Homestead Keeping---my New Year's resolution

 A website, blog AND book is great to keep your homestead on a cleaning schedule. I so much tend to not be structured when it comes to house cleaning so I found this website and it's a really good info for homemakers.

The Time Warp Wife blog is really a great one to add if you like to keep a house a clean home with good ideas on a planning, cleaning, etc.

I decided this year to not pull out all the Christmas decorations as usual and so starting off my New Years resolution will be easier. I think. :) I have just enough out to make it a simple Christmas this year and sometimes simple is really sweeter.

This past month I've been parting with many things and it feels good to clean out the clutter from many years gone by. I like to make my hubby happy with a clean homestead to welcome him home from a long days work. This blog writer actually has a book on the subject incorporating basic scripture in the whys and hows. So my New Year's resolution is to have a more structured cleaning schedule. We'll see how it goes.............my wing-it method is not working. :0

Things, yes things, that I find hard to let go and should are  books, shoes, clothes, and linens.

Take a look-see of the blog if you like improvement reading!

I hope this finds you Merry and Bright on this Friday afternoon before Christmas!
I've finished my Christmas shopping and one last trip to the post office and a couple of town trip day errands this week will then be followed by curling up with a good Christmas book, movie, and knitting.

As for a good Christmas movie, The Christmas Box is a really good one and is coming on tomorrow night. I can't wait! I've seen it probably about................4 times now and it is good every time I see it.

The ham is in the fridge and just waiting on a good long bake on Christmas day. We have some sweet potatoes that I will be making a soufflé. Mr. Darcy wants mashed potatoes (my special)  and gravy (and he makes the best gravy). I am thinking of making a yellow layer cake with chocolate frosting for dessert. Green bean casserole just is not going to make it this year. :P
But.........baked acorn squash in the oven is another side. 7 layer salad most likely will also make the menu this year. I LOVE this salad and it's so pretty in a clear bowl too.

 

Stay cozy and warm,

Jennifer

Making Your Own Christmas Cards

I found a great website if you are interested in making your own Christmas cards this year with a big choice of verses. One is even in the shape of a Christmas tree.

 

Click Here

 

Be creative. 

 

Be crafty

 

 Be simple.

 

 Save a lot of money,

 

 and send a lot more love.

 

Hope your Saturday is peaceful.

 

Jennifer

More Progress on Knitting project and almost finishing up Christmas decor

So, yup, I've been a busy lady of late. Besides working hard in clinic, decorating for Christmas, addressing Christmas cards to send out, I have progressed with some more knitting of a scarf.

 

Mr. Darcy is liking this alot. It's lambswool with dark brown mainly and avocado green flecks intermittently.

 

I last posted this 2 days ago:

and I felt I was getting nowhere BUT when I look at the pic I can see alot of progress.

 

Kinda like life. Someone told me long time ago and I certainly find it to be true: we don't live in the past, but we certainly have to take a look in the back mirror to see how far we've come to where we are going. That defines success. For success is not how rich we are or our place in society, it's how far one has come from where they started in the first place.

 

I've found that knitting has a very relaxing effect on me. Wish I had more time.

The scarf is cast on 21 stitches. It's a chunky yarn and I'm knitting every row for basically learning.

I know that I will knit, purl, knit, purl, another one after this.

On days like today, I think I will get alot done. It's pouring rain, cold and all I want to do is drink coffee and knit and watch a Christmas movie!

However, we have soooooooooooo much to do on the basement level to get Mr. Darcy's office set up.

He has quite the massive Presidential desk that is going to look great. He has been working to help me get it into a better living space.

And this day marks Mr. Darcy and my first month anniversary!!!

 

I ordered this ornament for our first tree. It's a 7 ft slim fir. The ornie was ordered from Personalization.com which is a GREAT gift site. They have wonderful deals and make the most memorable gifts of all you can imagine.

This ornie has our date on it.

I still am adding more ornaments today. I don't think I've ever waited so late to get my decorating complete but it's definitely surrounded with love and Christmas day is going to be special.

 

 

 

 

 

There are a few gifts under the tree. I still have wrapping to do. Mr. Darcy is quick. He wrapped his right away......smart guy!!!

 

 

 

Abbie's mat came in too.........she is already enjoying her Christmas giftie. Now she has a placemat to enjoy some people food for supper sometimes.

 

She especially enjoys potatoes and corn, and ham of late. :P

 

She is so funny this year. This is the first time she really has noticed a Christmas tree as I didn't have one last year. Occasionally at night she will walk over and put her nose up to an ornament like a deer.

And also she, for some reason, likes to take her food morsel by morsel over to enjoy eating it on the tree skirt.

 

I'm listening to Fox news this morning and see 2 really big storms coming through the north and south; hence, bringing our strong rains all day.

Everybody stay safe out there in your travels.

I see alot of the airlines in the north have canceled many flights and they are calling for alot of snow and they are expecting a white Christmas there.

