Six Feet Under, Awesome Porches and Bats in the Belfry

October 31, 2009 by 60 Comments

Earlier this year, actually around mid-summer, a friend and I had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta, Six Feet Under. They have the BEST fish tacos and their potato chips are beyond yummy.  I think they make them in-house. You may wonder how this restaurant got it's name. Six Feet Under is located directly across the street from this. Yup, it's a cemetery...but not just … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Halloween Decor, Halloween Holiday Home, Historic Homes, Home Tours Tagged With: , ,



Halloween Tablescape with a Ghostly Centerpiece

October 29, 2009 by 99 Comments

Welcome to the 58th Tablescape Thursday! Saturday we took a field trip and toured a most amazing dish room belonging to Bonnie who shares our love for all things dishes. With all that wonderful china, I couldn't wait to see what Bonnie might have in store for Halloween. She actually put together two tablescapes...a "fun" one and one that will rattle your bones. Let's start with the fun one...in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Halloween Holiday Home, Halloween Table Settings, Halloween Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , , ,



A Little Decorating for Halloween

October 28, 2009 by 89 Comments

Come on in! Welcome...so glad you are here! I've been decorating for Halloween...would you like to see? Stole the plant from the upstairs family room...it balances well with the height of the lamp. Found the scary ghost about 20 years ago in a Hallmark store. I warned you...he is scary! Yikes! When I first took a test pic, I was trying to get a shot with all the lights in the Entry … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Halloween Decor, Halloween Holiday Home, The Holiday Home Tagged With: ,



Fall Dining on the Porch

October 22, 2009 by 95 Comments

Welcome to the 61st Tablescape Thursday! I'm often asked, "How many sets of dishes do you have?!"  Well, I'm letting you in on a big secret tonight. You really don't need that many sets of dishes to create different tablescapes...you just need to be a little creative and change a few of the elements. Let me show you what I mean. Remember this tablescape I posted about 4 weeks ago with my Pier 1 china, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fall Tablescapes, Seasonal Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Thanksgiving Holiday Home, Thanksgiving Table Settings, Thanksgiving Tablescapes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Halloween Tablescape with a Spider-Web Tablecloth

October 15, 2009 by 121 Comments

Welcome to the 60th Tablescape Thursday!  Monday I shared a Halloween tale along with some Fall/Halloween porch decor. Wednesday was a day of Monster Mashing. And tonight... Won't you join me...said the spider to the fly?. Welcome to the Killer Cafe...hope the menu (click for a better view) meets with your approval. (Insert evil laugh) No tablecloth is needed...the spiders have been busy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Halloween Holiday Home, Halloween Recipes, Halloween Table Settings, Halloween Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Decorating the Porch for Halloween

October 11, 2009 by 82 Comments

Welcome to the 39th Metamorphosis Monday! For this Met Monday, I thought I'd share the transformation my front porch goes through each year around Halloween. Normally it looks something like this...   But, then.................... On a dark and shadowy All Hallows Eve, a ghost, a witch, and a goblin cast long, dark shadows as they glide past the open flame of a lit gas lantern. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Halloween Decor, Halloween Holiday Home, Porches, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Beautiful Wheat Centerpiece with Pumpkin Tureens

October 7, 2009 by 88 Comments

Welcome to the 59th Tablescape Thursday! Happy Fall, Y'all! Last week I shared a "fall inspired" tablescape out on the porch. This week I'm sharing another "fall" tablescape created by Bonnie, a talented, reader of BNOTP, who shares our love for tablescaping. You may remember the post I did a few weeks ago showing several of Bonnie's beautiful tablescapes. Feast your eyes on Bonnie's gorgeous fall … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fall Tablescapes, Halloween Holiday Home, Halloween Table Settings, Halloween Tablescapes, Seasonal Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , ,



