Monday, December 22, 2014

Christmas House Tour




I hope you enjoy seeing a bit of our home in Maine decorated for the Holidays.

                             Merry Christmas!









Saturday, December 6, 2014

Silver and White Christmas Tablescape

 
 
The silver bowl was already on top of the bureau,
I'd been tossing jewelry in it for quite some time.
(Maybe not so that it spills out quote so.)
 
 

 
 
I'd already planted the paperwhites in old silver pieces,
and the candle just had to be moved across the room.
My three dollar thrift store Santa took center stage,
and immediately felt right at home.
 
The silver, the bureau, the locket, and the mirror that is the backdrop, had
all once belonged to one grandparent or another.
 
I'd call that a little tablescape with a lot of history!
 
 
By the way, I've just started figuring my way around Instagram,
come along with me.
MELINDAJENNINGSSTYLE
 
 
 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Boxwood Globes

 
FAUX boxwood globes, I thought, perfect for my CHRISTMAS mantle.
I visited an import store and FOUND exactly what I needed.
 
 
 
 
I grabbed two and went in search of something to put them in.
 
 
 
 
This did the TRICK.
ALTHOUGH, you will notice I did get out my ever ready GOLD paint.
 
 
 
 
Then as I was wandering I was PULLED to the 75% off section.
(FALL decorations.)
BINGO, a dollar, a little COLOR for my GLOBES.
 
 

 
 
They just SIT still like good little BEADS,
NO glue necesssary.
 
 
 
 
Love them PLAIN,
 
 
 
 
and with the BEADS.
No TIME at all, and a MERE $6.00.
FUN!
 
 

 
 
BEFORE greens, globes, and garlands.
 
 
(I'm working on the AFTER.)
 

Monday, December 1, 2014

Very Easy Turkey Roulade

 
 
Believe me, I don't COOK much at all,
and I CAN do this!
 
 
 
 
This is what you start with, a BUTTERFLIED turkey breast.
(I would NOT attempt to debone the breast myself, that's why there are butchers!)
 
 
 
 
I stick the breast between two sheets of TIN FOIL,
and beat the he** out of it with a ROLLING PIN.
(Til it's about 1/2 INCH thick.)
It sort of looks like a HEART, cut it down the center.
REMEMBER, a turkey has two breasts, you get two ROULADES!
 
 
 
 
Then just spread WHATEVER stuffing you like on the flattened breast.
(Leave a little room around the edges, so the STUFFING
doesn't FALL out!)
 
 
 
 
You roll it starting with the LONG side.
I don't have a photo,
WHO can roll and SNAP a photo at the same time?
Have your cooking TWINE handy, and tie her up!
I used that cookie sheet, probably should have looked for a ROASTING PAN.
Now, that's just ONE, you get TWO!
 
 
 
 
It came out just perfectly, after 45 MINUTES to an HOUR at 400 degrees.
(I feel bad that it's not plated beautifully, but the diners were restless!)
 
 
P.S.
I TRULY believe the leftovers taste better, COLD!
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Cell Phone Wallet?

 
OR . . . . Cell phone IN a wallet?
I was SOOO excited when I received an iphone!
Such an upgrade from the dinosaur I had.
 
 
I was and STILL am determined to keep it presentable.
Found this leather, SUBTLY monogrammed cover from Levenger and couldn't be HAPPIER!
I considered a "wallet" type but was told those were GEEKY,
(And I don't need to up my GEEK factor.)
BUT . . .
I often run downtown with nothing but my phone and a small bill in my pocket,
(who knows when HAPPY HOUR may call)?
My phone was not happy in my back jean pocket and I hated seeing it sitting on the table.
(Or perhaps BAR.)
SOOO . . . .
 
 
My new COVER,
got a COVER!
 
 
GENIUS!
(If I do say so myself!)
 
 
No, you can't take a photo, but she looks so nice all dressed up sitting on the bar!
(Well, that's actually my sofa.)
 
 
I do this ALL the time with this vintage wallet.
OF COURSE you can put all your $$$ and CARDS in there too.
Not ME,
I'd just as soon not LOSE everything at once!
Be NICE to your cell phone, you know . . . .
YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT !!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Forcing Bulbs

 

Finally got my lazy self over to the nursery.
 

 
Did I need twelve?
NO!
But, cheaper by the dozen, as they say!
 
 
Gorgeous SUPER sized Amaryllis but . . .
STICKER SHOCK
$24.99.
Scavenger that I am, found a kit for $7.99 that was good enough for who it's for!
 
 
Sun was shining and my enclosed porch was WARM as toast.
So I got to work.
 
 
STONES, BULBS, WATER, and something to put them In.
Here we go.
 
 
Who doesn't like BLUE and WHITE?
No one.
 
 
Three down nine to go.
Grab ANYTHING, just get them planted!
 
 
 
A little SILVER never hurt anyone.
 
 
And this metal dish has been around longer than I have!
It was always filled with nuts in their shells this time of the year.
 
 
With some TWINE and a TAG,
this Mason Jar could step up to the rank of HOSTESS GIFT!
 
 
These GOODWILL urns have been spray painted so many times they've grown an eighth of an inch!!
 

 
Another GOODWILL oldie, tall enough to keep the PAPERWHITES upright!
(They say GIN does that too, SERIOUSLY!)
That's TWELVE!
 
 
OH, my AMARYLLIS,
in a PLASTIC pot, HORRORS!
Supposed to go in the glass vase, before I read it needed holes for drainage.
Don't worry, it will be hidden in a lovely cache pot with moss covering every inch of PLASTIC
BEFORE it goes PUBLIC!
So EASY, even I can handle forcing bulbs!
 
 
You really just put the PAPERWHITE bulb in stones and add water.
Do pretty much the same with the AMARYLLIS only use potting soil.
And of course they need SUN, I know I didn't have to tell you that!
Now it's time to sit back (I do that really well) and wait.
In a matter of WEEKS, the house will look like MARTHA had paid it a visit!
 
Enjoy EVERY DAY,
Have a BLOOMIN good time!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Thanksgiving Table

It all started at Goodwill.
Last summer I found these, two packs of them.
 
 
 
 


 

 

 
I remember thinking that they would be great for Thanksgiving,
AND
I actually remembered where I had stuck them!
 
 
 
 



 
 
Nice and bright and go with the leftover gourds and pumpkins from Halloween.
So I ran around the house and stole a few things from here and there.
 
 
 
 
 
 
It started to come together,
Just use what you have, it will be fine!
 
 
 
 
Little pear candles, 10 for a dollar, cute as a button.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pottery from the kitchen, lanterns from the sideboard,
candles from the living room.
 
 
 
 
 
 
I'm done.
Now, who's going to cook the turkey?