Our St Charles MO trip

Hi everyone. Yeah I am still around. I know it's been awhile. We have been so busy decorating and getting ready for Christmas, it's been a little overwhelming but I am so enjoying it. My DH and I did manage to arrange a weekend away. Today I want to share some pictures of our trip to St Charles Missouri. This is the most quaint little town with so much character. I think this is going to have to be a tradition every year from now on. It just really gets you in the Christmas spirit. There is a Christmas festival that starts November 27Th and ends December 26Th, complete with storybook characters and Santa's from around the world. There is also an ice skating rink. I didn't get pics of that, of course, being the cold blooded person I am, there was no way you were going to get me out there on that ice.To read about this Christmas traditions festival, just go to this linkhttp://www.stcharleschristmas.com/index.html.
Here are pictures of some of the historic buildings. They were all decked out with fresh greenery and beautiful decorations. The streets and sidewalks were all brick. Here are the carolers. They walked along the street and sang.(sorry for the blurry pictures. It was a little cold and I couldn't stop shaking long enough to get a good picture)

Sometimes they would stand underneath one of the buildings awnings and sing.

This is the Christmas angel.

This tree was huge. The ornaments were as bis as basketballs. The building to the right is a restaurant. We ate lunch there one day.We were seated in the top section and could look down on all the beautiful scenery. I wanted to get pictures of the parade and it was going on when we were eating. Oh well, maybe next year.

This is the sugarplum fairy. She was one of the more popular characters. She would take people off of the street and dance. She really had the personality for this character.

Here is one of the Santa's. I believe this is Father Christmas.

If you want to read and get the history of some of these characters, just go to this linkhttp://www.stcharleschristmas.com/christmashistory.htm

I just realized that I didn't really get many pics. I hope you enjoyed what I did get and maybe I will get more next year.
Well I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season. It will be here before you know it. I will try and get pictures posted of my Christmas decorations soon.

Until Next Time,

Happy Thanksgiving

Just wanted to pop in and tell all my blogging friends to have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the day with your family and friends. I am thankful for so much. From my healthy family to my blogging buds. I have been so blessed to have what I have. A wonderful husband and kids and a loving family. Caring and thoughtful friends. That's really all that is important in life.
Tomorrow all the fall decor comes down until next year and Christmas things come out. Yeah, I absolutely love this time of year. There is nothing like the feeling of Christmas. There is a chance of snow flurries today. No accumulation but just the site of snow gets me in the spirit of the season.
Take the time today to hug your kids and family. It really is special to have them close. You never know what next year will bring.

New recipe and craft project

Good Friday morning to all my blog friends. I want to share a couple of things with you this morning. First is my craft projects I have been working on. I purchased these wool ornaments pattern over at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/. I think they turned out so cute for my first try with wool and learning all the new stitches.

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The second part of my post is a recipe that my sister shared with me and it is so delicious. I linked it so you can print it out.http://sites.google.com/site/goodeatsorg/cajun-pasta-chicken

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I hope the past couple of weeks has been good to all my friends out there. I know the flu is going around here and everywhere else, really bad. I have been fortunate enough to have dodged it so far(knock on wood). The boys have had it but nothing serious just coughs, sore throats and low fevers. I leave the hand sanitizer and lysol right on the counter handy. I spray and sanitize constantly.

Hopefully I will be able to stay healthy.

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That's it for today. Better go so I can get my list of things accomplished.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween.

Until next time,

Mexican Veggie Bake

Good Friday morning everyone. The week weather wise not so good. It has been raining, gosh I can't even remember when it started but I know it's still raining. Suppose to until Sunday. I have been finding myself being a home body this week. Don't feel much like going anywhere when it's rainy and cold. I guess that's good though, I have been getting some things done that needed to get done.
This weeks recipe is something I tried for the first time this week. I found it in the Gooseberry Patch "Speedy Suppers" cookbook. I have used alot of recipes from this book. This one is yummy and I served it with tacos.

