~Happy New Year~ & ~Catching Up~

Happy New Year, Gals! I thought I had better get caught up on 2008 before 2009 rolls in...I have been such a bad blogger this year...so my New Years resolution is.....DO a Better JOB at Blogging, Nancy!!!!;) I have been given several awards over the last couple of months and I have lost some on them....so if you gave me an award and I forgot it...then pleeeeease forgive me! If you will email me, I will definitely add it in asap! Before I go on, I want to say that it has been a pleasure to meet so many wonderful talented gals out there in blog world! This has been my first year blogging and I never thought it would become what it has!~ I appreciate every one of you, and you will never know how you all make my days!
Hoss and Lucy are making their selves at home around here! They have taken over! I will be doing a post all about the changes around here, they have instituted, very soon, but I had to show you a recent picture of them. I didn't know that dogs could get spoiled, but honey they are spoiled rotten already!!!:)

This is 2 candles that I received from Janera at My Garden Hat. She sells them and we did a swap....she wanted one of my tassels and I was happy to receive the candles! These candles are fabulous! We have a big house and It is hard to find candles that will smell up the whole house, but let me tell you, these do! Also, Janera emailed me a while back and ask me to help her decorate her bedroom, Janera lives in Texas, but through the...Internet, eBay, and pictures, we did it! I will be showing you the before and afters in January! It turned out gorgeous!
Thanks Janera, for the wonderful candles....I will be ordering more!!!!!!!

Everyone knows Nikki Crumpet...right!!! Blah, Blah, Blah Blog... This girl cracks me up daily! I will read her blog and laugh till I am in pain!!! She had a giveaway during the holidays and I won! Thank you Nikki for such a wonderful Giveaway! We have really been enjoying all the goodies!

Y'all remember when I introduced Miss Janice a few months ago....will look what that Miss Janice went and did.....she sent me a thank you gift! Now, that is a true Southern Lady!!!!!! Thank you Miss Janice! I was using this for my tassels sells, but I bought something else for the sells and I will now be using this cute note book for blogging notes!!! Maybe I will not forget about awards now!!!!LOL

I also want to send a big appreciation to Whistlestop Cafe Cooking for choosing my snowman table center piece as one of their picks for December! Who would have guessed the girl that can't set a table would be picked....lol:) Thanks so much!!!!!

Last, but not least is an award from Roberta Anne at Little House in the Desert. Thank you so much Roberta Anne!

I have to post 5 things I like about Chirstmas....so.....These are not in any order!

1. The decorations...of course

2. The food....of course!!!!

3. Christmas movies

4. Santa Claus....Yes, I believe!!! I received 2 puppies....I know it had to be Santa!

5. The Reason for this Season.....JESUS!!!!

I now have to pass this along....and since this Christmas Season is almost over......I will just leave it for you to pick up if you want it!

I am caught up now, and ready for 2009!!!!! Again, if I have forgotten an award or Meme....pleeease let me know! I know I have forgotten....so please forgive me!!!!! Maybe I forgot because I will be turning 40 on Friday...;)

We will be celebrating my 40th birthday....on Friday and Saturday....only because my hubby wants to....I would be fine staying in bed on the 40th...lol I will post the celebrations {maybe} no promises on that one...;)

Everyone be safe this New Years Eve! Thank you so much for stopping by! Thanks to all the faithfulls and all the new names I see! I appreciate all of you!As always, Blessings to all my friends, Nancy

~Merry Christmas Y'all~

I want to wish each and everyone of you a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year! When I started visiting blogs in March, I had no idea I would start my own later. You all have been such a blessing to me this year, you will never know! I thought this would just be more of a personal online diary for me to write my thoughts, but Oh how I was wrong. Through this blog I have really had a lot of fun this year. I have met so many wonderful, talented gals. I have learned tons of new things, thanks to y'all and hopefully I have shared a little inspiration along the way. I may not get around to each one of you on or before Christmas to wish you a Merry Christmas.....So I will do it here........I wish you nothing but.....Love, Joy and Peace this Christmas Season! I hope you have been NICE this year{lol} and Santa comes to see each of you and that you get everything you ask for, but most of all I wish you lots of time spent with your family and friends. Take the time to ENJOY the sounds, sights, and smells of this Season and Treasure every moment!!!! Everything has been so busy around here and will continue to be crazy{in a good way crazy} for the next week or two, I just do not have the time to be a Good Blogger, so I will be taking a little blogging break....I will return around the New Year! I want to thank everyone of you that takes the time to stop by here and visit! Your visits and your comments mean so much, I appreciate every one of them!! I will be thinking about you gals, and I will check in when I have time! As always, Blessings to you all, and Merry Christmas! Nancy

~I'm Still Here, Just Been Sooooo Busy!~

I haven't forgot about all y'all! This Southern Lady has been so busy! How do y'all find time to blog during this busy season? Shopping, wrapping gifts, parties to attend, banquets, and new family members...have been taking my time. Yes, I said new family members....you will see them at the end.... I haven't even put a dent in the wrapping yet, but I am working on it.

The other night we had our Church Christmas Banquet....these are a few pictures we took before leaving the house. That's Aaron above...Oh yeah, he just had a birthday too! He checks everyday to see if I have done his Birthday Post yet, and I think he's a little ticked at me because he said something to me the other day about the fact that I haven't done it yet. Alex didn't get to go, he had school.

That's me and the Mr. I have no idea why I look so frightened~!

This was a Christmas Tree in the foyer of the Banquet Hall that we had our Church Banquet at. I thought it was gorgeous!

*******And They Call It Puppy Love*******

These are the new family members! That's right 2 new puppies!!!!! How did this happen........

I think I have told you all before that hubby's family has a floor covering business.....well, the other morning......hubby went to work and just look at what someone had left out by the dumpster, 2 of the cutest puppies! Let me just make a long story short, by saying....IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!

Let me explain, that I have not had the PET fever in many many years! Not that I didn't like animals....I grew up always with animals around, but I just never found a dog that I fell in love with, until these....I can't explain how or why...it just happened! So, I would like to introduce you to Hoss and Lucy.

This is Hoss, and he is a cut up...Mr Personality.....Look at these faces....couldn't you just love them too!!! We have had them to the Vet this week...they received their shots....Awww. They also received a clean bill of health! They are part Chow and not sure what else...maybe Lab, but we are not sure. They are Approx 8 weeks old.

Below~ is Lucy....she has gorgeous blue eyes and the sweetest personality!

Right now they are still at the business, staying in a fenced in area there. As soon as we can get a place for them to stay in at our house, then we will bring them home!

I can't stand to go out there to see them and have to leave them there!!!

So now you know what I have been up to! I have a feeling y'all will be seeing more of Hoss and Lucy.

If your not sick of seeing my Christmas decor...then I will post a few more pictures soon. I also am planning to get Aaron's Birthday post up soon and then I will be taking a break till after the first of the year.
I hope you all are enjoying the sights and sounds of the Season! I know that you gals have been doing some wonderful things...I have been around to visit when I have had a min. here and there!

Thanks to all of you that take the time to come by and visit. I have been seeing some new names, I will be around to visit with all the new folks very soon! Blessings to you all and Merry Christmas, Nancy

~My Tennessee Christmas Kitchen~

Merry Christmas From My Kitchen To Yours! Y'all have been so patiently waiting for the Kitchen Tour...so grab you a cup of coffee and enjoy! At the end you will see another small tree and a little craft project I did this week.....Click on pictures to see the details. In the kitchen and really everywhere...I like for things to be a little more on the Whimsical side....I love color at Christmas and almost a child-like decor. I want to mention that the flash always washes out the paint color...it is not this light. Oh, do you remember seeing that red and gold planter...I had it sitting in the foyer...well...it found a new spot, I like it much better in the kitchen, and I found a pretty Santa to sit on the table in the foyer...I will show you that foyer table again later.

This tassel hangs on my bookcase that holds the cookbooks.

This tassels did hang here in the Kitchen window, but the craft project I told you about, has replaced the tassel...you will see it at the end of the post.

I found these whimsical green stockings at Cracker Barrel the other night and they were already marked 40% off....I grabbed 2 of them. They hang in 2 other windows in the kitchen.

This is a picture takin standing in the breakfast nook...looking into the Great Room. Y'all see my banister with NO Christmas decor... well, that is driving me nuts, I have always put garland on it, but I said I wasn't going to do it this year, I don't know though, I have a feeling I will do it anyway!!!! I don't feel like my house is finished with out the garland up. Moving on.... I know you want to see the kitchen, right?

The huge snowman was a Christmas gift several years ago, from my hubby.

Finally a picture that shows the true color of the paint!!!! :)

Words "I" live by....lol My hubby bought this for me, he really knows me!!!!

That's right, I am praying for snow this year :)

That wraps up the kitchen tour..... Hope y'all enjoyed it.

Now, about that little craft project.....I saw this posted on Robin's Blog....Robins Nest. It looked so easy and I knew I had the materials to make it. The one that Robin had on her blog was made with fabric, I think, however I used ribbon instead of material.

A wreath and ribbon or material of your choice.

