Christmas Cookies

It took all weekend,  but we have cookies!!!!  Molly came home on Friday for a weekend of shopping and baking.   That was the plan....    

Friday we started off with lunch and shopping in Williamsport, about an hour from home.  On our way home we met Molly's best friend, Amy and we went to the Christkindl Market in Mifflinburg (my first time).   Arriving home by about 8 pm we mixed up a batch of sugar cookies so that we could begin the process Saturday morning. 

Saturday morning came and we started off with brunch then we mixed up some Chex mix and decided to go shopping.  We needed more decorating stuff for the sugar cookies so off we went.  We did manage to bake the cookies Saturday night so instead of baking all day Saturday, the plan was then to frost them on Sunday.    The cookies Molly found on Pinterest were beautiful and we were excited to make beautiful cookies to give as gifts, unfortunately Molly lost interest when she realized that it was going to be a bigger project than she was prepared for and I am a perfectionist so less than perfect cookies did not hold my interest until completion either. 

We never did make the peanut butter cookies or the chocolate chip cookies that were on the list.  I guess we should have started with those.  Next year I'm pretty sure we won't be quit so ambitious! 

It's in the Details!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     I've started getting ready for Thanksgiving!  I will have 16 at my table(s) this year.  My favorite part about Thanksgiving is the planning and getting ready.  Not so much about the cooking and clean-up!This weekend I am ironing tablecloths and napkins, polishing silver and making sure I have enough serving pieces and dishes.  

This afternoon I have been finishing up with the silver. I enjoy polishing silver (not in a bring your silver over for me to polish sort of way, but like in a I like the sparkle and imagining previous Thanksgiving's that my vintage silver may have attended sort of way.    Even ironing is enjoyable most of the time....I guess it's the details that I enjoy.  Any one else identifying with me? 

I love white Ironstone!

I'm such a delinquent blogger, it's been August since my last post!!! 

Last weekend I was at an estate sale looking for some things to add to my booth and as is often the case I found a couple things that I will be keeping for myself.  One of those keepers is this covered dish!!  I love it.  I love that it is perfect with very little wear on it.  Don't ya just love the top with the big round ball, and those handles!!  I'd love to use it for my Thanksgiving dinner, but I'm not sure I want to risk putting it in the oven.  

As I begin planning for the big day, I'll have to figure out how to add this lovely dish to the fesitivities!!!  Cranberry sauce?  How would  you use it?

Wedding Day

I've been planning a wedding for my daughter for a year and a half and finally the big day arrived.  The wedding was everything I hoped for.  I'm so lucky to have a sister who also likes to decorate.  She came in from Maine to help for the week.  One of her jobs was the floral arrangements.  I kept her busy for almost 2 days straight on flowers!  We had a lot of flowers. 

My inspiration for the day was this lemonade stand, Mr. Kay made it and it looked cute during the cocktail hour in the gardens. 

Another project that I was excited about was the white sideboard.  I found an old one and painted it to use as the cake table. 

 

I didn't snap very many photos but a couple other people did, so I have a few photos to show.

Lucketts Was Everything and More!

On Saturday I went to Lucketts Spring Fair, or as my daughter called it, sensory overload!  I arrived about 11:30 am and met Molly about 2:30.  By the time she came I had made several purchases but hadn't seen it all!

It was a beautiful day and the vendors were really selling stuff....I was amazed that everyone was there to buy....no one walking around without carrying all kinds of stuff.   One of the highlights was meeting Miss Mustard Seed.  I love her blog and am so impressed by her generosity in sharing her techniques and tips.    I think her blog was where I was introduced to Annie Sloan paints.  I rarely use anything else anymore for furniture although  I am anxiously waiting to hear all about the line of milk paint she is developing.  I hope there is a pink in her line!  

We made a few purchases....I got a big lovely floral frog from Miss Mustard Seed, its already found a home in the enamelware bowl with several others.   I bought a big rhinestone bracelet to wear at Molly's wedding this summer, some pillows for the front porch and a topiary that I hope Molly brings home to me this weekend.   Molly bought a table for her entryway and carried it back to the car all by herself without complaining.

After being out in the hot sun all day we decided to get something to eat and then hit the mall but we decided to come back on Sunday because we were sure we probably missed some good stuff!   Going  back on Sunday was a good idea because some of the prices of things we looked at the day before were reduced.  In fact, we took Molly's fiance along and he bought her the vanity that we really liked the day before that was marked about $50 cheaper.  They also found a great bench for the bottom of their bed.

Ever since the weekend I have had visions of Lucketts and some of the beautiful furniture we looked at racing through my head.  I just negotiated on a lovely old sideboard that I can hardly wait to pick up and start painting.  I have a few more painting projects that I will be working on as well.  In fact, this weekend you can find me on the back porch, paintbrush in hand!   Hopefully at some point I will get back into the wedding mode real soon!

I will definitely have the Lucketts spring fair on my list of things to do next year, I can't wait!

(Sorry about the lousy photos, I wasn't even thinking about taking photos to show everyone.  Next year, better photos!)

