Tuesday, December 31, 2013

A New Year...A New Store

Hello and Happy New Year!!  Tomorrow.  I am a little early on that one, but we pray that
2014 will be a blessed one for you.

Christmas décor is gone and the store has been transformed.  For January and part
of February, we are going to be mostly primitive and colonial.  But even in that, we have things
that anyone can use in their home as a personal touch, no matter what style of décor you have.

I am putting in some pictures of displays, but in the next few days, I'll put pictures of
particular items on for you to see 'up close and personal'.  I hope you get some inspiration
and ideas to add some warmth to your home in the next few cold, wintry weeks.








If you're in the area, come see us after Wednesday.  Tomorrow, I'll select some individual things for you to take a look at.  Have a great New Year's Eve and we'll visit again tomorrow.  

Thursday, December 26, 2013

A Store Redo

I hope your Christmas was wonderful! 

It's time to put Christmas décor on sale and redo the store.  I have loved all the fall and Christmas
items and candles but I'm really excited about the store's new look for 2014.  I think for the winter
months, we will focus on primitive and colonial décor.  I plan to rearrange the store, moving
things around and giving it a fresh look.  I'll be showing pictures of the redo and items and a look
I think you'll like.  For now, take a look at some of our new linens:  a round placemat and a fun
decorative dishtowel.

 
 
 
Have a great weekend and next week more pictures of the redecorating and a piece of furniture I plan to repaint. 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

A Stable Foundation

As my mom use to greet us on Christmas Eve, "Christmas Eve Gift!", so I greet you.

My kitchen chalkboard reads, "All Families Need a Stable Foundation".  That is my story for today.
December 24, 1931, my grandparents were married at Key Baptist Church in Key, Texas.  It was at 7:30 in the evening.  I was very close to my grandmother growing up.  My grandparents lived across the street from us.  My brother and I rode to church with them,  not because my parents didn't go because they did.  But my grandparents went early to check on their business and so that my grandfather could check the facilities at our church and my grandmother could have her Sunday School room ready for the five year olds.  And my brother and I thought that was such fun--arriving before most people and riding with them.  My parents both had responsibilities in Sunday School so they arrived shortly but still....grandparents just seemed more fun.

I have thought a lot about my grandmother today.  Their house was where all the holiday activities took place.  I would go early in the morning on Christmas Eve just to be there while she prepared everything.  I can hear the sounds and smell the smells coming from her kitchen to this day.  I have wondered this morning what her wedding day was like;  trying to picture her as a 22 year old bride preparing for her wedding. 

Tonight, at 7:30, I'll be sitting with my family in our church's Christmas Eve service, thinking back
to the events of 82 years ago that occurred at that exact time and rejoicing that it began on Christmas Eve, and for the legacy they leave.

I am thankful for the "stable foundation" that my grandparents and my parents put into my life.  We are trying to do that with our children.  It is the most important gift we can give them.  I pray your home has that, too.  My prayer for our blog friends this Christmas is Philippians 3:10, "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection...".  And John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish but have everlasting Life."
Merry Christmas, dear friends.  May this be a special Christmas season for you and your family.

My Christmas Motto

My beautiful flowers from my firstborn

Getting ready!



Sunday, December 22, 2013

Farmhouse Christmas

 



Hello!  I hope your weekend has been a nice one.
I promised you some pictures of farmhouse decorating.  My favorite decorating blog is
www.dearlillie.blogspot.com.  Jennifer is a very talented young wife and mom who is a master
decorator and creator.  Here are some pictures of her guest bedroom all ready for Christmas.  You can see her entire house on her blog.  Enjoy these--I have her permission to share with you.




Friday, December 20, 2013

A Chicken Soup Recipe

Happy, happy Friday!
Is it crazy where you live?  I think everyone in NWA is out today.  We ran a quick errand so
one of my daughters could finish shopping for siblings and then came home and shut ourselves in--not to leave again.  We also had a temperature drop this morning--65 to 34 degrees so another reason to stay beside a sparkling tree in a cozy home.

