Searching, Searching

The Professor and I spent most of the day browsing antique malls looking for a fluted silver basket (or two!), appropriate for Greta's young flowergirl(s) to carry up the aisle and toss rose petals. No luck so far, but May is four months away. We'll keep looking.

New/Old Furniture

In the past week Greta has come into possession of several major pieces of furniture. The first piece: Daniel's parents found a very nice bed (headboard, footboard, frame) on the side of the road. A few days later Greta bought a nice sturdy, solid wood kitchen table at the thrift store. Displayed with it were two matching chairs, but only two. Greta said, "We only need two at first". And she's right. She bought all three pieces for $85.

A week later, back at the thrift store, she found an armchair with upholstered seat. The fabric is ugly, but replaceable. The chair is sturdy. It will go in their living room.

Somewhere along the line Greta bought a table lamp at an antique mall. She also has a cherry-look coffee table in storage in the attic.

We promised them our big green sofa in the family room. The fabric has innumerable rips in the seat and the arms, but it is sturdy and Daniel loves it. They can throw a sheet or something over it. If they can haul it off, they can have it!

We donated our garage to storing all this until they rent an apartment later in the spring. In total, including their own dressers and desks, they are well on their way to furnishing their first apartment.

New Category: Wedding!

Two weeks ago Miss Greta accepted Daniel's proposal of marriage. We are so excited! And we immediately jumped right into the planning and preparation for their May 22 wedding.

I realized I should start a new category for my blog, called "Wedding," so I can chronicle our preparations.

So, what have we accomplished in two weeks? Several major decisions are made: First off, she reserved her reception site of choice, a historic place she had visited in the fall. It's cute and old and white. It has nooks and big multi-paned windows and wood floors. It comes with plenty of tables and chairs and a full kitchen. It has a stage for the band. But I won't post a photo of it to keep it a surprise.

Surprisingly, next door to the reception site we discovered a cute little country church, the exact sort of church Greta dreamed of being married in. Our home church won't do for Greta; it is much too contemporary for her taste. The church was happy to host the ceremony, and the groom's Dad is a pastor, also happy to perform the ceremony.

She found her dress in just two sessions of looking and trying on. I can't post a photo because the shop doesn't allow customers to take photos. Instead, here is a snippet from the manufacturer's catalog:She has pulled many inspiration pages out of magazines. She chose her wedding colors (sage green and creams) and her main flowers (hydrangeas). She has looked at bridesmaid's dresses and MOB dresses. MOB (that's me) has tried on dozens of fancy gowns!

The happy couple completed their bridal registries. We surveyed and brainstormed food. She hired her photographer. They planned the dance music and musicians. We looked at invitations and wrote the preliminary wording. And there is lots more to come. Whew!

20 Little Things I Treasure at Christmas

I'm sitting in the dark at 6:00 am, unable to sleep. My mind wanders from subject to subject; I wonder why I can't fall asleep. I tell myself, "Perhaps I could think about the wonderful-ness of the season." What makes it special to me? I borrow this title from another blogger:

20 Little Things I Treasure at Christmas

1. Our tree ornaments, collected over many years, marking the seasons of our life. Some were gifts, some I purchased for our children.

2. Hanging that favorite ornament on the tree: the TP tube and paper angel Greta made so many years ago. And now she tells us she's going to take it with her when she gets married this spring. Our tree will be naked forever after.

3. Beginning our Christmas season by filling shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

4. Twinkling white lights on our tree.

5. Watching Luke run in and out of the trees on the Christmas tree lot.

6. Celebrating our Swedish heritage with our Santa Lucia dinner: meatballs in cream sauce, lingonberries, flatbread, and all the other dishes we look forward to every year.

7. Frost on the grass and the cars.
8. Wearing warm jammies late into the morning.
9. Sipping hot chocolate from my yellow "Chocolat" mug from France.
10. The candlelight service at church on Christmas Eve.

11. Singing "Silent Night/Peace, Peace" at the candlelight service.

12. "O Come All Ye Faithful"

13. Listening to the radio broadcast of "Lessons and Carols" from King's College at Cambridge on Christmas Eve morning.

14. Taking corny family pictures on the hearth after we hang our stockings on Christmas Eve.

15. Green wreaths with red bows hung on windows.

16. Reading family letters that come with Christmas cards. Yes, I really do love them. I like having the updates from distant family and friends.

17. Homemade cookies. My own recipes.

18. Seeing the line of bulging stockings, each with a candy cane poking out of the top, hanging from the mantel on Christmas morning.

19. Wrapping up in a neck scarf and mittens first thing in the morning.

20. A real fire with real logs when it's frosty out.

Christmas at our House

A sudden trip home for a week in early December and Dad's passing away has put my usual Christmas season plans far behind. We did get our tree up, and a few decorations out, but this year my decorating will remain sparse. I'm focusing on purchasing gifts right now. And baking? So far, the count stands at zero.Our Swedish Santa Lucia display sits in its traditional spot on a high cabinet in the dining room.

After my gift shopping is done, we will schedule our Santa Lucia dinner. That, of course, will require a bit of buttery baking, and by then it will be Christmas.

Free in November

I like to keep a list of what I get free, or costing me just a few cents, every month. This is a great reminder to me of how God blesses our family in my efforts in being a true Home Economist.

My deals in November are lighter than usual because I decided to take a break from working the CVS and Walgreen's deals. It is a lot of work to keep up with each week, and we were getting over-saturated with stuff. Besides, since coming back from vacation, my time has been taken up with other pressing projects, so I decided to spend all my Extra Care Bucks and Register Rewards before we left on vacation. In mid-November I began working in the deals again. Taking a break was quite refreshing!

My great deals for November:

Publix Mystery Coupon Items:
bag of Hershey's Kisses
2 pkg hot dogs
American cheese singles
pepperoni pizza

Great Sale Prices Combined with Coupons Makes Free:
4 pkgs whole wheat pasta (20 cents)
2 dozen eggs
8 bags frozen vegetables

Free Deals:
1 lb block of cheddar cheese (Kroger price promise)
1 gallon (actually a little less) Edy's ice cream

Given to Me:
2 lb bratwurst
2 bacon-wrapped steak medallions
breaded fish fillets
5 lb potatoes
3 lb oranges
3 lb apples
spray primer
spray starch
furniture oil
tarnish remover
2 carpet cleaners
tung oil
spray adhesive remover

Thanksgiving

We're busy with preparations for Thanksgiving dinner, and this year I am blessed to have a little helper.

Here is the result about halfway through our baking: