"Show and Tell Friday!"

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

I have a sweet friend named Gwen and we have exchanged handwritten letters for several years now. Last month we were in a tea towel/gift swap together and I would like to share the things that she send me.

Gwen made this darling gingerbread boy tea towel for me. He made himself right at home on my kitchen towel rack!


Isn't he cute with his rick-rack and button eyes?


She also sent me some beautiful greenery with a gingerbread boy sitting right in the middle. I set it up on my kitchen windowsill.


A little dish with two homemade knitted dishcloths.


Gwen recently learned how to make paper, so she gave me this very pretty card. She also attached a gingerbread cookie recipe, which I can't wait to try.

The gingerbread candle makes my kitchen smell just like Christmas!

As you can see Gwen is very creative and talented, and spoiled me with wonderful gifts. Thank you, Gwen!



Show and Tell Guidelines

What is Show and Tell Friday?
Show and Tell involves showing something to an audience, and then telling them about it. Your show and tell must be something that you own, and is in your home or garden.

What items work well for Show and Tell Friday?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-Family heirlooms
-A collection you may have
-A piece of jewelry
-A special gift
-Gardening pictures

What doesn't work well for Show and Tell Friday?
-Posts with no photos have no "Show." Please don't use them.
-Photos of events (trips, vacations, celebrations, etc.)
-Photos of things you are selling or planning to sell.
-Photos found on the internet, graphics or screenshots. Please use photos you take yourself.
-Old photos of just people instead of things.

There is no place like home is the original home of Show and Tell Friday. Please do not host your own.

How can I participate?
Once you've got your photo(s) and your story, it's easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Publish your "Show and Tell" on your blog, including a link back to There is No place like Home.

2 - Copy the link (or "permalink") from your post.

3 - Add it to Mr. Linky, along with your first name only. I usually put Mr. Linky up on Friday at 12:00am Eastern time.

A Hot Cup of Tea

I was so excited to see the Celestial Seasonings holiday teas available when I went grocery shopping this afternoon. The girls and I enjoyed a cup after dinner.

~Candy Cane Lane~

"What could be better than the delectable taste of an old-fashioned candy cane-the memorable flavor of cool, luscious peppermint that is such a delight."

~Sugar Plum Spice~

"Take a sip of Sugar Plum Spice and journey with us to the Land of the Sweets in Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. Here you'll find gingerbread houses, trees laden with sugar plums and days filled the sunshine. This is the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is beautiful, gentle and kind."

~Gingerbread Spice~

A wonderful way to thaw a frosty chill is to step into a cozy kitchen warmed by the spicy aroma of fresh-baked gingerbread!



My favorite is the Gingerbread spice. Do you have a favorite hot drink this time of year?

The Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway for Marybeth's new ebook A Recipe for Christmas JOY! Also, thank you Marybeth, for writing such a wonderful book and for your generosity in giving away a copy for someone to enjoy!

I put all of the names in a bowl, mixed them up...


...and picked one!

Congratulations Mrs. Pivec. Please email Marybeth for your copy of the book!

For all of you who would like to order A Recipe for Christmas JOY, please visit Marybeth's at Cheaper by the Half-Dozen. As soon as your order is confirmed, the ebook will arrive in your inbox! No waiting on shipping!!

A Recipe For Christmas JOY and a *Giveaway!*

***Please scroll down for new posts!!!***



I promised to share with you a special way to welcome in the Christmas season, so here it is!

Marybeth Whalen is a homeschooling mom of six children and has just published her first ebook! It is called A Recipe for Christmas Joy and she was sweet enough to give me a copy to review and another copy for a giveaway!

Marybeth has filled this book with over 50 recipes, menus, devotionals, practical advice, and tips that will inspire you to put the focus of Christmas back on Jesus as you and your family prepare to celebrate this upcoming season!

Here are a few of my favorite things from the ebook:
~A week-by-week checklist for organizing your Christmas
~Celebrating Advent
~Creative gift ideas that won't break the bank
~Homemade gifts
~Hosting a Christmas peppermint tea
~25 ways to make the holidays holy days
~List of Christmas read-alouds for you and your children

and most importantly...
~How to make Jesus the center of your Christmas!

For more details, please visit Marybeth's blog, Cheaper by the Half-dozen.

If you would like to be entered into the giveaway for this wonderful ebook, just leave a comment by November 27, 07 at 10:00pm. For all of you who would like to order it, it is an ebook, so as soon as your order is confirmed, it will arrive in your inbox! No waiting on shipping!!

~Leftovers!~

Thanksgiving has been over
at least a week or two,
but we're still all eating turkey,
turkey salad, turkey stew,
turkey puffs and turkey pudding,
turkey patties, turkey pies,
turkey bisque and turkey burgers,
turkey fritters, turkey fries.

For lunch our mother made us
turkey slices on a stick,
there'll be turkey tarts for supper,
all this turkey makes me sick.

