Winter Wonderland

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Well, it wasn't exactly a winter wonderland but it was wonderful just the same! :0) It started snowing mid morning and continued until late into the afternoon.

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Brrr...even my flowers look cold!

Flowers
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We started out with little ice pellets but by afternoon big fluffy flakes were falling.

Velvet
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Along with it being a "snow day" I declared it a "stay in pajamas and make crafts" day too. The kids got dressed to go outside, but I stayed in my sweatpants and t-shirt all day.

The first craft we made were Scrappy Fabric Ornaments. We used small styrofoam balls and 1 inch squares of fabric, cut with pinking shears. They *do not* have to be perfect squares.

Fabric
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Place each square on the ball and push down into foam with a pointed object. Sharp pencils work well as do shish kabob skewers, which is what we used. The end result should be a crinkled up piece of fabric sticking out of a foam ball. Don't worry, the end result is pretty. ;0)

Benjamin is hard at work on his ornament.

Benjamin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here is one partly finished. Tuck in the squares of fabric fairly close together.

Unfinished
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We added a embroidery floss bow and loop mad onto Benjamin's ball and he found the perfect spot for it on the Christmas tree.

Ornament
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here is the one I finished, with a ribbon bow.

Ornament
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

The next craft we did was transform our Christmas cards from last year into "new" cards.

Cards
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We cut out the pictures, glued them on a plain white card, then applied glitter all around the edges of the picture. We added little dots, swirls, etc. with a gold pen, along with Christmas verses and greetings.

Finished cards
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We had such a fun time and I want to show you my favorite part of the day....

You really can make a snowman with only 1/2 an inch of snow! Grace made this little fellow and he is about 1 foot tall. :0)

Snowman
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Thanks for letting me share our "snow day!"

Snowflakes and Black Velvet

Snowman
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Tomorrow our high is going to be 38F. In Texas, that is considered cold! Also, when I read our weather forecast, it has little pictures of snowflakes. :0)

In Karen Andreola's book, "A Charlotte Mason Companion" she shares how to Catch a Fallen Snowflake. We have used her method for the past few years.

All you need to celebrate the first fluffy cold snowfall is a piece of black velvet (or any black fabric really). Keep it hidden for the big event. Put the fabric outdoors, long enough for it to become as cold as its surroundings. Once it is cold, you can use it as a "snow-catcher."

Snowflakes will stay frozen and retain their shape as they gently land on the cloth. With a magnifying glass - or even the unaided eye, you'll be able to get a clear look at all the crystals.

We have our sweaters and slippers ready to enjoy our cold day. Hot chocolate and Apple Butter Spice Cake are on the menu.

Cake
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Apple Butter Spice Cake

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup apple butter (found in the jam section of your grocery store)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup wheat germ or quick oats
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray or grease one 9x13 inch pan.

2. In small bowl, prepare the topping by mixing together the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped pecans.

3. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4. In bowl of standing mixer, blend together butter and sugar; add eggs and beat well. Add apple butter, vanilla, wheat germ or bran cereal. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with sour cream; mix well after each addition.

5. Pour 1/2 batter into pan, sprinkle 1/2 the topping over top. Pour remaining batter and top with remaining topping.

6. Bake for 40 minutes.

The best part about this cake is the brown sugar topping on top and in the middle!

Cake
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Recipe fromAllrecipes.com
Photo from Art.com


Stay warm and if you get any snow at your house send some down to Texas!

O Christmas Tree!

We began our evening with a little snack. Crackers and cheese, snack mix, "candy cane" Hershey kisses, and eggnog!

Snack
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We used our Christmas dishes that I found at a yardsale a couple of years ago. Service for 8 for $8.00 total!

Dishes
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Even though Phillip is a major Pepsi fan, he was sweet enough to get me these Coke bears back in 1994. It looks like one of them has snuck off with a real bottle of my Coke! ;0)

Bears
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Time to decorate the tree! We used white lights, silver and red balls, candy canes and a variety of ornaments that we have collected. The kids pick out a new one every year.

Emily
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Grace
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Benjamin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

This year, it was Emily's turn to put the star on the top. She needed a little help from Dad, 8 feet high is scary when you are only 7!

Star
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Ta-da!! All finished!

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We put our nativity under the tree.

Nativity
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here it is with the office lights off. We all love how it turned out!

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

Thanks for looking!