I'm Going to Luckets!!!

When Molly and I went apartment hunting one stop I insisted on making was at Luckets antique shop near Leesburg, VA.  It was all I hoped it would be and oddly enough Molly thought it was great as well.  A few weeks ago when I went to visit, we drove out to Lucketts and had fun shopping and looking at the fabulous stuff.  A couple days later I got a text from Molly telling me that I have to go down there this weekend for their big show.  I sort of drug my feet because it is a 3 hour trip that I will have to make by myself, but if you know me and shopping....  I decided my best plan of action was to say a prayer for safety and go to Luckets!

When I visited Molly in California we went to the Vintage Market which was just wonderful with all kinds of white furniture and "stuff" that was begging to come home with me.  I think Luckets will be a bit more country but with 170 vendors I'm sure to find a few shops with french country themes.   I can't wait to meet Marion at Miss Mustard Seed  and check out the Graphics Fairy .  Who knew some of my favorite bloggers will be selling at Luckets this weekend. 

Can't wait til Saturday's adventure!

Wedding preparations

With less than 5 months to go until the wedding, I still have a huge list of stuff to do!  This weekend I made bunting to hang on the front porch.  I still need 4 20' sections for the tent and if I still have time and energy after that, I'll probably make more for the back porch and then I can cross that off the list!

At least the weather has improved and I am feeling energetic and eager to cross more things off the list!  Have a happy spring and please say a prayer for Molly and Matt this week as they drive from California to Virginia the 28th - April 1. 

Annie Sloan vs Homemade paint

I think I have mentioned before that I love the Annie Sloan paint.  I love how it sticks to whatever you are painting and that it is so easy to distress and that when finished with wax the finish is absolutely beautiful!   The only thing about Annie Sloan paint that I don't like is the cost.....at $39 a quart it is quite expensive so....  I wanted to see for myself whether or not it is worth the price.  


There are recipes all over the internet for a paint you can mix up yourself that is supposed to be just like the Annie Sloan paint so I looked up recipes....I also looked for reviews and basically all I could find were people who would start their posts with I have never used AS paint but I love the knock off I can make myself.  Having decided on a recipe I carefully measured 1 Tablespoon of unsanded grout into a cup of latex paint.  (I purchased a cup with markers on it specifically for the purpose of mixing my on AS paint and started mixing and stirring.)  As I assumed would happen, the paint thickened slightly with the addition of the unsanded grout.  I added a couple drops of water to thin it out more to the consistency of the AS paint making it easily go onto the bench I was painting.    After applying the paint I lightly sanded everything and put on another coat....and then another coat and continue to sand between coats like I would do with the AS paint.  Finally, I distessed the piece with more sanding and came up with some conclusions.

• The paint continues to thicken if you don't use it all.  I had to add more water to the paint between coats
• I did not get as smooth a finish as I do with the AS paint. 
• It didn't distress as well as the AS paint but I didn't mind the difference there
• I needed 3 coats of the valspar and unsanded grout mixture to cover what I am pretty sure AS would have done in 2 coats
• It did not adhere to the surface as well as the AS paint does.  I initially bought the AS paint because I wouln't have to prime!

That said, it is not AS paint, nor is it a close knock off.  Was it acceptable?yes, it was ok.   Is it inexpensive?  Yes the price was certainly right.  I won't say I won't use it again.... But I still love Annie Sloan paint and I think it is worth the extra money it costs.


ps.....I do not work for, nor have any affiliation with AS paint company, I'm just a big fan of her paint and wanted to share the results of my experiment!


The photo is the bench I painted this weekend by using Valspar's Queen Anne's Lace and one Tablespoon of unsanded grout per cup of paint.

Painting....

I had  a productive painting weekend!  The stuff at the shop is selling and I really need to replace some things so since I found a lovely and solid Victorian rocker I went to work painting this weekend.  Here is a peek at the "before" and "after" rocking chair.  Mr. Kay and I took it over to the shop tonight....  I hope it isn't there long, I've got another project ready to go for this weekend!

Wedding Mode

As most of you know I am planning a wedding for my daughter this summer.  The wedding will be held in our back yard.  I'm starting to think that may not be as good an idea as when Molly suggested it last spring.  At any rate....my plan is to get as much of the work done this winter so that I'm not stressing out come summer!  I'd like to be able to concentrate on the outdoors this summer and have a lot of the rest of the work finished by then.  


It may help that Molly and Matt will be moving from California to about 3 hours from us so if need be (and I'm sure it will come down to that) she can come home and help me!


I don't have plans to make this a wedding blog, but as the MOB I may have a lot to say in the next few months!  
   
This weekend I finished the "Pink Lemonade" sign that will go on the lemonade stand that will be the drink station during the cocktail hour and will be a feature in the garden on that day.   Mr. Kay built it in the basement and we won't be dragging it out till closer to the time we will need it, so stay tuned.  I'll be selling it at my booth at Street of Shops following the wedding and will be cute for anyone who has children who want to go into the lemonade business!