Christmas Homecoming

Sandestin Resort website

My southern roots lead me home for the holidays.  My mother, brother and his growing family live in Florida where I spent most of my childhood.  Our middle son also lives a few hours north of Florida with his new bride.   So we transplanted "Okies"  pack up and all head down to the gulf coast with our two furbabies in tow! 

Sandestin Website

 All the white sand and blue water is worth the 15 hour car trip that is always  fun and full of tradition.  When the boys were small we played all sorts of car games and made up a few of our own.

Pinterest

There are so many churches in the south that one year we counted churches all the way to keep the boys entertained.   I don't remember the exact number they counted but it was in the hundreds!!  They are grown now but still remember all the fun things we did before electronics.  I 'm sure if you are old enough you have played those car games with your children too.  After all back then we didn't have DVD players, cell phones and Ipads! 

When we cross the Mississippi River   we always take a break and marvel at the Mighty Mississippi River and bridge from a scenic visitor center.   

South of Jackson, Mississippi there is a fruit stand that my husband and I have been stopping at since we first got married over 35 years ago!

Donna's website

Donna, the lady that owns it has gone from a small roadside stand to a large store with a gift and ice cream shop.  She even has a website!  People stop there from all over the country on their journey home for the holidays.  I always have to buy some fresh produce and hot boiled peanuts!!

They give you lots of napkins so you can nibble your way home!

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Highway 98 is our last stretch of road and when we reach there we are "almost home".  The highway  winds through tall pines down to Mobile, Alabama and finally out to the
 Florida gulf coast.  

 You do have to go through a long tunnel that goes under Mobile Bay and that was always an exciting part of the trip for my boys. 

Another 90 minutes and we are home! 

This year we are staying in Sandestin  and I can't wait to see those sugar white beaches and spend time

 with my family. 

 Merry Christmas and 
Happy New Year!

See you next year!!

Christmas Luncheon

This time of year there are so many fun parties and get togethers.  I was excited to be invited to my former employer's Christmas luncheon.   

We always look 

forward to this party.

She lives in a beautiful historic home in Crown Heights and her home is rich with history even dating back to prohibition.

Center staircase and Christmas garland

I thought I would share the
 gorgeous table

 she set for us today. 

Her tablescape featured handpainted dishes that an artist friend paints and gives her each year!

The centerpiece is a collection of silk Christmas trees, a beautiful angel and reindeer.  The tall trees were removed during the meal so we could visit with each other across the table.  

The plates are wonderful with a MacKenzie Child look and are personalized for the family.

Each plate is unique and 

includes the year.  

The colors are vibrant and I love the black and white check pattern that repeats in each plate.

She served a delicious meal and we had a wonderful time

 decorating cookies,

 laughing and exchanging presents. 

Spending time with friends and family is just the best time ever.  

Merry Christmas!  

I'm linking with

 Kathleen's Let Dish

Susan's Tablescape Thursdays

Flurries Tomorrow!

I am not a snow person.  I love snowmen and looking at snow and cute little snow covered houses.  
 I just don't like being out or 

driving around in it! 

I grew up mostly in the tropics with the exception of Ohio and had very little experience with the white stuff  before coming to Oklahoma.   

I do like having all four seasons, just without ice or snow.

 As a child I remember my grandmother coming to visit us when we lived in Ohio and she made 

 snow ice cream with us! 

 I still remember how much
 fun that was!   

I was blessed with a wonderful grandmother who lived in Florida and was a true southern gal.

My father was in the Air Force and we got orders to move to Hawaii when I was in kindergarten.  I enjoyed living in Hawaii but I sure missed my grandmother!  

Hawaii was a beautiful place during the holidays and we lived there for four years. 

I grew up singing 

Mele kalikimaka and enjoyed 
all the 

 warm holidays!! 

 1963 photo of me and my brother in our yard at Christmas.  Note that the poinsettias have turned red next to the house.  I'm sure living in Hawaii has given me a lifelong love of flowers!

Flurries are on the way for us tomorrow and I am dreaming of a tropical Christmas where the palm trees sway!



Sandestin in 2 weeks!  I'll settle 
for white sand!
Are we there yet?


Linking with

Smiling Sally's Blue Monday

Playing with Mud Pie

Mud Pie makes me think of  my childhood, that sinfully delicious chocolate desert, adorable baby clothes and my favorite dishes of all time!

I'm been gathering and playing with my Mud Pie holiday dishes
 and planning a tablescape which I 
finally finished.

The hospital gift shop where I worked as a nurse until my recent retirement, stocked a line of Mud Pie baby clothes.  Thank goodness my kids were grown or I wouldn't have brought home a paycheck!  

When the gift shop eventually started stocking Mud Pie serving pieces
 and the Christmas collection and I knew I was a goner!

2011

The vibrant colors and fun graphics along with the three dimensional designs just melted my heart.   I was hooked!!  I started with a few pieces and ornaments and then the gift shop announced they were closing and everything was 50% to 80% off 
for employees!!  

You would have thought someone gave me a winning Powerball ticket!  

Santa Ornament

 I was able to purchase two of the black and white desert/cheese plates and the adorable loaf  pans...

FaLaLa

and Merry.

The large mugs also found their way into my shopping bag as well.

2011

Oh and lest I forget this adorable picture frame 

and these cute Halloween bowls.

  Oops... and this sea turtle cheese server that I purchased for me and my best friend who adores sea turtles. 

Who could really fault me for falling in love with such an adorable collection?   Especially since I purchased most of the collection for at least 50% off !

2011 
Snowman Ornament

I have bought some darling Mud Pie baby gifts for friends as 
Mud Pie has the cutest baby clothes I've ever seen!  

No I'm not a spokesperson for Mud Pie nor have I received any money or products from them...(although I'd be happy to take some off their hands) I just adore their products.



Each year they introduce new holiday pieces that are fun and festive!   Even though last year's pieces aren't available...the new pieces coordinate nicely from year to year and can be easily mixed and matched. 

 I love that because I mix patterns and plates all the time to get new looks!   I layered the black and white desert plates on my green majolica
and red chargers from Portugal.

This year since the hospital gift shop is no longer open I had to find another Mud Pie source.   Thankfully our local stationery shop,  Paper 'N More in Oklahoma City carries a large selection!  Here's  a photo of the gift department and their Mud Pie display!

I used great restraint and purchased two mugs that coordinate with my desert plates from last year's collection.

  Rudolf and Santa!

I also chose one of the new 
cookie plates with a black and white fluted edge.  
I wanted two more of the black
 and white checked desert plates but 
they were unavailable.  Maybe I can find them on ebay.

Many of you have inquired where to find the collection and online is probably your best bet.  Mud Pie has a great website!  A good number of  hospital and fine gift shops carry the collection so you may have to make a few phone calls to find them in 
your area.   

So finally I set my table for two at our breakfast table and added my favorite teapot "Mrs. Potts".

I used the placemats and napkins I purchased back in February while in Carmel and added a simple silver napkin ring.  

Mud Pie brings out the kid in me and I love playing with such pretty colorful dishes and adding them into the mix with things I 've had for years.   I can't wait to share this table with my best friend!

Topiary in a Mug

Merry Christmas and I hope you find time to be a kid again during the holiday season and do something you love!   Remember to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with your family and friends!

Glory to the Newborn King!

I'm linking

Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday 

Susan's Tablescape Thursday

 Marty's Tabletop Tuesday

Kathleen's Let Dish

Nita's Mod Mix Monday

http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/2012/12/mod-mix-monday-79.html