~free gift wrap idea~

Wine bottle paper bags as wrappings.

From Trader Joe's.

Joe and I visit Trader Joe's when we go to Athens, Georgia and at Thanksgiving I picked up these beautiful bags, free, with bottles of wine. 

Ask for the wine not to be placed in the bags, at the check out counter, and keep the bags flat and pretty. 

The wine at this store is reasonably priced too.

We do not exchange gifts with anyone, or buy gifts for that matter as we are blessed beyond measure, so this is sort of all made up but I had fun doing it.

The tissue is not tissue but that paper that stores (Goodwill in this case) use to wrap breakables. 

We do buy toys for kids that our church directs to two local neighborhoods.

There you have a free gift wrap idea.

You can always put wine in the bag but why do the expected?

Linking with Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday's.

Tidings and Joy

Olive

Christmas Celebrated On U.S. Hwy 80

 Grand old Southern mansions decorated for Christmas.

 

 

This is the Paige House in Dublin, Georgia. 

It is a Bed and Breakfast that we have not stayed at but always enjoy driving by at Christmas.

This is the business next door to the Paige House.

These houses are located on U.S. highway 80 in the center of Dublin.

I have been making Christmas cards from some of the close up shots of the porch rockers on these two houses. It has been a fun learning experience for me.

This charming house is an eye doctor's office and is across the street from the other two.

The gingerbread trim is beautiful.

This large house is next to the doctor's office and has understated Christmas lights.

I love those porches.

 I will share my Christmas cards later.

♥♥♥

I am sending a huge thank you to all my readers who left comments about our Christmas tree and CC coming home from college. You are the best readers ever and welcome to all new followers. Joe and I read and enjoy each and every comment. 

{{{hugs}}}

Tidings and Joy

Olive

Bittersweet

I brought our daughter home from college this afternoon. 

It is a bittersweet day.

She has obtained her Associates Degree and is moving on to get her next degree at a larger University but she is terribly sad to be leaving her friends. 

She thanked me for letting her stay in a dorm, an opportunity I did not have, and it assured me that paying for those dorm rooms might just be worth it after all.

 She will be home for the holiday and able to read, bake, nap, loaf, and visit with our family.

 She can enjoy the yellow house all decked out for Christmas and attend church which she adores.

♣♣♣

Joe and I went to a super duper moving sale and I found this old crock with flowers on it for one dollar and plopped a new bottle brush tree in it. 

Joe bought a ladder. I will let you imagine that.

CC loves to go thrift'n too. 

Train them early.

Linking with Joy at Savvy City Farmer for Thrift'n On A Thursday.

Tidings and Joy

Olive

The Tree

The Tree at last.

 

 

 

The Theme?

Our theme is there is no theme. 

Not one item was purchased for this tree this year.

No designer looks here. Not in the competition.

 

 

 

This is an overly large tree for this room so the chairs are snuggled up close to it.

 

The ribbon and angel tree topper were given to me by the sweet manager of a thrift store I frequent and are very special to me.

This tree has about fifty percent fewer ornaments than last year because I just stopped when decorating it and said enough and put the rest away and donated some boxes to a local charity that very day. 

Linking with the mega Block Party via Honey at 2805 for Christmas Trees.  

The link will work on 12/08/12.

So many parties I am dizzy.

Happy Christmas

Olive