Sweet Nothings...

Wedding On The Bridge 2

2012-01-28T16:00:00.007-06:00

Because I have found two new (to me) linky parties that I want to play with,

I am doing a rerun on one of my favorite posts.

Favorite because it concerns one of my favorite nephews, STEVE, and his wedding....

ON A BRIDGE....

Parked in the shadows of trees, waiting for a wedding to start....♥♥

A ♥ nephew got married last week and we attended the FAR OUT wedding...
I'd never been to a wedding that took place on a BRIDGE....
pretty neat, tho.

It was held on an olden, HISTORIC bridge, among trees that were SUPPOSED to be turning

beautiful colors....

however, due to the HEAT and DROUGHT, the COLOR CHANGE wasn't there.

It was still a pretty place for a casual wedding.

♥

An olden NAIL and it's SHADOW.... ♥

My most favorite SHADOW SHOT I've ever taken....

A cool WEDDING IN THE SHADOWS....♥
Be happy, Steve...we love you !

Joining in with:

SUNDAY BRIDGES...thanks so much to all the hosts.

LOVE

2012-01-26T18:00:00.008-06:00

On Jan. 23,

NATIONAL PIE DAY

happened.

PIE is one of my favorites of all desserts...

just about ANY kind of pie suits me to a T.

I had been sick a few days before this momentous occasion and

SURE didn't feel like MAKING a pie...

but, I have had pie on NAT. PIE DAY

forever .....

SOOOO

out of the freezer came THESE....

CHERRY TURNOVERS..
the best little store-bought pies you've ever tasted....
puff pastry with fruit filling....
I always brush mine with butter and
sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on the tops.

...coupled with coffee ice cream...

O HONEY

The craft stores have so many cute VALENTINE
things to make....from really elaborate to
VERY simple crafts.

Next time, DEEDS comes over, she and I can
get our craft on. I even saved her a
CHERRY PIE.....Grandmothers do that, ya know.:)

....like these adorable little stick-on letters....

Being a non-crafter, I am not sure just what you use these cuties for but there's bound to be a lot of things these would work on.

Probably things like scrapbooking.....

I think they look pretty cute on a plain, white dish, too.....

♥

I sure do love
NATIONAL PIE DAY....
I sure do love .......PIE and YOU ! ♥

joining in the LOVE with FOODIE FRIDAY
PINK SATURDAY
SEASONAL SUNDAY
SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY
Click on the giveaway button at the top of my page and
try for a win of a teeny, tiny box of adorable CUPCAKE WRAPPERS.....♥

Just a little VALENTINE FUN.....(edited to add link)

2012-01-25T17:00:00.018-06:00

I love Valentine's Day....

It was one of my favorite fun days when I was a kid.

We made the cutest Valentine Boxes out of cigar boxes, crepe paper, paper doilies,

and construction paper hearts.

All the kids in our class put a cute card in each others decorated box and I saved them from year to year...

I wonder whatever happened to that last box full of little sweet treasures ????

CUTE AND COLORFUL......
"When you frost a cupcake, you spread the love"

"You can't look at a cupcake without smiling"

My mother used to make
BANANA NUT MUFFINS
and I'd give just about a million dollars to taste one of her's again. *teary

I've made them a kizillion times but never, EVER, have gotten that same sweet "MAMA TASTE."

And, she didn't even have cute paper cups to bake them in.

My sweet friend, KATHY, told us about buying these adorable cupcake papers at MICHAELS, in their
DOLLAR BIN.

I just had to buy some, too....

Now, I am saving my pennies for a beautiful, glass, lidded, jar such as hers to show off all the colorful patterns .....

Didn't she do an awesome job of taking this photo !!

"Friends are like cupcakes in my pantry of memories."

OK....
LET'S MAKE MUFFINS

I had, on hand, a small basket of
FRESH STRAWBERRIES (ummmm)
and only a handful of fresh BLUEBERRIES........I combined them both for a heavenly taste.
♥♥ ♥♥ ♥
BLUEBERRY STRAWBERRY MUFFINS

This recipe uses BUTTERMILK
and it sure makes them tasty.....
it is also a FIVE STAR RECIPE....

and you will have to agree that
MUFFINS and/or CUPCAKES
just taste even better in a colorful and cute cupcake/muffin cup.

A lot of these cuties are MARY ENGELBERT and don't 'cha love all her bright and cheery colors.?

I LOVE these cute paper cups....

I love them so much, I want YOU to have some, too.

SOOO, here's the fun deal.

Just leave a comment telling me what

YOUR FAVORITE MUFFIN/CUPCAKES ARE

and I will use a RANDOM GENERATOR to pick a WINNER

FOR A LITTLE BOXFUL OF THESE ADORABLE PAPER MUFFIN CUPS.
Very simple...
takes no time at all....and EVERYone knows what their favorite is....

.....just spreading a little

VALENTINE LUV

around Blogland where so many of my wonderful friends live.
♥ ♥ ♥
and don't we all just LOVE getting a little package in the mail !!

Let's see....I'll close this little tiny GIVEAWAY

on TUESDAY, 31st

so I can get them in the mail to you in time to use for

VALENTINE'S DAY.

♥

"I miss my cupcake
where has it gone?
i wish it were here
at the wave of my wand."

"For my favorite lil' cupcake", MR. SWEET.

XOXO bj ♥
I am joining:
OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY
TIME TRAVEL THURS.
FULL PLATE THURSDAY
THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS
TASTE THIS THURSDAY

LOVE is in the air.....

2012-01-24T23:07:00.001-06:00

BLOGGERS are, BY FAR, the most inspiring people in the whole world.
Every single day of blogging, it seems I am inspired.....to try a new recipe...
or a new craft....
or a new furniture arrangement...
gardening.......so many activities.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Is this not the ca ute tes thing you've ever seen...

ESPECIALLY seeing that it is...

COFFEE FILTERS...

Yes, mam......that's right....

Looks like beautiful lace, doesn't it.

Most of us know DEBBIEDOO.....

and we all know how talented this pretty girl is.

She just blows my mind all the time with her economical ways of bringing CUTE to her house.
You should swing by there and take a look at all the VALENTINE'S DAY crafts
she has come up with.......and would you kindly tell her bj said HEY ?.....thanks.

I wanted......REALLY wanted one of these cuties, too.

Especially when she said she could change it out for the seasons by changing her bows.

aaaahaaaa.....I love that idea.

I am NOT crafty......no sir ree.....but

I just HAD to try this one and one reason I feel comfortable showing

MY version is that ALL OF YOU are kind and sweet and always encourage me to

try more crafts.....

and I have never, EVER heard you laugh at me....

so......DON'T 'CHA DARE laugh !!

I can see things I should have done differently.....

but, on the whole,

I am liking my new Valentine addition to my SWEET NOTHINGS.

I DID buy this bow...

already made,

at MICHAEL'S....

I believe it was less than $4......

I only burned myself 18 times with my hot glue gun...

I ate a cookie every time I burned myself so I went to bed
hands hurting, but happy and pretty danged full.

I have to tell you that when I got out all those coffee filters and told Mr. Sweet what I was going to do with them.....

his eyes rolled so far back in his head that I was, AGAIN, worried he may never see straight again....

but.....after it was finished,

he said that it was "pretty cute"

so I was happy.

(now that I am thinking about it....

wonder if he was just wanting some of those homemade cookies....??? )

joining:

WHAT EVER YOU WANT WED.

I hope everyone has a

SWEETHEART DAY.....♥

GRITS

2012-01-23T19:00:00.038-06:00

I had to come back and tell you all about the
FRIED GREEN TOMATOES we had the other night.

THEN....I PROMISE, no more green tomato posts...
or at least until I find some more GREEN TOMATOES. :))

I used as little Canola oil as I could, got my skillet fairly hot, turned them often and fried until nice and golden.....

I was so hungry for one, I tried eating it too fast and it was H.O.T. and burned my mouth....

and, dayum, they were GOOD.

I am using a dish of RANCH DRESSING here because my sweet friend, SHELIA,

from NOTE SONGS says that is the way her tiny mouth likes FRIED GREEN TOMATOES.
I am not a huge fan of Ranch (Mr. Sweet would marry it if he could)
so if YOU know of something else used for a
FRIED GREEN TOMATO dip, would you kindly let me know?
Maybe something with a little LOUISIANA HOT SAUCE in it ?

My tomatoes are already beginning to turn red....must hurry and make the others tomorrow.

The GREEN tomatoes are firm and slightly hard so they fry up nice and crisp.

The redness makes them much softer and, altho, they still taste heavenly, they are a little mushy when they have reddened and softened.

See the redness of that one slice...the breading has fallen off....and it is STILL going to be delicious.

Thus frying them while nice and green makes for a taste treat you won't forget.

I asked the veggie stock boy if he ever had GREEN tomatoes. He said, "O, yes, ma'am.....a lot of times, if you will look on the bottom of a display of bright red tomatoes, you will find a few green and partial green, waiting their turn to move to the top.....to ripen."
Sure 'nuff.....there they were, just waiting for me and my frying pan.
2 really green ones and a few partially greens.
He told me to put them in the fridge to slow down ripening....
what a smart fella he is. My grocery store should feel very proud to have him in their employ.

O, these are sooo YUMMY, people.
It's the little things in life like Fried Green tomatoes that makes it all worth while. :))

I used ONION RING MIX to coat these luscious slices of tomatoes

and it was PERFECT. The best taste and so easy. Just a little of the mix and a little
water to make a nice paste and you are good to go.

I will use it again.....just as soon as I come across more GREEN tomatoes.

...you know.......if I ever get to go to THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE
and they still have FRIED GREEN TOMATOES on their menu,
I surely will order some.
HOWEVER, if they have BARBECUE on the menu,
I do believe
I WILL PASS....!! :>)

Biting into one of these delicious slices
sure makes one feel lucky to be from
THE SOUTH. :))

joining in with:
RUBY TUESDAY2
TABLETOP
TEMPT MY TUMMY
TASTY TUES.
YOUR COZY HOME
I've got the batter all ready for some more of these treats...
BUT.....I've watched that movie 3 times in 3 days....
and I'm tired of it. :)

Oh, yeah......and MR. SWEET
suggested I just ADD Louisiana Hot Sauce to my Ranch Dressing for dipping the
tomatoes in....

DUH !!
perfect....:)

DEBBIE DOOS CHALLANGE....

2012-01-22T16:16:00.002-06:00

YAY.....

TIME FOR DEBBIEDOO'S MONTHLY PARTY

This is such a fun meme....I hope to see YOUR copy cat at the party.

The MINUTE I spied the following photo in COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE,

I knew it was the one I wanted to copy.

It was SUCH a challenge and not one of my better copy-cats.......

but I had so much fun with it....

From COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE...

Isn't this a GREAT photo to copy ?

I didn't have the beautiful decanters Country Living has....

but after searching every square inch of SWEET NOTHINGS,

I came up with some decent replacements.....









Part of the fun of this meme is the challenge of making your COPY CAT as close to the INSPIRATION MAGAZINE PHOTO
without spending money.



MR. SWEET kindly punched the holes and ran the jute string thru.....
(Country Living had RED AND WHITE BAKERS TWINE )
I searched everywhere for some BICYCLE cards like the ones used in the
INSPIRATION photo but....no such luck.
Well, I like THESE cards because Mr. Sweet brought them home from Vegas a few years back.
Cards make for a cute banner, don't you think.?



While looking for some pretty, clear glass bottles or containers that I could pour the TEA in for my version of the CL photo,
I found this little vinegar cruet that belonged to my mama.....
lay a cork beside it and it just NEARLY
takes on the looks of a small
liquor decanter....
well....play-like....:))










Clear bottles with corks and jars,
silver vase holding straws....
playing cards strung on jute string...
shipping tags with 'drink me' printed on....
All this makes for a cute picture...

Country Living sure knows CUTE !!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥



All these bottles and cards are making me feel just like a SALOON GIRL.....
"Tra La La, BOOM d'a"
(anyone left in the world that remembers THAT?)
AND, speaking of CARDS....
The Bunco group I belong to played their first game on the 11th and we had a blast.
HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
the BEST Chocolate Cake....
and the company of the ladies.....
MAGNIFICENT.
Thanks, ladies, for including me and for all the fun. !!

