Place Cards for Thanksgiving...

One of my favorite things to do when we are having guests for dinner is to make place cards.  Last year when I did them for Thanksgiving my grandson Carson was fascinated by the whole idea.  After dinner he asked if he could play with them and then he asked to take them home with him. 

I'll try to give you directions on how I make them.  Feel free to e-mail me if you don't understand my directions.

I use Microsoft Word to make them and unless I'm having a really formal dinner, I just print them on regular copy paper.

I make them 4 inches by 4 inches.  I add clip art to the left side and then add the name on the right.

I usually make the letters Bold and the size of the letters about 28.

E-mail me if you have any questions.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Don't forget I'm having a giveaway on Thursday, November 12.  Leave a comment to enter the drawing.

Thanksgiving...

These little shelves seem to be my new holiday decorating spot.  As you'll see, I don't have a lot of Thanksgiving decorations.

I do love my little Pilgrims I got last year.

I found this turkey this year and thought he was cute.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

                                    Albert Camus

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Don't forget I'm having a giveaway on Thursday, November 12.  Leave a comment to enter the drawing.

A Knitting Project...

Usually, I love knitting scarves for Christmas gifts but I think everyone I know already has at least one.  Knowing me, I still may make some though.

I decided to knit an afghan.  That's something I've never done and I found a simple pattern.  I couldn't find the exact yarn they used in the book but decided the three different ones I chose would make a good color pattern.

As you can see, I'm keeping it close by my chair so I can pick it up when I have a chance. 

The basket I have it in was handmade by the Ishman family in Pennsylvania and it belonged to my mother.  I passed up purchasing a round one when I was visiting PA but I wouldn't have been able to buy the tureen later if I had gotten the basket.  I'm really happy with my choice.

For those of you like me who love toile, check out my knitting bag.  I've had it for a while but I can't remember where I got it.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Don't forget I'm having a giveaway on Thursday, November 12.  Leave a comment to enter the drawing.

The extras I bought...

I found these two little coasters.  More red and white....my favorite.

I had to get just one Spode turkey plate but I may have to go back to Bloomfield's for some more.  I can't tell you the price in case I decide to buy 9 more.  I don't know if I want to collect these or Christmas china.  I actually think I would get more use our of these.  What do you think?

I bought this little tree at a shop in West Virginia for $6.00.

 

This I got for $3.00 in WV and it's new.

 

I got this for $3.00 to set my teapot on my table.

 

This little plaque was $1.50.  I'm already thinking about Memorial Day.  I need serious help.

 
 

I got this for $12.00 in WV.  More patriotic stuff. 

I found this cup in a little antique shop to use in my sugar bowl.

This Willow cup was $3.00 at an antique shop.

Don't forget I'm having a giveaway on Thursday, November 12.  Leave a comment to enter the drawing.

Thanks for reading.

Gretchen

A Giveaway...

This giveaway is my way of thanking all of you who read my blog and write me such thoughtful notes.  Without all of you, I would be stuck watching crappy TV shows, munching on junk food and shopping.  Oh wait.....I do some of that.  Well, you probably keep me from more of that and I appreciate all of you and the friendships we've developed.

Here's what I have for you.  Three Liz Claiborne cosmetic bags, two trunks from Hobby Lobby and two signs.

Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address and I will enter your name.  If you mention it on your blog and tell me about it, I'll enter your name twice.

Thursday, November 12 will be the last day to enter.

Good luck and thank you again for reading my blog.

Hugs, Gretchen

My favorite purchase from PA...

A week ago today, I was still in PA and on a tour with my brother Paul.  This was our camp when I was growing up.  It was very near Cook Forest State Park and my Dad loved it because there wasn't a telephone.  It had originally been a one room school house.  Somehow it seemed bigger to me in my memories.

 

I also thought the property was huge back then but the trees have really grown.  Oh......maybe I have too.

Oh and that little red building you see in the back is one of the outhouses.

The old swimming hole we went to is still there.  We used to fish there too and we remembered the time Paul got a fish hook in his ear.  My Father and Grandfather tried to get it out but after much effort he had to go to the emergency room. 

We got rid of this camp when I was about 9 or 10 and bought one with all the modern conveniences (bathroom and shower) closer to home.

We went on a ride to Ridgway, PA to have lunch and antique.  The first shop we went into I found this tureen.  It's Red Cliff white ironstone and weighs a ton.  The owner did give me a 10% discount but it wouldn't have mattered.  I had to have it!!!

 Look at the ladle.  It's even pretty. 

 

I think it fits in well with my other two tureens on the hutch.

It's a lot bigger than the other two tureens.

Thanks for reading.

Gretchen

My Favorite Trick or Treaters...

Carson (as Harry Potter), Elizabeth (as the Mommy), Lauren (as Alice in Wonderland). 

Carson (as Harry Potter), Chris (as the Daddy), Lauren (as Alice in Wonderland).

Carson (as Harry Potter) and Lauren (as Alice in Wonderland).

Rick (as DJ Lance Rock of Yo Gabba Gabba), Noelle (as a witch), Nicholas (as a soldier) and Chloe (as a witch).

Thanks for checking them out.

Gretchen
  
 

My Sister Susan's Farm...

You can imagine how hard it is to visit everyone in only 3 full days.  My aunt invited most of my family to lunch at the Country Club on Sunday.

Tuesday morning I went to my sister Susan's house for brunch. 

This is one of three ponds they have on their farm.  The section of water on this side of the gazebo is filled with Koi.

This is her new toy.  I went for a ride in it and it saved my legs a ton of walking. 

I should have gotten a better picture of her barn from the front but from the road you can see her mules.

These are the only animals they have on their farm other than their dog.

My BIL built this raised bed for his elderly mother.  When she passed away he moved it to their house.  It saves you from have to bend over to garden.  I loved this idea.  They also have a huge "real" garden on another part of their property.

 

This is my BIL's new toy.  A hot tub for the patio off their living room.  As you'll notice my sister has perennials everywhere.  They were incredible!

 

I took a picture of this spruce tree because she planted it from a little tree that one of my kids brought home from Sunday school when they were little.  It's grown a bit.  So have my boys.

 

Isn't this bird feeder quite the contraption?  They have to have this because the bears like to eat from their feeder.  I've stayed there at night when the bears came.

As with the barn, I forgot to take a picture of the house.

 
This is some kind of twisted tree.  I forget what it's called. Some of you may know.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen