Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Turkey’s in the Oven!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

The table is set, pies are made, and the turkey is in the oven.

Kids table.

I found these cute turkey’s for half price last year.

I typed each grand child’s name on scrapbook paper and added it to the base.

The table is tagged. I’d hate for any of the grandies to get lost. LOL!

Time to reflect while waiting for the arrival of family.

My mind is on Thanksgivings of the past. I think it’s because so many of the recipes I use for our feast were my sweet mothers and mother in laws.

They were both wonderful cooks. Thanksgiving was always such a joyous holiday! I sure do miss them, my father, and brother.

My pecan pie recipe is my mothers and my coconut cream is my MIL’s.

My dressing (stuffing) is a combination of both woman.

The adult table has to be cleared of most of the décor to make room for what’s really important; family and food!

Centerpiece is a fruit bowl of glitzy and rustic fruit.

mercury glass votive candles line the center. Each family will take one home.

Trivets awaiting hot yummy sweet potatoes.

Bowls and platters waiting to be filled.

As family arrives:

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner!

Just realized that our oven was accidently turned off for an hour or so. I think it happened when I cleared the timer after making my coconut cream pie. Dinner may be pushed back. UGH!

See, that’s what happens when you do things differently. I always make my pies the day before. Yesterday I made pumpkin, and pecan. The weather was so nice that I went out to put lights in our trees. Decided that I would have plenty of time to make coconut and banana cream pie this morning.

Jann

Sweet Tweets!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

As many of you know, I have had a bit of a bird fetish for the past several years. My friend, Joyce even dubbed me as “The Bird Woman from Alcatraz”

Most of the decorations on my family room tree are mercury glass.

But I have been adding birds for the past two years.

I think that they are ever so sweet!

This year I bought a new tree that is 9 feet instead of 7. Thought I might need a few more tweets. Found some cute teal ones that will be added.

Now to show you the latest bird item that flew it’s way right into my heart.

I bought bird fabric months ago. I fell in love with it from the moment I saw it. It’s red, teal, and green. Also it has birds and numbers, what’s not to love? Thankfully, with the help of my SIL, Laurie some of it is now made into curtains for my kitchen window. Really, she did all the work. I only sewed a little. Mainly, I was just the support system. They’re pretty simple, but that’s all my window needed.

In the pics the red looks more rust. Really, it is red.

It’s a corner window that isn’t too large.

I had these plate racks hanging right above the window. We took them down to hang the curtains. I decided to put them back, only a little higher. For now I placed my teal speckled tin plates that I bought at the D.I. I think they were $1 ea. I got 6 plates and 6 bowls. My friend, Joyce first spied them. She so graciously let me buy them because she knew I loved that color. She also already has a collection of blue ones. Aren’t friends the best?

Now, before I end this post; I must take time to post about the Thanksgiving holiday and how grateful I am.

Even with lives challenges, as for example: earlier this evening I just returned home from the hospital emergency room. My 22 month old grand son was reaching for his cars from the couch, fell off, hit the coffee table and got a bad cut by the eye.

While his mom was holding him and I was rushing them to the hospital he looked over smiled at me and said, ‘hug’.

So tonight, I am so grateful to have wonderful grand children that fill my heart with joy!

Oh and yes, he’s fine. 4 or 5 stitches through his eyebrow will make for a good battle wound story. In fact, when we entered the hospital a male (not sure if he was a nurse) said, “I have the same battle wound scar where I fell on my rubber fire truck when I was three”. He pointed it out and smiled.

Hope your Thanksgiving holiday is full of blessings!

Jann

I am linking this post with:

Sue for Rednesday Hop over to find more wonderful ‘reds’!

Mary at Very Merry Vintage Style for Share the Love Wednesday

Bunny Jeans for Bunny Hop Wednesday

Village People. . .

Sunday, November 20, 2011

As long as I can recall, I have been one of those ‘VILLAGE’ people.

No, not the singing group, but those people who love mini houses.

Whenever I spy one I begin to smile and my mind starts to wander.

It’s almost as if I am imagining my own little world.

