A Christmas Table

Are you sick of Christmas?  

Or are you like me, and although I don't mind when Christmas is over, I still love to think about it and plan for it for next year?

Well, in the spirit of enjoying Christmas all year round, I'm bringing you the table setting we had for our Christmas this year.

For several years I've wanted to use a wreath as a charger for my vintage plates.  I even bought the wreaths several years ago but just never quite got it done.

I used my Royal Ironstone "Memory Lane" for the plates.  I picked up about 8-10 place settings on eBay several years ago.  I'm not too crazy about the cups and saucers though, so I used some mugs I picked up at Pottery Barn about 5 years ago.

And of course, I had to pull out my Susan Branch coffee pot, sugar, and creamer.  I bought this a few years ago at our local hardware/gift store.  

I kept seeing it before Christmas and I wanted it, but I just couldn't buy it at full price.  At this store everything is 50% off the day after Christmas so I scurried down there when they opened and scooped them up!  

I even had an email from someone who wanted to buy it from seeing it on my blog. I was tempted, but it's one of those pieces that as soon as I see it, it brings out that warm Christmas feeling.

For flatware I used mismatched pearl handle and a set I picked up at our local consignment store from National Silver.  (Truth be told, I only have 4 place settings of the pearl so I made do - I kind of like it.)

I also used my wedding crystal for juice - it's Gorham "Lady Anne."

Plus I had to pull out this pretty depression glass pitcher for juice.  Got this at an estate sale filled with beautiful things, but they were all a little pricey so I only picked up this for me.  (Sorry etsy shop!)

The napkins are ones I pull out every Christmas.  I got those at our beloved Gottschalks department store (that went bankrupt in 2009 - still miss that store every single Christmas).  

For the centerpiece, I used a variety of small Christmas trees and packages.  Also popped a tree topper into a milk glass vase.  (I'm pretty sure I stole this idea from Chris at Red Gate Farm.)

I also have to share my FAVORITE tree....

We have this popped up on a little side table behind our reading chair.  Love the color combination - white, red, green, and blue!!!

So Merry Christmas for 2014!!! 

(It's not too early, right?)

A Giveaway Winner! And Susan Branch! And I Actually Made Something from Pinterest!

Winner! Winner!  Winner!

Thanks to Random Number Generator, comment #31 from Amy of UTryIt is the winner of my Amazon and Starbucks card giveaway!

Amy is a food blogger and she has awesome recipes and features.  Please go check her out.  You won't be disappointed (unless you don't like food)!

And, in honor of a food blogger winning, I thought I would share my version of Susan Branch's Corn Chowder!  Not really cold here anymore (but at least it's not hot) and I bought the ingredients to make this last Wednesday, but I ended up working until 7:30 that night and there just wasn't time to get this done, so I made it today.

(My bowls aren't as lovely as Susan's, but they still look pretty good!)

And oh my was it ever YUMPTIOUS!!!

Want a closer look?

This is really, really good and easy to make, but you MUST INCLUDE THE BACON!  

Vegetarian? 

 Then use tofu bacon or whatever it takes, because the BACON takes this soup to divine!

And.....you'll be so proud of me.....

I made something I found on Pinterest!  

Yes I did!

I made these....

Better than Jim and Nick's Cheesy Biscuits from Plain Chicken. 

that I found here!

Then we had leftover chocolate croissant bread pudding with homemade whipped cream for dessert tonight!  (Worker Bee's birthday was Friday, but we couldn't celebrate until Saturday night.)

Definitely not a night for the cows to take off!

Thank you so much for your support and entering my giveaway!  Your visits mean so much to me (and even Worker Bee and Baby Bee, they delight in your visits too).

I hope you know you're invited for dinner any time!  I love to make soup and I would love to have you come on over!  There's always room for one more!

Icy Pink Deliciousness

I just love Susan Branch!  Raise your hand if you agree?  

Okay, I see all those hands.  (And if you're not sure who Susan Branch is, head on over here to meet her.)

Susan has some wonderful recipes in her books.  This particular one is from The Summer Book.

One of our summer favorites is a cocktail called "Skip and Go Naked."  The skip because it's so tasty and you want to skip around and the go naked because if you're not careful and have too many of these, you might start running round naked.  

The ingredient list is simple:

pink lemonade frozen lemonade

vodka

beer

ice

Now I know some of you might be saying beer?  I don't like beer!  Well, I can't stand the stuff, but mixed in this drink?  It's absolutely scrumptious.  Trust me (and trust Susan too).

Plus you will need a blender.

1.  Fill the blender half way with ice.

2.  Add 2/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate.

3.  Add 1/4 cup of vodka.

4.  Add 2/3 cup of cold beer.

5.  Blend together and pour into a glass - pretty glass preferred of course.

Icy pink deliciousness!

One for me and one for you.

Let's go enjoy these on the patio.  We could listen to some nice music and pray the June bugs don't crash into us.  (Thankfully, June bugs are almost done around these parts.)

And, at last, I have a fun post for Pink Saturday!

Come join the party over at Beverly's.

Such a treat to see you too!  

Thank you so much for dropping in for a visit.