woke up and could not go back to sleep, so we left home at 5:30am.  We found most of what we were looking for, with the exception of the Barbie Townhouse...it has been around for 20+ years, but apparently is a HOT ticket item for this year because of Toy Story 3.  The only ones I can find right now, are online for 2 to 3 times the normal price.  I'm hoping that ToysRUs or Target will get a shipment before Christmas, or a little girl I know will be very disappointed.  Alden started running a temp and feeling bad on Saturday and ended up missing the parade and the following scout ceremony where he was to receive his first earned patch.  He wanted to spend the night with us on Saturday night, so I spent the afternoon and night giving him my attention.  On Sunday, we had planned to take the Polar Express train ride.  Alden was still running a temp and Tanesia made the decision that they would have to miss the train ride.  We were going to still go, along with Tiffany and her family...but Tiffany hurt her back on Sunday, so we did not make the train ride this year.  The kiddies were looking forward to seeing Santa, but since they could not make it despite our best efforts, he sent some snow to entertain us. 

Halloween Party 2010

This post is photo intensive, so if you have a slower connection, it might take a bit longer to load.  Food tables set up along the back and side walls.

Putting out the finishing touches and taking photos before the feasting begins.

We had lots of room for people to manuever around the food stations while still having some inside seating.

Dessert and treat table complete with cookies, cake, candy, toys, light sticks, and flashlights.

Adapting an idea I saw at Home Depot, I used a step ladder with buckets wedged between the rungs to hold chips.

Did you know that Chef's drive tractors and pull hay rides around here?

Lexi was a pink cowgirl this year and is enjoying a bite with her friends.

Haybales around the firepit provided more seating for munching. It was so warm this year that a fire was not necessary, but you just have to have a big bonfire on an October night.

Witchie Poo had a rough landing, but at least the hay broke her fall.

The tire swing is always a favorite.

We opted not to have the outdoor movie this year for fear that we would blow a circuit....we are thinking it might be a good idea to run a new electric line next year.  We had the extention cords loaded and the lights  actually blinked a couple of times...yikes.  To avoid disaster, we played bingo instead.  I had plenty of cards but needed more markers, so we used pinto beans.

After all the fun is finished and most have gone home, Alden takes a minute to wind down.

It was a great party and I hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!!

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