The Pottery Barn Holiday Decorating Seminar was great!

I went to the PB Seminar today with my two daughters, Megan and Jenny. We had alot of fun and got some wonderful ideas. The picture above is of the mecury glass candle pillars. They come in varying sizes and range in price from $19.00-$39.00. The had red velvet candles on them and they put the red berries they sell in a spray around them. They looked just wonderful! They used 6 of the pillars though, which would amount to alot. Then They switched out the red candles for silver sparkle candles and switched out the berrie swags for silver, shiny balls on a swag. Absolutely gorgeous. They also did an arrangement on a mantel with their beautiful silk amaryllis, greens and some other silver ornaments. They really knew how to get you excited about decorating!! It was a fun time with the girls. We did a little shopping and then came home and crashed!! Just a note to everyone: PB does these seminars every year all around the country, so check it out next year!

Well Sherri did some Christmas Decorating!!

This is my Willow Tree Nativity Scene. The Bible to the left of the display is my bible I was given in 3rd Grade. I always put it out every Christmas



This is the fireplace in the Great Room. There are alot of stocking this year! I added the 2 son in laws and Teddy, our dog and Cash, Jenny and Kevin's dog! The green antique wooden sled with the Santa on it was painted by me. I used to take decorative painting class and this is my greatest achievement!!



Closeup of the Dining Room Table Decorations.



The whole dining room table decorations.



This is the blue cupboard in my kitchen all decorated with snowmen and a Santa wooden plate.




My Sunroom has a lovely fireplace in it too. So I decorated around my wooden swan.


The Kitchen Fireplace is the all decked out for the holidays!


I decorated the kitchen granite ledger very simple this year. Candles, some shiny Christmas balls and I'll add some magnolia leaves from my tree closer to the holidays.


I had to show off this picture my mother painted for John and I. She does watercolor. I had a card that I had gotten and asked her to put her spin on it and it came out beautiful! This picture doesn't do it justice but it really has alot of detail. I love cardinals and North Carolina has a lot of them. I'm glad she decided to take on the challenge!

That is it so far! I'm not decorating as heavily this year because of the house being on the market. We have yet to put the tree up, but that will be next! Merry Christmas everyone a little early!!

I just won the Bookworm Award!

Lynne at Lynne's Little Corner of the World gave me this Bookworm Award! Thanks, Lynne!

There's a meme that goes with this award. Here's how it works: Open the book closest to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence, as well as two to five sentences following there.

The book closest to me right now is Sugar Cookie Murder. I am currently reading this book.

The Bascombs would put on the appearance of connubial bliss for the crowd of constituents that hd gathered for the party, but it was all for show.

"Lovely dress, Mrs. Bascomb," Hannah said, admiring the white wool dress with white on white wool dress with white-on-white embroidered snowflakes forming a border around the hem and the neckline. Tiny snowflake earrings made of small diamonds twinkled in her ears, and Hannah suspected the worst. It was a well-know fact that Stephanie bascomb bought herself an expensive new outfit every time she thought her husband was cheating on her. And this time she'd bought diamond earrings, too.

Now I need to tag five others (I could only think of 3) for this award and meme. How about:

http://kays-read-scrap-live.blogspot.com/
http://bookfan-mary.blogspot.com/
http://iyamvixenbooks.blogspot.com/

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Everyone in our household had a great Thanksgiving! This is a picture of Jenny (on the left-our youngest daughter), myself in the center and Megan (on the right-she is our oldest daughter). I was really tired and exhausted from cooking so I don't look so good. I also have this horrible sinus infection, but the girls insisted they have a picture of the 3 of us. We all went to see Bolt in 3-D at the theater near our house. It is was cute. We usually don't go to the movies on Thanksgiving but the girls decided they wanted to do something different. It was a good day had by all. Today I'm resting pretty much. Everyone have a great evening!

Thanksgiving Preparations

The Thanksgiving preparations are all complete for today! I made an apple pie, a pumpkin pie, the dressing, set the table with my Green Depression Glass, peeled the potatoes and clean up a little. My daughters collect yellow and pink depression glass. One year we used all three colors for Thanksgiving. It looked really pretty!

I had a strange thing happen with the turkey. I thawed out the turkey and I always boil the neck and giblets for stock for my dressing. Well I pulled the neck out of the carcass and I went to pull out the little bag with the giblets and it wasn't there! How could a turkey not have the giblets??? Oh well I used just the neck to made the stock for the dressing. Never had that happen before.

I went to the Dr. this morning and I do have a sinus infection and the start of an ear infection. Good thing I went to the Dr. I've only had one call so far from the office.

Now it's time for me to rest, read and take a nap!!

My Bookclub was Great!

My Bookclub read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and tonight we met and discussed it. We had a really great discussion. Everyone liked the book but some of the subject matter bothered everyone. We couldn't believe the children all lived! It was really great to listen to everyone discussing this story.



