Deck the halls with....

It is a decorating bonanza at the Coastal Nest...

tune in again to see what all the fuss is about!!

The Hunt...

Well folks, Here it is the 30Th of November and the Coastal Nester's have their tree...

Its been a family tradition here at Hocketts Tree Farm. Ever since the big man and I have been together. Yes, if you are counting, this is 18 years on this farm hunting Christmas trees.

Now, silly as it seems, we've got these other 3 little peeps hanging around the house, insisting to be included. Oh, alright, They are the sweetest little peeps I know, and yes..They are ours.After a thorough inspection from the "Head of the House"..(a.hem) we get the thumbs up from my handsome BobVilla...then....woo hoo....could you come and cut this down for us Mr Hockett??

There you have it.. And it begins.....

The smell is making me crazy... I'm only a few feet from the loveliest Noble Fir we have had in, well, a year.

Its intoxicating scent makes my heart go pitter pat and brings me back to the home I grew up in, not so very far from where I am right now!

someday I will have to tell you about the time my Dad took us out in the woods to find our perfect Tree..in the Purple-maroon Chevy truck.

great times people. I can only hope that BV and I are making the same memories for our little peeps.

What are your favorite Christmas memories?

~~~~

meanwhile, stay tuned and come back to see the funnest house in the hood all decorated

inside AND out

for

a

great

Christmas

Season!!!

Happy Holidays Friends!!

A Thankful Day--I think

Hi!

I hope all of you were lucky enough to share a great day of Thanksgiving with your special peeps.

We had lots of fun, toooooo much food, as you will soon see..and a little liquor for our gathering.

Can you say FUN??? We all got together at my little sisters house, Mary..

Shes got the greatest old craftsman home. Hard to see in this photo, but its

FANTASTIC!

Thanks for having us Mar..I know how hard the work is, especially with a husband who had to work!!

We appreciate the effort, now you are off the hook for a few years...

You know her..Say Hi Mary!

Gorgeous, no? (notice table #2, here)Here's the Dining room (table #1) isn't that chandelier very lovely? This is not a very good photo of middle man, but, the only one I had taken..I think he is about to go into a turkey coma..Stay with us Finn.Gorgeous girl, loves orange pop!! (can you tell?) Handsome #1 growing up tooooo fast..
The Dinner..lord, nummy. The hand you see digging into the round pampered chef pie plate there, that's the Pioneer Woman's Turnip Gratin..If you didn't try it, you should! I was planning on making it and then Cutzi had ALREADY made it and she was singing the praises, so..It was

Divine!!!
A couple a good friends

Self and cousin Marcy..

who, by the way, cant tap dance...




I would also like to take a moment out to thank

These two..

After all, if it wasn't for this hook up..well..

This day wouldn't have been.

Or this table wouldn't be filled! Thanksgiving Day

2008






--disclaimer, this is loud, obnoxious and totally my peeps.
-and I love ya all!!!

Im Itchin.......

Christmas is not very far away, my friends..

I am very excited to get out my lovely old and new, expensive and cheap, antique and beautifully handmade(children's) Christmas things.

I'm feeling it bad.. some cute little snowman Popsicle ornaments from my little loves.. I have had this ribbon for YEARS..I love it. My friendly windowsill..
my gi-normous candelabra, its a leaner..just like the Tower of Pisa. Villa stacks quarters around the perimeter underneath and we "make it work" It costs about $1.50s worth..and its one of my faves to decorate. Then theres the mantle.

oh the love.
I want the house to be adorned this year, I want to have special moments and lots of love.


We are not going out on the limb for gifts this year. Its not in the budget, but you know what. Mommy and Daddy are still going to make it a very special Christmas for the little Macs.



Maybe this is what we all need.
a little harking back to
The reason for the season.

But..Before all this gets up, we are going to have a killer Thanksgiving Day at my Sister Marys house.. Shes off all week, preparing.
for 30.

this is BVs favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.. No gifts to buy, no trees to decorate..
Just show up and


EAT!!!

(my dad and the 2007 bird)

Happy Turkey Day, Ya ll!

(the following photos, courtesy of last years Thanksgiving at my house..)

