The Seasonal Romantic

When the weather begins to cool down isn't it fun to cozy up your house a bit, whether you live where the winters are very cold or just mildly chilly? I always enjoy changing things around according to the seasons and with winter coming on I've been doing a few things here and there with that in mind.

This is a smallish print by the popular Scottish painter Jack Vettriano that I love to have in our Master Bedroom, especially during the winter. The colors seem "just right" and the title of this incredibly romantic scene is "Back Where You Belong".

I think the painting goes especially well with yet another hydrangea arrangement that I recently put together. I wasn't planning on bringing anymore hydrangeas home from my father-in-law's San Diego garden, but when I found out his gardener was planning to prune them all down this month.....well I just couldn't help myself.....I had to bring some more home. I promise this will be the last hydrangea post I'll be doing for awhile....I think.

In the evening this little table-top vignette looks so pretty when the wall candles are lit and it smells heavenly with the aroma bowl burning as well. My current favorite essential oil to burn in this room is Jasmine, but there are so many lovely fragrances to pick from it's hard to stick to just one. I'm currently on the search for a pleasant little "Christmasey" aroma that isn't too overpowering. Any suggestions?

Here's to the beautiful, romantic holiday season coming up,

My Spring Breaks

Spring cleaning around here this week. Probably going to be next week too.....you see I'm trying to finish up a couple of furniture painting projects at the same time. I know, it's not that smart to combine the two but that's how it's working out. ( Will post about the projects soon) The cleaning part is not my favorite thing to do but I LOVE how everything looks and feels when it's done! It's an absolutely beautiful Spring day around here though, and I don't want to be inside ALL day so I'm thinking a girl needs a break to go sit at the park for a few minutes, watch the ducks, and just enjoy it all. So that's exactly where this girl will be when lunchtime comes around today. In the meantime I better get busy, hadn't I?

Today I'm linking with these great sites so be sure and stop by:

Outdoor Wednesday with Susan at A Southern Daydreamer

Watery Wednesday

Christmas in July Part 5

What is your idea of an ideal Christmas? Ask fifty different people and without a doubt you'll get fifty different answers. We each have our very own collection of memories, of impressions........of sights and sounds that bring a smile to our lips and a warmth in our hearts.

So why have someone else's Christmas? The great advantage of a little advance planning is that you have the luxury of time! You have time to really consider what you want and what your family wants. You won't wind up doing things you don't really enjoy, things that mean little to you just because you're so rushed you just do whatever it takes to get through the season!

Not a Good Thing!

Now when I say advance planning I don't mean you to have to spend long hours planning details..........for one thing it's impossible in many cases to know exactly how the holidays are going to shape up five months in the future. There are so many variables, including other individuals outside your immediate family who will have their own plans. The idea is to begin to think of the things that are in your control. Do a little dreaming. Begin to think about the things that make Christmas special to you. What kind of atmosphere do you want to create? What activities would you miss if you didn't do them? Be sure to ask those that live in your household what they enjoy most about Christmas. Write it all down.

Then slowly and surely, over the next few months, begin to work on those priority items. Right now Christmas seems so far away! If we're honest though we know that 152 days (as of this posting) is not a very long time. I think we sometimes forget that when the holidays come along they are "in addition to" everything else that goes on in our lives! I know I've been guilty at times of thinking that somehow, magically, extra hours are going to be given to me in November and December! Doesn't happen, does it? So now is the logical time to start snatching pieces of time here and there so that you can have the holidays that you want.

Planning Tips

*Start off by visiting a few Christmas sites on the web just to get yourself in the mood. A favorite of mine is http://www.organizedchristmas.com/ You're gonna love this one!

*If you're not familiar with Flylady you need to check out her site http://flylady.org/pages/site_index.asp. There you'll have year round access to her Holiday Cooking and Decorating Plan .....and closer to the holidays themselves she posts daily videos about getting ready for Christmas.

