An Auburn Weekend

Bill and I went to Auburn for a quick weekend with family ~ isn't that what the holidays are all about?
A roadtrip to grandmother's house . . .

Even though Auburn is a huge University town . . . to me it is just a small town.
A beautiful small town~

We grew up in Auburn ~ back when Toomer's was really a drug store!
It was the place to get a lemonaide ~

This photo of the great oak trees on Toomer's Corner is so sad to me.
They are trying to decide what to do with the corner ~ the trees were poisioned 2 years ago and will obviously have to be cut down.

We didn't need them much for toilet paper this year anyhoo ~

While we were there ~ we did a little shopping in town.
Of course . . .  Ware's Jewelry has been there like forever!!

Where else could you buy orange and blue pearls or one of oddles of 'tree' designs.

This hasn't been the best year for War Eagle fans ~ But now we are on the 'Gus Bus'
We are hoping for better things in 2013!

We will both be pulling for Alabama in the National Championship against Notre Dame ~
How 'bout y'all?
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ END

The PhotoHunt for this week is 'End'.
It is the end of another year... how quickly they seem to fly now ~ like the old cartoon with the calendar pages that fly out the window.
I have filled most of my Promises for 2012 ~ although the de-cluttering seems to be an ongoing project.
I definitely spend time with family and took the time to sink my toenails in the sand . . .

and in the END ~ isn't that what it's all about?
Now I am working on my promises for 2013 . . . Promises to myself !
Because with every END there is a new beginning.
Happy Hunting y'all ~
Sandi

Merry Christmas Y'all ~

Merry Christmas friends ~

We wish you nothing but joy and hope for a wonderful New year!
Sandi & Bill

PhotoHunt ~ Kindness

The PhotoHunt for today is Kindness~
I think kindess is the most important trait to instill in our children.

You is KIND ~

You is SMART ~

You is IMPORTANT ~

With that . . . we can bring kindness to the world.
and what a difference that would make.

Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Christmas Cookie Time

One of the Holiday traditions at our house is baking our Christmas Cookies ~

For years (actually, for generations) we have used this Butter Cookie Recipe.
It makes THE PERFECT roll out cookie dough. We have made cookies for all kinds of holidays. But . . . this year, I decided to try a new icing.
Thanks to Pinterest, I found this cookie glaze on the King Authur Flour Site

Cookie Glaze
2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 Tbs light corn syrup
2 Tbss plus 1 teaspoon milk
Food coloring

Whisk together the sugar, corn syrup and 2 Tablespoons of the milk. The icing should be the consistency of a smooth but runny glaze. If it is to thick, slowly add the last teaspoon of milk. To ice the cookies, hold each one over a bowl of icing, drizzle the cookie allowing the excess glaze to fall back into the bowl.

Place the freshly iced cookies on a rack with waxed paper under for easy clean-up.
The icing will dry into a firm glaze.
They store well in the freezer . . . if they don't all get eaten first.

I miss the creamy vanilla flavor of most icings . . . but there is no doubt that this is easier, and prettier. It might just be a keeper.
What do y'all think?
Happy Holidays~
Sandi
 

Traveling Tuesday ~

It's Traveling Tuesday . . .
But I'm not traveling anywhere this weekend ~ in fact I am sticking close to home through the holidays.

There are plenty of other people who are traveling . . . be safe.

Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

Blue Monday ~ Kitchen Reveal

Happy Blue Monday ~

and I get to show off my BLUE teapot . . .
and my 'new' kitchen.

actually . . . the only thing we changed is the granite counter top.

and a ginormous hole in the wall, that opens the kitchen to the rest of the house.

Oh ~ and a gas cooktop.
I am cookin' with gas now!

I'm so happy with the finished product.

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues and Boogie Board Cottage for her Masterpiece Monday.
Y'all enjoy ~

Sandi

Early Christmas at LuLu's

This time of year, we celebrate whenever we can.
We were lucky that the kids were here for a quick wedding weekend . . . so we celebrated with an early Christmas at LuLu's

This photo with the pile of wrapping paper and a leftover bottle just makes me smile ~
that is what it's all about.
Our boring routines in front of the TV were all turned around . . .
And I wouldn't have it Any Other Way!!

This sweet baby (in her big girl PJs)

Kept us all in stitches ~ and on our toes.

I snapped hundreds of photos, to only get a handful of good shots.
And even those are blurry with busy hands.

and giggly smiles.

