{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 12/01/2025 }

 

 

Good morning and a very happy December to you all.

 

Here we are, the beginning of the most glorious season, Christmas.  I am can't tell you how much I love this time of year, I look forward to it all year long, and when December arrives I am but bursting at the seams to get going with the festivities.

 

I have a very busy next two weeks, as we prepare to received our family from South Africa, who will be spending 3 weeks with us.  I am so excited, but there is work to do, as you all know when you host someone in your home, there is always a lot of preparation and two weeks doesn't seem like nearly enough time for it all.  But it will get done.

 

Right, let's get on with our post, I added a cute new button for this month.  Feel free to use it if you wish.

 

Have a wonderful blessed start to the season, and I'll see you all back tomorrow.   

Sandra

♥♥♥♥

 

 

 *** The Weather *** 

It is bitterly cold, oh my goodness.  We have been in the twenties for the past two days.  Winter is definitely here.  We have more of the cold weather sticking around the next week.  

 

Monday - Cloudy skies, 44 

Tuesday - Sunny, 56 

Wednesday - Mostly sunny, 58

Thursday - Mostly cloudy, 40

Friday - Mostly sunny, 55

Saturday - Sunny, 60  

Sunday - Mostly sunny, 55

 

 

*** Right now I am *** 

Sitting in my warm bed, as always, typing up this post, and watching the first Vlogmas video of the season.  Oh I do so look forward to Vlogmas on YouTube, so glad it's here. 

 

 

  *** Thinking and pondering *** 

Christmas and the family arriving.  I am once again surrounded by lists so that I don't forget anything, which will no doubt happen anyway, but we try.  

 

 

*** How I am feeling ***

I'm ok, it's the beginning of that time of the month, so fun fun.  Aside from that, I am good.  I am ready to get back to eating well because Thanksgiving was, well....it just was a few days of indulgence which my body is not happy with.      

 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

I have had one cup of coffee and will have another and some weetabix cereal, in a few minutes when I'm done with this post.  

 

 

*** On the lunch plate *** 

Chickpea tuna salad. 

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Chicken Kofta, Curried Quinoa, Cucumber and tomato salad  

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

Will be working on the new meal plan today, and it will kick in on Wednesday, so don't have meals planned after Tuesday. 

 

Monday - Chicken Kofta, Curried Quinoa, Cucumber and tomato salad

Tuesday - Five Bean soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches 

Wednesday - 

Thursday -  

Friday - 

Saturday - 

Sunday -  

 

*** What I am wearing *** 

Warm winter pajamas, but will change into some leggings and a long sleeve top. 

 

 

 *** On my reading pile *** 

Bible Recap - I am just counting down the days until it ends.  I didn't realize how constrained it would make me feel, so I am not enjoying it at all, but I'm determined to finish the plan.

A Falcon for a Queen by Catherine Gaskin, it's still sitting on my nightstand, I read maybe a few words here and there, but would love to find some time to read.   

 

 

*** On my TV this week *** 

YouTube Vlogmas. 

Turkish Series: 

Guller ve Gunahlar 

Halef Koklerin Cagrisi 

Esref Ruya 

 

Hallmark Christmas movies 

Great American Pure Flix Christmas movies 

 

 

*** Looking around the house *** 

I am in love.  I will take some pictures to show you all tomorrow when I do my Christmas decorations post.  But, I just love the house during the season, all the twinkly lights, the tree, the garlands, the red bows, the fire roaring.  Just love it! 

 

 

*** To do list for the week*** 

Daily homemaking chores

Water inside plants 

Starting the fourth row of Part 5 of the Solstice Star Blanket 

Daily 10k steps 

Daily workout, minimum of 10 minutes 

Finish all the outside Christmas decorations

Finish wrapping Christmas gifts

Prepare house for guests

 

 

*** What I am creating *** 

Solstice Star Blanket CAL by Helen at Crystals and Crochet 

 

 

*** From the camera *** 

Food prep during Thanksgiving.  Here I was chopping up bread for my homemade stuffing.  

 

*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses *** 

I just want to take today, to remind you to pray and protect yourselves and your families during this time of the year.  We should always be covering ourselves with the blood of Jesus, but especially during this time.  

