A little JOY project

I know this project has been seen on blogs for the last number of years,,,but I found the perfect piece of wood at the Restore and just knew it would work out perfectly.....and I wouldn't have to bother Darrell to cut me a piece of wood either!!

The star for the top was on sale at Michaels

Artificial greenery from Michaels

Snowflake from Real Deals Decor

Here's what I started with.

A bit of stain to bring out the grain in the wood and all its imperfections.

This project took no time at all and I was happy with the finished product!

Had friends in tonight for munchies and games...

this makes my heart full of JOY too!

We have made such great new friends here and I am very thankful!

Hope you are having a great week end!  Christmas will be here before we know it!

Sneek Peek at Christmas in the Country...

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Some upcycled Christmas decor

My hubby is pretty creative when he wants to upcycle some materials to make something!  He works in Facilities at the local college and has contributed some Christmas decor for the office.  Here is what he came up with!!

 A Christmas book tree

Complete with a musical paper star

The true meaning of Christmas found in this

History book that has lasted through the ages...

Bendable tubing with a bit of greenery from my stash 

I really like how this turned out !

This Dr. Suess like tree is made out of a plastic garbage can

Complete with ornaments you might find in the facility department

The department he works in may raffle these off and put the money

to a good charity!  Great idea!

Have you upcycled anything lately?!

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Christmas cookie sharing with neighbours and friends

Its been a busy few days of enjoying some of the things that are special about this time of year.  Christine's annual cookie exchange was a gathering of friends and neighbours inside her cozy and welcoming home.  Steaming cups of tea or coffee went well with the samples of cookies and treats that everyone brought to share.

To package my cookies and brownies I used a simple brown paper bag

and used a snowflake stamp, plaid ribbon and jute bows...

a litttle bit of Country Christmas to give away.

We are so fortunate to have wonderful neighbours around us!

These ladies live on our range road or just a few over from us.

All these wonderful ladies are wives, mommas, homemakers,

work out side the home mommas, and even college students!

Here's the group and all of our goodies!

Instant baking!

Friday evening we enjoyed a 85 member choir, Selah Singers, perform a Christmas concert to a full house!  Saturday was a busy day getting ready to have friends in for supper and finish up the last of the Christmas decorating.  Sunday it was off to church...hot chocolate, cookies and a quick game of Apples to Apples in the afternoon with MnM and kiddos... and then a quick supper as a nephew and his wife stopped in on their way through the area.  All in all it was a great week end spent with family and friends as this wonderful time of the year begins!

See some of my Christmas decor in the kitchen here

You know its Christmas = Decorating, Cookie Exchanges and Gathering with Friends

My dear friend Christine is having her yearly cookie exchange this week!!  I always look forward to this gathering of ladies.  Christine's country style home is decorated up nice and cozy and of course we all get to take home 6 dozen cookies/squares!!

I will be taking my Motz brownie.  I have shared it on the blog before, but it is my go to for all things chocolate.  Today I am in the mess of getting the house decorated for the holidays and poppin a brownie or two in the oven in between placing this here and that there!

Here is a start to my Christmas 2015.

Topped off with a mini peanut butter cup...

Chocolate and Peanut Butter what could be better!

Keepin it simple this year.

I pinned these bottle candle holders last year

Found the bottles on sales at Michaels

A new favorite thing!

I couldn't find a small wreath to put on the cutting board..

so I just used a small grapevine wreath, the glue gun and some

pine sprigs that I also bought at Michaels.  I think they look 

very real and finish the range hood.

The kitchen really is the heart of the home.

These dried apple hearts with little cinnamon hearts in the middle

are one of my favorite things from one of our artisans we had while

operating That Country Place gift store. I am surprised they have 

lasted so well.  A little {Scandinavian} touch...

Thanks for stoppin by the country.

Happy baking if you are preparing those special treats !

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Thinking about what the fireplace mantel should be like this Christmas

I have started to think about the Christmas fireplace mantel and will soon get out a few things to start decorating.   I really liked the simple "woodland" feel that I went with last year...so I don't know if I will change it up a whole lot.  There are so many wonderful ornaments and things in the stores now and it is hard to remind myself that I really don't need another thing!!!  Does that happen to you too?

I enjoy this cozy corner of our open concept kitchen/dining room area.  For anyone new to my blog, I thought I would show you some before n afters and some of the ways I have decorated for the seasons.

This is how the room looked when we first looked at the house

 Lots of work removing all those tiles!!

So glad that job is behind us!

 Removing the window and getting a visual for the fireplace

 Here are some pictures of ways I have decorated in the past

Christmas 2014

Fall 2014

Spring 2015

Fall 2015

Hmmm... what should I do for this Christmas?

So glad there is Pinterest and wonderful blogs to get inspiration from!

How I do like a before n after!

Have a wonderful week end!

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Dreaming and Planning....Guesthouse 71

Well, today I took our permit application to Cypress County for building a small guesthouse on our property here!!  Yep...its the first step to another opportunity to get involved in the tourism and hospitality industry...one that we both enjoyed while operating That Country Place on our previous farmyard.

Since we live on Range Rd 71,  the name "Guesthouse 71" seems to be a favorite name for this new venture. Of course, I am putting the guesthouse way before the guests...but one can dream and plan.

Here are a few of my inspiration pictures, of course all are taken from Pinterest.

Just a simple exterior with a farmhouse country feel

A loft would be a good option to accomodate a few more people

Open shelving for above the sink and mini fridge area

I love subway tile and the rough shelving

Wide planked floors, and a fireplace make this area cozy

Love this moulding

 This would be interesting for the bathroom

Don't want it to be too feminine, so some industrial farmhouse

would be a good idea.

 Inspiration for the day.

Today is my big birthday...can't believe that I am turning the big 50

Wonder what year 50 will hold for me?

Thanks for stoppin by the country today.

From Minions to Princesses to Lego Men to Pirates,,,it was a good week end!

Hard to believe it is November!! Yikes, time just keeps on tickin away.  We had a fun Halloween with some of the neighbor kids stopping in for treat bags made just for them!  When you live in the country, you often don't get too many kids stopping in.  I knew we would be seeing about 10 of the special little people that live on our range road, so it was fun preparing some treat bags with them in mind.

 Feel so lucky to have our niece and her family living just down the lane from us....

We enjoyed breakfast together...password "BACON" and then looked forward 

to seeing the boys in their costumes later on in the day.

Darrell and I had a fun evening out with friends at Blues at the Bow.

The small town of Bow Island is about 30 minutes from us, and they are known

for great blues music.  Bands from all across the country have played in the old 

theatre...and the event is called Blues at the Bow.  We danced and enjoyed the music 

and the company.  Got home around 2 am, so was glad for the time change!!

Thankful for these "groovy crazy cats"

Jack Sparrow was my date!!

Have a great week everyone!

November here we come!!