Christmas at "My Old Kentucky Home"

Welcome to Christmas tour 2011!  This is not exactly a candle light tour of "My Old Kentucky Home" at Christmas.  As a matter of fact, I was really thankful for a beautiful, sunny day a few days ago that allowed me to get these picutures. 

What I thought I would do is start at the front door and work my way through.  So, there may not be a lot of explaining, maybe just captions under the pictures telling what room it is.  I know you ladies are busy touring all the other houses out there in blogland.  Occasionally I might say something about an idea that is orgingal with me.  Most of the ideas are from someone's blog or straight from Pintrest.  I don't mind that.  If it's something I like, and I know they don't mind me being a copy cat, then I use it.  I would hope that others would find a little bit of inspiation when they visit me. 

So come on in ya'll!




Front Door...ugly cord and all!  Can you guess what is on the back of the two chairs?  Hint:  most people would wear it, not cut it up and use it as a decoration!  It acutally was an out of style skirt; out of style as far as the design, but not the fabric.  Red and black and white plaid never goes out for Christmas.  Right?  I was contemplating getting rid of it, then had a light bulb moment!

  


Nativity scene, designed by daughter, Hannah who was helping me clean and get ready for a Christmas get together.  This is on the piano which sets in the foyer (picture above this one).

 






Thw stairs to the left of the piano.  I ususally decorate with greenery and lights, but this year since I am going with a more simple approach, I used these "swags".  They are made from greenery and berries from the yard.  Can't get much cheaper than that!

Back to the foyer and to the right of the piano, let's go into the Living/Dining Room:




Music notes ornaments from the girls' piano teacher many Christmases ago.  Still love them.  Hoping to make a bunch of these.  I've been seeing them a lot lately on different blogs.

I love to decorate with sticks out of the yard!  Couldn't get much cheaper than that!

This pictures the other direction looking at Dining Area into the Kitchen.

 Holly cut from a holly tree at the church.  Cheap, again!

A little Christmas touch in the hutch.

Decorations on the buffet.  These may change.  I love how some have set up a hot chocolate center.  I would like to do this for a Ladies Sunday School Class get together here on Sunday.  So, if I do, I'll try to do a post about it.  For now, it looks like the above picture.

From the dining room to the kitchen......

and from the Kitchen looking back into the Dining/Living Room

 

The following are pictures of the Kitchen taken from different angles:

This is actually an early Christmas present for which I am very thankful.  We have gradually been updating our appliances  (see some of this here) from when we first built the house 18 years ago.  We just updated the stove with this one.  I sorta like it!

Some Christmas Kitchen Close-ups




A Christmas gift from last year that I love!

 


Saw this idea of the candy canes hooked over the edge of a container, on a blog, but I did it before I saw it on the blog....promise! 

Little trees in buckets on  each side of the sink....you know I did not come with this on my own!

A quick "cover-up" for and unfinished update on the island.

Now, for the last room, we will go from the kitchen to the Family Room.



  The fireplace actually separates the kitchen from the Family Room.  So here is one side (before you go, though, look closely at the doilie (real close!, because it's white like the wall), inside the picture frame over the mantle.  This is a doilie that my mom made me several years ago.  I love to use it at Christmas because I think it looks like a snow flake.  Guess I'm for sure the only one with this idea!)

and here's the other side when you're standing in the Family Room.

Guess you thought we didn't have a tree!  We do, and another piano!  We love music around here!  This piano does not work...only for looks!

The tree and the shutters that I have had for a long time and used in several different places, but think the best use for them is to place Christmas cards on them. 

Also, if you look closely you can see where I used scarves for garland on the tree.  Since scarves are so popular right now, I thougt this was kinda cute.  It definitely is an original.  I'm sure no one else would even think of doing this!

The scarves!

Love using cranberries to decorate and to garnish with!  You can see this here.  Beautifull with some snow!

The special gift from last year (click here to see.)  Can't wait to exchange with the girls this year.  Rebecca will get mine and I will get Hannah's, I think.

The red sled that I found in October at place in West Virginia.  I have been wishing for one for a while.  I had to give it a fresh coat of red paint and think it turned out OK.  It sets at the back door.


Well, there you have it, the 2011 Christmas tour of "My Old Kentucky Home"!  I sure have enjoyed having you.  Wish you all come for a real visit! 
Ya'll come back anytime to visit!



Christmas and Cranberries

Gail

Begin forwarded message:

Cranberries have become one of my favorite things at Christmas time.  This year I have used them to decorate with, and to garnish with.  Hopefully next week I will be able to post some decorating pictures.  

The picture below shows some garnishing I did with cranberries.  I placed them around a berry pie; one that I slaved all day over!  Not!  I actually bought it, but when I put it up on a pedestal 
And placed my wonderful, red cranberries around it and then sprinkled powdered sugar on them for a "snow" effect, it lost some of it's store bought look!  

When we have fellowships at church my food is not the food that gets the blue ribbon prize for taste.  I have brought quite a few almost full dishes back home with me, if you know what I mean!  Well, I'll let you in on a little secret I learned.  The presentation of the food is a major part of the meal.  So, I've learned to "garnish" the food to be presentable even if it isn't edible!

This Razzel Dazzle Berry pie by Marie Calendar, got dazzled a little moe and taken to a Christmas party tonight.  Guess what! Not only did it get eaten almost gone, but it was also a topic of conversation around the dessert table!  

I'm just cranzy bout cranberries!

Gail

From: Gail Moore <mrslonmoore@gmail.com>
Date: December 11, 2011 9:08:12 PM EST
To: Gail Moore <mrslonmoore@gmail.com>

Gail

Fwd: Living Room at Christmas

Here's a peek of my Christmas decorations.  Hopefully, next week I'll be able to join some of the home tours!  How's your Christmas decorating going?