 

Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and your family, over your home, your vehicles and your place of work.  Speak life over you all, speak and activate Psalm 91 and Psalm 23, as well as John 10:10.."for the enemy came to kill, steal and destroy, but He came that we may have life and life abundantly".

 

I also always ask God to make sure that my family and I are always at the right place, at the right time.  I even plead the blood of Jesus over all my animals.

 

We are in a huge spiritual war, and we need to protect ourselves and our families.  Finally, I do this every morning and every night, I speak and activate Ephesians 6:10, and ask God to equip us all with the complete and total armor of God.

 

God bless you all ♥ 

 

{ A cloudy, rainy, calm Saturday }

The morning arrived with clouds, fog and a soft constant rain.  The constant pitter patter, methodically and rhythmically falling on the rooftop.  Rain has such a calm effect on me, it always has.  Where some dislike clouds, grey skies and rain, I prefer it over summer days.  

 

So as this morning rolled around, I knew I would have just the day I needed.  A homey, quiet, pottering around with Christmas decorations, coffee drinking, Christmas movie watching and cooking homemade meals, kind of day. 

We went to the gym early in the morning, both not wanting to go, both preferring to stay home in the warmth, but after the Thanksgiving holiday and all the over indulging, we knew we needed to get in there.  For me, it was more about some physical therapy for my aching knee.  Using the machines my physical therapist advised, and using the stationary bike too, all exercises to strengthen my knee and help with the pain.

 

It worked.  Some were a little hard because of the pain, but I took it slow, did a only a few reps and made sure to not overdo anything.

 

Once home, I got busy with the house chores I needed to do. 

I finished all the inside decorating, save for two doorways that I want to get some garland hung over.  And then Curt and I started on the outside.  

 

I just love Christmas and love all the lights and the decorations.  I think that when we get to the end of the year, after enduring all the trials and tests and craziness that life throws at us, when December rolls around, the whole world is so ready to jump into the season.  The whole atmosphere shifts, things seem lighter and people are happier. 

I watched some more Christmas movies, I listened to Christmas music.  I talked to my family back in South Africa, received more gifts in the mail, wrapped them immediately and set them under the tree in our bedroom.

 

I cleared out all the Thanksgiving leftovers and made my yearly Thanksgiving pie.  It's become something we all look forward to.

 

And as the day rolled to an end, I jumped into a hot shower, got into my warmest of pajamas and got into bed.  My body weary and tired, but my soul filled with joy.

 

Curt and I were having a conversation on the way back from the gym.  We both talked about what a great day we were having, like we were back in a normal routine.  We love the holidays but it does throw everything into the air and routines along with it.  We talked about how happy it makes us to just go to the gym, stop at the store for a few things we needed, go home, shower and then potter around the house.

 

Small things but things that make us happy and remind us that we have a blessed, good life.  We just tend to take it all for granted and forget to stop and Thank God.  

 

It was a good day indeed! 

{ The day after Thanksgiving }

Every time the weather starts changing, and the cold starts creeping in, my arthritis flares up.  As I get older, doing all the holiday cooking and prepping, takes a lot out of me, but I still happily do it because I love it, I love hosting, I love having the whole family gathered and eating and talking, and laughing.  

 

The day after however, I know that I will be down for the count for most of the day.

 

My hands of course hurt, which is normal for osteoarthritis, but my right knee has been giving me issues for months.  When I walk, or squat or workout, it's a crinkle, pop and happy dance going on.  If you have arthritis, you know exactly what I'm referring to.

 

A few weeks ago though, I twisted my knee.  Stupidly on my part, instead of turning my whole body, I just twisted the right knee and immediately felt a sharp pain.  I wobbled around for a week with random pain shooting up, here and there.  It got better, I talked to my doctor and everything is good, it's just part of twisting mixed with the arthritis wear and tear.

 

But, after being on my feet for two days, not only for the Thanksgiving prep and cooking, but also the normal homemaking chores, and grocery shopping and the cold blistery weather, my knee is back to hurting.

 

Randomly.  I will be standing or walking and do a certain movement that brings a sharp pain, my knee gives out and I am limping for a few seconds.  So, I am taking it easy, I used my brace and now I have it taped up with KT tape which is used for physical therapy.  Best thing I ever did was have my physical therapist show me how to tape for different parts of the body and different situations.