♥ ♥ ♥

This was sooo fun, DEBBIE DOO....
AND.....
January 23, 2012 is
NATIONAL PIE DAY.....
How SWEET is that !!









OK, ladies and gents....make someone you sooo love a beautiful pie!
and, REMEMBER, the bakeries make DELICIOUS pies, too...!! ;>)
I'm also joining with:
MOSAIC MONDAY
SHOW OFF YOUR COTTAGE
AMAZE ME
MASTERPIECE
MOTIVATED

GUESS WHAT'S FOR DINNER.......

2012-01-21T00:01:00.003-06:00

Hope you have a wonderful weekend..

I love you all.

Joining in the fun with

SEASONAL SUNDAY
SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY 2

I KNOW THE 50'S WERE FABULOUS...

2012-01-19T20:00:00.001-06:00

I KNOW.....'CAUSE

I WAS THERE !!
♥

I graduated from high school in MAY OF 1956

I want to share with you some of my most PRECIOUS MEMORIES
of that era.
Also, I want my grands to know that....
I really was young once.....;>)

The famous actress and model, Marilyn Monroe, was very popular in the fifties. She was such a amazing woman, actress, and model. She was envied by many girls and women. She starred in numerous famous movies such as, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), The Seven Year Itch (1955), and Some Like It Hot (1959).
At the age of thirty-six, Marilyn Monroe died of an overdose of sleeping pills in 1962.
** note: I tried to bleach my hair blonde, just like hers, but my almost black hair turned the brightest shade of ORANGE...:(
I also practiced hour upon hour, in front of a mirror, to get HER look on my face.

I always ended up just looking sick to my stomach...:)

I LOVE LUCY

was the top television show of 1956.

I know a lot of you STILL watch all her shows..

so do I.
It's strange but...the things that she did back then were so funny...
and, now, over 50 yrs. later...they are STILL funny.

DOES ANYONE STILL EAT 50's FOOD ?

It's the food most of us grew up on. Meatloaf. Pot roast. Chicken pot pie. Turkey with stuffing.
It was cooked by Mom or maybe Swanson or Morton's on those rare occasions when Dad had to pinch-hit. It was classic American food before classic American food became burger, fries, and a Coke.

Does anyone still eat '50's food?

You bet.

For millions of people, it'll be on tonight's dinner menu.

For others, it's COMFORT FOOD . . .

a once-in-a-while trip back to a safer, less complicated time.

A few of MY favorites from a child...(still are)

...hot biscuits, meat loaf, chicken and dumplins' (and I don't care what ANYone says, MY mama made THE best ones.)

STORE PRICES in the 50's

MILK...97 cents a gallon
BREAD...18 cents
CHUCK ROAST...33 cents per pound
CABBAGE....4 cents lb.
EGGS...45 cents dozen
COFFEE...69 cents lb.
(I can remember buying hamburger meat, 4 pounds for a $1.00, the year we married, 1960)
The AVERAGE income was $4,454.00 yearly.
GASOLINE was 23 cents a gallon

FORD car was $1,748.00 to $3,151.00, if you got it fully LOADED....

Mr. Sweet had one very much like this when we married in 1960.

BOWLING was a BIG thing during the 50's....the ONE bowling alley in the town I was raised in was a tad rough. ...meaning the guys that hung out there smoked *suck in breath*, and cussed *let breath out* and, if they could find it, they would drink a few beers.

We didn't get to go bowling too often...just because of these ratty guys.:(
I don't know to this day WHY....but my two best friends and I always thought THESE guys were ........well......COOL.
Something about being around one of the, hmmmmm, uh.....seedier side of life guys always made my heart beat a little faster..wonder why?? young age??
I remember having one for a boyfriend once (for about a week) and he was probably one of the nicest guys I ever went out with during my teen years. I guess being TUFF was all a put-on.

Another thing we loved so much during the 50's

was ROLLER SKATING.

My town, PLAINVIEW, TEXAS, had a tent covered wooden skating rink when

we first moved there.

Sometime later, a brick building housed the most fun place in town...

I so wish I had a photo of my girlfriends and I skating our little fannies off......but not one single photo was taken of us, all the years we had such fun there....or at least, I have never been able to locate one.

I think we were all too interested in BOYS

to even think of taking pictures. :>)

We sure had a lot of fun.

.
AND, since my mom sewed ALL my clothes,

I must have had 15 of these POODLE SKIRTS...

in all colors....and, boy, did I twist my little, skinny butt in them !! :O)

♥

Our crinoline petticoats were STARCHED so heavy, they STOOD in the corner of the room.

PINK and BLACK
were THE colors in the late 50's........

A story I laugh at TODAY but was MORTIFIED back THEN....
My boyfriend (at the time) had a BLACK Ford.
Pretty good lookin' car but one evening he came to pick me up
and he had
SPRAY PAINTED his DASH in a flat PINK.
It looked HORRIBLE and I didn't want to be seen anywhere
even NEAR that ugly thing.
I just gritted my teeth, grinned and suggested we go to a movie so that car would be parked somewhere WITHOUT ME IN IT.
I must have been pretty shallow when I was 17........:(
This sweet boy did it because I loved PINK AND BLACK...
Bless his heart, he was killed in a car accident several years later.

♫♥♫♫♥♪♪♫

My senior prom was fun but not as much fun as it would have been had my boyfriend AT THE TIME
been able to go with me. He didn't go to our high school so he couldn't come.
Several girlfriends and I went to the party together and then met our boyfriends afterwards.

THIS isn't my prom dress...this is one from the net.
My mother made one just almost like this one only it was white...
It was sooo dreamy....I don't have a photo of that, either.
Wonder why photos weren't taken much back then? Or, maybe it was just MY family....???

The SOX HOPS in the high school gym were SO MUCH FUN..
Do they still have SOX HOPS ?
♫ ♪♪ ♫♪
TOP 10 SONGS of 1956

1.	Singing The Blues	Guy Mitchell
2.	Don't Be Cruel	Elvis Presley
3.	The Wayward Wind	Gogi Grant
4.	Heartbreak Hotel	Elvis Presley
5.	Hound Dog	Elvis Presley
6.	Rock and Roll Waltz	Kay Starr
7.	Memories Are Made Of This	Dean Martin
8.	The Poor People Of Paris	Les Baxter
9.	Love Me Tender	Elvis Presley
10.	My Prayer	The Platters

1956
The 50's was such a great time for being a teenager.

I can honestly say that "GAY" meant we were happy.
"DRUGS" meant medicines from the doctor.
"BUZZ" was what bees did....
"Swell" was a favorite word.....
"dragging Broadway" was what we did on a Saturday night...to see who all
was in town and who they were with.

How 'bout YOUR high school years...
Fun ?
Tell us about it.

Joining:
TICKLED PINK
FAVORITE THINGS FRIDAY

I FOUND MY THRILL...................

2012-01-18T19:00:00.004-06:00

♦♪♪......on BLUEBERRY HILL ♫♪♪

I just love trying new mixes and then sharing my findings with YOU....

I am well aware that a lot of us don't have time to make all the goodies from SCRATCH

and I am on a mission to find the BEST of the BEST in cookie mixes, cake mixes

and today.....BLUEBERRY MUFFIN MIX

SIMPLE MORNINGS

from DUNCAN HINES

It has real WILD MAINE BLUEBERRIES

in the box....

I love this photo of rinsing the berries......:>)

Let's see....all you need is water, oil and an egg.....
I always add a teaspoon of pure Vanilla flavoring to most everything I cook.

KATHY at KATHY'S COTTAGE

had some really CUTE muffin papers ♥

and I meant to buy some.....

Forgot all about it so had to use just the plain white and silver ones.

ham slices.....goes GREAT with Blueberry muffins...
well, actually..................
HAM goes with everything, I think.....

I had to put these back into the oven for a few minutes to get them browner...
ahhhh, now......just right.

Blueberry muffins......
a candle......
and blue flowers....

WHAT a way to start the day...:)

I even had a little tiny BLUEBERRY candle to go on our breakfast tray.....
pretty cool, hu ?

That's the little
VINTAGE sliver spreader that KATHY stamped and sent me.
I use it all the time....♥

Both Mr. Sweet and I decided we would have these tasty muffins again and again.
I'll buy more boxes of them and keep them in the freezer.
Then when we get a "wild hair for some wild blueberry" muffins, I can have them on the
breakfast table in no time at all....

and next time, I hope to have some of the cute cupcake papers like these of
KATHY'S.
Aren't they adorable...?....and doesn't she have them displayed in the cutest way !!

Kathy has a new camera and she has some really good photos already and more to follow as she learns the tricks of the trade.
(her photos of her LEMON COOKIES makes ya reach out to get one).........
When you stop by and tell her hello would you kindly tell her HEY from bj ? Thanks....

Playing with:
FULL PLATE THURSDAY
THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS
TIME TRAVEL
OPEN HOUSE
VINTAGE THINGY THURSDAY

My Nativity Family is growing.......

2012-01-17T22:17:00.002-06:00

Ladies and Gents.....

I still have a FEW Christmas related subjects to talk about...

hope that's alright with you. :))

My daughter, STACY LEIGH, gave this lovely

WILLOW TREE Nativity set to me Christmas, '10

and I had been wanting it like FOREVER...

LOVE IT !!

THIS Christmas, 2011, MR. SWEET
added the 3 wise men to the set.

Aren't they lovely..?!!

I had no idea he knew I had been wanting them.....I do believe he listens to me a lot more than I give him credit for.

The next thing I would like to have is a large camel .........

NEXT Christmas, I need to find a larger table to display them....

Thanks to my family for these lovely gifts that will be

heirlooms for the future generation.♥
***
Would you believe I went to the thrift store today and found

this amazing CAMEL.....
I couldn't believe my eyes. Who would have thought a lone camel, just what I was wishing for,
would turn up in my favorite thrift store ???

This brown one is the WILLOW TREE camel...
$34.95

I have no idea just how to do it but I sure have the feeling that I can make my little $3.00
thrift camel into a BROWN BEAUTY very much like the WT one......when it comes time to "work him over", I KNOW some of you ladies can tell me what to do....:)

So what if mine doesn't have a CAMEL SADDLE...
it has some cute little ROLLS of something on the back and he is just as cute as he can be....

He's gonna look mighty fine next Christmas, nestled in with MARY AND JOESPH, BABY JESUS and the WISE MEN and all the animals.
I'M EXCITED !!

I'm joining in on the fun at:
WHITE WEDNESDAY
GOOD LIFE WED.
WOW ME WED.
WHAT EVER YOU WANT WEDNESDAY

Did You Think It Was Made From Oranges...?

2012-01-17T00:01:00.001-06:00

...meee, too....AT FIRST GLANCE.
I thought, "Whaaat....tomato soup with ORANGE.?"
DUH........!!!!!

I remembered there was such a thing as ORANGE TOMATOES.
I mean, that is the NAME of them.

There's lots more types of tomatoes than I ever knew about...I have always loved tomato soup...and tomatoes in general, IF they are homegrown.

Source

Just take a look at these pretty ones...

and I'm sure there's a bunch more.

AUNT RUBY'S GERMAN GREEN TOMATOES
Heirloom beefsteak variety from Ruby Arnold of Greeneville, Tennessee who passed away in 1997. Slightly flattened, 1 pound fruit that ripens to a pale greenish-yellow ("lime jello green") with a slight pink blush that extends to the inside. Superb, fruity sweet and slightly spicy taste.

♥
I would like to try these sometime......

The soup can said to add ONE CUP WATER...

so I did.

I generally like adding MILK....creamier, I think..

but, I was being nice and did just what the can told me to do...
cause I'm just that kinda girl...

"Wait until you taste the rich, many-layered, distinctive flavor of this heirloom....

BIG RAINBOW

The color changes from green, yellow, and red (like an upside-down traffic light) to a rich blend of gold and red."

* * * * *
I really would like to try these....

Sooo many more varieties of tomatoes than I ever knew about.

I lead such a sheltered life .....;>)

THAT soup can didn't tell me to add a sprinkling of GARLIC SALT..

or chopped GREEN ONION TOPS....

or SEASONED BREAD CROUTONS....

but.............I DID and, boy, was it good.

source
FRIED GREEN TOMATOES are still my very favorite way to eat a tomato..

Ingredients

1 (6-oz.) pkg. fishfry coating
5 medium green tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
(if we don't grow tomatoes, where do we get the GREEN ones??)
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup oil
1 tablespoon sea salt
2 eggs

Directions

Place cornbread mix in shallow pan. Add tomato slices; turn to coat with mixture.
In large skillet, heat oil and butter to 350°F. Fry tomato slices, a few at a time, until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.
Salt to taste and serve with crumbled bacon, a parsley pesto or your favorite flavored aoili. (what the heck is aoili ?)

But, THIS is my favorite way to ENJOY TOMATOES...

One of my all-time favorite movies and I watch it often.

Deeds, my youngest little grandgirl, loves it, too, and we watch it often when I am blessed to have her "'pend the night."

If you will kindly excuse me now...
I have a steaming bowl of this wonderful
new-to-me TOMATO SOUP waiting...

and another viewing of one of my favorite movies...:)) ♥

"I'm coming IZZY...wait for me....."

THE WINNER OF THE ADORABLE TANGERINE CRAFT BAG FROM
HOME A LA MODE
is PATTI of PANDORA'S BOX
CONGRATULATIONS, Patti...
I know you will put this cute bag to good use.

Thanks so much for all the comments.
Maybe next time, YOU will be a lucky WINNER.
I love you all.....

I am joining in the fun with

RUBY TUESDAY

TASTY TUESDAY

TEMPT MY TUMMY
YOUR COZY HOME TUESDAY

This and that....again !

2012-01-16T03:26:00.001-06:00

I LUV thick SUGAR COOKIES....

On Sunday, I made some to take to our home fellowship gathering.

I always make a powdered sugar/cream icing...

I added Almond flavoring to this icing...and added some ORANGE flavored coffee to ice part of them, leaving some with just plain icing.

I made enough to keep some at home 'cause I LUV cookies for breakfast....

especially to go with my DUNKIN DONUTS coffee.
(Oh, and just so you know....I use a SUGAR COOKIE MIX
that just needs an egg and a stick of butter......and they are delicious....
MUCH better than any I could make from scratch.)
SOMEtimes, SCRATCH isn't what it's cracked up to be....
just sayin'........

Since the hosts were serving homemade SOUP,
Mr. Sweet and I grilled 3 Cheese Sandwiches
on the most delicious bread.
It's the EVERYTHING FRENCH bread at Walmart. We love it to pieces......

We just put butter on one side, a little Helmans Mayo...
three cheeses...
♥EXTRA SHARP CHEDDAR
♥MUNSTER
♥PROVOLONE

Really good....especially when served warm with a good bowl of SOUP.

This bread has the best flavor....and, have you noticed...?.....EVERYthing looks great in a basket !!??!!

I cut each large sandwich in half and filled up the basket...

Everyone brings a dish or two each week and they usually bring their very best recipe. :)

Sooo, we covered out basket of sandwiches and put our cookies in plastic containers....

and away we went thru the woods to

GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE...

OH NO.....

I got caught up in the moment.

....we went to the fellowship and had a very blessed Sunday evening.

I hope everyone had a good weekend...and are ready for another busy week.

My giveaway

ends tonight...

MOSAIC MONDAY
MOTIVATED MONDAY

GIVEAWAY REMINDER

2012-01-14T20:26:00.002-06:00

HEAR YE.......HEAR YE....
Just a reminder that the giveaway here will end MONDAY evening
with winner to be announced on TUESDAY, January 17th.

Home a la mode.....

I am so pleased to host this amazing offer to you, my friends.

These CRAFT bags are awesome and TANGERINE is such a HOT color.

"Enjoy the modern oval shape and unique features of this craft bag - including fabulously extra-long needle pocket and cell phone pocket on the outside of the bag. It's easy to stash tools, yarn, and belongings in great inner pockets; two large zippered pockets on the inside. A wide shoulder strap makes toting and carrying more comfortable."

Size: 14" tall body x 20 3/4" wide x 4" deep; 10" tall strap.
HOME A LA MODE
offers a beautiful array of bags, dishes, tablecloths, aprons, cutest mouse pads you've ever seen.......just to name a few.
Please go over to their pretty site and get acquainted with all they have to offer.

CLICK HERE TO LEAVE COMMENTS ON THE CORRECT POST......

The giveaway ends, Monday, JANUARY 16TH
with winner to be announced JANUARY 17TH.
GOOD LUCK to all....
and thanks so much for being such loyal followers....

A beautiful PINK win....

2012-01-13T11:37:00.001-06:00

HELLO, DOLLS....

I won the most beautiful

necklace.....THE QUEEN'S ROSE

from sweet KAREN at VINTAGED CHIC

and I just could hardly wait to share the photos of this beautiful piece

with YOU.

KAREN was host to the giveaway from SHABBY APPLE........
"thanks so much, Karen."
When you go over to see Karen, please tell her bj said HEY.
Karen has a beautiful blog...you will enjoy it...
AND............
If YOU get a chance, you should check out SHABBY APPLE.
They have some amazing products that you will totally love, I'm pretty sure. :)
I seldom buy jewelry for myself...I don't know WHY 'cause I love wearing it. The next time I get the urge for a new piece, I'll be checking out SHABBY APPLE.
I've already seen several things there that are going on my WANT LIST.

This beautiful necklace is a light salmon/pink color

that will go with just about any thing....smashing on a black top or dress....beautiful on white.

It's a Cameo type setting.....set in silver tones....

OOO, ya wanna see it on a NECK....??

Well, MY neck is waaaay too wrinkled to put on a post for the whole world to see.....

so I once again called on

LADY LUSCIOUS to model this pretty piece....

"Lookin' good, Lady Luscious....

tell me......what is your secret for NEVER AGING ???????"

"What's that you say.....?.......you think the necklace is a little long for you?"

♥ ♥ ♥

It's adjustable .....

it hangs on an 18 inch silver chain......and it looks good while it's doing it. !!

And, I don't care WHERE it's hanging...on a wrinkled neck or a luscious neck,

it is indeed, a beauty.

Thank you so much, KAREN.....I just love it. ♥♥♥

Now this is a WINE CAKE I made and when I poured that

BLACKBERRY WINE into my batter, it turned the most

delicious shade of PINK....

If you will come by today, I'll give you a slice of

PINK WINE CAKE

and......

I'll even let you wear my beautiful THE QUEEN'S ROSE necklace

while you are eating CAKE.

SOOO, that means

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT, TOO.

I am joining

PINK SATURDAY

SEASONAL SUNDAY

DON'T FORGET TO GO HERE TO LEAVE COMMENTS ON MY GIVEAWAY OF A BEAUTIFUL SLING BAG.......The WINNER of this bag will be notified on Jan. 17th......the drawing ends on the 16th.

good luck !

Happy Birthday ....♥

2012-01-11T18:00:00.020-06:00

Click HERE to leave comments on MY GIVEAWAY...

It's for a really cute sling BAG.

*********************************************************************
ANOTHER G'GIRL BIRTHDAY !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COURTNEY.....

HELEN COURTNEY, named after her
great-grandmother, my mom, Helen.

Courtney turns 20 yrs old today...... 1/11/12

As you can see, she is a beauty...what you CAN'T see
is her beautiful heart and soul.

"We love you dearly, Court....
and hope this birthday is one of your very best."

Love forever, Memaw and Granddad

The following is a rerun from last March...

♥ I do get excited over the smallest things.
....things that make my heart sing...
like BLACK AND WHITE things.:)

and Peppermint Bark

Peppermint Bark...ummm
and Peppermint Candles....

♥

I'll swear, I look JUST LIKE THIS in the mornings when I get up.
Well, except MY hair isn't BLACK anymore...:)♥

POLKA DOT LOVE

♥

I am in POLKA DOT HEAVEN.

THRIFTING has been good to me....

;)

I found this LOVEABLE cup, in my beloved Black and White..
A GRANDMOTHER CUP.
♥
How could ANY grandmother give this away to the SALVATION ARMY ?

I mean...
look what's written inside the cup, along the rim, with a little ♥ hanging on.
All the sweet writing on this lone cup .......

*huge gulp

so sweet, i can't stand it.

♥

Uh Hu, I do love PEPPERMINT BARK

....and black and white...

"A house needs a grandma in it." ~Louisa May Alcott ♥ ♥ ♥

♥

BLACK AND WHITE....SUGAR.. HONEY.. PEPPERMINT....

GRANDMOTHER...

all the same thing !

It all equals LUV ♥

For the month of JANUARY...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DEEDS AND TO COURTNEY.....♥♥

joining in the fun at
VINTAGE THINGY
OPEN HOUSE
TIME TRAVEL
THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS

BITS AND PIECES , THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS..............P.S. I LOVE YOU

2012-01-10T20:00:00.049-06:00

HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO OUR SWEET
DEIDRA.....
Today, 1/10/12, is her 10th birthday.

We love you so much, Deeds, and you are such a blessing to all of us.

I had fun having lunch with you and letting you pick out your 3 J. Beber shirts....:))

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!

This post was in draft form since Thanksgiving...I forgot it so decided to do it today. My drafts get buried sometimes as a lot of times, I have drafts of posts for 2 weeks or more. Anyone else do that?

PLEZZZZZZZZ forgive me for throwing a THANKSGIVING post in here,

right smack dab in the middle of the CHRISTMAS season (I KNOW...NOW Christmas is long gone, too.) SHEEZE...!!

BUT.....I have to apply my "GRANDMOTHER'S BRAGGING RIGHTS" here.....

I KNOW all you other GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDDADS out there understand completely....♥♥

BITS.....

THIS beautiful, model quality sweet girl, is ANDREA KEITH, named after

her sweet daddy, DAVID KEITH.....

and she is ONE of my 14 year old GRANDDAUGHTERS....
(we have 3 14 yr. old g'girls...7 in all, along with 3 g'guys)

LOOK OUT, HOLLYWOOD.....HERE SHE COMES !!

and, HERE she is, in that adorable gray suit, starring in a school UFL

ONE ACT PLAY.

May I just say here....

A STAR IS BORN.

"You did an amazing job, Andrea...and you were so stinkin' cute in the play.

I loved every single minute of it.

and I love every single bit of YOU."

PIECES:
A pink THANKSGIVING cake....enjoyed by all....along with 6 different pies...
(thanks, Brooks...he brought 4...g'son makes pies at Cracker Barrel while going to college)*PROUD HERE

fruit salad with whipped cream...

sour cream banana nut bread...

cookies...

well, let me start at the beginning....

Turkey and dressing...

giblet gravy...

marshmallowed sweet potatoes

buttered and cheesed boiled potatoes

deviled eggs

7 layer salad (to die for, Stacy...)

baked chicken legs (Stonegable recipe)
mack and cheese (all our kids love it)

cranberry sauce

hot rolls

iced tea

AND
ROLAIDS....♥♥♥

SPEAKING of HOLLYWOOD...

...a movie made in 2007, but I've just seen it........ and, let me tell ya,

if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

I laughed in some places but mostly, I cried my eyes out.

Such a sweet movie....and KATHY BATES is in it, too, and she is

a very favorite of mine. (remember her in FRIED GREEN TOMATOES...AWESOME.)

Some evening, rent P.S. I LOVE YOU.....
watch it with your hubby and be XTRA nice to him ♥winkwink
and give him an XTRA big hug.

Joining in on the fun at
WATERY WEDNESDAY
OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY
REDNESDAY
GOOD LIFE WEDNESDAY

O, and last night, I watched a 2000 movie....

....with MINNIE DRIVER

A really sweet love story.....

and it didn't hurt a thing that my ALL TIME, FAVORITE ITALIAN

sang the title song.......

♫♫♪ RETURN TO ME.....♪♪♫

by Dean Martin

*oh my gosh...he was SOOO swoon worthy....

I was totally and forever in love with Mr. Martin.

If you haven't seen the movie,

and LOVE love stories, this one is such a winner.

xoxoxo bj

click HERE to leave comments to win this awesome
CRAFT BAG.....

A New Year, A New Pan......

2012-01-10T00:01:00.006-06:00

It's hard to believe the first month of our new year is already speeding by...FAST !!

