Homemade!

A homemade gift can be the best kind of gift.
 There are those that scoff, remembering the misshapen clay ash tray given . The fact still remains that a lot of love goes into the creation of a homemade gift..It's become very fashionable to make home-made gifts to give away at Christmas or take to parties. Sometimes it can be  a cellophane  bag of Xmas cookies , sometimes a knitted  hat,  mitts or socks perhaps  even   a personal  luxury item....
This season I have tried to add these special touches   with a few home made gifts.They will be used   for hostess gifts , to neighbours who have done little favours for us , a little extra tuck in for broughten gifts..
First of my homemade gifts:
Lavender  Oatmeal Milk bath.

pretty aren't they and oh how nice the scent!

oatmeal ends up very finely ground

I chose lavender essential oil   for its many   benefits, sleep aid, ease anxiety,improve circulation  reduce blood pressure,relieve muscle pain.......... the oatmeal  soothes irriated  and itchy  skin and the dry mlk powder   soothes and moisturizes dry skin.
 The oatmeal was pulverized in a  small  grinder  so hopefully won't leave residue in the bath... Dry milk powder and a bit of baking soda which also  eases itchy skin  are all the other  ingredients needed.

Candy Cane  Bath salts.

For these  jars I used  sea salt , epsom salt, a touch of baking soda  and cranberry scent....  a little red food colouring to tint  half of mixture.tilted jars  and layered   white and red coloured salts....Soaking in Epsom salts  is said to help magnesium deficiency  which account for high rates of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive maladies, and  stress-related illnesses. Sea salt  is a purifier  that is  soothing, relaxing, and energizing.

finished

Finished up with organza ribbon, silk flowers  a little scoop for milk bath and  fancy tags from a web site.
 Do you make gifts?

2012 Milk Calender Macaroni and Cheese

Just last week received the  2012  Milk Calender .
Always look forward to  this calender arriving with so many yummy  recipes..
 Link to recipes here....
Browsing the recipes on a rainy wet Saturday.

Comfort food....needed to  brighten up the day..
Chose March's dish.
Stove top Macaroni and cheese.........
Wondered  how this would turn out as I have always done Baked  Macaroni and Cheese ......
Raves for this  dish
It is  quite  cheesy in flavour,  bonus is the ease of prep and it  has the dry mustard I love to add.....
This  is a lightened up version from 1995. Even so over 500 calories per serving.... Does serve 4 more than adequately. 

Added a bit of extra cheddar   sprinkled over the top

Don't think I will be going back to the oven  version....Wonder what I will make  next?
If you have tried something out of this calender   do let me know.....

Wrapping up the garden

See the holly bright with berries

Weather  for the month of November has been exceptionally mild   even so  some jobs can't be avoided any longer.... Burlapping some shrubs is the last job in the garden for me.....
Rather like  getting ready for all the wrapping of Christmas presents.... I still wrap boxes, not bag everything.....
There is not  a lot of  plants to burlap but last winter a  very big bunny   ate  my Chinese  azalea  almost  to the ground from 4 feet..   nary a bloom last  spring........ so this is a priority this fall. No more feeding hungry  bunnies...

Bring on the bunny

 The  Japanese maple  has been in the  ground for 3 years so this year just the  trunk gets a wrap , so hope I am right on this step ; it is a  lovely tree do not want to lose it.
  Lastly   a viburnum  needs a bit of protection. I did not do it last winter and  because of that  not a flower to be seen,  frosted off........ me and the flowers...
Also leaving the dogwood tree to the elements this year.. . So hoping I won't regret next spring leaving  the maple and dogwood to the harsh winds of winter.
Is your garden  bundled up for winter yet?

LRW- Christmas project

Not really a Christmas project but I just finished this card on the weekend , so pleased with the results just had to share.

 Inspired by one similar I had seen on the Internet...
Used Cherry Cobbler  ,Pear pizazz and Very vanilla for colours.  Designer paper  cut into 1 1/4 inc squares then edged the one end with   decorative scissors..  Stamped using Inkadinkadoo swirl  stamp with more Cherry cobbler .Popped up   crackers and  saying. Saying is a rub- on  called Holly Jolly. Find rub-ons not easy to use..... 