Mexican Veggie Bake
1/2 c. green pepper, chopped
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/2 c. celery, chopped
1/2 c. carrot, peeled and chopped
2 c. cooked rice, I used minute rice
16 oz. can refried beans
15 oz. can black beans, drained
1 c. salsa
12 oz package shredded cheddar
Saute veges in a lightly greased skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes or until tender. I just sprayed my pan with cooking spray. Remove to a large bowl; add remaining ingredients except cheese. Layer 1/2 the mixture in a 13x9 pan; sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese. Repeat layers, ending with cheese. Bake 350 degrees untl heated thru, about 15-20 minutes. Serves 6
That's it for today. I hope everyone has a nice day and weekend. Until next time,

And The Winner Is......

Jayne! and here is what she had to say...........

Just look at this bucket! It was overflowing. Thank you everybody for signing up for the giveaway and for all your kind comments on my home and on my blog. I appreciate each and everyone.

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Happy weekend everyone! The sun is shining but boy is it deceiving. I stepped out to take Kaci out and couldn't believe how cold it was, 30 degrees. Oh well at least the sun is shining which it hasn't done in a couple days. It was so funny when I got up this morning. I went into the bathroom and peaked thru the house and there was a bright light coming from the office room. I thought somebody left the top light on but nope it was just the sun coming thru the window,LOL. I forgot what it looked like!

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Our son is home for a couple days from college. It's always so good to see him. It seems like he has grown up so much. He walked in the last time he was home with this new haircut and it made him look so much older. It's amazing how it seems like they just grow up overnite.

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That's it for today. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather,well hopefully beautiful wherever you live, cuz the snow will be flying soon. Until next time,

Fall giveaway and New recipe

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let everyone know the deadline for signing up for the giveaway is today. So if you want your name in the pot, just leave me a message.
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I also want to share a new recipe that I just tried this week. It came from the GP cookbook "Speedy Suppers". It's another one dish meal. The less work and clean up the better, in my opinion. Kielbasa and Peppers
2 T. olive oil
2 lbs. kielbasa, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 red,green and yellow pepper, sliced into strips
1 onion, halved and sliced
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat; add kielbasa. Saute for 3 minutes; add vegetables. Cook until kielbasa is golden brown and vegetables are tender, about 8-10 minutes. Serves 4-6.
I serve this with white rice and a lettuce salad. Would be good over noodles also. So simple and very good.

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I hope life is treating everyone well. It's been rainy and cold here for the past two days. I see some of you have already gotten snow. They are calling for snow flurries here Sunday night, YUCK! Maybe if we get snow early, we will have an early spring. We can only hope.. That's it for today. I will let everyone no who won the giveaway soon. So stay tuned. Until next time,

My fall giveaway and APP featured home

As some of you know, I have been chosen as the featured home for October at

http://aprimitiveplace.org/index.html. I can't even express how honored I feel

to have Kristine and all the support from the girls over there. They have truly been best friends to me over this past year and I can't thank them enough for all of their support and encouragement.

So in honor of this and the wonderful fall season, I want to give back. I am having my very first giveaway. I wish you could all win. Maybe when I win the lottery,LOL! But for now I am going to have to stick to a few things.

So do you want to know what you might win...........................

oh, I think I will wait to let you know.................

ummmmm no really do you want to know?........

nope not til the end....

OH OK, i give in....here it is

one of my Gatherings jars

Two Yankee votives and glass candle holder

and last but not least an Autumn plate with stand

So if you are interested in winning this grouping just shoot me an email or leave me a message on this post and I will be glad to enter you in my drawing.If you want to be entered twice be one of my followers and if you post this on your blog, I will enter you three times,YIPPEE!

Do all of this before October 15th and you might be a winner!

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That's it for today. Hope everyone is enjoying this cool fall weather.

