Yaaay!...Welcome to Blogland, Kathysue!

I am sooo excited because today is the day that my friend Kathysue has decided to go public with her blog, Good Life of Design! If you have been around Blogland for any length of time or if, like me, you have been around since the days of Rate My Space and Micasa Style, you already know Kathysue. So I am very happy to be able to announce that she has decided to join us! You probably recognize her beautiful “Small but Spa-like” bathroom from the front page of RMS or from the guest designer’s blog on Micasa. If not, you are in for a treat!

Kathysue is a professional design consultant who has a style that is all her own with clean, classic lines and soothing colors. I was fortunate enough to get to meet her in person last year and I can tell you that she is the real deal! She is a very warm and genuine person with a great sense of humor and a creative mind that is constantly at work! I have learned so much from her about design and so can you! Just visit her new blog Good Life of Design and become a follower! And if you would like to visit her spaces on Rate My Space, click here. Then sit back and enjoy a visual treat and pick up some design tips from a wonderful lady!

I am snowed/iced in here in Georgia. It doesn’t take much for us...lol! Now don’t laugh at us too much, though, because we had a 29 car pile-up on the freeway this morning! Can you say solid sheet of ice?

So we are all staying inside where it’s warm and cozy! I hope you all are staying warm, too. Thanks so much for stopping by! See you next time! A la prochaine!

A Big Change...and...A Keeper!

It’s cold here in Georgia…18 degrees this morning…so we had a fire going while we took down the Christmas decorations. At last…things are back the way they were at the Plate Addict household! Well…except for one HUGE change…

The world’s oldest TV has left the building! lol Finally! I have been keeping a dirty little secret. My TV is 27 years old! Hey..it works…or worked…until a few weeks ago. My son-in-law and his dad were kind enough to take it away to console TV heaven over the weekend. It has been replaced by…

…the world’s smallest TV! lol Hey…if I am going to keep the next one for 27 years, I have to do my research! I have already bought it a nice, new stand so it will have a place to sit when it gets here!

One decoration didn’t leave. Remember the candle I made using my $2.00 silverplate forks from Goodwill?

Well, I love it so much that I frenchified it with a Provençal ribbon and it gets to stay! It greets you when you enter my home.

So, with all of the work done, I think I will sit by the fire with Isabella and enjoy a cappuccino!

There is nothing that says cozy like a cat in front of a fire! Don’t you think so? Hmmm...this looks like a photo op to me! Work it, Isabella!

Hey! Enough already! I’m trying to take a nap here!! Humph!

Sometimes it’s best to let sleeping cats lie!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please head on over to Mary’s at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday to see one of her beautiful mosaics and to find a list of this week’s participants. You will be treated to some wonderful photos from some very talented people!

Next, be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday where you can get a peek at her gorgeous home and see what sorts of changes she is making, as well as find out who else is playing along! I can’t wait to see what everyone has going on for the New Year!

I’m also joining Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal for Silver Sunday! It’s a new blog party and what a great idea! It will be fun to see the wonderful ideas our fellow bloggers have for using Grandma’s old silver in some new ways!

See you next time! A la prochaine!

Happy New Year!...and...A Southern Tradition

It’s nearly here! The old year is winding down and the new one is headed our way...time to prepare for the annual celebration! Miss Kitty is excited to be the hostess this year…can’t you tell? lol

It’s time to head to the grocery store and stock up on the necessary supplies. Here in Georgia, we only get fancy sparklers, but they are still fun. And…I’m only wishing I had bought that yummy cake!

And…many of us Southerners will also be filling our carts with the traditional talismans for luck in the new year…collard greens, black-eyed peas and ham hocks! And…dear readers…I will be among them...well, except for the ham hocks. I use a HoneyBaked hambone instead. I’m not sure what a hock is and I don’t think I want to know!

This is last year’s New Years Day dinner, but the menu is always the same…collard greens (click here for my recipe), black-eyed peas, stewed tomatoes, macaroni and cheese ( Patti LaBelle’s recipe), rice, cornbread and ham served with sweet tea. Yum! Yum! We mix the rice, peas and stewed tomatoes and call it hoppin’ john. I can’t wait! I am a stomp down good country cook, if I do say so myself!
This year I will have eight for dinner…my little family, two dear friends and my daughter’s in-laws. I will make sure that everyone around me gets a big helping of peas and collards because they bring luck and represent next year’s money…the peas are the coins and the collards are the bills. Now, I am not saying I’m superstitious, but the one year I didn’t have them was not a good one! lol I’ll have an extra helping of collards for dessert…but just because I love them!

