Jadehollow

Scavenger Hunt ..

2011-08-09T19:59:00.001-04:00

If you haven’t already heard .. there’s a Scavenger Hunt going on in Blogland .. Between Naps on the Porch is hosting a Scavenger Hunt and giving away cool prizes to a lucky winner. Be sure to head over and join in on all the fun .. make sure you hurry there is a time limit .. They won’t accept entries submitted after midnight, August 12th. Click the logo below to join in on the hunt.

Outdoor Wednesday .. Archery Season Is Upon Us

2011-08-09T14:44:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday .. Where we share all our fun Outdoor Photos and Stories. This week since Archery season is right around the corner I’m sharing with y’all a trip to the Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources State Headquarters located in Social Circle, Georgia. It was spring and time to get in a lil archery practice… and what better place to safely do that than the 3-D archery field at DNR Headquarters.

This field is open to the public 7 days a week .. As you can see they have an assortment of 3-D targets in various sizes available. All targets are marked and measured off .. and paver stones set to stand on at ea yard mark. It’s ideal for setting up sights on your bow.

I’m not even going to pretend that I know anything about all this stuff .. but I did know why we were there. Both Jeff and Ashley had gotten a few new things for their bows for Christmas and this was the first chance they’d had to test it all out. Jeff is a right handed shooter as you can see above .. and down below you’ll see that Ashley is a lefty.

For a left hand shooter things are not as easy to come by and when you do find them or special order them .. they ain’t cheap. On this day they were both adjusting the sight pins on their bows.. This lil device holds multiple colored pins and each pin is placed on the device according to the distance they set it. In order to get the correct yardage for that pin they have to use the target below and make adjustments accordingly.

At the Archery field they have markers like this one placed in different spots .. ea one representing different yardages .. ranging from 25 yards an upwards.

See the big ole moose up above .. easy shot at 100 yards away yes .. but can you get his buddy Mr. Black Bear standing there beside him shooting from 100 yards away too.

How bout ole T-Rex there .. think you can get him at 50 yards.

It’s always good to practice shooting dinosaurs .. ya never know when one just might pop up outta the woods at cha! As you can see the targets are all different sizes and shapes and geared for all ages .. What 8 year old wouldn’t wanna take a shot at a Dinosaur .. Cool huh?

I think Jeff’s prepared for him if he ever does show up LOL..

There are picnic tables and benches set up around the area also .. for us non-participants who are there just to spend quality time with our family .. and right now the field you see above is covered in Sunflowers .. I’m told it’s beautiful and I must go see it.

For those girls that like to play “boy games” and want to still feel like a girl .. they have all kinda things in Pink. This of course is Ashley’s stuff .. all girl. She even has pink in her camo bow case .. She had a case that was just like Jeff’s at one time and he accidently grabbed hers instead of his for a Hunter’s Ed class he was teaching one night .. when he opened it up to demonstrate there was all this pink .. and the folks in his class looked at him a lil strange .. Can you guess how many times he said “ This is my daughter’s bow” hahaha about every other sentence.

Here’s a close up of her arrows .. They are from “The Pink Arrow Project” awesome group.. When you buy pink products you know that you are helping to fight the terrible disease “CANCER.” For more information about The Pink Arrow Project and what they have to offer click here: THE PINK ARROW PROJECT

We had a great day in Social Circle .. I hope you enjoyed coming along as well..

If you’re out an about in this heat .. Protect your eyes and your skin and… drink plenty of fluids!

C’ya Next Week Everybody ~ God Bless, Debbie

Be sure to Visit Susan and all the others at A Southern Daydreamer to see all the other outdoor adventures they are sharing this week.

Tablescape Thursday .. Hot Summer Day

2011-08-03T20:07:00.001-04:00

Ice cold homemade lemonade hit the spot on this hot Georgia evening

Ivory Charger.. Davco Silver LTD. These I got at Tuesday Morning .. they were regularly $19 ea.. but Tuesday Mornings price was $6.99 but that day they had them all marked 50% off so final price.. $3.50 ea.
The green stemware is from Target
Dinner plate.. Bordallo. My set of Bordallo has been collected in various spots.. Most of my pieces I picked up at Ross & TJ Maxx.

14” Rattan Charger … Pier One
Crystal Pitcher… Crisa from Dillards
Yellow Handle Flatware… Cambridge Jubilee Yellow from Ross.
Yellow Place Mats.. Better Homes from Wal-Mart.
Flameless Ivory Candle and Stand.. from Kirklands.
White & Yellow Napkins.. Home Trends from Target.
Bamboo Table Cloth.. Better Homes from Wal-Mart.
Doggie Salt & Pepper Set.. Wal-Mart.
Flameless Candle.. Kirklands
Bead Napkin Rings.. I made these .. Picked up beads at Michaels

Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch is our Hostess for this fun party.. Please head over and visit her and her always beautiful blog and check out all those participating in today’s Tablescape Thursday. Click the button below..

Outdoor Wednesday .. Spirit

2011-08-02T14:34:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday .. Today I’m sharing a few photos of Spirit .. Spirit named by my Step Dad is a baby fawn that my Mom found a few months ago. As Mom was taking a walk she spotted what she thought at first was a lil Chihuahua laying in the ditch on the other side of the road.

As she and my sister got closer they realized it wasn’t a Chihuahua .. it was a baby deer.

The lil fawn was less than 24 hours old and was very weak. They brought her back to the house .. wrapped her up in blankets to keep her warm. Later my Mom went to the Tractor Supply Store and they told her she needed to try and feed it Goat's Colostrum Milk. Spirit was real weak but Mom managed to get her to take small amounts of the milk. At this point Spirit wasn’t able to stand or walk .. and there was lil hope that she’d make it through the night.

The next morning Spirit was showing signs of improving .. she had managed to stand and when we took her back outside for the first time she stood on her own and took her first steps.

Here in Georgia as well as many other states it is against the law to keep wild animals. My husband Jeff works with the Department of Natural Resources and knew of a lady that was close by that was authorized by the state to care for and rehabilitate wild animals.

So after saying her goodbyes to my Meme and PapaDoc, Spirit left with us headed for her new home. Jeff and I are use to having a riding buddy with us but I was scared of how Spirit would react to this strange setting. As you can see she looked perfectly comfortable in her seat .. she wasn’t nervous or scared at all.

When we arrived at the rehabilitation farm we let her out and she did a lil deer business and seemed to be pleased to what was going to be her new home.

Ms Lee was ready for Spirits arrival .. she had her a large kennel all prepared with fresh water and fresh hay. Spirit walked right in and made herself all nice and comfy.

Spirit will remain under Ms Lee’s special care until she is stronger and a lil older.. and once she is ready she will be released in the open to free range on the over 100 acre protected wildlife reserve that Ms Lee runs and cares for. Over the next year Spirit will find her a mate and by this time next year she’ll be bringing her lil ones back up to show off to Ms Lee.

I hope you enjoyed my addition to this weeks’ Outdoor Wednesday .. I can honestly say this was an amazing experience for me .. to hold and be able to love on such an amazing creature is beyond words for me .. I was truly blessed an I will never forget it.

~Debbie

Tablescape Thursday .. Imperfections July 2011

2011-07-27T15:45:00.001-04:00

My addition to this week’s Tablescape Thursday is a wee bit different than usual .. These are a few tablescapes that never made it to the Tablescape Hall of Fame .. They just weren’t up to par for one reason or another.. so they didn’t get shared. Also there are a few photos of previous ones that did make it with the “not so perfect” photos that show just how hard it is to get those perfect shots.

This is my current table .. It is beautiful but because my camera died a few weeks back I had to use my iphone to take pictures .. none of the photos turned out great and on top of all that I forgot to remove the stickers off of my Bordello plates .. eek!

So off to the deleted bin of shame they went..

Another setting that never made it was my Fourth of July table.. I forgot to add flatware before taking all the photos .. LOL

This is a tablescape I did last summer .. It was to be a part of a huge multi blog party post .. Tablescape .. Thrift Store Finds and a post for Foodie Friday .. It had it all .. Fresh homemade peach ice cream .. Both Raspberry and Chocolate covered Almonds .. Fresh Georgia Peaches .. and Almond Tea.

A perfect setting to show off the new blue teapot I had just won from another blog party…

I was so exited to do this one .. I worked really fast to take photo after photo .. because here in the hot Georgia heat that ice cream and all that chocolate wasn’t gonna last long at all.

Yum .. The heat had given the chocolate covered almonds a lil shine..

Feeling pretty proud of myself for beating the heat before it melted all my goodies .. and feeling confident that I had gotten some really great photos I cleaned up everything .. put it all away .. and went inside to download all my photos.

It is here my friends that the high I was on suddenly came crashing down. I noticed this tiny black speck on my computer screen.. So I tried wiping it off only to realize it wasn’t on the screen .. it was on the photo .. one right after the other.

There ya go .. right there on each photo was a stinking GNAT .. enjoying the heck out of that Butter Cookie. Ok not a problem right .. he’s small an hopefully nobody will notice him unless they zoom in right? .. did you see him until I pointed him out? Well I wasn’t so lucky on the next few photos.. Mr Gnat went away only in time for Mr. Fly to come along for his share of the Butter Cookie.

Mr. Fly decided that he not only wanted Butter Cookies .. he wanted a lil Ice Cream too.

Oh lookie here .. It was all so good that he brought along a date.

Although I haven’t participated in Tablescape Thursday in quite awhile .. I do stop by an visit all that I can each week. I admire everyone’s dedication .. and appreciate those that share with us all their hard work and beautiful tables. I know how much time and how hard it is to get all those great tables put together and get just the right photos of them.. Thank You for allowing us that pleasure.

I hope you enjoyed my “Hall of Shame” addition to this week’s Tablescape Thursday .. Please be sure to visit all the other hard working tablescapers over at Susan’s Tablescape Thursdays blog party at Between Naps on the Porch by clicking the button below.

Outdoor Wednesday .. Prom 2011

2011-07-26T20:47:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday .. Hosted by Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer ..

Today I’m sharing a few photos from our Daughter’s Senior Prom .. They couldn’t have found a more perfect spot to have photos taken .. We’re so Thankful to our friends Jennifer and Clint for allowing us the use of their beautiful yard.

Ashley & Daniel .. Aren’t they just the cutest couple!

Love that Gazebo …

Little C checking out the Catfish with his Daddy .. Precious!

Thank you for visiting my addition to this week’s Outdoor Wednesday .. Please be sure to stop by and see all the other wonderful outdoor events being posted at Susan’s Outdoor Wednesday Event. Click the button below and join in on all the fun !

Life.. Rescue.. Love.. Loss

2011-07-22T17:10:00.001-04:00

My life is but a weaving between God and me. I do not choose the colors. He worketh steadily. Oft times He weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride forget He sees the upper and I the under side. Not til the loom is silent an shuttles cease to fly will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver’s hand as threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

Two years ago I began this blog and in that time I have shared many things.. a lil decorating.. delicious recipes .. a few remodels.. my family.. my home.. my prayers and many tears for those whom I’ve met here that have had suffering in their lives. The one thing I’ve never really shared is my early childhood years .. for they are the darkest part of my life so far and most memories are hard reliving even now. For everyone to understand the true measure of my love for this person I’m going to be sharing with you .. the story has to be told from the beginning.

To Understand All ..

