It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

The most wonderful time of year has arrived! Busy schedules with church functions,
Christmas parties, family get-togethers, Christmas parades, and more lend to a hectic pace. But it's worth it all to celebrate the Reason for the Season! Here's a peek into how we celebrate...



JESUS!!! He's the reason we celebrate!!

Our Family Tree

This tree has a theme, and it's family. Every ornament on this tree was given to us by a family member, very close friends, or obtained on a special trip to remind us of our time spent there. There are usually a couple of new ones added each year to represent different events in our lives from the previous year. We also have 4 ornaments given to us by friends that were on our very first tree as a married couple 25 Christmases ago. Each ornament holds sentimental value to us and that's what makes our tree so very special to us!

German Hutch

This hutch was found on the side of the road in Germany while we were living there in the early 90's by some of our friends. They already had one, so they gave this one to us. It was a labor of love (and hate) to refinish it, but is was well worth the effort! I bought the dishes while in Germany also. 

Den Mantle
The theme here is Santa! Most of these were found during our time in Germany. 

This window came from my great grandmother's house. This idea was inspiration from a Pinterest photo. 

The Kitchen Tree

This tree is full of hand made ornaments from my daughters that were made at school and church over the years. It also contains their Disney ornaments from our trips to Disney World. 

My Grandmother's Cabinet

I love filling this cabinet with treasures from my friends and students and special things we've found while on vacation in different places. 

Our Guest Nook

This cozy spot in the kitchen seats friends and family before and after meals. 

My Garden Corner

This tree features official White House Ornaments from the last 13 years. They are given to us each year by a dear family friend. 

My Christmas Village

Guest Bath

My Christmas Cactus

This cactus is always right on time! I just love it!

Fall is in the Air!

This morning we had that first, crisp, feeling to the air. It's one week before the 'official' start of fall, but it's enough to get me in the mood for fall decorating, homemade chili, and baking pumpkin bread. Fall is by far my most favorite season of the year! I've started my decorating, pumpkin bread is baking in the oven, and football is on TV. Here's a look into our home. I've also shared my pumpkin bread recipe and a fall snack mix.I hope you enjoy!! Happy Fall!

This old window came from my great-grandmother's house. The crocks were bought for a few dollars each at flea
markets in Germany while we were living there in the 90s. 

Our dining room table. 

The landing going upstairs to our TV room. 

Our dining room buffet.

This hutch was literally found on the side of the road in Germany. It took lots
of tough love to get it looking the way it does now. But it's one of my treasures.  

This hutch belonged to my grandmother. It sat on her back porch for years filled with
Mason Jars and other things. So glad to have it! 

Pumpkin Muffins - One of my favorite fall treats!

Homemade Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups of flour

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsps. baking soda

3 cups of sugar

1 cup of canola or vegetable oil

4 eggs, slightly beaten

t tsp. grated nutmeg

1 15oz. can of pumpkin

Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the oil, eggs, *nutmeg, and pumpkin.

Mix well and pour into 2 bread loaf pans. Make sure you thoroughly grease the pans first!! Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. 

Makes 2 loaves or 24 muffins or 1 loaf and 12 muffins, etc. You get the point! 

* NOW please read this!! If you do not use freshly ground nutmeg, you are missing out! Buy yourself a hand held microplane grater at Wal-mart, Target, etc. Get yourself some whole nutmeg and grate away. You will be glad you did! 

Fall Snack Mix

I always have some type of snack mix made up to just reach in a 'grab a bite'  and keep going. I love a candy corn and peanut mix, but I've added Reeses Pieces and semi-sweet chocolate chips to the mix. The pumpkin jar just sets it off!