Hot Drinks

Inspired by the many hot cocoa bars I saw online and in my email, I decided to set up a “hot drinks station” for Christmas.

I used part of my collection of antique Santa mugs, and set it up for coffee, hot tea, and hot cocoa.

Those two mugs in front were made by my mom in 1969. One has my name on the bottom, the other is Arlan’s.

Even though it’s been a very mild winter, I thought this sign was fun. The script is vinyl, cut with the Cricut and adhered to the glass. Then I just added scrapbook paper for the background.

We enjoyed this spot over the holidays with company here. I plan to set it up each year as a new tradition.

Now that the holidays are over, I put away the Santa mugs, but wanted to keep the hot drinks stuff set up – you know, just in case we get some winter weather yet.

So I replaced the Santa cups with the ones from my white stoneware, added the sugar bowl and creamer from that set, and a set of snowman salt and pepper shakers – those aren’t filled, but would be good for cinnamon or sprinkles for the hot chocolate. The tea bags and marshmallows are now in apothecary jars.

Some vinyl snowflakes on the wall, the cocoa jar, and the marshmallow jar add to the theme, as well as a wooden snowman wall hanging.

I love this fun little spot, and hope you will consider this an invitation to join me for a hot beverage!

Paper Crafting and Show and Tell

I'm a little tardy in posting today, but there are a couple of things I want to share with you. Kelli hosts both Paper Crafting Thursday and Show & Tell Friday, and this post will cover both things.
There are so many easy and inexpensive seasonal decorating projects floating around Blogland, and I took my inspiration from several decorating blogs I read. You can see a few of those on my sidebar. (There are many more that are not listed, but will be rotated on and off of my list.)
That said, here are a couple of things I made up for Thanksgiving. The first is an inspirational Bible verse about giving thanks. This is on the small table next to the front door. Easy enough with the computer printer, some scrapbook paper, and a 3-D sticker. The other is usually hanging on the wall just outside the kitchen, but I couldn't get a glare-free photo there, so I had to put it in a stand on the counter. The frame was in my pile in the den. I don't know why I bought this particular size, but I must've had a plan - this isn't one I spraypainted, but I'm sure I didn't pay more than a couple of dollars for it.

I love the pattern of the scrapbook paper used for the background, then I cut a 'welcome' frame using my Cricut. Once glued onto the paper, I didn't like the font for the work 'welcome', so I printed out the "Give Thanks" sentiment and just glued it over the top of 'welcome'. I really like how this came out.

If you click on the links at the top of this post, you can see what everyone else has shared. And while you're clicking on links, my friend Susan is hosting a Pay It Forward event on her blog. Please take a look and leave her a comment to participate. Then come back here in a few days and you can be part of mine, too!

Show & Tell

Happy Halloween! It only makes sense that my Show & Tell this week will be in honor of today. Let's start in the front yard:
Greg and Jessi made the headstones several years ago from styrofoam insulation. A few weeks ago I asked him to get them down from the garage rafters so I could take them to the theater, but once he did, he decided to keep them here. I added some black flowers, a wreath, a bag o' bones, and that sweet black crow. Some cobweb finished it off. I think this will be an evolving display from now on. (Click on the photo to enlarge, then you can see the details.) Come on up the stairs. Greg thought this sign was funny...

When you come up the steps, I hope you feel welcomed by the pumpkins and gourds. The lantern was in the back shed at Grandma and Grandpa Adams' house - it's quite old. The 'welcome' is part of a sign made for me by an internet friend. Our last name is on the bottom, and it will be hung up when the witch leaves... Oh yes, my bowling balls are behind the mum. They'll be coming in the house soon.

Here is everything all together:

Come on inside now. This little table is next to the front door. A little black tulle, orange lights, and faux bones make a fun spooky spot. Our Halloween treats will be stationed here for giving out tonight.

One more little thing. I made this chalkboard from a Goodwill frame. I had an old markerboard in the garage, and Greg cut it to size for me to fit the frame. A little chalkboard paint, and I'm loving it.

(So some of these things were inspired by photos I've seen on other blogs, but I'm sorry that I didn't keep track so I can give credit.)
Head on over to Kelli's to see what everyone else is showing off. You only need to click on this button to get there!
Have a safe and wonderful Halloween!

Show & Tell Friday

Photos of Autumn/Halloween decorations are all over blogland and have inspired me to try a few new things this year.

