Goodbye 4'Oclock Foto

For the past month or so I have done this Four O'clock Foto. I always had one or two photos that just didn't go with any other post but they had their own story. So I started posting them{auto post} at 4pm everyday. It was fun but it took up time in the middle of my day that I could post about other things. So I have decided to go slow on the Four O'clock Foto.. If I have a special pic I need to brag about I will add it..but not everyday. So goodbye Four O'clock and on to other things.

Tonight I made two

chicken dinners

with one big pack of chicken and we had a great meal. To see what we had and other ramblings click on the read more link...

Breakfast, Branches and Big Chill

First off let me say I am sorry.. I hate this new editor, I actually said that before and then thought I would give it another try and here we are. I can't seem to get the pictures to stay together and with almost 25 pictures I am going with it.

Here's what's been going on around my chill zone.

Well we have been having a deep freeze. Because I work midnights and slept until 4pm yesterday I was up all night..Yes that's right ALL night. I finally laid down around 1 pm and slept for 2 hours. So in that time I organized things around the house. The only problem is the more quiet I try to be the more noise I make. However since I was up I watched the fog roll in and the trees start to freeze. I hope the neighbor didn't mind me outside at 5am taking pics. I'm sure they didn't even notice.

I wish I could capture the beautiful ice and flakes on the branches. Miss Emma Sue got her hair put in pig tails today. Then got her picture taken. She was wearing her "Bite ME" Gingerbread shirt. She is such a diva..

The girls went outside to play in the snow yesterday. Man was it cold but they were okay.. Layers..ya know. This was the fog rolling in early morning. During breakfast with our fancy tablescape I took a picture of my milk glass..only problem is I didn't take the lens protector {pink can coozy} off and so this is what I got.

After my nap and rearranging my livingroom I sat down in what G calls "Camp Cathy" and took some pics. of my hairy legs and feet. Sexy Huh?

G gave Baxter some Kitty nip.. he was high as a kite rolling around on the floor.

Now on to breakfast. I made a small egg casserole cause I knew no one would eat it.

I added eggs, milk, minced onion, bacon, salt, pepper and parsley.

Threw it in the oven for a while and presto..

Last night as I was looking for some dishes I have stashed I found these blue ones and silver chargers. (seen Below)

I thought it was good.. I loved the onion in it..

Silver chargers. Years ago when D was 6 or 7 we went to Target Christmas shopping. I saw these chargers and said I would like to have them.. not really meaning that I would like to have them but I would.. As we walked around the store D started asking me how he was going to buy me something if I had to take him. My mom usually got me something or took him and then he would give it to me so I wasn't sure what he was getting at. I then told him that one day I could take him and give him some money and he get me something and I wouldn't look. He asked if he could have the money now. Ok.. So I asked the clerk if she could walk to the other isle with him {out of my sight} and help him. So she took him. I followed behind but not too close but wasn't just going to let her walk off with him even though it was my idea. Then they made their way to the cashier. As I was standing there looking but trying not to look another clerk looked at me funny. I then explained that he had money and was buying them for me but he didn't want me to see. She wrapped them with an extra bag so I couldn't see and helped him with the money. I teared up.. I am tearing up now. That was the most precious thing he could have done. He was so scared to hand her the money and didn't really know what to do but they helped and he was so proud when I opened them on Christmas morning and he surprised me. I hung a couple on the walls, but a candle on one and sat the other around the house. He loved it cause he bought them for ME... What a sweetheart. That was one of the best gifts I ever got.. It didn't cost much. They aren't name brand or anything but it was the thought.. His thought..  More pictures of the Big Chill and pretty branches. Once again sorry about the terrible pic positions.. but thanks for visiting and come back any time. ~Cathy

Mix and Match

I decided to try a tablescape tonight for tomorrow's breakfast. This is my problem. I either have a whole set of dishes or I just a few of this and a few of that. I tried to mix and match tonight and well it's bland.. I put my Idea amber plates as a charger cause they are so big and it's not Thanksgiving. I added my good ole' Corelware for the plate. I have these cute little amber I think depression stemware and one of my two sets of orange juice glasses with pitcher. I still need a lot of work on this tablescape thing..

I found these cute little

pizza plates at Michael's for $1.00 a piece.

They are plastic but does pizza really need to be eaten on good China? I don't think so.

 {I am also trying to new editor so well...I don't think I'm gonna like it..}

Any tips on getting the pics to move and STAY where ya want them?

These red plates I found at Hobby Lobby. I only bought 2 plates and 2 salad plates.. I don't know why just becasue I did.  I love the bumping texture to them.  I spent $2.04 each for the salad plate and $5.10 for the dinner plates. I love them. 

Next I bought these two animal skin design stemware for the G and I .. kids hands off.. I am drinking a Bloddy Mary out of them now.. I know..not quite the Bloody Mary glass but I had to try them. They were also on sale. $4.76 each compared to original $13.99..wowza..

