WELCOME to HAPPY TO BE...This is a blog about my love of Antiques, My family, humor, as humor keeps us laughing and my every Day life...I hope you enjoy your visit...Please leave me a comment to let me know you Came by so I can visit with you Thank You !!...Hugs and Smiles, Gl♥ria

December 28, 2009

♥♥ Kyra's First Birthday ♥♥

Hello Guys, I hope all of you had a Great Christmas.... Mine was Wonderful just getting this Video from Josh of Kyra's first Birthday party which they had on December 20th and I just wanted to share it with you.....It was so great to see this little one having a party after all she has been through in her short life....God is GREAT!!! Kyra is my Great Granddaughter and spend the first 3 months of her life at Dallas Children's Hospital....She has her first heart surgery at 8 hours old with another one to follow and 18 throat surgeries and four feeding tubes put into her tummy to be able to eat...Now look at HER!!! Thank you God and the doctors at Dallas for giving Kyra and her family this special day.....

And guess what Kyra started walking the day before Christmas....Nothing will be safe now ha ha!!! Happy Birthday Kyra....

Thanks for coming by and seeing my sweet little Kyra....I hope to get back to the wonderful world of blogging this week....If I can ever get my house cleaned up ha ha!! Why does it take weeks to get ready for one day and weeks to clean up and rest up afterwards??? I don't know about you girls But I'm like an air mattress after Christmas that someone pulled my plug and let my all air out ha ha !!! All I want to do is curl up in my old red robe on and take a nap ha ha!!

May all of you have a Blessed day today....I sure know I'm very blessed....

Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

December 21, 2009

~Santa Baby~

Happy Monday to you all...Well here we are we only a few days until the Big guy shows up....But I had to show you my Little Santa....This is Jeremiah my Great Grandson who is now 6 months old and his Mama Morgan...This was just taken at fort Hood, Texas at their Christmas party.... I think everyone that comes to my blog...knows the love I have for our country and our service men and women....That each and every day give us our FREEDOM and Our RIGHTS....I wish all of you a Very Blessed CHRIST mas and Please today take the time while you are bowing your heads in Thanks ....To say a prayer of Blessing to our Servicemen.....


A Soldiers Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas.

He lived all alone,In a one bedroom house made of Plaster and Stone.
I had come down the Chimney,With presents to give. And to see just who In this home did live.

I looked all about A strange sight I did see. No tinsel, No presents,Not even a tree.No stocking by the mantle,Just boots filled with sand.

On the wall hung pictures Of far distant lands.With medals and badges, Awards of all kinds,A sober thought Came through my mind.

For this house was different, It was dark and dreary,I found the home of a soldier,
Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, Silent, alone, Curled up on the floor In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,The room in such disorder, Not how I pictured
Was this the hero Of whom I'd just read?Curled up on a Poncho,The floor for a bed?

I realized the families That I saw this night,Owed their lives to these soldiers Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,The children would play, And grownup's would celebrate A bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,Because of the soldiers,Like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder How many lay alone,On a cold Christmas Eve In a land far from home.
The very thought Brought a tear to my eye,I dropped to my knees And started to Cry.

The soldier awakened And I heard a rough voice,"Santa don't cry,This life is my choice."The solider rolled over And drifted to sleep,I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,So silent and still And we both shivered From the cold nights chill.
I didn't want to leave On that cold, dark, night,This guardian of Honor So willing to fight.

The solider rolled over,With a voice soft and pure,Whispered, "Carry on Santa, It's Christmas Day, All is secure."One look at my watch, And I knew he was right.

"Merry Christmas my friend, And to all a good night."

I will see all of you after Christmas....Many Blessings from my mountain top yours...
Until next time.....

