Oh Kirk ~ ~ ~ As we said in the 60ies....... " OUT A SIGHT ! ! !" those sweet little critters.... are so dang lucky to live with you and Ms C...... their on the HOMESTEAD>>.... BEAUTIFUL ! ! ! Love the fence / with the critters..... LUCKY Little animals to have such a wonderful Heavenly HOME here on earth ! ! ! God Bless ! SusieSunshine

Thank you everyone! Before finding this place, I never really decorated for any holiday except Christmas. Ya'll have inspired me! Now if I could just find some more hiding places for the new stuff that somehow finds it's way home with me. My husband says that UPS and Fed Ex have their GPS coordinates set by the location of my house. LOL! Jane, I've discovered the trick for the candy. I just tell my family that they can eat all of it that they want and they don't touch it! But if I tell them "hands off" until after the holiday, they're constantly sneaking behind my back taking candy. Luvs, have you looked on ebay for a matching sugar and creamer for your teapot? Robins, I'm hoping to one day get rid of the hoosier. I live in an older home and that side of the kitchen has no cabinets. The house originally belonged to my husband's grandmother and she had her dining table sitting where I have the island. On the wall where I have the hoosier is where she had her china cabinet so that's why no cabinets. I've been not so subtly hinting to my husband that it's way past time to remodel the kitchen and put cabinets all around the room. I think he's ignoring me.

You never know what deals you might find! I haven't been going to Goodwill as much lately and sometimes I wonder what I'm missing but I figure what I don't know won't bother me. I did stop in last week just to check if they had a pair of snowboots in Dan's size, thinking it a longshot at this time of year, but there they were. Only $3. The size was missing but they also had a pair one size smaller and I just compared them sole to sole.

Thanks to all. Greenthumbfish, I saw that stencil at Hobby Lobby. I ended up passing on it because the repeat on the pattern was so small. I was afraid it might end up too busy. I wish they would have made a bigger stencil! Parma, I agree with you 100%. I think that day, my stiff upper lip was already starting to quiver b/c of the rest of the chaos I was having to be so strong about. Handling critique and suggestions (albeit harmless and trying to be helpful) that I had not solicited was just more than I could stand, especially when I thought I was pretty clear on the nature of the post. Again, it had nothing to do with the comments, and everything to do with the timing. Sometimes you just can't hear how you can be "better", especially when as you explained, "better" is so subjective to personal style. I will remember your words, though, and will make sure to laugh at myself as I count my accessories! Puna, I have to say I'm pretty dismayed as well. For the life of me, I can't figure out how removing those comments was necessary or helpful. (Yours and several others, including some of mine!) Ugh. LaFonda, yes, my stomach went into knots when the property manager called and said I needed to get over there immediately because water was "everywhere". I thought he was exaggerating. He wasn't. Ugh again. Joanie, I don't think I'll stop, but I think I may definitely change how I post photos. This post has served as very clear reminder of how some people think, and knowing I can't change that, all I can do is change how much of it I set myself up for. Patty, you got the whole point of the post; I was delighted to find something so pretty when I was going through something so horrid. Thanks for "getting it."