The lights are up and twinkling like stars….the wind is whistling a winter song…snow is waiting to fall from the heavens like the sprinkling of sugar on grandma’s Christmas cookies.

Howdy Sugar Pies! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for Christmas! Well, my house is, I still have to finish up my shopping, wrapping and baking. But for me that’s the fun part! In the mean time I would like show y’all what I’ve been up to! The theme this year at The Farmhouse is “Merry and Bright and lots and lots of Snowy White!” Come on in!

I love the word Merry! To be Merry is to be jolly… cheerful… light-hearted…carefree…joyful… joyous… festive …happy… gleeful!  Proverbs 17:22 says  “A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”   That’s one of the reasons I love to decorate for Christmas (and  all the seasons for that matter)…it creates a merry…joyful….and festive atmosphere….and that kind of atmosphere is good for us! Beauty inspires! Beauty lifts our spirit! It refreshes us.  It can give us a positive outlook on life. It’s a way of celebrating the glory and blessings of God. Our environment and the atmosphere around us can effect our emotions, and our emotions can affect our physical health. Dr. Don Colbert says ” How you feel in your heart can show up in your body, for your heart and body are more powerfully connected than you have ever realized.”  So even the tiniest bit of  candle glow or sparkle here and there can remind us that Jesus is the true light of the world, that He is the reason for the Season…and in Him we have hope and a future.

In this post I’m going to share with you some very simple, inexpensive and heartfelt Christmas decorating tips  using flea-market finds that I already had but found new ways to use them.

So my dear Sugar Pies….. let’s all have a very MeRrY Christmas!

“Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts.” ~ Joan Brown

A vintage canning jar filled with pure white ”snow” and topped with a candy-cane red and white ornament….sweet and simple yes, but the colors are oh-so-meaningful to my heart.  Y’all know I love me some farmhouse white! Milk-white…egg-shell white….whipped-cream white….sugar-white…white-washed-barn white…picket-fence white…lambs-wool white….but most of all snowy white!  It reminds me of these  wonderful life-giving scriptures….

“Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

” We may think our hearts are pure and white because of the good things we do or the nice things we say. But when we compare our “whiteness” to the purity of Jesus Christ, even the whitest heart cannot come close. Jesus is the only One who can truly make our hearts whiter than snow.” ~Roy Lessin

When you receive and unwrap God’s gift of Christmas , the one with your name on the tag, you’ll find the most wonderful, exquisite,  pure form of  love than you can ever imagine…His son Jesus….and in Him (and only Him) we can have an abundant life on this earth and the key to heaven! Wow!

 

“Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, filling the sky and the earth below!” ~ J. Watson

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,
just like the ones I used to know
May your days be merry and bright,
and may all your Christmases be white! ~Irving Berlin 1942

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk by the fire…it is the time for home.” ~Dame Sitwell

My vintage milk bottles (filled with salt) once graced my fireplace mantle, by simply moving them to a new spot in my kitchen, and adding a few icy snowflakes and ornaments, a whole new Christmas-y look was created.

“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” ~ Harlan Miller

For a clean simple look for my baking center I  added….

Just a bottle ‘o’ milk (salt), a gingerbread boy, a vintage cookie cutter and an oversized icy snowflake.

On my chalkboard….(which used to be an old headboard) I’ve written the simple, yet delightful, word “joy” ! Of course I used my favorite Chalk-board Markers found here on Amazon. I also wanted to share my secret for erasing these markers…sometimes they can be a little stubborn….click here to find out how I clean the chalk-ink off!

Opposite my kitchen is our family room…it’s actually just one great-room.

“The holly’s up, the house is bright,

the tree is ready, the candles alight. “~German Carol

There’s something about old enamel dishpans that I can’t resist. Maybe it’s because of the farm-wife stories it could tell, like  the hundreds of times it was used to wash dishes after a hearty meal, or when it was filled with green beans to snap or corn cobs to husk  while sitting on the front porch in the cool of the day. Or the sweet little babies that were bathed in warm soapy water until they were squeaky clean and ready for a nap, or perhaps it was filled with a layer of  soft hay to protect  the fresh eggs gathered from the hen house. Well, during this festive season it has a new purpose sitting on my coffee table  filled  to the brim with pinecones, Rudolph’s nose-red ornaments,  ”snowy-flocked” branches and “snowballs” for a Christmas-on-the-farm look.

I took this sweet baby Jesus home from an Emilie Barnes Christmas Seminar about 20 years ago…it’s one of my favorite Christmas decorations…notice the Cross above His dear little head.

“Open your heart’s door, open it wide, for the Infant so meek and mild

Let Him come in this Christmastide, make room for the dear Christ Child.” ~ Maye V. Crow

The fireplace mantle….one of my creamy white pitchers now holds sparkly candy cane ornaments. The  “It’s a wonderful life” sign was one of my purchases a couple years ago at an Ozark craft fair. Love the movie!

An oversized ornament (last year from Lowes) takes a spot on top of my white candleholder.

Last year I stuck twigs into the top of the tree…this year, candy canes. When I took this photo we had not decorated the tree with our family ornaments yet.  I placed the big snowflakes on the tree and later we hung the smaller ornaments in and around them. My Buffalo Plaid curtains are actually fleece blankets I purchased for $20 each from a mail order catalog ( I think it was Collections Inc.). I just attached clip-rings and hung them on a rod …easy peasy!

Three little carolers all in a row…. on top of my player piano.  These craft fair cuties have been part of our holiday decorations for about 23 years…so I guess I can safely  and happily say they are vintage!

