Something New...

New Years Eve is here and I am in no way ready for a new year... it just seems that I got used to writing 2010 and settled into the year and now its over - someone asked me what my resolutions were for the coming year and for my life of me I could not come up with something grand.

I tried to say I'd buy no more junk, but we all know that's not true, I just can't pass up a good bargain and love making something old new again.

While at Disney I took a few good photos of birds I'd never captured so I guess I have NEW photos; I tried out a NEW mix from Williams & Sonoma and we bought a couple of NEW movies.

I am looking for a NEW paint color for the outside of the house and I am at a loss right this minute. I did find a color I liked but it is too pink.

 I hope all of you have a wonderful NEW year and try out NEW things and meet NEW friends.

Christmas at The Black House - Snelling SC

One of 5 trees we put up this year.

Papa and Althea

We celebrated Christmas three times this year... first with a family trip (3 generations) to Walt Disney World in Florida (along with my childhood best friend and her husband), then with a Christmas Eve Open House and finally with a family breakfast Christmas morning.

Althea, Pluto and Dorie

The Candlelight Concert at Epcot

Christmas Tree at Animal Kingdom

Christmas Tree at Polynesian Resort

I got back in the swing of things this year and baked hundreds of cookies with the help of daughter Becki, niece Emily and great nephew and nieces Mason, Trinity and Kirsten. We burnt up my mixer and I had to make cheese balls by hand but we had a great time.

Mason and his cousins Trinity and Kirsten

I tried a new punch out on family and friends and it was a great hit...

Red Stag Jim Beam, Peach Schnapps, Cranberry Juice, Limeade and Sierra Mist.

Red Stag punch in my beautiful Ruby Flash punch bowl.

We included some long held family traditions this year such as the men cooking Christmas Breakfast
 ( I cheated and baked a Dutch Baby Pancake) and waiting to open stockings until Beth, Junior and Dorie came by and we included some new ones as well...
the Dutch Baby (it was wonderful - a mix from Williams Sonoma) and
 "Crackers" which we all loved and decided we'll do every year.

Frank in the kitchen.

Dutch Baby

Our table, notice the beautiful fine china!