GOOD GRIEF....

Mr. Sweet got this new skillet for Christmas...
I told him it was from MRS. CLAUSE but.....*shhhhhhh, it was from meeeee.

This is the coolest HEAVY cast iron, divided skillet...

aka CORNBREAD PAN

I made cornbread in it the other night and it was AWESOME...

AWESOME because it was crispy ALL the way around each piece.

We luv CRISPY.

THIS morning, however, I melted BUTTER in each little section...

added BROWN SUGAR and CINNAMON...

little droplets of CREME CHEESE...

and baked until nice and brown.

NOW, the ultimate would have been if I'd had PECANS

but, alas, I AM OUT !!
O.U.T.

I know this comes as a shock to KATHLEEN at CUISINE KATHLEEN

because she calls me the PECAN QUEEN... She gave me this name because of

the following photos....

We have ONE BIG pecan tree in our front yard....
it shades just about then entire front of our house and produces the most delicious pecans.

....and THIS little beauty is my g'girl, BAILEY.
She said, "Memaw, I'll climb up high and shake those pecans down...."
I said ok....but BE CAREFUL !!
She went WAAAY high and she did indeed shake a lot of nuts down for me.
That last photo LOOKS scary......but she wasn't high up here...
I just happened to catch her on camera before she reached the ground.
I PROMISE
no granddaughters were hurt during the making of this post.

Record crop of pecans about 2 yrs ago and my freezer was almost full.
BUT....
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END....
and the last year wasn't good and THIS next crop probably won't be good because
of our extreme heat and deep drought out here in West Texas.

Whew...all that was a LOOONG story just to get to
"I didn't have pecans
for my sticky buns this morning."

I got this amazing idea for
5 Minute Sticky Buns
from RINDY and you can click HERE for her quick and delicious recipe.
She is the cutest lady and she is sooo pregnant.
She has adorable posts...when you go over, would you
kindly tell her bj is eating a sticky bun and says HEY ?

The creme cheese added a great kicker taste to the little pie-shaped buns.....'course, I love creme cheese on SHOE LEATHER. ♥♥

If you see one of these little awesome skillets.....I got ~~mine~~ Mr. Sweet's at Cracker Barrel....

and have an extra twenty bucks,

I think you oughta buy it....

Everything I've tried in it turned out great.....

Here's the cornbread I made in it the other night.....Mr. Sweet was VERY impressed because, as mentioned.....he (and I) LOVES that all sides, as well as the bottoms, were crispy.......

We make old fashioned SOUTHERN cornbread around here...NO SUGAH.....!!

...and, the drop biscuits turned out great, too.
No rolling and cutting them out...just drop into each little compartment and.......
THERE YA ARE !

I LOVE anything that makes my life easier, don't you .........even CUTE LITTLE pans !! ♥♥♥

Joining the fun with

TABLETOP TUESDAY
RUBY TUESDAY2
(very little RUBIES to share but a few.....)
TEMPT MY TUMMY TUESDAY
TASTY TUESDAY

Click here

TO LEAVE COMMENTS

for my GIVEAWAY

an AWESOME crafting bag.

A really sweet GIVEAWAY

2012-01-09T00:01:00.008-06:00

It's time for another great giveaway here at SWEET NOTHINGS.

Home a la mode.....

I am so pleased to host this amazing offer to you, my friends.

These CRAFT bags are awesome and TANGERINE is such a HOT color.

Size: 14" tall body x 20 3/4" wide x 4" deep; 10" tall strap.

HOME A LA MODE
offers a beautiful array of bags, dishes, tablecloths, aprons, cutest mouse pads you've ever seen.......just to name a few.
Please go over to their pretty site and get acquainted with all they have to offer.

Here's the rules and such.......
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY

CHANCE #1
Visit HOME A LA MODE and leave a comment ON THIS POST
about what items you especially like there.
CHANCE #2
Visit them on FACEBOOK and LIKE them and leave a comment on THIS POST.
This shows our appreciation for the nice bag they are giving away.
"Thanks, JILL".
CHANCE #3
Link up to FOLLOW Sweet Nothings and leave a comment ON THIS POST.
That gives you three chances to win this beautiful and HOT bag.
CHANCE #4
If you put my GIVEAWAY BUTTON on your sidebar and leave a comment ON THIS POST,
you get CHANCE # 4.

The giveaway starts today, JANUARY 9TH
and will end JANUARY 16TH
with winner to be announced JANUARY 17TH.
GOOD LUCK to all....
and thanks so much for being such loyal followers.

Joining the fun at:MOSAIC MONDAY
MOTIVATED MONDAY
AMAZE ME MONDAY
MASTERPIECE MONDAY

From the WINE COUNTRY

2012-01-07T00:11:00.002-06:00

I recently was BLESSED with winning a

WINE COUNTRY GOURMET GIVEAWAY

from our sweet KATE at CENTSATIONAL GIRL

and this morning, when I answered the front doorbell, I found THIS in my porch swing.....
My heart started beating a little faster 'cause I saw the return address was ..... WINE COUNTRY.

O MY GOODNESS.....

THIS box was full to the brim with some of the best things....♥

STRAWBERRY PEACH CONSERVE...

Wow...doesn't THAT sound delicious...

and

APRICOT FIG CHUTNEY

Yep.....I am ready to make some

hot biscuits, get out the butter

and OPEN THESE JARS. !!

NEXT....

the girl & the fig

Balsamic Vinegar....

and

Honey & Lemon Vinaigrette

......ummmmmmmm

MR. SWEET, being the outdoor cook around here, quickly claimed the

Zinfandel Barbeque sauce and the

grill marinade

AS HIS OWN .

Can't you just almost taste a nice thick New York Strip steak, using these two luscious-sounding bottles of goodness !

meee, too

AND....when I got to the bottom of the box and found this BEAUTIFUL wooden cutting board,

I just about did a cartwheel, if I only knew how !!

This is just BEAUTIFUL...

I am so proud of it, I could just spit.

THANK YOU so much, Kate.
♥
I looked in the fridge for block cheese to put on the board for photos...
but we ate every bit of the cheese at THE PARTY....no pretty desserts, either.....

BUT we do have a little wine left in this beautiful blue bottle...

....makes a pretty picture !

Look how thick this cutting board is...it will LOOOOONG
outlast this ole gal.
♥
This beautiful board, of NORFOLK PINE, was handmade by KATE...
Go HERE to read all about how she makes these beautiful boards...
She is a very talented young lady and you will love reading her blog.

Thanks again, KATE....
I. LOVE. MY. WINE COUNTRY GOURMET PACKAGE !!!
xoxoxoxo

COOKIES continued....

2012-01-05T18:00:00.002-06:00

If there is even ONE FIBER of your being that loves Pralines ...

.....Praline Candy

....Praline Ice Cream

Praline ANYthing,

then THIS cookie recipe is for YOu.

PECAN PRALINE COOKIES

MERCY ME.....I keep thinking "Well, now I have tasted the BEST....."

and then ANOTHER comes along and it's even BETTER than the BEST.......♥

This delicious cookie recipe comes from PLAIN CHICKEN and you can
click HERE for her great photos and her recipe.

I followed it to the tee...well, except that we also like them WITHOUT the powdered sugar so I left some plain....they are really REALLY good......especially warm, right out of the oven, along with your cup of favorite tea/coffee/milk/by themselves....ummmm anyway you look at it...
THEY. ARE. GOOD.
♥
About 5 minutes before they are to come out of that hot oven, pour yourself and your loved one/s their favorite drinks...
THEN, you will be ready for THESE....
Umm Ummm GOOD.

FOODIE FRIDAY
TICKLED PINK
HOME SWEET HOME
SWEET TOOTH FRIDAY
FAVORITE THINGS FRIDAY
FARMHOUSE FRIDAY

A Happy Birthday

2012-01-04T19:00:00.001-06:00

We had a fabulous party with our family and friends on New Year's Eve....and I, as a blogger, am sorry to say that I didn't get pictures.

Oh , a few photos here and there of some of the food, BEFORE the party. Once people started arriving, I just FORGOT the camera.
SOOO unusual for me.......am I getting old and losing it ?
NAWH...........NEVER !

We had 22 people share my birthday and to see the NEW YEAR arrive....and kiss the old year GOODBYE......

Homemade chili for FRITO PIE, or bowls of chili with cheese and all the trimmings....

Rounds of delicious cheeses with crackers.....fruit bowls....

pig in the blankets....

several types of dips and all kinds of chips....

and THESE were delicious. I think it was creme cheese with peppers, wrapped

in crescent rolls....daughter made them and they sure were good.

So many foods and ALL delicious.

I made a Lemon Pie...straight from a recipe from SOUTHERN LIVING...
Lemon pie is one of my very favorites and this recipe has always been so good.
I actually had to re-cook it before it finally set up....but the taste was over the moon. ♥

My 5 Buford Holly bushes lived thru the terrible long, extreme heat of the summer and the la ck of rain, due to the DROUGHT.
They usually produce a lot of beautiful red berries but NOT THIS YEAR.

Then, on the morning of my birthday, New Year's Eve, I went out to cut a few stems and there was
ONE RED BERRY. The only one on any of the 5 bushes.
I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt,
that it was ONE of my gifts from ABOVE...
♥ ♥ ♥
A beautiful lone red berry for my birthday......

The recipe for my pie is written in this OLDEN and very USED cookbook...
3 eggs, separated (yolks for pie....whites for meringue )
1 can EAGLE BRAND CONDENSED MILK
1/2 cup LEMON JUICE
1 teaspoon grated LEMON RIND

***
1/4 teaspoon CREME OF TARTER
1/3 cup SUGAR
1 Graham Cracker Crust.
MIX first 4 ingredients well, pour into graham cracker crust.
Beat the egg WHITES with the sugar and creme of tarter.
Spread on top of pie, bake for 15 minutes in a 350 oven.
Let cool and refrigerate for a couple hours before serving.

************************* ***
The book came from a nursing home my Aunt Frankie was in for several years
before passing on. Several of her recipes are in the book.....
I have written favorite recipes in there so I can keep up with them.
ANGEL BISCUITS, with yeast, are out of this world....
I had forgotten about them until I got the book out for the Lemon pie recipe...
Now.......they are on my menu in the near future.

Another adorable black and white cup...
If I could read music and play the piano,
I am pretty sure THESE NOTES on the cup would translate into
♫♪♪ Happy Birthday to you.....happy birthday to you....happy birthday, dear bj....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....♪♪♫
hahaaaahhhaaaa...AIN'T LIFE GRAND !

Stacy, my daughter, did get one photo, just

after I blew out the candles on my
WHITE CAKE with FUDGE ICING...the candles.....one 4 and one 7...I had them on the cake, in that order and double-dog dared anyone to switch them around....:)
This is my favorite cake in the whole, wide world. My mom made it for me every birthday....and I wish she was here, RIGHT NOW.
That little red cheeked munchkin beside me, getting all ready for that cake,
is CATE, the great-g'girl...her cheeks were red that night but not THAT RED....
she looks red faced and I look tired.....*sigh

...ooo, and THESE....
ANGEL COOKIES, I call 'em..

Ritz Cracker Cookies Sandwiches

A Ritz cracker, a layer of PEANUT BUTTER.....
a layer of NUTELLA
another Ritz cracker...

Then dipped in melted white chocolate.......
O HONEY
♥
Now, let's see....any more food hanging around ?

yep....there were PEANUT CLUSTERS...a favorite of my family....

...fresh fruits....salads and crackers....homemade PEACH COBBLER with whipped creme...
Oh, my....so much good food...
I am getting full, just THINKING about it all.

My heartfelt thanks to all my family and friends that made MY DAY extra special.
I have no doubts whatsoever that this wonderful God-given new year is going
to be full of blessings and love.

joining in with:
OPEN HOUSE
TIME TRAVEL
FULL PLATE
THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS

CHRISTMAS MORNING BRUNCH ....

2012-01-03T18:00:00.006-06:00

Hello, all...

as I've mentioned....

we had such a beautiful snow on Christmas Eve,

continuing right on into CHRISTMAS DAY....
as I've not shared these photos, I am still in
CHRISTMAS MODE
for awhile longer.

We didn't have a big snow....not deep at all.

The flakes kept falling but they were tiny....and the ground was still warm so melting was fast.

As is our tradition at SWEET NOTHINGS.

Mr. Sweet and I get up early on Christmas morning and drive to

our son and daughter's houses to.......

check Santa things out.

We started this when all the grands were little and anxious to show us what ole

SAINT NICK had brought them.

We plan to keep it up, adding GREAT-GRAND visits as need be.

AIN'T LIFE GRAND !!

Lights on our little holly bushes with snow glistening...and a bit of BLUE HOUR fun.
We didn't have a single red berry on our holly this year due to the severe hot weather and drought. Maybe next Christmas......

...we stopped on the side of the highway to watch this parade of Canadian Honkers, aka CHRISTMAS GEESE, and they were "honking"

like crazy. Such an added joy to our morning. ♥

I love this photo of a tree in daughter's front yard...

It came out of the camera just like this....no funny stuff with PhotoScape.

It looks like an awesome painting.

Isn't her home just beautiful !!

When we walked in at 9 in the morning, THIS delicious fragrance greeted us and I could barely make it to the kitchen.....weak with hunger and that aroma of cinnamon rolls and breakfast casseroles WAS OVERWHELMING......♥

This is her brand new oven and it is sooo nice.
They just remodeled their kitchen and I hope to show you parts of it later. Beautiful

Stacy made the two casseroles...
eggs, cheese, green onions, sausage....O HONEY

Her sweet mother ♥in ♥law made the awesome cinnamon rolls and may I just
say that both the casseroles and the rolls were
TO. DIE. FOR.
...tasted sooo good.
Big mugs of hot coffee and tea of our choice...
I am sooo pampered...and I love it.

Her home looks like a fairy tale house, among a long line of snow kissed
CHRISTMAS TREES.
♥ ♥ ♥
What a blessed and wonderful time of the year...
xoxoxo
Hope you will share more Christmas photos, too. ♥

joining in the fun with:

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY

WHITE WEDNESDAY

GOOD LIFE WEDNESDAY

WOW ME WEDNESDAY (snow has GOT to WOW !)

A gift for Kathy....

2012-01-02T20:00:00.005-06:00

Hello, ladies...

I just wanted to share a cool gift idea that worked out really well for one of our gifts to our daughter*in*law, KATHY.

A lot of my bloggy friends know that my son, DAVID KEITH,

and his sweetie, KATHY, own a large and beautiful

GRAPE VINEYARD out here in West Texas.

Sometimes, during the summer, I do a photo shoot of this pretty vineyard.

THIS is one of my favorite photos of a luncheon in the vineyard....

it looks like a painting to me.

THANKFULLY, it looked like a painting to FIFI FLOWERS, too

and she painted it. "THANK YOU, FIFI." ♥

I had it framed and gave it to son and daughter in law that following Christmas.

They were thrilled.....

Wanting to give her something for this CHRISTMAS to carry out the

VINEYARD THEME that she has going in her lovely home,

I came up with the following....

I bought a large FILLABLE, glass lamp and

filled it almost full with WINE CORKS...

I like a little of the clear glass showing for contrast....

I bought a large box of incredible wine corks off of EBAY...

a super place to get all you might want of corks for use in so many awesome crafts.

I found the perfect shade at

TARGET....

and since it would be hard to WRAP to go under the Christmas tree,
I just

tied a big RED PLAID BOW

around the shade.....
and sit it under the tree.

It made an awesome looking lamp and one that will

be the topic of conversation around their home for awhile , I am sure.

Probably along the lines of "did ya'll drink ALL THAT WINE?" ...hahaaha
I just hope she doesn't say, "Noooo, my mother*in*law did....."
I love ya, Kathy girl.

.....hope everyone has a FABULOUS day.

LOVE, bj ♥

Joining in the fun with:

TABLETOP TUESDAY

RUBY TUESDAY

TEA TIME WITH THE LADY...she is kind enuf to allow coffee, wine, in place of tea

G'mornin', Sunshine

2012-01-01T17:00:00.011-06:00

A sight like THIS is very delightful on my breakfast table...

......extra bright and cheery for the dead of winter, I'd say.

Super market flowers can bring sunshine into your day in a twinkle of an eye.....

...they were just marching across the breakfast table like a little

musical band...

♫♪♪..walking in the sunshine....sing a little sunshine song....♪♫♫
ROGER MILLER....1967

♥

On this fine morning, breakfast is
CHEESY EGG AND BACON
FOLD OVER BURRITO ...

It never fails that I get mine waaaay too full to be able to roll it.

Half the time, a lot of goodness falls into my plate so I always have to have a FORK....:)

Love love love having a little fresh fruit with meals....

We live only a few blocks from Rosa's Tortilla Factory so we can run get warm, fresh out of the cooker flour tortillas. Sometimes, we get a half dozen, with honey and butter and just PIG OUT.
O, we bad !!

ON THIS MORNING, we had scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, green onion tops, extra sharp cheddar cheese and really fresh flour tortilla.

I LOVE Louisiana Hot Sauce on just about any and every thing.

We both like POTATOES in our breakfast burrito.....and chopped Anaheim peppers really takes it over the top.

Mr. Sweet sometimes likes sausage in his...
meeee, too. Do you put anything extra special in YOUR burritos ? Tell me about it.

All these little tiny flowers......from one larger bunch.

As they begin to lose leaves and such, I like breaking them up into smaller bunches.

....gives me another way to show off my little collection of tiny ironstone pitchers.

You know, I used to find
these little cute white
pitchers a lot....all of a
sudden, tho, it seems
like they have vanished off the face of the earth.

Having my favorite coffee, DUNKIN DONUTS, always makes me smile and sigh....

...just seems I can face the day on a little happier note, having a good meal

and COFFEE in the morningtime.
I know a lot of you don't have time in the mornings for a breakfast that you love.....
getting kids off to school and you off to work doesn't leave much time.
Hope you get to enjoy a delicious, just-what-you-want kind of breakfast
on your weekend mornings......♥♥♥
MAKE it a New Year's resolution to enjoy at least one thing each morning
for breakfast...
a great yogurt...
a bakery doughnut
anything that you just love....it's such a great way to start your day.
And, you SO deserve it.

Some people don't like to use their dishes that are special...

like this little blue and white berry bowl from England.

Afraid they might break it, I guess....

I figure I'd rather break it than never use it.

Mom taught me as a child to USE and ENJOY the things you have...

otherwise, they just sit and gather dust and bring no one happiness.

Erma Bombeck urged us to use our special things...to take the time to DO our special things....she learned this after being told she didn't have long to live.
She wrote some really great things.....
♥
Just a part of from
IF I HAD TO LIVE MY LIFE OVER
Erma Bombeck
“… I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. …
I would have sat on the lawn with my kids, even if it meant grass stains.”
* * * * *
But....
ONE of my favorites by her....♥♥
"I haven't trusted polls since I read that 62% of women had affairs during their lunch hour. I've never met a woman in my life who would give up lunch for sex."
Haaaahahahaaahahhaaa...don't you just LOVE that !!

YA'LL........have a SASSY DAY.

Joining in the fun at:

MOTIVATED MONDAY

BLUE MONDAY

MOSAIC MONDAY
SHOW OFF YOUR COTTAGE
MASTERPIECE MONDAY
MOTIVATED MONDAY

KNOCK MY SOX OFF....12/2011

2011-12-31T00:01:00.074-06:00

I have a little thing I try to do each month,

highlighting a few of the most talented people in the world....
BLOGGERETTES....
you people can
sing, dance, paint, write poetry, do a handstand, decorate, cook,
ride horses, ski, yodel, play a guitar. make hand puppets, pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time, do YOGA........
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING .
Ya'll, every single one, just.....

KNOCK MY SOX OFF

I just wish I could highlight every one but
I don't have time, ya'll....
I gotta get ready for my NEW YEAR'S EVE party, don'tchaknow....!! ♥

I fell in love with her BELIEVE blocks.

YEP....I lost my sox on this one.

http://craftedniche.com/2011/12/08/mason-jar-pendant-light/#comment-1671

Isn't this the cutest light....and she tells us how to do it.

DEBBIE at CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT....
FRENCH TICKING stockings.....be still, my heart.
If you haven't been by to see Debbie in awhile, she has some awesome
posts to show you.

I just LOVE how DEBBIE incorporated the olden books in with her Christmas decorating.
♥shhhhh......I copied this one.....

I didn't tear up any books...I asked my favorite thrift shop to save any books with the covers about to come off.....they usually throw them away but if you ask, they might save some for you, too. ♥

KARIE of
KARIES CHIC CREATIONS
did a great job on this chest.
To see the BEFORE, go by her place...

and would you tell her bj
said HEY ?

The Charm of Home
had this most delightful tree.

Did you notice.......
it is sitting in a
vintage wicker baby carriage.

The talents of these ladies just really do
KNOCK MY SOX OFF.

OK, please, someone help me here....
I thought this was the prettiest photo and now......I can't remember what blog I stole it from....so sorry.
The tree looks sooo pretty...and the bed in the background.....luscious.
Several friends came to my rescue and let me know this vision above belongs to
COURTNEY at FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE.

This is the beautiful, snowy home of my daughter, STACY LEIGH.
It's even prettier INSIDE....
♥ ...i love you, stacy leigh

If you've not been to visit DEBBIE at MOUNTAIN BREATHS,
you owe it to yourself to GO.

Wonderful recipes...
awesome photos....

She has an awesome collection of
MACKENZIE CHILDS COURTLY CHECK....
Her decorated Christmas tree looks like it came right out of the catalog...
and don't forget to take a look at THAT TABLE....
.....THIS, my friends, is the stuff dreams are made of.

WHAT A WOMAN...
she takes her COURTLY CHECK on picnics. !!
And, judging from that view, I see where she got the fabulous name
for her blog.....MOUNTAIN BREATHS......just beautiful.

Leave it up to our KIM of SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE to have a positively
ADORABLE CHRISTMAS PILLOW that has little long,
red and white stripped stockinged legs hanging from it.
I love this little cheery pillow.

PAT'S
WINTER WONDERLAND tablescape just takes my breath away.
Such beautiful colors....
she has no snow ON CROOKED CREEK, so she made
it snow inside her cottage.
I KNOW she did 'cause I see all kinds of beautiful SNOWFLAKES on her table.:)
Beautiful table, Pat...I know your Mr. Ed liked it, too. ♥

These awesome hooks are only a PART of what MISS MUSTARD SEED is up to...
Go by and check it out and then do like me........want to copy it for YOUR room.
SHE says "happiness is a row of hooks......"
"...ooo, Mr. Sweeeeet, do you have your tape measure handy...??" I NEED HOOKS !
♥

I think I would have to look long and far to find a prettier
HAPPY NEW YEAR TABLE........
AROUND THE HOUSE has more pretty photos of this awesome table.
Photos just full of sparkle and glitter....
shine and twinkles....
So pretty, PHYLLIS

Please feel free to take the
I WAS FEATURED
button on your left.....just add my blog link back to it, if you please.

HAPPIEST NEW YEAR TO ALL....
xoxoxoxoxoxo

Joining in the fun with: PINK SATURDAY
SEASONAL SUNDAY

WORKIN' all the live long day......

2011-12-29T22:33:00.002-06:00

All the Christmas decorations are packed away, nice and neat for next year.

All the wrappings, Styrofoam packing....every thing picked up, thrown away or stored...

vacuumed, dusted

spit shine and rub and polish every thing in my sight......
Getting all ready for a SATURDAY NIGHT NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY....

WOO and HOO

TODAY, I had to wash clothes...

I have only a small UTILITY LAUNDRY CLOSET and, believe it or not, I have some cutie things in there that make the job of LAUNDRY (boo hiss) much more pleasant....

Like this ODE TO THE MOTHER
painting I purchased from
Duda Daze a couple yrs ago. Isn't she the cutest little smiling mom you've ever seen?
and don't you love all the cute little hearts scattered around...that's what moms have...
A LOTTA HEART.

