When Irish Eye's are Smiling

 Top o' the mornin' to ya all!

Doing an Irish Jig!

I'm so happy to be back!! 

So tell me friends,

Are you proudly wearing Green today?

 How Irish are you?

1/4, one-half.......all irish?

It seems that on St. Patty's day everyone wants to

let their Irish out of the bag.

I guess it's just the fun of it all, and the proud Irish folks

wanting to shout it all from the rooftops that

yes indeed they have green in their blood!

My maternal grandparents were Irish,

my grandfather was

as Irish as could be, and he let you know it too.

(My Irish grandparents with my uncle in the spring of 65')

Of course this was their favorite holiday.

So yes, that indeed makes me part Irish,

and I too have fondness for the holiday.

We make our corned beef and cabbage, a traditional boiled dinner.

 

Red potatoes, an onion, carrots, and a head of cabbage all thrown into a heavy stock pot with a beer of course, and the corned beef has to slowly cook in the broth for a long time.....

A four-leaf clover found in my yard last spring.......

  

The shamrocks come out.

Irish blessings are said,

 and Danny boy is usually sung

while loved ones are remembered.

If we have the pleasure to spend the holiday with extended family

you can be certain their will be celebrating goin on.

I so love all of the beautiful Irish proverbs and the superstitions are a hoot!

I also love that I can attest to the fact that

I am supposed to have a slew of "Irish lace" throughout my home

this is a rule for us Irish folks ya know.

For those of you who do not partake in being Irish on this most festive holiday,

Irish lace is cobwebs, lol.

  

We start our morning out with a little soda bread (with raisins) and some Twinings Irish Breakfast Tea
I drink this tea throughout the year.

 

It is a little stronger than my regular tea and I like to drink it in the morning to wake my brain up.

Of course that soda bread is slathered with real butta!

In This Irish Home

May these walls be filled with laughter,

may it reach from floor to rafter.

May the roof keep out the rain,

may sunshine warm each windowpane.

And may the door be open wide

to let the Good Lord's love inside.

The red potatoes all washed and ready to go into the pot for this evenings dinner.

When Irish eyes are smiling,

Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.

In the lilt of Irish laughter

You can hear the angels sing.

When Irish hearts are happy,

All the world seems bright and gay.

And when Irish eyes are smiling,

Sure, they steal your heart away.

So what are your St. Patrick's Day plans?  What recipes do you make?  I would love to hear about it, if you care to share!

Here is an easy Brownie recipe for you to print and try....
you can't go wrong with brownies at my house, they're easy and they're chocolate! 
We try alot of different variations.  Let me know what you think if you try these.

Well I hope that the Leprachauns leave a few four-leafed Clovers 

strewn about your yard for some good luck!

Good lord knows that I am not broken (you are so right Sharon Lovejoy!) and

 so lucky to have you all come back

after all of the troubles I aired the last two posts, hehe! 

Thanks good friends!
I leave you with this Irish Blessing......

Check back in again later this week, I will be hosting a Giveaway for followers

to celebrate my ONE YEAR BLOGGING ANNIVERSARY

that I missed while my computer was down!

Take Care!

Dee

Rise n' Shine!

Get up, get up, get out of bed.....

wake up now you sleepy heads!
Rise n' Shine, it's time for breakfast!

I love breakfast food.  It is ironic that I say this since I don't eat it as frequently as I should, at least not during the weekdays.  I fill myself with my two cups of coffee each morning and am usually fine with that until lunch.  Unhealthy?  I know, I know.  I don't know what it is about the weekdays and rushing around that has me skipping the most important meal of the day, but it is a bad routine that I have going and it is something that I am changing.

I also love to make breakfast on the weekends when the kids and my husband are all  home and we are together.  My husband makes great breakfast meals too and I loooove when he cooks. 

There is just something about a man flipping pancakes for his kids...lol!

There is also something to be said about waking up to the smell of breakfast cooking.  Pancakes and bacon cooking one floor below can make the sleepiest teen rise from her slumber quicker than a pail of water, at least in my house it can!

 Sometimes we have a "Backwards Night" at our house and we serve breakfast for dinner.

This is my children's favorite type of dinner, they love it. I have to say I do too, it is easy to prepare and easy to eat. 

Our gals (the chickens) are laying about 4 eggs a day even now in the cold weather, so it looks like we'll be using them up in what ever I decide to make for this weekend's breakfast.  My husband is quite proud of his chicks, and I have to say that there is definately a difference in fresh eggs.  The shells are harder, and the yolk is much brighter than store bought, and something about them just tastes better. 

Well they are just HENHOUSE FRESH!

Freshly laid eggs from our "girls"....all washed and ready to be used.

Occasionally I like to have a bowl of cereal too. 

It's a quick and easy breakfast, and I am rediscovering some of my favorites,

frosted mini wheats is one of them.

Granola is another one of my favorites, served with milk or as a parfait with strawberry yogurt with fresh fruit on the side.  It tastes especially good served in the good dishes, lol. 

French toast, my all time favorite, I have to use texas toast to make it though. 

The thick slices taste better.

