ALMOST A NEVER ENDING PROJECT

I've been thinking about this project for at least ten years - pondering it, dreading it, avoiding it!!!

We have eight dining room chairs that are old, but very sturdy. They are comfortable except they do not have upholstered seats. They desperately needed cushions but I never could find any that I liked in my price range. So, in September I decided I just needed to bite the bullet and make them myself with a deadline by Thanksgiving. In my frugal mode, I needed to use some of the various fabrics that I had in my stash. There are five different versions using a total of seven different fabrics.

I made 32 yards of cording, inserted 8 zippers, made 16 velcro tabs, used 2 spools of thread and 8 yards of fabric, and used up about all of my patience. It seems that the older I get, the shorter my attention span is.

I had a hard time deciding what to use for the inner cushions. Locally, foam was VERY expensive. I finally found a place online that cut the foam, then wrapped and secured the batting over the foam. All eight inner cushions with postage only cost $48. If I had done the inner cushions myself, it would have cost almost three times as much. I was very pleased with the quality, too.

After I received the inner cushions, it was very intimidating to see the stack on the left knowing the work that was coming. But, here they are all done. I prewashed all of the fabrics and inserted zippers in the back boxing, so they can be removed for the laundry. The cushions on the six chairs that are always around our table can be flipped over so that they all match. The other two chairs are used elsewhere, and only brought to the table when needed.

I'm joining a couple of parties today. Please check out Susan at
Between Naps on the Porch.
Susan is hosting Metamorphosis Monday where there is always so much inspiration.
Also, I'm joining Cielo at The House in the Roses.
Cielo is hosting Show Off Your Cottage Monday. Here you will find cottage lovers with ideas to make a cottage more comfortable and charming.
Edited to add: At the suggestion of Miss Mustard Seed, I'm also linking to her Furniture Feature Friday. Be sure to check out her blog for the most amazing painted furniture and accessories. She will also have a list of the participants of this week's FFF.

LET THE CHRISTMAS SEASON BEGIN!

I hope you all had a joyous and bountiful Thanksgiving. I know I'm stuffed! And as soon as I finish attacking this mess, it will be time to start the Christmas decorating.

The first thing I usually do is get out our Hummel nativity scene to remind us the reason for all of the Christmas hoopla.

Enjoy your weekend.

THANKSGIVING

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS.

MY PERSONAL PILGRIM

Granted, it is a stretch during this Thanksgiving season to call him a pilgrim, but he definitely was my personal pioneer. This is my great, great Uncle Asa.

Uncle Asa was a logger in Parkman, Maine in the 1860s. He was involved in a logging accident and lost his leg. They told him that there was no place in the logging business for a one-legged logger; so he should go West where he could ride a horse.

So, with $100 loaned to him by the local Masonic Lodge and only the possessions he could carry; he headed West on the train to Denver. Once in Denver, he then walked to southeastern Colorado to homestead to farm and ranch. The year was 1876.

After Asa's brother, my great-grandfather, was widowed he soon was lured to Colorado by the promise of free land. He came to farm, ranch and raise his sons alone. And that is how I became a Colorado native.

I've been fortunate to inherit what few possessions Uncle Asa had. Among them was this walking stick. With a peg-leg, I'm sure this was a very important belonging.

We don't know the story behind this sampler, but evidently it was brought from Maine on his journey and was important to him. Was it made by his mother, or perhaps made by a lost love? He was a life-long bachelor.

The kitchen tools of a pioneer were simple. Most of these were hand-made.

And probably the most special is this bible. It is only 3x5 inches in size, and the print is so tiny. The inscription indicates that it was given to Uncle Asa's mother, Nancy, by a friend in 1846. And, she passed it on to Asa for his journey in 1876.

I never look at these few material things without thinking about the hardships endured by the pilgrims and/or pioneers in their efforts to establish America. How blessed we all are to live here and celebrate Thanksgiving.

Cindy at My Romantic Home is hosting show and tell Friday. Please check out her blog for a list of the other participants.

I'm also linking to the weekly party hosted by Mary of Little Red House.
She will have a list of participants showing off their creative mosaics.

Be sure to check out Cindy's and Mary's blogs for a special treat.

THREE THANKSGIVING VIGNETTES

I don't do a lot of Fall, Halloween, or Thanksgiving decorating, but thought I would show you the few things I put out for Thanksgiving this week.

My pilgrims were from Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago; and, of course, the famous pumpkins from The Dollar Tree. The cloche was a present from my friend, Marsha, for my birthday last week - love it!!!

Marsha also gave me this turkey. I think it looks great with the rustic side of my house.

This time of year I really enjoy using my Johnson Bros. "His Majesty" turkey dessert plates.