WHEW....I used to have to iron nearly every day, it seemed like. I never have minded ironing....but always hated ironing
jeans....starched so heavy, they could stand alone.....
When our boy went off to college, he wanted 12 pair of Wranglers...and 12 pair he had. Now, he came home most every weekend (college only 2 1/2 hrs from home) and, of COURSE,
brought his laundry....all 12 pair of jeans......plus.
I'm tellin' ya, I was just so glad to have him home, I would have washed, starched and ironed 24 pair !!!
Moms are like that, ya know.

I am in a panic because I can not, for the life of me, remember where I got this amazing little LOST SOX GATHER HERE bag....ETSY

I DO know, however, that I just love it to pieces. ♥

I got all the washing and ironing done...

next, I will be working on making the house welcoming for my sweet family and friends so we can all celebrate the

NEW YEAR'S beginning on Saturday night.

I hope the new year is full of everything your heart desires....and that it is blessed from

beginning to end.

A friend and I had a bowl of homemade Veggie Soup together after the day of work..........

Friend Time......the perfect ending to one year, the perfect beginning of a new.

XOXOXO

I am joining in the fun with:

Clean up time....

2011-12-28T21:00:00.001-06:00

Little trees and candles and napkins....

Santas, pillows, wreaths....

My house is already beginning to look BARE...
no pretty wreaths loaded with red...
only the GREEN APPLE one I made. I am keeping it out just awhile longer.

All the Christmas decorations around our homes tend to make our room cozy and comfy and full of warmth.
I have to be careful and remember to add color back...in the form of pretty, warm throws....and pillows.....and maybe a vase of
super market FRESH FLOWERS. ♥

.....some I leave out all year.

...more dishes....

I am keeping these out to fill with good things to eat at my birthday party. Nuts and dips and creamy things.....ummmmm

Someone left this amazing CRANBERRY SCONE mix, complete with a pkg of dried Cranberries, in my stocking...

so, in the middle of CLEAN UP, mid morning,...when we got hungry, I made them.

The mix, thick whipping cream

and a few fresh Cranberries thrown in for good measure

The most amazing part, ya just mix, then pat out a 6" circle on a

greased piece of foil on a cookie sheet...

Then, cut into 8 wedges....

Once they cool, you can lift them onto a plate....

To consider something a RECIPE doesn't mean that you can't start with a MIX, add your own things to it.
Why, SANDRA LEE of SEMI HOMEMADE has made a fortune with her special semi homemade recipes.
So, NEVAH feel like you aren't "baking" because you didn't do it from scratch. Sister friend, some of the best tasting foods I've ever had were SEMI HOMEMADE...and I love it.
♥ ♥ ♥
Now THIS is not a TEA CUP....
No siree, Bob.....
It is a TEA MUG... and I am lovin' it to pieces.
It holds a comforting amount of TEA
or COFFEE, which is what I am having this morning.

OK....I am about to let you in on a little BREAKFAST SECRET....♥

CHRISTMAS CRANBERRY SCONES go best with a cute cup of
TEA or COFFEE....

AND........

...there's not much better way to start your day than adding

a few scoops of COFFEE ICE CREAM to that plate with the warm scone.

O HONEY

Yes, ma'am....it's a heck of a good way to start ANY day around Sweet Nothings ♥

I hope you have all your Christmas put away for another year and

everything cleaned up and sparkly....so you can enjoy the time between now and

NEW YEAR'S EVE, so you will be rested up to ......PAR...TAY.

HAHAAAAA...we do have a party but it's a good, laid-back kind of thing.

I'm ready !

LOVE, bj

Joining in with:
OPEN HOUSE
TIME TRAVEL
FULL PLATE
THRUSDAY FAVORITE THINGS
my thanks to all the hosts....
xoxoxoxo

2011....a GREAT year....

2011-12-27T16:00:00.006-06:00

2011 was such a wonderful year for us.

We didn't get a LOT of projects done but a few...

I am joining the fun over at KIM'S for WOW US WEDNESDAY

My main man, MR. SWEET, added a beautiful black and white window awning to two of the windows in the front of our humble cottage.

I had wanted one for a long time...so glad to get it.

...that's it.....on your left.

THEN....of COURSE, I needed a beautiful WINDOW BOX beneath it..

Being the sweetest husband in the whole world, he got RIGHT ON IT and built the most beautiful window box, ever.

My part......I painted it....

and I filled it with lovely plants.....

...and they grew, despite the extreme hot days and the drought.
I'm pretty sure they hung on and grew in spite of all the adversities...because
they knew how bad I WANTED them to be pretty...

I was very very proud of it all.....

Yes, our home is truly......A little COTTAGE.

A 2011 project that was

PART FUN

PART DEVIL THING.....

Our stenciled table.

THE table on your left was done by a very talented artist woman ,
DONNA of FUNKY JUNK INTERIORS.
She called it her Story Table because the things she has stenciled on it mean something to her...and I thought that was such a NEAT idea.

Besides all that......just look how cute it is.
I just HAD to have one...
and I thought I was SURELY crafty enuf to do one for our cottage.....
HOW WRONG CAN ONE WOMAN BE ??

I found the PERFECT table to use...
$5.00 at the local thrift store...
sturdy as it could be and solid wood.

But...but.....the top of DONNA'S table was more like a sign.....
and, of COURSE, I wanted that look....
What to do....??

Well, Mr. Sweet knew JUST what to do....

he used his router to make the top look like pieces of wood, put together.

He ROUTED...

I SANDED....

When we started the stenciling...

which neither have done much of...

well, may I just say.....IT WAS NOT EASY FOR US...

but....

We got 'er done ~

If you would like to know what all these words, names and numbers

make up a part of my life....

click HERE.

I had a few small projects, but not worth mentioning .......
I am also joining
OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY
WHITE WEDNESDAY
GOOD LIFE WEDNESDAY
REDNESDAY WEDNESDAY
What a wonderous year this has been.
I pray YOUR 2011 was good and that 2012 will be even better.
LOVE, bj

I'll Love You Forever

2011-12-26T19:00:00.024-06:00

Hi, everyone....

things getting settled down after the big CHRISTMAS ?

It is slowing down here, too.

Don't know about you but I am ready for the slower pace and a little rest thrown into the mix....:))

Mr. Sweet had been out of town on business for a few days the first part of this month and, as I often do, I love making myself a good breakfast and eating it

on the coffee table in the living room.

I love sitting on the floor and enjoying a leisure meal...

now Mr. Sweet.......no WAY is he going to sit on the floor.....for ANYthing.
He says it's too dang hard to get back up again....♥

I waited until the day before he was to return before baking this whole can of
ORANGE CINNAMON ROLLS because I would HATE to HAVE to eat THE WHOLE THING....
YEAH..........RIGHT !
If you will notice, I like one roll un-iced...just a tiny bit of butter.
Then, I like 7 iced. ...lol

You will see these little cute, supermarket flowers in several posts as I take a LOT

of pictures when I have fresh flowers.....which is seldom. ♥

The cute vintage polka dot pitcher is from our sweet MARY that lives in

The Little Red House....

I have a "thing" about cute cup towels...
I must remember to do a post on all of them someday.
My head is so full of posts that I put in draft form before I forget them.
How 'bout you?......do you have ideas for posts floating around in your head a lot?
Meee, too.
Another thing I do....I let my drafts get buried...and I think I've already posted about something and, sure 'nuff...I haven't..
so sometimes my posts might be several months old...oh, well, that's ok.....it's not all about TODAY....

Well, I've noticed the fruit isn't as good now as back in the summer..

well, except for the grapes....they are still just delicious.

They became my favorite fruit sometime during this summer.

Most of the time when I am having my COFFEE TABLE BREAKFAST,

I want something to look at besides the tv...

So this time, I got my basket of Children's books out of the bookshelves

and

WENT BACK IN TIME...♥♥

I have several books written by MERCER MAYER, a wonderful

author of children's books.♥

The two above, I read over and over and over to all my grands, at one time or another.

The two baby books above...

oh, my....I bought these for my first grandson, who, by the way, is now 21.

We read them so many times, I didn't even have to look at the words on the page...

I had them in my heart.

He would look at this cover and put his little hands over his face, just like this...

and my heart would melt, run on the floor and right out the door.

I so loved our reading time together.

I have posted about this awesome and delightful book before.....and many...MANY of you wrote that YOU loved it, too.

I've not read it one single time without shedding a few tears...well, sometimes, downright CRYING. It is sooo sweet.

I thought, when I was doing all this reading to sweeties that were so young,

that I was MAKING MEMORIES for THEM...

....but it turns out, the memories are mostly mine.

They have grown and forgotten so many of these times together and yet,

every now and then, one of them will pick up one of these books and say,

"oh....I remember this little book....I remember sitting in your lap while you read it to me"

and darned if my heart doesn't melt, run on the floor and right out the door...AGAIN.
♥
I know, without a shadow of a doubt, the times spent between the young ones and their grandmother reading and holding them close, was a major bonding for all.

YEP....there's a lot more sweet things in the world than

ole ORANGE CINNAMON ROLLS.♥

SWEET MEMORIES....where would we be without them ?
♥♥♥
I hope you have a GOOD MEMORIES sort of day....:)

JOINING the fun with:
RUBY TUESDAY
TABLETOP TUESDAY
TEA TIME WITH THE LADY
2ND TIME AROUND
TUESDAY TREASURES
TEMPT MY TUMMY
TASTY TUESDAY

I was dreaming of a WHITE CHRISTMAS...

2011-12-26T08:26:00.000-06:00

We had the most beautiful

WHITE CHRISTMAS !!

'Twas The Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
Every creature was hurting -- even the mouse.

The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
Santa passed out, with some ice on his head.

Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor, while
Upstairs the family continued to snore.

And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
Went into the kitchen and started to clean.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.

The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said "U.S. POSTMAN."

With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.

Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:

"Now Dillard's, now Broadway's, now Penny's and Sears
Here's Levitz's and Target's and Mervyn's--all here!!

To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall,
Now chargeaway-chargeaway-chargeaway all!"

He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.
He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.

He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.

Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
"ENJOY WHAT YOU GOT ... YOU'LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!"

Author Unknown

I LOVE YA'LL.....MERRY CHRISTMAS 12/25/2011

2011-12-25T00:01:00.008-06:00

I love blogging so so much.

It came along at the right time in my life

and I just KNOW it keeps this ole gal's mind sharper than it would be without

taking photos, deciding which ones to use, looking for things to blog about,

writing something that hopefully makes sense and allows me to show YOU who I am.

The very BEST thing about blogging is YOU.

I thank you so much for faithfully following along with my sometimes silly,

sometimes sad, sometimes just being 'down to Earth' postings.

I have made so many treasured friendships and altho I may never met you

in person, you sure are in my heart.

xoxoxo

Our HAPPY table...

2011-12-24T06:00:00.012-06:00

♫♪♪...Christmas Eve will find me....

where the LOVE LIGHT gleams.....

I'll be home for Christmas....

if only in my dreams. ♪♫♪♪

I am so blessed to be able to BE HOME for Christmas,

along with my entire family.
I never forget to thank HIM for letting us all be close.

Our Christmas Eve breakfast table was so happy, it made our entire day run smooth as silk...with smiles, kisses, hugs, another cup of
EGG NOG.....

We needed to dust a little, prepare the dining room, vacuum......
have another cup of
EGG NOG.

We have all our gifts wrapped, boxed or bagged...

Every ones coming around 5....maybe sooner.....

so....we better have another cup of EGG NOG...
"Mr. Sweet.......save some for them ......"

........I guess I'm silly, but see that beautiful quilt hanging in the background.?

Mom made it and I LOVE having it in my dining room ......seems like a part of her is with us.

CHRISTMAS EVE......

what a magical time. It is a time that conjures up sooo many fond memories....maybe even a few bittersweet ones.

Most of us can remember Christmas Eves from when we were small children...the excitement was just almost more than we could take.......

makes me think I need another cup of

EGG NOG.

♫♫.....Santa Clause is coming to town....♪♫

This busy, fine Christmas Eve morning, we wanted a light, quick breakfast...

These CINNAMON OATMEAL BISCUITS/SCONES

are TO. DIE. FOR.

I am just beside myself that I can't remember where I got the recipe.

Let me know if it's yours, please......♥

MERCY ME....

.....after the holidays settle down and things are back to normal....

please give these a try one Sat. or Sunday morning.

