Christmas Was Had...

We had a long first week at Gramma's House...settling in after our hectic move....My mom had to go to the emergency room as my Gramma was just getting out, so we have been taking care of two people that are practically out of commission. This Christmas came so fast and it flew by just as quickly as it came. It really is quite a blur. We tried to fit in some baking...with cookies &
 fudge and cheesecake mini's..
 
We also made our famous Latvian Perogies with Gramma...She makes it all from scratch...and puts it all together without a recipe. Trust me this year, I watched carefully so I know everything she does with her secret dough...It's embedded now... This has been a traditional food in our family for as long as I can remember. They are so yummy.
 
Freckles and I did a couple little crafty things as well. We played with wool. She made this adorable little Hedgie with a red bow on her head. Crafting with wool is quite addictive.
 I made her a little owl and a snowman...not pictured.

Maestro and Freckles were a great help to their Great Gramma for Christmas dinner. They were in the kitchen for hours preparing the feast. Thank you to my kids for having such a sweet servants heart...We couldn't have had the feast without them and that is the truth.
 
The day after Christmas was a dreary dark day...We are hanging low, trying to unwind from all the stuff going on right now. I am surely praying for a better year ahead.

I leave you with my favorite picture of the day...My sweet Freckles
Have a happy week ahead as you prepare for the coming New Year festivities.
XOXO

Oh Happy Day...

Just a few weeks back I was reading my friend Viv's blog and saw her sweet ornaments she was doing a swap. I was smitten with her little reindeer ornaments...Oh my. Viv is a very talented gal i have known for many years through blogging...The sweetest soul and so very giving. Last year she gifted me with a little wool reindeer I also fell in love with. I will always cherish these sweet little whimsies from her. In return i made her an ornament which I meant to share, but leave it to me I boxed it up forgetting to take a picture of it. Duh.... So for now I will share with you the
sweet little ornaments she sent me....
Sweet, simple and so stinkin' cute.
*******
My heart melted when I received it last week right before our move.
   I love the little red nose she added...And I can't wait to hang it on my tree next year.
She sent this little guy too...How sweet is that?
 Perfect little addition to my snowman collection.
Oh Happy Day, it really made my day...It made my week in fact. Isn't it just simply sweet?
Hope you all have a happy day. We are now settling into our temporary spot at my mom's.
 Making our Christmas plans.
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Order Up...

One more week of packing up the house and shipping out the orders for Mr. Joe & Joy Jangles Snowman Couples. I am thrilled to say I sold one couple and got an order for another pair.
So I decided to make one more couple before our move....and that will be it...
Then I will be working every night as a
 Christmas Elf 
making Christmas gifties for my family.

Even though I am leading a busy, hectic life at the moment, trying to get everything in order for our move, I have found a bit of time to make these dolls into the late nights. It actually feels pretty darn good to be sewing and listening to old Christmas records..  I am also sending out a little ornie to my pal Viv...we are doing an ornie swap together. But, I can't show you what I am sending yet,
due to the fact she has not gotten it and I can't spoil the surprise.
So later in the week I will reveal what I sent
 and what cute goodness she sent me.
  

Now just to finish up the last details of the snowmen couples...
And get them shipped off...
Just in time for Christmas.
I also want to give thanks to God above, for the opportunity given to me,
 to make some special orders this Christmas season.,
 which helps going towards some Christmas goodies for my kids this year.

Wishing you all a happy week ahead. I may be silent over here as the
 big moving day is fast approaching and I have so much to do in so little time.
See ya soon! 

Happy Tuesday

Here they are.
I have listed the snow couple and this
whimsical snow guy in my
 Sowing Box Shop
Isn't he adorable?
 
SNOW COUPLE SOLD!!!
 THANK YOU!!!

Happy Tuesday
Come back tomorrow for another
Home Sweet Home Tour.

Mister Joe & Joy Jangles

I was almost, NOT going to make anything for my Sowing Box Shop due to the hectic, chaos of packing and moving...But there was just a few things swirling in my head that I needed to get out...so, I finished up creating this darling snow couple for the shop this weekend.
I am pleased to introduce to you
 Mister. Joe & Joy Jangles...

  
I have just a couple more things to do
 before they are listed in my shop...
Come back to see.
Happy Monday.

