A bit of Fall at The Old Parsonage

Well as promised, I'm back to share a little bit more about our trip to Lancaster County and a bit of Fall at The Old Parsonage. I bought a few things at the Craft and Flower Warehouse. Can you see the darling mini pumpkins? They're not scented, but I'm going to add them to some scented rose hips for just a little bit of Fall whimsy.

The pumpkins are sitting next to a jar of my yummy Peach Preserves. These preserves are soo darn easy to make. Peel, de-pit and cut up your peaches. Place them in an aluminum pan and cover with sugar. Let them sit overnight. The next morning, bring them to a boil and let them boil for 20 min. Then reduce the heat and cook over low-medium heat for 2hrs while occasionally stirring. Meanwhile, boil you jars and lids. After the 2hrs, fill your hot jars, wipe off the rims and seal. You don't have to do anything else except let the jars cool on the counter and listen for the ping of the jars sealing. If after several hours you can press the center of the lids and they "bounce back," they didn't seal and you have to store them in the fridge. If they sealed, then you may store them in the pantry and use whenever you want. Or, better yet, top them with pretty fabric add a bow and give them to family and friends, they'll love it!

I also bought a few rust colored tapered candles and a bag of faux (sounds better than fake) Chinese lanterns. I just love how they look in my footed bowl.

I also bought 3 sprays of the Chinese lanterns to use in one of my baskets. Just a hint or two of Fall and I'm feeling cooler already! Although the temps are a little cooler and the humidity is also a lot less too!


I have a few more things to show and tell this week about our trip if your interested. So, what are you doing to prepare for Fall?

Peachy Goodness for The Old Parsonage

Last Saturday me, My Jade and Mum headed to Lancaster County for a day full of food, shopping and fun! We left at 7am and headed to the New Holland IGA supermarket. They have a cafeteria that serves a wonderful breakfast for under $5. You can get eggs (any style), pancakes, baked oatmeal, breakfast meats, homemade sweets, daily specials, coffee, tea and or juices. I bought an entire bushel basket of peachy goodness for The Old Parsonage.



After breakfast we did a little shopping in the store, I always buy Hammond's pretzels, they're really good and come in a cute bucket. Of course we open them in the car to snack on while we drive! Then we went next door to Good's. It's a store frequented by the Amish that sells anything from fabric to hunting and fishing supplies, canning equipment, shoes, Carhart clothes and garden items. I love it, the store is so old fashioned and you can find so many hard to find things there.

Next stop was in Blue Ball at the Craft and Flower Warehouse. It's a 2 story building that's chock full of goodness. The top floor has an entire room devoted to Christmas all year round!!
There's so much to look at on that floor besides Christmas that we were up there for an over an hour. The bottom floor has unpainted wooden furniture, fabric, ribbons, scrap booking materials, an entire room full of candles and their accessories. The other half of the bottom floor is silk and dried flowers, wreaths, topiaries, pots, you name it and it's probably there!

Stop back again to see what else we did and how those sweet peaches made the most wonderful preserves.

A Pink Show & Tell at The Old Parsonage

Yes, it's a Pink Show & Tell here at The Old Parsonage! This wonderful stained glass window was a favorite Christmas present from my DH a few years ago.

I've tried to capture the beautiful pink color with the early morning sunlight shining through.

I doesn't quite fit the window, so we have it suspended by eye hooks. He knows me soo well, I love everything that he gives me!

Please visit Kelli on Friday at There's No Place like Home to see what she and other's are Showing and Telling. And if you're visiting on Saturday, don't forget to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday and a lot of Pink Goodness.

If you've enjoyed your visit perhaps you'll leave a comment or better yet become a follower.

What's one of your favorite Christmas presents?

It's Rudolph Day at The Old Parsonage

Isn't he wonderful? And, he's here to celebrate Rudolph Day at The Old Parsonage. I got this great new Belsnickle when we were on vacation. We went to Salisbury MD's Country House, and this was my great deal of the day.

He was in their warehouse, marked down to $15.00. Can you believe it? I don't have any patriotic Belsnickles, he's the first to live at The Old Parsonage.

Just look at his wonderful profile and the way that he holds the flag so that it's beauty shines through!

