ruthie lou too

Well, howdy-do Sugar Pie and a very Merry Christmas to you!! I was hoping to get my blog post finished waaaay earlier than now but I volunteered my time to too many  things in the month of December and even though I got all of my Christmas shopping finished early I was still running behind and other things.  I want to do “all the things” but alas I cannot. Note to self: do not overcommit yourself in December! Lol!

All is good though! I’m one happy mama! All my kids and grand babies will be home for Christmas! YAY!!! That doesn’t happen every year but when it does joy-bells ring in my heart!

At the end of this post I will give you the link to my Country Christmas Home Tour on YouTube! When you get a chance come on over for some down-home goodness!

Now honey, get yourself comfy with something yummy to drink and enjoy my Country Christmas Home Tour!

IMG_7968

This year my theme for my front entryway centers around  Grandma’s Christmas recipe for her snowball cookies. Every christmas Grandma would always make these delicious snow-white morsels that absolutely melt in your mouth. You can’t eat just one! Lol!

IMG_7969

I decorated this little tree with pom pom snowballs, iced Christmas cookie ornaments and grandma’s handwritten recipe! She originally named these cookies Nutty Nuggets back in the 1940’s but we all called them Snowball cookies. She wrote at the top of the recipe “a nice Christmas cookie”

IMG_9356

These cookies are like a vanilla shortbread cookie with the perfect crunch of pecan nuts. Then they are rolled in Powdered Sugar twice! They freeze wonderfully too! IMG_9353

And here is grandma as a little girl…she looks as sweet as her snowball cookies!
 IMG_9355Here is Grandma’s handwritten recipe. As you can see on the second line of ingredients it calls for 1/2 cup of Oleo. Oleo is margarine and became a butter substitute back in the day. It was very popular in the 1940’s. You’ll find it listed in a lot of old cookbooks. It was thought to be healthier back then but now the tide of what’s “healthy” has shifted back to all natural butter, so that’s what I use when making this recipe.

FullSizeRender (30)

I found this vintage wood stove years ago at a flea market and I love how cozy it looks with the flickering lights poking through the vent.
Grandma loved her hot coffee so I put this enamel coffee pot on top of the stove and it fits perfectly.
The gingerbread cookie trees harken back to another yummy cookie Grandma would make…her delicious gingersnaps. You can find the recipe HERE!
The little stocking hanging on the side looks like it came out of grandma’s attic but it’s just a childs sock from walmart that I tea stained and filled with frosted boxwood and berries and embellished with a little rusty jingle bell.
And how cute is this old cookie jar…the Cookie Barrel! Oh the stories it could tell of hundreds of cookies made with love!

IMG_7971

My hubby grew up in the mountains of Idylwild, California and his grandparents lived just a few blocks away and would stop by often to visit with cookie treats.
On the left is my hubby’s old sled, he had hours of fun sliding down snow covered hills. There’s a huge crack in the wood slat at the top which is evidence that he crashed in to something at one point… but he survived because I married him! Lol!
And after I married him I got to know his sweet grandma well. We would spend the weekends just after Thanksgiving and Christmas in the old log house that he grew up in. We enjoyed  grandma’s treats and hot chocolate by the fire crackling in the large stone fireplace.

IMG_8769 (1)

I recently found this gothic window frame that came from an old church. I love the simplicity of it as well as the history. On top of the mantle I placed these flickering  battery operated candles  they look so real and beautiful without the hazard of real flames. They are the best ones I’ve found! You can find them HERE!

IMG_7959Just like every year I bring out our sweet baby Jesus in the manger. I’ve had this since my kids were babies, so it’s tradition! 

IMG_7966The starry heavens sparkled brightly as God sent us the greatest Christmas gift ever! 

“I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior – yes the Messiah, the Lord  has been born tonight in Bethlehem!’     Luke 2:10 -11 TLB

IMG_7932

“This will be a sign to you:You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12

 

0AF68EFC-4A57-4777-9B2B-33508C0BD4A2 (2)

Someone said “The kitchen is the heart of the home”…I agree! Especially at Christmastime! It smells like love. The kitchen seems to be the happiest room in the house.
calendar
One of the things that makes my kitchen cheery is this darling Susan Branch Calendar that I get every year. It’s old fashioned charm is like eye-candy for my vintage lovin’ heart!
pantry susan branch calendar
This is where I hang mine…right outside my pantry. It’s so sweet I want to eat it! Lol!
711iTYgf8kL
Here’s the front cover for 2020!! You can find it HERE!

IMG_8699 (3)“The whole house smelled good, with the sweet and spicy smells from the kitchen, and the smell of the hickory logs burning with clear, bright flames in the fireplace, and the smell of a clove-apple beside Grandma’s mending basket on the table. The sunshine came in through the sparkling window panes, and everything was large and spacious and clean.”  Little House in the Big Woods- Laura Ingalls Wilder
IMG_7913 3

Moo-ry Christmas!!I don’t know why but I love cows…old milk bottles…milk signs. I Love milk gravy with biscuits and milk with my cookies . I think cows are cute and go with Christmas too…especially when you put a wreath around their neck. ☺️♥️ And it’s quite possible that there was a cow or two in the stable when baby Jesus was born…away in the manger. Pass the biscuits and Praise The Lord!

IMG_8761

Frosty is jolly-cozy in his hat and scarf! He welcomes us home as we come through the garage door into the mudroom.

IMG_7918

“The cheery warmth of the blazing fireplace sets the tone, and the evergreen smell of the decorated Christmas tree fills the air along with the music. We can almost hear the angels singing!” ~ Emilie Barnes
Whether plain or fancy, I think we should decorate in a way that brings comfort and joy into our heart! It’s a scary world out there, let’s do what we can to make our home sweet, safe, clean, cozy, comfy & joyful so our family will feel blessed and loved.

christmas intro 2019 new

I hope you enjoyed my Country Christmas Home Tour! If you want to see the live version of it come on over! CLICK THIS LINK!

Well, darlin’s I hope you have the 

MOST WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS EVER!! 

BLESS YOUR FAMILY…KEEP HOME SWEET!

Aunt Ruthie

 

Comments 20 Comments   Add a Comment Add a Comment