Inside sentiment and   swirl  dabbed off to lighten.........on cream parchment paper.

Is there any scent nicer at Christmas than pine?

 I  was in pine  heaven yesterday, Hubby's friend who works in the  Christmas Tree business brought me  4 bundles of  greens.....  Scotch pine,  Norfolk pine, cedar and  spruce....... just trimmings from  his trees....

With this abundance of   pine boughs I  got  busy  decorating the front porch , colour scheme red, a touch of silver , green and white.

Bare front porch

See the   lanterns from   thrift store .

Such a pleasure to use fresh   scented greens instead of the usual    artificial  ............

urn with wired  red ornaments and silver butterflies

Cheery and welcoming

Used  a old family favourite, antiqued    snowman post  and  some green mesh ribbon ......some   faux poinsettias  and a black  iron flower urn  to raise the greens up on the front window.. 

white branches are led lights

Up close to urn..

silver butterflies  add to the  sparkle

So enjoyable to  use   and   add the variety of greens to   each  window and  urn.
Did end up  smelling of  pine and  hands covered in  pitch.....

Hidden in green a black iron urn 



Berries and Butterflies Wreath

























Nightime look

Twinkling lights

Even enough to make a welcoming   arrangement on front hall table.

 Finished off  by adding  some holly from shrub in back garden to   fresh  arrangement. to link   front  porch  to  interior....what a wonderful scent when  entering the house.
Have you decorated your  outside yet?

Little Red Wagon- paper piecing.

Made a cute little card for a birthday. Used Chocolate chip for the back ground of card then Whisper white embossed with  a Happy Birthday   sayings, colours pear pizazz, pretty in pink and marina blue and strip of designer paper..  Stamped  using pennant  stamp for cone shape then  used cupcake  punch for the layers of ice
cream scoops.. Sprinkles  made with dots stamp. Popped up cherry with  dimensionals....
Do check out this fun challenge at LRW.

LRW - Congratulations

Here is the card I made for this weeks challenge.
Using soft suede and marina mist colours...  Embossed the butterfly , overlaid with  word stamp ,  sponged  with  the soft suede and marina mist. Brayered the letterpress folder fancy fan with marina mist . used scalloped trim border punch on the one edge. Added  ribbon , popped up the Congrats sign on dimensionals.....doesn't show well in picture.

Is it too early to be thinking Christmas Decor?

 Perhaps it seems early to be thinking  Christmas decor but a few  things  had  me thinking......
At  Hobby Lobby on    Tuesday with 3 girlfriends , Christmas carols were playing;  usually  so soon after Halloween I find that annoying but this time  found I   enjoyed  it ,
 and this weekend , a  big Fall chore; clean up the basement and re organize  my seasonal  items.
While  sorting thru the Xmas ornaments and  rearranging shelves   started thinking of  how to decorate this Christmas.
Final encouragement  received an email from Better Homes and Gardens with  Holiday  ideas .
Here are some that caught my eye.


like the mitten instead of the usual stockings



 





this looks so  elegant



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such a simple  mantle treatment

These last photos from Martha Stewart.

very festive

little touches of green

I did  get the basement cleaned  !

LRW- Purple People Eater

Little Red Wagon has posted an interesting challenge this week.   Purple People Eater..
Do check out the sample  card, so cute.
Thank goodness   any card with purple is acceptable.

 just for you is crooked  so will be redone.,

Used Concord Crush ,white and Wisteria Wonder   papers. Dry embossed with the tulip folder and Nestibilities    accent to hold saying..White  was stamped with Sahara Sand and  sponged  accented flowers with a blush of Pretty in Pink..

Planting bulbs

It is  almost a tradition for me to plant a few new  bulbs every  fall.
Perhaps I need the  anticipation of  seeing  them blossom in the spring that helps me get thru the dark cold days of winter...... 
Is it me or does it seem winters are longer  and longer?
I have  planted snowdrops, silverbells,

Candy apple Delight tulips,

won't these be a bright accent in the garden ?

 King Alfred Daffodils and more anemones........

But the ones I will be most watching for next spring are the 3 foxtail lilies .

Foxtail flowers



flowers to anticipate next  spring.



Do you have Autumn traditions   in the garden?