I won this book tonight! I almost won Knit Two but the person next to me won it. The Knitting Circle was on my to read list and now I've got it to add to my pile of reading!

We are skipping December because of everyone's schedules and obligations. We are meeting in January to discuss Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo. I'm anxious to read it. It is suppose to be very good.

February we will be meeting at a little book store near to where I work and we'll be meeting an author. Can't remember the book or author right now.

Here is My Great Grandmother's Pumpkin Pie Recipe

I'm cooking this pie right now for the office. One of the guys in my office that I do alot of work with really loves pumpkin pie and his wife won't make it. I thought it would be nice to bring in a pie for everyone!

Pumpkin Pie
This is the recipe my Great Grandmother always made.

2 cups Pumpkin, cooked and mashed
3-4 Saltine crackers, crushed
2 eggs
2 tblsp. Flour
1 cup sugar
¼ tsp. nutmeg (also enough nutmeg to sprinkle on the top)
Milk (there is no measurement for milk, so you just keep pouring milk into the bowl until you think your pie shell will be filled.)

Mix all ingredients together and pour in a pie shell. Cook pie at 450 degrees for 10minutes and then at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes. Stick a knife in center of pie and if clean remove, if not cook a little longer.

Enjoy!!

I decided to stroll around the house for some Thanksgiving pics since everything outside got hit by frost this week.



This creamware bowl is on the granite ledge in my kitchen just behind the sink. I have all sorts of Thanksgiving/Fall things in there. Very festive touch!



In the sun room we have a double fireplace (the other half is in the kitchen area). This is the mantel I decorated for Thanksgiving.



This is the leaf candle arrangement and turkey that is on the granite ledge in my kitchen with the creamware bowl.

The day after Thanksgiving I will be taking everything down and starting the Christmas decorations. I'm not going to decorate as much this year because of the house being on the market. I don't want anyone to think it is cluttered!

Open House Today!

Today is the Open House our Realtor set up. Keep your fingers crossed!! John and I cleaned up the entire house, which included washing hardwood floors, dusting, vacuuming, putting away some knick knacks and straightening up certain sections. I think we are good to go! We have some errands to run while the open house is and we might stop by one of the DD's house for a bit. I hope there is someone out their that will want our house and love it as much as we do!!

Cleaning up the house tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will be really cleaning the house. It isn't dirty, but I need to put some extra shine on everything. I also might rearrange some of the rooms. Our realtor is having an Open House on Sunday from 2-5 and I want the house looking mahvelous!! Hopefully I'll get some reading time in and I'll definitely be making some more jewelry. Everyone have a great weekend!

I have decided to Smile all day tomorrow!

I just had a so-so day at work today. I have decided to smile all day tomorrow. Hopefully this will make things better at work. I hope this makes all the office drama go away! Smile a day makes the office drama go away is my new motto! I usually love going to my job and doing my job so I am having a real hard time getting my hands around this whole thing! Just remember everyone smile!

The Temps are really cold here in Charlotte!!

Oh my word is it freezing here today and especially last night! The temps dropped down into the high 20's here last night. All my plants except the ivy that was up against the house (which is brick and retained a little heat) have perished! Good thing I brought in most of the plants I wanted to winter over! I am so glad I bought that new coat on Monday. They say by the end of the week, the weather will be in the 50's-YEAH!!! Everyone grab a cup of tea or coffee and keep warm!!

Have you ever just wished you stayed in bed all day???

Well if you could look up in the dictionary the phrase "office drama" you would see my office there! Hopefully everything will blow over. I can't believe that this has turned into a major drama-all I said to the boss was I can't do all this work anymore! The boss told the controller to split the work up more fairly, he took it as a personal attack on him, he called in the other woman in accounting and told her the story, she overeacted and ran around gossiping to anyone who would listen! This morning I was in the office at 7:20 and it was nice and quiet. The controller came in around 8:00 and proceeded to come in my office, closed the door and told me he was mad at me for going to the boss. (Mind you I had gone to him 3 times and told him no one was helping me with all the extra work and I couldn't do it anymore) He told me he talked to the other owner (my real boss) and complained to him! My boss told him to basically get over it and it was his own fault because he didn't do anything about it and I must be pretty frustrated to say something (thank you very much). So in a nutshell I'm not working on any accounting from now on. I never wanted to work in accounting anyway, I don't like it. It was just way too much work and time consuming for me to get my own work done. I really hate office politics and yes, I'm going to say it working with woman or womanish men!! I am hoping this blows over and everyone can move on. I wasn't starting trouble I was just asking for some help and relief. I didn't go behind anyone's back I had asked numerous times for help. What is the problem! Oh well I'm off my soapbox now! Thanks for listening to my vent! I promise this is the end of this sordid tale!

