Red Velvet Cake

 

Planning to make this

scrumptious Red Velvet Cake

tomorrow!!

Happy New Year!! 

Merry Christmas

Wishing all my blog friends

a very Merry Christmas!! 

From our family

to yours!!

Favorite Christmas Candy

Here are a few of my favorite 

Christmas Recipes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients needed:
2 sticks butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups graham crackers (We use whole graham crackers and crush them up)
1 box powdered sugar (4 cups)
1/2 peanut butter (Jiff, creamy or crunch depending which you prefer)
1/2 cup nuts (optional, my girls don't like nuts)
1 tsp. vanilla

Chocolate for Dipping: We use Wilton's Chocolate Discs or just any chocolate you prefer in a double boiler. Which in my case is just a large pot filled with water with another pot that will fit down into the bottom pot without touching the water. I really plan to buy a DOUBLE BOILER this year!! 

The butter should be soft, if not soft enough microwave for only a FEW SECONDS, DO NOT MELT! The mixture will be too runny.
 Crush your graham crackers in a plastic baggie, we sometimes use recycled bread bags!
Mix your crushed graham crackers, powdered sugar, soft butter, and peanut butter. Add vanilla. MIX WELL!
Pinch off and roll into balls. Place the balls on a cookie sheet until they are all rolled out.
Place in the refrigerator to cool, they will be much easier to dip when cold.

DIPPING

I've learned that there are a few tricks when dipping my candy.

First, set a piece of wax paper or foil on the counter to place your candy after it's been

dipped.

Next, only take out a plate full at a time from the refrigerator, they become 

soft after setting out. Much easier to dip if they are cold.

Place the water in the bottom pot, add chocolate to the top pot and bring water to a boil.

When it begins to boil stir until melted, then remove from heat! 

Begin dipping the chocolate with a SPOON to cover the balls, pretzels, pecans, or whatever you

are dipping, then take a FORK and gently tap on the side of the pot to remove any

access chocolate, this way you aren't wasting any of that yummy 

chocolate.  

 Here are the peanut butter balls

before the dipping

 

The actual dipping process in action!!

 They look a little messy here but when 
the chocolate dries they are beautiful
inside a cute little Christmas container.

Tea Cakes

These are SUPER EASY and great
for Christmas gifts!

Turn oven to 400 degrees. 
Cream together 1 cup SOFT butter or margarine
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla


Mix 2 1/4 cups flour and 1/4 tsp. salt 
Add this to the cream mixture.
Add in 3/4 cups finely chopped pecans or walnuts.
Mix well and roll into a ball. Cover with wax paper and chill 
for at least 1 hour.
Remove from refrigerator and pinch and roll 
into 1 inch balls.
Bake 10 - 12 minutes and roll into powdered sugar.
Roll again when cool!! 
Voila, You're done!
How easy is that!!

Baking and Shopping!!

 

Just checking in to say hello to my blogger friends!!

"Merry Christmas"

We have been very busy shopping today in FREEZING weather!!

Of course we've made time for our

tradition of making PEANUT BUTTER BALLS  just like

my grandmother did each year when I was growing up!!

Holly Jolly Blog Bingo

In Stitches is having their 2nd Annual Holly Jolly Blog Bingo!!
Go over and Join in the Fun!!

  

Let The Fun Begin!!

Christmas Tree

 

My girls love decorating the Christmas tree just as much today 

as they did when they were little. It's become our family

tradition to begin the decorating a few days after 

Thanksgiving. We love the old fashioned look with 

country ornaments, along with a few handmade and several from

when the girls were little. 

It's even beginning to feel like Christmas here in

East Tennessee with snow today!! Flurries here and there all 

day today with winds and temperatures in the 30's. 

Yes, it definitely feels like Christmas!!

Happy Thanksgiving Friends

 We are so very blessed this Thanksgiving Season!! Praising God for our family, health, friends, home, and so many little blessings we sometimes take for granted. 

Catching up on some unfinished sewing projects today!

Our First "Thirty One Party"

 My daughter has recently became a Thirty One Consultant and we had our

first party a couple weeks ago. 

I love this company!! 

The name of the company is derived from 

Proverbs 31 in the Bible.
Here are a few pics I wanted to share.

This little cutie measures 9 1/2 X 12 1/2 
and is free this month with any  $31 order!!
Totally awesome!! 
Embroidery is extra.

