The Old Fashioned Christmas Parade

For 17 years, Lawrence, Kansas (home of the Jayhawks!) has hosted an Old Fashioned Christmas Parade. This was the first year I was able to attend. Requirements are that all entries are horse drawn wagons, carriages, or small buggies. Most all entrants dress in 1800’s fashion. There were about 70 entries this year, some from as far away as Minnesota and South Dakota.
Many of the wagons were drawn by draft horses. It was amazing how big they are up close. Their hooves are the size of dinner plates! Thousands of draft horses were imported from Western Europe into the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. The ones we are most familiar with are the Clydesdales from Scotland and the Belgians from Belgium.

Enjoy this adventure with me, and know...... I am still the little girl who wants a pony. ( my back yard is pretty big, Mama!)

There were the very very big, and the very small!

This little burro was doing some turns and tricks at the intersection which won him some applause!

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Not Black but Yellow Friday Before and After

I decided there was nothing at the sales I or anyone I buy for wanted, so I decided I needed a project for the rest of this holiday weekend. I have been wanting to add more shelves and paint my little pantry. So I picked up the lumber from Lowe's and drove to my friend's house who cut the lumber for me. Then home to paint and build shelves. I used the yellow that is in the kitchen and laundry room.  It took forever, since everything needed at least 2-3 coats of paint. Here's the before pic, soooo bad I am almost ashamed to show this. Didn't know it looked this bad until it was empty.

This is the top half, oh yeah, check out that contact paper. My mom and I peeled that stuff off for hours. Whoever invented contact paper ought to be shot.......quickly. Below is the bottom half of the pantry.

After empty

AND..... full and organized!

Top half and below is bottom half.

The Best Thanksgiving Guest

I had a great Thanksgiving this year. I spent it with my 89 year old mother. She is wonderful. She is sharp, and kind and fun to talk to. It was just she and I this year, as DD #1 went to Denver to spend time with DD #2, so she would not be alone for the holiday. I am an only child and my dad died many years ago, so it was just me and my mama. Now don't get me wrong, we see each other all the time so it wasn't a big reunion. She lives in a house across the street and down two, and has for 25 years. My little toddlers were caught more than once running across the street in just a diaper to see grandma.

We laugh and talk about what a tough old bird mom is, but she is really very quiet and sweet. She has survived 2 hip replacements, a fractured skull, lung cancer (not a smoker!) and a really bad case of shingles. She has a badly twisted back, osteoporosis, and arthritis. But she has over come each health issue and made herself strong again.

 Mama is a very determined lady. She taught herself to use the computer several years ago and spends several hours a day on it. She has always been politically active and keeps up with current events. She has the most amazing collection of African violets that she continually propagates. She still irons most her clothing (habit I think) and never leaves a dirty dish in the sink. Mama does crossword puzzles, and finally, this year,  has allowed herself to watch a  daily soap opera (never enough time before). She drives to the grocery store and Target, and does very well.  

Thanksgiving 2009

Back to today. She came over in the morning and she read the paper and chatted while I worked on dinner. In the afternoon we chatted some more, read magazines, I showed her some things on the computer, and we ate pie...... again. I took  a nap, SHE DIDN'T !! Then we went for a ride around town to get her car some exercise, and stopped at DD #1's place to feed cats and parrots.

 At home we ate wonderful leftovers, got on the computer together and talked. She went back home in the evening. It was such a relaxed, nice day. We didn't have to do anything or run any errands. I think she enjoyed it too. I am so lucky to have such a good mama.

Thanksgiving Table

Water goblets are from Target, and votives from Michael's. Flatware Oneida Venetia, napkin rings from Home Goods.

Dinner plate, berry bowl and clock plate  are The Old Curiosity Shop by Royal China, and the floral is by Royal China also, pattern unknown.

My aunt had dishes similiar to these when I was little and I always liked looking at the pictures on them. A few years ago a good friend was going to donate a tub of dishes to GW and she pulled these and the next plate out and asked if I wanted them. She had several pieces and I was thrilled!! I have added a few pieces to these two patterns so I have a set for six.

There is always much to be thankful for Happy Thanksgiving.

Autumn Hutch

Just a few pics of an autumn hutch in greens, whites, and oranges.

Milk glass from garage sales, thrift stores

Turkey from Old Time Pottery

Pumpkin plate and pumpkin from Marshalls

All other dishes from antique stores, thrift and garage sales and friends

Bittersweet fresh picked Sunday!