You may recognize my son-in-law’s plate from last year. Can you see the collards and black-eyed peas? lol lol Yes…teeny tiny waaaaay up at the top of his plate! Do you get the impression that he doesn’t really like them? I have to say it again…what a good man to take one for the family!
I want to take this opportunity to say how much I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and how much you have come to mean to me! I find it hard to have a conversation with my non-blogging friends without bringing up a funny story or a great recipe that one of you has shared. Isn’t it amazing how close you can feel to people you have never really met? I have been very fortunate to meet some of you in person, and it has been like hanging out with old friends. I wish a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to each of you, my dear friends, and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for 2010!
Warmest wishes and big hugs to you all!….Debbie

Thanks, Santa!...or...Woo Hoo!

Did you forget me, Santa? I’ve been a really good girl this year, so I thought that…hey…wait a minute! I’ve been watching them build it…

…brick by brick as I drive by…wondering what it might be. Hmmm…it has a drive-through, so it must be a drugstore. Except…hey!…does that say…??

Can it be? And not too far from me?

Be still my heart! Is it possible?

Woooo hoooo! The signs are up today! It is! It is!

My very own Goodwill store…four sides brick…built from the ground up! Not in an old grocery store! Have you ever seen such a beautiful sight? Yippee! I hope it will be a good one! My neighbor wanted to know why I’m so excited, so I took her through my house…

…and showed her these…

…and these…all trophies from Goodwill hunting expeditions and thrifting treks!! I think I just may have a convert! lol Or maybe it’s better to keep it a secret! What do you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday where you can get a peek at her gorgeous home and see what sorts of changes she is making, as well as find out who else is playing along! See you next time! A la prochaine!

Bienvenue!...or...Welcome to the Christmas Tour at the Plate Addicts!

Welcome! I hope you will join us here at Plate Addict for a little Christmas tour! The staff has been working very hard to make everything ready! Sooo…we’ll start here on the porch where we have added sparkly red balls to our usual simple garland. We have also spiffed up our Pottery Barn copy cat lanterns for Christmas with some bows and cranberries!

The wreath came from Target several years ago but was dressed up with a few fancy floral picks! I like the unexpected colors on the flowers. Won’t you please come in and join us?

Our host for this evening is none other than our very own celebrity, Baby Kitty! He also supervised the decoration of our special tree, as you will see!

Doesn’t the house smell so nice and Christmasy? It’s a bowl containing my favorite potpourri...The Smell of Christmas by Aromatique! It is being guarded by a pair of cardinals…my favorite birds! I also have some of my homemade potpourri simmering on the stove! (click here for the recipe)

Baby Kitty is taking advantage of the fire in the fireplace to show you a few changes that have been made since I first posted my mantel. Can you spot them?

Three of the plates have been replaced by Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles Pink Christmas plates! I found them at TJ Maxx, begging to come home with me!

And you may also notice that, even though I said I didn’t miss having a garland with lights, I finally had to add some sparkle to my wreath! A mantel just needs some lights for me!

Also, the mice have escaped from the cloche and are hanging out on the demi-lune table near the fireplace! A few candy canes in an old pewter sugar bowl continue the candy cane stripe in the room.

There is a small Christmas tree on the table behind one of the love seats. I just wrapped some toile fabric at the base as a skirt. Using the mantel as inspiration, I tried to keep a toile and stripe theme going. Hmmm…Baby Kitty seems to have a theme going of his own, since the ornaments are all…

…birds! More birds to join the cardinals guarding the potpourri!

And Baby Kitty seems to have called in more kitties to help with the decorating! They are tree toppers dressed in old-fashioned garb. And the kitties have been joined by a doggie and a deer! I think you could sell me anything that has little animals wearing clothes! lol

In honor of the occasion, Baby Kitty has made his special Christmas cookies and some Russian tea! And… he is using his special Christmas plates! They are Lenox Winter Greetings Everyday. I think cardinals must be his favorite bird, too!

Here’s one last peek at our living room! We hope you’ll sit by the fire and enjoy some cookies and special Christmas music because we think you are very special! So we are wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a special holiday season with your families!

And from the management and staff here at Confessions of a Plate Addict…Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Please head on over to Mary’s at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday to see one of her beautiful mosaics and to find a list of this week’s participants. You will be treated to some wonderful photos from some very talented people!

Next, be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday where you can get a peek at her gorgeous home and see what sorts of changes she is making, as well as find out who else is playing along! I’m sure that you will see lots of beautiful Christmas decorations!

And then on Tuesday, please join Susan at thoughtsfromovertherainbow for Deck the Halls! We will be showing off our Christmas decorations every Tuesday between December 1st and January 5th, so come get in on the fun! Thanks again for stopping by! See you next time! A la prochaine!

