Fresh from the garden

I just got back to the house from the garden with the beginnings

of a salad for tonight. This is my first time growing carrots,

beets and broccoli. The carrots are petite and do not get as long

as those in the produce dept. at the store..but they are very big on flavor.

Did you know that the carrot tops are full of nutrients...I use the inner

tender leaves in salad...I do not find them bitter but it takes some

adjusting to the texture. Here's a link if you would like to check it out.

http://nedraggett.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/what-to-do-with-carrot-tops-aka-carrot-greens/

I will slice the beets with the vegetable peeler...and tender inner beet leaves also go in the salad.

And the broccoli...I was amazed..this grows about 12-15 inches from the ground and

there are 2 to 3 bunches on the stalk.  My next adventure will be...what can I do with

the broccoli leaves and the cabbage will be ready in a few weeks.

Christmas at our house

I painted this many years ago from an old storm window..I just

sit it inside next to the glass of the storm door



These wear an old sweatshirt

Gotta have Mr Grinch

And this colorful snowman has a blinking nose..

when he is plugged in...somebody forgot

to do that

This play house was on the property when we bought

the house...we turned it into a Gingerbread House

many years ago. Each year we try to add at least

one decoration to the group

And this life size Santa...we did him a long..long time

ago...the paint will need to be "touched up" every

few years on outside stuff and more ployurathane applied

 More gingerbread

This was a BIG project done about 3 years ago

Barney in his Santa suit looking for Santa

Ginger..always photogenic

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

FROM

PRIMS AND ANNIES

Enjoy your holiday with friends and family

Maxie and Jerry

Rocking Chairs

Jerry (DH)  is now making rocking chairs

for kids...he finished an order for 4 this weekend.

Sweater Ornaments

Don't you think these are just the cutest..they are cotton

crochet sweaters...from Avon..my intent when buying them

was to put them on a doll..but they are really small..about

2 3/4" long..I have them on a small tree and thinking

about ordering another set..they are 4 for $12.99 including

the red hanger...and the workmanship is excellent.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Gingerbread Annie

I just finished this little Gingerbread Annie.

She is 12" tall, has a tiny gold key at the

neck, her bloomers match her hair bow, which

is a different gingerbread fabric. She is holding

a little 5" ginger. I just love the way she

turned out...I like the tiny rick rack on the dress.

surprise in garden

All the leaves are gone from the trees, the freezing

temperatures have killed all the annuals, but this gerber

daisy greeted me in the garden today untouched by

the freezing weather

and a few narcissus are blooming, which

usually bloom in the Spring here in

South GA

Before and After

BEFORE

This little treasure is from my son-in-law...

shade from hanging light...is this from the 70's?

A little dishwashing soap and a brush

is all it needed.

AFTER

I put this on the floor with some colored lights.

I love the way it turned out...will he want it back...

More elves in the house

A new batch of elves...one is for a friend and one is going to sunny Florida

and I have listed 2 on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/search/shops?search_query=prims+and+annies&search_submit=&search_type=shops ad

there is one left...will probably put on ebay.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving

Maxie

Fruitcake...

Yesterday I made a fruitcake..have made one for the last 5 or 6 years...though last year I did not due to the high price of candied fruit. There is about $30 worth of fruit in this recipe and 4 cups nuts...we have our own pecan trees, so that was not a big expense. Last year the day after Christmas, Publix (grocery store) had all their candied fruit for $1.00 so I stocked up..put it in the freezer and almost one year later take it out and it is as fresh as the day I froze it. These are the ingredients, taken from a Southern Living Cookbook.

Fruit, raisins, nuts with 1/2 cup flour

Butter, sugar, egg yolks, flavorings, flour

Batter mixed with the fruit and nut mixture..the egg whites are beaten until soft peaks form and are folded in last.

Goes in a large pan..you can add more candied fruit on top but I like the nuts..cooked in 250 oven

4 hours later...right out of the oven pour 1/4 cup brandy over the top.

I soaked a generous piece of cheese cloth with brandy and wrapped it around the cake which has been removed from the pan....put in a tupperware cake plate and put in the refrigerator. I usually let it sit for 3 weeks, the brandy becomes part of the cake and you will not taste the alcohol.