 

If you've never taped up you are missing out.  It takes the pressure off the joint and allows you to move freely about without the pain.

 

Anyway, that is how I am spending my Friday.  Taking a good break, resting as much as possibly, and also slowly putting up the rest of the Christmas decorations.

 

 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! 

{ Happy Thanksgiving }

 

{ The day before Thanksgiving.....what is on the list }

This is it, the day before, the rush, the sprint to the finish line.

 

I don't know about you all, but I am already tired and ready to eat and be done with this.  What a terrible thing to say out loud, right?  But honestly, I love the holidays but as I get older, the less energy I have and the more tired I get, without even talking about the pains and aches that seem to radiate through the entire body.  Good grief!  😂

 

Anyway, today is go day, so I am currently sitting on my bed, with my second cup of coffee while Kaia snores next to me, snuggled under her blanket, and Elliott is also fast asleep under his blanket.  I have a video on the TV, listening to a prophet and writing down my list of to do's for today.  The more I add, the more I cringe, knowing that I have to get through all of this in the next 24 hours.  It will get done though and by the time bedtime rolls around, I will have a smile on my face and look back at the crazy busy day in preparation for another busy one tomorrow.

 

So, here is what is on my list for today:

 

• Pull out pie crusts from freezer
• Pull out puff pastry from freezer for Brie and my Custard Tart
• Make Pumpkin, Pecan and Apple pie fillings
• Make dinner rolls
• Boil eggs for deviled eggs
• Clean turkeys and prepared brine to get them in there overnight
• Make green bean casserole, pop in fridge and bake tomorrow
• Make sweet potato casserole, pop in fridge and bake tomorrow
• Make homemade stuffing
•  
• Carpet clean in between all this.  That needs doing so it's nice and fresh for tomorrow.  
• Insert leaves in table and start setting it for tomorrow.
• Make sure guest bathroom is clean.
• Make ham and cheese sliders for dinner. 

{ Taking a breath while preparing for Thanksgiving }

This time of the year, although exciting and something that we look forward to, not just for the delicious food but the family get togethers, also means a flurry of constant activity, busy days and a stressful build up, especially for those of us who host Thanksgiving in our home.

 

I have been right there, in the thick of it, trying to prepare, trying to make sure the house is ready and the food is enough and that nothing is missing.

 

But in the middle of all the preparation, I often find myself stressed and needing a breather, and that is when I step back and go outside to get some fresh crisp Fall air and just ground myself.  It helps so much.

 

That is what I did, and here is what I captured while in my backyard.  Hope it brings some peace and smiles to your face, as it does to mine.

 

In the kitchen meanwhile, there are pie crusts being made, turkey brines being prepared and a collection of dishware being labeled for different dishes.  How is your prep coming along, are you hosting or going to someone else for your Thanksgiving meal? 

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/24/2025 }

 

 

 

Good morning everyone, welcome back to the very last Happy Homemaker Monday of November 2025.  I almost want to laugh saying that, or maybe cry, because what the heck?  I think this month may have even beat October in how fast it went by, goodness.

 

Anyway, welcome back, have a seat, have a hot cup of coffee and let's see what is happening.

 

Before I get started though, if you haven't yet, stop what you're doing,  go to the freezer and pull out those turkeys.  

 

Right, now we can carry on!  

I know we all have a very busy week ahead, my planning, my cooking, my prepping starts today and over the next 3 days it will be a blur of activities, mainly centered in the kitchen, the heart of the home, as we once again race to the finish line on Thursday when we present a wonderful home cooked meal to our family.  

 

I will be sharing quite a few posts leading up to the day and hopefully some pictures of the day itself, so stay tuned.  Ok, now let's get on, have a blessed week my friends, don't overwork, don't overthink, enjoy the process.

 

Love you all,

Sandra

♥♥♥♥

 

 

 *** The Weather *** 

We had amazing rain yesterday which was just what I needed.  The temperatures are far too high for this time of year, but they are dropping and we do have some major storms happening in our state this week, and a cold Thanksgiving.  