December 19, 2009

~ Gingerbread Kitchen ~

I'm joining in with my Sweet friend Chari at "Happy To Design" I just wanted you to see my Gingerbread Kitchen from last year....Thanks Chari for letting us have a do-over.... First posted December 2008

Hi Guys... Hope all of you had a great day today...I am still working in my kitchen trying to get it all spruced up for Christmas...thought I would give you an up date so far... Now this is the top of my Old wood burning stove...the long glass container is from a bakery and held Fresh baked cookies at one time...behind it is an old scale and I have one of my Blue and White Pitcher and a Butter churn sitting on it...you can also see another Blue and Gray Pitcher in the window...and of course the snow man sitting in a spatter ware bowl.. Now this is the front of the stove...I bought this right out of a collector home about 25 years ago and I love the fact that the oven doors are on the side and it opens from either side..click on any picture and get a closer look at it...this stove is ca. 1900 all the front is porcelain and its triangle shape and I have never seen another like this shape...



Now this is just another space I created...I had the Handy Man go between the studs and add more cabinet space for me to put my Old general store Candy Containers and my TV In ...hey I got to have a TV in the kitchen and didn't want to give up counter space...next to this is a Camel Cigarettes display case from ca. 1940 that I use to put more spatter ware and yellow ware bowls in..on the floor in front are more Butter churns..and that thing with magizines is a Grain scoop and it sits on a Shaker Grain box...



Now this is the back of the Bean Counter that came from a General Store ca. 1880 it has 18 drawers in it...I use it as an Island in my Kitchen...I had the maple cutting board made for the top...I do use this every day...



Now this is the Front of the Bean Counter...all the glass fronts are only maybe 2 inches in depth and this is what you would see at the store and say give me a pound of Beans etc..and all the beans etc would be in the drawer's that I already show you...So this has 18 glass fronts to go with the 18 drawers....I already show you the De Laval Cream parts cabinet I have at one end of the Bean counter and these are some of my Old Picnic Baskets at this end...I keep Potatoes,Onions, and Paper Plates in them...Great storage for me!!!



Now this is my HELLOOOO !!! that you !!! phone that I have hanging at the end of my top cabinets...see I even added some Holly Greens to it and of course a Gingerbread Man... The little book hanging on the phone is an instruction book on how to use a phone....bet this was before Cell phones ?



This is a National Candy Store cash Register and a Hamilton Beach Milk shaker maker that still works... the white thing you see hanging there are paper towels that hang from an Old set of Ice Tongs from my pot rack... Now the Granite on the top of the Bean counter I got when someone ordered it and then didn't want it...so its 8 ft long and I got it for $150.00 and really needed to put something on the top of counter...as people would sit wet drinks down on it and its all Tiger Oak..




Now this is just a Meat slicer from ca. 1880 and I use it to just sit things in...great display piece..and Picket See I have the same Hershey's Cook book as you 1934






This is the other end of the Bean counter with my Chas Parker Coffee Grinder on it and a Blue and White Salt box that I keep my napkins in...and if you look real close you'll see I have a Gingerbread boy trapped in that jar...little tree of course from where else but Dollar Tree...





This is the counter next to my every day stove...I had this mini Bean Bin made to hold all my Chocolate chips and stuff I use to make candy with...I love this because I can move it to any counter top I want for a change and trust me its been all over my counters...Also another Bubble Gum Machine sitting in the corner...Now the Glass containers here are Planter Peanut Containers from a general store... I have nine of these from differ years..I don't use canisters in my kitchen but old glass containers instead..that way I can display them plus put them to use... for added storage...





Just another shot of the counter...my oldest Planter Peanuts container is the 3 one in picture..it still has all the original decals and paint on it...the one next to it is shaped like a Giant Peanut..and the first glass container has a tin lid its just from a soda fountain that sold Candy...I know you can buy new ones like these now days...but is is an old one...There are so many re-pops out there that when you collect you have to be careful you are getting the real thing...





I know my Country Kitchen is not for everyone...but hey !! I am a antique collector and I put things out that make me Happy...So Please girls don't send the "Clutter Cops" after me lol!!!





