Deck the Halls

 Kristen our master knitter made these beautiful mittens for her Dad. 

 Kris even made a flap that you can fold back to use a phone!  She knows her Dad.  We were both touched by this sweet and warm gift from our talented daughter.

We had a visit with Kris and Doug and Penny.  It started with a snowball fight, (indoors, with soft snowballs) dancing in the family room.  A beautiful vignette that I featured on my facebook page, made by our babygrand.  She is quite the designer.    Mike and Amanda had our car on Sunday, so we had a quiet day...let me correct that, we had a busy day at home.  There were hundreds of branches that fell in our ice storm.  I dragged the largest to the curb and bagged the rest.  Dearest hung some lights outside and I fussed and decorated a dozen little vignettes.

 Just small trees this year.  With our growing family, floor space it at a premium. 

 Snowing again today after all the ice and snow from last weeks storms melted.

 My geranium is blooming.  A pop of color hardly noticed in the summer, a revelation contrasted by the cold and snow.

 My poinsettia from last year is blooming.  The bracts are light green, a new variety that Elizabeth gifted me with last year.

 Thrifted mittens warming themselves around a pretty candle.

 A salt glazed bowl filled with vintage and thrifted ornaments.

 Reminds me of ornaments we had growing up.

 Even the bench gets the Christmas treatment.

 A Swedish table covering thrown into a five dollar bag years ago at a rummage sale.

 My bear Clarence.  He sits with a Woolrich throw Penny used as a baby.

 Another small tree near the fireplace, with sparkly bobbles and white lights.

 The mantle has a Christmas tree theme.

 Many of the trees I found at the thrift.

 These Pottery Barn wax houses I admired at PB but could not afford.  Several years later I found them for a couple of dollar each... again, at the thrift.

 This was a recent purchase.  This is a Wally Mart reproduction of a very popular sign that is all over the net this year. I really didn't need it, but liked it so much, it jumped into my cart.  Funny how that happens sometimes.

 Did a little stacking and used containers and candle holders to give my display a little interest.

 My little kitchen tree.  So gloomy this morning for photography,

 but here are a couple of close ups. Hey it's Andy!

 My squirrel Filbert.  He was  popular with my nephews when they were young.  I'd find Filbert in the oddest places and situations staged by the boys.  I wonder if they remember?

 A embroidered shooting star made by my friend Mary tops the tree.

 Some of my Christmas towels, potholders and a botanical apron I purchased after the season at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.  I already received my gift of a renewal of our membership at the gardens from my sweet hubby.  That's why, every time we visit, no matter what season, we say Merry Christmas to each other.  It's a gift we share and has brought us so much joy.

 Another gift from last year. I find it hard to use the pretty linens, but prefer to display them.

 A cherry red garland around my window.

 Another vignette.  The gingerbread man and lady, gifts from my SIL Mindy years ago, now make an annual visit to my kitchen and supervise the baking.

 Another salt glazed bowl filled with festive red ornaments.

 A little village popped up in the foyer,

along with a "stitch and stuff" I made almost thirty years ago. It is still one of my favorite holiday decorations.

"Gloom we always have with us, a rank and sturdy weed,

but joy requires tending."

-Barbara Holland

I'll be tending my joy, and wish the same for you my friends.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny

  

Thanksgiving

 All the preparations and traditions surrounding Thanksgiving are some of my favorites.

 From the oranges with cloves on the table, to the bed of seeded eucalyptus.  It all means and smells Thanksgiving.

 Treats, you gotta have em...

 My Mom's braided bread.  Delicious and there might me a revolt if I were to serve another bread option.

 It's sweet and traditional.

 We were missing our boys.  Jon and Charlotte stayed put at home.  Charlotte has had a hard time with those twins. Charlotte calls them the sailors on the good ship Charlotte.  Mike and Amanda were in Michigan greeting their five weeks early nephew!

Sure did miss them all, especially their good humor and great hugs.

 We have a good sized home but never enough space when everyone is here. On the left, my oldest Brother Tony and Brother Greg.  On the right niece Emma, SIL Mindy and Brother Jeff.  Then there's my sweethearts Penny and Kristen.

 The vat of mashed potatoes.  It weighs a ton of deliciousness.

 Elizabeth and my dearest. 

  Doug in my chair with his adorable wife.

So many beautiful children.

This is our good friend John and Rhonda's daughter, holding Daddy's hand.

 Nephew Tyler standing.  They came all the way from St. Louis to be with us.

 My sweet nephews Greg and Jimmy and their dad Greg. Jim fell asleep on the love seat and I got to cover him with a cozy throw, just like the old days when they were little.

 My favorite visitors.  These girls are the very sweetest,  kindest, and most fun. 

My little bird who is now ten, walked around the house, lovingly looked at everything and insisted that I add her height to the chart that started on a wall by our pantry 24 years ago.

                                    

These girls.  I love them so...  They are the best of friends.

 There is Zoe in a hat that Kris knitted for Teya when she was a baby.

 And then it's over in a flash.  Just like that.  The happy memories remain.

Every utensil in the house used. We used Chinet plates, and beautiful but disposable napkins.

There is still two load of dishes to wash and all those pots and casseroles.

We sent home most of the food and all the desserts.

All that was left was potatoes, and that's fine with me.

"I am only here for the potatoes."

-Penny Willoughby

 We had a couple of days of good weather.  We took advantage of it and had breakfast at one of our favorite spots.

 My dearest stays put while I take some photos.

Just minutes from home, so peaceful.

 Then a blizzard.  Started with rain, sleet, ice then snow on Sunday.  Then the power went out.

We were told that from power pole to power pole 500 pounds of ice can form, bringing down the lines from the sheer weigh of the ice.  Not to mention the 40 mph winds and tree limbs that came down.

 We made it thought the first night, but the temperature was supposed to drop.  We spent the next night in a hotel nearby.  

 We couldn't see out of the windows because of the driven snow.

Mike and Amanda came by with a tiny shovel  (All they could find at the hardware store, not knowing that we had Mike's shovel, and three of our own.) and helped us clear the car and the driveway.

They saved the day!

 It was just like Frozen.  I was dressed just like Elsa, if Elsa was a 63 year old lady in jeans.

 Funny how cold and dark made my favorite, a snowstorm, seem a lot less fun.

 THE INTERNET WAS DOWN!

 Though I did watch a John Denver Christmas Special on you tube on my phone, just like Laura Ingalls did in The Long Winter.  (It's a joke about roughing it in the 21st century.)

While we were at the hotel, I kept calling home, hoping the answering machine would pick up signaling that power was restored. Finally, at 5:00 am on Tuesday the answering machine answered!

This made me happy.  We hurried to shower and get home to start our day.

Walking in the house, it was already warm, all the lights were on and it felt like home again.

There was much damage in our town.  We saw many power lines down in the streets.  We were fortunate that our power was restored rather quickly.

Back home to do laundry, pack up the fall decorations and start our Christmas decorating.

There truly is no place like home.

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny