COME SMELL THE ROSES

Since it's almost Valentine's Day I thought it would be the perfect time to show everyone some of our roses that bloomed last summer. Here's the stepping stone that I have near my roses.

I really like this one.

Isn't this a pretty one?

This is an old timey looking one.

This is my favorite one.

This one is so dainty.

Too bad Valentine's Day wasn't in the summer. I would pick roses for  everyone. Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day.

MY WINTER SWAP GOODIES

Recently I participated in a winter swap put on by Amy of Bumble Bee Lane.  My swap partner  was Sandi from  The Primitive Skate. She was very generous. Here is what she sent. The stuffed heart she made from a quilt scrap, stained it and put a rusty key on it. She also made the gingerbread.  She said that she only knows the basics of sewing but I think that she did a wonderful job. In the bag are salt dough hearts and gingerbreads that she also made. She grunged up the tea lights and candle. She is so talented. There also was a cute card with a heart cut out of it. But there is more.

Here's a wooden flower and chicken that she painted.  I just love these. There are cinnamon bun and french vanilla melts that she purchased, a couple of my favorite scents. But thats not all.

Look there's more. There is a cute journal with a picture of a key on it and look at those measuring spoons.  Sandi purchased those at a thrift store and painted apples on the bottom of them cause she knows I like apples. Those I will be hanging up in my kitchen. And the last thing was the paper mache box that Sandi painted, sanded, stained and put that cute label on it. Thanks so much Sandi for all of the treasures. I love everything.

Here is a photo of what I sent Sandi for the swap. You can see more photos if you head on over to The Primitive Skate. Thank you Amy for putting on the winter swap. Amy is putting on another swap called Some Bunny Loves You Swap. If you haven't signed up already hurry on over to Bumble Bee Lane and sign up. It is so much fun. I can't wait to get started on the new swap.

GIVEAWAY WINNER

A big thank you to all who participated in my giveaway. I have gotten so many nice comments and so many new followers. Can't believe that I have almost 200 followers already. I am already thinking about my next giveaway that I will probably do in March. So the moment you have all been waiting here has arrived. The winner of my giveaway is Jennifer at Stitchin Thyme. Please email your address to me and I will ship Emma right out for you.Congratulations Jennifer. Sorry there couldn't have been more winners. Keep checking back. There will be plenty more giveaways. Some might be little spur of the moment giveaways just to see who is paying attention. lol. Until next time. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

SO COLD OUTSIDE, BLOOMS INSIDE AND LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR GIVEAWAY

We are having below 0 weather here. My daffodils are already blooming inside. Aren't they pretty. I will be picking the winner tomorrow for my one year blog anniversary so if you haven't signed up yet to win Emma make sure you do tonight yet. Good luck everyone!

FIRST ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY

I can't believe that it has been a year since I started blogging. I started the end of Dec. a year ago. I've been trying to think of what I could make that would be special for my first anniversary. I started looking through all of my patterns and found this one that I have had for many years and always wanted to make and never did. So here is what I came up with. I named her Emma and she measures almost 17" from head to toe. She is holding a love heart that is 5" tall. She needs a good home. The bench is not included.
Here's what you have to do to enter the giveaway.
1. You must be a follower and leave a comment. New followers are welcome but please leave an address in your comment so I know how to contact you  if you should win.
2. For another entry you must post on your sidebar.
3. For a third chance you must write a post about me and my giveaway.
4. For a fourth chance you must like Ginger Creme Hollow on Facebook.
Good luck to everyone. I will pick the winner on Jan. 20, 2012.

OATMEAL CUT-OUTS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Here is a recipe that I have made previous years at Christmas time but this year I think I will make them for Valentine's Day. They are really good.

OATMEAL CUT-OUTS

3/4 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 2/3 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c. quick-cooking oats
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
powdered sugar
Cream butter, sugar and brown
sugar together. Add egg and
vanilla and beat well. Blend in dry
ingredients, except powdered
sugar, and chill overnight. Divide
dough and roll out on powdered
sugar; cut out with cookie cutters.
Bake at 350 degrees for 5 to 8
minutes. Makes appoximately 3
dozen cookies, depending on the
size of the cookie cutter.
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ORNAMENT SWAP GOODIES, CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND HAPPY HOLDIDAYS

Finally found time to post. I feel I have been away too long from posting. Here are my  gingerbreads in wood bowl.

Here is the shelf in our family room.

This is the shelf in the living room. I love gingerbreads.

Here is the snowman collector shelf. Snowmen are one of my favorites too.

Here is my prim tree. Some of the ornaments I made and some  I have collected for many years.

Here is another view of the prim tree.

I participated in the Bumble Bee Lane ornament swap. Here are the ornaments that Kat sent me from Primitive Echoes.
Thanks Kat. I love them all.

Here are the two ornaments that Sandi from The Primitive Skate sent me. Thanks Sandi. They are adorable. Thank you to all my caring blog frieinds for all of your great comments for the past year. It has been a whole year since I started blogging. To celebrate I will be doing a giveaway some time in January so keep watching for that. Hope everyone has a joyous holiday season and that the new year brings happyness to everyone. 

CHRISTMAS IN THE CABIN SWAP GOODIES

I recently participated in a Christmas swap put on by Amy of Bumble Bee Lane. My swap partner was Ellie from Ellies Country Accents. She sent lots of adorable goodies. The pillow is scented and smells so good. There was the snowman holding the gingerbread, homespun candycanes , yo yo ornies, hot cocoa, a gingerbread head painted on a strainer and a peppermint candy ornie. The gingerbread ornie on the bottom left was also from Ellie. We were ornament swap partners too. Thanks Amy for putting on the swap. Check out Ellies blog to see what I sent her.

