Thanks Dragonfly, I love the foliage on the last picture, bottom left hand of the picture. Only problem is that we don't know what it is. It came from the woman I got the plant stand from. She had over 400 violets upon her death and was known as the violet lady for over 20 years. The sticker on the pot says, "Astro" but we (almost everyon in our local society) haven't been able to identify it or find that name. I'm hoping it will bloom in the next few weeks to give us a clue to who s/he is. She had some varieties that were neither registered with AVSA or the DAVS (to which she was a longtime member) but which she grew and shared as belonging to her. Dora

Renee: The alyssum never flowers that long and when the flowers are gone, the foliage is somewhat like coreopsis foliage only a dusty grey/green. I've had it for years but it has never done as well as this year. Aquawise: I looked up the Kochii iris and I think you are right. Thanks ladies. Marg

Thank you for all your kind words. It means a lot to me. I do have to chuckle at myself, though. I got my dates off with everyone home for so many days over the holidays. *Yestereday* was Twelfth Night, not today! I do know that it's the 6th, but thought that today was the 6th! Oh well. Syble: Yes, my good friend is a great crafter. She's made me many decs over the years, including the two Christmas Bear candy jars that you can see next to the kitchen sink. Jaybird: too funny! I'd forgotten how late you were posting last year's Christmas pics. We can be The Late Team here ;^D Luckygal: thanks for your comps and for the link, too. As for the painting on the antique window in my powder room, it's a piece I bought from an artist here many years ago. It's a reverse painting of three santos (saints). I LOVE paintings on old windows, and paintings and photos of interesting windows, as well. I wonder what some psychiatrist would say about us because of that(LOL)? Milosmom: thank you, that's such a sweet thing to say! DG: Now you can see why your wonderful tablescape using your own Christmas village pieces excited and inspired me so much. I'm already planning on using some of my pieces next year on a holiday table. What a great idea, DG! Phonegirl: thanks, I'm loving those dishes, too. They look so cozy and honey to me. Karen, I'm glad my pics aren't too late, thanks! I do love our family tree. I should have included a pic of the F-P "ornaments". They really are cute. I'm glad you remembered that it was Luvs who alerted us about the cardinals. I'll thank her in a minute, as I love how great they work on my mantel. As for your Christmas Village, maybe we can both try using some of our pieces in a tablescape, a la DreamGoddess', next year. Gosh, that was a great table idea! Kathleen: thanks! Will you give us a little seminar someday soon on photographing tablescapes? Either here or on your blog? I do remember you telling me to use a tripod. I need to do that, as many of my pics were blurry again this year. Any more helpful hints would be MUCH appreciated! Jeanne: I'm glad you and others here can appreciate our Southwestern decorating. I can imagine how different it could look to people not from here. As for my newest Phil Sonier photo, we're really enjoying it. This is the one Coldwater Creek used on it's catalogs for years. Phil told me that he actually saw it on a billboard advertising CWC when he was in Kenya once! That's a loooong way from Albuquerque! When it first came out on CWC, there was this big debate as to whether it was a wolf or a bear. I knew right away, but Phil confirmed it to me himself . . . it's a wolf. Luvs: and thank you for the great heads up on those cardinals! What a great buy for so little money. Yes, it was the best gift to have our DS home with us over Christmas. I miss him already. Jane: your compliments mean a lot to me, as I'm a huge fan of your own decorating and tablescaping talents. Thank you. OA: You can come anytime and be be a real guest here! "HL" is short for the store chain, Hobby Lobby. The Pecan Crusted Beef Tenderloins were fabulous. We found the recipe in Food & Wine. As for my trifle, no it's not hard, but it does take a while to get it all together. I first slice pound cake into long, thin, 1/4" slices and let them dry out a bit. Then I spread half of them with seedless raspberry jam, cover them with the other half and cut into 1" cubes. I sprinkle them with Marsala wine and then layer them in a large, footed, clear glass trifle bowl. The layers are the pound cake cubes, my homemade custard, fresh berries and tiny mint leaves, and broken (real, Italian) Amaretti cookies. I top it with mounds of fresh whipped cream, toasted slivered almonds, berries and mint leaves. Back in Victorian time, it was called a Tipsy Trifle because liquor was used in it. Anyhoo, it's wonderful and we all love it every Christmas Day dinner. Let me know if you ever want the recipe itself. Lynn

I like hot pink better too - but - until they bloom - you do not know if your starter will be on a darker shade - or on the paler shade. The pic I posted was a CHIMERA - a pinwheel mitation of this variety...very rare. Intense colored original - is hot pink and green gold frill. Very rich. Still cheaper than a Tesla. I would not be in a hurry to buy anything from eBay unless you live in a South and the seller in a South too. I went to see my Mom in a Senior living today... 2 hours later when I took off - 3 inches of snow on the growd and keeps coming, car is skidding, accidents all over the place.. it was a very long 10 mile drive. The idea of moving to FL seemed very very good...