Now, it is to quiet.
 I can take the rubber bands off of all the cabinets, and wipe off the sticky finger prints.
. . . or maybe I won't !!

Happy Holidays y'all~
Lulu and Buddy

PhotoHunt * Bells

The PhotoHunt for this week is 'Bell'.
I have lots of photos of beautiful bells in Italy, London, and Croatia . . .
But this time of year, there are bells everywhere

Especially at LuLu's house!

Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Travel Tuesday ~ Roma

Some of my dearest friends are going to be in Rome for Christmas . . .
So of course I am crazy jealous!

I can't wait to follow their every step . . .

Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ ZesTy

The PhotoHunt for this week is Zesty ~

It seems I am always taking photos of zesting in the kitchen.

I have even learned to zest, without loosing any fingernails ~

That is a lot of Zest !

Check for all the other ZesTy Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Kitchen Up-Date

Things have been busy in our kitchen . . . but probably not in the same way your kitchens were busy over the Thanksgiving holidays.
I was smart to plan a trip to my sister's for the holidays ~
and left the guys with this mess in the kitchen . . .

We are seeing a change ~
the opening to the living room is done.
The appliances are ready to go in and the granite is on the way.

Now that the cabinets are down you get a peak at this old project .
Several years ago I had the brilliant idea of applying a stucco finish over nasty wallpaper.

That was an improvement . . . but this new change is going to be FaBuLOuS!
Stay tuned for the big reveal.
Y'all enjoy~
Sandi

Cooking Light ~ Holiday Traditions

It is time again for our Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club.
Every month this group comes together with a virtual menu, that we can share.
For the month of December, we are celebrating Holiday Traditions. I searched through the oodles of online recipies until I found this CookingLightRecipe for a brined turkey. That would be just what I needed for a quick holiday dinner before I headed to Boston for Thanksgiving.
~ a little Turkey, before the Turkey.

Honey-Thyme brined Turkey Breast
7 cups water, divided
3 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
6 thyme sprigs
1/2 cup kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups ice cubes
1 (6-pound) whole bone-in turkey breast, skinned
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
Cooking spray
Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

Preparation

Combine 1 cup of water, 2 tablespoons pepper, and thyme sprigs in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, and remove from heat. Pour into a large bowl; cool to room temperature. Add remaining 6 cups water, salt, honey, and sugar, stirring until salt and sugar dissolve. Pour salt mixture into a 2-gallon zip-top plastic bag. Add ice and turkey; seal. Refrigerate 24 hours, turning the bag occasionally. Remove turkey from bag, and discard brine. Pat turkey dry with paper towels.
Rub turkey with oil. Combine 1 tablespoon pepper and chopped thyme; rub over turkey.
Preheat oven to 400°.

Place the turkey on a roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 1 hour or until thermometer inserted into thickest portion of the breast registers 180°. Place turkey on a platter. Cover with foil; let stand 15 minutes. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.

I think a turkey breast is great anytime of the year. . .  this simple recipe is a keeper! The turkey breast was moist, with a fresh flavor of thyme and hint of honey. I threw in some veggies to roast... they were perfect too.

 
Now . . . let's see what everyone else has brought for our Holiday Celebration.
Jerry has made a traditional Holiday Panettone.
Val is making Tourtiere
Giz has the soup ~ a Choppino
 Susan is bringing the ever-popular Green Bean Casserole ~ Cooking Light style.

Y'all enjoy ~
Sandi

PhotoHunt * Stellar

The PhotoHunt for this week is * Stellar *

I immediately thought of this little chapel in Montisi.

Even the years of harsh Italian winters and wet summers, can not dim the Stellar beauty of it's design.

With the peeling plaster and faded colors ~ you can still feel the warmth from generations of worship in this holy place.
As I was looking at these photos I noticed the glowing red candle, which is usually a sign that there is a holy relic there.

I will have to check that out next May !

Check for all the other Stellar Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Friday Favorites ~ Nutcracker Sheriff

I'm so excited about my newest wedding couple ~
It's fun to create these custom cake toppers.

This was a cute couple from Minnisota, who are having a holiday wedding.

He is a state police officer ~ you can see the sheriff's badge on his sharp Nutcracker uniform.

She has a beautiful flowing ballgown ~ with red shoes peeping underneath.

I know the wedding will be beautiful and wish them years of happiness.
You can find lots more happy couples at my ETSY shop ~ Gimme Some Sugar
I am linking to Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest.
Y'all join in~
 Sandi