Here is the recipe I promised for chicken soup.  Feel free to adapt to your family's tastes.
Chicken (from the chicken you crock pot cook--see post from a couple of days ago)
Broth (from the same cooking session :)
Celery
Carrots
3 Cloves of garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
Egg noodles or frozen cheese tortellini (or dried in the pasta section of grocery)

Chop chicken meat and add broth (your very own homemade) into a large pan.  Dilute with
water until it is a medium to light yellow. Don't dilute too much at the beginning.  You can always add water if you need to.   Add chopped celery and carrots (about a cup of
carrots, one-half cup of celery).  Chop the garlic and add.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Bring
all of that to a boil for just about 3 minutes.  Add noodles or tortellini--about a half package to
maybe 2/3 pkg.  Let boil and reduce heat until pasta is cooked.  Enjoy--especially on these cold
days.  Don't forget to make this when you have colds or flu visiting.  It is comforting as well as
healthy.  (Also see post on 'staying healthy').

I hope your weekend is restful in spite of the holiday craziness.  We'll visit Monday about a
furniture redo. 

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Our Christmas Card to You

We wish we could send each of our blog friends a Christmas card.  But since we can't we'll do it here.

"Simply Jesus"  He's the reason we celebrate.


Hopefully all we do, our decorating, shopping, gift-giving, and feasting will be in celebration of
the Savior and His birth.  Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Stay Healthy This Winter

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

While this blog is mainly for home décor, part of homemaking is keeping our families
happy and healthy.  And with winter upon us, I am always interested in ways to keep
everyone around here from becoming sick.

All of us have heard how chicken soup is good "for what ails you", but did you know that,
literally, it has healing properties?  Apart from being soothing, comforting, and warming, it
really does contain nutrients that aid our bodies in healing. 

Chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine which thins mucus.  It also keeps our
digestive tract healthy which is the basis for a strong immune system.  The gelatin found in the
bone broth is a hydrophilic colloid--sounds complicated--but it supports proper digestion.
Chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine reduces pain and inflammation.  The amino acids proline, arginine, and glycine have anti-inflammatory properties.  Broth inhibits infectious agents like
viruses that cause colds and flu. 

Making it is easy, and is a sure way to be proactive in your family's health.  I put a whole chicken in a crockpot.  I season it well with salt and pepper and place 5 or 6 cloves of garlic in the cavity of the
chicken.  After letting this cook for 6 or 8 hours, I remove the meat from the bones, leave the bones
in the crockpot and add an onion, carrots, celery, and more garlic. I also add 2 TBS of vinegar as the
vinegar leaches more nutrients out of the bones and cartilage.  I let this slow cook for a few more hours.  Your home will smell amazing, by the way.  After cooking,  take a slotted spoon and remove
the bones.  You will also want to strain your broth.  Yesterday, we ate the chicken we had cooked, and I still have enough left for chicken salad and chicken to use in chicken soup later this week.
Mine yielded enough broth for one good sized batch of soup and a smaller one.  The broth is
very concentrated so you will need to add water.  A friend told me today that she freezes hers in ice cube trays so she can use a little at a time when she cooks.  Great idea!

This was taken late last night but gives you an idea.  The bones I spooned out are in the bowl behind.  They literally cook down to almost nothing.  But that's what you want for all the nutrients!  I'll try and post the recipe for chicken soup later this week.  Stay healthy!

Monday, December 16, 2013

A Reminder of What We Are Doing...

"Serve the LORD with gladness..." Psalm 100:2

"This job has been given to me to do.
   Therefore, it is a gift.
   Therefore, it is a priviledge.
   Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God.
   Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done
       for Him.
   Here, not somewhere else, I may learn
      God's way.
  In this job, not some other,  God looks for faithfulness."
                            --Elisabeth Elliot

Titus 2:4
"That they (the older women) admonish the young women to love their husbands,
    to love their children, to be disreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient
    to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be blasphemed."

No comments:

Sunday, December 15, 2013

How to Survive an Epic Fail

I had grand plans to show you step by step how to accomplish a project and feel really good about yourself.  What I didn't take into account was my inability to read and follow directions.  I picked up
supplies without reviewing all the details.  Simply put:  I didn't get enough fabric.  Epic Fail. 
So....I am linking you to a tutorial done the right way.  This lady is a wonderful decorator and has
great ideas.  I am planning on doing it according to directions and detail and will share it with you.  Below is a picture of my failure.  It will be okay until  then since it is a bathroom window in
one of our girl's bathrooms.  Scroll on down to get to the site with the real deal.
Failed project but will do for now. :)

Here's the right way:
www.impartinggrace.com/2011/05/faux-roman-shade-tutorial.html


Friday, December 13, 2013

A Simple Friday

Hello and Happy Friday!  Nothing big for today.  I just wanted to share some 'prettiness' and thought you'd enjoy it.  I was with a friend this afternoon while her son was teaching one of my sweet girls a guitar lesson.  She was trying to figure out what to put together next to her cooktop.  She has lots of
beautiful things and it was fun looking at some of them.  This is the result.  I hope you have a good
weekend.  Visit with you next week.  Hopefully, I will have a tutorial on a no sew way to make a shade.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Best Dressing Ever!!

