IT'S A RED and WHITE CHRISTMAS at SWEET NOTHINGS

REPOSTED to correct an address)
REPOSTED to add link...
whew!

We have a wood burning FRANKLIN fireplace

with the flue up through the ceiling.

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It is pretty hard to decorate ......In fact....it is VERY hard to decorate..

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I needed a pretty wreath but, ALAS...I didn't have one for this particular spot...

and, I see that I need to add RED candles to the candle sconces... Now some of you know that I LUV

POTTERY BARN...
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and never can afford their beauties...

soooo....
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they have turned me into a......*gasp......COPY CAT !
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May I just say that.....

POTTERY BARN

has nothing on moi......

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POTTERY BARN....$79.00 plus shipping (upper left)

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bj.....$notta (lower right)

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( using left-over, vintage balls and an olden wreath.)

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I will watch the "after Christmas" sales and pick up some larger REDS to add to it next year...

Since I am not a crafty person, I am IMPRESSED with my silly self.....

and I only burned the skin off my thumb ONCE !!

LINKING WITH

THOUGHTS FROM OVER THE RAINBOW and 2ND TIME AROUND TUESDAY

HANDMADE HOLIDAYS with KATHY' COTTAGE

A LITTLE REDNESS...

Beautiful little CATE..the GREAT-GRANDGIRL....

In all her RED glory...

GO....

FIGHT....

WIN !!!

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Having one of my favorite things for breakfast...

PEANUT BUTTER, KARO SYRUP and HOT BISCUITS...

and

pouring over CHRISTMAS CATALOGS.....
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30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING

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I am thankful to be living in a country where I can celebrate the birth of JESUS.

LINKING TO:
MOSAIC MONDAY at LITTLE RED HOUSE

BLUE MONDAY at SMILING SALLY (remember !...those BLUE eyes!)

RUBY TUESDAY...Thanks to Mary for hosting..

FOOTBALL ....it's in the PINK

FOOTBALL...FOOTBALL....FOOTBALL...

Every time I walk thru the livingroom, our tv is on ......FOOTBALL!!

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR....
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I just LOVE it that these big, burly and so strong men that play football...
WEAR PINK !
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OCTOBER was BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
but we need to be aware of it
ALL YEAR LONG....
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We need to TALK about it...
POST about it...
RUN RACES for it...
CONTRIBUTE time and money for the fight AGAINST it...
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While heart attacks is still the Number 1 killer of women..
Breast cancer is the Number 2 cancer killer of older women..
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IT IS THE NUMBER 1 CANCER KILLER OF WOMEN BETWEEN 15-54 YEARS OF AGE !!
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We MUST continue our self-exams of our breasts..
We MUST get that mammogram EVERY SINGLE YEAR...
I know they are expensive...I was stunned when I found out just how much they cost...
Whatever you have to do to get the test, tho.....DO IT !!
Your husband...your babies...your grand babies DEPEND on you being around for a long, long time..
DO IT FOR THEM !!
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And, please say a strong prayer for every breast cancer stricken lady that you hear about...
How they need our prayers...
A blanket prayer will be heard by GOD and HE knows the names of every single lady that you are praying for.
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My thanks goes out to every single person that wears the color PINK to make us aware of the horrible threat of breast cancer...
I HATE CANCER !!
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YES, MA'AM....
TOUGH GUYS WEAR PINK !!
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My love to all of you!!

30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING
I am so thankful every time I hear of a lady that has been able to say,
" I AM A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR."

PINK SATURDAY with BEVERLY at HOW SWEET THE SOUND

*reposting because I left off my link.....

ARE YA'LL AS FULL AS I AM ?

FOODIE FRIDAY....

Thanks, MICHAEL, for hosting this tasty day... See that precious painting hanging on the wall ?

Entitled

"THE HEN PARTY..."

I LOVE IT !!

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I was so lucky to win this adorable painting from

QUEEN MOTHER MAMAW...

Thanks so much, PEGGY...it fits right in my kitchen...!

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....and, I didn't even get photos of

dressing...(i always make extra to freeze for a cold, winters night...)

gravy...

rolls...

mac and cheese...

corn dip....well....ALL the dips/chips...

deviled eggs...

SHOOT...I'm too full to even TALK about it !

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TOMORROW is BLACK FRIDAY...
Are ya'll going out at 4 a.m. ??
NOT ME !
I am, however, going to start taking Christmas boxes down from the attic...
O......I JUST CAN'T WAIT..
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30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING..
I am so thankful that Mr. Sweet and I enjoy good health.

