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Sunday, December 14, 2014

This And That













50 comments:

  1. Your home is so lovely, Betsy. Love all the Christmas decor AND that cake. haha! Looks like there is peace at your home...at least amongst the cats.:)

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    1. Red velvet....I made it for the first time last year and it's made it's way on to the list of traditions...yum!

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  2. Hi Betsy!
    Looks like the party prep is in full swing!
    Where is that window The Mr is decorating? That looks awesome!
    Enjoy your evening....
    Cheers ,
    LInda :o)

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    1. That window is in the living room at the front of the house. It wasn't included in the reno but it did get it's carpet steam cleaned last week!

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  3. Fabulous preparations for the party ~ it all looks delicious ~ what a productive busy bee . . . :)

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    1. I've buzzed enough for the whole hive! haha.

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    2. Well you are the Queen bee !
      I bet you keep all those drones on their toes . . . :)

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  4. You can't fool me! That's a "cake fake". It's brown foam sponge with cotton wool between the layers and on top! Ha! If that's real, just call me Santa Klaus!

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    1. . . . . and the penguin doesn't look very well. A bit pale if you ask me.

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    2. Aright, Mr. Klaus! Brown foam and wool frosting. Oh, yum! The guests tomorrow will be raving about that one, I'm sure (if they don't break a tooth!) ha.

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    3. Hia . . . . Mr Keith Klaus . . . . . . . lol

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  5. I love the cats look lovely and your penguin! and the cake of course!!

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    1. There's always a couple of kitties twisting their tails and giving little head hugs. :)

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  6. All decked out
    Ready for Santa to come about
    Kitties feeling the love
    But they'd still eat any white dove lol

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  7. Red velvet cake was my MIL masterpiece each Christmas, it's still one of my favorite cakes and a perfect cake for the season.
    Love those sweet little cats, I wish Oliver and Tom-Tilly would become friends like that, I'm working on that idea.
    Sweet BIG penguin, and I'm smiling at your wellies and umbrellas, looks like an English foyer :)
    Good luck with the decorating, the garland looks fantastic.
    ~Jo

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    1. I didn't grow up with red velvet and never even tasted it until last Christmas! Lauren loves it so I thought I'd try it. I love the color and the presentation is so fun to do...it's a very nice new tradition for us! Yum. Can't wait to have a piece of it!

      How funny that your two kitties don't snuggle. I thought maybe they did since Tilly kept her eye on Oliver after he returned from his adventure! haha.

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  8. You have some wonderful things going on in the house. The cake is fantastic and those cats are so wonderful to see.

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    1. We're getting ready for a party...which is always good incentive to spruce up and make things look festive. The Mister was a big help today...so glad!

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  9. I love your creativity. Your house looks wonderful.. festive.. yummy and full of kitty love.

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  10. Everybody's busy! Garland looks so lovely, Betsy and the Mister. Cake - yummmmmmmm. Foyer is so creative and inviting - all the silver is so pretty. I love that you change it up each season and I am glad to see one of my favourite pieces, Mr. Penguin, made it back and has a wreath on! And I always love those kitty hugs - they hope Santa is watching and that they are on the "nice" list!
    Your party is going to be wonderful!

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    1. We gave our living room some TLC today since it wasn't part of the reno. I washed pillow covers and throws, dusted and added a few more Christmas touches. It looks much fresher. ha.

      I love Mr. Penguin, too....he's just so unique and I love his face!

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  11. Such a pretty cake! Everything is looking good at your place. I love the penguin!

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    1. It's coming together pretty well! That cake has been looking at me all day...or maybe I've just been looking at it. haha.

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  12. The colors on your food shots are so vivid! Makes everything look so scrumptious, which I'm sure they actually are.

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    1. I think maybe it's the vividness that makes me want to take the picture! ha. Food is always fun to photograph...you don't have to tell it to be still or smile! lol....

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  13. What a great this and that collection, and I love the umbrellas too!
    My day was crazy but somehow I still feel relaxed tonight.
    Hannah and Sergio brought me a tree, set it up, and decorated it. Very nice.
    :0)

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    1. Well, I think you got the best gift ever tonight! Instant tree while you just sit and watch...love it.

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  14. Hi Betsy - wonderful photos .. delicious looking cake ... and those pussy cats having a gently nuzzle ... good old hubby putting up the lights for you - the new kitchen and home will look so fantastic this Christmas ... love the thought: let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me ... gorgeous photos .. cheers Hilary

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    1. We all need a little more peace, don't we? And some need a lot of peace. ha. Yes, hubby was a big help yesterday!

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  15. It's very depressing how lovely your house always looks! I wish I could be as organised as you seem to be. However, my tree is up (3 friends came to help me dress it) and there are 13 strings of fairy lights all around the house.And the gardener gave us a poinsettia. So at least the place looks pretty.

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    1. Silly girl...I refuse to believe your house isn't lovely! Decorating the tree with friends sure sounds fun...how nice of your gardener to give a gift...it's usually the other way around, isn't it? I have unlovely parts of my home, too, just like anyone. They just don't usually get photographed! lol....

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    2. We have so very many spiders all spinning webs everywhere... and I'm at work all day. The Chef isn't very good at housework. But I do wish we had a nice hallway like you do. Ours is only a place for coats and your hall does look so nice with that table and your blackboard.
      [Our gardener will get a present in the New Year - even though he keeps digging up my precious seedlings (grrr).]

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    3. Have you noticed that when you clear away the cobwebs, they come back even thicker? haha. At least that's how it is here. One day it's clean and the next day they are back.

      Oh dear about your gardener! Grr is right! The Mister has moved down many of my seedlings over the years. I reminded him the other day that we would have three 20 year old red oaks in our back yard if he had noticed the bright orange flags I tied to the little trees back then. lol....

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  16. Hmmm... how did I come in sooooo terribly late on this post? Hahahaha... guess my busy days got the best of me. Anyway, love your pictures, and I always love your "this and that" posts. I think my favorite today is the one of your foyer table... "let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Very nice. Very nice indeed.

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    1. Oh, you're not late...it will be here all day and probably tomorrow, too, since I'm busy tonight. I love that song and it was in my head this season before I had even heard it...very nice, I agree!

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  17. your photography is coming along so nicely. I like the color and compositions of your shots. wishing you a Merry Christmas!

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    1. Well, thanks...I appreciate that. Photography sure is a fun hobby.

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  18. All the pictures are marvelous. And the cake...wish I could give my dearest a slice and he reached 77 today. Our kids took us how for lunch and the table next to us a this greek cafe was also celebrating with a "BELLY DANCER" She was not young and skinny, but quite the opposite, and came over an embarrassed my hubby, which we enjoyed and got a picture...will have to post it later. HaHaHa. Know you party will be a wonderful success!

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    1. Oh, I am laughing out loud at your older and heavier belly dancer. haha.... oh my. Hilarious and so glad you got a picture, too! Tell Don happy birthday and I wish I was there to serve him a piece of red velvet!

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    2. Don just informed me it will not be on my blog or fb. I'll email it to you...HaHa

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  19. Betsy, your home is lovely. The message on your board is so true.

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  20. Everything looks better at your house~ Just beautiful! And I loved your white elephant party....the triplets faces said it all!

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  21. Are all of those umbrellas yours?

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    1. Yes...all four of them. There are some walking sticks and canes in there and an antique Japanese rice paper umbrella, too.

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