HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year early.

Well, another year has gone by. I find that the older I get the faster time seems to go by. Do you ever feel that way?

We had a quiet Christmas this year. We did the last of our traveling visiting family in November, so it was just us for Christmas.

The hubs surprised me and the kids about a week and a half before Christmas by taking us to a tree farm! We were going to cut down our own tree. We were all excited. We hadn't had a real tree since 2000. That year we moved two days after Christmas and the hubs wasn't about to buy any more real trees....and we didn't. Until this year. Last year our tree stand broke and couldn't be fixed....so, the daughter and I wore him down it seems and off we headed to the tree farm.

It was a blustery, cold afternoon when we headed out to go look for the tree and after about a half an hour of looking and starting to get numb, we found what we thought was the PERFECT tree.

We stopped by the petting zoo area to warm up a bit by fire the fire and check out the different animals.

I couldn't believe my eyes, but they had two deer and they were so friendly. One of them came right up to the fence where I was taking a picture. This deer had the most beautiful, big brown eyes.

Then we went in for some hot chocolate to thaw out all the way. Not too long after that we headed home to set the tree up.

Here she is all decroated and lit on Christmas Day.

We have a two story foyer and this was the only spot on the first floor where it would fit without having to have a domino effect of rearranging furniture. I loved having it here. First thing we see when we walk down stairs and last thing we see when we head upstairs. I have lots of fave ornaments. Some sentimental because my kids made them and some just because they warm my heart to see them because they remind me of the person that gave them to us. Here is one of my many faves.

As the year comes to an end I look back and have to say we have been very blessed this year. Our lovely daughter graduated from high school and is embarking on a new chapter in her life...college! Our strapping young son turned 15 and is turning into a pretty good basketball player; and my sister has battled cancer and is a survivor! I am beyond blessed with a wonderful husband and two wonderful children.

Praying for God's continued blessings in 2010 and that you and yours are blessed as well.

To all my blog friends...

Have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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ANOTHERhttp://makingahouseahome.blogspot.com/ GIVEAWAY.....

gAnother giveaway is happening over at http://makingahouseahome.blogspot.com/
Mrs. U shares a wonderful recipe and then shares with you the wonderful giveaway she has going on. Click on over and tell her "hello" and enter her giveaway.

Also, be sure to scroll down and check out Sachiko's giveaway.Pin It Now!

GIVEAWAY!!

Hop on over to http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/

The very sweet Sachiko is having her first ever giveaway! Stop by and say "hello" to Sachiko and leave her a comment to enter her giveaway. Read her post for all the details.

Good luck everyone!Pin It Now!

Recipes for you

Linking up these recipes to Kimba's DIY DAY over at http://asoftplace.net/

I have two recipes to share with you. The first one is an oldie, but a goody. It's Pepeprmint Bark. Very easy to make and delish. The second one is White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread. I think these may be my new fave cookie.




I am officially making it a tradition to post this recipe each year as long as I blog. I have made this recipe before. Easy and very pretty when it's done.



Peppermint Bark






Cook Time10 min
Yield: about 2 pounds of candy

Ingredients:

Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
2 pounds white chocolate


Directions:
Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.) Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)is several times and it is very good and looks festive. I posted this one last year, so here it is again.

Here is another recipe but this one is for a cookie. My hairdresser gave me the recipe. She says it's not Christmas in her house until these cookies are made. My daughter and I thought they sounded yummy so we will be cooking these this week.

White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread

Prep: 40 min. Bake: 10 min. per batch Stand: 30 min

Ingredients
· 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
· 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
· 1/2 cup sugar
· 1 cup cold butter
· 12 ounces white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter, finely chopped
· 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
· 2 drops red food coloring (optional)
· 2 teaspoons shortening
· White nonpareils and/or red edible glitter (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread cherries on paper towels to drain well.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in drained cherries and 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of the chopped chocolate. Stir in almond extract and, if desired, food coloring. Knead mixture until it forms a smooth ball.
3. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar, flatten balls to 1-1/2-inch rounds.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until centers are set. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.
5. In a small saucepan, combine remaining 8 ounces white chocolate and the shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Dip half of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. If desired, roll dipped edge in nonpareils and/or edible glitter. Place cookies on waxed paper until chocolate is set. Makes about 60.
6. To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

I will let you know how the new cookie recipe works out and if it's a keeper. If anyone else makes them, let me know if you liked them.

Happybaking and enjoy!

Have a blessed day!

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Feeling loads better

Not sure what it was that hit me, but when it did, it hit hard. The hubs took care of me though and pumped me fool of liquids, vitamins and soup.

It's crazy weather here in Illinois. Temps are in the twenties and its supposed to get colder. It's also been snowing. Took waaay too long to get my son from school today and get home. Roads are a mess even though the salt trucks are trying their darndest to keep up. The wind is so fierce it's blowing the little bit of snow that fell everywhere and just causing a mess.

I will hopefully be downloading my camera tomorrow. I need a block of time to download and them write up a few posts to share with you all.

I also have a sweet new recipe to share with you so you can share with others for the holidays.

Have a great evening!Pin It Now!

Down sick, but have a post for you

Got a bad cold or maybe the flu bug. In any case, I will post later in the week when I am feeling a bit better. Click this link to read my current post. i started the draft for this before we headed out for vacation, so it posted with that date. So weird. In any case, enjoy the eye candy on burlap, linen, ticking and more.

http://quiltingmemoriesfortomorrow.blogspot.com/2009/11/burlap-osnaburg-linen-and-ticking.html

Have a great week!Pin It Now!

I've been MIA....

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.

We did. We traveled back east to attend a family wedding and visited with family there and then headed up north to visit more family. We are back home now and exhausted. I am in wash the clothes mode and just getting back in the regular routine of things.

Will have lots to share...pics and all by the end of the week.

I am off to play catch up on you guys and see what everyone has been up to.Pin It Now!