Christmas Lights

.......click photo to enlarge.....

This photo was taken over the weekend on the North side suburbs of Pittsburgh. I runn oft on the spur of the moment and visited my sister.

Getting into Pittsburgh on Rt. 28 was no picnic or walk in the park. They are reconstructing the road and the traffic pattern is a maze , to say the least. I stopped traffic one time to get onto the lane I needed to be on ( the horns were a blaring at me ) and then had to get onto another lane to the right and a car was coming up on my right side .. well, almost hit him.. Thank the Lord, I didn't.

Then there was a wreck ahead not far from the E. Ohio Street exit and traffic was backed up for quite a while. But made it to my sister's house in one piece.

Then the shopping we did go ! We went to Robinson Town Mall area.. wasn't a parking place to be had around the mall, so we went to the stores around the mall.. Marshalls, T J Maxx, Bed, Bath and Beyond.. etc. We had a bite to eat at Max and Erma's. Fairly good food !

Lots of homes were all decked out in their Christmas lights and just so nice to look at while someone else was driving ! Thanks, Sis !

There is an empty store front in the Northway Mall on McNight Road that has a huge train display and I mean huge. Very nice for children of all ages to see.

Sunday evening we went to Ross Park Mall. Lots of folks still shopping for that special gift. Lots of upper end stores in this mall such as Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel, Norstroms, Macy's , L.L.Bean , Tiffany's , etc.. etc..

There is just so much to do and see in Pittsburgh ! Plus shopping !

My weekend with my sister was great ! Thanks, Sis !

Wishing you all a Glorious Merry Christmas !

Hugs,
Linda

Always Leave a Little Room in Your Holidays...

for Miracles ! Thomas Wolfe

This is the skate ornie I won from the PFATT Marketplace blog last week made by Jody from Star Spangled Pretties. http://starspangledpretties.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-pics-front-room-and-entryway.html

This photo does not do Jody's creation justice.. It is just awesome in person !

She had it wrapped so pretty in the ho ho paper with a hangtag with that miracle saying on it along with a neat chenille candy cane and rusty snowflake attached. She also sent a neat Believe card with a nice note.

A big Thank You to Jody and Pfatt Marketplace !

Hugs,
Linda

Please take a moment...

Please take a moment to take a peek at Stone Gable's blog. Click the link below...

http://stonegable.blogspot.com/2010/12/sunday-scripture-december-12-2010.html

Praise the Lord !
Hugs,
Linda

`Tis the Season for ~

COOKIES !
Click photo to enlarge and grab a cookie !.. :o)

The cookies pictured are Spiced Pumpkin Cookies that I baked this afternoon. The recipe came from Countryfolk Keepsakes's blog a couple years ago. They are such a soft delectable treat ! I love soft cookies !

The recipe...

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg ( I used 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon ginger )
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 egg

Glaze

3 cups confectioner's sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the dry ingredients except the sugar and set aside.

In another bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Add pumpkin , egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to butter mixture and beat till creamy. Add to dry ingredients and mix well.

Drop on ungreased cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool and frost with the glaze.

To make glaze, mix all together.. You may need to add more milk or confectioner's sugar.

You can also frost with a cream cheese icing.. but baked goods with cream cheese should be refrigerated.




Below are a couple photos of my decor in the daylight. My putz village and feather tree. They are displayed on top of my old antique sewing machine.




Instead of making these cookies, I should have been writing out Christmas cards and or wrapping gifts ! That darn sweet tooth won out !

hugs,
Linda

Winter's White Display Chain #11

Click on the photos to enlarge !

This photo was taken this morning and it came out black and white ! I am finally getting around to joining in Misi's display chain ! And today it is Winter's White. The white is really coming down today, but we don't have as much as some up north of us do.

Misi's display chain on her blog 1890 gable house musings can be viewed here:
http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com/2010/12/tuesdays-display-11.html

Below is my main tree, decorated in mostly whites.. When I lived in Georgia, I missed the snow around Christmas time, so I made do with a white decorated tree and I have kept it , but now adding in some reds and vintage ornaments, etc.




Pictured above is a closeup of the tree along with two vintage Santas found in a thrift store that had to come home with me ! On the table above the Santas is a tiny nativity I purchased quite a long time ago. My son made the stable.

I made the mitten hanging on the tree some years ago.



The photo below is a set of *Silver Bells* that I made reminiscent of days gone by..that have the look of Winter's White..

The photo below is of my Fontanini Nativity Display. The figurines are made in Italy.


This is my version of Winter's White and I hope you have enjoyed it !

May you have a glorious day ! Remember Pearl Harbor Day today ! God Bless Our Troops and all the ones who have served our Great Country !

Hugs,
Linda

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas !

Click photos to enlarge.

It's beginning to look like Christmas here finally ! Above is a grouping of my little cardboard *Japan* vintage houses and some bottle brush trees and in the center is my feather tree. I bought some of those itty bitty country tiny lights to light up the houses. The bigger houses on each end of the table are newer houses.

Notice the little Santa Claus and Reindeer in the right foreground and the little nativity scene in the center of photo.


A couple closeup shots of my main tree.


Below is a photo of my dining room table... yea, that is a vinyl cover over the tablecloth.. call me practical ! and I forgot to take it off for the photo.


My budding pewter collection beside the brown pitcher .. two pieces ! one is a porriger and the other piece is a sugar bowl. I am not sure if the brown pitcher is old or not. I found it at an antique store in Stafford Springs, CT a few years ago. I made the figgy pudding on the bread board.

Only 20 days till Christmas ! It seems to have come too fast this year !

Hugs,
Linda