Party Time Deaux - WOW

Guess I better not wait as I see people have already started to visit me!  So here we got!

I believe my mother-in-law gave me this.  He currently resides in my spare bedroom all year round.  

My teddy, one of my favorite Christmas ornaments outside the nativity scene I mentioned in a previous post.

He sits on a little trunk in my hallway.  Isn't he cute?

Please ignore the junk in the background!  I "dressed up" my inside workroom last night with some estate/garage sale finds.  This is a sprig with a pinecone - plastic but I like it.  Better looking in person as my photo skills are HORRIBLE.

 

This little guy hangs on my bulletin board on my door to my work room.  I found him at an estate sale earlier this year.  He's made of wood and soooo cute!  Think I paid all of twenty-five cents.

I bought this Santa at Michael's on Black Friday as a gift, then decided to keep him.  He's hanging in my workroom next to the pine cone ornament.

I love this ornament.  Got it at a St. Jude's garage sale.  Think it's early 80's but not sure.  Anyway, it looks great!

My mini Christmas trees that stay on my entertainment center all year long. Found at Hobby Lobby (the green one) and Dollar General (the gold one).

My workroom door all dressed up for the holidays!
LOL - So, I'm lazy - pain does that to a person!


Okay, as promised, here is a WONDERFUL EASY divinity recipe.  I usually make these at Christmas.

Divinity in a Microwave

2 cups sugar
1/8 t. salt
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup karo
2 egg whites
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped nuts

Combine sugar, salt, water, in 8-cup glass measure.
Microwave on high, uncovered 3 minutes.  Stir-microwave on high uncovered 8-10 minutes or until a small amount dropped in very cold water forms a hard ball (260).  Beat egg whites in large bowl until stiff--pour over hot syrup in thin stream on high speed-add vanilla continuing until mixture holds its shape and starts to lose its gloss (about 5 minutes); fold in nuts-spoon onto wax paper-approx. 50 pieces

See, now isn't that sooo easy!

Let me just say, Remember the REAL meaning of Christmas this holiday season.  The Christ Child.  Thank you dear God for sending him to us so we may be saved from our sins and join you in heaven one day.  Amen.

Enjoy!

SMILES!

IT'S PARTY TIME!

Sorry about that guys, hit enter by mistake!

Okay, today, Bella Dreams is hosting a Christmas Blog Party.  As I have been having chronic pain problems, I haven't gotten a lot posted, but I did take a few pictures of ornaments and Christmas items that I have strewed around the house.  I'll be back later with some pictures, but first........

I have a prized Christmas nativity scene.  My paternal grandmother made it back in the 40's or 50's I think.  She used to let my brother and I set it out and play with the camels reins.  Ma (that's what we called her) was a pretty uptight woman, but that was the one time she relaxed and it's a treasured memory.  Just thinking about it gives me a nice feeling.  I also have some of her really old Christmas ornaments.  They are so thin and fragile, I'm afraid to even take them out of the box.  They haven't been touched in a couple of years, but I really need to find a display case and put them in there - they are way too pretty to hide.

So, I'll be back later with pictures, AND I have an easy Divinity recipe to share.  The other day, as part of a cookie recipe swap, I posted an easy praline recipe, so check that one out too.

Until later.

Smiles~

Christmas Cookie Party

Etsy Cottage Style is having a Christmas Cookie Exchange Part.  All you have to do is click on the below picture that's in my sidebar (just like the one below) to join in the fun (and get some really great recipes)!  I couldn't figure out how to add the link to my picture inside this post - my HTML skills are non-existent!

So.....Here's mine.  Being close to New Orleans, I just had to do this one.  I make them almost every year for Christmas:

PRALINES A L ‘ORLEANS

4 Qt. Microwave safe glass mixing bowl, aluminum foil

Microwave Time: 13 minutes

30 large or 60 small pralines

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup whipping cream

1 pound light brown sugar

2 cups pecan halves 2 tablespoons margarine, room temperature

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix whipping cream and brwon sugar together in a 4 quart microwave safe glass bowl.

2. Microwave on HIGH (100%) 13 minutes Candy should be about 234-240 F (NOITE:  This was written BEFORE the invention of 1000+ watt microwave ovens so adjust time accordingly)

3. Quickly add margarine and pecans, stirring to mix.

4. Drop candy by teaspoon onto a sheet of foil and allow to cool

Now eat until you have a sugar high!  These are really very, very good

SMILES~

I WON I WON

YIPEEE.  I'm on cloud nine this morning.  I won TWICE in Jill's (Gypsy Brocante) VBF giveaway.  Not only did I win a great surprise package - can hardly wait to see what it is - but I also won some of her awesome hand stamped muslin ribbon. 

If you've never checked out her Etsy stores, you've got to.  She is such a talented artist AND she also has an Etsy store selling some cool vintage items.  Below are her three stores and they are linked to the Etsy pages.

