The Snow Village

Most of the pieces of my snow village were purchased from a neighbor’s garage sale about 10 years ago.

I purchased the church a few years back, as every good village needs a good church!  The nursery/greenhouse was a gift from one of our neighbors.

Every year I try to add a couple of more figurines to the village.  I would like to find some dark, navy blue wrapping paper or scrapbook paper to put against the backdrop.

The village is set-up in our glass bookcase.  I usually end up keeping the village up through the winter months to enjoy.  The white lighted Christmas tree on the top of the bookcase was made by my daughter Amy for us last Christmas.  It is made from beads, safety pins, and colored Christmas lights!

Nativity Sets

This first set is a small white one that I placed inside a glass container with some moss.  Simple, yet pretty I think.

This second set is special because my husband’s Grandma made it.  After she passed away a few years ago, my mother-in-law said that she would like us to have it.

The final set is a cute nativity that I purchased shortly after we were married, almost 20 years ago.  So, since it is our first set it is special to us!

A Christmas Kitchen

The kitchen shelves are decorated for Christmas!

Mr. Gingerbread sits upon the shelf, ready to do some baking!

This Santa Claus was made by my husband’s Grandma, many years ago!

Sweet treats to enjoy!

A jolly snowman watches over things!

A pretty, little, vintage jar adorned with Santa, picked-up at a Christmas craft sale last year!

The Christmas apron is hung and ready to be worn while baking up some yummy treats!

A Full Pantry & Cookies!

We did some rearranging this past weekend with our pantries.  Being as we have a small home, space is somewhat limited.  We have a pantry in the hall (an old linen closet) and these shelves above our washer & dryer.  I decided to move all our canned produce to these shelves so we can appreciate all our hard work this past summer!

It is filled with; cherries, pickles, relish, rhubarb sauce, apple sauce, pear sauce, peaches, apricots, tomatoes, tomato sauce, salsa, jams, honey, dried herbs, and dried fruit!

What a blessing!

Amy blessed the family this week by making us some peanut butter cookies.  They go so well with hot chocolate & tea ~ which we will be drinking lots of around here, this morning’s temperature was 28 degrees….brrr!

Peanut Butter Cups

PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

1 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers

4 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

1 12oz bag dark chocolate chips

Mix all the  ingredients together, except for the chocolate chips.  Press into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.  Melt chocolate chips, spread on top.  Chill in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours.  Slice into bars – best if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

I got the recipe from my Mom years ago and she told me that she got it from a lifelong friend many years before that! 

These are so yummy –Enjoy! 

Precious Finds

The other day my husband and I stopped by a local auction house to see what they had.  They have items that you can bid on and many items that you can purchase without bidding.

One of the items that I picked-up is this old recipe scrapbook.  I got it for only .25 cents!  It is full of recipe clippings and notes from the late 30’s and early 40’s.  It has been so fun looking through all the recipes and notes.  As my grandmother was a new wife and mother at that time, I think of a lady like her looking through the newspaper and magazines for that perfect recipe to try!

She made menus for the week and then wrote down the recipe for the main dishes.  There is also a note of her daily schedule at home!

This is the back of one of the recipe calendars – from the Woman’s Home Companion, August 1934!

The other item that I purchased was this mini Christmas tea set – only $1.00, a perfect little addition to my Christmas decorations!

Sunday Scripture

 

 

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens; 
Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens! 
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away. 
Praise the LORD from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children. 
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For His name alone is exalted; 
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
And He has exalted the horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints— 
Of the children of Israel, 
A people near to Him. 
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 148