Thrifty Tree Trimming

                                          
                                        Merry Christmas. 
                           I hope your having a Fabulous week. 
                     
                I've been adding bling and sparkle to the Cottage

The cocoa is simmering on the stove. Come on over to the cocoa
bar and grab a cup!
                 
Little plastic cups from Walgreen's (cheap) for the kids.  
And really, really cheap thrift Mugs from Kirklands after Christmas
70% off!  I paid $4.00 for a set in a really cool hat box!  They sat waiting in the back of my kitchen cabinet till Christmas!
The spoons I think I got at Walmart. I love the plastic handle decorative spoons for parties.  
                                Love the polka dots! 

Isn't that cocoa wonderful?  I know it's a little warm here today but 
we can pretend there is beautiful snow outside. 
               It's Christmas time.  Christmas is magical . . . 

                   Source Available at Etsy
Oh did you see the neighbor children have built a snow man.
Let's take our mugs out to the patio for a bit . . . 

       Oh please sit down.  Just move Marvin over!  He's been waving at the neighbors and just had to sit for a few minutes!


The Cowboy does enjoy decorating the patio.  We have  a new woodland theme this year.  It started when I settled into the chair covered up with the moose/cabin throw.  

                 We had a woodland theme on our mind.  
               
   Daisy and I have been collecting pine cones on our walk
The Cowboy and I went thrifting a couple weeks ago and everywhere we turned we saw Moose's.  Marvin was stalking us so we had to bring him home.  Along with all his friends! 
           We've been adding more friends every week! 
        
All of our patio decorations were thrifted.  We didn't pay more than $4.00 for any.  Marvin was marked $10.00 but he was half price.
                He has a tag from Cracker Barrel.  

My cocoa is cooling!  Let's go in and see the Snowman tree!

     Yes your right!  That is the the Elephant tree from last year!
                                                 Click Here
Our daughter loved being surprised with finding all her Elephants from storage.  They are now proudly displayed all over their little apartment.  

I enjoyed the tree so much that I decided I wanted another one this year.  I really wasn't too happy with the Snowman collection last year. 
 I know seriously tacky!  Look at all those cords. That idea didn't come together!
                               I knew I could do better!
                  
My collection of snowmen proudly decorate one little tree.
My collection includes some store bought, gifted and crafted.  Each one has a story . . . 

              
Painted by my father.  Daddy and Mother sold crafts at the 
Opryland Country Christmas for 15 years.  A lot of my ornaments were bought from other vendors.  Mother can never pass up buying an ornament.  And helping a fellow-vendor!           
Another Kirklands find . . . $2.50 after Christmas.  It's actually a candle holder.  See the star cutouts?  I just stuck the branches through the openings to hang it.  
The glass ornament above came from Pier One years ago.  
                                  Of course on sale!  

Love this sign.  It used to hang on our door.  But it was really too small.  He is perfect on the tree.  He was purchased at my favorite local shop.  Golightly's Gallery.  A lovely shop and tea room.
Over to the left is a snowman doll my DIL made.  She is talented.
Did you see my Blue Monday post?  She made me a cake!
                    
                                             Blue Monday post Click Here


Our daughter also has a collection of Snow Babies.  This one ended up in with my ornies.  (insert wink)


The tree is standing in a thrifted wagon.  I put lights in the bottom and covered with tule to display a few Snowmen that I couldn't put on the tree.  This was a gift from a friend when we lived in Missouri.  It brings back special memories.  Come by Wednesday for my Wit and Wisdom post.

I have no idea where we got this vintage Snowman.  He actually smokes his pipe!  It's wooden.  The Cowboy and I have had him for forever! 
               
I love this little guy.  I love hat boxes!  He is so cute.  I was glad I could put him the collection sitting in the wagon. Do you remember the story from last year?  The Cowboy found the wagon on the side of the road!
He passed it at about 8:00 that evening.  Silently he prayed that when he got off work at ten it would still be there!  It was in fact they had added another one! Two free vintage wagons!  The didn't have wheels and the axles were broken but the Cowboy found wheels on line and fixed them!   
    What a guy!  He sure does make me happy with all his finds!  
                      Do you have a thrifty husband?
                       
Gosh I know it's been a long tour.  I know you have other visits to make!   I'd love you to come over again.

Tomorrow we can sit by the fire and I'll tell you all about the Santa's! 
                                            Come over anytime I'll be here all day!

Bling came from 
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Tweekin' The Cottage

A Mini Cottage tour . . .
Our home is loosely described as a cottage.  It's not but I like to pretend it is something like this . . .
                             
                                                    New Tracks B&B in Kyle,Texas
In reality this is our home . . .
                         
We live in an apartment.  And it is tiny and stone.  Today I decided I would call it
a cottage and invite you in on a mini tour . . .


Last week I shared a mini tour of my kitchen and counters.  You can read that post here.  I am always
tweekin' everything.  Partly because I love changing things around.  Partly because its a challenge to fit in
everything I want to enjoy.

We have a living/dining/kitchen kind of great room or open floor plan.  In the dining room area we have the mantle that The Cowboy bought me last year for my birthday.  I have wanted one for years and years.
                         
