Small town life sounds good to me. As does living in the country. We had a few acres when I had horses and other animals back in the 60s and 70's. Phoenix is soooo big, too much traffic, and I hate driving even if it didn't cause my leg to go on the warpath. I was born in a small town, in Ala. I don't really going places alone either, and won't go out at night except to family gatherings at one of my kids. I'm waiting the arrival of my toile plates I just bought. Tho heaven knows what I can find to do with them, but will try just because of all the support I've gotten here. Any table settings I do will be just for ONE, maybe two if you're lucky. LOL. I'm going to be a one-trick pony, sorry about that. I just can't do full tables for many reasons. I've been 'planning' my Christmas decor. Really planning this year. Thought it might take some of the load off me being so over-whelmed with it when I go to unpacking a zillion things in the middle of the floor while telling two cats NOT to help me. A zillion times! One sleepless night I started plotting different places to put things this year. I want my newly begun collection of Nutcrackers (started last year) pretty much together. But I think the purple one should go with the Santa. And I have two golf Santas and two golf Nutcrackers that should stay together. Last year they were with my two other special Nutcrackers, a policeman and a fireman. These have a lot of meaning! I'm going to put my Village in the antique china cabinet in my entry hall this time I think, instead of Painted Pony Cabinet in familyroom. Tho I still have to move over a 100 statues from BOTH. I was thinking of putting Xmas horses and reindeer in the pony cabinet. I have quite a few of both now. Anyway, its fun to mentally decorate. It also doesn't wear me out or hurt my body. LOL. I think I'll start my Village next week in fact. First I have to make room for all those dog statues to safely go on closet shelves for the next two months! Ugh. hugs, Karen

Gibby, what a great way to decorate your mantle shelf, I love the color scheme against your wood. Mrsmarv, your kitchen is too perfect for this season! It's great anytime, but decorated for Xmas, it's postcard perfect. I did a little bit of kitchen decorating tonight (finally). Bought a couple things at Walgreens (LOL!) that were on clearance on the way back from DD's Orthopedic Surgeon appt. The funny snowman cookie jar cheered us up! Then went to the market, and picked up the rest of my decorations: cranberries, cloves, and oranges. A few existing pieces I worked in and I think that's it for this year...unless I happen across the sale of the century! :-D Thanks to all those who have shared their wonderful photos, and a standing invitation to those who might still! Nat

I just tried a simmering potpourri for the first time and it made the whole house smell so Christmas-y! I had fresh peel from my breakfast orange, so I put it in a saucepan w/ water, a couple of broken up cinnamon sticks and a spoonful of whole cloves & put it on the stove over low heat. It's still going right now & I'll definitely do it again. I also get the free trimmings from HD and arrange them around the house, since our tree is vintage aluminum. They don't sell balsam, though & that's the most fragrant, IMO.

It varies. It used to be dictated by one sister because as she has children, any and all schedules MUST be convenient for them, (none of my other siblings are like this, they all have children and understand that they wont DIE if they are a little more hungry than usual at mealtime). My mother always complied because the rest of us are more flexible and it was easier, even though it ticked me off. And to make it worse, that sister and her family are always always always LATE, even when she picked the mealtime, and then she blames it on having 6 kids. Its a vicious cycle. Or it was. But, as all her kids are getting older, and admittedly, I have become more obstinate about it, it is more flexible.(They are still always late, by an hour or so) I remember growing up it was at 3 pm. Always. Why I am not sure. When i started cooking the meal,I was still living at home and therefore cooked the whole meal there. I could not (still cant) STAND people in the kitchen PICKING at things because they were hungry, and then when the meal was ready everyone was full. Now that i make most of the meal at my own home the day before, well, the meal is when i show up and finish it. So there. This year I am hoping my mother will agree that a 12-1 pm mealtime will be okay. I have to be at work at 5 am the next morning because someone is on vacation that week and i am to cover her shift that day. Day shifts are pretty rough on me, rougher than they have been in years past, and i find i need more rest beforehand than i used to to be useful. They live about 45 minutes away, and i will be there early to start the turkey and other things, So I am hoping to leave around 3, 4 at the latest, get home, and get into bed.Besides, I have always thought such a big meal should be eaten at midday, then the leftovers can be picked at later when everyone gets hungry again. The only obstacle would be the above mentioned sister, who will be bringing some sweet potato thing and corn casserole. Normally i cook everything. But no matter to me anyway. I have NO reservations about serving the meal at the time it was announced that it would be served,whether or not they and their dishes are there.. They can put a plate in the microwave to reheat it when they get there. And that system doesn't seem to bother them either. It used to. She really expected us to wait, all the food ready, for her to show up and put whatever in the oven and wait for it to be done to eat. Nope. She learned the hard way.