My Christmas Tour...

1/10/2014

Bonjour mes amis!

It's been too long since I've visited with you...

The Christmas Season got rather busy, and I wanted to enjoy the decorating and baking and especially, visiting with my family.  If you've been viewing my blog for some time, you know that my husband (Dr. J), and son (Jewelius) and I recently returned to the U.S., after living in France for a whole year.  It was a wonderful year, and I'm still pining away in my thoughts about all the wonderful things we got to do, and most recently, about how we celebrated Christmas 2012 in France.  This year, it was all about spending time with those we didn't see last Christmas!

Alas, now we have completed Christmas 2013, and for the past few days, I have been packing up and cleaning up, and I realized I never showed you our Christmas Home this year.  It was so fun decorating this year, pulling out all the ornaments, and adding lights everywhere.  Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to share photos with you today.  Enjoy!

This is where we live, and these pictures were taken the weekend of the big Ice Storm!  This year, I added wreaths on all my lower front windows.  (I've always wanted to do that!)

Come on in...

There's lots of cheer!  This little piece was a Housewarming gift from a dear friend when we moved in in 2002!

My oldest daughter helped me get the banister decorated this year, for which I was very grateful!  And, I decided to hang the stockings on the staircase this year.  Of course, I'm sure you noticed that I have fleur-de-lis stocking hangars!

The fleur-de-lis bottles were a sweet Christmas Gift this year from a dear friend!

I found this little (made in England) antique sugar bowl in a Goodwill store in the Chicago area.  I only paid $1.99 for it, and it's in perfect condition.  I think that was a bargain!

I love to swag the entry to our Livingroom!

I also clear out my China Cabinet each year, and add red and gold.  I have a number of crystal and red glass dishes from a Great Aunt, and her things look beautiful in there.  (I'm thinking of doing a makeover on my China Cabinet.  Stay tuned!)  The JOY hanging is actually a table runner, but I love how it's the first thing you see when you come into my Dining Room!

I had a bit of fun adding some Cheetah Ribbon to the decor this year!  Thank you, Hobby Lobby!

I have a pretty good size collection of Village pieces thanks to a dear friend and my family.  For this year, I just displayed as much as could fit on my small buffet.  Whoops!  I forgot to add snow this year.  (Oh well, easier cleanup, right?)

I really enjoyed the Mantel this year!

I always enjoy the Tree!  My younger daughter helped "be-ribbon" the tree this year!  I draped some pretty toile fabric I bought in France this past year, as my tree skirt!

I loved having my Nativity Set on the sofa table behind the sofa.  It's the first thing you got to see as you entered the Living Room.  After all, this is what Christmas is about.  Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, and then gave Himself FOR US!  Glory to God in the Highest!

I decided to step back to the side table by my leopard chair.  Do you see it?  Yes, it's an Owl!  They are still so "in" this year!  I picked this little guy up at the Canton Flea Market!  Doesn't everyone have a Christmas Owl?

The top of the TV cabinet even got a little Christmas cheer!

Now, into the Kitchen...
Another wonderful gift from my dear friend!  (In the background on the right, you can see a beautiful towel that my Mom embroidered for me!  Love it!)

Wreaths are a must on a pantry door, right?

An orchid from another dear friend!

Take a look at the little ceramic wreath hanging over my stove!  My youngest son, Jewelius, painted this in 2003.  He was only seven years old!  He did a great job with the colors!

And I brag about these little Snowmen!  Each one was made by more four kiddos.  Jewelius' taller snowman on the right in the back there has grass painted on the bottom.  Jewelius is a Texas boy, and we usually don't have much snow in Texas, so I guess that's why he painted the grass.  He was a little tyke when he did this!

The Angel candy dish on the right was made by another dear friend.  My friends sure have added to my Christmas decor over the years!

For a few years, I have displayed this "Joy" grouping on my kitchen wall.  The feature is the dishes.  They were my Mother-in-Loves!

I didn't do a lot in the guest bathroom, but here's a couple shots!

I hope you had a very "Joyeux Noël"!

From My Home to Yours!

Stay warm, and I wish you the best as you pack down your Christmas Decorations!

Have a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan

A Little Vintage Something and Mini-Cheesecakes Recipe!

11/25/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

I've been rather absent from the blogging world, but I felt like popping in today.  Life has been busy, and as I now look forward to Thanksgiving this week, and some nice time off...

I have a couple of dear friends who are sharing memories from days gone by, and today when I opened a certain box of Christmas stuff, some of my own memories came flooding back.

Look what I found!

Now this is a Christmas Treasure from long ago!  See the price?  $2.87, and I don't think they spelled Pixy correctly, but...

