I remember our veterans today, who have sacrificed so that I can live in freedom. My father was a marine in the 1950's and was always so proud of this. My husband was in the army 76-80. My son Luke was actually born at the Ft. Belvoir, Va. army hospital. I want to thank all the service men and woman for serving our great country. God Bless America!!!!

New farmhouse sign!!!!

Look at this awesome gift I received in the mail today from my dear friend Andy, from "Andy's Primitive Farmhouse", didn't she do a great job!!! I love it Andy!!!!! Thank-you!!!!

Swap from Wendy "Primitives from the Attic"

OMG today I received my prairie doll from Wendy, "Primitives from the Attic", she is just sooooo cute and prim. I  was thrilled to do a swap with Wendy. I have admired her creations for a long time. I love, love, love this doll and feel very priviledged to own one of Wendy's dolls. Thanks, Wendy!!!

Rhubarb-Strawberry Dump Cake

While on my trip to Lancaster, Pa. I had to stop at a roadside stand and get some fresh rhubarb and strawberries. Here is a cake that I made:

4 cups cubed raw rhubarb
2 cups fresh sliced strawberries
3/4 cup sugar ( Splenda works)
3 oz. pkg. strawberry jello, dry ( diet works)
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 stick butter melted

Layer ingredients in order given in a 9 x 13 " baking pan. Do not mix. Bake in 350 degree oven for 35 min.
Serve plain or with cool whip on top. Makes 12 servings.

A Primitive Magazine that I Love

Please check out the new issue of  "A Simple Life Magazine" , such a wonderful prim magazine.http://www.asimplelifemagazine.com/

A few pictures from Amish trip

I have added a small slide show of my recent Lancaster, Pa. trip. I admire their simple way of  life and love of family. Also only eight more people needed until I have a giveaway, keep checking.

My Prize Arrived from "A Primitive Place magazine"!!!!!!

My prize came today and I felt like a child opening a Christmas gift!!!! Everything is so cute and prim! I just love the sampler, it is the cutest!!!! And the bird and candle/candle pouch are adorable!!!! Thanks for the runner also. I feel like a queen!!!! Thank-you so much!!!! I love your website and can't wait for the magazine!!!http://www.aprimitiveplace.org/

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Today I was planting some flowers! Flowers remind me of all the precious mothers.I am so blessed to still have my mother. I am also getting ready for a trip to Lancaster Pa. with my BF Shelia  for some prim shopping. I am going to get some special goodies for a giveaway. I think I will have a giveaway whenever I have 50 followers. So keep checking back.

I am the WINNER!

I can't believe that I am the winner of a primitive place awesome giveaway.Check it out,aprimitiveplaceblog.blogspot.com I always said that I wouldn't win anything if my name was the only one in the pot. I just want to thank a primitive place so much and for all the sweet congratulations. Please check out their winner presentation. So awesome. I love a primitve place, their website is an inspiration to all of us prim lovers!!! I am so excited about their upcoming magazine also!!! Thank-you!!! Lecia

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch

Gooseberry Patch has a new screensaver for your computer, check it out!

Some other pictures of the prairie swags, the pictures didn't turn out very good yesterday. Hope these are better. What do you think?

How do you like my new praire swags?carterandleedesigns.com I wasn't real pleased with my last curtains. I have wanted prairie swags for soooo long. These are custom made in Lancaster Pa. They are black and tan checked, they are really made well.

Please check out this new magazine A Primitive Place. I am excited. I can't wait to receive mine!!www.aprimitiveplace.org/

New Prairie Tucks

Yesterday I received my Prairie tuck dolls from Amy Ferringer, "The Primitive Dollhouse", aren't they the cutest!!! I love them!!!

Pansies in Old Coal Bucket

I like to plant flowers in old country items. My first flowers of the season, some Pansies in an old Coal Bucket, I will have more pictures later as the weather gets warmer!!

Amish made kitchen table and chairs

Just thought I would show a picture of my Amish made table and chair set, it is painted black over red. What do you think???

New Stove Board Cover

Check out my new stove board cover. I got it from ebay, "Crows in the Cupboard"!!!! It gives my ugly stove a facelift!!!

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch-check out this new spring wallpaper for you computer

Free Downloads-Gooseberry Patch

DSC_0930 (Medium).jpg -Pictures of my son with his interperter in Haiti

Click here to view these pictures larger

A few new Spring Goodies

I have added a few new pictures today of some new items. I have put up some new curtains for Spring. I love the ones in the Dining Room esp. Now for my LR I would prefer the Prairie Swags, (maybe one day, but they are toooo expensive for me.) What do you think of my LR swags? I went with black since I have red walls,it is hard to tell by the picture but the swags have a small cream and black print in the pattern. Also I have a new Bag Holder Doll, made by another bloggger," The Olde Country Cupboard", love her. And some prim filler bowl ornies in am enamel pan. And if you scroll down to the bottom of my blog a new print by Billy Jacobs.