We ate dinner on these guys last night. It is a country farm winter scene.I have 4 dinner and 4 salad..  {I had these in my cabinet, know clue where they came from} and I also added this winter scene stemware. I think these may have been from Kroger one Christmas but not sure.. I have to say we lost one of these tonight while I was wiping off the counter..I hit it and flew off and hit the floor..then when I yelled Emma came running and walked right through the glass. I hurried and put them back in the cabinet..Guess what..it was an extra anyways.. Now I am at a even number 12.. all is good. That's why ya buy one extra anyways, right? Right.!!!I then traveled down to the basement where I found more plates and charges.. I really didn't realize I had this much stuff. I know we have a whole box of China somewhere. I have looked, G has looked. I also have a few other plates and things that I just can't find.. I think it's time to clean out these darn closets and find some stuff. 

Do you have any tips for a beginner tablescaper?

 How many sets of things do you buy?

What do you do when you only have 4 of one thing and have to set the table for 6?

How many sets of flatware do you have?

 What are the rules for tablescapes?

Do you set the table everytime you have a meal?

Okay forget this.. I can't get this pic to move up..back to the old editor..

More stuff

Wednesday night before the "big" storm I had to run to get milk, bread, cheese and eggs so instead of going to the boring store I ran to Target. Found these little tins for $1.00
and these pink plastic hearts for $2.50. Now how darn cute will they look on

my Valentines table.

I also got this storage thingy for my table clothes. $2.50


Check out Phyllis at Around the House {my new friend, follower and hero} tablescape storage.. I was in awwww...
She also has an awesome collection of fake fruit, veggies, cocktails and a great danish selection.. I want to be like Phyllis when I grow up. Oh and a great big collection of dinnerware and all kinds of things that go with it..

Lost photos from Thanksgiving past..

We always have so may kids for dinner during the weekend.

We throw the silverware on the island .

We dig mismatched plates out of the cabinet or dishwasher and

we serve food for an army.

So around Thanksgiving my parents came down and

I wanted to do something

fancy with the table.

I have a set of china{ see it here } in the china cabinet and

another pattern in a box in the closet

{which we have never ever used}

So my mom and I ran into town and grabbed up a few bargains.

That night I went home and began my

new adventure in tablescapes.

In this pic below I used some green plates and bowls I had in my cabinet

{I don't know what kind of glass this is but I know it's old} I was messing around with different things I had.

I bought these wine glasses at the Odd Lots..

that way if they get broken I won't care..

well I'll care but not as much as the nice ones I have.We found these plates and bowls for a $1.00 each.. I got a 6 place setting.

I love them..

1st cause my mom bought them for me,

2. she understands my obsession with things and

always supports me

3. cause I can use them for Christmas, Valentines and even 4th of July. I also found these cute little ice cube things in red and green

{Christmas, Valentines and St. Patricks Day}this is the kids table sat for Thanksgiving..

I know it's decorated for Christmas but I couldn't wait to try every thing out..

D even said he likes a set table..makes it feel specialI'm still learning the ropes of tablescapes.. we decided to gather what we could this year and then starting next Thanksgiving start with full tables...

I got these cute green martini glasses at the dollar store. Maybe one day I will work towards the expensive stuff but with teens still in the house I'm sure something is going to get broken here and there.Here is a close up of the plates and new cloth napkins.

That's it.. any dishes you'd like to pass along to me.. I will find room. I have already talked to

G about making our {UNUSED} laundry room closet into tablescape storage..

Okay so you are probably asking why I named this post "Lost photos".. I had set to post about my new finds and just never did.. tonight as I was telling a co-worker about my "red" plates I couldn't find the post.. so I jumped on and found them and here they are..

Thanks for visiting

Ikea is my friend

We traveled to Ikea today..

I found a 10ft bench like shelf for behind the couch

and I found these plates on sale.

I bought 8 plates {.$75 each} and 8 bowls {$.60 each} I love them.

They are so fall feeling. We had dinner on them tonight and we all noticed that they are much BIGGER than a normal plate.. we have deemed them our Thanksgiving plates. I also got this lantern {$6.99} and a new green apple candle {$.99}

Then I ventured off to Kohl's where I have been eyeing these cloth napkins.
They were on sale too. $1.19 each...

wooooohooooo!!!

My Thanksgiving table for next year is almost set.. I need to find some red and green things for the upcoming

Valentine's and St. Patricks day.. oh then Easter.

I'm going back to Ikea tomorrow to look once again for more bargains.. I

may just have to get these plates in purple or green.. Oh. green would cover, St Patricks day, Easter and Christmas.. A triple threat..so worth the few more cents for them.. right.?.agree with me...

4 O'clock Foto- China

Four O'clock FotoChina in our dining room

Four O'clock Foto

Since my new obsession is tablescapes I found have noticed all kinds of dinnerware.

I found these simple plates at our local Kroger for only $1.00 each.

I snagged up 6 and 6 bowls to match.

I may have to go back and get more to make 12.

I love them.. they are heavy and pretty and festive but still could be used thoughout the year.

The girls used them last week for the little one's birthday party.. the table was so pretty.