When I was 6 years old “Mary” ..the woman who bore me from her womb.. abandoned me and my 4 year old brother one night.. we were left behind a church on an old dirt road in Elberton Georgia. How unimaginable right? .. Why or how could a mother do such a horrendous thing? I have no answers .. But I can honestly say that it turned out to be the best thing she ever did do for us. Up until that point we had never known love .. had never been told or shown any type of love. Living conditions and care for us were the worst imaginable.. Simple things such as bathing.. brushing our hair.. brushing our teeth and wearing clean clothes were something we knew nothing of.. we were lil cave kids wandering through each day hoping each new one would bring food or one less hurtful event. Thomas was our biological father.. He was a great deal older than Mary.. she was in her late 20’s when I was born and Thomas was 57. Thomas fought in World War II and had a lot of issues that stemmed from that along with an injury that turned him into an alcoholic. He was a harsh man during those days.. beatings and being drunk is mostly what I remember of him during that time.

The morning after we were abandoned..

A lady .. not sure who she was.. came to the church the morning after we had been abandoned. She was there to put flowers on a loved ones grave and found two tired wet and scared little children. We were taken to the sheriffs department and later separated and sent to different homes. I went to stay in what was the first of many different foster homes over the next 9 months before being reunited with my lil brother.

The Weekend Visit…

My baby brother “Tommy” had been living with a family in Georgia while I was living with a relative of Thomas’s in South Carolina. Unknown to me at the time a neighbor of the family I was living with reported that they were abusing me and arrangements for my removal were underway. One day out of the blue I was picked up at school by my Department of Family and Children Services caseworker .. I was told that I’d be spending the weekend with a couple who were looking to adopt a young boy and girl and that Tommy would be joining me there. I was so excited to be seeing Tommy.. the thought of going to another family didn’t faze me .. to me it just meant more of what I’d been use to .. abuse .. neglect and sleeping on another sofa or floor.

Prelude to Life…

Back to Georgia I go .. as I’m sitting in the DFACS waiting room ..waiting for yet another old couple to arrive and pick me up.. in walks a beautiful Princess and her handsome Prince. They were two of the most beautiful people I’d ever seen. Both had hair of gold like mine and smiles that radiated the whole room. When she spoke.. it was magical and soft and carried nothing but love. He had eyes that sparkled and hands that were the softest and prettiest I’d ever seen on a man.

Am I dreaming.. do people like this really exist outside the fairytale books? Will they like me.. Will they want me.. will Tommy like them .. will they like Tommy.. my little mind was on overload. We left DFACS.. The Prince, the Princess and I and went to the next county to pick up Tommy.. he had grown so much but I knew it was him. There he was cute as ever with that cotton hair and that big ole smile.. no more wondering if he was okay .. no more worries of him being taken care of .. he was there with us and life was wonderful. It was late when we arrived at what was to be our weekend home.. we had bathes.. brushed our teeth and were tucked in .. yes tucked in.. something that was foreign to me. Parents tuck you in?? .. make sure you’re nice an comfy and warm.. leave a night light on so you’re no scared.. what?? This can’t be real .. it’s a dream Debbie you’ll be waking up soon. The weekend was filled with abundant fun .. laughter.. play fights in the living room.. playing outside. These two people were like kids with us .. it was the greatest time of my life .. I never knew this thing called happiness .. this feeling of being loved… this feeling of being alive. As the weekend came to an end we had all fallen in love with one another .. They wanted us .. we wanted them and for the first time in our lives Tommy and I finally had a family with a real Mother and Father. They were no longer Jan and Bobby .. They were Mom and Dad.

Life Begins..

After that weekend we were only separated from Mom and Dad for a couple of weeks. Things were settled .. schools were transferred and life began in our new home with our new family. Mom worked at a bank and Dad owned his own business “Honey Creek Hair Salon” .. Yep my Daddy was a hairdresser .. and a darn good one. Each day after school we’d get off the bus at the beauty shop and stay with Dad til Mom finished work. We’d do homework.. play with the mannequin heads.. wash out brushes an combs.. separate rollers .. all that fun kind of stuff.

We had dinner as a family .. went to the movies.. cut firewood.. went deep sea fishing ..it was always us.

We had adventures, we traveled .. we even built a house as a family. Course Dad did all the building and 99% of everything else but we toted wood and other building supplies. We’d camp out in the new house lots of times because Dad would work way into the night trying to finish the house. When the new house was finished we had all this land and Dad quickly started filling it up. We had cows and pigs and had so many fun times going to the live stock auctions. There were so many fond memories but one of my most fondest of Dad was of a pig we had.. he and I would ride this pig.. yes ride her like she was a horse. Now we were the only ones that could do it .. she didn’t just let anyone ride her. Oh at the laughter that we had watching him ride her a bucking and a carrying on .. those memories are priceless and so precious to me. As the years passed we made other memories .. I was Dad’s lil shadow .. where he went .. I went. My Mom was the perfect Mother .. they didn’t make them no better. Tommy was in little league and I was in Girl Scouts we were living the perfect family dream. We were proud of our beautiful family .. Mom so angelic .. Dad so strong and life had found us.

Life Interrupted…

During the years Tommy and I were finally living our lives .. Thomas who at that time was 69 or 70 years old.. had began cleaning up his life. He had stopped drinking and divorced Mary and wanted his children back. Tommy and I were never legally adopted because Thomas would never give up his parental rights. Over the years Thomas had rights to see us and on each scheduled visit he always came. I did not know this man he had become .. he was a stranger to me and someone I had to get to know all over again.. someone that I looked at as a Grandparent .. not a Father. When I was 13 years old Thomas petitioned the courts to regain custody of us and he was granted a hearing. For some reason .. still not sure how or why .. but Tommy wanted to go back to live with him… I did not. My life was here with the two people I loved and the only Mom and Dad I’d ever had or ever wanted. When the day finally arrived for Thomas’s hearing I sat in the courtroom and pleaded with the judge to not take me from my Mom and Dad. My Mom and Dad both fought for me without prevail. The Judge sided with Thomas and I was ordered to go live with him. I lasted about 6 months there and I ran away .. several times in fact… not far .. just a mile away to my Aunts house. After about the 3rd time DFACS stepped in and placed me in the first of 3 short term foster homes. Homes of people who had a combination of long term and short term foster children. These were not good places .. or good people.. I was abused mentally, sexually, and physically while living at 2 of the homes and in the last home I lived in there was a child killed at the hands of the foster Mother. Thomas asked that DFAS send me to a group home in Atlanta and forbid any contact with Jan and Bobby. That home was The Atlanta Christian School…a home for wayward children. The school at the time was located next door to the famous Callanwolde Mansion in Atlanta… and was anything but a Christian school. I wasn’t like any of the kids that lived there and that was soon recognized by the cottage leaders in charge of supervising the girls my age. There were many troubled kids living there.. many nights I feared for my life .. many nights I lay sleepless from fear of being attacked. Everyday someone would either break windows or lamps.. throw chairs.. attack the cottage leaders and some even tried killing themselves. I fell into a deep depression mourning for my Mom and Dad. I found peace in playing my clarinet .. something that I was allowed to keep that had belonged to my Mom. I had actually became quite good at playing it..as I was outside practicing one day a lady from Callanwolde overheard me and I was asked to be a part of their arts program. This offering and my playing skills presented me with an outlet to be away from the watchful eyes of the Group Home I was living in. While at Callanwolde I would sneak and call my Mom and Dad and let them know of places that I’d be performing so they’d come and I’d get to see them. Like everything you do that you’re not suppose to do .. I got caught .. and was severely punished. I blankly went through the remaining days of my 1 year punishment stay at the Home. When the time came for my release hearing I pleaded with Thomas to please allow me to leave .. and he agreed to do so. I spent the next few months there and out of the blue I asked if I could go see “Bobby and Jan” I wasn’t allowed to call them Mom and Dad in front of him or I’d get my head knocked off.. he surprised me and said yes.

New Additions..

During the couple of years I was away from Mom and Dad life had moved on for them. They had adopted two children. A young girl Kristi who was a lil over 2 years old and an infant boy Landon. I was crushed .. even a lil jealous at first. Did these people not mean what they had said to me all these years.. was I not loved anymore.. was it that I was so easily replaced? Had everything I had been through over that last 2 years been for nothing? .. These questions soon were answered when I returned home. I was still loved by them and that family love grew even larger because of the addition of Landon and Kristi.

The next few years my time was spent between 2 homes .. School in Elberton with Thomas and Tommy.. and school holidays an summer breaks in Conyers with Mom, Dad, Landon & Kristi. The day after I graduated I left Elberton for good and moved to Conyers to stay.

This stage called being an Adult…

Mom and Dad both had businesses of their own and I split time working for both. I started college .. fell in love and married all within my first year and a half of returning back to Conyers.

That marriage ended a little over 3 years later and I found myself yet again back to the one place of comfort .. the house that Dad built. There I stayed briefly until meeting my now husband of almost 19 years.

The Man of Many Names..

Bobby “Hut” Fritz..

Husband..

Dad..

Papa..

Son.. Son in Law .. Brother.. Brother in Law.. Grandson.. Uncle.. Navy Man .. Entrepreneur .. Beloved .. and Best Friend.

Years ago when I was in my early 20’s I had an argument with my Dad. I had accused him of not loving or ever really wanting me.. my Mom got upset about this and told me of a letter that Dad had written to the Judge who took me from them. In this letter he had compared the Judge to the man who ordered the crucifixion of Christ and how he was sentencing me to sorrow and robbing me of a loving family by sending me back to live with Thomas. I never knew of this letter .. never knew how they had been affected by having to give me back. They too had suffered and struggled .. they had opened their hearts to a child .. their first child .. and had it ripped from them. All doubts of their love had been cast aside from that moment on.

Life with each new day brings the unexpected .. Mom and Dad got divorced and both remarried .. yet through it all they remained best friends, business partners, parents and grandparents.

The Business Man..

Over the last 40 years my Dad built and owned over 10 very successful businesses. A lot of those businesses also birthed other businesses for friends who worked with him and for him over the years. Dad never attended College .. never received any degrees or PHD’s but he was the most intelligent man I’ve ever known. Many people sought his advise .. Many used his advise and leadership to also become successful in their own businesses. In the business world he was highly respected and kinda like that saying “ When E F Hutton Speaks.. Everyone Listens” .. Well when Bobby Fritz spoke .. everyone listened. Dad worked hard every single day and even in retirement he was still working hard. Over the last few years Dad sold off his remaining businesses and narrowed it all down to just managing his rental properties. After leaving the big city he moved back to his birth place and settled down as Advisor.. handyman .. peach farmer .. Dad and Papa. He and Mom remained very close and were still partners that respected one another’s advise.. opinions and they continued to share an unbreakable bond.

This Man .. This Man I Love .. This Man Our Dad.

The Dad who would rig up ropes under your bed and through windows to give you a lil scare at night .. The Dad who’d tickle you mercilessly only to stop long enough to squirt mustard all over you or to soak your ear with a wet willy. The Dad who’d sing “cry lil bluebird stick your finger in your eye and watch the teardrops fly” just to crack you up so you’d stop crying. The prankster Dad who’d tickle you as he’s hovering you over the toilet telling you he’s gonna flush you down the bowl. The Dad who told you to make crying sounds so Mom would think he’s giving you a harsh scolding instead of the hugs and soft words he used when telling me I was grounded. The Dad who let me tag along everywhere he went .. who let me slop those pigs and feed those cows all the while getting more on them than in them.. and he let me get all kinds of dirty while doing it. The Dad who taught me responsibility and hard work ethics and the one who had enough courage to teach me how to drive for the first time. The Dad who said to me when I found myself divorced and all alone “It’s ok baby.. you come back home”. That Dad … was our Dad.

As we all grew older whatever an whenever we needed .. Dad was there. Dad always knew what was best for us all .. even when we sometimes didn’t realize it ourselves. Dad never complained of taking care of his family .. he always did what was best for us his children and for our Mother.. then he’d step back and let us unfold.

The Loss..

On Thursday night September 23, 2010 Daddy went to Heaven to be with Jesus..

Together as a family we sat outside the Cabin the day before his funeral and told happy stories of him. There was peace and comfort there for us.. we were surrounded by his memory and the land he loved so much… He was wrapped around us all.

I search for that peace again each day now .. as I find myself full of regrets. I’ve thought about all the times that I never got to say thank you and I feel that I didn’t tell him I loved him enough. I think about all the times that I had disobeyed him when I knew he was doing what was best for me. Since his death I’ve not gone a single day without thinking of him and looking at his picture. Each night in my prayers I ask Jesus to allow my Dad to hear my prayers as well .. I want him to know how much I love him and how much I miss him. I also thank him for giving me life .. a real life .. a life full of his love .. for choosing me to be his daughter and for loving me no matter the circumstances. I reconfirm promises that I made .. to reach out .. to keep communication lines open .. to keep our family unit as one because family was everything to him… the one he loved with every ounce of his heart.. the one stronger now for having together walked through the valley of the shadow of death.

You’re the strongest man I'll ever know.. your beautiful eyes.. your laugh and your love I'll never forget. Thank you Daddy for all that you have taught me. I'm a much better person because you taught me what is most important in life.. to always work hard.. to tell the truth and above all that love perseveres..

I Love You Daddy…

2011 Georgia Snow

2011-03-09T13:30:00.001-05:00

Hello Blogland .. testing testing … does this thing still work? LOL Yes I’ve been away far too long .. I’m back now but for how long I’m not sure .. I’ll be testing the waters to see just how much I can handle with this new set up .. Already I’ve messed up and deleted quite a few posts from my blog.. So bare with me as I get back in the swing of things.

This is a photo I took about a month ago as I was headed back home after dropping Ashley off at school .. Snow in Georgia .. crazy huh? Well crazy as it may be it was actually our 3rd snowfall of the year so far .. Even though it’s March I’m kinda hoping Mother Nature surprises us at least once more before spring officially starts.

Love to all .. headed out to cruise blogville to see what neat blog parties I can join.

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

2010-04-12T12:44:00.001-04:00

I can not believe I almost missed it .. The Ultimate Blog Party 2010 is here and it started on April 9th and continues until April 16th .. so if you haven’t joined up .. it’s not to late.

“Don’t Be Tardy for the Party”.. No worries .. You can link up anytime up until midnight on the 16th. “Go Big or Go Home” no worries there either.. Your post can be as big or small as you like… It’s all about introducing yourself and your blog to other bloggers .. and winning great free gifts. Free Gifts ..what? what?..YES my friends tons of awesome prizes. In fact I was a winner last year of one of those fabulous prizes! So head over to 5 Minutes For Mom check out the rules and get entered in on all of the great giveaways!

A Little About Jadehollow:

Since there are so many blogs to visit and reading takes so long .. I thought a picture tour would be faster.. So here’s a lil taste of what goes on here at Jadehollow:

Family: My Greatest Gift .. Our everyday life.

The Outdoors: Weekly Blog Party: Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer We share our adventures Outdoors.

Tablescapes: Weekly Blog Party : Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps On The Porch Where we showcase our beautiful tables.

Foodie Fridays at Designs by Gollum .. We share our recipes.

Things are always getting a facelift.. From Old

To NEW!

Goodwill finds get turned into new treasures..

We Change with the season:

I hope you enjoyed your tour of Jadehollow .. You’re Welcome Here Anytime!

Have a Blessed Week ~ Debbie

There are so many great gifts offered this year and so hard to pick .. but I’ve made my choices:

My top 3 picks are:

USC3: $50.00 Target Gift Card Provided by: Peg’s Play
US32: $25.00 Target Gift Card provided by: The Frugal Novice
US70: $25.00 Kroger Gift Card Provided by: Proverbs Wife

My Other Choices:

US107 $25.00 Target Gift Card Provided by: Money 4 This Not 4 That
US114 $25.00 Walmart Gift Card Provided by: Mary’s Country Life

If my top choices are all gone I’d be happy winning any prize!

Tablescape Thursday .. Christmas Tea II

2010-01-13T20:58:00.001-05:00

Yippee it’s Tablescape Thursday time .. Don’t y’all just love this weekly blog event .. I know I do .. I just love seeing all the different styles out there and getting so many ideas for my own table. Many many thanks to Susan and all those that make this event so fun and entertaining each week.

As promised I’m sharing the last 2 tables from our Church Christmas Tea last month .. My favorite pick of all the tables and my table.

First up .. My Favorite Table .. Sister Betty’s Table!! This is what my table wants to be when it grows up next year lol .. Sister Betty had her Handy Dandy Husband Bro James come in the night before the Tea and hang this awesome chandelier that she had picked up at a local thrift store and morphed into this awesome piece of beauty. These first couple of photos were taken the night of set up .. so over look the crooked candles and the bags of trash in the background.

Love Love Love the Pink with the Gold…

Sister Betty made all of the napkins rings.. The pink & gold jewels were Christmas ornaments that she picked up last year.

Crystal glazed gold Angels with small gift box of chocolates was her gift to her guests.

All of the dangling jewels were also added by Sister Betty .. The Centerpiece Candelabra was also a thrift store find that she redid.. love it resting on the gold mirror. When I was visiting her the other day she was already changing that mirror .. adding lil knobs to the bottom to give it height .. She’s so talented. Next trip to her house I promise I will have my camera!!

Lol I grabbed a chair for this next shot .. that poor chair! On the bottom left of the photo below you’ll notice those clear plastic plates I told y’all about last week.

The night of the Tea .. There’s Sister Betty lighting all those candles.

Love the Pink Stemware..

Mercury Glass jars with the Gold Angels sitting on top .. love this! There’s Sister Betty again getting things perfect.

Now … My Little Table.. Winter Wonderland..

I hung clear and silver snowflakes above the table.. They sparkled in the candle light. My China is what y’all have seen me use before .. I refer to it as my “Connie China” is really Somerset.

These are the candelabras that I showed y’all on Met Monday’s post..

Mercury Glass Vase used in centerpiece is from Target that I picked up after Christmas last year.. I think I’ll add some knobs for legs to that mirror it’s sitting on too.

Placemats.. Napkins and Silver Chargers are Martha Stewart Collection from K-mart that I picked up last year after Christmas. The Napkin Rings are actually Christmas ornaments that I picked up from Hobby Lobby.

Below .. My gift to my guests .. A Mercury vase candle holder with Silver & Crystal Sun Catcher Cross. You can’t really see them that well .. but I finally got to use my Disciple glasses that I bought from Goodwill last summer!

I didn’t get a photo of them .. but I tried to dress up the chairs a bit .. using blue, silver & white ribbon with large bows.

In the candle light… after the lights went out.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my addition to this weeks Tablescape Thursday .. I look forward to seeing what all you have in store this week.

Hugs,

Debbie

Outdoor Wednesday .. First Snow of 2010

2010-01-12T21:56:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday .. This week .. Georgia Snow .. lol perhaps I should say Georgia Sleet! It wasn’t much to brag about but we did manage to get a Snow Day outta it.

Ellabee wasn’t too crazy about it at first because it started in the night..

but the next morning.. she went out scouting.. scratched around a bit and ate her fair share of it.

Considering this lil dusting was still around 4 days later… I’m sooooooooooo glad we didn’t get more!

Happy Wednesday Y’all … Make sure you drop by Susan’s at A Southern Daydreamer an see what everyone else has to share today.

BlogHop .. 2010 Best Wishes

2010-01-11T20:22:00.005-05:00

Welcome BlogHoppers ... It's been a while since I participated in the Bloghop .. so bare with me as I work out the kinks here.

This weeks theme: 2010 Best Wishes.. We're suppose to post encouragement and inspirational wishes for the new year...

I'm sharing one of my most favorite paintings:
" The Creation of Adam" and the words to a song that I've been singing for the last couple of days... He Knows My Name.

I have a Maker
He Formed My Heart
Before even time began
my life was in His hands

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call

I have a father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
no matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call.

If you haven't yet found or gotten to know our precious Jesus.. I pray that this be the year you welcome Him into your lives. And if you're feeling far away from God, ask yourself who moved.. and welcome Him back into your life.

Thank You For Visiting
Have A Blessed Day,

©

Met Monday … Candelabra Makeover

2010-01-10T18:28:00.001-05:00

It’s Metamorphosis Monday party time .. Many thanks to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting this fun weekly event. Be sure to drop by Susan’s and see what everyone has been morphing this week.

This week I’m sharing one of a few projects I did last month.. Being the holidays and as usual money was tight.. I had to get a lil creative in preparing for my table for the Christmas Tea at church. A couple of years ago I happen to catch my neighbor as she was headed to drop off a load to Goodwill.. She told me to take whatever I wanted .. first thing I spotted were 6 candelabras that she had used for her wedding. They were caked up with candle wax.. scratched up and parts had started turning green. On the bottom were the Target clearance stickers.. She had really gotten a deal on these .. Clearance at Target for $3.74 each!! Regular price $24.99 each. Bargain Diva!!

I brought em home and stuck them away in the garage and really forgot all about them. As I was digging out stuff for Christmas there they were .. screaming help me .. save me.. use me .. make me pretty again.

You know I had to listen.. These will be perfect after they are what?… Painted white! Yep spray paint to the rescue again. I painted 3 and left the others the plated silver.. they may end up red or black.. who knows lol.

These next few photos I took today… Overlook that dead frozen fern in the background .. Old man winter hit us with a cold punch this past week and someone was in a hurry and forgot to grab this one and put it inside.

Please keep in mind I had used them last month for my Christmas table at Church.. I’m going to have to do a lil retouching on them because they got a few nicks in them from being packed and unpacked.

A lil glimpse of what they looked like … Make sure you stop back by on Thursday when I show them in all their glory on my table.

Have a Great Week Y’all !

Debbie

Tablescape Thursday .. Christmas Tea 09

2010-01-06T20:33:00.001-05:00

Are y’all sick of seeing Christmas settings yet? Gosh I hope not… I saved all of these for after the holidays. Each year for Christmas the ladies from our Church put on a swanky Christmas Tea.. It’s always such a fun and elegant event. Last year I was a guest and didn’t participate in setting a table… but this year I did one.. which I’ll show you all next week .. This week I wanted to show off everyone else’s tables.

First up .. Katie’s table. PK-Kids Table:

Katie is the youth leader of the PK-Kids ..These kids age from 8 to 12 years old.

LOVE LOVE the Green depression china .. Perfectly matched with the pink.

Katie chose these cute lil penguin ornaments for her gift to her guests. They were from Hobby Lobby.

Alicia’s Table… The Teen Youth Table …

Black and Silver theme .. Simple yet elegant looking. Silver chargers with Black plastic plates.. She also used black plastic flatware.. She flipped 2 cake plate stands upside down and used them as a base for her candles. Loved that she hung the ornaments from the ceiling above her table .. Her gift to her guests .. Lil silver sheer bags filled with hershey kisses.

Kellie’s Table .. Kellie had 2 tables this year .. She always treats her employees .. so these next 2 tables are her business tables.

I love the lighted glass blocks… and those sweet stocking flatware holders.

Table # 2 .. Loved this huge cup & saucer centerpiece .. filled with clear lights and huge red ornaments.

