"Show and Tell Friday!"

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

We have a surprise guest host for Show and Tell today! My daughter, Grace is hosting because it's her birthday !! That's right, my baby is 10 years old now! Grace picked three special things to share with us today...


The first thing I want to show you is my gold baby bracelet.


My Grandma gave it to me when I was about 3 months old.


This is me wearing the bracelet at my baby dedication. It was huge when I was little, but now it doesn't fit at all!


This is probably the most special thing I own. This is my doll, Molly. I got her when I was 2 years old.


Here she is under the Christmas tree.


On trips and vacations I always bring her with me, even on airplanes.


This is my favorite teacup. The first thing I drank in it was milk on Christmas morning.


To me this kind of bird looks like a snowbird, so I call it my "snowbird teacup".

Thank you for looking at my special things!

Happy Birthday Grace!


Show and Tell Guidelines

What is Show and Tell Friday?
Show and Tell involves showing something to an audience, and then telling them about it. Your show and tell must be something that you own, and is in your home or garden.

What items work well for Show and Tell Friday?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-Family heirlooms
-A collection you may have
-A piece of jewelry
-A special gift
-Gardening pictures

What doesn't work well for Show and Tell Friday?
-Posts with no photos have no "Show." Please don't use them.
-Photos of events (trips, vacations, celebrations, etc.)
-Photos of things you are selling or planning to sell.
-Photos found on the internet, graphics or screenshots. Please use photos you take yourself.
-Old photos of just people instead of things.

There is no place like home is the original home of Show and Tell Friday. Please do not host your own.

How can I participate?
Once you've got your photo(s) and your story, it's easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Publish your "Show and Tell" on your blog, *including* a link back to There is No Place Like Home. Go HERE for the "Show and Tell" picture code to copy and paste into your post.

2 - Copy the link (or "permalink") from your post.

3 - Add it to Mr. Linky, along with your first name only. (This will make the list easier to read.) I usually put Mr. Linky up on Friday at 12:00am Eastern time.

Victorian Lace from the Attic

Good afternoon! Thank you for sharing some of the things you do to make your home cozy for winter. I enjoyed reading all of your comments! I mentioned to my friends at the Seasonal Delights forum that I have been knitting some lace recently. Bovey Belle from Codlins and Cream asked to see a picture, so I thought I would share a few here.


I found this book, Lace from the Attic ~A Victorian Notebook Of Knitted Lace Patterns by Nancie Wiseman at my library and fell in love. A 100-year-old leather notebook was found in the attic of a house where a Miss Blanche Beau had once lived.


Blanche had sewn knitted lace samples onto each notebook page, along with the directions. The only problem was, no one knew what her abbreviations meant! With lots of patience, knitting and a magnifying glass to see the intricate pattern details, the author of the book solved all of Blanche's patterns and translated them into the common abbreviations we use today.

Here are some small snippets I have knitted this past month...












I used size 2 and 3 knitting needles.


For thread I used crochet cotton and embroidery floss. I liked the embroidery floss because there are more colors to choose from...soft pinks and yellows are my favorite.


There is one pattern for "Fairy Lace" that I got stuck on.


The beginning of Row 1 begins with YO (Yarn Over). How do you YO without any stitches on your right hand needle. Can anyone help?

Anyways, thank you for looking at my knitted lace! I'll be back for show and tell Friday in a few hours. There will be a very special guest host this week. :0)

A Cozy Winter Home

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." ~Edith Sitwell


Hello everyone! Thank you for your sweet comments about the Hidden Surprise Valentines. It's hard to believe January is almost over and the time for red hearts and roses is almost here.
Before I put up my Valentine banner, I want to show you this "Home" banner that I made a few weeks ago.


I used simple paper ovals with gold letter stickers. I also added small beads along the ribbon. They remind me of little lanterns.


My banner got me thinking about ways to create a cozy home for winter. I know many parts of the country are buried in snow and have awhile to go until spring. Here are a few ideas to celebrate this cold and snowy season...


The soft glow of candlelight creates a sense of warmth and comfort.


So does snuggling up with an old quilt and favorite book.


Enjoy the pleasures of a winter kitchen with a pot of soup simmering away on the stove and buttery slices of homemade bread. I made this Chicken Tortilla Soup that my friend Sandra recently shared and it was delicious.


