HAPPY NEW YEAR

Let the  New Year countdown begin!

I decided to set a table for a quiet cozy evening by the fire to celebrate New Year's Eve. Keeping it simple with a small table in front of the fireplace, I chose MacKenzie-Childs Parchment Check, so easy to work with for it's neutral color.  For the linens, a white placemat, (Kate Spade) with gold dots and napkins (Laura Ashley) with gold stripes. They both have "sparkle," what I love for a New Year's Eve setting. 

Dinner and Salad plates

I used a lot of pink trees for Christmas, ordered from Home Goods. I love the sparkle and gold tipped branches on these pink bottle brush trees, perfect for this table.

Oneida Louisiana flatware 

Gold rimmed bowls from my buffet serving sets I've accumulated over the years

New Year's Eve hats

Horns

Beaded Whistles

and Confetti stars for a festive touch

Juliska Amalia

Keeping dinner easy and delicious

tossed green salad and grilled filet mignon with a side of scalloped potatoes

For dessert

Baileys Irish cream coffee

And sweet nibbles

Later, a toast to the new year!

Vintage champagne bucket

Thank you dear friends for your friendship over the years. Wishing everyone good health and a blessed new year!

Cheers!

I’ve set a place for you tonight at my New Year’s Eve table, along with places for loved ones and friends from long ago. So please join us for a toast at the stroke of midnight as we remember days gone by, and look forward to the start of a new year. In the words of Robert Burns, "let’s sing that sweet song:

For Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

I’ve set a place for you tonight at my New Year’s Eve table, along with places for loved ones and friends from long ago. So please join us for a toast at the stroke of midnight as we remember days gone by, and look forward to the start of a new year. In the words of Robert Burns, "let’s sing that sweet song:

For Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lanCheers!

Tales of The Traveling Tote and a Giveaway

• Tales of The Traveling Tote and a Giveaway 

  
  

   Welcome to another adventure of the Tales of the Traveling Tote. This is where my fellow Traveling Tote friends and I share our latest travels, projects and our most current events. You will have an opportunity to visit other members at the end of this post and learn about our giveaway.

  

  
  Hello dear friends and welcome. 

  Wow, it's hard to believe today is the first day of December! I am behind with my usual schedule of decorating by the first. 

  We haven't been on any travel adventures this past year but we have been really busy at The French Hutch. Today, we are all about enjoying the beautiful autumn season and a little Christmas shopping. 
  
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Shopping at a local farmer's market downtown is always a great opportunity for a walk on Tuscaloosa's Riverwalk. 
• The Black Warrior River runs along Riverwalk, turning and twisting paths under the trees. The perfect place  
• for enjoying a little nature.












• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Miss Courtney Childs has been helpful doing heavy duty work

Where The French Hutch 

always gets a touch of autumn color

in early September

Autumn colors are always part of my table setting for Thanksgiving

My tote often shops with me, great for stuffing full of pumpkins, flowers and Christmas gifts

Who can resist these charmers 

in this favorite shop 

Another stop on this shopping trip 

is a favorite nursery and gift shop 

to pick up a maidenhair fern

You always find such a nice selection of maidenhair fern at this nursery, if you shop early. I've found they sell out fast!

Beautiful magnolia garlands and wreaths

I am always inspired after shopping to finish up the last minute decorating

Christmas ribbons for all my topiaries

Last week I had a special date with two dear Traveling Tote members. 

I met up with Jenna from The Painted Apron

 and 

Ricki Jill from The Sketchy Reader. 

We met for coffee and had a lovely time catching-up. We also did a little fun shopping together at Trader Joe's. We have plans for lunch in December, can't wait!

~~~~~

Now for the Giveaway!

Linda, at Life and Linda, will be hosting our giveaway. For a chance to win this MacKenzie-Childs key chain just leave a comment on her blog post

 Life and Linda 

  

Tales of the Traveling Tote members would love for you to visit them here....

  Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader

~ ~ ~

 

Please join us March 1 for our next Tales of  Traveling Totes. 

Thank you for your visit. I would love to hear when and how you decorate for Christmas. I hope you will leave a comment, it's the only way I know you stopped in.