Tablescape Tuesday!

Welcome to Tablescape Tuesday!

This is the setting that I used for our Christmas Eve dinner.

This was the final setting...

I tried this first....

Here is the top view.

The plates and bowls are from Pottery Barn.

I also have the plates in tan, 

which works well with this tablecloth, too.

I'm saving them for a future post....

I also have the salad plates.

This goblet is really special.

(Jacob and I ate an awful lot of Arby's to get them.)

I liked the star-shaped pattern on it.

The flatware is Oneida.   

I like the simplicity of it.

The tablecloth is my Mom's.

(She may never get it back. Sorry Mom.)  

It is one of my favorites.

It fits my table beautifully.

She bought it at an estate sale.

Here is a close-up of one of the corners.

Please visit Susan @ Between Naps On the Porch

for the rest of the table scape fun!

~ Frosty the Cheeseball ~

Here is a fun treat for New Year's Eve!

A yummy little cheeseball ALMOST too cute to eat.

2 -  80z. packages of cream cheese - softened

minced garlic to taste - I usually use two toes

optional - minced onion to taste

About  2 cups grated monterey jack cheese 

and white sharp cheddar cheese

raisins for eyes, buttons

carrot tip or sliver of cheddar cheese for nose

ribbon or fruit snack for scarf

rye breads for hat

In the bowl of mixer blend softened cream cheese 

(put aside about 1 tablespoon for hat)

add minced garlic and onion

add about 1/2 cup of combined cheeses

place cheese mixture in saran wrap and place 

in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Remove from freezer and form into snowballs

Roll balls into remaining grated cheeses

stack and secure with a skewer

Adorn.

I cut the hat out of the mini deli ryebreads

with my measuring cups and a small paring knife.

What a Merry Christmas It Was....& Pink Saturday!

Cookies were baked.

Thumbprints are my brother's favorite!

Jacob's is fudge.  Notice the cute little walnut heart....

Presents were wrapped. 

Do good things

come in small packages?

Dinner was prepared.

I can't show you any of it being served

because it didn't last long....

This salad is like the

Olive Garden Salad.

The lasagna is a 45 year family tradition.

Garlic toast was also served

as well as a lovely

Olive sampler platter.

Which did not get photographed.

The table was set.

(Nobody would let me take their 

picture for the blog....)

The tablecloth is my Mom's.

The plates and bowls 

are from 

The Pottery Barn.

(Gollum, I forgot to place my chocolates 

on everybody's plates....I found the bag of 

candy when I was searching for the

items to fill Jacob's Christmas sock - which I 

couldn't find this year - oy!  Now I have a 

dozen Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark candy bars 

here tempting me.  I'll have to bring them to

work , etc.

The dessert has a story behind it.

It is from Cafe Latte' 

of Grand Avenue, St. Paul.

Another dentist gave it to Dr. K as a gift,

it was delivered late Tuesday afternoon.

We had a flaming toothache arrive at 6 PM

Tuesday evening and we worked 

late into Tuesday night.....

Out of guilt for keeping me from my

Christmas eve preparations

Dr. K gave me the cake! 

I at first refused, but he insisted....

It was absolutely delicious - 

It's called the Tres Leches Cake. Mmmm!

The search was on for the pickle....

(Megan was behind the tree).

Megan won the $2 bill!

And the free gift with purchase

from Macy's perfume counter.....:)

It was a tote bag.

Presents were opened and opened.

Pictures were not taken.  

I received a new MacBook!

And so did Jacob!

Gramma & Grampa 

were very generous this year!

Thanks Mom & Dad!

(I hope my brother isn't reading this.)

My brother received 

wonderful gifts as well.

Everyone got involved with Jacob's 

Rockband game.  Have you guys 

played that?  It is so much fun.

You get to release your inner  R o c k s t a r!

Jacob's game room is in the lowest basement

level of my 5 level home where only

  teenagers usually hang out.

Yikes!   The room is a disaster area!

(He actually cleaned it for the holiday - he claimed.)

The next day his friend came over 

to play the new video games

and they stayed up - almost all night!

The next morning I made them breakfast.....

A Dutch Baby Panakukan.

The skies were a beautiful shade of pink.

You know the saying - 

Red Skies at Night,

A Sailor's Delight!

Our temperature right now is

a balmy 38 degrees.

It is very foggy.

I hope you enjoyed this 

tiny spot of pink

for our Pink Saturday.

Visit Bevery@How Sweet the Sound

to visit all of the other

Pink Saturday Fun!

Robyn

  

Visits With Santa on this Pink Saturday!

Here are a few shots of my brother and me visiting Santa!

I believe that this would be 1965.

