A White Christmas in Texas!

What does a East Texas girl do when it snows on Christmas Day?

 She grabs her camera and heads out in the rustic junk for a photo shoot! 

One time I remember a few snow flurries at Christmas time, but never this much snow on Christmas day. It rained and stormed most of the day, then all of a sudden, everything began to be covered in snow. (Scroll over the pictures to see the description.)

 The Christmas farm scene I shared yesterday was from our last snow, almost two years ago.

 Donna from Cottage Days said it best on Twitter "Snow on Christmas Day is magical."

 I've never been a big fan of snow - I don't like the cold or the mess or driving in snow. The only thing I like about it is taking pictures.

A snowy pine tree...When I first started taking pictures it hadn't been snowing for too long. I went back outside a few minutes before dark and the poor pine was very droopy. The lights have flickered a few times too. I'm sure hoping the power stays on tonight.

 One year we had a small live Christmas tree that I dug up out of the woods. After Christmas, I planted the cedar in the yard and today its covered in snow!

Its still hard to believe we had a White Christmas in Texas! As a farm girl, I am very appreciative for all the rain and moisture we received today (over 2 1/2 inches rain and we've got almost 3 inches of snow and it hasn't quit yet.) Our ponds and ground water are low, so its nice to see the precipitation.

 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We are hearing reports of tornado damage across the south and are thinking about all those who may have been in the storms path and hope they are safe tonight.  

 

Chocolate Delight - Brownie Truffle

 

 

I've never been the type that considered myself a great cook, even though I have a Best of Show Plaque from a pie contest. This week though, people have been calling me and asking for some of my recipes. It kind of flattering that someone wants to fix one of my recipes.

 

I've made a Chocolate Delight or Brownie Truffle in the past and have plans to make a sugar free version for Christmas Eve. I was on my way home from work one evening this week and was thinking about my Christmas list and wanted to give a little something more than I already had purchased and wrapped for my co-workers. That's when it hit me! I could make the dessert in fruit jars for each person.

 

The recipe is very easy, but the results are oh so yummy!

 

Start out by making a 9x13 pan of Brownies. You can make them from your favorite scratch recipe or from a box (like I did). Let the brownies cool, before you continue to the next part. If time is an issue, make the brownies one day and assemble the next.

Next mix 2 boxes of White Chocolate Jello with 1/2 cup Coffee, and 1 1/2 cups milk. Then fold in 1 Large tub of Cool Whip. Now you are ready to assemble the truffle.

Crumble up the brownies in the bottom of the fruit jars (I used 4 wide mouth quart jars for this recipe) or a truffle dish. Next add the pudding mix. You can refrigerate till serving time. Before serving sprinkle with Heath Bar Toffee Pieces. Since I was giving this as a gift, I tied the toffee in a small bag and attached to the outside of the jar.

 

I decorated the jars with a strip of burlap, some lace and assorted ribbons, then made a tag from scrapbook paper. Since I made 4 quarts, the pudding mixture didn't quite fill the jar up, but nobody knew the difference with the cute decorations to the jar!

 

I have been ask to bring the desserts for our family gathering this week and have two people who are diabetic. I will be making this recipe with Sugar Free Brownie Mix, Pudding, and Cool Whip so they can enjoy it too.

 

So if you are in need of a super easy handmade gift or need to take a dessert somewhere, this is sure to please everyone!

A Junky Little Christmas Wreath

This morning I was working out in the yard: watering and transplanting some plants, cleaning up my greenhouse, and piddling around the yard for a while, when I was inspired to make a

Junky Little Christmas Wreath for my Gazebo.

 It all started with a used basic green Christmas wreath form.

 I had a string of 100 white mini lights, a rusty old license plate, a saw blade, and what I think is a medallion from a chandelier or light fixture. I "tied" these item on with the silk Christmas greenery from the wreath and then added 3 rusty bed springs.

 Then I added a couple strips of burlap fashioned into a bow. It still needed something, so I went and clipped a few branches off a cedar tree in the pasture. The clippings were tucked in and aound the wreath and viola - A Junky Christmas Wreath!

  I then headed off to town for a while this afternoon and then came home to this!

 Notice Bo - he thinks the chair in the gazebo is his bed!

 I wasn't sure if I was going to do any outdoor decorating this year, but I'm glad I felt inspired this morning.

 I hope you all have a Merry Junk-Filled Christmas!

 

Getting Ready for Christmas!

 

Its that time of year! A changing of the season as we say good bye to fall and hello to the holidays. A time when we clean and redecorate in preperation for Christmas.

 

I've been doing just that this weekend.

