The Gingerbread Man

Saw these on a Facebook user's post for the primitive decor group.

Sugar and Spice

The holiday decor went into the kitchen also, this year. I got some pine garland and a few silk poinsettias and put them above the cabinets. There were also a few sprigs of pine tucked here and there along with a poinsettia throw rug by the stove. I later added a couple of cookie cutters tied with bows to the walls. Then I saw the gingerbread men.... I think that next year this room will be poinsettias and gingerbread men. Each room seems to be getting one holiday plant and one holiday symbol theme...

Reindeere Games

I used what I had with reindeer on it and added some holly sprigs that I got at Walmart - and a holly rug. The John Deere bathroom was the Rein Deere bathroom for the holidays! Next year I plan to get some holly fabric and make some hand towels or else find some reindeer hand towels to hang on the towel ring next to the sink.

Red and White Christmas

Here are the beginnings of my laundry room decor for Christmas. The red and white striped curtain over the window opening gave me a good start. I used the leftover velvet bows and hung up all the red plush Santa hats and stockings that we had. I also scavenged the tree skirt (that I didn't think went with the living room deor anyway!) and put it over the deep freezer. The last picture has a good shot of my new screen door that Santa got me!

Grandma Lila's Fruitcake

Merry Christmas! This fruitcake recipe is the one our Grandma Lila used for years. It is famous/infamous enough to be mentioned in the eulogy at her funeral service.  I have "embellished" it with my own observations and experiences.

1 lb. dates (I sometimes use less)
1 lb raisins (Again, sometimes I cut back on these)
1/2 lb candied citron (I usually use more)
1/2 to 1 cup brandy, rum, or other liquor (Grandma sometimes used more.)
1 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs
1 Tbs milk
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp ginger

Step 1 Procure the unmentionables. (The way Grandma did it) Send a male relative to the liquor store to buy the brandy or rum while you sit and wait in the car in the parking lot so no one sees you buying it!

Step 2 Prepare the fruit.  Soak fruit in half of the liquor overnight.  This is to plump it up. No other reason.  Never mind that there is scientific evidence to suggest that the alcohol content actually has more astringent properties than hydration properties. Follow the recipe.  Don't judge.

Step 3 Get ready.  Play the Elvis Blue Christmas album for festive background music.  Argue with a random grandchild that he is not really dead.  After the third time through, pretty much everyone will get tired of it and get out of the kitchen so you can work in peace. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. That is not a typo - you want these to bake slow so that they are moist on their own... but then we're fixin' to pour liquor all over them to moisten them, too, so - whatever.  (I do like to think that this is roughly the temperature of an Easy-Bake Oven, thus taking me back to my childhood, when unsafe burning hazard toys like light-bulb powered cooking appliances were perfectly acceptable gifts to give to small children!)  Grease and flour loaf pans or bundt pan. Or even a sawed off cleaned out Folger's can (The way Grandma did it.) Put on an apron now that you've spilled flour all over your black holiday sweater and stupidly wiped it trying to get it off, since you just weren't thinking clearly because you were "tasting" the soaked fruit.

Step 4 Make and bake.  Cream butter and sugar in a big ol' Mixmaster. Beat in eggs and milk. Sift flour, soda, and spices and stir into fruit. Add fruit to creamed mixture. Pour into prepared pans and decorate the tops with candied cherries and pecan halves. Then bake 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours depending on size of pans and/or cans. This is enough time to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Miracle on 34th Street" AND "Wheel of Fortune."

Step 5 Liquid Decoration.  (Optional, but it IS the way Grandma made it): Splash what might be left of the rum or brandy over fruitcake after baking and wrap in foil for a few days before serving.  Store in a dark corner of the cupboard to aid in the "moistening" process.  Hide one of them for yourself. 

Step 6 Serve.  Ignore the comments about the fumes when the foil is opened.  They'll eat it.

Rags to Riches

VintageChica has a great tutorial on making rag rugs using 1 1/2" strips of cloth an an 11.5 crochet hook (single-crochet).

Christmas in the Kitchen

I would like to get some sprigs of garland on the tops of the cabinets and put a few poinsettia flowers in them here & there to dress up the kitchen for Christmas. I also thought that some red-handled vintage utensils (spatulas, potato mashers, and the like) would look cute poked in among the greenery, too.

This idea is from AStorybookLife's photos on Flickr.















These are also cute - from PineCountryDecor.com

Too Cute to Use

Here's a cute craft idea for the John Deere bathroom for the holidays. I'm also thinking of adding some touches of holly and holly print fabric or ribbon in there to give me something else to tie into.

The website that has this little cutie has lots of other Christmas craft ideas/gift ideas, too!

http://lsbuford.com/christmascrafts.php

What a Pane!

I've gotten 2 great ideas for the space between the dining room and laundry room. MyPoolBoy is working on a screen door in the doorway between the 2 rooms for me tomorrow as an early Christmas present.

ThisOldHouse.com has step by step instructions how to build it.