I tweeked it a little for July 4th.  Click here to see the post.   Today I wanted to share a few elements that I have displayed on the mantle . . .
The current mantle theme celebrates our son . . .
                   
A photo displays a 2nd place ribbon he won at our church's Rodeo.  Our church had a rodeo before Cowboy church became popular . . .
               
Just below the photo are the boots he was wearing . . .


Some how they are the only pair that I ended up with.  Dirty and scuffed as they are they are cherished.
Also displayed are a pair of his spurs.  These aren't as old as the boots . . .

They are displayed next to a vintage ceramic piece.  It was cheap '50s but I love it.  It is sitting on a stand
that our son made when he was about 18.  It's old rusted horse shoes from his horse that he welded together.
                      
A shot of a couple of trophies from Horse Shows.  The silver one was originally cheap black plastic.
The spiral part was gold.  I asked The Cowboy to spray paint it silver.  I think it still needs work.
I want to get the paint of the tag.  It was originally brass.

And lastly a photo of our sons horse . . .                                                            
                     
 Another cherished item.  My daughter had taken some photos of our grandson with "Pal".  This is the last photo we have of him.

I have something new sitting beside the mantle.  For now.  At least until I 'tweek' again . . .

                      
My newest dumpster find.  A really tall plant stand.  It's pretty heavy wood.  Of course I plan to paint it.

And one more shot.  Remember this is a mini tour . . .
                      
  The Cowboy came home with this treasure a couple of weeks ago.  $20.00 at a resale store!
  Oh I forgot to mention the mantle was $30.00. He found it on Craigslist.
  He was so proud.  He has a cigar humidor that it matches perfectly.  Same brass and all!

  I especially like the shelf.  Perfect for a book.
                                    
  On top I just displayed a few antlers on a hide . . .
                           
So that's it for the mini tour.  Even though its a tiny cottage.  There is a lot to show you.   Come back net week another installment of the Mini Cottage tour.

BTW I am always tweekin' so there's always something to see.

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Vintage Cakes--Cookbook Review

I really enjoy going to the library and checking out new cookbooks.
Here's the latest . . .
  The cover caught my eye.  Yummy!!!!!   And, I love anything Vintage so I knew I would enjoy this cookbook. 

Vintage Cakes offers a fun collection of updated recipes for both classic and forgotten cakes.  Some I was familiar with but some were new to me. 

There are recipes for layer cakes, rolls, bundt cakes and even no-bake cakes. And of course cupcakes!  There are over 50 different recipes with wonderful color photos.  I loved the use of vintage items in the photography. 

The author tested 'old fashioned' grandma recipes and made some changes to update . . .
"I was happy to rid the recipes of any Crisco, Primex, Sweetex and margarine! I replaced the processed fats with good old-fashioned butter for the yummiest flavor and canola oil for tenderizing the crumb and adding moisture to the cake," Richardson said.

This site actually has some of the recipes and great photo's from the cookbook.  Click Here.

I really enjoyed reading this cookbook and looking at the photo's.  I was inspired to try a few of the recipes.

I looked around the internet to see where you might purchase.  It appears to be widely available at
Amazon and a few other places. 

Check it out.  You might consider purchasing a copy for a new bride.  I think it would make a great wedding gift.

Thanks for visiting today.   I am off to the library for a new cookbok to share with you next week.

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Joyfully

Sherry

30 Minute Meals A Cookbook Review

I've been visiting my local library alot lately and I discovered another great cookbook!

Here's an overview from Barnes and Noble . . .
Southern Living solves the constant dinner dilemma with What's for Supper. This all-inclusive book of easy and delicious alternatives to fast food is a one-stop guide to quicker meals families can simply enjoy. Contributing Editor and Southern Living Test Kitchens expert Vanessa McNeil Rocchio has provided over 150 of her favorite 30-minute recipes that are fast, simple, and full of fl avor. From kid-favorites like Grilled Chicken Tacos and Tangy Turkey Burgers to sure-to-become family favorites like Chicken ...

And what I thought?  I loved it!  I've already made a couple of the dishes.  This is definately a cookbook that I would buy! 
What I really liked were the beautiful photos and the instructions were easy to follow. 

Like  the Cumin-Crusted Pork Cutlets which I tried! 
I happened to have pork cutlets in my freezer!

Each main dish has a complementing dish which they call a Sidekick. 

The sidekick suggested with the pork cutlets was Cabbage and Apple Slaw.  It was simple and quick and yummy!

I also cooked the Pork Fried Rice.  I changed it a little using ground pork I already had cooked and waiting for a recipe!

There are 251 pages of yummy recipes just waiting for you to try!
A few of the chapters included are
Dinners in the Pantry
No Cook Suppers
Picky Eaters
Cooking for Two
Slow Cooker

This one is definately worth trying.  I noticed a few other bloggers have reviewed this cookbook also.  You can goole the title to find other reviews. 

Check it out at your library or order your copy from Amazon or
Barnes and Noble.

Happy Cooking
Sherry

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