Uh Oh! Oh!

2008 is slowly creeping out along with all the Christmas decorations. Everything has been wrapped in tissue paper until next year. Cat Daddy will carry all the boxes out to the Christmas barn tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm stuck with trying to maneuver around them until then. Oh dear, I guess I really can't clean house until then. Too bad!

The ball is getting ready to drop to signal in the new year. I just hope I don't drop before it does. I've been thinking about resolutions and I've decided my New Year's resolution is no resolutions. I never stick to them anyway, so why beat myself up about it. I have no will power when it comes to anything. I like food, why give it up? I like being a procrastinator, why change now? I like being a little lazy now and then, who doesn't? I love shoes. Hey, that's the only size on me that hasn't changed. Why should I give up or change the things that make me me?

So I am just going to pray for the best in 2009 and forget the rest. And speaking of 2009 and New Year's Eve, I've started planning my outfit to wear.

What do you think? Will I clash with the black eyed peas? I thought I would go with a demure look this year, something a little more traditional. I said I wasn't going to change anything about me, but I think I need to be more assertive and I think this is a real power suit. Doesn't it just scream "I am woman, hear me roar!"? I don't know what C.D. has planned, but whatcha want to bet I can change those plans in a New York minute? I've got a new recipe for a Flirtini and I figure after I consume a few of those, I can squeeze into this for at least 5 minutes. Let's just hope I don't fall off those heels. In fact, thinking about it, this may be a sitting down ensemble. Ah heck, let's just see how it plays out!!!

Actually y'all, this was my bathroom decorations last year complete with a red tree in the bathtub and a rusty chandelier over the tub. Made for very scary bathing. I just knew that thing was going to fall and land smack dab on my head and then I would have to explain to the E.R. doctors why I needed a tetanus shot.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe New Year's eve. I'll wrap this up with "C'mon 2009, I'm ready and waiting on you!!!" HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ho Hum

In case anyone was wondering, I'm back. Oh, were you gone? you ask. Yes, as a matter of fact I was. S.C. came by Christmas Eve, got one look at me in my fishnets and whisked me off to the North Pole. But as soon as he got a good look in the light of Christmas morn, he whisked me back just as fast. I know, I know, Christmas is over, but I truly hate to put away the decorations. I've started taking things down, but it all looks so blah without the sparkle and merry merry. I'll get the tree down today and vacuum. I'll wash all the linens, stow the serving pieces for another year and wonder why I just can't leave it up all year long. Would that make me eccentric? Oh well, a girl can dream.

Here is one reason my Christmas was wonderful! Hope y'alls was too!!!! XXXOOO

All Is Calm, All is Bright

Thank you Lord for the blessings You have bestowed on us. I thank You Lord for this day and this night, when You gave the world the most perfect gift in the form of the most perfect baby. I thank You Lord for the promise that was given on that night of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Tonight, when my family and I come together to celebrate this most wondrous day, I pray we lift You up and give You all the glory. In Jesus' most holy name. Amen

MERRY CHRISTMAS and much love in the new year.

Dear Samantha Claus

I've been thinking about what I want for Christmas this year. I've been to all the stores and there really isn't anything out there that makes my heart sing. So this year, do you think you could just leave a little more time, some patience, a touch of forgiveness, peace would be wonderful and a whole lot of LOVE!!!!!!! Thank you so much, Debbie

C'mon Baby, Light My Fire!

I don't have a fireplace in our teeny, tiny home, but I do have about a gazillion stockings. So being the good little junker that I am, I just went out into the barn and found one. I had Cat Daddy drag it in and attach it to a wallway that leads to the kitchen. It's such a narrow space, I couldn't get a shot of the whole area. Please feel free to use your imagination. In the bottom opening I have a little vintage black heater (totally non-functional) that I filled with greenery and candles. I also place mirrors in the opening to reflect the light. I have to digress here for just a moment to say I don't have burning candles in areas where they could easily be bumped. I had a guest in a Christmas sweater set herself on fire one year! FYI-those things are highly flammable!!!! So no more lit candles for me. Instead I use those little battery flicker lights (one of the greatest inventions of all time) in votives. I get the glow without the lawsuits. Then on Christmas eve, C.D. hangs his stocking and I hang my red fishnet thigh highs and we're good to go!