Gingerbread Roll & Fun Christmas Vignette Boxes

 

      We were invited to a Christmas party and I had to come up with a dessert.....Did a bit of searching and decided to make what sounded right up Christmas alley....Gingerbread Cake Roll...oh yeah. I am familiar with making pumpkin rolls which are divine mind you. I found a recipe so simple ....It was a hit of the party too...Oh yeah....So I thought I would share. Listen to this. The filling is made with cream cheese and egg nog....How festive it that? Okay so here ya go...
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Gingerbread Roll

***

1 box Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cake Mix

1 cup pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil

1/2 cup water

1 8 ounce cube cream cheese

5 tablespoons butter, softened but NOT melted

3-4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup egg nog

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup powdered sugar (for dusting)
***

Directions~
***

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

 1. In a large bowl beat together the Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cake Mix,

 pumpkin puree, oil, and water together until smooth.

2 .Generously grease and flour a large cookie sheet. Spread batter into a thin, even layer on cookie sheet.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 9-10 minutes, or just until the cake has set.

4. Allow the cake to cool just slightly. While it's just a little bit warm to the touch, quickly invert the cookie sheet with the cake on it on top of a large, thin clean dish towel.

5. Roll the towel up gently from one end, rolling the cake into a spiral with the dish towel wrapped up in the spiral as well. Rolling the cake in the dish towel allows the cake to cool completely in a spiral shape, which will help avoid cracks and tears in the Pumpkin Roll during the final step.

6. Allow cake to cool completely at room temperature.

7. In a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, egg nog, and vanilla. If you don't have egg nog, you can use milk, but will need about a tablespoon less, since it's a thinner consistency than the egg nog. Whip all ingredients together until fluffy.

8. Once the cake roll is completely cooled, gently unroll the towel. Spread frosting on top of the cake, then gently re-roll the cake into a spiral. Use the towel, if needed, to keep the cake securely together. Place the cake in the refrigerator and cool for 1 hour, or until ready to serve.

 Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
 

So I'm in Wally Mart passing through all the Christmas goodies and boxes for goodies as I ran into these cute lil boxes made for homemade cookie gifts. So I picked up a couple for a $1.00 each with one thing in mind. They are not only cute but they have little clear windows...

I came up with these fun vignettes to use in my kitchen

  

Aren't they cute? I just took some cotton, sprinkled a bit of Vintage Mica Snow over the cotton snow and made a little scene with some of my Christmas decorations.

This would be a cute way to give a gift too. I love it. Don't you?

  

Can you believe Christmas is a week away? Are you ready?

Just a couple more things to do on my end and we are ready. I love Christmas.

Hope you have a merry weekend.

Christmas In The Kitchen...

Freckles made her gingerbread house last night....She did it on her own this year....With a bit of a struggle with the piping of the frosting....It still turned out cute. Now the kitchen looks extra festive.

Next we'll be baking gingerbread cookies and sugar cookies like we do every year. I love Christmas traditions. I know my kids do too...They look forward to it all. There will be lot's of baking and cooking in the kitchen this Christmas.
    
Have you seen the special edition vintage Coca~Cola bottles? They are celebrating their 125th anniversary so, they brought back their circa 1899 "Hutchinson" bottle, the first bottle that was embossed with their Coca~Cola trademark. They are pretty cool. I will probably fill them up with flowers.
 I found them at Wally World Mart if anyone is interested.

What are you all baking this year? Do tell...
Have a Happy Day.

Christmas Eve Winter Dinner Table....

The table is set for our Christmas Eve dinner.
Posted on
Tablescape Thursday.
I had such a good time
 decorating our Christmas table,
I had to decorate our dinner table for tonight.
 I pulled out my old quilt, threw it over the table and set
 it for our family in the main dining room.

I pulled out our snowmen dishes given to me last year from my Mama.
The red chargers my sister gifted me gave the setting a bit of a pop...
Red of course must adorn my table.
I used paper doilies, snowflakes and snowmen.

 

It turned out to be a sweet starry, wintery scene.
 The advent candles were aglow in the center of the table. The Christmas music played...
The night awaited good cheer as we prepared to celebrate the birth of our Savior!

    

A sweet simple festive table set for a brilliant occasion.
May you and yours have a wonderful Christmas dinner.