Sad News

Mike's dad died on Monday night.
December 28th, at 9pm.

Surrounded by his family,
he passed away peacefully.
We are so very thankful for that.

I appreciate everyone who emailed me their love and support.
It is such a comfort and means
everything to me.
And I love each and every one of you.

And I love you, Pop.
I miss you already.

Gayle

WOW 2 Posts In One Day!

Since I posted earlier this afternoon,
I've received a couple of emails asking for some closeups.
In that time, I managed to decorate the mantel and thought
I'd include that too.

*Please see the previous post for the background
information on most of the decorating.





When Pookie and I got married in 1982,
he started a tradition of giving me a heart ornament every year
at Christmas.
Some were new, some were old, but I loved
every one of them.

The first things I searched for when I looked
at the tree all pretty and decorated were my
heart ornaments.





The very first one I got from him was a beautiful large
locket that opens.





Etched on the outside of the heart is:
First Christmas Together 1982



















The next year it was a pretty bisque heart within a heart
that simply says:
Love 1983, in gold writing.




















And one year it was this gorgeous blown glass heart.
























That's just a little example from my collection.
I could post all 27 but that might be overdoing it. :0)

A little closer picture of the tree.




















I was so excited about what my sweet neighbor had done,
(see other post)
that I got out some things for the mantel and in a few hours I'd
come up with this:

The mantel runs the whole length of the room so
I had to divide the pictures.

Left side:




















Middle:


















And the right side:






















I love the Santa and the metal snowflakes.
I've had both for years.
























I also put out my absolute favorite Christmas card
ever.
It's from 1984 and it's a Mary Engelbreit.
I just love the sentiment.























When we moved this past summer, Miss LaDaun was there
helping me unpack.
So, as I came across all my favorites
I told her all the stories behind my beloved goodies,
so she knew where everything was and how much they all meant
to me.

One person emailed me and requested some more pics
of the table setting.
I think it looks just as gorgeous at night!



















Hey, look what I found out you can do with
the Kodak picture program.

How fun!

This is using the "cartoon" option.























The now famous Miss LaDaun,
(she's married with 5 kids, so I don't know why I call her Miss LaDaun)
was my realtor and I moved in right across the street from her.

She was the one who told me about the "Pink Palace / Mauve Mansion"
to rent.

(For that explanation you'll have to go back a few posts)

The owners left their dining table and chairs for us to use, as
I had sold my set to the couple who bought
our home....along with almost everything I owned.


That too, is explained in a previous post.



Here is a closeup of the china and crystal:
























Unfortunately, I don't know the pattern name for
the clear crystal.
They are antique and have been collected over the years.
The same goes for the knife rests. I have eight
and most of them don't match.

The china pattern is from Johnson Brothers, England.
Pattern name is: Dorchester

Okay, I'm pooped now.
I'm sure you all can complete a post alot quicker than I can...lol

This has taken me hours!

Pookie and I are back on the road tomorrow.
I'm not sure when we'll be back this time.
I might even have my mother-in-law, Birdie, with us then.
It's all up in the air at this point.

It's been fun sharing my Christmas decor with you
wonderful ladies out there.
Getting to know you all has made each day a little
sweeter for me.

Thank you for your friendship, it is greatly treasured
and appreciated.

HUGS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Gayle

Thanks and updates

A huge thankyou to all my sweet friends that have
emailed me their well wishes and prayers for my
father-in-law, Pop.

We snapped this picture of him on his last trip out
before we sold the house this last summer.
Look at him.....he's almost 83 in this picture and
I have more wrinkles than he does!























He remains on life support at this time.

Pookie is designated as the person to make any decisions for him and
he just can't let go yet.

We all remain hopeful for that elusive miracle.

When we left abruptly in October, I gave my sweet neighbor
a key to the house,
and when we returned this last time, she had done this:



















And this:























I just love my little house, it's one of my favorite things.

I wish I could just crawl in there and live all year long.
























And she found one of my antique paper mache Santas:


















She'd called me periodically to see if there was anything she
could do to help us.


One conversation I mentioned how I was going to miss all my
Christmas decorations and ornaments, but that I just wasn't
going to have time to decorate.



NEVER DREAMING in a million years that she would do this!



She even set the table and the little tree up in
the dining room. Just in case we had time
to have a nice dinner together or the kids came down
from Salt Lake City.

All my favorite things were present.....

My good china from Johnson Brothers, my antique crystal knife rests that I've been collecting for years.......my Grandmother's linens.

Pookie and I wish each and every one of you the happiest of holiday seasons.
We have learned not to stress over the small stuff and lifes little imperfections.
Just love and appreciate your family and friends, and the precious time you have with them.

All our love, hugs and best wishes to each and every one of you!

A special thank you to Miss LaDaun, for all your hard work.

We so love and appreciate you!