Another favorite, corn cakes.  I serve with a pat of butter and swirl syrup and honey on top.

Oatmeal muffins, easy to take and go.....eating on the run?  My teen daughter is usually running out the door each morning, these are a great alternative to the junk teens want to eat.

I was thinking about the days when mothers made these fresh breakfasts each and everyday for their families.  They would rise with the sun and have it all ready to go when their families decended the stairs.  My grandmother had 8 children and raised her family this way.  She lived to cook and care for them and everyone else too.  I am not sure this could happen every day of the week in my house, so I just stick to aiming for the weekends for now, lol.  There was a reason everyone thought grandma was a superwoman!

At the breakfast table we are able to reconnect after a busy week, between sports, school clubs, homework and traffic during the week.  There is at least the weekend when we can all sit around the table enjoy good food and catch up before our day begins. 

If you haven't tried corn cakes before, they are too easy.  Pick up a box of jiffy corn muffin mix and the recipe is on the side of the box.  They are inexpensive to make too.  If you like cornbread, these are similar...only better and not as dry.

My son loves to make these with me, the little pieces pop in the pan, like magic.....

and he cracks up.

I am working on changing my eating habits to a more healthier version (I dare not say that I am dieting, since my altar ego will sabotage my efforts by eating a whole box of chocolate, yes it does happen!).  The healthy part entails making sure that I am eating three meals a day....no more skipping breakfast.  I don't eat pancakes and bacon every day but I am making the time to take care of myself, something that alot of mothers put off because they are so busy tending to their families, and sooner or later it catches up with you. We get so caught up in putting everyone but ourselves first!  I am now acknowledging that it is important that I do this so that I can take even better care of my family. 

***Be sure to take good care of yourself for your family!***

So I have been sitting down each morning after my kids have left for school with breakfast and my coffee, I catch up on my mail and browse through my recipe books, gearing myself up for the day.

 

I can't get rid of the coffee though....don't think I'll ever be able to do that, ha!

Oh, I'm so scary without my morning coffee.....lol.

I even talk to it.....I say hello "friend" each morning....

and my kids think I'm nuts for sure...

but they know it takes the monster away, and I stop growling.  He,he,he!

What about you?  What is your favorite breakfast food? 

What do you make for your family? Care to share?

Take care of yourself now, ya hear?

Dee

Rocking around the Christmas Tree.......

"They're here, momma they're hear", my son is excitedly calling from the front door!

"Oh, Hi gals!"  I see that you have arrived safely at the farmhouse, come one in.  Hubs has lit up the porch so you could find your way! 

Here let me have your coat, you must be freezing!  I was hoping we would have some snow this evening but no such luck......just brrrr! 


Oh, I love the christmas bulb earings you're wearing, how festive! And look she has her bells on!  Well you gals sure do like a party! 

Well head on into the kitchen straight ahead for some warm spiced cider while I get the doorbell....go on, make yourself at home and warm your hands by the fire while we wait for the others! 





I'm so happy you all could make it!  I couldn't think of a better time of the year to get together.  Can you hand me those oven mits on the island there?  Let me get those appys out of the oven, a little someting easy I whipped up to munch on.  There's some veggies and dip for you skinny gals on the table too, he, he!  Nothing against skinny people, you know I love ya'll!  I was one myself not too long ago but temptation has gotten the better of me in the kitchen!


The warm artichoke dip?  I love to serve this at the holidays..... Isn't that good?

here's the recipe...

serve with some crusty bread. 

Yes, that kitchen tree is sitting in an old cracker tin I picked up this past summer.  For many years it sat in an old crock but this is much bigger and keeps it steadied, girls can you belive I picked up those adorable heart ornies at dollar general?  They were the perfect colors for my kitchen tree, and at that price!  Now, I don't know about all of you, but I have 3 kiddos and I prefer not to spend alot on my ornaments or make them myself.  I'll spare you all about the year the tree came down, he, he, we can laugh about it now!

By the way.....Have any of you gals stopped in to see Ms. Joni over at Centenial Farmhouse  Her farmhouse looks like a postcard!   What about Cathy at Cobblestone Farm?  Oh the color that girl uses...amazing!  For some awesome decorating ideas check out my friend Linda's blog and while your there check out her store, she make the most beautiful bags, and there are little kits you can purchase, perfect for a winter's eve project!   Love Cottagey style....go see Cynthias Cottage Design she owns that style!


Just listen to us all carryin' on like a bunch of hens!!!  ((giggle)).  Now ya'll come on into the living room here and make yourself comfy, we're only waiting on 2 more gals.  The fire is roaring in the woodstove to keep the whole farmhouse toasty warm.


Those of you who have read my blog for a while now know that I love my cloche and that I like to change it out for the seasons.  In fact, I love to decorate with miniature vignettes here and there all over my house.  Hmmmm....I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I'm a shorty pants, lol! 

This scene under the cloche reminded me of our farmhouse in the snow with the front porch on it.....

Yes, that is a mason jar, sooo easy.  My little church scene, it looked just like our old fashioned country church so of course I wanted it, I wanted a whole tree's worth but they just didn't have enough! 

