New Banner, New recipes, New year!

I hope everyone has a blessed 2011.

I am new to papercrafting, and I can't resist trying new projects when I see so many cute ideas on others' blogs. I used a set of "tracing letters and numbers" that I used in high school. I was in the drill team, and we had "locker boys"-football players whose lockers we decorated. I used lots of glitter back then, but none was as nice as Martha's! I don't have a mantle so I use our Stickley mirror!

I spent New Year's Eve afternoon in the kitchen!

I was inspired to try making french macarones after reading about them on Parisienne Farmgirl's blog. I used Martha Stewart's recipe and tips I found at Giver's log. I planned to make them raspberry flavored with seedless raspberry preserves for filling, but I didn't have raspberry extract. I used strawberry instead. I am pleased for a first try, although I would like to keep my batter a bit thicker so they don't spread as easily as they are piped.

I also made my 2nd batch of Pizzelles. One of the Christmas Cookie Exchange guests brought them to the party. My SIL and I loved them. I decided I wanted a Pizzelle press for Christmas. She made them with lots of anise, which my SIL and I love. The rest of my family doesn't care for that flavor much. Awwww, more for my SIL and me!

I am still thrilled when I gather eggs, so I couldn't resist one last photo for 2010!

Y'all Come Back,

Lorilee

Chicken in the kitchen!

I wanted to share a sweet gift from my dear friend, Martha. She knows me and my chickens well! She also has an awesome embroidery machine! She is a wonderful seamstress and soooo creative! Thank you so much, Martha.
Y'all come back.
Lorilee

Cookie decorating vs. sleeping

I ended up with 30 snowflake shaped sugar cookies after the baking fiasco I shared in the previous post. I decided on December 23rd that it was now or never to decorate them. I first had to finish a 20 page scrapbook that I started on December 22 in the evening. Did I mention it was also my first real attempt at doing scrapbook layouts? I digress. Back to the cookies. I was done with the scrapbook around 10:30 p.m.. I took a bath while debating whether or not to start the cookie decorating so late. Since I had already stayed up until 2 a.m. on the scrapbook the night before, I figured I should go for it. Weeellllll, 30 cookies took me until 4 a.m.!

My family was impressed, but they are a far cry from the many cookie decorators whose blogs I visit frequently.

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

7th Christmas Cookie Exchange!

My SIL and I hosted our 7th annual Christmas cookie exchange party this year. We happened to have matching skirts and joked that we wore different blouses so that others could tell us apart!

The cookies filled my dining table!

My crystal rooster presided over the cookie table surrounded by Christmas light bulbs that belonged to my husband's grandmother.

Another table held the cookie recipe booklets, apron ornaments and more cookies.

I was told that the ornament aprons also fit Barbie dolls!

These are the cookies I made this year. I originally wanted to try decorated sugar cookies. After quadrupling the eggs while doubling the recipe for the first batch and then setting the oven to 250 degrees instead of 350 degrees and having part of a batch slide off the cookie sheet while I was removing them from my bottom oven, I decided to switch to a less time consuming recipe.

We served appetizers, punch and coffee.

Everyone was given a bell necklace to wear. If caught saying the word "cookie", the necklace had to be given to the person who caught you.

We gave prizes for getting the most bell necklaces, the best cookie presentation, and the most spirited outfit. (We voted to decide the winners.)

Every year my husband asks me if it is worth all the work in preparation. I say "definitely"!

Blessings,

Lorilee

Bristley Hen!

I have been meaning to share this sweet chicken bootscraper that I received as a Birthday gift in October. I think she is absolutely adorable! What shall I name her?

3 eggs and new toes!

I found these 3 beautiful eggs on Saturday.

I also prettied my toes. We still have flip-flop and sandal weather in South Texas in the winter!

I've also been decorating and sewing in between house cleaning and laundry.

