FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS.........

MISS "B"........THE BOSS......AND ME.....

WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

REMEMBERING TOM SNYDER..................

I was going through my desk drawers the other day when I came across

my stash of letters....cards and e-mails from Tom.....

That would be Tom Snyder of Late Night Fame.....

Let me start back a few years......Well more then just a few years......it was back in 1973 and me and the Boss

had not been married very long....We would stay up late at night

and tune in to The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder.....

We instantly became fans and would continue to watch Tom all

through the years......When daughter went away to college we had officially

hooked her on Tom as well....

How could you not become hooked....

Daughter didn't have cable t.v. or any t.v. for that matter up in Ithaca

so I would tape Tom's shows for her and mail them up every couple of weeks...

After all those years we felt like Tom was part of the family....

For any of you that watched his shows he always had a segment where the viewers could

call in and ask Tom and his guests questions or just call in to chit chat....

Tom was a great chit chatter......

Not watching the shows live daughter was unable to call in so the Mom...

that would be me.....sent the infamous letter off to Tom's house asking if he

would reverse the process and give daughter a call at college.....

A few of my readers here on the blog even remember the night

the crazy college girl sang "There's No Business Like Show Business" on the air....

Now I know what your asking yourself.....How did she know where Tom lived....

Both Tom and the Boss were big Lionel Train collectors and they were

both in the same organization of wacky men that collect

toy trains.....

Hence there was a directory of all the members with their home address'....

I never expected to hear a word.....little did I know what a kind man Tom was.....

One night daughter called home all excited that Tom had indeed called her....

And he told her to call home and let Mom know that the show would play at midnight and to get the VCR fired up.....

In the letter I had told Tom that daughter did a great Ethel Merman imitation and ofcourse

Tom asked daughter to sing a few bars......

It was television history in the making......Daughter sang her little heart out and Tom was

hysterical laughing....

And we have it all on tape!!

Over the years we corresponded with each other.....through cards and notes....and

later on through e-mails.....

When daughter graduated from Law School and moved into Manhattan she moved to

50th. Street between 1st. and 2nd..........We discovered that directly behind her on 51st. street was where Tom lived when he worked in New York.....He always told the story and loved saying that he slept in

Maureen O'Hara's bed......It seems he moved into her old apartment and when she moved out the bed was too large to move so she just left it.....

When daughter and SIL married in 2002 Tom was invited to the wedding but 9/11

had just happened and Tom was not a fan of flying......but he went to

Williams Sonoma in San Francisco and picked out a gift from the registry

Which I thought was so cute and so thoughtful....

Heck some people came to the wedding and didn't bring a gift....

We always think of Tom when we go through a car wash......

Once he took "Mother Snyder" who was probably in her late 80's at the time out for the day

and he went through a car wash.....

She commented how the weather had gotten bad.....

He thought that was the funniest thing.....

In one of Tom's last notes he writes......

"If you are ever coming to California please let me know"......

I never did make the trip and Tom passed away way too early at 71

on July 29th. of 2007......

This was the last Christmas card I received from him a few years

before he passed away.....

So Tom if your up there reading blogs this one's for you....

"Fire up a Colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly

through the Air"...............

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAODINARY BLOGGERS........

Today some of us Atlanta Bloggers had the pleasure of lunching with these amazing

Ladies.....

This is Nola and Karyn.....better known as.....

The Bloom Girls.....

Before going any further let me point out that both ladies are grandmothers......

Yes, they are truly amazing......

I should look half as good!!!

Getting together for a pre-Christmas luncheon we had quite the mix of extra special talent....

We had a Santa Maker.....

A World Class Tablescaper.....

Two Decorators.....those lovely ladies above....

A Candy Maker

and one Chatty lady that says she has no talent....

But believe me she sure does....

She posts every single day and never fails to post interesting and funny stories

and pictures and whatever else is happening in her life....

And I just love reading it everyday.....

She's like the morning paper....

she always delivers....

I stepped up onto this gorgeous porch only to find myself hunting for a door bell.....

It was hidden behind the garland so I just knocked....

But later got to actually hear the bell play "White Christmas".....

How neat is that.....I was waiting for Bing Crosby to appear....

I should have guessed from the outside decorations what was beyond the front door....

Step inside and enjoy!!

This colorful beauty greets you in the hallway.....
This was one of three trees on the first floor...

How gorgeous is this.....all silver and white and all the way to the ceiling....
This one graced the Family Room......

Decorations were everywhere.....

The perfect Tablescape.....
Something told me we were in for a great time.....

I wasn't surprised to step into the Family Room Kitchen area and see this
wonderful Gingerbread House....

I can't even imagine attempting to make one of these....
Karyn said they still had a little more work to do on it...
It looked pretty done to me...

Look at all the stockings!!
Karyn is a foster mom in the county and unselfishly welcomes these children into
her home with open arms....
We got to meet her adorable adopted daughter Madison who is 5 and is just as
cute as could be....