The ragamuffin garland done in black and orange adds a festive touch to this vignette on top of the library table. The faux pumpkin on the pedestal, the old books, and the glittery greeting all make me smile. This little scarecrow guy is one of my favorite thrifty finds. The wicker pumpkin is on a glass pedestal candleholder.

Have you been wondering about what I've done with all those little pumpkins I grew in my garden? I took several to work to fill a basket on the check-in counter, and gave many away. There will definitely be mini-pumpkin plants in the garden again next summer! Here's a big bowl of them on the end table next to the sofa.

Here are some more in the kitchen window.

And another big bowl of them back in the sunroom. This bowl also has gourds that were shared by a co-worker. The glass container next to it has wine bottle corks.
More pumpkins on pedestals, anyone? These black candlesticks from Goodwill originally had a light fake marble finish which was fine, but they each have one or two chips around the edges that became less noticeable when they were painted black. See the "Boo" frame? I totally copied that from Joy, and I love it. The letters were cut out with my Cricut and glued to scrapbook paper.

Lastly for today is my favorite spot this year. This is the first year I've seen white pumpkins available in the stores here, and I snapped up a nice one right away. I used self-adhesive vinyl and the Cricut again for the letters. The small white pumpkin (yeah, again with the pedestal) was originally one of those $1 bright orange plastic ones from Wmart. I copied Blogland again and spray painted it. And, um, yeah, another candleholder. The crow is a fun little addition. That bird drove Tucker nuts when I first put it out. :o)

I hope you enjoyed visiting today. Head over to Kelli's and see lots more Show & Tell!

Show & Tell Friday

I try to visit the local Goodwill store each week, and always take some time to look through the plates and glasses. Most of our wine glasses were purchased there - they sometimes get really good stuff. Such was the case last week when I found these:There are dinner plates, two sizes of smaller plates, two sizes of bowls, a stack of cup saucers, a serving bowl, a gravy boat, and a small pitcher.
I liked the neutrality of the colors, and they looked like a good fit for Autumn. Plus they have kind of a funky shape, and there were several pieces, so almost-complete place settings could be made.
Then I looked at the back:
Yep, Red Wing made dinnerware in the 50's and 60's. This particular pattern is "Random Harvest" and was produced in 1955. Each piece I have is numbered.

Red Wing crocks are highly collectible, in this area at least, so I had an inkling that they might be valuable. I did some research and figured out that my $42 box of near-perfect dinnerware is worth several hundred dollars. I was very excited that they are antique and collectible, but I bought them because I liked the style and pattern. So we use them.I feel that true value is in the memories made, so by using them, I'm adding our memories to their history. That makes them more valuable to me, and hopefully to my family.

I wish I knew about the family who used them before - were they a wedding gift? Everyday dishes, or kept for good? Did the owner pass away, or were they downsizing? Did none of their family want them, or weren't they offered? Those questions will never be answered, but that's okay. I will just use and enjoy them, and pass them on.

Go see what everyone else has shared at Kelli's!

Show and Tell

It's been a really long time since I participated in Kelli's Friday Show and Tell! I have a little quiet time this morning, so I looked at some recent photos and found one to share. (Here you go, Rhonda!) :o)I have not planted a vegetable garden for several years, but have begun to dabble in it again now that I don't work full-time. This summer, in addition to tomatoes, zucchini, jalapenos, and lots of herbs, I put in 3 mini-pumpkin plants. They didn't require much care at all, and gave abundantly. This photo shows you 73 of the 76 little guys I harvested. Seventy-six!

They're piled in this huge enamel bowl, but I have been distributing them around the house as Autumn decor. (Photos of that will have to come later - the twins just got up, and we have to get Wyatt up for school. So the busy day begins...) Click on the Show and Tell button at the top of this post to see what everyone else is sharing today!

Show and Tell Friday

This show and tell is in memory of my mom. Next Tuesday, May 13 will be the 11th anniversary of the day my mom passed away at 52 years old. We spent her last Mother's Day at her bedside, my brothers, my father, and myself, and reminisced about our childhood - some of the happier times. I like to think she knew we were there and enjoyed our stories and laughter.
I have lots of things that were my mom's, that are special to me. For Mother's Day I thought I'd show her pin. Mom didn't have much jewelry, but I remember that she always wore this simple gold circle when she dressed up.

I wear the pin to all of our special occasions - both of my brothers' weddings, my kids' confirmations and graduations, and to church on Mother's Day. To me, this is a way to have Mom there with us.

To see what everyone else has posted for show and tell this week, go visit Kelli's blog. Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Mother's Day!

