Teacup Lane

IKEA Billy Bookcases

2012-01-25T17:32:00.006-05:00

Going to get our IKEA Billy Bookcases!

Tuesday morning we got up fairly early for us so we could arrive at the IKEA store a little after opening at 10:00 AM.

We drove our one ton Ford F350 pick up truck so we could load and bring home any bookcases we purchased.

We decided on a total of five Billy units, three of what we call double bookcases, and two single bookcases in birch veneer.

Let me tell you these bookcase units were HEAVY!

There isn't much customer service at IKEA - I guess it's to keep costs down. You have to select the items you want and carefully write down the item, aisle and bin number.

On the way to check out we grabbed a loading cart and found the items in the pick up area ourselves.

The only checkouts were self service too.

I don't know but I would hope that someone could assist you if you needed help because as a woman there was no way I could lift any of the packages by myself. But I don't know if that is true as there were no signs telling you to ask for assistance if you needed it.

At least we didn't have to worry about the weight with our one ton pick up truck!

At first we were only going to put one of the single units downstairs for my Christmas china but after putting one in place we decided two together balanced out better on the wall.

Hubby assembled both single units and even attached them to the wall.

We bought an extension so the unit would go to the ceiling but then we realized we couldn't use it in our living room with the crown molding.

We only have one glass door and we need two so next week we will return to IKEA.

This whole project started because we needed to add a wall of bookcases in our upstairs paperback library so we could move some of our hardcover books upstairs.

When we got the units home I thought wouldn't it be wonderful if we used one of the single units in the living room for my Christmas china. So that's how two single units ended up there instead of upstairs.

I had so much fun gathering all our Christmas china together last night and putting it in one display.

Read about my Christmas China Pattern (here).

I'm assisting Hubby with assembling the double units for upstairs.

We'll have to buy two more single units to go with the three double units to make a full wall of bookcases 9 feet in length for the library room. We may buy extensions for all the upstairs bookcases. I think some doors would look nice too and help to control the dust.

Have you visited IKEA yet?

The price is good - for five Billy Bookcase units, one extension and one glass door - the total was just under $500. We're trying to control our collections and clutter one step at a time.

You'll have to wait to see the upstairs library units installed in a future post.

Join me for:

Cindy's Show & Tell Friday

Pastry & Ripple

2012-01-23T13:43:00.001-05:00

Good Afternoon!

I just ate this piece of homemade Pumpkin Pie along with a cup of delicious Keurig coffee...life is good.

Oh, I knew it would happen one of these days...I forgot to put my cup under the machine when I hit brewing. But I quickly caught it. Luckily there's a neat drip pan that catches liquid if you forget - so it doesn't spill all over the countertop.

I accomplished two of my three goals this weekend.

I tried out The Pioneer's Woman's recipe for pastry (here) and made Pap's Chip Dip.

I did NOT get the Christmas tree put away.

I'm not perfect....ha!

Hubby doesn't care if I leave it up.

However, I would like to get it down before the Merry Maids come on Thursday.

I thought Ree's no fail pie crust recipe seemed familiar.

I found a recipe I cut out of the newspaper probably back in the 1980s that was very similar to hers.

Now I've tried both and both are excellent.

My Never-Fail Pie Crust recipe

I've been crocheting in the evenings the past few days and have a couple more rounds done on my Christmas Round Ripple.

I wasn't sure about it at first but now I'm really loving it. Maybe it's the colors but I'm liking the design too...finally.

I started out with a pattern (here) and couldn't figure it out after the first couple rounds so I started to do my own thing.

And, no, I'm not writing it down because I didn't know if it would work out.

I wing things a lot.

I never would have believed that I could "wing" anything at crochet when I started this hobby several years ago.

It's not perfect but who cares.

It's handmade and one of a kind!

I working on the green, red and green band now.

I may add another variegated red, green and white yarn I have on hand between two reds.

Check out the Flickr group where we are posting our round ripples.

Do you have a hobby you love?

Our Wall of Books

2012-01-22T11:58:00.000-05:00

OUR WALL OF BOOKS!

This is the view of one wall in our upstairs "Paperback" room.

Can you tell we love to read!

We have books in just about every room in our home.

We recently cleaned out this room and gave around 800 paperbacks to Good Will.

Some were so old the pages were yellowed and/or falling out.

My Hubby put up these shelves (I sanded them!).

They are just the right size for paperbacks.

Believe it or not we have two more bookcases in this room filled with science fiction paperbacks.

One of my favorite authors...Taylor Caldwell.

You must read "A Prologue to Love"...it is wonderful and sad at the same time.

I read it in 9th grade - that started my love of this author's works.

The beat up book with the rubber band is her masterpiece, "Captains and Kings".

You may remember that was a TV miniseries many years ago with the fantastic Richard Jordan.

Apparently it's available on DVD now.

I'll have to put an order into Amazon!

With all the junk that comes out of Hollyweird these days...why can't they do a miniseries on Colleen McCullough's "Masters of Rome" series?

You probably watched and/or read "Thorn Birds" another McCullough masterpiece.

Some more well read books from John Jakes.

You may also remember the great 1985 miniseries "North and South," with our beloved Patrick Swayze, based on John Jakes book of the same name. In case you didn't know...there's more than one book to this historical series!

I have "North and South" on DVD!

This week we plan to go to Ikea to look at bookcases for the remaining wall without any books. We like their "Billy" bookcases. I want to move some of our reference hardcover books upstairs to make more room on our Danish wall unit in our living room for newer hardcover books.

Do you like to read?

Are you crazy about books like we are?

No Kindle for us at Teacup Lane...we like to hold real books in our hands.

Yarn & Snow

2012-01-21T11:22:00.001-05:00

I'm adding more rounds to my Christmas Round Ripple...trying to adjust so it will lie flat.

Well, as flat as I can make it.

I mean...it is a "ripple"...and shouldn't it "ripple" at least a little?

I'm working on a band of two rounds of white then a round of variegated white, green and red which I will follow with another two rounds of white.

That will bring me to about 20 rounds total and then it's back to a lime green, red and lime green band.

It is almost too big to put in the light box.

It's so dark here today because of the snow.

Yep, our first snow of the winter season finally arrived last night.

Just a light dusting...one to three inches.

I didn't get the last Christmas tree down yesterday. Gosh, I'm slow.

Today Hubby asked me to make Pap's Dip (our family recipe) and I want to try making Dee's (of The Pioneer Woman fame) recipe for perfect pie crust (here).

