From My House to Yours

Building a gingerbread house has become one of our family's most anticipated traditions.   However, it's not the homemade version that takes days to bake.  The pre-baked kit which includes the house, icing and candy is much easier and a whole lot of fun.  Here's a look at the finished house - the designers added a Triscuit roof and chocolate chip facade this year :) 

Gingerbread House 2012

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2013!









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Annual Cookie Exchange

Last Sunday it was all about the cookies.   We had our annual cookie exchange and it turned out to be another great day!  It's always fun to get together with friends and when you can include your neighbors among that group it's an added bonus.  I am so fortunate to have the most thoughtful and caring people living near me.  There are a lot of ways you can go about organizing a party.  We keep it simple so that it doesn't stress anyone out.  This year each of us baked 70 cookies and brought along 7 boxes/bags with ten cookies in each.  

Coconut Cranberry Chews in the making

Ready to be packaged

Check out how creative everyone gets with their packaging.  This year we had the following types of cookies:  Classic Sugar Cookie, Ultimate Chocolate Chip, Walnut Cups, Coconut Cranberry Chews,  Peanut Butter Balls,  Shortbread, Peanut Butter Surprise,  and Chocolate Krisps.

Now I'm ready with a tray of cookies for when guests stop by - yum!

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Does It Get Any Better?

I didn't think it was possible but my love of burlap has grown even more.   Have you seen all the different colors and patterns that are now available in burlap?  I was in my local fabric store a few weeks ago and spotted some bolts behind the counter area that hadn't even made it onto the shelves.  It was burlap dressed up for the holidays - colors like red and green with gold circles or with just enough of a gold thread to make it festive.  I managed to contain my excitement and thought about what I could make.  I took 1 1/2 yards (my go to yardage for pillows or a table runner).   I chose cream with a gold thread running through it.  I decided to make covers for the kitchen chairs - a cozy shawl for the winter months LOL.  Here's the details of the project;

Cream burlap with just the right amount of sparkle

Pin right sides together and sew one side

Open and make hem along bottom

Stitch hem

Close with right sides together and sew along other side and top

Finished cover with tassel

Dressed for the winter

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Sneak Preview

Our annual neighborhood cookie exchange is set for this Sunday.  This is our sixth year getting together and it's become such a special tradition.   To take a break from the hectic pace of the holidays and reconnect with neighbors makes for a wonderful afternoon.  Plus taking home seven dozen cookies is an added bonus!!

This weekend we made one of our favorites; peanut butter.   Here's my daughter's perfectly criss-crossed batch.

I'm still looking through recipes for my exchange.   Does anyone have a favorite??

Deck the Halls

A glimpse of Christmas 2012

Has anyone read A Cup of Christmas Tea?   My mother gave this book to me almost twenty years ago and it has become one of our family traditions.   She even found a small "play" tea set to go with it.  Each year we set it out and each year I shed a tear when we read it.  Click hear if you would like to listen to the poem.  Enjoy!

Finally Finished

Last month I finally got around to painting my kitchen.   I think it was Hurricane Sandy that shook me out of my project standstill.  To have our home spared of any damage was truly a blessing and it reaffirmed to me to truly appreciate and care for everything you are given.  So the paint chip that decorated my wall for months turned into a gallon of paint and the final phase of my kitchen project was underway.

Here are some earlier photos of the kitchen project.   I wanted to add the look of  board and batten (the easy man woman version).   I measured off and taped where the boards would go.  Then off to Home Depot with the measurements where the most helpful lumber department employee cut the boards.  I put them up by using both nails and Liquid Nails - that glue is awesome!   I filled the nail holes in with spackle and areas that were not perfect fit.  

After sanding I primed and painted and this is where the project stopped.   I began to wonder if this is what I really wanted -  ugh????  The most common look is to paint the whole area white but I knew that just wasn't for me.  Manchester Tan by Benjamin Moore to the rescue.  I decided to paint the whole area in one color and see how it looked.  Whether it's correct or not I love how it looks.  The boards add a subtle dimension to the walls.   Here's how it looks today.

Have you ever doubted a project you started?

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Old Time Farmhouse