Thursday, December 30, 2010

Happy New Year!




HAPPY  NEW  YEAR!

Wishing my dear blogging family
good health and wealth.

See you next year...



A New Year’s Prayer



May God make your year a happy one!


Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,


But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;


Not by making your path easy,


But by making you sturdy to travel any path;


Not by taking hardships from you,


But by taking fear from your heart;


Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,


But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;


Not by making your life always pleasant,


But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,


and by making you anxious to be there to help.


God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.

...Anonymous




Wednesday, December 29, 2010

They're coming, they're coming!!



Our Grandchildren!

It was a wonderful surprise last week when we found out our grandchildren will be flying up from Mexico
with their father, our oldest son.
We absolutely cannot wait to see them!
It will be the first time they have stayed in our home so this
truly will be a treat. I'm busy planning meals and activities.
It is a challenge as Carmen has Celiac Disease. If you are not
familiar with that, it means that she is extremely gluten sensitive. It means we watch everything from breads to canned and bottled items.
Carmen is almost seven and David is almost three.
So, it's going to be a wonderful week, so if you
don't hear much from me, you know I'll be with
grandchildren!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Today you are ours....

 
Beau
You came to us in a phone call. A home for you was needed. Loving parents were desired. You flew thousands of miles, a gift from God. A significant connection with a friendship
brought you into our lives...
A young woman and young man, a loving couple were waiting for you.
God said, "This is the moment..."
Lives were turned upside "UP"... We spun in circles to
prepare for you, Beau. We ran to the stores to purchase your needs with such excitement... arriving back home to find your new "Daddy", new grandfather and forever friend,
circled around you in amazement.
It was for a moment a scene from
"Three Men and a Baby".
You make us laugh, Beau. You brighten our days. You are an amazing reminder of the best things God does for us.
We'll stand in court today and hear the words that nothing can change ... you are "ours".
Forever and ever...

We love you, Beau!

In celebration of the adoption of Beau I am linking to

Little Red House for
http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/
Mosaic Monday

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Bonnie Braids, Dick Tracy dolls for Christmas 1952


Christmas 1952

My sister and I are showing off our Bonnie Braids, Dick Tracy dolls. What a Christmas that was! I remember it so well. This was in Midland, Texas.

 Today I am linking to Vintage Thingy Thursday where The Colorado Lady highlights her vintage treasures and invites us to do the same!   http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Ready for Tabletop Tuesday


Tabletop Tuesday - Ready to Entertain

Maybe this fits more under a tablescape, but if you
look closely I am featuring my peacocks that I love so dearly. My mother had these on her mantel in her home for
several years that I was aware of. I had no idea they would be considered an "heirloom" but after looking at pictures of
my grandmother's home back in the 1950's, I saw them on
her mantel as well. That was AFTER I had chosen them to be a part of my household after the passing of my parents.
They can still be found in antique stores I have been told... and if I saw one or a pair someday in a store... I would then
start my "peacock rescue club".

Today I am linking to
A Stroll Thru Life
for Marty's 44th
Tabletop Tuesday.


Visit Marty for some very inspiring photos!

Lunch with dear friends!


Two dear, dear friends and I met for lunch yesterday.
We've known each other for over thirty years, but with
busy schedules, moves, major changes in our lives
it has taken us all these years to just sit down... the three of us... and talk. And talk we did yesterday. We didn't just talk
about small children as we would have had we been
young mothers, or the trials and tribulations of
rearing teens. That is very much in the past for us.
No, we talked about the challenges facing us as we
experience.. how do they say it, "Life on life's terms".
Smoothly our conversation would drift into our
blog world, exchanging photography tips and
sharing where and when we blog.
We realized that we had a thirst for needing to be heard.
It was a beautiful time for sharing and laying out on
the table some very tender feelings and frustrations.
Who can you ever do this with but friends
God has placed in your path?
You may know these two dear ladies.
There is Laura on the left from White Spray Paint
and Nancy from Nancy's Notes.
What a blessing they are to my life.
Yesterday truly was an early Christmas gift!

Christmas 1957

This was just one of those Christmases that as a child you just do not forget. We were at my maternal grandparents' home in Texas. I'm sure it was Christmas Eve. What I am holding up there is a REAL bottle of finger nail polish! You would have thought I was holding a beautiful piece of jewelry, but that would be in later years.
My uncle dressed up like Santa in a vintage costume. That's my mother in the beautiful skirt and black sweater. My dear little Aunt Mary Anne, seated in the chair, my little brother, Clay, who was about three at the time were all enjoying some wonderful surprises. My sister, Anne, in the red pajamas was patiently waiting her turn to receive a gift. This is just one of those very special moments in childhood that has stayed with me.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Green Jays at the Ranch



These Green Jays at the ranch in deep south
Texas were enjoying fresh seeds and some sunshine.
It was a wonderful break from all of the scurrying
around  baking and shopping and decorating...
Even though the break only lasted about fifteen minutes
it was exactly what I needed!

