Monday, December 28, 2015

AFTER THE GLITTER!

 It has been three full days since Christmas, and I think I have all of the decorations down and put away.  Plus, possibly 80% of the glitter has found a new home in the vacuum.  I know that in two months time there will still be a piece of glitter sparkle up at me!!!

I took some time today to change out the dish rack in the dining room into something for the winter season.
 Brown transferware, brown bottles, pinecones --
 and feathers.
 I realize, of course, that it will be time before I know it to get out the Valentines for another glitter-filled holiday!

I'm joining the following:
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday and Everything Else
Coastal Charm for Tuesday Show and Share
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

THE LAST OF THE HOME TOUR PICTURES ---

I promise this is the last of the home tour pictures.  We were honored to be asked by the Fremont County Community Concert Association to be on their annual Holiday Home Tour for 2015.  It was so much fun -- we loved working on our house in preparation, then sharing with over 200 tour guests on the day of the tour.  Throughout the 57 years of our marriage, we have accumulated a lot of stuff!!!   Everyone seemed to enjoy the stories connected to our family memorabilia, the history behind some of our more unusual antiques, and our Christmas traditions.
If you are interested, previous posts about the tour are here, here, here, and here.
So, now the wrap up ----

The kitchen and dining room ----





Special memories from grand daughter's preschool years ----

The hall ----
The porch ----

And now it is time to take a blog break for the important things --- celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and spending time with family.

May you have a very joyous Christmas week.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

MORE PICTURES OF OUR HOME TOUR

The home tour continues.

The master bedroom ---


Who says you can't have a tree in a tiny bathroom? ---

The computer room ----


The guest room ----
 The doll house furniture even received the Christmas treatment ----

To the grand children's delight, the presents are piling up ----

I'll finish up the photos in a couple of days ----

I'm joining the following:
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday

Thursday, December 17, 2015

CHRISTMAS OUTSIDE AT SALMAGUNDI

A few pictures of the outside of our house decorated for Christmas ----





I missed a photo op earlier in the week when we had snow.  It didn't last long, so hoping for a white Christmas.  It could happen, the weather gurus are saying!!!!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

Here are a few photos of our house on the Fremont County Community Concert Association Holiday Home tour a week ago.

the living room ----



the dining room and more living room ----


the sewing room ----


Photos of more rooms to come in a few days --- I'm still recovering from over 200 tour guests.

I'm joining the following:
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday 
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday and Everything Else

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

OLD FASHION CHRISTMAS - STRINGING POPCORN

It's 'Old Fashioned Christmas' day tomorrow over at Jann Olson's blog, Have a Daily Cup.  I thought what is more old fashioned at Christmas than stringing popcorn as a garland for the Christmas tree.
Here is our tree this year with its popcorn garland.
Those of you that have read my blog over the last few years have heard about our tradition of the red balls and the popcorn garland.  For those of you who haven't heard -----
In Christmas 1958, we had been married three months, were still teenagers and poor college students.  We managed to scrape enough money together to buy a tiny tree and one red ball.  We painted the year on the ball, and strung some popcorn for a garland.  Here is a picture of that glorious tree from 57 years ago.
Every year since, we have bought a red ball and painted the year on it and added a popcorn garland.  That's 58 red balls now and a lot of popcorn.  When our kids were growing up, it was a family activity to string the popcorn.  After they left home and before the grand kids were old enough, Bob and I (mostly Bob) continued to string the popcorn.  The grand kids then strung a lot of popcorn with us, but are now teenagers and not around as much.
On the home tour last weekend, one of the most asked questions was about the popcorn.
Here are our secrets -- 
In order to keep the popcorn from crumbling,  string using a very fine (quilting) needle and strong quilting thread.  Keep your thread at about 20 inches long threading in short units, then tying the ends together to make longer garlands.  Try to stick your needle through the puffiest part of the popcorn kernel.  
But, here is our biggest secret of all that we figured out when kid labor was no longer available ----
The garland freezes wonderfully.  I have a big Tupperware container that we twirl the garland in, then stick it in the freezer until next year.  Every few years, it's necessary to replace some or all of it, but that is so much easier than doing the whole thing over each year.  And now you know!

 And ---Try not to eat too much popcorn as you string along.

I'm joining the following:
Common Ground for Christmas Open House Dec. 9th
Have a Daily Cup for Old Fashioned Christmas Dec. 10th
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday (stretching it with my Uncle Sam ornament!!)

Friday, December 4, 2015

I VOTE FOR CHRISTMAS!

I knew that when we scored this treasure for a few dollars at an auction several months ago that it would be great to decorate for Christmas.  It is an old ballot box from our county previously used for elections.  Of course, it didn't look like this when we got it.  The main reason we did bid on it was because the glass part was still intact.  Bob then did his magic to restore the wooden parts.