I haven't had much time to blog lately. But my relaxation is reading other blogs. I have a prayer request for my fellow bloggers. My daughter Stephanie is Type 1 diabetic. She has battled painful diabetic neuropathy for the past year. Her pain is manageable most of the time now, but it has effected her digestive system so bad. She gets so sick in the eve. with diarrhea and vomiting. As a mother it rips my heart apart to watch your child struggle with an illness. Pray for her healing and for the Dr. to have wisdom for the correct treatments for her.

The first day of Spring, awesome weather here in the Shenandoah Valley. My BF Shelia and I went to Lancaster, Pa. last Sun. for my B'day. Look on my blog for some pictures. I have one to put on now! I will call it "Clothes Line"

Today is my Birthday...

According to my birth cert. I am living somewhere between estrogen and death, or, as someone said, between menopause and LARGE PRINT! But I don't have to act my age because, thank God, I've discovered a wonderful antiaging remedy. If fact, it's been promoted since biblical times as a cure for wide variety of problems. What is it? Laughter.(words of wisdom by Barbara Johnson).

New Spring Shower Curtain

I am so proud of my Spring Shower Curtain and matching tissue box. I bought these after Christmas from "Tender Heart Treasures". I didn't know if they would match my decor or be country enough. But for $2.90 for both, I couldn't pass them up. And if I like something it doesn't even matter if it matches or not. I make up my own rules. He He And they match perfect, so cheerful and Springy!!!!! Scroll down to look at the picture.

New Slideshow of Pictures taken in WV

I made a new slideshow of some pictures that my husband and I took on one of our week-end drives in the country in West Virginia, so peaceful and tranquil! They make me feel like I am going back in time.

Gooseberry Patch: Free Goodies

Gooseberry Patch: Free Goodies

Gooseberry Patch Contest, I am the winner!!!! Check it out!!

Gooseberry Patch

Recipe from "Gooseberry Patch", COZY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS-pg.90- This is the first recipe I ever had published in a GP book, Enjoy!

BACON & CHEDDAR DIP

16-oz. container sour cream

1-oz. package dry ranch salad dressing mix

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup bacon bits

Mix together sour cream and dressing mix: add cheese and bacon bits.

Stir well; chill for one hour before serving. Makes 2 1/2 cups.

Crunchy bread sticks and scoop-style corn chips are just right for

scooping up this hearty dip.

Mom's Macaroni and Cheese, This is one of my recipes in Gooseberry Patch cookbook, "Comfort Foods"

2 cups (8 oz) macaroni, cooked

3 Tbls. melted butter

1tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 cups ( 8oz.) shredded, cheddar or american cheese

3 cups milk

Cook macaroni according to package directions 7 minutes: drain. Arrange

cooked mararoni, cheese, salt and pepper in buttered 2 1/2 to 3 quart

casserole. Pour melted butter over macaroni. Carefully pour milk into

corner. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour. I bake mine in a 9 x 13

inch pan for 45 minutes. Yummy!!!!

New pictures of my favorite things

Scroll down to check out the pictures of my favorite things. Also just received a letter that "Gooseberry Patch" is putting one of my recipes in their Christmas cookbook for this year. This will be my forth recipe published, YeepEE!!! I'm shooting for at least 5.

Today I went to WV one week after the snowstorm. I have added two pictures
of the outdoors. Plus made a slideshow of some of the inside rooms.

Porch construction at old Farmhouse

We are putting a wrap around deck porch on the old Farmhouse in WV. Here are a couple pictures.(Scroll down to slideshow). Can't wait to get the roof around the whole porch. Old farmhouses didn't have much closet space. Notice the porch upstairs, my husband wanted to close it in and make closet space. But we decided not to. We love settin on the upstairs porch in the mornings and drinking our coffee, we look across the field and see the beautiful view. More pictures to come, inside also.

Please scroll down my blog to view the slideshow of the remodeled bathroom.
Leave me a comment letting me know what you think.Hugs, Lecia

Slide show added today:

The computer is so hard for me, but I am soooo proud that I made this little video of our remodeled bathroom. It actually was done a while back. It was a bigger project than expected. Had to remove several layers of flooring. We planned on a weekend project, and it lasted several weeks. My commode was actually in my LR for a couple weeks. And to top it all off my daughter invited a house full of people here for my Grandson's birthday party.so glad I had another bathroom. Oh, just more memories!