YUM - YUM

Craft Show Pics

Our display for outdoor shows.

After the craft show...this cozy tablescape by my husband Jerry.

Wal-Mart chicken tenders, mustard, dippin' sauce and a

gallon of tea.

Me (blue sweater) and Cyndy @ Crafty Stitchers

Both of us had a very successful show.

This is Cyndy's booth.

Our first to sell in less than 1 hour were the headboard benches. You know how people will come by to see what you have and then they will come back to buy.  I had two women that wanted to buy the same bench - one was about 5 seconds too late. She had been by and then came back and the lady that bought it was getting her money out when the other lady walked up.

The elf wreaths sold fast too.  We only brought a few things home...so there will be lots to do this coming year.  I made 5 elf bodies today - 2 for orders and I will be listing the others on Etsy.

Primitive Mouse Collection

These cute primitive mice were made by Cyndy of Crafty Stitchers..and the collection is growing..we were at the same craft show in Moultrie this weekend.  By the way...these stay out all year in my kitchen window.

Elf

Just a quick post to show you the large size Elf I made. I will be taking him to the craft show Saturday. He is 30 inches tall, has black jeans overalls, a red/black plaid shirt with 3 rusty bells. Also included is a 6 inch ginger that has been aged and rubbed with cinnamon and 3 small rusty bells down the front...an 8 inch by 5 inch "Believe" pillow that has a Christmas fabric back...an 11 inch candy cane tied with greenery, a rusty bell and jute...his shoes are flannel and have a rusty bell and tied with jute.

We will be doing our last craft show this weekend...the temperature is to be in the the low 30's here in South GA tomorrow night with highs around 70...perfect weather for a craft show...I'm glad I have a space inside.

                           Have a great weekend!

PRMITIVE ELF ON LADDER

Primitive Ladder is 54 inches tall with pip berries

and candy canes which are tied with greenery,

a rusty bell and jute



Finished Dolls and Wreath

Elf Wreaths

Pattern for elf from Olde Country Cupboard.

A little late for Halloween Dolls, so I will call these Fall Dolls

Doll pattern by Olde Time Market 1871

Until next time....

Make today a Great Day 

Maxie

Crustless Pumpkin Pie

I decided to omit the crust on my pumpkin pie this year....since I have lost 25 lbs...and still have a few to go.  Also, I am in the process of replacing cow's milk with goat's milk.  Along with cow's milk comes digestive problems...goat's milk is much kinder to your digestive system.  It comes in evaporated form and can be substituted for regular evaporated milk.  It can be diluted  using equal amounts for whole milk and keep adding water for a 2% or skim milk.   By the way, I could not help myself...I had to sample it...I covered that  up with the can. I used pumpkin pie filling (all the spices are already in it) and followed the recipe on the can. 1 can, 30 oz, pumpkin, 2 large eggs beaten, 2/3 cup evaporated milk (goat's milk). I sprayed a little Pam in the pottery dish and baked @ 350 degrees until center is set.



Elves and Candy Canes

I finally finished the elves today...one elf did not make the photo...he is now living in Texas.

Pattern by Olde Country Cupboard.

McIntosh Craft Show

Old Antique store where we saw the 1920 Harley.

We got up at 3:30 a.m. so we could be in McIntosh FL at 8:00 a.m. It's a 3 hour drive.

 I don't  know when it officially opens but some of the crafters said that people are in there before daylight with flashlights. We have been going to this festival for 3 years. The primitive booths were very busy...sometimes we had to wait a few minutes to go in

1 acre of junk...anything you want if you are willing to stay awhile. 

 Looks like a pine cone to me.

1920  Harley

Primitive sunflower towel that I bought.

I love these dolls...bought one last year too.

Lunch in Gainesville FL  - the biggest burrito I have ever tried to eat...honestly it probably weighed a pound. Chipolte uses only fresh and organic food. Here's a link for the Cilantro lime rice that was in the burrito and a link to the restaurant.

 http://www.cooking-mexican-recipes.com/cilantro-lime-rice.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipotle_Mexican_Grill

I bought an Angel and bear from Sandy @ Olde Country Cupboard.