"Winterizing"

Would you believe me if I told you I have lots of pictures on my hard drive ready to be blogged about?

The problem is finding the time to blog. Geez. 

"Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future...." 

We had (several) wonderful Thanksgivings. 

I got my Christmas stuff out and began the decorating process.

 During the middle of the thousand plastic tubs scattered throughout the house, the Hubs said he wanted to change the furniture around. We had already changed things around for Thanksgiving dinner. Then we changed more around for the Christmas tree. Then he wanted to change the den around "for winter". Hmmm. He never wants to change furniture around. Actually he usually hates it when I change things around. (But that doesn't ever stop me.) So, if he wanted to do some changing up, I was all for it. Above is what the den looked like before we started. I loved the checkerboard behind the sofa. 

 Now the sofa in the den is snuggly tucked into the curve of the bay window. It just fits. Admittedly, I like it under the checkerboard better, but I love changes and this is good for "winter"! My pups love sitting on the back of the couch and watching every little movement outside. 

I had a little wooden "book" I got at Tuesday Morning a few years ago. It actually opens up and could hold all kinds of things. It was cute and I couldn't pass it up. 

It looks like a real book doesn't it?  How cute is that cover? 

 Since the coffee table is front and center in the room, I had to make sure that Miss Pepper Mint and Miss Snow were on the table so they would get all the attention they deserve. Talk about cute?  How cute are they? 

 One of my dearest friends from Kansas sent them to me a few years ago. Guess where she got them? If you said Nell Hills you are correct. I love their knobby knees and awkward beauty! 

 I named her Miss Pepper Mint. She's a beauty for sure. 

 I named this one Miss Snow. Both are obviously beauty queens, as they both wear crowns! 

 I went to Lowe's on Black Friday and stocked up on their gorgeous 99 cent poinsettias. You cannot beat that deal! 

 I lined them up in my wooden Pottery Barn box. Perfect. Doesn't my faux poinsettia book look cute next to all the real poinsettias? 

 There is lots more to see. ....Now if I would only take the time to post about it all!  In the meantime, I'm enjoying the new "winter" arrangement in the den!!

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Open House Thursday

Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits

SNICKERDOODLES

S N I C K E R D O O D L E S

The word "SNICKERDOODLE" makes me smile. Don't you just love the word? Say it outloud...."snickerdoodle"....If for no other reason than having a really cute name, these cookies are a MUST!
The recipe I use leaves the Snickerdoodles so moist and delicious. You must try these!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Cream together butter, shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar, the eggs and the vanilla. Blend in the flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. Shape dough by rounded spoonfuls into balls.

Mix the 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls of dough in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but not too hard. Remove immediately from baking sheets.