Merry Christmas!

Amazing 2016 Christmas Video

Noel

Chris Tomlin

Love incarnate, love divine

Star and angels gave the sign

Bow to babe on bended knee

The Savior of humanity

Unto us a Child is born

He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel

Come and see what God has done

Noel, Noel

The story of amazing love!

The light of the world, given for us

Noel

Son of God and Son of man

There before the world began

Born to suffer, born to save

Born to raise us from the grave

Christ the everlasting Lord

He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel

Come and see what God has done

Noel, Noel

The story of amazing love!

The light of the world, given for us

Noel 

 [repeat twice]

Noel lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful - The Reason for the Season

Merry Christmas to all of you who so graciously stop by my blog for a visit - you make my day!  Have a blessed day...and a Wonderful New Year too!
I thought I'd include a link to my Christmas 2015 house tour to look back on...please visit HERE.

One of My Favorite Songs

A Short commercial precedes the beginning of the Video.

Home Tour - Video

Nathaniel H. Burt House

Beautiful, Restored, Victorian Home in Leavenworth Kansas

I was mesmerized by the detail and beauty of this home and hope you are too!

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake & Frosting Recipe

CAKE:

2 cups sugar

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING: 

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups Powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

CAKE DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE FROSTING. Makes 12 servings.

FROSTING DIRECTIONS:

• Melt butter.  Stir in cocoa.  Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.  Add small amount of additional milk, if needed.  Stir in vanilla.  About 2 cups frosting.
• VARIATIONS:
• ONE-PAN CAKE: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.
• THREE LAYER CAKE: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.
• BUNDT CAKE: Grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.
• CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

Lemon Garlic Shrimp & Linguine

4 ounces Linguine 
1 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 pound large raw shrimp, shelled & deveined
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning
1 cup broccoli crown, broken apart
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoons parsley, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

• In a large pot cook the linguine in salted, boiling water about 9 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat olive oil and 1 Tablespoon of butter. Then add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
• Add the shrimp and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the shrimp starts to turn pink. Add italian seasoning and broccoli and cook until slighly soft.
• Add the pasta to the pan with the remaining butter, parmesan, and parsley. Stir until mixed and butter is melted.
• Add the lemon juice and serve while hot.

2 Servings

***The original recipe for this dish was from therecipecritic.com and I changed a few things to suit my preference.  Easy - Yummy and Filling, I will make this again.

Chocolate Mint Ice Cream

Ingredients (4-6 servings)

2 cups half and half or whole milk

4 lg egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tsp. Peppermint extract

3 1.4oz Peppermint Patties [frozen for about 10 minutes prior to chopping]

OR...you can use 3 ounces of Andes Candies chopped (2/3 cup)...

I really prefer the Peppermint Patties to the Andes Mints in this creamy Ice Cream

Instructions

+NOTE: 1 day ahead, place ice cream maker bowl into freezer+

Prepare a bowl of ice water, set aside. In the top of a double boiler, or a bowl placed over a pan of simmering water, heat the half and half until just steaming In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks, then add the sugar and mix. Add 1/2 of the half and half to the egg yolk, sugar mixture, mix. Add to the steaming half and half. Stir and cook over simmering water for about 10 minutes or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Immediately place bowl into ice bath, stir occasionally until mixture is at room temperature.

Transfer to a Tupperware container, add cream and extract, refrigerate about 3 hours. place mixture into ice cream maker bowl, turn on machine and let the magic begin!

PuppyKid Birthday Party Today

This is the Birthday Boy - Jasper.  He is 8 years old today.  I remember the day I was at the Breeder is Indiana to pick him up.  He was exactly 9 months old.  He weighed 4 pounds.  He's now 8 pounds and has been for many years.  He is a Maltese...and can be tempermental...especially with me.  I had to take him to the Vet a couple of weeks ago, because he was kind of snappy, grumpy, growling all the time...and squeaking.  Besides that he bit me a couple of times...not hard, but he did break the skin.  He was also urinating in the house...alot.  The Vet found a couple of things...that his prostate is enlarged [could be an infection] and is on antibiotics for it.  He also has a problem with one of his hips...which would account for his snapping, growling and the like.  He is on pain pills for that.  He is feeling much better now...and so am I.  He goesback to the Vet on Sunday - please say a prayer that all is OK.

All of the Pups were groomed Saturday and Sunday - by me...and I thought it was time for some updated pictures of all of them.  So, I put this little collage together for you to be able to see them all.

