Happy 2008 from my mantel

It's the new year and 2008 has quite a nice ring to it. Have acquired several treasures that give our living room a much needed never-ending-rain-weeks-of-grey-skies-want-to-jump-off-the-Fremont-bridge boost. See earlier posting (Oct. 28) for views of the vintage hats still in the estate sale box in which they were found. Delicious!

Scenes from a Christmas tree in Portland

The tree is now out on the curb waiting to be picked up by the Cub Scouts, but I did take some shots on its last night in the house...

Better Late than Never

Christmas mantel has been dismantled but have photos to share as our holiday theme continues...Top photo: Love the Santa mugs (the one on the left has TEETH! Found two; kept one and gave one to my friend Magpie Ethel) and the guy on green skis. I grab the cheesy candles at garage sales for a dime and burn them, happily. Also a sucker for the little holiday bells that have the sweetest ring. Green tree on construction paper courtesy of my son Charlie. Bottom photo: Did all vintage Christmas trees on the dining room cabinet as my collection has definitely outgrown the mantel in the living room. I especially love the ones made by hand that are a little messy. The angel was made long ago with love and is very quirky. The "candolier" is very old, the series type, when one goes out....they ALL go out. Funny how I don't even mind figuring out which bulb has to be replaced. I have it down to a science.

Few days late, a couple of dollars short...Mantel continued..

So I kept meaning to post turkey photos around Thanksgiving and look what happened! It's New Year's Day! I did promise to complete the holiday mantel so here goes.....Top photo: Grandma Millie's glass cake plate holds vintage turkey candles just like the ones she used to grace the Thanksgiving table when I was little. Those are the actual dried leaves (some painted gold!) that Millie used to spread around the white tablecloth. Added to the still life are modern day glitter pumpkins and acorns, not old, but I love them anyway.....Bottom photo: Part of my turkey-rama themed mantel. Mostly old salt and pepper shakers with a few pine cone and beaded turkeys thown in. The one in the middle always gets positioned front and center so the other turkeys can see what is in store for them. It's a set of s/p from my sister Kathy. She knew I had a collection and found this "roasted" gem at a flea.