Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Christmas table...

 Merry Christmas everyone!

I know you are probably tired of seeing "the box" but I am still really enjoying using it in different ways. Here is the table setting we had for Christmas...


Once again I used the J & G Meakin "Romantic England" with a Mikasa "Italian Countryside" charger, and Wallace "Louvre" sterling flatware. I added the Noritake "Perspective" water glasses and compotes my mom gave me. We used the compote for a delicious fruit trifle dessert.



I changed out the greenery in the box and opted for sparkly fruit, pine cones, and sprigs of cedar, white pine and boxwood tucked in. I also added some cinnamon sticks. I actually lowered all the candles. There were two layers of styrofoam inside, so I took one out for this arrangement.


I have really enjoyed it this way, and it can stay like this for a while during the winter. It will be very easy to tuck in fresh greenery as needed. 













 We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Day with services at church, then dinner here with my parents. My brother and sister-in-law came Monday and spent a couple days here, so my parents had everyone here. We had a light snow last night, so that really topped off a nice holiday.



We are still enjoying Christmas and look forward to "Three Kings Day" January 6th. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Anita

I'll be joining 

"Tablescape Thursday"

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Finally, a little snow!

We have been a little warm this year here in the WNC mountains, but are finally getting a light dusting of snow...

Still enjoying time with family and celebrating Christmas, which of course, lasts until Jan. 6:-)



Hoping you are enjoying this wonderful season!!

Anita

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Merry Christmas!!

I want to say thank you to all of my readers!! Thank you all so much for all your wonderful comments, and for sticking by me when there were no posts for weeks at a time. Thank you for being *extremely* patient in my getting around to visit because with three kids, a ministry, and a husband, things just take time!

I hope I have inspired you to not only make your home a little cozier with things you already have or can make, but that I inspire you to give to others--especially those in need.

Last week I posted a 1993 (I was 12, lol) version of "O Holy Night" that I put on youtube for my mom. This year, I recorded a Christmas CD for my dad, so I have included a newer version of "O Holy Night" for you all and a jazzy "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town." The house in "O Holy Night" is the one my dad grew up in, so that is why I used it for him.

This is such a wonderful community of people and I am so very thankful for each and every one of you!! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!

Anita

I'll be joining At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday...








Thursday, December 15, 2011

A Balsam Christmas...

Hi everyone! I was so hoping for a little bit of snow before I took outdoor photos, but this year it feels more like a tropical Christmas! My husband is perfectly happy with this weather. I want to share one of our porches and the most beautiful evergreens my mom brought me!

I remember my grandmother always making swags of Balsam pine and white pine tied with a very effortless-looking red ribbon, so I use those a lot myself, although I am not as good at the ribbon tying!

I have used a sled my grandfather made many years ago along with a garden basket filled with fresh greenery. The lantern is a vintage Southern railroad lantern one of two found here on the property. Balsam is 3,315 feet above sea level, and the highest standard gauge railway east of the Rocky Mountains crosses here. The Asheville to Murphy branch of the Southern Railway was constructed through Balsam Gap in the mid-1880s.

The plaid coat was my grandmother's and I wear it frequently.




Notice in the background the little guest house...


The sign was on my great grandfather's house I featured Friday...



This beautiful candy cane was made by a dear friend of my mom in Mountain City, Tennessee at Forge Creek Farm! This is just one of several that she brought back.


I am loving the red doors this season!  These wreaths are just some faux ones I bought several years ago. I hang wreaths on all the windows.




Here are evergreens in the shape of a cross from Forge Creek Farm. I saw this on their facebook page first and fell in love with it. I have never seen anything like this! It is so beautiful and lush in person. I will post contact info for them at the end.


The cross inspired me to put a nativity underneath...


I also tucked bunches of fresh greenery in the candle sconces.








A few night pics...
These were taken before I finished with the red ribbon and the greenery on the sconces.










A few random shots...




