Tuesday, December 23, 2014

May Your Christmas Be Blessed

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. Get yourself a cup, yes the Christmas cups, and lets sit and visit for a while. I just want some quiet time before the cooking starts tomorrow. I am so happy, I will have all my family except for Curt and Lindsey here. Only happens once a year, but it thrills me to have them. Like everyone else, we are missing someone dear and we think how he would love seeing the great grand children. We only had 3 when he died and now there are 6. But this is not a time for sadness, but pure joy. The birth of our Savior. The only thing that equals that is the Resurrection. Everything is done here except the cooking. I will actually do most of it Christmas Day. Some will be done tomorrow, but today is for just enjoying. It is so peaceful to sit in front of the fireplace, Christmas lights on and Carols playing. I hope each of you can do that at least for a while. Let the hustle and bustle fade away and just enjoy. I will tell you I have enjoyed every visit you have made Through My Back Door and hope you will continue to visit me. I will share some of the Christmas here as it will soon be packed away until another year.


My Mouse house Deb made over 33 years ago.


























I hope you enjoyed a little Christmas Through My Back Door as much as I have enjoyed your visit. Merry Christmas and and may it be blessed.
betty
PS: I am excited. A fellow blogger is visiting Sunday
PSS:The picture of the wool, is from Audrey at Tombstone Tidings. Mollie loves the black wool and always has to touch it
PSSS: Lets say a prayer for all of our friends who have fresh losses this year, Several of my friends have lost children this year,

Monday, December 15, 2014

The Three P's of Christmas Parties, Plays and People

Good evening  and welcome Through My Back Door. Grab the coffee and help yourself to some cookies, fudge, or what ever you want. If you prefer a glass of egg nog you can have that. I want you to be happy. I It has been a  whirl wind here the last several days. I have shared with you how much I love Christmas and all that goes with it, even though it wears me out.lol A week ago Friday night was the party I last blogged about, Saturday a couple of my friends, Dottie Luchsinger and Shirley Dowling, and I went to Maryville(an hour away) to Renda's presentation of the Man Who Came to Dinner. I cannot brag on my d-i-l enough. She gets so much out of those high school students.Have I said she sits in the audience during the performance.
Sunday afternoon I attended a luncheon given by my church for widows and widowers. It is always just fantastic, as my church has our own Paula Dean in Carol Flanary. Monday night I hosted my card groups Christmas party. Our 31st year to celebrate Christmas! Some marriages don't last that long.lol
The table was full of food. Drinks are else where.
I like this picture of Linda Y.
Linda A and Regina J. Have I told you there are 2 Regina's, 2 Linda's, and 2 Betty's in our group?
The other Betty
Fran, Linda, and Betty's feet. We always draw names and this year everyone of us had the same name we had last year. Now that was funny!
 When I was a special ed teaching assistant I was Melinda's TA. We bonded and became more like family. Amy taught 4th grade and the three of us became very close and still keep in touch. Tuesday night Melinda has us over for supper and the evening. We had such a fun time and laughed and talked for 4&1/2 hours! They are so much younger than me, that I am glad they still include me.lol I have watched both of these girls marry and become Mothers. Melinda's daughter is at UT now and Amy's in 8th grade. I have never seen two better teachers than these two. Sadly neither of them are teaching now due to the changes in education. Such a loss.
Thursday I attended a luncheon at church and I will share pictures of it later. I have not downloaded them. It was spectacular! Yes, done by our own "Paula Deen"lol, aka Carol Flanary.  She is just amazing.
Thursday night I went to my Sunday School class Christmas party and we had so much fun. Laughed so hard, ate so much, and it was just wonderful. See why I called this post what I did? Instead of doing gifts for one another, we did for a sick member. It was just a blessing.
Friday I went to Dodd and Renda's for the evening and night. What a good time we had. Olivia came home and we got to visit for hours. Went shopping for a few, she put me onto the best chap stick,(lol) went back home and ate a delicious supper Renda had made. Then we made gingerbread ornaments for their tree. Just like the Waltons.
It will not let me down load the picture of the tree, but later maybe I can get it to cooperate. (I know it isn't me)lol
Sunday after church Deb and I finished our Christmas shopping after Olive Garden. We love Olive Garden and eat there every chance we get. Sunday night Andrew was a shepherd in the Nativity play at their church. I got so teary eyed when I saw him standing there so straight as the only glasses wearing shepherd. I truly don't think it is Christmas with out seeing a children's performance. It is a special event for me and has always been. Andrew is growing up, but is still so sweet and loving.
After church I spent the night at Debs and came home this morning. I am home to stay.lol (Until the next time).
I hope I haven't bored you with the three P's of Parties, Plays, and People. I love all of the activities to do with Christmas. I always have. In the Polar Express it is sad when the boy realizes his Mom, Dad and his sister Sarah no longer hear the bell. I hope I always hear the bell and I hope you do too.
Know what else I hope? That you continue to come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS:Remember my sweet Aunt who celebrated her 96th birthday? Will you remember her in prayer?She is in the hospital
PSS: 10 days until Christmas day. Will you hunt for something wonderful each of those days?
PSSS: Thanks to all of you who continue to read and follow Through My Back Door. Blogging is fading a bit and I appreciate each of you.




