Our Day Of Thanks

Our Thanksgiving was sweet and very special and we are so grateful for the blessings in our life.  A few chairs were unoccupied this year and we miss our loved ones who would fill those chairs and also fill the room with laughter and chit chat. This year’s sides were all new recipes that I found in the November 2014 Country Living Magazine.  Even though I love the simplicity of recipes tried and true, venturing out and trying new recipes is fun and challenging at the same time.   I have to be honest, I am intimidated and lacking in confidence when it comes to making pies.  Costco is an easy pie fix – they make the best pumpkin pie.   For this Thanksgiving I chose to make an attempt at some homemade pumpkin pies and a chocolate cream pie with homemade pie crust.  My Nanny Hazel made the very best chocolate pie from scratch.  There was always the promise of one of her decadent chocolate pies – or even two – on the holiday dessert table.  I grew up loving and anticipating her wonderful dessert and after my boys experienced their first taste, they were enamored as well.  I wish I had HER recipe, but I don’t.  I went through my mother’s recipe book thinking she may have it written down somewhere.  No luck there, however I did find my Grandma Katy’s homemade pie crust recipe.  On it she had written “fool proof”.  Well, okie dokie!  If she says so and she was a great cook as well.  Hers called for half butter and half shortening and a teaspoon of vinegar.  I also found a recipe for a chocolate cream meringue pie in a Hershey’s chocolate cookbook.  I see why “instant pudding” is a go to for those who like a quick pudding.  Pudding from scratch takes so long, but it is so worth the time and effort.  Just stir, stir, stir!  I think my favorite side that I made was the cornmeal Jalapeno Green Chili Cornbread which was an alternative for a stuffing.  My son informed me that he always looks forward to the stuffing….so I guess I will have to make him a special batch now.  

My favorite moment was when I asked my family to stand over by the cow so I could snap a picture.  My son’s girlfriend, Miss M, was standing over there and she had a good laugh implying that they should go stand by her.  (She is by no means a cow!)  See the cow on the wall?  I am thankful I captured the moment with my camera.  They bring me such joy and crack me up!

Mr. Duhgall kept me company in the kitchen for most of the day.  He was hoping for a crumb of something to fall to the ground...

Other sides I made from Country Living Magazine were:

Roasted Acorn Squash With Bacon Maple Drizzle

Buttermilk-Boursin Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole With Fried Shallots

And the pies were delicious!  Not quite the same chocolate that I remember Nanny’s being like, but it still conjured up precious memories. 

Magpie is Decked Out For Christmas!

I just love this time of the year!  Cool weather, family gatherings, a bowl of steaming soup with a slice of buttered bread and strolling through shops to see how they are decorated for Christmas.

As I have shared before, I sell antiques and collectibles in two stores.  Today I will be sharing some photos from one of the stores, Magpie Antiques and All Things Inspiring.   All of us have decorated our spaces for Christmas and stocked up with beautiful holiday décor that is for sale.  Here is a little tour of the store, but it is even more fun in person.  I will keep the small talk to a minimum.

The front entry to Magpie.   Janet and Betty decorated the white tree with found metal objects.

A cabin style corner with pine cones, deer antlers, squirrels and other fun things.

Janet, Linda and Dan’s formal corner with antique clocks and beautiful furniture.

Doreen’s space….

Andrea and Jenny’s space….

Betty’s space…

Karen and Janet’s corner……

Belinda’s space…..

Lisa and Dennis’ corner……

Ally’s space….

Ann’s Room…..

The next photos are from my space.  I have been busy sewing little French Grain Sack stockings and pillows to sell.  For the pillows, I used vintage hankies and Christmas tablecloths (cutters, of course).

If ever you are in Central California, Magpie is located off of Highway 99 – north or southbound, take the Ripon MAIN Street exit.

Magpie Antiques

140 S. Walnut

Ripon, California

(209) 599-4545

Store hours:

Mon-Sat 10 AM-5:30PM

Stop by and say hello!

Wishing everyone a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

xo

Signs and A Prayer

Hello to y’all who have taken a moment to stop by here at SCD’s.  It has nearly been a whole month since the last post here.  My-oh-my how time has been swept right under the rug!  With the holiday season on our heals, I’ve been knee deep in holiday fluff for the past month and now can sit back a wee bit and take a deep breath.  After four weeks and three massages, my little spaces at the antique stores are done being decorated and stocked with new inventory and little bit by little bit it has all come together.  I will be sure to share some photos of the stores here in the next week.

I have been having fun making signs to sell and have shared some of them with you before, as shown in the next three pics.

The newest signs are the Farmhouse Christmas sign that I made on an oval piece of salvaged wood and the simple Christmas sign that was made using an old cabinet door. 

For the sign below, I simply painted the door with white chalk paint, roughed up the edges and stenciled Christmas on the front panel.  My friend Becky sells the metal snowflakes and I bought a few to glue onto the sign for added interest and texture. 

I have never kept any of my signs for myself, HOWEVER….

I took a liking to the Farmhouse Christmas sign and it looks at home on the shelf in the laundry room.  The horse door stop is a recent purchase from my friend, Jeanette.  I love the way he looks with the black on cream crocks.

My friend, Lynn, had the bottle brush trees for sale in her wonderful space at the store.  I have been wanting some to put inside containers and these fit perfectly with the little ones on my shelf.

My Farmhouse Christmas vignette is coming along … maybe I’ll add a few more tid bits…or maybe not.  Or maybe…or maybe not.  We’ll see what my mood leans more toward this year.  I’m beginning to lean on the less is more band wagon.

I am also asking for prayers for my sweet friend, Judy Clark over at 20NorthOra blog.  As some of you may already know, Judy’s husband John lost his battle with cancer.  Judy pulls her strength from God and her faith and knows that John is now in the arms of Jesus and no longer suffering in his earthly body.  Prayers for peace and strength for Judy and her family…..thank you.

xxoo