Served with a big slab of County Honey Ham......

I think I need another cup of EGG NOG.

RECIPE...

2 cups flour

1 cup oats, BUT NOT INSTANT

1/4 cup sugar

I added a tablespoon of

BROWN SUGAR, too..

1 T. baking powder

1/4 tea. salt

1 stick of margarine, chilled and cut into pieces

3/4 cup milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tea. vanilla

1/2 cup toasted pecans

1 tea. ground cinnamon

GLAZE

3/4 cup powdered sugar

3/4 tea. orange juice, coffee or milk.

I used COFFEE.....O, HONEY

Heat oven to 425. Line your baking sheet with Pamed foil or parchment.

In lg. bowl, combine flour, oats, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt and mix we.. Cut in butter with pasty blender until mix resembles coarse crumbs. In small bowl, combine milk, egg and vanilla.

(Now, ladies...after I got the 'course crumb' look, I just mixed it ALL together...in one bowl...at one time)

Mix all...

Drop by 1/4 cupfuls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.

Bake about 11 minutes, until nicely browned..

Like everything, Please don't cook too long or they will be dry.

After cooling for a just a few minutes, drizzle the glaze over the warm scones.

These just about HAVE to be served warm so if using a microwave to reheat...just a few seconds will do the trick.
♥ ♥ ♪

O, and look...I set out some extra cups and plates, so come on by and have a
CINNAMON OATMEAL SCONE
and.....

...another cup of EGG NOG !

O......and don't worry....I didn't get SNOCKERED...

I like MY egg nog without the NOG.
;>)
MERRY CHRISTMAS...♥♥♥

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.....

2011-12-22T18:00:00.064-06:00

My mother made the most beautiful RED VELVET stockings for my son, DAVID, and daughter, STACY when they were first born...

David's has a SANTA....and little golden pins scattered around over the stocking.
David will be 48 yrs old in February....
and yet, I can still see him, plain as day, each Christmas morning,
running to check to see what was in his stocking....he was always such a sweet little boy...and now he is a sweet sweet man...
bwaaaaaaaaaa ♥

Stacy's has an adorable CHRISTMAS TREE...
with, again, special golden things scattered around on it....and a cute
rocking horse.
Stacy will be 43 in April...
these olden stockings are still just beautiful....and Stacy is more beautiful
today than ever. She has a heart as big as all outdoors and both she and her brother
have brought more joy and love to their daddy and I than I can ever express strong enuf.
We love you, David and Stacy. ♥

Growing up with such lovely stockings at Christmastime,
Stacy wanted RED velvet stockings for HER children...
but my sweet mother had moved to Heaven long before her great-grandchildren
were born. This is something that still breaks my heart. How she would have
loved all these wonderful gifts from God....
and how they would have loved HER.

And, as most of you know, I AM CRAFTY BONELESS...
Not good at crafts.......at all..
But, I managed to make the stockings....lined them and everything. OH MY
The above belongs to BRYNNA, Deed's older sis.
I thought I would NEVER get all the sequins on...
but......I did.
I cut out Christmas figures from a coloring book, SANTA, SNOWMAN, 2 DIFFERENT ANGELS, A CHRISTMAS TREE, complete with snow at the bottom....
and sequined them...
then, filled in behind with that soft stuff...batting?? fiber fill ?? something like that.
I didn't SEW them on the stockings....waaay too hard for me to do..
but the fabric glue I used has lasted now for 6 years.
I said a prayer, asking HIM to pass along to my mom that
I NEEDED HER HELP... ♥♥
I swear....I GOT THE HELP....I could never have done it, otherwise.
I do believe in help from above.......don't you?.......OF COURSE you do...aren't we blessed !

I managed to get 4 stockings for the 4 kiddos
and one for Stacy and Jent.
I haven't made stockings for David's kiddos yet...but, if they want them,
I surely will do it.
Stacy and David both want to leave their original stockings at my house for awhile longer.
Which, I might add....it GREAT with me, too......just seems that's where they are SUPPOSED to be, for now.

I added little 'golden' things to these stockings, too.

...a golden cross
and a golden heart...
I think, on one of them, is a
golden WISH BONE.

When it came time to have the GRANDCHILDREN STOCKINGS at my house for
our annual CHRISTMAS EVE togetherness,
I bought the stockings and enhanced them with jingle bells on the bottoms...
cute little "this and that's", making each child his very own.
With 10 grands, 2 grand-in-laws, 1 great-grandgirl,
there are now 19 Christmas stockings hanging....
How blessed are we !!!

I thank God daily for all our blessings.....♥

...the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...
In hopes that St. Nickolaus soon would be there....♥♥♥

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL....
LOVE, bj

JOINING IN THE FUN WITH:

SHOW AND TELL

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THANKS, LADIES ♥♥♥

The Sights and Smells of Christmas ♥

2011-12-21T18:00:00.005-06:00

The sights and sounds, the feel and smells of CHRISTMAS are all around
SWEET NOTHINGS

...peppermint, cloves, cinnamon....

Just close you eyes and you see....

Visions of .......COOKIES. ♥
Those above are Gingerbread with a sprinkling of POWDERED SUGAR..
(i think i could eat shoe leather if it had powdered sugar on it...
my mama loved whipped cream and she said she could eat a cow chip
if it had whipped cream. :>)

Peanut Butter Cookies...

Some with Peanuts...
some without.
♥
1 cup Sugar
1 Egg
1 cup Peanut Butter
Drop by teaspoon full on greased cookies sheet.
350 oven for about 9/10 minutes.

Cookies to pack pretty tins for gifts to family and friends...

O, I love this time of the year....♥

THESE cookies full of nuts and orange zest and cranberries...

chocolate chips and a little almond flavoring.
♥♥♥ummmmmm....
Your regular Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe and add
a little Orange zest...
a handful of cranberries and another handful of chopped pecans...
about a teaspoon full of Almond extract.
O HONEY

...and we'll not forget the little Gingerbread Boys....
I'll add them to the top of the stack of delicious homemade cookies
so they won't smother underneath all the sugar....

THIS has really been a GINGERBREAD MAN
Christmas for me.....

SUCH a delight.....

...all kinds of the prettiest paper
CHRISTMAS napkins and plates...

"Fa, La and La......."

Christmas time is such a loving and warm time of the year. Our loved ones, near and far, always on our minds and in our hearts.
Heard that song about
"....if Heaven wasn't so far away,
I'd go there to spend the day...." ?
something about spending the day with a loved one that was sorely missed.
Wouldn't THAT be a DREAM come true....

I've got those cookies all packed.....labels....

beRibboned and ready to go to sweet family and friends.
♫♫♪...if Heaven wasn't so far away......♫♪♪

Joining in the fun with:
THURSDAY'S FAVORITE THINGS
FULL PLATE WITH MIZ HELEN
OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY
TREASURE HUNT THURSDAY

I hope you will go by and take a look at some of these amazing places.

XOXOXO

I love Christmas REDS

2011-12-20T18:00:00.002-06:00

HELLO, everyone...

aren't you just loving this time of year ?

Meee, too !!

I love the color RED year 'round but sure do love it a lot at CHRISTMAS TIME, too.

A tiny little candle that bears my name......sent to me a couple years ago from a sweet blogger.
She was at a garage sale and saw it...had not been burned so she bought it....JUST FOR ME.

I was so totally impressed. ♥

I continue to be in awe of the sweetness that goes on between bloggers. It just blows my mind...and....I LOVE IT.
This love, respect and caring is JUST what our LORD IN HEAVEN wants us to do. I am so proud to be a part of it. And, I am so glad YOU are a part of it, too.

A beautiful wintery morning here at Sweet Nothings...(12/19/11)
Rain last night and early morning...perhaps an inch....♥
SNOW predicted......I gotta see it to believe it, tho. I can not WAIT to make a fire in the fireplace, bring out the hot chocolate.......O, and I just today bought a large tub of......

MARSHMALLOW CREME.....YUM.....MEE !

Hot rolls and butter and jelly....

a bowl of favorite fruits...
A perfect wintry morning breakfast.
Oh, and there's hot, fresh DUNKIN DONUTS coffee, just waiting to be poured.

I've never been to NEW YORK...
but I have several bloggy friends that live there. Oh, yes...
YOU know who you are. !! ♥♥♥

Daughter went there last summer...fell in love with it....and brought this amazing cup to me. It's BIG and holds a LOT of Dunkin Donuts coffee...:)
A grandson, DREW, also went, fell in love with the city and wants to move there. ♥♥

Isn't that CARDINAL just beautiful on the Christmas box?
I have seen them, IN PERSON, and they are even MORE beautiful.
We don't see them often out here in West Texas...too hot and dry, I guess. I think they are sooo MAJESTIC and REGAL looking....and they probably KNOW how handsome they are.

A sweet blogging friend that lives at the
RUN AROUND RANCH
captured this
CARDINAL SPA DAY
and I think they are some of the prettiest photos ever of a bird.
Just LOOK at that pretty thing. !
So striking......

Isn't this photo AWESOME....!! I am in awe of people that can get a shot such as this.
Skip over there and see the other photos of this beautiful bird.......
If she ever has a giveaway of a drawing of this, I sure am going to throw my hat in.
She has the most awesome photos almost every day. ...such a delightful blog.
When you go over, would you kindly tell her bj said HEY....?.....THANKS!!

...remember ..... BROWN SUGAR and SOUR CREAM
O HONEY

CHRISTMAS REDS are hard to beat...

Love you all....

Joining in the fun

at:

REDNESDAY

GOODLIFE

WHAT EVER YOU WANT WEDNESDAY

A beautiful WIN

2011-12-19T17:00:00.014-06:00

I was so lucky to win MARYDON'S most generous giveaway and received it this week.

...don't you love seeing that little white truck stopping in front of your house, delivering a package to YOU ?

O, and this little box is packed COMPLETELY full....right up to the top.♥

What a lovely book...

THE WEDDING QUILT

"Twenty-five years had come and gone with a swiftness that might have been cruel except for the sweet, beloved memories of the days that had filled them."

OOO, I can hardly wait to read this, MARYDON.
Thank you so so much. ♥

Beautiful crystal candlesticks......a pair.

So lovely.....

See....I told you the box was FULL.....

CANDY CANE SPREADERS..!

SO CUTE...and right at home among all the candy canes around SWEET NOTHINGS:))

They are just a cute as they can be.

MARYDON, thank you so much for this generous giveaway and letting me have the chance to win.

I have been so blessed to win so many pretty giveaways and

have received JUST BECAUSE gifts from some of my friends.

My thanks to every one of them...

I have a post working to showcase ALL my blessed wins and gifts....

It will have a beautiful Christmas table runner to POPOVERS to a beautiful book

to candles glowing in beautiful candlesticks, to amazing aprons...OH MY !

MY SINCERE THANKS.

Joining in with:

RUBY TUESDAY

TABLETOP TUESDAY

TUESDAY TREASURES

It's those GingerBread Boys again....

2011-12-18T16:00:00.024-06:00

GINGERBREAD MAN WREATH...

doesn't that sound delightful !!

I just LOVE little gingerbread men and boys...

every time I look at one, it warms my heart...just like most things that

take us back to our childhood does.

SOOO, I wanted to make a

GINGERBREAD MAN WREATH....

It is a pretty well known FACT that I am NOT crafty.....not one bit.

but every now and then, I THINK I am and have to try something simple.....

THIS one looked fairly simple so........

Here is one that MARTHA STEWART did....
Well, believe me, I ain't no MARTHA...

Isn't hers just adorable....her little boys are smaller than mine.
AND.....
her little boys are REAL Gingerbread cookies......

This adorable one belongs to BEANSIE BABBLES

It is sooo cute !! She did an awesome job on it....love that pretty bow.
AND....her's is a "last a little longer" wreath......
♥RECIPE below

Here is another one that turned out really nice and this is where you can GET THE RECIPE if you want a wreath that will last a few years.

It's over at Saving 4 Six
and it turned out sooo cute, too.
Looks like she added lots of "SUGAR" to her little men and they absolutely
look GOOD ENUF TO EAT, don't they.?
BUT....don't try it...
they are hard as rocks.

