Let It Snow. . .

It SNOWED!



This was when it first started. . .

. . .  and this is what it looks like now!

Although our freshly fallen snow is

truly bittersweet,

since "Mr.Ed" The Highway Man

is out working this cold night

. . .but I am ecstatic! ! ! 

Did I mention that I LOVE SNOW ? ? ? 

I'll just get out my favorite pear tea set and put some boiling water inside. . . a little cream and sugar and. . .

some hot cocoa mix with my favorite. . . 

 miniature marshmallows!

A winter beverage center set with all the necessities of the Season!

Since dear hubby is working tonight. . .

I'll just make a cup for myself!

Excuse me, dear. . .

would you like to join me in a cup of hot cocoa?

The more the merrier!

Sweet little silver teaspoons to stir your cocoa!

Would you like mini marshmallows. . .

 or many marshmallows?

Come on over. . .

we'll make it a SNOW party!

Let it SNOW. . .



Our Deck dining table!

Let it SNOW. . .

New furnace grate coffee table!

Let it SNOW!

Upside down bird bath becomes a snowy table top!

Until next time. . .



On Crooked Creek is joining our hostess Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for Metamorphosis Monday. Susan is in the process of making over her son's bedroom into a home office. Stop by and view what she is considering, along with all the other inspiring ideas from this week's participants.

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com



Today, since updating the snow photos. . .I'm joining our hostess Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday. Be sure to drop in and see all the lovely table tops for some inspiration in your home decor.

Isn't It Romantic?

On Crooked Creek will be joining our hostess, Susan @ Between Naps On the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Please stop by and view what the ladies have prepared for our inspiration.

www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Dear Ones, I'm a romantic ~

a hopeless romantic.

So . . .

in the hopes that our winter weather would hold off over new Year's Eve. . .

I set a romantic table for "Mr. Ed" and I.

By repositioning the table and removing two chairs,
an intimate dining atmosphere was created.

It worked!

To achieve the allure of romance, I began with the chandelier. The return of ivory silk lampshades, with ivory beaded taper candle rings at the base of each lighted taper, set the backdrop of ambient lighting. Next, I added five vintage chandelier crystals to sheer white ribbon at varying heights. The faux crystal garland adds another dimension of shimmering light to our otherwise dreary days here on the prairie.



The white snowflake tablecloth will stay on our table from New Year's Eve through Valentine's Day. The evident polyester fabric gives off a lustrous shimmer. Combination  lighting makes the tablecloth appear to glisten ~ like freshly fallen snow on a sun filled day.

I chose a damask chartreuse runner placed in
 serpentine fashion along the center of the table.

Single silver candlesticks were added as an extension to the centerpiece. Lower height adds enchantment and allows a glimpse of my beloved from across the table.

A silver tray was added in the center for another reflection of light. Highlighting the three arm candelabra and surrounded with a rhododendron bouquet filled condiment container, a silver lidded crystal jar and three shabby chic birds romance abounds On Crooked Creek!

Aqua blue, gold rimmed vintage dinnerware lends ethereal ambiance with the use of silver chargers. The addition of Gold Crown salad plate and soup bowl from Lifetime China Co. of Alliance, Ohio re~establishes the romance with gold filigree.

So. . .
here On Crooked Creek, this second New Year's Eve together, sat the two of us. Gazing upon each other as we dinned by candlelight. The classical selection of Unforgettable playing ever so softly in the background caused us to linger longer than usual.

Ah~h~h. . .

There was a touch,
                                             a kiss,
                                                                   a warm embrace. . .

a Happy New Year, my love!

Now, isn't that romantic?

Until next time. . .

New Year. . .New Look!

All the Santa's are packed away, relabeled and awaiting another holiday season. All that remains of Christmas past, in the Upper Level On Crooked Creek, are these gorgeous poinsettias. Precious gifts from "Mr. Ed" and my son and daughter~in~law.

On Crooked Creek is joining our hostess, Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch, for Metamorphosis Monday

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

and our hostess, Marty @ Stroll Thru Life, for Table Top Tuesday.

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

Please stop by and visit these sweet ladies and all who have participated in sharing their homes for your viewing pleasure and inspiration.

New Year. . .New Look On Crooked Creek!

I LOVE SNOW! Perhaps it has something to do with being December~born. May be it has something to do with living in the Midwest. Whatever the reason, Winter is my season. . . because, I LOVE SNOW!

"Mr. Ed" and I can remember when the snow in our State canceled school for a full week. We remember "make~up" days that extended our school calendar days into the Summer months.

 As a boy growing up on the farm, "Mr. Ed" remembers his dad driving the old Ford pickup truck to a nearby neighbors for a day of sleigh riding. All the country folks gathered at "The Egbert Place" for a day of winter play! A steep hill on an unincorporated country road was the perfect spot to sleigh the day away.

Being a city girl, we took to the streets! My dad, joined with the neighborhood fathers, would block off both ends of our neighborhood street for sledding. Ours had a nice, curvy slope. Perfect for sled racing.

SNOW DAYS were play days for our son and I while living on the German economy during our military career. This European sled was a present for him at Christmas. We took turns taking him sledding on the steep cobblestone hillside streets in the Village of Baumholder. One of those "precious moments" in my memory is the year my son, age 4, and "Mr.Ed" built me a SNOWMAN as a birthday gift. Each time I looked out the window, there stood Frosty. . .twig arms and gravel grin. . .a tribute to my love of SNOW!

