John Lennon's lyrics to "Beautiful Boy" seem to fit my life lately.
I have been wanting to read blogs, write posts of my own, and a million other things, but LIFE just seems to be getting in the way - a tiny health blip cut into my time - everything is fine now, but I haven't done a lot of the things I had planned.
Added to that, while we were in Kauai, I got an email saying that we were hosting the "soup course" on our lane's annual New Year's Eve Progressive Dinner - you'll note that we are not a late night crowd!
The good news there is that I had an excuse to leave up my Christmas decorations - in year's past, guests have asked me why the house was stripped of all Christmas.
This year there is still plenty of "Christmas",
but I wanted a little New Year decor.
but I wanted a little New Year decor.
A burlap bag on the Dutch door will greet guests with a simple message - It's Party Time.
A quick and easy banner made out of book pages (stenciled and colored in) hangs across the dining room windows.
My number collection was raided for a 0, 1, 2 & 6.
Everything except the 1 was found, but for some reason I had two 4's and Steve kindly made a 1 out of a 4.
My first thought was to have the numbers as a centerpiece on the table, but with three different soups and condiments on the table, I decided to put the numbers in the window,
The side windows needed a little something so I found inspirational quotes.
I simply printed them on colorful paper, cut them into flags, taped skewers to the back and stuck them into mason jars.
Despite the cold weather we are experiencing, there will be overflow into the garden.
The garden window went from Christmas to New Year's simply by adding a few stickers.
I don't know if anyone will actually eat their soup outside, but the patio table is ready and we will have a fire in the fire pit for people to stay warm.
The dining room is ready for guests.
Nothing matches, but I think everyone can work it out.
So I will wrap up my last post of 2015
with a simple message -
Nothing matches, but I think everyone can work it out.
So I will wrap up my last post of 2015
with a simple message -
This all looks like so much fun! Glad your health blip was a small one!
ReplyDeleteWe will be celebrating the New Year just the two us, Louis Dean and I! I'm chilling a bottle of bubbly for tonight and will use the rest for mimosas in the morning! Happy New Year!!
I love all your different colors of spoons! You sure know how to get your place ready for guests. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Everything looks lovely Have a wonderful time hosting the soup! Happy 2016! Hugs, from California
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Dear Lady!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour party will be starting soon and it looks like it will be lots of fun. I love all of your decorations.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful 2016 ~ FlowerLady
Enjoy that party! You've made some very fun decorations. Have a happy and healthy new year!
ReplyDeleteSeeing your house always makes me smile. Love all your numbers. Seeing your Maileg makes me sad. Mine made it to my old address on the 15th but was re routed and never has arrived. Have a happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like such a fun time, and your place is just perfect and ready for the party. Love that banner and all your decorative touches. Have a great time:)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! House looks great!
ReplyDeleteJudy
Happy New Year!!!
ReplyDeleteHope it's your best one ever!
Love the idea of a progressive NYE neighborhood dinner - great idea, may have to suggest to our cul-de-sac for next year!
Carol, sorry you've been dealing with a health issue. Hope things are OK now.
ReplyDeleteThe soup station is adorable. I love the "color combo is up to you" note. Clever!
Great idea to have the colorful flatware mixed in the tureen. I'm going to copy this idea for our next "soup" dinner. We have a wonderful three container copper soup server, so we like to have soup dinner parties. Mix up a big salad, a little bread, and that's all one needs with soup.
Happy New Year!
Super cute - as always! Happy New Year dear Carol. I hope every good thing comes your way in 2016 xox
ReplyDeleteYou've made it so special for your guests. I love the inspirational sayings...what a wonderful idea! Happy new year my friend. Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention.......I hope you are feeling better and I hope it wasn't anything serious.
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better now. Your block party sounds like alot of fun.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful New Year.
Mary
PS House looks terrific
Thanks for the glimpse of your party, which is probably going on right now. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYour party looks like so much fun. That is the kind of thing I would enjoy. We had a family mid-day dinner and now I'm home and getting ready for bed. Not a late night New Year's Eve person at all. Hope you are feeling better. The end of 2015 was a rough one for me so I'm really ready for 2016!!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Linda
Happy New Year sweet friend. Wishing you many new adventures in 2016.
ReplyDeleteKris
LOL LOVE the grab a bowl sign by the dishes...everything looks so cheery! Happy New Year : )
ReplyDeleteWe are starting a new year today. To start it with you my friend is already a memory in the making. I was telling my husband yesterday as I was preparing my Instagram collages, that I have a strong memory. That memory is often sparked by LIGHT. When I looked at my photos that I took this summer, the light of summer illumined my creativity, but the shadows of friends like you overcome that light. Thank you for being there for me (and are you OK?) - your home looks as ready as can be to seamlessly welcome in neighbors as if time didn't exist....your home and hospitality is timeless.
ReplyDeleteBRING ON 2016!
Happy new year......love Ria x❤️
ReplyDeleteLovely post with some beautiful images.
ReplyDeleteHere's wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year
All the best Jan
What a celebration it must have been! Love all your fun 2016 decor. Happy New Year to you, Carol.
