To do something a little different for Easter, we grew pots of rye grass and then inserted sugar cookies that we baked on bamboo skewers into the pots to create a “blooming pot of flowers.”
Featured
From the Attic of an Old House...
Inspiration for cooking, crafting, home decorating and celebrating
Basket and Jar Centerpiece for Fall
To create an easy centerpiece for a coffee table, we made use of an old wicker pie basket and a mason jar. We placed an LED candle in the mason jar and then around it placed lemon pomanders, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, nuts, berries and mini fruits. It was finished off with a couple sprigs of…
Which Way to the Pumpkin Patch?
The scarecrow is guiding you to find the pumpkin Patch. This is an old Martha Stewart purchase from Martha by Mail. He is looking a bit worse for wear, but he has had a tough job fending off those crows! The pumpkins are painted galvanized metal. The salvia ‘Indigo Spires’ are incredibly vibrant this year….
Department 56 Halloween Village
It’s getting spooky in town! The pumpkins are being delivered, the jack-o-lanterns are getting lit and witches are flying and stirring their cauldrons. Trick or treaters are getting ready to spirit around to gather goodies. Retired lighted houses The Haunted Mansion, The Spooky Farmhouse and Grimsly Manor from Department 56’s Snow Village Halloween collection are…
Organizing Craft Paint
What to do when you are overrun with bottles of craft paint? That was the dilemma as I had over 140 bottles tossed in several plastic boxes. Finding the color you wanted for a project was a project itself! I contemplated several ideas but then the perfect solution just came to me – let’s use…
Lighted Grapevine Balls
An easy and inexpensive way to decorate your urns or planters for the holidays is to use greenery and lighted grapevine balls. Here, we used a 25′ bundle of inexpensive white pine roping, cut into four sections and placed each in the urns. We took large 10″ grapevine balls and wrapped each with a set…
Gourd Jack o’ Lantern
Instead of carving a pumpkin for Halloween decorating, consider using a dried gourd. It will take some time and effort, but it will reward you with being able to use it for years to come. Of course you can grow and dry your own gourds, but you can also easily find already dried gourds at…
Sticky Buns
When I was growing up there was a bakery in the mall that my mom and I would pass and in the display case would be these enormous raisin sticky buns. The smell was intoxicating and when they were fresh from the oven and still warm, just melted in your mouth. I could never find…
Washboard Wall Hanging
A number of years ago I found an old unfinished washboard in the cellar that must’ve been purchased for some long-forgotten project. When making room for the plumbers and electricians, I rediscovered it and thought it would make an excellent wall hanging for the laundry room.
Harvest Cookies
When Autumn and the holidays come along, some of the most amazing tastes and fragrances come from cranberries, oranges and nuts. All come together in this luscious oatemal-based cookie that creates a harvest celebration on the taste buds. Cook Time Prep time: 15 min Cook time: 30-45 min Ready in: 60 min Yields: 48 two-inch…
Light and Hearty Lasagna
When you think of good old-fashioned comfort food and lasagna comes to mind, what is your favorite part? Is it the gooey cheese? Or could it be the comforting pasta? Maybe it’s the zesty sauce? It couldn’t be the calories and fat could it? Lasagna is notorious for packing fat, carbs and calories into a…
Lighter Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine is one of the most decadent and versatile dishes to make. Paired with a warmed croissant or a piece of freshly baked brioche, it can make a tasty breakfast. Combine it with a mixed green salad and a light dressing, and you could easily serve it for lunch, brunch, or even a spring…
Gingerbread Pancakes
On Christmas morning, what could be more evocative of the season than the scent of gingerbread and cranberries? With all the hustle to get to opening Christmas presents, you don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen in the early morning. Here is an easy and delicious recipe for gingerbread pancakes with…