Wednesday, November 25, 2009

A lot to Be Thankful For...

Hello blogging friends, this weekend I had a wonderful time with my sister.  I didn't spend too much as my DH has been having transmission trouble with his truck.  So I wanted to play it safe.  I did buy chenille candy canes that were aged and a cinnamon clove candle.  I'll show you those later. I wanted to get this small pie keeper.  I think that's what you would call it the sides had screens and a lot of vendors had flickering tealights or candles in them.  My sister bought a red wooden box which she plans to put some greens inside.  It was a wonderful show.  I didn't take pictures because it was inside a 4H barn and really dark.  Sometimes you aren't allowed to take them either. 




My thoughts over the last two days have turned to my family.  We found out last week that my son who had chronic leg pain has something called transient synovitis of the hip.  It was a huge relief because it could have been a lot more serious.  He had 2 MRI's all told and the 2nd one showed a reduction in fluid around the hip.  Basically, his body when he was sick at some point starts making antibodies to protect itself and then in children fluid accumulates around the hip.  This was causing his mysterious leg pain.  Interesting, how the body does things for us that sometimes causes us pain.  He is much better now and the leg pain is all gone. 
I'm very Thankful that he is ok and it's nothing more serious.

I'm thankful for...



my son


Then on Monday my husband had surgery to fix his Tachycardia.  He had an ablasion to correct his heart from racing from time to time.  His last episode really scared him and this procedure will protect him from having further damage to his heart in the future.  This recovery rate is longer the older you get.  I brought him home yesterday and I was really worried about him.  He is doing well and is not having any problems.  Again, I told you I had a lot to be thankful for. 



my daughter and my husband


Thanksgiving blessings to your family,
Carey


Friday, November 20, 2009

Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie

It's time to start thinking about dessert for Thanksgiving.  While I like to stick with my Amish Apple Pie recipe that I already shared with you  I think this is an interesting twist on a classic pumpkin pie.  A great way to use up that jar of apple butter from the fall too.




Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie

 


 


Ingredients:

1 cup apple butter
1 cup fresh or canned pumpkin
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
3 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
Sweetened whipped cream, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Combine apple butter, pumpkin, sugar, salt and spices in a bowl. Stir in eggs. Gradually add milk and mix well. Pour into pie shell. Bake for about 40 minutes or until set.
Cook’s Notes:
-If the crust begins to burn, place tin foil around the crust and lower the temperature of the oven.
-A tasty topping for this pie is praline pecans.

recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

Happy Thanksgiving and be sure to check out Colleen's blog for other holiday yummies!

Carey

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

It's almost here my favorite time of the year!

Good morning it's rainy here and a good day to be at home and stay inside with a cup of cocoa.  I've been more excited to decorate this year for the holidays.  Fall is my favorite season but Christmas is what it's all about.  The reason for the season, that little baby Jesus.  I have such fond memories of my father and family at Christmas time too. I was trying to think of something I could share with you and then I got a wonderful idea we could come up with things together.  I just love getting comments.  So here it goes what do you do to get in the holiday spirit to decorate your home??

Here's some things I do every year:

First, I peruse my stash of country accents, country sampler magazines and my little folder of ideas that I have collected.  This usually takes awhile.  I usually start this a few days before I plan to decorate.


photo in country home

Next, I take down current seasonal decor and put it away so I have a fresh or blank slate to start with.  Generally, I will take all the everyday stuff off large surfaces.  For example my large buffets and accent tables get wiped clean.  Then I start the layering process which takes days.  I used to put it all up in one day then realized I just have to much stuff and it causes stress to try to do it all at once besides cooking, cleaning etc. 



 country sampler gallery

When everything is clean I open one box of Christmas goodies and start decorating.  I always light a candle, usually a holiday scent.  I'm loving the fresh balsam and spice right now from BBW. Then I put on my holiday music my DH makes fun of me, I'm already listening to it, shhh... don't tell him.   I never seem to tire of it.  LOL!

 

I start with my garlands, wreaths and swags so I can layer everything on top.  I like simple decorations that look natural without all the mess of the needles.  I do love a fresh tree and we usually buy one but my house has plenty of trees without it.  I put up a tree in every room.  I'm addicted to the slim pine trees and I have 3 of those one of which stays up year round.  Then I have little ones and a feather tree.  I would love to get a german twig tree like this one.  

 

It's from Walnut Traditions.  I may have to go visit them to get mine.  While we're on the subject of trees I can't help but think of my bedrooms and kitchen they have 9 ft. ceilings.  Maybe we can have a giant tree in one those rooms.  My guest room is afterall, empty?

