SANTA TIME !!!!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS

All the "Children" opened new PJ's Christmas Eve. Patti had new PJ's for all the girls! We had a fun tradition when our children were growing up. Every Christmas , Bobby, Patti, and Steve received new PJ's from Aunt Emmy. We had them open them on Christmas Eve so that all the pictures had them in their "adorable" Christmas attire!!!

ISABELLE IN HER FIRST CHRISTMAS PJ'S

MAGGIE, TESS AND ISABELLE "WAITING" FOR SANTA

We had a wonderful Christmas at Patti's home. Steve, Angela, Tess, Isabelle, Patti, Mark, Erica, Adam, Maggie, MC and I....WOW
IT TOOK 2 HOURS TO OPEN SANTA






Santa was pretty good to me also. The "Treasures" I received for the Bucket List House were GREAT !!!

BLACK TRAY WITH GOLD BIRDS !!!!!

THE TRAY IN PLACE.
LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU WILL CATCH A GLIMPSE OF TWO WINE GLASSES WITH GOLD TRIM .
WONDER WHERE SANTA GOT THE GOLD IDEA ???

THREE GREAT NEW KNOBS FROM CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA.... ONE A CLOCK!!!!

IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO "SEE".
IT'S A CERAMIC "PILLOW" FOR OUR GUESTS CHOCOLATES !!!

"TEA CANDLE" CRYSTAL CHANDELIER

WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012 !!!! MC AND I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!

THE TWO PRINCESSES

GIADA AND ISABELLE MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME......

Giada with be 2 on February 2nd and Isabelle will be 2 on June 18

ASIAN GERBER BABY

ISABELLE........THE ASIAN "GERBER" BABY!!!!

This past summer one of the largest Food and Shopping Groups in South Korean and Japan developed their Baby Diaper and Baby Detergent products with ISABELE, on the packaging!!!!!

Our Granddaughter, Isabelle, could become the Asian "Gerber" Baby.
AND....... As typical Grandparents, we are bursting with pride!!!!!!

ISABELLE SEES HERSELF ON THE BOX!!!!

WOW

Isabelle, Steve and Angela are here for Christmas. They arrived Sunday night from Seoul.

SOME BREAKFAST AND A LITTLE MORNING FUN

This morning, they went to Nashville. While there, they will have the opportunity to say Good Bye to Uncle Bobby, Carla and Cousin, Giada.
They will be back tomorrow night....

READY TO LEAVE FOR NASHVILLE

Tess, our Granddaughter that lives near Branson, will arrive on Thursday and we will all caravan to High Point to have Christmas with Patti and her family!!!

NO, I AM NOT LEADING THE CARAVAN!!!!

MC AND I WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

WE HAD A PARTY TO BEAT ALLL

THERE IS NO DOUBT......DWTS ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST.

What a fun evening. We had 24 over for a little fun!!!!

Wow....what fun!!!


PAT WAS THE WINNER OF THE BEST WINE AT OUR NOVEMBER PARTY.
SHE WAS TONIGHT'S

WEARER OF THE SASH!!!


WE WERE HONORED WITH A SPECIAL GUEST, BRUCE'S MOM, MILDRED......




We tasted, voted and tasted more....

WE GOT INTO THE FESTIVITIES WITH THE GAME EVERYONE WAS SO EXCITED TO PLAY.......

The famous gift exchange from years past......It's always a winner, no matter how many times you play it. This time proved to be one of the best. We will have "Gifts" that I am sure will return year after year!!!



I was the "owner" of one of the Most Popular gifts....A Redneck Wine Glass.....I didn't have it very long................







Bruce went home with a treasure......a Santa Snuggy!!!!



Gayle received a True White Elephant!!!!!



After all the wine tasting, some of the better shots, unfortunately..... ended up a little blurry!!!

This was one of everyone's favorite.....only the pictures are all out of focus.....It's a great knitted hat with braids!!!! It's a treasure! Had two owners......




As promised, at the end of the evening everyone Serenaded me with Russell's rendition of the Kingston Trio's hit......Charlie In The M.T.A. ......




