BECOMING CHRISTMAS - IN THE COTTAGE'S OWN WORDS...

All my dwellers 

had a wonderful Thanksgiving 

and have given me their permission 

to say...

"Hope you all had the same."

The excitement is building around here.

 Even though I am a mess 

with a mixture of fall and Christmas

 decorations strung all over the place.

  I am trying not to complain,

 as I know the Mistress is

 trying hard to make me put

 my best foot forward.

It is always

one step forward and two steps back

 around here every time there is 

a seasonal decor change. 

 I am the oldest

 soul in this family

 so I try to keep the worries down 

to only a few creaks and groans,

 but it is not easy 

when you are 

139 years old.

The Mistress 

has no idea 

how we handled things in the past, 

only that we

 Victorians do Christmas up right! 

 I would so love to tell her 

exactly how it was

 but no one kept any records or pictures,

 that we know of, back then.

  She has read newspaper clippings

 about the people

 surrounded by my walls 

but only a very little 

about me, personally.

 That is why 

this blog she writes 

is so important to her. 

 Now, there will be a record

 of the memories

 that have been made here.

A few pretties 

get unpacked and put in their place of honor,

 only to be removed again

 as shining, dusting and ironing 

need to take place 

before they are 

really presentable.

The Mistress 

just can't seem to keep her head about her 

at this time of year.

 I know she has planned it all out,

 to the last detail,

 since the tree was taken down last year, 

but when it comes time,

 things just don't look like she thought,

 so she is off on another tangent.

  This time of year 

is the worst, however, 

and I think there is 

something about Christmas

 that is more important

 than any other 

decorating holiday...

...I can't fault her for that though, 

as I feel the same way.

 Always one to offer my best side,

 I know I can shine 

at Christmas 

if I'm allowed.

Right now,

 the Mistress is just trying to figure out

 what will go where 

when she finds some treasure 

that has been hidden away

 in the corners of my cupboards 

and when that search is exhausted,

 the 1-2-3-4, 

"Oh, I've lost count of the many boxes

 that come in from storage." 

 I find that I just can't help

 groaning a little 

as I feel like a small child,

 once again, 

being asked to wait for

 Christmas morning.

In order to give my Mistress her due, 

I think we will draw the curtains 

for the coming week

 so that wonderful and glorious things

 can happen here 

and then I can share with you all,

 that you really can teach

 an old dog new tricks

 AND

 put lipstick on a piggy.

  After all that,

 I promise,

 I will be ready to shine. 

 See you week after next.

...Respectfully, The Cottage...

Sharing today with:

Keep In Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles

and

Dishing It & Digging It

  

OVER THE RIVER, ETC...

Over the river and through the woods

 to Grandmother's (and Grandfather's)

 house we go...

So goes the old holiday song 

and it happens to have 

special meaning for us this year 

because our kids are

 leaving the beach 

and coming to the woods 

for Thanksgiving.

As I have said in the past, 

this doesn't happen very often.

 With their jobs, 

they don't always get the same days off 

so it is hard for them to get away. 

 It is easier for us 

to go to them.

  But, this year,

 it all worked out

 so we can spend time together

 here at the Cottage.

Right up front, 

let me tell you that we are 

not a fancy family.

 We would rather go

 to a casual restaurant 

where we can wear jeans and tennies

 as opposed to a 

fancy, dress-up place. 

 Don't get me wrong,

 we love good food 

but would rather be comfortable 

while eating it.

 My big night out

would consist of

 a trip to Home Goods,

 followed by dinner at In-N-Out Burger,

 in the car, with my dog. 

 That is what makes me happy

 and I don't apologize for it.

I don't go so far as to say 

I love to cook every day

 but if it is a special dinner,

 shared with my family, 

then I really enjoy it.

  I will fix a turkey breast 

and all the good stuff 

that goes with it.

 Nothing fancy, 

just plain old good 

meat and potatoes.

Before the food though,

 my first thought is setting a pretty table.

  Here again, nothing really fancy.

  My "good" china 

is made up of sets picked up at 

flea markets and thrift shops.

 Here I will show you

 three possibilities I might use 

to set a pretty table...

of course, 

there will be flowers,

 candles and fancy glasses 

to complete it all.

This china is my finest. 

 It is Royal Chippendale (England) 

and I bought it 

from an antique shop 

when we first moved

 to the Cottage...

...this set of dishes

 came from a parking lot sale 

a few years back.

  It is Tepco (USA)

 which was made for, and used in,

 restaurants

 around the 40's and 50's. 

I can remember going to places 

where food was served on

 Tepco with a western theme... 

...this setting is bright and cheery. 

 It came from Home Goods

 and that says it all.

Now, after showing all of these,

 because all of the above are

 my "good" dishes, 

I don't put them in the dishwasher. 

 Because we don't have the privilege

 of visiting with the kids all that often,

 I don't want to spend time doing dishes,

 so here is the actual table setting

 I have decided upon. 

 It will mostly consist of

 everyday pieces.

Starting out with gold 

could tell a different story,

 but not this charger. 

 It is plastic and 

came from the dollar store...

...this charger knocks it all up a notch. 

 It is tin 

and I ordered eight of them 

from a catalog years ago.

 I love the lacy edge 

that peeks out from under 

the dinner plate...

These dishes 

were a give-away 

from the grocery store 

that Tami worked at 

about 30 years ago. 

 The rolled edges 

add a little extra 

to the setting...

...these napkins 

are from a large set

 I picked up at a flea market 

once upon a time. 

They top off the settings

 with a black and white checked ribbon

 that ties in with 

the chair back covers 

and the window valance. 

 Further embellishments consist of 

a dried autumn leaf 

and a stem of wheat.

A simple centerpiece

 sits in the middle

 and persimmons add a little color there

 and at each place setting.  

This will be removed 

during dinner

 as the narrow table can't hold it

 and food, as well.

I will fight for 

the candles to remain 

during dinner, however, 

as I am THAT fancy,

 but the rest of the gang

 says they like to see 

what they are eating!

I ordered some blue velvet 

along with some red velvet

 that I don't have yet.  

You will see later 

the plans I have for them.

We wish you all 

a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving

 and hope you enjoy the time spent

 with your families and friends...

...and then

 I will be back with 

the beginning of this year's 

love affair with

 Christmas!

...Judy...

Sharing today with:

Keep in Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles

and

Dishing It & Digging It