Monday, February 3, 2014

Lake House Boys Room

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Sunday, February 2, 2014

Updated Traditionalist for the Equestrian Teen

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Updated Traditionalist for Pawley's Island Posh

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Sunday, January 5, 2014

Gingerbread Log Cabin


I wish I could sneak off to the mountains and stay in a cabin like this!  Mason and Brooke helped build this little gingerbread cabin.
The 'house' is a pre-built one from Target.  My son cut the 'windows' with a small saw used for carving pumpkins.
 The 'logs' are cinnamon sticks.  I used sharp garden clippers to cut them to size.  The icing came with the pre-built, standard gingerbread house.
 The English serving tray holds the display and allows it to be portable.  I used it as a centerpiece for a cookie exchange at my daughter's school, and then as a display in my kitchen.  The 'snow' on the ground is a bag of snow (plastic) purchased from Hobby Lobby.  If you want to stick to the rules and use all food, baby rice cereal works nicely with some sparkly sprinkles added.
The 'pathway' is Big Red gum cut into pieces and placed in a herringbone pattern.  The 'threshold' stone is a cinnamon and sugar covered pecan.  The 'greenery' is rosemary and the heart 'door knob' came from a jar of sprinkles.  The door is a graham cracker.
The thatch roof is made of mini-Triscuits.
The 'stone' fireplace is made from a Target brand of cinnamon and sugar covered pecans and almonds.  (I don't think they are available year round.)  They work great as 'stones' and are so delicious, too!

The 'smoke' is angel hair snow.  I used cotton candy to swirl upward for the cookie party display, but it disintegrated quickly from moisture in the air.  (Cotton candy is available during the holidays in a tub at Wal-Mart.)  The angel hair is malleable and works great!  Wrap it around a pencil to create a swirl.
I used small pretzel sticks to make the fence and medium size pretzel sticks for the 'fire logs' stacked near the cabin.  The 'antlers' are broken pieces from small knot pretzels.
I found the Woody station wagon at Eckerd drug store years ago and attached the small bottle brush tree.  (The wrapping paper came from Target and is my favorite. I bought every roll at our local store!)
We worked on this over several days.  My son and I had planned to enter the local town contest; however, we missed the admission deadline.  Also, I believe the rules are that everything has to be made of food.  The car and the bottle brush trees would have to go, but for our purposes, they add such character!

This is the stone 'cottage' we made years ago.  Several of you inquired about the 'base' of this house.  It was a pre-built gingerbread house, as well.

My son loves to build, so this is a great project he and I can do together.  I wonder what we will come up with next year.  If I could actually bake the base gingerbread house, it would open our possibilities!

I will be posting a bit more Christmas 2013 soon!



Thank you for stopping by and have a great New Year!
 
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Saturday, January 4, 2014

Circle of Life Wreath

           
So, I am a little behind in posting Christmas...I still haven't mailed all of my Christmas cards.  I guess, a little late is better than never!  My washing machine broke during the holidays, and after two weeks of guests, I have been a tad bit busy hand washing everything...no complaints, because it is good for us to appreciate the wonderful invention of a washing machine!  
 
 I found this large bottle brush tree at a hardware store. It is very simple, but I love it.

I had all these small grapevine wreaths from a banquet display.  I couldn't think of a way to use them at my house, so I joined them with wire to make one large wreath... a 'Circle of life' wreath.


Happy New Year to all of you!

Stay tuned for more Christmas (past!)...
 
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Saturday, October 5, 2013

The Subtle Hues of Autumn


What makes you think of Autumn?  The leaves turning bright hues of gold, rust and yellow?  The cooler air?  Football?

The fields of cotton, apples, pumpkins, fall festivals, bon-fires, hot cider and all the colors of the season let me know that Autumn has arrived! 

I found the old apple picking basket at a flea market in Asheville, NC.

The cotton stems were picked last year at a fall festival in a nearby town.
 

Oh, how I love the fall!

Enjoy your beautiful, colorful day!


 
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Friday, October 4, 2013

Favorite Photo Friday- a Dog's Perspective


There is nothing like snuggling with your brothers and sisters... 

Were going to different homes, so hug me as long as you can.

I have two new sisters and a brother to love me.

And boy, do they love me!

Sometimes a little too much.

No, no, no, please not the American Girl dresses!

Playing dress-up wears me out.

Now, I get to snuggle with my new sister...

but, I miss my furry mom.
 
Its not nice to stick your tongue out at others.

I didn't do it.

How could you ever be mad at this adorable face?

We're at the park!  Oh, happy day!

My new home is near the water.  I loooove to swim!

and chew... 
 
 and chew... 

and chew some more!
 


More chewing... 

Cut me some slack...I'm teething.

Just chillin' 

Oh, yes, I do love my brother and sisters.  They love me so much, too. 

This is my 'alert' look.

This is my "I didn't do it" oozing with super cuteness look.

I love rummaging through the Hydrangea's to look for my friend, Mr. Muskrat.

My brother is looking for him, too.  Not to play, but to get him! The muskrat attacked me and cut my tongue.  There was blood everywhere.  Thanks for standing up for me bro!  Goodbye Mr. Muskrat.

This is my 'Retriever ready' pose. 

I am grown now and distinguished, don't you think? 

Don't be fooled!  There is still a lot of 'puppy' in me!
 
 

I like sledding about as much as I liked the American Girl dresses.

I received this email requesting photos of our Yellow Lab:
 
Hi Christie! 
I know that you are extremely busy, but I have been waiting forever for you to do a post on your Yellow Lab (now older).  He should be a year + ?
 
I have a beautiful 11 1/2 yr old yellow named Emma and she was a gift from the Lord.  I treasure every day we have together and I was so thrilled when you got your puppy.  Just wondering how he is doing and what he looks like now :)
 
 
Of course, this was like asking a mom to share photos of her newborn baby!  When people ask us about him and how much he cost, we tell them the cost of the puppy is minimal!  It is the damage from chewing which costs so much; pool equipment, doors, shoes, corners of anything, muskrats, baskets, plants, etc...Yes, muskrats.  Oh, he likes to chew on pumpkins, too.  Last year, I found several extra pumpkins in my yard.  The 'guilty one' had dragged them from my neighbor's house! Drayton is such a joy to our family.  We love him so much, and he certainly keeps our lives interesting!  Hug your sweet Emma tight!  Our pets ARE gifts from the Lord!
 
 
 
Have a great weekend!
 
 

 
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