I was so proud that my coat matched Santa's

this was 1968!

Look we're both handless!

This is my brother,  I added this because it is just 

plain cute!

Hope you are having a Happy Pink Saturday!

To join in on the Pink Saturday Fun

visit

Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound.

I Finally Found It!

I Found It!

This guy hangs out on the front door.   Welcoming all....

I found him completely by accident. 

 I actually was looking for the 

Spritz cookie press.

Which I did find, by the way....NOT where it belongs,

I stumbled upon that, too.

Here are a few winter touches to the foyer....

More to come tomorrow......

Merry Christmas!

Robyn

My Family Room with Homespun Holiday Cheer

Homespun touches, handknit stockings, collections of stars and candle bobbins 

add to the warmth of my family room.

A closer view of the fireplace mantel.

Yes,  (can you believe it),  I knit the Christmas socks.   Miles was a very 

good boy - Santa will be good to him this year.

I wanted you to see a close-up of this garland. It's most unique.

It appears as if it was crafted from metal castings....

It really sparkles in the glow from the candlelight.

Our little Snowman Family.  

Felted pillows.

I finally remembered,  gee, I should light a fire in the fireplace.

Here is a peek at the whole fireplace and shelves.

As you can see, I am a down-home kind of girl. 

I like things solid looking and  home-made. 

A lot of furnishings and decor in my home

were crafted by family members.

Happy Pink Saturday!

Happy Pink Saturday!

Just a few of  the little birds that nest in my Christmas tree.....

Visit

 Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound 

to visit all of the other

Pink Saturday 

fun!

Robyn

Oh! Christmas Tree!

Our Christmas Tree

We decorate it with birds in nests,

Homemade little birdhouses,

Monrovian Stars,

hundreds of wooden hearts stained and  rubbed with copper, 

pinecones,  red berries,  and birdseed ball ornaments.

Planted in a wicker basket.

Here's Miles, he can't wait 'til Christmas, 'cuz Santa is always good to him!

Tablescape Tuesday!

After an evening of shoveling the snow from the driveway -  it was time for some

Gingerbread Boys and Hot Cocoa.

I bought a set of four snowman mugs and the cookie platter in 1992  from Bittersweet Farms,

an older home refinished into the cutest antique and country store.

The mugs and platter were made at Three Rivers Pottery by Lynn.

To see all of the other Tablescape Tuesday participants

visit Susan@Between Naps On the Porch.

Robyn

BLUE MONDAY!

Happy Blue Monday!

I had a fun weekend, I got a start on some of my Christmas projects.

I got my tree decorated,  as well as my fireplace mantle.

(That will appear in my next post.)

I am still searching for the snowman that I place on my front door.

I can't recall where I stashed it last year.  For some reason I did not return  it

to it's usual location with the other wreaths and front door decor.

It's probably residing with the cast iron "chocolate" bunny that I lugged 

around the MN State Fair for a whole entire day, or the Coach perfume that looks 

like a cute little orange Coach tag that I bought for my Mom's birthday last July.

Or maybe it's with the snowman throw pillow that I created out of  100's of buttons. 

Sheesh, you'd think I would have kept track of that, after all it took me about a

week to sew them all on.   Go figure.   

Well, before I forget I better remind you all to visit Sally @ Smiling Sally

to get the list of all of today's Blue Monday participants.

I'm hearing the dryer buzz,

Robyn

Happy Pink St. Nicholas Saturday!!!

Thanks Bridget!   I don't know how deserving I am, but I'll take what I can get!   Bridget's My Silly Blog IS really cool.  I don't know how she comes up with'em....

I get to pass the award on to 10 more deserving bloggers.   I will choose the first 10 Pink Saturday Visitors  who participate in Beverly's Pink Saturday Fun!   If you want to join in,  then please visit Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound.  She has the list of over 100 participants.  

If you take the Butterfly Award please be advised that you need to follow the rules.

• Put the logo on your blog.
  
• Add a link to the person who awarded you.
  
• Nominate 10 other blogs.
• Add links to those blogs on yours.
• Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.
  

Since I am leaving this award for my first 10 visitor/commenters I will have to return later in the day to add the links to follow up on my award.   I think that this will be fun.  It will be interesting to see who makes the first 10 comments.   Everybody always comes up with such wonderful ideas.   

Today is St. Nicholas Day!   We used to find a piece or two of candy in our boots in the cloak room at our parochial grade school St. Bernard's.   St. Nicholas would visit our classroom and pass out a switch stick to our Sister so she could use it on all the naughty boys & girls.

Of course, that was never me!!!!!   