Until next time,

Whatcha Workin on Wednesday

Hello everyone. Just want to share what I finished today. My Believe stitchery that I have been working on, seems like forever. Don't look too close cuz it's the first one I have ever finished. Usually I start stitching and it isn't coming out the way I want so I don't finish. This one was so simple. It's a pattern from Shelly Auen over at http://primitivestitchin.com/. I love her patterns. Actually I started this on linen and boy was that hard to do. I couldn't even see the holes where I was suppose to be stitchin and it wasn't coming out to good. So i decided to go with aida cloth instead and glad I did. It was alot easier for me to see. I still have to do something with the back and not sure what to do or how but I will get it figured out.
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Last night my DH finished the deck so now I have another place I can do some fall decorating,YIPPEE! I will probly put a bench some pumpkins and mums and not sure what else. I will post a couple pics as soon as I get it decorated.
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That's it for today. Hope everyone is having a great week.
Until next time,

Recipe Pool

Hello again everyone. Want to share another recipe that I just tried this week and WOW what a hit with the guys. It was really very good and very easy.

One pot pork chop supper:

1T. butter

4 boneless pork chops, 1/2 inch thick

3 redskin potatoes, thick sliced or quartered

2 c. baby carrots( I cut these in half lengthwise)

1 onion quartered

1 can cream of mushroom soup or soup of choice

1/4 c. water

Melt butter in a large skillet. Add chops,3 minutes per side or until brown. Add vegetables. Mix soup and water in a small bowl and pour over chops. Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

I only had bone in chops on hand so I used these and it was still very good. I also used white potatoes. The recipe said to quarter the potatoes but thought it would cook faster if they were thickly sliced. I also cut the carrots in half for the same reason. Serve with bread of your choice and applesauce.

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My dh is going to try and get some more done on the deck but I just heard that it is suppose to rain all weekend. Also, my DSIL is going to get another grandchild today. Her DIL is having a c-section today. They already know it is a little boy. I know my DSIL is very excited right now and very anxious. I will post when I know more.

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Hope everyone has a great weekend, Until next time

Whatcha Workin on Wednesday

Hello everyone. Just a quick post on what I have been doing today besides catching up on laundry. Found this tutorial today http://rk-creations.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=40 and thought why not try it. I had everything on hand to make them.

Here they are drying.

and here they are in a display. I think they look so real. Just like dried

up fall leaves. If you get time go on over and check out her website.

She has alot of great patterns. Need to go for now. Going out to dinner with the family. It's my mom's birthday and we

always do dinner with the family when somebody is celebrating a birthday. Have a great rest of the day and I will be

talking to you soon. Until next time,

Back to School Recipe Pool

Another weekend is upon us. Where does the time go? Oh I know, taking care of the house and family and if time allows, you get to sneak some time for yourself. As all of us wives and mothers know, that time is few and far between.
I am not complaining though, I love taking care of my family. Nothing gives me more pleasure than having my guys come home and making a nice dinner for them to enjoy after a long days work. So after saying that, I thought I would join in the recipe pool this week and share one of the recipes that they love.
So go on over to Colleen's blog http://andbabymakesfive-colleen.blogspot.com/ and check out all the other yummo recipes when you get the time.
I am going to share an easy salisbury steak recipe. Sorry no pictures today :(
Quick and Easy Salisbury Steak
1 lb.hamburger
1 lb.turkey
1 pkg lipton onion soup mix
4 shakes worcestershire sauce
couple dashes garlic powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 cans cream of mushroom or golden mushroom soup
Combine turkey, hamburger and 1/2 pkg onion soup mix, garlic and worc. sauce. Shape into patties and fry. Combine remaining onion soup mix, mushroom soup and milk and add to patties. Simmer 20 minutes. Make gravy with pan drippings. Serves 6.
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I received my Country Sampler yesterday and just wanted to congratulate Janae over at http://coopriders.blogspot.com/2009/09/snowman-has-landed.html. Her home is one of the featured homes. Go on over and take a peak. Congrats Janae! Well deserved.
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Hope everyone has a great weekend! Until next time,

Our trip to Amish country

Hello everyone.Hope all is well. I just wanted to post a few pictures of our little trip from last week to Shipshewana, Indiana. The amish have such a simple life. There homes are absolutely gorgeous and so simple and clean.The first day we got there we went to the flea market.What a dissappointment. It was all commercialized and only a couple booths that had handmade things and no antiques. However,downtown Shipshe was very nice. It was the quaintest little town.The best part was the food. I did find what I was looking for which I was very excited about. It was very nice to get away. Below are a few pictures that I took to give you an idea of what it looked like.

