HAPPY NEW YEAR TOOOO YOUUUUUUUU!

Hey Everyone!!!!

It is going to be another crazy, busy week. But not too busy that I can't send you a Happy, healthy, successful and fun 2012 wish.

From my family to yours:)

Love,
~Debra XXX

MY WISH FOR YOU

Hello Everyone:)

I wanted to take some time out to tell you how much you are appreciated.  Each and every one of you  are so special. You have no idea the effect your comments, emails and meetings have meant to me. Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives and sharing it with me. Truly wonderful.

I wish you and your families a healthy,beautiful and blessed Christmas. For me, family and friends are MOST important, not only on a daily basis but especially when we can gather on Holidays. Love to all of you, my dear friends. I can't wait to see what 2012 brings. I have a feeling it is going to be a fabulous one!

Love,
Debra xxx

OLD CHIPPY SCALES AND BLOGGERS' BODEGA

Hello my friends:)

LINKING UP WITH IVY AND ELEPHANTS TODAY!!!

Do you own an old scale that you just love? I have a few in my collection. Surprised? 

Well, how do you use yours?

 This is one of my favorites. I hung it in the kitchen window to hold a pretty purple Cyclamen. Love this color.

 This goodie but oldie is great for holding fruit. The top is very different than the others. Just look at that face:)

                 A green one sits on my Hoosier. Chippy goodness.

     This old scale hangs from a chestnut beam in the kitchen. I love how the plant just spills out of it.

Another old green one.

Scales are just great around the house. Whether in the kitchen, holding sponges or fruit, the bath holding soaps, or the living room holding small old books, they are not only pretty to look at but functional too:)

So tell me, do you have an old scale? What color is it and what do you have on top of yours:)

******BLOGGERS' BODEGA*****We all know that Christmas is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!!!NO STRESS HERE;) So BLOGGERS' BODEGA TO THE RESCUE:)

Tuesdays are BLOGGERS' BODEGA days. Read all of the details at the top of this blog. You will love all of our free advertisers!

Hop on over to see what fabulous sales they have going on!!!!
This is a Blog Hop!


'Till next time....................
~Debra XXX

CHRISTMAS DECORATING AT THE BARN

Hello Everyone,

So happy that you stopped by:)

On Saturday, Don and I went to the tree farm to pick out our Christmas tree. We haven't cut our own in years and we had so much fun!

My friend Marcie had a tree, oh  about 12 years ago now, (when she lived here in CT)that I had seen and it was love at first sight. It was the perfect old fashioned tree and decorated so beautifully. After trying to get that 'look' for years, I finally asked her what kind of tree she picks out. I know it only took me 12 years to ask right? She said it was a blue spruce. Well then, that is what we will look for:) Thank you Marcie!!!!!

Follow us on our caper of finding the perfect old fashioned tree.  I documented the whole trip like a paparazzi;)

We arrived at the tree farm in the afternoon. They now have carts to take into the woods to bring your tree back. Remember dragging the perfect tree through the brush back to the truck? Those days are over. We picked up our little red saw and the cart and headed up the hill.

Blue Spruce heaven. So many to choose from. This was going to be fun:)

After about 10 minutes, we found two.  Yes, we're quick. Most people pick out the fullest tree they can find.  Not us. We were looking for an old fashioned Charlie Brown tree. And found it we did! LOVE THIS TREE!!! This is the one we decided on. Isn't he....er the tree cute. Just look at all of that fabulous space in between the branches....PERFECT!!!!!!

                       "Cut it down my guy"!!!!!!!!

           My hero carries the tree to the 'cart';)

  I held the saw:) Oh.. and supervised. I wore my leopard coat and bright orange purse as to blend into the woods. lol

                      On the cart and ready to go!!!

          Oh sir....one more picture please of the tree, uh... I mean you lolol. Just look at that beauty.

We brought it home and put it into the middle of the living room to let the limbs drop.  Tomorrow Don will put the lights on it. I actually think trees are beautiful with just tiny white lights and that's it. Any one with me?

Stella found this wide ribbon that says 'Happy Holidays' at Joanns. I was hoping to find ribbon that said 'Merry Christmas' but didn't find it. Thanks baby doll for helping me find this ribbon. I made a pile of bows to put on the tree. 

I bought this 14" tall mercury glass pine cone from Maisonstgermain.com. There are two left:)

We use mainly glass ornaments on our live tree.  Some reproductions.

                                              Some vintage.

This is the finished tree, except for a tree skirt.. I couldn't get a good picture of it. It is so much prettier in person. You will just have to stop over to see it in person to see it:)
Thank you Nicole for stopping by to help us decorate it.

I love this little tree. I decorated it with silver glass ornaments along with lots of glittery ones. I set it into a big old tin. Perfect for the space. 

                  Then I added some bowls of greenery and shiny bobbles.

                          A little Christmas pouch of shiny goodness.

