Thrifty Finds & My Kitchen Tree

Saturday is here again! What a great day of the week! I am guessing you all agree :)   We had what seemed like a very long week waiting for doctors, tests and finally(once again) our hospital visit yesterday. My son had a colonoscopy and endoscopy due to his never ending stomach issues. The diagnosis so far has been inflammatory bowel disease but the procedures yesterday will tell us more. To look at my soon to be 15 year old boy who is 5ft 7" tall and 175 lbs you would never think that he suffers so. Relief is on the way with our new doctors, I know it is true. I have faith in God first and pray that he gives the doctors the wisdom to help Billy. We have to wait two weeks for results.

I had moved my two year 'round trees before Christmas and now they are back front and center. The Holly Hobbie tree is back in the parlor and the kitchen tree is back in the kitchen!

She has white lights and some pretty kitchen essentials such as plates, cups, spoons...

rolling pins, graters, cake molds.....

some cookie cutters and homespun and even some barn stars (the theme of my house).

And of course there is pie!

Tomorrow I will show you my Holly Hobbie tree.

I was lucky to get to my new favorite thrift store the other day. I found a few good buys. Here's what came home with me:

This is actually a big paper towel holder but I am hot glueing the top and bottom together and keeping it as a decorative bird house! It's already on a stool in my kitchen. It may move to my porch in the Spring when the weather is nice :)

Ornament elves. This package was free.

A pretty little covered box. Perfect for jewelry. It's small; about the size of my palm.

Lastly this adorable mug. "Love is meant to be shared." tis the truth!

It's fun to visit this shop and see what they get in! Can't wait to take my cousin Jo there to see it when she visits from PA!

One last pic of the kitchen tree!

Have a great Saturday evening! We're expecting some snow.....

Hearts & Dances!

Can't believe a whole week has gone by without posting. It was such a busy one. My son has been pretty ill with his IBS; his new doctors are now thinking he may have Crohns disease or an issue with his intestines so we are aggressively pursuing new answers. He has another round of  tests this week at the hospital so hopefully we can get to the bottom of it.

Caitlin and my husband went to the Brownies Father/Daughter Snowball Dance on Friday night!

I made sleds filled with candy  for their party favors and for the Dads, my co-leader and I made snow globes with a photo inside of their daughter.

They had a great time but my husband said the girls do more running around than dancing :)  Eight year olds!

I have been loving all the Valentine posts from everyone. I am putting up my hearts today. I love to use package of heart doilies to fill my windows and the sidelights of my front door. Then I will decorate a Valentine tree using these cool tags with vintage images and other fun stuff. I just love the happiness around Valentine's day! And that there is an occasion to decorate after the sadness of taking down Christmas!

Time to get busy! Have a great day!

A Few More Thrifty Finds

Happy early Sunday morning! It is still frigid here on Long Island. Our temps dipped to single digits with wind chills making it feel like -8 degrees. We did not get any sleigh riding in even though we got 13 inches of snow....I just think it's too cold for the kids to be out in it. Billy helped his Dad shovel and plow but as far as Caitlin going out and playing, I did say not yet. Our Winters are snowy but our temperatures are usually down to only single or teen numbers or in the 20's. Rarely are they at 0 and it is such a biting cold. I shoveled the front porch and got a little frost bite on my cheeks. Painful!

Here is my snow covered Christmas tree on the front porch:

And my snowy front door. It's so pretty, isn't it?

Our chicken coop and the playhouse above it were buried even though my husband wrapped it in heavy plastic. No worries for the three rabbits. I brought them inside the night before and Carol & Frankie (my chicken and rooster) in indoor cages so that they wouldn't be chilly or feel the drafts. It may sound crazy but they are my pets not my livestock. I don't want them uncomfortable in any way and although Billy built a secure and warm coop for them all, these temps and this snow is just too much for my babies. They'll go back out when the temperatures get higher. For now they can languish inside eating and napping!  :)  Incidentally, Frankie (my hen) is now laying 2 eggs a week! That's great considering she is a silkie and they are not known for being big egg layers. We call them "Frankie Eggs."

Here's the coop and I took these pictures EARLY in the morning. It was buried deeper by day's end.

When I posted photos the other day of my finds from that thrift shop, I forgot to include two photos! I got this adorable prim snow lady!