*Another fun little site is http://www.xmascookies.blogspot.com/

*http://www.christmasorganizing.com/ has activities going on all year and for a year round Christmas Store try Bronner's Christmas Wonderland at http://www.bronners.com/

*Another way to get in the mood for planning is to listen to some Christmas tunes......either get out your CDs or tune in to one of the internet radio sites.....right now I'm listening to http://www.pandora.com/ . You can type in the name of a Christmas song you want to hear and it will automtically make up a radio list with similar songs and play them for you........and it's free!

*You get the idea.......just have a little fun surfing around......there's no telling what you'll find and the kind of ideas it will spark in you!

*I highly recommend that you put together some sort of Christmas Notebook where you keep all your Holiday plans organized. At the first site I mentioned , Organized Christmas, there are dozens of free printables to get you started. Whether you use theirs, find others on the Web, or make up your own......just be sure to devise some type of book to keep all your thoughts and plans in. It makes a huge difference!

*Peruse through any holiday books that you might own. When I'm in plannng mode this time of year I usually keep one or two Christmas books stacked on my nightstand so I can look through them before I fall asleep. Jot down any ideas and recipes that you might want to try. You may run across gift ideas.....start making some preliminery lists. Remember it almost always takes longer than you think to make that special gift you've been planning. Try to make some concrete decisions on anything that is going to be complicated or time consuming. Even if you don't do homemade gifts it's always better to order or purchase special gifts ahead of time.

*If you don't own any holiday books you can always check some out at the library or purchase new or used at Amazon. Thrift stores almost always have a few holiday books around. I just enjoy having my own little collection around to look at whenever I like. :)

*Finally, just enjoy yourself. Even if you're not a natural planner, even if you think you really dislike planning ahead, even if you think it's way too early to think about it.........do just a little. Whatever you do now will pay big dividends in just a few short months! You'll be so glad you did. :)

Am I Cool or What? Part IV

Did I hear someone say 113 by Sunday? Be back in a minute........sure enough. I just checked the National Weather Service site and 113 degrees is right. As everyone around here loves to say, "It's a dry heat." Actually at only 10% humidity, it is a dry heat, and it does make a really big difference. That being said, however, the fact still remains............it's going to be hot! This is the time of year that those of us here in the Southwest have to remind ourselves that for eight months out of the year our weather is absolutely gorgeous. Still, this weekend we are going to be reaching for a lot of those cold drinks!

Actually this time of year if you live anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere you're going to be experiencing warm weather......and that means you need a plan. What kind of plan, you ask? A "stay-out-of-the-kitchen-as-much-as-possible" kind of plan that's what!...........which leads me to the subject of today's post. If you don't make a plan for your meals any other time of year, you should in the summer. Besides, there are just too many fun things to do in the good 'ol summertime to be stuck in a hot kitchen! So here's a short list of suggestions for keeping it cool in the kitchen for the next few weeks. I'm sure you'll be able to think of even more......just tailor it to your family and your circumstances.

The List

*Plan menus so you're not tempted to get fast food "just one more time".

*Think" make-ahead" main dishes that can be cooked early in the morning or later in the evening when the house has cooled down .......then reheated in the microwave.

*Use your crock pot!

*Prepare a big salad bowl with all your favorite lettuce. It'll be ready on short notice to top with the chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and radishes, etc, that you enjoy making your lunch or dinner salads with. All these little goodies can also be prepared ahead of time and be stored in containers or baggies so they're right there when you need them.

*Fix bowls of cubed watermelon and cantaloupe and keep chilled. There's nothing more refreshing than to be able to grab a bowl of fresh fruit anytime you like.

*Strawberries, blackberries, and peaches can be "sugared" lightly and kept in covered containers the same way. Flash freeze your grapes on a big cookie sheet, then package in baggies in individual portions......these make a great snack for kids and adults alike.

*Make a big pitcher of tea or lemonade first thing every morning. Try making "sun" tea.

*Keep some extra lemons and limes for slicing into big glasses of ice water. By the way.....make sure you have plenty of good tasting, healthy-for-you drinking water in your home. There's nothing better for us in the summertime.

*Buy an extra bag of ice to keep in your freezer even if you have an ice maker. You don't want to run out.

