We haVe A WiNNer and oTher STuFF...

Well I am up to nothing today..got the leaves raked out of the driveway and in front of the house...have to have a tidy home..just me..restrung some lights on the side fence cause the others were tripping our system...so hopefully that is done now..I strung some by our kittys that are in heaven so their area looks festive too..I brought up a sled that was made in Italy to put on the front porch..the cats use it as their bed..so washing up the bedding and putting it there..It is out of wrought iron..I have used it for presents and christmas dolls when we lived in italy..but it is the size of a small wagon and just takes up space so out on the porch for the kids to use this winter...I fed Mr. Jingles our litte rescue mouse..he is storing his food for winter and getting his bed just how he likes it...I caught up on some of my DVR shows that I have recorded and just putzing and tweaking...My Visiting teachers from church brought over some good cheer yesterday and I thought I would share with you all. They are in the first photo..the item on the left is a hand warmer...It is made with 4x4 piece of flannel and has been stuffed with beans. and then stitched up. The little tag that came with it says:

Place me in the microwave for a minute or so (be careful I get hot!)

and tuck me in a coat pocket or under the bedcovers to chase away your winter

chills. This little bag will hold its heat for about 20 minutes

depending on the temperature.

The item on the right is Snowman Stew

it has a bag of milk chocolate swiss miss cocoa, some marshmellows 2 chocolate kisses and a small candy cane. This is put in a baggie along with this inscription:

Our Sunny days just can't last; Winter's almost here.

With the freezing weather coming fast,

You'll need a bit of cheer.

So here's a little snowman stew,

complete with stirring stick.

Add hot water to make this brew,

It's sure to do the trick...

These would make great gifts to give the neighbors along with some cheap christmas cups.

I added a photo of our littlest one looking out the window like a puppy dog..can't remember what she was looking at..i think it was birds in the garden..and the other photo is a squirrel that was in our garden the other day looking for grubbins and he craweled under the fence and out the front..our kids love watching them...

I am finishing up orders and getting the christmas packages done to send off...Tomorrow is the big day for my giveaway..so if you haven't signed up..you can do so on the left side of the blog and enter...I may draw the names in the evening..got a hair appt tomorrow...getting a body wave and then the following week my color done. Can't wait..Now I gotta get something made for my hairdresser...

Almost forgot..got another recipe to share and these are so good..they won't last around your house. I make these to give to the neighbors as well...

Spiced Nuts

Preheat oven to 250

3-1/2 cups pecans

1 egg white

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/2 cup sugar

slightly beat egg white, add sugar and then spices and then the pecans and stir them so they are all coated. Spray cookie sheet (one with raised edges so stirring is easier) with pam spray. Spread nuts on cookie sheet and make sure they are spread out. Put in oven, then about every 20 minutes turn them over and over...Bake for 1 hour. They could stick to each other a little bit, so while they are still warm start seperating them, they break too easily if you wait till they are cool. enjoy! This was given to me by my neighbor Doreen..she made them for us one year and you can't stop eating them...make great little gift bags..

I picked a winner for our WSOAPP Shoppe today so if your email address is Balfriesen please contact me so I can get your address and send off this stocking to you...okay hope everyone is having a great day...take care..:)