She was only $2! I sat her in the rocker. I love her! Then I found this adorable frame with cut out figures. I scooped it up as I was paying and barely looked at it. I just thought it was unique and it was only fifty cents:

When I got into the car I realized that it is a tiny magnet board and the figures are magnets! How could I resist for only fifty cents? A unique little treasure. I can't wait to go back to this tiny store! Especially to get some of the craft magazines which were only a quarter.

Here are a few more photos of my snow! I've been so busy cooking too! I had bought a spiral ham and after we had it for dinner, I made some recipes to freeze. I found a great ham & noodle casserole recipe in an Amish cookbook, I made two ham & cheese quiches (one for now and one for the freezer). My slow cooker has been working over time too. This week I made a slow cooker chicken, beef stew and pork & kraut. The house has been smelling delicious!

Before I go, I wanted to welcome my new followers! It's so nice getting to know you and YOUR blogs! What a network of great people! If you do read my blog and you aren't a follower yet, please follow!

Have a great Sunday!

Preparing for a Blizzard Tonight

Happy New Year! What's better to start off a new year than a pure white cleansing of fluffy snow? It's already started and the worst is coming later today into tomorrow. I had planned to take down my Christmas decorations this coming weekend but instead took it all down yesterday--all except winter related decorations. So anything such as snowmen, sleds, mittens, etc all stayed! Just Santa stuff was packed away; my precious manger set carefully wrapped and put into boxes. The house still looks joyful, I must say. We wanted to get the live trees out the door and to the curb for pick up before the snowstorm hit. Besides,  my tree was quite dry even though it was thoroughly watered. Now the only trees out in my house are the year 'round ones--the Holly Hobbie and Kitchen Utensil tree. Soon there  will be the annual Valentine Tree! I'm sure many of you will start your Valentine crafts very soon. It kind of takes the edge off missing the Christmas crafts.

I had an idea for a new craft yesterday. I was going through some of my cookbooks, and I found this old version of a cookbook my Mom purchased from a restaurant in Lancaster back in 1969 called Plain & Fancy. This restaurant is still in business and very good, and I actually have a much newer version of this cookbook but when I was flipping through it I saw all the cute drawings and Amish sayings.

Here are a few:

 Since we love all things Amish in this house, I thought what a good idea it would be photocopy these little drawings and arrange them in a frame that has that special matte with pre-made cut outs. Or if I can't find a matte I like that has the right size cut outs, I could cut my own and frame these darling drawings.  Just an idea! One of my favorite Amish sayings is "The Hurrier I Go, the Behinder I Get!"

Well I think I will refill my cup of coffee and get back to work here getting the house back to normal. Then it's outside to make sure shovels and ice melt and bird seed are very handy! Since I'm going to be snowed in, I plan to be productive and have some crafty fun too! And I think some good beef stew will be on the menu.
Stay Warm!

Santa & Mrs. Claus Are Fast Asleep.....

They sure earned their rest! All that hustle and bustle! And it's over already! Bring on 2014! I wish you all a happy New Year! .......this post ain't over yet.....

I was lucky enough to find a great thrift shop the week before Christmas. I picked up a few things for a very good price, and I'm so excited to share them with you :)

I just love little animal statues and I have a ton of them but yet it seems...never enough! I love this gentle bunny adding a scarf to his new  snowy friend!

A trio of of Carolers! How sweet! I think they are singing "Joy to the World!"

And last but not least (at a bargain price of $4!!!!!!!, this lovely prim cradle! Soon to be filled with teddy bears and bunnies galore!

Can't wait to fill it up! The lady in the shop said "Some little girl is going to love this for Christmas." and I said "Yes, she will! ME!" and she smiled. Thank goodness Caitlin was with me and backed me up when I told her I was a good sharer and play nicely with others :)  I really do.....

I picked up some sparkly goodies from our dollar store:

Sparkle stuff was big in the dollar stores this year it seemed, at least here. It was pretty nicely made too. And although my home is done mostly country/prim with added vintage, I like to add some sparkle for Christmas and also for Easter. Little touches of it cause my first love is prim.

He was solid blue but I added the black to bring out his facial features

And everyone can use some sparkle in their New Year! Be safe and have a great one!

Catching Up!

