CHRISTMAS COOKIE JARS

 So far, it's been a rather quiet holiday season....
our focus has been on dressing our home with favorite
Christmas decor items...and I find that I continue to add
special touches everyday....it brings a specific comfort....

Time to select a new calendar....
we have certainly enjoyed this one!



I added one of my favorite Santa's on the hearth....

And another by the little cypress tree.....

Let's talk cookie jars for just a minute....
there was a house we toured at Christmas in Jefferson

that displayed the owners cookie jar collection iu her kitchen
and it literally took my breath away!
She had collected hundreds of beautiful ceramics over the years
and had many of them showcased on custom built shelving....
it was just marvelous and so interesting....
I have my favorites in my collection and they
are the star of the show during the holidays...

I have decided to keep the same decor items that are green and just
decorate around a few pieces in the kitchen window...it seems to work great...

I wanted to add a touch of gingerbread and purchased
these darling little salt and pepper shakers from the
Martha Stewart line....

It's hard to say which one is a favorite...I just love them all.....

Who doesn't love a Santa mug with candy canes?

I think I need to add a little Santa to this cake stand....
note to self......

I chose to top this beautiful toile mug with a vintage
candle topper...absolutely love this!

Walmart has a fabulous selection of holiday candles

This is the newest in my collection...just adore him!

I am planning the Christmas Eve menu and plan
on making Daddy's Fruitcake Cookies along with
our favorite Chocolate Chip cookies...

A little hot cocoa center....

The dining table is set in winter whites....

Favorite vintage artwork is displayed on the stairway...

And I have planned my outfit for Christmas Day...
        Let's make it a special day to remember, shall we?  

CHRISTMAS ON THE MANTEL

 Good MORNING Kindred SPIRITS.....
How is your decorating going?
It all sometimes is one big blur isn't it,,,
It seems we begin decorating for fall at the end of Summer.
then transition into Halloween,,,,become even busier
as we prepare for the Thanksgiving gathering and
are immediately driven to make holiday magic with
our Christmas decor....and we manage to make it happen...
My favorite corner to decorate is the fireplace mantel....
let's take a look.....

I love it when a vision comes together....
the first piece that became my inspiration was the Santa artwork....

Green and Ivory became the color story

Green coats for the Victorian santas.....

A sweet, yet noble wooden nutcracker

AND, then....the stockings were hung.....

Our days have been cold and sometimes rainy.....
good winter days to bake bread and drink tea by the fire..
 I hope all is well in your world.....

CHRISTMAS ON THE BAR CART, VINTAGE BOOKS AND OUTDOOR LANTERNS

We have said goodbye to the autumn season and 
welcomed in December and the Christmas holidays.
I know many of you have fully decorated for Christmas,
but here at Estelle's, we are recovering from hosting two Thanksgivings!
I am taking my time and need to enjoy the process of decorating,
rather than be in a frenzy to get it all done.
The first cozy corner to be adorned for the season,
is the dining room bar cart......

I am in love with the Spode goblets...found these on sale
back during the summer....

And, Spode cocktail napkins to compliment the goblets....

I also added this vintage cocktail recipe and storybook.....

I so enjoy decorating this bar cart for each season....

The star of this vignette is this stunning needlepoint stocking...
he's quite the handsome fellow....

I am in the process of preparing the lanterns for the front door urns....
I had planned on using candles I had, but then found out
they were too large for the lanterns.....
the new ones should arrive today...

I think these will look so festive and pretty with the outdoor lights.....

I am using Mother's little jello molds for a riser to elevate the candle...

I found these gorgeous paper placemats to use as a layering piece

I keep seasonal books on top of the leather ottoman and they add
such interest as you explore the various books...

This book is a real gem to read....

I am currently working on the kitchen vignettes and am loving it so far...
cookie jars will be on display as will santa and snowman mugs.....
I think I will always and forever miss my parents and going home
for Christmas....memories I hold within my heart.....
The house was toasty warm and cozy on cold December nights...
Mother had dinner cooking away in the kitchen...the smell
of Spiced Tea was warming on the stove amd Daddy was
working in his train and hobby room....I was laying under
the Christmas tree in the living room gazing up at the
colored lights..people seemed happier and more joyful....
all seemed peaceful in the world at that moment....

 

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH MOCHA BUTTERCREAM...A MOST REQUESTED HOLIDAY CAKE

Remembering November

If November had flavors, it would be clove and pumpkin...with generous dollops of sweet whipped cream.... If November had a feel, it would be a crisp air that would make you turn your collar up and pull your coat close up around you.. Come Thanksgiving, most of the leaves had fallen from the trees, leaving only twiggy branches to endure the winters cold.. There is no doubt about it..

the holidays are special and therefore the food you serve, should be the best of the best... This semi-homemade cake will become a family favorite.....it's excellent!

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix 1 cup whole milk 1 stick melted butter 4 eggs 1 t.vanilla 1 t. Espresso powder Blend all ingredients with hand mixer Divide batter between two 8 inch cake pans Bake at 350 degrees for 28 minutes.

MOCHA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

2 cups butter, room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
1 T. espresso powder
1 T. cocoa powder
1 T. vanilla
3 T. heavy cream
1/2 t. salt

This cake is moist, has a lovely soft texture and a rich
chocolate flavor!
I am all in favor of using a box cake mix these days,
rather than rather than a recipe calling for 12 or more
ingredients. The cost of groceries these days
is rather expensive, so this is a true cost saver!

THANKSGIVING 2025...ROUND ONE

GOOD MORNING KINDRED SPIRITS....
another lovely Thanksgiving was enjoyed by the family....
the weather was perfect...sweater weather, blankets
to keep us cozy warm as we sat sipping wine around the firepit.....
turkey breasts on the smoker and one being fried....
All the food was so delicious...
We are thankful for it all and grateful for this beautiful day..... 

The grandchildren had other family to enjoy lunch with,
so they arrived in shifts for our gathering in the evening....

We had a total of twelve this year, which required two tables....
candlelight made it a bit romantic....

On Wednesday, we treated ourselves to brunch at Tupelo Honey with

our Atlanta family.....best cheese grits and mimosa.....

I failed to snap photos of the appetizer table which was delish....

But I did manage a photo of the gingerbread muffins.....

It's tradition to watch The Cowboys 

play on Thanksgiving Day......
and then we give thanks....

These are the days of being joyful.....for health and our family....

I so hope your gathering was special and happy spending the day

with those you love.....and now it's on to Christmas...