Red & White Christmas & The Small Tale Of Rudy Reindeer...

 
Our family room is definitely filled with red and white Christmas decorations. I just love red...what can I say. This year I hung red wool stockings...simple, yet bold. My mantle is also less cluttered this year. I like to change it up a bit. I like the simplicity of it. So does our new friend Rudy Reindeer. Yes, I found him thrifting. With Salvation Army's 50% off day...I got him for $2.00. He was lying there on a shelf amongst a bunch of hmm hmm...junk....Our eyes met and I saw a twinkle in his. I really did. I swooped him up looked him in the eye and said " your comin' home with me" and at that very moment he smiled. I clutched him in my arms and merrily pranced over to the checkout, handed over the money with pleasure and gleefully took him home. True story. Doesn't he look happy to be in my home? I promised him, he was a keeper.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Santa Baby !!!

  

Hello December...

Today I unpacked all my Santa's. I have been collecting these sweet Santa's for several years now...It just keeps growing. Most of them I find thrifting of course. I take home the unwanted Santa's and vintage Christmas decorations that people don't want anymore.

  

I am continuing to add to this collection as I can...Along with vintage snowmen...

Though I have more Santa's then snowmen, it is a slow growing collection

. I thought I would give you a closer look at my humble collection.

 

Mixed in my Santa's are newer pieces as well. I usually pick up what I really like best...Not just any Santa will make it home with me. I have decided as with everything I collect...I have to love it before taking it home...If I don't love it, then it doesn't come home with me. If I took everything home...

I would be a pack rat.

  

This Fall I found several new Santa's to add to my collection. A couple Santa dolls and a Lil Santa candle holder...Which I filled with mints. I don't spend much on these pieces..The dolls and candle holder along with some Santa face mugs were only .50 to $1.00 each. I go to the Thrift shops often as they always get new stuff in...I keep my eyes peeled for what I like the best and usually know what I am looking for...

I usually score. (GRIN)... I keep this shelf in my kitchen..it cheers up the space well.

       

I found this sweet couple last year... For a couple dollars they flew into my cart. Sometimes I will spend a few dollars more like the Jolly Santa below...I spent 5 bucks on him while we were in Central California last Fall...He had to come home with me and was priced a lot lower than some Santa's online.

So now, perhaps you wish to start a collection of your own...Start thrifting, yard saling and shopping online you will surely find some Santa's of your own that need a loving home to be adopted in. Starting this collection was very easy...Yet can take some time to find just the

right pieces that catch your eye and your heart.

Happy Collecting...

Back In Time....

  
This weekend we went back in time to the days of The Civil War. Where President Abraham Lincoln was President and we were at war between the North and the South. A time where ladies wore big gowns and hoop skirts with their hair up , where men wore button ups and trousers and children went to school in little one room school houses. We hopped on the stagecoach to be a part of a special 150th Civil War Anniversary Event at the HistoricVail Ranch.For the Re-enactment of the discovery and arrest of the Showalter Secessionist Party in November 1861.There were Displays, costumed soldiers, camps, and demonstrations...With a Barn dance that evening which I will blog about next time.   
We met soldiers dressed in their uniforms, holding their rifles and pistols as they shot off many rounds for the spectators. There were lovely ladies in full gowns and pretty hats making braided ribbons, selling their goodes at the merchantile and roaming around with parasols.
 

     
We also met a very talented artist who was working on his little peg soldiers...His drawings are brilliant and depicted the era with fine skill, and brought everything to life. You can see his love for American history in detail and passion. If you love or know someone who would appericiate Historical art from that era or bygone days be sure to click the links.
    

We learned much about the history of the Civil War to our very own history in our town during that period. It was quite fascinating really.

   
They also provided yummy homemade cookies and apple cider to keep us warm as it was a chilly afternoon. We enjoyed conversation with many of the people among us learning as we went along and trying to grasp the time at hand...We felt as if we were truly in the past for just that moment.
       
The firearms were shot off periodically which would make you jump when you least expected...Yet only gave the feeling of that day even more authenticity. It was really a delight to step back in time hearing the sounds and smelling the cool air while taking in the sights with our own eyes....It was almost magical since we are really into history. I love anything that brings history to life and this just cut the cake.
     
Another memory we will cherish of that day was a visit with this man...His name is Malcolm Barnett....He has lived in our town his whole life as he is a 4th generation member of his family who truly has roots and knows all the history of our little town. He sat with my kids and I for some time showing us pictures pointing out his great grandfathers and even pictures of  himself as a young boy from a book that was written with all the history of our city. It was so sweet. He was the sweetest soul .....
     
My visionary taste buds were on full tilt. It was a day that really in many ways blessed us. I am not sure how many spectators felt the way as I did this weekend...But I sure did appericiate the effort and time that was put into this weekend...As they work to preserve our history through these means.
  
If you ever have a chance to do something like this in your own town...I encourage you to go and feed your family some history come to life...it is a fun interactive, hands on way to enjoy the fruits of the past.
***
Today I am thankful for:
91. History
92. My town
93. Re enactors
94. To touch, to feel and to see wonders
95. Our freedom