Create Your Own Plant Stand

October 4, 2009 by 74 Comments

Welcome to the 38th Metamorphosis Monday! I have a little query for you. What would you do if one day at your workplace, you discovered the items shown below were being tossed out...thrown into the trash? I know some of you are so creative and talented, you'd probably snag them and take them home. Me? I would have probably looked at them, thought they were interesting, but wouldn't have had a clue … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Halloween Crafts, Halloween Holiday Home, The Holiday Home Tagged With: ,



Mark Ballard Decorates for Christmas

October 3, 2009 by 64 Comments

Have you ever met someone and after only five minutes in their company, you knew you just loved 'em. Well, that was my reaction the first time I ever met Mark Ballard. Mark Ballard is an artist, designer, decorator, speaker, author, columnist, chef, television personality and has been described as "a true Renaissance man with a Southern flair!" I had the pleasure of seeing Mark in person when he … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Home Tours, The Holiday Home Tagged With: ,



Tablescape for the 4th of July

June 18, 2009 by 133 Comments

Welcome to the 43rd Tablescape Thursday! Independence Day is just around the corner.  What better way to celebrate this Tablescape Thursday than a celebration in red, white and blue! The porch is the perfect spot for a celebration...especially the kind that involves cooking on the grill... I've been working on a patriotic themed tablescape in my head for weeks now...couldn't quite pull it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Independence Day Holiday Home, Independence Day Table Settings, Independence Day Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,



Sweet Potato Chips Snack or Appetizer

June 12, 2009 by 33 Comments

Looking for an appetizer or snack that's a little different...not the same old avocado dip or chips and salsa? If you like sweet potatoes...and maybe even if you think you don't like sweet potatoes, here's a great Paula Deen recipe you just might want to try. It's called Sweet Potato Chips and I found it in her cookbook, The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook.   When I had friends over … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Independence Day Holiday Home, Independence Day Recipes, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , ,



Flower Cubes For a Summer Party

May 3, 2009 by 48 Comments

Summer is waning and fall is just around the corner. I can feel it the air when I'm out on the porch during these late summer evenings. Before long, at least here in the south, gardeners will be pouring into the nurseries in search of pansies for their annual beds. Pansies enjoy the cooler weather and if planted in early fall, they will put down good roots that will carry them through the colder temps we … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Easter Holiday Home, Easter Recipes, Easter Table Settings, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden, Nature, Recipes, Valentine's Day Holiday Home, Valentine's Day Recipes, Valentine's Day Table Settings Tagged With: ,



Easter or Spring Table Setting

April 16, 2009 by 102 Comments

Welcome to the 34th Tablescape Thursday! It is sooo pretty out today...why don't we have dinner out on the porch? We'll just keep our table simple with a little daisy arrangement and a few sweet bunnies. I'm a little excited today because I have some new china to share in this tablescape and it's has two of my fave colors in it: pink and green. I've always loved hot pink, and paired with green, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Easter Holiday Home, Easter Table Settings, Easter Tablescapes, Seasonal Tablescapes, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Easter Table Setting with Egg Tree Centerpiece

April 9, 2009 by 126 Comments

The 33rd Tablescape Thursday! A little Easter tablescape... Closed the shutters a bit...so we could enjoy the candlelight. Happy Easter! :-) China is Ma Maison, designed by Dario Farrucci for Tabletops...bought it last summer at Home Goods...love that store! A view of the dinner plate... Chargers are from Neiman Marcus or Horchow...forgot which. I saw them again recently … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Children's Tablescapes, Easter Holiday Home, Easter Table Settings, Easter Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , , ,



Easter Tablescape

March 26, 2009 by 125 Comments

Welcome to the 31st Tablescape Thursday! Easter is just around the corner so I've been playing in the dishes again... :-) It was a gorgeous day, the afternoon I put this tablescape together. I had the all the doors to the porch thrown open, and if you click on this pic, you'll see the sheers on the porch billowing in and out in the breezes. Oh, how I love such a day as this! The only thing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Easter Holiday Home, Tablescape Thursday



