Good Bye 2012

Father Time keeps marching on.

Another year is ready for the history books....

And photo albums..... and scrap books.

While many party and celebrate the night away....

I prefer to spend the evening with my husband and three sons.

To reflect back on all the wonderful (and maybe not so wonderful) events of the past year.

And to look forward to a New Year.

One full of promise and hope.

Be safe this New Years Eve.....

And yes, do have a glass of champagne to toast both the past and present.

Without the past....we will never really appreciate the future....

After all....tomorrow is another year!

xoxo S.

 

I look forward to 2013 and a full year of hopefully

very inspiring blogs from The Beach Prairie.

Thank you for reading everyone. I really appreciate it! xoxo Susan

A Lovely Week to Celebrate a Birthday

My Mom always loved having her birthday Christmas week.

She felt everyone was in such a festive mood......

Always a Celebration and a Bottle of Champagne waiting somewhere.

Happy Birthday Mom!

xoxo S.

Port in the Fog

A lovely and serene afternoon.

At least in my mind.....
OK, so I love bad weather.......I find it very interesting.
Don't you?

xoxo S.

Just for Fun

Just a little whimsy.......

to add to the holiday spirit!

xoxo S.

It's Still Christmas

I love Christmas Week

Everyone is still in the spirit....

And everything is still very festive.

Hope you are having fun and enjoying this wonderful time of year.

xoxo S.

I love these Tall Silver Trees and Silver Owl that Decorate my Kitchen

And these little Purple Trees looks Lovely on our Mantel

Horsing Around

A Horse is a Horse of course of course......(well, you know the rest.)

I met this wonderful creature last week......

And he was happy to strike a pose for me.

He is a beauty indeed.

Thank you Horse!

xoxo S.

Christmas Morning

Families have gathered to open presents and share laughter and food and precious time together.

Wishing everyone a Joyous Christmas.

xoxo S.

Smile for Mom and say "Christmas!"

Merry Christmas Eve

Are you ready?

Now is the time to sit back and enjoy the beauty and magic of Christmas.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

xoxo S.

The Christmas Table

The Christmas table.

A whole canvas to be creative and show off your yummy dinner.

So many ways to set it.
Simple or ornate. It doesn't matter.

So many opportunities during the Christmas season to set it many ways.

And another way to express your love to family and friends by making them feel special.

Have you set your table yet?

xoxo S.
(Last years table)

Christmas Cookies

For many, Christmas would never be the same with the the smell of cookies baking in the kitchen.

It brings back so many wonderful memories....

Memories of helping our Mom bake yummy butter cookies....

in shapes of trees and stars and snowflakes.....

Just don't forget the sprinkles!

I have started baking those same cookies with my sons......
Following that same recipe left to us by my Mom.

Better get going...not much time left.

Happy Baking!

xoxo S.

Pretty Soon Now.....

Can you feel the excitement in the air?

Christmas is just a few days away........

I know I can't wait.....How about you?

xoxo S.

Winter Soltice

First Day of Winter.
Snowy and Blustery.
Short Days and Long Nights.

Winter!
(How many days is it to Spring?)

xoxo S.

The Christmas Party

Recently my sister and her family hosted a lovely Christmas Party at her home

Everything was picture perfect.

Here are my impressions.

Enjoy!

xoxo S.

Pretty Napkins

A Lovely Green Deer for Christmas

Festive Decorations

Yummy Food for all Ages

Even the Martini Glasses behind the Glass Doors are Decorated

Today's Cocktail

Little Treats Everywhere

The Beautiful Christmas Mantel

Good Conversation

And Even German Beer Glasses get Decorated

Decorating The Christmas Tree

A lovely family ritual.

These times will be the childhood memories our children will tell their children about.

Finding the perfect spot on the tree to display favorite ornaments.

Our tree has a little of everything.....sharks, sea turtles, Star Wars, fruit, bells, hand-made ornaments and favorite  vacation finds.

Oh, and lots and lots of colorful lights.

Here is how our tree decorating went.

Did you put your tree up?

How many ornaments did you drop?

xoxo S.



Getting the tree in the stand is always the tricky part.

Once in, the work begins.

 

Stepping back to survey the finished work.

Just lovely.

Getting the Christmas Tree

Shopping for the Christmas Tree....

It's a family tradition.

Some go to a garden center to find the perfect tree.

Some cut down their own at a tree farm.

Other's unpack the box of their faux tree.

All are fun....and perfectly acceptable.

And the ritual becomes part of your family's tradition.

This is how ours went this year.

Have fun with yours.

xoxo S.

One of our local garden centers looked spectacular for the holidays.

Seeing the tree tied to the top of the car is always a fun sight. So Christmas!

And of course Christmas Poinsettias don't have to be red. I prefer pink.

In one side....

And out the other.

Decorating the House for Christmas

I love decorating the house for Christmas.
It is so enjoyable to unpack the boxes and remember all the lovely decorations that have been stored away for almost a year.

And I love having family and friends over to enjoy the house all decked out for the holidays.

We put up two trees. A faux tree for the living room. A real one for the family room.

This is how our living room turned out.

How is your decorating going?

xoxo S.

I decorate this tree each year....(I leave the family room tree for the kids to decorate)

It's the perfect size for our living room

Pretty from every direction.

The view from the dining room

Farm Stand for the Holidays

Not a surprise.

But the local farm stand has been transformed.

Now it is a winter wonderland....

for both produce to eat and Christmas trees to decorate.

xoxo S.

Trains at Christmas Time

Trains for Christmas seem to go hand in hand.

So Magical!

xoxo S.

Favorite Decorations

One can go a bit crazy keeping up with all the decorations.
Store shelves are stocked full.

All so Shiny and Glittery. And they all do look so beautiful.

Over time however, only the beautiful ones end up on my mantle, tables and shelves.

And they come back year after year.....

These are some of my favorites.

What are some of yours?

xoxo S.

Christmas Tree Shopping

Have you bought your tree yet?

We're still looking......

xoxo S.

Beautiful December Pumpkins

It's December.

Did anyone remember to tell the pumpkins.......

that Halloween and Thanksgiving are now in the past?

Guess not.......

But they look elegant and beautiful in the very late fall garden.

Don't tell them that Christmas is just 12 days away??

xoxo S.

Gates With Crowns

OK, maybe it's just one gate...... with one crown!

But it was unique....

And I liked it.

Made me think of Cinderella....

xoxo S.

Probably not the same crown though...

Peace

Christmas Time especially, is quite simply a time for Peace

xoxo S.