Saturday, January 14, 2012

Until next year...and a GBP Cookbook Winner!

Hello there Ladies!

Happy Belated New Year (wow-that has a weird ring to it)!   
I hope you all had a Wonderful CHRISTmas!  We had such a nice Christmas Day, spent with family, I just wish it all didn't fly by so quickly!


I know this post has taken way to long to get up but if you could see my one handed typing right now you may understand why, lol.   Long story short...New camera for Dee....and no pictures to show for it!

I am now in the process of reading the manual for new (long awaited) camera Santa brought me After shooting 1,235 pictures on Christmas and accidentally deleting them.....mmmmhmmmm.  Hence the lack of pictures for this post.....:(


Yes,
I received a lovely (and high tech) camera this year.  I have ooohhed and ahhhhed over this camera for a VERY long time...and sure did a LOT of saving for said camera...for a long time....just to explain what a treat it was to receive it.  So funny, I don't think a diamond ring would have gotten the same reaction that this camera received....but then again, I'm not a a Fancy Schmancy jewelry person anyway.

I was definitely moving up in the world of photography....sheer excitement...oh the possibilities!  Then poof...all gone....just like that.

I was snapping Christmas pictures up left and right...no one could move without me chasing them with the new camera. 

See the tree?....SNAP  Opening gifts?.....SNAP!  Playing with new toys?.....SNAP!    Oh, Christmas Ham done?....SNAPEating?.....SNAP!       Sneezing?.....SNAP!    OOOOH, WHAT DOES THIS BUTTON DO?  wait...one more picture pleease!

Oh, wait, Eating again?.....SNAP!    
Blowing your nose?......SNAP!   Napping?......SNAP!
SNAP, SNAP, SNAP, SNAP, SNAP, SNAP!!!

 Hehe.....
Oh, Whats that?  You're trying to eat?  
Okay, great honey, now can you retake that bite so I can capture that picture would ya?...SNAP!!!

They were good sports for a while but I SNAPPED until they almost SNAPPED, lol......
then I got a hold of myself.


I now know that what I should have been doing instead of chasing family members for photos was taking the time to read the owners manual....BECAUSE.....
If I had.......
I would have known that the top button deleted ALL of the pictures not just the one bad one....
Oh, boy!
I would still have all of those awesome pictures to show all of you
LOL,
sniffle, sniffle.....


So if your still following me here you now know that all of my photos are gone....
poof.....
that's right, all gone! 


My baby opening his gifts...gone.
The look of surprise on their faces.....gone.
The excitement that was captured...now gone

It's so sad it's almost funny ...almost.


So my New Year's Resolutions for 2012 are:

PATIENCE........
Taking it slower...not rushing into everything just to get it done.
Enjoying the process more.
Even if it means waiting and reading the manual.

Also to start taking time for myself to do more of what I would like.
Is it terrible to tell you that I would like to say No more in 2012?
 
Saying No more and Yes only to the things with the greatest payoff?Things that will really matter to others, and things that are truly important to me or my family.
That should help with Patience right?
It won't be easy...I used to say YES a lot!

I also want to make the time to

learn a few new things too, like how to really use this camera and all of the functions.





So, what are your 2012 Resolutions?
Have you been able to keep them up thus far?

Now onto better things.....

The GBP Rush Hour Recipes Cookbook Giveaway!

I have to say that I THOROUGHLY enjoyed each and every Christmas memory shared.....THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT it truly was a treat!

So many memories you all have with your families, matching homemade flannel night gowns, holiday candy making, families decorating trees and baking cookies....many spent with loving Grandparents, cousins, and other special people in your lives, many of you who now hold their precious memory in your hearts.

Favorite childhood gifts...(I too LOVED my Easybake oven and baked many cakes for my daddy that Christmas).  Daughters coming home unexpectedly (that must have been the best Christmas gift, Joni).  Hiking in the snow, homemade gifts and cookies.  Patty Hart what a neat tradition...the Surprise you must have had when finally seeing that tree!  Stringing popcorn on your family tree...so precious!

Thank you for sharing your stories...it was such a gift for me to read all of them!  I couldn't choose any one story that was better than the others, in my opinion each and everyone of your stories was very special and so I let my daughter choose a number from the hat, foolproof and fair.   