THE THREE TABLESCAPES AT THANKSGIVING

THIS POST IS COMING TO YOU....PRE-RECORDED...

AT THIS VERY MOMENT, I AM PROBABLY EITHER STILL COOKING OR ELSE I AM STUFFING MYSELF WITH THANKSGIVING FARE...

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THE HAPPIEST OF THANKSGIVINGS TO YOU !!

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My Goodness...here it is....

THANKSGIVING of 2009

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Where did this year go so quickly ??
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As most of you know, we have a very large family...

So, I always have 3 tables set for all these precious folks....

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TABLE NO. 1

This table for 4 is set in the library part of my living room...

The table will be moved more to the center of this end so that a 4th chair can be added, if needed...

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As some of you know, I never buy anything NEW for my tablescapes...just shopping the cottage for things that make my tables look nice for my loved ones....
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Don't be surprised, at Christmas time, when you see my REDS over and over and over again...:O)
The great thing about RED...it is good for EVERY SINGLE OCCASION...!
I love that!!
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Aren't the RED autumn oak leaves just beautiful....
these came off a tree in our side yard...OR...is that tree the neighbor's ?
We SHARE it...especially when it comes to raking the leaves...
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TABLE NO. 2
This little table, set for 4, is in my breakfast room...
I chose to do black and white in this cozy spot with just the touch of color brought in with the miniature pumpkin and those pretty autumn leaves....
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I don't see how ANYONE can live on this planet and not own a set of WHITE DISHES...
O, how versatile these babies are !!
You can pick up plain white dishes from PIER 1 and they are so inexpensive...(like mine)
also
BIG LOTS have the WHITE GOLLUM DISHES that are just fabulous and very inexpensive !!
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Isn't it awesome how these little TARGET birds get around....!!
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TABLE NO. 3
In our dining room.....

This is a setting for 8.

HOWEVER, if more people show up (we have several friends that sometimes decide to stop by)
this amazing table will seat 10 comfortably (I have 3 benches that holds 3 grownups)

and 12, in a pinch....

WONDERFUL TABLE....I LOVE IT !
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This large platter is going to look soooo great with that handsome, roasted to a golden brown, turkey !!
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O how I love THANKSGIVING....

Having my family with me...where I can touch each one of them...see their smiles...hear their laughter...see the love in their eyes for their family...

My heart gets so swollen, I swear it's going to pop right out of my body.

I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU feel the exact same way....aren't we blessed !!

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Sometimes, I have to ask my heavenly FATHER why he chose ME to have these wonderful people for my family....and I KNOW I never give HIM back as much as HE gives to me, every single day of my life.

I feel so unworthy....I believe this to be a normal, earthly feeling....

but....I AM SO THANKFUL...

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I hope and pray YOUR Thanksgiving is the most wonderful one you've ever had...

just FILLED with wonder and love....

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I love all of you and...

30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING

means I am so thankful to have YOU for my friend.

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"GOD IS GREAT....GOD IS GOOD....LET US THANK HIM FOR THIS FOOD."

Linking with SUSAN for TABLESCAPE THURSDY

NEW MOON....

I am linking with the fabulous SUSAN for OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY...

Beautiful Daughter and beautiful granddaughter, BRYNNA, and handsome grandson, BROOKS,

called and invited me to go to the movies with them....

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NOW...a lot of you may not LIKE this kind of movie..

VAMPIRES, WEREWOLFS, BLOOD..

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I don't care if I have to go to the MOON to see a movie with my sweeties...

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or grow another nose ....

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or three more breasts...

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Just getting to be with them is all PLEASURE....!!

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and, besides, this movie wasn't half bad !! Pretty good, in fact...I liked it !!

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If you are going to see one that is pretty off-the-wall, just get into that mind-set, grab a large bag of popcorn

and a big coke....and sit back and enjoy every minute...I sure did !!
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The lines......boy, they were long.

BUT...smart daughter bought our tickets on line and

THAT line wasn't long at all...
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I've seen TWILIGHT and now NEW MOON....

and they already have a 3rd, waiting for us....
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When the new one comes out, I HOPE they will invite me to go along again !
WE HAD SO MUCH FUN....
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There were so many people, that by the time we got in the theater, we had to sit on about the 5th row from the front......
No sweat....No problem....'cause I got to sit between BROOKS and BRYNNA....ummmmm!!
I am blessed !
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30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING
I am so thankful for all 10 of my wonderful grandchildren and......
that little CATE..our first great-grand !

