ON THE MENU MONDAY~ WEEK OF DEC 31, 2012

A new year... a time to start fresh... a time to learn and try new things...

Menu planning came out of a New Year's resolutions years and years ago! It has made my life sooooo much easier!

I'll be sharing a few New Year's resolutions on Tuesday... but now...

Here's what's ON THE MENU...

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ IT''S ALL IN THE NAME

Abraham's well, Beersheba Israel

Do you have a nickname? Not just a shortened version of your given name, but a name of endearment or description given to you by your family, friends or maybe even a bully at school.

Names are very important and they often can tell us a lot about a person... names like Big Jack or Princess or Buddy or Stinky can give us word pictures about a person.

The names of God tell us, His family, a lot about Him too...

BEST FOODIE PICKS OF 2012

MUFFIN TIN ONION GRUYERE POTATO STACKS

I love to cook... but I have found that I also love to take pictures of food!!! Here are my favorite foodie posts of 2012!

They are all practical and not too hard to make. Real... satisfying.. good food!

I hope you try at least one of my favorites in 2013...

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS # 28

photo credit~ The Oppulent Cottage

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Here at StoneGable we are still celebrating!!! It's quiet right now... but the second wave of family comes on Friday.  We will be in "festive mode" until after New Year's day!! I hope all of you are getting to enjoy loved ones and good food... and maybe even a little nap or two!!!

This week's features are warm and cozy...

TUTORIAL TIPS AND TIDBITS REMINDER

TUTORIAL TIPS AND TIDBITS starts tonight at 8:00!

See you then!!

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ON THE MENU MONDAY~ CHRISTMAS WEEK 2012

It's Christmas week!!! I think my most favorite day of the year is Christmas Eve... well... my most favorite time of the year is Christmas Eve evening. I love going to Church... I can feel the sacredness of these few hours... I love the lights and the music and being with my family!!!

Then comes the joy and fun and food of Christmas Day!!!

We are neck-deep in Christmas traditions at StoneGable! From no children (not even adult children) allowed downstairs until Bobby goes down and turns on the tree lights etc and makes sure Santa has come... to the tradition of the food we eat!

My son called me two days ago to make sure we were having the same menu for Christmas brunch!!! "We ARE having Christmas casserole, aren't we, Mom?"

Traditions bind families together and makes memories. I hope your Christmas is filled with love, peace and lots of beautiful traditions!

NOW HERE'S WHAT'S ON THE MENU...

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ DEC 23, 2012

Church of the Nativity~ Bethlehem, Israel

Part of the Christmas story is the fact... and tradition... of the Thee Wise Men.

These exotic men of great wealth and wisdom have always intrigued me!

What motivated these men, of great mind and means, to travel such a far distance to look for a King? How did they know? Of what importance was this King to them...

When we unravel tradition and look at the biblical and historical facts... the real life search of the Magi is so much more fascinating than the story most of us know...

SNOWFLAKE CHRISTMAS TREE

The presents are wrapped and finally under the tree.  

This year the Christmas tree is very different from years past! I left all the family ornaments packed away... all the colorful balls and happy garland too.

I have always been captivated by flocked trees, and I wanted to create a snowy tree this year...

FLUFFING THE GUEST ROOMS

In all the business and bustle of last minute Christmas preparations... take a little break with me and I'll share a spot at StoneGable made to evoke calm and serenity..

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #27

photo credit~ SOPHIA'S

Christmas day is right around the corner!

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to participate in TTT! 

If you aren't inspired enough by now... here are some fabulous entries from last week that should do the trick...

MAKING A CHRISTMAS BOW

Bows are like lipstick on a wreath... they make them look bright and prettier!

I had many request to share how I make what I call...

THE CHRISTMAS BOW

It's easy and impressive... I've probably made a thousand... here's how...

THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE A LIVE WREATH

I am going to show you the EASIEST most amazing way to make a live wreath. You will wonder, "why didn't I think of that"? That's what I thought when I learned this technique at a wreath decorating demo last year.

 You will be able to make gorgeous, lush, full, live wreaths... FABULOUS!!!!

It will revolutionize your Christmas decor and gift giving... OR ... at least make people ooooh and ahhhh!

I made this wreath in under 40 minutes for a gift exchange! 

Here's how...

ON THE MENU MONDAY~ DEC. 17, 2012

Oh, goodness... I'm late!!!!

Late for ON THE MENU MONDAY! 

So so sorry! I have been away visiting and having way too much Christmas fun. 

But, I'm back and ready for another great week of foodie inspiration...

Here's what's ON THE MENU...

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE DEC. 16, 2012

Nazareth, Israel

There once was a very young girl named Mary. She lived in a very small pioneer-like town called Nazareth. It was in an area of Israel called Galilee. During this time all of Israel was occupied by the conquering nation, Rome.

Here is how Nazareth looks today...

PAPERWHITES IN THE KITCHEN

This year StoneGable is decorated with lots of "naturals".

The antique tool caddy that sits on my the island is filled with lots of organics... but the star of this arrangement are the paperwhites...

HOMESPUN CHRISTMAS LINKY PARTY ~ RECIPES AND TABLESCAPES

Welcome to

HOMESPUN CHRISTMAS RECIPES AND TABLESCAPES

Join in the Christmas fun by linking up your yummy holiday recipes and festive tablescapes!