For tomorrow she's preparing
turkey dumplings stuffed with peas,
oh I never thought I'd say this--
"Mother! No more turkey...PLEASE!"
-Jack Prelutsky, It's Thanksgiving, 1982



What is your favorite way to eat turkey leftovers? I like it sliced on a big roll with lots of mayo, salt and pepper!

Scenes from our Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving arrived with cold weather and even the possibility of some snow! We spent the morning watching the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade and eating snacks. I made deviled eggs, glazed meatballs and cheeseballs and crackers.


This was the first time I've ever made cheeseballs. I used cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, worcester sauce, and garlic powder.


I set out a few more Autumn decorations. Brenda at Country Romance sent me some special acorns from her home, a small silver dish and pretty doily.


She also sent me this beautiful chest which I filled with pinecones. Thank you, Brenda!


After lunch we went to Phillip's parent's home for Thanksgiving dinner. There were 17 of us and we all had a wonderful time together. The food was delicious and we had fun playing games after dinner.


Friday night everyone came over to our house for another Thanksgiving dinner. More visiting, laughing and games. Oh, and dessert. ;0)


Before several family members get on a plane to go back home, we are having a family portrait taken tomorrow afternoon. It has been wonderful to have everyone together again!

Thank you for looking at the scenes from our Thanksgiving!

Hello!

Student:Kelli
Class:Blogging Break
Grade:F

Hello everyone! I have been busy these last few days, and have missed visiting with you. I have some "after" pictures of my gardens to share (look below this post) and also some Thanksgiving gifts that I received in the mail.

My friend Julie surprised me with some Thanksgiving treats. A pretty wreath, sweet Autumn figurines, a scent sachet and stickers.


She also included these wonderful vintage postcards.


The wreath is the perfect fit for under this hanging lantern. I put the little figurines in the center of the wreath. Thank you for everything, Julie!


I also received a few gifts from my friend, Kimberly. Two pretty hankies with very delicate leaf patterns.


Kimberly also sent me a two beautiful vintage postcards. Thank you so much, Kimberly!


I thought I would display all of the Thanksgiving postcards on my fireplace mantle.


I just tucked them in around the other decorations.






Thank you for looking at my new gifts!

My November Gardens

This area under my tree was supposed to be a rock garden, but it never looked right.


This afternoon, I moved all of the rocks around the outer edge, filled it in with fresh dirt, and planted pansies.


I got my watergarden ready for the cooler weather.




I also deep cleaned my back patio. A new tablecloth, pansies in the planters and freshly vacuumed carpet.


A little corner of my patio, decorated for Thanksgiving.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Hello everyone! I'm sure you are all wanting to know who the winner of the "Giving Thanks" giveaway is. I'm happy to announce that the lucky lady is from the blog Capturing Today! Congratulations! I also noticed on your blog that today is your birthday, so Happy Birthday too! Please email me your address and I will get your gifts sent out right away!

Thank you to all who joined in with me this past week! You all put so much time and thought into your posts and it was wonderful to see all the ways that you have prepared for this upcoming time of Thanksgiving. You kept me motivated while doing the daily cleaning challenges and inspired me with your Thanksgiving traditions, memories, recipes, crafts, poems and prayers. Thank you for sharing so many wonderful things this week. I couldn't ask for a better group of blogging friends!



If you need any last minute Thanksgiving decorating, craft or recipe ideas, here are some posts from this past week's "Giving Thanks" celebration.

Making a Cornucopia

Thanksgiving Napkin Rings

Stamped Paper Napkins

Thanksgiving Place Cards

Refrigerator Dinner Rolls

Holiday Sparkle Drink

After Dinner Games



We are going to be having a fun-filled week. All of Phillip's family will be together this Thanksgiving and we will be eating dinner at his mom and dad's house. On Friday, everyone will be coming over to our house for another big dinner. Here are some things I'm looking forward to this week:

-Planning our dinner menu with the girls and Benjamin
-Shopping for our turkey
-Baking pies
-Making our thankful tree
-Colder weather that is expected to arrive on Wednesday
-Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade
-Visiting and laughing with family and friends

Phillip will be off for the entire week after Thanksgiving so we can put the finishing touches on the winter edition of Seasonal Delights, due December 3, 2007.



I do have something to share with you on the day after Thanksgiving. A special way to welcome in the Christmas season, so be sure to come visit me! Other than that, I will be taking a break and enjoying this time of year with my family.

I would like to wish you and your family a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

~Kelli

Saturday ~ Giving Thanks

This is the last day for our "Giving Thanks" celebration! We have taken this week (Monday through Saturday) to prepare our hearts and homes for this wonderful time of year. My daily cleaning challenge, activity and words of Thanksgiving are located directly before this post!