Mugs of Hot Chocolate are always a nice treat too.


While it's cold and windy outside, fill your home with the fragrance of citrus and spices. It will be a welcoming aroma for loved ones returning home at the end of the day!

Winter Spice Potpourri

Peel from 1 orange
Peel from 1 lemon
1 tablespoon whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 cups of water, plus more as needed

Place ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer on low, adding more water as it evaporates.

I would love to hear how you make your home cozy during this time of year too!

Hidden Surprise Valentine

Hello everyone! Valentine's Day is only 16 days away and I promised to share a Valentine project, so here it is: Hidden Surprise Valentines.


There are plenty of little tuck-ins on which to write messages of love and appreciation, or you can include coupons redeemable for breakfast in bed, a special night out, or homemade cookies!


I made one for each of the girls and Benjamin.

Come on over to Seasonal Delights for the instructions and templates!

Seasonal Delights News!

Phillip and I have tried to fill each issue of Seasonal Delights with lots of recipes and projects, but there are many that don't make it into the magazine. We decided to publish them as weekly bonus items for Seasonal Delights subscribers, and they've been quite popular.

Now we've decided to make all of these bonus projects and recipes free to all! There are a few bonus PDF files, and those remain as subscriber exclusives, but everything else -- 18 bonus items so far -- are linked below.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

23 photos illustrate this sweet and sticky treat, great for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even dessert.

Chocohotopots

If you love chocolate, you will love these decadent little pots of warm, gooey chocolate. They are easy to whip up, and taste great anytime, but would be perfect for your Someone Special on Valentine’s Day! 19 photos.

Gingerbread Pancakes

Let the spicy scent of these Gingerbread Pancakes fill your kitchen and warm you up on a cold winter’s morning.

Illustrated with 15 photos.

Party Cheese Balls

Two recipes in one! This week we demonstrate two different delightful cheese ball recipes: Sweet Pepper Cheese Ball and Jalapeño Pepper Jack Cheese Ball.

23 photos.

Christmas Hot pads

Perfect for last-minute Christmas gifts, here is a variation on the Autumn Hot Pads from the Autumn 2007 issue. This time the theme is Christmas, and the stitching is slightly more advanced. 16 photos illustrate.

Christmas Banners

10 photos illustrate this variation on a project originally included in the Autumn 2007 issue of the magazine. Use these festive banners to decorate for a party, or hang them around the house all season long!

French Bread Pizza

Tired of leftover turkey? Whether you’re looking for a chance of pace or just something quick as you shop for the holidays, simple and easy French Bread Pizza should fit the bill.

Illustrated with 14 colorful photos.

Pumpkin Roll

Just in time for your Thanksgiving menu, this dessert is a spicy pumpkin cake rolled with a sweet creamy filling, beautiful as well as delicious!

27 photos.

Refrigerator Dinner Rolls

Hot, buttery dinner rolls are a “must-have” for Thanksgiving, and these Refrigerator Dinner Rolls are easy and delicious. If that isn't enough already, we've provided a few variations to spice things up! Everything is illustrated with 39 detailed photos.

Cheesy Cornbread Muffins

These sweet corn muffins are the perfect addition to a big bowl of soup or chili. If there are any left overs, have them for breakfast the next day!

18 delicious photos.

Baked Acorn Squash

A sweet and buttery side dish to make for an Autumn dinner.

This very simple recipe turns a savory squash into a sweet sensation. 9 photos.

Pumpkin Butterscotch Cookies
photo @ flickr

Pumpkin meets butterscotch in these moist cake-like cookies filled with creamy chips that melt in your mouth! 15 mouth-watering photos.

Autumn Pear Salad
photo @ flickr

This simple salad provides a blend of tangy and sweet. A fresh, crisp, and crunchy combination of ingredients will add zest to any meal.

Grill up some chicken on the side and your dinner is complete! 11 photos.

Baked Ziti
photo @ flickr

Penne pasta baked with a blend of creamy ricotta cheese, seasoned beef, and marinara sauce makes for a delicious, rich, and filling Italian-style casserole.

A hot main dish for cool nights, illustrated with 26 photos and detailed step-by-step instructions.

Spiced Apple Cider
photo @ flickr

We've been through quite a few recipes, and this is definitely the best-smelling and most delicious Spiced Apple Cider recipe we've ever tried.