That's just three things to do - wish me luck!

A Study in Pink & Blue

2012-01-20T15:01:00.000-05:00

A beautiful painted pink flower...

Pink and blue flowered combination...

Pink loveliness revealed in stunning gold and royal bluish purple...

A pink flowered teacup resting on a blue flowered plate...

Presenting my paternal Grandmother's treasured Aynsley's Pink Flowered Teacup!

Welcome to Beverly's Pink Saturday . Click on her link to see more PINK

Our Vintage Bunnykins Set

2012-01-19T13:57:00.002-05:00

"Visiting The Cottage"
Royal Doulton "Bunnykins"

If you look at my sidebar you can see a listing of my most popular postings.

I'm always surprised that the post with the most hits is

Vintage Royal Doulton "Bunnykins" signed by Barbara Vernon

I shot the photos for that posting in natural light on my dining room table. I thought I would see if the china would photograph better using our new light box and lamps.

This cute set was passed down from Hubby's Mom. I can only assume they were his as a baby.

"The Proposal"

Awwwww....so romantic!

The Kiss

The cup, "The Proposal," above shows Mr. Bunnykins kissing his fiancee after his proposal.

The backstamp for the cup with the lion coloured brown is c1937-1953.

Our Mismatched Royal Doulton Bunnykins Set
Signature by Barbara Vernon

After some research on the internet I discovered the bowl, "Visiting the Cottage," is a different subject than the cup.

"Bunnykins" backstamp for the bowl is c1934 - 1937.

Even the backstamps are cute as can be!

Do you have a "Bunnykins"?

I'm glad we do because I love bunnies!

Join me for:

Cindy's Show & Tell Friday

Red, White & I Want!

2012-01-17T22:29:00.000-05:00

Source: skonahem.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Simple...yet stunning!

Source: temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I want one of these...or maybe all of them...pretty please!

Source: femaleways.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Red and white check fabric...and see that beautiful glossy red chest!

Source: flickr.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I couldn't resist posting this beautiful white kitty with the red scarf and then I noticed the one blue eye and one yellow eye!

Source: google.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

My heart is beating so quickly as I drool over this room!

Source: inspirationfordecoration.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Another clean white bedroom that just pops with the touches of red and light blue.

And I love the red rick rack on the fabric shades.

And there are more REDs to enjoy with our host, Sue, at

It's A Very Cherry World

(here)

for REDnesday!

Meet My Sweet Henry!

2012-01-17T10:11:00.002-05:00

This is Henry, my adorable Queen's Guardsman, in his bright red coat.

Several years ago, while still working, my Hubby made his first, and only, business trip abroad to The Netherlands.

On his way home he stopped for the day in London.

Imagine my surprise when he got home and pulled this cute fellow out of his suitcase.

One of Henry's Mates!

Although Henry will miss guarding the Queen with his fellow mates, he was very happy to come live with us across the Pond.

I'm Henry, the Queen's Guardsman!

What a Hubby!

Here he was, very limited on time, and trying to do some sightseeing in London and he thinks of me and stops in Harrods to buy a teddy bear for me!

What a wonderful loving gesture!

I never thought I would have anything from Harrods!

And especially not something so cute as Henry.

Thanks sweetie!

Love Ya!

Christmas Round Ripple

2012-01-16T11:11:00.000-05:00

Remember this?

I've added another two rounds of red to my Christmas Round Ripple.

It's growing very slowly.

Next I'm going to crochet: white, then dark green followed by another round of white.

Or I may change my mind cause I do that quite often!

This is my first try at a round ripple.

I couldn't follow either pattern I tried so I'm doing my own thing now.

The challenge is to keep it flat.

And it is a challenge - believe me.

I guess I'll join sweetie pie Pammy Sue's (Scotty's Place) round ripple party she started over on Flickr.

Pammy Sue says you can use any round ripple pattern or try the free one she has posted (here).

OK so grab your hook and yarn and come on over and join Pammy Sue's party.

Tea Time for Birds

2012-01-15T12:54:00.002-05:00

Front

You know I love birds!

Today I'm sharing with you a pretty teacup I found in a gift shop in Delaware several years ago.

Unfortunately there was no saucer with the teacup.

Back

Even the back of the teacup is lovely.

Oh, my, I love fine Bone China made in England!

Here's closer look at the front of the teacup.

The colors and detail are just stunning.

Lovely birds!

Hubby and I gave this bird picture to his mother many years ago.

Isn't it lovely?

I particularly loved the roses painted on the frame.

Hope you enjoyed my tea time for birds today!

Join me for:

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Angela http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea With Friends

Tuesday Afternoon Tea http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/

Miss Kathy http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com

I Love My Pandora Bracelet!

2012-01-14T12:26:00.003-05:00

Of course I have a Teddy Bear and Snowman charm!

I've never been crazy about jewelry...that is...until I discovered Pandora!

Pandora has a wonderful website where you can join the Pandora Club. Once you are a member you can go to "My Jewelry" and list all of the charms you have purchased. It's a nice way to keep track of your charms.

And you can enter the charms you would like to have under "My Wish List". That's a nice feature for your loved ones to access for those special occasions like your birthday and anniversary. There's even an Pandora app for the iPhone too!

The red heart charm and Topaz bead (my birthstone) were the first ones my Hubby bought for me for Valentines!

It's hard for me to say which charm is my favorite.

I love them all!

Most of them have been gifts from my Hubby.

Thanks so much sweetie!

I call the coach charm "Cinderella's Coach"!

Both the Sea Shell charm and Cinderella's Coach charm represent my love of Walt Disney World!

So far I don't buy the gold ones because they are way too expensive.

But you can find less expensive charms in silver.

I "need" to add some more color...some pinks, yellows and oranges.

Beautiful!

I have a Teapot charm to represent my blog, "Teacup Lane"!

I love to wear my Pandora bracelet!

Maybe it's time to start another bracelet. LOL!

I have purchased a red leather bracelet that I will probably use for all of my Christmas silver charms. I'm lacking Christmas colors so I've been drooling over all the red and green glass charms.

What do you think?

Do you like Pandora?

This photo was taken with my Hubby's Canon Rebel EOS XSi with Macro Lens 100 mm

(the other photos shot with my Canon PowerShot S80 macro setting)

Pink Delight

2012-01-13T15:40:00.000-05:00

Source: gdanfamily.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Oh, yes - what girl doesn't want pink stripes in her laundry room...

Source: aquieterstorm.tumblr.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Or this beautiful pink brooch pin...

Source: myoldcountryhouse.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

No beige for this bookcase interior!

Source: toocutethings.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Midsummer Nights...dreamy in pink!

Source: housebeautiful.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Who says pink and black isn't stylish?

Source: etsy.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Awwwww....cuteness in pink!

Source: lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I swear by all that is pink!

Welcome to Beverly's Pink Saturday . Click on her link to see more PINK

Birds Feeding...for Decades!

2012-01-12T14:54:00.001-05:00

The stunning Cardinal

While putting away some Christmas linens in our closet I found an old embroidery crewel I never finished.

I bought this crewel project in 1980 (...yes, I admit it... that's 1980...probably before most of you were even born!) - it's entitled "Birds Feeding" designed by Linda K. Powell.

I love birds.

I love to watch them.

We've had a birdbath and feeder at our first two homes for the birds. However, at our current house, we decided to just have the birdbath and no feeders - mainly due to the mess the birds make when feeding and our not wanting to attract any more mice to our home.

Two Titmice

Someday this will be a Grosbeak - see the bird seed!

I love the flower vines going up the post.

I remember this Blue Jay being hard for me to embroidery while the Cardinal wasn't difficult at all.

The unfinished work!

In addition to the Grosbeak there is a Towhee, Purple Finch, Woodpecker and Chickadee left to embroider. Oh, boy...I have my work cut out for me!

I have too many hobbies and things I want to do and not enough time to do everything. Yep, I'm complaining...here I am retired and still can't do all that I want to do.

I've been so busy with Christmas...and then reading my new books, watching our new DVDs and playing with our new iPhones... and (sob!) I have hardly touch my crochet hook and yarn.

And then I find this!

I so want to finish it.

Before it rots.

Wish me luck!

Join me for:

Cindy's Show & Tell Friday

Hershey Kiss Pies

2012-01-11T15:53:00.000-05:00

Source: picky-palate.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I had a burst of energy yesterday which doesn't happened too often at Teacup Lane!

I slept well and got up with nothing aching, hurting or sore.

A miracle!

So, I decided to start putting away our Christmas decorations. The Christmas tree is down in the living room and all the loose stuff has been gathered up and boxed away. I still have the Christmas tree in the family room and the outside lights and decorations to do.

After lunch rather than taking that nap and still feeling on a roll I decided to try this recipe I found on Pinterest (here) for KISS PIES.

I gathered together just a few simple ingredients.

Simple ingredients like ready made pie crust, egg white, sugar and Hershey Kisses.

I used Hershey Hugs - chocolate kisses surrounded by white cream.

I wasn't going to use a knife to cut out the circles as suggested in the recipe.

Sorry, I'm too lazy.

I used one of my biscuit cutters (purchased from Sonoma Williams) in the size recommended.

If you don't have a round biscuit or cookie cutter use a round glass to cut out the circles.

Going into the oven.

I baked mine for 20 minutes on parchment paper.

Love that parchment stuff!

Easy clean up and no sticking.

Out of the oven.

All ready to eat.

My version of KISS PIES.

Yum, yum looking and delicious with a cup of hot tea.

Try it when you need (or must have) a quick and easy chocolate treat - makes 14 pieces.

Ya Know....Speak with Conviction!

2012-01-10T11:23:00.000-05:00

A Beautiful Day!

2012-01-07T11:32:00.001-05:00

It's a beautiful day here!

Want to listen to some wonderful music?

This just makes me feel good!

(Turn off my music at the bottom of my blog to listen!)

Isn't this a pretty red vintage ornament with the beads and glitter?

I made the cute felt panda bear many years ago.

New Year's Eve at Teacup Lane

The kitchen island all set up for good snacking on New Year's Eve!

We watched Kung Fu Panda 2 on DVD then toasted the New Year with eggnog at midnight while viewing the Philly Fireworks on TV.

CHICK FLICK NIGHT

Oh, yes, before I forget...set your DVR to record Masterpiece's "Downton Abbey" on Sunday night here in The States. The second season of this award winning series starts on PBS January 8th... read all about it here.

Watch Downton Abbey 2: The Critics Can't Stop Talking on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

I'll be glued to the TV Sunday nights for sure!

Have a lovely weekend.

Christmas Round Ripple & Storage Solutions

2012-01-04T14:21:00.001-05:00

I love all of these Christmas yarns!

I have a couple of crochet projects on hold (i.e., running out of yarn colors) and haven't touched my hooks in quite awhile. Yesterday I was watching TV and thought about all the Christmas yarns I bought so I jumped up and gathered them all together...actually I threw them in a pile on the floor.

What to make?

I found two free round ripple patterns (here) and (here).

Started one...couldn't follow the pattern so I tried the other one. I couldn't follow that pattern either so I just did my own stitches after the third round making sure each round is not curling up.

This is what I've done so far.

I don't know if it will be a large ripple throw or a huge doily when I'm done.

If it doesn't lie flat as I add more rounds I will probably frog it.

New Storage for our CDs

Today Hubby and I rearranged our DVD and CD storage.

We moved our CD collection to a small dresser in our foyer. Now that we have all of our music loaded on iTunes (and on our iPhones) we don't need to access the original CDs like we use to.

Believe it or not all of our CDs fit into the four drawers.

I bought this little wooden dresser ~ while single and in college ~ at a yard sale for $8.

I think I got my money's worth out of it since we still have it over 40 years later.

CDs moved out and half our of DVD collection moved in.

We moved our animated, comedy, Christmas and chick flicks into the living room wall storage units.

Family Room DVD wall storage

We left the action, Sci-Fi, drama and westerns flicks in the family room wall storage.

Sorry this photo is blurred (i.e., low light).

We bought these five wall units from Ikea several years ago.

I like that they are notched out at the bottom for the baseboards so they lie flat against the wall.

We are going to have to get more serious about our storage for our collections in 2012.

But for now I have to thank my Hubby (he's a great packer!) for coming up with this temporary storage solution.

He knew I was getting upset about the clutter.

Love you Honey!

Doilies as Christmas Decor

2012-01-03T12:55:00.000-05:00

Red & White Doily

I know many of you have already put away your Christmas decorations but I leave ours up until around the middle of January.

I think I forgot to show you how I decorated the posts on our staircase this Christmas.

Red Doily

I had two doilies I crocheted that I put over the tops of the posts and tied with ribbons.

