Thank you ladies! I really appreciate all your compliments and comments! I agree with patty-cakes and the idea inexpensive can be beautiful. I know so many of us strive for that when making our purchases...it makes it fun and we don't have to freak out if something gets broken which makes us use it instead of just storing it. I struggle with centerpieces usually because I am obsessed with sight-lines and not having people have to peer over something when talking across the table. This little tree even caused me angst and I had to get DS to sit down across from me many times...but even that wasn't a good measurement, as he is 6'2"!! LOL! DD

Cass, thank you! I wasn't sure about the reindeer with his nose in the air like that but went with it and I'm glad I did (adds character to the table lol!). It is hard when our kids can't be home for Christmas. I am fortunate that our DD's SO's parents also live in this town so when they do come home, it is to the same place. Susan, thanks! Poor you, I cannot imagine not seeing one of your children for 3 years!! That must have been very special this year when you did get some time with him. Lynn, thanks for your compliments! I am forcing myself to stay out of the stores now as I keep seeing so many 'ideas' for new Christmas tablescapes - if I give in, I will be Christmas decorating until summer! Karen, thank you! Wish you could have shopped with me as there were lots of those deer left at the local store. They were all in the same sitting position though or I may have gotten another one too. Kathleen, thanks, I appreciate your comments. I need to get "Great Buys" now as I have overdone it with the Christmas decor budget this year! Gail, thank you. The weather outside really cooperated for a good backdrop to my pics! Luvs, thanks so much! I "dream" of starting a blog but that is as far as it will get. I don't think I have enough to write about or enough time in the day to work on one. Maybe when I retire which is still a ways off.... dd50 - thank you! Glad you enjoyed the tablescape and the weather outside. Mo, thanks a lot! I always like to have individual candles at each place setting. Put those ones in the bowls but of course, not practical for the meal so had to move them beside the plates after the pic taking. Got four candles with rings for $3.50 so of course, bought two sets! I plan to put new candles in once the originals are gone. Patty-cakes, thanks! LOVE your description of "snooty" reindeer! Maybe I should make a crown for the deer! Both DD and her SO did appreciate the table but were probably expecting "nothing less" from me as DD is very used to my addiction! The chargers came from a local grocery store (small town, Canada) so unfortunately you prob can't find them. Work-in-progress, thank you! I am honoured to be an "inspiration" to anyone! twomonths, WOW!! You certainly have had a busy holiday season - it is hard to fit in special times with everyone once they are grown and going in different directions. You sure are trying though and hats off to you! I am honoured that you saved a copy of my pic for inspiration. Don't you love 75% off sales?!!! DD

This week I decided to add a little of Christmas whimsy with a touch of elegance to my Christmas in July Week 3 table. I am using a newly acquired set of dishes that I bought at Goodwill. These dishes had been there on the shelf for several months. I have to admit that I looked at them early on and thought they were cheesy Valentine's dishes. They were on a bottom shelf and stacked with dinner plates, salad plates and bowls on top. The top bowl was the one that is labeled Cupid. So, you see, I thought they were Valentine plates. I never bent down for a closer look since I thought they were a strange color for Cupid and Val Day. I wasn't even interested enough to pick one up. So there they stayed for months, just collecting dust. Last week the local Goodwill was cleaning and dusting and rearranging things and the set of dishes got moved up to a higher shelf. This time, I paused to look at the figure on the Cupid plate and realized that it was a reindeer! How could I have missed these? Well, I guess the important thing is that they were still there that day and now belong to my dish-ease! My friend from the Garden Web forum, Bettyd z7 va, recently used this term and I love it. I put a leaf in my table today to have a little more room. I really hate to hassle with them unless I have company. I am pleased that I chose to do this today. The tablecloth is an after Christmas clearance from Walmart in a gold color. I used a set of gold chargers with a scalloped edge that I think set off the plates nicely. I then layered the dinner plates with a bowl on top for salad and the dessert plate to the upper left of the setting. Here is the Blitzen place setting. I used an off-white set of napkins that features a gold glittery swirl and gold Christmas tree napkin rings with my everyday flatware. I really need to invest in a set of gold tone flatware! The gold stems were found at Big Lots in the spring and the clear goblets were another recent Goodwill find. For a centerpiece I added a glass gold star candy dish in the center of the table flanked by tall gold metal Christmas tree candlesticks and added a roll of gold lacy Christmas ribbon intertwined around the items. Rudolph Cupid Comet Blitzen Now if I just had the matching plates for Donner, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen I would have a great table to use every month on Rudolph Day on the 25th!

such pretty decorations! thefoxes - Love your home holiday decs, the chandelier (to die for, but I would not want to be the one in charge of keeping it clean:) looks awesome with the ribbons and vintage ornaments. Very pretty, I really like to see the unexpected or non-traditional colors in use. outside playing - lovely mantel. Loving the pheasant feathers on your wreath. @movin-on trying to checkout your pics, but your album looks to be password protected? Anyhoo, the others you posted were lovely. Can't remember who was asking about the camera settings. I have a DSLR along with a few other cameras (hobby, etc), and I think if you use the auto setting together with any anti-movement feature your camera may have (many do), you will be good to go. Apperature settings, f stops, etc. are fun and exciting to set, but you really need at least one primer class before fooling around with doing your own settings, unless you have lots of extra time to play. Should you have the time and inclination, there are so many effects you can get with manual settings. Can you tell I like photography? Wish I had more time to "play" with my camera. Thanks to everyone for sharing a peek into your homes and holiday decs, doggies, etc. What a happy thread for Christmas Eve morning. Merry Christmas!