The Christmas Nursery

Happy Monday! Yesterday I went to the flower shop on the mainland. As you all know I love their decorations and festive atmosphere.

Some wise old sage said, "Choose your companions wisely." I thought anyone who celebrates Christmas would enjoy a stroll through this pine scented wonderland.

But no, quite a bit of Bah Humbug emerged, punctuated with yawns. Isn't that disappointing! So sad. Anyway, I found some pretties to share with you, even though we only spent a few minutes.

Seashells and lobsters! I was able to replace my white mermaid who broke.

Margaritaville Santa!

 My favorite thing about their coastal tree[s], beside the HUGE surfboards stuck in at random], is the wall behind painted deep lagoon turquoise to set off the theme.

 Note the chic plastic Goose!

And a pine branch Gnome! Adorable!

Snowmen are popular this year.

My artist friend on FB, Michelle Pooler/ Olde Farmhouse Simples makes snowballs like these! Hers are delightful and a very fun project.  [Let me know if you want to try to make some, I'll ask if I can share somehow.click HERE]

I love the snowballs made into snowmen too! Cuties, looks easy.

Mel and I want to make ornaments that are pawprints, or in her case since her kitties may not cooperate, she may make grandbabies' hand prints. I saw a kit at Marshall's that was 6.99 for one little paw disk. I'm sure I have air dry clay to use instead, or could make a dough with Elmer's and flour? Some glitter? Do you love and cherish homemade ornaments or are you a big bucks C Radko person? Maybe both?

Speaking of paws, I was excited that the nursery has Pet Santa days! Sunday was the final day and I wasn't in the mood to dig out my car to go back with Mo. But for sure next year! How fun. I bet Mo will love Santa!

My friend L and I were all enthused to go to the Early 1800s restoration village here, for their candlelit evening walk and market. [obviously Not Williamsburg purists here, since I doubt Kringle markets with made in China baubles were common in 1810. But anyway.] So we called to make reservations and the docent manning the phone was sooooo discouraging! "It's reeeally dark," she whispered. "And so cold and muddy! Wear rubber boots, bring flashlights!" L looked horrified. I laughed and laughed. Needless to say, we did not yet buy tickets. I have to work on her a bit,  promise her warming toddies and hot soup afterwards. Or--Mexican!

Have a fun and festive week! Don't let the bah-humbuggers get you down.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

PS Mo's pics are from last year but we'll have some new ones soon!

Christmas Thrifting and Some Snow!

Hi! Only two more weeks til Christmas! I haven't bought any gifts at all. I'm so stressed. And we may have snow! Now snow can be an annoyance, but I love the first snowfall of the year. So exciting, for some reason. Mo and I have been diligently watching out the window, hoping the see the white ''stars'' floating down.

I'm a bit dubious though. With a low of 39* I think it just will be cold rain.

Mo is all set! He's wearing his wind cheater fleece and a glow in the dark ribbed neck warmer from Mel.

...

Earlier this week my friend B / Bea came to visit. We always get together for a December holiday visit. And yes, I am not above finding gifty treasures in the thrift shop or discount stores.

We had fun! But no gifts were found, except the finds that I will turn into etsy shop treasures maybe.
Aqua Mason jars.

New , repro. This is the actual color, the camera flash made it look greener in the other pics.

Off brand. Painted or ''enamelled'', not aqua milk glass. But oh my that Tiffany blue, my color! My Kindle is that color, my phone is that color , even my stairs are that color,  you get the idea. Maybe I'll keep one/ sell one?
Sweet little crescent side dish with tiny yellow roses.

The label was covering its makers mark and I briefly saw the word CHINA, said to B, oh look, made in China, not so good. But so sweet? When I got it home I found out it said Carlsbad China, made in Austria. Much better! And what I originally had expected.

It will get a magnet underneath for holding small scissors, thimble, needles. I have a perfect strawberry pin keep to go with it. Maybe some lucky quilter will gift herself?

I always look for project baskets. I love square baskets, they're just right for quilt blocks in work.

This is a faux Nantucket basket.

And this sweet little Vera Bradley-like quilted pouch. Another sewing kit? To tuck in one's project bag, for a quilter on the go? Or for me for the beach?

Look at the adorable gingham lining!

And this is so sweet--an English? ironstone sugar bowl.

 Too bad the lid is missing. It has the most darling violets. I can't wait for it to have a tiny pot of mini  daffs, or blue and yellow crocuses, right after the holidays. In fact I almost bought it a pot of rosemary today, but decided the extra kitchen clutter isn't a good thing right now.

I can't make out the mark, looks like and eagle with the Earth in its claws, crossed flags below. More research needed. The image seems more American than English but the look is classic late Victorian England. [can't you see this as a tattoo!? Grinning skull with screaming eagle above and no doubt Confederate flags below! Though the flags look faintly Stars and Stripes.]

Behind everything is a very nice XXL blue plaid shirt for my Blue Baskets project.

And pans and spatula, brand new. Though I suppose Teflon is a no-no now? And not a great deal, either.  Fail?

.....

Then we went to Marshall's. I found some gift tags for etsy bags but no family gifts. Instead I got myself these two display pieces for my workroom. The solid one is for works in progress etc; I like to be able to see the ideas I'm planning.  14.oo

This one is larger, a faux window. It can be used to display  a small quilt. I got it just for Mel bec she always wants me to hang up my little quilts, lol.  20.oo

We ended our day with Thai noodle dinners. I had pad thai, B has mee krob. Oh and always spring rollls. We were the last ones at our hole in the wall fav restaurant, long day, late night. Oh those noodles were good on a cold night!
...

Tomorrow I am doing some Christmas cooking; Pasta sauce for C. Eve lasagna and the horseradish baste/ rub for the rib roast. These will be frozen. I also got a gluten free sugar cooky mix so my guests maybe will nibble on a cooky. Not sure  how white rice flour, gum something, and other weird ingredients are better than classic flour, cane sugar, vanilla, and butter. A Christmas cooky is a confection of which one eats one or two, once a year...but I am willing to try. [Calorie count is same.]

Have a fun weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach..............