She's Good To Go...

Wild-eyed Gracie has decided to give Rachael Ray a run for her money.

She got her paws on the chef's hat I made and is now in my kitchen cookin' up a storm.

"Just a lil' EVOO and in two turns of the pan she's got a de-lish meal in thirty minutes."
"Yum-O!"

Rachael Ray Lingo Translation: "Just a little extra virgin olive oil and in just a bit she's got a delicious meal in thirty minutes."
"Yummy!"


:> )

♪ Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful... ♪

♪ But the fire is so delightful ♪

♪ And since we've no place to go... ♪
♪ (Except for drivin' around the back country roads, slidin' all over the place tryin' to take pictures because I really need my head examined) ♪

♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!! ♪

♪ It doesn't show signs of stoppin' ♪

♪ And I've brought some corn for poppin'... ♪

♪ (Shoot! This kind of corn won't work!) ♪

♪ The lights are turned way down low ♪

♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!! ♪

:> )

Turn Your Volume Up...

and enjoy! Oh, but before you do, scroll all the way down and turn off my music.

I love how Santa's skinny lil' leg keeps time with the song! (My sister has those same legs)
:> )

P.S.
No need to dream of a white Christmas in these parts, we got dumped on with the white fluffy stuff last night! YaY!

Fresh Out Of The Oven...

For some reason he has this obsession with The Pillsbury Doughboy.

He's insistin' on wearin' only a scarf and a puffy chef's hat and won't let go of that molasses jar until I agree.

I'm convinced all Gingerbread Men need therapy.

I'll keep ya posted...
:> )

Christmas Come Early...

Some of the artists in The Humble Arts participated in a Christmas ornie exchange!

Well you should have seen the box that was sittin' on my front porch!! Holy cow! That must be one mighty big ornie in there!!

I was so excited, I practically gnawed on the corner of the box hopin' to get a head start on openin' it. But dang it that packin' tape is so strong, I didn't make a dent. I finally kept my composure long enough to open the box.

OH MY!!! LOOK what sweet Elena of My Primitive Sistas sent me!!!

Everythin' was beautifully wrapped and it smelled heavenly too!!

Elena my dear Humble Arts sister, I can't thank you enough for all these wonderful goodies!!
:> )

I'm On A Mission...

Many of ya might not know this... But I'm a mitten freak! No pair of gloves on this planet can keep your hands toasty and warm like a pair of mittens.

For years I have been on a "mittens mission." I am lookin' for a pair of red mittens with snowflakes on them similar to these.

I have searched the internet and our local malls but have come up with nothin'.
I have seen some really cute handmade ones on the internet; but they are the "glomitt" style. I'm lookin' for regular ol' fashioned style wool mittens.

"So your mission, should you decide to accept it is... If you happen to know where I could find a pair, please let me know.

This post will self-destruct in 5 seconds."
Not really, I'm just pullin' your leg.
:> )

My Butt Crack Babies Are Back...

Click here for details...
:> )

She's Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas...

Its just my luck, Baby Coralee has learned to climb today. I guess they call them ladder back chairs for a reason.

I have been tryin' to get her to sit still to get her picture taken but so far it hasn't work. She's like a lil' red headed spider monkey. Sigh.
I'll keep ya posted...

-------------------------------------------------------

Hubs and I drove into town this afternoon to do a lil' shoppin'. We stopped in the pet store and picked up some new Nylabones for our girls. Oh how they love those Nylabones!

As you can see, Hannah couldn't have been happier.

In fact she was so happy...

She fell asleep with it in her mouth.

(Hannah is a miniature Daschund, but she's a bit of a chunkerella)
:> )

The Boys Are Back In Town...

The Gingerbread Boys that is and they're dressed for some winter fun!

Just hop on over to my Countryfolk Keepsakes website and click on the "Four Seasons" button.

Spread the word around...
:> )

Somethin' New...

Do ya have a patriotic person on your Christmas list?

I just listed these on the ol' Countryfolk Keepsakes website!

I'm workin' on more, so be sure to mosey on over and visit often...
:> )

For Two Hundred and Thirty Two Years...

Brave Americans have been fighting for this country.

They served...

They sacrificed.

For you and I.

Have you thanked an American Veteran lately?