My way of thinking is "I love it..I paid for it...and I'll clean it .... Hope all of you enjoyed another look into my Country Christmas Kitchen



May you all have a safe and blessed day....Hugs and smiles Gloria



December 16, 2009

~French Cloche~

Good morning guys,



I know we all have our favorite blogs we love to follow just like we have our favorites magazines we love to get and drool over...Well I found one that is the best of both worlds for me...she not only has a blog but you can't pick up your favorite decorating magazine without seeing Lidy in it....You see Lidy is all about French and anything "Frenchy" looking....Lidy also sells some of the most Beautiful French Linens,Silver, Paintings, Antiques, Oh the list goes on and on.....But Lidy is not just about selling...her blog is Wonderful with creative ideas to use around your home...that's why I love going to see what she been up to...Now in November she did a post click here to see and she was featured in Cottages and Bungalows their Christmas issue... Now Lidy lives in Southern California and they did this Christmas shoot durning the summer and she said it was 106 temp and they wanted her to light the fireplace for some of the shots...I had to laugh when she told them they better get the shot the first time...Said she was fast melting as it was ha ha!!





Any way this is Lidy Beautiful home...Oh girls I just love all the reds with the whites and look at all the fine silver pieces she has drool....








But my heart be still....Just look at this Cloche !! This just SCREAMED my name when I seen it...I ran to her web site and guess what they were all sold out....But hold everything Lidy said they had more coming in and would hold one just for me...Happy Dance time....





Is this not the most beautiful French cloche ??? oh and those tarts...


WARNING: if my daughter Dawna is reading this post today PLEASE stop now...As I don't want to hear about Mom what are we going to do with all this stuff when you die...Remember its not my problem then...


Any way I got my cloche's Yesterday from Lidy and the little tarts to go with it...Oh "Merry Christmas" to me!!! I have not done a thing with it yet...but I have BIG plans for this...I just know it will look great in my kitchen....Oh I guess I should give you the name of the blog...Its French Garden House...go by and see Lidy and all the wonderful things she does with her beautiful home that way you don't have to wait for the magazine's to come out....Lidy Thank you again girl...I just ♥ it to death!!!


I hope all of you have a GREAT weekend...My Grandson Jacob is coming in from Fort Hood, Texas tomorrow and I can't wait to get my hands on Jeremiah who is now 6 months old...My oldest daughter Barbra also has a Birthday tomorrow she will be 50...tell me that doesn't make me feel olden...

My family has been truly Blessed this past year...Kyra's first Birthday is also tomorrow and I thank God and the doctors at Dallas Children's Hospital each and every day for our little miracle baby....Told Josh to PLEASE do a video for me of Kyra eating her first Birthday cake...Well better go get back to my baking...And stuffing my girls Christmas socks...Oh Yes they still get Christmas socks at their age...I'm be doing those even in the nursing home they put me in ha ha!!







~Red Cardinals~

Well since this is the last Tablescape before Christmas I will be posting....I had to show you my Red Cardinal table that my Granddaughter Candace also did for me....You see girls I have TB so she does allot of things for me...Oh the TB stands for Tired Butt....ha ha!!





Again I think she did an awesome job on this table...Oh to be young and have so much energy....


The only thing I bought were the Red Cardinal plates from Marshall's the rest she shopped my house and my yard....Are they not pretty...



Chargers I got from Second Sunday swap meet 2 months ago.....





Wine glasses from Hospice thrift store last year....Candace just sat them down on Gold coaster and added a little red Cardinal to each one....


Candle sticks also Hospice...Candace just cut some berries from my mountain and wrapped them around each one and added another Cardinal....


Napkins from Christmas last year....I think these were from Home Goods....





Magnolia leaves from front yard sprayed antique gold....and all the cedar is also from my trees here....Oh its so great to have all these wonderful trees at Christmas time to decorate with....





Place mats from Ross....I think just loved the cut work on them can't remember when I got these either...You see I also suffer from CRS which means I "Can't Remember Stuff "ha ha!!







Pine cone centerpiece also shopped my yard to make this....Sat it inside of a Red Velvet box.....










I hope you enjoyed another one of my Granddaughter Candace's Tables....She is so sweet to do these for me...THANK YOU Baby girl...Of course I'm not going to tell you the mess we both can get into in this Dining Room while we are doing these....And when I say shop the house I mean under beds, sofa's where ever I have stuffed stuff ha ha!!