Sing hey! Sing hey! for Christmas Day…twine the mistletow and holly,

for friendship glows in winter snows, and so let’s all be jolly. ~Old English Carol

Adorned in  vintage tinsel and lookin’ quite sassy is my barnyard piggy.  I  named her Honey…. she’s so cute that whenever I look at her I just have to say “Oh! HoNeY!

On my next post I’ll share more of my “Merry and Bright” Christmas decorating.  In the mean time I need to finish up my Christmas shopping! Speaking of Christmas shopping…here are a few gift ideas that I recommend…

Mr. Coffee’s  Cocomotion  Hot Chocolate Maker (Click here)

Can I just tell ya how much I love this Hot Chocolate maker!!  You just pour in four cups of milk and 8 tablespoons of cocoa powder (or syrup), press the “On” button and walk away! It will begin to whip the chocolate-milk goodness, heat it up and in 10 minutes you will have the creamiest hot chocolate at just the right temperature (hot, but not burn your tongue hot!).  Drop some marshmallows in a mug and pour….yum! It turns itself off too! No more standing and stirring for 15 minutes!

Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate Mix

It’s best to start with quality hot chocolate mix….Ghiradelli is one of the best I’ve tasted.  Sometimes I’ll also add a little heavy whipping cream to the milk to make it even richer! When I lived in California we would go to San Fransisco each year and would always go to the old factory at Ghirardelli Square to have hot chocolate or a hot fudge sundae. YuMmY!

Philosophy Yummy Bath and Body Cleansers

OH! hoNeY! These are  fabulous! The scents are so lucious and dreamy and the packaging is adorable! Red Velvet Cake…Cinnamon Buns….Spicy Pear Cobbler…Pumpkin Spice Muffin…Gingerbread and Double Rich Hot Cocoa! I look forward to taking my showers with these delicious fragrances. I drizzle the ultra-rich  shower gels on one of those netted scrubbies and I can’t believe the bubbles and lather it makes. They can also be used as shampoo too. Any gal would love these!

Mrs. Rowe’s Little Book Of Southern Pies (Click here)

This book is a little treasure! It is filled with wonderful tips on making fabulous pies from a dear southern lady who ran her own restuarant in Virgina. She was famous for her pies and was affectionately known as The Pie Lady. The photos are beautiful and the little stories are heartwarming. “This little book offers a true slice of Southern Hospitality”.  There are more than 65 All-American recipes for pie…what more could a farm-girl want?

Be Blessed Sugar Pies! Next time I’ll bring you more peeks into The Farmhouse!

I love hearing from you! Stop in and say hello! And let me know where you are from too!

Hugs y’all!

Aunt Ruthie

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My goodness Sugar Pies! Can you believe Thanksgiving is just days away? I’ve been bustling about in my apron all week finishing up my Christmas decorating. Yes gals…Christmas decorating! Rome wasn’t built in a day nor can I create Christmas-land at The Farmhouse in a day! (LOL) It’s taken me since the first week of November until now to finish up.  Oh I know, some of  y’all don’t like to start your Christmas decorating until the day after Thanksgiving…and that’s okay…I did that for years….but I’ve discovered that I like to get an early start, not only to get it done, but to be able to enjoy all of the glistening goodness a little longer….and I  just have to say that it feels great to have my home sparkling with Christmas! Now  my family and  I can sit back, relax and experience the sights, smells and sounds of this wonderful time of year!

Yes! Lights are twinkling, tinsel is sparkling and the sounds of  Bing Crosby are playing softly in the background…

The songs of  Good ol’ Bing always gets me in the mood to decorate along with a crystal goblet filled with Land O’ Lakes Eggnog  (I bought this goblet at Pic-in-Save…which is now Big Lots…. about 30 years ago for 49 cents! What a hoot! By the way I took this photo with my fabulous Canon Rebel xsi Camera with a 50 mm lens…I LOVE this camera). Anyhoo, I mentioned this to my dear friend and old next door neighbor Cat at The Vintage Housewife the other day…during our two hour gab-fest on the phone! I told her that I only drink eggnog  in fancy stemware (49 cent  ones at that!) it just tastes better that way…a regular old glass just wouldn’t do…she was so  tickled at that! Well, it’s true…just like hot tea tastes much more scrumptious  sipped from a china tea cup that clinks when you set it back down on the saucer! Ahhh….life’s simple pleasures! Well now, getting back to decking my halls for Christmas….here is a sneak peak at what I’ve been up to….

Icy milk-white blended with a snap of  candy-cane red sets the theme for my Christmas farmhouse kitchen…. a merry gingerbread-boy plays peek-a-boo in the pure glow of candlelight…

A wintry wonderland of dripping tinsel icicles and glittered churches adorn the living room mantle ….frosted pine branches set aglow with white lights that twinkle a cheerful “Welcome Home…..home for Christmas”.

“God Bless your home and the people there, May the skies that touch your roof be fair–Your hearth burn bright, and your candle shine, And the snowflake sparkle on your pine.” ~ Esther Wood

Yes, Christmas is in the air….and I have more to share,  but for now we need to get ready for a wonderful Old Fashioned Happy Thanksgiving!

There are pies to bake and a turkey to roast and baste golden brown, potatoes to peel, onions to chop, stuffing to mix,  cranberries to stir,  tables to  set and candles to light……doorbells will ring, loved ones will be hugged…cousins will run and play…..tummies will growl as the aromas of savory-sage  mixed with sweet ‘n’ spicy confections ribbon it’s way through homes all across America. The drum-beat sounds of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will play in the background as  aproned women-folk  chatter as they scurry around the kitchen whipping up treasured recipes passed down through generations…Mom’s sausage stuffing….Grandma’s Cranberry Jello Salad….Sue’s Praline Sweet Potatoes….Aunt Jen’s Date Nut Bars. Papa, crunching on a celery stick, will come in and lift lids curiously and peek with hungry eyes until mama shoo’s him away with her dish cloth.