What are you waiting for?

To all my fellow Americans who are serving, have served, have loved ones serving or have lost loved ones who served...
Thank you and God bless you.

A One a And a Two a...

I can't believe I'm goin' to admit this but...
I love to watch old re-runs of the Lawrence Welk Show. There! I said it!
(I can hear ya laughin')

Yep, its true. When I was young, I would roll my eyes when my daddy had it on; now I look forward to 7:00 Saturday evenins' on PBS.

Is it because it was a time when television shows were simple, clean and fun? Or because I get the biggest kick out of the gals' spit curl hairdos and the fellers' brightly colored polyester leisure suits they wore? The answer is, both.

We have all become so desensitized to the vulgarity, sex and violence on the tube these days, haven't we? When we see a T.V. show like The Walton's or a Charles Bronson movie, we scoff at how unbelievably lame they are.

Man, I sound like an old fart, but I can't help it. I flip through the hundreds of channels and see our values and morals flyin' right out the window and its acceptable and "cool."

So if I have the choice between The Lawrence Welk Show or MTV's Sex... With Mom and Dad, I'm goin' with Larry.
Wunnerful, Wunnerful.
(Insert sound of a champagne cork bein' popped HERE)
:> )

Ooooh, Lookie Here...

I know its a lil' early to be decoratin' for Christmas but when mama gave me this vintage tree stand; there was no way I could wait until after Thanksgivin' to display it.

Its a wooden picket fence style. Isn't it adorable?!

I knew our girls' Christmas tree would fit perfectly in there.

I have some old vintage children's toy like an ol' leather football and baseball glove that would look great tucked under there.

But many of ya know our miniature Doxie suffers from severe kleptomania and can no longer be trusted.

Remember "The Case of the Missin' Seam Ripper?" Inspector Hubs finally caught her red-pawed.

Nope, she can't be trusted...
:> )

Whatcha Got Cookin'...

I was thinkin' about my Thanksgivin' dinner menu and I wanted to share with you a delicious recipe.

Are ya tired of tryin' to wrestle that jellied cranberry blob out of the can? You all know what I'm talkin' about...

Once it finally comes out, its slippin' and slidin' all over the place. On a bad day it can fly off the plate and right onto the floor. Then as it tucks and rolls, its pickin' up every lil' thing ya thought you swept up that mornin'. Finally the slimy, dust bunny ridden, crumb collectin', critter hair grabbin' blob comes to a rest underneath your kitchen cupboard.

To heck with that!! Why not try your hand at real homemade cranberry sauce? This here recipe is a keeper for sure.

I don't normally like cranberry sauce but man do I put the feedbag on when this is on the Thanksgivin' dinner table!

Chunky Apple-Cranberry Sauce

1 C - Apple juice or apple cider
1/2 C - Sugar
1/3 C - Maple Syrup
3 ~ Medium cooking apples (like Jonathan) peeled, cored and chopped into 1/2 inch chunks.
1 - 12 oz pkg fresh cranberries
1/2 tsp - Apple pie spice
1/4 tsp - Vanilla

In large saucepan combine apple juice, sugar and syrup. Bring to a boil. Add apples; cook, covered over medium heat for 5 minutes. Stir in cranberries and pie spice. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes or until apples are soft and cranberries have popped, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Cool completely at room temp. Cover and chill for at least three hours or up to a week before serving.

Makes almost 4 cups and your home will smell heavenly!!

:> )

It Never Fails...

I always stitch up a dollie who would rather lounge around on our woodpile and daydream, than help me with the never endin' outdoor chores.

I hope her neked lil' self catches a cootie from that drafty ol' log.
Hmmmpppfff!

:> )

My Lil' Helper...

Looks like I'm not the only one excited about holiday bakin'! Especially with all those tasty treats in our Humble Confections e-recipe book!

If ya haven't gotten one yet, hop on over to The Humble Arts and get one FREE!!! Our gift to you this holiday season.

In the mean time, I'd better go over my "Kitchen Rules" with my latest dollie I'm workin' on.

RULE #1:
A hairnet is required.

RULE #2:
No bakin' neked.

:> )

It's That Time Again...

To "fall back."

Woo hoo!! We get an extra hour to saw wood!