Advent and Christmas decorating...

Tomorrow is the First Sunday of Advent so it was time to bring out my Advent wreath and decorate the table in the kitchen. Each year I've added the newest animated, musical Snowman thingee from Hallmark and this year was no different. I like to start them all Singing at once! It's quite fun... 

Brandon laughed at me for Asking him to play along while I got

the Perfect picture. When I said I might have to ask him to place the

Angel on the tree again if the picture wasn't right, he wasn't having it...

Lucky for me, I got the photo I wanted in just one take!

There it is.

There was a Day when we had to lift Brandon to the tree

so he could reach the Angel to the top. Not any more...

Oh, my Goodness! Is that a semi-Smile I see?

I love this kid... 

One can Never have too many mushrooms!

Except for a few ornaments I have yet to find, the Tree is done!

My little German nativity carousel... Wouldn't be Christmas without it!

The book table in the Entry is all decked out too!

The lighted wreath has been hung and there's Santa standing at the door

Look! Our first present... Bing's found his spot under the Tree!

Still spinning!

No smile for me this time... Why?

Because he said I interrupted his Pumpkin pie

Next to Spring, I love Christmas most!

Spectacular?

Before I take you to the Antiques Spectacular that wasn't let me show you that Mr. Bunny made it up onto the wall in the kitchen this morning! Good things do happen while I'm in the shower...

This smaller Coral piece is the one I picked up in Greensboro last night

I could probably Add just a few more pieces to my Table

but any more and I won't have a spot left to lay my book!

We decided that since Scott let us know that he won't be able to come up to go

to the semi-annual Antique spectacular with us Tomorrow, we'd knock it out today. We've been

to this Show each year since moving to Winston-Salem and I must tell you that this year it's

been a Huge disappointment. We noticed in May there were less vendors and today

was the same. We estimated there were less than Half the vendors we usually see 

Despite the small number of Vendors, there were some Interesting things

to see... I mean, of all things, I didn't expect to see Jack Ruby's suit jacket

Lots of trinkets...

And, some Interesting furniture

Hum... Not sure what to call this

I loved this Heisey cream and sugar pair but the Last thing

I need is to start another Collection so I left it for someone else!

More glass!

Some interesting Clocks. We've seen that Treasure Island banjo clock (left center)

before at an estate Auction. At this show they were asking $750.00 for it

I picked up this old square Planters canister and promptly Filled it with

Chocolate chips for baking. The canister is Original; however, the lid

is not. Nevertheless, I like it just fine. And, I've decided to stop hunting

canisters and Storage jars because I am, OUT OF COUNTER SPACE!

This was Worth making room for though!

Wonderhubby really liked these Lincoln-reading-to-his-son Bookends but he was not

willing to pay the Dealer the $175/firm he was asking. Yes they are bronze, yes they are Signed,

and they are dated 1922 but at $175, he still Walked. I liked them too so while he was in

the bathroom I went back and Offered the dealer $125, cash - My Firm and, he took it! 

There's the Mount Vernon banjo clock we picked up last year... We think

it's much Better than Treasure Island and we paid far, far less than $750!

No 4AM shopping Today for me!

Nothing could have pulled me Out of bed for early after-Thanksgiving shopping this morning! Sleeping and snuggling until noon was more our Speed... But after that we did Venture over to Greensboro to check out the annual Holiday Craftsman's Classic - Fortunately, it was Worth getting out of bed for!

We met artist, Author and illustrator, Jeri Landers. Click on this photo to enlarge

it to See some of her artwork - it's something else! She does some amazing Scherenschnitte, 

which is a Swiss-style cutting art, which Ms. Landers also includes in her books. We bought and

asked her to sign her latest Children's book and picked up one of her Limited and signed

lithographs. To learn more about this Talented woman and Scherenschnitte, go Here 

This is the Lithograph we bought

Another artist

I am in the Market for a new kitchen Island and very much

liked this one for its Generous work surface and small Footprint!

North Carolina pottery

I love Dippin' Dots!

An artisan creates Sweet grass baskets

After the holiday Craftsman's classic we dropped into a few of our

favorite Antique shops. Here are a few of my Finds...

At only $6, I couldn't pass up this canister 

And, I think this divided Dish will be Perfect on our holiday Table to serve both

kinds of Cranberry sauce - Jellied and whole berry. Love the Sterling foot!

Look! I found a Rabbit to add to my Collection... 

I have Never, ever seen the Rabbit!

I've already marked on the Wall where he will hang... It was

meant to be! I think he's going to Love it here

From our Table to yours...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just leave it to Costco!

After the day of Cooking I had, I had to leave Desert to

Costco... Because frankly, I couldn't do it Any better!

Feast!

Somehow, it all came together... Let me show you how!

Let's make Stuffing

a pound and a quarter of Sausage - I mixed some Sweet and mild

all Browned up and ready to go...

the morning Sunshine on my dried Cranberries and cherries

sweet Yellow apples, celery, Onion and butter

Of all the Pampered Chef stuff I have, the Herb Keeper is my favorite 

Adding white Wine and parsley to the Aromatics

Yum!

almost looks like Stuffing!

Ready for the oven...

Corn pudding. And, he said mine is Much better than she used to make!

In my Next life I'll have double ovens...

In goes the Breast

Table is all set. Won't be long now...

Green beans with pine nuts, Crispy prosciutto, lemon zest and lemon juice

My first Attempt at roasted Butternut squash. It was so good,

I may Never make sweet potatoes again!

toss with Melted butter, brown Sugar, kosher salt and bake

Onto a baking sheet and into the Oven at 400 degrees until tender

The stuffing and Corn pudding are Ready for service!

This little Chipmunk knows it's Thanksgiving too

and he knows Where the buffet is...

Inside this Bird feeder! Skinny cheeks going in...

Chubby cheeks coming out!

This is my Version of don't-ask-don't-tell...

Cheater mashed potatoes - Yukon gold, the Best!

I just added the Butter, heavy cream and salt. Shhh...

Chubs is still at it on the Bird feeder...

Wow!

Resting...

Let's Eat!