Pocketbooks, skirt pocketbooks, small totes, large

totes, overnight bags, messenger bags, storage containers....

you name it, they have it!! Look how nice my photo albums fit 
in the tote beside my piano!! Love that!
If you would like, you can 
place an order on my daughter's website here.

Quilting Tutorials

It's always handy to have everything in one place! Thanks to Allison over at Cluck Cluck Sew, we now have some fabulous tutorials all listed in one neat place!! She also has a handy little button to add to your own blog. 
Thank you so much Allison for taking the time to put this together!!

Sunday Scripture Blessing

"For you are my lamp, O Lord:

The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.

For by You I can run against a troop:

By my God I can leap over a wall.

As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the Lord is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him."

2 Samuel 22:29-31 

Christmas Gifts

We've been busy making up some gifts for Christmas.
I love making these adorable little zipper pouches. 

 

Mending

 

Mending my favorite quilt in the whole wide world.

My grandmother made this for me....pieced and quilted by hand!

When I was first married we used this quilt for a bedspread and it has a bit of wear on the binding.

 

 It's raining today..... so we may not see

many more scenes like these.

Pattern Giveaway

My friend Randi over at i have to say is having another fabulous giveaway!! An adorable jacket pattern kit. Give her a visit and take a look at all the lovely fabrics in her etsy shop while you're there!

Check out the awesome make-up bag tutorial over at Noodleheads blog too!! I love making small projects and this one is great. Step by step instructions with pictures, how great is that! Great gifts for the holidays, which is right around the corner girls. 

We have been very packing. My mother has sold her house and she will be moving in with us for now. We are excited for this new adventure and look forward to having her with us. God does great and mighty things when we least expect it!!

I will leave you with a cute picture of "Packing Day."

 Grandchildren Bubble wrapping mamaw

A Drive in the Country

 

What a gorgeous day for a family drive in the country.

Beautiful scenery on those winding country roads.

 

The leaves are just beginning to turn colors.

Back to our crazy hectic schedules tomorrow!

Have a great Monday!!

Pinwheel Pinning

 

Finally.....pinning my Pinwheel Sampler!!!

 

Also.....the finished candle mat

 

My daughter's artwork....fall is in the air.

Scraps

Using my scraps to make this cute little mat that I found here

on the quilting gallery.

Although you can't see it very well I've hand stitched

this one to give it a more handmade look.  

Here, I'm adding the binding. 

First Day of Fall

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year. Too bad it's so short. Among the things I love the most are: cooler weather with beautiful clear skies, watching the leaves and trees change colors, Thanksgiving, baking and cooking once again. 

I've started making pumpkin rolls early this year since I had such a great interest last year. 

I've been busy with homeschooling and taking care of my home and

making time to sew with friends this week. We truly have to MAKE time to 

spend with loved ones and friends, it doesn't just happen!!

We've been making some of the cutest little zipper pouches ever.

I loved them so much I've given them all away as soon as they were made

and have no picture to show. 

but......you can find a gorgeous picture at the "Make it Perfect" blog, along

with some wonderful 

directions with pictures. 

Sunday Sonlight

 Praise God for Sundays!! 
The day we rise early to get ready for Sunday School and Church services. A day of no work unless absolutely necessary. Visiting family and friends. Enjoying God's awesome creation. Fellowship, worship, instruction, healing, praise, and so much more when we GIVE GOD this day!! 

"And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top tothe bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."         Matthew 27:51 -53




Praise God for that access to God we were granted, through Jesus Christ!!
Jesus paid the price for our sin and through faith in Him we can enter with full assurance, knowing we have been cleansed for our iniquities. We can hold fast to God's promises, knowing he can be trusted, encouraging one another in love and good deeds. 


The reality that we have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus and declared holy before God should motivate us to draw nearer to God. As we spend more time with Him, living a life pleasing to Him, we become increasingly like Him. God changes us from the inside out when we yield to His Spirit.

Pinwheel Sampler

  We are finally settling into school and our daily routine once again around our home. The weather is absolutely gorgeous with blue skies and warm days. 

Yes, the past two weeks I've gradually found my way into my little sewing room and wadded through the unfinished projects. 

First, I just had to make a cute little baby bib for a shower gift.

Next, I tackled the piecing for the blocks in the Pinwheel Sampler.

We've been enjoying the abundance of fresh fruit like peaches and blueberries!!

Making pies, jellies, and freezer jam....yummy!!

Enjoyed a little day trip on the Blueridge Parkway....beautiful scenery!!