An early Christmas at the cottage........

We celebrated an early Christmas with my mother and siblings, children and dogs this past weekend at the cottage.  It was a weekend of eating, walking in the snow, gift giving and spending time together........lots of fun!

As a final thought to share with you, my mother gave me these sweet little needle points that she and her mother made together in 1959.  I will have to find a special place for them in my home!

This will be may last post for a bit as we are heading over to Scotland on Wednesday and I haven't even started packing yet........yikes.  Have a wonderful Christmas my blogging friends and see you all in the new year.......... xoxo

gifts from afar.........

Thank you so much to Aina of Modern Country for her generous gifts of the post cards and Christmas stocking.  It inspired me to do a few more little  season touches to the house.........thanks again Aina!

I'm dreaming of a white..........bathroom!

Our bathroom has been a construction zone with a toilet etc. for just about ever.  I dont know when we are going to get around to fixing it but in the mean time a girl can dream.......which bathroom would you choose?

Have a good weekend everyone! xo

A little tree.......

Since we are not putting up a tree this year as, we are away, I thought I needed a little something that resembled a Christmas tree.  I found this rosemary tree at the grocery store and thought.......this will do.  In some ways I won't miss that tree..........let's face it, who loves sweeping up pine needles in July because they always seem to creep up even when you think you got them all:)

Happy Wednesday!

Good Eatin'........

One of the pleasures of cooking for a living is that there are often really yummy leftovers as was the case with dinner last night.  I was cutting up a large piece of sirloin for catering but cut a couple of pieces for my husband and I for dinner.  There was leftover chive and tarragon compound butter which topped our steaks and I served it with a simple but delicious tomato and avocado salad tossed in a greek style vinaigrette.......yum!

To make the compound butter simply soften about a half a cup of butter and mix in a small handful of chopped chives and chopped fresh tarragon.  Place in the centre of a piece of saran wrap, roll it up into a log like shape and place in the fridge until hardened.  Slice a pad of the compound butter and place on top of your cooked steak and let it melt!  This is also quite good on top of a piece of baked salmon or any white fish........enjoy!

Also, head on over to Janet Mallory's blog and check out her very generous giveaway of these gorgeous candlesticks...........I so want them, don't you..........

Have a great weekend everyone xo

A few simple Christmas decorations

I am not putting up a tree this year as we are going away for the holidays.  We will be spending Christmas in Scotland with my daughter and her boyfriend, and then going off to Spain for 4 days over  new years eve.  Its all very exciting............but I wanted a few bits of seasonal decorating around the house to get me in the spirit......fa la la la la..........

Mother Nature's Christmas Decorations.......

We woke this morning to a layer of frost reminding us that winter is here!

Happy Monday everyone!

Brown paper packages tied up with string..........

Julie Andrews had it right when she sang that 'brown paper packages tied up with string' was one of her favourite things..........I know its one of mine!

Just about anything tied up in brown paper with string.  Whether it has words, or music notes, or just plain paper, it adds such a simple touch to just about anything!

Congratulations to Deb of two friends, two continents, as she is the winner of my few little hand made treasures.  Here is the package, again in brown paper with string!  Deb, I hope you enjoy them:)

Have a good weekend everyone.......Trish xo

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas..........

Cooler temperatures are here so its time to start decorating for Christmas!

From wreaths to cow bells and greenery collected from around my property......

This little guy I made from pieces of birch and random branches I clipped in my back yard......I may make him a mommy......

I would love to spend all of my time just playing and making things..........but, I do have to make a living so off to work for me..........happy Wednesday everyone xo

In the spirit of giving........

I had all kinds of burlap left over from the chair and thought.........what else can I do with it.  So, I replaced the cabinet doors under my farmer sink with a curtain, stenciled with the words......Bon Appetite...........I have always loved this look!

Now to the giving part because giving is good for the soul and I didn't want to miss out on doing something that's good for the soul.  Be sure to visit Andrea, over at Faded Plains as she is giving away a homemade scarf, which I am sure will be stunning.  

I to have been making things........ gift bags, totes and wine sleeves and am giving away these two burlaps pieces.  One is a 'petite cadeau' bag and the other a wine sleeve.  Both stenciled with either french words or stamps and they both have a gift card attached.  To enter just leave me a message and hopefully you will become a follower too.  I plan to put all of the names in a hat and pull out the lucky winners name on Friday November 26th.  Here are some pics of the prize!!  

Bon Chance Mes Amis!