The trouble makers..
The extended trouble makers..Gravy-licious, Mama style..

xoxox

Coastal Nest

:)

Oh, for heavens sakes...

This is my friend Marty...isn't she just gorgeous?

Look at this cute little family.

I Lurve this little Minna-SOoo-ta girl

(do you talk like that?)

anyway, my friend, Marty-licious (just look at her!)

She gave me some devastating scoop..

About my other gal pal (and her job sitch..) shhhh..oh, hell I'm sure she knows by NOW!!!

This is my friend Heathers house..

she works for a cute little magazine called

Cottage living..

a-hem....

Isn't her house A--dorable?

This is her mama, sitting here and her cute little doggie, watch out though--he's a nipper(hates the sweater, too itchy)..

Anyhoo...
Bye bye cottage living.
I'm insulted you didn't discuss this with your biggest fan, and totally DIS-SATISFIED!!

I sure hope Heather can find another job real quick like, after this huge renovation she did last winter, shes got bills to pay!!

Wonder what your gonna do about my left over subscription..send me
Wall Street Week?
..

pass me a tissue, will ya?

Sometimes a girl can get lucky.....

A True and honest love.

Here we are, 18 years after we tied the proverbial knot.

We have grown together, quite a bit, to say the least.

I can honestly say, there is no better man for me on God's green earth.

{thank you God!!!}

**THE RECOLLECTION**

Steve would love to tell you about his first recollection of his beloved wife. It goes something like this..Steve, go ahead...

"Lisa's family was in the neighborhood, visiting, remember how parents would drag you around to other kids houses you didn't know, they would go in the house and make you play outside while they visited?It was the 70's.. Well, lots of Lisa's family lived in my hood, so..a whole roving band of 3rd to 8th graders minus the visiting parents, made the best of a fun summer evening and got together for a wild game of Red Rover.."

Honey, your leaving out the part..go on..

"Alright.."

"That's when I noticed her"

Me?

"yes, honey, you.."

AND?

"you and your big head...."

..can you believe it? Me and my big head!!! There, he said it!

thanks honey, your excused.

" I still love you and that big melon or yours, babe, more than life!!"

Funny thing is, I totally remember that game of Red Rover myself. Its the big head full of odd memories....

**SCHOOL YEARS**

Flash forward, oh.. lets say to the mid to early eighties..Steve is all about Track and Field, yes, hes good. Runner, long distance..miles and miles that guy would RUN..holy cow, this is the last thing to do on my list.Run, give me a break. Id see him around, think he was a cute, kinda like able guy, he was dating another girl in my class. We graduated, and guess what, he decides to go into the

Marine Corps..Ta-ta Mr Villa..He's off to see the world.

**THE RED SHIRT**

The evening I got re-acquainted with my beloved, was at a local watering hole in this town. Lordy, people would go there, and you know...get smashed, make fools of themselves, dance, fall down, etc. It was an ugly place. Ugly-and fun!! {no, I never fell down, people, came close a couple of times-though, trust me} I was there with my local female posse, and then I spotted him, in his red polo shirt, sitting there. My cousin, Missy was with me (always). She and Steve grew up together a mere block away from each other, so of course, she stumbles on over to his table to check out his fresh high and tight hair cut, squeeze his awesome guns and pitch him a little shit about life.. Me, I was happy to follow along.

"Hi!" I say..trying to be calm and suave about that cute smile and those beautiful eyes.

How YOU doin, Lisa (he says)-so, totally just like Joey from friends...

We all sat there and chitter chatted for almost the whole rest of the evening. Me, trying to make great eye contact, you know, without being TOO obvious.

Come to find out, his sisters getting married the next weekend, guess what?! I was invited , in a round about way, to that wedding, and sure as heck..This chick was going. So, we had great times, talking about the old times, whose been up to what, and all that stuff you hear in songs written by John Mellencamp.

***BOWLING DATE***

(or, the hook up)

