Happy Thanksgiving…

Pies,  Pies,  and more pies…  and a Gingerbread Cake for Edy…. Happy Belated Birthday Edy !!!

Una Torta Per Giu Giu… A Cake For Giu Giu…

A sweet little treat,   for a very sweet little girl… can't believe that Giu Giu is 6…

Una Serata Autunnale… An Autumn Evening…

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas… but,  it's still Autumn.  Still enjoying the feeling of Autumn with it's beautiful,  blustery days,  and blue sky with puffy white clouds.  Dinner outside with friends seemed like a perfect way to take in all the beauty of this season.  The sky was lovely,  a little stormy and actually gave us a little sprinkle before dinner.  We bundled up for the chilly night and enjoyed ourselves with plenty of food,  cocktails and laughs…

Fine D'Autunno…. Late Autumn…

Thankfully,  we're finally having  some cooler weather.  Nice for cool weather vegetables in the raised beds,  and warm  cozy dinners which include Tri Tip Pot Pie,   and a savory Cornbread Bread  Pudding.  The raised beds are planted with cabbages, rainbow chard,  beets,  carrots, broccoli, cauliflower,  tomatoes,  arugula , my favorite herbs,  and companion flowers.    Newly planted and showing good signs of growth… We shall see…

Profumi Per Le Feste Fai Da Te…Holiday Scents DIY…

I love a project that is easy, fast,  and pretty.  I've made these little Wax Sachets several times to keep for myself  and to give as simple little Hostess Gifts. Using things that I have around he house makes it easy to do when I feel like doing something creative that I can keep on hand for when I might need a little something for a friend.    I always seem to have left over wax from burned taper candles or sometimes wax from a candle that didn't have a good wick and wouldn't burn well. Clippings from the garden,  little berries, even faux berries,  herbs ,  and essential oils are all the things  I need to put these little pretties together.  When giving these as a gift,  adding a little Holiday Card is a nice touch,  and you can customize them at Shutterfly.com.

 Here is how I do it.
I gather my ingredients…
Candle Wax,  chopped into small pieces for faster melting

Small berries, leaves, flower petals,  leaves or herbs, whole spices like cloves, cardamom, star anise

Essential oils,  I like to use very herbal fragrances like rosemary, mint, tea tree and others that
compliment the fragrance of the clippings that I am using

A shallow container,    I use plastic lids from disposable food containers small round or rectangle

A large knife (if using large lid) to cut into desired shape

A small bowl and a pot of water that the bowl will fit on securely

A drinking straw

Twine or decorative ribbon

Small gift bags

Begin by melting the wax in the bowl  which is placed on the pot of simmering water.
Once the wax is melted,  carefully, add several drops of Essential Oil ,  carefully, pour the wax into your plastic lid then add the decorative items as you like.  Allow the wax to set until it is still soft , then at what will be the top of the sachet,  make a hole using the straw,  then allow the wax to set completely.  Run a sharp knife around the edge of the wax to help loosen,  turn it over and it should release fairly easily.  Place ribbon through hole.  Place in bag ,  tie with ribbon.

Buon Compleanno Priscilla… Happy Birthday Priscilla…

It's hard to believe that another year has past .  Time just seems to fly by… 24 wonderful years .  What a fun celebration with lots of friends, and  immediate family.  Priscilla wanted a "Cowboy Theme" and expected everyone to dress like cowboys…Guests were greeted at the door with a "Wanted " poster of Priscilla… we had a blast.  The cake… Baked Alaska… again, 3 years in a row.  The decor,  simple touches of Cowboy inspiration,  a Bandana Table Runner,  Cowboy Boots holding flowers ,  along with Cattails and Millet in Whiskey bottles.  The food… not the usual fare found around here,  Ribs, Chili,  Cornbread,  Hot Dogs.  Mom seemed to enjoy herself posing with Paul even though she wasn't wearing her usual fancy dress and blingy  jewelry .