For years I have decorated the tops of my cupboards with snowmen. This year I wanted a change. So I picked up a few new cardboard village houses at T.J Maxx and Home Goods. I didn’t pay over 12.99 for any of them.

I usually don’t start my Christmas decorating until the day after Thanksgiving. However, I have been in a bit of a ‘cleaning’ mood. Must embrace it when it happens. lol! It only comes around every so often.

I cleaned the tops of my cupboards and decided to put out my new village houses. I will add fresh greenery and a few baubles later, but for now here’s what I’ve done.

I stuck three bottle brush trees in my long narrow metal planter. No village would be complete without trees. I think I will add a little something hanging from the bow when I pull out more décor.

The houses do light up (by batteries), but I haven’t turned them on yet. Thought I would do that Dec. 1st. But look, how magical it is that they already have a gleam shining from their windows.

The cake plates will get a sprinkling of snow. It’s still packed away.

This house had a different look, but I loved the bird and the music.

I have quite a few small village houses that I have collected over the years. I love creating mini scenes with them. There is something quite magical about a wintery scene under glass. They will be making their debut soon. Until then. . .

Here are a few that I created last Christmas.

Last night I made this tray of trees. Inspiration came from my new Better Homes and Garden magazine.

They each will receive a glittery star on top.

It just so happens that I have a wonderful collection of glitters. Look at this give away I just got in the mail from Donna. Visit her at http://cottagedays.blogspot.com/

It also included these darling notecards, and a ‘to do’ notepad. she threw in the cute little Anne of Green Gables pin and tissue holder as a (little something extra). How sweet is that?

The cards were created by Donna. I love the scenes. This one is my favorite.

Thanks again to Donna for my wonderful gift.

If you’re not one of those ‘village’ people, just gotta say, give them a try they are ever so magical.

Jann

I will be linking this post with:

c.r.a.f.t. for Making Monday Marvelous Day

Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday

Dear Little Red House for Mosiac Monday

a bran new linky party:

Sassafrass Salvation for Sunday Salvation Show

Marilyn at the Artsy Girl Connection

Laundry Room Blues…

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Most of us have an area that happens to be the catchall place.

For me, that area seems to be my laundry room. Whenever I am in a hurry to clean up and don’t know where to put something that’s where it ends up.

It’s also where I dump unfinished projects thinking that I’ll get right back to them. Uh huh, you know how that goes.

As of late, my laundry room was getting so cluttered that I just couldn’t stand it anymore.

I really like my laundry room, so I don’t know why I let it get out of hand. Not with laundry mind you. Never have had a problem keeping up with that. Even when I had five children at home. I just did a load daily. Kind of a fetish of mine, dirty laundry.

Sure wish I would’ve taken a before pick.

Now that my laundry room is all CLEAN, I will be linking up with Miss Jenny for the letter C.

I have a cute turquoise sign above the entry.

Lots of cabinets. Handy for storage. Although I have thought of painting them red. I know I would love that. Maybe someday.

I love metal baskets and containers.

The no. 7 is the darling ramsign I won on a give away.

This antique basket was once used in an old grocery store. It’s a catchall for laundry supplies. Who am I foolin, it’s mostly for show. Hee-hee!

It also holds some of my vintage irons.

I have quite a collection of antique items in here. So it easily gets messy when I stash anything else.

I hung dustpans from an old piece of picket fence. One of them belonged to my hubby’s grandmother, Tula. Darn, I’m not sure which. I use to know, but now I can’t remember. I should have marked it.

My backyard neighbor from my Highland home gave me this apron. She always called me “The Great Goddess of Gardening”.

I bought the red enamel coffee pot at D.I. for $5. The white tin holds my gardening gloves. The mini chalkboard is another give away win.

My metal laundry detergent tin was only $12.99 at Wal-mart.

Old clothespin bag holds my dryer sheets.

Cute embroidered dishtowels made by a friend. This sweetie reminds me how my laundry room should look.

I have more collectibles atop my cupboards. They got a good dusting.

Another metal numbered basket. Like I said, I love metal and no’s. The etched jar holds clothespins.

These w. a. s. h. letters are my favorite find! One day the Star Mill had a pile of assorted large metal letters for $4 ea. I rummaged through them and found that I could spell the words WASH.