Jasper 8yr old Male Maltese

Angel 3yr old 14# Female Havaton [Havanese, Coton de Tulear Mix]

Rosie 6yr old 12# Female Shih-Poo [Shih Tzu, Toy Poodle Mix]

The Pups are celebrating today...with their favorite treats [for their teeth], bananas and chicken.  We'll all have a great time.

Thanks for stopping by....

Frozen Irish Cream Mousse Cake

This Frozen Irish Cream Mousse Cake is completely no bake, incredibly smooth and so creamy! The flavor of the Irish Cream is spot on and with a touch of chocolate, I am in love!

Lindsay, from Life, Love and Sugar posted the recipe for this and when I saw Irish Cream and Chocolate, she had me.  I'll be making this real soon!  Every other Saturday, I make a dessert to share with 2 of my neighbors.  We get together and ENJOY!!

Read more and Get the Recipe for this Dessert at: http://www.lifeloveandsugar.com

Tour My Office - Pink

Today, I decided to show you my office.  I haven't shared pictures of my office for years. The last ones I showed you were from 2008...and they aren't on this blog...or at least I can't find them here.  These photos are of my Office, as it appeared at the end of 2015.  Right now, things are looking different once again.  I love changing things around.  I have a corner built-in desk with cabinets on the base, one on each side.  There are cabinets above as well.  Where you see the curtain on the very right side is the window where I take pictures when I'm in my office.

I have taken off the cabinet doors, to make room for displays [the cabinets on the bottom of the 2 bookshelves have their doors removed, too...for the Pup's Toy Storage].  I'd rather have that than a bunch of hidden junk!

I have 9' sloped ceilings, with beautiful mouldings.

The corner with my Black Armoire display...with a view of my Great Room.  [the doggie gate has been down for months...since my Pups stay with me quite nicely in the office without it]

This Bookcase is on the other side of the closet door and flanks the window in the back of the office.

What is a bed doing in my office?  Well, it's a Massage Table.  That's where I get my BioMat treatments.  You can read about the BioMat in my post Here. 

To the right and left of the desk are matching bookcases.  And here you see both of my windows.

One last view of my desk!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look around my office.  Hopefully, when you see it next, it will look a bit different.  And, I hope it's painted.

I'm joining the Link Party Thoughts of Home on Thursday at:

Laura at Décor To Adore

Stacey from Poofing the Pillows

Jemma from At Home With Jemma

Laura at White Spray Paint

Looking Back and Wondering...

Do You Remember When...It was so "in" to have a Dress Form grace your home?   I had three of them.  I dressed them all, named them and did posts about them, too.  The forms themselves were relatively easy to find...just by googling.  Before I purchased my first on-line Mannequin [I purchased 2 from an on-line company], I called the company and asked questions about it.  They were very helpful.  After receiving "her", I selected a name, fabric, lace, flowers and whatever else I was going to use to "dress her".  Then I got to work, using pins for one and liquid starch on the other 2, to clothe them.  I found Ms. Pauline in a corner of a booth at an Antique Mall.  She was...the soft squishy foam kind of mannequin...old and rather discolored.  She really reminded me of my Grandmother, Pauline Hermann...hence her name.  This is Pauline.

  

My grandmother was the squishy sort, wore lacey clothing, always had an apron on when she was at home and smelled so pretty.  I got Pauline in 2008.  She greeted guests as they arrived for Tea or Dinner for a number of years.  She usually stood near the TeaCart you see in her photo.

I posted several times about Pauline on my old blog...but only have the post of Pauline's Wedding on this blog.  It was a beautiful day in 2012 that she married Albert.  You can read the post about her wedding here.

  These two Mannequins were added in 2009.  On the left is Isabella and on the right is Lily.  They have beautiful "shapes" don't they?   Unlike Pauline, who I pinned clothing on to dress...I used Liquid Starch to put fabric on Isabella's and Lily's hard foam bodies.  Then I added lace and ribbon flowers, trims, jewelry and doilies to them.  The stood in my Dining Room, center stage behind the dining table.

Here's a close-up of them.

I had them up until early 2015, when Isabella and Lily left my employ and headed off to Paris.  They found work very quickly there and continue to work in the same home together again.

Did you have Mannequins in your home?  Did you join the many parties that filled Blogland back then?  Did they make you smile as I'm smiling now, remembering the fun they were?

Thanks for stopping in today...I hope you enjoyed your visit.

This was originally posted on March 3, 2016.