SO BUSY AND SO MANY PROJECTS

Where has the time gone. I've been so busy with projects.

These witches were fun to make.

Here's my favorite stick snowman.

And why not make a stick Santa.

I like the way these prim angel ornies turned out.  Well breaks over. Now it's back to sewing.

GIVEAWAY WINNER AND SURPRISE PACKAGE IN THE MAIL

George has found a home. Carmen at Primcats has won George and the cute little pumpkins. Congrats! I want to thank everyone who signed up and for all of your great comments and to all of my new followers. I will be having more giveaways this year yet so make sure you keep following my blog. When I checked for mail yesterday there was a small package in the mailbox. First I thought that my daughter had ordered something again but my name was on it. I wondered what could this be. I didn't order anything. Then I looked at the return address and it said Linda Parker. I opened it up and here is this cute little pear pillow. There was a note that said just a little something to make you smile. What a nice surprise. Thanks so much Linda.

TWO DAYS LEFT TO SIGN UP FOR MY GIVEAWAY

Good morning in blogland. We are having great weather here this week. Sun, sun, sun and more sun. Makes up for all the gloomy weather we had last week. Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway. George really needs a home, someone who will take real good care of him. You will also get three cute pumpkins. I will be picking the winner on Thurs., Oct 6. Sign up on the post below. Good luck!

GIVEAWAY, GIVEAWAY.WHO WANTS TO WIN GEORGE?

George is looking for a home. He also comes with three pumpkins.
Here are the rules:
1. You must be a follower and leave a comment. New followers welcome. If you don't have a blog just leave your email address so I know how to contact you if you win or send me an email with George giveaway mentioned in the subject so I know its not junk mail.
2. For a second chance post the giveaway on your blog.
3. For a third chance add it to your sidebar.
4. For a fourth chance like Ginger Creme Hollow on my facebook page.

That's it. Let me know everything you do so I know how many chances you get. I will pick the winner in the morning on Oct. 6. Good luck everyone!

CROWS, SUNFLOWERS AND ITS LOOKING LIKE FALL HERE

I've been working on orders. Here are some of the crows  and sunflowers  I have done.

I also made some leaves.

It sure is looking like fall. The Goldenrod has been blooming for awhile.

The Chinese Lanterns are turning orange, so I picked some to dry.

FROZEN PICKLES

If you have some extra cucumbers and don't know what to do with them, heres an easy recipe to try. My mom used to make these years ago. They taste just like fresh cucumbers.

FROZEN PICKLES

2 qrts. cucumbers peeled and sliced

1 med. onion sliced

1 tablesp. canning salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup white vinegar

Mix cucumber, onion and salt. Let

stand 2 hours. Drain. Mix sugar with

vinegar. Pour over cucumbers. Pack

in containers and freeze.

LOOK WHAT I SAW TODAY!

I saw this swan today while visiting some of the relatives near El Dorado. It is so graceful.

SURE DON'T SEE THESE MUCH ANYMORE

On Sunday we took a trip to our daughters and then she took us to see this awesome covered bridge in a little town called Mishicot which is here in Wisconsin. I even got to walk across it. Sure don't see these  kind of bridges much anymore.    

GARDEN TOUR PHOTOS

Here's a pathway that runs along side my roses.

These lilies were so pretty for the tour.

Our chicken coop.

Here's the pathway on the north side of the house.

Here' s our herb garden. The sign was made from goodwill finds.

Here's our wheelbarrow in the front yard.

GETTING READY FOR GARDEN TOUR ON SATURDAY

Yes I'm still around. I've been spending all my free time working in our gardens to get ready for Saturdays tour. Here's a sneak peek. Will show you more later after tour. Hope to get back into crafting soon.

EGGS FOR SALE ON ANOTHER RAINY DAY

It's been raining for days, but I managed to get a few pictures. The chickens are laying eggs.

The critters don't mind the rain.

The foxglove is trying to bloom.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCUT CAKE

Wondering what to do with those strawberries you just picked? Try this recipe. It is so yummy.

1 cup miniature marshmallows
2 cups (2-10 oz. pkgs.)frozen,sliced strawberries
in syrup, completely thawed or use fresh strawberries
1 3 oz. pkg. strawberry flavored gelatin
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 salt1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
Generously grease bottom only of 13 x 9" pan. Sprinkle
marshmallows evenly over bottom of greased pan. Combine
and set aside the following: strawberries and gelatin.
Combine in large mixer bowl: flour, sugar, shortening,
baking powder, salt, milk, vanilla, and eggs. Blend at
low speed until moistened; beat 3 min. at med. speed,
scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Pour batter over
marshmallows in pan. Spoon strawberry mixture evenly
over batter. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45-50 min.
until golden brown, or when toothpick inserted in
center comes out clean. ENJOY!

WHAT'S BLOOMING NOW?

I've been so busy there is no time to post or craft. I've been digging up and potting lots of plants for the City-wide Garage Sale on next Saturday, June 4. I still have lots to do. Every year we get lots of people looking for plants. Thought I would take a little break to show you what's blooming now in our yard.

These are Virginia Bluebells.

I love the color of these primrose.

The Spurge is so bright and smells so good.

There are Violets everywhere.

The Flowering Crab is full of blooms.