I love after Christmas bargains!

I was out shopping today for bins to store my ornaments. I didn't find bins, but I found wreaths at Target that I will hang outside of our windows next Christmas. They're a little more ornate than I needed, but it was just too good of a deal to pass up....5 wreaths for less than $16! I'll probably remove the bow and use it to hang the wreath.

Another great find was this finial at Marshall's. It just makes me smile!

Don't you just love Marshall's?!!

Tiffany and I went to Kirkland's and Marshall's....two of my very favorite stores to shop... after lunch New Years Day. I found a mirror at Marshall's that I had been looking for to put in one of the upstairs guest rooms. I wanted something that would coordinate with the headboard, and this will fit the bill. Now I can't wait to strip the wallpaper and take the existing, non-descript mirror down!

My Christening Gown

This 58 year old handmade christening gown has seen many baptisms, but I think it has another wear or two left in it! It's in a shadow box hanging in the hallway to our bedroom, but I'm going to be removing it from its frame in a couple of months to get it ready for Baby 'M'. Rachel is expecting her first baby in July, and since Gene is Catholic their baby will be baptized. Not only did I wear this gown, but so did cousins, my brother, my godchildren, my own four children, my niece, and my nephew. (The matching bonnet was lost, unfortunately, by someone who borrowed it before my 41 year old brother was able to use it.) I'm thrilled to see one of my grandchildren baptized in it!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a wonderful year of God's many, many blessings...

.

and good eats!

Easy Peasy Microwave Peanut Brittle!

This is hubby's favorite holiday candy, and I'm yet to make a batch that hasn't turn out perfect every time! (Microwave = 1000W) I'm sharing the recipe with you because we won't be needing it any time soon in 2009...you know, that New Year's resolution that's the same every year!!

Microwave Peanut Brittle

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup white corn syrup

1 cup salted roasted peanuts

1 teaspoon butter or margarine

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

1. Grease a baking sheet and set aside.

2. Mix sugar and corn syrup in microwave-casserole dish. Microwave for 4 minutes on high.
3. Add peanuts, mixing well and microwave another 3 minutes on high.
4. Stir in butter and vanilla; microwave for 2 minutes on high.
5. Remove from microwave oven and stir in baking soda.

6. Immediately pour onto prepared baking sheet, spreading thinly. Cool. Break into bite-size pieces.

Makes about 1 1/2 pounds candy.

Note: Warming the baking sheet will help to spread candy out thinner.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Living in the south, I've always felt a little snow deprived, but after reading about 77" of snow in Idaho, I really should count my blessings. They get snow; we get hurricanes. Nothing pretty about hurricanes!

I do like snowmen, and I display them during the month of January. Here's a pitcher that my daughter Tiffany gave me for Christmas.

A few more of my snowmen....