Little Family in the Big Woods

Happy Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:21:00 +0000

Candle...Everything's A Dollar

Outer Vase...Everthing's A Dollar

Sweet Tart Hearts placed between the two.

Pretty when lit...

Buttercups

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:14:00 +0000

It is cold today in Tennessee!!!

I have picked most of my buttercups and brought them indoors.

Such a lovely bouquet.

Some of the flowers were just buds, but they quickly opened once inside with the warmer temperatures.

Daffodils

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:32:00 +0000

There are no daffodils blooming outside my kitchen window...so,

I decided to try putting an arrangement of flowers in a fruit jar and hanging that jar from an iron hook.

It is strategically placed outside, so that I can see it when I am washing dishes at the sink.

I have been surprised by how long it has stayed...almost a week and the flowers are still pretty. I am afraid I will need to bring the jar in tomorrow, because temperatures here are predicted to be in the teens. I will probably pick all of my flowers that are blooming and bring them indoors.

Spring is coming...but winter is still around.

Frozen Strawberry Dessert

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:10:00 +0000

This past weekend has been using whatever I could find in the kitchen to make whatever I could come up with.

In other words, I did not want to go to the grocery store.

I don't know why I bought this strawberry pie filling. (I probably had a coupon.)

When I saw the crushed pineapple, I had a thought.

Would it be possible to make my peach and blueberry frozen dessert using strawberry pie filling?

YES...it is delicious!!!

Just four ingredients:

crushed pineapple

strawberry pie filling

eagle brand milk

cool whip

Drain the pineapple.

Stir the four ingredients together.

I used about 12 ounces of cool whip.

Place in a square dish that is safe for the freezer.

I decided to top my dessert with cool whip.

Cover with aluminum foil and place in the freezer.

Now, you just have to be patient and give it time to freeze.

Enjoy!!!

Primroses

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:12:00 +0000

Another primrose...

this one is brightening up my kitchen.

Primroses

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:37:00 +0000

I enjoy couponing!!!

I enjoy flowers!!!

I really enjoy using coupons to buy flowers!!!

Are you a member of Home Depot's Gardening Club? If you are, they will occasionally e-mail you coupons.

Last week, I received a coupon to buy a floral plant and get one free.

So...I was able to purchase two primroses for less than $1.50.

The pictures you see here are of the yellow primrose I purchased.

I happened to notice that the sunlight was shining through the window like a spotlight on this primrose.

Such a lovely sight in the middle of winter.

Blue and Violet

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:19:00 +0000

I am really liking this combination of violet and blue.

I am wondering if this would be a new color combination for my bathroom.

The vinca vine is really blooming now with the warmer weather we are experiencing in January.

I am wondering if it gets colder and kills back the blooms, will it bloom again when the weather warms back up?

I guess we will just have to wait and see...

Lite Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:14:00 +0000

I have too many hobbies and interests.

My latest one is a strong following of the website Pinterest.

There are just soooooo many wonderful ideas to be found there.

I recently came across this recipe for a 3 ingredient lemon cake.

lemon cake mix

20 oz. diet 7-up

fat free cool whip

My version used diet Sprite (2 1/2 cups) in place of the 7-up.

I really liked this cake.

It is very, very moist.

So.....I decided to try a different flavor.

Orange

Notice that I have added another ingredient.

I am really enjoying using Pam for Baking.

If you haven't tried it, it includes flour in the spray.

It is great to prevent baked goods from sticking to the pan.

You will also notice that the batter for this cake is very thing.

Once baked, the cake does not rise very much, and you will see that it cracks around the edges.

But, once the cool whip is added to the top, it looks like and tastes like a delicious cake. The longer it sits in the refrigerator, the better it gets.

It is really very good for a "lite" cake.

Next, I am going to try strawberry.

Winter Bouquet

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:50:00 +0000

It is January...

I have been picking flowers in my yard today...

and it is January...

Oh what a beautiful day we have had in Tennessee!!!

The Big Woods are surprising me with early blooms here and there.

I picked a few of these today and discovered a lovely bouquet in my hand.

This bouquet has found a new home on my screened porch. I just freshened up the last bouquet.

