DINNER BY THE FIRE

Dinner by a warm fire, what could be more comfy in the living room...This is a double sided fireplace, you have seen the den side with the white mantle, this is the other side. The dinner plates are from Tj max, they do have beautiful coordinating salad plates, I don't know why I didn't get the salad plates, I'll probably have to go back and get them... anyway, come on in because I made this dinner just for us.....

The tall crystal candleholders are from my friend Joumana, so sparkly and pretty, they are from Crate and Barrel. The cute little owls are from my friend Tiffany, I think they are from Pottery Barn and last but not least the lovely little yellow depression glasses are from my friend Mary....wow it is nice to have such good friends..... like you .....

The plates are just so striking, I didn't want to do too much layering, I think they might even be pretty in the summer time, they are made by Royal Stafford and were a recent purchase... I knew you would love them.... you have such good taste...

We're going to start out with something I just know your gonna love...
MMMMMmmmm This is a Mandarin Orange Martini with a candied orange slice for garnish I have made for us..

3 oz. Vodka or (mandarin orange vodka) by Absolute Vodka
1/2 oz. triple sec

1 dash orange bitters/put everything in shaker with ice/shake to chill and strain into martini glass...
Use orange sugar to rim the glass and drop a couple of pinches in the glass for sweetness and the orange color...and of course I like to use the individual martini shakers to top off the drinks...shakers are from Home Goods purchased last year... you know how you love them..Martini glasses are from Pottery Barn...

Just enjoy the fire, yes it has been a long day... I hope the big comfy chairs are to your liking, it's important to feel settled in, don't you think?

These little yellow glasses are just so delicate and cute... I know you will be careful with them....

It is difficult to take pictures in the living room because of the mirror on the fireplace. This is a fireplace front remodel that we have not tackled yet, while making the room look larger, it still has that dated look. Mr. S. and I know exactly what to do, and that is as far as he have gotten into this project...wheres the mantle, you just have to have a mantle.....he makes me laugh...








Sure you can have a few grapes.....

Have some pomegranate too... or you can just wait for the dinner..




The living room opens up to the deck as does the bedroom and den... You'll have to come by this summer when we will be spending alot of time outside by the pool and the outside fireplace. I love it when you come over for a visit...






Yes the individual martini shakers are cute, just the right size .....now I have some good ideas about what to get you for Christmas....

These candle holders are perfect for the drippy candles to catch any overflow, sometimes I really like the drippy candles, they do look so pretty forming all the shapes on the candle, everyone looks better in candlelight...........isn't that what they always say.....





I think my sister Bobbie gave me the two little birds, they are just so cute, I know you love all birds too....





The small green plate under the sherbet cup is depression glass, just a little extra color that I know you always prefer...






I better serve the dinner before you get too hungry, however I have enjoyed all your wonderful stories, I always love catching up...




The sherbet cup we will use later for some warm bread pudding with a vanilla bean sauce...Yes I know it is one of your favorites...

whoo hoo whoo hoo....






I will be right back with our dinner, now that we are all warmed up....




Thank you so much for joining me this evening for our dinner by the fire....I love it when you visit and can stay awhile. Please leave a comment so I know someone else is out there. I always love to know what you think.. Just click on the word comment located at the end of each post. Stop by next week and I will have my tree up and some new surprises.... Stop by my friend bj's blog @sweetnothings for a great recipe and just a good time, I love her blog. Thanks Susan @betweennapsontheporch for hosting today......Phyllis

Christmas Coco for Two

I have been sick for about a week and could not do a tablescape. I searched my old pictures and came up with something I think will work from last year...

This is our spare room. The room changes with the seasons...Somehow we have always called this the green room. Years ago when I was a santa maker, the room was a craft room and the walls were painted a dark green with alot of red accents, perfect for santa making...somehow the name just stuck....Since this is Tablescape Thursday I am focusing on the hot choco tray from last
year...

I like the way the chocolate pot(tea pot) coordinates with the stripe in the comforter

The red cups and saucers were from Marshals, very inexpensive. I wanted to make a scene with my hot coco...I stuffed the cups with wadded up newspapers and then I needed whip cream, so out to the garage...White putty, perfect, I piled it on top and stuck in some candy canes and cinnamon sticks and waited for it to harden...The cookies are faux and I threw on some peppermint candy, wa la ...

The only problem is everytime we walk down the hall and look into that room, we have a sudden urge for hot chocolate, warm and wonderful...Mr. S. loves hot chocolate...

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your stay. Sorry the blog is so short, I will do better when I am feeling better. I love it when you choose to hang AROUND THE HOUSE. If you would like to leave a comment, just click comments at the end of each post...I love to hear from you and read every comment. Thank you Susan @betweennapsontheporch for hosting today.

BEGINNING WITH VEGETABLE SOUP

It all started with this lovely little soup tureen...So many of you have beautiful old tureens that you have used in some of your photos. Since I did not have one, there was only one thing for me to do....go to my sister Bobbie's house. I looked around and to my surprise I saw this little one on a cabinet shelf, I quickly said oh, can I use that, and again to my surprise she said "oh you can have it" wow, I was so excited. She said she got it at a garage sale and it even had a plug outlet in the back...not that I would use that, too dangerous, I still have thought of it.. I can use it for soup or chille and it has a fruit and vegetable design, it is just perfect for us.....

This is a picture of the plug in the back.....interesting huh...

I think my sister Bobbie also gave me these white bird salt and pepper shakers. They fit just perfectly with the tureen...

Oh, I guess it is fruits, vegetables and leaves....

All the vegetables are from my faux food collection. I have recently added the carrots...they are from a wholesale silk flower company...My all time favorite however is the green onions, just love the look. Don't forget the wonderful tomatoes.

Onions, Onions, Onions.....

Big fat Carrots.....

I hope the soup is as good as the vegetables look......

The red plates are from Marshals and the larger white plates are from Pottery Barn...

Just not sure of the blue and white striped napkins, gotta change that...but I do like the bowls. I found these great vegetable bowls from the Goodwill, they were 6 bowls for 2.00, perfect for Vegetable soup or even a wonderful salad....sold..

I liked the blue and white stripe napkins, but I just wasn't ready to say "thats it", then Mr. S. walked through and he said, "I like it", I am never sure if he says that to seem involved or he really does like it...I think I will try another couple of ideas... Boy, am I the only ones that tweaks and tweaks and tweaks, then...there it is...

You just can't ignore all the wonderful red vegetables. I think I am going to try some pops of red to just livin it up...

Thats it....Red it is, after all it is near Christmas and I am feeling the red.......

tomatoes, tomatoes............

The red seems to give it some pop with the red dish under the tureen...I think this will be it...What do you think??







Well I guess the blue and white stripe is also nice...

Hummmmmm....

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit. Its always fun for me when you can stay awhile and just hang AROUND THE HOUSE.......If you would like to leave a comment, just click on the comment word at the end of each post, I read them all and love it when you take the time to connect....Thank you Susan@betweennapsontheporch for hosting Tablescape Thursday.