H1N1 Flu Hits Home

My computer has H1N1 symptoms and will be down for a while.  Are you wondering what the symptoms are in case you need to be on the look out for this too:

•Fever - The monitor is very hot to the touch

•Coughing - There is a loud grinding noise when you are trying to work online

•Runny or stuffy nose - The computer is not running and is so slow you wonder if you'll be able to get to the next application and this is WITH high speed internet

•Headaches and/or body aches - The computer refuses to turn on and this becomes a headache for YOU!

•Chills - You get chills just thinking about all the virus' that are affecting your programs, and yes my friends this includes your pictures.  They are telling me they may not be able to save my pics.  My advise to you BACK THEM UP or you'll be sorry!

•Fatigue - You are the one fatigued trying to somehow recover all your lovely pics you've taken for at least the past year, from Show Pics to family pics, and in between and the thought that they may not be there is exhausting!  And, this doesn't even include important files you also have.

I am frustrated to say the least but hopefully soon I'll be back to blogging.  Please be hopeful with me that at least my pictures will not be lost.  Hope you all have a very blessed and prosperous New Year!

Sick Leave

My computer has decided to take off for the holidays and is on "sick leave".  I'm hoping I will be back to blogging some time this week.  I've missed it so and I've missed you all a bunch!! 

If I'm not back up before the 31st, I want to wish you all a very Happy and blessed New Years!! 

Christmas Decorating & Merry Christmas

The decorating is finished, the lights are up, the vintage Santa's are in their place and now the fun begins on December 24th.  Until then, I wanted to show you a few Christmas decorating and things I've done around our home.  To see more of my Christmas decorating, click HERE:

Only a few days left until Christmas, are you ready?  My wish for each of you is that you have a very Merry Christmas and you get to spend time with your loved ones. 

Pink Christmas

I missed White Wednesday, so not like me to post something and I had it already to go but, again time was not on my side.  I've been working like crazy to get things in order at my house, finish the decorating, move things around at Heritage, and with work, well I just wish I had more time to do more things.  So, I've not been posting as often as I'd like, but I guess I can't do it all.

I thought I'd show you how I decorated my office.  I went with a pink theme this year, a more scaled down version than what I had last year.  I really liked how the twig tree turned out.

 

Click here for who inspired me to do this.  Hope you all are having a great Thursday!

Winter Wonderland

A few weeks back when we were all together we went to The Woodlands Tx to check out the Winter Wonderland.  The decorations and lights were so pretty at night. 

 While there I had to stop on over at Anthropologie.  I'm always so inspired by their creations.  Their ideas are usually over the top.  Most people go into the store to look at the clothes, of course, but I'm there for the displays!

 

 Big puffy cloud like flowers were their theme to resemble large snow balls.  I think it was large rolls of tissue paper made into flowers, we've all made them but their's were just fabulous.

 

Here's another view of the window.

 

I would say look at this dress, but you know I can't lie, so look at these puffy snow like flowers.

 

Now this was a cute idea.

 

More views of the inside of the store.  They are very particular about picture taking in the store so you almost feel like you're going to steal something, because you have to look around for sales associates and then quickly take a pic so that they don't see you.

 

Here's my crew.  I enjoyed the Winter scenes, but the best part was just enjoying spending time with my boys and girl (just love her, isn't she pretty, and the best part she's crazy about my son).  We ate at PF Changs and just had the best time.  

Are you through with your Christmas shopping yet?  In case you forgot there are only 11 days left until Christmas, 10 days for us since we celebrate on Christmas Eve. Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday!

He Loved Her More Than Himself

Have you actually witnessed a love story in person, none like you've never seen before?  You wonder what's their secret to their successful marriage.  I know in the beginning of relationships there's all the lovey dovey feelings you show toward your significant other but as the years, circumstances, children, things, life well, sometimes that love just takes a back seat and before you know it you are going your separate ways, doing things in a different direction than the other.  I know not all relationships are this way and while love goes through so many stages through the years it's the ones that can hang on after it's all said and done that could be defined as a love story.

I'm actually talking about a different kind of love story, I guess.  It's hard for me to put into words because when you actually witness it it's just different and hard to put down into words.  Today would have marked my aunt and uncle's Anniversary.  Let me tell you about their "love story".  They married on December 10, 1925.  Doesn't that sound like a lifetime ago.  They didn't have much money and he couldn't buy her a wedding band initially, but that didn't matter to her.  He was 25, she was 20.   Today I proudly own her wedding ring.  That's one of the few things growing up that I asked her if one day I could have.  Her wedding ring and her vases from England and that's just what I got.  Made me so very happy.

Growing up I never saw them argue or fight, no not once.  If they did, they did it in privacy.  Whatever she said he did, no questions asked.  One day I asked him, after watching them for many years, how come he would never tell her NO or just disagree with her.  He said with a smile in a very loving voice, because she's always right!  After being married for so many years, 63 years to be exact before he died, they still held hands, they always kissed each other, and they just seemed like love birds. These kind of marriages are rare.  You just don't see this kind of love today.

He seemed to love her more than himself is what I always thought.  He made her happy and she made him equally as happy.  She always prepared his favorite meals and making sure after he'd worked a long day that they took time to spend it with each other.  He would put her needs first before his, but I think this action was equal on both parts.  I talk how he showed her love but she too was always doing loving things for him, maybe I just noticed it more on his part.  They just seemed to adore each other.  I honestly can't say that I've ever seen another couple be so in love like them.  As they got older, I used to think how lost he would be if she died first, but maybe God saw this too, so he went first.  My aunt actually outlived her entire family, she was the last one to die.

Today, if they were here we would have a big celebration for their Anniversary, I always made sure it was special for them since they didn't have any children or grand children to celebrate with them.  I'm sure they are celebrating in Heaven today!

White Wednesday @ Cannon Falls

The other day I posted a picture on my header of a beautiful white home all sprinkled with winter snow. The home is the headquarters of the Seasons of Cannon Falls Company, located in Cannon Falls Minnesota.  I've loved this home ever since I saw it pictured in their book "Celebrating Home".

Can you picture yourself looking out the window as you sip hot chocolate or wassail.  Each season I make Percolator Punch, which is sort of like wassail, you can find the recipe here.  It makes the whole house smell so yummy.  But I must admit, my favorite winter drink is really spiced tea.  Cold iced tea in the summer and hot spiced tea in the Winter.  I think this is a Southern drink, that my aunt would make each winter for us and I've just continued the tradition.  I made a batch a few weeks ago and it was just about gone, until today when a friend of mine gave me a fresh batch she'd made.  Here's the recipe, hope you try it:

Spiced Tea Mix

1 1/2 cups instant tea powder

2 cups orange flavored instant breakfast powder (use Tang if you can find it)

1 (3-ounce) package lemonade mix

3/4 cup granulated sugar

(I would recommend using less sugar because it can be too sweet)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1. Combine all ingredients until well blended. Store mix in an airtight container.
2. To make 1 cup of spiced tea: Place 2 teaspoons tea mix in a cup, add boiling water, stir and enjoy!

Makes 64 servings or 3 1/2 cups mix.  I sometimes tweak this recipe and will add more or less of some the ingredients depending on my mood.

 

I didn't mean to get off the subject of book, but just had to share the recipes with you.  Here are more pictures of the book for you to enjoy and to get you more excited that the Christmas season is just around the corner.

 

Will you travel for the holidays or spend it at home with family and friends?  Please share what your plans are, I'd love to know.  In whatever direction you take for the holiday, remember it's not just about the gifts, but you probably already know that, it's truly the love and fellowship and spending it with those that matter most in your life.  I wish you all a happy White Wednesday and Christmas season.

A Giveaway and A Gift

When I read that Dawn at The Feathered Nest had done 1200 posts, well I was shocked.  I thought I did a lot of posting and all within a 3 year time frame, but that's a lot of posting!  To celebrate this she's having an awesome giveaway.  She's such a talented artist and while we've never met face to face, I consider her a great friend.  She's just the sweetest and always post some of the best things out there in blogland or she'll show you what new item she's created or sweet pics of her grandbaby and family.  Go on over and wish her well and while you are there enter her drawing:

Now, let's move on to another sweet person.  I first found out about Anne of Fiona and Twig (don't you just love that name) a few months back when out of the blue she sent me an email asking me to check out her blog.  I loved it and found it interesting.  Then, this past Fall I actually got to meet her and her hubby during the Warrenton Antiques Show.  She's decided to join the group and sell this Spring at the Warrenton/Round Top shows, congrats to her on that (check out her blog for the details of this).  Then, just the other day she sends me another email asking me for my addy and this is what I received in the mail yesterday, a beautiful Christmas ornament. 

Is she not the sweetest girl around?  I love it Anne, THANK YOU so much!

Winnie & Tulula's

Due to personal reasons, I've decided to move out of Winnie & Tulula's at the end of December.  If you are interested in something please let me know and there is the chance I might could do better on the item.  I've really enjoyed being in Gloria's shop. It's such a pretty shop with some really great dealers, who I know work hard to find great things.  I will still be located in the Lufkin Tx shop, Heritage Antiques.