I'm joining the Link Party Thoughts of Home on Thursday at:

Laura at Décor To Adore

Stacey from Poofing the Pillows

Jemma from At Home With Jemma

Laura at White Spray Paint

Master Bedroom & Bathroom Make-Over

***Originally posted in February 2016***  [a few changes made since then, but those photos will be seen at a later date]  As promised, I was able to get the pictures taken and get this post done this week!  WOW!  Things certainly do look different around my home.  And this is just the beginning.  If you missed the post of How the Master Bedroom and Master Bathroom looked before, click Here.  I'd always wanted a Sleigh Bed, so when I decided it was time for new Bedroom Furniture, this is exactly what I got!  A sleigh bed, a high dresser...and 2 large nightstands.  In a deep cherry finish.  I love it.  The curtains, valances, lace sheers and pleated shades are on all 12 windows in my home.  Since I have a dramatically open concept home...it works so well.  They are a bronzey-gold and I love them.

 [the sunlight streaming in the windows...makes some of these photos a bit dark - but it adds to the drama of the room]

You'll notice that my large nightstands are not on the sides of the bed, in front of the windows as many people would place them.  Rather, I opted for a smaller lamp table [black], with a shelf and drawer [big enough for the remote for the adjustable mattress base I have and the remote for the ceiling fan] next to the bed, alongside an animal print [leopard, of course] chair.  After much hunting for the perfect bedcoverings, I opted for a beautiful quilt and shams, with roses and other flowers in a pink/ivory/burgundy color combination.  In the photo below, you can see that the quilt is scalloped along the edges all the way around.  So are the pillow shams.

The colors used in the room were all pulled from the artwork I already owned and had displayed in other areas of my home.  Roses above the bed...and Woman with Roses above the night stand.

  

I had this print framed and got it a couple of Christmases ago, as my Christmas gift!

In this photo, you can really see the style of the furniture and the color of the wood.  The sleigh bed is something I'd always wanted and when I decided to get new furniture, I bought this set.  A small, ornate Syrocco mirror, lamp, Love picture, chest with fleur de lis, a heart shaped picture frame with a lady smelling a rose and a mirror tray on a pedastal, holding candle cups is all I needed to complete the look.  Then I added the mate to the other Leopard print chair to the side of the dresser.

More syrocco plaques hang on the wall to the left, when you enter the bedroom.  On the nightstand is Picture frame with Marie Antoinette's photo, my clock radio and a small jewelry tray that was handpainted by a good friend of mine [Celeste].

Here's another look at the dresser, with the rose picture above the bed reflected in the syrocco mirror.

I have always loved quilts and now I have this one [well, I really have 3 of this quilt, in twin, queen and king - remember my open concept?  I use them in 2 other rooms.]

The pillows I've picked up throughout the last 7 years...and had put away, waiting to be used.  The large one has a chenille border around vintage material in the center...the woman with the rose is in the center of an oblong pillow...again with vintage fabric...and the pillow on the left is a heart, which you can see better in the photo below.

The wide lace edging all around the pillow, with the flowers and leaves and the wide white lace...is just beautiful.

Now, over the top of my lamp, I have a handpainted ornament with roses and a lady...and lots of white boa feathers hanging.  It was also painted by Celeste.

My master bathroom looks so different than before, too.    I love the bronze lights, with 60-watt PINK lightbulbs in them...the bronze framed mirrors, a crackle glass bronze candle holder [in front of an all-too-bright night light - which doesn't look too bright through it]...and another handpainted tray by Celeste hung on the wall.

You can see a glimpse of the chandelier in the mirror on the left, if you really look...

Again, the sunlight makes this photo darker than it really should be...but it does look dramatic, doesn't it?  This chandelier is hung on a chain from the ceiling and is hard-wired.  It's bronze in color with some golden antiquing...and I bought it at a garage sale - never used, in the original box, about 7 years ago...for...are you ready?...for $3.00!!! 

Here's looking at the counter wall from the other end of the bathroom, looking toward the door.

A rose clock that was purchased at a garage sale for $1.00 and had never been used.  On the wall, by the door [over there on the left in the photo] are my Syrocco Flower Plaques, painted and Rub 'n Buff-ed by me.

They looked like this when I purchased them for only $8.00 for the pair.

After I spray painted them black and added the Rub 'n Buff, they looked like this...

Because of the skylight in the bathroom and the sun shining in it, the flowers don't look as burgundy and the leaves don't look as green as they really are. 

When entering the Bathroom, the wall at the opposite end of the door has this arrangement on it.