Look at this fancy thingie up on the ceiling....I know it has a name...but the name
escapes me.....just like what I ate today for breakfast....
It's menopause ladies....

Here is Rose and Robin hanging out in the kitchen having a
"Chat and Chew' as Rose would call it....

Miss Nola....

All the way from Nashville....

Her and Karyn share blogging duties....

And now for the food.....which was....Well....take a look for yourself.

This was warm Brie covered in Fig jam with cranberries and walnuts...

served with raisin and pecan crackers....

Do I have to tell you how good this was...

In the Butler's Pantry....

Sandy made this great salad that had strawberries and mandarin oranges with candied

walnuts....

She also made adorable marshmallow pops...

There was chicken salad on croissants.....

Everybody's "Lady's Who Lunch" favorite...

QUICHE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to admit that I went back for seconds on this one....

It was so so good....

Here is my plate....

We also had a shrimp and macaroni salad made by the cook among us......

and ofcourse if you invite me for lunch your going to get a loaf

of my lemon rosemary bread....

Robin made these truffles that Rose dubbed...

Reindeer Balls....

I could have eaten the whole plate....

They were fabulous....

For dessert we also had...

Ambrosia Salad

A pistachio whipped cream salad...

pumpkin cream puffs....and

cappuccino brownies

And we were all ready to die if we took another bite.....

Here are the ladies in attendance....

front to back left to right...

Rose....Santamaker's Journey

Karyn....The Bloom Girls

Sandi.....Chatty Crone...

Susan....Between Naps on the Porch

Robin...All Things Heart and Home....

and

Nola....The Bloom Girls....

Not able to attend was Joyce....of Flour Power fame and

Debbie.....at Confessions of a Plate Addict....

We missed you both....

Last year this time I had no idea who these wonderful women were....

If you were to have told me that I would have all these new friends in my life

a year later I wouldn't have believed it.....

If it wasn't for blogging I never would have discovered ladies that I have so much in common with.....

As the year comes to an end I am thankful for you all.....Here in Atlanta......and all over the country......and to my new friends in Europe as well......all your talents...

all your thoughtful comments and all your friendships....

I hope the New Year brings you all new blogging friends!!

A MILKY WHITE CHRISTMAS TABLE.......

Another Thursday Another Tablescape hosted by....

The Best Little Tablescaper in the South...

Susan @ http://www.bewtweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

We won't be having Christmas dinner at home this year but the table is set so pictures needed to

be taken...

My table is the first thing you see when my front door opens and I always

enjoy stepping inside and seeing the table set....

I decided to set the table using some of my milk glass and some newly acquired

holiday goodies that were found for next to nothing prices....

The wreath was purchased at Home Depot for only $6.00 on Black Friday....
Intending to hang on the front door I changed my mind when I saw how
good it looked in the center of the table....
The great tureen inside the wreath was purchased a few weeks ago
in an antique store in Woodstock for $6.85....complete with ladle!!

Aren't those great looking placemats.....
They are red felt and I found those for $1.89 each at
Old Time Pottery here in Marietta...
Our Hostess Susan is a fan of OTP....she's always finding good buys there too...

Here are the little milk glass cups that I found at the GW for 50 cents a piece
And then a few weeks back while at Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta
I found the matching plates....$6. for 4 plates....

Snowflake Glasses!
found at every tablescapers favorite place to find bargains.....
The Dollar Tree....
4 glasses....$4.00!!

Sandwich plates.....No need for silverware...

votive candles found at IKEA while shopping with Rose and Joyce....
12 candles in various shades of red.......99 cents for 12

I love the cutout design of the placemats.............

a little milk glass candy dish...

a little mustard jar.....and salt and pepper shakers.....

Milk glass is perfect on a Christmas Table...

The stark white and simplicity of it goes so well with

Red and Green...

Gotta have a nutcracker....

I couldn't believe the price of this tureen....

I didn't have my glasses on when I found it and had to ask

Sandi of the Chatty Crone to confirm the price....

You know your getting old when you have to have

backup to read price tags.....

two of my favorite pieces....

I went back later in the day after finding the wreath and they were

sold out within a few hours......

When you see a good buy you all know that you need to grab it when you

see it....

So is your table all set and ready for Christmas??

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and a great New Year

filled with fun and festive tables!!!

"S" IS FOR SUE GRAFTON.......

And "B" is for book signing..... I woke up this morning at 8:00 in anticipation of attending a book signing for

author Sue Grafton....

It was 30 odd degrees outside and sleeting when I went to walk the Boo Dog...

So I came inside and got right back into bed.....

The book signing was to be at noon at Sam's Club in the next town over so I had some time to

spare....

At 10:30 I left for Alpharetta and when I arrived at Sam's after getting a one day pass

To enter the joint I found myself 2nd. in line.....

