And the (N)Oscar Goes To...

Well, it's January so you know what that means. It's time for Hollywood to host its 4,728 awards shows to remind us all how fabulous they are.  Maybe I'll yak about that sometime, but today I'm just using it for some jumper cables to start a  little blog gala of my own. It's a big old party for one.

You see, even though I stepped out of Blogville for nearly half a year, I actually did have a life going on during the hiatus.  Yessiree, things were hopping here in Debbie Land. Had I been blogging, I would have yakked all about it.

But I never did.  I was a non-blogger.
  A Nogger...  

So in the interest of chronicling my life, I thought I would host my own awards gala and show you some of the winners for what I have decided to call the Nogger Awards. That's where I shout out  favorite things that I  never blogged in 2013.

In the interest of keeping it brief, I will only share four of them in this post. Let's start with a favorite pastime of mine, setting the table.

Favorite tablescape I never yakked about

There were several nominees in this category, but the Nogger goes to the Farm Sister's luncheon club table.

She drew the lot for September, but since she's already done a lovely autumn theme (more than one in fact), she went yellow and sapphire on us instead. I loved it.  I wish I could have gotten a better shot of the centerpiece because it was show- stopping. Unfortunately, I didn't arrive early enough to get any better pictures, and once the other girls arrived, I was busy with a yakker of a different sort.

Most exciting opportunity I never yakked about 

That would be the night the Duchess, Farm Sister, and I went to hear former First Lady Laura Bush speak at the local university.

We weren't in those cheap seats way up yonder in the bleachers, either. We were able to sit right down there on the floor with tickets courtesy of the DC daughter that I procreated.  Yes, indeed. She has finally made up for the 10 hours of labor, big head, and broad shoulders.

Oh, who am I kidding? She made up for all that in the first minute...

But oh how lovely the evening was! I can tell you sincerely that Laura Bush certainly earns the title First Lady. You would think I would have better pictures, wouldn't you?
But no...

Favorite DIY home project I never yakked about

No contest here, the Nogger goes to my made- over kitchen chairs.  

First, some before pics

They stayed black for a while, but when the new dining room chairs that I did yak about arrived, it was time to move them to the kitchen. Black wouldn't do. The seats were uncomfortable, too.

So I made my own chalk paint recipe because I'm cheap like that. Then I added this little medallion  to sort of jazz up the back. I stained it first, and then just sanded it lightly  to get the look I wanted.

Then I replaced the poor excuse for a seat with some new, thick, foam and batting and covered them with a burlap.

I feel the need to tell you that the seats have yet to be attached in this picture.  

I think the burlap does a nice job of balancing the stark white.  Plus, they go with the farmhouse thing that I have going on in my kitchen. Clean, white, with just a bit of color for balance.

 Told you taupe could actually be a pop of color...

And finally...

Most ironic thing I never yakked about

Well, you might not *get* this if you do not remember my last post before disappearing into the blog mist, but here it is:

The Love Shack got a new cat. 

Actually, she's a kitten. They rescued her from the barn and named her Waffles. 

Of course, with a face like this, 

I think I'm going to call her Lil Foxy instead.

And that's all I have for today. Now it's time to scoot and attend to the balance of living. Besides, I need to shop for a designer gown before my next Nogger Awards, the family fun addition.

I'm thinking something taupe... 

*****

What's the favorite thing  you didn't blog about lately?