I liked the way they added a colorful touch to the foyer.

My Crocheted Doilies!

Every year I loop our rope lights down the staircase and set the lights on a timer.

It's very pretty at night.

What do you think of my crochet decorations?

My Mom's Chocolate Pie

2012-01-02T15:09:00.003-05:00

Come along with me...

I'm sharing our family recipe for Chocolate Pie!

My Mom loved chocolate and her Chocolate Pie was our favorite dessert as kids and still is as adults.

Well, it's a favorite dessert for me, my brothers and my Mom.

Believe it or not, my Dad didn't care for chocolate (?) so my Mom made him a mincemeat pie instead (ugh..we never touched it!)

I always thought it was strange that my Dad didn't care for chocolate pie since this recipe was passed down from his Mom.

Simple ingredients and easy as "pie" to make.

First step is to bake the pie crust according to the box directions.

One of these days I will make my own pie crust again but usually I'm lazy and just purchase a Pillsbury Ready Made Crust.

Yea, I know this crust is sorry looking.

I tried to not stretch the dough but I failed miserably and the sides collapsed while baking.

No big deal though... because the filling and meringue will hide it and it will still taste good.

The simple ingredients - eggs, sugar, Hershey's cocoa, flour, milk (I use skim) and vanilla.

I use a double boiler to mix and then cook the chocolate filling.

My Mom's Original Hand Written Recipe for Chocolate Pie
Top of Page
(bottom recipe is for Pinapple Upside Down Cake)

Take three eggs and save the whites from two of the eggs for the meringue...

Beat the eggs...

Add sugar gradually...

Mix in the Hershey's cocoa...

Mix in the flour...

Mix in the milk...

in the double boiler heat the water until boiling and then turn down to medium and cook until mixture is thickened (usually 25 to 30 minutes)...

(I hate to stand so I grab a high chair - set it next to the stove - sit down and play games on my iPhone while stirring the filling once in awhile...)

Once filling is thickened remove the pan from the heat and cool the mixture and add the vanilla as the last step...

Pour mixture into the baked pie crust.

Now for the meringue!

I like lots of high meringue so I use more than three egg whites.

For this pie I used five egg whites.

My meringue recipe...

My Mom only used the two saved egg whites and she beat the egg whites by hand.

Too much work for me.

I use the mixer.

Egg whites, sugar and a dash of salt

The ingredients...egg whites, sugar and a dash of salt...

Whip the egg whites on high until nice peaks then gradually beat in sugar...

Pile the meringue over the filling sealing the edges...

Bake until the top is evenly browned...

Mom's Chocolate Pie

It's rich but oh, so good!

My brother made one for us for dinner on Christmas Eve and I made this one for our New Year's Eve.

Only one piece left now....sob!

Hope you try it - you won't be disappointed!

I'm joining:

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T00:25:00.000-05:00

Source: 52flea.blogspot.com via Diane on Pinterest

Happy New Year 2012!!!!

What a Wonderful Christmas!

2011-12-29T20:07:00.003-05:00

Our new single server Keurig coffee maker!

We had a wonderful Christmas in Ohio celebrating with our brothers and their families.

But, alas, no snow.

Bummer!

However, even without snow it was a fantastic five days.

We are so fortunate to have a very loving family.

And, boy, do they treat us special!

The most delicious meals...from prime rib to turkey...breakfasts, lunches and dinners...we ate well enjoying everyone's company.

Our only complaint...the time went by too quickly.

Gosh, I love our new single coffee server! Hubby doesn't drink coffee or tea but he made sure we had some hot chocolate K-cups so we both could enjoy drinking hot chocolate on those cold, winter nights. We bought a small sampling of different kinds of K-cups (coffee and tea) to try before buying more. So far, I like the light roast coffees the best.

Our new iPhones 4S

We've been "playing" with our new iPhones. These tech gadgets are fantastic. We got unlimited texting and my poor Hubby has been getting nonstop texts from me. I've been loading the cutest apps too.

Our adorable grand niece, Hailey

We finally got to see our cute new grand niece, Hailey!

I just finished giving Lucas, our grand nephew, his bottle.

Lucas is the happiest baby!

He was smiling all day but I think he's getting sleepy now.

I love this stuff..."Christmas Crap"...a great snack!

My sister-in-law, Jane, made "Christmas Crap" for all of us.

Yummy!

Update: Here's the recipe from Jane!

CHRISTMAS CRAP

2 cups Rice Chex cereal

2 cups Wheat Chex cereal

2 cups Corn Chex cereal

2 cups Cheerios cereal

1 cup salted peanuts

1 cup mini pretzels

1/2 lb. M&Ms

about 1 and 1/4 lb. white chocolate

Mix everything together except white chocolate. Melt white chocolate and pour over mix. Mix to coat. Pour onto wax paper and let set. Make a thin layer so it's easy to break up.

(Note: My Sister-in-law advises that she reduces this recipe by half because it makes an humongous amount!)

The individual pretzels shown with the hershey kisses and M&Ms is another recipe. You can find that recipe here.

Teacup Lane's Christmas Living Room.

After returning from Ohio we celebrated our Christmas at Teacup Lane.

Thanks sweetie for treating me like a queen. I love you!

This has been the best Christmas (and they all have been great)!

Now I can really relax and enjoy the Christmas decorations. I know there are many bloggers out there already putting their Christmas decorations away. But not here at Teacup Lane. We leave it all up into the middle of January or even later. One year, while still working, it was February before we took it all down.

Vintage Snowman

Hubby fixed our vintage Snowman...the light wasn't working...but he got it going again.

What a great guy!

He's my "tech guy".

Always fixing my computer for me and now we've added our iPhones to his list.

I hope all of you had a most wonderful Christmas with your families.

Love, hugs and magical wishes for happiness to all of my blogging friends!

Here's to a fantastic 2012 for all of us.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:05:00.001-05:00

Source: lindyloumac.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

The very best Merry Christmas wishes to all of my blogging friends!

Christmas Stamps

2011-12-24T00:05:00.001-05:00

Source: sassysites.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I found these great vintage Santa Christmas stamps on Pinterest.

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve!

We are...

having lots of fun here celebrating

with

my brother

and

his

family!

Source: zazzle.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Christmas Trees at Teacup Lane

2011-12-16T15:25:00.001-05:00

Family Room

Our Christmas trees are all decorated here at Teacup Lane.

All our gifts are wrapped except for the ones being shipped (love shopping on-line).

