Mr. McGregor's Easter TableScape...

Mr McGregor's Garden was my theme this year for our Easter Table. I had everything already in my home and the table came together quickly. Take a look...

 Peter Rabbit hiding amongst the cabbage....

 I used my GrandMothers nesting bowls with the vegetable arrangements as the center piece...

 Cotton napkins with faux green onions & a brown paper eggs for the place settings.

 My Chocolate bunnies place around the table...

 Orange candles in the candelabras to blend with the carrots...

 Love these place settings...Simple Simple Simple...,

The backside of my centerpiece , abundant with veggies!  I didn't want a pastel look or too cute-zee either. I wanted to use neutrals and this table cloth...and I Love how it looks...
My Table is Ready for Easter with Style...

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Our Fun Irish Breakfast Table...

We have an old Jug that I found quite sometime ago...I loved the primitive look! And...So did my little Mouse Leprechauns ! Take a look how they are celebrating St. Patty's Day!

They are having fun...

Ready for St. Patty's Day with Style...

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A Simple Housewarming Gift...

We were invited to a Housewarming. We weren't able to attend but I still wanted to send a gift! I had seen a great gift idea on Pinterest.  This is such a simple & quick gift idea! So perfect because you can include so many small items you may never think of buying... Until YOU need it!

You will need a container such as a large, jar, can or basket. Then fill it with miscellaneous household items. Such as: Safety pins, Scissors, Tape, tools, kitchen & sewing items, cleaning products, gift cards, scrubbers and more...& a bow or two! Wal Mart was the perfect place for me to find these items...

The gift was a big hit! Our friend loved everything inside the jar! So... perfect for the new homeowners!
XO. 

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St Patty's Day TableScape...

St. Patty's Day TableScape...Celebrate with Style...
 I was disappointed this year to NOT see many decor items for St. Patty's Day! I looked around in several stores but was discouraged to not find too many choice items. Anyway....I rummaged through my household stash and came up with the look I wanted!

 I wanted neutral colors, crosses and greenery...& of course I had to add my little Elf! So homely he's cute!

 Simple linen napkins tied with twine & a cardboard name tag.

 The table cloth is really a Burlap Drop Cloth found in the Garden Dept. at the hardware store!

 I love the natural look!

 Simplicity!

 Each place setting has their own salt & pepper shakers.

And a little dish for a sweet treat!

Have a Happy St. Patty's Day full of Style...
Xo,

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Grandma's Table & Lemon Meringue Pie...

Grandmas are a gift...

I was very fortunate to have two wonderful Grandmother's. They both loved to cook, and they usually had on an apron over their house dress. The kitchen was were you could find them, most of the time. Cooking!

This is my Grandma Hacker, behind her is her kitchen table.

*( Sorry this picture is poor quality. It is a photo of a photocopy.)

I was given a gift this week from my Mother. A table. Not just any table, my Grandmother's kitchen table. This was my Mother's Mother.

"Thank You Mom!"

This table has lots of memories for me. When I was little, I used to sit at the table and study her trinkets and dishes stored above, on the shelves.

Or count the "wheat pennies" she had in a big jar. Count them and study them, over and over again.

Grandma's Kitchen Table

I am looking for chairs to blend with the table...

All the while, she was working around the kitchen. Quietly working. Sometimes the radio would be on, she loved to listen to the "Billy Graham" program or Lawrence Welk. She loved music! Always had music playing somewhere in the house. Although, I never really remember her singing, except at church. She was a quite and shy person, yet she loved to dance. My Grandparents loved to square dance or do the polka. On Saturdays the Hi-Fi stereo would play polka music and filter throughout the house. The curtains seemed to dance from the breeze, as the music trickled through the opened windows.

These Cows were among the trinkets on her shelf. The table cloth was hers too!

She made the BEST Lemon Meringue pie! I never wanted birthday cake, I wanted HER Lemon pie instead. 

This week and next, I am posting extra recipes due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.

See her recipe below.

I loved MY Grandma's Style... 

Grandma's Recipe Box

Grandma's Lemon Meringue Pie

• 1 1/2 cups of Sugar
• 5 1/3 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups of water
• 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 4 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 1/3 tablespoons of lemon rind, grated 

Meringue Topping

• 3 egg  whites
• 1/4 teaspoon, Cream of Tartar
• 6 tablespoons of Sugar

Directions;

In a sauce pan mix; sugar, corn starch and gradually the water.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils.