Best dressing recipe ever--I promise!  This was my grandmother's, my mom's and aunt's, and now mine.  My mom was known for her dressing :).  Try it and you'll see I'm right. 

4 boxes of Jiffy cornbread mix
32 oz chicken broth
1/2 pkg of Pepperidge Farms Cornbread Dressing
celery
yellow onion
stick of butter
6 boiled eggs
6 raw eggs, beaten
1-2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1 or 2 cups of broth from your turkey

Two days before I make dressing I cut up my celery and onions and cook just until tender
in the butter.  After it is cooled, I freeze the celery/onion mixture. 

The day prior to making the dressing I cook my cornbread.  After it is cooked, I break it up and
add the PF dressing mix.  No more than half a package.  I go ahead and add the salt, pepper, garlic
powder, and poultry seasoning.  Stir all that together and let it blend overnight.  I cover it with a
dishtowel.  Needless to say, you'll need a big pan for all of this.  I also boil the 6 eggs I'll be using and refrigerate them.

On the big day, I add the celery/onion mixture (partially thawed), chop up the boiled eggs and add,
add the beaten eggs, the broth (32 oz canned) along with the broth from your turkey.  After that, you will want to add water.  This is where you add your own touch.  Not too much  but not too little or it will be dry.  Sometimes it takes a couple of times of dressing making to get it where you like it.  My mom use to add enough water until it was almost 'floating'.  I add a little less (near floating)  :).  Add the water a little at a time and stir thoroughly so you don't overadd.

Dressing doesn't have to be a scary thing to make.  By doing things ahead of time, it makes it quick and easy to put together just before baking it.  I really think the key to flavor is letting the cornbread and spices blend overnight.  After it's all assembled, bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.  Again, you'll add your own touch by deciding when it's cooked.  Watch it carefully.  And then, you'll be
the cook who is known for her dressing.  Enjoy!  Oh, and let me know how your's comes out!


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Something New

Happy Hump Day!   Our week is half over.  Christmas will be here soon.  For the 5th day here in NW Arkansas, schools are out.  But not at our house because we homeschool :).  I had a set of stack boxes and I wanted to see what I could do with them to "customize" them to our color scheme.  I hope this
post gives you some ideas about using what you might already have to add to your home.  These
were from our store a couple of Christmases ago, but I have seen less expensive ones at dollar stores and Hobby Lobby.  It really was an easy project and if I can do it, then probably your toddler can, too!

I spray painted the top and middle ones, the middle and bottom lids, and used fabric to cover the top lid and bottom box.
Each week Hobby Lobby has a 40% off coupon and that's how I purchased the spray paint.  The fabric is duckcloth.  I thought I needed a thicker fabric with more body.  I really believe that helped give it a finished look.  A couple of times a month Hobby Lobby has their fabric 30% off.  I used a glue gun to glue the fabric.  I measured around the box and cut and glued it, tucking it inside.  For the trim on top, I measured the circumference, cut it wider, folded it and ironed it to make it
finished and crisp, then used the glue gun.

These are usually in the living room but since the Christmas décor in there is green and white, they are occupying a corner of the bedroom through the holidays.  Thanks for looking and enjoy your day.  Tomorrow I may put the recipe for our holiday dressing on here.  It was my grandmother's and my mom's.  And it's wonderful!!!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Christmas Cranberry Salad

Time to start planning our Christmas dinners.  Mine isn't too hard to plan since my family
likes the same thing year after year because ROUTINE.  But I love routine also so that's
okay with me--probably where they got it. :) 

Here is a tried and true recipe that has been a favorite for many years.  It's just the right
combination of sweet and slightly tart. 