Another plaque [this time plaster], painted and Rub 'n Buff-ed the same as the syrocco plaques, 2 sconces [painted too] and the beautifully framed in black Parisian Rose Print.

Looking out the door of the Bathroom into the Bedroom.

The prettiest Burgundy/Pink/Green/Ivory rugs, with rubber backing I've ever seen now belong to me and are used throughout the house.

My Pink Bathrobe hangs from a pretty hook on the door.

My walk-in closet...which measures approximately 13' by 6'...is so large, I am able to store lots of things, along with my clothes in here.

When entering the closet, on the left is the light switch and 6 4-foot shelves that are empty...empty because I rearranged the closet the other day.

The fleece DIVA blanket is covering pillows and some other artwork, suitcases and pads for my patio swing, of course, on shelves, too.

I have quite a few of these windows boxes that I put things in for storage...doilies, curtains, clothing, Christmas Ornaments [hand-painted by Celeste], towels, etc.

Aclothes hamper...hanging rod for clothes and the Quilt on the Pedastal is covering the Pups Den [their crate].  They love it there.  When it thunders and rains...that's where they head.  They did that even before I put their crate in there...because it's an inside room...against the heaviest wall of my home...where we go when there are any Weather Warnings.  They sleep so well in there.  It's their little CAVE!

Lampshades, finials, more boxes...shoes on the lower shelves.

Sweaters hung on hangers in a special "fold" so they don't pucker at the shoulders and don't fall off the hangers.  See the instructions Here.

Around the corner...lamps...winter pajamas, nightgowns, jeans, sweatshirts...

More window storage boxes with sheets, a suitcase, plaques, painting clothes, cooler and tool box.

I'm participating in the FIRST Thought of Home on Thursday Link Parties - stop by and see who else is!!

I hope you enjoyed seeing the re-do of my Master Bedroom and Bathroom.  There will be other BEFORE and AFTER pictures/posts to come of other areas of my home.

The color on the walls is Pixie Dust by Valspar.  It's a very pale pink.

The pink 60-watt lightbulbs that give a beautiful glow in any room...are from Lighting Supply Company...click Here

The hand-painted items I said were painted by Celeste are some of the many items I've purchased from Celeste at  her Celestina Marie Design Etsy Shop

My bedroom set is from ArtVan Furniture and is part of the Rochelle Collection Here

Quilt is from Bella Home Fashions...Here

Window Storage Boxes were found at Lowes

Curtains and Valances are from JCPenney Here mine are Topaz

Rugs are from JCPenney Here mine are Garnet

Marvelous Water Views Door County - Revisited

***Originally posted July 27, 2014***
Beautiful Surroundings for This Week's Home Tour -  Door County, Wisconsin - the most marvelous Water Views Ever!  
Most of you know I have a passion for Door County Wisconsin Vacations.  While searching various things in Door County on line, I found this lovely home.  It's for sale!  But, alas, it's way over my budget.  But who says we can't dream?  So, I am sharing it with all of my Home Tour Dreamers!  This is truly a beautiful place, surrounded by water - Door County is a 72 mile long peninsula, filled with beautiful scenery, beaches and homes.  There is alot to do and see in Door County.  If you're considering a vacation...check it out!

12676 Door Bluff Park Road

Ellison Bay, Wisconsin 54210 

Built into the side of a bluff in the secluded wooded community adjacent to Door Bluff Headlands County Park, this mid-century modern gem was designed by Wisconsin Architectural Hall of Fame "Green" pioneers Willis and Lillian Leenhouts. Wraparound decks are on both levels of this totally rehabbed home. The high end teak kitchen boasts fossilized Ontario limestone countertops, stainless steel SubZero refrigerator, 6 burner WOLF range, Viking hood, Miele dishwasher, and separate SubZero beverage cooler. The baths feature German porcelain Duravit sinks and commodes.  There's over 400' of Lake Michigan frontage with a new 120' steel and concrete pier with 60' dogleg and 60' extension with extra wide dredging built before the state-wide moratorium. Moorings for 4 boats are possible. The buildable adjacent parcel and teak furniture designed for the original home are included in the offering. 

For additional information, please email Kurt.Penn@sothebysrealty.com or call Kurt at 773-206-0302. The photography is by Richard Steinberger.

This is a Single Family Home of:

2,000.00 Sq.Ft.

on a lot of 3.40 Acres

ThisSingle Family Home has:

4bedrooms

2Full Baths

1Partial Bath

and was built in1965

Asking Price:  $2,450,000

More information Here