Ready to Decorate

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am right now. Standing in our office is a real Christmas Tree. The year after Phillip and I got married (1995), we had a good friend that was extremely allergic to pine. So, we got an artificial tree which was a huge adjustment for me. I grew up in the country and was used to my Dad taking my siblings and I out into the back field and cutting one down.

So what led to this wonderful occasion? Something "killed" our fake tree last year. That little something was our cat, Fern. She was 12 weeks old at the time and practicially lived in our tree. She also chewed up every strand of lights by the time December was over!

It's hard to be too mad...look how cute she was!

Fern
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I was quite happy to take advantage of the situation and told Phillip we would try a real one for just one year. ;0)

Here we are with our tree safely tied to our van roof. We have always had our tree in the livingroom, but this year we have it in the office-which has closing doors. No chewed wires this time.

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Grace
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

To help us get into the Christmas sprit we have plenty of Christmas music to listen to. We have been adding a few CD's to our collection every year. My favorites are Steven Curtis Chapman, Bryan Duncan, Evie, Michael Bolton (don't disown me, Tina Leigh!) and my very favorite, Mariah Carey. The Christmas season doesn't start until I hear her sing "O Holy Night!"

Music
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I'm waiting for my favorite bloggers to share their decorating ideas so I can steal borrow them, but in the meantime I am looking for inspiration in old issues of Martha Stewart and Victoria Magazines.

Magazines
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Phillip has the next 3 days off so we will be busy decorating the tree, drinking lots of hot chocolate and hopefully sneaking in a trip to Michaels. :0)

Until then, here is a peek at what my livingroom looks right now....

Unpacking
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Boxes
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Thankfully, we have a few elves to help us out. ;0)

Emily
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Have a great Monday!

Saturday, November 25, 2006

We have an appointment with winter and we are ready.
-- Gladys Taber

Our Thanksgiving

Are you all out shopping on this "Black Friday?" I am going to be staying far away from the malls today! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Our first guest arrived around noon. We all sat down to eat at 1:30am. There were 17 of us! Later in the evening we had dessert and played "Apples to Apples." Everyone left at 8:00pm and I washed dishes until 10:00pm. :0) We have lots of leftovers for our dinner tonight...and lunch tomorrow..and...Sunday dinner....ok...you get the idea!!

While I was in the kitchen, we had a bit of trouble in the livingroom. Hankies and tinkertoys are dangerous things! ;0)

holdup
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Grace, Emily and Benjamin weren't sure about sitting at another table but the mini cans of sprite helped.

Kidtable
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

My kitchen heated up quickly so I put my hair up for the day.

Kelli
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Our 20lb. turkey.

Turkey
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

The candles are lit....

Table
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

All the food is hot.

Food
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Is it over already?!

Leftovers
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We waited for awhile to eat dessert. The bluebell ice cream is a dessert requirement here in Texas!

Dessert
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Phillip's mom made a lovely pumpkin and cream cheese roll and our friend Amanda made some awesome chocolate chip cookies. They disappeared very quickly!

Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here is the recipe for our Orange Fluff.

Orange Fluff

2 boxes Americana tapioca pudding
1 small box orange jello
2 small cans mandarin oranges
1 large container of coolwhip
3 cups boiling water

1. Mix dry pudding and jello.
2. Add water and stir well.
3. Let sit 15 minutes, and stir well again.
4. Chill 2-4 hours until semi-set but not solid.
5. Stir in well drained oranges and coolwhip.
6. Cover and chill several hours or overnight.

Today I will be cleaning up some more and putting our fall decorations away until next year. Then, it's up into the attic for our Christmas things!

~Happy Thanksgiving!~

May this day fill your heart with contentment and peace.

Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Happy Thanksgiving! I will be stuffing the turkey shortly, getting it into the oven, and then watching the Macy's parade. I want to thank all of you who come to visit me here every day. I never knew I would meet such wonderful friends when I started blogging this past January. Thank you so much for all your sweet comments, I really appreciate them! Whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving today or not, I hope your day is wonderful. I will be back this weekend with lots of pictures-maybe even of our Christmas tree. :0)

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

Thanksgiving Preparations

I have all of my serving dishes washed and ready for tomorrow. I have been using my 3 tired plate for fall leaves that my sister sent me from up North.

Leaves
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Grace was in charge of the pumpkin pies. She did a great job crimping the piecrusts.