The table is set for Christmas Brunch.  It's our very favorite meal... I think because it is such a tradition! We eat the same thing year after year! Everyone has a favorite.

 The table is set with a pinecone theme that reflects the decorations in the rest of StoneGable.

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #26

photo source: Lily Pad Cottage

Happy 12-12-12! We won't see another triple digit date for 85 more years! Christmas is in exactly 12 days! If you still need some Christmas inspiration... you are at the right spot!

Here are a few of last week's MERRY AND BRIGHT entries...

HOW TO AGE A GALVANIZED METAL

We have the world's WORST tree stand... aesthetically speaking! It does keep our tree watered and fresh... but it is a monster... more like an octopus!   Bobby LOVES this motley tree stand and I don't have the heart to tell him to get rid of it. He is almost gleeful when he takes it out to use it!

I can't cover it with a tree skirt because the water basin is open...  the tree skirt gets wet and then wicks moisture to all the gifts We have opened soggy gifts more than one year!!!

This year I found the solution to the ugly tree stand... a galvanized tub! The stand and tree fits in it perfectly! 

But with one problem solved... comes another challenge... the ugly shiny "new" patina, or lack of, on the tub!

CROQUEMBOUCHE~ A CHRISTMAS DESSERT

Croquembouche... even the name sounds delicious!! Croquembouche is french for "crunch in the mouth"... and it I certainly does!

Made with profiteroles, or cream puffs, Croquembouche is a tower of heavenly whipped cream filled pastry shells... under a golden spun web that crunches with caramel sweetness!

I downsized the traditional tall-tower-of-a-dessert to make scrumptious single-serving portions. 

This is the ultimate WOW factor dessert... and one we often enjoy at Christmas. It is so impressive... but, don't tell anyone... it is really quite easy... and when you get the hang of spinning sugar, it is magical... 

Crochembouche is part of

HOMESPUN CHRISTMAS

A Christmas linky party beginning here, at StoneGable, on Thursday at 8:00.

Bring your holiday recipes and festive tablescapes and share your ideas!

Let's get started with the "I'll hold your hand and give you lots of detail" CROQUEMBOUCHE directions...

ON THE MENU MONDAY~ WEEK OF DEC 8, 2012

Have you been enjoying HOMESPUN CHRISTMAS? For those of you who missed the fun... it's not too late!

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ PEACE ON EARTH

Shepherd's Field, Bethlehem Israel

Before I spent time in Israel I imagined Shepherd's Field, the place where angels announced the birth of Jesus to lowly shepherds, as a big open grassy plain. A place of great beauty and open spaces... like on a Christmas card.

The picture above is of Shepherd's Field today... not at all what I imagined... but then, most of what is true in the bible is not what many of us imagine...

CHRISTMAS DOOR

I want my front door to say "MERRY CHRISTMAS" before I do!

This year, like most others, I made my door wreath from lots of greens, and bright Christmasy accents!

HOMEMADE SNOWFLAKES

These delicate, porcelain-like snowflakes fill my Christmas tree this year...

At first I made them out of necessity... I went in a new direction for our tree this years and wanted a blizzard of snowflakes!

Buying a tree-full of store bought snowflakes was out of the question... way too expensive. So I decided to make them.

Once I got started...necessity became fun and fun became joy! These were surprisingly easy to make and I think they turned out better than anything I could buy...

I'll show you how...

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS # 25

source~ LILY PAD COTTAGE

Welcome to TUTORIAL TIPS AND TIDBITS # 25...

The Christmas and holiday ideas, tutorials and decor on the blogs are amazing!!! If there were only more time....

To show you what I mean, here are some features from last week's TTT...

DECK THE HALLS

This year I am keeping Christmas decorating simple and natural.

Using fresh greens, pinecones and black and white ribbon... my breakfast room is gussied up for the holidays!

Here is a little peek...

ON THE MENU MONDAY~ DEC 3, 2012

All is Merry and Bright... I love that phrase!!!

But for some reason it takes a whole lot of "nothing is organized and clean" to get to "all is Merry and Bright" around StoneGable.

I am in awe of some homemakers who can whip out whip and up their Christmas decorations... decorate a designer tree... string the outdoor lights over the entire house... make fresh green wreaths for every window  WHILE they are baking 15 kinds of Christmas cookies... clean their guest rooms (and put up a tree in there too)...make Jr's Christmas Pageant costume and host a fabulous holiday party with no effort at all... or seemingly so!

For all of you who fit into that category... HAND OVER YOUR ELVES! Please share! After all, it IS the season of giving!

I will expect them here tomorrow morning!

Now, here's what's ON THE MENU...

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ DEC. 2, 2012

Christmas is coming... it it right around the corner. Are you ready yet... getting there... thinking about it... or haven't a clue?

We all know that it comes every year... December 25th ... like clockwork!  Most of us spend a good deal of time and money getting ready for the BIG DAY!

There is another day that is even more special... and much bigger than Christmas... it is coming... are you getting ready?

CHRISTMAS MANTLE

This year my Christmas mantle was easy to decorate. 

I decorated the mantle with pinecones and mercury glass for Thanksgiving and with just a few changes... it became a Christmas mantle...