It really looks so much prettier and brighter in person! The Santa Tassel was moved to a different spot and the wreath went up! I love the whimsical look it adds to the kitchen.

Moving on.....this tree sits in the boys bathroom window....again the pictures just don't do it justice!

Another picture in the boys bathroom.

I sure do hope you all have enjoyed the Christmas Kitchen Tour and I hope you find a little inspiration for your own home. I still have 3 more Christmas Trees to show y'all....the Sun Room, Master Bathroom and The Fishing Room. I was going to add them into this post, but I think I will just do one more Christmas Decor post. I should have it ready for you on Monday.

Thank you all so much for coming by and visiting with me today! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, full of lots of Christmas Cheer!!! Merry Christmas, Nancy

~The Fantasy of Trees Part 2~

This is part 2 of The Fantasy of Trees....that I went to Thanksgiving week. You can see part 1 here. Hope you all enjoy the show. Click on the pictures to see the details. This was what I would call the OOH La La tree....Oh it was gorgeous!

Pinks, blacks and whites.

Gorgeous Floral Arrangements.

Beautiful tree all dressed up in browns.

I will be posting My Tennessee Christmas Kitchen real soon...so y'all be watching!

I appreciate every one of you that takes the time to stop by and visit! I hope you make yourself at home and please come back anytime! Merry Christmas, Nancy

~My Tennessee Christmas Part 3~

Are you ready for My Tennessee Christmas Part 3? Again there is not any order to these pictures. I hope you enjoy a little more of My Tennessee Christmas. As always click on pictures to see the detail. Even the large ones are clickable. This is a nativity set that my Mom made me, I think about 10 years ago....This year it is sitting in a corner in the dining room. I have to tell you, I was not going to get this out this year until.....the other day, I was at the Good Will and they had one sitting up in the window...identical to mine....they had $99.00 price on the set...at the Good Will people! As soon as I walked in the door....I got mine out!

This is the cutest tree...it sits in the powder bath. When you open it, it plays Christmas music and the little train moves around the track.

This is The Dining Room Table....I have not set this table yet...I know...shame on me....I will get it done later, maybe. I think it is beautiful even without any settings...;) Theresa, BJ, Rhonda, Pat....I could go on and on, could you make a trip to TN to set my table LOL...you gals are some of the best! The spots you see on the wall is sparkle from the Chandi....

I have to tell you, I am so happy with this dining room this year. We just raised this chandi....it set too low, and I never could set this arrangement under it. It looks so much better!!! Oh, I just noticed that you can see the fold lines in this table cloth.....don't judge me too hard for it...LOL

This is the one spot I am not pleased with....I can't seem to come up with something that suits my fancy for this little foyer table...this is what I have for now, but it is subject to change.

This is a tree, I put together a few years ago, it sits in the front living room.

This tree sits in the foyer. It is so hard to get good pictures of trees!

I had to show a close up of one of my favorite Santa's...He sits on top of the mantel.

Santa and Mrs Claus sitting in front of the fireplace....Sorry there is not a fire going....the pilot light went out and I have no idea how to light it back....LOL

This will end part 3....Part 4 will feature the Kitchen and a couple of trees up stairs. Then, I think that will be all of My Tennessee Christmas.

I am running so behind on getting this post up today! I will be around to visit with you all tonight. I want to thank all the new gals that have been visiting and leaving comments! I have all of them saved and plan to visit with you soon!! I also want to thank all you gals that take the time to stop by and visit...I do hope you enjoy your time spent here with me. I have some exciting things coming up! Can't wait to share them, I am so excited!!!!!!

Those of you that have sent me awards....a while back....well, I haven't forgotten them...please be patient with me!

Have you ever felt like you were forgetting something???? That's the way I feel right now....can't think of it....lol Well, until next time.....Merry Christmas to you all, Nancy

~My Tennessee Christmas Part 2~

Okay girls, get your coats, scarfs, hats, and gloves, we are going outside today and it's cold...Part 2 of My Tennessee Christmas. Here is a few pictures from outside. I keep it simple out there, mainly because I don't enjoy taking down lights outside...lol Some of these pictures was taken at dusk and some was taken the other day when it was SNOWING here :) We didn't get anything to speak of, but it sure was beautiful just to watch. Hope you enjoy part 2. This picture was taken at dusk.

I am praying for some snow this year! It has been a long time since we have had anything substantial! We use to get a lot of snow....I remember, when I was in school being out for days at a time due to large snows....I don't know what has happened, but it has been too long!!!!!!

I don't know why some of these pictures look cloudy....probably the photographer...;) I have always had topiaries sitting on each side of the door that I always put lights on....but I sold them in a yard sale this Summer...they were starting to look faded. I never have bought any more to replace them. I used ferns on each side of the door during the Summer and now I am using this Snow Family....I like it better!!!

