The Start of the Christmas Decorating

Well, I am just taking my sweet time this year decorating for Christmas. Not that that isn't usually the case. It just seems more obvious to me this year. I look on blogger and down the list I see home tours and links filled with holiday decorating. Some people even have more than one tree decorated! Impressive! And me, not even ONE tree yet...haven't even made it to the tree lot. I'm feeling a bit like a blogging slacker. I'll just show you what I'm up to a little at a time so I don't get too overwhelmed. LOL

The NOEL was new last year. I always like to throw in something new every year to keep it fresh. I also try to move the old things around so they seem like they're new, mainly to keep me interested in what I'm doing.

I tried something new with the chandelier this year. I hope the fresh greenery lasts and this thing doesn't burst into flames.

Speaking of dangers, I learned yesterday that beyond the obvious hazards of decorating; ladders, hammers, power tools, standing on things that you shouldn't to reach places you shouldn't and so on, that near encounters with rattlesnakes are now on my list of decorating dangers. The day after weeding through the ivy to place my Christmas lights in a perfect row down my sidewalk, I received an email from my neighbor across the street that right after I came inside at dusk, there was a rattlesnake in her driveway about 15' from where I was crawling around. Scary!

Anyway, on with the decorating...

I have an enclosed stairway so I usually don't pay much attention to it but this year I thought it looked a little sad so I added some greenery, ribbon and bells. If you can't find the color bells you want (I couldn't), paint them. These were gold. I painted them the wall color and sanded.

Trying to make my blues work this year.

I love the smell of the hazelnut coffee beans when the candle is lit.



Again with the fresh greenery. I hope I don't regret this.

Well, that's it for now. I'm still fiddling with the mantle and a few other things but I'll share them soon. Happy decorating to those of you that are like me and still have a lot to do.

Winter Bulletin Board Ideas

It's that time again. I need to come up with another idea for the school bulletin board. This is the one that I did a couple of years ago with a winter theme.

This is last years board. I love anything Peanuts but I need something fresh this year. Wish me luck. I have to have it finished by Tuesday and I'm out of ideas!

Fresh or Frozen?

I'll take frozen please or at least fresh from the grocery store. This is a picture of my Grandmother taken before the depression. I'm pretty sure they were grateful for this turkey but I'm grateful for the grocery store! Happy Turkey day!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! I am reposting my "pretty bird" from last year because I always need a reminder how to do it myself. If you haven't put your turkey in the oven yet, try this out...



OK. This wing hanging out (at least I think it's a wing, I don't want to know) is not very attractive. The first year that I made a turkey myself, my mother tried to explain to me over the phone how to tuck it under. It's easier if you can see it instead of having it explained to you, so the following are pictures of how to do it. Every year I do this, I don't think I'm doing it right because you really have to force it sometimes and it feels like it's going to pop.

First, pull the wing towards you while lifting up the main part of the bird.

Start forcing it under the bird. It might fight you a little here...

Now that it is under, repeat on the other side.

Now put the back side of the wing under the leg and you're ready to oil and season.



My husband and I have done a little experiment every year. We make a breast and a whole bird and we switch off on each using either butter or vegetable oil. Every year the vegetable oil is the favorite and it's a lot easier to spread over the bird too. If you usually use butter, you might want to try it out and see what YOU think.

Then we season with salt and pepper and in 3-5 hours it will be ready to go.YUM! The house smells great!!

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Decorating at Mom's

The call came early this year. The one that starts with, "Do you want to come over?" I wouldn't have guessed that it was to decorate for Christmas because it's not even Thanksgiving yet and I know my mom's attitude towards that. This year, though, she had the excuse of being out of town for 10 days between now and Christmas so, it's OK. While I am not one that decorates before Thanksgiving either, I don't shame other people because they do. What am I...the Christmas decorating police? Well, not this year at least. :)

So we had fun being naughty little elves, throwing caution to the wind, and heading out to the nearest Home Depot to buy some fresh greenery and poinsettias. The intoxicating smell of pine definitely put me in the decorating mood....along with the hot buttered rum and Krispy Kreme donuts!

My decorating style involves keeping things simple...

incorporating natural elements like greenery and fresh flowers...



blending rooms together...

combining bling with rustic elements...

using everyday items along with seasonal ones...



placing decorations in unexpected places...

and having someone to bounce ideas off of.

The kids helping out and using their creativity.



The end to the day.

Decorating is fun but exhausting. I'm glad I have a couple of days to recuperate before I start on my house!

sharing with ~

Savvy Southern Style