Spring Fluffing…Just Getting Started…

March 18, 2009 by 54 Comments

I haven't done a lot of fluffing for spring just yet, but I did change the basket of flowers on my front door for a bit of fun! Come on up on the porch for a little closer view... Some spring time silliness! Found this wreath at Pier 1 right around Easter, two years ago... I'm getting sooo excited...you can really see spring popping out all over here in Georgia! Happy Spring Fluffing! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Easter Crafts, Easter Decorating, Easter Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , ,



St. Patrick’s Day Tea Party

March 12, 2009 by 124 Comments

Welcome to the 29th Tablescape Thursday! St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner...let's celebrate with some tea out on the porch!   And of course, we must have green tea, since we are celebrating St. Paddy's Day. (The green tole tray was a wedding gift 30 years ago.)   I picked fresh flowers from the garden..  Ahhh...their sweet, sweet fragrance is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gardening & Birding, In the Garden, Nature, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, St. Patrick's Day Holiday Home, St. Patrick's Day Table Settings, St. Patrick's Day Tablescapes, Tables for Two, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, Tablescapes Occasion, Tea Party Tablescapes Tagged With: , , ,



Strawberry Cheese Ring Appetizer

February 27, 2009 by 73 Comments

Today, I'm sharing a yummy appetizer I've made several times and it is always a big hit. It's super easy and fast...can't beat that! The recipe comes from Paula Deen's cookbook, The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook.  Love this cookbook!  It's filled with lots of good Southern cooking.  I've also linked to one more of her yummy recipes at the very end of this post...Sweet Potato … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Recipes, Independence Day Holiday Home, Independence Day Recipes, New Year's Recipes, Recipes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , , , , ,



Fireside Dining in the Library with Spode Woodland

February 26, 2009 by 93 Comments

Welcome to the 27th Tablescape Thursday! When I came across this room in a magazine, the thing that really caught my eye stopping me dead in my tracks, was the gorgeous tablecloth. It was just so over-the-top and impractical, which of course, was exactly why I loved it! I started pricing lace tablecloths online and quickly realized I would not be buying one any time soon--some were over $1,000! A … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Romantic Tablescapes, Tables for Two, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Occasion, Valentine's Day Table Settings, Valentine's Day Tablescapes, Winter Tablescapes



Valentine’s Day Table Setting with Yummy Heart Cakes

February 5, 2009 by 122 Comments

Welcome to the 24th Tablescape Thursday! Ok, I know it's really the first Tablescape Thursday...but I didn't want to start the count over just because our tablescaping day moved two days down the week. I'll be sharing a Valentine's Tablescape today and I'd love to know where you think it looks best...the breakfast room or the dining room.  I put together a little Valentine's table to share today. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Romantic Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, Valentine's Day Holiday Home, Valentine's Day Table Settings, Valentine's Day Tablescapes Tagged With: , , , ,



Winter Greetings by Lenox

January 6, 2009 by 64 Comments

Welcome to the 20th Tablescape Tuesday! A couple of weeks back I posted this tablescape... You may remember the china I used, Winter Greetings by Lenox. I wanted to share a bit more information about this china for this Tablescape Tuesday. This beautiful wreath and bird design was created for Lenox by wildlife artist, Catherine McClung...click HERE to access her website and see more of her … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Williamsburg Apple Tree Centerpiece for Your Christmas Table

December 30, 2008 by 62 Comments

Welcome to the 19th Tablescape Tuesday! When I posted a Christmas tablescape a few weeks ago, I received several questions about how I made the fruit tree centerpiece. Even though Christmas is over, I thought it might be helpful to see how it's made, just in case you would like to make one next year. Honestly, I think this would be beautiful for any occasion, not just Christmas. So for this Tablescape … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



