Around the house....

I found this Santa in the clearance section in Walmart. He was a kit and it was only $3.00. How could you pass that up? His tree lights up.

This is the cart in my kitchen. The snowman with the lantern lights up.

I've had him for ages. Have to get a candle for the centerpiece.

This is the top of my mantel. Haven't really decided what to do here. Just put the things on top due to not having room for them someplace else. Kind of like the snowmen there.

Well now it's time to go help dh outside. He is busy putting the lights up on the tree. I know he likes to check each light to make sure it works. Usually takes him hours to finish this chore. And to think, he is not a fan of decorations.

Pay It Forward

Came across Vickie's blog, with her Pay It Forward post. What a nice thing to do. I could do that. I love to make things. Especially for others. So here it goes......

"I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

How easy is that? Are you up to it??

Getting caught up around here. Pulled all the holiday decorations out of the attic. There are boxes all over the place. Need some organization. I love just pulling things out and looking at all the items. Some were bought, some gifts. Such memories. Cant wait till everything is in place. The tree is up and ready to decorate!

Happy Thanksgiving

One by one....

Getting around to working on my ornament swap. Have many to make. Signed up to 3 different ones. Don't know yet if they'll all be the same. I'm one for change at a certain point. Making many of one thing, kind of gets boring. At least for me anyway. Cant wait to see them all done. I just love snowmen.

This weekend we went to an estate sale. First time for us. We were driving and came upon a sign. So decided why not. The wares and tares that were in this house were unbelievable. I could only imagine what was in it before we got there. I'm sure there was much more stuff then what we came upon. I came home with some kitchen utensils and some more glass jars. Like I need more jars. My husband calls them dust collectors. Hey, it's my dust, so I'll collect. Then we stumbled out to the garage and we seen it sitting there. A sewing machine. There was so many things all around it and on it. So we cleaned it off and the tag on it said it was only $1. What a find. Its going to take alot of work to fix it up. That's the fun of it. Now I just need to find a place for it.

Tis' The Season..

To start pulling out the stash! Was suppose to head out to the craft/fabric store the other day. But never made it. So went through some things to see what I wanted to use and to see what I had. Pulled out a couple of pieces of fabric that I might use. But really need to get to the fabric store to see what they have. I always love walking through and looking at all the beautiful bolts they have. I could spend a whole day there. Saturday is the day! I also have a coupon to use. Which gives me more of an incentive to get there. Gosh, wish it was today!

Also wanted to spread the word about the Christmas Party! It'll be held at Debb Gathering Place on December 18Th. Check out her site for details. Should be alot of fun.

Wordless Wednesday

Need to catch up here. Haven't been on in a couple of days. Just due to not feeling well. Had a constant headache and my body just hurt. Maybe I just needed some rest. Which I'm happy to say, I did get some. Today I felt much better. Caught up around the house and made a pot of turkey soup.

With the chill in the air, warmed us right up.

I also made some brownie peanut butter bites. They were easy. The cleanup was a snap. Had some mini muffin liners with pumpkins on them. Figured I'd use them up. Had to hide them. DH is working and if I kept them out. The kids would of ate them all.

Then to top it off, had some apples I had to use. So tried some baked ones. This is the first time that I made them. Didn't follow any recipe. I made them with dried cranberries and walnuts. Thinking next time, have to add some more liquid. But for the first time, didn't come out that bad.

Now it's time to fold all the laundry that I did today. Going to make a cup a tea while I do that. Then maybe just read and catch up on my magazines.

Enjoy your evening.

Wordless Wednesday

Cooking on Tuesday.......

MUSHROOM SOUP

1 Tbl butter
6oz fresh mushrooms, cleaned, sliced and chopped
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
salt/pepper to taste

In sauce pan, saute' mushrooms in butter for about 1 minute. Add cream and milk slowly, stirring constantly, until it boils. Lower heat, keep stirring. Salt/pepper to taste. Serve immediately


MARMALADE CHICKEN BAKE

1 5-6 lb whole chicken
1 cup orange marmalade
2 TBL Worcestershire sauce
4-5 tsp old bay seasoning
2 tsp minced onion
1 TBL fresh parsley, chopped

Place chicken on rack in roasting pan. Mix all ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for approx 1.5 hours. Baste often.


GINGER PEAR CHEESCAKE CUPS

1 can pear slices, drained, reserve juice
12 ginger snap cookies, crushed
1/4 cup cream cheese softened
1 cup cool whip topping

Sprinkle half of crushed cookies evenly into 4 dessert cups. Stir together cream cheese and 4Tbl of reserved pear juice. Stir in cool whip. Spoon mixture evenly over crushed cookies and top with pear slices and remaining crushed cookies.

Until next year........

Everything being packed away and put up in the attic. Had a fun Halloween this year. Treating with the kids. The parties at school. And also the blog party here. Fun, fun, fun. Enjoyed reading alot of the blogs. Most of them, I will go back and keep reading.

Until next year....goodbye Mr. Pumpkin!