AND ......here is a little pattern of a little boy that you can make out of fabric......

felt....burlap....linen.....cute vintage buttons....lace...adorable ribbons...so many possibilities.
These would be really cute on a wreath, too

I wanted to make a WREATH,too..

and I am hoping mine will last a couple of years or so...

♥ ♥ ♥

...so I used the flour, salt and water method.

.......just out of the oven here

and they all look
ANEMIC....
colorless....
too little cinnamon ???
Cinnamon is added for the COLOR and also....they smell
WONDERFUL.
I wiped all the flour off before baking....?

Ahhhhh, but I have a PLAN.
They need to be covered with a polyurethane and sprinkled with KOSHER SALT, (looks just like sugar....) so, I'll use my
Poly and Stain, all in one.
While they are wet, I will sprinkle the SALT on so that they will look all SUGAR COATED and delicious...and pretty.

oops....nearly forgot to show you up close how good the color of the poly stain made the little boys.....♥

THIS is where the fun STOPPED !
.....SEE that break...there by the STAR ?....bummer.
So out came the HOT GLUE GUN again.
Every single time I picked the little boys up, they broke somewhere...
I must have used 10 sticks of glue......

ahhh.....but don't they look cute.....
from a distance !!!!

but...UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL,
they look pretty
B.A.D.

Hearts #1 and 2 show
PURE HOT GLUE....

oh well...
most of the time, if a person doesn't KNOW there's something wrong on something like a wreath, they never notice....
and besides,
no one is going to care.......but me. :(

I love my plaid ribbon more than the little boys....:)

.....those little guys on the left....their hands aren't even touching....
they both are holding a ball of HOT GLUE.....hahhhaaaa.....gotta love it...

I have to say that this was worth all the hot glue used....
I just break out in a smile every time I walk into my dining room and
see the little RING OF BOYS on my fireplace .......
besides, there's not much more that gets you in the mood for CHRISTMAS than making
handmade crafts. ♥♥

If you decide to make one, I hope you have a little better luck
than I did when you start running ribbon thru.
I am not sure what I did wrong....may have cooked it too long.....
but I'm PRETTY sure it will be awhile, IF EVER, before making another.
(unless some of the grandgirls want to give it a try.....♥

Playing in these memes:
MOSAIC MONDAY
SHOW OFF YOUR COTTAGE
AMAZE ME
MASTERPIECE
MOTIVATED
Thank you, ladies.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY

2011-12-17T18:49:00.001-06:00

Here in the middle of all the CHRISTMAS rush,

I found this picture of 3 of my GRANDGIRLS,

taken on the beach in GRAND CAYMAN

3 years ago.

We were on a family cruise and may I just say

it was the BEST trip I have ever taken. ♥

This is BAILEY and ANDREA, the twins

and

DEEDS....

even their SHADOWS are adorable.

Love to all....bj ♥

joining with
SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY 2

PINK SANTAS ? you bet.....

2011-12-16T18:43:00.001-06:00

I am joining in with PINK SATURDAY
SEASONAL SUNDAY
SUNDAY FAVORITES, where we are asked to bring back a FAVORITE POST ...

WHO SAYS SANTA HAS TO BE ALL IN RED ???

THIS one looks good enuf to EAT .....
hee hee hee
or is it ho ho ho
Nothing like a PINKNESS SANTA can get us into the CHRISTMAS mood.....
an old Christmas ad....isn't he the cutest Santa....

brrrr....these little fellas look so cold.......

oooo, i really love this one, with his big, brown eyes.....

or are they blue???

and, Christmas needs some of these

vintage SANTA and COCA COLA ads....

that little PINK note is the only thing that got him in THIS post.....:O)

and, only his ROSY PINK cheeks let him squeeze in, too.....

yep...those little PINK pj's qualified this ad .....

that little girl's pink let me add this one to the

PINK SATURDAY post.....

well, and Santa's bright PINK cheeks, too..

now this old ad MUST have been where

"JOLLY OLE SAINT NICK"

got his name !!!

He does look jolly here! Makes me feel jolly just lookin' at him....

(back when this originally posted, I was doing a PINK HUNK every Saturday and it was FUN...)

I KNOW...I KNOW....ya'll may not think this old fella is very cute and you are right...he isn't exactly HANDSOME by a loooong shot....

But, if you saw him in.....

you are bound to have fallen totally in love with him and his precious character....

In other words....

ROBERT DUVALL

is ONE HECK OF AN ACTOR....and I just love him!!!
He is my PINK HUNK for this Saturday post.

Gosh, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.....

CHRISTMAS is right on us, ladies....

R U READY ???
meee, too !
xoxoxo bj ♥

Pop Over for some POP OVERS....

2011-12-15T19:00:00.005-06:00

Some of you might know of the battle between

A BEAUTIFUL, TALL POPOVER and MYSELF.

Now, the above popovers were as tasty as anything I've ever made....

...'specially FILLED with all that good homemade

APRICOT PRESERVES.

*
Not having the correct pan to make them in, I used a
regular muffin tin....

they were good....

MERCY, they were good and Mr. Sweet

really loved them.

BUT..........

I really really wanted to make some like

KATHLEEN'S
or.....

YVONNE
(bwaaaa, she isn't blogging anymore...:>(

They are REAL cooks and I am more a SEMI-HOMEMADE type gal....
not a REAL cook at all...

but I sure would like to make just ONE batch of really pretty POPOVERS...

AND THEN.....
the wondrous mailman arrived
at my doorstep with the most wonderful package...

SET OF 6 POPOVER PAN

And, not only the pan but a TRIED AND TRUE recipe for POPOVERS.
and...the sweet note says
"I hope this helps make your popovers a success. Please enjoy!
Happy Thanksgiving, Michle"
♥ ♥ ♥

She told me to NOT PEEK in the oven until the full 30 minutes for cooking was finished.

So, being the GOOD GIRL that I am, I didn't peek.....

and when the time was up....

I opened the oven and....

nearly wet down both pants legs..

they were ♫♪ BEAUTIFUL ♪♪♫

Now, THAT'S what I'm talkin' about...!!

♥

What a beauty... I am sooo impressed with my silly self...

♫♪♪

(well, OK...the wondrous pan and the fabulous recipe DID contribute to these

bloomin' beauties...:>)
♥

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHLE

Warm LEMON CURD poured over this magnificent popover

took it all RIGHT OVER THE MOON....

and what a ride !! ♥♥♥ WOO HOOOOOO

Why, I'm WALKIN' THE WALK
and
TALKIN' THE TALK....
I am feelin' MIGHTY good....♪♪♫..."I can bake a pretty popover, Billy Boy, Billy Boy".....♫♪♪

Just take a look at that texture...

the TEXTURE of the popover was PERFECT...

.....light and airy, just the way a popover is supposed to be.

Thanks to MICHLE, I can NOW

make a popover with the big girls.

♥YAY......

Love and blessings to all,

bj ♥

joining in the fun with:

My thanks to all the hosts...and I hope YOU will check out a few of these wonderful sites.

xoxoxo

THIS is the brand my store carries...
and it is really good.

TRY IT...
YOU JUST MIGHT LIKE IT.
:>)

xoxoxo

Comforts of Home

2011-12-14T17:00:00.010-06:00

Two little tiny thrifted CHRISTMAS TREES, full of multi-colored lights,

makes such a delightful spot in my living room.

Christmas Lights Love ♥

I made a few of these cutie candles
and now, I am afraid to burn them.... :>)

I got the pretty music sheets from
THE GRAPHIC FAIRY and used
MOD PODGE to put them on the candles.
I think it makes such an amazing statement...my big ole candle here shows up a lot more now. (what is even more amazing is that I've already told you about this candle....O, well...:)

♫♪♪...I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

♫ Sleigh bells ring......are ya listening

O, what a delightful time of the year...

lights ablaze...

festive decorating..

beautiful Christmas music everywhere...

And, during all this most loved "getting ready for CHRISTMAS work",

the aroma of a beautiful roast, cooking in the crock pot,

amid juices of meat, strong black coffee and an envelope of ONION SOUP MIX,

just makes me

SO HAPPY TO BE ALIVE. ♥

I wish there was a SCRATCH and SNIFF here so you could enjoy the smells

coming from Sweet Nothings kitchen this beautiful wintry morning.

Hoping your day is blessed, that you are getting your CHRISTMAS MOJO going,

and that you know how much you are loved.

LOVE ♥♥♥

Made more Peppermint Bark today to go in my GIFTS FROM THE KITCHEN tins....
sooo yummy....♥

Joining in the fun with

FULL PLATE THURSDAY

OPEN HOUSE

TIME TRAVEL

THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS

XOXOXOXO....

My CANDY CANE TableScape

2011-12-13T18:00:00.002-06:00

There was to be a meme party, a tablescape copy cat, for the 14th but it has been called off.

I had my post all ready, so I decided to do it anyway.

I brought back one of my favorite CHRISTMAS TABLES to KNOCKOFF. :)

THE ABOVE TABLE belongs to a long-time blogging friend, PHYLLIS,

that hangs out AROUND THE HOUSE.
This tablescape is from several years ago and when I first saw it,
I thought it was SOOO pretty...
I love the casualness of it...the RED and WHITE color scheme
and the PURE FUN OF IT....
♥

...JUST MY KIND OF TABLE....

F.U.N.

Sooo, I HAD to try to recreate it....

I don't have the beautiful dishes that was used here,

but, I had LOTS of RED and WHITE.....

Aren't HER cookies delightful ?
PLEASE do yourself a huge favor and visit her blog for some of the most beautiful EYE CANDY you will see all year. ♥
Would you kindly tell her bj said HEY ?

THIS is my CANDY CANE TABLE

and I had so much fun, playing with it.

♥ ♥ ♥

I started making these delicious and cute CANDY CANE cookies when my little boy was old enuf to eat cookies...he is now almost 48 yrs. old.....Sooo, I've been making them quite awhile.

We have them EVERY SINGLE CHRISTMAS..... ♥

TRADITION, ya know !!

...don't you love TRADITIONS ? ...MEEE, TOO.

...candy canes......so stinkin' cute

I could only find ONE candy cane candle...

guess everyone buys them out before CHRISTMAS....

♥ ♥ ♥

Most of my dishes are very PLAIN...

they are used for all sorts of holidays and dinners.

The solid white plates are from Pier 1

and the large red ones hail from Wallmart.

I THINK I bought the little red CHRISTMAS plates off Ebay....

but......wouldn't swear to it.

I have LOVED these wintertime goblets for years. I've used them to drink WINE...now THAT is a big glass of wine...
for water..
for tea...
for candles.....:)
and these beauties came from McDONALD'S, of all places...♥

THREE little silly g'girls in a HAPPY Christmas photo...

They are almost grown now....and I will put this adorable photo of them

out at CHRISTMAS TIME for all my life.....and it just MAY travel to Heaven with me.

♥ ♥ ♥

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

THANK YOU, PHYLLIS, for sharing your beautiful

CHRISTMAS CANDY CANE TABLE

with us....

and thanks for allowing me to COPYCAT you, as best I could.

MUCH LOVE .....

Also joining in the fun with

REDNESDAY

GOOD LIFE WED.

WOW ME WEDNESDAY

Long Legged Christmas Angels :>)

2011-12-12T17:00:00.002-06:00

Like all of you, I've been working hard to get my house all pretty and festive for Christmas.

I try to buy at least one or two new things each Christmas...

THIS year, I found these adorable, long-legged cuties and

FELL IN LOVE.
Whimsey LUV, that is........... ♥

Now, I have to say that I am not one for wings coming out of the backs of people...

but these girls, for some reason, just struck me as adorable cuteness !

From their little hats to their long scarfs and their red high top socks...

to their little golden curls...

I love 'em. ♥

Yep....I had fun playing with my new, tall, long legged, winged FUN ANGELS today.

HOBBY LOBBY....$24.95 each...

50% off...

$24.95 for the pair..!

Gotta love it ♥

Aren't they so stinkin' cute, keeping watch over the little CHRISTMAS tree

and

AIN'T LIFE GRAND...♥ !!!

Peppermint....peppermint....peppermint bark...ummm ♥

Joining in the fun with love, bj
TABLE TOP TUESDAY
RUBY TUESDAY
TUESDAY TREASURES
REDNESDAY