That's all she wrote . . .

All done.

Kaput.

Christmas is officially over here at our house.

I'm sure some of you are saying "well, it's about time!".

I don't like to totally de-Christmasfy until after the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day or Twelfth Night.  I subscribe to the old-fashion belief that the 12 days of Christmas start Christmas Day, and last until January 6th, signifying when the wise men finally ended their long journey to Bethlehem.

I really wish that the time in between Christmas Day and the Epiphany is when the masses actually celebrated Christmas.  I feel the month of December is great for preparing for the upcoming season, but that the true celebration should happen during the real twelve days of Christmas.  I think it's sad when I see and hear that people tear into and pack up Christmas the day after.  To me, that's when quiet refection about the meaning of the season should occur.

Soooo . . . anyway . . . that's how I've been spending most of my weekend.  Packing up.  Deep cleaning.  Sorting.  And finally reorganizing all the bins and boxes containing Christmas.

And in the process I created a few more wintry vignettes here and there while getting used to my new camera Santa brought me.  A Nikon Coolpix.  It's a nice, streamline little camera that has way better features than my old camera, not to mention way more megapixels.  But, like anything new, it's taking me a while to get used to it.

Over the next few days, I'll start incorporating V'day love around the house too.  The Christmas tree in the living room is going to be transformed into a big bushy love tree.  And I'll have a bit more mushy love stuff to place around the house.

Remember this?  I shared it a few posts back.

Easy change.  

Popped out the cardboard with NOEL and replaced it with a little love.  I'm already planning on popping it out again in the spring and put something Eastery in there, and so on . . .

It's nice to get the house back in order and everything back in it's regular place.  It is a little sad taking the trees down and packing it all away, but I'll admit it's time to move on to the next season/holiday.

I have a big celebration to work on in the next couple weeks.  We're having a grad party for Son No. 1.  I figure this will probably be his last young adult milestone celebration until, well, I guess he gets married.  And who knows when {or if!} that'll happen!

Thanks for visiting!

Leave a comment so I can get to know you.

JUST FUTZING 'ROUND THE HOUSE

That's what I've been doing . . . 

for the past five days ~ counting today.  I haven't set foot outside my house since last Thursday.  And I've been loving every minute of just futzing around.  

I've been playing with some new surface vignettes.  Setting out and displaying a lot of the things I just love to look at.  I really enjoy walking through the house and catching glimpses here and there of some my pretties.

I filled this metal basket with those bargain Tekla dish towels that Ikea sells that make great oversized everyday cloth napkins, along with some vintage sliver utensils.  The flatware was Hubby's grandmother's, and the bakelite handled steak knives were my parents.  A wedding gift from 55 years ago.  

It's the "centerpiece" of the kitchen table.

The top of the hutch got a new look too.  Gone are all the pinks and reds of Valentine's Day.  Now I have displayed a few more of my favorites.  

Vintage caning jars. I just love 'em.  Ball, Atlas . . . I don't care.  

If they're old, I'll grab 'em up!
And, I have to mention the gorgeous sign hand crafted by the very talented
Paula from Castle and Cottage Signs
is still the crown above the hutch.

In a couple chicken wire baskets I purchased in shop at the Chelsea Market in NYC, are more Ikea dish towels along with some Johnson Bros. Snowhite Regency ironstone plates.  A couple pitchers from my collection ~ a Hall strawberry topped creamer and Johnson Bros. Harvest Time pitcher.  See that green pitcher in back?  That pitcher graced our dinner table every evening when I was a kid.  It was my job to make iced tea for dinner in that pitcher every night.  Not sure what it is.  The only marking on the bottom is the number 30. I should do some investigative work on that piece.

A couple pieces from my salt-glaze pottery collection. 

My new, well new to me, favorite book right now.  

Oh, and do you have Serena's Christmas Book?  Again, not entirely new, but I purchased it right before C'mas and literally could not put it down.  

It's fabulous! 

Atop my fridge, I put yet more of the Ikea dish towels on a cake plate.  

Towels Under Glass

Guess you can tell I really love those towels :o)

I just love textiles in general.  

I've also been doing some cleaning and organizing of my dresser drawers and closet.  That's a YUK job.  

I've been sewing some pillows . . . finally.  I bought a bunch of fabric months and months ago for new family room pillows and it's just been sitting.  So I'm finally getting to that.

And I've been working on the Easter Egg Swap I joined over at Thimbleprims.  Been tinkering around with redoing my blog, too.  Wish I knew what I was doing there!  Hopefully I'll have some of these finished projects done soon.  But, with having to get back to work tomorrow and Thursday, they may have to wait a few more days.

Thanks for visiting! 

Leave a comment so I can get to know you.

SILVER SUNDAY

The rain has slowed down a bit, and the Sun is trying her hardest to push through the clouds. Daylight savings is here and the days will seem longer . . . finally!

I decided to join in on the inspiring fun of

Silver Sunday

that Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal

is hosting. She created the sweetest little "Fairy Jars" inspired by Irish folklore. You have to check them out, and the other links featuring silvery deliousness that other bloggers are sharing.

Have a restful Sunday.

Silverware pieces displayed in a simple wooden tote box.

Hubby and I drank our wedding champagne from these goblets almost 26 years ago at our reception. A now faintly visible monogram and wedding date were engraved on each.

A treasure passed down from my Grandmother.

A gifted salt vessel resting on an antique mini silver tray also once belonging to my Grandmother.

Who could resist a cocktail served in one of these elegant silver accented glasses?

An elegant footed egg music box with a beautiful surprise inside.

A gift from my Mother.

Thanks for visiting!

Leave a comment so I can get to know you.