The Store......

At the Nutcracker Tea.....

All my ornaments that didn't sell are soon to be in my Etsy shop.

I LOVE this paper!! It is from a grocery bag!!!!

Soon I will have my daughter's link on my sidebar.

She has been busy making some very fun things for winter!!

The Ballet.....

The Nutcracker Tea.....

Each table with a cup of mini candy canes for stirring!

Wonderful young ladies serving....aren't they adorable??

The Finale'......Frozen Cranberry Raspberry Mousse.

A Rather Quiet Day........

Just a peek......

OK, I am back......I made it through the week, but today will

be a very "hardly do anything at all day"!!!!

e

The Tea went well. I ended up having 27. I am always happy

that Iam back in the kitchen and that the ladies have NO

idea what is going on back there, so many things were going

wrong, but on their sideit remained calm and enjoyable.

Praise God for that!!

e

When I do teas at the Hall, I bring most of the dishes home

dirty :( so have to spend the next couple of days cleaning

up at home. We werehome about 10:30 or 11:00 last night,

and sat up even later, AND I was up until 1 a.m. two

nights before Tea........so I for one

am very tired today, and doing Tea just does

me in for a couple days anyway. I am not

as young as I once was. :(

e

For today, I am still relaxing with my cup of coffee

and later this afternoon a friend will pick me up and

we are going to Lark Gardens new store Grand Opening.

It is a Lavender farm!! In the summer they

do Tea outside and in the winter you can arrange a

Tea inside and they have had their store inside their

home. They just built a new store!! The actually

sell Lavender Jelly!?!?! I must

experiment with that some day. :)

I am anxious to see this place....this is sooooo much

what I want to do!! Have a store and Tea

at home on my own property!! Maybe

some day........I will keep dreaming!!

e

I must go......thank you for all your wonderful,

encouraging comments lately.....

see you soon with wonderful pictures of Tea!!

Tea Time!!

Turns out I do get to do the Nutcracker Tea

this Friday......sooooo much to do!! Food to prepare....

Crafts to finish for sale......soooo, I must disappear

for a few days and I will see you after Tea with

pictures of Tea, finished crafting projects

and so on. But, until it is over I must stick to

the task of being ready!!

But first....I just have to share my menu! ;)

A Nutcracker Tea

Scene 1

Stahlbaum's Christmas Party

~Sparkling Cider

~Savory Refreshment

Red and White Christmas Rounds

(Sundried Tomatoe and Basil)

Turkey Relish on Wheat

Saurbraten Tartlets

Then off to dreamland......

Scene 2

Nutcracker battles the Mouse King!!

~Potatoe Cheese Soup

~Sliced Pears

Scene 3

The Land of Snow

~Fluffy Snowy Cream

~Cranberry Relish

~Served with Orange Scones

Scene 4

The Land of Sweets

~Sugar Plum Fairy Tarts (plum jam)

~Spanish Chocolate Truffles

~Arian Coffee Crisps

~Russian Wedding Cakes

~Mother Ginger Stars

~Chinese Almond Cookies

Scene 5

Back Home Christmas Morning!!

~Frozen Cranberry Mousse

See you after Tea....hey....want to join us?!?!? :)

Over the River.....

and through the woods.......

but not to grandmother's house (very sad to say :( )
But only to arrive at the coziest spot I know on

this particular Saturday.....
Camp Sherman Christmas Bazaar!!

A stroll through this very fun sale and then off
for the "Christmas tree hunt!!"
We searched and searched......then it was time for a break....
and turkey sandwiches!!!

It was one of the most beautiful days ever for tree hunting!!

I only remember snow and cold......

My daughter did quite a photo shoot of her own, there

were so many fun things to see. On her blog she

has a very fun display of mushrooms. :)

I thought the needles on this tree were really pretty, although

theyare hard to see here. I would have brought this

tree home,but it was too tall.

Manzanita!!! These branches make a beautiful wreath!!

Finally....we found it!! Trouble is we were getting two trees....

so we had a bit more looking to do.