I will now be the Tour Director and Leader for ALL our off the Reservation adventures.
I volunteered to lead the entire Dolcetto Group to the Blanchard's winter home in Pelican Preserve, Ft. Myers FL.
That's easy....just get on US75 and Go SOUTH!!!

The Winner of Best Wine for tonight was Cheryl's entry, Todd Hollow Champagne.
CONGRATULATIONS.....CHERYL
....RUDY YOUR PICTURE OF CHERYL DIDN'T TURN OUT!!!!!......

Now don't you all wish you could be a DOLCETTO-AN!!!!

We have 7 Standing Inventory Homes ready to move into IMMEDIATELY and a few lots to build your Dream Home......

THE DATES

I WILL UPDATE THE "COUNT" DURING THE NEXT 4 DAYS SO EVERYONE SEES HOW THE COUNT GROWS......

WE ARE NOW AT 19,245 AS OF 10:31 PM, JANUARY 2, 2012

SANDI S SYLVESTER.............................APRIL 8

BOB DELGIORNO...................................JANUARY 26...1847 HOURS.(BUT YOU CAN'T WIN.....YOU ARE IN THE HALL OF FAME OF PREVIOUS WINNERS)

HELEN MILLER....................................APRIL 2

BARRY MILLER....................................APRIL 4

SUE WIHNYK......................................FEBRUARY 14

ERICA DOUGHERTY.............................MARCH 17

RUSS KELDORPH.................................MARCH 19

JUDY DAVIS.......................................JANUARY 1

PATTI MCDONALD..............................FEBRUARY 19

CLAIRE WIHNYK................................JANUARY 23...(BUT, YOU ARE IN THE HALL OF FAME OF PREVIOUS WINNERS, AND THAT MAKES YOU INELIGIBLE TO WIN)

MARYKATE WIHNYK...........................FEBRUARY 1

MEREDITH FOCHETTA.......................................MAY 8

JEAN BRUMAGIM...............................FEBRUARY 11

HAPPY WIHNYK................................JANUARY 17

BOBBY (PATCH)WIHNYK....................FEBRUARY 28

BRUCE MASON.................................FEBRUARY 26

PAT WIHNYK...................................FEBRUARY 13

PAM DARDAR..................................JANUARY 8

JAN GONZALEZ .............................FEBRUARY 24

CAROL WHEELER...........................FEBRUARY 29

THIS COULD BE YOU........

CONTEST TIME

This morning the COUNT of hits on the Blog hit 18, 816 !!!!

If you go to the bottom of the blog page, you can see the number. Every time someone goes on the blog it registers that "hit"!


We are getting close to our next momentous achievement

......20,000 HITS

Long time followers know the routine, but for all our new fans, I will explain how this works.

Everyone emails me the date they think the Blog will hit 20,000
The one coming closest wins!!!!!
SIMPLE....

ALL GUESSES MUST BE EMAILED TO ME BY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21st

As the guesses come in, I will post them by name and date. Everyone can follow along. No two people can pick the same date. This is vital! If you have a date in mind, send it quick, so as not to loose it to someone else!!!!!

HURRY AND ENTER......
WHO WOULDN'T WANT THE FABULOUS PRIZE:

A CHECK FOR $25........ SIGNED BY ME!!!!!!!


THE FOLLOWING "HALL OF FAME" PREVIOUS WINNERS ARE EXCLUDED

CLAIRE WIHNYK
BOBBY DELGIORNO
ANNE NEVIN

TOO GOOD NOT TO SHARE

As some of you know, MC and I live in a neighborhood of the GREATEST people in all of SunCity Peachtree. We have a ball !!!!!! Everyone contributes and gets into whatever insanity we decide to create. There is no lack of humor!!!!!!

I am "Social" Chair......What a joke! It mostly involves, sitting at my laptop, sending out updates and emails for upcoming events. I did outdo myself this week.

I had organized a "Girl's Lunch" in my favorite little town, Senoia. I have mentioned it many, many times on this Blog. Since I was so familiar with the area, I was the Lead Car in the caravan from SunCity to Senoia.