The other idea is to have a window pane hanging from a chain in the other opening between the 2 spaces.

http://www.robomargo.com/windows.html

Cleaning Excite-Mint

I am ridiculously happy about cleaning my house this evening. I got told about Mrs. Meyers holiday peppermint cleaning set so I got one just because I wanted the fresh minty smell in my house for the holidays. And the stuff WORKS like a sonofagun! I got onto the website and found out that they have other scents, too, and all are natural and have aromatherapy oils - peppermint, lavendar, basil, lemon - all designed to be calming and relaxing.












http://www.mrsmeyers.com/Default.aspx

So, if anyone needs to get me anything last minute I will take ANY of the peppermint stuff right now! There's even a store locator on the website.

Toyland

We got a great idea while we were out antiquing today: Next year's Christmas decor is going to be antique and vintage toys!

The nativity set and few other knick-knacks that we have can probably all fit in the curio shelves or be relocated to other rooms or given away or tossed. Then we'll get a little greenery and set stuff like old teddy bears, my Raggedy Ann dolls, old sled, wooden letter blocks, etc. on top of the piano, hutch and around on the tea cart and fireplace. Maybe a toy train at the base of the tree.

I'm already looking forward to next Christmas and this one hasn't even got here yet!

ReinDeere

So I got this wild hair that I would start decorating the bathrooms at Christmas. I've been slipping some snowflakes and snowmen into the guest bath with the blue - it goes pretty well. Then I decided to put a couple of reindeer in the John Deere bathroom. And I saw some JOhn Deere stockings at WallyWorld that I figure I'll go buy when they all go on sale. So I got online to look for them to post here and I found this. Which would be tons cuter than the yellow and green ones that I saw.

So www.goldmagnolia.com has me convinced that I could decorate that bathroom, too!

Underfoot

John Deere Plaid Tractor Mat, 18" x 27"

Oh Deere

Got this set on sale at our local tractor supply. It goes really well with the denim shower curtain, so it ties the blue and green nicely in there!

Tractor Supply Company - John Deere Modern Tractor Bath Set

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Here is the recipe for the Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts that the boys enjoy so much at holiday time!

1 small can sliced water chestnuts
1 pound bacon
2 Tbs. grape or jalapeno jelly
1 Tbs. brandy (opt.)
1 Tbs. raspberry chipotle sauce (opt.)

Preheat oven to 350. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Cut slab of bacon in half down the middle. Wrap each slice of water chestnut with a 1/2 slice of bacon. Bake on middle rack until bacon is crisp and brown. Place on serving plate.

Sauce: melt grape jelly & brandy & chipotle sauce together. Stir until smooth. If using jalapeno jelly, just melt it by itself. Pour over the water chestnuts & serve.

Holiday Cooking Schedule

Here is the cooking schedule I use when I am preparing the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday dinners at our house:

7:00 a.m. - preheat oven to 500 degrees (this is NOT a typo!) & prep turkey with butter

7:15 a.m. - put turkey in oven on bottom rack

7:30 a.m. - boil 6 eggs (for deviled eggs, gravy, and dressing)

7:45 a.m. - make breakfast, coffee, & tea

8:00 a.m. - turn oven down to 325 degrees, tent turkey with foil; devil eggs & put into fridge

8:15 a.m. - Set out veggies, etc. to be prepped

8:30 a.m. - Set out rolls to thaw and rise; put fresh sweet potatoes in crock pot

8:45 a.m. - Wrap bacon/water chestnuts

9:00 a.m. - Put bacon/water chestnuts in oven; prep cranberry sauce

9:15 a.m. - Make bacon/water chestnut sauce

9:30 a.m. - Put pies in oven

9:45 a.m. - Boil carrots & celery

10:00 a.m. - Boil corn; prep green beans & green bean casserole

10:15 a.m. - Crush dressing breadcrumbs

10:30 a.m. - Take pies out of oven; check salt & pepper shakers

10:45 a.m. - Prep canned sweet potatoes & marshmallows; prep butter dish

11:00 a.m. - Put sweet potatoes in oven; cook peas & carrots

11:15 a.m. - Take sweet potatoes out of oven; cook mashed potatoes

11:30 a.m. - Put rolls in oven; cook green bean casserole; make gravy

11:45 a.m. - Take rolls out of oven; cook green beans

12:00 p.m. - Take turkey out of oven; make dressing

12:15 p.m. - Set table; put ice in glasses

12:30 p.m. - Carve turkey & eat!

Back in Black

Heart of The Home - Kitchens - Rate My Space - HGTV

Now I'm wondering what my stove would look like if it was painted black...

I still want the wooden "icebox" facade on my fridge and the cabinet door beadboard facing on the dishwasher

I like the stoneware crock on the island (maybe would be good for a butter dish)

I also started wondering how the beams on the ceiling would look in my kitchen....


Then I noticed that it wasn't beams, but an old ladder - and it's over the sink! Too cute!