I cannot be here at Christmas without thinking about and missing my "Granddaddy and Isabelle Knight." I am surrounded with things that belonged to them, and they bring back so many precious memories. Knowing that I am walking where they walked, enjoying the land and things they loved is such a blessing and brings so much joy to me. 

Thank so much for letting me share those memories with you:-)

Please go by and check out Forge Creek Farm and more beautiful wreaths at their facebook page: 

Forge Creek Farm


Thanks for stopping by!!

Anita

I'll be joining:

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Feathered Nest Friday
and
Inspiration Friday

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Italian Countryside for Christmas...

Hi everyone! First, I want to say thank you to all of you who left comments last week in my marathon of posts! I am getting around to visit, although very slowly. 

Pin It

Monday, December 12, 2011

Boscov's for Christmas shopping...

Hi everyone!! I wanted to share a discovery I made last week while looking for affordable flannel sheets...


Boscov's


Boscov's  Department Store!  I was looking online for flannel sheets, but inexpensive ones. I use down comforters for all the beds because our house is so cold in the winter, and wanted to add the warmth of cotton flannel. After searching amazon, ebay, google, etc., I stumbled onto Boscov's site. I found these Ashley Cooper striped sheets for $19.99 for any size!

Ashley Cooper Blue Stripe Flannel Sheet Set - Twin
They arrived in a couple days, and I could not be happier. So happy, that I went back to try to find some for the kids beds, and discovered they have everything from Estee Lauder and Noritake to Barbie and all at great discounted prices. Shipping over $25 is free the rest of this week. 

I had never heard of this store and was so happy to find it, I just wanted to pass it along. 

Anita

Friday, December 9, 2011

Vintage Treasures...

Hi everyone! I hope you are not tired of the overload of posts from me:-) I wanted to share some vintage treasures that mean so much to me.

I write about things that have come from my great grandfather's house quite a lot here, so I wanted to share more about that. Here is the house in winter...


I never saw the house as it was torn down and replaced with a new brick rancher before I was born. My dad has told me so much about it as they lived there until he was in high school. The little guest house that I have featured, was behind this house. 


This house was filled with beautiful *never-painted* wormy chestnut woodwork that my grandfather carefully removed and bundled, then stored. If you have visited here much, you have seen us reuse and repurpose that wood. 

Luis started building a corner china cabinet a couple years ago from a walnut tree my dad had cut in the 1970s. We are finishing it with the wormy chestnut trim from the old house, but have yet to get the doors done. They will be made using the eight-inch baseboard mouldings. 


Since it is really large and doorless, I have accessorized it to remind me of the old store, which my grandfather owned here, with things from the store and the old house.


The cathedral photo belonged to my great grandmother who lived in Washington D.C., for a time, but I don't know what it is. I'm pretty sure it's not the Washington Cathedral, but maybe another Washington church since it came from there.  I also lived there, so it is special to me. All the books are from the late 1800s/early 1900s and belonged to my grandfather or his mother. All are inscribed with my great grandmother's handwriting. 


This old, electric iron of my grandmother's is so heavy I cannot imagine using it. 


The box came from the old garage that is on the property here.


You all go to antique markets...I go here:-)


The trim moulding here on top was in the house, I found the coffee can in the smokehouse, and the photo is my late great grandmother with her children and sister. 



My mom let me "borrow" the scales just for the photo. The date on these is 1912. 


Here are the same scales (top) in the old house, with my grandfather at the sink. Notice the window is the same as I have hanging by my piano. 


I thought the storage jars would be nice here with the balsam pine sachet my grandmother made for me...


We will eventually get the doors made--solid wood at the bottom, and seeded glass on the top. 


Thanks so much for stopping by!! You all know how much I love anything that belonged to my family, so I appreciate your bearing with me as I share it all. Most people would just throw away a lot of these things, but even the tiniest, most worn out item is so special to me.

I'll be joining  Courtney for Holiday Vignettes

Debra for Vintage Inspiration Friday

and

Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty, Thrifty Tuesday

so be sure to stop by!!

Anita