 

 Continuing on to finish decorating the tree,

Jennifer

Joy ornie finish!!

Joy freebie Christmas ornie

designed by Feathers in the Nest

stitched here by Vickie Wolf!!! 

Isn't it sweet? I love the finishing as well, the colors are perfect!

GREAT job Vickie!

She said the finishing was by her and the Twisted Stitcher, Vonna.

She sent this to me today and you can see additional pics at her beautiful blog at:

www.simplyvictoriajoy.blogspot.com         

 

My day is very busy today I must say but that's what I like about Mondays.  

 Joyfully,

Jennifer

Faith, Hope, and Love Giveaway!!! Ginghers~~Jennifer series

It's that time of year again to give a gift to someone special at Christmas time. I wish I could give each and every one of readers here a pair but one pair is what I can give this year.

 

With this giveaway, you will be the first to have my Downton Abbey design with instructions pack.

Of course the scissors are  4 inch Jennifer series by Ginghers!!!! Here is a pic below:

 

Brand new, 4 inch with leather sheath

 

 

 

 

 

I found this while digging out the tons of decorations this year. I guess I was going to put a small motif in it for someone and didn't get the time.

Well, the time has come to find one.

Thinking of seriously putting a beautiful cross in it.

 

 

My other half and Miss Abbie who loves her some Mr. Darcy too, is sporting her Christmas dress from last year.

She loves to sit on his shoulder like a bird. :0

 

 

Speaking of Abigail Fox

 

 

 

 

 

yup, I'm determined to teach myself to either crochet or knit, OR BOTH!!! in this year 2013.

I took a knitting class a few years ago but gave up when I got home and couldn't figure out my mistake. HOWEVER, there's always second chances if we put our heart into it, whatever it is........

I do think I'm going to use a more contrasting yarn color for my beginner piece. I had picked this color up for a friend who is going to be a grandma to twins! I wanted to make the babies a blanket as they just found out both are boys! And they have 2 brothers at home waiting on them.

But I have some nice deep cranberry and dark teal that I can use for maybe a simple scarf to practice on first.

 

Someone from the big Christmas party, Mr. Darcy and I attended put this on my desk. They had taken a pic of us when we visited Santa. I will let the scene speak for itself. LOL

 

 

Mr. Darcy and Santa, NOT looking at the cameras!  :0  We had the best time dancing and dancing. He is a great dancer and such a gentleman. The party was catered and the food was awesome!!!!  We even won a Visa card with an amount on it and it was much needed right now. God is Good!

So 12 more days till Christmas.

You know the rules for the giveaway......

1) only post on THIS POST your comment or comments as a follower for one chance THEN
2) post a second time if you shared it on your blog
3) if your name is Jennifer too, then you get an automatic 3rd chance
4) for 4 chances post again, with your favorite character in Downton Abbey!


international readers welcome to enter

The giveaway starts NOW and will end December 24th, at midnight. Christmas EVE!!!!

You will get
1) brand new and rare/hard to find Jennifer Gingher series 4in scissors in box with leather sheath
2) a chart pack from Feathers in the Nest for  a sampler designed for Downton Abbey with linen and floss.
3) 4 fat quarters of  finishing homespun fabric
and a surprise added to your package.

Back to the homestead chores,
Jennifer

A Super Sweet December weekend

When I was a wee, little girl, Christmas time was always the best. We struggled like many folks and I remember that all our trees were "real" and several times I went with my dad to go out in the woods somewhere and we would pick out a tree together. If I liked one bigger, he would climb way to the top and cut the top of it off for the tree. As I grew older we bought trees or an artificial one but never would they replace those wispy ones from the woods we put in a bucket inside.

 

This is me. All giddy on Christmas Eve with my brother in matching pjs. I used to think that was so neat. We got one pair like that right before Christmas for a pic under the tree. I was 5 years old here and had made a Santa and proud to put his limp self with cotton balls and all right under the tree for Santa to see when he came to put the presents around!

 

Of course back then, mama put alot of icicles on the tree and as I grew older, she let me put them on there. I think then she would go back and even them out. :o

 

Those were the simple times.

 

 I guess my love for crafting came very early in life even way before this when I got put in the time out chair in kindergarten for playing with my crayons when I was supposed to be listening.

 

This weekend, Mr. Darcy and I went to a lovely, huge Christmas party and danced till we couldn't anymore. We had so much fun. The food was overflowing, the music was good too.

 

So, today I've been getting a little out of the village and decorating a bit. I'll show you some pics later but here are a few sneak peaks. We even got a pic with Santa but I don't have it with me right now.

 

 

 

more of the village when I get finished with it. It honestly takes a good 2-3 hours of set up.

I used a different "snow" this year. I so miss the other kind but couldn't find it in stores so I basically used the poly stuff.

 

 

 

On the baking front, Mr. Darcy likes yellow cake with chocolate frosting so in between decorating,

I made up one. The frosting recipe is from a Better Homes and Garden cookbook.

