Day 4, Decluttering, part 2...Packing up the Kitchen Christmas Decorations

I put away all my Kitchen Christmas decorations today (except the china).



Here's the left side of my buffet.



Here's the right side of my buffet.



Here's my gingerbread wreath. The utensil ornaments hanging from it are from my best friend.



Here's the miniature utensil ornaments that my best friend bought me for Christmas....Thanks Tami ;) Next year they will hang on my 32" fiber optic tree that I bought after Christmas for only $6, along with some other ornaments I bought for it.

Day 3, Decluttering...Putting away the decorations, pt. 3

Next 10 Ornaments (last 10 of today)...



Precious Moments



Precious Moments 2



Roses painted by me 2001. there were 12, we are down to 3 :(



Rudolph (CNB)



Santa painted by me in 1998....yes, he needs a touch up.



Santa (cracker barrel)



Santa paintbrush (CNB)



snowboy (cracker barrel)



snowman cd (CNB)



Star (CNB)

Day 3, Decluttering...Putting away the decorations, pt. 2

Part 2...the next 10 ornaments :)



Dancing Star (CNB)



2001 Eeyore.......I love me some Eeyore, you'll probably see his face again ;) (disney store)



Embroidered ornament (Rhonda at CNB)...isn't it beautiful?



Jacob's Duke Homestead field trip stocking Kind. (2007, 5yo)



Jacob's stocking 1st grade He made this for his baby sister's (Cheyanna) 1st Christmas...isn't that sweet? (2008, 6yo)



Jacob's snowman Pre-K (2006, 4yo)



Jesus is the reason for the Season (CNB)



Mitten (CNB)



Nativity (CNB) Isn't it pretty?



Pink Cascading Stars (Cracker Barrel)

Day 3, Decluttering...Putting away the decorations, pt. 1

Sorry I have not posted yet today....I have been busy doing laundry AND putting it away as it comes out of the dryer...what a novel idea!! Lol, I am known to let it pile up til it's about 10 loads (yes, that is possible in one day around here). And then have a ton to put away all at once. So, in a way you could say I've been decluttering my laundry pile...Sorry no pics for that one ;)

Today I am going through my Christmas boxes. Not all the ornaments got placed on the tree this year, b/c I didn't get it decorated til 4am Christmas Day (blushing now), but I promise to do better next year. I only opened 2 boxes of Christmas decorations (of 6). There will probably be more boxes this year. The ornaments on the tree will stay up through epiphany (January 6).

Most of our ornaments are homemade (by the kids or through an exchange I do every year), they look old-fashioned or rustic, or the kids' ornaments that they collect. Most, but not all.

Here are the first 10 ornaments:



apple flag (cracker barrel)



Bell ornament from an exchange at CNB



Blue Cascading Stars...got these at Cracker Barrel



Caity's Feliz Navidad stocking 1st grade (2007 6yo)



Caity's 1st grade snowman (2007 6yo)



Caity's Chrismon Kind. @ Sunday School (2006, 5yo)



Caity's Dalmatian Kind. (2006, 5yo)



Cardinal (cracker barrel)



Cat in the Hat (KFC??)



Santa's Clipboard (CNB)

Carrot Cake

Cast of characters (cake): flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, carrots, sugar, salad oil, eggs, walnuts (the shortening is for greasing the pan).



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease & flour a 13x10" pan; set aside.



Put flour in a large mixing bowl.



Add baking soda (I know ya can't see it..lol)



Add salt.



Add baking powder.



Add cinnamon.



Mix dry ingredients.



Make a well in the dry ingredients.



Put carrots in a large bowl. I couldn't find another, so I used my pie plate...big mistake, lol...too shallow.



Add sugar.



Add oil.



Crack one egg at a time and add separately.



Add walnuts.



Ingredients of part 2, aren't they purty???



Mix ingredients together.



Pour into dry ingredients.



Mix well and pour into pan.



Ready to bake.



Fresh out of the oven. I was in a hurry and couldn't wait until it was completely cool to frost....so, I let it cool for 30 minutes, then stuck in my freezer (don't do it before then or you will shatter your dish). It only sat in the freezer about 15 minutes, long enough for it to cool enough to frost, and for me to make the icing.



Cast of characters (icing): cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla.



Put softened cream cheese in mixing bowl.



Add softened butter.



Add vanilla.



Add powdered sugar.



Mix icing ingredients well.



My cooled cake & freshly mixed icing...ready to comingle ;)



Just the icing.....oh yes, it is richly sweet.



Looks halfway done, doesn't it....oh no, this baby will be THICK with icing when I get through with it.



Tada......oh and by the way, you don't have to, but you can sprinkle walnuts over the top of this. I did, but forgot to snap an extra pic of it.


Carrot Cake

Recipe By : Cherylann
Serving Size : 16
Categories : Cakes

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
Cake-Part 1:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Cake-Part 2:
2 jars junior baby food chopped carrots
2 cups sugar
1 cup salad oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese
4 Tablespoons butter -- at room temperature
8 oz. powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 13X10" pan; set aside.

Mix together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder and cinnamon; set aside.

Mix together carrots, sugar, oil, eggs and walnuts.

Make a well in the dry ingredients and add carrots mixture. Mix well and pour into pan.

Bake 45-60 minutes. Test with toothpick. Cool cake.

Mix frosting ingredients together. Frost cake.