Lovely.

Animal Kingdom

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:54:00 +0000

Look closely at this picture???

Do you notice anything out of the ordinary?

How about now???

Do you see them???

Of course, you do...

I absolutely love this picture!!!

These pictures were made the day we spent at

Animal Kingdom.

I declare this cat has been trained to pose

when the truck comes by.

He seemed perfectly delighted to have his

picture made.

And what do you think about this fellow???

The real thing... or a man in a gorilla suit???

We enjoyed our day at Animal Kingdom.

Lenten Roses

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:44:00 +0000

There is a reason that I love Lenten Roses so...

It has to do with today being January 21st.

And this is what I saw when I went outside today blooming in my back yard.

Snow will not hurt, cold weather will not hurt... my lenten roses are here to stay until well into the summer.

I just had to pick one stalk to bring inside.

The greenery came from a plant that I purchased at the Nashville Lawn and Garden Fair a few years ago.

This plant is also growing in my back yard.

The inspiration for the fruit jar and burlap came from Pinterest.

I just love a little spring in the dead of winter!!!

Don't you???

Disney World

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:22:00 +0000

The dreams that you wish really do come true...

You're never too old to go to Disney World!!!

My family just returned from our trip to Disney.

I am so glad we waited until our kids were older to make this trip.

We had the best time, and we all got to be young again.

My soon to be eighteen year old son had the chance to spend time with his favorite movie characters from Toy Story.

My husband got a few days to act a little "Goofy".

My fourteen year old daughter had a few days to be a little girl again.

And I got to remember the magic that comes from fairy tales and dreaming.

Everybody says..."What was your favorite part?"

My favorite thing was watching the fireworks over the castle. It was a moment I will never forget.

Truly magical....

Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:36:00 +0000

A Year of Cooking

Pizza

Cornbread

Bacon Wrapped Hamburger Steaks

Chicken Casserole

Chicken Salad

Fried Chicken Tenders

Loaded Potatoes in Crock Pot

Chocolate Gravy

These are a few of my family's favorite things.

Sweet Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:27:00 +0000

A Year of Sweets

I love to bake and make sweet desserts.

This past year, I shared with you some of my very favorite recipes.

Lots and lots of chocolate...

Chocolate Fried Pies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Chocolate Ice Cream

Chocolate Pie

Chocolate Sheath Cake

Chocolate Doughnuts

Chocolate Chess Pie

I am very proud to have added an index to all my recipes in the right side bar.

I now use this index rather than pulling recipes from a cookbook.

My daughter is also able to follow the recipes without my help.

If you notice any recipes missing from the index, please let me know.

I still have lots more to share in 2012.

Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:19:00 +0000

Year in Flowers

All of the above flowers were part of 2011.

I wish I could take credit for growing all of them, but the truth is part of the photos were taken at my Nashville brother's yard and house.

I tried to pick a favorite, but I haven't been able to pick just one.

I really enjoy the surprise lilies, because they remind me of my Grandma.

Crocheting and Knitting

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:11:00 +0000

Year in Crocheting and Knitting

I really enjoy looking back through the past year's blogs to see what my family has done

during the previous year.

Last year was not a year for crocheting and knitting. I could only find a few posts with projects

I had finished.

I did make lots of the cotton scrubbies.

I gave some away as gifts and even sold a few during a summer yard sale.

Maybe 2012 will offer more time for crafting.

Then again, I have one child graduating from High School and another graduating from the Eighth Grade this year, so the crafting may have to wait until another year.

Ornamental Cabbage

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:06:00 +0000

I think this is a sign that I am ready for Spring.

Once the Christmas decorations are taken down, the house just seems so bare.

I purchased this ornamental cabbage from Home Depot to add a little color to my screened porch.

I am really into burlap these days...

What do you think???

Jimmy

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:42:00 +0000

Let me introduce you to the newest member

of our family.

This is Jimmy.

Oh Jimmy, you're so fine.

You're so fine.

You blow my mind.

Hey Jimmy....

Hey Jimmy...

Jimmy joined our family on Christmas Eve.

My daughter had seen a Halloween sock monkey in a magazine made from knee socks.