Show & Tell Friday

I used to have a magnet that said, "Refrigerator: a bulletin board that keeps food cold". I've always had special things hung on the frig, even before we had kids. I remember having to tape Nick's school pictures instead of using magnets, because Jessi would take them off otherwise. :o)

Now our frig is stainless steel, and magnets don't hold on the front. I have a small portion of one side of that box to display my treasures. Take a look:

Photos and invitations come and go, but the magnets pretty much remain the same. I see I didn't label the photo of Jessi and Matt - Matt is my friend's son, and they are like brother and sister.

I also didn't label every single magnet. There are several inspirational Bible verses, some ceramic flowers, and some little ones I made from flat marbles and pictures I printed from the computer. Oh, and the paper heart-shaped one that says, "When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". :o)

I hope you enjoyed this quick little show and tell today. To see what everyone else has posted, take a look here.

Show and Tell Friday

I can't believe it's been so long since I did a "Show & Tell Friday" post!

Things have been so busy on recent Fridays, between my jobs, and moving Jessica back to our house (I'll explain in another post at another time), and it seemed like Fridays were over before I got to enjoy them.

Today was busy, too, but I promised myself to do a post, so here we are. If you want to see what everyone is showing & telling about, check out Kelli's blog here.

Awhile back I was reading a blog (sorry, don't remember which one) and the woman was talking about using typography and words in her decorating. I thought, "I do that, too!". I started looking around the house, and here is what I found: "imagine" is painted on the playroom wall, along with several other words like "discover", "build", "play", etc.

The "kitchen" sign is obviously in the kitchen. It's a tin sign I found at Hobby Lobby right about the time we painted the kitchen red.

"Joy comes in the Morning" is a Bible verse (Psalms 30:5), and that hangs in the main bathroom. The colorful Mary Engelbreit poster, "Books fall open, we fall in" is in the playroom. I think that makes reading sound so adventuresome!

Another sign from the kitchen reads "Be careful how you address the Queen". It was a gift to me from one of my Area Managers when I was Supervisor at Head Start. They used to call me the "Head Start Queen".

Lastly is a sweet little sign that Jessi gave me for Christmas, "The best things in life are not things...". That currently hangs in the living room.

I'd like to have more words around me in my home, and have a couple of things planned. Stop back in the next couple of weeks and see what I've added!

Show & Tell Friday

After spending the morning at the library with my niece and two nephews, I was inspired to share a photo of these little books I have from my Grandma's house. They're called "Treasured Whitman Tiny Tales" and I remember looking at these when I was a little girl, but they're even older than I am, with a publication date of MCML (1950). The price on each is 5 cents. They're just a little larger than a regular playing card, just perfect for tucking into a pocket or purse and taking to church - which is what I'm sure Grandma did.

None are great literary works, but these are probably the first books I ever had in my hands, so they are important. Grandma must've purchased them at a garage sale, because the name written inside the front cover is "Mrs. Jeffers", who, coincidentally was my second grade teacher, and one of my favorites of all time.

These "tiny treasures" are usually displayed on a wall shelf, and will be again soon as I continue to take down the winter things and replace them with the "usual" stuff. Slowly but surely, winter IS going away... :o)

Go on over to Kelli's blog and see what everyone else has posted for this week's Show & Tell!

Show & Tell Friday

Sorry I missed last week. My schedule just didn't allow blogging time...




This week I want to share my kitchen window. It seems that winter is just going to hang on until the end of time, and I think this little floral display kind of looks wintry. These are Gerbera daisies, white with a touch of pinkish green. I put one stem in each of five small glass jars/bottles that I collect. I like this look sometimes better than as a bouquet.


The view out the window is of the neighbor's back yard. Still partially covered in snow. The snow that will not leave because winter will not end. :o)



Head on over to Kelli's blog to see what everyone has shared this week: http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/

Show & Tell Friday

I'm joining in again for 'Show and Tell Friday'.

This is another piece that is hanging on a wall. My 20-yo daughter Jessica made it in Sunday School when she was very young - maybe 7 or 8 years old - and her teacher was her Aunt Fran. Tucked behind it is a cross made from a dried palm frond used in church for Palm Sunday a few years ago. We have a several of those around the house.

Over the years this has been a comforting reminder to give up my problems and trust that I would have the strength I needed to do what needed to be done. This was most apparent when my parents were each terminally ill and we cared for them while trying to hold together the rest of our lives.

To see what everyone else has shared, go to There is No Place Like Home and check it out.