Now this is my side board that matches my table and I did it also in the plates to carry out the Red Cardinal theme I had going on in here....




Now I want to Thank Susan for being our great hostess and please go by and see her and all the really great Eye candy today....I just know their will be some great ones for you to enjoy....























May all of you have a GREAT day today....From my side of the mountain to yours...until next time....

December 15, 2009

~Christmas fact and Awesome Video~

Little Known Christmas Fact


Not long ago and far away, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip...but there were problems everywhere.


Four of his elves were sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule.


Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more.
When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and
were out, heaven knows where. More Stress.


Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys.


So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he found the elves had hidden the liquor and there was nothing to drink. In his frustration, he dropped the coffee pot and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor.


He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw it was made from.


Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.


The angel said: "Where would you like to put this tree Santa?"
And that my friends, is how the Angel got on top of the Christmas Tree

This Video is awesome...Please turn up your sound and watch it and enjoy....

Many Blessings from My mountain top to yours....Until next time





December 10, 2009

~ I found me some Christmas help ~

Resimay
To hoom it mae cunsern,

I waunt to apply for the job what I saw in the paper.

I can Type realee quik wit one finggar and do sum a counting..

I think I am good on the phone and I no I am a pepole person, Pepole really seam to respond to me well. Certain men and all the ladies.

I no my spelling is not to good but fi nd that I Offen can get a job thru my persinalety.

My salerery is open so we can discus wat you want to pay me and wat you think that I am werth, I can start emeditely Thank you in advanse fore yore anser.
hopifuly Yore best aplicant so farr.

Sinseerly, BRYAN

PS : Because my resimay is a bit short - below is a pickture of me. Dear Bryan ,
It's OK honey, we've got spell check. See you Monday

May all of you have a Safe and Great weekend on your side of the mountain....We have another BIG strom hitting us again for 3 days...I hope to get some Christmas baking done and fix a big old pot of Stew and watch a "Christmas Story" once again...don't you just love that movie....Thanks to all that came by and seen Candace's Christmas table and for all your kind comments...It meant the world to her and me....



December 9, 2009

~ Going to Grandma's House ~

I have always loved it when my Granddaughter Candace comes and plays house with me....Since the day she was born and I cut her cord I just knew we would not just be Granny girl and Granddaughter but also the best of friends....and she has yet to disappoint me....She's my Crime shopping partner, my craft buddy, my baking buddy and just grew up to be a wonderful woman and wife and never gave her Mama one lick of trouble growning up...She's Beautiful inside and out...All that meet her loves her to death...She's got a heart bigger than my mountain top....Can you tell I'm a proud Grandma ha ha!!



Also be sure and go see Susan today and see all the great eye candy awaiting for you to enjoy....Thanks Susan....



She did this table with things from the Dollar Tree and shopped my house....I think she did an beautiful job on this one and had to share it with you.....Thanks Candace....












Sat one of my many cloche's on an old mirror and filled with $$$ Tree ornament's tied a ribbon on top to match....This is her center piece


Remember the large foam snow flakes from $$$ Tree that we added glitter glue to.....well she used them for place mats....Sat down a white plate tossed a glitter snow flake on top and then added a clear plate for the setting....very clever Candace....




Also added some little silver frames with Christmas sayings....How cute can she get....


Also snow flake glasses $$$ Tree....sat a small glitter snow flake down to use as a coaster.....



Added a silver cup and saucer....








Remember the name card holder I show you how to make....Click here to see




Candle were white...but Candace sprayed them with glue and then glittered them....put them in $$$ Tree silver holder with with crystal ornament's from Wally World around them....





Also from $$$ Tree just loved these mirror Christmas trees...Candace just added a snow flake to the top....







I just love the way this turned out...One of her best yet for Christmas....

I can't wait to show you the Red Cardinal Table she also did for me....Thank You Candace for coming to Granny girl house to play with me ha ha!!


May all of you have a GREAT and safe day on your side of the mountain...I still can't get out of my driveway too much snow yet ha ha!!