Oh and in case anyone was looking for the perfect gift for me, I do collect the vintage jewelry trees and boxes. Are you reading this, C.D.? For those of you leaving this weekend to begin your holiday journeys and in case I don't see you until after Christmas, have a safe trip and A Merry Christmas!!!

Just Add Water

I'm having to cancel my cocktail party Saturday night. Wouldn't you know it, I got sick!

So I'm thinking, why not have you all over instead. As long as I'm sitting down, I can shake what my momma gave me until the cows go home. In the new tradition of simplicity, dress is optional. Just don't tell me what you are or are not wearing. I like what I'm drinking to go down and stay down and I really can't afford therapy at this time. I'm going to start shaking things up around 9ish so just leave a R.S.V.P. on the comments below telling me your drink of choice(I do serve non-alcoholic drinks as well if you are driving) and I'll have them waiting for you when you arrive. Heck, I may even throw in some noshes, what do you think about that? P.S. Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control(namely getting sick) my trash day will be postponed until after Christmas. Can I get an Oh No!!!?

Voila!

Hangdown, my naughty, naughty friends!

Forget My Two Front Teeth

Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. I have drove Miss Lazy around to estate sales, shows and other shopping spots all year. I have loaded and unloaded her quality merchandise. I have picked up her shoes from all over the house. Heck, Santa, I've even helped her find missing shoes and dodged flying shoes when she couldn't find the pair she wanted to wear. I've eaten canned chili, soup and spam sandwiches when she was too "busy" working on the computer to cook. I've turned my underwear inside out and carried on when she didn't have time to do laundry. I've made special appearances when she deemed it necessary to trot me out like a show pony. And the last couple of weeks, I have been especially good at not telling her she has icicles in her hair, glitter on her teeth and a Christmas bow stuck to her butt. I've been to all her play rehearsals and feel I could be an understudy to every wise man and angel in the bunch. All in all Santa, I'd say I've been a VERY good boy and deserve a special present. I'm not asking for much, Santa. In fact, I only want one thing.PUL-LEASE SANTA!!! A Victoria's Secret Angel! One with a head would be really nice and greatly appreciated.

Thank you Santa and I'll leave out a cold beer, hangdown, cheese and crackers for you. CAT DADDY

Triple Lutz

This post is going to cover a lot of ice fast, so if you can't skate, hang onto a friend and let's go! Before we begin maneuvering the triple lutz, I promised additional photos of French Vanilla's booth at Ralph Willard's and I never break a promise. Peg and Jon buy the most amazing pieces and arrange everything so beautifully, you just want to move into their spaces and stay forever. If Cat Daddy and I bought a mirror like this, we might manage not to break it for at least a couple of hours. But after that, I couldn't promise anything but 7 years of bad luck.

French Vanilla is such a perfect name. It is layered on like icing on a cake, but not overly sweet. You know what I mean? Smooth, creamy and luscious.

Speaking of luscious, meet Hannah. This is their "baby" golden retriever. She is such a sweetheart. Look at how well she posed for the camera. She know she's a star just like her momma and daddy. Now onto the Triple Lutz!

1. I know everybody is super busy, but please try and make time to go to Alamo North and read the most beautiful love story ever. Be sure and take kleenex when you do. I promise you won't be disappointed and I just told you that I don't break promises.
2. Everybody loves giveaways, right? Well, get on over to the YaYa Chique's blog. She is having more than one and all you have to do is leave a comment. How generous of her and how easy for us. And if you send friends, you get more chances to win. And wait until you get a load of what all she is giving away. Merry Christmas to us! Wonderful things from her shop. So, don't waste a minute, be like the reindeer and click, click, click on over. Oh, and be sure and mention me by name. I like presents also. (A LOT!!!)
3. Last, but not least, for those of you who enjoy Trash Day Thursdays, I'm taking a lead from the headmistress herself, Mdme. Theresa from Garden Antiques and adding a second blog just for this. I told her I was stealing, I mean borrowing this idea because I think it is Fab U Lous! I'm in the process of putting it together and hope to have my first listing in the next few days. Just a hint of what will be included- think Christmas Story without the leg lamp.