Yes, you guessed it......I missed the critical turn and we drove ..all cars about 3 miles down the road. Finally, the car directly behind me, was able to wave me over and indicate that maybe we had overshot our turn.

Needless to say, I will never live this down......I am teased at being so, so organized and in control!!! Oh they have me now!

One of our very talented neighbors sent out the following this afternoon to ALL

To all Dolcettoans that are in the know,

In honor of our happy wanderer Patty, I have composed a little "ditty"

loosely based on a tune made famous by a monumental group from our distant past.

I propose we make this Patty's theme song from now on,

and that we sing it to her Saturday nite!

(Anybody got a banjo?)

"OH! She never returned

NO! She never returned

and her fate is still unlearned

She's a happy wanderer

who may ride forever

'round the streets of S'NNNOYAAAA

She's the Granny who NEVER RETUNED!"

(once again now WITH GUSTO!

"OH! She never returned

NO! She never returned

She be drivin' all day

and never find the way

and her fate is still unlearned

She's a happy wanderer

who may ride forever

'round the streets of S'NNNOYAAAA

She's the Granny who NEVER RETURNED!"

Tunefully yours,

Russell

We are having our monthly DWTS PARTY tomorrow night at our home....No that doesn't stand for "Dancing With The Stars" In reality it stands for DRINKING WITH THE SNOBS.......

I am looking forward to my Serenade!

I will have a Post, hopefully with pictures, reporting on this highly anticipated Party! Everyone ......Don't you all wish you were DOLCETTO-ANS...................

PRICELESS

THE REASON WE WENT TO TN.........

Giada will be two in February. We haven't seen her in a year. Oh they grow so fast!


Our son, Bobby, has accepted a position with a Civilian Contractor to run dining facilities in Afghanistan.


Hopefully, we will see them all in Italy this summer. Bobby should be able to take a couple of weeks off and Steve, our other son, is hosting a Family Reunion for our family and Angela's family in the Tuscan area of Italy in June.

These are trying times for all of us and we realize that FAMILY holds us all together!

THE PERFECT BED PILLOWS.... EVER

WARNING
THIS POST HAS NO PICTURES!

Those who only open to look at pictures.....sorry

This past weekend, MC and I visited our Son and his family in Jackson, TN. We stayed at a Marriott Garden Inn.

Up to this point...I have found that the best bed, ever, is Westin's Heavenly Bed! In fact after a stay at the Westin in Charlotte, we loved it so much, we bought one. From Nordstrom . They sell the Westin Heavenly Bed and all it's accessories!! It is the BEST mattress we have ever slept on and still is!

But.....the Marriott had a fabulous idea for bed pillows. Instead of the regular king, queen or standard pillows, our king size bed was dressed with six, throw pillows. I would imagine they were 18" squares. So different!!!! I snuggled up with three of them, and it was "Heavenly"!

What wonderful ideas you get when you travel and stay in hotels and inns. This past summer, we had a marvelous stay at the Camden Harbour Inn in Camden, Maine. I was totally inspired to do our guest room, the Epiphany Suite, with ideas from this fabulous place.

Now this wonderful find for bed pillows....

After the holidays, I am going to buy six throw size, pillow inserts, and cover them with standard size pillow cases. Can't wait!

DIFFERENT, BUT GIVE IT A TRY. YOU'LL BE AMAZED!

DRESS REHEARSAL

WENT SMOOTHLY......ALL ON SCHEDULE!!!

The Holiday Tour Co-Chairs, Judy and Carolyn, were here this morning to deliver a beautiful wreath for our mailbox (with added gold accents done exclusively for us by Judy!!!) , our shoe booties and a map, etc. of the other homes on the Tour. No pictures yet.......

We took them through for a Dress Rehearsal ....... Just two days to go. We are on track and READY!!!! We got four thumbs
UP !!!

Monday, when we ventured to High Point, we picked up the latest project Erica has been working on. She did a wonderful job!!! The cushions for our Terrace furniture are gorgeous and perfect for the area!!! She also made beautiful cushions for our kitchen chairs. Notice the special detail work in the "Ties"!!! The girl is a GENIUS ....