Mr. Linky is available for you to join in and here are some things you could share:
-What you are thankful for
-Thanksgiving traditions or memories
-Recipes
-Craft Ideas
-Decorating ideas
-Your menu
-Cleaning/Organizing "before" and "after" pictures
-Anything having to do with Thanksgiving!

Remember, everyone who participates and signs Mr. Linky will be entered into a drawing at the end of the week! Go HERE to see the prizes. Each day you participate, your name will be entered into the giveaway drawing. If you participate two days, your name will be entered twice, join us all five days for five entries, etc.

Please read the participating instructions carefully:

1. Write a Thanksgiving post on your blog. Link back to There is No Place Like Home so that others can join in. You may use the "Giving Thanks" button located at the top of this post.
2. When signing Mr. Linky, you must link directly to your "Giving Thanks" post and not your homepage URL.
3. In order to make the Mr. Linky list easy to read, please type your first name only. You may also add a 1-2 word description of what you are sharing. Example: Kelli-Recipe.
Note: Mr. Linky will be up at 12:00am Eastern time each day.

Have fun!

Saturday ~ Daily Cleaning Challenge

I will be going outside for today's cleaning challenge. You can join in, or work on any area of your home that you like.

This area around my tree is supposed to be a "rock garden", but I've never been happy with it. The Asparagus fern is getting moved to another flower bed, the rocks placed all around the outside edge and pansies in the middle.


For some reason the bottom of my door always "weathers" much more than the top so it's getting a couple coats of stain. It will be a cool day so I can leave the door open for awhile.


I've hardly been out on my patio since coming back from vacation. It needs cleaned, vacuumed and I'm going to put a few Autumn decorations out there too.


Lastly, my water garden needs cleaned out, the plants trimmed back and the fountain turned back on.


I won't be able to get to all of this tomorrow, but I'll post "after" pictures sometime in the future. Are you working on any projects this weekend?

Saturday ~ "Thanksgiving Fun!"

Thanksgiving "After Dinner" Games

Turkey Treasure Hunt:
Hide pictures of turkeys your children or you have drawn or printed out around the house. Set the timer for 15-20 minutes. Whoever finds the most turkeys is the winner!


Feather Game:
Make a construction paper headband and feathers. On each feather, write a stunt for a person to do. Examples:
-Twirl around six times, the close your eyes and stand on one leg for five seconds
-Spell your name backwards, and the pronounce it.
-Walk across the room with a book on your head.
Each player picks a feather, then performs the feat.


Thanksgiving Memory Game
The first person starts by saying, "At Thanksgiving dinner I ate turkey." The next person must repeat this and add another dish, "At Thanksgiving dinner I ate turkey and mashed potatoes." The third person must repeat it and add yet another dish and on and on and on. Whoever makes a mistake is out and the game continues until there is just one person left!

Saturday ~ "Words of Thanksgiving"

Thanksgiving Comes But Once a Year

Thanksgiving comes but once a year,
But when it comes it brings good cheer.
For in my storehouse on this day
Are piles of good things hid away.
Each day I've worked from early morn

To gather acorns, nuts, and corn,
Till now I've plenty and to spare
Without a worry or a care.
So light of heart the whole day long,
I'll sing a glad Thanksgiving song."
Thornton W. Burgess

"Show and Tell Friday!"

If you are looking for our "Giving Thanks" celebration, please scroll down!

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

I dug through my jewelry box for today's show and tell. The first thing I'm going to share with you is a bracelet that Phillip gave me before we were married, about 15 years ago.


He had it made at Disney Land and as you can see it spells out my name in gold!


A small blue stone dangles from one of the swirls.


My sister, Melissa knows how much I love acorns, so on my recent vacation, she surprised me with these tiny acorn earrings.


They are about the size of my pinky!


I don't wear the bracelet anymore, but I've been wearing the earrings as much as possible since Autumn is coming to an end!

Thank you for looking at my show and tell!


Show and Tell Guidelines

What is Show and Tell Friday?
Show and Tell involves showing something to an audience, and then telling them about it. Your show and tell must be something that you own, and is in your home or garden.

What items work well for Show and Tell Friday?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-Family heirlooms
-A collection you may have
-A piece of jewelry
-A special gift
-Gardening pictures

What doesn't work well for Show and Tell Friday?
-Posts with no photos have no "Show." Please don't use them.
-Photos of events (trips, vacations, celebrations, etc.)
-Photos of things you are selling or planning to sell.
-Photos found on the internet, graphics or screenshots. Please use photos you take yourself.
-Old photos of just people instead of things.

There is no place like home is the original home of Show and Tell Friday. Please do not host your own.

How can I participate?
Once you've got your photo(s) and your story, it's easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Publish your "Show and Tell" on your blog, including a link back to There is No place like Home.

2 - Copy the link (or "permalink") from your post.

3 - Add it to Mr. Linky, along with your first name only. I usually put Mr. Linky up on Friday at 12:00am Eastern time.

Since next Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, "Show and Tell" will be taking a short break!