Y'all Come Back,

Lorilee

The girls are not laying very frequently now that the days are so short. I still get one or two eggs most days. Today I was THRILLED to find my first bluish green egg!

Of course, I had to photograph and share such a momentous happening! I am not sure which of my Americaunas laid the egg. Their pea combs haven't gotten big and red like the other girls' rose combs.

Is in from Matilda?

Or did Madeline lay the egg!

Photos are from a month or two ago. Madeline is pretty hard to photograph since she rarely stays in one place very long. She is afraid of the other hens since they give her a quick peck to keep her in her place. Matilda stays away from them too, but she is not quite so hysterical about it!

Y'all Come back,

Lorilee

Celtic Christmas at the Rennfest.

We attended the Rennfest a weekend later than usual. (November 27th) The theme was Celtic Christmas. Santa dropped by!

David is sporting chain mail made by a friend and a tabbard (white with red cross) I made for him.

Later in the day, David went without the tabbard. I wore the green skirt over instead of under the chemise this year.

The hat is not really part of my "outfit", but I wanted to wear it since I had just purchased it!

It was a beautiful, cool day. The guys really appreciate that in their outfits.

The attendance that day was 36,000.
Y'all come back!

Lorilee

This and That

O. K. Either there is nothing happening worth blogging about or so much is happening that I don't have time to blog about it! Lately, there has been so much happening that I haven't had time to blog. Since we were hosting Thanksgiving, we had to spend some time getting the house and yard whipped into shape. In all the cleaning frenzy, I stopped to admire this anole relaxing on the gazing ball. I also noticed that my Christmas Cactus was blooming. Maybe it is a Thanksgiving Cactus.

My hubby purchased a 3rd vehicle since we will have soon have another driver in the family. Doesn't the future driver look happy? He loves jeeps as much as his Dad.

He can hardly wait to turn 16 in March!

Oh, and another look at my blooming Christmas Cactus. It is sitting on top of my pot rack. It won't bloom if I keep it up there all year. I put it on the patio in the summer and in the barn if the weather gets too cold.

These two teens have their learning permits and are dreaming of getting their real driver's license. All they can do right now, is sit in it in the driveway!

We had 24 for Thanksgiving. I caught some giving the jeep a close inspection.

They also spent some time shooting bows in the backyard.

I gave cookie decorating a try for the second time.

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful. We had an abundance of food, along with friends and family to share the food and time with. Our day ended with the thrilling outcome of the Texas A & M vs. u.t. game. The evening was filled with plenty of cheering and whooping!

Friday was spent preparing to leave for the Texas Renaissance Festival! That will be another post!

Y'all come back!

Lorilee

Busy being country!

I haven't been home much on the weekends, and when I am home, I am busy catching up. Brian and I went out to the Rocking HI Ranch for the opening of deer season. We didn't get any bucks, but both of my brothers and two nephews all did. There has been much digging and leveling to build a "pad" for a well. In doing so, lots of sandstone boulders were exposed. Pop now has them spread out around the place. I brought some that we were able to lift home.

The largest is at the edge of the stock tank. We refer to it as the fishing rock.

On Veteran's Day, we went to my Grandmother's house and trimmed trees with my Dad and Stepmom. Pop taught Brian how to use the Pole Saw.

Brian was hard to stop once he got started!

My stepmom, Barb, and I got to drag the limbs to the tractor to be hauled to a burn pile. We also raked the whole backyard.

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

You may remember my excitement about finding this old chandelier at an antique mall. It was originally pink, but I spray painted it black. I whittled the base of the candles to make them fit! I love the way the wax looked dripping down the sides of the candles.

BUT the candles started looking really grungy. I was in Hobby Lobby a week or so ago and found candles and related items on sale 1/2 price. (squeal)

I came home with sconce cups and battery powered votives, among a few other items! I used the black tape to camoflage the base of the sconce cup.

Ta Da, the new chandelier.

BEST OF ALL, the candles stay lit, even on windy evenings!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee