Christmas in March...A Family Treasure Find!

Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day! *

Have you ever experienced Christmas in March? Well...I have! But I must admit...I think this is the first time. Hehe! My honey came home the other day with two big ol' boxes under his arms. He had been cleaning out his parent's basement. Both his Father and Mother have already passed on and we have recently acquired their home and belongings. *

Family Treasures...Two Vintage Nativity Sets

Sooo...Honey placed the boxes on the floor and began opening the first box. He carefully unwrapped the treasures that were inside. To my total surprise...a little olden Nativity set began to fill the floor! Onto the second box...another sweet Nativity set was unwrapped...very carefully! I placed the first Nativity set into an old, rusty wire basket that honey had also found in the basement. Isn't the wire basket just scrumptious? I love it! There the marvelous little pieces sat...until I could give them a much needed but gentle cleaning.

Want a closer look? *

Closer still? Ohhh...I really am being a tease...aren't I! Hehe!

There are a total of 23 pieces to this beautiful vintage Nativity set. *

Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Isn't she just precious? As you can see...she needs a gentle cleaning. Years and years of use are layered upon these sweet pieces. My honey told me...as he was unwrapping them...that he had so much fun playing with them when he was little! Ahhhh...I can't tell you how much that warms my heart!!!

This vintage Nativity set was a Christmas gift to my father-in-law when he was 10 yrs. old...in 1944...from his mother and father. I can just imagine the excitement as he unwrapped each piece! Like father...like son!

Vintage Chalkware Nativity...

I have seen this type of Nativity set before but I really didn't know to much about it. After doing a little search on Ebay, I found a few similar sets and read all that I could about them. I know that this particular set is at least 67 yrs. old because a few of the pieces had been hand marked. Hand written in pencil was this inscription...

"Dwain...Christmas, 1944...5th grade...10 yrs. old"

My honey didn't know much about the "particulars"...just that they were a Christmas gift from his Grandma and Grandpa...to his Dad. Whether they were new when they were given...or whether it was a family treasure that had been further passed down...we don't know. I did find a couple of chalkware Nativity sets that were very similar...in size and in the colors that were used....that were manufactured in the 1920's. If any of you know anything about this type of Nativity set...I would love to hear about it!

The second Nativity set...

I think this Natvity set is much newer in age. My honey said that this pretty ceramic set was his mama's "pride and joy"! Isn't it lovely?

A close-up of one of the camels.

This Nativity really is beautiful, I can see why my mother-in-law loved it so! The pieces are so intricate...just exquisite! The set was done in white with a beautiful blue glaze brushed on like an antiquing effect.

Here it is...all cleaned and set up.

Sooo very beautiful...and sooo very precious!

Here is the vintage chalkware Nativity set...cleaned and set up.

Do you see the angel overlooking the Nativity scene? She is sitting atop the large hat box...looking on!

I will use the hat boxes to store these family treasures in...until next Christmas! And then...I will carefully unwrap each little piece and display them sooo proudly in our home...remembering the sweet family that has already gone on to be with the Lord and how these precious Nativity sets brought joy to them!

The baby Jesus!

Born in a lowly manger of the virgin Mary...to be the Saviour of this world! I am sooo thankful for His precious gift to me...and that I can call Him my Saviour!!!

I am joining these fabulous parties today...

Vintage Inspiration Friday...hosted by Debra over at Common Ground.

A Few of my Favorite Things Saturday...hosted by Laurie over at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie.

Thank you Debra and Laurie...for hosting these fabulous parties for all of us to enjoy!

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Well my friends...I'm so glad that you stopped by today! Thank you for letting me share a little "Christmas in March" with you! Hehe! Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here...I would love to visit with you!

Warmest Spring Wishes!

Sunday Favorites...No. 97

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Welcome to the 97th "Sunday Favorites"
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"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!! For more information on how to republish a past post just click HERE.

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Hello my friends!!!

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Welcome to the 97th run of "Sunday Favorites"

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I hope that you're having a wonderful weekend! It's a busy, busy weekend at our place. My two step-kiddos are here for the weekend. Darrin is 17 and Danielle will be turning 16 in just a couple of weeks. There is never a dull moment with two teenagers in the house! Hehe!

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We have been having some beautiful spring like weather here in Colorado...that is...until this last week. All week long, the wind blew like crazy and we are supposed to get snow this weekend! Yuk! So I have a big ol' pot of homemade chili cooking and a fire going in the wood stove! So it has turned out to be a warm and cozy little weekend with family...sooo sweet!!!

