Sunday, April 10, 2011

My Baby Sister's Visit!

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My baby sister came to visit for the first time

since we moved into our new home!


She loves yellow roses, so I had this bouquet waiting

for her in the guest room,

along with some chocolate candy on each bed.

She & her husband live in Gilbert, AZ

so we mostly go to see THEM.

They're not big on Ohio weather! LOL

It was chilly & rained just about the entire time they were here.



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We had my two other sisters & my brother, along with his wife

join us for a big family dinner.

One vegan, three diabetics & one gluten-intolerant person

made menu planning VERY challenging!

I served beef tenderloin, baked potatoes

coated with kosher salt & olive oil...

not butter (animal product)

Marinated green beans, Cowboy Caviar

(both Vegan recipes later this week)



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My sister & I shopped a few rainy days & found this beehive dispenser at

Tuesday Morning for only $20!
SCORE!!


That's my contribution to "Nifty Thrifty Tuesday".


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You will be seeing it used in many more tablescapes,

especially out in the Gazebo!


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Since our Spring flowers are just beginning to open,

I had a few indoors for splashes of color.



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Can't forget to show you one of the desserts!

Whats left of them, anyway.

I'm SO bad about taking photos once everyone arrives.

These "clothespin cookies" didn't fit anyone's diet...

they're full of butter & fat & sugar

but they were soooo good & a family tradition from long ago.




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I'll share that recipe later too but I'm warning you...

it is very labor intensive!




I'm joining The Tablescaper for her



Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for



and Linda at Coastal Charm

for her
and Kim

at Savvy Southern Style

for her




Please stop by their beautiful blog to see all the pretty participants?

Thanks, too, for visiting The Gazebo House.

I wish all of you could have come to dinner with us.

We had a blast!

fondly,




29 comments:

  1. I hope you had a wonderful visit! Your table is beautiful!! I love the square shape!
    I have seen that beehive dispenser where I shop, and I have wanted to put it in my shopping basket so often! I guess I should have. It looks so pretty on your baker's race.
    Rett, I am thrilled with my darling mug rug. How wonderfully thoughtful of you!
    And the scripture just made it all the more perfect. Thank you so much. I just love it!
    I'll be doing a little post about it this week. I am going to have some day surgery on my back tomorrow, so if everything goes well I'll get my post up this week. Please keep me in your prayers!!!!
    xo Yvonne

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  2. Dear Rett:

    Despite the weather it sounds like you had a wondeful visit. How sweet of you to have your sister's favorite flowers waiting for her in her bedroom (along with the chocolates!)

    Your baker's rack is so Springy. It's fresh and cheerful. The beehive dispenser has almost made it into my basket a few times too, but each time I resisted. Now you've got me wondering if I made the right choice.

    It's great having you be a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  3. What a challenge for cooking a lunch! I adore your beehive dispenser, especially living in the "Beehive State" - Utah.

    The clothespin cookies look fabulous. What a fun and beautiful family tradition. I can't wait to learn and I am not afraid of a recipe that is labor intensive (although I love the quick ones too.)

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  4. Lovin' your new drink dispenser Rett, it's so cute! Sounds like you had a nice visit, the weather has to get better... eventually... right? Happy Sunday:@)

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  5. Glad you enjoyed your sister's visit, Rett. What a pretty table and a challenging menu. You do realize you left me a comment on a blog post from Feb. 2010. Thanks on the congrats for our granddaughter, but she is 14 months old now. Just got back from visiting them this weekend.

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  6. Yikes, that is a difficult group to cook for! I would have given the vegan a peanut butter sand!

    I got the bee dispenser too, I won't tell you how much but I got it at CTS!
    Can't wait to use it. Hope one of the gkids don't break it!

    Your table looks so pretty! Can't blame your sis about not liking the Ohio weather. I spent 4 winters there myself! Not that it was much better here on Long Island this winter!

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  7. I can't wait to read about those cookies. They might be labor intensive, but they look so yummmmmmmyyy!!

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  8. Hi Rett, I hope you had a wonderful family reunion. Love your Bee Hive drink dispenser and the price was great. The spring flowers look cute in their little pots. hugs.

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  9. I admire you for making a great dinner for such a diverse group! My daughter is a vegan and I always worry she will feel left out. Your home looks just lovely, all the flowers and the cute dispenser }what a great deal}. I hope all of you had a ball!

    XO,
    Jane

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  10. Raising my hand as one who has looked at that beehive dispenser. Your menu sounds perfect for anyone whether they had eating challenges or not. YUM!

    How wonderful that you had your family in for a visit even if spring isn't in full swing yet here in the midwest.