A Champagne Punch Your Guests Will Love

December 26, 2008 by 66 Comments

When I have a Christmas or New Year's Eve party, I always serve this easy to make, Champagne punch.   This is the recipe but you'll find a printable one at the end of this post. Champagne Holiday Punch Ingredients: 1 cup water 1/2 cup sugar 3 cinnamon sticks 4 whole cloves 2 cups cranberry juice 1/2 cup pineapple juice 1 bottle champagne (Korbel Brut works great) Small amount of Grand Marnier (or any … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , , ,



Christmas Table Setting, Cottage Style

December 23, 2008 by 70 Comments

Welcome to the 18th Tablescape Tuesday! Christmas is only two days away...hard to believe! This is an exciting Tablescape Tuesday for me because two very special ladies, who are also dear friends of mine, have graciously agreed to let me post some of their wonderful holiday tablescapes. You most likely know them from their beautiful postings on Rate My Space...they are Carol, Cedwards55 and Linda, Mom of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree…

December 22, 2008 by 70 Comments

Over the years, I've added a tree here and there, throughout the house. This one is in the family room and it's decorated with just glass-blown ornaments. A few of the ornaments on this tree...you can see the beaded garland that drapes the tree... One of the Christopher Radko ornaments... Since I have kind of a "hunt" theme going on in my judges paneled family room, I decided to carry that theme … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, The Holiday Home Tagged With: ,



Mischievous Christmas Mice

December 21, 2008 by 57 Comments

I caught them...in the act! It's Michael's mice! Last night I curled up for a good read of that wonderful Christmas classic by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Sipping on a steaming mug of hot chocolate, with a crackling fire close by, I must have dozed off. I couldn't believe my eyes when I awoke! After stuffing themselves silly with tea and scones all night at Gollum's, these two … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Decorating with Wreaths for Christmas

December 20, 2008 by 67 Comments

I'm not sure what it is about wreaths, but I just love them! I think it's their "wholeness"...the way they feel so complete. The circular shape is said to represent eternity--no beginning and no end. When I first moved into my current home 18 years ago, I continued a tradition I had started at my previous home...that of hanging wreaths outside on the windows at Christmas time. I was the only one in my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Decorating the Front Porch for Christmas, 2008

December 18, 2008 by 61 Comments

Today, I'm sharing a bit of my outdoor Christmas decorations. If you come see me, as you pull into the driveway, you'll see the Lazy Hill Dove Cote on your immediate left. Sadly, there are no bluebirds nesting there this time of year. But stay tuned...they just may be back in the spring since they nested in there three times this past spring. If you would like to see some cute pics of the bluebirds feeding … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Porches, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Christmas Table Setting with Lenox, Winter Greetings

December 16, 2008 by 86 Comments

Welcome to the 17th Tablescape Tuesday! The table is set for a Christmas feast... China is Winter Greetings by Lenox. The pattern features classically rendered holly branches, mistletoe, chickadees, cardinals, berries, and ribbons. It was designed by artist Catherine McClung who is beloved by collectors for her accurate and vibrant bird portraiture. When I came across this Lenox … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , ,



Christmas Decorating on the Porch

December 13, 2008 by 46 Comments

I'm coming up for air!  I've been running around like a chicken with it's head...well, you know... getting ready for the neighborhood cookie party. Last count...expecting around 25 people. I've been grocery shopping, vacuuming, cleaning, cleaning some more, dusting...did I mention I've been cleaning! I've been de-furring the chairs...Max has his favorite spots for his afternoon naps and I don't think my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, The Holiday Home Tagged With:



A Christmas Tree for the Porch

December 11, 2008 by 110 Comments

I've been busy this last week decorating for Christmas and preparing for the neighborhood Ladies Cookie Party that will be at my house Sunday afternoon. Even though the weather is a bit chilly for hanging out on the screened-in porch, I thought I'd dress it up a bit since it's visible from inside. And maybe, just maybe, Sunday will be nice enough to venture out for a bit. Last week was in the 30's and today … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Porches Tagged With: , , , ,