Here is our winner.....Judy, please contact me with a comment, as to the best way to get your shipping information and congratulations on your win, you will really like this cookbook, I'm sure! 


Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com              Dec 29, 2011 09:54 AM
There are so many special Christmas memories to choose from since many of my family are no longer here, but the most magical was the Christmas that I became pregnant with my now 5-yr. old son. Oh it wasn't official - I hadn't taken a test...but I'll never forget Christmas Eve church services, standing before the altar, listening to the heavenly choir and a little feeling...something that just told me to lay a hand on my belly and I knew!!! Just a week later I took a test that confirmed the good news! I'll never forget that moment of feeling a magical secret within - and feeling more connected than ever to the Christmas story of Jesus' birth :)

If you haven't had the chance yet, try to read through the giveaway comments...they are all so heart warming!  I'll be back soon....Stay warm and Take care!

~Dee~

Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas Past


Reflecting on Christmas Past.
While I bustle around with last minute preparations for the holiday today I am remembering Christmas Past.

I am so thankful, for all of the beautiful Christmas memories I have in my heart.

From the wonder filled white Christmas mornings from my own Childhood to watching my children's twinkling eyes as the big day approaches.

First Christmases spent in new homes....
My husband and I closed on our first home 2 days before Christmas 18 years ago.  We actually moved in before we closed but I wouldn't unpack a single box until it was officially ours.  So I ran around that last day putting what I could out to make it our Christmas home.  

Because we had just committed to a new home our budget was very tight that year, and I made dried orange and apple slices to hang from our freshly cut tree hung with raffia.  Our house smelled so nice that Christmas, it's funny how even smells can be remembered!

Each of our babies First Christmases, 
so grateful for the new addition to our family.

Now I put out
nativities and ornaments handed down from loved ones no longer with us.  Items that bring my heart closer to the fond memories of Christmases spent with them. 

and
Through all of the Christmases...
we may 
add new loved ones to our family, remember those no longer with us, we can also,change our holiday decor, try new recipes, and search for the perfect gifts...
all a part of celebrating.

But, one thing remains constant with each passing year....

Our holiday has always been filled with....
love
hope
joy
peace


enjoying the company of family

making memories with loved ones

Excitement in the preparations

At peace with our continuous blessings one Christmas to the next...

Of all the Christmas gifts I have received over the years,

There is no gift that I treasure more than the memories that I have been blessed with...

I sure hope you don't mind taking a walk down our 
Christmas memory lane 
with us for a little while.... 


A Baby's First Christmas...


Visits with Santa


Decorating the tree....... 
(Years with braces on....braces off.  New glasses....contacts)
and crafting presents and decorations....
Chubby baby fingers swiping Santa's cookies, 
Babies more excited with the wrapping paper and packaging than the gift itself.

Posing for Christmas Card Pictures.....



Making a mess in the kitchen with my boy baking up some Christmas Cookies... 


The joy on Christmas Morning!


After Church, Quietly reading  
The Night Before Christmas....
Waiting Patiently on Christmas eve...

 Those are some of my favorite Christmas memories....

Well, I still have a lot of wrapping to do......
I'm off for now, hopefully I can share Christmas Present with you tomorrow.  I wonder if that is why we call it  
"Christmas Present".  Is it because we spend so much time wrapping it up...Ba-dum-dump...(Oh boy!).....lol.  

Thanks for stopping on by if you haven't signed up for the GBP cookbook giveaway there's still time.....head over to the last post to sign up!  If you have already signed up, I am truly enjoying your Christmas stories....thank you!



Take good care of yourself!
Dee

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Compliments of the Season.......A GBP Giveaway!

Hello gals!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have moved happily into the Christmas Season. We have had a hectic couple of weeks here (always hectic!) but Christmas is in full-swing now here at the Farmhouse and we are still preparing for the big day!

I been able to gather a few posts from now until Christmas so I hope you have a minute to stop back and visit amidst the Holiday Bustle and Cheer

For the past several weeks, I have been doing the usual decorating, shopping, wrapping and baking as many of you have. 

This time of the year I love to pull out my Holiday Cookbooks and see what I can add to our traditional holiday menu.  You may already know that I love my Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks!  I have alot of them and have been collecting them over a long period of time, they sure do accumulate!  Now that I review their  cookbooks, my collection has grown even larger, so thank you GBP!