Grace
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Emily fills up her crust with cinnamon apples. Mmmm...

Emily
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Benjamin stirs up the orange fluff while Emily wonders if she'll get to sample a bit. :0)

Fluff
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I had a very nice crimped crust on my apple pie but it FELL OFF in the oven, about 10 mintues into the cooking time. I have never had that happen before! LOL

Apple
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

My favorite, pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here is the table, set and ready for tomorrow. We will attempt to squeeze 11 people in...I hope no one is claustrophobic!!

Table
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Thanks for looking!! I'm off to bed!

Baking Day

Pie
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Our day will begin in the kitchen (and I'm sure end!) making pies and other things for tomorrow. I am baking one apple and two pumpkin pies. I also need to boil some eggs, cut up veggies and make a double batch of Dot's Yeast Rolls. The girls and Benjamin have their aprons on so I'm off to join them!

Thanksgiving Time

When all the leaves are off the boughs,
And nuts and apples gathered in,
And cornstalks waiting for the cows,
And pumpkins safe in barn and bin,
Then Mother says, "My children dear,
The fields are brown, and autumn flies;
Thanksgiving Day is very near,
And we must make thanksgiving pies!"
~Author Unknown.~

~Comfort Box~

I was reading one of my favorite books, The Book of Stillmeadow by Gladys Taber yesterday and came across a wonderful idea in the December chapter....

My great-great-Grandfather was a minister in Boston, and among the relics in his little haircloth, brass-studded trunk I found this week something which pleases me very much. It is a small yellowed box labeled “Comfort Powders.” Inside were thirty folded papers such as were used for powders by the old family doctors, folded at each end to keep the medicine from spilling. On each folded paper is a message, to be read for the day.

This is a lovely idea, I think, and bears repeated. For starting a new day with a beautiful thought might help us all. Grandfather’s comfort powders were Biblical, naturally. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Even though we have medicine in the form of pills nowadays, I loved the main idea and went off to look for a box to make my own Comfort Box.

I found an empty wet wipe box in the bathroom and covered the top with some matching paper. I wrote the same message on mine that was on Grandfather's box.

~Take one each morning with a generous dose of cheerfulness and thanksgiving.~

Box
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

~Good for the mind and heart, will promote love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.~

Inside
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I numbered 31 small pieces of paper, one for each day of the month. Index cards would work really well too.

Papers
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I wrote down various Bible verses. Today's message is, The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 I was thinking of making a few for Christmas gifts.

Verses
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

In a world still uneasy, these are good words to hear. And as we hear the daily news, we might feel a world of peace was a most vain illusion. But under the snow, violets sleep, and in the world there are still love, gentleness and goodness.

~Thanksgiving Menu~

Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

My mother-in-law came over for lunch yesterday and we put the finishing touches on our Thanksgiving menu. We are both making a turkey and stuffing, and of course deviled eggs. You can never have enough of those! ;0) We split up the sides and desserts to make the cooking easier. In additon to the 5 in our family, we will be having Phillip's parents and two brothers over, a friend from church, and a couple that we've been friends with for several years and their 2 children.

I am so excited about this coming week. I'm looking foward to a house full of family and friends (and pumpkin pie!). The kids are counting down the days until they can watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." I told them they have to wait until Friday!

Here is our Thanksgiving Menu. It is subject to change depending on how full my grocery cart gets today. ;0)

Appetizers
~Deviled Eggs
~Crackers and Brie
~Pickles and Olives

Dinner
~Roast Turkey
~Cornbread Stuffing
~Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
~Sweet potatoes with Marshmallows
~Corn with red peppers
~Waldorf Salad
~Cranberry Sauce
~Yeast Rolls

Dessert
~Pumpkin Pie
~Pecan Pie
~Apple Pie
~Pumpkin Roll
~Orange Fluff

As you can see, we will have enough food until Christmas! Leftovers are nice though, especially after all that cooking.

So, what is on your Thanksgiving menu?

Our Crafty Saturday

We decided to make some Thanksgiving cards today. We got out all our supplies, including Coke for me, since I stayed up too late last night!

Table
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Emily made cards for her friends and Benjamin made one for his cousin, Jacob.

Cards
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Grace designed her cards all by herself! Gobble Gobble!

Turkey
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We have also been adding leaves to our Thanksgiving tree. It is getting nice and full.

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here is the front of my card....