I have been reading and collecting all of Sue's books for years now....

For those of you that don't know who she is....she writes mystery books about a character named

Kinsey Millhone...who is a private investigator...

and Sue is working her way through the alphabet.....She is up to "U" is for Undertow....

I brought with me a bag of books that I needed signed since Sue hasn't been to

Atlanta is about 5 years.....I also brought with me that mug she is holding....

Bought years ago at Barnes and Noble she was kind enough to sign it also....

Concerned that I would not be able to get everything signed...this lady is a class act....

Not only did she sign all my books and my mug but she took the time for

This picture....

Thanks Sue!!

It's always a treat to attend one of Sue's book signings....She is such a

Gracious Lady....

The man in front of me had two huge bags of books claiming that one bag was for

his wife who had not arrived yet....Oh sure....

She has the same books as he had.....

Can you say.... Is Someone Selling these books on E-Bay??

But she signed everything he had and she did it with a smile...

Here is my collection from "A" is for Alibi

all the way to

"U" is for Undertow....

All signed first editions.....

Except for...."T" is for Trespass..... it must have snuck past me??

I looked all over the house and "T' is no where to be found...

I always get a card in the mail when a new book is coming out and I guess that one never got to me....

This great collection will never be sold by me...

Miss "B" will get them someday...

And I hope she enjoys reading them as much as I have....

Do you have a favorite author and do you enjoy

attending book signings.???

Have a good weekend and stay warm out there!!

TWO LOONS AND A SANE PERSON WALK INTO AN IKEA.......

Today I met up with fellow bloggers Flour Power Joyce and Santamaker Rose to have a fun filled

day at Atlanta's Atlantic Station.....

Billed as having a Christmas Market to rival the holiday markets in New York's

Union Square and the markets of Europe....

It was my Big Idea to venture down to the part of town that you

really don't want to venture down to....Rose took this picture minutes before Joyce announced that there are

weekly shootings in the area....

The tree was pretty....

Who ever billed this as being as great as the Markets in Europe should be hung.

There were maybe 8 stalls......maybe.

Apparently on the weekends the place is hopping ........today not so much..

The poor man selling these little dolls for $6. was sitting freezing with no signs of a sale in site...

And he had hundreds of this little thingies...

Who was it that said how great this market is?

Maybe it was this women.....

Atlanta's Mayor..

Soon to be out of office....

Geesh....I wonder why?

Here she was advertising for the Panda's at the Atlanta Zoo.....

I hope the Zoo is doing better business then Atlantic Station...

We wandered in out of the cold into this shop...

Yup....if your in Atlanta there has to be "Bling"...

Joyce suggested I use this for Tablecape Thursday.....
Not my style......I never liked pine cones in a box or

a bowl of beads....

We fought through the crowds.....
Oh wait.....there was no one there except 2 other suburban housewives
looking as confused as us....
I guess they also read about this being as great as the Union Square Market.

So where do you go when your plans fall flat....
To IKEA ofcourse!!!
And what do we all go to IKEA for?
Meatballs ofcourse!

The unhealthy version....
But notice the Splenda packet in the back of the photo....
That has to save some calories...

Rose had the "somewhat" healthy version.....

Joyce had the healthy version.....

After lunch and chit chatting for awhile we went shopping.....

Here we are the "two loons".....trying on fruit and vegetable hats...

Rose was very patient...

Until this picture was taken.....

She took off in the other direction and pretended that she had no idea who we were....

Poor Rose....

I did point out to her after we found her 10 aisles over that I bet

she hadn't had this much fun in a long time...

I'm still waiting for her to answer?

So...we finished up the day buying all sorts of good marked down Christmas decorations....

and while I was paying for all my crap the girls wandered over to the snack bar.

An IKEA must before hitting the road for home....

They both got the frozen yogurt and Joyce was kind enough to get me.......

The Infamous IKEA Hot Dog....

Yes.....after eating the calorie packed meatball lunch complete with

Ligonberry sauce and a side of Mac and Cheese....

I actually had room for a hot dog...

Thanks Joyce!!

A fun time was had by all......Well....I think Rose had a good time...and we have

already made plans to go to Scott's Antique Market next month...

And that puts another end to another "Bloggers Day Out".....

I bet you wish you could have come along!!

COMING SOON........MISS B's 2010 Calendar!!

Miss B is anxiously awaiting the curtain to go up on her new 2010 Calendar...

She has leaked that this year is the best yet and although

she's not talking....

she did mention something about it being about art....

So stop back right after Christmas....

Because that's when Grandma gets it as a gift...

and see what "Little Miss Photogenic"

has been up to this past year.

if you missed the past two years here are links to the

2008 and 2009 versions....

That's our girl!!

http://rue-mouffetard.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-love-i-love-i-love-my-calendar-girl.html

http://rue-mouffetard.blogspot.com/2009/01/sophies-2009-calendar-and-new-year-give.html