Every ear will perk up when mama shouts “time to eat!”.  A quiet hush will blanket the room, hands will be joined, heads will bow,  grace will be spoken and hearts will be warmed with a wonderful sense of belonging and blessing.  Happy voices and laughter will be as bountiful as the food laden table. Memories as sweet as Auntie’s Toffee Candy will be made.

Later in the day after the roar of the football game  and things  begin to  quiet down, you’ll be able to hear the soothing sounds like the ticking of the clock  and the crackle and snap from the fire. Rosey-cheeked little ones, breathless from playing chase outside, will warm their icy hands by the glowing hearth ….grown-ups will gather again around the table, the coffee will be poured, the pie will be cut and topped with dollops of whipped cream, and conversations will continue…

May I encourage you Sugar Pies, in the midst of the flurry of your Thanksgiving celebration that you take a minute to step back and intentionally  savor the moment….by that I mean, take a minute  to stop and look around you…take note of your loved ones… their faces….their smiles….the sounds….the aromas….the blessings…breathe in the beauty and the wonder of the moment. Take in the view.  Right then, thank the Lord for His goodness, grace and mercy….for family and friends….for the freedom to worship….for God’s provision….for HIS SALVATION through His son JESUS…for HEAVEN ….for the ability to see, hear, taste, smell, touch….and for His amazing love and bountiful blessings.

I remember 31 years ago on my wedding day a dear friend told me to do this same thing…to take a minute or two to “breathe in the beauty and the wonder of the moment” to remember and cherish that moment in my heart. So as the guests were being seated I gathered up the billowing train of my gown and briskly climbed the stairs to  the balcony  where I was able to peer over the railing for a birds-eye view to watch the lighting of the candles, and my grandparents and other loved ones being seated….I could clearly see the platform filled with baskets of flowers,  a white picket fence and garden benches. It was such an exquisite feeling  as I stood there in awe  realizing  the significance  of this life changing day. I kept thinking …oh my goodness Lord, this is my wedding! I’m getting married in just a few minutes! It was a stunning me and God moment.

You know, we need to do this on an everyday basis not just special events. Every day is precious and life itself is a gift. We need to stop and smell the pumpkin pie….stop and listen to little girl giggles….stop and hug grandpa a little longer…stop and breathe in the sweetness of a newborn baby….stop and thank the Lord for His blessings…. so  we will remember…so that these moments of our life  won’t be just a blurr when we look back, but will stay as glimmering treasures  in our hearts.

We Have This Moment, Today

Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,
Making memories of what was today.

Tiny voice that i hear is my little girl calling
for daddy to hear just what she has to say;
My little son running there by the hillside
may never be quite like today.

    

Tender words, gentle touch, and a good cup of coffee,
And someone that loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they’re here, and don’t wait for tomorrow,
To look back and wish for today.

We have this moment to hold in our hands,
And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday’s gone, and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today. ~ Bill Gaither

Okay Sugar Pies, now in order for us to savor our Thanksgiving  moments, we need to prepare as much as we can in advance so that we are not feeling stressed and anxious. If you are hosting this holiday at your home, here are just a few tips to get y’all going in that joyful direction:

1. Pray and give thanks: ask the Lord to help you, to give you wisdom, and patience, and a joyful attitude. Thank Him for His blessings and the opportunity to open your home to share with others.

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!” Psalm 100: 4 ( Amplified Version)

But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory (making us conquerors) through our Lord Jesus Christ”.     1Corinthians 15:57

2. Plan your menu. Make a list of everything you will be preparing. Gather your recipes in one place and make a grocery list.

3. Plan your meal potluck style: In our family we have everyone bring a dish and a dessert, so it makes it easier on everyone. Decide the menu then divide it among all those who are coming.

4. The day before Thanksgiving take out all of your  platters and bowls for each item you are going to prepare. Print out the name of those dishes and place them in the  serving pieces so if guests arrive early to help they will know what goes where.

5. Gather the serving spoons and forks that you will need for each dish, that way you won’t be rummaging through your drawers in a panic at the last minute….”where in the world is that carving knife?!”

7.  Get your table cloth ready ( cleaned and ironed) and decide on your centerpiece and candles, and set the table and or tables, the day before. You can turn the plates upside down to keep them dust free until the next day. If you want name cards have them made up in advance–a great project for the kids!

8. Put on your grocery list some parsley, fresh cranberries, and an orange to slice for garnish around the turkey if you carve it at the table.

9. Don’t forget the whipping cream!

10. Make sure your baking powder is fresh  or your biscuits, rolls, cakes or muffins may not rise.

11.  Make your gravy ahead of time! Here is a link to a video of Tyler Florence making Turkey gravy…you may need to turn off my music–lower right side–before you head over there.

12. Have plenty of foil, plastic wrap and plastic containers available for leftovers.

13. Have your camera charged and ready to go.

14. At some point during the meal or after during dessert, go around the table and take turns sharing one thing that you are most thankful for.

15. If something doesn’t turn out the way you wanted don’t let it steal your joy….just carry on. Things don’t have to be perfect…the fact that you are with your loved ones is all that matters. Stay thankful on Thanksgiving…now that’s a novel idea! LOL!

16. For a barrel of laughs get the game Apples to Apples! It’s fun and easy to play! I can almost guarantee it will be one of the highlights of the day…next to the  pumpkin pie of course!!

17. Share the blessings…if you know someone who may not have a place to go for Thanksgiving dinner or a family who needs a little tender-loving-care why not invite them over.  Or maybe your church has a food pantry that you can contribute to. Today, I’m taking Summer to fill a shoebox with goodies for the Operation Christmas Child organized by Samaritan’s Purse. Samaritan’s purse is a wonderful organization started by Franklin Graham, the son of the Rev. Billy Graham, they reach out all over the world to those in need. Here is the link to their web site if you feel you would like to help.