Saturday, December 6, 2014

A Memorable Christmas

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. The coffee is on and have a ginger snap cookie. I love them, do you? Here, you sit over here and warm your self by the fireplace.
Last night was our Sunday School department Christmas party and I was asked to share a Memorable Christmas. Well I thought every Christmas I can remember was memorable. lol You know how your life goes in stages, and I loved Christmas as a child. I have shared I was an only child and an only grand child on my Mother's side, so I was a bit spoiled, I suppose. (I hate admitting that and hope Carol Sue and Verleen don't read this)They were my cousins on my Dad's side. Any way I would always write a list to Santa and a list to Grandma Wright. I would always add on her list, "and a surprise". Then you get married and that first Christmas is memorable, and when the children come along, more memories, and then the grands. Well anyway it was hard for me to come up with one in particular, but this one just kept creeping in my mind. I thought I would share with you.
My grandparents lived in Ohio and we alternated years going there or them coming here. This one year I was probably 10 years old, and it was Christmas Eve when we traveled. There were no interstates then so we went state highways, through beautiful towns, all decorated for Christmas. I can still remember how  secure I felt in the back seat of the car riding and looking at all those lights and decorations. Anyway, it was late when we arrived and after some down time, and my opening a couple of gifts, we went to bed. Around 2:30 A.M. we were awakened by someone Caroling on the front porch. It took a minute for Mom and the grands to wake up and then I heard my Mother say, or I should say she yelled it,lol"It is Aunt Cleona". Well she lived about 3 hours away and had caught the bus to come visit. The bus had gotten in around 2 A.M. and she had walked the 8-10 blocks to my grandparents house! It was cold too. After she came into the house, someone said, "Cleona, where is your suitcase?" To which she replied, very calmly, "Oh I didn't bring one. I just wore everything!" And she did! She had on 4 days worth of clothes! I thought that was cool. lol Let the record state that when she left there she had a suitcase with her clothes in it and was taken to the bus station! I  will always remember that Christmas.
She was a precious woman and quite the musician. She was also a preacher. I will never forget her.
So that is one of my Memorable Christmases. It is always memorable when you come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: Let us all remember the true reason we celebrate Christmas
PSS: I was blesses to sit at the table with Nick and Kayla Cancemi along with Marilyn Hall last night. We had some wonderful laughs. Didn't know they were so much fun
PSSS:Why don't you take time to think of your own Memorable Christmas. It was fun