 

Monday - Morning clouds and afternoon sun, 72 

Tuesday - Sunny, 69 

Wednesday - Mostly sunny, 56

Thursday - Partly cloudy, 61

Friday - Cloudy, 62

Saturday - Showers, 62  

Sunday - Showers, 52

 

 

*** Right now I am *** 

Sitting in bed, working on this post while watching a new Christmas movie on Hallmark.  A Dickens of a Christmas.  

 

 

  *** Thinking and pondering *** 

Thanksgiving and Christmas.  My mind is going a thousand miles an hour and I'm so scared that I will forget something, so today, I need to sit and write and write and compile as many lists as I can.  

 

 

*** How I am feeling ***

I am so happy right now, just looking forward to my family arriving in a few weeks and having one of our childhood Christmas.  We will just be missing our younger brother, and if he was here it would be perfect, but it will be amazing none the less.    

 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

Just had two cups of coffee, haven't eaten anything yet, not sure what I am going to have, not feeling very hungry today.  

 

 

*** On the lunch plate *** 

I will be having a tuna salad for lunch. 

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Moroccan Spiced Beef, Basmati Rice (Cauliflower rice for me), Sauteed Squash.  

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

 Monday - Moroccan Spiced Beef, Basmati Rice (Cauliflower rice for me), Sauteed Squash

Tuesday - Tilapia with Tomato Sauce, Quinoa, Cucumber tomato and chickpea salad

Wednesday - Ham and Cheese Sliders (will be super busy and don't have time to be cooking a full dinner with Thanksgiving the next day) 

Thanksgiving - 

Fried Turkey

Ham

Mashed potatoes

Macaroni and Cheese

Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Broccoli and Cauliflower with cheese sauce

Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Stuffing

Boxed Stuffing (some family members love this stuff lol)

Deviled Eggs

Homemade Rolls

Gravy

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Apple Pie

Tarte pastel de nata (Portuguese Custard Pie)

Friday - Leftovers 

Saturday - Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza)

Sunday - Meatballs and Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Salad 

 

*** What I am wearing *** 

Warm winter pajamas, it was cold during the night.  It's my day off from exercise as you all know, so I'll just throw on some comfy leggings and a tank top and get busy with Thanksgiving prep. 

 

 

 *** On my reading pile *** 

Bible Recap.

A Falcon for a Queen by Catherine Gaskin for my personal reading. 

Just finished Bringing Heaven Here which will have a review up this afternoon, if you're interested. 

 

 

*** On my TV this week *** 

YouTube cozy vlogs 

Turkish Series: 

Guller ve Gunahlar 

Kurulus Orhan 

Halef Koklerin Cagrisi 

Esref Ruy 

 

Hallmark Christmas movies 

 

 

*** Looking around the house *** 

I love this time of year, the darker mornings outside and the twinkly fairy lights inside just bring such joy to me. 

 

 

*** To do list for the week*** 

Daily homemaking chores

Water inside plants 

Third row of Part 5 of the Solstice Star Blanket 

Daily 10k steps 

Thanksgiving cooking

 

 

*** What I am creating *** 

Solstice Star Blanket CAL by Helen at Crystals and Crochet 

 

 

*** From the camera *** 

My bedroom Christmas tree makes me smile.  This is the first year that I have decided to put one up and will become a tradition from now on.  

 

 

*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses *** 

Just thought today I would share some scriptures for Thanksgiving.  

Scriptures on giving thanks to God

• Psalm 107:1: "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"
• 1 Chronicles 16:34: "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"
• Psalm 95:2-3: "Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving and raise a shout to him with psalms."
• Psalm 100:4: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." 

{ Bringing Heaven Here - TLC Book Tour }

 

About Bringing Heaven Here: How the Lord’s Prayer Can Change Your Life and Our World

• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 25, 2025)
• Hardcover: 256 pages

From the creators of the global television series The Sacred Thread comes a transformative exploration of how the Lord’s Prayer unlocks the power of God to guide, heal, and renew our lives and the world around us.

The Lord’s Prayer is the most iconic and widely spoken prayer in human history. It’s not only a sacred prayer, but the very essence of the Bible’s message—showing us who God is, why Jesus came, and how we fit into the unfolding story of God’s redemption. Yet, familiarity often dulls the power of this profound prayer, leaving its deep meaning untapped and unlived.

