Winter Wonderland Tablescape!

If only it would S N O W On Crooked Creek!!!
I love S N O W!
But. . .since we've had no measurable amounts of S N O W. . .I made a Winter Wonderland Tablescape!!!

After taking down the dining room Christmas Tree On Crooked Creek, I decided it was time for a new color palette in keeping with the Season.
I love S N O W !
SO~o~o. . .  I brought the S N O W  inside!

 

First I put on my flea market  "great find"  $5  S N O W flake tablecloth! Next, I added my after Christmas $ale silver chargers. Then the layering of dinner ware. . . my Homer Laughlin, Epicure turquoise blue hued dinner plates, followed by my vintage  white lace dinner plates and topped of with my Gold Crown Life Time China Co. dessert / salad plates from Alliance, Ohio! Finishing touches of a freshly pressed aqua napkin and our everyday beaded stainless steel flatware! We're using our plain stemware as it mimics the shape of the candlesticks.

Shopping the kitchen and china cabinets On Crooked Creek provided the necessary items to make this three~tiered centerpiece! A serving platter from our everyday porcelain white dinnerware, a creamy ivory leaf embossed serving bowl and a crystal and frosted glass compote with etching!

I worked some faux pine needle garland around each base and added faux silver holly leaves to enhance the arrangement. Next came silver S N O W flakes and bronze and silver glass pine cone ornaments. In the compote I placed a frosted glass votive with the sweetest smelling candle scent, Wintercream, surrounded by an ivory pip candle ring.

The creamy ivory S N O W flake runner is a perfect fit for our round dining table On Crooked Creek. Each individual S N O W flake has a bronze hue to accent the delicate stitching.  To either side of the centerpiece I added my silver candlesticks with sage green molted hued candlesticks. A glass ring with a golden band and ivory pip candle rings sits atop each candlestick.

At each place setting, I set a frosted glass votive with the sweetly scented Wintercream candle and an ivory pip candle ring. The ambiance is utterly romantic!

A close ~ up of my side of the table showcasing the intricate detailing of the S N O W flakes on the runner.

"Mr.Ed's" side of the table with that detailed S N O W flake runner, once again!

 This S N O W flake runner makes me swoon!

Isn't it just the most delicate, intricate S N O W flake runner, ever???

On Crooked Creek with all it's candlelight ambiance. . .

A Winter Wonderland Tablescape!

Sit back, relax. . .and think S N O W!

Here's a few more close ~up photo shots before I depart for this evening On Crooked Creek!

On Crooked Creek, our wicker half ~ round basket changes with each season. I almost shivered when I added these ice ladden branches.
Of course, it was near 50 degrees today. . .
and no S N O W in the upcoming weeks forecast!

But. . .one can dream!
Dream of S N O W!
On Crooked Creek. . . for surely, I will!

While it's sunny and unseasonably warm on the outside ~
we'll be enjoying our Winter Wonderland Tablescape inside  
~ dreaming On Crooked Creek ~ of  S N O W !

Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek is joining our dear hostess, Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

 and our sweet hostess, Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday!

www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

 Be sure to visit both of these weekly memes for inspiration in your own home!

Dear Ones,

Well...guess who just Knocked My Sox Off???

http://sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com/2011/12/knock-my-sox-off122011.html

That dear, sweet BJ over at Sweet Nothings with featuring me on her blog! Honored and grateful, am I, dear one! Be sure to visit and see more creative and inspirational featured bloggers decor!

Fondly,
Pat

It's Good for You! #1

Dear Ones,
Just before Christmas, I went in for a routine test. NOT a good thing! My test results were good; however the after ~ effects were NOT! I missed my first day from work in nearly four years, had two other tests taken, and am just now getting back on my feet.

So~o~o. . .
after nearly two weeks of soft foods, I decided (now that my stomach was beginning to take on a more solid diet) it was time for eating healthy! "Mr. Ed" and I went on a scavenger hunt through our local grocer while trying to find all the ingredients needed for this healthy recipe!

The thrill of the hunt was beneficial!
Low fat, Low cholesterol and Low calorie. . . this recipe is a keeper!!!

Creamy Spinach Ravioli

1 package (8 ounces) mushrooms, sliced

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

2 packages (9 ounces each) refrigerated light cheese~filled ravioli

2 garlic cloves, pressed

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 ounces reduced~fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)

1/3 cup fat~free half & half

1 package (10 ounces) frozen creamed spinach in low~fat sauce, thawed

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Slice mushrooms, chop onion and red bell pepper.

Cook ravioli according to package directions.

Drain and return to pan;cover and keep warm.

Meanwhile over medium heat, spray a skillet with nonstick cooking spray; add mushrooms, onion, bell pepper, garlic and black pepper.

