Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

                    
 Grandsons - Gabriel Spencer 3 years and Shepherd Eli 5 weeks old!!! 
 Such Cuties!!
 Meeting with Santa  December 2010 Seattle, Washington

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Scottish Walk House Tour in Alexandria VA


Great fun today - the book club decided to go on a house tour that was happening in Old Town Alexandria today. After a great brunch put on by Paula a few of us headed out on this chilly day to walk Old Town and check out some beautiful home decorated for Christmas!




 The first house -Paula and Zlaticia pose in front of the Yeaton-Fairfax House- beautifully restored 1802 home. Considered the finest federal style house in Alexandria. Gorgeous inside but a little too formal for our taste.





Love the boughs of heather they used to decorate through out the house. Very Scottish!!





Beautiful formal dining  room - fabulous chandelier.







Taking a short break outside in the gardens - all these homes have gorgeous outside gardens and walkways.






 The women of the house is an amateur horticulturist- hence the gardens.  This is also a great space on the side yard - there is even a fireplace to sit next to!!!





905 Prince Street was the home of a barrel maker in 1815. Alexandria was a booming seaport hence the need for barrels on ships. The recent owner is an artist and her husband is an architect. Painting of the owners' triplets was done by the owner.




Love the idea of hanging the 12 days of Christmas ornaments on the kitchen fireplace. Also love the red garland- think a fresh version would look great on my kitchen mantle in Maine!



 Open shelving in the sunny kitchen look great with pottery and pitchers displayed.





We exit the house through a very welcoming sunroom.  Just the place for a relaxing afternoon.





In one of my favorite houses - the owners have created a great nook in the back of the kitchen. Love the built in bench with table pushed up against it. Have been thinking of doing this in the servant's dining room up in Maine.





Took a few pix of this to show George - so we can think how this could work in Maine!



 This is the back of the property - charming way to leave the property.





As we were making our way to the next house we heard the Scottish bagpipers giving an impromptu concert on the street corner! Lots of festivities going on this weekend!





The Holland house on the tour has tons of property - once a farmhouse this house took 3 years to renovate. We got to talk to the owner. This was my favorite house. Great kitchen!!!





 This was one of many Santas displayed throughout this house- we found out they were made by Tipper Gore's mother during the Gore's time here in Washington as Vice President.



The Holland house has a fabulous Baccarat crystal chandelier in the middle of the "gathering room" - and one of 75 Gilbert Stuart original paintings of George Washington over the fireplace!! Pretty impressive! They had a small picture of the owners and the George W Bush's at the White House in front of another Gilbert Stuart painting. Apparently the only difference is the collar on George Washington's shirt. It is said the Gilbert Stuart painted the faces of George Washington and his assistants painted the clothing - hence the different collars!




Leaving the Holland house out the back door - loved that house!!!




Great way to decorate the wine cellar- in the final home we toured today the kitchen was in the basement of the house! Had a great view of the Potomac River in the back yard!!! This wine cellar was originally a coal chute!

All and all a great day with fun friends!!!

Just a little PS- all these photos were taken with my pathetic IPhone- sorry for the poor quality- too lazy to lug around the larger camera!!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

The reason my blog posts will be few this month!!!

Baby Shepherd Eli Jones was born on Nov 18 in Seattle Washington!!  Mom and baby are doing great. Big brother Gabe is very sweet with him and is a big help. The whole Smith/Jones clan will be in Seattle for the Thanksgiving holiday!! Fun Fun Fun!!!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Happy Birthday ~~~~~ 3 years in the Blogging World!!

This is the start of the 3rd year of blogging!! It's been fun and I have touched base with many fellow bloggers!!! That has been the biggest reward!!! On to more postings and more fun!!!!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Rally to Restore Sanity/and or Fear!!!



The crowds were enormous!!!  Very happy though and polite! We headed down to the mall right about when the rally started. The weather was fabulous and the signs hilarious!



Blue skies- American flags and fun people!



This is a great sign - especially for our friends with Iowa connections!!!  Funny!




Very good view from up a tree!!!




Funny!


My all time favorite sign - lots of people were photographing him!!




Looks like two events became one- this was a float with a hip hop band on board- blasting music!!



 Now we did have the rally DVR'd at home so we could sneak over to Carmine's and have a drink and a late lunch- all the patrons in the bar were watching the rally on the numerous flat screens!!! We sat in the back and enjoyed some great chianti and yummy Italian food!!! Good way for 56 year old's to enjoy a rally on Washington !!



