Some Favorite Gifts and TFT #371

Welcome to another Thursday Favorite Things!

I've been trying to rid myself of this respiratory virus for over a week now, and I'm getting a little cranky about it, to be honest!  But, I've been enjoying taking some down-time to look at pictures from our December, and a few of the memorable Christmas gifts.

As you may know, my daughter was married in November. My sweet niece suggested that we use the rose petals from my daughter's wedding to make my daughter and her new husband a special ornament for Christmas.  I dried the petals, filled a clear ornament with them, and lettered it with a gold paint pen.  (It is hard to letter on a round surface!)   The ribbon is from her flower crown. I think they liked it!

My gift to my husband was a portrait, in colored pencil and watercolor, of our Siamese cat, Lucy, who lived to be almost 18 years old.  My husband was Lucy's favorite person.  The portrait was done  by a very talented artist, Dina Kowal.  She is both a gifted artist and a sweet person, and with her help, I managed to surprise my husband (which is not easy to do!)  It looks like a photo, doesn't it? (Please ignore the fingerprints on the frame...)

Happy New Year and TFT #370

Happy New Year all, and I hope you had a wonderful holiday season!

I'm beginning the year with a nasty respiratory virus, but I guess it's the time of year for that!

So glad to be back here for another Thursday Favorite Things link party.  I'm sorry if you visited last week, only to find no party...  I failed to let you all know that we were skipping last week.  But, it's a new year, and it's time for a new year of TFT.  (Don't forget to click back to the last party to see what you might have missed.)

Here are my features from our last party:

Mmm, my  mom used to make split pea soup. I love it, but I haven't made it in years. This slow cooker version from Home Cooking Memories looks perfect.

Thursday Favorite Things #369

I'm so glad you're here for another Thursday Favorite Things link party.

Are you enjoying the holiday season?  Although I'm a little under the weather, I'm still taking in the beauty of Christmastime. 

Here are my features from last week's party:

I love these vintage first issue postal stamp ornaments from Lora B.  Such a lovely way to display part of a stamp collection.

Thursday Favorite Things #368

I'm so glad it's Thursday, because that means it's time for another Thursday Favorite Things (TFT) link party.  The holiday season is always my favorite time to see the festive ideas that are shared at your blogs.

Have you been enjoying the little things?  I've been watching Christmas movies while I drink hot cocoa every evening.  It's one of my personal traditions. Simple and silly, but I look forward to it!

Don't forget to click back to last week's party to see what you might have missed.

Here are my features from last week:

What better way to remember National Cookie Day (which, unbelievably, I missed!), than with a roundup of  holiday cookie recipes from The Painted Apron.

A Tour of The Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri

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My husband and I have a fascination with the Fox Theatre  ("Fabulous Fox Theatre") in St. Louis. It's a former movie palace that is now a magnificent performing arts center.  They have live touring Broadway shows, concerts, and comedians.  If you ever visit, I'm sure you will have a fascination with it too!

We took the tour this past Saturday (again.)  One of these days, we're going to take the tour on a day that there isn't a performance, so that we can also see the backstage area. (There is a graffitti wall there with signatures from the stars that have performed in the shows.)  But, even though we couldn't see that area this time, the tour was fantastic, and the time flew by.

It's an amazing place.  And yes, so fabulous. It opened in 1929 and was meticulously restored in 1982.  It's always gorgeous, and even more so when decorated for the Christmas holidays.  It has an identical twin theater in Detroit, Michigan.

(The lens that I took most of these photos with is currently on sale at Adorama.com, plus a free accessory bundle. Info at the bottom of the post.)

The columns look like marble, don't they?  We learned on the tour that everything is an illusion. The columns are actually plaster!

Calm and Vintage Christmas at TFT #367

Hello, and welcome to another Thursday Favorite Things! (TFT)  I'm glad you've joined us, and I can't wait to see what you have to share with us today. 

Although the photographer's pictures from my daughter's wedding are in, I don't have any of them yet, so I'm happy to share this snapshot (captured by the groom!) of my daughter on her wedding day. I just love how happy and relaxed she looks here. (The wedding was over!)

This snapshot, taken by the groom, is one of my favorites of the day.

Now, on with Thursday Favorite Things.

Here are my features from last week's party:

Some ideas from Michele at Hello Lovely to ease the holiday overwhelm.  A soothing, beautiful post.

Getting the Holidays started and TFT Party

It's Thursday and time for another fun TFT party.  I've been in a bit of a wedding haze here over the last couple of weeks, having just enjoyed my daughter's wedding and reception(s.)  We had so much fun, and in between, we squeezed in a fun Thanksgiving too!  My daughter was a radiant bride, and she's happily settling into married life.  What a whirlwind it's been!

I'm glad to be back in TFT party mood and anxious to see what you have to share.  Please remember to pin from the original blogs, and please leave a comment with your link number.  (Features are often chosen from the comments.)  Each co-hostess chooses their own features, so you have 9 opportunities to be featured.

Here are my features from last week's party:

I love this roundup of  hot cocoa bars featured at Kippi at Home.  I'm inspired to do this now!