I'm glad that this week is clear on my calendar, which gives me a chance to psych myself up for Thanksgiving week. The grandkids are out of school all next week, and I know they will want to come over to our house often. Our son, Mike, will be home for a few days; and then there is all of the cooking to be done. What about you? Do you thrive on all of the people around and the commotion on holidays? Or, are you like me and really cherish time alone? I imagine most people enjoy a combination of the two.

I just know that I am thankful everyday for the life I'm privileged to live.

I am linking up my three Thanksgiving vignettes to Tam at The Gypsy's Corner
for Three or More Tuesday. Be sure to go by her blog to check out the other participants.

BIRTHDAY WEEKEND PLUS A SUNDAY FAVORITE

It's our miracle child's birthday today. Our daughter, Jennifer, was adopted by us at the age of 3 weeks thirty-seven years ago. It has always been amazing to me that her biological mother loved her so much that she gave her baby to us so that we could love, care for, and cherish her, too. It is such a blessing that she is with us to celebrate another birthday. I've blogged about her struggle with brain cancer before, but if you are new to my blog and would like to read about it; please click here.

Happy Birthday, Jenni!! Thanks for the joy you have given us, and the special gift of making us the grandparents of your adorable children.

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I seem to have a bit of wanderlust recently, so thought I would join Chari of Happy to Design's

Sunday Favorites this week with a trip to the Eiffel Tower previously posted on October 8, 2008.

Please go by Chari's to find a list of other Sunday Favorites.

My husband, Bob, is retired from a 44-year career as a civil engineer. Consequently, when we travel, engineering marvels are always at the top of our "must see" list.

There are many engineering feats I have not witnessed such as the pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China.

But, I have seen the underside of the Golden Gate Bridge, and viewed the Royal Gorge Bridge of Colorado from a tram 1100 feet above the river.

I've been claustrophobic at the top of the St. Louis Arch, and have ridden 13 miles across the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island in Canada.

I've been in the bowels and seen the inner workings of the Tower Bridge in London, and traveled 180 miles an hour under the water of the English Channel through a tunnel.

BUT, in my opinion, the absolute best, best, best engineering marvel is the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

It combines the structure and strength of engineering and the beauty and form of art.

I know that there are professional photos that capture that beauty better than our amateur pictures, but these are ours and remind me that I was actually there!

A view from the top!!!!

Ooooooo, I so want to go back and see it again!!!!

HERITAGE TABLESCAPE

Once again it is Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan of
Between Naps on the Porch.
Please check out her blog for a list of this week's participants.

Recently, my 95-year-old Mother in law downsized to move to assisted care. Among her belongings were 40 pieces of Heisey crystal in the Moonglo pattern. She announced that my husband, Bob, was to have the Heisey because in the 1950s as a teenager he gave it to her for Christmas one year. Now, didn't he exhibit infinite wisdom in choosing that wonderful Christmas gift? He had no idea that he would marry someone who cherishes china and crystal, even though we were dating at the time. The set includes goblets, sherbets, cups & saucers and a relish plate. It is engraved, etched, and has a wonderful ring to it.

So, I believe a tablescape is in order.

I've combined the Heisey with my grandmother's green glass plates, my great-grandmother's Austrian china, and my mother's 1847 Rogers silver plate.

The white linen napkins with the crocheted edging were a wedding gift to us 51 years ago from my 5th grade teacher.

It was so enjoyable to set this table with things and memories from both sides of our family.

Sally

MEETING CHARI!!

I'm home from pretending to be a nurse and housekeeper after my son's elbow surgery. The surgery went well, so I was not going to miss the opportunity to meet a fellow blogging friend, Chari of Happy to Design.

Both my son and Chari live in the 'boonies' of northern Colorado, so we picked a town in between the two little hamlets for Chari and I to meet. Chari chose a great restaurant for us to have lunch, and we met there. I didn't have any trouble recognizing her - she has this beautiful, long blond hair and such a twinkle in her eye.

We had a great lunch of sandwiches and the best onion rings in the universe. We didn't even think to take pictures of our food until it was too late, as we were so engrossed in conversation. For three hours, we sat there discussing our European travels, our families, the blogging experience, dishes, and decorating our homes among other things.

By the way, if you follow Chari's blog you know she is in the process of redoing a wall in her living room to add a fireplace. There has been a lot of discussion about whether to remove the decorative molding on the wall. Well, I know what the final decision was; but you will have to wait until she does her final reveal on her blog!!

Chari was so kind to bring me a great goodie bag with yummy chocolate (which we sampled after lunch), cute apple kitchen towels (which match my kitchen perfectly), and this cute teapot pincushion. The lid of the pincushion is hiding a place to store thread and thimbles.

What a special experience it was to meet Chari and spend some time together. We hope to do it again.