Almost everyone I know has felt the crunch of our economy here in the USA, some more than others. Let’s reach out and share the Love of God to those in need.

18. Please say a special prayer for our troops and their families…God bless them! Pray for their protection, that they would feel God’s love and His presence. Pray that they would be comforted and to be able to come home soon! God Bless the USA!

19. Make your pumpkin pie the day before. Refrigerate until you serve it. It’s well…easy as pie, let me show you!

Martha Stewart loves the recipe on the back of Libby’s Canned Pumpkin…it’s so easy…Here is the link!

you just mix a few ingredients together …..

and pour it in an unbaked pie shell….bake, cool and eat!

Here  is my pie crust recipe and  a few of my tips….

2 sticks cold salted  butter cut into cubes (1 cup)

2 cups unbleached flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup ice water ( and maybe an extra tablespoon if too dry)

Mix butter, flour, sugar in KitchenAid mixer (or by hand with a pastry cutter) until it looks like coarse meal with little chunks of butter. Slowly drizzle water while mixing. Stop as soon as the dough clumps together. Cut dough in half and form into two disks. Wrap one disk in plastic wrap and put in refrigerator to use for another pie or use as the top of a fruit pie. Roll out dough. Put in pie pan and then in refridgerator to keep cool until your filling is ready.

Make sure to use icy cold butter (cut in cubes) and ice water…you want to keep the dough as cold as possible…roll out on a lightly floured surface, turning to dough a little with each roll…use a spatula to loosen dough underneath so it won’t stick….

Roll the dough about  2 inches larger than your pie plate…

Fold under the excess…

And crimp the edge…I use my knuckle to push in and with my other hand I use two fingers to hold that shape ( I couldn’t show my other hand because I was taking the picture!LOL)

If you are going through the steps to make a fresh pie, go one step further and whip your own cream. It’s as easy as pouring heavy whipping cream into your mixing bowl, adding a couple tablespoons of powdered sugar (to taste) and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla if you want and whip it for a few minutes until fluffy.

Yum! If I can do it you can do it!

My dear Sugar Pie Sista  Dee made this sign for me! I love it so much I want to MaRRy iT! Thank you Dee! It fits perfectly in my pie cupboard of course!

Check out her darling blog Farmhouse Country Style! And go see the cute-as-pie signs she sells at her Farmhouse Mercantile!

I hope y’all have a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving! Don’t forget to breathe in the beauty and the wonder of the moment!

I’m thankful for all of you my Sugar Pie Sistas! I thank you for the encouragement and kindness you share  through your comments. I truly wish I could respond to each and every one, but please know that I read them, treasure them and pray for you by name. God knows you, adores you, loves you, and sings songs over you! He knows your struggles and heartbreaks. Trust Him to carry you through any storm. Keep a thankful heart….His mercy is new every morning.

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His Love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (See! God sings over you!!) What a wonderful God we serve! I am thankful.

God Bless you my Oh HOneY’s!

Aunt Ruthie

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Howdy Sugar Pies! Over here in my neck of the woods (Branson, Missouri)I have tried to squeeze out all of the goodness of Fall to the very last drop! It’s been sweeter than homemade sorghum on Lambert’s Throwed Rolls. Now if you haven’t been to Lambert’s, they have the yummiest pillow-y yeast rolls fresh ‘n’ hot out of the oven that they throw to you across the room. Then a cute country gal comes by with sweet and gooey sorghum syrup to drizzle on top….mmm…mmm, now that’s what I call good eats! (Sorghum is a sweet light molasses syrup…my mother-in-law puts 1/2 cup in her chocolate chip cookie dough to make her cookies extra chewy!)  Anyhoo, autumn is breathtaking here so I’m gonna take y’all on a whirlwind arm-chair tour of  fall splendor in my hometown.  This is Bluegrass country and it’s smack dab in  the middle of the Bible Belt….and that’s the way I like it! Yee Hawwwwwww! Enjoy!

Here is my view from the front porch…

 

The tree in front of my house….

 

The road in front of  “The Farmhouse”….

My backyard….

Fall is such a glorious time to get out and enjoy one of my favorite things to do …. junkin’ with my sister-in-law Linda ( I’m married to her cute brother). Recently we took a couple days to visit a couple of our neighboring towns…starting with the darling town of Ozark…..

Ozark has an adorable town square with the Court House in the middle….I always think of the movie Back To The Future!

It is also home to one of our most favorite places to shop for vintage goods and have the  yummiest  lunch EV-AH!….Spring Creek Tea Room….

This charming Autumn vignette greeted us at the front door…

 

Here is the menu for their scrumptious assortment of the most amazing desserts!

The hardest part is choosing!

 

Take a peek!

 We had oh-so-yummy Chicken Salad Sandwiches and heavenly Cold Strawberry soup…

 For dessert we decided to go for the Better-Than-Anything Chocolate Cake and Hawaiian Sunset Cake…Oh me, Oh my! I think I heard Angels singing with the first bite! We like to get two different desserts and share them….you see, we  have a need to know which one is better! It’s a hard job but somebody’s got to do it! (Both flavors were delish! We couldn’t decide…I’ll think we’ll have to come back and try again.  Oh well! LoL)

I really try to limit myself to one dessert a week…this cake was worth the wait!

 

Next door is another quaint little shop called The Avant-Garde’n (417- 485- 4857) It’s  filled with all kinds of  delightful goodies….

 That story-book red dooris actually a bookcase! It’s about 14 inches deep and has shelves all the way down when you open the door. Very farmhouse-y, LOvE iT!

