Snow - the kind you eat !

The kids will start coming in tomorrow evening. We are planning a wonderful 3, 4, 5 days together.

All of the meals are planned. But so far - NO baking has been done. None.

I need to get on it, I guess.


I did make a batch of "Snow" the other night. I was so hungry for something sweet. I saw it on someone's blog, it looked simple. It was delicious.

Popcorn, not buttered -- several cups
Melted white chocolate or white almond bark
1 cup pecans
1 cup craisins

Put popcorn, pecans and craisins on sheet pan. Drizzle white chocolate over everything. Let it set up completely. Keep in sealed carton or bag.

DEE - lish - us !!!
Try it -------

Gwynie Pie

By the back door

At the back door of the house, I hung my Santa apron and hat.

And right below it in the corner....evidence that Santa decided to just take off his boots and
get comfy.

We're hoping this doesn't cause Lily Kate any distress. She's not a big fan of "Ho,ho,ho", as
she refers to Santa. She's already told her mama that he can leave presents on the porch,
but CAN NOT come in the house.

When I told Dana about the Santa clothes by the back door, she said "uh oh. Lily Kate may
decide that not only is Santa IN the house....but he's naked."




The back porch tree is another mesquite branch, set in an old bucket and strung
with white lights. It looks very festive at night.


Right as you walk in from the back door ---- the coffee/spiced tea/hot chocolate bar
and the peppermint tree.

Grab a cup and let's go sit by the fire,

Gwynie Pie

Welcome

Every year we "harvest" a couple of West Texas Christmas trees (bare mesquite trees). In years past, before we went artificial because of allergies to most real trees, our main tree in the living room would be one of these beauties. Usually spray painted white. And then decorated with tons of white lights and ornaments -- looks really nice.

This year we have one at the front door -- it sits in an old metal milk can wrapped with burlap. And then that all sits in my mother's old metal wagon.

I've had the scripture snowman sign for years. It always gets a special place.




Lovely old garden gate, given me by a sweet friend. Don't you love it?

Double grapevine wreath with a few real evergreen branches wired on and a big natural burlap bow.



















As is my "habit", I can't leave well enough alone.

So I "tweaked" the mantle just a bit and added two huge white serving platters. It added just that right something ????

Of course, the roaring fire pretty much says it all

"Welcome. Come on in here. Sit. What would you like to drink?
Coffee with eggnog creamer? or a cup of Sugar Cookie hot tea?
ummmmm --- okay, let's visit......................"

Gwynie Pie

A tree in every room

My Christmas decorating philosophy is this -- I don't want "over the top" decorating all over the place, in every nook and cranny and corner. But, when someone steps into a room I want them to know that it's Christmas. Therefore ........a tree in every room.


One guest bedroom has a simple lighted tree. The brand-new, yet old-looking little sign was purchased at Cheapo Depot for $2. It says "Season of Joy".

The folk Santa was made by William, probably 30 or more years ago, out of a 2 by 6 chunk of wood.

Lily Kate's little table all set for having a tea party with the teddy bears.
Adornments decorate the little tree, each one telling about a part of Christ's life, who He is, why He came to earth.
And our main tree in the living room. I used old pictures, along with our traditional ornaments -- one of the silver bells the "little angels" rang as my daughter walked down the aisle,
first ballet slippers,
my tiara from high school days,
an antique bookmark with the ten commandments, from my grandmother's Bible,
mine and William's first Christmas stockings, homemade by a mom or grandmom,
special glass ornaments from my grandparents tree,
there is even a cute little plastic cowboy hat bowl that was Williams when he was
a little guy -- it's so cute!,

at the top -- the cake topper from our wedding....two white doves inside a white heart.


I used yards of burlap this year. Everywhere. On the trees. Under the trees. I hope to finish the burlap stockings by Christmas. If not -- there's always next year.

Sooooo -- that's the tour of trees, part1. I think I showed you our bedroom tree a couple days ago. Then there's the peppermint tree in the kitchen. And the trees on the porches.

Oh, I'll be back later with those.

We are totally decked out and dolled up and enjoying every moment of this season.

Enjoy your CHRISTmas season day. Okay?

Gwynie Pie

.....and it goes on....

The armoire --- laden with evergreen boughs and twinkly white lights.

St. Francis and the basket of songbooks.







It's Never Too Late to Live Happily Ever After,

Gwynie Pie

Decorating continues......

On top of the tv armoire -- my favorite little stone angel sits watch. I made the red "This House Believes" sign a couple years ago. It moves around the house and is almost always on display. This house believes --- in Jesus.


Old!!! red toolbox lined with a scrap of burlap holds our collection of children's Christmas books. Some are mine, some are my kids. That Christmas Stories book was given as a gift to William's great-grandmother in 1903. So sweet.
The Santa is from my childhood -- he always stood on my folks mantle with his hand in a candy dish. I'm not a big Santa fan, ya know? but I do love him.


Stack of family bibles. Some are quite ancient. The nativity we've had since we were first married.
Part of the collection of Santa and Christmas pictures through the years. That black and white one is me and my Daddy, my first Christmas.


The house is looking like Christmas now. I'm ready to sit back, drink some hot tea and enjoy the season.

Enjoy!

Gwynie Pie

Christmas Decorating

Just wanted to show you some of what I've been up to lately.

Starting with the bedroom --

I used the colors in the comforter and pillows and pulled those
into the Christmas decorations for the room -- muted turquoise and chocolate brown.

The glass bottle in the Eiffel Tower shape was found years ago in a Bryan junk shop. It originally was a bottle of French dressing. Isn't that cute?
Cost a whole 25 cents. And I just love its uniqueness.


The set of books was found at the College Station Friends of Library sale for a couple dollars. I love the colors, especially of the title labels.



When all the decorating is finished, there are always areas I want to leave up for a while, even after Christmas.

This is one of those areas. I just love the textures and colors in this room so much.

It may all just stay "as is" for a good long while.

I'll be back later with the rest of the house.


Happy decorating,

Gwynie Pie