Both of Kellie’s table were 10 place settings ea.. and each of her guests received these cute ice cream and snowmen cone ornaments.

Sister Shirley’s table: .. Here’s Sister Shirley working on the finishing touches.

Each of Sister Shirley’s guests received those cute santa coat tins filled with candy.

Sister Sandy’s Table… Love this green & gold!!

Last year Sister Sandy used clear plastic plates to serve meals on .. I loved this idea!

You still get to see the beauty of the china and not worry about your china getting carried back an forth from the kitchen to the table and back again. When you’re ready to pack up your things .. it’s all right there on your table and still clean lol. I admit my greatest fear was my china getting broken.. this was a major step in reducing that chance. Sandy’s gift to her guests.. battery candles.

Sister Peggy’s table .. for her Grandchildren.

These beautiful Angels were huge and I walked up just as Sister Peggy was putting the finishing touches on her table .. She was also sharing the story of how she was finally able to get the last piece of that Angel collection. Sister Peggy’s gift for her guests.. colorful vase filled with tiny flowers.

Angela’s table.. Loved this teal & silver combo.

This was Angela’s very first tablescape ever!! .. She did an awesome job..

Angela used silver snowflake napkin rings as place card holders.. love the use of the silver dollies under the clear dinner plates. Beautiful job Angela!

Last table for this week .. They were still working on it as I came by to take photos.

Love the flatware tucked in the napkin stuffed in the stemware.. and the stemware centered on the salad plate. When you’re trying to squeeze in 10 settings on these tables every single inch is important.. great use of saving space.

Beautiful centerpiece .. sorry I didn’t get a photo after she has straightened an lit the candles.

So what cha think.. didn’t these ladies do a wonderful job. I really had a hard time picking my favorite .. but I did and that one I’m going to share with you all next week .. along with my table the week after.

Here’s a lil teaser..

Thanks for dropping by .. and don’t forget to head back over to Susan’s at Between Naps on the Porch and see what everyone else has to share this week.

Hugs~ Debbie

Outdoor Wednesday … Ella Belle in the Fall

2010-01-05T22:46:00.001-05:00

WOW .. My first Outdoor Wednesday since last year lol!!

One of my most favorite blog parties … Outdoor Wednesday .. hosted by the lovely Georgia Gal Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

Today I’m sharing a few photos of our newest lil baby Ella Belle “EllaBee”. This first photo is when she was right around 6 weeks old.. and a couple of months before she discovered her most favorite thing…

THE LEAF PILE!! Yep that’s right .. all the toys.. all the treats.. all the attention and this is the cat nip of her lil doggie world..

Here’s Ashley and Ellabee’s Mom Tippy.. waiting for her to surface.. Que the shark music!

A sneaky lil attack on Ashley!

She loves to chase an catch the leaves as they fall… So we toss an toss an toss some more.. til our arms are about to fall off..

Here’s our reward…

Ok Mommie .. time to toss some more!

Daddy’s lil Hunter Dawg in training .. shhshhh I think she’s spotted a wabbit!

Thanks for dropping by .. I hear we’re in for a lil of the white stuff this week.. Maybe next week we’ll be sharing Ellabee’s first snow lol. Happy Wednesday Ya’ll .. don’t forget to click on the button below and head over to Susan’s and see what all everyone else has in store this week!

Hugs,

Debbie

Outdoor Wednesday .. The Flood 09

2009-11-03T21:38:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago as most of you know .. Many counties in Georgia were devastated by floods. Parts of the county I live in were hit hard .. many roads are still closed today due to damage.

This is a story of Faith.. and of a message that was preached at our church the Sunday before the flood. This photo below is of our Church.. and was taken just 2 hours after our Pastor spoke of God’s promise to Noah. I had been sick for over 2 weeks at that time and missed Church for the second Sunday in a row.. so I missed the message. As I was on my way to my Doctors office for my breathing treatment .. I passed by our Church and this is what I saw. A huge rainbow over the Church. Course I stopped and snapped a few pictures and when I got home Jeff told me that it was a sign .. he wasn’t sure of what but he called our Pastor and shared the photos and story with him.

See the beautiful rainbow… well what you can’t see is the river located just behind the Church.. just beyond those trees runs The Yellow River. An hour later the skies opened up again and began to pour.. poured nonstop for the next 36 hours.. The Yellow river turned mean and nasty.

The River was raging … water was rapidly rising.. and roads suddenly became flooded.

That’s the corner of our Church in the photo below .. and Jeff is walking around checking on the rising water.

The water rose and continued to rise … feet by feet .. minute by minute .. til the road behind the Church and the lower parking lot was covered.

Only inches away from the playground it was spared.. but the small Church building.. used as storage and for food ministry wasn’t so lucky.

Another shot of the flooded road behind the church and the edge of the playground.

Today all of the water is gone .. but the road was damaged and is still closed. On the day Jeff & Ashley went to the Church to take all of these photos .. I didn’t go .. because I had seen the rainbow that covered the Church just days earlier .. and that was all the promise I needed that the Church would be spared… and it was.

This next photo I shared with everyone a few months back.. It’s the Porterdale Mill Apartments and the Yellow River runs directly beside it.

This is what it looked like after all that rain.

The river was so loud .. it sounded like a train.. I can’t imagine how scared the people were living in those apartments were.

The next 4 photos were taken from the patio area that overlooks the river.

This is a photo of the area where we sent a friends ashes down the river.. This is what it normally looks like.

That same area .. as close as we could get.. after the rain.

God’s Promise in the Rainbow:
“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:20-22).

Happy Wednesday Y’all … Be sure to check out Susan and all the others participating this week at A Southern Daydreamer.

Hugs,

Debbie

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T10:01:00.001-04:00

On Hallowe’en the thing you must do

Is pretend that nothing can frighten you

And if somethin’ scares you and you want to run

Just let on like it’s Hallowe’en fun.

Happy Halloween Y’all ….

May it be filled with Safety & Fun.. Hugs, Debbie

Tablescape Thursday … Chicken Ware

2009-10-28T20:36:00.001-04:00

Hey Everyone .. It’s been a while .. I know I’ve been such a slacker here in blogland. Hopefully I have kicked that sickness that has had me on deaths door for over a month. On my return back I didn’t want to do a post about all the stuff that has happened since my last post .. I’ll share those details later. I wanted to jump right back in on a couple of my favorite parties.. Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday.

This is our table from last month.. The day I had put it together I was feeling really good .. but afterwards things went down hill for me and this stayed set up for 3 weeks. Lucky for me though just before packing things up.. it was perfect setting for me to snap a few shots of some peppers a friend sent me. Aren’t those peppers beautiful.. They were grown by a great friend of mine Kristin .. who has the greenestestestest thumb around.

Sunflowers .. Hobby Lobby
Rooster Vase .. Fred’s
Candles .. Target
Wooden Candles Holders.. Sprayed white .. Goodwill find

Gold Napkins .. Bought those along with other colors for .99 cents a pound at this awesome place in Covington called OHCO .. Twice a year they have a sale .. everything is by the pound for 99 cents. I ended up with 10 sets of 8 in 6 different colors for .99 cents. DEAL DEAL DEAL!
Ceramic Weave Napkin Rings.. Goodwill
Placemat .. Wal-Mart
Flatware .. Oneida

Chicken Ware .. David Carter Brown Collections .. “On The Farm” … Goodwill
Brown Dinner Plate .. Naturals by Culinary Arts .. Kroger
Green Dinner Plate .. Goodwill

The Green dinnerware shown on this one .. is also Naturals by Culinary Arts. I didn’t realize I didn’t have a photo of this one chicken until I started loading the photos .. and those other green ones were packed away.

This next one is my favorite of the set.

Green Stemware .. Goodwill

Rooster Glassware .. Found these at Kroger on clearance .. for 3.25 for set of 8.

What’s for dinner? Cornbread.. Hot and fresh outta the skillet. Yum ..

With that cornbread …

Fresh butter beans from Suzie’s garden and some of those canned tomatoes I put up earlier in the summer.

Dessert … Homemade Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream .. made by my sweet husband.

Here a few pics of those beautiful Peppers Kristin grew..

There were yellow ones.. red ones.. green ones.. purple ones.. and orange ones.

Those oranges ones .. the Habaneras .. those we don’t eat lol but I do love their beauty.

Are Y’all ready for Fall… I can’t wait to play catch up and see what all I’ve missed this past month.. I know with all you wonderful creative folks.. I’ll be Ooohhh and Ahhhhh like crazy.

Be sure to Visit Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch and Gollum @ Designs by Gollum for more treats this week.

Hugs Y’all,

Debbie

*Liz .. thank you for all the messages.. Bless you my friend .. you brighten my days.

Met Monday & Thrifty Treasures

2009-10-04T19:10:00.000-04:00

It’s Met Monday & Thrifty Treasures time.. What a great way to kick off the week .. and my return back to blogland. For those that missed me.. Thank YOU Thank YOU Thank YOU for the emails and messages. I have been one sick gal I tell ya… I started out with a simple lil ole sore throat that turned into Swine Flu.. then I ended up with Pneumonia. For 18 days straight I was like the walking dead… I thought for sure my time was up. Now all that’s left is a lil hacking cough.. but all is good.

I’m sharing a few things I picked up before all that sickness and a finished project I teased y’all with before going awol on ya.

On my last Met Monday post .. I shared with y’all this cookie jar. I had planned on sending this one off to Goodwill, but decided I’d try a lil chalkboard paint on it.

Taped off the area I didn’t want chalkboard paint on .. and viola .. Finished jar on the right. Also on the right is a candle stand that was being used to hold a birdcage and it suffered a crash on the fireplace..

With a little Gorilla Glue .. yeah that’s all I had in the house.. and a fresh coat of flat black .. it’s good as new again.

When I saw this next piece at Goodwill for $2.74 I knew it would be perfect to replace the clay candle stand as the birdcages new stand. Sprayed it black .. and of course I didn’t get a picture of it after I added the gloss black.. but trust me .. it’s darling. And that Rocking Horse in the background .. he’s in the middle of a morph .. so look for him in an upcoming post.

I found these small pumpkins and gourds at Dollar General for .99 a bag and the small pumpkins with the leaves and flowers for .99 ea.

Arranged them in the birdcage..

My Sweet Husband gathered up some of my fall stuff from outta the garage.. that basket has been Morphed so many times.. I can’t even count.

Finished basket..

I love this little scarecrow pumpkin .. He lights up!

Isn’t he just the cutest.. So Fall!

I didn’t have enough to do the front and back of the basket the same .. so I started adding these jack-o-lanterns.. which will be perfect for Halloween .. all I have to do is just turn the basket around.

Next .. time to toss out the daisies ..

Ahhhh Welcome Fall!

For more Met Monday makeovers & Thrifty Treasure finds click on the buttons below an head over to Between Naps On The Porch & Southern Hospitality and join in.

Hugs Y’all

Have A Blessed Week!

Debbie

Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday.. Goodwill dishes

2009-09-13T15:28:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday.. Hosted by Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality & Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.

A few more Goodwill finds.. An assortment of dishes that I picked up at Goodwill at different times over the summer.

Prices ranged from .55 to 1.55.

The reason for so many mix-matched plates.. I’m spray painting them of course lol.

Found these darling Bleikristall 24% crystal salt & pepper shakers at Goodwill .. $2.74 for the set.