If you remember in the past two years we gave our large Christmas tree to one of our nieces and bought some cheap slim trees at Target. The large tree was getting too heavy for us to drag up out of our basement.

Our old large tree had red berry lights with white lights which we just loved. This year we found red and white berry LED lights at Target so we bought two strands each for our Christmas tree in the family room.

Mantel in Family Room

The mantel is still a work in progress here in this photo but it shows the two new stuffed snowmen I bought at our local Christmas craft fair this year.

Family Room

I've been experimenting with our Canon cameras ~ trying to learn the features to take ~~better~~ decent photos in low light.

Living Room

We put colored lights on our Christmas tree in our living room.

I love colored lights because it brings back memories of my childhood Christmas trees.

Family Room

Our fire is all aglow in our fireplace and nicely shows off our mantel all finished with red and white candy cane lights and white garland trim.

Next to the windows is a snowman tree topper that I placed in some fake greenery.

All the way to the right is a vintage lighted Santa figure.

This weekend I will be busy baking our Christmas cookies.

Thanks so much for visiting and I hope you enjoyed viewing our Christmas trees.

A Very Green Christmas

2011-12-14T11:08:00.001-05:00

Source: google.ca via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

One of my readers commented that Christmas comes in all colors and I couldn't agree more!

How about a Very Green Christmas!

Source: bhg.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Wow!

I love this combination of a green polka dots tablecloth and green wreaths with green bows....

Source: countryliving.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I love farm sinks ~ especially this one decorated in green and silver!

Source: Uploaded by user via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A lovely cottage look in green....

Source: bhg.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A very pretty green mantel ~ decorated so simply with fresh green apples....

Source: thegoodlife6.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I've always wanted to decorate our vehicles at Christmas.

This vintage vehicle is pretty in green.

Source: bhg.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Bold green ornaments....

Source: goodhousekeeping.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A pretty fresh green swag for the front door...

Source: Uploaded by user via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

And more fresh greens on this beautifully decorated front door!

Hope you enjoyed these very GREEN Christmas photos I found on Pinterest.

Blue, Blue Christmas

2011-12-10T18:55:00.001-05:00

Source: google.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A pretty blue bow...

Source: google.ca via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Blue ornaments on a white Christmas tree...

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A bright, beautiful BLUE Christmas tree...

Source: betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A lovely flowered blue & white bedspread...

Source: google.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A stunning blue light display...

Source: flickr.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A cute, adorable blue-eyed kitty....

Source: Uploaded by user via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A blue and white Christmas font sign...

Source: google.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Merry Christmas in blue to all of you....

And to end the blue Christmas presentation...please enjoy the King singing "Blue Christmas".

(Please go to the bottom of my blog and turn off my music so you can enjoy Elvis)

Busy with Christmas Decorations

2011-12-05T19:30:00.000-05:00

Remember when counted cross stitch was the rage years ago?

This is a little sampler I made way back when...

I've been busy setting up my Christmas decorations in the house. Two trees are finally up except for their toppers. Boxes are everywhere in the house. But it's too much of a mess to take photos yet for posting.

I realized as I'm putting out my Christmas stuff that I really do favor RED and Santas...and snowmen...

I haven't even started my gift shopping yet...keep calm...

This is my newest motto....

Source: polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I must confess...this past weekend I went to a local Christmas Craft Fair.

And, of course, I found some Christmas decorations that I wanted ~~needed~~ for the house.

More Santas and snowmen!

And lots of RED!

~~~~~~~~~

Look at the delicious Christmas decor in RED I found on Pinterest...

Source: frugalhomedesigns.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I've never had a red wreath...what is wrong with me!

These are stunning!

Source: traditionalhome.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Red print couches and chair...not just for Christmas...oh, no!

I have to seriously consider the color red in my family room decor when we replace our furniture.

~~~~~~~~~~

Crochet Chained Christmas Wreaths

I posted about my latest little crochet project on my Christmas blog - so head on over there all you crocheters and take a peek!

Some of these darlings are in RED!

LOL!

Cheap & Cute - Mr. Rainbow Snowman

2011-12-02T23:06:00.001-05:00

Introducing Mr. Rainbow Snowman!

My new Christmas front door decoration.

I was inspired by all of the beautiful Snowman Door Wreaths shown on Pinterest such as these two...

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First I thought I would do the Snowman out of green wreaths which I thought would look smashing on the my red paper wrapped front door.

Source: sewmanyways.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

But then I decided that white wreaths would POP even more with the red paper background.

So off to Michaels I went to hunt for the wreaths. Well, there were no white wreaths at all and there weren't green wreaths in the three sizes I needed.

Instead Hubby and I found some white styrofoam circles in the three sizes that would fit on our front door. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and I wanted something that would store easily out of season so home we came with the styrofoam circles.

Now to dress my Snowman.

The red and white hat is mine as are the cute Christmas gloves. And my crocheting bloggers may recognize my Rainbow Ruffle Scarf that I recently made.

Sorry I wasn't able to take photos as I worked on Mr. Snowman. First I tried to glue large magnets on the back of the styrofoam circles with styrofoam glue but that didn't work. So I got my Hubby's duct tape and duct taped the magnets to the back of the styrofoam circles. I also stuck some sewing pins in the duct tape and styrofoam to help hold the duct tape more firmly.

I cut out circles in black felt for the buttons, eyes and mouth and added an orange felt nose...glued down with styrofoam glue.

For the arms I used some small 4th of July flags sticking the ends into the styrofoam and rolling up the flag and putting the flag ends into the gloves.

I used several large magnets to hold the hat, gloves and scarf in place.

In the end the only supplies I had to buy was the styrofoam circles and glue... everything else I used were items we had on hand already.

In case you are wondering the red paper background is attached to the front door by magnets too. I hang it in our basement to the ductwork with the magnets when stored out of season.

Mr. Rainbow Snowman says "Merry Christmas"!

Our home sits back from the street so I like to have something larger on the front door otherwise you can't see it from the road.

Hubby put a spotlight on the front door so it shows up at night nicely too.

What do you think?

Is Mr. Rainbow Snowman cute or not?

Please join me for:

Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Christmas Inspiration

2011-12-01T19:34:00.000-05:00

Source: homeiswheretheboatis.wordpress.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

This is such a beautiful Christmas table setting!

I love the little Santa Claus in the Christmas bowl and the lovely quilt in Christmas red and green.