A NEW CATALOG and a BUSY WEEK.....

****SIGH.......
See the bells in the upper left corner, above...
from $19.00 to $89.00..
while mine, on your right, was $4.00 at Goodwill....
THREE CHEERS FOR GOODWILL !!
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Why is it that when I try to stack books on tables and the floor, like in the photo from the catalog, bottom left
that MINE just looks messy and like I need to clean house ??
and
that room, bottom right.....ONE OF MY FAVORITE LOOKS !! just LUV it !!
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Most all of you know that there isn't a crafty bone in my entire, olden body...
but, by golly....I bought some BURLAP today...and some Lipstick Red fabric paint and I
AM GONNA MAKE MYSELF ONE OF THOSE ADORABLE PILLOWS...
or an awesome RUNNER for my dining table...
I am lovin' the red stripes...
(now, if I could only pray to God tonight that I wake up in the morning, totally
able to paint A ROOSTER on a pillow..just like that one up there....and it would come true.!!)
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AND, would you just take a look at these AWESOME dishes !!!
VINTAGE CLOCK FACE....
Aren't they just to die for !!!
Plates...Set of 4...$39.00
Now, that's not bad............is it? less than 10 bucks a plate..
I'm asking for a Pottery Barn gift card !!!!!!
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This mosaic has nothing to do with anything....
just wanted to show you my NOVEMBER blooming beauties....
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WHEW.....

I have been busy this last week....preparing as much of my THANKSGIVING dinner as I could freeze...

I LOVE DOING THAT...

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30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING...

(1) I am VERY thankful for my wonderful FREEZER..

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About 4 years ago, our old freezer just quit working...and just before CHRISTMAS, too.. WOE IS ME...

I surely did miss having that freezer to fill up with goodies for the holidays....

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LOW AND BEHOLD...our son/daughter*in*law and our daughter/son*in*law surprised us CHRISTMAS with "FREEZER MONEY"....O, I bawled and squalled....

They couldn't have given us a thing in this whole entire world that we would have loved any more than

A BRAND NEW FREEZER..!!!!

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(2) I am thankful for very thoughtful, loving children....

******I made this DREAMY CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE

but forgot to take a photo of it and it's all wrapped up nicely and in the freezer now..

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I've made my dressing with homemade cornbread and homemade biscuits.

.(sooo Martha Stewart, wouldn't ya say?)

I, of course, haven't cooked my turkey yet..(it IS in the fridge, thawing, tho)

so when I cook him, I will have lots of wonderful broth to pour into my dressing...

O HONEY !

The dressing and gravy, along with cranberry sauce, is my favorite part of the whole meal....
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I made this PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE....

right out of my new cookbook, GOOSEBERRY PATCH..

It looks just like the picture in the book...(thank you very much, Martha !)

just before serving, I will drizzle Caramel Sauce over the pieces...

Doesn't it look good? We all love cheesecake of any kind..but have never tried PUMPKIN.....

after "licking the bowl", I can tell you it is going to be GOOOD.......
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If you, too, like cheesecake, this one is so easy to put together...

NOW...may I just tell you that I used a graham cracker crust FROM THE MARKET..

I love those and know it will taste just great...
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I put in quite a day in the kitchen...I will be so glad I did when Thanksgiving day comes around....
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I decided to sit by my pretty window and have a glass of BLACKBERRY wine and catch my breath...

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Believe me when I say that that bottle was ALREADY nearly empty...Promise!!

Only one glass for me......ALWAYS !
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OK....I've caught my breath....
Now I am ready for ROUND 2 in the kitchen... !!
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Love and hugs to all of you...and don't work too hard getting that good dinner ready for your family...
take all the shortcuts you can think of....I sure did !!
Now, we can all enjoy just being with our families, eating, laughing,
and, OF COURSE,......napping ...WHILE THE MEN DO THE DISHES !
:O)

I AM LINKING WITH....

KIMBA at A SOFT PLACE TO LAND for DIY TUESDAY since I did this cooking MYSELF...

AND

GYPSY'S CORNER for THREE OR MORE TUESDAY since I made 3 freezer foods...:O)

AND

MARY for RUBY TUESDAY, because there is a touch of RUBY in some of these photos...