How I Love Peppermint Stripes - Wordless Wednesday

I have known for a time now that I really like the peppermint stripe look. Thought it might be nice to do a post with a sample of how many different ones I have used in my Christmas décor. They speak for themselves...........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing you a sweet peppermint stripe Christmas, too!!! 

 

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Christmas in the Kitchen - part III

I would guess that you have been so busy with holiday preparations and festivities that you haven't noticed that my posts are still far apart. I have been caught up in the fun and work of this time of year. Today you will see about everything Christmas, in the kitchen, not already shown in part I and II. If you missed those be sure to go take a look.

 

My citrus display has diminished. Most of the whole oranges didn't keep. But, you will notice the sweets have grown!

 

You will see and hear a little more about the candy-coated oreos in a later post.

 

 

I dressed the window with last years ticking ties. But on the sill, where the snowmen have always stood, I left the white pitchers. I have enjoyed them so much through the year and decided to give them a bit of trim and leave them in place.

 

 

The curly ribbon with tiny bells has been used over and over, year after year, in different ways. Between each pitcher is what was place-setting, table décor from last year.

 

 

 

And, would you look!! Just like in the Fall, when the pitchers got some new trim, the next morning the rose bush sent out a spy!

 

 

See it there peeping around from the right?

 

 

You know how I like jars and I just hung this one last week. I took the easy way out and used a hook that was already in the window at the top. It is not the best placement but I figured it is good enough.

 

 

It is so pretty when the candle is lit.

 

Over on the wall, by the big shelf you saw in the first post, is the hanging chair. Angels and a very antlered reindeer makes for an interesting group.

 

 

Just below the chair on the wall - the high-chair.

 

One of my favorite groupings this year is the hot drink station. Down in the basket is a selection of tea and hot chocolate.

 

 

I keep trying to like flavored coffee and thought Dunkin Donut's Peppermint Mocha (barely visible) might be the one I could enjoy but no, I don't really like it either!

 

 

 

 

These two seem to be extremely content to hang around here on the stove top.

 

 

The little blackboard is giving the proper greeting of the season.

 

Part of the snowmen found a place here in the corner since they got crowded out of the window. I would miss them if they weren't showing anywhere. Some have been a part of about thirty Christmases.

 

 

Grayson and his mate are still up here - but insisted on having their own Christmas trim!

 

 

This piece might be one too many now with the kitchen island in the middle of the kitchen but, I missed having it here and put it back.

 

 

It is the perfect place for the old crockery bowl with white balls and citrus in the bottom basket.

 

Christmas in the Kitchen part II

Featured in part II will be this corner with all its Christmas "finery". As you might guess, I have to pack away a lot of the everyday things that occupies this area throughout the year.

 

You can see the top of the little pine tree, sitting on the floor. That was showing on top of the island in part one. I had my Gifts From the Kitchen annual brunch on Saturday and the island top was used for more than just sitting there being pretty. This picture was made on that day.

 

 

 

 

I will show several close-ups of the corner starting with the big shelf. As with every year the wire tree gets to be front and center.

 

 

This proud, prancing reindeer is in the kitchen this year for the first time. I think he looks right at home up here.

 

 

 

I know some of you will remember this yarn tree and several other things from last year. The tree is again inside the sewing machine drawer.

 

 

Too bad the candle wasn't burning when this was made. The big crock is one "everyday" thing that fits in at Christmas time and always gets to stay, showing off the antique utensils.

 

 

The little wooden egg santa always makes the cut, too.

 

 

 

Moving down to the white drawer cabinet top.

 

 

 

 

 

I found this old jar in an antique shop and it is just the place for some bottle-brush trees. I just now noticed this picture was made before it snowed in the jar! It looks better with about a "foot" of snow.

 

 

 

I bought this thinking I couldn't go wrong even if the relish inside wasn't good, I would get my money's worth just to enjoy the jar. As it turned out I love the relish, too.

 

 

The twine ball snowman is back for the second year.

 

 

  Polka dots are so cheerful and makes one happy, no matter what they are on!

 

 

 

And now, on down to the short white table.

 

 

If you looked last year, you might remember all these things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I will stop here and show the remainder of the kitchen in part III.  I have all the other rooms to show yet and also pictures from the brunch. So, be sure to check back for those posts between now and Christmas day.

 

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Christmas in the Kitchen - part I

I have been missing from blogville for longer than I wanted to be! I just got busy with other things, mostly Christmas decorating. I had fully intended to do two posts about my experiences in the Smoky mountains. Now that it is December, my decorating is finished and my Christmas banner is showing, I am ready to move on and let you see what I have done this year - starting in the kitchen.....

 

After much trial and error I have the look I like on the little island.

 

 

The little pine tree has been waiting outside until the time came to move it in. I love it just as it is (no decorations) here on the island top.

 

 

It had been years since I had done anything with citrus and spices so, decided to do this with some oranges and cloves.  For the slices, I put them single layer, on a baking pan in a low-heat oven to start the drying. I left them for an hour or so. About three of them got some twine tied around them.

 

 

The whole oranges have a design done with whole cloves. To make it easier on your fingers it is a good idea to pierce the orange with an ice pick or something small and sharp before inserting the clove. They smelled sooooooooo good! You are going to notice several versions of peppermint candy in my house again this year. I just can't seem to get over my "thing" for red and white stripes.

 

This rose hip potpourri lost it's fragrance long ago but I still use it at this time of year with this gingerbread boy.

 

 

This is no longer on the island but I wanted to show this picture I made when it was there. It is something new, purchased in a specialty shop in Jonesborough, Tennessee last month. I love the little server and need to come up with "a little slice of heaven" to serve someone.

 

 

 

This is the same apron that has been hanging here, but the blue has been replaced with red and you can see the blue striped towels gave up their place to these red ones.

 

 

 

 

 

The red strips on the shoulders came around two packs of four napkins. Marketing people really know what they are doing! I might not have bought the napkins without the red pieces around them. Although, I didn't have a clue how I would use them. I knew the red look would not stay here forever, so I didn't sew them on, just placed them loose.  The same with the red napkin on the pocket. That and a sprig of Christmas berries is all it took to turn a blue and white apron into a temporary Christmas look.

 

 

 

There is much more in the kitchen to show but there will be a part II and maybe a part III coming soon.

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I have been in the Christmas mood for awhile now. I participated in a Christmas Tea yesterday at Leu Gardens in Orlando. I have my annual Gifts From the Kitchen Brunch coming up this Saturday morning. How about you? Are you busy into holiday doings?