Thrilled To Be Thrifty

With it being about 28 degrees outside, the Kansas wind is blowing to create a recipe for chapped lips and exhaustion at the end of the day.  Today it was so chilly that I wished I had been sipping hot chocolate in front of a fireplace ablaze with fire cracklin' logs popping to warm the room.

I don't do well in cold weather.  I find myself saying i hate the cold...i hate the cold...bbbbrrrrrrrr, i hate the cold.

Happy to share some thrifty buys I came across.   

Metal Snowman Tealight Holder 

originally from Kohl's

Ceramic Santa Mugs

Metal Christmas Candle Holder

Decorative Debi Hron Holiday Home Mugs

McCoy Cookie Jar

Barbie Sheets

Bedspread

Skirt

Pretty Red Dress

Thrilled to be thrifty!
For just pennies a purchase 
these finds are helping to
Make HOME a HaPpY place.

Celebrating life and loving it.

~Deanna~

PS  

I found out today that Grand Baby A took his first steps!  

Both Momma and Daddy got to see this.  

Fun and exciting.

How sweeeeet.

HomeHaven Homemaking Lesson

Hello from HomeHaven. 

Hope your Thanksgiving Day and week-end went really well.  

Mine was pleasant!  Wonderful to have a pleasant day.

On Mondays I've been concentrating on my 1926 book

 by Sarah Field Splint for my Homemaking Lesson.  

Can you believe a 55 year old Homemaker still needs Homemaking Lessons?  

I will probably always want to see what's out there concerning domestic arts.  

Even if it's from 1926.

Heard that saying, everything old is new again!  

Things seem to go in cycles/phases.  In some areas of life I believe this is alright.  

Casual living has its place.  

Being overly formal is a bit stiff and uncomfortable to me at times.  

I LOVE going barefoot in the house in the Winter.  

You'll catch me wearing blue jeans and sweatshirts.  

No make-up and very little jewelry.  

But there are times I want to go out to Dinner, dressed up and p r i s s i f i e d.  

So in this case I want to know some manners and which fork to use.  

Talking with my mouth full of food.....not attractive.

What is Sarah going to say about THE FORMAL DINNER?  

 It's nice to have servants. 

~Deanna~   

***********************************

    

THE ART OF

Cooking and Serving

by Sarah Field Splint

Chapter 2

Table Service

in the House with a Servant

~THE FORMAL DINNER~

The dinner party, whether it be a small affair of half a dozen people, or stretches the table to the last limit of extra leaves and brings out the reserves of the family china and silver, will always be the entertainment par excellence in our social calendar.  Served in the glow of candlelight, with men and women of congenial tastes together, there is a sparkle about it that no other form of entertainment can ever quite rival.

As befitting the more formal meal a dinner expresses a certain stateliness and dignity in its appointments. What guest is not subtly flattered to know that the yellow gleam of candles in the silver candelabra shines upon one's best silver and prized Wedgewood and that the tea roses in the bowl in the center of the table have been especially selected to give him pleasure?

Seat your guests with thought as to which ones "match up" well,  plan the best dinner of which your house is capable, and then settle back with a calm mind to contribute the very best of yourself to the great event.

A place at the dinner table is set very much as it is for luncheon except that there is no bread~and~butter plate, that some extra knives or forks are seen and that the napkin is a large one to match the cloth.  If there are any other beverages to be served than water, the extra glasses are arranged in a semi-circle to the right of the water glass.

For a dinner of more than eight it is almost necessary to have two maids and a double service, each dish of food being exactly duplicated.  For a small dinner use the divided dish in which two vegetables can be offered at one time.  Each dish when it is brought in is passed first to the hostess.  

If there are two maids one serves one side of the table and the other the opposite side and usually they vary the ends at which they begin so that one guest is not every time left until the last.  At a formal dinner things are passed but once; at a smaller affair they may be passed twice.

How to serve the meat course is entirely a matter for individual choice.  If a hostess abides by the letter of the law of fashion the roast is carved in the kitchen, then skillfully put together again so that its appearance is not harmed.  It is then brought in and offered to each guest who serves himself.  But even with a retinue of servants some households prefer to have the carving done at table, and there is no good reason why this should not be done.

Coffee is usually served in the living-room.  In very formal houses the women would leave the men in the dining-room to drink their coffee and to smoke, while they went to the drawing-room for their coffee.  (It would have to be called a drawing-room in such a house!)  There the men would join them later.  But in these informal days comparatively few houses follow this plan.

*****************************************************

I like the idea of divided vegetable dishes and a retinue of servants!