Here’s another one with a sweet farmhouse screen door. I think I heard it calling my name. LOL

On another day we headed up toward Lebanon Missouri and stopped at one of the best antique shops west of the Mississippi…The Route 66 Antique Mall….come on in and have a look around…

Every booth is a showcase! If you like primitive vintage this is the place to go!

 

 

I wonder what stories this rolling pin could tell? I bet it rolled out a mess of buttermilk biscuits and pie dough in it’s day!

 I’ve just gotta tell ya,  the comfy green plaid flannel jumper that I am wearing with blue-jeans, was actually a dress from J. C. Penny. I got it on sale for $13 , had it hemmed a little shorter so it now looks like a top rather than a dress. I love longer tops that go to the thigh and I love me some good deals!

 

 We tried a new restaurant called Gary’s Dowd’s  Catfish (yes that’s the name!). The name reminded me of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (amazing restaurant by the way)…A lady named Ruth bought the Chris Steakhouse and since she was the new owner she just put her name in front of Chris. Looks like Gary did the same…. makes sense I think (I’m scratching my head). Anyhoo, it was a delightful place for a quick pit-stop!

  

Last week my hubby and I took Summer Rose to our local pumpkin patch for some good old fashioned fall fun….

 It’s a homestead complete with a log cabin and a corn field in the front yard.

They provide bumpy hayrides down into the woods….

 All Aboard!

My blue scarf that looks like a checkered tablecloth….compliments of Target! For some reason I feel like eating fried chicken when I wear it.

The view looking up….

 

The view looking down….yup those are my cowgirl boots! yEe HaW!

 

 The view behind us! It was so beautiful, the air was apple-crisp and sweet and the sun lit up the trees like fire.

Summer decided to do a little chicken chasing! Her friend has chickens that she enjoys catching and holding, but this little rascal was a little too quick for her….

 

Oh well maybe next time! There are other fun things to do…..

Like talking to the piggies….I’d say these were some happy pigs, stretched out  in the warm mud sleeping in the sunshine!

There were cows to pet….

And haybales to climb!

Summer climbed up by herself….

But needed Daddy’s help getting down….

She LoVes her daddy!

I tried to take a picture of her running through the corn maze but she ran as fast as that rascal chicken!

Time to find that perfect pumpkin….

Oh here it is! Oh honey!

  

There was a cute little farmstand filled with all kinds of goodies…

 

 

Well, I got my pumpkin but I think I would have rather had that cute old farm truck!

 

 

 My Hubby and I discovered this cute little cafe right here in Branson with the most amazing breakfast meals!  It was a chilly morning with  light rain…a romantic and cozy little spot to get warm and fed.  

The townsfolk and businesses really do a wonderful job decorating for harvest and the Holidays. How cute is this little vintage trike with the pumpkin sitting on top!

 Come on in!

 Billy Gail’s has all kinds of quirky signs everywhere…Ice N’ Pop…Foodstuffs…Dodads…Fancies.

They sell the vintage things that they decorate with.

Here’s one that took me a while to figure out! See if you can……

It says (in proper english) This must be the place.

If you want pancakes, you only need to order ONE! It’s bigger than the plate! I think that sweet little lady to the right of me might be thinking I wonder if she needs help eating that flying saucer of a pancake….the answer is YeS! I have to say it was one of the most delish pancakes I’ve ev-ah tasted! And the cheese and mushroom omlet was the best ev-ah too! This was a real treat, since I usually just have a bowl of cereal and fruit for breakfast!

 The last stop on my Enjoying the Goodness of Fall in the Ozarks Tour…..

Silver Dollar City….just 15 minutes from my house….and just 15 minutes to the most amazing aromas….cinnamon rolls baking! I love this little bakery nook, they sell all kinds of kitchen gadgets and cookie cutters….jams and jellies….cookbooks….

Pecan pie in a jar….Nut Crackers….Apple Pie Filling….

 

 Adorable mixing bowls and pottery pieces for the kitchen….

Amazon sells it too….click here for the butter dish and here for the mixing bowl.

Yummy dessert mixes….how adorable is Miss Elsie Grace! Her package says “My Heart Bakes For You”!

I had to take a picture of this cute sign: Mc Haffie’s Homestead presents The Milk Cow Gals. Too cute!

Summer and I love to visit these Authentic Cabins built in the 1800’s and furnished in that time period. It really helps you imagine what life must have been like back then…

Every morning they cook a breakfast meal on a real wood stove  for the folks who work there.

 

Notice the dishes are upside down…that’s a great idea for keeping dust and critters off of the clean plates. Those pioneer women were so creative!

This is how washing dishes was done before the dishwasher! To me it kind of looks like fun….maybe for a day or so!

 

The Smokehouse just outside the cabins…

“Meat Smoking: Prior to refrigeration, smoking meat preserved, as well as, added flavor to the family meat supply.”

It was Fall Festival time at Silver Dollar City. Craft booths were set up and folks would demonstrate their craft. This gal is making Sawdust dolls…..

Here they are!

 Summer and I had a grand old time!

 

 Well that’s it Sugar Pies! I have had  a super busy two weeks! Now it’s time to settle in at the Farmhouse and start making plans for Thanksgiving….the Kinfolk are gathering at my house this year! Then Christmas time’s a comin’!  I need to start decking the halls!  So much to do! I had better grab my apron and get busy!

Have a blessed week! All of you Sugar Pie Sistas of mine are in my prayers!

Hugs to you!

Thanks for stopping by for Pie.