Stems from Goodwill .. Were originally $1.51 each .. but 1/2 off because they were the color of the week. Perhaps my most exciting find.. This NOKIA cup! My husband’s favorite coffee cup of all time was a hot pink.. yes hot pink cup just like this one.. it’s that eco friendly corn plastic.. his “pinky cup” suffered an accident.. and had to be retired. I had searched the internet trying to find him another one .. but could only find them in bulk of 100’s for purchase. It appears they are a hot thang for companies promoting their business. So hopelessly I gave up.. Then one day as I walked in Goodwill and there it was .. sitting all alone on the top shelf .. as if it was displayed just for me to see. I snatched it up and home it came.. The look on hubby’s face priceless! I got more sugah than his next cup of coffee! lol

This canister is one that I already had .. I had packed it up to give to Goodwill.. but after seeing so many things being morphed here in blogland I pulled it out and decided to give it a new look.

I taped off the section I wanted to paint with my chalkboard paint.

Sprayed the lid with a gloss white to cover the magnolias. This as well as the section I covered with the chalkboard paint required about 4 coats because the raised design of the magnolias. Turned out great .. but sadly I didn’t get a picture of it completely finished at the time because it wasn’t dry and today as I’m posting these both cameras are with Jeff & Ashley. Y’all please forgive me .. promise I’ll fill it with treats soon and get it on here.

For more Thrifty Treasures finds and Met Monday delights .. head on over to Rhoda & Susan’s and see what they and everyone else has going on today.

Hugs Y’all,

Debbie

We Will Always Remember

2009-09-11T09:41:00.001-04:00

Outdoor Wednesday … New Babies

2009-09-08T22:26:00.001-04:00

Hey Y’all .. Welcome to another Outdoor Wednesday! This week I’m sharing our new additions to our family! We have BABIES.. that’s right .. Babies!! Just 9 days old now.. they had their first trip outside on Labor Day.

We have 1 of each.. a lil girl and a lil boy.

First up .. Ashley’s pick… The girl of course .. which she calls Ella.

Next.. My lil favorite .. lol as if I’d really pick fav’s.. Lil Fat Boy

In just 9 days this guy has tripled his size.. He’s like a mini polar bear!

His lil pink nose is starting to fill in with black.. as well as his lil paws.

Can you tell they’re already getting spoiled?

Nah .. Not spoiled at all!

Be sure to drop by A Southern Daydreamer and see Susan and everyone else showing off their outdoor treats today.

Hugs Y’all,

Debbie

Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday .. Chargers & Silver

2009-09-06T18:15:00.000-04:00

Just a few things to show y’all this week..

All were Goodwill finds from the summer ..

First this 2 tier silver stand.. This turned out to be silver .. not plated! I was soooo excited because I paid less than $2.00. Here’s a lil glimpse of what it looked like midway of cleaning.. it was tarnished really bad.

Silver Tray.. Goodwill .. paid $1.74 for it. Before cleaning….

Both pieces after cleaning.. Turned out BEAUTIFUL!

I even used them in a tea tablescape this past summer.

Also found these gold chargers .. Goodwill .. 1/2 price color of the week .. for a set of 4 I paid .85 for the set.

I already had gold ones.. but needed white .. so out came the spray paint .. and Viola .. White Chargers.

For more Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday makeovers .. Click the buttons below… and as always .. a special Thank You to Susan and Rhoda for always hosting these fun weekly blog parties!

Happy Week Y’all ..

Debbie

Outdoor Wednesday .. Big Haynes Creek Wildlife Festival

2009-09-01T21:23:00.001-04:00

It’s Outdoor Wednesday time .. and the lovely Susan at A Southern Daydreamer is hosting this weekly blog party. Make sure you hop on over and see what all everyone is sharing this week.

Big Haynes Creek Wildlife Festival..

This past weekend Jeff & Ashley were set up at the festival working the Archery exhibit.

Ashley has been working really hard toning her archery skills. She has been working with her Dad and we have her working once a week with an Olympic Archery Coach. All of that hard work has been paying off and she has been asked to help in instructing other juniors in teaching archery.

The festival is a yearly event held here in Conyers Georgia at the International Horse Park.. Home of the 1996 summer Olympic Equestrian events.

The archery exhibit was free of charge .. and was a basic 101 safety course in archery. The host of the exhibit which included Archery safety, fly tying, fly fishing techniques, and a modern day hunters guide class was Venture Outdoors. Venture Outdoors travels all around Georgia teaching everything from all types of shooting skills & safety to Hunters Safety classes. They are highly respected for their work by the Department of Natural Resources and do so much to educate Georgia’s youth in becoming safe and responsible hunters.

These next few photos are of my husband Jeff.. assisting some little ones in their first ever experience handling and firing a compound bow.

The bows they are using are : Matthews Genesis .. They come in 3 sizes.. The mini, The Standard & The Probow. The NASP .. National Archery in the Schools Programs.. use these bows.

Here this little guy is getting ready to shoot the Mini.. which has a draw weight that can be adjusted between 6 to 12 lbs. Perfect for his size and strength.

And here’s the release..

Each child that shot.. with the assistance of their guide.. always made at least one bulls eye shot!.. Which tickled them to no end. It was a great weekend .. enjoyed by all!

Happy Wednesday Y’all!

Hugs, Debbie

Blog Hop .. Baby Pictures

2009-08-31T23:51:00.003-04:00

My apologies to everyone trying to access the blog hop links.. There appears to be a problem with the Mcklinky link again... I'm pretty sure this will be my last time participating in the blog hop... it's just too late here on the east coast to wait for problems to get worked out.

Welcome Y'all to Blog Hop Tuesday .. Today's theme : Baby Pictures!

Today I'm sharing my dearest friend Suzanne and her newest grandchild .. Miss Presley!
Today marks Ms Presley's 2 month birthday .. When she was born 2 months ago .. she blasted into the world weighing only 3lbs.. today she's is a whopping 8lbs and doing GREAT! Growing like a weed and being spoiled rotten by Grammie Suzanne.

This next photo is one of me with Ashley .. 15 years ago.. I don't have very many photos of her and I together .. I was always the one behind and not in front of the camera.. This is one I played with a lil using photobucket.

I hope you will all join in on the fun .. there's still time to get yours posted .. Just click on one of the links below to hop around and see what all everyone else is showing today.

Happy Hopping Y'all !

Debbie

Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday .. Tomatoes & Apostle Glasses

2009-08-30T13:32:00.000-04:00

Hey Y’all .. Welcome to a double Monday post .. Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday. Thank you to our wonderful Hostesses Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality & Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.. Be sure to drop by and visit them both and see what all they and others are sharing today. Buttons & Links are located at the bottom of this post.

Today I’m sharing a few things I found over the last month ..

First up .. These Wooden Candle Holders. I found these at Goodwill : $2.00 for the set of 3. I brought them home and gave them a fresh coat of white paint.

Also found this iron candle holder .. Goodwill .. 1/2 price for .80.

Gave it a fresh coat of white spray paint.. I have a cute hummingbird feeder that I’ll put in the center of it for next spring.

I belong to a co’op and we all got a case of tomatoes earlier in the month.. They were all a little pink so I laid them out for a few days to ripen up..

Then morphed them into 8 quarts of canned tomatoes! I ended up loosing 1 jar.. not sure what happened.. they all sealed really well .. but a couple of days later that one seal popped.

My next find .. Apostle Glasses.

I absolutely love these.. I found these at Goodwill and they only had 10 .. so I’m on the hunt for the others.

These are going to be perfect for my Christmas table I’ll be doing at the church this year. I paid $1.51 for each. The photo below shows the difference once I got them home and gave them a good bath. The one on the right is the before.. the left one is after. They cleaned up great!

I tried filling them so you all could get a better look at the etching .. but all I had was yellow powerade lol.. and the etching got lost against the yellow.

Thank you all for taking the time to share in my newest treasures this week.. I look forward to seeing what all everyone else has found.

Happy Monday & Have a Great Week Y’all!

Debbie

Blog Hop .. Funny Picture

2009-08-24T22:08:00.004-04:00

Welcome Blog Hop Hoppers to Funny Photo Day!!

My Super Brother!!

We all have those photos that we wish would magically disappear.. Well here is the one my lil brother certainly wishes would! Hahaha This will be plastered all over the place on his 40th birthday.. because I love him so much and he's just so doggone cute in it hahahaha. Check out that cotton top fro .. and those girly green tights.. yep girly green cuz they were mine... I'm sure Superman's tight's didn't belong to his older sister.

Thanks for dropping by.. now head on over and check out everyone else's funny photos by clicking on all those links below.

Hugs, Debbie

Tablescape Thursday.. Wisteria Dinnerware

2009-08-19T20:35:00.001-04:00

White Napkins … Home Trend from Target
Black Metal Flower Napkin Rings.. Pier1

Flatware .. Oneida Brooch pattern .. Target.
Placemat .. Walmart .. purchased early summer.

Flatware .. Oneida Brooch pattern .. Target.
Yellow Stoneware.. Home Brand.. Target

Dinner plate.. Wisteria Stoneware : From Dollar General .. purchased 3 yrs ago .. I think they look more like grapes than Wisteria.
White Charger .. Purchased from Goodwill .. They were gold .. I sprayed them white.

Bottles of wine .. more like bottles of vinegar lol they are about 18 years old.. were a gift from a friend just before Jeff and I married. We don’t drink so they’re used as decoration.

The green stemware is from Target

Coleus centerpiece is from my patio garden.
The green pots were purple .. I picked those up at the pot swap that we have at our recycling center. I brought them home and sprayed them along with a few other pots green.

Homemade Rolls .. I buy frozen dough then bake my own.
The Little White Dish .. No Manufactures markings.. Picked up from Goodwill.

This is my favorite color pattern in Coleus.. Love that pink & green combo.

Bird Salt & Pepper Shakers: Dale & Danielle The Target Birds .. from Target.. Still available.

Easy Pasta Salad:

Box Pasta Salad Mix .. These I get at Dollar Tree for $1.00 a box .. real good for quick & easy. I always add a lil extra pasta and fresh veggies.

To make this a Main Meal .. Just add Chicken

To see more delicious treats.. Head over to Designs by Gollum and see what Gollum and everyone else has cooking. Click the button below to join in.

Thanks for stopping by for my addition to Foodie Friday & Tablescape Thursday.

Hugs,

Debbie

Outdoor Wednesday .. Backyard Hummers

2009-08-18T17:29:00.001-04:00

Happy Wednesday Y’all .. Today I’m sharing a few photos from a friend Debra’s back yard. Debra is a huge hummingbird lover and she has 12 hummingbird feeders that she has to fill every 3 days. She’s got the birds baybeee. Everywhere you turn .. they’re zipping past ya.

Take a gander at this Sunflower.. It was massive! It’s about 15” inches wide. Isn’t it beautiful!

Hummingbirds

Here are some of the amazing photos that we were able to catch of her Hummingbirds.

Did you know that hummingbirds can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings 12-90 times per second. They can also fly backwards, and are the only group of birds able to do so.

Ruby-throated Adult Female Hummingbird:

Emerald green back, white breast and throat, rounded tail with white tips. Larger than the male, with longer bill.

Ruby-throated Adult Male Hummingbird:

Emerald green back, iridescent ruby red throat that may appear black under some lighting conditions, gray flanks, forked tail with no white. Smaller than the female.

Here’s Ashley holding a male hummingbird at the Georgia Hummers Hummingbird Festival last summer.

Closer shot of the male Hummingbird she held.

Here’s a Male that couldn’t wait for the feeder to get hung.. He flew right up and perched as she was hanging it on the hook.

One of the many wild baby bunnies that she’s been feeding.

Big Daddy Jack.. She calls him her “Watch Rabbit” he just lays around like a yard dog snoozing and watching everything going on around him.