 

 Here's a little sneak peak of my Christmas Tree.

 My theme this year is Burlap and Lace! Everything on my tree is used for making wedding bouquets in my store.

 

I'll be sharing more pictures of my shabby chic tree this week!

 

I've spent some time this weekend *trying* to spruce up my blog for the season. I spent two hours this morning trying to change my background and layout. It would not do what I wanted it to do...So we'll just settle for a "winter white" look with a shabby chic bride's bouquet for a header. At least the orange and green are gone for now...

 

I also made a few changes to my etsy store and have several items on sale for the holidays. Several items are on sale from $5.00 off to 33% off. I plan to keep adding and updating items this week, so please check out my store for some hand made gift items. I also added lots of custom wedding bouquet pictures, so if you are planning a wedding in the future and like burlap and lace, please convo me and so we can create flowers for your dream wedding.  

 

We've also got a special project going on with this truck load of cedar clippings! I can't wait to share what its all about. Unless you've seen my Instagram pics, it won't be what you are thinking!

 

Well it looks like I have just planned myself a busy week and I haven't even thought about Christmas shopping yet! Yes, the holidays are here!

 

Hope you have a great week.

 

Handmade Man Gift!

Each year I try and make as many of my gifts as possible. Each year I struggle with what to give the men on my list. They do not care about decorating items, wreaths, picture frames, jewelry, or candles.

We didn't draw my Father-in-Law's name for the Christmas at their house this weekend, but I still wanted to give him a little something. My husband has been in love with these vintage inspired coke bottles and had drank a few of the cokes, so I had empty bottles. I decided to refill them with a few goodies!

 I looked for snacks that would fit in the bottles and came up with peanuts, red hots, and M & M's. I left one full bottle of Coke in the 4 pack. My f-i-l doesn't need a lot of sugar, so I got him some sugar free candy so he won't get in too much trouble and I'm sure he will share the other candy with his grandkids!

 A few ribbons to fancy up the bottles...

Now I'm not usually the type to use shiny wrapping, preferring to use more rustic tones, but I'm also a frugal person, who accidentally got this foil type wrapping several years ago. The roll has been in the closet for several years and its perfect to gift wrap baskets with, so I used it. The paper is more like a printed cellophane than regular wrapping paper.

 Now I have a little something for my f-i-l, we have left over candies and nuts to eat or make sweets with this week and my husbands is happy because he got to drink the cokes! Win-Win all the way around!

Gift Wrapping

My gift wrapping is done...there's just one problem...my gift making is NOT. I still have 2-3 sewing projects that I keep putting off and I've got to get busy this weekend and finish making a few things. I love to creativly wrap my gifts and my family says there is no need to ever sign who my packages are from, because they just know!

 When blue jeans are too worn out to use, I cut the pockets off and add the pocket to a natural colored gift sack. I come from a family of Cowboys, so Wrangler jeans get repurposed for gift wrap!

 Can you believe this is a Foldgers Coffee Can covered in burlap? A great gift "box" and useful storage container.

Pretty bows are a must!

 I had the instruction sheets that were part of the patterns I got at Goodwill to make my Christmas tree ornaments and decided to wrap a Pioneer Woman Cookbook with the vintage instructions. Since the paper was small, I wrapped the box top and bottom seperate, so the lid will just lift off the box. I took  a strip of the pattern package and made a flower with names on the leaves.

Basic brown craft paper is my favorite thing to use. I can use so many different types of decorations and colors to finish the wrapping.

So are you finished with your gift buying/making and wrapping or are you like me and still have a few things to go?

Poinsettia Watering Tip

Christmas and Poinsettias go together like a hand and glove, the only problem is, so often the poinsettias die from lack of care. I wanted to share a little tid bit of info with you about watering a poinsettia.

Actually, you don't "water" at all - use ICE CUBES instead! Yes, you read that right. A plant wholesaler shared the tip with us one time and it really does help.

Poinsettias like consistant moisture - not too wet, not too dry. A few ice cubes a day keeps a happy plant. The ice slowly melts and waters the plant and you don't have to worry about water splashing on the leaves and causing spots.

So each day as you fill your glass with ice, give your poinsettias a 2-3 cubes as well (for a 6 inch plant) or when you finish your drink, place the "used" ice cubes in the pot. One time I had a customer tell me that she gave her poinsettia the last drink of her coke each day and her poinsettia was thriving the next summer!

{I wanted to say Thank You to everyone who has voted for my Christmas Wreath

 in the Better Homes and Gardens Pretty Wreath Contest! I'm currently in first place for the week and would appreciate your VOTES each day through December 11.}