 

After I'm done with my layering I begin with my other totes and beg for help from my family.  My daughter will usually with help me with my Santa collection.  I sometimes put my snowmen out at Christmas and sometimes I wait till January just to give me something to look forward to after the holidays.   I try to do something a little differently the same every year but these all a must every year.

1.  Little white lights
2.  candles everywhere
3.  my red/green plaid bows (I'm mad for plaid! LOL)
4.  wreaths for every window (guess I better get shopping this year)
5.  candle lights in every window
6.  My santa collection usually spread out in the family room
7.  themed trees, kitchen with gingerbread etc. 
8.  my manger scene from when I was a kid
9.  sprigs of pine cones and greens tucked here and there
10.  snow and a little village


This year I'm even more excited because I have a whole new house to decorate.  I've never had a front porch so I just can't wait.  Then mantles well, I've got three of them, yippee what else could a girl ask for?




I'll be back soon with a recipe and hopefully some great finds from the Prim show I'm attending with my sis on Saturday.  More inspiration, huh? Until then stop by and tell me how you get in the mood for the season!

Carey



Monday, November 16, 2009

Good things come in big packages!

Ladies, I got quite a surprise this week.  My DH got me the best little housewarming gift that a happy homemaker could ask for! The new 90th anniversary Kitchen Aide.  It's candy apple red with a glass bowl and it just makes my heart sing. Nope, I didn't need one but as soon as they came out I've wanted one.  Now this one has a tilt head and is the same size as my white one 5qt. 325 watt.









I wish I could show you some pictures of this little beauty in my kitchen but alas my DH needed my laptop to finish up some of his papers for school.  I'll be getting it back on Friday hopefully for good!!! I had to try it out of course or test drive it whatever you want to call it.  It worked great! I love the tilt head feature.  I'm sure having them both will just make Thanksgiving that much easier.

On Saturday I will be heading out to a Simpler Thyme show.  I hear it's a good one.  Hopefully I'll be allowed to take some pictures.  I should have more things to share this weekend.  Well, off I go to gather some goodies from the store.

Have a great day!
Carey

Friday, November 13, 2009

Spiced Cider

Today I thought I would post a favorite holiday drink.  Now I know what you're thinking not really a recipe but it's one of my favorites to serve whenever we have guests.  It's one of those things you can pick up at a store and then fix it almost instantly.  I usually buy mine at prim or gift shops but they have a website too. I just love the ease of it when I'm trying to do homemade pies and cookies from scratch.



Spiced Cider

1 gallon of apple cider
1 mix of mulling spices I use the aspen brand.  I like the original one.

Simmer on low for a few hours in your crockpot.  Serve with a cinnamon stick if desired.



Have a great weekend!

Carey

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

My Man in Blue



Today as we celebrated Veteran's Day around our beautiful country my DH came home and surprised my DD at school.  He had told me this weekend that he would not be able to attend then at the last minute changed his mind.  She had a program at here school for Veteran's the first of it's kind, I have to hand it to the Asst. Principal it was such a great idea to honor those dads, grandfathers, family that served.  Her face lit up when she saw him.  It was so wonderful to have him here.  I had to share some pictures of them.  Hope you remembered what the day was all about and thanked a veteran for their service. 







God Bless our country!

Carey

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Latest addiction!



Anybody else out there addicted to candles, tarts and all things fragrant?? I have a problem.  Just ask my DH and my cupboard (or 2) full of candles and tarts.  If I smell something that I really like which isn't every time I shop I usually just get it.  If not than I start obsessing about it and stress myself out for no reason.  LOL! I had read somewhere not sure where I read this that the Bath and Body works scent Leaves was something to behold.  I was thinking it smelled like burning leaves so anxious to smell it, I set out to find it.  It was something all right not burning leaves but apples, my weakness.  The website decribes it as golden nectar, juicy mandarin and red delicious apples are paired with cinnamon sticks, mulled cider spices and freshly harvested red berries.  Pure heaven! I decided to buy it immediately.  The sales lady told me that someone from a distant town had bought up all the big three wick ones so I took my little one home and really enjoyed every hour of scent.  I went online, it was sold out.  I went back the next week sold out! Then my sister and I went shopping and I finally scored some more at a different store in a nearby town.   Now that the holidays are here I have two new favorites Spice and Fresh Balsam, I love them! I also bought Fireside.  I haven't purchased the spice but I plan too.  The Fresh Balsam isn't a typical tree scent it has many other notes inside it.  If you're stumped I think these make great gifts for people. 


Have a wonderful day, and I hope you're burning something wonderful at your house!

Carey