She thought it was so cute.

I don't know where you go when you see something handmade that you just have to have, but around here we go to my Sewing Sister.

Sure enough, my daughter showed the sock monkey to my Sewing Sister and not only did she get the sock monkey for Christmas, but the colors perfectly match my daughter's four color wall bedroom...turquoise, purple, gray, and lime green.

Oh Jimmy...you are soooo fine.

You are going to fit in perfectly with our family.

Thanks Sewing Sister.

Sausage Cream Cheese Pinwheels

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:23:00 +0000

I came across a recipe for sausage pinwheels that was very similar to the sausage cream cheese casserole that I love to make.

I tweeked the recipe to be more like my casserole recipe and discovered a new appetizer for my family.

You will need:

1 pound sausage

8 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

1 can crescent rolls

Follow the directions from this (Sausage and cream cheese breakfast casserole) to brown the sausage, melt the cream cheese in the skillet, and then stir the two together.

Open the crescent dough and spread out on a piece of plastic wrap while pinching the seams together. Add the sausage/cream cheese mixture and then sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top.

Roll up the crescent dough long ways. It will be very sticky, so cover with the wrap and place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.

Slice into 1 inch slices and place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until brown.

When I pulled these from the oven, I was afraid they looked dry. However, the cream cheese makes them moist and delicious.

Enjoy???

Peanut Butter Balls

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:23:00 +0000

Does your family have a favorite Christmas candy you make year after year???

Even when I was a kid, we always made peanut butter balls.

My own children love peanut butter balls.

This year my daughter made these all by herself using the directions from last year's blog post:

recipe peanut butter balls

She added a special twist to our peanut butter balls this year.

She added a Christmas m&m to the center of one of the peanut butter balls.

The person who gets this special peanut butter ball gets to open a present early on Christmas Eve.

She also chose to make this year's candy using candy bars and paraffin for the chocolate coating. We all agree we like this method better than the candy quick we used last year.

Enjoy!!!

Christmas Decorations

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:58:00 +0000

Beautiful Christmas decorations...

simple...yet, festive.

Pictures taken while visiting with my Lynchburg Sister.

Happy Retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:19:00 +0000

It's official...

My Lynchburg sister has officially retired from 35 years of teaching.

We had a great day last week at a luncheon in her honor at the school.

They know her as the "perfect" 4th Grade Teacher.

What they don't know is that most of her time before she moved to Lynchburg was spent as the "perfect" Kindergarten teacher.

My children were never in my Sister's Kindergarten class. I wanted her to be their aunt...not their teacher. It made no difference. They were still heavily touched by her Kindergarten program that was put together and used by all the K teachers at the school.

Yes I remember...

the first day of Kindergarten...

the Mother's Day Tea...

the Thanksgiving meal...

the Halloween party...

the Elegant Dance...

the book baskets...

the Star student of the week...

the angel Christmas tree ornaments...

Kindergarten graduation.

Good teacher's are sooooooo hard to find these days. This is one that will certainly be missed.

Christmas M&M Reeses Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:14:00 +0000

This picture speaks of a very busy kitchen.

My daughter and I have been busy preparing cookies for a cookie swap.

These are my favorite holiday cookies to make...mostly, because they are so easy. The directions can be found here.

I did a few things different with these:

I made a few cookies using peanut m&m's rather than plain.

I did not use cupcake liners like I did before.

(The liners are hard to peal from the cookie.)

I sprayed my mini muffin tin with Pam for baking...the cookies came out easily.

I took this plate of cookies to my teenage Sunday School class...they were devoured.

Easy...festive...and delicious.

Christmas Countdown

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:48:00 +0000

Our Christmas Countdown has taken on a new look this year.

Last year's countdown was requested by my daughter to be an old fashioned countdown.

This year's countdown is really old fashioned...and features pint jars.

The kids will be able to see what they are getting, but it sure was easier than what I have done in the past...and it looks very festive on our entertainment center.

Christmas Decorations

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:31:00 +0000

The Christmas tree is up and Precious, the cat, has found her new place to sleep and relax.

I must say I envy her for being able to curl up under the tree.

It looks like such a warm and inviting spot.