Here are some of my Christmas Favorites, they make wonderful gifts, wrapped in an apron or festive holiday dishtowel with a wooden spoon tucked inside.   If you have finished your shopping and happen to receive gift cards this Christmas then treat yourself to a new one!  I actually drag mine out sporadically throughout the year to poke around for ideas.

Purchase Here


Maybe you like E-Books instead?




 
Buy Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shop Here
for 10th Anniversary Christmas

Those are just a few of My Favorites...I could certainly go on and on....but I want to tell you about a small little holiday Surprise.....



GBP Rush Hour Recipes ..arrived on my porch for a review and it couldn't have come at a better time!  Do you rush around any more throughout the year than during the Holidays?  It is a hectic time of the year on top of our daily responsibilities and making delicious meals can be hard with so little time! 

There are some wonderful recipes in here....easy, quick, and delicious!  As usual! 
With chapters like 5 Indgredient Favorites, One-Dish Dinners, Slow Cookers to the Rescue, Soup's on, Make-A-Meal Sides and Speedy Potluck & Party Foods, you will find great recipes in each section. 

I have to rave about the Golden Parmesan Potato Recipe...
(At risk of sounding like an infomercial, but seriously)
So Easy, So Quick, So Good!
With only 5 Ingredients!
In fact they were so good, I didn't even get a photo
they were gone so fast!

2- 15 oz. cans of whole white potatoes, drained
1/4c. butter, melted
3T. grated Parmesan Cheese
1 T. Fresh parsley, minced
1/2 t. seasoned salt
Place potatoes in an ungreased 8x8" baking pan, drizzle butter over top, sprinkle remaining ingredients over and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until golden. 
Makes 4 servings
(I had everything on hand except fresh parsley..so I used dried and I had to double the recipe...wish I quadrupled it thought!)

They were company worthy too!

And...
Here's another one you can add to your Holiday Baking list now...
These were gone in a Flash!


These were so good, buttery and sweet. 
The perfect accompaniment to a warm cup of tea!


This is a great Cookbook for the whole year through...easy recipes, with few ingredients most of which you probably already have on hand..it will not disappoint.

And Here's The Good News...
Farmhouse Country Style is hosting a Giveaway for
GBP Rush Hour Recipes!


Would you like to own your own copy
before it is available for sale?

Aside from being a follower of FHCS, all have to do is leave a comment about your most
Favorite Christmas Memory!

Who wants to reminisce with me?

Of course if you would like to post about it on your blog and LINK up to the giveaway, you may get an honorable mention during one of my January Posts, just let me know so I can stop by!

This Giveaway closes on December 29th, midnight EST
Winners will be narrowed down by their Stories of Christmas Memories, printed out and then chosen randomly from a drawing.

Winner will be announce on New Years Day and the book will ship out by January 6th.

Wait....More good news:
GBP is offering one of their Christmas E-Cookbooks,

FREE for a limited time...the WHOLE book!
so head on over there and get it!
Sorry gals.....as of December 20th, 2011 it is no longer available for free download.  But be sure to head on over to GBP's website through the above link to see what else they are offering.  They are so generous and love to share their products with their customers, you may find a new special treat.
I'll be back in a day or two with a new Christmas Post....
I hope you can stop on by!

Take care,
Dee

Monday, October 31, 2011

Wholesome Halloween



We usually do a fun and cute Halloween, every now and then we make it a little scary (for my older children) but for the most part we keep it fun.

We put out the jack-o-lanterns.....


Throw around a few pumpkins....





Add a few bales of hay and a cornstalk or two......





Make the entry festive.....



with a wreath hung upon the front door.......







Colorful mums fresh from the farm


Pumpkins tumble onto the porch from an antique crate....





The beauty that shimmers in the yellow afternoons of October....
who could ever clutch it?
Ralph Waldo Emerson




My family headed to the cornfields to pick a few of those perfect pumpkins...on a beautiful October afternoon. 





It is a fine art...picking out the perfect pumpkin....



Just when you thought you had the perfect pumpkin......another one is spotted...hiding....
The kids can never make up their minds, they select carefully.  They take their time.

 The perfect afternoon to go on a pumpkin hunt turned into the perfect afternoon to snap some photos....





 

 
PUMPKINS anyone?



The inside is all decked out in it's fall finery too...maybe .more to come.?


Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Take care!
Dee

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