Happy Sunday!Like all of you, it has been a whirlwind of activity here; filled with gifts, food, visitors, and fun, fun, fun! On this rainy Sunday, Billy and I decided to head out early to the Agway to refill our chicken supplies and then hurry back for a day inside! I have settled us all in for an afternoon of relaxation! My husband has been working so hard and really needs a day on the couch to unwind. Caitlin is thrilled her best friend is home once again after her Christmas visit to Minnesota to visit her grandparents so they are playing with the Calico Critters toys, and Billy is where Dad --is watching a movie! They are all in the first floor family room so I snuck down to the basement family room! I'm hiding out so I can read all the blog posts from all of you and get caught up and do a post of my own! I have been reading everyone's blog posts and just loving all the photos of your holiday and all the great family time everyone is having! It's so lovely seeing everyone with their own families just loving this time of year!
I was super surprised to find a new camera under the tree for me! I was *thrilled* beyond thrilled!!!So some of the photos on this post are from my old camera and some from my new one.My camera is like another appendage to me --some people are addicted to their phones, I'm attached to my camera. We truly had a beautiful Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and since then it's been Christmas cookies, visits and pressies!  Here's a little recap of what's been happening!

Caitlin and I did a marathon round of baking! These are strawberry almond thumbprint cookies! SO good! We made four different kinds of cookies and gave them to various friends and family.

We made cookie bars too. These are called "magic bars."

On Christmas morning, Caitlin opened her new American Girl doll. Unfortunately my son would not let me photograph him :(    So most of my Christmas pictures just have Caitlin.

With my new camera I took pictures of our trees. They look so much brighter!

The foyer gingerbread/candy tree...

Our main tree in the family room...

And our tree in the basement family room.... This room is decorated lodge style.

In the basement family room is my fireplace that my husband made. He made the mantle as well out of a real tree. He cut the tree in half and left the bark on it. He then polyurethaned it all. It goes so nice with our lodge look.

I bought these NOEL bears from the Collections. Etc. catalog.

Here is an up-close look at my mantle--see the bark and the beauty of the tree? My Dad carved that eagle and that is his pipe I keep on top of the mantle!

The basement is freshly painted--we did that in October. The color is called peanut butter. I had some guests over on Thursday and we enjoyed tea and coffee by the fireplace.

More shots of the freshly painted basement:

This was the little hutch my son bought at a garage sale this Fall.
I still have to show you the new finds I got at a thrift shop recently....next post.

  My sister-in-laws sure know what I like! They always put tons of thought into their gifts. One of them gave me this adorable cuckoo clock. An elf comes out of the door instead of a cuckoo bird. It plays Christmas songs but what is so cool is that when the room is dark (at night when we go to bed) it is light sensitive and won't sing!
She also gives me something with a cardinal theme every year and a basket of fun stuff--last year I received a basket of all kinds of craft items and embellishments and ribbons, etc. They're the best! This year she gave me a big reindeer basket filled with perfume, toiletries, & candles.

 One of the gifts my friend Mary gave me were these vintage Amish salt & pepper shakers. Love them!

 More goodies for my gingerbread collection...

I also got some great Halloween items! Mary visited on Friday for a Christmas luncheon and she spoiled us! The kids got cool stuff !and for me, well, she put together an All Seasons Box! Filled with Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas items in addition to all the other fun stuff. What a great idea.

Well, I think I've taken up enough of your time! I think I'll bring some snacks to my son and husband to have while they enjoy their movie. Then, I'll be working on some little felt mittens that I am blanket stitching! Adding them to the kitchen window for next Christmas! Love you all!

Merry Christmas!

The day before Christmas Eve already! Wow that went fast. I feel like I just put up all the Halloween decorations! Needless to say, we are all busy preparing for the holiday, and busy, busy, busy. I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! 

To all the bloggers out there who have become such great friends, I find so much inspiration from you, cherish your ideas, value your craftsmanship and appreciate your good and cheerful hearts! I have learned from you, copied you, recommended you, envied you, laughed with you and cried with you and most of all realized that ordinary people like you are the most successful and lucky people in the world. God, Love & Family inspire us to do great things in the walls of our own cozy homes. You can't put a price tag on that!

I have so much more to post about Christmas decorations and projects and I even went to a great thrift shop the other day and got a few treasures to show you but they'll have to wait till after 25th! 

Merry Christmas and may all your days be merry and bright!