I hope y’all enjoyed tagging along to see Debra’s backyard and her hummingbirds with us.. I’ll admit I’m a bit jealous of all the hummingbirds she has.. but I really don’t think I could handle taking care of that many. So for now when I need a lil hummingbird fix.. I’ll just head back over and visit Deb’s Hummingbird Village.

To see more Outdoor treats.. Click on the button below and head over to A Southern Daydreamer and see what Susan and all the others are sharing this week.

Hugs Y’all,

Debbie

Blog Hop .. Favorite Recipes Part II Grilled Tenderloin

2009-08-17T16:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome Mcklinky Blog Hoppers.. I don’t know about you all but here in Georgia in the summer time.. I do as little cooking in my kitchen as possible. I hate heating up that kitchen as well as the rest of the house so I do most of my cooking outside and this is one of my favorite most simple meat dishes.

Grilled Peppercorn Tenderloin:

I buy these Hormel pre-seasoned with a marinade Pork Tenderloins at Kroger. They are normally $8.00 each .. which is a bit pricy .. so I wait until Kroger has them featured on their Buy One Get One Free Specials.. At $4.00 each that’s a deal .. So I stock up and keep extras in the freezer.

Hormel has many different marinated flavors.. Our Favorite is the Peppercorn.. Which is what I’ve got shown here. Each Tenderloin weighs 1lb 2.4ozs and is fully seasoned.. but I like to add a lil extra by stuffing a few cloves of garlic throughout the loin.

Just cut a few slits in the top of the loin and stuff a few whole pieces of garlic all around.. make sure you stuff em in long ways.. it makes it really pretty when ya slice it.. as you’ll see below.

Once you have your garlic stuffed.. fold and seal your foil tightly so no juices can leak out. I always use Reynolds Easy Release No Stick.. love that easy clean up!

Pre Heat Your Grill to 425°F . Place Tenderloin on Grill over medium heat for 25-30 minutes.. turning it after the first 15 minutes. If you’re uncertain and want to make sure it’s done .. you can add a few extra minutes .. I’ve done it before and it really doesn’t dry out these tenderloins.

Once you’ve finished grilling.. let the tenderloin rest for about 5 minutes before slicing.

Why do you need to let the meat rest for 5 minutes..

If you cut into it right away, two things will happen:

The meat will be hard to slice
The meat will lose all the juices you worked so hard to preserve -- they'll run out.

So wait a few minutes.. take that extra few minutes to finish up the rest of your meal.

As you can see … This one turned out perfect. Each slice of meat is nice and juicy.. not dry at all … and those garlic cloves add a lil extra prettiness as well as flavor to each slice.

I hope you’ll all give these grilled tenderloins a try.. I’m positive you’ll enjoy this easy and delicious treat!

Happy Blog Hopping Y’all!

Hugs,

Debbie

Not Me Monday

2009-08-17T07:29:00.000-04:00

What is “Not Me Monday” It’s a Party over at MckMama’s Blog My Charming Kids!

Here’s a little description from Mckmama on what it’s all about:

“Are you feeling guilty for not washing your child's swimsuit after they wear it? Feel greasy because you don't wash your hair every day? Overcome with embarrassment because your child was rude while out to dinner? We'll don't be! Not Me! Monday was born out of my desire to admit some of my imperfections and reveal a few moments I'd rather forget. You may find it therapeutic to join in and do the same thing!”

Sound like fun? Well it is.. Nobody’s perfect right? So it’s nice to see others who share in some of our same shameful lil secrets. So if you haven’t already .. make out your list of “Not Me’s” and head on over to Mckmama’s and join in on the fun.

I did NOT freak at the sight of this HUGE UGLY BUG I found crawling on my fake patio plant.. Nope Not Me! Nor did I freak absolutely out when my crazy dog spotted it and decided it would be fun to grab it .. Play with it.. toss it all around in the air.. and chew on it like a juicy steak bone… Nope that dog tooth brushing freaked out maniac of a woman .. sooooooo was NOT ME.

I also didn’t have to go outside in the bright light to use a 10x mirror just to see how to pluck my eyebrows last week either.. Because I could see just fine inside my well lit house with my older than dirt eyes. I also didn’t hide over in the far corner of the patio while I wasn’t doing that so if a neighbor happened to see me they wouldn’t laugh at the blind freak! Nope .. Not Me!

Happy Not Me Monday Y’all …

Have a GREAT BLESSED Week!

Hugs,

Debbie

Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday

2009-08-16T17:44:00.001-04:00

Hey Y’all … Long time no see! Some of you may have noticed that I have been awol from my blog the last couple of weeks.. First I would like to thank you all that sent search messages and emails asking “what’s going on”.. Well I’ve been doing what my Doctor ordered and relaxing doing NOTHING. My ole blood pressure has been sky high and they’ve been playing around with my meds, and the ole kidneys decided they wanted to be ugly and start up their troubles again.. so I have so-so days and really bad ones. The last few days have really been great so I decided that I’d get back into finishing up a few projects .. which I’ll be spreading out over the next several days for you.

I’m kicking off the week with a couple of Thrifty Treasure finds..

First this frame.. paid 1.00 at Goodwill .. it was a yellow tag item and yellow was the 50% color that week. It didn’t have a glass.. but I knew I didn’t need one cuz I was turning this lil beauty into a chalk board.

Next I got these 2 frames for .50 cents ea .. also from Goodwill.

I took the yellow frame .. tossed the print inside.. and sprayed it white.

I love the little details on it… Added a piece of plexiglass that I had which was perfect size.

And Voila .. New Chalkboard for my Kitchen!

I had saw this cute idea on another blog .. Angie @ The Happy Homebody made these cute framed Pears..

I took the other 2 frames and sprayed them black.. took a pear cut it 3/4 as shown below …

And made these..

I’ve not decided if I’m gonna keep the background white or not.. It looks a bit bold with my new window treatments colors I’ve chosen .. but.. I’m also adding white china dishes to the walls .. so we’ll see how it looks then. If I change them you’ll be seeing them again on another addition to Met Monday.

Make sure you drop by Southern Hospitality & Between Naps on the Porch to see more Met Monday & Thrifty Treasures.

Hugs Y’all,

Debbie

Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday … Tea for Two

2009-08-05T18:09:00.000-04:00

Welcome everyone to my addition to Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday.. I’m double posting again this week so this is gonna be a bit long and may take a bit longer for all the photos to load.. so please be patient .. I promise it’s worth the wait.

This week I’m featuring a few pieces from a set of china that is very dear to me.. It was a gift given to me by a special friend Connie. While visiting Connie in Pennsylvania 22 years ago.. I spotted these on display at her local grocery store. They were sold in pieces… and each week they would feature a different piece for sale. Well since I was just visiting and knew we didn’t have this particular grocery chain in Georgia.. I left empty handed. At that time I was stocking up my Hope Chest.. and I had already bought a really pretty set of china.. so I knew I didn’t need these.. but that didn’t detour me from lusting over them. Pink, blue and all things flowers was my thang back then lol.

Anyways... Six months later Connie came down to Georgia for a visit and with her she brought me the complete 8 piece setting along with every coordinating piece to the set. I was in complete shock! Every time I think of or use this set I’m reminded of Connie.. and how diligently she worked to collect all of these pieces just for me. I will… just as I have these past 22 years… cherish them and the love that went into getting each and every piece for me.

The beautiful Teapot is not part of the set.. but I’m featuring it today because for those of you that haven’t heard.. This is the Teapot I won 2 weeks ago from Applestone Cottege!

Cindy was doing a give-away.. which she does often.. and I was blessed with winning this new treasure.

Crystal Vase holding fresh geranium blooms: Mikasa from Mikasa Outlet located at Tanger Outlet in Locust Grove Ga.

I love it.. and it goes so beautifully with my “Connie China”.

China..

SOMERSET by EXCEL
Description: BLUE FLOWER BAND, BLUE RIBBONS, FLOWERS
Flatware: Cambridge Cocktail Forks & Tea Spoons .. Linens–n-Things *purchased a year ago*

Blue Table linen .. Martha Stewart Collection: Purchased at Kmart after Christmas sale.

2 Tier Silver Server .. A Goodwill find from last week.
White Chippy Butterfly Votive .. gift from Cindy @ Applestone Cottage.

Food:

Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds: Dove brand .. Target
Pinkish Gem colored candy: M&M’s Premium Raspberry White Chocolate Covered Almonds .. also from Target.
Cookie Bars: Murray .. from Target.

Sweet Peach Tea: Green Mountain .. Box of bags purchased recently from Ross.

White Napkins & Black Flower Napkin Rings: Pier1.
Silver Server Tray: Goodwill .. recent find.
White Ruffle Dessert Plate.. Ross.
Peaches: Fresh Grown Georgia Peaches .. local produce stand.
Bolero Almond Wafer Sticks: Ross .. recent purchase but can be found fairly reasonable online at Greek Gourmet.

Homemade Peach Ice Cream:

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 pounds fresh peaches - peeled, pitted, and chopped
1/2 cup white sugar
1 pint half-and-half cream
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups whole milk, or as needed

DIRECTIONS:

Puree peaches with the sugar and half-and-half in batches in a blender or food processor. Do not just use chunks of peaches.. they freeze.. and it’s not tasty. You can always add fresh slices once you’ve finished as I did in the picture above.
In a gallon ice cream freezer container, mix together the peach mixture, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla. Pour in enough whole milk to fill the container to the fill line, about 2 cups.
Here’s a lil tip.. Cooling the container mixed with ingredients first in your frig for about 45 minutes will help the ice cream harden faster .. just give it a quick stir to redistribute the pureed peaches before placing into your maker.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your maker to freeze the ice cream.

It only took a couple of minutes in this Georgia heat to start melting.. but it was still delicious!

Thanks for dropping by .. and make sure you head back over to Between Naps on the Porch & Designs By Gollum and visit them and all those participating in their parties this week.

Hugs Y’all,

Debbie

Outdoor Wednesday … Komatsu

2009-08-04T22:48:00.000-04:00

It’s Outdoor Wednesday time .. Special Thanks to Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer for always hosting this fun weekly party. Please drop by and visit her and all those participating this week.

This is what I woke up too the other morning…

A Big ole mess… and nodda soul in sight.

That’s my mailbox laying there… I also have new neighbors across the street.. Thank God! That Aqua colored house was a victim of foreclosure earlier in the year.. and a victim to a color blind previous owner. It’s finally happy now soaking up it’s pretty new tan color. Let’s hope they work on removing that dead tree soon.

What is this mess.. well.. that’s what I was asking myself for over 3 hours as it sat there unattended.

When the nice guys from the Water Department returned from their “ lunch break” they told me they had to dig up all that to replace a small seal under the street that connected to a line across the street.

As they promised.. they covered it back up.. threw out some seed.. hoisted the mailbox back in it’s rightful place and left a huge Georgia red clay spot in the street.

Oh by the way… I did not encourage my child to climb up on this piece of machinery that did not belong to us.. nope no way no how did I beg and plead with her to do it so I could get a picture.. I also didn’t tell her that I had proof that she was trespassing after taking said begged for photo.

Hugs Y’all , Debbie

A Fifi Flowers Design Original.. My Table for One Tablescape

2009-08-04T01:11:00.001-04:00

I’ve been Fifi’d .. Oh what an incredible honor! I feel like I was elected Prom Queen! *adjusting tiara as I gloat and do my redneck happy dance* I’ve been pea green with envy seeing her wonderful paintings posted on everyone’s blog.. a beautiful room here, a beloved pet there, an outdoor setting and even tablescapes. Oh how I wished for one.. but I didn’t dare submit a request.. I felt I had nothing worthy of her incredible talents. She’s so whimsy.. I’m so plain Jane. But no more.. I have a lil whimsical class on board my blog.. and soon on my walls at home. I can’t wait for it to arrive .. my mind is churning for the perfect spot for my newest treasure.