Thought Jon Stewart did a great job- fun show!!!





Heading back the throngs exited down 7th street- streams of people as far as the eye could see!!!!



Friday, October 29, 2010

HAPPY HALLOWEEN WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!!!




Hope everyone has a fun Halloween weekend- I am drooling over the Reese's Peanut Butter cups -  Will probably get to eat quite a few since we are in DC and get almost no trick-or-treaters ! We also plan to head over to the National Mall and take in John Stewart's Rally for Sanity- Will take a few pix and let you in on the fun. Stay warm and enjoy the chocolate this weekend!!!! BOO!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Fall Gifts



I've been busy the last couple of days - doing a little baking of Molasses Cookies to give as fall gifts.
Happened on this recipe online and it really is easy and comes out great! Going to head out tomorrow and deliver a little touch of the season- Hope you enjoy some treats too!!!! Happy Fall!!!!


       Molasses Cookies
  • 3/4 cup margarine, melted
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 cup white sugar

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, mix together the melted margarine, 1 cup sugar, and egg until smooth. Stir in the molasses. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger; blend into the molasses mixture. Cover, and chill dough for 1 hour.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Roll dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining white sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
  3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until tops are cracked. Cool on wire racks.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

New Additons to the House..

We finally have incorporated a few new pieces in the living room- we moved the two wood rockers that no one ever sat on to another room and did a little Ikea shopping. We bought 4 Ikea Ektorp chairs-2 navy and 2 white for use downstairs and up! The navy ones look great in the living room with matching ottomans.  They should be a great addition especially for a reading corner. Looks great!




 




George did some antiquing down in DC this summer and got this great table for the foyer- looks great in the photo but don't look too close- we just called the refinisher and he will be taking it and making it look fabulous by Christmas! Love the look with an arrangement of flowers on it - Will look great all summer with fresh flowers!




The two rockers needed to go somewhere so they seemed to look best in the large upstairs guest room with the newly refinished small table between them- The wood looks great in that room and even if guests just end up throwing there clothes over them they will serve a purpose!



The white chairs were for the our master bedroom- we had an old love seat - beige - in that space and it never really fit properly- plus it wasn't the right colors for that room. We bought two chairs but when George opened the boxes he realized there were two right arms in the same box! I thought it would be a major problem- but luckily the customer service department at Ikea is sending out a left arm within 7-10 days- Hopefully it will be an easy fix!



We just got one ottoman for upstairs - thought we could share - since there is not as much space upstairs next to the bed.




All and all some great additions at very little cost. Those chairs are reasonable and comfortable! Great for a beach house!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Is this the same kid????

Couldn't resist posting these two pix of my adorable niece this summer - the first taken down in Martha's Vineyard - waiting somewhat patiently for dinner ... Very sporty- her normal everyday appearance!!!!!  So cute...






Could this possibly be the same kid???? A little girly hair bow and what a difference!!! She was definitely clowning around - not her usual style but soooo cute!!! Our Kerry !!! Always fun !!!!!

Friday, September 24, 2010

BBQ Bash

 The party a few weeks ago was such a blast- to start off the centerpieces matched the black and red checkerboard invitations that were sent out to hundreds of people!!!!


 The band began setting up in the early evening- the Audiostars are very well known in the Saratoga area and they really lived up to their hype!!!



 Linda- Mary's dear friend did an awesome job on this great flag cupcake display- a great tribute to the good ole USA!!!


 The Gray Girls- Joanne, Tracy and Anne- all found themselves in similar styles and colors that night!



 The Audio Stars rock out!



 George and I had such a great time talking and mingling with all the guests- over by the pool it was much quieter and easier to chat!



 Mary and her dear friends loved the dancing!!!!



 Light show!!! Great sounds!!!!



 Jim and Cindy cut quite a rug!!!



 My adorable husband flew up from DC to enjoy the bash!!!!



 Even our daughter Moira got into the act- grooving with "Mr O'Toole"!!!!!



 Kathy and the girls get down!!!!!




 Cousins love to have fun together!



 Sally, Keelin and the boys- love that Mom is doing bunny ears on Rory!!!



 The boys get a rare treat - on stage with the band!!



The girls are still enjoying themselves late into the night- we had such a fun night with hundreds of Mary and Rich's friends- great night in Saratoga Springs NY!!!!!