gingerbread houses 2014

As a follow up post to my Gingerbread House Plans for this year... here are the results.

I don't have pictures of everyone's houses but I am including a video of a few that I am not real sure how my camera or me did it.  But it is kinda of funny and you get to hear me sing a tid bit of a Beatles song.  How embarrassing is that?  Hey.. if you can't laugh at yourself... who can you laugh at?

And this one is mine.  Looks like my log cabin plan turned out OK huh?

My secret weapon of a using a sifter and powdered sugar to top it all off was a hit!

This video sounds a bit like Santa's workshop.  I hear Shaun talking about me, saying my name in the background a couple of times :)

And HERE is my post about the plans for this year's house.

gingerbread house ideas

I know many of you are just dying to know of my plans for my gingerbread house this year.  Well... I am not hiding my thoughts this time or at least not all of them.  My house plans are usually top secret.  This year I am going to try my best to make my house a log cabin.  Keeping it simple on the actual decorations and concentrating more on the look of the actual house.  I am going to try and tone down the gaudy and tone up the structure.  We will see what happens.  

I have turned to library books on the subject and pictures on pinterest for ideas.  I have bought my building supplies and hopefully the icing will be extra sticky!  I also want to color some green for my trees made on sugar cones and plan to make a final dusting with powdered sugar when everything is in place.  I'm pretty excited!

Want to see more??

2013 Gingerbread House Plans

2012 Gingerbread House Plans

2013 Results

Gingerbread House Making 101

Pretty pictures from years past

More pretty pictures from 2008

what i'm thinking about

Scary title I know.  Even scarier that I don't work for Martha Stewart and I am dreaming of my 2014 Christmas tree.  I think they begin Christmas decorating on January 1st.  It isn't odd at all for me to be in the Christmas spirit in June or July.  My friend and ex-coworker Jennifer used to just roll her eyes at me when I would waltz into work singing Jingle Bells in June.  My tree decor has been on my mind since I took down my last tree I must admit.  My 2013 tree housed a blue million beaded snowflakes that I made last year that were beautiful!  The snowflakes were a breeze to make.  I think I started them in October and had about fifty by Christmas.  Since we've been in our home I have decorated the main tree (yes there are several) with something different each year.  It keeps me busy.

This year I am thinking handmade flowers.  There is an art to it you know, at least some of the ones I have seen are arty.  I have found several tutorials in the video and diy blog sense.  I even have a couple of books rented from the library.  The thing is is that I don't want to go out and buy a bunch of supplies to do this.  Last year I already had all of the beads and wire and didn't spend a dime although I guess I did at some point or other because I acquired them somehow.  On the other hand, tissue paper, crepe paper and a little florist tape can't be that bad.  So this is what I am thinking about... me... on the front porch church pew, with my feet up and frosty beverage on a hot July day, making paper flowers for my Christmas tree.  Sounds dreamy.  Here's a few spots of inspiration.  Surely these flowery folks won't get mad at the share.  You can click the pics to visit their sites.  This is gonna be fun!

A book I have from the library.

A lovely blog I have found!  I can see these tissue paper lights in pastels for my tree.

easter basket dreams 2014

Well y'all... I think the Easter bunny thinks I have grown up.  And that's Ok.  But if he were to leave a present on my door step... and I don't mean bunny pellets... here's what they might look like.

Aaah... where to begin.  Some of these things have been favorites of mine for simply years.  The Ethel M Lemon Satin Cremes hold the record for the longest in loves.  I first has them when I was 23 and have ordered some from time to time.. even came up with my own recipe (imagine that).  They are the ultimate in dark chocolate and lemon.  Two of my faves.

The sunglasses are a Walmart $5.00 special.  I like cheap sunglasses because if they scratch you just go get another pair!

Country Living British Edition.  I pick it up from time to time.  It fascinates me to see home trends, gardening and such from the UK although the recipes confuse me.

Another product of the UK, Cath Kidston roll of stickers.  I want these.  Can I say that again?  I... want... these.  I own this sticker book and they are almost gone.  I have used them when canning, wrapping presents, mailing things... the list goes on!  And I need more. 

And finally... stain, elastic hair ties.  I bought one and only one at the barn sale last weekend and I simply love it.  I get so tired of regular hair bands stretching out and that seems to be all I can find in my home...  stretched out ones!  Until this little baby came along.  It holds my hair in a bun or pony tail nicely without being too tight yet holding it in place.  And they say it doesn't leave pone marks on your hair.  You can find them all over Etsy.  I have satin elastic on my list to stop and buy this weekend to make my own.  I have to have more!

Happy Early Easter!  It's only this Sunday!  What are a few of your favorite things that you'd grin ever so loudly at in your Easter basket?

flower power

My friends, I have bought more flower seeds.  I have been watching for snapdragons at every flower vendor I visit for two years and haven't found any.  I guess the growers don't see the point anymore?  This year I decided to find seeds and grow my own.  I bought a tall version and a dwarf version, both from etsy dealers.  The dwarf version is coming from Lithuania!  Hope they will grow here!  They weren't expensive so if they don't work out, se la vie.  I also bought zinnia seeds, because I am addicted, one called Dichronda Emerald Falls for hanging pots, and a batch of Chamomile ( I decided not get the seeds from Burpee for this one).  I am going to talk my Mister in to plowing up a spot in the back field for the chamomile as the packet has a bunch of seeds!  Here are the links to the two shops I got my seeds from.

C81400

Seedslt

P.S. Happy Birthday Mary Evelyn!

Herbal Itch

It is not even two weeks in to the new year and I am already craving the 2014 growing season.  I have been on Burpee.com for days now picking out new seeds for herbs, flowers and some vegetables.  Some places around here won't have seeds for another month or two.  Walmart already has some.  I know because I bought two packs.  My garden plans are a little different this year.  I will start with this post about the new herbs I will be growing (new to me).  Then I will stretch it out a bit in the next couple of weeks.  I won't start sowing seeds indoors for at least another month... if I can wait that long.  The problem with starting them early is leggy plants for me.  Especially since I don't have a greenhouse where they can live full time until planting time.  So I really have to be careful not to get out of hand.  I feel it will be safe to begin some of my herbs and flowers that will live in pots.  That way I can bring them under the porch eave or inside if the weather gets too chilly this spring or lasts too long.  I really love having something to nurture.

So here are the herbs that I will be trying to grow this year.

Stevia is a natural sweetener and I am very excited about this one.

Chamomile I would like to find a spot in one of the fields for.  The seed packet only has 1500 seeds.  I want this one for teas mainly but who knows what else I will come up with.

Lavender... oh lavender.  I have tried three times now to grow lavender from seed and I am not about to give up.  I can envision it on the outside of the iron gate around my secret garden.  Good luck to me.

Rosemary I always buy but who's to say I can't grow it from seed?  I'm going to give it a shot anyway.  I love the smell of rosemary and like to use it when cooking and on buttered rolls.. yum!


By the way... is anyone interested in a seed exchange?  I will be inventorying my seed shelf really soon and I know I have lots to share.  I will be sure and post what I have plenty of and if you are interested maybe we can swap seeds with something you have saved from previous years.  How fun is that!?!? Stay tuned!  

Also, I am thinking of making Thursdays my garden post days.  Because....... I can!  So if you are mainly interested in gardening inspiration Thursdays will be your day on Peppysis!  Love ya mean it!

A New Year's Day Walk

I like to take a walk through our woods and creek on new years day.  I have a bond of sorts with the land that we live and play on and love to begin my year this way.  The temp today is in the high forties/low fifties with a bright blue sky and plenty of sunshine.  I took my pal Katie Bug along with me and as we started on our trek I heard a voice calling from behind.  The voice of Kitty following along.  I thought she would turn back once we hit the woods.  I was wrong.  She tagged along and kept right up the whole time and though my walk involves being in the creek, she trotted along side of the creek talking to me the whole way almost as if she was showing me this and that and telling me to be careful.  The creek is pretty slick with moss this time of the year.  We visited the icicles and my wild orchids.  I always like to check on them when I'm there.  I only brought home one small rock treasure.  As we walked, and Kate ran, jumped and splashed like it was August, I noticed little notions here and there that I leave and they make me smile to see them and remember the day I sat them there and they remain untouched.  Beautiful day for a walk and a wonderful way to begin the year here.

Much Love, Laurie