Forever
on
Thanksgiving Day
the heart
will find
the
pathway
home.

Front
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

and the inside.

With loved ones all around,
may you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Inside
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

All ready to be mailed out!

Cards
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I hope you are all having a great weekend, we are having a friend over for dinner and a movie. I'm off to make brownies. :0)

Thursday~The Patio and Gardens

It was such a nice day, I decided to spend it outdoors. The girls and Benjamin played in the sandbox while I got the gardens and patio ready for winter.

What a mess!

Patio
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I also cut down alot of my perennials and cleaned out the vegetable garden. Looks like we are going to the dump on Saturday!

Weeds
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Much better!

Patio
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I planted my pansies last weekend. Here are one of the flower pots by my front porch. Don't worry, the hedgehog is friendly. :0)

Pot
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

If my pansies do well this winter, I will press them for Easter cards in the spring.

Pretty little maidens,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Standing in a row,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Looking towards the sunshine,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Faces all aglow,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Decked in pretty colors,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

With their gloves of green.

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

These lovely little ladies,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Love to pose and preen.

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Do you have a favorite pansy?


Pretty Pansy Poem by Tinuviel

A Blustery Day

Gopher: If I was you, I'd think about skedaddlin' out of here.
Winnie the Pooh: Why?
Gopher: 'Cause it's "Winds-day."

Pooh
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We are having a "blustery" sort of day. When I opened my front door this morning, I was greeted by lots of lovely leaves.

Welcome
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I was supposed to clean the livingroom today but shopping sounded like more fun. ;0) We found some chocolate truffles and raspberry hot cocoa to help keep us warm. I also picked up a squash I've never tried before. It is called Sweet Dumpling. I mainly bought it because of the name, but I'm sure it tastes good too. :0)

New things
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I found some pretty Christmas cards. They read:

One thing at Christmas we always like to do
is send "God's Blessings" to special ones like you.

God Bless you with the most
joyous Christmas season.
"I thank God upon every remembrance of you." Philippians 1:3

Cards
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I also picked up a Thanksgiving Menu at Whole Foods. I like to look through it for inspiration, I have no desire to spend $119.00 to feed 6-8!

Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, Cornbread Pecan Suffing, Chocolate Pecan Pie...mmm....only 8 days until Thanksgiving!

Menu
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I promise to clean tomorrow. ;0)

Photo from Allposters.com.

The Bedrooms~Before and After

I just cleaned out Grace and Emily's closet but here we are again! We need to do better with our daily tidy-ups.

Mess
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

The biggest problem involves the stuffed animals. I counted over 40 (some are small) and all of them are very special friends, of course! :0)

Toys
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We just bought new shoes, so I filled up all the empty boxes. I would love to hear any suggestions on how you deal with these furry little critters!

Animals
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Total clean-up time in their room: 45 minutes.

Closet
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Benjamin's room just needed a little work.

Closet
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

He does a great job with keeping his toys sorted.

Toys
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Paper issues run in our family. ;0)

Nightstand
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

The lego magazines are back in their place of honor. Total clean-up time: 30 minutes.

Nightstand
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

All the rooms got a good dusting and vacuum. My sewing pile keeps on growing.

Sewing-before
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Now I'm feeling inspired to sew some Christmas projects.

Sewing-after
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I put up the white netting a few months ago but keep forgetting to take down the picture! Total clean-up time: 20 minutes.

Bed
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Now I'm all ready to relax in my chair but as you can see Fern had the same idea.

Fern
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Judging from that big 'ol yawn and stretch, I don't think she is going to be moving anytime soon!!

Yawn
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

The only thing on my list for tomorrow is the livingroom.

The Office~After

Here I am! It took longer than I expected, but it turned out much nicer than I expected, so I'm happy!

I cleaned up my paper mess....

Desk
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We cleared out the big pile of stuff and put a folding table and two chairs in its place.

Table
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

My mom saved all of our homeschool science supplies and I'm so excited to have a place for them now. If you click on the picture and scroll over it, there are little notes.

Science
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover our microscope still works!

Microscope
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

A comfy reading chair if I can beat our kitty to it. :0)

Chair
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I also washed the curtains and all the glass squares. Who knew glass could get so dusty. ;0)

Doors
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I'm going to work on the bedrooms tomorrow but they aren't too bad, just some dusting and tidying up closets.

Thanks for looking!