Source: bhg.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

How does a simple garland like this look...oh..so very elegant?

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The red and white striped ribbons on this gorgeous Christmas tree just make it POP!

Source: sassysites.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Here at Teacup Lane I finished all my outside Christmas decorations today.

Our front door is done...but I didn't have my camera with me so I couldn't take a photo of it.

I can hardly wait to share it with you.

Now to start on my inside Christmas decorations.

What should I do?

I like to vary it a little bit every year.

So have you started your Christmas decorating yet?

Please...don't tell me you are done!

Christmas Storage Ideas

2011-11-28T19:39:00.000-05:00

Source: apartystyle.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

This is a neat idea for storing one's precious ornaments.

Every year when I take out my Christmas boxes I think there must be a better way to store all this stuff. My Hubby is a fantastic packer and if I had him packed up all our Christmas decorations I'm sure he could reduce the number of boxes by fifty percent or more.

Source: marthastewart.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I tried this cardboard system one year using cardboard wrapping paper rolls to wrap the lights but it seemed to take up even more room and the rolls were too long to fit into my boxes.

This is where we store all of our Christmas decorations...under our basement stairwell. It's pretty deep...goes way back in. I've taken several boxes out before I shot this photo...with all the boxes stored in there it is filled up to the top of the stairs.

I may take our lights, wreaths and other items that heat and/or cold would not affect and put them out in our shed to make more room under the stairwell.

I do like the clear boxes because it is easier to identify what is in each box without opening it.

What about you....have you found some nifty ways to store your Christmas decorations?

Starting the Christmas Season!

2011-11-26T16:15:00.001-05:00

Source: thepaintedgarden.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

It's been a busy day here at Teacup Lane.

We dragged out all of the Christmas boxes and tested all the outdoor Christmas lights. We just finished putting the lights on our front bushes and hanging our Green Garland over the front door. It's suppose to rain the next three days so I wanted to get the exterior Christmas lights done today.

I'm on a roll...for once...I should finish our Christmas cards this weekend so they can be mailed Monday. That's the earliest our cards have ever gone out. LOL!

With our garage freezer dead as a door nail I have to hold off baking my Christmas cookies until just before Christmas. Usually I spend the Thanksgiving weekend baking and frosting them and into the freezer they go until Christmas. But not this year...my schedule is turned upside down this year.

I still have to decorate my front door and put lights out on the screened in porch rails. Once that is done then the outside is finished.

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Check out these Christmas treats (click on the photo).

These would be fun to make for the holidays.

Source: scrappingturtle.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Isn't this little guy cute?

We don't have any of this white stuff yet.

In fact, today and yesterday were warm here in the low 60s. Some of our trees and bushes are all mixed up with blooms coming out on them!

I didn't have to wear gloves or even a coat outside while stringing the lights.

Source: recipe4living.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Just click on the above photo for 34 yummy morning casseroles for the holidays!

Source: Uploaded by user via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

My laugh for the day!

Have a lovely day and thanks so much for visiting!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:56:00.001-05:00

This is a vintage Thanksgiving greeting from 1927!

It is so appropriate for my blogging friends.

These cute boy and girl pilgrim candles belonged to my Mother-in-Law. They sat out on her Thanksgiving dinner table every year. Boy, do we miss those wonderful dinners at their home.

I remember my Mom getting up very early to put the turkey on so we could have our Thanksgiving dinner in the early afternoon. We dressed for dinner every Sunday and especially for the holiday dinners. We would put our aprons on when cleaning up the dishes too. You didn't want to get anything on your Sunday clothes. My paternal Grandparents would come for dinner too.

This is my Mom's silverware set of twelve that was used for every Sunday and holiday dinner. There are two different patterns in her set.

The original set of six was from the Nobility Silver Co., Inc., Newark NY, in the pattern "Reverie" which was produced from 1939 to the early WWII years. The set included the sugar and creamer and a sugar spoon and butter knife. I don't know for sure but I think my Mom may have purchased the Nobility silver and wooden chest (called the Ambassador) sometime in 1942.

My paternal Grandmother had a full set of 12 in the Nobility "Reverie" pattern (which was passed down to my oldest brother and his wife).

Nobility "Reverie"

Wm Rogers "Spring Charm"

The second set of silver is Wm Rogers Silver in a pattern called "Spring Charm" which was produced on or after 1950. That is the pattern with the flowers.

I never knew the pattern names of my silverware until recently when I found a internet Facebook page for Nobility Silver. You can find out just about anything on the internet.

I just love my Mom's silverware set and am so pleased to have it after all these years.

It's just the two of us here for Thanksgiving. We're having an easy meal of hot turkey sandwiches with dressing, cranberry sauce and white corn. And of course, pumpkin pie for dessert.

I'm DVRing the Macy's Thanksgiving parade to watch later. I would love to see this parade someday in person....that would be a nice trip to go to NY over the Thanksgiving weekend, take in a Broadway Show and see the the parade too. I must put that on my "bucket list".

Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day with Your Loved Ones.

Another vintage Thanksgiving greeting card!

Please join me for:

Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Wendy at The Shabby Nest for Frugal Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite SpecialCielo at The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Fall Leaves at Teacup Lane

2011-11-23T15:46:00.002-05:00

Lots of Fall leaves in our yard!

The sun is not shining here today but I couldn't resist taking some photos of our front yard filled with fall eaves.

Yummy pumpkin pie!

Today I baked a pumpkin pie using Libby's Can Pumpkin Mix (Libby's recipe here) and Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust. I just realized I forgot to flute the pie edges...where was my mind! We like our pumpkin pie with lots of spices...so I added more cinnamon then the recipe calls for.

I figured out the calories per slice too so we can try to stay within our daily calorie ranges. Well, that took two tries...the first time the calories seemed rather low until I realized I forgot to add in the calories for the pie crust. Then when I showed my calculations to my Hubby he thought the amount for the pie crust seemed high...and it was...by mistake I added the calories for two pie crusts instead of one. LOL!

We ran over to Target today to purchase our Christmas cards and pick up some other items. My plan is to devote the Thanksgiving weekend for preparing our Christmas cards so they are ready to be mailed by the 1st of December. I'm thinking up a new Christmas decoration for our front door and can't wait until I can show it to you... (hint...think Snowman!)

Our home the day before Thanksgiving!

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas China Setting

2011-11-21T14:02:00.000-05:00

Source: pier1.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Isn't this a pretty Christmas setting in red and white with the touches of black?

