Sharing Shadymont, My Mountain Cottage

I decided to use silver in my Valentine's decor so I got my pieces together and cleaned it all.  I tried the "sink" method for cleaning the silver.  I placed aluminum foil in the sink, added very hot water, salt, and baking soda.  I then laid all the silver in the sink.  This method took away much of the tarnish, but I still had to use silver cleaner around the handles and in certain areas, but it did make it much easier.  Here is how I've used the silver in my decor. I added the silver coffee pot, creamer, and sugar to a silver platter and sat them on a white pedestal in the center of the table.  I kept the mercury glass acorns on the tray for more bling. You won't believe what the roses in the bon-bon dish are.....soap.  I found boxes of 12 at the Dollar Tree.  To use them you just peel off a petal at the time.  Aren't they neat? The silver candleholders are from Good Will.  The bon-bon dish was a gift from my dau...

These sweet little angel children were all given to me for Christmas by two different friends, years apart.  All these items in these photos sit on a tall 'skinny' shelf unit in the dining room. These two were from a dear friend who is no longer with us.  She gave me the little boy one year, and the little girl another year.  For years there were eight of us who had worked together at various times who would meet at her house for a Christmas breakfast.  She would have quiche or breakfast casserole, always fresh fruit and muffins, coffee and orange juice.  We all usually gave each other something we had made, or a Christmas ornament. It was such a fun time. Her home was always decorated so pretty, especially her tree where she lovingly displayed all the ornaments we had given to each other. Years later, a different friend gave me another girl angel. They keep watch on the Christmas tree from a shelf above.  Aren't they so sweet in their pj's? ...