*Prepare several main dish salads such as chicken salad (recipe below), corned beef salad, and egg salad to keep in your fridge for quick sandwich meals.

*Make homemade ice cream or buy your favorites from the store. Do the ice cream thing I talked about in this post.

*Now go ahead and think of your own......some that will work for you this summer.

Cool 'n Quick Chicken Salad

*This recipe can be easily cut in half if you want to make less than this at a time

Ingredients:

6 large boneless skinless chicken breasts

4 ribs of celery

1 cup of quality mayonnaise

salt and pepper

1 Tablespoon sugar

To Prepare:

Steam chicken breasts until done. I love to use my double- decker steamer, but if needed you can bake or boil the chicken.

If you steam or boil the chicken you will have the added bonus of several cups of chicken broth. Cool in fridge, skim fat off of the top, then label and freeze. This broth is invaluable for soups, chicken and noodles................all kinds of chicken dishes.

Season the cooked chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste, then cut into cubes.

Dice the celery into small cubes.




 

Finally, in a large bowl add to the chicken the mayonnaise, the celery, and the sugar. Don't decide to leave out the sugar here because you've never heard of putting this in chicken salad..............you have to trust me.............add the sugar.

And you're done! To serve this as a main dish just put your servings on beds of lettuce. Serve with Wheat Thins or Club Crackers. Chicken salad will keep in the refrigerator for several days, ready for a sandwich lunch or dinner. Here you see it on our favorite deli-rolls served with cantaloupe and a cold veggie side dish.




 

Smaller sandwiches can be made by using the small potato dinner roll. Grab some sliced fruit from the fridge, add a few chips, and you're ready to go.

Enjoy! Be sure to join me on Wednesday the 15th for Christmas in July. Wouldn't you say we could use a little Christmas ?

Keeping it cool...............

For more delicious menus on this lovely Friday evening drop by to visit these two great sites.

Michael @ Designs by Gollum

Ann at Ann Kroeker.Writer

And for some lovely homemaking posts........  go visit Sarah at Blissfully Domestic

Simply Oriental

We all love Chinese food at our house. I also love Japanese food and my son is a big Thai food fan. If we do Japanese or Thai we always order out. Most of the time when we do Chinese, we order out. Sometimes, though, I venture into making a Chinese meal in my own kitchen. Actually my husband makes excellent pork fried rice and egg drop soup and I like to try my hand at a few simple dishes. While I admit there are plenty of times when we plop down in the family room with a good movie, Chinese food cartons in hand, there are other times when its nice to eat at the table surrounded by a little Oriental ambiance. This table setting is so simple it can be set up in minutes and makes even takeout seem just a little bit special.

Here is the table set for three. We're trying to learn to use chopsticks so I have no other flatware on the table......of course there are always standbys close at hand. We at least start out the meal with chopsticks :0

The large black dinner plates are originally from Target. I say originally because I picked up four complete place settings while out Thrifting one day for only $5. I use them now in so many combinations. The black and white salad plate is from my wedding china, Coventry pattern Laurent. In this particular instance I'm using them for a mandarin chicken salad that I've recently learned to make. The oval mini-dishes are from a kitchen store and for this meal are used for sweet and sour sauce to go with the eggrolls. Colorful and reusable chopsticks round out the setting.

Aren't these glass bamboo cups and teapot adorable? Since we always have hot tea with these meals these work perfectly......from Target also, but I don't think they are available anymore.

The centerpiece here is from Joanne Fabrics Store, bought at the New Years Sale last year. I currently have this on a sidetable in another part of my home as part of a more permanent arrangement, but it is just perfect for this type of tablescape. The jumbo black candle gives off a nice little light and seems more appropriate on this table than thin tapers. Bamboo placemats and black napkins are from Bed Bath and Beyond. I consider these two items staples because they are so versatile.

I love setting a pretty table, but for everyday meals I appreciate something that can be put on the table in a hurry, don't you?

This is my first time participating in Tablescape Thursday so thanks for stopping by. Be sure to drop by to see Susan and the rest of the lovely Tabletops at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ I know you won't be disappointed.

Show and Tell Friday.....So Simple, So Useful

As my title suggests, today on "Show and Tell" I want to show three very simple, but oh so useful tips that have made my life easier. And who doesn't like easy?

This first tip is so easy I can guarantee just about everybody has heard it before......but how many people actually do this? I know I went years without hanging up a simple keyholder even though I knew it was probably a good idea. Believe me, it's not only a good idea, it's a great idea. I use this particular holder for our "everyday" keys only.....we have three drivers in the family right now. I suggest you keep other spare keys in a more secure location. I like this particular one because I think its kind of cute, but you can use just about any kind as long as you put it in a handy location. Mine hangs on a wall right beside my kitchen cabinets.....a prime location in our house. Until you've tried this you really have no idea how much time and hassle it will save you. This one is a real stress buster!

We've always been breakfast eaters at our house so for quite a few years now I've kept a shelf set aside especially for breakfast items. As of this morning, this is how mine looks. It just makes it so easy to quickly grab what you need without rummaging through other pantry items. If you're anything like our family it's a rare morning when we have lots of time to spare. This makes it so much easier, and so much more pleasant to get everyone started on their day.....whether you're down to three like we are, already an empty-nester, or still have a house full. Do yourself a favor and give this one a try.

Finally this last thing I want to share is simply a basket. Maybe I need a pretty name for it but basically it is just my "stuff basket". In it I keep my Bible, a study notebook, a devotional book,

and a highlighter and pen for my prayer and study time......if I don't keep them in one place half my time is spent getting it all together. In it I also keep a current catalog or two....anything I'm trying to get a chance to look through. Right now I have my "Garden Guy" guide to desert gardening in it because we're coming up on prime planting time here. There's my Household Notebook in there for planning purposes, a small timer to keep me from losing track of time, and an older book that I have been enjoying reading again. If you look closely you see there's an extra pair of reading glasses and a pair of sunglasses for reading outdoors. When it's warm enough you'll find me outside on my backyard swing. On chilly mornings I'll be indoors sitting by the fireplace. In the evening it just may be sitting by the bedside for a quick look before I go to sleep. No matter what time of day, it's so handy to just pick up my basket of stuff and take it wherever I want. It looks pretty tidy in the photo, but believe me I'm constantly having to clear it out so that it has only the things I need for the present in it. I try to keep it from becoming just another book or magazine holder. If you're anything like me and have a dozen or so things going at once you might find this is one way to keep it all sorted out and going in the right direction. To check out more "Show and Tell" posts be sure to go on over to Kelli's. Oh and have a great weekend everyone! It's hard to believe tomorrow is the last day of January.....the second month of the year is already here. Life does come at us fast doesn't it? Give these tips a try in the coming month, or go ahead and try some of your own that you just haven't got around to doing. Try some "So Simple, So Useful" things in February and see what a big difference it will make.

Finally Finished !

The last day or so I have felt like I might be the last person in town to have put away her Christmas decorations. Logically, I know that's not true......but I was feeling that way anyway! Like a lot of us, I'm hard on myself that way sometime. But now I'm happy to report that I am finally and completely finished! I'd love to say that I do this good a job every year, but the truth is I don't. For instance due to a certain set of circumstances last year I rather haphazardly stored my things and was done with it in quick order........and this year I was very frustrated when I started to plan the holidays. You see, I like to do something a little different every year, and I never use all of my decorations at the same time, so I really like to know exactly what I have from year to year, and where everything is! And much to my poor husbands bewilderment I buy a little something new every year! I determined that this year was going to be a "good packing away" year. I even got rid of 2 huge boxes of decorations that I know I will never use again. That's a biggie for me! I hate to get rid of holiday decorations and books, and so I felt very liberated taking those discard boxes to Goodwill. Still, even after that I had a lot of things to store. It's taken me several days because I started from the inside out and re-organized everything!

This is a snowman that my oldest son picked out for me this year......his tummy lights up when you put in a little tea light candle. Love it.

Here he is wrapped in his bubble-wrap cocoon.