I love this brass band that separates the two glass parts enabling access to the inside.
To decorate for Christmas, I first poured in a layer of Epsom Salts, then added some of our collection of vintage ornaments.
The huge green ball is from Belgium, measures 6" in diameter, and belonged to my mother.  The glass beads and most of the other ornaments also were inherited from my parents.
This big gold tree topper is a beauty from our vintage tree topper collection.
The wooden box under the table came in pieces with the glass ballot box.  Bob reassembled it and the whole thing fits together perfectly for storage.

Our local home tour is Sunday -- I think we are ready -- more pictures next week.

I'm joining the following:
Tea Time with Trina for Silver and Gold Christmas Blog Tour on Mon. Dec. 7th
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Common Ground for Christmas Open House on Dec. 9th

Sunday, November 29, 2015

IF IT DOESN'T MOVE, DECORATE IT!!!

As I have mentioned before, our home is to be on a holiday house tour on December 6th to benefit our local Community Concert Association.  Their advertisement states that "The event is a tour through distinctive and historical area homes beautifully decorated for the holidays."   
Oh my --- I certainly hope our home lives up to the hype!

Consequently, we have been in the Christmas mode for two weeks now.  Plus, we have cleaned, and then cleaned some more.

Anything that doesn't move has been decorated -- even in the mud room where this chicken resides in her coop year round.
Several years ago I admired this hen on the blog, 
Rue Mouffetard; and the next thing I knew, the generous Sue had sent me her sister hen.  Read about Matilda's arrival here
This year, I opened the door and invited Matilda to the Christmas party.
Stay tuned -- I'll be posting some of the more dignified decorations later.  For now, I must get back to the tasks at hand!

I'm joining the following:
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Common Ground for Christmas Open House on Dec. 9
Art and Sand for Sweet and Simple Christmas on Dec. 11 

Sunday, November 22, 2015

PUMPKIN MUFFIN BITES

I've been busy, busy getting ready for our home to be on a holiday house tour on December 6th to benefit the local concert association.  But, Thanksgiving needs my attention, also; plus I had two occasions last week that required some goodies to share.  The easy recipe below fits the bill as they freeze well, and made enough to serve at both coffee occasions plus enough for Thanksgiving breakfast.

Pumpkin Muffin Bites

Combine the following in large bowl:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Combine in large mixer bowl:
3 cups granulated sugar
1 can (15 oz.) pure pumpkin
4 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup orange juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees; line mini-muffin cups with paper liners.  Beat pumpkin mixture until just blended.  Add flour mixture, and stir until moistened.  Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 3/4 full.  

Sprinkle batter tops with granola.  I like Quaker honey, oats, and almond granola.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Makes 96 little muffins.  
Since my son is allergic to tree nuts, I sprinkled his share with cinnamon and sugar.

I'm joining the following:
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

Sunday, November 15, 2015

NOT ALL SERVICE MEN ARE WARRIORS

I'm late in posting a Veteran's Day post with just a few thoughts --

  I certainly appreciate the dedication of those who serve in the military and have sacrificed.  However, my family has been on a different road of service.  They have always been farmers and ranchers and were needed for agriculture deferments. 
Grandfather's registration in 1918 indicating agriculture deferment during WWI


Father's registration in 1945 indicating completion of service of an agriculture deferment during WWII
Last week, my grandson was doing a report for school on his family veterans.  He had to go back to 1812 to find a grandparent on the paternal side of my family who actively served in a war.  Wyatt's research found that the great-grandfather of my grandfather was killed during the War of 1812.  My grandfather and this ancestor were both from the tiny town of Parkman, Maine, but were on different paths of service to their country.

This got me to thinking further about my family's involvement in wars, and I realized that not all service men were warriors.   With deferments, the farmers and ranchers were not without obligations to the war effort.  They were involved considerably in supporting the troops, and the families who remained at home, with food and supplies.

In some of our family ephemera, we even have a shipping receipt that an ancestor supplied the U.S. Army with thousands of horses during World War One shipping them to Europe.

My grandfather was awarded The Skelly Award for Superior Achievement in Agriculture for "contributing generously and importantly to the war effort of the United States and our Allies" dated June 19, 1943.  This was a national award and I remember it as a big deal for our family.  
Here is a picture of my family on the day in 1943 he was honored for the award -- my grandparents in the middle and his two sons who worked with him on the farm and the ranch and their families.  A third son was not granted an agriculture deferment, and was serving in Africa at the time of the picture.

My grandfather was fortunate to be honored for his service.  But how many were denied the opportunity to serve their country in the military because they were farmers; then toiled at home doing their part, and were never recognized?
I thought this quote was interesting on the bottom of the award -- "Food will win the war -- food will write the peace."

Maybe we should have a "Thank a Farmer/Rancher Day" to honor their contribution in securing the freedoms we enjoy.