He even carries his own drum, decorated with the stars and stripes as well! He does have a little "boo boo" on the top of his hat, but I'm going to fix him right up.

Don't you think that he's just the thing to help celebrate Rudolph Day at The Old Parsonage?

The Old Parsonage is serving Pink Lemonade

I'm not a real fan of imitation anything. My family knows that everything I make is from scratch, always has been, always will be.

However, one thing I do love is Crystal Light Pink Lemonade! I'm not a huge fan of iced tea. I make sun tea and sweet tea for the guys. But for me, it's gotta be Pink Lemonade from my vintage glass pitcher.


Did you notice my yo-yo quilt top under the pitcher and glasses? When my Nanny (grandmother) passed away, there was a trash bag full of quilt remnants and these pieces were thrown in haphazardly. My Gram took one look at everything and went straight to work. This top has so much sentiment for me - both sides of my family touching each piece with such love. I get very nostalgic whenever I see it.

This week Beverly our wonderful host from How Sweet The Sound has asked us to promote another blogger, one that we visited last week and who we had never visited before. I found Lemon Drop Vintage a unique blog that shows her love of vintage things over and over. She's always having a good time. I've added this great blog to my google reader list. Be sure to stop by and tell her that I sent you.

Wishing for Fall at The Old Parsonage

I'm soo itchin' to start my Fall decorating. Fall is my favorite season, the sweet smell of the fallen leaves, apples and apple cider, mums, pumpkins and gourds, football games and warm woolly sweaters make me smile.

Although I won't get out my Fall decor for another week or so, I have changed my dining room tablescape with something that feels Fall-like, to me anyway.

I have several pieces of Eldreth pottery that I use throughout the house. I am constantly moving and changing things around, just to keep things fresh.



Next month there are so many things happening here at The Old Parsonage. Four of our nieces have birthdays, along with me and one of my SIL's. And, we always celebrate Applesauce Sunday in September. Alison, Nicole and I go to a local orchard and get 2 bushels of McIntosh apples. We spend the day making applesauce, apple dumplings and the best Jewish Apple Cake, making sure that there plenty left over to eat.



I know that school has started for a lot of people, but I don't think the kids around here go back until next week. We live within walking distance of our high-school and can hear the marching band practicing their songs, another sure sign of Fall approaching.

What are some of your Fall traditions?

Fresh Flowers for The Old Parsonage

I love to fill The Old Parsonage with fresh flowers.There is a wonderful market in a nearby town that sells produce, plants and fresh flowers at unbelievable prices - I got all of these for $18.00!!

These snapdragons smelled faintly sweet and just called out to me.


And who could pass up roses? Pretty in Pink and looking soo romantic in my Hull Vase.

Our flower beds provide a lot of bouquets, but I'm always on the look out for fresh flowers of any kind.

And, what's a trip to Produce Junction without my favorite fresh flowers - Gladiolus?

Three huge bunches for $10!! Now that's a bargain. I used them all over the house - On the buffet in the dining room.

I had gladiolus at our wedding and was promptly told by my MIL that they are funeral flowers. She has since learned to curb her tongue:) This beautiful bunch is sitting on the piano.

I thought the the kitchen needed a little romance too and added them to an Eldreth pottery pitcher. They are the same shade of pink as the others, but the lighting in the kitchen was different. What are your favorite fresh flowers?

Thanks for stopping by The Old Parsonage. I hope that you've enjoyed your visit and will come back real soon.

Primitive Style from The Old Parsonage

I finally remembered to take my camera to the Renninger's Market in Kutztown. There is a great stand that sells primitive style chachka, that I thought Cathi from Shakerwood Primitives and others who love the primitive style would love to see.


We found this sweet market when Adam started at Kutztown University 4years ago. On the outside you'll find flea market tables with lots of great treasures.

There's one stand that sells the lids to ceramic, glass and pottery bowls, and vintage hardware for cabinets, etc.

Inside, there are produce stands, butchers, bakeries and other food stands with great egg sandwiches, hot dogs, soft pretzels and other yummy snacks.

Bob and I are always there in the early morning hours. Number one to beat the heat, Number two to beat the crowds, and Number three so that when we get home, there's still time to get our chores done. He always gets a bacon egg and cheese on whole wheat toast, while I get my usual - a "well done" (burnt) hot dog with sauerkraut and onion. It's one of my favorite reasons to go.

