Spoolie Swap!

I participated in the Valentine Spoolie Swap hosted by Sue, who blogs at It's A Very Cherry World.......and guess who my partner was???

If you guessed the hostess, Sue, you were right!

So nicely wrapped, and a vintage Hallmark paper coaster too!!  I do love the vintage paper coasters!

I just love this Spoolie!! How did Sue know that I am the queen?? Has she been talking to my family???

Love the vintage trim, and the glittered heart! So cute!! 

I continue to be amazed at the talented ladies in blogland!

Sue also included in the package a Valentine Tea Towel, a soap with a wonderful flower embellishment on the top and a shadow box!

Isn't this the best?  

Love the details around the window!

Sue, thank you for being such a great swap partner, you took good care of me with all your special touches!

This is a picture of the Spoolie I sent Sue.  I included a few other Valentine treats for Sue, but as often happens with me, I forgot to take pictures!

Things are getting back to normal here at the Xavier Ct. House.....my daughter and granddaughter flew back to Arizona yesterday. Today is the day for putting Miss M's toys away, and getting the bedding and towels washed.

Happy day off!!

chris

A Valentine From An Imaginary Friend!

A couple of weeks ago, my imaginary friend, Tammy, sent me a Valentine!

But.....

I did not get it until Monday night......Tammy sent an email asking if I'd gotten it....she couldn't remember if she'd mailed it. You know how it is...we all have so much going on!  When I saw her email I knew what had happened....the neighbors around the block have the same house number as we do and sometimes our mail gets delivered to there. I went over and guess what????  They had my Valentine!  They apologized for not bringing it over sooner but they'd been on vacation for almost a month!

Wouldn't that be nice!

Tammy and I were partners in a Christmas swap a couple of years ago and have kept in touch.  Every once in awhile a package shows up in my mailbox......or an unexpected email is delivered to my inbox.

"Hey imaginary friend", what's new?  Just checking in...

What a sweetie!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, blog pals are the best!!

I'm behind I sharing my valentine swaps, I will try and get a post up tomorrow and one Sunday..

My oldest daughter and my grand Miss Margaret have been here for a week....I've been enjoying my time with my girls from Arizona! Between going to the park everyday and the library for toddler story time and crafts, there hasn't been much time for blogging!

Happy Valentine's Day!

chris

No Tea Party!

Our Valentine Tea that was scheduled for this past Saturday had to be cancelled!

Our hostess and her family came down with the stomach flu......so no Valentine Tea.

We missed seeing each other, but no one wants to get sick and no one who is sick wants to host a tea party!

I spent my time Saturday, putting a few Valentine's out.

I did a few smaller vignettes...In the past I would decorate my sideboard, but one of our girls gave us her flat panel TV, (who could say no to a gift like that), but it did not fit in our entertainment center and I ended up using my sideboard for the TV.

I may still switch things around but I did not want to buy something for the flat panel just to buy....one, I didn't really want to spend the money. and two, I couldn't find something that I just loved!

Valentine's from previous swaps! 

Love unpacking the Valentine box!  So much fun to look at such wonderful creations!

A favorite Valentine of mine.....one my Dad gave to my Mom!

I've seen some wonderful Valentine displays on other blogs! 

I decide to go with simple displays this year, just don't have quite the energy to get to put out too much. Work is very busy, and it feels like I just got Christmas put away!

Are you doing much Valentine decorating this year?

chris

You're Invited!!

To a Valentine Tea!!

Aren't these the cutest invitations? The invitation maker out did herself!

I wasn't sure what food item I was going to bring, so I looked through the recent edition of Tea Time magazine for ideas.

I choose the Salmon Mousse Tea sandwiches!
Something different, and a little bit pink for the holiday!

Don't they look delicious???

chris

We Are Planning A Wedding!!!

Daughter number four, Miss Liz has announced her engagement to a wonderful young man!!

We couldn't be happier!!

 Liz's future in laws live in Incline Village Nevada. Rob grew up in Incline Village.....the neighbors across the street offered their house on the Lake for the wedding.....as you can imagine Liz and Rob jumped at the chance!

It was cold,raining and windy on Lake Tahoe last Saturday!
I know the sun will be shining in August when the kids get married!

The reception will be across the street at Rob's parents house. Cocktail hour in the front yard and dinner will be in the backyard.

Our planning is moving right along....we have a photographer, and Liz has picked out her wedding dress. I went to Reno this past weekend to meet with a caterer. We loved them and are on their calendar!

So much effort goes into planning a wedding......

And I love every minute of it!

chris

Finished Quilts!

I worked on two quilts this holiday season....one was a baby quilt and one was a Christmas quilt for Miss Margaret.

Years ago I bought a few panels of fabric because I loved the Santa's on it and I loved the sayings.

Of course I never did anything with panels...until this year when I decided to make a Christmas quilt for Miss M.  

I choose bright red, white and gray fabric for the borders. I used a Christmas red minky fabric for the back.

I loved the fabric I choose for the new baby! I didn't know if it was a boy or a girl...so I need something generic.

I guess I should take a picture before I sew the rows together, I am just noticing a mistake in the first two rows... I'm off with the design.....Oh well, it gives it a little personality right?

chris

Where Does it Go?

Can you believe 2013 is gone and 2014 is here?

My folks always said time flies.....I guess they really knew what they were talking about.....

It sure does!

 Mr. Math is visiting our Miss Margaret in Phoenix and my local girls had big plans to spend New Year's Eve in San Francisco.

Love these images....not sure how old these noisemakers are, I found them in a box of my mom's stuff....

I think the one looks like Carmen Miranda....and how much fun is the couple having!

I had a quiet evening, dinner and a movie I'd taped earlier but hadn't had time to watch....one of my Christmas favorites....Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck as the Martha Stewart of the 1940's...well sort of a pretend Martha Stewart .......the excitement of the evening was calming down my two pooches when neighbors set off firecrackers at midnight.

I know a lot of folks pick a word for the year.....I have never done that....but this year if I was going to choose a word it would be......


ME

My plan for 2014 is to make time for myself.......spending more time at the YMCA working out, and joining weight watchers.

I'm also planning on taking a beginning quilting class....I consider myself to be sort of a beginner and a half quilter....I have a few weakness when it comes to quilting...I tend to feel rushed, I need to be a better cutter, and I need help with sewing triangles, my points are always just a little off....I'm a visual learner and thought a class would be helpful.

It is funny how the start of a new year makes me feel....a bit like I have a new opportunity to start fresh!

Cheers to a wonderful and exciting 2014!!

chris