Just A Little More Christmas Shopping!

You'd think I would be Christmas shopping, or at least done with my shopping but "No, I'm not!"

Friday, I experienced the joy of an over-heated car, and waiting for AAA for a couple of hours, apparently I was low on their list of "Urgent" calls.

Fortunetly my #1 was able to fix it!

So, today I was back on the road only to quickly pull over as it started to over-heat again!

This time, I called my dear mother who picked me up, I really didn't want to wait around for a couple of hours, just to much to do.

I'm really not complaining because if that's as bad as it gets, things are looking pretty good!

I did get a few things done though, but it did slow down Christmas shopping.

 I was able to get a few more things together for Monticello.

Which also meant a few more things out of my house.

Here is a piano I picked up a few years back.

It has needed a lot of TLC, unfortuneatly there was just so much I could do.

So, I decided to do something a little different with it.

I'm hoping someone will see the charm in this little piece.

She has all the right creamy, chippy paint that I find so appealing.

Inside the piano, a little surprise!

A little birds nest!

Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

A Yummy Cookie Recipe For The Holidays!

Ok, I tried a new recipe from the book I shared with you last night, "Best Loved Desserts".

It's a good one!

If you like chocolate and soft cookies then you'll love this one.

Great for the Christmas Holidays!

1/4 c. flour

1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

8 squares semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, 8 oz)

6 T. butter, cut into pieces

1 c. sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 pkg (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (1 c.)

1/2 c. pecans, chopped

1/2 c. walnuts, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. In small bowl with wire whisk, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.

2. In 3 quart saucepan, melt chopped chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Pour into large bowl; cool to lukewarm. Stir in sugar and vanilla until blended. Stir in eggs, one at a time, until well blended. Add flour mixture and stir until combined (batter will be thin). Stir in chocolate chips, pecans and walnuts.

3. Drop batter by heaping tablespoons, 1-1/2 inches apart, on ungreased large cookie sheet. Bake until set, 12 to 14 minutes. With wide metal spatula, carefully transfer cookies to wire rack and cool.

4. Then sit back with a large glass of milk and enjoy!

A Good Day For A Good Book!

I enjoy going to the library and looking through all the "Home Decorating Books"!

Today, I found three books that looked fun.

One is called "Essentially French".

 In it are fabulous pictures of French styled homes.

I have to admit though, I'm more of a looker than a reader.

 I enjoy studying every part of each picture gleaning ideas for future decorating.

Another book that caught my interest was a new book, at least to our library called, "Christmas Memories".

This one I will have to read!

It covers from the 1920's to the 1960's, sharing gifts, activities, fads and fancies during that time period.

I haven't started reading it yet but it looks like it's right up my alley!

The last one is "Best Loved Desserts", the pictures looked wonderful!

Look at this one, "Brownie Sundae Cups".

Yummmm........

I'm actually looking for a good chocolate chip cookie recipe.

I always use the Toll House recipe but I would like a fluffier cookie that doesn't crystalize so quickly after you bake them.

I want them still to be soft after a few days.

Is that too much to ask for?

So, if you have a recipe and wouldn't mind sharing it, I'd love to hear from you.

You can either leave it in the comment section or email me (myshabbyroses@gmail.com), I'd love to try it.

Look what my #1 just walked through the door with!

ROSES on a cold evening,  how "romantical"!

He's a keeper!

A Simple Christmas

I feel I should title this post "Good Mom, Bad Mom".

This year will be a simple Christmas.

I am not going up in the attic to pull down all the Christmas decorations.

Life has been so busy that simple sounds good.

Last year, I purchased a small flocked Christmas tree for my display at the shop so I decided to pull it out and find little vintage ornaments around the house to decorate the tree.

I'm quite confident if my son would have said, "Mom I think we need a tree!" I would have definatly got one.

But he was ok with it.

It's simple and sweet!

So instead I will sit here with my black stained hands, from dying his hair, and remember there are many ways we show our love to our children.

I hope you enjoy this Christmas Holiday as we remember the precious gift of Jesus!

Restoring a New Piece Shabby Style!

I wanted to share with you a wonderful cabinet my #1 found at the Rebuilder's Store.

I know everytime he finds a cabinet there he cringes, I'm sure he's afraid to show me.

He knows it means work for him but he's a pretty good sport.

It had all the great chippy, "crackly" paint anyone could ask for.

What it did need was a new top, drawer pulls and a little "TLC".

We believe it was probably an old store cabinet.

The drawers have little compartments in them.

On the other side is a shelving unit.

The glass doors are no longer there but could be put back if someone wanted.

The top would have been glass but in order to make this a functional cabinet wood was used.

I think my #1 did a great job of restoring it back to it's former beauty.

While delivering the cabinet to Monticello last night, we were fortunate that our good friends Joe and Sue were there.

Joe is a great sport and always pitches in to help.

This was a pretty heavy cabinet so I didn't turn down good help!

Thanks Joe!

Well, she's in the Christmas Show now!

I hope she finds a very nice home.

She could be yours!

 

I wanted to give you a fun little update, at least for us!

 
 

More FABULOUSLY Talented People!

Here are more pictures of the 2009 Christmas show at Monticello!

I have to apoligize to those vendors who I missed while taking these pictures.

 These were taken while many of the participants were still setting up their areas.

So, just remember there are still many wonderful surprises waiting to be discovered once you enter Monticello!

A Few Talented Gals!

As promised, here are more pictures from the show at Monticello.

Remember you can still go if you're in town.

It will run through the 27th of December.

The first pictures are from my booth.

My sister doesn't get to make it to the show so, I'm bringing the show to her.

I won't be able to get through all the pictures I took but I'll give it a good start.

I'll begin with my friend Sue of  Bella.

She always does such a beautiful job at decorating and I just love the things she finds!

Next is Julie from Kindred Roses, another talented lady.

Jodi of  Duchess, she does not have a blog yet.

All three of these gals, besides being participants in the Christmas show, have regular booths at Monticello.

I've only shown you a few of the talented participates.

I'll try and get more pictures on real soon.

A Few Things I've Been Working On For The Show!

Since its been such a long time since my last post, I wanted to pop in and show you a few things I've been working on.

This past week I've been setting up for the show at Monticello.

Wow, I've seen everyones beautiful displays and it's eye candy to the soul.

Everyone has done a fabulous job, you won't want to miss it.

So, if you're in the area be sure to stop by, you'll be in for a real treat!

The show opens this Friday at 8:00am.

Here are a few of the items I've been busy making.

Here are some vintage cloth napkins I filled with lavender and embellished with flowers.

Some burlap stockings for Santa to fill.

I was big into burlap this year.

My #1 put some signs together for me, I just love how they turned out!

Here are some little ornaments made from metal tart dishes.

Not the best picture, but I think you get the idea.

Some old wooden spools embellished with vintage photos.

A bunch of burlap pillows!

I took quite a few photos last night of everyones spaces.

So, if you can't make it to the show and still want to see what everyone has been working on, be sure to stop by again for some inspiration.