More Than "Just a Little Note..."

Aren't Mondays just crummy sometimes? And isn't it funny how something can change your mood in about 2 seconds? Tonight as I dragged myself home at about 8:30 pm; there on my outdoor steps was a brown package with my name on it....

Ginger from http://enchantingcottage.blogspot.com/ had send me a gift. Tucked inside was a perfectly wrapped box in very lovely brown toile paper...I just sat there looking at this box. Little did Ginger know~ this was a gift enough~ such a beautiful box! Inside the box a note read, "...When I read about how much you love pumpkin I just had to give this to you...I bought 8 coffee cups because I fell in love with them, but go figure I am the only one who drinks my coffee with this cup daily. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do...Have a Blessed Thanksgiving" Ginger

Then inside the box was a basket holding an exquiste toile flowered coffee mug, nested with pumpkin candles & divine Gevalia Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee. So elegant! Ginger~ this is now my formally favorite coffee mug. I can't thank you enough for just a wonderful surprise! So my friend many many miles away has certainly made my week. I feel like the magic of the holidays has now begun...I feel blessed. Thank you Ginger.

The table is set...

Happy Thanksgiving...Remember those bargin flowers at Michael's Craft store (80 percent off!)? Here is how I used them...

On the Thanksgiving table...

On a side table...

In a corner...

And in a little side room with a table set for "two" just in case extra guests show...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...and if you are traveling in the NJ/NY area please see my post from yesterday about a lost bird~ see below or vist... http://underthewillowgifts.blogspot.com/2007/11/have-you-seen-this-bird.html

Have you seen this bird??

Steph from "Playing with Soap" http://playingwithsoap.blogspot.com/ has lost her bird... she wrote:

"Honestly, I would not post this, but I am just hoping maybe someone in Hudson County NJ may come across this blog and possibly may have seen my bird.This afternoon at about 4:35 p.m. as my husband was unpacking our car and as I was walking away from the car to walk my doggies an unfortunate accident had occurred. Tita's traveling cage had dropped and broke apart. Normally, I do not clip my birds' wings during the winter so that they can fly around the house. Unfortunately, when the cage broke apart Tita flew away. I did not hear the cage drop, but for some reason as I was walking towards Boulevard East I had looked back and noticed that several people looked up. I looked up myself and knew that was Tita flying in circles. I ran back, but unfortunately it was too late."

I believe in miracles~ wouldn't it be wonderful if someone here on the east coast (NJ area mentioned above) has seen her little pet Tita...and let's Steph know.

Holiday Cooking....

Weekend with the granddaughters...Cookies? No...Pies? No...Breads?... Nope~We made our first batch of pumpkin patch dog cookies for the holidays...we will deliver them in December to our friends with four paws in the community...

Notice my bargin fall foliage in the background? Great to cover up a messy kitchen now full of dusty rolling pins, flour covered pillow seats, etc...

What's A Girl to Do???

What's a girl to do...when you stop by Michael's Craft Store & their sidewalk sale has fall foliage at 80 percent off???? I grabbed a basket full for almost nothing! Now I have to find a "home" for all these beautiful flowers, pinecones, little pumpkins, & cat tails. It will be fun decorating for my Thanksgiving Dinner coming up. When everything is in its place, I'll post pictures after the weekend.

Hope you all have had a nice week!

Decorating for the holidays...

I particapated in a holiday swap with the gals from Cottage Living Community forum...and lucky me~my holiday decorating just got easier. Jwilsie & I were swap partners, & she sent me this beautiful mug, that I immediately filled with holiday flowers. I can't wait to place it on my Thanksgiving table. She also sent the beautiful white ceramic ornament...waiting to be placed on my Christmas tree.

Post Script: Jwilsie took a picture of one of the swap items I sent her...& I loved the pic so much~she gave me the A-okay to use it on my website as my "Holiday Lead Photo"... check it out! http://underthewillowgifts.com/

Lots of hugs to Jwilsie!

Moving Day! Real Cottage Living...

Within four weeks, a whole lot of elbow grease, weekend trips to the local dump, painting, scrubbing, sanding, fighting with bees, planning-replanning- the kids finally moved in...there was even a rose in full bloom, this day in November.

They went from this...

To this...

From this...

To this...

And this...

And this too!...

And when you have three pups that fill a kitchen when feeding....

You need a big & beautiful yard for them to play & frolic in!