Don't Forget to Eat Your Peas!

Our Black-Eyed Peas 

are on the stove cooking.

So we'll be ready for 

New Year's Day.

Don't forgot to 

eat at least a spoonful.

Click here for our recipe featured

on last year's New Year's Day post.

Served with a nice salad 

and fresh out of the oven cornbread, 

this meal is real comfort food for the 1st.

As you can see, it's an exciting 

New Year's Eve here tonight.

May 2013 be a year 

that brings peace in our world.

Here's to 

Good Health ~ Joy ~ Good Times!

I wish each one of you a

Very Happy New Year!

Joining

Alison @ The Polohouse 

~  Favorites on the First ~

Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm

Christmas Memories ~ 2012

The aroma of chocolate 

filled our home this Christmas Eve.

Earlier in the season, vintage chocolate moulds 

and their faux counterparts found their 

way to our home for a holiday vignette on the sideboard.

They sparked the theme 

for our Christmas Eve table with 

a centerpiece of real Chocolate Santas.

A Chocolate Santa at Each Place Setting

Beaded Placemats, Pewter Chargers, 

Ginori China Rimmed in Gold and Chocolate Brown, 

Topped With a Tartan Plaid Tidings Plate.  

Heirloom linens tied 

with a red tassel held Christophe silver.

Each napkin was hand monogramed 

by my husband's grandmother.

Wine Stem of French Crystal

and Water Stems by Denby

All nestled around the centerpiece of chocolate Santas.

Each one to be taken home 

at evening's end for a little midnight snack.

~ Christmas Eve Dinner ~

Beef Tenderloin

Served with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and 

Roasted Carrot Rounds

Mashed Potatoes

Schnitzel Beans

Followed by dessert of 

German Chocolate Cake

From our Home to Yours

We Send Special Holiday Wishes

And Share Snippets of 

The Holidays Here At

 Hyacinths for the Soul

Fresh Greens and Holly Berries

in Antique Quimper 

Touches of a French Christmas

(Thank You, Emily!)

A Mix of Courtly Check and Tartan

Treasured Childhood Santa Figures

Petite Santa Figures 

Collected Through the Years

Framed Photos of Our

Sweet Sadie Girl

A Group of Malicorne Sleigh Bells

Made of French Faience 

A Collection of Christmas Redware 

and Copper Moulds in a Vintage Dough Bowl

Needlepoint Santas 

Stitched Many Years Ago

My Favorite Father Christmas 

By Judy Tasch

With a Few Tartan Treasures

~ Sadie Mercedes ~

Our Joy and Love 

Every Day of the Year!

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Recipe for Schnitzel Beans here.
(We use the thin haricot vert or French cut regular green beans.)

German Chocolate Cake here.

Joining

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy And Elephants

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life

On the Menu Monday @ Stone Gable

Mosaic Monday @ Little Red House

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

The Gift of Friendship

~ Friendships ~

Friendships shared through the years.

Friendships shared across the miles.

Gifts that I treasure every day of my life.  

 Be it friends that are physically in my life or

the many dear friends I've made throughout Blogville,

Each one is a treasure!

A long time dear friend recently celebrated a birthday,

so a few of us gathered here for a birthday lunch in her honor.

Christmas colors and a touch of tartan seemed a fitting theme.

Glenn Plaid Crystal 

by Ralph Lauren

Vintage Linens With a Holly Motif 

and Gorgeous Hand Stitched Monogram

Chocolate Trees Offer A Take Home Treat

Gift Boxes of Tea Forte 

Serve as Place Cards for Guests

Simple Place Settings 

~ Menu ~

 Green Chili Chicken Soup 

 Green Salad

Italian Cream Birthday Cake

Centerpiece of Red Begonia 

and Boxwood Topiaries

~ On the Sideboard ~

Silver Tray of  Fresh Greens

Antique Chocolate Santa Molds

Faux Chocolate Santa Figures 

A Touch of Tartan

Vintage Tartanware Napkin Rings

Old World Santa Figures

Faux Chocolate Santa Figures 

Found at Timeless Charm

HERE

They were obviously produced 

from antique chocolate molds 

much like the ones on my tray.

A Basket of Seasonal Greens 

A Table Set to Honor

A Circle of Friends

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

When setting a table for guests I like to include a little take home treat.  In this case, it was a chocolate tree served up in the soup bowl.  I placed each tree on a nest of green paper so they could be easily transferred to the table when soup is served.

Joining

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Vintage Thingie Thursday @ Coloradolady

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Breakfast With Santa

Inviting All Good Boys and Girls

To Join Santa's Table

There's A Special Place 

Just For YOU!

Put On Your 

Santa Hat And Join The Fun

Isn't this the cutest table?

A dear friend keeps her breakfast table 

set for her grands so they can enjoy 

eating meals with Santa.

What child wouldn't delight in sitting at

this table while wearing their own Santa hat?

Such a simple, easy idea!

This same friend also has an activity table 

set up in the corner of her family room beside 

the Christmas tree.  Her grands can sit there and 

color, play games, work puzzles, etc.  

She thinks of everything.

Joining

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Homespun Christmas @ Stone Gable

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Mosaic Monday @ Little Red House

Cowgirl Up @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life