Cook and stir 3 ~ 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender

and all liquid is absorbed.

Reduce heat to low; add cream cheese and half~and~half.

Stir until cream cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.

Stir in creamed spinach.

Simmer over low heat 1 ~2 minutes or until heated through.

Place ravioli on a 9 X 13 serving  platter.

Pour vegetable mixture over ravioli. Serve immediately.

Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Makes : 6 servings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Healthy Recipe Information:

*Nutrients per serving: Calories 340,

Total Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 6g,

Cholesterol 45 mg, Carbohydrate 44 g,

Protein 18 g, Sodium 580 mg, Fiber 4 g

^Diabetic exchanges per serving:

2 1/2 starch, 1 medium~fat meat,

1 vegetable, 1 fat (21/2 carb)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is delicious! For "Mr. Ed" and I it was dinner the first evening,

left ~ overs the second evening and into the freezer for yet another evening as a side dish! 

In thirty minutes or less. . . and. . .

It's good for you!

Until next time. . .

DISCLAIMER:

 The scavenger hunt was due to our lack of knowledge of where to locate the ravioli, as it is something "Mr. Ed" and I haven't purchased before!

Welcome to the Porch. . .

Welcome to the front porch On Crooked Creek . . .

" In the right light,

at the right time,

everything is extraordinary. "

                                                                                                     __Aaron Rose

" From home to home,

and heart to heart,

from one place to another,

the warmth and joy of Christmas

brings us closer to each other. "

__ Emily Matthews

 Armed with a SNOW shovel and clad in his brightest stocking hat and collar, Froggy is anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first SNOW!

Merry Christmas from the front porch On Crooked Creek!!!


Until next time. . .

www.commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

On Crooked Creek is joining our dear hostess Debra @ Common Ground  for Vintage Inspiration Friday with my vintage folding chair, vintage paneless window and vintage milking stool from the front porch. Be sure to visit and be inspired to use more of your vintage finds in your own home decor!

Snippets of Christmas. . .

This year, our son and daughter~in~law will be hosting the traditional Christmas Day festivities at their home. Therefore, On Crooked Creek kept our Christmas decor to a minimal.

However; I've included a few snippets of Christmas. . .


Snippets in the Entry Hall. . .

. . . and

Snippets above and in the entertainment center. . .

. . . and

Snippets in the living room . . .

. . .  and

Snippets above the china cabinet. . .

. . .and
Snippets in the wall pockets. . .

. . .and

Christmas week has arrived On Crooked Creek and we are enjoying the sacred and social events this Season holds. May each of you enjoy the Reason for the Season with family and friends!


From "Mr. Ed" and I. . .Merry Christmas!



Until next time. . .

N O E L. . .

Amazingly how the words associated with the Christmas season are seen through our holiday decor! Here On Crooked Creek. . .there's one word we enjoy showcasing at Christmas. . . simply
 N O E L!

I purchased this redware N O E L plate last year during  Christmas open house at one of my favorite shops on the Prairie in Fort Scott, Kansas ~ The Iron Star! It makes a vibrant statement on the built~in china buffet On Crooked Creek!

In keeping with our Rustic Christmas on the Prairie theme, I've surround the redware N O E L plate with all the natural elements On Crooked Creek held!

A wrought iron tray filled with pine cones from our years in Colorado! Although these were all found in the same area, the hues vary from light ~ to ~ dark.

Vintage spools used as candle sticks each holds a single knobby taper in the deepest caramel hue surrounded by wispy sprigs of cranberry, mustard and navy berries.

The same hues are found in this majolica tea set. One of my favorite sets for display On Crooked Creek!

The earthen green pottery jars purchased @ Nell Hill's in Briarcliff Village during our Kansas City Anniversary Trip this year are filled to the rim with more Colorado pine cones! Garlands of faux evergreen boughs are added to the base to soften the look.

Can you imagine my delight in finding this duplicate N O E L plate ornament when I returned to Iron Star's after Christmas $ale?

N O E L ~ a French derivative. . . meaning  C h r i s t m a s  in English!

The First Noel ~  a vivid narrative of the story of Christ birth ~ happens to be my very favorite of the Christmas Hymns!  On Crooked Creek will be ever on the look ~ out for more N O E L  decor items in the years to come. For Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!!!


Until next time. . .

www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

On Crooked Creek is joining our sweet hostess, Susan  @ Between Naps On The Porch for Metamorophosis Monday! Be sure to visit and be inspired at the amazing make~overs in the Land of Blog.

AND. . .

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

For some beautiful inspiration for your own home decor be sure to stop and see Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday! She is the most gracious hostess in Blog Land!