I want to "show-0ff" a little. Didn't want them to get lost in all the pictures I will be posting on Tour Day!!! Erica has been a DEAR!!! All these years, she has come through with every item I have asked. She never has complained.... or said "No".
We are blessed to have Erica as our Granddaughter!!!! Thank you, over and over again.. You are so sweet and so generous and ever so TALENTED!!!!





SEE YOU ALL ON SUNDAY................

A VERY SPECIAL ANNIVERSAY

Organized......Me??

Numbers, relationships of numbers..all this.... is so interesting to me. All relating to ORDER!!!

I imagine this fascination comes from my Dad who was a CPA, and a genius with numbers! He came by it from his Father and Grandfather, who by the way was the inventor of a Perpetual Calendar! I am very proud of that family fact!!!!

Getting back to TODAY.

Today is November 25, 2011. It's the fourth Friday of this November.

Now, you ask: " So Why Is This So Special" On November 25, 1955 I met "My Honey".......AKA... MC!!

That November 25, was also the fourth Friday of that November. The month of November in 1955 was identical in form to this November!!

MC AND I MET AND HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR:

56 YEARS
20,454 DAYS
490,896 HOURS
29,453,760 MINUTES
1,767,225,600 SECONDS


.......Oh..I LOVE the internet. What would I do without it!!!!

MC'S SENIOR PROM 1956

IN HONOR OF THIS VERY SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY, MC FINISHED REFINISHING MY HOPE CHEST!!!


On Christmas 1956, I received my Hope Chest. Exactly 13 months (as you all know, Christmas is December 25) after meeting MC.......He should have known he was Taken.......

I have been trying to figure out why the world looks so differently at "Young Love" today. A number of my friends fell in love with their future husbands while in High School. It wasn't that rare in 1955!!! Maybe it's because one's life span was not much over 65. To have a long life with your loved one, one had to start a little younger than you can today!!!! Just a thought!

Back to the Hope Chest......

It has had a wonderful life of it's own.

It was the only piece of furniture we owned in our FIRST APARTMENT!! The apartment came "furnished". We didn't buy any other furniture until we moved to California in 1962. Our Mobile home also came "furnished"!

During the years, before I gave (loaned) it to Patti in 1988, it was usually in our dining room. It also was a great place for the kids to hang their Christmas Stockings! The first few, of the 34 homes we have lived in, didn't have fireplaces......



Sorry Steve
,.........in 1962...you were due in one month !!!!
1963...you were in your crib!!!!

In the 1960's I "antiqued" it green with one of those fabulous antiquing kits!!!


This picture actually was taken in the 1980's during MY COUNTRY PERIOD!!!


When Patti received it, that was it's finish. She, with the help of Erica, Maggie and her Mother-In-Law, refinished it back to it's original form, BLOND MAHOGANY, which was the big trend in the 50's or what is referred to today as MID-CENTURY!!!!

For some strange and unbelievable reason the tag that was attached to the inside of the chest is STILL ATTACHED !!!!








It's fabulous.......So, so typical of THE DAY. Love it......these are the items every young girl had to have for her trousseau . To be honest, I can't remember if I was able to amass them all!



Last year, when Patti and Mark "trucked back" my 1968 sofa, they also brought my Hope Chest . .....I do have a habit of asking for some things BACK. Terrible, I know, but the family is very aware that when I discard "treasures"... they better keep them, because if they no longer want them.....I am apt to ask for them back!!! I have first dibs on items they are no longer using.

For this past year, I have been toying with how to refinish or redo the Chest. Last month it hit me.

Yes, right in the middle of putting together all the gold ornaments, I came up with this huge project for MC to get finished before December 4th. No pressure...."just please squeeze it in!!!"....

Last night we brought it into the Dining Room....where else?

I love the New Look. MC outdid himself...once more!


Don't you just love the Lion Head hardware.......


I CAN'T WAIT TO "DRESS" IT FOR THE TOUR....


ps......On January 25, 1956, MC and I officially WENT STEADY
On July 25, 1959 we were MARRIED

NUMBERS......LOVE 25!!!!