Monday~The Office and Schoolroom~Before

I decided to start with the office, or "Man Room" as Phillip calls it. :0) It is the room that needs the most work and Phillip is home today to help me with the heavy stuff.

Most of the paper mess on the desk is mine. Oops!

Desk
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Alot of the papers won't get sorted until after the New Year. Our main goal is to get everything moved out and to set up a card table where we can put our homeschool science supplies.

Papers
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Can you guess how often we use the weight bench? ;0)

Corner
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Well, there you have it! Fortunately, the schoolroom just needs it's regular dusting and vacuuming. Hopefully I'll be back tonight with the "after" pictures. If not, don't call me, I won't be able to hear you from under all the paper!

Sunday Dinner

I am feeling much better today. Thank you for the get well wishes! We had a quiet, family Sunday dinner this afternoon.

Anna from Pleasant View Schoolhouse wrote a wonderful post on making soup this week and I used her tips to make a big pot of Vegetable Noodle soup.

Soup
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

My friend Dot, over at Beaneath the Shady Oak shared her yeast roll recipe with me and they were the best rolls I've ever had!

Rolls
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Dot's Yeast Rolls

This recipe works best if you have a large stand mixer. If you don't, go ahead and make it anyway. Just beat and beat the dough really well as you add the flour.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup buttermilk
2 pkg. dry yeast
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
4-1/2 to 5 cups flour

PREPARATION:
Warm the milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Mix 1/3 of the milk with the dry yeast in a small bowl and let sit until bubbly. In a large bowl, combine remaining milk, melted butter, salt and sugar and beat until the sugar is dissolved. Then add the beaten eggs and bubbly yeast.

Add flour, 1/4 cup at a time, beating on high speed of stand mixer. This step should take at least 5 minutes. When the dough gets too stiff to beat, stir in rest of flour by hand, if necessary, to make a soft dough. Turn out onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, until smooth and satiny. Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm place until light and doubled in size. (I have also covered the dough well and placed it in the refrigerator overnight. This works really well.)

Punch down the dough and divide up as evenly as possible into 24 pieces. Then divide each piece into 3 small pieces, rolling with your hands to make little balls. Put 3 balls into each muffin tin.

Cover rolls, and let rise again until double. (If you refrigerated the dough, this will take a little longer.)

Bake rolls at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan immediately and brush with melted butter. Makes 24 rolls.

Roll
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I also made Anna's Gingerberead and it was perfect.

Gingerbread
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

•Schoolhouse Gingerbread•

Combine and beat until smooth:

1 c. sugar
1 c. molasses
1 c. oil
3 eggs

In another bowl mix:

3/4 t. salt
1 t. cloves
1 t. ginger
1 t. cinnamon
2 c. flour
2 t. baking soda

Add to first bowl, then stir in:

1 c. boiling water.

Bake in greased and floured 8x8 pan at 350 for 45 minutes.


I sprinkled a little powdered sugar on the top. A dollop of whipped cream would be yummy too.

Cake
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Thank you Anna and Dot, for making our Sunday dinner so delicious today!

Leaves
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

With Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday's not far off, I decided to do a little "Holiday Cleaning" this coming week. I haven't been doing my weekly cleaning schedule for the past month, instead, just doing a over-all cleaning each Friday. As a result, I have some areas that aren't looking too clean! I will be posting before and after pictures, as well as some of my favorite things from each room.

Tomorrow I will be cleaning the office and schoolroom. Let me know if you'd like to join me in getting our homes sparkling clean for the upcoming holidays!

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Good Morning! It feels like the perfect day to hibernate under the warm covers, but I bought some pansies last week that really need to be planted. The inside of my house is looking pretty tidy, well, except for the closets, but we won't talk about that! The front and backyard definitely need a little attention.

Pot
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I trimmed the bushes last weekend so I'm glad that is out of the way. I love the cozy, overgrown cottage-y look but I don't think this is what they had in mind.

Before
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Much better!

After
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

This morning, I'm going to concentrate on the flowerbeds. I have some fresh dirt and mulch to add, along with the flowers.

Garden
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Our squirrel, Walnut was determined to get into the suet this week and it looks like he succeeded! Hmm....no wonder I can't get any woodpeckers to visit.

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, stuffy head, sore throat but I think the fresh air will do me some good. I'll post "after" pictures when I'm finished. Have a wonderful Saturday!