Monday, December 1, 2014

Welcome December

Good morning to December. And to each of you. I am so happy to see you this morning I know everyone has had a wonderful weekend and are ready for some down time. So grab a cup of coffee, yes we are using the Christmas mugs(It is December) and just lets chat a moment. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I was blessed to have all my children and theirs under the same roof. We were missing 3 grands and I always hate when they can't come. I am ready for this month. I love everything about Christmas. Everything. The business, the cooking, the baking, the parties, the eating, the decorating, the wrapping, and the list goes on. I love the Christmas carols and I guess my favorite song is I'll Be Home for Christmas. My favorite religious is Silent Night. Curtis' was O Holy Night, but I love them all. I don't like the spin offs, like Alvin and Grandma got Ran Over By a Reindeer(although I did a few years ago.Get ran over by a deer) Anyway, I am so glad you have dropped in. I have filled the peppermint jars and they are waiting  for you to come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: Let us truly try to remember the true Reason for our Season
PSS: I Hope all of our NE friends have their electric back on and are rebounding from that storm
PSSS: I am so thankful my blog fairy gave me this beautiful Christmas header.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Tuesday Treasure

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. The coffee is ready and I am glad you are here to share the last Tuesday Treasure. Yes, it is "the mirror". Many of you know about the mirror, but some of you don't. This mirror hung in my paternal grandparents home all my life. And before. For years it hung in the kitchen above the wash pan. After they got an inside bathroom it hung on the closed in back porch you went through on the way to the bathroom. My grandparents, my Dad, and everyone of my aunts and uncles combed their hair by looking in this mirror. This mirror has seen the faces of many of my loved ones. When I look in it, I remember those it has "seen" and I feel blessed to have it in my bathroom. You see I  think I would try to grab this in case of a fire. It reflects much more than we see.
Happy Thanksgiving and please just enjoy the day with our real treasures, family and friends
betty

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Thanksgiving

                                 
                                                                                                                       Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. Grab you a mug, help yourself to the coffee, get a cinnamon doughnut and come sit and lets talk about Thanksgiving. Thanksgivings were always big growing up. Whether it was at our house or my Grandmother's. Everyone was welcome. Then after I married and had children, we had to go to my parents for lunch and Curtis' parents for supper. My Dad said one day, this is crazy, lets all eat together, so that is the way it was for years. Then he got sick and one year there was no Thanksgiving. We were living out of town, so my little family had our own. I cooked my first turkey and the trimmings. Deb and I put on our aprons and cooked on the morning of Thanksgiving, while Curtis and the boys did the traditional Thanksgiving morning rabbit hunt. That is something he and my Dad did for many years. After that Thanksgiving changed, The next Thanksgiving he was gone, so everyone came to Cumberland Gap to our house. The next year we were back down here and Curtis and I started hosting Thanksgiving. Again you never knew who all was coming.But what fun. Then when Mother couldn't cook Christmas for all of us anymore, I took over that tradition from her. When I did that Deb said she wanted Thanksgiving. So for many years this has been our tradition. I look at pictures and there are so many no longer at our Thanksgiving table. However there are a lot of new little people there.That is the circle of life, isn't it?
I have decided this Thanksgiving I am going to embrace the changes. Yes, tradition is changing again.Beth is hosting it this year. I am going to be thankful for all of those at our table, but I am also going to be thankful for the Thanksgivings past and the people I loved so much who have influenced me and helped make me who I am today.I thank my Daddy who instilled the love of holidays in me.
This will be my last post until after Thanksgiving, so I am taking this opportunity to wish you a Happy and blessed Thanksgiving. So many of my friends are missing loved ones for the first time this Thanksgiving. I am praying God blesses each of them and you in a special way.
You bless me when you come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Tuesday Treasure

Hurry in and lets sit down and have a cup of coffee.It is so cold out there, but it is so nice to have you come Through My Back Door to talk about Tuesday Treasure. It really is a treasure to me. When Debbie and Michael got married in 1979 they moved to Memphis as he had been accepted in Pharmacy School at UT Memphis. They lived on nothing and especially that first Christmas. She did Christmas presents for her family and this was mine. A Mouse House. I collected mice at that time. I haven't used it in a while but decided to get it out this year. It was made with love. The only thing she bought was the little mice.
A close up. Mama is knitting, baby is in the cradle, and Daddy is reading the Night Before Christmas on the bed.
See the cheese on the table?  I treasure it.
betty