This  mason jar was picked up at an antique store about 9 years ago, I loved the rusty bale and chipped glass top, it has held everything, from wild flowers to christmas trees.......soo simple and inexpensive. Scrapbooking supplies are great additions to your displays....not just for scrapbooks!

Short on snow?....use espson salt...very inexpensive and comes in cartons....I think it is much easier to clean up too, since it doesn't fly away!


This front sitting room holds our twiggy tree.  I have alot of homemade ornaments on it.  Frames with quotes and reminders about the purpose of the season, Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!  I made the beeswax flowers about 12 years ago, can you believe they go into a box of decorations each year and are stored in the attic of our storage barn.  Each year they come out perfectly fine!  They won't melt!  When they are next to one of the christmas lights they heat up and give off a faintly sweet smell. 

We used to have a real tree in here and I loved the way it smelled with the pine.  Now we have to just use a yankee candle instead!  How about you all, do you have a real or fake tree?  I will go back to a really real one some day, when my children are older.  The pinecones are from our property I made years ago and dusted in glitter and strung on the tree....simple.  Anyone making or made their own ornies?  Whatcha workin on?

Our mantel in this room is fake greens, snowflakes I painted, distressed and dusted with mica glitter a few years ago.  Small frames holding holiday sayings printed out on the puter' are mixed in amongst the greens. 

My Great, Great, Aunt Ann's nativity set, one of my favorite treasures because she was so dear to me.  I have alot of her vintage ornaments too, like this one on my hutch along with my small

collection of glittered belsnickle Santas.....  Do you have any christmas collections, you add to each year?

Some Dessert?  Oh, come on, it's Christmas, CELEBRATE! 

Deserts are set out here in my small baking closet.  It was inspired by Aunt Ruthie from Sugarpie Farmhouse, previously known as Warm Pie Happy Home, a sweet woman with the most beautiful farmhouse, I just love her and her style!

  I showed it earlier in the year when I turned it into a pantry closet but it was originally a baking center with matching kitchen cabinets and now I have turned it back!  I have found that keeping my baking stuff all in one place really helps save me time and I can get down to the baking! 

A picture of my girls in front of the tree when they were little.......

I am so pressed for time this holiday season, making signs, christmas shopping, wrapping, parties, three children, you know the deal.  I still wanted to keep with the tradition of baking with my family so I am narrowing down my cookie list to one or two must have family recipes, (homemade sandies are a must).  For the rest I am relying on fast and easy!  We cannot do it all ya know!  When I try  to I burn myself out and the holiday flies by as fast as a feather in the wind!  I have to prioritize what I can get done realistically and stay on track or my mind wanders! 


I found the betty crocker website a wealth of resource for those type of cookie recipes...you can go to the Betty Crocker website and find the top 20 holiday cookie recipes for delicious and easy recipes.....gotta love Betty, she knows how to help a momma out!  Just look at the virtual cranberry orange cake (from their website) that I made for ya'll!  ((Giggle)) These virtual parties are maybe too easy!

Do you simplify and prioritize your holidays to keep sane during the holidays?  Any changes you made this year from last? 

Gooseberry Patch cookbook and Christmas books also have alot of wonderful fast, easy and creative ideas.  I keep mine handy in this old enamelware pot to peek through while I sip on my morning coffee.  I actually have a recipe (really a simple idea) that I have mentioned before, that was published in one of the Christmas books, let me know if you find it gals!  I'll try to post it up before Christmas....

Have a seat in the dining room with your cake......what's that?  Oh yes, I love the bottle brush trees, you see them everywhere here.  I even popped a few into my tea cups in my china cabinet! 

Here is our Family room, this is where I keep our large tree,and where our family congregates to  watch our Christmas movies by the fire.  It's the unexpected touches that are the always the most fun! 

I have a vintage theme going on this tree, the tinsel reminds me of my childhood Christmas trees, only I use white lights.  What do you girls prefer white or colored lights? 

Another miniature....a village in my hutch.....  I don't go nuts with it but I try to add a small accent piece each year.  I love the old fashioned houses and stick to those mostly.  I'll try not to bring up the houses that were dropped a few years ago.....ugh....a decorating tragedy!

I have these large glass lamps in here that I display things in for the seasons.....vintagey snowmen this year. These can be made from any large jar fitted for a lamp top.

 

Another mantel decorated with garland lightly dusted with snow and old fashioned candlebulbs.

An old tool chest picked up at another antique show for $5, mmmhmmm thats right $5!  I made it into a holiday arrangement with the addition of green picks a candle lamp and a few accessories.  I made a few of these for gifts one year but I picked up new boxes and painted and distressed them to look old added a few vintage items. 

Anyone else making some handmade gifts this  year?  I am planning on bagging up some of these pails of snowballs I made for a few people among other things! 

I just love handmades, the love and time that goes into them you can enjoy it for years to come.....

Well our little party is almost over, thank you all for stopping by, I sure did enjoy the time with you!  Be sure to stop back into the kitchen and grab a ginerbread man! 

Have a safe trip home and

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Hugs,
Dee