Gypsy Brocante, Vintageology, and Gypsy Flea Market

There are lots of giveaways from other blogs going on, so just check out my sidebar from time to time.  Fiona and Twig just announced one click here along with Vintiquities Workshop click here. 

Okay, better run and get back to work.  I just wanted to send out a big THANK YOU to Jill. 

Smiles!

Another VBF Is Here! Also, SOB, the last

I was only a participant of Vintage Black Friday for a short time, but I LOVED it.  I wasn't going to post, but I'm feeling better today, and actually did some shopping.  If what I saw in North Louisiana today (still visiting Mom) is an indication of how well the economy is recovering, it must be doing a great job! Long lines, full parking lots, lots of buyers.  GREAT deals!  I hit Michael's hard and early today.  Got lots of great stuff.

Anyhow, I'll leave you with some Vintage images of Black Friday! LOL

An old black Argus camera - really cool looking, especially in person.

This is sitting on my parents' front porch!  An old player piano.

(ps.  it's for sale!!!!!)

The label on the inside of the lid.

My maternal great-grandmother and great-grandfather and two great uncles.  He was 20 years older than her!

Two of my great-uncles and that is my maternal grandmother in the middle.  Born in in 1911.

I thought this was a fitting end to VBF.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Smiles!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE

Just wanted to pop-in real quick and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. 

I'm having somewhat of a hard time recovering from my outpatient procedure, so I may not post much if any before next week.  However, don't forget to check out some of the giveaways that may pop up now and again on my sidebar.  I do go visiting some of my favorite blogs since it requires little use of my hands (unlike typing) and it's easy to post a pic and a link. 

The latest is a giveaway by Lulu Kellogg on her site for a set of Cavallini Stamps.  But hurry, the deadline for entry is November 29th.  Also, there are several more giveaways posted on my sidebar that are ending soon.

When I've fully recovered, I do have a lot to blog about.  I had a very worthwhile auction jaunt last weekend (lots of neat stuff) which doesn't include some things my mom got last Friday, a fruitful trip to Hobby Lobby on Monday (can you say LOTS of mini accessories for 1/2 off?), some pics snapped here and there of interesting stuff (borrowed my son's little camera), more interesting finds/wins on Ebay, and I'm getting an early Christmas gift!  My mom has ordered me a little digital camera I can shove in my purse and carry with me everywhere (unlike the huge Olympus digital I have for more professional/family get-together shots).  Yippee!!!

Oh, and if you don't know, Michael's is having a HUGE sale Friday.  The coupons are the best ever!!!  Can you say 25% off you ENTIRE purchase INCLUDING sales items!  My list is huge!!!!! LOL  Hopefully I'll be well enough that my mom (who is taking care of me right now - hubby and son are hunting) and I can make the hour drive to the nearest store for a little fun.  Any physical activity is really tiring.

No, I didn't have radical surgery, just four levels of nerves killed in the left side of my neck. Those nerves affect my entire head and neck, shoulder to shoulder, and down both arms to my fingertips.  Therefore the pain of typing.  I also have a bad vertebrae in my back causing a pinched nerve, therefore the trouble in walking.  The procedure was invasive, though short and of an outpatient nature, so I have to watch how much I lift and do.  My husband and mother both will not let me drive and fuss if I'm the computer too much!  I also had a  minor reaction to what they think is steroids they gave me to help with the swelling or possibly the anesthesia.  I've been itching compulsively for two days!


Anyhow, again, have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Smiles~

Well, Let's Hope I'm Numb & I'm a Winner!

Well, I came through the procedure on my neck okay but it will be 4-6 weeks before I know if it "took" this time and if it will give me some relief from my pain and allow me to turn my head.  Now, we start working on my back.  I literally could not get out of bed this morning when I woke up & in fact it took several attempts and about 20 minutes to get mobile enough for a shower.  Thank goodness I'm on sick leave this week!  At this moment, I'm sitting on the couch with an ice pack on my neck (the doctor said I looked like a pincushion, I told him I felt like one), still hurting even after a Lortab, and suffering from insomnia, a side-effect from the Lortab.

Now a little good news.....I WON, I WON.  I was the lucky winner of the giveaway at Flatwoods Folk Art.  Kerin from Remnants of Olde had created a wonderful tutorial for a Flying Angel Ornament and they pulled my name. 

Aren't they so cool?  And just in time for Christmas.

If your interested in making one for your own use, the tutorial is for sale at Remnants of Olde. 


Since I just acquired some wonderful postcards from Ebay (egad that four-letter word again LOL) and from an auction this past weekend, I have plenty of faces for the angels. 


The auction I went to this past weekend was surprisingly poorly attended, so I got some GREAT deals!  Most for our Etsy store, but some for myself.  I'm planning on getting some pictures loaded, probably after Thanksgiving since I'm headed to my parents' house and Mom doesn't have as good a setup for blogging as I do.


Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Smiles~