Why I Love Love Love My Kitchen

I love my kitchen because it's big enough for two people to make Christmas Cookies at once.

Here's our wonderful mess.

The outside temp was just above freezing and the Christmas tunes were blasting.

Winter Wonderland--Atlanta style.

The mixer was plugged in the island, we used two sinks and every measuring cup, bowl and cookie sheet we had.

When we planned this kitchen we wanted it to be able to handle at least two cooks.

Today, it did.

The island is just incredible.

  It's a Goldilocks Island: not too big, not too small, just right.

From top clockwise:

Spicy Cheese Straws, Lady Fingers, Fool Proof Fudge (yeah right), Tea Cakes.

Not shown; the Divinity that flopped, ( we call a "do over")

 the Spicy German Cookies (Pfeffernusse) that have to stay in the fridge over night.

Christmas baking is a special family tradition we try to enjoy every year.

Merry Christmas to all !

Patti
www.PattiHinkle.com

Deck the Halls and the Mantel!

It's time to break out the shiny balls and deck those halls or in my case do something with the mantel.

Here's what I came up with--

I re-used the large empty picture frame and the vase on the left that stay out year round. The vase started life at Holly's wedding, holding a gorgeous arrangement of white hydrangeas.  Most of the time it displays coral from St.Croix that I picked up off the beach on our 25th Anniversary Trip--I probably wasn't supposed to bring it back, but I digress.

The empty frame came from a yard sale for $5.

This vase came from Tuesday Morning several years ago. It has held all kinds of things from shells to coffee beans and pillar candles.  Something the magazines and bloggers don't tell you--it took me an hour to arrange these balls.  It's not easy.

Here's some inspiration I used from Better Homes and Gardens online.

I thought I needed more balls than this picture. More is always better when it comes to balls.

 
 
I tried hanging the ornaments from ribbon, but my ribbon was too fat, so I ditched that idea.

I do think I need something else at the bottom.

Maybe I should hang some stockings with care.

Stay tuned for commentary on trimming the tree.

Patti

stop by my website at http://www.pattihinkle.com/