We decided at the wedding that we were going to get together and go do a little bowling before he left to go back east, for his final duties in the Marine Corps. It was hysterical, we had the best time, it was Steve and I--alone, we were never alone, there were always at least 5 of us together at any given time{the posse}..We bowled and talked, and talked and bowled, drank quite a few beers, ordered some french fries and cracked up about how our lives kind of were on the same path to nowhere ville and what we planned to do about it. {hm mm, what was the plan?}

That night after he dropped me off, yes, at my parents (I lived in the apartment above their garage) I went in directly to talk to my mom, who, was so totally waiting up for me.

"MOM, I say, throwing open the old yellow door..."

"I'm going to marry that man!"

Sure as heck...In less than a year, I was Mrs Bob Villa...

...to be continued, someday...

Happiest of anniversaries, my love..

Its me for you, and you for me.

I love you, and you love me!

We are such a perfect family!!!

xoxoxoxo

The case for a church pew...

Holy hotness..

There's something about a church pew that just floats my boat.

When the shop very first started, we had the best one, it looked just exactly like this. Only thing was, whoever had it prior -cut it down, so it was only about 4 (perfect) feet long.

I remember when I spotted it, I was dating a very hot very handsome Navy boy from Bremerton. He was down with going junking with me one day.....what was his name??? It escapes me at the moment. He was nice enough to put it in his very hot, very sexy, car trunk (mustang, red, nice) and drag it home to my house (and shop) for me. It was a great buy, and sold nearly the day after I doubled the price and added it to the shops collection of treasures..

~

Why did I let that church pew go? That Navy boy go? Alas, little did I know my fate was sealed

sitting on that church pew once it got to the shop I had an epiphany, of a much more handsome, much more sexy MARINE devil dog with dark hair and a brooding eye. A local boy, but who???

Bobby boy was on his way to me..little did I know, and I didn't know..not for many more years..

we would we meet. Again.

and oh the love!

stay tuned....

(and that Navy boy..he just wasn't that into me- and that was okay. Bruce)

:::::::::::::update:::::::::::::

My little baby in last post, well..shes MUCH better now, she had a very BAD bladder infection last week, with promises of hospitalization if there wasn't improvement by Sunday (last). After a hearty injection of heavy antibiotic on Friday she bounced right back and is her chipper old self--"lets go to pre-school mama!" So, that's where she is!

Thanks for the prayers!

My darling, my sicko...

This is the cutest little girl

IN THE WORLD..

She, however, is down and out. Two days now.

Sleep sleep sleep. Headache, backache, bellyache.

102.6 fever.

Today we are saddlin' up the old horsey and going to do a little doctorin'.One thing this little pint size sicko is - is a powerhouse.

Strong willed (wonder where she gets it??)

and just plain STRONG.

Shes kinda like wrestlin a boa constrictor. Daddy and I both had to hold her to get her to take a temp reading-AND IT WAS HARD!!!

Now she finds out she needs to go to the doctor.

You can just imagine.

Pray for her and her mama. It will be an interesting visit. I'm sure.

Flag raising at Iwo Jima

Thank you, Veterans-
The McElliott Family

Hey! Whats goin on at Grand Heron?...Its Christmas Open House This Weekend!!

Its the 21st Annual

Grand Heron Christmas Open House!

shall we take a peeky peek?

I knew youd like to.

Lets go....Winter wonderland of silvers black and whites as you approach the gorgeous storefront that is

Grand HeronThe beautiful small front window showing off a gorgeous green and black vignette..Then as you are in the building, the girlfriend herself {MOMMY} has outdone herself

AGAIN..take a bow Suzie Q!!

(LOVE YA!!!) Here are more photos of the place, come on down if youd like a fun weekend of girl fun and mimosa..youll even find a great little h'ordeurve tray waiting for a nibble or two.

Most of all, (looking down..making swirlys in the carpet with my toe)

we would really love to see ya!!

(peek a boo!)

Last Christmas ended on a sour note with the building and all.

come on over and see us!

we have a great Christmas tree or two..

interiors to die for....

Plenty of red for the season...


Gorgeous merchandise in a great array of prices

and as always...a great, fun and happy staff to serve your every decorating desire!
Hope to see you!

~~

Grand Heron Christmas Open House
114 East Heron Street
(just east a few steps from our beloved original building)

Downtown Aberdeen
360.532.5561

Lisa
:)