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Today for Sunday Favorites, I am revisiting a post from about this same time...last year called "A Spring Green Tablescape". I hope you enjoy!
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Have a super Sunday, my friends!
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Just a little note: Sunday Favorites Criteria
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When I first started the Sunday Favorites meme, my initial thought was to offer a solution for getting a post out on the weekend without having to spend alot of time doing so...weekends are just a busy time for most of us! Copying and pasting a previous post is so quick and easy. Not only is this a quick and easy solution to the busy weekends, but it's also an opportunity to dig back into our blog archives and share a favorite "past" post once again! Many of us spend alot of time and effort creating a post and it just seems a shame that it is viewed only once and then forgotten about!
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I would like to reiterate that Sunday Favorites is a meme about sharing or revisiting a post from the PAST! If you have found that your post has been removed...then please read the instructions!
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Thank you!
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Instructions for Participating in Sunday Favorites

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If you are participating in Sunday Favorites, please be sure to add your permalink and not your general blog address.

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Please copy and paste the Sunday Favorites logo button to your Sunday Favorites post or your sidebar so your visitors will know that you are participating. Also...please link back to the host blog, Happy To Design. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful blogs that are participating.

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Please do not add your link below, until your Sunday Favorites post is actually published to your blog.

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Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!

Love ya'll,

Chari

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Sunday Favorites My favorite post from:
March 17, 2010

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Hello my friends...I'm so happy that you stopped by today!

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It has been a busy week at my place...besides the normal daily schedule,
 I have been trying to get a some spring cleaning done so that I could do a
 little spring decorating!

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I started the spring fluffing in my dining room. As many of you know,
 I have a red French Country style dining room. I love my red walls, however
 it is sometimes a challenge to "lighten" things up for the spring and summer season.
 This year I decided to use as much white as possible and add a little "Spring Green"
 into the mix...you know, that pretty yellow-green color! It's so light and fresh...
just what I want!
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I wanted to do a spring tablescape to go with the new spring decor...my very
 first spring tablescape of the season!
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A Spring Green Tablescape...
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 I have incorporated the same white and green color scheme from the dining
 room decor into my tablescape. Ahhh...a light and fresh table!

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No table coverings today...going for that light and fresh ambiance...all I
 am using is a white lacy table runner...that's it! Fresh and simple!
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As you can see, I am using several white pieces along with a few
 items of that spring green color.

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The Place Setting...

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White and spring green dishes! I am using a dinner plate, fruit
 bowl, bread and butter plate, and a cup and saucer from my set of green
 transferware ironstone. This pretty pattern is called Kensington Staffordshire
 Balmoral 1801. I just love this set of dishes...I found a 32 piece set on Ebay
 for just $10 (plus shipping)! Quite a bargain!!! I am also using a salad
 plate from my set of white ironstone dishes along with a lacy
 metal charger plate.
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The white cotton dinner napkin is trimmed with the prettiest crocheted
 lace. Just perfect for the light and fresh look that I was going for!
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I love, love, LOVE this floral pattern! Ohhh...and
 those beautiful scalloped edges!
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I large glass goblet for water or iced tea.

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I love how the green apples look through the glass!


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I recently found this pretty white pedestal plate at TJ Maxx for just
 $5.99. I love the reticulated edge...I wove two pretty ribbons around the
 plate...one white ribbon and one spring green ribbon!

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I added four green apples to the plate...love that pretty "splash"
 of yellow-green!!!
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The tea/coffee pot is white ironstone by JG Meakins...another thrifty
 buy for just $10!
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Ohhh look...two little spring birds have decided to join us!
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 It just wouldn't be a spring table without a couple of sweet songbirds!

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I love, love, LOVE white pitchers! This is one of my collection...I
 think the embossed grapes and leaves are sooo pretty! I believe that this is
 the first time that I've used this pitcher in a tablescape.
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I wanted to show you a couple of photos of my newly decorated for
 spring...buffet. All white with a few splashes of that pretty yellow-green!
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Long stems of white lilacs along with a few hydrangea blooms in a large
 white pitcher sit center stage on the 6 ft. long buffet. Four silver candleholders
 with white candles...and four cut glass candleholders sporting their pretty
 yellow-green color candles...join in with the mix.
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and...as you may have noticed...there are bunnies...lots of bunnies!
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On the left there is a happy little bunny sitting with his chubby little legs
 up in the air...on a yellow-green bed of moss. A larger bunny is resting under
 the shade of the lilacs. Hehe!

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On the right side...more bunnies! One of the little guys is sleeping on a bed
 of the same moss under the glass cloche. Ahhhh! On the very end is one of my
 prized thrift store finds...a bunny covered casserole dish or tureen. I only paid $8
 for this fabulous piece! If you would like to see more of the spring Green
 decor in my dining room...you can click HERE.
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I really like the look of the red walls behind the white flowers
 and bunnies and the glass!

