New Years Eve

Almost 2010!
This is an antipasta platter I put together for a party.
Hot peppers, mozzarella balls, grape tomatoes, prosciutto, salami and olives.
Perfect for New Years Eve parties!

Snowy White Morning

There has been a lot of snow here. I took these the other morning just as the sun was coming up.
The sky turned pink, and the fresh snow coated all trees. Not a fan of snow, but this was very pretty.

Linked up to A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday,
and Faded Charm's White Wednesday.

More Christmas Presents - Wizard of Oz

This present is one that I gave. It is a set of pewter Wizard of Oz thimbles. It was for someone who loves Wizard of Oz, and who highly prefers antique or vintage items. These aren't antiques, but could possibly be considered vintage, I believe they are 80's.
I found them on ebay, while searching for unique gifts.
These are the Ruby Red Slippers.
The Wicked Witch flying on her broomstick.
Toto in a basket, the house and tornado on the thimble area.
The Emerald City of Oz, with emerald green stones (they didn't photograph well, but are very bright green).
And the wizard himself - not a thimble, just a figure - with an emerald green belt.
They are incredibly detailed. I had never seen them before, and they were a big hit!

Christmas Gifts!

I received some really amazing Christmas gifts this year.
My sister gave me these adorable measuring cups, in the shape of cats!
I am a pretty big fan of cats, and cooking, so I just love these. They will sit out on the counter.
I also received a variety of antique/vintage reference books. Yesterday's Silver for Today's Table is one of my favorite books about antique flatware and serving pieces. I rented it from the library all the time, now I have my very own copy!
I love costume jewelry, but know very little about it. I'm excited to learn more from Costume Jewelry 303.
Vintage Fashion Accessories is all about hats, scarves, purses, jewelry. Again, I love all these things, but don't really know too much about them.
Good Better Best is a great book with all sorts of antique tips - what to look for.
Can't wait to read all of them.
More on presents later...

White Christmas

We've had a very White Christmas here.
A blizzard came through yesterday.
It's been snowing for most of the day...and more is on the way.
I think we've had about a foot so far.
Hope everyone had a very merry christmas!!

Merry Christmas!

White Wednesday... Christmas Almost Here

Since this is the last White Wednesday before Christmas this year, I rounded up any white Christmas decor I had not already photographed! Above is an oversize glass ball covered in lace.
This vintage white lace table cloth matches the ornament. This will be used for Christmas dinner.
A few carolers/angels.
And of course, the angel who sits atop the tree.
This should be a true White Wednesday in my area, as well as a White Christmas, a blizzard is headed straight for us!
Merry Christmas!

Linked to White Wednesday, hosted by Faded Charm.

Vintage Christmas

Christmas is almost here!
This is a buffet with vintage silver glass Christmas trees, and white candles.
A very old, very heavy iron Christmas tree stand.
A manger, also very old. My grandfather made this.
Some of the manger people and animals have seen better days. They have been played with, knocked over by cats, stepped on, but they still look great.

And a little Christmas village.
Merry Christmas!

Linked up to Vintage Christmas, hosted by Anything Goes Here.

Christmas Dessert Buffet

I set up this dessert buffet for a recent Holiday dinner party. I wanted to use some of my favorite vintage serving pieces to highlight the goods.
A red glass spooner holds the pastry forks. Another pressed glass spooner holds the candy canes.
Glass pedestal cake plates hold the chocolate hazelnut mini cakes, and the Christmas cookies.
Since the cakes are covered in ganache, they are a little messy. I sat each one on a tiny plate to make it easier to pick up.
These are the little plates. They are marked, Made in Occupied Japan, probably part of a saucer set, but I only have the plates - perfect for this dessert since they are so small.
I topped the cakes with a hazelnut dipped in caramelized sugar, then hung upside down to form the sugar streams.
Two small pressed glass dishes hold a variety of candy, and in the back battery operated candles give a little extra light.

Linked up to Show and Tell Friday, hosted by My Romantic Home.

Christmas Surprise Basket

A Christmas surprise! In the mail the other day came a giant box, inside the box was this amazing basket. It was a gift from one of my best pals - she writes the always fascinating blog OctoberFarm. She is well known for her fantastic giveaways, which sometimes are baskets filled with goodies from her travels.
She has been traveling in the Northeast lately, and most of the basket items are from that area.
This basket was wrapped up so beautifully, and of course I started to rip into it before remembering to grab a camera. But I stuck it back together for a few shots.
The basket was overflowing.
This is a witch hat, apron and pot holders, she had these handmade in Massachusetts. The black and white fabrics are the stunning.
Amazing smelling soy candles, bread mix, caramel candy.
Buckwheat honey, jams, beautiful tea towels.
Grape juice concentrate, a vintage University of Minnesota flag found in an antique store.
Upstate New York Maple Syrup, Cranberry Bog Frogs.

This gorgeous Santa ornament was wrapped on the bow of the basket.
Preserves and fruit spreads from Hurd Orchards, in Western NY.
Maple malt balls.
Sugarplum candy.

Most. Amazing. Basket. Ever.

I can't believe she fit all of these amazing things into one basket!!
And even a makeshift cat bed for this guy.
Thank you OctoberFarm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you haven't stopped by OctoberFarm, you must go now! She is currently having one of her unbelievable giveaways, but it ends soon!