A couple of hostess gifts!

It isn't Christmas without getting invited somewhere for dinner or drinks.  This year was no exception particularly because my daughter and husband were away.

I'm not usually a last minute person but I'm becoming one; and because I hate arriving empty handed I wondered what I could take to both a dinner and a drink party that I could do quickly but would be appreciated.  I had four pieces of Christmas fabric in the closet - how about napkins.

I cut each one 18" square and simply serged the ends.

Done

and Done (this set is wrapped with a doggie scarf for Whiskey)!

And yes, Kenzie got in on this one too (but after I finished sewing this time)

Christmas Dinner with Friends!

Cheryl and Dave moved here about a year ago from Toronto; Dave is from Edmonton, Cheryl is from Toronto.  He tried to live in her world but was just too sad being away from the weather here (I guess - I can't imagine what else could have brought him back here . . . oh yes, sorry I got distracted . . . he wanted his old job back) . . . and because my daughter and hubby are going to the Bahamas for Christmas, I need someone to eat with (and decorate the table for)!

Jysk here I come . . . I have a budget of $20 to decorate the table . . . can I do it . . . well OF COURSE I can . . . here's what I bought.

Four turquoise charger plates; three glass dove/pigeon candle holders; and three butterflies (that I think I can work with).

here's what I already had:  white plates (they are a must for everyone's arsenal of dishes), cutlery, napkins, napkin rings, jewels and mercury glass containers (gawd I'm having da je vous right now - I feel like I've blogged this already . . . must have done so in my sleep).

Put it all together and this is what you come up with.  Just had to purchase a couple of white flowers, severely cut them down and I think it is fantistically beautiful.

This was before dinner (Kenzie loves Dave)

This is Dave after dinner because he thought it was cold in my house (you can't see the pashmina around his neck)

This is the lovely Cheryl writing in my Guest Book!

Window and a Mirror Christmas Decore

Obviously I am not bored.  I saw this really cool idea on Pinterest where you take ripped pieces of fabric and tie them on to twinkle lights . . . four pieces of 1 yard each of fabric in all the colours of my living room, a string of lights, an hour in front on the TV and it's done!

And because I have some left over strips of fabric I decide to wrap it around a foam wreath and wrap that with a piece of left over pom pom and bell string from last year's gift wrap!

I think it's complete now!

Can't wait to decorate the table for Christmas Dinner with friends!

And the tree is up!

Last year I didn't even put the tree up . . . I was a little embarrased that I hadn't but no one seemed to mind the two dishes full of decorations just to TRY and be festive.

This year (and I never decorate until after I celebrate my birthday) I was gung-ho.

Four things - the tree, a few odd trees I've collected over the past three years, a dish with all of the decorations that couldn't fit on the tree, and another LARGE vase full of some more decorations and twinkle lights - I think it's enough (for now)!

Thank God for Vacations!

Today is Friday, and I just got home for what will begin 15 glorious days of not having to go in to the office every day.

Uncle Daniel and Auntie Mary-Ann have arrived from Chenamius, BC and I I thought I was putting the BBQ on . . . AND I have some Sangria cooling in the fridge just waiting to be drank but they're not going to arrive until Saturday now . . . so I guess the fruit ferments and I rest up!

They've advised they will be here for lunch on Saturday . . . I decided to make a beautiful salad

fruit tray

hummus and guacamole

and toasted bread with garlic olive oil

. . .  Doesn't it look yummy?

And I've decorated the table - this time I just ran around the house looking for things that would go with the tablecloth I'd chosen - it's fun to do that now and again so make use of your stuff by just thinking outside the box and going for it!

I'll be blogging quite a bit over the next two weeks so you'll want to stay tuned - I have a LONG list of things I want to accomplish AND I'd like to take a quick trip to Radium but that isn't confirmed yet . . . I'll keep you all posted.

For now - I get to sleep in tomorrow.

Company's Coming

Company's coming and I've decorated the table - this time I just ran around the house looking for things that would go with the tablecloth I'd chosen - it's fun to do that now and again so make use of your stuff by just thinking outside the box and going for it!

I'll be blogging quite a bit over the next two weeks so you'll want to stay tuned - I have a LONG list of things I want to accomplish AND I'd like to take a quick trip to Radium but that isn't confirmed yet . . . I'll keep you all posted.

For now - I get to sleep in tomorrow, and the next day and the next day! ! !

Wine and Cheese

I kind of love entertaining - and I say kind of because I only like doing it when I have time and I don't feel pressured . . . plus the cost some times can be daunting . . . so for a nice Sunday afternoon wine and cheese this is what I did . . .

I started with flowers from my yard (Iris and Lupin)



Can you spot the bee - what were the chances of that happening when I was shooting!

Add some wine . . . well Sangria . . . two kinds; a red wine version and a rose wine version!

Red Wine version - one 750 ml bottle of red wine, two cups of cranberry/blueberry juice (diet), one/half cup of triplesec and one cup of sparkling water - I used orange and lemon wedges for this one; I also made up another batch WITHOUT the sparkling water and mixed that in after the first batch was empty.

Rose Wine version - one 750 ml bottle of rose wine, one/half cup of peach schnapps, two cups of sparkling water and fresh sliced peaches and quartered strawberries.

For the non alcoholic drink I made sparkling water with lime wedges and quartered strawberries - it was delicious!

And a Cheese tray . . . I used Brie, Gouda, Gold, Cranberry Goat, Blue and some other kind I can't remember.  I also had grapes and two small square dishes (one with dried fruit and the other with wasabi peas, chick peas and peanuts) all sitting on a piece of slate.  That together with three types of crackers and it was absolutely demolished by the end of the afternoon (unfortunately I think I ate all of the blue and my friend ate all of the brie)!

That my dear people is a party!  Thanks to all who attended - it was a LOT of fun!

TOTAL COST:  About $125.00 (wine included) WORTH EVERY PENNY! And it served 13 people just nicely for an afternoon get together.