Thanksgiving Decorations~Part 2

Here are the last of our projects from our recent trip to the craft store.

I saw the idea for this Thanksgiving centerpiece in the October issue of Romantic Homes. I have a weakness for anything mossy. :0)

Table
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

The only things I purchased was the moss and mini pumpkins. The tin bucket was from our prairie day adventure. The pinecones, pine needles, sticks and acorns were collected during a walk in our neighbohood this past Monday!

Bucket
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I can't remember where I saw the idea for this pumpkin runner but it was probably Martha. ;0) Space your mini pumpkins out evenly, wrap wire ribbon in and around them and lay a beaded garland on top. Nice and easy!

Runner
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I have seen so many lovely Thanksgiving banners lately, so I decided to make one too! I used ribbon to hang it from the mantle.

Mantle
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

A nice reminder to.....

Banner
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Thanks for looking!

~Trees of Thanksgiving~

We have been making this fun and simple Thanksgiving Tree for a few years now. Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away, so it is the perfect time to start one with your family!

Draw a tree trunk and branches on a piece of brown construction paper. Cut out and attach to a wall or bulletin board. I used two 12x12 pieces of paper, so our tree is 2 feet high and 1 foot wide. I put it on a kitchen wall, down by the floor trim.

The girls and Benjamin have each added a leaf to our tree already.

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Cut leaf shapes out of colored construction paper. Each morning, write down something you are thankful for and place the leaf on a tree branch.

Leaves
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

After a week or two, your Thanksgiving Tree will be full of blessings and thanksgivings, for everyone to enjoy!

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 106:1



Another tree I want to show you, stands in our neighborhood. We've lived in Texas for 10 years and I have *never* seen a tree so brilliant in color!!

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Leaves
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

It reminds me of my very favorite Autumn poem. I hope you enjoy it!



The north wind came along one day,
So strong and full of fun;
He called the leaves down from the trees
And said, "Run children run".

They came in read and yellow dress,
In shaded green and brown,
And all the short November day
He chased them round the town.

They ran in crowds, they ran alone,
They hid behind the trees,
The north winds laughing found them there
And called "No stopping please"

But when he saw them tired out
And huddled in a heap,
He softly said, "Goodnight my dears,
Now let us go to sleep."

Thanksgiving Decorations~Part 1

The girls and I had a fun time at the craft store this past weekend. Things kept jumping into our shopping cart. ;0)

I saw this idea for Beaded Napkin Rings in the October 2003 issue of Martha Stewart.

Choose embroidery floss or ribbon that matches your dishes. Wrap around a rolled napkin so the ends meet in the front. Thread through the bead. If you use ribbon, make sure your bead has a large enough hole.

Napkin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I chose an orange bead and a single strand of gold embroidery floss.

Bead
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I found "already-made" placecards in the scrapbook section. I added a sweet acorn stamp. I love acorns!

Placecard
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here is the finished setting with the placecard at the top of the plate.

Setting
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here is another way to use any stamps you might have. I like to frame the corner of an envelope and have the stamp "float right off the edges." Make sure you place a piece of paper underneath so you don't get ink on the table. :0)

Envelope
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Sixteen days until Thanksgiving!

The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.
Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway -
Thanksgiving comes again!
- Anonymous

Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Squares

My theory is that Monday mornings are always better when you start them off with chocolate. :0)

Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Last week, Deb from Homespun Living shared a wonderful recipe for Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Squares and I just had to try them!

Oh, they were so good! Rich and moist, the perfect amount of pumpkin and dark chocolate.

Here is the recipe!

Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Squares

2 1/4 c. flour
2 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
4 beaten eggs
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
2 c. canned pumpkin
1 - 2 c. (dark) chocolate chips

Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray, or butter. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift together dry ingredients. In another bowl cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, beating well; add pumpking filling and mix. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture and blend. Add 1 cup chocolate chips & mix together. Spread into prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes.

Sometimes when it comes out of the oven I sprinkle another cup of chocolate chips over the top, let them melt and spread like frosting ~ very yummy and extra chocolatey!

I'm off to sneak another piece, have a great Monday!

Homemade Apple Butter

Remember these? I decided to make Apple Butter with them. I got the apples quartered and cooked down until soft.

Apples
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here is our handy dandy apple sauce contraption! The cooked apples go into the top funnel. Grace is pushing them down and Emily is turning the crank. The bowl on the left is where all the nasty peels and cores go.

