Winter Wonderland

I woke up this morning to a beautiful mini snow storm. We're expecting 1-2 inches followed by sleet and freezing rain.


So, my plans are to drink mega amounts of coffee this am and snuggle under an afghan while watching all four disks of Gone with The Wind!!! Another present from Santa.

We're staying in tonight just the two of us with some snack food and champagne. My idea of a perfect New Year's Eve! Stay safe, reflect on the past and enjoy.

The Cookies and The Cookies

I hope that everyone had a truly blessed Christmas. Sorry that I've been incognito, but, well you know how it goes...


My first year of selling cookie trays was a huge success! I learned a lot, but had a blast doing it.



I made 19 different type of cookies and 4 types of candies. A lot of the recipes are old family favorites.



There are nut rolls, pumpkin cookies, raisin cookies, thumbprints, Hungarian kolacky, peanut brittle, and chocolate covered pretzels to name a few.



I've been told that I need to raise my prices next year, and after doing some research realized that people are right. But as I said, all in all I consider the fact that someone wanted to buy what I make a success! I have off from work this week, so hopefully I'll be on a better schedule of posting and visiting. Love to all!

Front Porch Welcome from the Old Parsonage

I'm joining Karen from Some Days are Diamonds for Doors of Welcome (this Wednesday). This is a view of our front porch. I love to use fresh greens everywhere!


A friend of mine gave me this cement pineapple a few years ago and I love it! It's been everywhere that I can think of - garden, back porch, inside and now the front porch!


A few years ago we cleaned out my MIL's barn and she was going to throw this Santa away! Not one of my SIL's wanted it. I sat back quietly while we cleaned out, because I was the DIL and not the daughter. After they decided they didn't want something then I would speak up. Well, I held my breath and then let out I shrill - I'LL TAKE IT!!! Can you believe that no one else wanted it? They really aren't into antiques. There are also 4 reindeer and a sleigh!


Can you see those pheasant feathers that I used in the cornucopia? I stuck them in the greens for something a little different.


This isn't anything to spectacular, just some pine cones and an oil lamp, but look closely at the background. See that white stuff? It snowed yesterday!! Not too much, but enough to cover the grass and trees (I took this later in the day after the sun shone on it). I'm lovin' it, just puts me so much more in the mood for Christmas - if that's even possible!

Sweet Faces at The Old Parsonage

A few years ago my DH talked me into collecting these sweet Santa mugs. We'd been seeing a lot of them whenever we went antiquing.


They are fairly inexpensive and and now I"m hooked!


Doesn't she have the sweetest face? She was surprise from DH one year!


And, well Rudolph, I spotted him this past summer and snatched him right up! So far I've baked Monday and Tuesday nights and have made over 200 cookies. I work until 5:30 so until we eat and get the kitchen cleaned up, I don't get started until after 7pm. My goal is 4 batches of easy cookies per night during the week then this weekend will be a non-stop "difficult" cookie and candy making marathon!

This week I'm joining Cindy from My Romantic Home


and Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. I'd like to thank both women for hosting these wonderful days!


Enjoy!

Family Fun at The Old Parsonage

We had such a great time making and decorating gingerbread cookies today.



My brother brought the girls down, my parents came and we all went to town.


There was so much candy, sprinkles, and jimmies flying around it was like a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate factory!

And of course everyone had to sample the candies while they decorated.





If you add food coloring to Karo syrup it makes a great paint, and its easy to clean up (I use it instead of making multiple colors of icing.





I'll start my official cookie and candy making tomorrow night. Did I tell you that I'm actually selling cookie trays this year?! It's still hard for me to believe that someone wants to buy something that I make.



Check out the fancy finger nails on this one:)

I truly appreciate all of you sweet comments and well wishes. I'm hoping to have some free time this week to visit all of you


I hope that you are all enjoying some family fun of your own!

A Christmas Memory from The Old Parsonage

When we were small we would travel to my grandmother's house (Nanny) on Christmas Eve. It was a 4hour car ride on the turnpike and another 1hr on steep and windy roads up mountains, most times in the snow and or freezing rain.


My Dad worked 2nd shift so Mum would pack the car while he was at work (we never saw one present go in or cone out of that car), then when he got home at 11pm, off we'd go. The trip flew by for my brother and I (we slept the whole time), but my Mum was a nervous wreck the whole time. We'd get in to Nanny's around 4am, pile out of the car and into her warm beds. As we got older, both of my grandmother's would come and stay with us for weeks during the holidays. We have home movies of them spending those later years with us, what memories! My Nanny had a little lady like this one on her kitchen window sill, and although this one isn't hers, I had to buy it because it reminds me of her so.

Beverly at How Sweet The Sound hosts Pink Saturday every week. I'm sending Beverly a huge thank you for continuing to organize and host this wonderful event. Thanks Beverly!!