Unfortunately,  the only Christmas decorating I have accomplished is my blog.   (We do have our priorities, right girls?)   However, my Dad is finished with his Christmas shopping.  He ran me ragged again yesterday,   but it included lunch at TGIF's,  so I guess it was worth it.   We each have their frequent lunch punch cards and they are almost full.  Just two more weeks and we receive a free lunch!   Woo Hoo!

Think of me as you leisurely read each others blogs today as I will be setting up my Christmas Tree and hopefully  putting out my decorations.  I will hopefully stop by for a visit to your blog later tonight.  

Hope you Have A Happy Pink Saturday!

Robyn

Keepin' It Real....

Whew!  It's Friday and my heads finally above water.   I've been tagged and tagged so I need to get on  the ball here....

A few weeks ago Plantbuddy of Water Once a Week a frequent participant of Beverly's Pink Saturday and Sally's Blue Monday tagged me with this game.  I need to list 8 Random things about me and  then choose 8 bloggers to join in the fun.  

I've decided to change my list up a bit and list 8 of my favorite things and then 8 of my Pet Peeves.

8 Favorites

1. Miniature Schnauzers
2. French Fries/Mashed Potatoes/Baked Potatoes/
3. Daisies
4. Minnesota State Fair
5. Hydrangeas
6. Summertime
7. Pasta
8. Babies
   

8 Pet Peeves

1. When the fridge door opens on the wrong side in kitchen photos or decorator shows.
2. Salt on my SUV.
3. Mothers that don't put warm footwear (just socks) on their baby's feet in the winter.
4. Water spots on and around my sinks.  I must wipe out the sink and the faucet after each use so that it is clean and shiny.
5. Cords showing from lamps, TV's, and computers.
6. Viagra commercials.
7. The volume of TV commercials and the needing to mute the TV when they come on and "blast" you out of the room.
8. The person at the stoplight turning left in front of you that finally puts their blinker on at the last moment.

Ma'dame French from British Colonial Love Affair  tagged me with the latest game going around.  I need to list 10 Honest Things About Me...then pass it on to 7 others.

10 Honest Things About Me

1. I drink Diet Coke for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
2. I hate going to work.   Don't get me wrong I like my job (most days) but I really am a homebody and I stay home every chance I can get.
3. I wish that I could have had more children.  I feel bad for Jacob because he does not have any siblings.
4. I avoid highways at all cost.  Thank goodness for the "avoid highways" check box on map quest.
5. Cooking and baking are my thing.   I do "down home" and "made from scratch" whenever possible.
6. Really, I am quite shy.
7. I am a big sissy, I don't venture out of my comfort zone of about a 5 mile radius,
8. I never eat breakfast.  That's probably why I am fat.
9. I am a handbag snob.  Bring on the Coach, the Dooney's, the Brighton's, the Juicy, etc.
10. I always alter and modify the house plans printed in magazines and in the newspaper.

Allgrins from DaisyRae's Garden tagged me with this game of Addictions.  I need to list 5 addictions and pass it on to 5 bloggers.

5 Addictions

1. diet coke
2. potato chips & dip
3. Altoids gum
4. Coach Handbags
5. Gingham checks, apparently I have them in every room of my house (and blogging, of course)

Finally,  it's the Christmas Tag Game.   You may list as many things as you like that reflects your love of Christmas.

1. The gathering of family and friends.
   
2. Sharing in spirit and talents.
   
3. Watching Rudolph, Frosty, Nestor, Little Drummer Boy, Prancer, etc.
   
4. Baking Christmas cookies with Jacob, my Mom, and my niece Amanda
   
5. Christmas music (although I have been listening since the beginning of November)
   
6. Shopping, shopping and more shopping - finding that perfect gift for each person
   
7. Watching Miles open his little present - it is so cute.
   
8. I love to watch Jacob's face when he comes down the stairs to Santa's surprises.
   
9. The Christmas tree lit up at night and reflecting into the bow of the windows.
   
10. Okay, last one - my Dad is here now glaring at me with his shopping list in hand -
11. the potlucks, the cookie exchanges, and the gifts of chocolates and popcorn and cashews 
12. from referring dentists and patients at work..... (the numbers wouldn't stop and I don't
13. have time to fix it....)

Come on Down!  Here's the next contestants on the TAG GAME:

1. Gollum  @ Designs By Gollum
2. Kathi  @ Lavender, Lace & Thyme
3. Sally @ Smiling Sally
4. Sally @ Salmagundi
5. Pantbuddy @ Water Once a Week
6. D @ D's Daydreams
7. Robyn @ Scraps & Journals
8. Sweetie @ Sweetie's World

Pick whichever tag you want to complete or choose them all.   Have Fun!   ~ Robyn