I learned this week about the letter of the law of fashion 

and the roast being carved in the kitchen 

then skillfully put together again so that its appearance is not harmed.

May you have a delightful day!

~d~

Small Town America

Before Fall has completely disappeared 

for the year,  

I want to share these pics of a Autumn day 

where there was a wedding in the neighborhood.  

It was such a nice Fall day 

and I could see down the street activity happening at a nearby church.  

An Autumn Wedding.  

Waiting for the Bride and Groom 

to come outside from the Church building was a Horse and Wagon.

I thought how neat!  

Small Town America.  I love you.

~Deanna~

PS
Some area homes.

Missing Spring

Hi!

It is so cold outside this morning that I'm missing SPRING.  When I look out the window the trees have lost their leaves.  They look barren and naked.  At least the skies are powder blue and the wind isn't blowing.  I'll have to get over it.  Truthfully, we are one day closer to Spring.

On this Friday I stayed home and avoided the shopping frenzy.  Hubby is working on the finishing touches of installing the new boiler.  Oh Lord HELP him get this done this week-end.  It's  cold.  Our little electric heaters are helping us from freezing...but warmth from the radiators will be welcomed.

I'll be putting Autumn decorations away and cleaning the Dining Room.  I hope to get the deep cleaning completed before the Christmas Holiday arrives.  Can I do it.

The first thing I like to do toward the Christmas Holiday is hang Christmas wreaths on the front doors.  Next the Nativity Scene comes out of hiding.   The decision for where the trees are going to stand for the season are decided.  Where will my snowmen collection go?
Santa Collection?  Nutcrackers?  Christmas cards.

This week I would like to write a Christmas letter that goes inside the Christmas cards I mail.  I have cut way back on the number of cards I send out.  It's funny how when I was a newly wed, I only sent out a few cards and as time passed the list got longer and longer.  Reversing the other way to a smaller list these days.  I've lost touch with so many people and others have passed away.  When you move around as much as I have...the enthusiasm from others about keeping in touch through Christmas cards vanishes.  I don't like to make a pest out of myself.

I love this time of the year.  I love receiving cards and letters that share what has been going on throughout the year.  I even love all the things for sale!  The festive activities and the songs being sung about Christ's Birthday...I love it all.

I wish our front porch was already decked out.  Perhaps this week.
~Deanna~

Thanksgiving

A very pleasant day for Thanksgiving.

Downtown

Spent the noon meal at the City Building with Family in Marion, Kansas.  The food was wonderful.  We meet in the basement where there is plenty of room to visit and sit.  Completely furnished kitchen.

The Historic Building that we have our Family Dinners in every year was undergoing a remodeling project that broke my heart.  The Auditorium that my own children preformed in back in the 90s has been demolished.  The City is turning it into a Community room.  Growl.

My older brother asked me why this bothered me and I said because I like History.  Marion is trying to be an upscale little town.  Sad thing is so much of what gave the town some class is being mauled over.  Sometimes I wish somethings would just be left alone for others to enjoy.

Court House

I ate turkey, dressing, a dinner roll, corn pudding, sweet potatoes with pecans on top, deviled eggs, and pecan pie with coffee!!!  I'm proud of myself...I took tiny portions.  No dishes to wash!  Wonderful.

Cousin Ginger and Aunt Eldena weren't there.  Thanksgiving in Heaven this year.

Aunt Eldena

Cousin Doreen and her husband were almost in a serious auto accident on their way to today's gathering.  I am thankful there was no accident.  Somebody ran a stop sign.  Doreen's husband drove into the ditch to avoid an accident.

It was a blessing to visit with everyone.  Enjoyed the fellowship and food.

Officially Thanksgiving is over for the year and the decorating items will go into storage boxes on Friday.  Christmas decor will begin to show up little by little.

I hope your day went well.  
~Deanna~

THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

A great time to take time to think 

on those things you are thankful for.

A great time to take time to give thanks 

to our Faithful God 

that desires to share with you 

the good things in life.

 THANKSGIVING DAY

Thursday, November 25, 2010

May you have a wonderful day 

giving THANKS 

and enjoying the fruit of your labor.

From HomeHaven to your place.

God richly BLESS you and yours.

~Deanna~

Thanksgiving

Happy THANKSGIVING to you!

I am so thankful to be ALIVE!

The night before having my first surgery in August, 

I was rather emotional.  

I sat and told my husband some things I was THANKFUL for.

Weeping... I said, 

"I am thankful that I was born into the Family I was born into.

I am thankful that I was BORN AGAIN as a little girl.

I am thankful that I married you (my husband) 

and we made a home together.

I am thankful for the children we gave birth to."