Aunt Ruthie

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I know I’ve talked about this before Sugar Pies, ( but it is worth repeating over and over because we forget! Or at least I do sometimes…..) Be a friend to yourself! Know what your limits are, plan ahead for things so you don’t get so stressed out. Get a calendar/planner and write down appointments so you don’t miss them or schedule too many things in one week.  Talk nice to yourself ( you darlin’ thing you!).  Cancel that pity-party… it will steal your joy!  Come on now, pull yourself up by your cute cowgirl boot-straps! Try to stay on top of things in your home so cleaning the house won’t become so overwhelming (has your house ever looked like an earthquake happened at Walmart? That is not a pleasant feeling!). It’s really hard for us to think straight (and keep our joy) when our home is in disorder. A messy nest will only bring us unrest!  We need to take care of ourselves and our home so we can best care for our family! It’s amazing how our environment affects our emotions! And if Mama ain’t happy…well, you know the rest!

Let me just tell you, the best thing you can do for yourself is to meet with the Lord each morning.  (”Seek first God’s Kingdom and what God wants. Then all of your other needs will be met as well. Matthew 6:33 New Century Bible). The first thing I do before I even get out of bed is to begin thanking and praising God. I think about how He has blessed me and my heart is warmed. His love for you and I is so extravagant, full of  sparkling grace and  glowing mercy. He knows our difficulties and wants so much for us to trust Him with them.

“He’s walked in your shoes. He knows it’s hard! He delights to show you mercy and give you grace. He has compassion on you and sees your heart. Your need is not looked down on by Him. You are His beloved child.”  ~Mary Grace Birkhead

Spending my  first few morning-moments talking to God just feels right.  It’s at that time I ask Him to help me, to give me wisdom, joy and strength to accomplish the things that I need to do, to be mindful of my blessings and to bless others. Then I get up, read a scripture and meditate on it while I am showering and getting dressed. Throughout the day I talk to the Lord, He is my constant friend! I love that the Word says “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”! I don’t want to miss out on any of God’s rewards!

“Keep company with God. Get in on the best”.  Psalm37:4 (The Message Bible)

Oh my dear Sugar Pie homemakers, we need God’s help to do the most important job there is! Nothing can match the treasure of a happy home or the heartwarming memories that are made there….for you and your family!

Here are a few Happy Home Tips that have helped me keep a spring in my step and make me feel blessed to be the keeper of my home:

1. After I get dressed, make-up on, hairdo sprayed, I put brushes, flat iron, dryer and toiletries away. I wipe down the sink and put wet towels in  laundry basket. I don’t leave the bathroom until it is clean. I find that when I tidy up my bathroom each day, when it’s time to do the nitty-gritty cleaning it’s not that big of a deal.

Can I just tell you that I am not always on top of things?! There are days I get behind for one reason or another. I am not a born organized person, I have to work at it! ( Seriously!) I figured out that my days go smoother when I can find things so  I have  to remember my adopted motto…Clean as you go! Girls it’s just a fact, we are just happier when we are surrounded by  beauty and order instead of bedlam and chaos. Join me and make “Clean as you go” your new motto….it does take a little extra effort but you’ll be so glad you did!

2. I make my bed and tidy up my bedroom. I want to enjoy sinking into a fresh bed at night in a calm, clean and serene room. This blesses my husband also!

3. As soon as I walk into my kitchen, I start creating what I call My Happy Home Atmosphere…..light a yummy candle ( right now I am enjoying Fresh Balsam from Bath and Body Works and Give Thanks by Yankee Candle), I put on some music ( I’m listening to Christmas already!), and open the windows for some fresh air (unless it’s freezing outside!).  Generally speaking, I don’t turn the TV on because then I am tempted to sit and watch…and there goes my day! We record our favorite shows and watch them at night.

4. The kitchen is always cleaned after dinner. In the morning it’s really so helpful to empty the dishwasher right away. That way any dirty dishes or cups can be put straight into the dishwasher instead of  loading up the sink. (If you don’t have a dishwasher, fill half of your sink with hot sudsy water, put any dirty morning dishes in the water to soak while you are attending to other things, then in a short while it will be easy to wash them up, rinse, dry and put away!)

5. Starting a load of wash is next on my list of morning chores. I do laundry everyday instead of waiting for a certain day of the week. It’s too overwhelming to tackle mountains of laundry all at once.  (Trust me, raising four kids, I know about mountains of laundry!) Doing  a little each day makes it so much easier!

6. Mondays are usually my grocery shopping days, so usually Sunday  afternoon I sit down and make a list of meals that I want to make for the following week. I’ll go through a couple of my cookbooks (which I love to do)  to see if there is something new I want to try.  Come Monday I have  grocery list in hand with a pen to mark off the items as I find them. I always plan a simple meal on grocery shopping days because by the time I get home, make several trips to the car carrying in the bags then unloading them I’m not feeling like I want to spend two hours cooking dinner.

Many times I’ll pick up a roasted rotisserie chicken and prepare a meal around it. I have two recipes I’m gonna share with y’all today….they both have very similar ingredients (most of which you probably have in your pantry and fridge) but one is to bake in the oven (for about 35 minutes) and the other is for a crock pot so you could prepare it early in the day and let it simmer until you are ready to eat it. They are both yummy, easy, economical  and they start with  a fresh rotisserie chicken from the market! ( Of course you can roast your own chicken, but an already cooked one makes it so much easier! And remember girls we are trying to find ways to be a friend to ourselves!). In no time you’ll have a yummy meal to set on the dinner table for your family, and your time together will bless hearts and tummies!

Corn Chip Chicken Bake

(This is a great bake ‘n’ take dish for potlucks and such! This is one of those dishes that you can’t mess up. You don’t even have to be exact about it….you can add more cheese or green chilies, onion or other ingredients if you want!)