I found the perfect coat and Sweater!!

This is the Sweater I bought last night at Old Navy. I am wearing it at work today and it is nice and toasty!!



I found the perfect City Style Peacoat at New York & Company! I bought it in this camel color and it was on sale for $69.96. I love sales!! Megan and I had such a fun time! She found a coat she wants Ken to buy her for Christmas it was plaid and really cute! I also bought a gray cable sweater that zips with a hood at Old Navy. I hit the jackpot tonight!

We had dinner at a small restaurant near my house called Bean Town. They are out of Boston (hence the name Bean Town). We had a very enjoyable night. I love evenings like this.

My Jewelry Collection I made today.

This is the new jewelry collection I made today!



Wooden Earrings



Jasper Earrings



Amber and Blue Necklace



Aquamarine Jacket Pull

I had alot of fun creating all these pieces of jewelry. I have to make some more for the Holiday Open House Megan is having on December 6th. It should be a wonderful time!

Working at Jenny and Kevin's today.

John and I went up to Jenny and Kevin's new home at about 10:00 and we left at 4:00.
We were priming walls in the Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Laundry Room and small hall. The paint on the walls from the previous owners were hideous and it took 2 sometimes 3 coats of primer to cover it! The primer was Valspar and really thick too!! The rooms look so much bigger and brighter. Can't wait to see the beautiful colors that Jenny and Kevin picked out on the walls. Megan, Jenny and their friend, Hiliary were cutting in with primer, rolling primer and painting the halls with a creamy coffee color. It looked great. I had an issue with my right hand blewing up like a balloon. I have alot of nerve damage from before my spine surgery last year in that hand, but I've never had that happen. I guess I'll just have to be careful. I went outside and planted the 2 mums Megan and Ken had given Jenny and Kevin for a housewarming gift around their mailbox. It is really shaping up! Jenny and I were planning the gardens out front also. We are going to make the front gardens look really wonderful next year. She knows nothing about gardening, but she will when we are done. We are going to put in a veggie and herb garden too! What fun we'll have!!

I'm feeling better today, not so "blue".

Today was a pretty good day at work. Everyone realized at 3:00 I was leaving at 4:00 because I worked through lunch. You would have thought I was leaving forever!! Everyone was getting a little annoying I must admit. John and I are going out for Mexican tonight, I think Cantina 1511. He had a notary closing at 4:00 today and he's almost home. I am really looking forward to the weekend! Alot of reading going on hopefully! Everyone have a great evening!

I must admit I am in a "blue mood" today

I think everything has finally hit me today. I have a sinus pressure headache, which I'm sure the weather is creating. It's in the 50's and rainy. I am worried about my Mom. She called last night and said she is driving herself the day before Thanksgiving to her eye appt. All the car services in her area are booked because of the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm still really mad at my sisters and father for treating her the way they did and continue to treat her. Family is suppose to be there to support each other not make the other family members miserable! I know I should be used to this behavior I'm 49 and I've put up with this my whole life. I usually am a pretty upbeat person and try to find the best in people but I think I have run out of that ability with my family. I thank my lucky stars my husband and 2daughters aren't that way!! I guess I can also be happy I live in NC and away from NJ where my family lives. I feel a little better getting this off my chest. Hopefully this will pass soon! Thanks for listening.

Chilly here today!

Today it is pretty cold here in the 30's. I know some other places in the USA are colder than here, but for Charlotte, NC that is pretty cold. This is more like January weather. It is also gray and cloudy-we are expecting rain sometime tonight. I am having soup for lunch today to chase some of the chill away! A soup bowl from McAlister's Deli is in order!

Everyone stay warm today!!

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!!

Happy Veteran's Day to all the Veteran's in this country! There are some who are serving now, have served in the past and some that are not with us anymore, but they have and are protecting this great country! Please take a moment today to thank a veteran or at the very least think about the men and women who have served our country! God Bless America!!

I had a great dinner with my friend!

I had a wonderful dinner with my friend from our neighborhood. We went to Ruby Tuesdays. We both had the Louisiana Fried Shrimp with mashed potatoes and broccoli. Which was yummy! We hadn't been able to sit and chat for quite some time. We both decided we need to make more time to visit with each other. She is a great friend!

Sunday Walk around the yard

This isn't in my yard but on my Dining Room table. These little Thanksgiving Pilgrims are as old as our oldest daughter, Megan. She is 28. I bought them for her very first Thanksgiving! We love them and cherish them. Someday I will give them to her.




These are the woods directly behind our house. When you look through the woods there is a pond on the 3rd hole of the Providence Country Club Golf Course. John and I feel like we live on a lake through the woods!




This yarrow looked so wooly and nestled in my garden. Sometimes I forget about it because it is in the very back of the garden. When it blooms it looks so beautiful there by the Butterfly Bush (Buddleia).




