GeorgiaPeachez

Houston: We Have Lift Off

Theme trees are a great excuse to collect more ornaments.  That is SO the case for my "space" tree.

I came up with the idea for a space tree a few years ago when Hallmark put out a series of collectible ornaments commemorating certain events in NASA history.

MrPeachez and I were young kids when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon and  MrPeachez still enjoys his Tang to this day.

It's just coincidence that we live next door to NASA Langley.

Every year I try to add one new space/NASA related ornament to this tree.

This year I added a spun cotton ornament by Vintage By Crystal. 

Can you spot him there riding on his little rocket?

I've got stars, stars and stripes, astronauts and cosmonauts.  One of my most special vintage ornaments is on this tree.  It's Italian and it's the Man on the Moon.  See him there on the left.  I found him at an estate sale in New Jersey.  I must say I sure did find a lot of treasures during my time spent living near the Jersey shore. 

What a Surprise

It's gotten kinda cold here, finally.  I mean it's December after all. 

I live on the coast of Virginia and we are fortunate to be in a zone 8 gardening area.  But still, my tropicals and houseplants that have spent the summer outside must now come inside. 

They have been on the porch for the past few weeks, getting acclimated and hopefully shedding all the creepy crawlies they've been hosting all summer.

So imagine my surprise when I went to cart them all into the coziness of my climate controlled interior that I discovered this.

Can you see it?  My aloe plant is getting ready to bloom again!!

Shocking! I know!

Merry Kitschmas Tree

This tree is loaded with Made In Japan flocked goodness.

Wouldn't you love to stand in the shoes of one of those Japanese designers that worked in the factory where they made these flocked ornaments?   

Knee hugger elves are a perennial favorite.

 

 

For this tree FUN and FLOCKED is the theme.

 

Oh yeah, felt and sequins too.

If you want lots more vintage christmas goodies just drop over here to Joan's blog, Anything Goes Here for links to blogs highlighting their vintage christmas collections.  ta ta. 

Vintage All the Way

Everything about my aluminum christmas tree is old.  The tree and it's rotating/musical stand were found at The Big Flea a few years back.

My most beautiful vintage ornaments go on this tree and I have 2-3 ornaments on every branch.

I love the perfect  "imperfection" of this one.

My aluminum tree is my favorite tree.  I've got 8 trees up and decorated this year. 

I also treasure all my felt/sequin christmas items.  This tree has a gorgeous skirt that I found on eBay.  Someone did perfect work on it. 

Now hop over to Vintage Christmas Monday at Joan's blog and follow the links to see what everyone else is posting for this week.    

Dream Pets Gone Wild

Vintage Christmas Monday - Vintage Gift Tags

Take some Mod Podge, a thrifted wooden tray, my favorite jadite green paint, vintage gift tags and *voila*

I made this a few years ago and it always makes me happy when I unpack it at christmas time.

Check out what Sis Boom diva Jennifer Paganelli is doing with vintage gift tags over at her place.  It's sweet!

Next go check out what else is happening on Vintage Christmas Monday by following the links over at Anything Goes Here.

Go ahead, you know you want to. 

I'm Diggin' This

I've been so stinkin' busy, you too?

I'm catching up on blogs this AM and just came across this!

Twelve fabulous giveaways at

Where Women Create

You can thank me later. 

 

Vintage Christmas Monday

Two words I love to put together...vintage and christmas. 

I'm joining the list over at  Anything Goes Here.  It's a blog block party every Monday and I'll take any excuse to share my vintage christmas goodies.

Now you know I can't pass up christmas items from the past and I will stockpile them even if I have no clue what I'm going to do with them. 

Such was the case when I discovered a huge box full of old (and probably dangerous) strings of christmas light.  The colors really grabbed me, shades of orange and lilac, jadite greens and even pink.  Not those uniform primary colors in use today.

I tossed out the fraying electrical cords and started hoarding the bulbs.  The swirly C-9's being the most desirable.  I pondered on what to create out of my growing collection.  I knew a wreath was a logical choice but it was a few years (and more bulbs) before I had that aha!  (light bulb, ha!) moment and my first light bulb wreath was born.

I made a few wreaths that first year and then a couple more after that.  But I haven't made any for over 5 years now. 

It takes a long time to accumulate enough bulbs for these wreaths.  They aren't that easy to find (in quantity) and they go for big bucks on eBay. 

So I've made three bulb wreaths this year and that's probably it for a long time. 

Unless I hit the mother load at a future estate sale.  It could happen.  

No Turkeys Here

What? No turkey pictures!!  Got that right. 

We did eat our share of turkey in this house however, and it was good.  Smoked turkey from the local BBQ joint. yum.

We had two soldiers from Ft. Eustis come to share the feast with us today.

I want to thank them for their service to our country and I want to thank their families for allowing these fine young men to come to Virginia to do their service.

Here are some pictures of the guys for their families to enjoy.

Both of our soldiers are far, far from home. 

Beau Browne is from the island of Maui, one of the Hawaiian Islands.

Patrick Shaw is from Portland, Oregon.

I think the guys enjoyed the lunch that I prepared, and I KNOW they enjoyed the pecan pie.  Three pieces each worth of enjoyment!

The recipe is my grandmother, Montine Hammond's recipe.  My grandparents had pecan trees in their backyard in Hapeville, GA and I have fond memories of picking up pecans and cracking them to eat every time we went to their house.

I'm going to share her recipe here, in case our soldier's mom's want to try it next time they come home.  My southern tradition to pass along to them.

Montine Hammond's Pecan Pie

3/4 cup sugar,  1 cup light corn syrup,  3 eggs slightly beaten,  4 tbl. melted butter,  1 tbl. vanilla,  1 cup pecans chopped

Line pie plate with pastry.  Boil sugar & syrup together for about 2 minutes.  Pour this mixture slowly over the slightly beaten eggs, stirring vigorously.  Add butter, vanilla and pecans.  Pour into unbaked pastry line pie plate.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.

Just Two More

I've managed to scrounge enough materials to make two more wreaths for 2009.

They will be in the shop at 3pm Tuesday.  Thanks to everyone that has been inquiring about more wreaths!!