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  11. So fun, I wonder if our Tuesday morning has one of those beehive drink dispensers. So cute.

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  12. Sounds like you had a great time, Rett! Loved hearing about it all and seeing those cute cookies. Don't hold out on us too long, as I would really like to hear how you made them.

    That dispenser is adorable. I saw a similar one out, but your price is much better. I keep thinking I need one, too. Love it, Rett!

    Glad you had such a good time!

    xo,

    Sheila :-)

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  13. Hi Rett, Your flowers were beautiful. I love roses and when you get to visit with family you don't care about the weather especially if you haven't seen them for a while. Your menu sounded good and the cookies looked absolutely yummy. Your home is looks so inviting. Have a great day. Your Missouri Friend.

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  14. Hi Rett, Your flowers were beautiful. I love roses and when you get to visit with family you don't care about the weather especially if you haven't seen them for a while. Your menu sounded good and the cookies looked absolutely yummy. Your home is looks so inviting. Have a great day. Your Missouri Friend.

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  15. Hi Rett:
    Pretty flowers, pretty table, pretty house, and dessert, too? You're Wonder Woman! So glad you had a good time with family. Here's wishing you a beautiful week, my friend.
    xoxo
    Donna

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  16. Hi Rett,

    How thoughtful you are! The roses are beautiful. Your warmth and gracious style of entertaining must have made your guests forget all about the less than ideal Ohio weather!

    Your photography is wonderful in this post! You get better every time I stop by the Gazebo House. You're obviously a quick study. I have a feeling that's true of anything you've ever undertaken in your life.

    Thank you for stopping by and leaving the sweet comment. You asked if the dining room table had been moved. It hasn't, but the table from the sunroom is in the den. It was supposed to be for one post, but I keep putting off moving it back. It's a good place for doing table posts, and it's a convenient "TV tray" if something good is on during mealtimes! ;)

    Have a great week!
    Bill

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  17. Oh the dietary challenges! Oh please share the clothespin cookie recipe!! They are beautiful!

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  18. Beautiful table! Sounds like you had a wonderful time time. I am sure your sister must really appreciate your kindness.
    I have the beehive dispenser too but I got mine at TJ Maxx. Yours looks good on your bakers rack, I put it on my marble table because it was the best heigth. I am thinking of setting it on my iron plant stand next time I decide to use it to raise it up. Just a thought on plant stands doing double duty! :))

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  19. Hi Rett,
    Your table looked so pretty and I love your fabulous find from Tuesday morning. I have a couple of drink dispensers and I love them!! You did have a challenging guest list for dinner, but it looks like you handled it well! Dessert looks delicious!
    Have a great day.
    Sue

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  20. OH, that would make for a challenging menu.... but it sounds like you did great!! The yellow roses are beautiful!

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  21. Hi Rett, I sure wish I would see that beehive somewhere because it is just so perfect for a hot summer day filled with cold lemonade or iced tea with honey nearby for a sweetener! Looks like you made good use of a rainy day! Linda

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  22. Oh how fun for you to have all that family around! The meal planning would have been difficult. My family all eat everything...easy for sure! I love the dispenser...so cute and those cookies look as if they would be worth the effort!

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  23. Rett,
    I know you had a wonderful time with your family! Your table is lovely.
    I have the same beehive dispenser and glasses! Love them!
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  24. I got all excited when I saw your beehive dispenser because I just saw one at Kroger's today. I can't remember the price, but I'm pretty sure it was more than $20.00. Sounds like a wonderful dinner and you did a good job of making sure everyone could eat.

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  25. The beehive dispenser is neat, and a great price!

    Love those yellow roses!

    Katherine

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  26. Love your dining area, so beautiful and all the windows are fabulous. Beautiful roses. The hutch is wonderful and displayed so beautifully. The beehive dispenser is such a great find. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  27. Family gatherings are always so special. You menu sounds delicious. I love that behive dispenser. I will have to check our local Tuesday Mornings and see if they have them here. ~~Sherry~~

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  28. Rett, what a nice treat to have your brother and sisters there for a visit. Rain or shine I'm certain it was a grand time.
    Love the new beehive dispenser. I need to stop by Tuesday Morning. ;-)
    ~ Sarah

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  29. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment!

    I am in love with your beehive drink dispenser. I might have to pop over to our Tuesday Morning to see if they have any. It is just too cute!

    So nice that you could spend time with your family. Your menu sounds delicious and well thought-out to accommodate all your guests.

    Here's to warmer weather!
    Tammy

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I read them all & each one is so very special to me & I try really hard to return the visit!

fondly,
~Rett~