Drop on over to my Christmas blog to see my Christmas China.

A Pink Saturday

2011-11-19T12:01:00.000-05:00

Source: thedailytelecraft.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

What gal wouldn't like a pink dresser like this!

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Or pink poke a dot suitcases...

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Pink cake pops...yummy!

Source: creationsfrommyheart.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A sweet pinkish ruffle quilt...just beautiful!

Source: Uploaded by user via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A little girl would love this pink table skirt!

Source: hollymonroe.enstore.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

And for all my pink gal friends!

Welcome to Beverly's Pink Saturday . Click on her link to see more PINK

My Love of RED!

2011-11-16T18:43:00.000-05:00

Source: cozycanadiancottage.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I keep coming back to my L.O.V.E. of RED!

This room sings to my heart...wish it was mine!

Today is my 65th birthday and I found this saying on Pinterest that says it all...

Source: ephemera-inc.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I had a wonderful birthday...thanks Sweetie for treating me like a Queen!

And there are more REDs to enjoy with our host, Sue, at

It's A Very Cherry World

(here)

for REDnesday!

DROPS Waistcoat & Disney License Plate

2011-11-15T10:52:00.003-05:00

I decided at the last minute to NOT take my Rainbow Scrap Afghan on our Florida road trip. I was running out of some of my colors and I didn't want to drag the afghan all over the country in case I couldn't find the colors I needed.

Plus we were limited in storage in our travel van and by the time I loaded all the different yarns for the afghan into my crochet bag it was stuffed, heavy and overflowing.

Instead I choose a couple left over yarns in bright colors to try to make this waistcoat pattern from DROPS Designs.

"Drop" on over to the DROPS website and take a look - there are so many FREE cute waistcoat patterns to try.

Another "Mickey"

Before we left on our trip we knew we wanted to find a cute front license plate souvenir from Walt Disney World.

We hit all the shops at the Magic Kingdom but couldn't find any souvenir plates.

Then I remembered a large shop in ToonTown but when we tried to find ToonTown we discovered it was completely gone.

Disney is building a new section in the Magic Kingdom called Fantasy Land (coming 2012) which will showcase Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the Little Mermaid.

We kept looking at the shops in the other parks too. Epcot has several good shops and finally my Hubby found this adorable Disney license plate there.

We were so busy on our trip Hubby didn't have time to attach it on the van until we returned home!

Isn't it cute!

There's No Place Like Home!

2011-11-13T11:15:00.001-05:00

Source: google.com via Allyson on Pinterest

After 29 days touring Florida we are HOME and....

yes, Dorothy...there's no place like home!

We arrived home yesterday afternoon.

We had two long travel days in the van once we left Georgia. Our last night in the van (in Wytheville, VA) the temperature fell to 25 degrees F.

It was cold!

But our propane heater kept us warm through the night.

Yesterday we got up early, dressed and were on the road by 7:30 AM. Well, Hubby was up and driving but I laid back down on the bed and slept until we stopped for breakfast, ate and went back to bed until 10:30 AM. I even took two naps on the road later in the day. I guess I was ~~we were~~ tired. We went to bed last night and slept like babies.

Today I'm doing the laundry from our trip while Hubby is winterizing the van. I can't think of a thing to blog about except we're glad to be home. We had a wonderful time on our road trip and we were very pleased with our new travel van.

Enjoy listening to Judy Garland sing "Get Happy" and have a wonderful day!

Ft. Wilderness Walt Disney World

2011-11-04T19:22:00.001-04:00

Our campsite at Ft. Wilderness, Walt Disney World, Florida.

Hi!

Have you missed me?

We're in the Florida Keys and this is the first time we have had any internet service while on vacation. Walt Disney World has internet, expensive internet, at $9.95 per day. We tried it while at the campground and again while staying at a cabin but the service was so poor Disney credited the charges back to us. We were told that they were installing WiFi and that it should be available by the holidays.

The internet service is excellent at this campground down in the Keys. We have a waterfront site here and as I'm sitting in our van I can look out at the Gulf of Mexico and palm trees! The last two days we camped at the Bahia Honda State Park (only electric service there) and had a blast snorkeling in their beautiful waters.

My "Mickey Mouse" made out of pine cones!

Ft. Wilderness Campground is fun to stay at while visiting Walt Disney World.

We rent a golf cart so we have "wheels" to get around the campground loops and down to the marina for the ferry to the parks...it is fun during Halloween to drive around looking at all the RVs and their decorations. Even golf carts are decorated for the holiday.

Lots of the campers decorate for Halloween and it's a big deal at the parks too.

And some go way out there with tons of decorations.

Toy Story Midway Mania! attraction at Hollywood Studios

This is my favorite attraction...love to play it! It's a 3-D action game with all the Toy Story characters.

Me...waiting to play my favorite game!

The day we went to Hollywood Studios it was packed and we only got to play "Toy Story Midway Mania" once.

Supper at the Trails End Restaurant our first day at Ft. Wilderness.

Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

It was overcast our first few days at WDW. But all in all we have had great weather.

We spent just over two weeks at WDW. We were able to rest between visiting the parks and had time to do some fun stuff at the campground...like canoeing one day and then taking a 17' Boston Whaler out on the lake another day and even each of us taking out the small Sea Racers another day.

I probably won't be able to post again until we're back home in the middle of November.

Tomorrow we head north to Stuart, Florida to visit my cousin and then on to Atlanta, GA to visit college friends before heading home to Philly.

And, unfortunately, to answer - Kate - The Garden Bell - I haven't been able to "pin" while on vacation.

Maybe I can do some pinning tonight...starting tomorrow no internet again until home.

Thanks for visiting me while I've been on vacation!

I'm not looking forward to cooler weather at home!

We're Here at Walt Disney World!

2011-10-17T13:00:00.001-04:00

Source: flickr.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

We're here in wonderful Walt Disney World, Florida for Halloween!

Source: weheartit.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A fun Disney fact!

Source: imgfave.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

This is a very cute Mickey Mouse Pumpkin!

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This is my favorite Disney movie...Lady and the Tramp!

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I'm scheduling this post for our arrival at WDW because I'm taking a blogging break while on our Florida vacation.

We won't have internet service while at Walt Disney World so I'll have to tell you all about our adventures when we get back home in November.

First Stop on Way to Florida

2011-10-15T19:48:00.000-04:00

First night on the road to Florida...that's our little travel van with all the big motorhomes!