Thursday, November 13, 2014

Even Though

Hello and come on in. It is cold this morning and going to get colder, so the coffee is on. Jackie brought me over more Kona so we are good to go.lol Even Though cold weather is coming, I am going to start my Christmas decorating. Most  of you know I love Christmas and all the stuff that goes with it. I no longer do a cookie swap, but am going to bake cookies next week. I will let the little ones help one day too. Mollie and Andrew love to come and make cookies and Even Though it is sooooo messy, I love having them come. I did this with my grands when they were growing up too. Last time we made cookies I found flour on my couch! Go figure.lol  I have the makings for fudge bought already, so one evening that will be on my list. Even Though it isn't healthy, my family loves it, so I will make it. Doug usually buys black walnuts to put in a batch. This is all looming ahead in the weeks to come. I get excited just thinking about it. I love the sappy,(as my friend Dottie calls them) Hallmark movies on TV. I love to drink eggnog(non alcoholic) but sprinkled with nutmeg, eat cookies and cry with movies.lol Not all of them are teary, so I laugh with those.lol Even Though it is a lot of work, that we make for ourselves, and some people think it is silly, I don't mind anything to do with Christmas. I have been listening to the music already. Silver Bells is one of my favorites, right along with I'll Be Home for Christmas. I adore the old carols. Curtis' favorite was O Holy Night, now it is one of mine too. I get a bit nostalgic at Christmas. Ok I get a lot nostalgic at Christmas. I miss my Mom and Dad so much. I miss Curtis, and I miss my grandparents. I have said before my Dad was the Christmas lover at our house growing up. He loved it. So Even Though it isn't Thanksgiving yet, I am putting up Christmas. Stay tuned for Christmas Through My Back Door. I will leave you with a few pictures of Christmas past.
Even Though I have said it before, I love having you come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: Let's all put the Real reason for the season ahead of everything else this season
PSS:Let's say Merry Christmas and mean it
PSSS:Let's continue to pray for our fellow bloggers that are having health issues

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Tuesday Treasure

Good Tuesday morning and welcome Through My Back Door. It is Tuesday Treasure and the treasure I have to share this morning is the Veterans in my family and all the other Veterans. Because of them, we can fly this.
In my own family the living Veterans are my son Doug, USMC. Sister in law Margaret, USN, and my niece Kate, USA.  My uncle JN, USMC and brother in law Bruce, USMC are both buried at Arlington National Cemetery. My Uncle Dillon, USA, WW2. My cousin Dale, lost his son Justin, USMC during the Iraq war.So these are my Tuesday treasures. God bless them all.
betty
ps: I have no idea who to give credit to for this picture. I love it and it brings tears to my eyes

Monday, November 10, 2014

A Get Away

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. The coffee is on and we are having cinnamon toast this morning. You all know about my  Card Group, as I have talked about them over my years of blogging. This past weekend was our annual get away. We go to Pigeon Forge, rent a cabin and just chill. We have been doing this many years. We have so much fun, shopping, talking, eating, laughing and playing games. After almost 30 years we have to laugh at how much we have changed.
It used to be we would stay up half the night laughing, talking, playing games. This would be after a hard days shopping. We love the Tanger outlets, so imagine walking all over that place all day and staying up half the night, hitting it again the next day. Well now we have a plan. We shop one day, go to the cabin for dinner, and are in bed by 11pm.lol Some of the girls shopped more than others this year. I, along with a some of the others had 2 full days in the cabin. When we get back, we have show and tell. You would be surprised how many of us have bought the same thing! I am the oldest in the group and Linda A is the youngest. Somehow age doesn't matter, it is the friendship. I have said before, we have seen one another through marriages, divorce, deaths, births, graduations, promotions, retirements,and one ordained into the ministry. They held my hand during Curtis' devastating illness and death. We are there for one another. By the way, everyone knows us as "The Card Group." We gave a bridal shower a couple of weeks ago and the invitations said, given by, "The Card Group." We are all aging a bit and we have our issues. One has been diagnosed with MS, one has  been diagnosed with Diabetes, One needs knee replacement, one has had knee replacement. Me, I had a colitis attack while there.(hadn't had one in 15 months, thought I was cured). So we have a special bond. DO we agree on everything? Far from it. Do we decorate alike? Not at all. Do we love and care about one another and our families? You bet we do. Having friends for so many years is a blessing and I count them as one of my biggest blessings in life.
One of the girls took this and isn't in it.
Another blessing in my life is you coming Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS:Little Livvy Glenn had her surgery and is cancer free. Praise God
PSS: As we approach the season we all love, Thanksgving and Christmas, I challenge you, as well as myself, lets remember the REAL reason we celebrate
PSSS: Tomorrow is Tuesday Treasure