Thanks to the customers that have come out and bought from me in the six months that I've been there.  I wish Gloria and her crew much blessings.

Judy Hill Part II

Here is the last part of Judy's Open House.  I was inspired, as a I always am, with all her displays.  I hope you've been inspired in some way too.  Of all the rooms, I think this one was my favorite, her dining room:

  

  

 

Click here to continue the last of the tour.

I just wanted to mention thanks to all that leave me comments and stop by for a visit.  You always make my day, even if you've left no comments, just stopping by is a great thing for me.  Hope you all are having a great Sunday. 

Vintage Home Tours

Today my mother, brother, and I attended the Home Tour of Vintage Homes in our area.  It was such a pretty day that we walked from the four homes that we toured.  There was a bit of a chill in the air but it felt good to get out and walk.  We had a great time and enjoyed seeing the homes in their period state and even some of the clothing that originally belonged to the families.  We also saw Lois on one of the tours, she owns one of the Antique Shops in town.  Check out her blog when you get the chance.  The last house, Pritchett-Kellogg home had never been open for tours before and this was the first time allowing this.  It's a beautiful home.  Home you enjoy the tour:

 The Joshua Houston Home

 

 The Wynne Home

 

 The Gibbs-Powell Home

 

 The Pritchett-Kellogg Home

Do you want to see more of the Vintage Home tour, click here:

To read more of the history of Huntsville, click here.

Happy rest of the weekend to you all and I'll post more of Judy's Open House tomorrow.

Personal Collections

I've decided to part with some of my personal collections.  Please check out my Blog Shop to see them.

I'll be doing several posts during the next few days/weeks so you'll want to check back often.  I'm headed to an Open House of vintage homes in my town this afternoon.  I'll post pics when I return.  Hope you all have a great Saturday.

Judy's Open House ~ Part I

Before I continue with Judy's Open House, I just have to tell you that it actually snowed in my town today.  Yes, I know it snows in Texas, but to snow here is really a rare thing.  We so enjoyed it and wish I had taken pics but it was gone before I knew it.

As promised yesterday, here is the continuation of Judy's Open House.  This is just the first part of more to come.  As I mentioned I took so many pictures and to put into one post, well you would miss some of the great details and things that Judy had and put together.

Seeing her bedroom was just so pretty with all things she displayed here, from this beautiful dresser and mirror and lamps:

To the view outside her window and how pretty it was framed:

 

To the view in her bathroom, I don't think I've ever seen a prettier bathroom:

 

This post will show more into the first, second, and third bedrooms of her home as well as the bathrooms.  Click here to enjoy more of Judy's Open House.

There will be more to come tomorrow. Hope you keep warm, it's going to be a cold night in Texas tonight!

The Devine Mrs. H

Yes, I am referring to Judy Hill.  You all know that today was her Open House and that she is the queen of design and vignettes and just has a knack of putting it all together.  I just about couldn't stand the fact that I was the first in line, heck I was the first one there.  It was cold and the wind seemed to cut right through you, but that did not stop me from waiting for the door to open.  She probably thought she was going to be stampeded with all the women that were eventually waiting in line.  I begged her to let me wait inside.  I wouldn't have touched anything, I just wanted to look (wink), but no that wouldn't have been fair, but I asked, it doesn't hurt to ask.  Okay, enough of my rambling, I know you want to look inside too:

Here's what was at the front door and on the porch as you walked up the side walk.

 This niche and pretty Mary were right inside the foyer.

 

 Her first bedroom was decorated so pretty in white and loved the effect she did above the bed.

 

Now that's a pretty headboard, don't you think.

 

 Her bedroom had more pretty white things and so much to see.

 

 The Dining Room was just so pretty with all the cloches.  Debra here's another idea for you to use cloches.

 

Look at all the gold accessories, doesn't it look so festive.

 This plate rack was in the Hallway, loved all the brown transferware.

 I took lots and lots of pics so you know this will take several posts to see it all.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for so much more.

White Wednesday at The Hills

UPDATE: IT'S SNOWING IN DALLAS!!

I thought since it was White Wednesday and tomorrow is Judy Hill's Open House, I would just combine the two.

 

Doesn't the picture that Judy posted on her blog seem just like the place you want to go home to, so cozy.  This is one event you don't want to miss.  If you've never been, check out my pictures of her Christmas show last year for an idea of just how great her Open House is.  Visit Judy's blog or call her for directions.

Be sure and check out Kathleen's blog for White Wednesday for all the other participants.  It's also Canton weekend, so after you leave Judy's place, you can head down to Canton and do more shopping.