Hot Chocolate Break

Just a quick post to say if you're needing a little break from all the ho ho hoing, check out The Texas Woman's latest post and giveaway. She is giving a piece of her heart to all who care to come over by sharing her serialized version of her book, Shuffle. It's not for the faint of heart, but looks to be a really gun, I mean fun read. This is Cher's 100th post and she is also having a drawing for a piece of her art work if you leave a comment. Remember those dreams we all have had where we are at work, school, etc. naked? Well I'm pretty sure this is how she must be feeling. A book is a very personal thing. So all you Texans and Texgirls-in-training, get on over there and let's give her all our love and support.

No Fair Peeking!

I didn't want y'all to think I was just sitting around with S.C. and the boys eating fruitcake and drinking rum balls, so I thought I would show just a few quick photos of what I am up to, besides glitter up the nose. Talk about a snootful, I got it.Now keep in mind nothing is finished and these are just the first layers. This is the only holiday where I totally lose my mind. The only way I stop is to give myself a deadline like a party.

I love parties and usually Cat Daddy and I have an open house and collect coats, blankets and toys from those who attend. It's always a rockin' good time, but because of the short season this year, I decided to just have a cocktail party on the 20th. Being the fool(and ham) that I am, I'm also in the Christmas Pageant at church this year and I just can't fit everything in and do it properly. I'll post all the photos once I get everything done, probably next week some time.

In the meantime, you can kind of get the idea nothing "flows" here at La Casita de Trash! And as an early Christmas present to all of you, I'd like to show just a few photos of French Vanilla's booth at Ralph Willard's show in Dallas this past weekend. You may thank me later with lots of presents. There will be more photos later in the week.

Peg and Jon did a beautiful display of all things white and soothing. You may begin oohing and aahing now.

"Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the land."

Peace and Good Will!

Thinking Outside Of The Box

Cat Daddy was a real sweetheart tonight. He loaded up Rudolph, all the reindeer and Maurice, the head elf and took them all to an auction. He figured I needed a bath and since neither one of us can remember when I last brushed my hair, I thought I'd better go for it while they are out. I figure I've got about a 3 hour window before they return, so in the meantime I am running amuck, amuck, amuck! I'm visiting as many blogs as I can and leaving comments as fast as my little band aid fingers can type. I'm about halfway done with the house and hope to have the main elements in place this weekend. Then I'll add fresh greenery, candles, fruit, flowers, you know, fluff.I had to show y'all this. This little box always has a place of honor in my home. It once held a Christmas gift for my grandmother, Marie. If you remember I told you she worked in a beauty shop as a beautician. That's 60's talk for a salon and a stylist. Her customers always gave her gifts, usually homemade, instead of tips.

Marie never threw anything Christmasy away. We reused bows, ribbons, tags, corsages, everything. She would have recycled the paper, if she could have figured out how to keep us from tearing into packages like wild animals. We always spent Christmas Eve at Marie and Tip's house and nothing was wrapped until that night. Kerri and I would always argue over this one raggedy blue bow and that little box. We both wanted something of ours in it. Then Daddy and Tip would load up the 3 of us into that station wagon to go look at Christmas lights. Mother and Marie were always last coming out of the house. I guess I was about 9 when I finally figured out how, while we were out, Santa would come. The lights would be off and the tree lights on. Around the tree, beside the wrapped gifts, were three of the things each of us had circled in the Sears catalog. Oh joy! Oh Bliss! I cherish this little box. When I hold it, for just a moment I'm 7 years old again and I feel the Christmas magic and the love that little box held.

Don't Pay The Ransom, I Escaped!

I managed to slip away for just a moment. I'll have to talk fast and low. I can't stay long, the reindeer are hot on my trail. I am working as fast as I can, but it's slo-o-ow! I just didn't want y'all to forget me. Uh oh!!! I hear the elves. They're coming to take me away. Stand back Rudolph, I've got a staple gun and I'm not afraid to use it!