There was a horse and buggy just sitting there with no one around so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to get a picture.The amish do not like having there pictures taken which is understandable.They are people just like us except they happen to dress differently and have a very different way of life.The second picture is some landscaping.It was beautiful.This was at one of the bed and breakfasts.
The next three pics are of one of the best shops there.It had the most different things and OMG how it was decorated was totally awesome.
This is along the side of the building. Those birdhouses were amazing.I wanted so badly to get pictures of the inside but she had a sign posted "No Pictures"

Isn't this just the cutest quaintest little place you have ever seen? It's a little cafe.We sat out on the porch and ate our lunch.My Dh didn't like the way it was decorated on the inside.He said it looked like a nursery,haha.It kind of did but it was decorated with cottage decor.I guess I don't ever have to worry about him wanting our house decorated that way.Not that there is anything wrong with cottage,it just happens to not be the way I decorate.Although I know it is very popular right now. If you walk back in there to the right and left are other little shops.The little red building to the left was a sweet shop with homemade candies and fudge.

This is a picture of one of the shops on main street.

This is a picture of the front of another one of my favorites there. The lady here was so nice. I ended up buying a shelf here for my entry.Stay tuned for pictures. There was also this antique/vintage shop there.I didn't take any pictures of this but when I walked in I couldn't believe all of the vintage aprons.They had a peg rack that was probably 7 feet long filled with them.As soon as I seen them I immediately thought of Carey over at
http://americangirlprimitivesnsuch.blogspot.com/

Carey you would have gone crazy in this place.Wish I would have taken some pictures.

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I have been a very busy little bee getting everything ready for fall. I am just about ready.Still have a little tweaking I need to do. I still have alot to do as far decorating but can't do everything so some of it will have to wait.
My youngest son moved out and now we have an empty bedroom that's just waiting for some attention.I have purchased some things but need to paint the room.Yes I said paint the room.I know we just moved in but a girl has a right to change her mind RIGHT? I also need to finish the main bathroom and put some decor in there.Right now it has empty walls. Which is kind of driving me crazy.That's it for today.I will be posting fall preview pictures very soon. Hope everyone is having a great Monday,Until next time,

Busy weekend,flea market results and gathering jar

Hello all my bloggin buds,just wanted to pop in and let you all know that I will be gone for the next three days.MY DH and I are heading to Indiana to get away.I am wanting to find a couple things for the house and hoping the flea market and antique shoppes there will have what I am looking for.

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In an earlier post I told you I was going to try and get rid of some of my things I had left over from the store.Well that turned out to be a great move.I sold alot of things and my DH is sooo happy.He can actually see part of the back wall in the shed and might be able to fit another vehicle in there now.
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Yesterday we also attended our sister in laws mothers 80th birthday party.She had it all decked out for a hawaiian luau.I forgot my camera,of course, but Steve's brother did get a picture of us being silly.Just wanted to share that.

I told my DH that we had to do this cuz it's going to be the only time in our lives we will be perfect "10"'s,LOL!

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I also wanted to share my prim gatherings jar that I made this week.I think it turned out pretty good and very easy to make.

Well I hope everyone had a great weekend and hope your week is even better.
I will check in when I get back and let you know how it went.I will have alot of catching up to do too.Until next time,

Textures of my home Part 2

Good Morning everyone! Well here it is September 1st.The days are just flying by. Yesterday I bought my first mums of the season and I will be planting those later today.I will post when I get them in the ground and decorated.Have a great Tuesday everyone.


Until next time,

Sherri