ReplyDeleteI love your cute New Year's decorations. I hope that your progressive dinner was fun. I've never done one of those but have heard it's fun. We spent our New Year's Eve at our neighbors house. It was nice that we didn't have to get out and drive last night. We just walked across the street! Hope you're feeling well now too.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year! I wish you a happy and healthy 2016. Hopefully you returned relaxed and recharged from Hawaii and will be able to maintain that peaceful feeling.
ReplyDeleteLovely as always!! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWonderful decor as usual. My favorite is the banner. I love reading and your banner fits that perfectly. Have a wonderful New Year. Debbie
ReplyDeleteI adore all your New Years additions to the Christmas decor and I have no doubt your guests did, as well. My favorite are the numbers in the wondow and the quote about "going nowhere"!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Steve!
Your decor is always so creative & inviting--love your Happy New Year banner! So glad your health issue is resolved & Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Carol!
ReplyDeleteI stick to the decorating tradition of Christmas Eve to Epiphany (Jan 6 aka Twelfth Night). Darn those health blips, hope they get banished in 2016.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fun to have your fellow neighbors to have a progressive dinner for the new year.
ReplyDeleteYour blog reminds me when I lived in Moorpark, driving to and up the coast. Carpenteria and stopping at The Spot for a burger. Good times. Your blog reminds me of home.
Will continue to read your blog in 2016. Happy New Year!
Kathleen in Az
Happy New Year Carol. I remember last year's post about Brunswick Lane's progressive dinner party to kick off New Year's Eve, What a neighborly fun idea... Early oh my yes, hope you and Steve continued in your own celebration to ring in the New Year. I see that 2015 you and Steve was assigned soup - YIKES! Hope everyone was neat. Looking forward to all your sharing of yourself in 2016.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Vera
Oh how fun - love your party decor - hope your guests appreciated it all - and some ingenious but simple ideas. Well done. Happy NY to you and yours and all the best or 2016!
ReplyDeleteI would like to come! I'll help make mushroom soup.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun being part of a progressive dinner. Happy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteI love it all. the quotes and sayings were perfect. and the more mismatched items are, the more fun it looks like....I'm sure you had a great time.
ReplyDeleteDebbi
Carol I love the New Year's decor….the little 2016 touches are so cute! Great quote, too!
ReplyDeleteHappy 2016!
xo,
RJ
I am so sorry to hear you had a health blip - I hope you are OK!
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing with your last-minute NY decor...I'm sure your guests felt very welcome and had a good time. I took down all my Christmas decor on the 28th, and that was late for me! I usually take it down on the 26th. Here's to good health and blessings in 2016!
Carol, how perfectly charming! I used to be all matchy-matchy when I was younger, but you get to a point in life when such things just don't matter! Love your place, but ohhh myyy, I could never have bare windows!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so pretty!! Hope you had a Happy New Year!!
ReplyDelete~Cindy
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteLife gets busy sometimes, and we all know that blogging takes a lot of time (updating our own blogs and checking in on others).
So glad that your health blip turned out ok!!
Your New Years decorations are so pretty!
Wishing you the Happiest of 2016's!!
Hugs, Kimberley
Hi Carol, what a great look for your party course (I really like the mix/match). Sorry to hear you had a blip, and I didn't even know you went to Kauai - sounds like it's a regular trek for you two? Happy New Year, lady!
ReplyDeleteRita
Who but you could turn a bowl of soup into a beautiful and inspiring blog post??? Loved this one because you let us know you'd had a 'blip' but your focus was on color, life, friends and the New Year. You continue to be an inspiration! Happy New Year to you and yours~
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Carol! Your party sounds like a lot of fun and I hope the weather cooperated!
ReplyDeleteHi Carol, what a fun new year's party and the decor is so festive and inspiring. I just love your creativity. Hope you are feeling better from the health issue you had.
ReplyDeleteEveryone must have really enjoyed coming for soup and enjoying the decor. I always love your quotes. Oh and I finally found a Royal typewriter from 1950. I was so excited and it was 20 percent off too in perfect condition with a case. Small and perfect for my library. The first decoration I added was Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in the paper roll.
Thanks for all the inspiration. Wishing you a great new year filled with good health, happiness and lots of love.
xo
Carol, you never cease to amaze me with your entertainment decor. I love the little quote flags, the banner and oh my, that sign you made for your self-service bowls and napkins. You never stop until you have made it absolutely perfect.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Connie :)
I believe blogs become richer if we let life take the best of them, otherwise we have nothing intersting to tell! Have a happy new year!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, as always! Wishing you a Happy New Year, Carol!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by!! Soon I will be posting what my One Little WOrd for 2016 is so I hope if you have time, you will drop by again!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Deb
That looks a lovely start to the New Year. I hope your sandbags won't be needed! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteOh no...But I am glad to hear everything is fine now. Your New Year's decor is perfect. Hope you all had a great New Year's Eve Dinner gathering.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
❤️Ana
Love all the colors. All your little touches are so festive. Hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteOh it's all just delightful Carol! I love the numbers in the window and the inspirational quotes. Also love the mix and match look and you displayed them wonderfully! Happy New Year to you!!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
You are so amazing Carol - really - just amazing - love EVERY single thing you did for your New Year's party !!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours !
Hugs,
xox