Every single phrase of the Lord’s Prayer is loaded with revolutionary significance for Jesus’ original audience—and for us. In this book, Brad Gray and Brad Nelson draw on decades of research to unpack these words in their original historical and cultural context, revealing the bold truths that can still shake our lives today.

You’ll discover how to:

• partner with Jesus in bringing heaven here by aligning your daily actions and influence with His kingdom and will.
• gain wisdom to mend broken relationships and stand against the forces of evil.
• understand what Jesus’ words meant to his original audience.
• gain confidence and peace from bearing God’s name, goodness, and glory to the world.
• experience each moment as holy—as an opportunity for the life of heaven to be a part of your life now.

We are called to actively participate in Jesus’ mission to restore all things, bringing the abundance of heaven to earth. Bringing Heaven Here will unveil the hidden truths and untapped power of the world’s most famous prayer—and show how it applies to your life today. Discover how to stay rooted in Him, embrace the purpose He has for you, and let the Lord’s Prayer guide you into a life of true transformation.

About the author

Brad Gray is the President and CEO of Walking The Text, a non-profit organization that creates digital media resources and study trips to Bible Lands to help people understand the Bible in its original context. He is the cocreator and host of The Sacred Thread, and the author of Make Your Mark. Brad is also a national speaker, ordained minister, and former teaching pastor. He has a business management degree from Cornerstone University (Grand Rapids, Michigan), a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary (Holland, Michigan), and has done additional graduate work at Jerusalem University College (Jerusalem, Israel). He and his wife, Shallon, live with their four children in the Greater Nashville Area.

Brad Nelson is the content director at Walking The Text, a non-profit organization that creates digital media resources and study trips to Bible Lands to help people understand the Bible in its original context. He curates The Teaching Series, a bi-weekly podcast and video series, and is a cocreator and writer for The Sacred Thread. He is a national speaker, writer, and served in the local church as a pastor for seventeen years. Brad has a Bachelor of Arts in history from Cornerstone University (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and a Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary (Holland, Michigan) and has done additional graduate work at Jerusalem University College (Jerusalem, Israel). He and his wife Trisha live with their three daughters in Greensboro, Georgia.

 

My Thoughts:

 

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book, and I certainly had no idea that it would be one of the best books I've ever read about the Lord's prayer.  It made me think, made me reflect and take in how I think about the prayer and how I use it myself in my life.

 

The book is told through two different voices, two friends both named Brad, who through their own experiences and thoughts both tackle the Lord's prayer, breaking it up into sections and explaining and teaching how each one is and should be thought of when prayed.

 

I will say that I seemed to connect more with Brad Nelson.  Maybe it's just the way he talks or writes, but I found it made it easier for me and I found it more interesting to follow along.  That is not to say that what Brad Gray had to say was not equally important but I find it quite interesting that through both of their accounts and experiences, the audience will definitely feel pulled to one more than the other.  I love that, I love that different voices and different people will get what they need through a single book.

 

So what exactly is the book about?

 

Well it starts by making us look back at how we have prayed the Lord's prayer.  I think if you are a Christian and even if not, everyone all around the world knows the prayer or at least some of it.  There is a familiarity when you hear the first words "Our Father who art in Heaven".

 

I taught my children this prayer from a very early age.  My son Nicholas is 22 and just recently started going to church with us, not because anyone asked him to, but because he felt pulled to.  Our daughter Jasmine on the other hand, is 26 and does not attend church nor does she show much interest at all.  But both of them know the prayer and if asked to recite it right now, they would.

 

And that is exactly the point of this book.  We know the prayer, we say it but at a certain point, or maybe even every time we say it, it just becomes a prayer that is repeated without much thought or feeling put into it.  What the book teaches us, is how to live it, how to feel it, how to embrace the words one by one and apply it to our lives.  I never thought of it that way, I never took the time to really look into what each word and phrase meant.

 

I have come away with a deeper understanding of this covenant, of what God actually wanted us to take from this prayer, and especially for me, the words of the Bible, the scripture that tells us and teach us that What we curse here on earth will be cursed in Heaven and what we bless here on earth will be blessed in Heaven, is reiterated in the Lord's prayer;

 

On earth as it is in Heaven!

 

I never, ever thought to even connect the two.