As crisp October mornings are arriving, pour yourself a delicious mug of Autumn cheer! 7 photos.

Pumpkin Patch Cake
photo @ flickr

20 beautiful photos detail the cake, the frosting, and even the decoration of this delightful spiced pumpkin cake! It's a perfect treat for the harvest season.


Fabric-Covered Journal
photo @ flickr

Page 15 of the magazine has instructions for creating a Nature Journal. For a variation on that theme, here are instructions for creating another kind of journal.

There are 16 detailed steps with 17 photos to lead you to the finished project, pictured at left.

Old-Fashioned Popcorn
photo @ flickr

No need for a microwave oven or a pre-packaged pan; make popcorn with a large pot and a stove top. Flavor it up however you wish, or use it as the base for the Autumn Popcorn Mix on page 8 of the magazine. 6 photos.


These projects and recipes are similar to the projects and recipes in each issue of Seasonal Delights. You can subscribe to the magazine for more, including access to the Seasonal Delights forum! Find more information at SD Quarterly.

I hope you enjoy looking at these past recipes and projects. Tomorrow I will share something for Valentine's Day! Have a wonderful Monday!

Five Senses Weekend

Hello everyone! My dad is in town for a visit and we are having a fun time together. I haven't done one of my friend Sandra's Five Senses Weekend in awhile, so here are some pictures that Phillip took from our Saturday.

We headed out to a nature park this morning. There were ducks to feed, woods to explore and lots of squirrels to watch.


One of my new year's goals is to do a monthly nature study. Phillip took plenty of pictures and we will get out our drawing pencils later this week and copy some of them.


~Smell: Crisp air and dried leaves.


~See: We call this park the "Squirrel Park" since there are so many of these critters running around. We took along some peanuts for them to eat.


Phillip got a great shot of this Tricolored Heron.


~Touch: I didn't touch this slimy slug, but Grace didn't seem to mind!


~Hear: The sound of feet running and jumping.


Duck feet too!


Taste: A favorite breakfast of toast and honey.


This bumblebee honey jar is a new find. Isn't he cute?!


One more thing: PBS Masterpiece Theatre is presenting the complete collection of Jane Austen movies every Sunday evening, for the next few months. Mansfield Park will be showing tomorrow. Thank you for reading about our weekend!

"Show and Tell Friday!"

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

Today I'm going to show you our collection of mini tea sets. This little bit of wall space is in my dining room.

I found the actual shelf at a yard sale many years ago.


This beautiful heart that Anita made for me hangs on one of the hooks.


On the very top shelf I keep two of these teapot candle holders.


The bottom two tea sets were gifts to the girls from Phillip. The white set is missing quite a few pieces because the girls actually used them for tea time when they were little. Let's just say these dishes are well loved. :0)






I found this last tea set at a yard sale a few years ago. The young girl that was selling it said her Grandmother brought it back from a trip she had made to Japan. I thought it was sad she was getting rid of it, but the girls and I have enjoyed it!



Thank you for looking my show and tell!

Show and Tell Guidelines

What is Show and Tell Friday?
Show and Tell involves showing something to an audience, and then telling them about it. Your show and tell must be something that you own, and is in your home or garden.

What items work well for Show and Tell Friday?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-Family heirlooms
-A collection you may have
-A piece of jewelry
-A special gift
-Gardening pictures

What doesn't work well for Show and Tell Friday?
-Posts with no photos have no "Show." Please don't use them.
-Photos of events (trips, vacations, celebrations, etc.)
-Photos of things you are selling or planning to sell.
-Photos found on the internet, graphics or screenshots. Please use photos you take yourself.
-Old photos of just people instead of things.

There is no place like home is the original home of Show and Tell Friday. Please do not host your own.

How can I participate?
Once you've got your photo(s) and your story, it's easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Publish your "Show and Tell" on your blog, including a link back to There is No Place Like Home. Go HERE for the "Show and Tell" picture code to copy and paste into your post.

2 - Copy the link (or "permalink") from your post.

3 - Add it to Mr. Linky, along with your first name only. (This will make the list easier to read.) I usually put Mr. Linky up on Friday at 12:00am Eastern time.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Variations and Toppings

Hello everyone! We have been trying out some different variations on hot chocolate and I thought I would share them with you.