Gail

Begin forwarded message:

From: Gail Moore <mrslonmoore@gmail.com>
Date: December 10, 2011 9:57:12 PM EST
To: Gail Moore <mrslonmoore@gmail.com>

Gail

Sis' All about U!

Our Ladies Christmas Brunch was held at my house today.  I loved it!  I love all the ladies, my sisters in Christ.  We had such a wonderful time.

Check out the all the scrumptious food.  Might not be a wise thing to start the month out like this!

Our theme this year, for our church, has been "We would see Jesus".  So, for our bi-monthly ladies fellowship meetings we have focused on the name JESUS!  No better name to focus on, right?  Name above all names!

In January, (read about that here) we focused on the "J" with all the foods, games, devotions, etc. starting with the letter "J".  We did the same with the letter "E" in March, (read about that here)  and "S" in September. 

So, that left the letter "U".  Now, there's not too many foods, games, decorations that begin with the letter "U".  However, since our theme is we would see Jesus, and Christmas is supposed to be all about Him anyway, we just tried to direct all the attention to Jesus, praising Him and thanking Him for all His blessings.

  We sang a song which our choir is going to be singing for the Christmas cantata, called "You Are Jehovah to Me".  It goes something like this, (notice what almost every phrase begins with)    YOU are the wings that will hide me, YOU are the light that will guide me; All that I need you provide me,  YOU are Jehovah to me.  YOU are the bread that will feed me, YOU are the Word that will lead me;  You are the love that has freed me, YOU are Jehovah to me. 
And I will praise Your name, for You are my God and King, and I will worship You with each breath I take, and each song I sing.....
It was beautiful!  I could barely sing for crying. 

We read from Luke 1:46-55 where Mary, the mother of Jesus, "extolled" the Lord for what He had done in her life.  What a wonderful passage!
Then, we had testimonies from several ladies, and what a blessing that was!

  One of our sweet ladies sang a beautiful song that had been on her heart for a few days, that went right with the theme.  Such a blessing!!  That's her in the white sweater in the middle of the picture below.

Then we exchanged gifts by playing "musical gifts".  It was fun.

 Then everyone had to leave.  (Sad face, me).

I love my "Sisters", and loved joining them in saying to Jesus, "This is all about YOU"!

Extra pictures below.

Some just are too funny!



Some just show fellow sister shipping!



Some are cool!

Some are Serious!

Serious........for real.

Some are precious....to me anyway.  This baby girl who helped her Mama out at the last minute, and the one in the back, who is not a Sis, but he had been gone in a meeting for a few days and got back before our meeting was over.

and this baby girl who didn't get to be at the meeting, but she sure did help me get ready to have the meeting.  Thanks, Hannah!

So, there you have it..... the Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2011, Ladies Christmas Brunch!

Sis' All about YOU!



Fwd: [Gleanings From Gail] Rebecca's Roots

Gail

Begin forwarded message:

From: Gail <mrslonmoore@gmail.com>
Date: November 26, 2011 11:10:17 AM EST
To: mrslonmoore@gmail.com
Subject: [Gleanings From Gail] Rebecca's Roots

Sometimes it amazes me how much my daughters show distinct traits of our  ancestors.  The genes from the American Indian really stands out in them at times.  It is especially evident in Rebecca, the oldest daughter.   It doesn't show up in me at all, but if you saw a picture of my great grandmother, you would see it plainly.  My guess is, this is where Rebecca gets it.  Who knows.  It would be an interesting research, I know.  Maybe we will do this someday.  Rebecca has a blog if you would like to visit her.  I have trouble linking to it, but you can find her at HisnHearn.blogspot.com.  You will enjoy a post where she actually tells of her heritage and her roots.  Her blog was inspired from Psalm 16:6 "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."

Sent from my iPhone

Gail

--
Posted By Gail to Gleanings From Gail at 11/26/2011 08:10:00 AM

Thankful!

Turkey (of course), dressing (my fave) potatoes, gravy, candid sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, ham, cranberry salad, grape salad, fruit salad, broccoli casserole, cole slaw, rolls, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple cake, chocolate layered dessert!! Anyone hungry? Come join us! Just don't show up at my kitchen, 'cause it ain't happening there! You have to come to Island City, Ky! So thankful for my mom's good cooking!

Gail

Gail

Fwd: Sneak Peek

From: Gail Moore <mrslonmoore@gmail.com>
Date: November 21, 2011 10:56:23 AM EST
To: Gail Moore <mrslonmoore@gmail.com>
Subject: Sneak Peek

Every year we try t get a family picture done.  It has been a tradition for maaaannnnnnyyyyyy years.  We have always tried to give one to each family in the church.  I just know that every year they're anxiously awaiting the "Moore's Christmas Photo"!  Just so they can throw it in trash can, I mean, put it on fridge!

A lot of families do this I know, and if your family is of any size, then you know how difficult getting a family pic can be.  We used to think it was hard when we only had 4 girls!  Wow!  If we had only known!  Now quadruple that!  

In this picture the kids just automatically fell down on the ground!  Love their hearts; they're so used to having pictures taken.  The son- in- laws, though, they're a different story.  I won't even go there.  Just let me say that they act like they can't wait to get the photo shoot over with!  The word "act" is the keyword here!  I think they actually enjoy it!  I know they enjoy seei g themselves!  JK!!  Well, not really!  I can say these things on here, cause none of them follow!  Ha ha!  I love my SILS!

This picture was taken at the 50 anniversary service of Sugar Camp Baptist Church in Booneville, Ky., where my father- in-law ( pictured in center) pastored for 41 years.  Last year we had the picture taken in front of the church where I grew up, and this year where my husband grew up.  This is very special to us.  Anyway, this is a sneak peek of Christmas pic 2011.

Gail