I am thankful for my children's spouses, 

Grandchildren, 

the country I live in, 

the freedoms I have. 

 I am thankful for my Blogging Buddies!

I am thankful for so much...my list grows.  

My heart is overflowing with gratitude.

~Deanna~

Our American Thanksgiving Dinner

~Beloved~

A typical American Thanksgiving Dinner

isn't typical when shared 

with others.

A typical Thanksgiving Menu for HomeHaven!

Can you identify?

~BEVERAGE~

Iced Tea

~APPETIZER~

Relish Tray

Deviled Eggs

~MAIN MENU~

Baked Turkey

Dinner Rolls with Butter

Green Bean Casserole

Corn On The Cob

Dressing

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Sweet Potatoes

~DESSERT~

Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream

Coffee with Cream and Sugar

No matter where you dine on Thanksgiving Day 

(even if you're alone), 

may it be with a grateful and thankful heart.

I'm wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

God bless you today and every day,

~Deanna~

Autumn Roses

Beloved,

Autumn Flowers are always a welcomed sight!

Coming out of isolation

after being radioactive from ABLATION 

is an experience all its own.

Nothing compares to 

~Roses~

My sweet hubby blessed me with these.

So glad to be HOME!

~Deanna~

I had a lot of catching up to do since I did not have a computer with me. 

This is the LIFE!

Granny Nanny in the MOOD

Beloved,

As I'm sipping piping HOT COFFEE 

flavored with Coffeemate Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer, 

I'm getting in the MOOD for CHRISTMAS!!!!

Oh the shame of it all....Thanksgiving hasn't even arrived yet.  

That's alright......the Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer is pretty good as well, 

but for some reason it just didn't get me in the MOOD for THANKSGIVING 

like the Peppermint Mocha did for CHRISTMAS.

Are you ready for some snow?  

I can wait a while longer on this. 

I couldn't wait for the peppermint! 

When I am on duty as a Granny NANNY 
sometimes shopping is a part of our active days.

We were at the Mall when we saw SANTA.

He's just so cute, I can't take much more!

God bless you real goooooood!

~Granny Nanny~

PS  Sandi @ The Rose Chintz Cottage is hosting a lovely Tea Time Tuesday.

Please visit her and see all the lovely participants that enjoy sharing Tea, Coffee, China and Desserts with others.  Making LIFE FUN!!!!

http://www.sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Home Haven Homemaking Lesson

Well Hello!  
It's been a few weeks since I spent time with Sarah reading what she wanted to share from her informative book in Chapter 2   Table Service in the House with a Servant.  Just in time for THE FORMAL LUNCHEON.

THE ART OF 
Cooking and Serving 

by 

Sarah Field Splint

~THE FORMAL LUNCHEON~

The setting of a luncheon table is very much the same whether one has a maid or not, charm being the object rather than ceremoniousness.  The table can be colorful in its appointments and permits of far more individuality than for dinner.

In the last chapter we went into the matter of centerpieces and decorations.  If the luncheon is a small affair, one may place upon the table besides the nuts and bonbons, the dishes of relishes and the rolls or bread to be passed by the guests to one another.

Each place is laid with a service plate, the prettiest the hostess has, and with the necessary knives and forks with the single exception of the dessert fork and spoon.  A small napkin matching the cloth or runner is folded and laid on the service plate.  A bread~and~butter plate with small butter knife is placed at the left side of the place just beyond the forks.  Butter may be placed on the plate but, preferably, it is served by the waitress while the guests are eating the first course.  The water glass is at the tip of the knife.

The moment the guests are seated the first course is served---soup, oysters or hors d'oeuvre, being placed on the service plate.  This plate remains until the main course, when it is removed and a hot plate from the kitchen is substituted.  Except when the salad plate is removed and the table is cleared and crumbled in preparation for the dessert course, there is always a plate of some kind before the guest.

With the bringing in of the dessert service, everything is removed from the table except the candies and nuts.  The dessert plates usually have gotten ready beforehand with the spoon or fork, or both, on them.  The finger bowl with doily beneath is always on the dessert plate.  One or two small blossoms or flower petals are often seen in the finger bowl.

Luncheon usually consists of not more than four courses and unless there is bridge afterwards it is a short affair, the guests, unless they are intimate friends, making their adieus by three o'clock.

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With Thanksgiving Day approaching, 

I am sure we will have a much less formal get together.  

Each one of us will be fluttering about tending to the details.  

There will not be a Grand Duchess to oversee it all...

just a bunch of Aunts, Cousins, Sisters and menfolk 

tweaking all the dishes on the long table that houses all the goods.

Happy Thanksgiving you all,

~Deanna~