All of the lights get a little decor. These are just swags I bought at Hobby Lobby one year after Christmas.

I keep the front door simple...so I can see the lights through the door. This year I added the "W" ....Remember, I showed it in a post I did about the Tinsel and Treasure show....here. Some of you have ask about where it came from...here is the info....Berry Chic 865-216-7671 or Click here to view their website. They have several great items and a fantastic website.

This is just another swag from Hobby Lobby a couple years ago....I added the sloppy bow...;)

This Snow Family came from the Christmas Show at the Expo here in Knoxville....I bought them several years ago....They are holding up very well. I saw the lady that makes them again this year at the show....boy, did she have some cute ones this year.

I remember when I bought these I liked them because the Mom was holding two little boys(well, I think they are boys..LOL) Since I have two boys...not so little anymore....I had to have this family.....then Mom is holding a sign that says..." A shopping we will go" You know why I had to get them now don't you....Shopping????Hmmmmm

Another picture of it snowing:) Yeah, I know I'm a nut for taking a picture of this little bit of snow....lol

Y'all remember Miss Birdie....well, she found a new spot for the winter! She just looks so cold to me, she needs a coat on...:)

Come on back in the house, get you some Hot Wassail, a cookie, and make yourself at home.

That Wassail mix is the best! I use to make it home made...but after I found this stuff...I don't bother with buying all those juices to make it! This mix is found usually at gift shops, decor boutiques, and Christian Book Stores. It's also a great item to keep on hand, when you need a little gift to give someone!

Part 3 of My Tennessee Christmas will be coming up soon! I am so glad all Y'all came by to visit with me today! Merry Christmas, Nancy

~My Tennessee Christmas~

There are lots of Christmas Parties going on this week....3 today that I know of....so are you all ready to party???? Hooked on Houses.....link is at the end of this post....Then Boo Mama is hosting 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes. Tons of Christmas Cheer going on all over blogland today. One more is Rhoda at Southern Hospitality....she is all Decked out for the Holidays so go on over there and check out her Halls for lots of Christmas Joy!

Merry Christmas, Y'all! The wait is finally over....Let's begin ~My Tennessee Christmas Home Tour~ there is no rhyme or reason for the order of these pictures, however I did start the first picture with The Reason For The Season! This will be the first of at least 3 posts showing Christmas Time in Our Home. Hope you all enjoy the tour. Click on the pictures to enlarge for the details.

Santa greets everyone in the foyer as they walk in the door. Notice the ribbon bow on the topiary...that ribbon came from a yard sale this Summer. I love ribbon and I make bows for EVERYTHING! I was able to make several bows out of this ribbon.

We decided to change things a bit this year and sit the main tree right in the center of the house...it looks gorgeous from the front door and we like the way we can see the whole tree from all directions in our home. You can see the difference in the header picture at the top.....it has only taken us 5 Christmases to figure this out...LOL Every year I have always wanted to try it, but never did till this year. We really like it better...Now we can see it from the kitchen, and sun room! I did not put all the ornaments and ribbon on this tree this year...I used only my favorite ornaments and scaled way back on ribbon and bows, so we could see more lights. The other little tree you see, is sitting in the foyer...you will see a close up of it in another post.

Isn't this all we need!!!! Jesus!

I have to thank Rhoda for giving us the tip on enlarging vertical pictures!! I love it! Thanks Rhoda!

I love this clock....it plays Christmas music every hour...the only thing is...it takes me a while to get it set right (every year!) If it is not set right then it will play all night....it will keep us up all night! LOL

The Santa was a yard sale find this Summer.

Hubby bought me this huge snowman one year for Christmas....You will see more of him when I post the kitchen.

Snowman collection sitting in the kitchen....I know, I need to do something about that rooster in the back ground....someone give me an idea. I guess I need to hang a Christmas pictures there.

I have a terrible weakness for Christmas towels!

Another towel....

More towels!

Well, there you have it...a sneak peek at what is going on around here. Stay tuned for more...Trees, lights, Santas, and of course part 2 of the Fantasy of Trees. Then, one day soon we will be going to Gatlinburg, TN....what a treat for you and me both!!!!!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit! I appreciate you gals! Merry Christmas, Nancy

To see more of my Tennessee Christmas Tours...please click on any of the links

My Tennessee Christmas Kitchen

My Tennessee Christmas Part 2

My Tennessee Christmas Part 3

I want to thank Hooked on Houses for hosting a wonderful Holiday House Tour today. Run over there and Check it out!!! Lots of Christmas Cheer going on over there.