 

I am so grateful to this book and to both Brads for teaching me what it means, and how to use it daily to really live out God's words in my life.  What a blessing!

 

 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy for review. 

{ Sunday's Message - When the bank account is empty }

 The last sermon of the Into the Valley series.  Next week we are starting a Christmas centered series and I can not wait.

 

 

{ Sandra's Saturday Surfing }

 

 

Whew, I have not done one of these in a very long time, but I always enjoyed my little Saturday surfing.  A post with the websites I used the most in the past week, or things I looked at or bookmarked etc.  

 

So, here is what I've been doing the past few days, or rather, what I've been looking at.

 

YouTube - of course, my daily company while I go about with my homemaking.  Whether it's a sweet homemaking video, or an ambience, or tv art, I am basically on YouTube every day.

 

Hallmark Movie Channel - it's that time of year, the Christmas movies are on a constant replay on the telly too, it is a mixture of YouTube and Hallmark.  Love it ♥

 

Teleculinaria - with Christmas around the corner, I am on my favorite Portuguese recipe website, finding, bookmarking and grabbing ideas for the usual goodies we have on Christmas Eve.  This year is even more special because our older brother Paul, my sister in law Lilian and our niece Taryn-Lee, will be here for a good old fashioned big Christmas.

 

Amazon - of course, because gifts are being bought and I am actually trying to get as much done and finished before my family arrives from South Africa on the 16th of December.  I don't have time to be Christmas shopping once they're here.

 

Radio Garden - I have mentioned this one before, but this is a great radio app for finding and listening to radio stations from all over the world.  I have been listening to the ones in Portugal, obviously. 

 

Pinterest - recipes, ideas and inspiration for this time of year.

 

Christmas Sprinkle Buttermilk Bread - this one looks so good, I think I'll be making over the holidays. 

{ Paper Snowflakes }

 

I have always been a very creative person, from the earliest of ages that I can remember.  If I could make it instead of buying it, I was all for it.

 

The past few years, I have been looking more into spending vintage, old timer Christmas as opposed to the newest trends or flashy snazzy decorations that some prefer.  There is something magical about the old way of doing Christmas, the homemade decorations, the vintage looking Santa and young kids holding presents in a snowy background, or old fashioned women in sweet aprons standing near a stove or a beautiful Christmas tree glowing with tinsel thrown about randomly.

 

That is the kind of Christmas that I remember from my childhood and the kind of Christmas that I prefer to celebrate. 

 

With that in mind, I have been making some cute decorations, and these snowflakes have been on my plans for quite a while.  I thought they would be really difficult to make but they are so easy and so quick to put together.

 

I have made 3 so far for my bedroom windows and 1 for my kitchen window.  I may make some more to place in different rooms throughout the house.

 

But I thought I would share, in case one of you want to give it a try, but also to keep it here on the blog for future years where I can come back and see the tutorial.

 

I found a few tutorials online and the first one I tried went horribly wrong because the lady didn't explain properly where to glue the pieces, but I found one that was wonderful and easy to follow, so here it is, hope you enjoy it as much as I did making these.

 

You are going to need 6 sheets of printer paper for each snowflake.

 

The firs thing you need to do, is to fold each paper up to make a square, then you're going to take a pair of scissors and cut off the excess.

 

Next, you will take each triangle and fold it in half again, as you can see below.  In other words, don't open up your squares yet, keep them as they are folded in a triangle shape, and fold them again in half.

 

Now take each triangle, and hold it, so that the folded edge is to the left of your hand, then make 3 cuts, just space them evenly, going all the way from the bottom to about half an inch from the fold, don't cut right through.

 

Once you've done that for all 6 sheets of paper, take each one, open it up gently into a square, it will look just like you see in the picture below.

 

Gently take the middle square, and bring each edge up and overlap it.

 

Using a glue stick as I am doing below, or you can use some tape, secure it in place.

 

You're going to do this two more times until all squares are secured, remembering to keep flipping the paper back and forth for each one.  So, secure the first middle square, then flip the paper over, and secure the next, then flip it back over again and secure, and flip it one last time and secure the last outer square.

 

This is what will give it the 3D look, and this what the first tutorial I found, forgot to explain, so I kept the paper as it was and just glued them all one over the other which did not work at all. 