Wow...a bit scarry if you ask me!!

On home again for some hot potatoe cheese soup with our

leftover veggies from Thanksgiving added....garlic roasted

asparagus and brussel sprouts and

a fun Christmas movie.....

Good Bye Autumn!!

Hello December!!

I Love Autumn and all it's colors and all the Fall dishes there

are to enjoy with squash and nuts and putting things up from the

garden or locally bought produce, I love it all.But I am always

happy to enter December. December is full of so much.

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!!

That He came, only to give His life for me!!

Without Him I am nothing!!

e

Giving to those we love and care about as an expression of Him

giving Hislife for me. His coming to earth was a gift

for anyone willing to take it.

e

Taking time to find those people that may be without or not have

loved ones to share with and blessing them in some way.

This of course always depends on how we are doing, this year it

will be homebaked goodsor something handmade. We do have a

neighbor that keeps to himself out here and we take him a plate

of Christmas dinner at the end of the day. He is always

happy aboutthat. He prefers that to sitting at our table. :)

e

Everything is so beautiful in December, I love all the lights!! I wish it could look like that all winter long. In some parts of our town, they do keep lights up through the winter. :)

e

I love the smells December brings, cinnamon

and spices, pine, cedar....mmmmm!!

e

Every year, I try to slow down and focus on why we do what we do. This year that is even easier because we really have $0 to spend.....so I am having fun thinking of things to make

for my family with what I have. I am so happy that

I have a stash to build from.

e

I love creating memories, still today with grown children.....I have so many happy memories from Christmas with my Mom and Dad, I will cherish them always.

e

It is my prayer for you all to enjoy this season and remember to take time to reflect on Christmas's past and the present and how we can share the love of Jesus to those around us.

Bless You All!!

Blessings.....

Blessings of the fruits of our labor....

dilly beans and dill pickles.....

Blessings of simplicity........
I made my rolls the day before, let them rise once, made into balls put in the
pan and put them directly into the refrigerator. They raised a bit, I put them in the
oven straight from the refrigerator............
Mixed and matched my dishes so that I could use

my two apple plates above :) .......

Blessings of more preparedness.......
Plum Juice Punch......

Not even attempting sales today!!! Staying home, taking down Autumn decos to make room for Christmas decos. Tomorrow, we will go to a quaint little place in the woods where there is a Christmas Bazaar and tree permits. We will cut down a tree, and peek at the Bazaar. Usually, we have a cup of soup at the Bazaar, but this year we will take a picnic. Turkey sandwiches perhaps..... :) We cannot put the tree up yet, it will be at my tea first then we can bring it home to decorate next weekend. I might do some of that today with what I do not need for my tea.

There is a chance I will not get to do my really fun and lovely Nutcracker Tea!! Have not had very many calls.....and today is the deadline.....it is a very busy weekend in our town, too much going on. If that is the case, I will quickly switch gears to put some of these things I have been making into my Etsy shop. As much as I just love doing teas and do them for others enjoyment, this one was going to help with our house payment.....that is why I would quick do Etsy. If you feel prompted, please pray about that......Bless you all on this day after Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am thankful for family, friends, a home and that

God is Good and Loves me very much!! :D
Hope you all enjoyed your day!

Welcome Home.......

Lydia!!!

Look, she is even smiling!!

When we thought we were moving to England last January, we got rid of all our animals. Well, the people who took Lydia here can not keep her anymore so wondered if we would like her back. After consulting with my son who works at the feed and seed store and having him assure me he would be sure we had hay for her, I asked my dear sweet husband and he said YES!! Since she is a good weedeater and will basically be no cost to us. :)

She has even made friends with the horse next door, they keep each other company.
I am pretty sure they stand at the fence and have an
occasional neighborly chat......or so it appears.

Still going............

Making more ornaments.....the hand sewing is all done, now I just have to sew backs

on them and put in a bit of stuffing. (Those are "reclaimed" holy socks cut out in

those cute little hearts:)

At the end of the day.........

Beautiful high desert sunset!