It is indeed a cold winter's day here in North Texas!!
This morning we finished our coffee and reading - which by the way - we are reading through the New Testament and are now in the book of Revelation - the only book of the Bible that promises a blessing just for the reading. Then we got dressed and headed to Walmart - with about half the population of our town!
It was a ZOO!! A winter ice event was heading our way and we needed a few things for the weekend.
Louis Dean said, "The WINE! We can't run out of WINE!" Or orange juice or hot dogs!
Once home the rain turned to sleet and ice and we turned the central heat on!
I decided today was a good time to make my rosemary salts and rosemary infused olive oil which I have planned to give as Christmas gifts since I saw it in Blondie's Journal back in August!
I followed her directions.....
I stripped the rosemary from the stems and used 1/2 c of rosemary and 1/ 2 c of olive oil.
Simmer for 1 minute.
Drain. Cool.
Chop fine and mix with 1 cup kosher salt.
Add more olive oil to what was left from making the salt.
Throw in a few more rosemary stalks.
Simmer for 5 minutes. The rosemary will turn brown.
Throw out the rosemary sprigs and cool. Place a fresh spring of rosemary in a pretty container and fill with the now rosemary infused olive oil.
Presto!!! Perfect Christmas gifts!!
After this I decorated one last Christmas tree - in the guest room.
This is my 'Memory Tree.'
I painted an ornament every year during Amber and Ben's childhood.
During Summer and Jesse's childhoods I sequined an ornament.
My collection of both is huge!!
This collage shows Amber in the upper left from 1999.The Big Bird I painted for her in 1986 is next.
The Piano I painted the year we bought it for her in 1996. She still has it and the quads will hopefully play it one day. The bottom row has the synchro ornament I painted the year she joined The Pirouettes of Texas Synchronized Swimming Team in 1992. The next one was painted in 1988 when Amber was a Cubbies in the Awanas program. My youngest son, Benjamin, is on the bulb on the lower right painted in 1999.
So many years. So many memories.
I found several special ornaments Summer has given me over the years.
That will make a complete journal post all of its own.
I love every single one of them. Summer has a knack for choosing THE perfect memory ornament for any given year.
So all my trees are done. The decorating is finished.
I shall now be gearing up for my Ladies 'Cup of Christmas Tea' which I shall host on Tuesday December 17th. If you are a Texas blogging sister I want you to know YOU are invited!!! My email is listed on my Blog page over on the Facebook Badge. Contact me and I can give you my address and directions plus the time! It would be so much fun to meet in person!
The fireplace is burning and the heat is on!
It is warm and cozy in the Chapman home tonight!
Hope it is where YOU are this evening as well!!
11 comments:
stay warm....I went to the grocery store this morning for a last minute run.....it was busy also.....
What a wonderful Christmas gift.... yes we are in Nevada...experiencing the 'cold'....and I have put my sandals on....back home we are having -30 C days...so I am quite enjoying the 'cold' down here:))))....so how far are you from YUMA???... oh how I would love to come have tea with you:))) Dec 17th
We'd all love to come for tea with you, Linda. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time and I look forward to the post!
Oh, you sweet, sweet Lady for mentioning me and making the oil and salt! I hope it brings much pleasure to everyone you gift it to! :) it looks so pretty!
I can't believe you are done with decorating because I know you have SO much. But then again you are a gal that gets thing done!! I love all of your precious ornaments.
Enjoy the next few weeks!! :)
XO,
Jane
I like the idea of making rosemary oil and salt as gifts! I hope my little rosemary plant will grow tall enough for me to do that next year :)
Stay safe and warm in the ice storm. It has been quite cold and snowy here, and I'm thankful for a warm house.
I loved the videos in your prior post and the fun double swings!
Wish I could attend your tea! if I ever get down to Texas I'll be sure to say "Hi" in person!
Smart, smart people to shop before the storm! And what a rotten one you're getting! Yikes. Hmmmm the gift idea sounds wonderful. I have salt, rosemary, oil, but no beautiful jars. Lovely ornaments to keep the memories perking!
Linda, I love all your beautiful ornaments. I like that you made something Blondie gave directions for...she's so darn sweet. I wish I lived in Texas so I could come to tea:):) I try never to go to the grocery when it's storm predictions. Too many lines. Blessings, take care and scoot your feet on ice.:) xoxo,Susie
I just heard about the ice storm in northern Texas and thought of you! We are hunkering down here as well...with the north wind howling through our valley. Perfect Christmas gifts indeed!
Lovely photos, Linda! Great to do shopping and be prepared. I'll bet that Rosemary smelled divine!
I buy our groceries at Walmart too. It's always a zoo no matter what time of day or day of the week. Glad that you got home safe and sound and stayed home during the storm. It has been too warm here for anything icy. We've had a ton or rain lately.
I just may have to pop some rosemary in my creamers! We bought a plant this year. It is spending time in the garage during the freeze.
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