 

Now flip the paper complete over to the other side, and again, grab the next square, and overlap the edges, securing them again with tape or glue.

 

Next do the same for each sheet of paper, you will have 6 final 3D looking shapes.  Now you're going to take each one, and line it up with the next, at one of the points, top or bottom it doesn't matter.

 

Just line up the points as best as you can, then staple them together.

 

 Just like you see below, all six secured together.

 

You will end up with something like this.  I know it doesn't look right yet, so what you're going to have to do now, is take each individual snowflake and staple it to the next, in the middle (or side rather of each one)

 

I hope you can see it in picture below, you're essentially attaching each snowflake to each other so it creates a big circle.

 

That is it.  You have created a beautiful huge 3D snowflake to hang in your home as a Christmas decoration.

 

I just love the way they look, and once you make the first, you will understand just how quickly they come together.  It is something you can make with your kids, maybe do all the cutting and stapling, but have them glue the inner pieces and help you put it together.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial and give it a try.  If you do, I would love to see how yours turned out or how you used them in your homes.  Be sure to come back and show me.

{ Cooking Thursday - Thanksgiving Recipe - Cranberry Feta Pinwheels }

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week, exactly a week from today?  

 

With that in mind, over the next week we will dive fully into preparation and cooking and ideas for the big day.  I am starting today with our Cooking Thursday and I'm including a recipe that I have saved for myself to make as an appetizer.....Cranberry Feta Pinwheels.  It sounds and looks absolutely delicious.

 

The recipe comes from Spend with Pennies, a cooking blog I have followed and used over the years, and just love basically all her recipes, so be sure to check it out when you have a chance.  

 

 

Cranberry Feta Pinwheels

Source: Spend with Pennies 

Ingredients  

• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ▢ 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• ▢ ⅓ cup chopped fresh chives
• ▢ 1 ½ cups dried cranberries
• ▢ 4 large flour tortillas 10-inch

Instructions 

• Place cream cheese in a small bowl and beat until fluffy.
• Add in remaining ingredients (except tortillas) and mix well. Spread the mixture evenly over the 4 tortillas.
• Roll each tortilla in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Cut into slices and serve.

 

{ Wordless Wednesday }

Coming up on Friday, how to make these adorable paper snowflakes.

{ A Fallish kind of day }

Last week was a total throw out, forget about it kind of week.  We were just at the butt end of the shutdown and trying to sort out bills and budgets etc., and then Nick and I got a cold, and a few days later Curt got a cold.  It was just one of those weeks that I was glad to see end, but it also meant that I didn't get to come in and do any blog posts.

 

I was mighty proud of myself for sticking with the blogging daily and getting a post up per day, but you know what, life sometimes gets in the way and we need to roll with it.  So I'm going to forget about the missed days and just get right back on that wagon.

 

We've been having weird Fall weather with temperatures that are far too high for this time of year, with two days actually seeing new high records.  Oh Texas, ohhhhhh Texas, what are you doing?

 

Thankfully the temperatures are dropping now and everything is looking much more fallish.

 

I am particularly obsessed with the changing leaves and the beautiful colored trees all around me.  From deep oranges to bright yellows and dark reds, and everything in between.  Don't you just love God's paintbrush?  

 

 

Homemaking has moved at a slower pace, cleaning, dusting, laundry, food prepping, whatever it is, it is done almost with methodical precision, as if any fast move I make will derail it all.

 

There's a certain joy that springs forth from these mundane daily chores, that seem to become magical during this time of year.  Maybe it's the lighting, maybe it's the darker moodier days, or that amazing fall scent in the air that is synonymous with home and comfort.

 

Whatever it is, I love homemaking even more during the colder months.

 

 

And after the house is clean, and everything is set to order, I take time for myself, to do my daily steps and exercise, but then to sit with a book to read or planning for a holiday or a meal or whatever it may be.

 

I completely forgot I have this cookbook which I very much love, I mean every recipe in there is amazing (except for the squirrel or whatever, I'm sorry but I won't do that lol).

 

Miss Kay has some fantastic recipes and I especially love her Pecan Pie for this time of the year.

 

I hope you enjoyed taking a look at a pretty regular Fall day around my home.