1 cooked chicken -discard bones and skin, shred or chop into bite-size pieces

1 medium yellow onion -chopped and cooked

1 4oz. can chopped green chilies- diced

1 large can (26 oz. ) can of  Cream of Chicken Soup  ( or two small 10 oz. cans—one of the small cans can be Cream of Mushroom soup if you want, I’ve made it both ways!)

1 cup sour cream

1 bag of  Tortilla chips (or corn tortillas torn in bite size pieces)

4 cups grated cheese  (cheddar and jack )

Pre-heat oven to 350. Saute onion until soft. Mix together soup, chilies, sour cream and cooked onion. Stir in the cooked chopped chicken. In a greased 9 X 13 pan layer half of the chicken/soup mixture, then add a layer of  tortilla corn chips, then a layer of cheese, then repeat ending with the layer of cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve with a crisp green salad,  fresh fruit and buttered corn.

This is very mild dish so if you want to spice it up you can offer chopped jalapenos on the side…that’s my preferance!

Take a peek at how easy this is to prepare!!

Saute the chopped onion until soft….

Mix together soup, cooked onion, chopped green chilies and sour cream. Then add shredded chicken.

Grease your pan….

Layer first with half of the chicken and soup mixture….

Add a layer of Tortilla Corn Chips…..

Then layer half of the  cheese (feel free to add more if you want!)

Add the remaining chicken and soup mixture….

Add more tortilla corn chips and the rest of the cheese….You are done! Just cover with foil and bake at 35o for about 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Easy peasy and cheesy!

To spice it up serve some more yumminess on the side! Chopped halapenos, sliced black olives, salsa, sour cream, Fritos and more cheese.

How easy is that? It’s yummy to your tummy too!

Now here is the Crock Pot version!

Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas!

1 large roasted chicken–discard bones and skin–shred or chop chicken into bite size. (if the chicken is a skinny little thing get two!)

1 medium yellow onion–chopped and saute in one tablespoon olive oil

1 small can Cream of Mushroon soup ( 10 3/4 oz.)

1 small can Cream of Chicken soup )10 3/4 oz.)

1 cup sour cream

1 can green enchilada sauce (10 oz.)

1 can diced green chilies (4 oz.)

16 corn tortillas–torn into chip size pieces

5 cups shredded cheddar cheese (reserving one cup for the last layer)

Saute chopped onion in olive oil over medium heat until soft. Mix soups, sour cream, enchilada sauce, diced green chilies and cooked onion. Pour half of soup mixture into crock pot. Then add half of the chicken.  Add 2 cups of the cheese then a layer of the torn corn tortillas. Repeat the layers ending with the reserved cup of cheese. Cover. Cook on Low for 5-6 hours or on High for 2-3 hours.

Serve with condiments on the side to spice it up: Chopped halapenos, sliced black olives, salsa, sour cream, Fritos and more cheese.

I serve this with a crisp cold salad, fresh fruit and buttered corn.

Saute onion in olive oil until soft….

Stir the cooked onion into soup mixture then pour half of the soup mixture into the crock pot….

Add the chicken….

Layer on 2 cups of the cheese…

Add 8 torn tortillas….repeat layers ending with the reserved one cup of cheese….

Cover. Cook on Low for 5-6 hours or on High for 2-3 hours.

Serve with condiments on the side to spice it up: Chopped halapenos, sliced black olives, salsa, sour cream, Fritos and more cheese. Or eat it plain!

I serve this with a crisp cold salad, fresh fruit and buttered corn.

You know Sugar Pies, every woman is a homemaker. Whether you work outside or inside the home. If we live in a home we are a homemaker. Anything you can do to create that “ahhh…it’s good to be home” feeling is the best gift you can give to your family and yourself! A home that is comforting, safe and happy will do wonders in providing a sense of well being and the sense of belonging your family needs! It’s up to us girls!  Fortunately we have the help of the Lord! If you haven’t read it in a while, I want to encourage you to read Proverbs 31: 10-31.  It talks about our role as homemakers and how we are worth far more than rubies! I can tell by the comments you leave me that your desire is to create a home-sweet-home, and I want to say how proud I am of you for that! Keep up the good work! The Lord will surely bless you!

Don’t forget Be A Friend to Yourself! There is only one of you and you are loved and needed!

Blessings to y’all!

Aunt Ruthie

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The Winner Winner ( Chicken Dinner! ) of my  Let’s-Celebrate-my-Cuppy-Cake-Grandbaby Give-away is…….Miss Ashley Draper!!! Woooo Hooooo! Hooray for you Sugar! I think it is so fun that although Miss Ashley was picked at random her name is the same as my dear daughter who is blessing me with a sweet little bundle from heaven! Bless you Sugar Pie Ashley….I know you will enjoy these goodies…. and just in time for the Holidays too!

I am so thankful to all of you for leaving me such glorious congratulations on my daughter expecting her first baby and my first grandchild! My goodness, what an outpouring of lovely and endearing sentiments! I loved all of your suggestions as to what I should be called too!  (Yes! I read them all!) I haven’t decided on my name yet,  fortunately I have until spring to choose! Like most of you said….whatever I am called it will be the sweetest name my ears will ever hear coming from my grand-baby! OH HONEY! I can’t wait!!

Time for another Q and A! I am always so thrilled to receive so many comments from y’all and I wish I could respond back to each and every one. I love to know what your thoughts are. I get a lot of  questions and from time to time I like to have a Q and A to share  my answers….from my heart to yours! So let’s get started!

Q. Do you decorate for Halloween? I can’t imagine you decorating with fake spiderwebs…

A. Well, my answer is not going to be popular…and that is okay….a gals gotta do what is in her heart…my answer is NO, I do not decorate for Halloween. Here’s why Sugar Pie:

1. I don’t like scary things.

2. I only want to fill my home with happy goodness.  Things that promote God’s blessings and bring honor to Him…things that cause me to reflect on good not evil, on life not death,  on joy not fear,  on light not darkness. Also, children have a difficult time separating what is real and what is not, and I would only want my home to be a place that feels safe and full of comfort and joy.

“Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence  and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your mind on them). ” Philippians 4:8

3.  I understand that the typical Halloween decor of witches, ghosts, and morbid things are “all in fun” but when I read the following scriptures, they confirm my decision: Ephesians 6:12,  3 John 1:11,  Deuteronomy 18:9-14,  Ephesians 5:11-12,  and 1 Corinthians 10:31.

My kids have always dressed up in costumes (non-scary) and they have enjoyed gathering candy from neighbors in the past (by-passing the “haunted” houses) but now we  go to our Church Harvest Parties. This year Summer is going to be Strawberry Shortcake and we are attending  a Church Fall Festival where they have all kinds of fun games and plenty of candy!  It’s a great outreach to the community, offering a safe place for kids and an opportunity for them to hear about the Gospel through a fun program that they put on. It’s amazing to hear how many kids give their heart to the Lord! Families who don’t normally go to church would see the care, joy and love our church members shared and many would begin bringing their family to church. It’s a good thing.

We love to celebrate the delights and goodness  that God has blessed us with during  the Autumn season…without the scary stuff…and that’s just the way we like to do things down-home at The Farmhouse. (If you hold a different opinion about decorating for Halloween we can still be friends…can’t we?)

Q. Who is the artist that painted the beautiful pictures of homes in your entryway? I see when you decorate for fall and winter, you change the paintings to reflect the seasons. One has a house and fall colors, and one has snow.

This one is titled “Abundant Harvest”….a scene from Napa Valley CA.

This one is titled “Holiday Gathering”…

A. The artist is Thomas Kinkade (click here to find him). His artwork is so charming and full of light…in fact he is called “The Painter of Light”.  The windows of the homes that he paints always glow  with warmth and coziness….they are so inviting you just wish you could take a peek inside!  One way to do so is through his books… in the past few years he has written several novels that reflect the kind of charming small town life that he paints. You can find his books here on Amazon. Here is just a sampling:

The Christmas Angel (Click here to read a sample)

A Christmas Visitor (Click here to read a sample)

A Christmas To Remember (Click here to read a sample)

A Gathering Place (Click here to read a sample)

These are the kind of books that are great to read on a blustery day, with a cup of hot cocoa, sitting in a comfy chair next to the fire!

Q. Would you please give some tips and  how to begin decorating - making a cozy home? Of course, I have the basics furniture wise but somehow it’s not that cozy. And I don’t have a lot of extra money to spend. So how does one start and do you pick one room to work on at a time? How can you do things cheaply?

Photo Source: Country Living

A. Here are a few ideas to start with …more in future posts:

1. Put your apron on…. light a yummy candle…turn the TV off and put on some lovely music!  Create a Happy Home Atmosphere!  Then it’s always best to start with a clean uncluttered room.  Pack up or put away little nick-knacks or things that really don’t speak to you heart.  The decorative things that you have, that you love, try grouping them together rather than placing them all around the room.  Give your eye places to rest, in other words don’t cover every surface with “stuff”.

2. Start collecting magazine pictures (or ones on the Internet) of rooms that you love….rooms that send a message to your heart this is what HOME looks like….so you can identify your own personal style. Put those pictures in page protectors, then in a notebook, divided into catagories…Kitchen…Family Room…Bedroom..etc. Then start little by little to incorporate some of those ideas.

3. Pretty plates are easy to find, and many times inexpensive, at yard sales or flea markets, even ebay. The picture above shows a great idea to hang them in the middle of vintage frames! I just found on the internet a new way to hang them without using the wire hangers….I haven’t tried them yet but plan to. They are called Dischangers (Disc Hangers) here is what they look like…..

Photo: Country Living

4. How about a palate of whites and creams, it’s very soothing, simple and clean looking. A can of Swiss Coffee White could give your room (and furniture) a whole new look.

5. If you have a fireplace, make that the focal point of the room. I love the mirror that was made out of an old window frame shown in the photo above.

6. Paint the inside of an old cupboard a favorite color.

Photo: Country Living

7. I love the mis-matched chairs in this photo painted white…you could find these one at a time at flea markets…bring them home and paint them white. Before you know it you’ll have enough to sit around your kitchen table.

Photo: Country Living

8. Set the table for the next meal. It looks homey and sends a loving message to your family that you will be serving up a meal later to warm their tummies! (love the painted coffee can vases!)

Photo: Country Living

9. If you have a collection of something, keep them gathered together, as I mentioned above. Keep it simple and uncluttered and make sure it blesses your heart when you look at them.

10. Scented candles and a  little lamp in the corner of your kitchen counter always cozies up the room. A warm glow in the kitchen is a homey delight for the eyes.

11.  Think about how you want your home to feel. Most of all you and your family should feel loved and nurtured.  I love the mood that Ma on Little House on the Prairie set in her home….she had a tenderness and grace that made her family feel safe, secure, comforted and cozy.  She had grit ….and  was never lazy. She did what had to be done in a day. But she knew how to laugh too! She was dependable and fun-loving! The mother sets the tone in the home!  These are the things that really make a home cozy. It’s more about the tender, loving, care that  we fill our homes with. The other “stuff” is just frosting on the cake.

Healthy expressions of love must be carefully cultivated in the home environment, so that children go out into the world with the right ideas about what love is, what it isn’t and how to demonstrate it to others. ~ William Coleman

Well God bless you Sugar Pies!

Be Blessed today!

Hugs!

Aunt Ruthie

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