I miss those Good Old Days On Crooked Creek! Our snows have been fairly light the past eight winters we've been here. Very seldom does our school district have a true SNOW DAY!

Since "Mr. Ed" is employed as the Night Supervisor for K.D.O. T., when our Winter Storms come, life On Crooked Creek is, truly, bittersweet. Welcoming him home after a tiring 12 hour shift, I recently commented, "Perhaphs, one day soon, you can enjoy the snow when you are able to see it's loveliness from this side of the patio door." He smiled wryly as he headed down the hallway to well deserved sleep. " Wake me by 5:30", was all he had to say.

So. . .does this mean there's a possibility of SNOW in tonight's forecast? Time will tell!

Until next time. . .

Is This New Year's Eve Material?

Dear Ones,
Living on the lonesome prairie one does not lead a normal life, when you're married to The Highway Man. "Mr. Ed" is the supervisor of the night~shift for K. D.O.T. in a large metropolitan area,  which means when he isn't working 12~14 hour shifts during our inclement winter weather, he's sleeping. Before this career, he was 24~7~12 career man with the U.S. Army. So~o~o . . .I have no clue what normal people do on New Year's Eve! ! !

What you're about to read is last year's e~mail to a very dear friend. Only the name of my friend has been changed to protect her identity.


IS THIS NEW YEAR'S EVE MATERIAL? ? ?              

Thursday, December 31, 2009 4:28 PM

Dear Friend,

Since "Mr. Ed" and I don't know what a 'normal' New Year's Eve is.

I'm wondering. . .

Is this New Year's Eve material? ? ?

I went to Wal~Mart to pick up my DH some Alka Seltzer Cold Plus,

per his request! ! !

While I was there, I thought I'd do some shopping for New Year's Eve.

Here's what I bought:

*Stacy's Pita Chips (I've been looking for these for a month!)

*Canada Dry Ginger Ale (We'll drink it straight, not mixed)

*Two cans of Pringles Potato Chips (Regular and Sour Cream)

*Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (to go with your dessert in a cup)

*Four candy bars (Two Snickers & Two Three Musketeers)

*Quaker Rice Cakes (Caramel flavor). . .and. . .

*A Romantic Homes Magazine (February Edition)

Again, I'm not sure what the two of us will do this evening. ..

but. . .

I'm afraid if we eat all of this in one evening. . .

we will BOTH need to take the Alka~Seltzer

and go to bed early. . .

witha stomach~ache. . .

BUT. . .

then we'd miss the whole thing. . .

SO. . .

I'm thinking. . .

We'll eat the T.V. dinners instead

(oops! forgot to tell you I bought Maria Calendar's Beef Tips)

make your dessert in a cup. . .

have it with the ice cream!

later. . .

maybe a few Pita chips and a glass of ginger ale. . .

to welcome in the NEW YEAR 2010!

I'll let you know how this whole New Year's Eve thing pans out!

See you soon!

Love,

Pat

P.S. Oops! Almost forgot. . .Have a Happy New Year. . .

        from Our House to Your House! ! !

Present day. . .
I do hope this brought a chuckle and a smile to your face! "Mr. Ed" and I had a wonderful New Year's Eve in 2009 and hope to do the same for 2010! This year we'll be viewing his birthday gift movie ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS.


I'm sure there's a scheduled Checker's Tournament Match. . . 

provided, that is. . .

if it doesn't snow!

From On Crooked Creek . . .

                     . . . to all of you in blog land

Happy New Year 2011!

Until next time. . .

A Time For Relection. . .

Dear Ones, On Crooked Creek will be joining Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday with A Time For Reflection. . . Still time to find inspiration for your Holiday celebration. Take some 'stolen moments' to view all that the blog land ladies have prepared for your viewing pleasure.

www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

A Time For Reflection. . .

Being an "early riser" possibly began in my childhood. My dad worked at the Fairfax Plant for General Motors in Kansas City during my youth. Many are the mornings I would hear the coffee percolator 'perking' his coffee. If I waited quietly in bed, listening carefully, I could hear him pour coffee into his thermos. Then ever so quietly down the hall I'd slip past my parents bedroom where my mother lie sleeping, and whisper softly, "I love you daddy." at the kitchen doorway. He'd turn, smile and await his pajamaed kiss ~ then off to work in his uniform grays or blues. I'd watch him close the door ~ black metal lunch pail in one hand, green Stanley thermos in the other. . .car keys dangling. . .then he was gone.

As a teenager,I slept in an upstairs bedroom in our small rural town where we had moved to be closer to my beloved, aging grandmother. Same scenario. I'd always bring a textbook down the stairs and stay up to study. Mother, upon rising, would usually find me reading and note taking by the dim kitchen light and would wryly smile.



As the wife of a military career man, again, same scenario. If I didn't have those 'stolen moments' in the morning ~ too many times ~ I may not see "Mr. Ed" until long after the children were asleep.

This morning, it is to give thanks that all the preparation leading up to the holiday is complete. I, now, can sit here and let the true meaning of Christ birth flood over my soul and fill me with His love. His peace consuming the innermost of my core and let His joy flow outwardly to those around me.

Dear ones, may God richly and abundantly bless you with His goodness at Christmas and in the New Year. As the plate on my coffee table states. . .

God Bless Us Everyone!

Charles Dickens

Until next time. . .