Happy New Year 2012!

For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.  And to make an end is to make a beginning...  T.S. Eliot

So What Did You Do New Year's Eve?

Were you in the city that never sleeps?

With loved ones...

 just chillin...

 get all gussied up for a night out....

 party with friends....

Let your kids entertain you...

Go to the party at the VFW..

However you decided to spend your New Year's Eve, 

Here's wishing you a....

Happy 2012!

  Gone are the regrets of things not done in 2011!

Here's to a path lined with stars to take you places you've never been...to wonders never experienced... success like you could never imagine.... a world filled with love, hope, peace, joy and gratitude with all the people you love and hold dear.....

(all photos courtesy of Pinterest)

The new year always brings the gift of hope...


Thank You for reading my blog this year! I feel so blessed to have made some really special friendships with some really special people!  God puts us in each others paths for a reason...

What Are You Doing On The Last Day of The Year?

 My Parents Have Always Said..

Get Up Early, Work Hard and Don't Waste Time

 You Can Never Get It Back...

VIA

So What are You Doing This New Year's Eve?


i'm off to the grocery to for ingredients to make:


Bill Neal's Shrimp & Grits

Hopping John

I have my collards, pork roast and rolls!


Tomorrow we feast!

Are You GGR or a UGR?

Remembering the Patti LaBelle song 

"I've Got a New Attitude"

 I am going to harp a little on thoughts I have about gift giving and receiving.  I promise this is a one time slap on the wrist..

 I always listen to Martha Stewart Living on Sirius radio when in my car.  Yes,  I admit it!  I'm addicted.  From the design wizard Kevin Sharkey to Whatever's Jennifer Hutt, I love them all.  Anyway, I was listening one day to one of the shows and it was about asking for gift cards.  Not sure who was hosting, but they said that asking for a gift card was like saying, "you are incapable of buying me a gift, so just give me a gift card".   

Sorry, if you like gift cards, but I have to agree.  Whatever happened to the real meaning of gift giving?  You know what I am talking about?  The ole "It's the thought that counts."   The older I get, the more I am aware of people young and old, who want to give you a list of exactly what they want for Christmas!  It seems the real reason for gift giving has been lost in the shuffle.  I don't know if this has been borne from people being busy and not wanting to really spend time shopping or thinking about a gift or if we are really so selfish that we aren't happy unless we get that perfect gift?  What did we do to deserve a perfect gift?  How much did we do for the gift giver?  Are we worthy of their gifts?  Are we worthy of the time it took them to go buy the gifts?  I don't' know about you folks, but if I can't go pick out a gift for you on my own without being told what to buy, then I don't need to be buying you a gift! (Quote from the Martha Stewart Sirus talk show) I'm a little mad at myself that I have fallen prey to the notion that I have to ask people what to buy them for fear they won't like the gift.  I call bull ---- on that this year once and for all.  From now on I am going to throw caution to the wind and buy the gifts I want to give to the people on my list.  So all you out there on my list, watch out for next year....

Which leads me to my next soapbox.... 

Are You a Good Gift Receiver or an Ungrateful Gift Receiver?

In this world of material goods, we all have more than we need.  Gone are the times of people actually getting a gift they really need.  Gifts today are more about being remembered, than about what we need or want.  After all, if there is something we want, we just go buy it right?   How do you respond when you get a gift you don't want?  Are you gracious?  Do you let the person know that they didn't please you? 

FYI!!!

It is BAD MANNERS to let the gift giver know you don't like their gift!!!

  Some people relish "putting the gift down" even when the gift is very nice.  This says more about their emotional state than it does the gift given or the gift giver.  Do they realize this? Must not, so here is my suggestion of how to respond to your gifts.

No matter what the gift is, say "Thank You"!  If you don't like the gift, the giver should never be told.   If there is a gift receipt, you can return the gift and the giver never has to know.  If there isn't a gift receipt you have two options.  You can tell the gift giver you need the receipt to exchange the size (again allowing the gift giver to think the gift is acceptable, while creating the option for returning it or you can donate it to charity.   People who didn't get anything for Christmas will love your rejected gift.     

Years later you may not remember the gift you gave, but you will always remember how the person receiving the gift made you feel if they were ungrateful.  

Christmas is a state of mind.  It is about giving not receiving.

It is the thought that counts if you don't believe this you need to play Patti LaBelle's song over and over til next Christmas....

The Reception

Today's Post is part 2 of "Brittany's Wedding"

The Reception the day before....

It all started with this big ole tent....

Details of flowers sprinkled all along the landscape...

Up and down the steps...

Whiskey barrels lining the path from the cocktail tent to the reception.  

This was before the lanterns were added...

Father of the bride working diligently to get all the details done.  

This is the cocktail shed the during setup...See the chandelier...

The stag horn chandelier...

Setting up the furniture...

Directional signs made by a friend of the bride's mom..

Her name is Bill and boy! is she talented...

Reception sign made of chalk...

The favors of homemade apple jelly for the guests....

The bride loves her grandmother's homemade apple jelly so several family members used the recipe and made these small jars for favors with the bride and grooms initials on top...

Inside the tent the day before.  

Before the flowers, draping, table decorations,etc..

After...

Beautiful centerpieces with candles and flowers.

The bride is not fond of greenery so there was very little greenery

but Belles of Ireland added just the right greenery touch!

White flowers in every variety ...

Stations of food in every corner with delicious foods...

Handsome boys...

Farm tables with tablescapes...

The fabulous band who entertained for hours...

I wish I had a better picture of the mother of the bride who was the master planner of this beautiful event....

 Mother and Father of the bride...

The flower girl and the Jr Groomsmen...

Beautiful people

Grandparents of the bride and groom..

The bride and groom enter...

The first dance which would be the beginning of many more fun times...

It was a night that typically only fairytales of made of but we all know that this bride and groom will live happily ever after...

There were many more fun things that I didn't get photos of like the old timey coke machine and the antique truck, photo booth and more.  It was truly a special event!

Kate Middleton had nothing on Britt....

Before 2011 slips away, I want to share another royal wedding with you.  My niece Brittany was married in October to her long time beau, Reed.  The  reception was on the family hunting preserve. 

Since the wedding had so many great details, I am going to do several posts on this event.  Here goes post #1

  The grand entrance...

The wedding party arriving via beautiful red carriage driven by eight grey clydesdale horses! It was breath taking to see those horses in person with that beautiful red wagon arriving with the bridesmaids, groomsmen, children and the bride and groom.

Here are the bride and groom riding on the back.  She was absolutely beautiful even if she is my niece!  Her dress was simple but elegant and so her.  The bridesmaids wore sand colored dresses Everyone changed into cowboy boots for the reception at the farm.

You can see the guest as they peeped through the window of the shed to see the carriage arriving with the wedding party.

 The cocktail hour at the shed where we were entertained by a bluegrass band and were served sweet potato fries, shrimp and tomato bisque in shot glasses, cheddar ham biscuits and bacon and tomato in mushroom caps!  

Guests leaving the cocktail hour and walking down the whiskey lined path to the reception...

Pansey and Sophie Ivana Trump at the cocktail hour....

(This is Brittany's dog)

Stay tuned for the reception....