Applesauce Oatmeal Bread

This is one of my favorite bread machine recipes:

This makes a 1 1/2 pound loaf

4 oz (1/2 cup) water-80 degrees

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (stir to blend any standing liquid)

3 Tbls. vegetable oil

3 Tbls. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/ 2 cup oats ( quick or old fashioned)

3 cups bread flour

1 Tbls. bread machine/fast rise yeast

Add liquid ingredients to pan. Add dry ingredients except yeast.Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add yeast. Lock pan into bread maker.
Program for bread setting.

Set back and wait for the yummy bread to be ready, Enjoy!

Please leave me a comment if you like my blog.
Hugs, Lecia

Butter Nut Snowballs

2 sticks (1 cup) butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups finely chopped nuts
powdered sugar

Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy. Add flour and salt to creamed mixture blending throughly. Add nuts and mix well.

Shape into 1 inch balls and place on baking sheet
(If you use a piece of foil on the pans, clean up is a breeze)

Bake in slow oven 325 degrees about 20 min.

Do not brown, Cool, then roll in powdered sugar. ( I put the sugar in a zip lock back and shake them a little), this helps with clean up also.

Recipe says it makes 6 doz. but mine usually doesn't make that much.

YUMMY, ENJOY!!!!!

Good morning. We are waking up to snow, snow, snow in the beautiful shenandoah valley of Va. There appears to be at least 20 inches of snow already and supposed to snow all day today. I hurt my back shoveling the other day, so will have to depend on hubby to do it all. And my son Luke got into Miami yesterday from Haiti, no flights are flying in D.C. so I hope he just stays put in a motel. Probably will bake something today.

Caramel Apple Dip

8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, Packed
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients, mix well. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Makes about 2 cups.

(Awesome and so quick)!!!!

HUMOR FOR THE DAY

A well-informed person...is somebody who has the same views and opinions

as yours!!!!

Fresh Apple Cake

It is snowing again,It's lovely but all I want to do is bake something. This is one of my hubby's favorite recipes. Due to the "Low calorie content", I don't make it very often. But it's so yummy! Plus he's working today and don't know when he will get home and I wanted to make him a treat!

3eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2tsp.vanilla
3 cups flour
1tsp. baking powder
1tsp. salt
1tsp. soda
3 cups chopped raw apples
1 cup chopped nuts

Beat eggs until light, add sugar, oil and vanilla to eggs and mix.

Mix flour, soda, salt and baking powder together. Add to egg mixture.

Mix until blended. Add apples, and nuts, mix well. Pour into greased

9" x 13" pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cheeseball

8 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 cup softened butter
1/4 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup powdered sugar (I use splenda, my daughter is diabetic)
2T.packed brown sugar
3/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cups chopped nuts
Graham cracker sticks

Blend cream cheese, butter and vanilla in mixing bowl until fluffy, Gradually add sugars; beat just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover, refridgerate for 2 hours. Place on large piece of plastic wrap;
shape into ball. Refridgerate for additonal hour. At serving time roll
ball in nuts.
Serve with graham cracker sticks for dipping.
Makes about 2 cups

Whenever I make this I am always asked for the recipe, really good, plus quick and easy!!!!

I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth

and be an antheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the

heavens and say there is no God.

Abraham Lincoln

Words of Wisdom

Sisters know you hide shopping bags in the trunk of the car until the coast is clear!!!

A HOUSE IS BUILT OF WOOD AND BEAMS, A HOME IS BUILT WITH HOPES AND DREAMS.

Snowflakes are snow angels blowing kisses from Heaven!!

Here is a little baking tip. When baking cookies, don't throw those old,

ugly cookie sheets away. Line them with tin foil and the cookies come

off easily and no messy cookie sheets to clean up.

Snow, rain, ice again, stuck in the house so I want to make something, here is a recipe I learned to make in 7th. grade, quick and easy.


NO BAKE COOKIES

1 stick butter

1/2 cup of milk

3 Tbls. of cocoa

2 cups while sugar

Add all ingredients, boil 3 minutes.

Then stir in 3 cups- 1 min. oatmeal, and 1 Tbls. peanut butter, 1 tsp. vanilla

Drop on wax paper and cool.

Have You Heard About The New Barbie Dolls?

Hot Flash Barbie: Press Barbie's bellybutton, and watch her face turn beet red while tiny drops

of perspiration appear on her forehead. Comes with a handheld fan and tiny tissues.

Good evening friends, I am slowly working on my blog, I don't sell anything. I just want to share some friendship, photo's of my home and displays, maybe even a hint or two and some of my favorite recipes. Hugs, Lecia

Hello, this is Lecia Stevenson from Farm House Prims, I am trying to create a blog so bear with me. I love country and primitive decor.