                                 

One evening my Son-in-law stopped by and saw me twisting music paper into long awkward tubes. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Oh, I am attempting to make a wreath like the beautiful ones I see on the blogs, but not doing too well with it". "I'm a quick learner" he replied. And then picked up pages of paper and started rolling them with me. Together we made this wreath:) Still not sure if it looks the way it is supposed to but I do know that it is very special to me. Thank you Manny:)
.
 A little tarnished stand filled with blue and white bulbs in the library.

This tree was supposed to be 4 feet tall. Ha Ha Not so much. Someone can't measure;) Anyway it is cute. So I decorated it and put it on our library table. I set it into an old galvanized basin filled with lace and extra ornaments. The size turned out to be perfect.

Love this little decorated 'potty'. Yes, I will decorate anything. But you already knew that didn't you?

See the little white tree in the library? It's way back there on the table. lol Again you need to stop by to see it in all of its glory:)

I decorated our antique cook stove this year with little stockings strung up. Love this wood stove. I have baked hams, made soups and of course tea on it. And boy does it keep the kitchen toasty warm.

Bottle brush trees. Love them! I bought some of these from Walmart. They always have such a nice selection of Holiday decorations. I am always surprised to see that they are so up to date on  old fashioned ornaments.

                 'Chocolate candy' Santa. If he was real he would be headless. lol I love chocolate.

And more bottle brush trees in the solarium.

Are you still with me??? I know, this was a long post;) But I hope you enjoyed it:) Have you put up your decorations yet? I'll be stopping by you blogs to see what you have done:)

'Till next time................

~Debra XXX

THANKFUL

Hello Everyone:)

                          I am truly blessed.
                               
 I have so many things to be thankful for in my life:) And I wanted YOU to all to know  that YOU are one of them. You have no idea how much I enjoy chatting with you all. I am so happy that I have found you and that you have found me. My life is so much more complete with you in it. Something I never even dreamed could happen. Some of you I know personally,some through emails and then others through your sweet comments.

So thank you for being such an important, inspirational part of my life. I am grateful for each and every one of you.

                      HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS:)
'Till next time..............
~Debra xxx

P.S.
Thank you to all who helped me to find the dress I last posted about. I haven't found that one but have found some that on the top of my list to check out. I knew I could count on you:) xxx

A QUICKIE QUESTION:)

Hellllloooooooo:)

Hope your weekend is a fabulous one.

My Son and his Fiance are getting married on a beach next year.  Since we don't have to be too dressed up I thought I would like to wear this dress or something very similar to it. I think it is so gorgeous. It is not form fitting and the sleeves and bottom are just perfect for me. I think it is dressy but not overly dressy since it will be  casual.

Does anyone know where I can find it or one like it????? If anyone would know, I just know that  bloggers would. (You are just the savviest and  the most resourceful)

Thank you in advance:)

'Till next time.......................
~Debra xxx

SERENDIPITY, LITCHFIELD, CT

During the Summer,our friend  Lisa introduced us to a lovely shop owner, Liliana Kleid. She is the owner of SERENDIPITY in Litchfield, CT.

 Lisa sells her beautiful hand painted furniture and her 'must have' signs there. She thought that Liliana's shop would be a perfect match for our pieces. Nicole and I were so excited!!!

We said "YES we are definitely interested". We met Liliana:) She is not only gorgeous but the sweetest person ever to do business with. And WOW what an artist she is!!!!She can do it all, paint, design jewelry, crochet.........Every time we stop in she is creating something else beautiful. Truly an inspiring woman.

We were there today dropping off our handmade Christmas ornaments and wreaths. I finally remembered to bring my camera to take some pictures to share with you.

I wanted to give you a tour of her shop and show you what she carries. 99% of her things are handmade in the USA.

                           These are some of the hats that Liliana crochets. All different, all beautiful.

                                     SERENDIPITY is packed with fabulous hand made items.

                                 We brought in this little child's table and chair set. Love the colors.

          I love how she uses branches to hang display her things. 

                                This is one of Liliana's paintings.  See I told you she was an artist!

                 Cape Cod sign by LISA and handmade jewelry.

                                                      More pieces from LISA.http://serendipitychicdesign.blogspot.com/ She uses the best colors in her work, don't you think?

               Liliana features several painters. Aren't these fun?

            We just brought this little stool in today. Love that desk!

                         These belts are really great! So many choices.

   These are our belts. I love how Liliana sells different styles.  Something for every personality.

                         Love this color blue. More of Lisa's specialty hand painted furniture.

       This is Lisa's too. Tell me what little child wouldn't enjoy coloring at this little desk and chair?

If you are ever in CT you really have to check out this fabulous little shop. It is a fun place to shop and there is always something new.
I hope you have enjoyed this little tour:)

SERENDIPITY
3AA WEST STREET
LITCHFIELD, CT 06759

'Till next time...........
~Debra XXX