I did buy a few things that I'll share with you later. I hope that you enjoyed Primitive Style from The Old Parsonage. What's your decorating style?

Enjoy your day!

Christmas in July Projects

This wasn't supposed to post until Sunday, not sure what happened? But I have a newer post below this one for Show and Tell and Pink Saturday!

I wanted to share the last few Christmas in July projects that I made. The ideas I must confess are not mine. They are from my Stampin up! club, but I made them my own by adding vintage touches, since I couldn't go that night. I apologize for the dark photos, it's been so rainy and dreary here lately.

This was a 3-d card, that is soo easy to make, if anyone wants the directions, just let me know

This a a sweet little notepad holder, perfect for jotting down Christmas ideas while on the go.


And mine is just waiting to be filled!

We were at the beach for the last week of Christmas in July, but I did manage to buy a few Christmas presents and a new Belsnickle. He's great! A real patriotic Saint Nick, I'll be sure to snap a few photos when the sunbeams return.

Thanks for stopping by The Old Parsonage, I'll be sure to stop by and visit sometime soon.

I am humbled

Kristen at Scrappin My Bliss presented me and a lot of other wonderful blogs with this wonderful award. I've been away at the beach and am still tyring to visit all my wonderful blogging friends. I had to catch up and read 7 posts at Kristen's blog alone!

I started blogging a little over 1 year ago and have come to call it one of my passions. I have made so many wonderful friends. Our little community continues to grow with a number of sweet folks who really care about each other. I know that if I'm feeling low, someone will post something on their blog or leave a comment for me that sets my path back on track and lifts my spirits. If I don't list your blog below, I apologize. I always play by the rules, and the rules say 15 blogs. I put all of the blogs that I read regularly into a hat the came up with the list below.
However, if you're reading this then please accept the award with my love.

Here are the rules for the award, please accept it, then acknowledge the blog & blogger that has given you the award in a post along with his/her name, and link. Then pass the award onto 15 other blogs that you love to stalk. So lots of love and fun will be had by all! Remember to write everyone to let them know that you have given them an award!

So, I wish to pass on this most lovely award to these fabulous blogging women:

• Shakerwood Primitives

• Loveleigh Treasures

• Mike Hale & Company

• Mockingbird Hill Cottage

• Ribbonwood Cottage

• Shirl's Rose Cottage

• Fitty's Pinky Rose Cottage

• Annes Paper Fun

• Cherry Hill Cottage

• Karla's Cottage

• Posy

• Season's of Change

• There's No Place Like Home

• It's Christmas in Kansas City

• Margo's Junkin' Journal

I'll be around shortly to let everyone know that I've given them the award. I hope that you'll all play along. Thanks again Kristen! !

What a difference

You all know that I've turned Adam's room into a guest room/craft studio. Well the table that I've been using is just a little too short. So when we were at the market last week and I saw these bed stands, I had a eureka! Yep, you guessed it, they added just the right height to my table.



It's amazing what a difference 6" in height makes. They fit perfectly. While I didn't snap any photos of the table legs - that seemed a little boring to me, I did take a photo of one of my stamp showcases.


Bob made these great display shelves years ago for Adam. Adam was an avid hockey card collector and enjoyed displaying them in his bedroom. When he moved out, he left them on the wall. They are perfect for my stamps. Now instead of routing through cases looking for just the right stamp, all I have to do is look around the room. I have 4 shelves and might just see if I can persuade DH to whip up one or 2 more. Perhaps some oatmeal whoopie pies might entice him:)

I'll share more photos as I get organized.

Thanks for visiting The Old Parsonage. And as always, leave a comment so that I can return your visit.

Guess Who?

Yep, that's me in my pretty pink dress! The photo was done in B&W, then my Nanny had someone paint over it. Apparently this was common in our area. We have one other photo like this - it's one of me and my brother.

Edit: Nanny is what we called my Dad's Mom, not a person who took care of us.

And yes, that's a home styled haircut - notice the uneven bangs. Why is it Mothers always think that they can cut hair? Thankfully that's one thing that I never did to our boys. What about you, any home haircut gone awry stories that you want to share?

Don't forget to visit Beverly's on Saturday for Pink Saturday.