Christmas Cranberry Salad
1 Large box cherry jello
2 cups of boiling water (no more water than this)
1 small can of crushed pineapple
1 small container of frozen strawberries (slightly thawed)
1 can jellied cranberry sauce
pecans or walnuts (optional)

Stir boiling water into jello, mix thoroughly, add the strawberries, pineapple, and cranberry sauce. 
After that is all mixed well add your pecans and place in refrigerator until firm--several hours or
overnight.  Put mixture (before you refrigerate it)  into your prettiest glass bowl because this salad
will be gorgeous--just the right shade of Christmas red.  A bowl something like this.  And enjoy!





Monday, December 9, 2013

More From the Simple Side (Of Decorating)

Merry Monday to you!!  Almost done with decorating on the simple.  Hopefully
the photos have given you good ideas of simple things to do. 

Tomorrow, I'll share a recipe for a family favorite for your Christmas meal.

Lanterns can be used for all seasons.  This one was black and I spray painted white.  I still have a small black one,
The taper in it is an LED timed taper.  It lights up 5 hours a day.  It adds a cozy touch and mine comes on at 4:30 so
it is a nice accent in the evenings.  We have these at the store.  They are $5.50.  I have a taper holder and a small 1"berry ring with this taper. 

Here is the glittered bird and nest I told you about a couple of days ago.  I just added a sprig of cedar garland from the mantle for a nice little touch.  I hope you have a great Monday!! 
 

Saturday, December 7, 2013

More Simple Decorating

Happy Weekend!  Last post we talked about using Christmas décor with our
everyday things and keeping it simple but beautiful and festive.  Here are some
other pictures to give you ideas.
I hope you have a great Sunday.  We are snowbound here and tomorrow will be the
first time in years that our entire family will miss church.  We have been in our house since
Wednesday evening before the freezing rain and then 10" of snow fell.  Some sun and melting
will surely come soon.  I'm glad we don't get cabin fever.  We have enjoyed lots of games, fun, soup and chili, Christmas movies, and football.
Have a great Sunday and we'll visit again on Monday with some more pictures.  I think we'll take
a look at farmhouse decorating next week. 

Usually on the mantle I add garland and lights but this year I used some weeping cedar garland with a white finial,
a church and trees, and the boxwood topiaries that are there all year.

The TV armoire with two sets of trees (featured on this blog), a set of winter stack boxes, a pineapple finial (everyday décor), and a lighted tree.  You could make this with some branches spray painted white, secured in a container and some
lights.



Just some simple wreaths hung on cabinets with ribbon.  Easy but adds a festive feeling to your kitchen.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Way Too Long....

I have been a blogger slacker and I apologize.  I was using this blog as a substitute website
for our store since I didn't like the way our website had been set up.  But I think I'd like to
take the blog in a different direction.  I'd like it to be more about homemaking and decorating.
There will still be links on the sidebar for products.  Soooo...let's get started.

Most of my blog visitors will probably be directed here from Country Sampler so we
will have lots of décor for country but also many other decorating types:  farmhouse,
primitive, traditional, French country, and others.  Let me hear from you as to what you
like and any suggestions you have.  Let's help each other with our homes.

I find myself becoming more simplistic and this year I decided to simplify my
decorating and use seasonal and mix it with my everyday things.  I have been
surprised at how many ladies have shopped in our store and said the same thing:
this year, for them, less is more.  I really have been glad at my decision.



This jelly cupboard is in the kitchen.  The wreath and toile lamp are
everyday items.  We'll have another post about making fabric flowers
like the ones on the wreath.



I scored this secretary desk from a friend who was downsizing.  It
is currently in the kitchen because it will soon be painted and
moved to the living room.  It is empty and awaiting it's
transformation but I thought it needed some berry picks.



This metal star votive holder came from our store years ago.  I hope
our supplier will bring them back because they were a popular item
for us in Country Sampler.  If they do, I'll let you know.  :).
I simply hung a small wreath on the hanger behind the star.
 



The tree is one of three in a set.  You can check the products link on
this blog for the set.  I put white ornaments in a crackled glass bowl.
My table was my grandmother's.  She painted and antiqued it when
I was about 10.  That was 47 years ago.  I'd like to paint it again
but I can't seem to bring myself to change it. 




The hydrangeas are everyday for the coffee table.  I set them on a
tray with a Christmas book, a wood wick Yankee candle, and a white
bird with a nest (that I didn't get in the picture).  Sorry!

I think I won't overwhelm you with pictures tonight.  But I'll be back and we'll look at some more ways I
thought would help keep the decorations simple.  Happy weekend!  See you soon!