Oldies But Goodies...or...Easy Christmas Recipes

I have been busy baking for my family Christmas celebration this weekend and I realized that I have a few quick and easy recipes that I might share with you. I will be assisted by our guest co-hostess Vanna the Christmas Mouse since Baby Kitty is busy wrapping the Christmas gifts for the staff.
The first one is a simmering potpourri…not intended to drink, although it wouldn’t hurt you since it’s all natural, but intended to make your house smell wonderful and Christmasy! I don’t know about you, but the smell of oranges and cinnamon just says Christmas to me!

It’s so simple that you probably already have all of the ingredients!

• First bring a quart of water to a boil. 
• Next add half of an orange cut into smaller sections (I usually squeeze the juice into the water and then add the peel).
• Finally, add two cinnamon sticks, two bay leaves and 20-25 whole cloves.

Let it boil for a few minutes, then turn it down to a simmer and leave it on the stove. In about 30 minutes, your whole house will smell wonderful! You can put it in the fridge and reuse it for several days. I have even frozen it and pulled it back out on a really cold night to make the house feel cozy. Be sure to keep an eye on the water level when the potpourri is simmering. It is so easy and inexpensive compared to store bought potpourri!

The second is intended to drink…instant Russian tea! I keep it in my snowman jar. Here in the South, it wouldn’t be Christmas without Russian tea! Can I still call it that? Is it politically correct? lol My sister makes a big batch of it whenever we come over during the holidays. She makes the real thing (click here for that recipe), but I like the instant kind because I can make as much or as little as I want and I can make it as strong as I want. I will give you the recipe, but you have to promise not to laugh! OK?

Why will you laugh? Because I have had this recipe for 30 years and you will know how old I am when you see the ingredients!
Instant Russian Tea
1 one lb container of Tang (It’s actually 1.4…I just don’t use it all.)
1 pkg instant unsweetened lemonade
3/4 cup instant tea
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Mix all ingredients well. Place in a tightly covered jar. Place 2 teaspoons in a cup of boiling water. (I like to use 3 teaspoons.) Enjoy!
I LOVE this stuff! You have to hunt the Tang…maybe on the bottom shelf! It seems that the astronauts don’t drink it so much any more! lol lol You ladies my age will remember that! I wonder if the Russian cosmonauts drink Russian tea? Ahem…

My third recipe is a very easy candy recipe…chocolate butterscotch granola candy. Those are the ingredients, too! At my house we call it Uncle Larry's candy because it’s his favorite. I actually got this recipe from one of my students in the '70s…yikes! I’ve been using this one a long time! The butterscotch gives it an extra little yummy taste.
Chocolate Butterscotch Granola Candy
about 3/4 of a box of Quaker Natural Granola Oats, Honey & Raisins ( The box is bigger than it used to be.)
one 12 ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
one 12 ounce bag of butterscotch chips
Melt the chips over low heat, stirring constantly. Add the cereal and stir until coated. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper and allow to cool. (I cool mine in the fridge.) Cover tightly to store. I keep it in the fridge and take it out shortly before serving, but you would not have to once it has cooled.

One final quick and easy recipe is from my mom’s friend Bonnie who gave it to her about 50 years ago, so we call it Bonnie’s cheese ball. Hmmm…we seem to name all of our old family recipes after people. It has certainly stood the test of time! I posted this recipe last year, but it bears repeating.
Bonnie's Cheese Ball
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 (4 ounce) package bleu cheese
6 ounces grated extra sharp cheddar cheese (I use Cracker Barrel)
1 tablespoon freeze dried chives
1/2 to 1 teaspoon garlic salt (to taste)
chopped pecans
paprika
1 olive
Let the cheeses soften at room temperature. Mix together adding the chives. Add the garlic salt to taste starting with about 1/2 teaspoon. Mine usually wind up with about a teaspoon. Even if you think you've added too much, you probably have not. Drop the mixture onto wax paper and refrigerate until it is easier to handle. I usually divide the recipe into 2 balls because one is usually enough and the other one freezes great! Take them out of the fridge and form them into nice round balls. Roll them on a plate where you have put the pecans and the paprika until they are covered. I usually have to shake on a little extra paprika to make them pretty. Top each with 1/2 olive to decorate. I always serve it with Nabisco Sociables crackers.

That’s it! Thanks so much for stopping by! And thanks also from the Plate Addict staff to Miss Vanna for taking time out of her busy schedule to give us a hand! I hope that at least one of these recipes will help to make your Christmas holidays a little easier!

Please head on over to visit our own Gollum, Michael Lee, who is the hostess with the mostest for Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum! There you will discover her latest recipe and perhaps get a peek at her beautiful home! Be sure to check out the list of this week’s participants, who are certainly better cooks than I am! lol See you next time! A la prochaine!