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!

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!! 

 

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.

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!

 

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

For a while, I have been reading about and seeing furniture being redone with Annie Sloan
Chalk Paint.  I wanted to try it on some pieces and see if it really was as good as everyone
claimed it was.  I was impressed.  I have a storage bench that seemed like a good piece for
a makeover.


I picked 'Versailles' as my experimental color.  I thought maybe going
over red it would require two coats, but nope...one took care of it.



It may be hard to tell, but it is a soft green.  Not mint, more
of a green with some gray.  It looks like it fades into the
wall, so I think the wall color may change :).  It goes on
as a matte finish (kind of chalky) so you need to add a finish.
It goes on very nicely and if you felt like it was needed, you can
thin it a little.  If you want to thicken, just leave the lid off for a few hours.
I chose to put a paste wax on because I really like the finish wax
gives.  I also distressed it so a little red shows through.



These fun linens are called 'Picket Fence'.  It just sounds summery,
doesn't it?  Placemats are $5.75 and napkins are $3.75.  You can
leave a comment if you would like to order some or email us at
theclaypool7@yahoo.com




All finished and ready to go.  You can google Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to find a store
that carries it.  It is pricey but a little goes a long way.
What summer projects do you have planned for your house?

Country and Primitive

Who doesn't love a versatile piece?  This is a good piece for farmhouse, country, french, or primitive.  If you're a little more farmhouse or french it can be repainted in white or cream and then
distressed.  With nine drawers you can use it for storage or display, your choice.  If this great
9 drawer chest interests you, email me at theclaypool7@yahoo.com and I'll get in touch with
you.

Wooden chest.  $65.00 and $15.00 shipping/handling
 

Things You Might Like

After snow last week, the sun is trying to peek out today.  I hope it is
spring where ever you are.  Here are a couple of things you might enjoy.

It was a cloudy day when I took these pictures so
they are not too clear.  These dishtowels are a muslin
color with burgundy stripes.  The flowers are actually
raised so it's an unusual distowel.  Not your ordinary one.
$9.00 + $4.50 s/h (priority mail package)

Hard to see the details but this tulip coming out of the
bulb and sitting in a nest will compliment any
decor you have.  It's just white and simple and that's
what makes it perfect.
$14.75 + $8.00 s/h (needs to be carefully wrapped
and put in a slightly larger box)
If you will click on the pictures they will be slightly larger to view.

Thanks for looking.  If you are interested, email theclaypool7@yahoo.com
and I will get back to you.