Our Home, Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas everyone!!  So much for me blogging more, but my laptop got a virus and totally had to be redone, but I have it back now. Just in time to share my home decorated for Christmas with you.  There are a lot of pics, and they are kind of in random order, but I was in a hurry to get this post up before it was actually Christmas ;)  Hope you enjoy.

And last but not least, a pic of two animal BFFs, Zoe the cat and Jenny the dog....

With Love,

Tiff

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...1860's Style...

Yep, I'm still alive and kicking ;)  I have lots of excuses for not posting, way too long of a vacation(I know, sounds impossible), laptop problems, over extending myself with volunteering(soccer coach, school, church), a lot going on in my own mind, and I just really haven't had the time.  And I'm really trying to connect to the real world and not just the online one.  But I do miss it, so I'm going to try to slowly work on posting again, if nothing else than for a history of life for me.

Speaking of history, what do you think of my first ever historical dress?  I made it last week from Past Patterns #803 for our annual church craft fair.  I made a chemise and petticote  too, but I bought the corset and cheated with a bridal crinoline.  It didn't turn out perfectly, but I'm happy with it for my first shot at such a thing.

I'm wishing you and your loved ones a very wonderful Thanksgiving.  And if you have never made your own cranberry sauce, you MUST!! It is so easy and tastes heavenly.

Love,
Tiff

Christmas in July(well June still)

We've had a busy summer already and I have lots to share, but I had to first share today's surprise. We are getting ready for Florida and I'm trying to clear the garage out, so I took a van load up to goodwill this afternoon.  Apparantly a lot of people are doing the same thing today, because two other cars were up there unloading.  I started casually talking with one lady about our stuff(she was a collector too). She liked my stuff and I like hers, lol!!!  I was good though, I only came home with one giant tub of vintage ornaments.  Look what I got for totally FREE!!!!!...

 The majority are Shiny Brites...

 Some pretty neat ones in there...

 And even some for my kitchen Kiche tree...

 Was in the right place at the right time!!!  I'm a happy camper :)

Stay cool,

Tiff

New Kitchen Table...

Hubby and I took a ride out to the Mustard House last Friday, not really looking for anything for our house, just some of the homemade soap they sell.  Well, because I have the most sweet and awesome hubby in the world, who spoils me to no end... I came home with two new treasures :)  One you will have to wait to see(still have to figure out where in the garden I can put a cow ;) ), but I will show you the other right now...

A new kitchen table.  It works perfectly in this space and really lightens up the room.  We don't need a huge table anymore, and this smaller one(7' instead of 9') lets us have easier access to the patio doors and more walking space in general.  It's a reproduction piece and both sides can be folded down like a tavern table.

I love it!...  and the old table got the faux top and leaves removed and is now in the family room as a game table/sewing table...so win win.

I've tweaked the kitchen since I took these pictures the other night and I will share what I did with it next week.

Now I just need some nice days so I can work outside in the yard... I can't wait for you all to see my other treasure :)   Thank you dear !!

Have a lovely day,
Tiff

Wow, just Wow :)

As most of you know, I volunteer at my boys' elementary school a lot, not in the classroom, but more of a general school wide thing...usually craft and creative related.  I do it because I enjoy it.  I like to see the smiles on the kids' faces when they see a new bulletin board go up.  I like the challenge of coming up with new ideas. And I like to make people happy, especially the teachers and staff who put so much of their time and energy into teaching our children.

This week is volunteer appreciation week and on Monday night we had our volunteer coordinator meeting. At the end of it, the vice principal, Becky(she runs the volunteers, and is a friend and neighbor) gave us each a gift card to a local coffee house(gold card below). It was a very nice gift of appreciation.

Then on Tuesday I went in to do the sea life bulletin board and was told to wait a minute in the office. Becky called me into her office and totally surprised and shocked me with these overly generous gifts...

All the teachers got together and raised money to buy me a gift card to a local restaurant(cutest gift card ever!) and a TIFFANY necklace!!!

Here is the beautiful necklace and pendant.... I am blown away with their kindness. It was totally not necessary but I totally love it :)

But I wasn't the only one they thought of.... they also got Mason a big stretchy frog and an awesome board game(it's called North Pole Camouflage and the upper levels are even challenging for adults, it's a fun brain teaser).  He is my shadow with school volunteering and they wanted him to know how good and patient he is. Sweet, right?

So to all the teachers and staff at Great Falls Elementary School, THANK YOU!!! You didn't have to do it, but please know that you made this shy and under confident girl feel very much loved and appreciated.

Blessings to you all,

Tiff

Bulletin Boards

I finally remembered to take a picture of the May bulletin board I did.  The inspiration for this month was "teacher appreciation".  The 3D flowers came out pretty well, but they were a pain to get attached to the board.

And yesterday I did a smaller bulletin board for my 2nd grader's classroom. They are studying sea life. I made the giant squid and shark and all the kids made the smaller creatures.  It was a simple board, but came out pretty well.

I had to add this one of Mason... he loves to dress up everyday, yesterday was cowboy day :)

Have a beautiful day,

Tiff

Late Spring Mantel...

I had no idea what to do with my fireplace mantel this year after I took down my chocolate Easter bunnies.  After  a few attempts, I came up with a simple mantel that will last into Summer....

I wanted some symmetry, so I used matching crocks on each side with the same plants in them... but a bird nest on one side...

And a bird on the other...

In the middle I just added a wood box filled with most of my glass coaster collection(a lot of them I am actually using with my furniture)...would love to find more green ones.

At a local store I found some really neat prints for a great price... I put two of them in the empty frames on my family room wall....(don't know why this one came out blurry)

And this one, I love old pictures of birds...

Have a lovely day,

Tiff

Birthdays....

It's been a wonderful and busy week...

May 13th.... Our new daughter-in-law celebrated her birthday at our house.  I made her a triple layer cake with a brownie center.   She is a very sweet young woman, a bit on the shy side, but I think we all are a bit overwhelming to her.  

They are such a cute couple :)

I also made her a tote bag to take to Hawaii when they get transferred in July... it has handles and a long shoulder strap so she can use it however she wants.

I love how it turned. I used a really stiff interfacing for the first time and it made all the difference.

Then on May 14th, Nathan's Angel day, Becca and I went and got our second holes pierced in our ears...

On May 15th... My sweet and sensitive little boy, Zach, turned 8 years old....

He is the most awesome big brother to Mason, always there for him, and doesn't complain too much about big brothers duties ;)  He is my most emotional child, and takes things truly to heart. He is a kind soul and is growing into a fine young man.  
He loves sleeping with his "stuffies" and got two giant new ones for his birthday, plus a big Lego set.

And I had to add this one of Jenny after her bath yesterday. I trimmed her eye fur so she can see much better now!

Sweet Blessings to you,

Tiff

Always in My Heart....

                                                             Mommy loves you Nathan.