It's Mosaic Monday time...
http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

at
Little Red House



Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Christmas Dinner Party Last Night

We entertained our deer lease hunting group
last night with an Italian dinner of lasagna and
also eggplant - chicken parmigiana. A salad, garlic
bread and rum cake were also served.
This is where half of our group was seated.
The other half were in our breakfast nook... and why I
don't have a picture of that.. baffles me.



I really enjoy our Nativity set that I purchased from..
get this... Sam's in Colima, Mexico.
In keeping with the tradition in Mexico (and probably elsewhere too) I am leaving the manger empty until
midnight Christmas Eve.

I have another function at my home tonight...
a church meeting. I'll serve dinner again.
Someone told me once that back to back entertaining is
the way to go. I'm going to find out.


I'm linking for the first time to
No Minimalist Here
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/

AND


Tablescape Thursday
Designs by Gollum

Visit both of these blogs to see some of the most
fabulous Christmas decorating ideas.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas 2010
Department 56 - Snow Village
It's finally completed... or rather, it's gone as far as it's going. It's amazing how much time one can spend tinkering with these little buildings!  Now I can hardly wait to show it off to the children in our lives.

I am linking to 
Little Red House 
http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Mosaic%20Monday
for
Mosaic Monday 


Saturday, December 11, 2010

My First Snow Village Piece - 1982


This is one of my favorite Department 56 Snow Village pieces. I believe on the bottom it says "1982". This is just one of the pieces that I want to highlight here at Ladybug Creek.
So much fun! I know now why men children love to play with toy trains and setting up displays.
This was a gift from a brother and his wife one Christmas.
Hope you'll check back to see more Snow Village.
Most of the accessories I have for my snow village
were bought at the end of the season when no-one for sure is setting up their village. I even use toy train set accessories
in some of my displays.

I'm sharing this with
Laurie's Bargain Hunting and Chatting

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Snow Village - YIKES!


Yikes!!

I love my Snow Village. It doesn't make it up every Christmas but this year is special. We have children in our lives that we have not had in quite some time, so I just
felt like I wanted to set it up. But, oh my goodness....
Last year I came upon a special deal with Department 56
and so scooped up as much as possible. Somehow I have to make a Christmasy, snowy village with all of this and twenty-two buildings... each one with a special memory of its purchase. My husband has even gotten into this. Mind you not setting it up... oh no... but he does enjoy shopping
for new buildings. After our shopping would be done for the children and the rest of our families, David and I would take off to shop for ourselves. It always included a new addition to our Snow Village.
Hopefully  I will have an update for you soon
as to how this mess becomes an enchanting little town.





You'll find me at Coastal Charm today...
enjoying all of the wonderful postings!!


Here is the first one!
I want to live in this house.
The cottswald design was something I was not
familiar with, even though we lived in one for seven
years. My excuse is that we were young and
just had no clue.
My name for this piece is
"406 N. Garcia Street"
as that was the address of our home.
It was not brick, but stucco. It had a green roof and
a huge, huge front window/door... sort of garden style.
The house was 60 years old when we moved into it.
A doctor had built it and it was two-story so that
he could have his clinic downstairs and live upstair.
Several rounds of renovations had been done on it,
but it was such an interesting home. There were
even secret passage ways. Our closet upstairs had a
red light in it and I assume that was for developing
pictures. I bought this Snow Village because it
reminded me of what I had hoped to accomplish
with that home. 

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

I love my RED Pashmina scarf!


I love using my Pashmina scarves on my tables.
This is one I bought recently and it is actually the
flip-side of the scarf. The reds in it fit the season!

Tonight I am linking to
"It's a Very Cherry World"
for
Rednesday


 

Sunday, December 5, 2010

It's Not Over Yet!

My decorating is far from complete but just to let you know that I am a busy bee full of glee (I know... that's SICK!)!!
I truly love this part of Christmas... all the excitement and glitter.. the sparkle and parties...
Truly it is the customs that I love the most. I plan to share some with you soon. The baby Jesus one is my favorite!
Back to "work". Who knows what will be spruced up next.

It's Mosaic Monday so take a minute to visit Little Red House. If you haven't been there before... you'll love it!



How funny... I just noticed that you can see my husband's reflection in the mirror. LOL Busted, David! (He's getting a second helping of popcorn.)

Friday, December 3, 2010

Hola, Yoli of Apron Senorita!


Meet Yoli of Apron Senorita

What fun! Las night at Dias Festivos in McAllen, Texas
I met Yoli. What fun we had getting to
know a blogging sister.
She makes fabulous aprons and Christmas stockings.
Most of her creations have that Mexican flair to them.
I love it!



I also got to meet her darling sister, Jessica.
There is definitely talent in that  family!



Hop over to My Romantic Home and enjoy
all of the entries for Show & Tell Friday