Slowly stir egg yolks the mixture. Blend well. Boil for one minute longer, stirring constantly. Then remove from heat. Continue to stir.

Blend in butter, lemon juice and lemon rind. Blend well and pour into a baked pie shell. Set aside.

Meringue:

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy. Gradually and slowly, while beating, add sugar. Continue until mixture is stiff enough to hold peaks. 

~~~

Spread Meringue over the pie filling. Make sure to cover and seal all edges. This prevents shrinkage from the pie filling. Swirl or pull up peaks of Meringue for a decorative top.

~~~

Bake pie with meringue at 400 degree's for 8-10 minutes until Meringue is slightly browned. Cool slowly, away from drafts.

*When I was a young bride, I called Grandma for her recipe. I had to make my own birthday pie (we lived in another state). I asked her how she got the drops of honey on the peaks of meringue. She laughed and confessed she always baked her pies too long! So, I leave mine in the oven a touch longer too! Her Lemon Meringue Pies were always AWESOME!

Photo's by NeeCee@pine creek style

*Some photo's found on Google Images

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A Mixed Up Crazy Party...

This could be a very fun & silly party...Ohhh the possibilities! 

A lot of Grammar Schools celebrate something like..."Crazy Mixed Up Days"! The kids wear mismatched clothes,  silly hair or pajama's to school! So why not take it one more step, coordinate  something fun at home & celebrate at the same time!!!

It's a great way to use your leftover holiday & birthday paper plates, napkins, cups , cupcakes sleeves, etc., from every past occasion! 

So, while I was organizing my kitchen...I had a "bright idea"! An after thought really!
Some of the Grandkids had just celebrated Mixed-up Crazy Day at School. I was cleaning out the cupboard where I store all my leftover holiday & birthday plates, napkins, etc.
"Why not organize, divide & bag up a bundle of this stuff and spread the wealth? I had enough products to create 6 or 7 Mixed up Crazy Party bags!

I laid everything out on the dining room table according to each holiday.

Then I started dividing everything into piles. Stacking plates, napkins & more into mixed-up piles !

 This pile had Halloween, Valentines Day, Christmas, New Years, St. Patty's Day & Fourth of July all rolled into one!

Everything was divided & organized.

 I used some gift bags, ribbons & tissue paper I had on hand. And, bagged everything up!

Then I delivered them to the kids and my friends with kids or grandkids!
Everyone who received them...LOVED the idea!
Here is the note I slipped inside...

Make Life Fun & a Little CRAZY with Style...

Ps....Happy 13th Birthday...CocoBean!

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It's a Candy Christmas TableScape....

 A Candy Christmas TableScape for my kitchen...

 This is the table's centerpiece facing the Kitchen door ....

 The table centerpiece facing the formal Living Room...

 I love mixing different patterns together. I always do traditional Christmas colors in the kitchen. 

 This year I used candy & faux desserts, Chef's, Santa's & Elves! Oh, and my toy Singer sewing machine from my child hood....I also have toys on & around the tree. 

Stripes, Polka Dots, Paisley & a Retro Western print....deck out the table! "Busy"... but it works!

"A little of this & a little of that!"

 This table really makes your eyes WANT to see everything! So far, I have had some Ohh's & Ahhh's, 

Oh WOW's & a couple of "Awesome's!"

The Grand Kids LOVED my table! Of course, I am sure the candy had NOTHING to do with it!

 Love the traditional colors...

 This was a fun table scape to pull together!

 This is my Candy Bar/ Dessert Table...

 I stayed with the same patterns as on my dining room table, except the retro tablecloth is Hawaiian style. My Dad was stationed in Hawaii while in the Navy. He passed away last Christmas, and this is MY tribute to him. He LOVED his Hawaii & he LOVED everything about Christmas!

"Mele Kalikimaka Dad! Love & Miss You",,,

 We have the Cookie plate & Milk Jar ready for Santa!

 This is the mantel over the Kitchen's fireplace...

 This Santa & the one below are ready to cook up some Christmas by Candlelight!

 The reindeer can smell the goodies baking in the oven!

 The Stockings are waiting to be filled!

And... the Mistletoe is ready & waiting!

Show off your Christmas with Style...

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