Martha Stewart's New Cookie Cookbook Is Fantastic!!!

Mommy ~ would you bake me some cookies????

Daisy says "Don't worry Jake , you know she will."

Time to break out my new cook book ~

Every recipe I try from this cookbook has turned out fabulous!

Stained Glass Cookies ~

You simply add crushed Jolly Rangers to the cut out center.

This is my new fav Snickerdoodle Recipe!

Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ MMMMMM.

By the way ~ I tryed both of my egg separators.

One is handmade pottery ~

One is a slotted spoon.

I think the spoon works better ~ as long as you don't break the yoke!

Yummy Coconut Macaroons ~ perfection!

Baby It's COLD Outside!

This past week-end brought over a foot of snow to my little New England town!

Teddi and Jake are attempting to turn every last bit yellow!

Home Sweet Home all dollyed up for Christmas.

Ice is EVERYWHERE!

Thank You Maggie!

This beautiful vision of beauty arrived at my doorstep along with some "Snowman Soup" the other day.
Maggie handcrafted this pin from silk, trims and gorgeous beading!
Aren't the colors heavenly!

Signs of Christmas at The Ole' Homestead

My neighbor Frank brings me a big Poinsettia EVERY year ~ but each year I forget he does it and am SO surprised when he greets me at the door with it in his hand!

Red , Silver and Green everywhere!

Always in anticipation of Spring......

Ready to sit at Gramas desk to do some last minute Christmas cards

The CD players above is ALWAYS playing Christmas tunes this time of year

Holiday aprons stand ready for my dough covered fingers early next week

These darn Elves are having TOO much fun and NEVER help with the dishes!

Vintage bulbs hang from the chandelier Ashley bought me in secret many years ago from

Tinsel Trading in NYC.

Wishing YOU My Sweet One a

And a VERY

Christmas!!!!!

I Have Been Tagged

My Sweetie Pie Pat Winter ( http://gatherings100.blogspot.com/ ) tagged me for a fun game.

The rules of the tagging are as follows:

1. Link your blog to the person who tagged you.

2. Mention the rules.

3. Tell six quirky yet not boring, unspectacular details about yourself.

4. Tag five other bloggers by linking your blog to them

5. Go to each person's blog and leave a comment for them telling them they have been tagged.

So HERE are the 6 things about me ~

1. Any left over water I have boiled for tea ~ I pour over the dishrag in the sink to sterilize it.

2. I LOVE cleaning in my Jammie's!

3. I still say "I have to go poddy" even though my kids are 20,24 and my twins are 25.

4. My worst nightmare would be living in a house where the shades are always drawn.

I never shut mine! I follow the sun around the house and try to work in the room where it is shining brightest.

When the moonlight is shining through my skylight ~ I will find the spot on my bed where it shines on my face.

5. I am JUST learning about good wine and when I go out for a drink ~ NEVER know what to order.

6. If there was only ONE thing I could do for the rest of my life ~ it would be to show the world the passionate LOVE the Lord Jesus Christ has for them.

I TAG

http://preservecottage.wordpress.com/ beautiful vintage EVERYTHING

http://lavenderhillstudio.blogspot.com/ breathtaking mosaic

http://www.cranberrycottage.blogspot.com/ handmade soaps etc

http://cupcakeblog.com/ this blog is closed but check archives for recipes

http://corinaj.wordpress.com/ sweet dear Corina from Holland

A Note About The Next Few Post Below

Hi Freind's!
The next 4 post below are about my recent road trip I made by myself from Ct to South Carolina to see my family.
Blogger would not let me switch them around so you could read in order so just scroll down to the post
" Road Trip to See My Family" 4 post down and start reading there so the whole thing makes sense!
1. First stop ~ Lexington, Virginia
2. Second Stop ~ Taylors, SC
3. Third stop ~ Staunton, Virginia
4. Last stop ~ Intercourse, Pa.

Consider planning your own adventure away ~ there is nothing like it!
Love Ya!
Terri

Last Stop ~ Intercourse, Pa.

I arrived in Intercourse, Pa around 6 pm. Route 81 was closed due to a rather bad accident so I took beautiful
back roads through mountains in Maryland entering Pa. at Gettysburg and then traveled east until I reached
Intercourse.

I went right to my fave restaurant there and had a home cooked meal. The dining room was filled with Amish
and Mennonite customers ~ I feel honored to be in their sweet presence.

Then to my most beautiful room. I feel surrounded in love when I am here.

I put my jammie's on and cuddled up with a book. It felt GREAT after a long day on the road.

I pull up all the blinds before I go to sleep so that I will wake to the sunrise.

The view from the windows is rolling farmland and big wind open sky.

At night ~ the sky is filled with a trillion stars!

My room is located above the "Village Quilts" sign!

The whole downstairs is the most lovely quilt shop.

http://www.kitchenkettle.com/kitchenkettle/innkkv.html

I couldn't drag myself away from Amish Country until after lunch time. I took a drive through Lancaster on my way to the highway. I can't wait to go back and discover it more!

This is the most WONDERFUL chocolate shop I stop at on Rt 222 when I am on my way back to Conn.

It is called "Premise Maid Chocolates."

The purpose of my Thanksgiving trip to see my family in South Carolina was to not only spend time with them but help them prepare to move in a couple years to a new home. But as always ~ I was the one who was loved , cared for and filled up.

I left feeling whole , healthy and ready to tackle any challenge ahead.

I left remembering that they believe in me like no one else can ~ and they do.

Thanks so much Mom, Frank and Grama for your sweet and tender love and being a bright light in the night.

Road Trip Home ~ Overnight Stay In Staunton, Virginia

I left Taylors, SC 5:45 am to start my trip home. It was a rainy, cold morning and I found myself in several traffic back ups as I approached the mountains due to zero visibility because of the fog.

I arrived in Staunton, Virginia at the Stonewall Jackson Historic Inn about 4:00 pm.

AGAIN ~ for just a little over $100.00 per night ~ I found myself in a stunning hotel!!!
Beautiful Christmas music from the piano on the balcony greeted me as I checked in.

Staunton is filled with the same history and eye popping architecture as Lexington , Va

but on a much grander scale.

This is the train stop for the Amtrak Train. It was located down the hill from my room ~ I watched at night as the train rolled in and I could see the passengers in their private train cars gazing out the window as they waited to take off again. I wondered where they were headed and if it was a happy trip for them.

Oh BOY! A beautiful quilt shop ! I was in my glory but just bought a spool of pearl cotton.

Don't you just LOVE cobblestone streets!

So just imagine how GIDDY I was when I ventured out on foot shortly after I arrived in town for a nice Italian Dinner and ran into THIS crazy quilt display across the street from my hotel ~ at the Staunton Historical Society.

This crazy quilt was from the late 1800's.

This is the beautifully restored floor of the Staunton Historical Society's building.

As I left town the next morning ~ I spotted this sign explaining that this main road in Staunton was part of the most heavily traveled in Colonial America ~ linking the Great Lakes to Augusta, Ga.

Now off to Pa. in Amish Country for one more night on the road.

My sweet Mom insisted on treating me to a stay at my fave hotel room away from home ~ Room 905 at

The Inn in Intercourse, Pa. http://www.kitchenkettle.com/kitchenkettle/innkkv.html