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Tuesday Treasure

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. Get your coffee and yes it is a redware mug and somehow, the coffee will just taste better. Trace Granny Trace Scraps & Squares
and I did a post last week on Tuesday Treasure. I am continuing that through Thanksgiving.
This week my treasure is something you have seen before. My cowbell.
 It hangs now on the side of my flat wall cupboard. It is another memory from my Daddy. He liked old things as well as I did, but my Mother cared nothing for them. So he was my partner in crime. I had wanted a cow bell forever and couldn't find one. (This has been many, many years ago). We lived in what was called a shot gun house. You came in the front door and the kitchen was at the end of the house, with the other rooms leading off a long hall way. One night while we were eating supper we heard the door open and clang, clang, clang, down the hall. There came my Dad into the kitchen with the cow bell around his neck. I still chuckle when I think of that.
You know what else makes me chuckle? You coming Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty

Saturday, November 1, 2014

What I Love About November

Good afternoon and hurry in the door. It is a good day to come Through My Back Door and have coffee, hot tea, or hot chocolate. Which ever you prefer. It is cold out there today, but so nice in here.
Boo is as contented as she can be. So am I. I have made a pot of chili and it tasted so good. November is here and I love this month. It is the beginning of so much. To me November is full of surprises. You don't know what she will bring. Here in East Tn  you can still have a few warm days, where you don't have to dress really warm, but on the other hand you can get a surprise snow. The leaves are leaving the tree and you will see a tree with a leaf just hanging on. Makes me think of the childrens book about dealing with death, called the Fall of Freddie the Leaf, by Leo Buscaglia. November brings more surprises than snow, she may bring a spur of the moment trip. For me there is the long weekend with my card group in November.  We have been doing this for 28 years.There are lots of Christmas open houses and special events. There are pots of hot mulled cider, drank in pewter mugs.
There is the smell of pots of homemade soups and stews. You cannot beat the smell of a fresh pot of homemade vegetable soup simmering in a pot. Oh the surprises of November! I love her. Do you?
Also November brings Thanksgiving! I love the Thanksgiving holidays. Of course we over indulge in food, but its okay for one day, one meal. Nothing like seeing a turkey and dressing with all the trimmings on your table, and your family there to share it.
I love having friends in for soup when November rolls around. I like serving soup in my pewter bowls and using my soup tureens.
It is so nice to sit around a table and just visit with friends, after having a meal of soup. I have never met a soup I didn't like.lol Brewing a fresh pot of coffee and just being. November brings contentment to me.
Also November means I can do this.
Decorate for Christmas! I just love November and plan on enjoying everyone of her 30 days. I just love having you come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: Please continue prayers for little Livvy Glenn
PSS: Thank you Audrey Adams for this wonderful little pumpkin, you made from wool as well as the candy corn.
PSSS: I am going to find something to be Thankful for everyday between now and Thanksgiving on my FB page, will you join me? I have lots to be thankful for as we have birthdays in November. Mollie will be 4 tomorrow. Happy Birthday Mollie.







Thursday, October 30, 2014

Smile Because It Happened

Don't Cry because it is over.(Dr. Seuss)
                                                    Dasko 5-28-03  10-30-13

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Tuesday Treasures

Come on in and have a cup of coffee. Kona is just soooo good, isn't it? I am copying my friend Trace over at Granny Trace Scraps & Squares.
She did a post called Tuesday Treasures  and I followed. If any of you bloggers decide to do this, give Trace credit. I think I will until Thanksgiving.
This is a little cabinet, built by Sam,(who ran the cabinet shop, my dad owned) that my Daddy used in his Shanty. The shanty was a little bitty house on wheels, that my Dad took to the well drilling sites with him. He kept lard, coffee, salt and pepper in it. He had a little laundry heater stove and would cook his lunch. I have treasures in it now. The letter in the upper left hand corner is a handwritten note from Gladys Taber. Underneath is a pin with my name on it, Daddy had made for me. The blue pig was my Maternal grandmothers tape measure. The white pig was hers, also. The lower left hand bear is a wind up and behind that is a string bound book dated 1832. The pin keep was sent to me by a former blogger, Lori Triplett. The first thing I ever received from a blogging friend.
We all know things aren't the real treasures, but on Tuesday's for a while it will be things
I consider those of you who come Through My Back Door a treasure
betty