It's a Chocolate Butter Frosting.

 

simple to make and oh so rich!

 

it made enough for extra cupcakes if you whip it up though....I was licking beaters and bowls until I was about sick.

The one piece was mine till he gets home. Yes, I'm a pig. :P

 

 

Our Hoosier cabinet makes a great place to put sweets for the week.

 

the recipe for the frosting is:

 

Chocolate Butter Frosting

 

takes about 30 minutes to make, 20 if you are quick

 

this yields 4 and 1/2 cups of frosting!!!!!!  They say enough for one layered cake. I say enough for 2.

 

3/4 cup of sweet butter softened

 

2 pounds of powdered sugar (in a 2lb large bag)

 

1/2 -3/4 cup of milk ( I used canned evaporated milk as I was out of regular)

 

2 tablespoons of vanilla

 

3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Hershey's and a bit more to taste)

 

In an extra large mixing bowl beat butter (softened) with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 2 cups of the powdered sugar, beating well. Add the powdered cocoa. Beat in 2/3 cup or so of milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in remaining sugar ( LOTS). Beat in additional milk to reach spreading consistency.

To frost a 13 x 9 inch flat cake, halve the recipe.

 

Then try to refrain from licking all the icing and spread generously on the bottom layer and sides. Then plop out the 2nd from the baking pan and load up the top and ice and lick until your heart's desire. :0

 

 

So what else is on the stitching front???? Well, lots of cleaning and sorting into new cabinets downstairs in my sewing area. (didn't get it today) but in the process I pulled colors for the freebie previous to this post for Mr. Darcy and my first Christmas ornie.

 

I was about to pull the colors and then I found this in the mounds of stash.

 

 

so I decided to use these silks I got a couple of years ago and the ones I selected from the box for the sampler are here. Silks stitch like BUTTAH!

 

 

yep, with some small piece of 32 count antique white linen

 

 

Obviously this was in between the village decor and the chocolate mess I made. :P

 

My other things I gathered are a small wooden hoop I've had from the Scarlet Letter for 5 years or so and these scissors.

They are 7.99 including free shipping from Speed Factory Bike Ebay store. They are antiqued with titanium planting over stainless steel. They are razer sharp and 4 inches. They have several about 7 or 8 other vintage style scissors. Great for gifties for stitchers.

The seller for these on EBAY is:

 

hsuan05

 

 

Along with this small clip on Mighty Bright light and a pair of magnifying glasses and I'm good to go!

 

 

 

Well, best get back to decorating and cleaning up.

 

 Soon bedtime will be here and yes, I'm watching the 2 hour special of the Walton's wedding tonight if I can stay up late. Late to us is 10pm here on Fox Mountain. 

Soon to get out my Christmas cards.....

 

 

oh what a list of things to do in December! 

Till our threads entangle again,

 

Jennifer

Christmas ornie--O Holy Night

O Holy Night ornie

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2012

There are so many ornies out for Christmas but I designed this one just this morning to share if you would like add one or start on Christmas ornies early. Patriotic colors give it an Americana flair.

Colors of choice

linen of choice

This is Mr. Darcy's favorite Christmas carol as so the inspiration this morning. :)

Take care and enjoy what's left of Thursday.

I slept WAY too late and fixing to go junkin' for the afternoon.

Hopefully later tonight I can stitch some, and definitely for the weekend at some point.

If you would like to share you finish, email me at jennifer.dalenberg@yahoo.com and I will share your interpretation and finish here on the blog!

With love,

Jennifer

Abbie says that the winner of the Simple Christmas Giveaway is

Wait.

She forgot........she's so into her new jacket she got for Christmas

DIXIESAMPLER from Alabama!

YEAH!!!!

Send me yourcontact info to freemail address at jennifer.dalenberg@yahoo.com

Yours and one other will go out this week.

Bedhead

She becomes catatonic when I put something new on her for about 5 minutes. Then she's fine.......LOL

This litle puffed jacket will keep her warm. The hoodie has the option to be snapped if not in use, I like that.

Hope you had a good Christmas and I wish I could have given everyone who entered one of each but just can't right now. :(

BUT! stay tuned this week for a new freebie and the final finish of A Christmas Heart sampler. I finished stitching but not finishing yet.

I love it, the verse is so sweet.

Thank you again for all your emails and comments. They mean the world to me.

Hope 2012 brings you good times and happiness!

Jennifer

Finishing up on Christmas Day--A Christmas Heart sampler

A Christmas Heart progress ~~~ almost done but finishing tomorrow---hopefully. I went to my fabric pantry and found a fat quarter that would compliment this well. This has been a fun, simple sampler to design and stitch.

I have to admit as I was stitching the C D part instead of Charles Dickens, I thought of Christmas Day. ;)

Woops, it IS Christmas Day. This night owl is heading for bed, after a couple more Ginger cookies and some milk. Can't have Christmas Eve without baking cookies. They are yummmmmmy.