Christmas in Miniature, A Sweet Dollhouse

December 8, 2008 by 93 Comments

While out antiquing in December two years ago, I came across a wonderful old doll house. The exterior was already decorated for Christmas with garland strung across the banister rails and wreaths on several of the windows. It stole my heart but it was priced at $250, so reluctantly, I walked away. All during Christmas I kept thinking about the house. I knew absolutely nothing about dollhouses, having … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Home Tours, My Nest Tagged With: , , , , ,



Stairway Banister Decorated for Christmas

December 4, 2008 by 66 Comments

During the month of December, I will be posting more pics of some of the holiday decor I have in my home. But today I wanted to share pics of a wonderfully decorated staircase that belongs to a good friend of mine, Joy. Joy lives in the beautiful state of Oregon. Unlike me, she actually enjoys cold weather and that white stuff we so rarely see here in Georgia. Can you believe she gets out and goes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



A Plate for All Seasons

November 29, 2008 by 59 Comments

In my kitchen, I have a little plate holder that for years held a red and white "rooster" plate. A while back I decided to make it more than just a plate holder with a decorative plate...now it's a fun way to mark the changing of the seasons, as well. So when February rolls around, it's time to think about cupid... And as it get closer to Easter... Once Easter has past, it's time to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Easter Decorating, Easter Holiday Home, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, My Nest, Seasonal Decor, Thanksgiving Decor, Thanksgiving Holiday Home, The Holiday Home, Valentine's Day Decor, Valentine's Day Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



A Thanksgiving Table Setting with Spode Woodland

November 25, 2008 by 76 Comments

Welcome to the 14th Tablescape Tuesday! Recently I had a "china" panic attack! A china panic attack is what happens when you hear or read that a particular china manufacturer is trying to sell their business because they are fast headed in the direction of closing their doors. Unfortunately, there's a lot of that type news going around these days. The company I heard about was Spode and my little … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fall Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, Thanksgiving Holiday Home, Thanksgiving Table Settings, Thanksgiving Tablescapes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , ,



Decorating for Christmas

November 20, 2008 by 44 Comments

Over the years, I've collected a good many vintage Christmas ornaments. I had originally planned to have a "vintage" tree, but this year I decided to group a few of them together in a footed glass container here in the family room. Instead of the expected tassel...I hung a little berry wreath from the key. Merry Christmas! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, The Holiday Home Tagged With:



A Feather Christmas Tree for the Guest Room

November 13, 2008 by 64 Comments

Recently I found this cute feather tree at Michaels.  Wasn't sure how I'd use it but once I got home, I knew just the place. I placed the tree in my Guest bedroom. When I have guest during the holiday season, I always plug it in just before it gets dark. That way, when my guest are ready to retire for the evening, they are greeted by this view as they enter the room. Last year, I bought this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, The Holiday Home Tagged With: ,



Winter Table Setting with Swarovski Crystal Ornament Centerpiece

November 11, 2008 by 73 Comments

Welcome to the 12th Tablescape Tuesday! Let's celebrate the approach of the holiday season with a tablescape that has the feel of a snowy evening. I've dimmed the lights and lit the candles...so glad you've stopped by this chilly winter night. The centerpiece for our winter-scape is a silver "tree" covered in 17 Swarovski crystal ornaments. I've been collecting them since 1991, when Swarovski … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Holiday Home, Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Seasonal Tablescapes, Tablescapes Holiday Tablescapes, The Holiday Home, Winter Tablescapes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,



A Springtime Table Setting with Ma Maison

October 21, 2008 by 74 Comments

Welcome to the 9th Tablescape Tuesday! My screened-in porch was finished in early spring. Just before the work was complete, I went on a serious shopping spree for "stuff" I would need for this new space. One of those items on my shopping list was china...something special for those summer dinners on the porch. One day while shopping in Home Goods, I found the china of my dreams. Let's just … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Easter Holiday Home, Easter Table Settings, Easter Tablescapes, Seasonal Tablescapes, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,