Last week Ms Fifi left a comment telling me to come by her blog that she had a lil something for me.. This is what I found…

Table In The Meadow..

Isn’t it Absolutely Gorgeous!

Fifi is so amazingly talented.. I do hope you all stop by her blog and view her work.. and read all of the wonderful articles written about her and her wonderful talent.

Fifi Flowers Design Decor

Below is the photo of my tablescape that inspired the painting.

Thank You Fifi.. I LOVE my Fifi Original !

Hugs, Debbie

Blog Hop ..Encouragement

2009-08-03T16:32:00.002-04:00

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson

They said she was too short.. too little…

Not strong enough for Varsity Volleyball… But she knew better!

Let It Shine Babygirl… Let it Shine!

Heirloom Party

2009-08-01T00:19:00.000-04:00

Marie at Emma Calls Me Mama… is having an Heirloom Party today.. Click the link below and come on and join in on the party.

My selection today is a couple of precious family heirlooms passed on to me when my birth father passed away a few years ago...

2 Books from 1913
1 pair of antique eye glasses
Antique Mantle Clock

All originally belonged to my Grandmother.

The first book is a 1913 Georgia school book: First Lessons in Georgia History

By: Lawton B. Evans Published by: American Book Company 1913

The cover isn't in such great shape..It is stained, weathered, torn and the title is worn away, but all pages are intact and in wonderful condition.

The next book is: Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge

By: Laura Lee Hope Published By: Grosset & Dunlap 1913

Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge was book number 5 of 117 written in the Bobbsey Twins Stories Collection. A lil bit of info I found on the internet states: The Bobbsey Twins series is probably the longest-running juvenile book series of all time. The first book was published in 1904 and new volumes were added as late as 1992. Source: Keeline

The cover is in really nice condition and all pages intact and in great condition.

My Grandmothers Reading Glasses...

Or as she called them.. Her Reading Spectacles. This is one pair of about 3 she had and I'm not sure how old this particular pair is. The case is at least 60 years old..

My birth Dad bought this one in Germany for her just before he returned from WWII.

Inside view of the case. It's lined with felt which is very worn.

My Antique Mantle Clock:

Beautifully detailed carved body is in great condition.

I'm not certain on it's exact age but based on stories and tales that I've been told over the years it is somewhere around 120 years old. Back in 1890 it was given "used" as a wedding gift to my paternal great Grandparents by my great great Grandparents. Who in return gave it as a wedding gift in 1915 to their only female child, my Grandmother Maude. Since my Grandparents only had boys and didn't have a female child to continue that tradition it stayed in my Grandmothers possession until her passing in 1992. Have I lost ya yet? I hope not.. it gets simple from here on. When my Grandmother passed she left it to her eldest son.. My Dad Thomas. A few years ago when my birth Dad was 85 he became very ill and just before his death he passed the clock to me. Even though I have older siblings who rightly should have gotten it..He chose me... And he did so because he knew the care and respect I would take.. the love I had for it.. and that nothing but death would part me from it. Now if you're doing the math and trying to guess my age and you're a lil lost.. I'll help you out a tad.. My Dad was in his 50's when I was born! I was a shocking surprise! But not as shocking as my lil brother!

It keeps perfect time! I can usually go about 3 days between windings. Every half hour it strikes once and each hour it strikes according to time. Everything you see is original.. and to my knowledge it has only had to be mechanically repaired 2 times .. last time being in late 1970.

The glass door is in good condition with original gold etching of butterflies and scroll. Beautiful brass movement and pendulum. Original dial face a bit worn. Two key holes , one to wind for time.. the other for chime... and the original key.

Thank you for taking the time to view my precious family heirlooms. They are priceless to me and I have so enjoyed the opportunity to share them with you all. They rarely get a chance to come out of their secure hiding places... so I'm very grateful to Marie for creating this party to allow us this opportunity to showcase our beautiful cherished pieces.

Have a Blessed Weekend,

Debbie

Happy Birthday Robynn

2009-07-31T00:53:00.001-04:00

Today’s a special day… it’s the birthday of a special friend!

Robynn at Robynn’s Ravings

Robynn’s one of the sweetest, funniest & most compassionate people around.. I am so blessed that she calls me friend. I’m almost tempted to be selfish and keep her all to myself.. cuz she’s sucha picker up’er and I love her dearly.. But I love all of y’all too! So here’s a lil present for y’all too. If you haven’t met Robynn.. and you want a little bang in your ying yang, a little zing in your zang zang, a little ching in your chang chang come along! You don’t know what you’ve been missing!

There is a gift that gold cannot buy

A blessing that’s rare and true

That’s the gift of a wonderful person coming into my life

Like I have in you!

Happy Birthday Dear Friend!

Love You My Friend!

Debbie

Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday … Stuffed Shells

2009-07-29T19:16:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another double duty post.

Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday..

What’s on the Table & Menu today..

Cheese Stuffed Shells
My Wedding China

I have two sets of what I call my Wedding China.. Neither set is expensive but I really loved the pattern and colors.. When I was 17 I started my Hope Chest.. and this is the very first set of china I purchased. At the time I started my Hope Chest there was a store going out of business called Zayre's.. That is where I got most of my home starting supplies for my hope chest and this set of China. Today I’m featuring the set I call “ My Yellow Set” .. It is by Fine China of China.

White & Yellow Napkins … Home Trend from Target
Black Metal Flower Napkin Rings.. Pier1

The Chippy White Butterfly Votive.. A gift from Cindy at Applestone Cottage. Isn’t it just the sweetest thing..

Jade Chris Madden Veneto Flute Stemware.. JC Penny
Clear Water Goblets .. Pier1
White Fish Salt & Pepper Shakers… Target *available item $4.99 set*

The White Ruffle Salad plate is Simple Dining .. that I found at Ross.
Green Square Charger… Target *recent purchase*

My Wedding China..

China by: FINE CHINA OF CHINA .. Pattern: FCC179
Description: Gold Trim, Yellow & Blue Edge, Floral Swags.
Replacements . com has a picture posted but they don’t have any listed in stock or replacement cost. I was really surprised to even see them on there.

Flatware .. Oneida Brooch pattern .. Target.

Black Iron Triple Candle Stands and Candles.. Target *purchased years ago along with matching fireplace tool set.
- Floral Greenery Centerpiece.. Hobby Lobby *spring purchase*

Cheese Stuffed Shells:

Ingredients

2 eggs
16 oz ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
2 garlic cloves minced
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 Box jumbo pasta shells, cooked and drained
1 1/2 jars spaghetti sauce .. I use 1 quart fresh canned tomatoes
1/2 to 1 can chopped spinach.. well drained

Directions:

Mix together eggs, spinach, cheeses and spices until combined.
Fill each shell with 1 large tablespoon of cheese mixture.
Place filled shells in a 9 x 13-inch pan.
Pour sauce over shells.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until bubbly

Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch & Gollum @ Designs by Gollum are our Hostesses for these fun parties.. Please head over and visit them and all those participating in today’s Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday events. Just click the buttons below.

Hugs, Debbie

Outdoor Wednesday … Outdoor Education.

2009-07-28T20:04:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday Y’all … Susan at A Southern Daydreamer is our lovely hostess for the fun weekly blog party.. Make sure you drop by and show her and all those participating a lil bloggy love.

This week I’m going to share with y’all an Outdoor Adventure Show & Tell.. I have mentioned several times here about my husband Jeff and his passionate love of all things relating to Nature and the Wild Outdoors. Jeff is a certified Hunters Education Instructor, and He teaches Hunters Education here in Georgia. Earlier this month he was teaching at the Georgia FFA Wildlife Camp. He was only there a week.. He had to get back to his money making job here at home.. but Ashley went for 2 weeks.

The above college shows a few of the different groups attending.. There were 6 groups in all the first week that he was there. That’s Jeff there in the center.

Orange O’possums
Silver Snakes
Pink Panthers *the only girl group*
Green Geckos
Blue Bears
Yellow Yaks

This next photo is the one and only non outdoor photo.. but I wanted to share this guy. This is Jeff’s buddy, Steve Struggs sitting there beside him. If that name doesn’t sound familiar.. maybe you’ve heard him called by his other name.. “The Snake Master”. If you have school age children chances are they know him and have seen one of his shows at their school. Steve has traveled throughout Georgia and the Southeast teaching kids for the last 12 years.

First up: An Outdoor Class Room.. The Rifle Range.

Inside that class room:

Before any child touches a rifle or shotgun they are first taught the safety and operation of each of the firearms.
Wilderness Survival is taught.
Primitive fire starting.
Building and making a shelter.
Water purification.

The instructor takes the class on a blood trail field trip.. On this trail they are shown and taught first hand the safe way to cross a fence with a firearm… as you’ll see in the next 2 photos.

The red spot you see below is an mock of a blood trail that they are following. At each spotting of blood they are to put an orange flag to make the spots easily spotted if needed to trackback.

Each kid is shown and gets a turn at practicing the proper and safe way to cross a fallen tree with a firearm.

They are taught the safe way to approach an animal.. in case they haven’t fully expired. This protects them from being injured by the kicking or charging animal.

Here an Instructor is shooting an assault rifle.. a Remington R25… as part of a safety demonstration.

He fired from 150 yards away to show them the distance a bullet can and will travel.

He was shooting at the larger wall and another target you see in the background.

This is one of those targets he was shooting at.. it’s a half inch thick solid steel plate. Lesson taught here was that even fired from 150 yards away a bullet will penetrate steel and cause damage.

This is a mock wall demonstration…which he also fired upon from 150 yards away. It shows the students what can happen if a careless shot enters a house wall.

This mock wall is actual width of a standard home wall.

The photo below is the backside of that wall showing where the bullet penetrated.

Each of the Students are sized to the shotguns. Meaning that they check and measure each of their arms for length.. can’t be shooting a bigger gun than you can handle.

Here’s Ashley being instructed just before stepping up to shoot.

She is being taught the proper hold and stance when preparing to fire.

Time to shoot some clay pigeons..

Ashley’s a lefty, so she shoots left handed… Here she is shooting at a clay target.. it’s that lil tiny orange dot located just under the words clay target on the photo. She’s definitely her Daddy’s girl!

She’s a natural..

The Archery Range:

Each child is taught safety and basics of Archery.

Ashley is a natural at this also and has completed both basic an advance classes in Archery.. in fact she is working with an Olympic Coach each Saturday on toning her skills… She loves it!

It wasn’t all classes all the time.. at night the kids got to experience all types of fun activities. Ashley had the time of her life those 2 weeks.. and she’ll be back next year for a whole month as a Junior Counselor. As for Jeff.. he’ll miss the outdoor classes.. because it’s back to teaching inside for the month of August.

For information about the FFA Wildlife Camp for the Summer of 2010 you can contact the Wildlife Camp’s website by clicking here.

If you have a child or know of any that need to take the Hunters Education Safety Class in Georgia.. You can visit the Georgia Department of Natural Resources website to learn where and when classes are being offered by clicking here.

Thank You for joining me today for my lil show & tell Outdoor Wednesday.. Please check out Susan and all the others participating today by clicking the button below.