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And...there you have it! A "Spring Green" tablescape! I hope you enjoyed!
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Well my friends, thank you so much for coming by today! Please leave me a comment so that I know you were here. I'd love to come for a visit!!!
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Treasure Finds

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!

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Ohh my goodness...time does get away from me! Last month for Valentine's Day, my honey planned the sweetest little weekend getaway for us. We had such a wonderful time! Honey also took me shopping that weekend...to a few of my favorites places! I found some really nice things and thought I would share them with you today. I hope that you enjoy!

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Treasure Finds...

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Cherubs and a Masonary Rose Planter

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One of my favorite places to shop is at the Antique Flea market. I found most of the items that you will be seeing today while shopping there.

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First of all...I found this beautiful masonary planter. It is solid masonary and weighs a ton! I just adore the beautiful rose border around the top edge of the planter! It stole my heart just as soon as I seen it!
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I am "awed" that the creator of this pretty planter was able to form such intricate and beautiful roses out of concrete! Aren't they pretty?
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A Trio of Serenading Cherubs...

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I love all sweet cherubs! This beautiful trio of cherubs stand a stately 12 ins. in height so they are really nice sized and I believe that they are made out of porcelain. Each cherub has a different musical instrument. The cherub that you see in the above photo is my favorite! I created a vignette for my dining room table (a few weeks ago) using the cherubs. Creamy white ironstone, silver, mercury glass, white tulips, and the serenading cherubs made for a pretty table top vignette!
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A Silver Champagne Bucket...

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I found this gorgeous silver champagne bucket at the Antique Flea market too. I'm tellin' ya...I made out like a bandit that weekend! All of these pretties were Valentine gifts from honey! He spoils me rotten and I love every minute of it! Hehe!
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The silver champagne bucket is the inspiration for my mantel's new spring decor! If you would like to see more...just click HERE.
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I added a vining ivy to the champagne bucket for the mantel vignette. This is a close-up shot of the gorgeous lion head handles and rings! Ohhh...I love this!!!
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Crystal Candelabras...

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I actually purchased a pair of these fabulous crystal candelabras. Aren't they gorgeous? They are manufactured by Godinger in Poland...the pattern is called "Shannon". One of the reasons that I bought the candelabras is because I have the matching pedestal cake plate and dome. I found these crystal beauties at Dillards.
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Each candelabra measures about 10 ins. tall and 12 ins. wide and these babies are h-e-a-v-y! I love, love, LOVE all the pretty dangling crystals!!! I need to create a tablescape using these crystal pieces!
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Country Hen Dishes...

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Ohhh...I have been "eyeing" these pretty hen dishes for some time now. They were all reduced for clearance at Hobby Lobby that Valentine's Day weekend! Yeeeehawww! I bought all they had. Sure wished that I could have gotten an entire place setting for four. I am working on finding the extra pieces that I need. I bought four charger plates...they were priced at only $3.99 each, three salad/dessert plates...$2.99 each, and two soup bowls...$2.99 each.
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I love the irregular shape of these pretty dishes! It gives them a "nest like" appearance...I think. They are off white with two bands of red around the rims. Each piece has this pretty little gray hen! I love it!!!
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A close-up photo of the bowl. I also found a couple of jars in red, chicken wire baskets. You can see them behind the bowl. Sure wished that I had taken photos of them. Sorry! They were also on clearance. I thought they would make a nice addition to the gray hen place setting. I can use them for flowers or candles...many possibilities!
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I just couldn't believe my good fortune...I found two placemats at the Antique Flea market that looked like they were made for the gray hen dishes! Again...I sure wished that I could have found at least two more to complete a place setting for four.
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Now I will have to get busy and create a tablescape with these new treasures!!!
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A Pillowcase with French Embroidery...

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It was love at first sight!!! I love the beautiful...white tone on tone...embroidery on this pretty pillowcase! This gorgeous garland of flowers and pretty bow is sooo frenchy looking! This was another treasure find from the Antique Flea market.
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Ohhh...sooo pretty!!! This beauty is already on my bed!
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Well dear friends, thank you for letting me share my newest treasure finds with you today! I hope that you enjoyed!!!
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I am joining these fabulous parties...
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Open House Thursday...hosted by Sherry over at No Minimalist Here.
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Feathered Nest Friday...hosted by Courtney over at French Country Cottage.
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Home Sweet Home party...hosted by Sherry over at The Charm of Home.
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Thank you, dear ladies...for hosting these fabulous parties for us to enjoy!

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Thank you so much for stopping by today, my friends! Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here. I would love to visit with you!

Warmest Spring Wishes!