Grace
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

It is fun to watch all the good part of the apple come down the shoot!

Benjamin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I had no idea I would get that much apple puree!! 5 quarts. 20 cups total!

Bowl
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

To the puree, I added sugar (lots!) cinnamon and cloves. Then I cooked it for a long time. I didn't pay attention to the directions when it said "make sure the puree isn't too watery." It cooked away for about 3 hours before it was thick enough! The house sure smelled good though!

Puree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I got 12 half pint jars, 3 pint jars and there is enough in the fridge to make another 6 pints! I covered the tops with red and white polka dot fabric.

Jars
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here they are, all ready for Christmas gifts. That is, if Phillip doesn't eat it all first. ;0)

Jar
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Saturday, November 4, 2006

Good Morning! The girls and I have plans to go to the craft store today. I have a few Thanksgiving projects to make and I will share pictures, of course!

I will be online later tonight so enjoy these pictures that Phillip took last month. October is one of the best months in Texas.

This is the view from across one of our libraries.

House
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

So many dragonflies!

Dragonflies
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Bridge
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

The swans are very friendly, and love bread. We watched two of them change from ugly ducklings into the beautiful swans they are now, this past year.

Swans
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Anything good down there?!

Swan
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Fun!

Phillip loves T-shirts. I've tried to get him to collect antique furniture, jewelry, or even vintage teacups, but no luck yet! ;0)

Here is one of his new t-shirts - my favorite so far.

Can you guess what the picture is about? Click on it to make it bigger. I'll reveal the answer tonight!

shirt
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

A Victorian Entryway

My friend, Sandra from Ravenhill Cottage just wrote a wonderful post on the comforts of a Victorian home. Based on her suggestions, I added a little something to my entryway. I also have plans to add a coat and hat rack, since our home doesn't have a hall closet.

I placed a small silver tray on the right side of the table. Long ago, it would have been used for calling cards, but now holds a few vintage Thanksgiving postcards.

Table
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I found the postcards while visiting a few antique shops this past weekend. Now I have the perfect spot to display them. :0)

Postcards
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

One of the cards has a sweet note written on the back.

It reads:

November 24, 1913
My Dear Boy-
Just recieved the rose cutting. Thank you for them.
I have been sick, the reason I have not wrote to you.
Feel some better now, will write you a letter soon.
Glad you are well.
Mother

Note
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Thank you for the wonderful ideas, Sandra!

So often, Thanksgiving is rushed or overlooked in an effort to get on to the next holiday - Christmas. Going to the stores this time of year certainly doesn't help! Let us look for ways to slow down and enjoy this wonderful time with our family and friends. May our thankfulness spill over into the month of December, as we celebrate the true meaning of the season!

~Welcome November~

Fireplace
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

November brings with it cold days and early evenings. Once again the fires are lit and the family draws hearthside.



~November~

Now the cold wind rattles
In the icy sedge,
And the sparrows ruffle
In the leafless hedge.

Past the wood and meadow,
On the frozen pool
All the boys go skating,
When they come home from school.

The river too was frozen;
I saw it far away,
And wished that I could trace it,
Skating night and day.

Up to where the ice-bergs,
On the polar sea,
Float, like glittering castles,
Waiting there for me.
-K. Pyle

Source: Mrs. Sharps Traditions by Sarah Ban Breathnach
Photo from Allposters.com

Dressing Up!

We had lots of fun last night and got a ton of candy. I never know what to do with it all. Do we let them have one piece a day for the next 6 months? Do we let them pick out a certain number of their favorites and take the rest to the dentist to trade in for prizes? Do we throw it out when they aren't looking? (We wouldn't really do that!!) Do mini chocolate bars make nice Christmas presents? ;0)

Grace dressed up like a cowgirl and her doll Molly, looked like her twin!

Grace
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Emily was a pink fairy, complete with my dangly earrings. It's been about 8 weeks since getting her right ear re-peirced so she was very excited!

Emily
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Benjamin was a friendly pirate!

Benjamin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here are some pictures of their costumes, from the past few years.

I sure miss those baby teeth grins!

Girls
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

A pretty pink princess.

Grace
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

A ballerina mouse!

Emily
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Last but not least, we have a pretty doctor, a sweet elephant and look at my cute little Eyeore!!

Elephant
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I hope you enjoyed them!