Happy New Year

Are you ready to greet the New Year? 

How can I thank you?  

You have brought the world to me.  

I will drink a toast to you and wish you the very best of what this great, big, wide and wonderful world has to offer.

Gina 

Snow, the Artificer.

Adds an extra bit of sparkle to my walks.

Everything gets a dusting of pearls, white satin and crystals.  

Remember the Builders of the cairns from last Summer?

here

Built by 8 talented brothers and sisters of one family?

Now their masterpiece is hiding under the snow, 
waiting for Spring to come so that they can shine once more.  

Clouds are gathering, more snow is coming.  

Just in time to sparkle and shine for the New Year.  

Thank you my dear friends for your friendship. 


Gina 

Scrub, Scrub and scrub some more.

My hand painted every day dishes from Italy 

 need to be rescued.  Maybe you have dishes that show their age like mine.  

All it takes is a little elbow grease to make them look like new again.  

My cereal bowls have suffered the most. 
Silver cutlery makes the dark marks, and fruit discolors the white. 

 Help is on the way. All nice and new again. 

An ordinary kitchen sponge and a little scrubbing powder is all it takes. 

  Keep scrubbing until all of the lines and discoloration is gone.  

Don't worry about the design.  Nothing is going to happen to it. 

Wash thoroughly. 

My Italian dishes are more than forty years old and now they look as if I bought them yesterday.   

This treatment works for most hand painted ceramics.  It's only the top glaze that becomes discolored from constant use. 

Gold decoration is a little more delicate.   

There is one other treatment.  It involves a kiln and firing your dinner ware to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.  

To re-fire in the  kiln is a last resort fix.  It is better that you try the above described method first. 

Of course, I can always paint another set for you. 

Or you can come for a visit in the summer and I will teach you how to paint your own.  

I purposefully left off the yellow band around the outside rim of the plates...that way it doesn't show the little nicks they are bound to get with lots of use.  

By the way, 
it is -7 degrees Fahrenheit outside, that is -21.67 Celsius.

Stay warm,

Gina 

http://betweennapsontheporch.

It snowed

It IS a White Christmas

Only a few inches but it's snowing again this morning.  

Mr G is out working with his beloved 53' Ford Jubilee tractor. 

He will be gone all morning digging everybody  out.  

Later it's leftovers and reading by the fire. 

(My friend Sieglinde sent me a wonderful book). 


Are you enjoying your day after Christmas?

Gina  

Yes it is

going to snow tonight. And tomorrow. 

We will sit by the warm fire and drink a glass of Glühwein.

We will watch the snow fall.  That is what the weatherman promised. 

The house is ready.

Cooking and baking is done.


   

Presents have been delivered. 

All we need now is a little snow for a white Christmas.  


Thank you dear friends for visiting my blog.
I am grateful for each and everyone of you. 

May you all enjoy this blessed season that is Christmas. 

Gina 

There is more than one way

to tackle the largest Lakota squash we grew this past Summer!

We need to cut this squash into pieces so it will fit into our oven.

 Winter squash needs to age for about 3 months.  A cool place in the cellar is a good spot. 

Instead of using a large kitchen knife it occurred to Mr G that 

his hand saw would do a much better and a much safer job.  

The seeds will be scooped out and saved for next year. 
(Or you can roast them, they are delicious). 

The above Lakota is a 10th generation squash from our field. 

Large pieces will be baked at 350 degrees for one hour and a half.  

The meat will be soft and creamy, like mashed potatoes. 

Individual packages of baked squash are frozen to use in breads, soups and as vegetable side dishes. 

They will provide many meals. 

 You can't just grow a few squash.  Our ducks, geese and ground critters all like the little seedlings in the Spring.  So we grow many plants hoping for only a few survivors but often end up with too many. 

Next year come by and when you see boxes of squash at the top of our lane, please help yourself. 

Gina

https://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Polar Bear Express and Downhill Races

What do 

Polar Bear Express, Downhill Races and Honeymooners

have in common?

Polar Bear Express.

They are plaques which have been added to my ever growing collection of Christmas tree ornaments.  

Painted by Sophie Soprano, my every day walking partner. 

Also known as Lynn Farrar of Spring City, Utah.

The Honeymooners.

These charming Christmas plaques are details taken from Lynn's larger oil paintings.

Downhill Racers. 

Lynn paints in 2 different styles.  When her paintings are signed by Sophie Soprano you know that you will enter a fairy tale world. 

There is another side to Lynn, the serious painter who signs her work  "Lynn Farrar". 

Come visit her at "Sophie's Black Sheep Gallery" on Main Street in Spring City, Central Utah, 

or contact her via e-mail
lynniefarrar@yahoo.com


Are you ready for Christmas?  

Gina

Make your own for 2015

Make your own Calendar for 2015.

Wall Calendar made with the help of  Vistaprint

All of us Bloggers have taken great photos.  

Why not use them in a Desk Calendar.

Or a Wall Calendar.  You choose the theme.

Desk Calendars are just under $3 when they are on sale.  

Look for specials.  Vistaprint has them quite often.

Directions are easy to follow. 

Have fun, 

Gina 

Disclaimer: sharing this information was my idea. I have not received compensation from Vistaprint for writing this post.


Joining http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Where is the snow?

Snow from another December.

But not this year.

When are these guys going South?

Landed just five minutes ago. 

Do they know something we don't ?

Have a great remainder of the week my dear friends.

Gina 

When it's cold and dreary outside

Bring a few winter flowers into the house.

Paperwhites are easy to grow inside your house. 

Friends brought oranges and lemons from California.

Cymbidium Orchids are repeat bloomers if you leave them outside in the Summer. 

After blooming Phalaenopsis like to be placed by an east facing window.

A few sprigs of Christmas Greens will do wonders.

Phalaenopsis orchids come in many colors.  They bloom for 4 to 6 months in my house. 

Orchids make especially nice Christmas gifts.  

Sometimes a trip to the Florist is called for. 

Long lasting Alstroemeria are a good choice.

White flowers always look so special. 

And don't forget the special gift for a very special friend.  


Happy Christmas planning.  

Gina 

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/