Tis' the Season For Mittens, Lights & Holidaze

I couldn't wait to get our tree up this year and I had to share a few of my favorite finds for the season!

I love these plump little birds from Crate and Barrel that are made of boiled felt that's been machined and washed!

Of course everyone could use a little bit of Texas in their tree and I just couldn't help myself

And who could resist this cute little guy?

Les insists we have the noisiest tree on the block too, thanks to the bells I found at Pottery Barn.

These are meant to be napkin rings but they made great ornaments!

 . . . and a Starbucks for good measure

Happy Decorating!

Happy Turkey Day

Thanksgiving Menu

Main Dish: Brined Turkey Breast

Sides:   German Skillet Baked Beans (Grandma's Recipe)
            Pasta Salad 
            Veggie Dip
            Broccoli Cheese Casserole
            Deviled Eggs
            Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Dessert: Pumpkin Roll
            Waldorf Salad

Tradition followed suit this year as it has in years past.  Les's apple juice, telecherry, and orange brined Turkey stole the show and my dinner rolls turned out to be the consistency of hockey pucks!




Thanks to the efforts of Pottery Barn and I our table was set beautifully though.




It was great to have Dad here with us.  Poor Les kept his nose to the grindstone while dad and I set out on a few adventures.  Les wasn't the only one wishing we'd hurry home though . . .







Dad was honored as a platinum shopper at Bronner's, the world's largest christmas store, (open 364 days a year).  I knew we were in trouble when the entrances were marked North, South, East, and West and the parking lot was numbered.  Only then to be greeted at the front door by a help desk and MAPS!

This is just the west entrance folks!

A place where one man's love of Christmas, Wally Bronner, has no bounds.  Bronner's covers 320,000 square feet and boasts of over 50,000 ornaments.  




With time to spare we headed to Frankenmuth, Michigan's little Bavaria, famous for Zehnder's Chicken Dinners, it's Cheese and Sausage Haus and home to St. Julian's Winery.