I will admit to using the instant envelopes of hot chocolate many times, but here is my favorite homemade Hot Chocolate recipe. It's very quick and easy!

Hot Chocolate

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine the cocoa, sugar and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in boiling water and bring mixture to a boil, stirring continuously. Stir in the milk and heat until hot, but do not boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Serves 4-5.

Now for the different flavorings you can add...


~Raspberry Hot Chocolate: Stir in 1 teaspoon of seedless raspberry jam.


~Butterscotch Hot Chocolate: Stir in 1 tablespoon of butterscotch sauce.


~Ginger and Cinnamon Hot Chocolate: Stir in 1/8 teaspoon each of ginger and cinnamon.


~Mocha Hot Chocolate: Stir in 1 teaspoon instant coffee.


~Maple Hot Chocolate: Stir in 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup.

I have tried all of these different variations and really like them all! Now let's talk about toppings!


~Good old whipped cream.


~Whipped cream and cookie sprinkles. This is especially fun for Valentine's Day.


~Whipped cream, a marshmallow and chocolate shavings.


~Mini marshmallows with a butterscotch drizzle.


~For all you chocoholics out there...Chocolate Whipped Cream with chocolate shavings.

Chocolate Whipped Cream

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a small bowl, mix the cocoa and sugar together. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat the whipped cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add the cocoa mixture, whipping until well blended.


All of these variations should keep you warm until spring. Let me know if you try any of them.

Do you have a favorite hot chocolate flavor or topping?

My Front Porch in Winter

Today I am going to share pictures of my front porch. I wish I had some snow to show you too, but we haven't had our usual January snowflakes yet.


Pansies do well during the winter months in Texas, so I planted these burgundy, purple and yellow ones, along with some hanging jasmine.


This picture is especially for my 4 year old nephew. He gave me this sweet hedgehog for Christmas. He has come out to get some afternoon sun and as you can see he has a new friend, although she is a little shy.


For a winter wreath I took some berry garland that was leftover over from my Christmas decorations and shaped it into a messy rustic wreath. This will be great for Valentine's Day too!


I have had this grapevine swag above my porch for several years now. I took two grapevine wreaths, stretched them out, hung them from large hooks and then wrapped white Christmas lights all around. It is also the home to a pair of Mourning Doves each spring. Can you see their nest in the upper left corner?


All lit up at night.



Thank you for looking at my front porch!

Weekend Chit~Chat

Hello everyone! Many of you asked me about the apple basket in my show and tell post. I like apples for both decorating and eating. Well, I can't eat them raw because for some reason it reminds me of fingernails on a chalkboard, but I LOVE them in pie, cake, crisp, etc.


I just wasn't sure if *eggs* should go into a basket obviously meant for *apples.* Yes, I know that is weird! But, since several of you didn't even notice the apple design until I pointed it out, I guess the eggs can stay. ;0)

Here is some further proof that I am a fan of apples.

I had a quiet day at home today. I worked on some paper crafts while Phillip took the girls to run a few errands. We had two friends over for burgers and ice cream tonight.


Benjamin decided to make his stuffed frog a pair of ice skates. The blade is made from a lego, which I thought was clever.


Our watergarden had a thin layer of ice on top, so his frog had a nice little skate.


The girls and Benjamin were also busy with their clay.


A yummy cake.


Speaking of cake (and apples!) I made this Apple Butter Spice Cake on Friday. My friend, Revee and her girls came over for a visit. If you would like the recipe it is in my sidebar. The only change I made was substituting the topping pecans for quick oats.

I hope you all are having a great weekend!

"Show and Tell Friday!"

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

As you can see, there is a new picture for "Show and Tell Friday"! Please go HERE for the picture code to copy and paste into your post!

We went to the resale store yesterday to look for treasures, here are a few things we found...


I've been needing a new basket for my eggs and found this sturdy metal one. I got it for $1.00.


While taking this picture I noticed the apple design on the basket. That is really going to bug me now! LOL


Next, Grace found these cute ice cream sundae dishes. They were $1.00 each.


As with all new dishes, I recommend trying them out as soon as possible. ;0)


Here was our best find of the day. Grace was on a roll and spotted this doll desk on the side of an aisle. She said it was the American Girl Samantha's desk. I wasn't sure, but it was cute and the price was good.