Here's what probably takes the most time. I write down every single thing that is in the boxes. Actually I create a Database Sheet on my computer and list each item, what box # it is in, and where it is located ( I keep most of the boxes in the attic except for my Keepsake Ornaments and a few very special things that I want immediate access to in an emergency). Finally, on my database sheet I have a column for "Comments" where I write anything special I want to remember about that item. For instance the sizes of my 3 tartan plaid tablecloths, or who gave me the china candy dish for my December birthday in 1998, or the fact that the puppy chewed the foot of a particular wooden gingerbread boy in 2008.......all of these things are recorded there. For years I just kept a record of these things in a notebook, but using the data base feature in Microsoft makes it possible for me to search for an item easily and quickly. A search for tablecloths will bring up every holiday tablecloth I have and which boxes they are located in. It's just a little feature that I like, but whether you record what you have on your computer or use plain old pencil and paper it will make decorating for the holidays next year so much easier! It is well worth the extra time it takes on this end. You can start your planning whenever you want without having to dig through a multitude of boxes trying to see what you have! If you have a decorations collection of any size at all it is almost impossible to remember exactly what you have from year to year. You think you'll rememeber now, but you won't. This makes it so much easier.

I try to carefully pack the boxes, with associated things in them if possible. This box, CM#1, has gingerbread things and everything Snowmen.(Except my Snowmen Stemware and Snowmen Mugs are in a regular dishpak box for safekeeping CM# 7)

Finally, by 4 o'clock this afternoon, everything was put away......ten boxes and three trees safely packed away in the attic until next year!

And the nice thing is.......my sweetheart of a husband is making dinner for me tonight....doesn't get any better than that. Thanks, honey.

Thursday is Errand Day

Doesn't the phrase "errand day" sound quaint? It does, and I love it. It's reminiscent of earlier times when things seemed simpler, somehow easier. Now I realize that not everything was perfect "back then", whenever "back then" was, but many things actually were done in a more efficient manner.....and one of these things is setting aside specific days of the week to do specific things. It gives a purpose to each day.

I've found I have less stress during the week when I know basically what I'll be doing on certain days. I save money on groceries because I've taken the time to plan out menus and grocery lists earlier in the week ( on what I call my "office day", but that's another post). And I certainly save on gas when I take things to the cleaners, mail a package, or return a book to a friend all in the same trip.

Thursday works for me as errand day for a number of reasons, but everybody is different. Taking the time to plan out your week, deciding which days work best for the things in your life, can be a very liberating thing. I know some people don't like the idea of any kind of schedule because they view schedules as too restrictive or limiting. Believe me I'm the kind of person who loves to do things on the spur of the moment, who will sometimes drop everything I have planned to do when something I deem more important or even " more fun"comes up. If a friend I haven't seen for awhile comes to town and wants to have lunch I certainly wouldn't miss that opportunity just to keep on schedule and go to the grocery store. Life happens. Fun happens.

I don't think we should ever be a slave to a schedule.

But that being said, it's always reassuring that I can get back to some sort of order. Everything in my life works better when I do, and not surprisingly I have more time for everything and everybody in my life.

So while December is one of those months that is full of all kinds of things that don't seem to fall into any schedule or category, having some kind of framework for your week can actually help get all these "extras" done. So I'm off.....

.......and by the way, while I actually adore the way the woman is dressed in the above photo......I won't be dressed that way. I have on black velour slacks and a red sweater with black flats (with a little bling across the toe) for comfort! Rather stylish but in a much different way. The photo brings back memories of some of my Mom's outfits in the 60's......that's probably why I love it so much!

I Have My Very Own Chimney Sweeps

Obviously they're not chimney sweeps by trade, but Jim and Christopher will tackle just about anything. Since it's always a good idea to clean your chimney before you light your first fire of the year, they climb up on the roof and go at it.

Why is it that guys like to get up on the roof? I'm glad, but I don't really understand it. Remember Dick Van Dyke, the Cockney chimney sweep in "Mary Poppins"? I tell them they're that good.......minus the singing and dancing! So far there's been no dancing on the roof.

Thanks guys! Now let's put some put some logs in the fireplace....... it's the day after Thanksgiving...............let the Christmas decorating begin.