Monday, October 20, 2014

Home Is Where The Heart Is

What a beautiful fall afternoon and the coffee is on. Guess what? It is Kona!!
       
 I haven't been able to find any and Saturday, my wonderful  neighbors, Jackie and Phil, (remember he walked over here in the snow when she read I was out of milk, to bring me milk) brought me some! She found it at Krogers. On sale! Does it get any better than this! Of course I had to get some. I love Kona coffee it is just the best. I admit it, I love coffee period. Anyway, I  have been reading a lot of post on the FB decorating pages I belong to and I have discovered everyone loves their home. Home is where our hearts are. All of us. We all decorate differently. The sizes of our homes are all different. Some big, some small, and some in between. Some of us decorate with lots of stuff. some of us are minimal. Some of us are in between. The one common thread is we all love Home. I feel so good when I have been away and I come down my road and see this

When I turn in I see this.
When I walk in Through My Back Door, the sights and smells of home greet me. Right now it is the smell of Cinnamon Pumpkin in my Bath and Body plug ins. In a few minutes the smell of coffee will be here too. Ahhhh Home.
I am happy to be home. Whether I am gone for weeks, days, or a few hours, I am always happy to see home. I know you all feel that way too. Home is where life is lived. Food is eaten, coffee drank, books are read, TV is watched, and love flows. It can also be the source of discord, hopefully not for long, It is our home, our refuge, where we go when we are in need of peace.
In my little house I am the boss! Since there is no one but me, I don't have anyone to boss.I would have loved for Curtis and I to grow old together, but it wasn't to be, so being the boss isn't necessarily the best thing, but it is what it is.     This sign was made for me by Pam and Frank Hendrix, because I said this so often.  It hangs on my kitchen island and if I want to have a pity party, I just read it.
            I have made some mistakes being the only one to make a decision too. This is one                    
     
Yes it is prim and yes it is pretty, BUT it  is sooooooo hard to keep clean. I won't change it but it was a mistake.lol
At my house I realize I have too much stuff. Just too much, but I don't want to get rid of anything. Are you that way? Most of what I have now, is full of memories. Wonderful memories. Things I enjoy having around me. I don't want every inch of every wall full. Some people like that and would think I don't have enough. If I have a collection I like for it to stand out, not just fade into one big pile. Other people like lots of whatever they collect. I guess red ware and pewter are my biggest collections. I have packed a lot of things away. I throw my pewter into the corner cupboard and display some through out the house.  Redware is the same.
I don't have to tell you I use my pewter and my redware. I love it and especially in the fall and winter. I happen to think hot mulled cider is best served from pewter mugs. My imagination, maybe. Try it, then tell me what you think. (Make sure it isn't old pewter with lead base.) I have some really old, but prefer the new for serving.
When I come into my little house I see this.
I am home. Life is good and I am happy. I am happy you came to my little house today for good coffee and a wonderful visit. I always am happy when YOU come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: To all my readers, who I know personally, please don't think this blog is a place to brag about what I have. It isn't. It just started out as a sharing and decorating blog. Nothing to boast about here
PSS:Please continue to pray for little 10 year old Livvy Glenn
PSSS: You all know how much I love Susan Branch and her books. The Autumn Book I found in a little shop in Bar Harbor, so it is really special. Well there is a poem about home in this book that I thought you would enjoy. If you don't have  the book, go get it. It is full of good warm fuzzies.

I  want to thank Susan Branch for permission to use this.
Susan Branch - Heart of the Home | Main Page
Also Susan Branch. Com.       I can't get it to link you to it, but you can also get her on FB