We looked it up online when we got home and sure enough it is Samantha's desk! It retails for $68.00. We got it for $5.19!! This is something we would have never payed full price for, so it was a nice surprise!



Thank you for looking at my show and tell!


Show and Tell Guidelines

What is Show and Tell Friday?
Show and Tell involves showing something to an audience, and then telling them about it. Your show and tell must be something that you own, and is in your home or garden.

What items work well for Show and Tell Friday?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-Family heirlooms
-A collection you may have
-A piece of jewelry
-A special gift
-Gardening pictures

What doesn't work well for Show and Tell Friday?
-Posts with no photos have no "Show." Please don't use them.
-Photos of events (trips, vacations, celebrations, etc.)
-Photos of things you are selling or planning to sell.
-Photos found on the internet, graphics or screenshots. Please use photos you take yourself.
-Old photos of just people instead of things.

There is no place like home is the original home of Show and Tell Friday. Please do not host your own.

How can I participate?
Once you've got your photo(s) and your story, it's easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Publish your "Show and Tell" on your blog, including a link back to There is No Place Like Home.

2 - Copy the link (or "permalink") from your post.

3 - Add it to Mr. Linky, along with your first name only. (This will make the list easier to read.) I usually put Mr. Linky up on Friday at 12:00am Eastern time.

Winter Centerpiece

Thank you so much for all the sweet comments about my calendar envelopes and Grace says thank you too, for the encouraging comments about her work in the kitchen!


Today I want to share an idea for a winter centerpiece. My mom got me this Marjolein Bastin calendar for Christmas and I was inspired by the January picture. Marjolein is one of my favorite artists and does beautiful work.


Here is my version of her winter basket.


I lined the basket with ivy and filled it with apples, pinecones and mixed nuts and berries.




I also added a red bow to one of the handles.


The house always looks so bare after putting the Christmas decorations away, this helps to cheer things up again! Thank you for looking!

Con Pollo Pasta

One of Grace's goals for the new year is to help out more in the kitchen, especially when it comes to making dinner. I recently found a recipe for Con Pollo Pasta from my friend Kathi, at Feathering My Nest and thought it would be perfect for a cooking lesson.


Chicken, garlic, tomatoes, mushrooms and peas over fettucini.


Grace made most of the dish by herself!


We set the table while the noodles cooked.


Grace put the fettucini on a platter and poured the chicken sauce on top.

Con Pollo Pasta

1 package cooked long pasta
4 boneless chicken breasts, cut to bite size pieces

Brown chicken in olive oil over medium high heat, about 8 minutes.

Add:
4 chopped green onions
2 tsp. minced garlic
6 sliced mushrooms
1/4 Cup Chardonnay or other white wine (optional)
1 can diced tomatoes

Keep stirring and lower heat to medium low.

Add:
2 tablespoons dried or fresh basil
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 cup frozen peas
About 3/4 cup of the pasta water to thicken sauce

Allow sauce to thicken. Pour sauce over pasta.
(Recipe shared with permission)

Serve with extra parmesan, a fresh salad and french bread!

Calendar Envelopes and Notecards

My friend Mrs. T. from Across My Kitchen Table recently shared some envelopes she made from an old calendar, and it reminded me that I had a calendar from last year that I could put to good use.


If you don't have an old calendar many of the bookstores have 2008 calendars drastically marked down right now.


Simply take an envelope apart to use as a pattern.


Trace the envelope pattern on the calendar page and cut out.


Fold the top, bottom and sides. I used a ruler to make the folds straight and tight.


Glue the sides. I placed the envelopes under a heavy book until dry.


Finished envelope




I made medium and small sized envelopes.


For address labels I cut small pieces of matching cardstock. Glue in place.


I was left with lots of scraps and decided to make some matching notecards.


I used different colors of cardstock to make the cards. Cut a length of paper slightly less wide than your envelopes, and fold over into a card.


I kept the cards very simple. I cut out rectangles from the scraps and glued them onto the fronts of the notecards.






You can also use several layers of paper.




Now you will be all ready to send a friend a pretty card to brighten up their winter! Thank you for looking!

"Show and Tell Friday!"

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

As you can see, there is a new picture for "Show and Tell Friday"! Please go HERE for the picture code to copy and paste into your post!

I have two things to show you today....