I remember the night this little Pixie came into my childhood home.  I'm the oldest of three girls, so I remember the night my Dad brought this home.  (I know you are still staring in disbelief at the Pixie, but what can I say?  It was the 60's!)  I believe we had already been sent to bed, but my Dad had been out during the evening, and when he returned, he hung this up, pulled the string, and "Jingle Bells" began to play.  We all raced down the stairs to see where the music was coming from!

My sisters and I thought it was so cool!

Okay, so it's not that cool, and I think I'm the only one in the family who would take this little "gem" off my parent's hands, but I associate a memory of that night with this, so I hang it in my Laundry room each year, and tell my kids about that night...

And I recall growing up in a family where my Mom made us matching dresses for each Holiday...
And we had happy Christmases at home and with our Grandparents on Long Island, New York...

I am a product of my upbringing.  I was always with my Grandparents on Christmas Eve and Morning, and that's exactly what Dr. J and I have given our children over the years...Christmas with their Grandparents though they live many miles away!  I know some day, this will come to an end, but Dr. J and I are very thankful for such loving parents, and all the wonderful Christmas Memories we now enjoy, thanks to them.

These were our little red velvet dresses!  Everywhere we went, we were a hit!

Enough waning nostalgic...I've promised you a Recipe today...

Mini Cheesecakes!

Mini-Cheesecakes

24 cupcake liners

24 Vanilla Wafers

2 - 8 oz. packages of Cream Cheese, softened

3/4 cup of Sugar

2 Eggs

1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

1 tsp. Vanilla

20 oz. Can of Cherry Pie Filling

Line the cupcake pans with liners.  Place a vanilla wafer in the bottom of each liner.

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla until light and fluffy.

Fill the liners 2/3 full with the cheese mixture.

Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or until set.  Let cool.

Top each with a spoonful of filling.

Chill.

Serves 24.

I made these recently for a party in our home, and they were a huge hit.  Jewelius is a big fan, too!  Can it just be our little secret how easy these are to make?  Enjoy!

I do want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving this week, too!

Oh give thanks to the Lord,

for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Wishing you a week full of thankfulness!
Jan

Castle Time with my Dad...and making Memories with my Sis!

11/5/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

I'm so glad to have you here again...

I know I've been a bit absent lately, but I just had a special visitor, my Sister.  So, while I tell you about her visit, I thought I'd share some photos from my Dad's visit with us in France the end of June.  I've shown you this Château numerous times, because we really liked this fairytale-looking Château...such a picturesque setting!  It's Chaumont-sur-Loire, and it stands tall on a cliff overlooking the Loire River.  As I always do when I re-show you a Château, I pick out new details to share.  I hope you enjoy it!  My Dad sure did!

Now, back to my Sister's Visit...

My sister came to celebrate a BIG Birthday!

I always try to tell people she's my older sister...

BUT in reality, she's a couple years younger...still, people always thought she was the oldest sister when we were growing up.

We have another sister as well...who is also younger...

BUT...I can't tell you which big birthday it was for my sister...'cause then you'll know how old I am!  Does that make me vain?

My sister and I had a great long weekend together...

First, we went off to the Canton Flea Market, that only takes place once per month...

I love going to Canton...

There's new stuff to look at, and old stuff...

BUT...compared to the OLD stuff I got to see in France, it's disappointing, but still so fun...

I always get ideas for new projects, and find gifts for others (...and sometimes for myself!  Hehe!)!

We enjoyed two full days at Canton!  We walked ALL day, with only a short break for lunches...

And we stayed in an awesome Hotel in Tyler for the Night...

We brought little bottles of wine with us, but after only half a glass each, we went to bed...

EXHAUSTED!

When we returned home after our two full days at Canton, Dr. J had made us...

Homemade Stuffed Crust Pizza!

That was an awesome way to cap off the weekend!

Sunday was quiet and relaxing with Worship, Family, and a good Roast!

Monday brought more shopping!  My Sister loves to visit Texas Stores!  They are the best!

Today, I had to put my Sister on a plane back to Chicago...

Unfortunately, I've caught a cold of some sort...

My Sister texted me from Chicago, and told me to rest...

Okay, "Mom", I'm happy to oblige...

After I finish this Post, that is...

I wanted to still show you the Stables at Chaumont-sur-Loire...

And this awesome Gate!

And the interesting Cones on this Evergreen Tree!

And a View I will cherish Forever, of the little town of Chaumont-sur-Loire, along the Loire River, in the beautiful Country of France, where I was privileged to live for a whole year!

Ah!  How I miss this!

Next time, I'll show you the awesome Gardens at this Château!

I'll give my Sister a couple days to put away all her purchases!  (Happy Birthday, Sister!)  She found some beautiful clothes, and some great gifts for her friends and neighbors.  Me, I looked for Christmas Gifts during our Shopping Excursions.  Can you even believe we're shopping for Christmas already???

Until next time mes amis!
Have a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan