A DIY ELF's Surprise: A Yule Log Centerpiece

Ad-Free Blog

After reminiscing, I made a side comment to my husband the other day....,"Remember when you use to make a Yule Log Centerpiece back when we didn't have any money?" 

Yes, this holiday is all about reminiscing and this is what he surprised me with.

oldnewgreenredo

Since we no longer live in the North Woods of Wisconsin (since 1976, lol)...the local grocery had branches...a little sawing and some greens a few berries and he walked into the kitchen with this.

oldnewgreenredo

It's really huge, but so is our table!!!

oldnewgreenredo

Here's the HAPPY ELF Carpenter! He told me the stories of making Yule Log centerpieces for his grandmother's in N. Wisconsin when he was in high school. Drilling holes in big huge birch logs, and halving a branch to cut for legs. That would be the 1960's...gosh time flies! 

oldnewgreenredo

After moving many assorted candles around, I had enough to fill the wood holders from my dad's old stash of woodworking supplies. And they work perfect with the rustic logs.

oldnewgreenredo

The branches will begin  to scent the kitchen, once they thaw out. The berries are pretty casually put in. We decided a bit of ribbon is all it needs.

oldnewgreenredo

I love the texture on the logs and the branches.

oldnewgreenredo

He raised the branches up with legs made from more of my dad's toy parts. 

oldnewgreenredo

I think it will be perfect...excuse the plastic tablecloth---but it isn't time for Christmas Dinner yet...just wait until Friday when we set the table.! I can't wait.

oldnewgreenredo

NOW---the Most important thing is spraying these branches for the next 5 days! 

Golly, I love my Hunk of an ELF!!!!

Happy Holidays and all the Trimmings! 

And who doesn't love the scent of fresh GREENS!

If You enjoyed this post please FOLLOW IT in the upper right hand corner, to get just one email of each new post.

Thanks  ALWAYS  for visiting,

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

I will post at the following Link Parties, I hope you visit them.

Grammy's Grid:All Things Christmas

You're the Star Blog Hop

Vintage Charm

Farmhouse Friday

Metamorphisis Monday

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. Please do not use my photos without permission. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts, or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Sandi 

Family Cookie Day 2019

Ad-free Blog

This was 2019...and what I miss the most this year!

Originally Posted on Dec.12, 2018...but we are having cookie day on the 14th this year!

Quick Post---You know you are having fun when no one takes their phone out and takes photos.

I had to do these the day after, so this is only about 1/2 the cookies. Last Saturday, I set up our huge kitchen table with 3 leaves and 9 chairs...(we were 12 cookie baker/decorators) this year. The guys handled the rolling out and baking with help from or kid crew.

oldnewgreenredo

The table was set with two big carousels of gathered/donated decorations/sprinkles/icing and some bowls for distributing, paper plates for decorating on. Paper toweling is a must---!

I make up a batch of icing in white, blue, yellow, red, green that gets hard for spreading, and then we use the commercial cookie icings for outlining, which honestly were fabulous and easy for little hands to work with.

oldnewgreenredo

We used a (12 cup flour batch) of sugar cookie dough and (6 cup flour) gingerbread batch(those you bake really thin.) The sugar cookie recipe is from my husband's grandmother, the gingerbread is from an old Scandinavian cookbook. This makes more than enough cookies for five families.

oldnewgreenredo

Everyone had their own style in decorating---some love lots of frosting and sugar, 

oldnewgreenredo

others, just do outlines---the biggest hit were random eyeballs on everything...LOL. Orange was a new addition for snowman noses, but became foxes, mushrooms, duck, chicken, and bird feet.

oldnewgreenredo

The cookies have to set up for a couple of hours before they can be packed away.

oldnewgreenredo

New cookie cutters this year were a Unicorn which was very popular with the kid set,

and a 3 pc train---which no one could figure out what they were.---! 

RECIPE: Very Old (5 generations) and excellent.

THE most important part, gathering our family and friends together for FUN and MEMORIES even though no photos.

How are your memories coming for these holidays?

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks ALWAYS for visiting!

Sharing at these fine blog parties:

Home Matters
All about Home
Metamorphisis Monday
Tuesdays at our Home
Thursday Favorite Things
Thinking Outloud Thursday

Inspire Me Monday

Grammys Grid Christmas Decor

Grammy's Grid #86 Christmas Recipes

You're the Star Blog Hop

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Sandi Magle

Family Fun: Cookie Day with Sprinkles December 14,2019

Ad-free Blog

This post was originally done for last year....Trying to pull this off this year with the knee issues...but the crew will be here on Saturday and ...we know we will make tons of NEW cookies!

Quick Post---You know you are having fun when no one takes their phone out and takes photos.

I had to do these the day after, so this is only about 1/2 the cookies. Last Saturday, I set up our huge kitchen table with 3 leaves and 9 chairs...(we were 12 cookie baker/decorators) this year. The guys handled the rolling out and baking with help from our kid crew.

oldnewgreenredo

The table was set with two big carousels of gathered/donated decorations/sprinkles/icing and some bowls for distributing, paper plates for decorating on. Paper toweling is a must---!

I make up a batch of icing in white, blue, yellow, red, green that gets hard for spreading, and then we use the commercial cookie icings for outlining, which honestly were fabulous and easy for little hands to work with.

oldnewgreenredo

We used a (12 cup flour batch) of sugar cookie dough and (6 cup flour) gingerbread batch(those you bake really thin.) The sugar cookie recipe is from my husband's grandmother, the gingerbread is from an old Scandinavian cookbook. This makes more than enough cookies for five families.

oldnewgreenredo

Everyone had their own style in decorating---some love lots of frosting and sugar, 

oldnewgreenredo

others, just do outlines---the biggest hit were random eyeballs on everything...LOL. Orange was a new addition for snowman noses, but became foxes, mushrooms, duck, chicken, and bird feet.

oldnewgreenredo

The cookies have to set up for a couple of hours before they can be packed away.

oldnewgreenredo

New cookie cutters this year were a Unicorn which was very popular with the kid set,

and a 3 pc train---which no one could figure out what they were.---! 

THE most important part, gathering our family and friends together for FUN and MEMORIES even though no photos.

How are your memories coming for these holidays?

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks ALWAYS for visiting!

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Sharing at these great parties:

Sandi Magle