It's A Dirty Job But------

Ok, y'all. It has to happen. This is the extent of my Christmas decorating to date. Cat Daddy still has to bring in more boxes, I've got to climb into the top of closets and under beds to get the rest of it out. And I can't forget about Santa's North Pole in our work building complete with my village on his work table. Even more boxes. The way I see it, I have two choices. I can either climb into bed and pull the covers over my head until New Year's Day or----I can tighten up my bra straps and go to work!Either way, if I'm going to get that(see above) onto this(see below), I have to be M.I.B. So I've decided to bite the bullet, shut down the computer, put on my official 20 year old Christmas sweatshirt, and get after it. I don't know how long it will take me or how long I may be gone or if I shall ever return. These things take precision, skill, patience. All the things I am s-o-o-o not good at. Please do not try to follow or find me. It's too dangerous and I don't want innocent bystanders to be hurt during the process. I've been known to even turn on my loved ones during the transformation process of Dr. York and Mrs. Hyde.

I also don't want to destroy any images of me as a lady. There will be temper tantrums, followed by some not so nice words, followed by things flying through the air. It isn't a pretty sight. Hopefully once the dust settles, there will be a lot of pretty sights and I will be clean once again-at least until all the smoke and mirrors have to come down. Before I go I'd like to point out, in case anyone was wondering, that's Cat Daddy and my Jakie dog in the banner photo, ca. 2004. That said, remember I have always loved y'all and I am doing this just for you alone, she said with the hot glue gun pointed at her head.

So without further ado, "Debbie has left the building!"

I Heart Mindy

Saturday, Cat Daddy and I went to the big town of Poetry, Texas for Primitiques 'n Poetry Christmas Open House.This was the view looking through the open doors into the store. Isn't it just breathtaking?

For those of you who don't know Mindy, let me take a moment to introduce you. Mindy is just as beautiful inside as she is outside. I don't think she ever meets a stranger and goes out of her way to make you feel welcome. She's a tiny little thing with a heart as big as Texas. That hunka hunka holding onto her for dear life is her SnakeLover. He really ought to be called MindyLover. Girls, if we could get the man in our life to look at us the way he looks at her, we wouldn't be doing makeovers. We'd be remaking the bed, a lot! Oh, did I just say that. Pay attention, husbands.

This is Kathie(I hope I spelled that right, girl) who also displays wares here in this cute country store. I didn't get a photo of Jeannie, but all 3 of these ladies are just so darn pretty and friendly.

Now come on with me and we're going to step inside the store for a quick look around.

But first, Mindy and the girls insisted we have a some holiday fare. I had a little of the strange concoction from the bottle you see at the back of the table. This is Mindy's favorite totable potable and let me tell you it was YUMMY! I hadn't ate and after drinking a glass of this eggnog, I was looking at ol' Cat Daddy differently. C'mere Santa Baby! I had him running scared ladies.

I loved, loved, double-loved this sign. Mindy is crazy for primitives and her love shines throughout the store.

This pretty kitty greeted you as you came in. She kept following me and my eggnog around the store. Needless to say, I didn't share. There's just something about a tipsy cat and candles that just seemed wrong on so many levels. I didn't want her to end up lit for real!

I snapped this picture quick. I had to laugh when one these ladies said she was glad she had her back to the camera. Really? I think I'd rather have my frontside photographed than my backside. At least that way I have a fighting chance of positioning myself with camouflage furniture. You know what I mean? Everyone had a great time because the girls worked hard to make sure of it. I know I did. Thank you Mindy for including us in on some festive fun! And if y'all, dear readers, are ever in the Terrell area, drop in and say hello. Heck, even buy something. There's plenty there to purchase. Tell 'em Debbie sent you.

I'm going to close with a little teaser. Do y'all remember my friends in Terrell with the wonderful home? Well, they've moved and totally redone another home in town. Cat Daddy and I got a sneak preview Saturday evening and when they get finished Ho-Ho-Hoing(girls, please behave!) up the house, I'm going over with my trusty camera and do photos. Wait until you get a load of it!