Something Old, Something Prim

Not sure exactly where I would want to put a display like this, but I like the looks of it

MY PRIMITIVE/COLONIAL FOYER - Living Rooms - Rate My Space - HGTV

Little House in the Valley - Living Rooms - Rate My Space - HGTV

Little House in the Valley - Living Rooms - Rate My Space - HGTV

This is the cabinet I think we should do in the middle bathroom. And I've got PLENTY of long wooden boxes!

RMS Kitchen

rustic kitchen barn style - Kitchens - Rate My Space - HGTV

I think it's the signs over the windows that draw me in to this space

What's Cookin'

Cute breadboard display idea for the top of the stove from livintheprimlife

Dirty Laundry

From RateMySpace - the_heritage_house



















From RateMySpace.Com user kandig

Containing Myself

8507331 - RateMySpace

Not sure what it is about this space that I like - but it feels "homey." I really think the old tin can with wildflowers is kinda cool, and I love the old screen door on the wall.

neicie2008 - RateMySpace

I am drawn to the idea of arranging flowers in an old pitcher - I think that the sunflowers & whatever those big red flowers are caught my eye as looking especially country.


primhome - RateMySpace

There are a couple of things on this shelf that I like - the basket with the collection of "stuff" rather than just flowers and the bowl with the ivy and a little pillow in it! Cute!

Mowed Over?

Well, the main parts are done:
Tile is down, lighting is up (check out the John Deere sign camouflaging the off-center electrical box for the light!), repainted, new curtain, new cabinet, new mirror, and new fixtures.

That's our step-grandfather's old tackle box on top the the cabinet. So glad that it has a home!

Still need:
shower fixtures, some more towels, baseboards, new door, maybe a few more wall hangings or knickknacks, refinish and repaint ceiling

Yes, Deere

HGTV John Deere Bathroom idea

Here is the plan for Spring Break:

The back bathroom (boys' bathroom) has been stripped down so that we can
1) rip up the old tile
2) scrape and repaint the ceiling and walls
3) re-tile with the gray/blue ceramic tile
4) get the white spacesaver cabinet from Walmart
5) get green, yellow, white, and maybe blue towels from Walmart (possibly sew the striped fabric as a trim on them)
6) get & hang up towel rods, etc.
7)get and put up light fixture - I don't know what kind I want yet, though

February Focus 2008

We're going to do parts of a room at a time each weekend until we totally finish ONE room. (Unless we find a deal or something on sale for another room.) So this month we are focusing on the Guest Bathroom - a very old-fashioned powder room theme. This weekend (even though it is not officially February yet) we are going to put up a new door (they were on sale at Home Depot for $19 - couldn't pass it up!). We got a new door saw kit and the handle set.

The list of other stuff that needs to be done:

February 1-3: Floor



Regrout ($12) and seal ($10) the tile -
We will also need to invest in some kneepads ($10)
We are keeping this weekend simple because we might be going out of town one day

February 8-10: Ceiling and Walls









Scrape ceiling (already bought the ceiling scraper for $18 - this is an investment that will be reused throughout the house, though)
Repaint ceiling ($12)
Put up new wallpaper border (order online ahead of time!$25 for 15 ft)
Also need to add an electrical plug beside the vanity mirror while we are working on the walls (couple of $ for the wire, box, and plug - and I think I want a wood faceplate @$4)
Keeping the light fixture we have above sink - love it!
We MIGHT consider a new light fixture for the recessed ceiling light, or at least paint the one we have white.
Rehang the mirror trim
Decide what to do about the existing UGLY medicine cabinet (maybe reuse the shelving parts of the over-toilet spacesaver (because I have an idea about what to do over the toilet)
Put up door facing and baseboard trim (seen it anywhere from 79 cents a foot to $1.40 a foot - gonna have to decide and pick exactly what style I want for the entire house)

February 15-17: Vanity














Rebuild the vanity with oak beadboard ($13) - include some slidy drawer things or shelves inside
We'll also need new hinges and some of that iron-on wood laminate strips for the edges of the doors.
Maybe panel the side of the tub with oak beadboard and possibly create a shelf or ledge off the side (or we might wait and do this when we do the shower fixtures)
I like the handles that are on the vanity now, so I'll just re-use those
We have a piece of granite that we got from our neighbor that we want to use for the countertop and backsplash. We either need to get a quote to have the sink hole and sides cut OR I read that you can do it with a diamond-blade ($40) skill saw
The brass faucets at Home Depot are $40, but we saw some for $30something at Sutherlands

February 22-24: Tub, Toilet, and Finishing Touches


We are going to need a brass shower curtain rod for the toilet tank project and some way of building or re-creating the toilet tank wall shelf
Brass shower fixtures (ranging from $9 for the drain to $35 for the shower head - but I THINK I saw a kit with the whole thing for $40 or so)
New toilet lid ($20 or so at Walmart)
New towels and washcloths ($5 towels, $4 hand towels, $3 washcloths at Walmart)

Budget Projection:
$300 (average $75 a week)