We're at Carolina Crossroads Campground in Roanoke Rapids, NC.

We had a nice drive down here today stopping for lunch at my favorite restaurant, Mimi's Cafe, in Fredericksburg, VA.

On to Savannah, GA tomorrow.

It was a beautiful day today...sunny and low 70's just a little windy out.

I'll only be able to post if we get decent internet service at our campgrounds.

Walt Disney World or BUST!

Did I Tell You I Love Color?

2011-10-13T10:37:00.000-04:00

I added my first rows of black and white yarn to separate the bands of color on my

Rainbow Scrap Afghan.

Now I'm working on my second band of rainbow colors.

Check out my previous post (here).

I'm not sure how many color bands I will be able to do...I just want this afghan to be lap size.

If I run out of a color ~ I'm using left over yarn on this project ~ I hope I can find the yarn I need at Michaels.

I was so surprised yesterday...

I got Pinned!

Or rather my Rainbow Ruffles Scarf did!

I'm taking my Rainbow Scrap Afghan with me to Florida.

We leave Saturday for Walt Disney World!!!!

My Shelley Rosebud

2011-10-12T15:11:00.001-04:00

I just adored my paternal Grandmother.

We were lucky to live fairly close to my Dad's parents while growing up so we were able to have Sunday dinners with them and to see them often. I really treasured summer time when I could spend two weeks with them one on one. My Grandmother had quite a few granddaughters and she was an excellent seamstress making all of us lovely dresses every year including my Mom.

I found an old photo I scanned of my Mom...my Grandmother made this beautiful blue outfit for her.

My Mom loved to dress up...she had slim legs and ankles and looked terrific in high heels.

That's Lady our dog...well, she was really my Mom's dog but we were all crazy about her.

One of these days I hope to convert the old family photos over to digital.

Back to my Grandmother...one summer my Grandmother said she wouldn't have both my middle brother and I at the same time because we fought. We begged to go together...said we wouldn't fight... finally my Grandmother relented. Well, Grandmother did know best because that's the first and last time she had us at the same time because she was right... we ended up fighting. Hey, we were just kids.

Here'a photo of my paternal Grandparents sometime in the 1940s.

I'm so lucky my paternal Grandmother bequeathed her lovely fine bone china Shelley Rosebud Coffee Set (Dainty Shape) to me.

Coffe pot and lid

On one of my earlier posting I said it was a tea set (what did I know). One of my readers graciously corrected me to let me know it was not a tea pot but rather it was either a coffee or chocolate pot.

I googled and found two coffee pots and lids each one selling for over $450 on eBay.

Boy, was I shocked.

Of course, I have no intentions of selling my set.

Creamer and Sugar Bowl

This green back stamp was used between 1945 and 1966.

I don't know when my Grandmother purchased the set but it was probably in the 1940s or 1950s.

Lovely...isn't it?

Hand painted mint green borders complement the fuchsia roses and cornflower blue daisies "rosebud" pattern.

The set has such a wonderful English china color palette and dainty shape.

My Bone China Shelley Coffee Set in the Rosebud pattern and Dainty Shape.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my lovely Shelley Coffee Set and didn't mind me rambling on and on about my family.

I miss my Grandparents and my parents so much.

Please join me for:

Cielo at The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday

A Red Toile & Checkered Bathroom!

2011-10-11T19:10:00.000-04:00

Source: lifeingraceblog.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

A red check and toile bathroom--charmingly gorgeous!

Yes, one of these days I will decorate a room in red!!!

Totally...just like this one.

And there are more REDs to enjoy with our host, Sue, at

It's A Very Cherry World

(here)

for REDnesday!

My Rainbow Ruffles Scarf

2011-10-10T11:09:00.001-04:00

My Rainbow Ruffles Scarf is finished!

Colorful...bright and cheery!

This is an easy project to use up all your left over yarns.

I'm still using up my Caron Simply Soft yarns that I used on my Flower Petal Cushion (here).

Love the rainbow colors of this scarf!

For this scarf I arranged the colors in a rainbow hue pattern.

You can obtain the Ruffles Scarf pattern (here).

I like the Red Heart yarn website.

It is filled with lots of FREE patterns with great photos and good instructions.

If you don't care for this pattern they have so many wonderful ones to choose from at their website.

My Rainbow Ruffle Scarf

I changed the pattern slightly where the two pieces are crocheted together at the back of the neck. I added another ruffle in yellow and green and crocheted them together right above the extra ruffle.

So...what is next?

Well... I still have yarn left in these rainbow colors... and while at Michaels the other day I saw a scrap afghan in a new book called "Scrap Crochet" by Connie Ellison that had an interesting and different stitch. I bought the book...came home and started my new project....

Rainbow Scrap Afghan.

Rainbow Scrap Afghan

I'm making the scrap afghan shown on the cover of the book.

Fun new project using scrap yarn...Rainbow Scrap Afghan

I'm adding two colors to separate my rainbow shades...white and black.

I wish I could crochet today but I have to clean the porch furniture so we can put it all away in the shed. By the time we come back from our Florida road trip it will be November and too cold to be out on the porch.

Source: google.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Have a lovely day and thanks for visiting!

Join me for:

Lit & Laundry for Finished For Friday
Annmarie's Crochet Blog (here)

Romantic Pink!

2011-10-08T13:57:00.000-04:00

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Oh, yes, as you can see, Pink is so romantic....dreamy and magical.

Welcome to Beverly's Pink Saturday . Click on her link to see more PINK

What's Black, White & Red All Over?

2011-10-06T14:17:00.000-04:00

Source: brabournefarm.blogspot.com via Julia on Pinterest

Is it a pretty kitchen?

Source: marthastewart.com via cheeky on Pinterest

Maybe a stairwell?

Source: neimanmarcus.com via Toni on Pinterest

Or perhaps a red headboard and bedding??

Nope, it's Sushi!

My black & white mohair teddy bear...with a beautiful red heart nose!

Isn't she adorable?

What's not to love about a face like this?

Sushi is from the Annette Funicello Collectible Bear Company.

Every time I look at her I smile ~~giggle~~.

Annette Funicello (of Mickey Mouse Club and teen beach movie fame) founded the Annette Funicello Collectible Bear Company in 1992 to fund research of neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, with which she had been diagnosed in 1987. Funicello teamed with world-renowned Teddy bear artists "to share with people all over the world the comfort and love a Teddy bear brings."

Source: quotespics70icons.blogspot.com via jnet on Pinterest

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