Some of you may remember this Black Hills ring that I showed on April 20, 2007. It was one of my first show and tells. Back in 1994, my brother was swimming in a lake and found this ring at the bottom of it. He gave it to me as long as I promised to give it back once he found a serious girlfriend. This past April he had been married for two years, so I figured it was about time to keep my end of the deal!


When I visited my parents on the east coast this past October, I left the ring with my mom, since my brother would be visiting at Christmas. He remembered the day at the lake and was surprised that I still had the ring! Here's the best part: He wants to me take the ring back! It is mine to keep! I will be happy to have it back safe and sound in my jewelry box.

Speaking of showing an item more than once, this little jeweled butterfly brooch is what started my love for show and tell.



I was six years old back in 1982, and my 1st grade teacher had a show and tell once a month.



I loved this butterfly brooch so much, I would bring it for every single show and tell. My poor teacher! The stones aren't real and a few are missing, but I treasure it and like to look at it once in a while as a reminder of my wonderful childhood.


Thank you for looking at my show and tell!


Show and Tell Guidelines

What is Show and Tell Friday?
Show and Tell involves showing something to an audience, and then telling them about it. Your show and tell must be something that you own, and is in your home or garden.

What items work well for Show and Tell Friday?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-Family heirlooms
-A collection you may have
-A piece of jewelry
-A special gift
-Gardening pictures

What doesn't work well for Show and Tell Friday?
-Posts with no photos have no "Show." Please don't use them.
-Photos of events (trips, vacations, celebrations, etc.)
-Photos of things you are selling or planning to sell.
-Photos found on the internet, graphics or screenshots. Please use photos you take yourself.
-Old photos of just people instead of things.

There is no place like home is the original home of Show and Tell Friday. Please do not host your own.

How can I participate?
Once you've got your photo(s) and your story, it's easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Publish your "Show and Tell" on your blog, including a link back to There is No Place Like Home.

2 - Copy the link (or "permalink") from your post.

3 - Add it to Mr. Linky, along with your first name only. (This will make the list easier to read.) I usually put Mr. Linky up on Friday at 12:00am Eastern time.

Cappuccino Chocolate Muffins

I have been making these muffins for many years and they are yummy for breakfast or anytime of day!

Cappuccino Chocolate Muffins

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 teaspoons instant coffee powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Crumb topping:
4 tablespoons butter, melted
6 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon


1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, white and brown sugar, baking powder, coffee powder, salt and cinnamon.


2. In another bowl mix together milk, melted butter, egg and vanilla.


3. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Spoon batter into 12 greased or paper lined muffin cups.


5. Make Crumb Topping: Combine the butter, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over unbaked muffins.


6. Bake at 400F for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan.


Hot out of the oven with a sweet crumb topping. Time to make a pot of coffee!


There are lots of gooey chocolate chips inside. Let me know if you try them!

New Year Goals and Planning

This is the time of year when many of us write down New Year resolutions ( I like to think of them as goals) and plan new daily/weekly schedules. I have been busy putting Christmas decorations away and deep cleaning the house. A new week is beginning and I have a plan of going to bed at a decent hour and getting up before....oh, let's not go there. ;0)

Here are my New Year Goals:

~Read my Bible everyday
~Exercise 3-4 times a week
~Give the girls and Benjamin piano lessons
~Do a monthly nature study
~Weekly family night (we will make homemade pizzas and play board games)
~Learn how to crazy quilt
~Teach girls new skills (Benjamin is in boy scouts, so he will be learning plenty of new things)

I work on my weekly and daily schedules several times a year, but it always feels good to get things back to normal (whatever that is!) after Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Daily schedules are very personal things. What works for one person, doesn't work for another. Different personalities, family size, ages, size of home, schooling, extra curricular activities, etc. have to be taken into account. My schedule was much tighter when the girls and Benjamin were younger. Now, after schoolwork is finished, I like to keep the afternoons more flexible.


I found these simple planners at Walmart for $3.50 each. The girls and I spent some time this weekend filling in birthdays, address, and our weekly and daily routines.


I had a wonderful visit with my friend, Revee this past Friday. She and I brainstormed new ideas for the New Year. She had her girls write down specific skills they want to learn this year. I loved this idea and had Grace and Emily make a list. You can see Emily's list in the above photo.


Morning, afternoon and evening routine for the girls.


There is a small section for each day. Mondays are "deep clean bedroom" day. We will be concentrating on cleaning under the beds and organizing nightstand drawers tomorrow. The post-its can be moved around: showers are for every other day and letters are written once a week, so Tuesday's section won't have them. The girls and I will take a few minutes every evening and go over the plans for the next day.


Benjamin's list is posted on the fridge for easy access.


For the weekly menu I took a sheet of paper and used a post-it note for each day of the week's dinner. This way if I'm not in the mood for Chicken pot pie on Tuesday I can move the post-it to Thursday, etc. Here is a perfect example of different schedules : Grocery shopping once a week doesn't work for me. I would always forget things or not get enough of something, so now I go twice a week. Usually Monday and Thursday afternoons.


I have one more thing to show you. The girls and Benjamin each got a "Webkinz" for Christmas and have been spending too much time on the computer. (But mom, my frog needs to eat!). I'm pretty sure this is another idea I got from my friend, Revee that has worked great. Each child gets daily "computer tickets." I chose 4-15 minute tickets per day and once they get used up, that's it until the next day!

Thank you for taking a peek at my scheduling and planning goals. I can tell you from experience that our days won't go exactly as planned, and that's ok. Clothes will be left on the floor, there will be dust bunnies in the corners, and dinner will turn into "make your own sandwich" night. My new year's goal list looks very similar to last years, but I feel better with a plan in place and goals to better myself and my family. As we start the new year, I am reminded of this cute little verse we learned several years ago:

Try, Try Again

'Tis a lesson you should heed,
Try, try again;
If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try again;
Then your courage should appear,
For, if you will persevere,
You will conquer, never fear,
Try, try again.


I will be happy to answer any questions you have about our weekly/daily schedule plans!

"Show and Tell Friday!"

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

As you can see, there is a new picture for "Show and Tell Friday"! Please see the post below this one for the new code to copy and paste into your post!


Today I'm going to show you my kitchen window shelves.

I put the Christmas decorations away and added a few new things to hopefully cheer things up for winter.


I found these white napkins at an antique store last year.


I placed one under each flower pot.




I call this my "dreaming of spring" corner. The ivy and old keys remind me of my favorite book, The Secret Garden.


Two little birds among the ivy.


The hanging crystals catch the afternoon sun and brighten up the kitchen with little rainbows.

Thank you for looking at my show and tell!


Show and Tell Guidelines

What is Show and Tell Friday?
Show and Tell involves showing something to an audience, and then telling them about it. Your show and tell must be something that you own, and is in your home or garden.

What items work well for Show and Tell Friday?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-Family heirlooms
-A collection you may have
-A piece of jewelry
-A special gift
-Gardening pictures

What doesn't work well for Show and Tell Friday?
-Posts with no photos have no "Show." Please don't use them.
-Photos of events (trips, vacations, celebrations, etc.)
-Photos of things you are selling or planning to sell.
-Photos found on the internet, graphics or screenshots. Please use photos you take yourself.
-Old photos of just people instead of things.

There is no place like home is the original home of Show and Tell Friday. Please do not host your own.

How can I participate?
Once you've got your photo(s) and your story, it's easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Publish your "Show and Tell" on your blog, including a link back to There is No Place Like Home.

2 - Copy the link (or "permalink") from your post.

3 - Add it to Mr. Linky, along with your first name only. (This will make the list easier to read.) I usually put Mr. Linky up on Friday at 12:00am Eastern time.

Show and Tell Pictures

Below you will see the code for the smaller picture. Just copy and paste!
<a href="http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/434/showandtellsmallcz6.jpg" height="100" width="150" alt="Show and Tell"/></a>

New Year's This and That

Thank you to everyone who joined in the New Year blogging fun! I loved seeing what you all were busy with this past year. Speaking of busy, I've been putting Christmas decorations away, organizing and deep cleaning. I always like to start the new year off with things fresh and neat!

We have also been trying to stay warm. Benjamin was very excited to see these icicles by our water garden this morning.


I did take a short break from cleaning today and picked up these cheery pansies for my front porch.


I have a little cleaning to do in my gardens too. I spotted this fallen dried rose this afternoon. Isn't it sweet?!


After my cleaning is finished I will catch up on some letter writing and magazine reading.


And a catnap might be nice too. :0)

What have you been doing this week?