Happy Wednesday Y’all… Hugs, Debbie

Blog Hop … Favorite Child Photos

2009-07-27T22:02:00.002-04:00

This week's Blog Hop theme is Favorite Kid Photos. You can have one or more of your favorite photos your kids, grandkids, someone else's kid or even YOU when you were a kid. Funny, precious, heartwarming... your favorite!.

I could never pick just one!

A Stroll through the years…

At 3 .. She knew she was getting something good.

The Spring she turned 4.

Middle School Years..

Christmas 2006..

Spring 2007.. New Hair Cut. Leaving the Middle School years behind.

Fall 2008…I love this one… There were bugs in the leaves.

Winter 2008.. First Ski Trip.

Spring 2009 … First Love.

Spring 2009 .. Sweet Sixteen.

Summer 2009.. Starting School next week as a Junior…

*Sigh* Where does the time go.

Hugs Y’all, Debbie

Look what I WON!!

2009-07-27T19:00:00.001-04:00

Cindy at Applestone Cottage is always doing a giveaway on her blog … and Lucky Me won one of her fabulous gifts.

A Gift within a gift..

Look at this beautiful gift bag.. isn’t it just darling with the lil birdies and their sweet lil home. My first thought was.. “Now how did that Cindy know I loved Birds so much”.. I shouldn’t be surprised because Cindy is one of the most faithful attentive Bloggers out there. As if her Blog wasn’t treat enough.... she faithfully leaves the best most sweetest comments all over Blogland. I’m so fortunate to have surrounded myself around good ole folks like y’all and Cindy… and I thank God daily for blessing me with all the friends I’ve made here.

Here it is.. My Beautiful Teapot! Isn’t she absolutely darling!! Don’t cha just love that color blue and that pearlized finish.

Cindy also sent me this sweet lil chippy butterfly votive holder!

The moment I saw the picture of it on her Blog I knew it’d go perfectly with my Somerset China.. But Guess What…

It goes great with everything!!

I feel a grand tablescape coming up..

Even the backside is beautiful!

I’ve had so much fun & delight playing with my new teapot..My husband told me I was like a kid with a new toy.. Well Duh! Can ya blame me. Thank You so much Cindy, I can honestly say it’s the greatest gift I’ve ever won!

Now, if you’re one of those few that haven’t had the pleasure of getting to know Cindy at Applestone Cottage… You’ve been missing out.. Now here’s your chance… Head on over and introduce ya’selves. You’ll be glad ya did! Just click on her precious photo below and you’re there.

Blessed Hugs, Debbie

Thrifty Treasures.. July 09

2009-07-26T17:00:00.000-04:00

Yard Sale Deals for July..

Money is always very tight around this time of year with back to school just around the corner.. You all know it costs a small fortune for those school supplies… so I only got to go to a couple of Yard Sales this past month. Here are a few things that I picked up.

First Yard Sale..

Best Friends Picture Frame.. $.50
Black Digital Camera Case.. $.50
3 Piece Black Velvet Cosmetic Bags.. $2.00

This will be perfect for Ashley’s room.. fits her black & white theme.. holds a 4x6 photo.

3 Piece Black Velvet Cosmetic Bags.. These are brand spankin new!!! They’re a lil dusty and covered in lint.. but nothing a lint roller can’t correct.

These darling Xhilaration Target Brand heels came from the same yard sale.. $2.00

Not a single mark on them.. I can’t even tell they were worn.

Mossimo Target Brand Pumps.. a few scuffs on them. $2.00.

I actually looked these up on Target’s website.. they were listed for $26.99 and are now on clearance for $13.50. I did GREAT on these.. they’ll be great this fall & winter.

Second Yard Sale:

Only picked up 2 items this weekend.. both pieces are iron with the Fleur-de-lis and from the same sale.

I love this Fleur-de-lis Cross.. it has multiple color shades.. I’m going to leave this one it’s original colors. $1.00.

Fleur-de-lis 4 tier vertical wall plate rack.. $2.00.

I’m undecided on this one .. I’m thinking black would be better with my decor.. but I do love this rustic color.

Total for month of July: $10.00 !! Not Bad.. Not Bad at all!

Be sure to visit Rhoda and all those showing off their goodies this week at Southern Hospitality. Also if you haven’t heard.. Rhoda has a new web address.. which is where she’ll be doing all her posting from here on.

Click Here for Southern Hospitality’s New Page.

Have a Great Week Y’all! Hugs, Debbie

Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday.. Welcome Home Outdoors

2009-07-22T18:06:00.001-04:00

Last Friday Ashley returned from her last week of Camp for the Summer.. Since she had been begging to dine outdoors and the weather here in Atlanta was sooooooooo nice on Saturday I decided to grant her wish.

My Lil Honoree For today’s Tablescape & Dinner

Welcome Home BabyGirl

My pretty ceramic umbrella vase was a casualty of a really bad storm we had here earlier this summer so I needed to come up with something .. I had this old basket that fit the ticket.. I gave it a quick coat of white spray paint.. then had Jeff make me a starter hole. The wooden bottom was really thin and very easy to cut.. I used tin snips .. only took a couple of minutes an viola I had a perfect size hole for the umbrella to slip down through.

Perfect for today’s outdoor table setting.. Sunflowers. Those silk sunflowers are really getting a workout this month.

Red & White Napkins … Home from Target
Red & White Table Cloth.. Target. Got this one on clearance about 3 weeks ago for $2.50. It’s vinyl with a thick padding backer.
Black Metal Flower Napkin Rings.. Pier1
White Metal Pail.. Target $1.00 section *sprayed white was silver*

Red Stemware.. Target *purchased years ago*

Bordallo White Serving Bowl … Ross
Black Stand holding Serving Bowl … Pike Nursery. Purchased years ago.. was a citronella candle stand.

White Bird Salt & Pepper Shakers… Target *available item $4.99 set*

Metal Sun .. From Kirklands .. part of a 3-piece set.

Sunflower plate.. is by Boston Warehouse Trading Company.. picked that lil set up at Kroger… *Still available in some locations on clearance*
Red Sedona Plate.. Mainstay.. from Wal-Mart.
Red Mat Charger.. Wal-Mart.
Red Place Mats … Pier1
Cambridge Jubilee Yellow Flatware… from Ross.

Green Square Charger… Target *recent purchase*

Watermelon… Georgia Grown from local produce stand.
It Was So GOOD!

As the sun sets… Skeeters start buzzing so for light and defense against those nasty lil blood suckers these lanterns perform double duty. I love that they don’t produce that nasty black stringy looking smoke.

The lanterns are from Walmart .. Set of 3 for $9.99.. they hold 3 small prefilled bottles of citronella oil with wick included.. extra bottles of oil can be picked up also at Walmart for $1.00 each.

Dinner was a lil late.. and darkness caught up with us. I removed the Sunflower centerpiece and added the napkins so we could see one another.

Sorry these aren’t the greatest looking photos.. I’m still learning the settings on this camera.. I don’t know if y’all have this same problem.. but alotta times it looks GREAT on the view screen on the camera but when I load it on my computer .. I get this blah looking thing. Anyways.. Hunger was getting the best of me…and I only took 3 photos. After viewing them and thinking I had some good shots… I devoured dinner.

Ashley’s Choice for the night.. Carb & Starch Overload

Ribeye Steaks … Well done
Pasta Salad.. for her
Grilled Vidalia Onions
Baked Potatoes.. for husband .. he’s a meat & potato boy!

And Yes … I served it on a clear dinner plate.. That way everyone can enjoy the beauty of the good stuff and I don’t worry about them cutting into that steak and scratching the Melamine.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit today.. All of your visits & wonderful comments mean the world to me. I also wish to thank Our Hostesses Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch and Gollum @ Designs By Gollum.. for always graciously hosting these fun and entertaining blogland events. They have both inspired so many of us to be creative wonders in creating our tables both with beautiful dishes and delicious tasty foods.

Be sure to click on the buttons below to visit each of them and all those participating in today’s party.

God Bless Everyone! … Hugs Debbie

Jadehollow

Scavenger Hunt ..

Outdoor Wednesday .. Archery Season Is Upon Us

Tablescape Thursday .. Hot Summer Day

Outdoor Wednesday .. Spirit

Tablescape Thursday .. Imperfections July 2011

Outdoor Wednesday .. Prom 2011

Life.. Rescue.. Love.. Loss

2011 Georgia Snow

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Tablescape Thursday .. Christmas Tea II

Outdoor Wednesday .. First Snow of 2010

BlogHop .. 2010 Best Wishes

Met Monday … Candelabra Makeover

Tablescape Thursday .. Christmas Tea 09

Outdoor Wednesday … Ella Belle in the Fall

Outdoor Wednesday .. The Flood 09

Happy Halloween

Tablescape Thursday … Chicken Ware

Met Monday & Thrifty Treasures

Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday.. Goodwill dishes

We Will Always Remember

Outdoor Wednesday … New Babies

Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday .. Chargers & Silver

Outdoor Wednesday .. Big Haynes Creek Wildlife Festival

Blog Hop .. Baby Pictures

Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday .. Tomatoes & Apostle Glasses

Blog Hop .. Funny Picture

Tablescape Thursday.. Wisteria Dinnerware

Outdoor Wednesday .. Backyard Hummers

Blog Hop .. Favorite Recipes Part II Grilled Tenderloin

Not Me Monday

Thrifty Treasures & Met Monday

Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday … Tea for Two

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

Outdoor Wednesday … Komatsu

A Fifi Flowers Design Original.. My Table for One Tablescape

Blog Hop ..Encouragement

Heirloom Party

Happy Birthday Robynn

Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday … Stuffed Shells

China by: FINE CHINA OF CHINA .. Pattern: FCC179

Description: Gold Trim, Yellow & Blue Edge, Floral Swags.

Ingredients

Outdoor Wednesday … Outdoor Education.

Blog Hop … Favorite Child Photos

Look what I WON!!

Thrifty Treasures.. July 09

Yard Sale Deals for July..

Money is always very tight around this time of year with back to school just around the corner.. You all know it costs a small fortune for those school supplies… so I only got to go to a couple of Yard Sales this past month. Here are a few things that I picked up.

First Yard Sale..

Best Friends Picture Frame.. $.50

Black Digital Camera Case.. $.50

3 Piece Black Velvet Cosmetic Bags.. $2.00

This will be perfect for Ashley’s room.. fits her black & white theme.. holds a 4x6 photo.

3 Piece Black Velvet Cosmetic Bags.. These are brand spankin new!!! They’re a lil dusty and covered in lint.. but nothing a lint roller can’t correct.

These darling Xhilaration *Target Brand* heels came from the same yard sale.. $2.00

Not a single mark on them.. I can’t even tell they were worn.

Mossimo *Target Brand* Pumps.. a few scuffs on them. $2.00.

I actually looked these up on Target’s website.. they were listed for $26.99 and are now on clearance for $13.50. I did GREAT on these.. they’ll be great this fall & winter.

I love this Fleur-de-lis Cross.. it has multiple color shades.. I’m going to leave this one it’s original colors. $1.00.

Fleur-de-lis 4 tier vertical wall plate rack.. $2.00.

I’m undecided on this one .. I’m thinking black would be better with my decor.. but I do love this rustic color.

Total for month of July: $10.00 !! Not Bad.. Not Bad at all!

Be sure to visit Rhoda and all those showing off their goodies this week at Southern Hospitality. Also if you haven’t heard.. Rhoda has a new web address.. which is where she’ll be doing all her posting from here on.

Tablescape Thursday & Foodie Friday.. Welcome Home Outdoors

These darling Xhilaration Target Brand heels came from the same yard sale.. $2.00

Mossimo Target Brand Pumps.. a few scuffs on them. $2.00.