Grasses swaying in the garden.




One of the last Angel Trumpets in my garden.




Angel Trumpet (Brugsmania) outline against the late afternoon sky.




You ask what in the world did she take a picture of! Well this is the image of a bird that flew into our screened porch storm door! The bird is fine. It was a morning dove. You might not be able to tell in the picture too well but you can see the eyes, beak, head, wings, body and tail of the dove. She hit the window, slowly fluttered to the ground, shook herself off and flew to the birdfeeder and stuffed her face!

I hope you have enjoyed the stroll today. It was another gorgeous day here in Charlotte, NC!! The colors on the trees were stunning! The yellows, golds, reds and oranges made the trees look like they were in a blaze of color! I love this part of Fall! Enjoy!!

Jewelry Show coming up!

I don't know if everyone knows but I used to sell alot of jewelry I made. I had to go back to work because my husband had lost his job and we needed more money than my jewelry business was bringing in. I did very well though. I have still dabbled in it now and then though. I love making gifts of jewelry for my friends and family. My Mom is my biggest fan! Megan, my oldest daughter just told me today she is having an Open House on December 5th or 6th (can't remember exactly which day) and she wants me to sell my jewelry then. She will have a Tastefully Simple rep there, me, a woman that sells handbags and I think an artist. I am really excited about this!! I had planned on making jewelry tomorrow while John is working. This works out perfectly!! I'll let you know how I do!! I did make the necklace above but I make alot of other creations too!

Today was much less hectic!

Hi Everyone! I am actually able to post on here while I am at work!! The piles on my desk right now are actually piles not mountains! I do have alot of work that will be put on my desk on Monday but for the moment I can actually see wood on my desk!! Tonight John and I are going out for a bite to eat and we are going to the Library. My library sent me an e-mail stating a book I requested was in. It is called Fleece Navidad! It is a Christmas Mystery-hope it's good! Everyone enjoy your evening!

The Roses are Amazing!

John bought these roses for me over a week ago and they still look beautiful! He is so thoughtful. He gave them to me and said he just wanted to brighten my day!! He's a keeper!

Piles, Piles and Mountains

Not too much to report here other than working really hard! Every time I feel I can breath something more comes my way and it usually isn't a small project. I think alot of the guys will be out tomorrow so hopefully just hopefully I can catch up! Everyone have a wonderful afternoon and evening!

The country choses a new president.

The country has chosen a new president. I'm glad this election is over!

I hope everyone voted!

I hope everyone voted today! I tried to vote this morning at 6:30 but the line was too long. I went to work and left at 4:00 to vote. It still took me 45 minutes to vote but it is worth it! Now we just sit back and watch!

Some People just like to put other people down!

My morning at work didn't start out very well. I was totally annoyed at one of my co-workers. Last week I had my erosion control seminar and class. I passed the test with a pretty high score. I surprised myself and got wonderful compliments from both my bosses. Today one of the Superintendents was in from the field and decided it was pick on Cheryl day! He told me he expected a better score from me and that basically a woman shouldn't be in this mans world!! He said alot of other things, which I won't bore you with but that is basically what it boiled down to. I know I am sensitive, but he crossed way over the line on this one. He kept at me for a few hours and finally I just turned around and explained that there always has to be one in every crowd who feels they have to belittle people just to make themselves look big and all important and it usually is to cover up for some inadequacy on their part. This is priceless-he asked what inadequacy meant --wahhahahahahahahaha! That made my day!! Cheryl is now off her soapbox!!

I finally cooked my Pie Pumpkin!

Today after Church I finally cooked my pie pumpkin. For those of you who don't know what a pie pumpkin looks like here is a pretty good description. These pumpkins are squatter than a jack-o-lantern type pumpkin, they are lighter and the meat of the pumpkin is more dense. I have cooked these pumpkins for the last 29 years and they make a wonderful pumpkin pie. Where I grew up in northwestern NJ they were called Milk Pumpkins. I guess because they were a pumpkin color with milk in it. That is the only way I can describe it. When I make my Great-Grandmother's Recipe for her pumpkin pie, I will post it on here.

Saturday Walk Around the Yard

This Sugar Maple in our backyard looked like it was on fire this morning! It is so beautiful with the wonderful blue sky behind it too!




The sky is so royal blue here today, I just couldn't pass up a picture with the tree line in our backyard!




This is a wonderful little grass called Evergold that is in our back garden right off the patio. Below it or not it was half this size when I planted it in June!




My Fall camillia is still blooming strong even though the frost nipped it the other night!

It is so beautiful out today, I just thought I would share my short walk through my yard. Teddy (our Golden Retriever) went with me but he was too busy sniffing scents around the yard fromthe squirrels to be photographed! It is a beautiful Fall day! Enjoy!