Tuesday, December 23, 2008

KITCHEN PIX AND A HANDMADE CAT ~

I thought maybe you would like to see some of our Christmas decorations ~ these are in our kitchen/keeping room. The television is in this reproduction cupboard to the right of the fireplace ~ this is where we sit in the evening and most often eat our supper and watch the news.

When they say the kitchen is the heart of the home, it seems to be so here anyway! Everyone gathers here to eat and visit ~ it's hard to get people to sit in the living room even though it's a very comfortable spot itself. They like to hang around the island and sit at the tables and in the area in front of the fireplace. Saturday night, we had one of the dinners that was auctioned off for our Homebuilders charity auction ~ and eight of us hung around the kitchen all evening ~ I think they didn't want to be far from the food!! We had lots of nibblies but they loved the grilled shrimp (you know who did that!), water chestnuts wrapped in bacon and a garlic-rubbed tenderloin with a sauteed and broiled mushroom dish ~ we wined and dined them all in the name of charity ~ an excuse to have a party!!!!

I hauled this old jelly cupboard with a screened door home after one of my antiquing forays and the Mr. wondered why I thought it was so attractive! I just loved this piece ~ it had no paint or varnish and is pretty rugged but I've never regretted the purchase. It houses my tea things ~ teapots, and those all-in-one individual teapot and cup combination ~ and a variety of other pottery pieces.

Mr. Kitty absolutely loves this tree that sits on the dry sink. Last night while we were watching TV, I heard a faint ringing bell ~ guess who was hiding between the tree and the wall just having a ball swatting at the ornaments!! He's very entertaining but driving me crazy with all the Christmas stuff sitting around!

We have used this Rumford style fireplace to cook in occasionally ~ not me of course ~ but Sonny is pretty skilled at such stuff! We searched and searched for the crane that holds the pots before we built it ~ that kind of thing is easier to come by now than 15 years ago ~ when we asked for something like this, it was like we were from outer space ~ reproduction houses are more popular now so there are a lot more sources out there!

And the handmade cat is for a customer who has bought one every year for 15 or 16 years for her daughter-in-law. Many of them are much smaller than this ~ Sally orders it in November or so and I get inspired the week before Christmas and try to come up with something she doesn't have. Many times, the Christmas cat has been delivered on Christmas Eve just before their gathering! I'm really going to get a handle on this organization thing before I leave this planet!!! Anyway, she's made from gray wool and a hand-dyed wool dress ~ antique buttons for earrings ~ embroidered face ~ antique tintype pin for a brooch ~ and a little hand-crocheted purse. I hope Tinker likes her ~ she's not as dainty as many of the others ~ the cat, not Tinker!! I'll let you know how it goes!

It's been along day ~ I just realized it's after 2 in the morning!! Yikes and good night!!
Alice

6 comments:

JoJo said...

Alice, I love your pictures but wish I could see more. Maybe, some day, I'll make it to your neck of the woods and you'll invite me in for a cup of tea or maybe coffee. After reading about your dinner, oh, how I wish I could have been there. What a wonderful menu!

So Mr. Kitty is wearing on your nerves? Try it with 5 of those little tree-abusers, bell ringers, ornament swatters and just all 'round 'we're going to get into as much trouble as possible' fur covered monsters! I feel like I should put our tree under glass but don't know where to find a glass dome that's 7 1/2 feet tall.

Your homemade kitty is adorable. And this one sits still and doesn't eat mini lights!! I hope his recipient likes him.
And I hope you finally managed to get some sleep. At that hour, I was long gone. We went shopping for 4 hours on Saturday and I spent the next two days in bed. Oh, owie!

JoJo said...

I hope you don't mind, Alice, but I went ahead and posted on Snippets for you about your Secret Santa gift. I posted on the original board.

I know Tammy has gone through much work to set up the new board but I don't like it at all. I've tried so hard to keep an open mind through all of the registering, etc., but I really can't stand it. So I doubt I'll be posting there very much.

Alice ~ Folk Art Primitives said...

JoJo ~ bless your heart for posting my Secret Santa ~ I don't have a way of contacting the giver personally and if she doesn't read my blog, she would think I'm ungrateful!!!!!!!
I love it re: your 5 fur covered monsters ~ I swear this one is about to do me in!
The new Wool Snippets is a challenge ~ I've registered under two names and two different emails and I can't get either one now to open. So thank you sooooo much for helping me out!!
Merry Christmas ~ Alice

Anonymous said...

Hi Alice! Love your decorations and the little stuffed cat!!! I agree with JoJo...the new Snippets site is rather confusing and I don't find it as friendly to use! I thought maybe it was just me...but I see you guys are having some of the same feelings!!! I hope we "sisters of the wool" will keep in touch by our Blogs!!! I don't want to lose touch with either of you!!!!! Hugs, and Happy Christmas!! Sunnie ; )

Alice ~ Folk Art Primitives said...

I agree Sunnie ~ we'll stay in touch via the blog world!! I loved WS and miss replying ~ hopefully, after the first of the year, I can figure it out!!
Happy Holidays to you and JoJo and everyone who reads this craziness!!

Jacque. said...

Hey Alice...I love all your holiday decorations. And, that kitty is so special...wow, ya done good!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours.