Monday, January 17, 2011

Our New Back Patio

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We started our new back patio project in November, finished in December, and I'm finally getting around to sharing pictures! You can see the before and during pictures HERE.

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There is a hot tub on the far end, which is Phillip's Christmas present for the next 10 years!

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Hopefully the pergola will keep the area a little cooler in the summer.

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My favorite spot to sit.

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There are fleece throws under the table for cold evenings.

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Thank you for stopping by and taking a look!

Back Patio - Before and During Project

Grace
We had made good use of our small back patio over the past 12 years, but we were ready for a change.

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When we moved here in '99, Phillip had plans of putting in a hot tub, eventually. Now that the girls and Benjamin had outgrown the sandbox, the space was available.

Several other things got the project moving along. The wall behind the ivy needed replaced due to rotting wood, then a few months later we got termites. It was recommended that we remove all the dirt and wood chips from the sides of the house.

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The work started in mid November with a new drainage system.

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Extended cement slab.

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New flagstones.

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All finished!

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

The following two Valentine projects were originally posted on my Seasonal Delight's site, in 2008. I recently had requests to share them again since the site crashed, so here they are!

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Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons red food coloring

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Line 18 muffin cups with cupcake papers.

2. In a medium bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder. Mix well.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat butter, buttermilk and eggs until combined. Add the vinegar, vanilla and vinegar and mix well.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until smooth.

5. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

6. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove cupcakes from pan and let cool completely.


Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until creamy.

2. Gradually stir in the powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy.

3. Using a knife, spread frosting over each cupcake.

4. Add valentine sprinkles of your choice.

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Let me know if you try them!

Valentine Banner

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Valentine Banner

Materials:

Solid color card stock
Paper doilies
Valentine stickers
Ribbon
Lace
Letter stickers or marker

Tools:
Scissors
Hole Punch
Glue
Glue gun and hot glue

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Instructions:
1. Choose a phrase and count the shapes that will be needed; one per letter. Trace the template onto card stock and cut out all of the shapes. I no longer have my original template, but I found a substitute HERE. You can also search "bunting template" for more options.

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2. Place a Valentine sticker on each heart doily.
3. Glue doily on the front of each banner triangle.

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4. Add letters using either stickers or writing with a pen on each triangle.

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5. Add lace in three separate pieces with hot glue.

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6. Punch holes near the top of each assembled shape, then thread ribbon through in letter in order. Thread from front to back on one side, draw the ribbon across the back, then pull forward through the opposite hole.

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7. Tack each end of the ribbon up to display the banner!

Other possible sayings:
True Love
Love
XOXOXO
I LOVE YOU

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Happy New Year!

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A new year is unfolding-
like a blossom with petals
curled tightly concealing
the beauty within.

-Author unknown

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Happy New Year!

*Pictures are from my new Camellia plant. They bloom January through February.

Christmas 2010

Just a few scenes from our Christmas season...
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Grace made the sugar cookies all by herself and then everyone joined in for the decorating.

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Christmas Eve

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Early Christmas morning.

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It didn't take long for everyone to wake up!

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For dinner, I made roast beef and stuffed shells.

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Phillip's mom brought over beautiful antipasto platters. We had pumpkin pie, mini cheesecakes, cookies and tiramisu for dessert.

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I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, as well!