Eliza Meets Santa: Christmas with Christie Jones Ray

a Christmas story by Christie Jones Ray

THERE WAS A VISIT TO NEW YORK CITY FOR ELIZA THE MOUSE to attend a performance of the The Nutcracker Ballet. She had always dreamed of being a ballerina, but alas, her feet were too wide, her ears were too big, and as hard as she tried, she could not twirl. But oh how she had loved watching the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy...and would dream big dreams sleeping in the ballet slippers worn by a real ballerina.

The next day, we made our way to the Plaza Hotel to see Santa Claus. Little Eliza had quite a conversation with Santa, sitting in his gloved hand, whispering into his ear all her hopes and dreams...her pink whiskers mingling with his whiskers of white.

I enjoyed a conversation with that jolly elf, myself. We sat upon the chaise, there, talking for quite some time, and I found myself believing in him all over again. Upon our arrival back home to Tennessee, I relayed to my friends and family, “this Santa is the REAL one!” He had listened to me tell all about my toy mouse...for it really is all about her....and I had given him my card.

I didn’t need his, because we ALL know where to find HIM! Anyway, I shared that we lived in Franklin, Tennessee, and silly me, asked if he had ever been there, to which he replied “I’ve been everywhere...” Well goodness gracious, of course he has!

We had been fortunate to have such a long chat as it was mid-afternoon, and there was a lull in the stream of visitors. He was smitten with Eliza and told the photographer to make sure she could see her. To my delight, he had been the one to ask to hold her. As I reflect upon that visit, I wonder...do we all just turn into little girls and boys when we sit and talk with Santa? He was as wonderful as all of you have always hoped he’d be!

What a magical time we enjoyed there in the city that never sleeps...where little girl dreams do come true at Christmas.

This is the illustration I created based on the photo of that visit, and it is included in the pages of my book, Eliza Visits the Ballet. — christiejonesray.com

The Side Room Closet

A PIECE BY ALICE HALE ADAMS

FANNIE LEE CELEBRATED HER SIXTH BIRTHDAY IN THE WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, 1924. The excitement in the house was mirrored in her face, the joy exhibited in her inability to be still.

Her mother had spent weeks preparing for Christmas. The candy was sealed in tins, pink and white divinity, chocolate, peanut butter, and vanilla fudge, and caramels. Cookies were layered between sheets of waxed paper and a coconut cake sat waiting in the cellar.

December 21st was the day the tree was cut and brought to the house. Papa chopped off the big limbs at the base of the tree. Fannie Lee and her older brother, Wellington, helped him place the tree into a bucket filled with small rocks, dense enough to hold the tree upright and allow for watering. The window at the front of the house, far enough from the fireplace to avoid sparks, was chosen as the place to show off the Christmas tree.

Their house contained five rooms: a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and the side room, as well as a screened back porch. The front porch reached across the living room and front bedroom.

Mama used a little closet off the side room as a hiding place for the tins of candy and boxes of cookies. Tall shelves hid the Christmas presents that had been purchased for the children. Outside in the cellar, along with the coconut cake, Mama had wrapped apples and oranges in brown paper and tobacco leaves.

Fannie Lee was curious about hidden things. If she found herself alone in the house for a few minutes she immediately began searching for the candy and cookies she knew her Mama had made and put away for Christmas. Tiptoeing through the front bedroom, she looked in the dresser drawers and under the bed. Disappointed, she slipped into the side room, peeking behind the sideboard doors.

She rarely had more than a short time to look, but finally the day came when she wandered into the closet. Immediately, she could tell by the aroma that she had found the sweets. Listening for Mama, she picked through the tins on the shelves. Climbing into a chair, she reached as far as her arm would reach and felt the tin boxes on the top shelf.

Joy filled her heart but she had to shove the box back as she heard the back door open and slam shut. She sauntered into the kitchen, acting as innocent as a baby.

The next time Fannie Lee found herself alone she dashed into the closet, climbed on the chair, pulled down the box, opened the lid, and ate one piece of chocolate fudge. It melted in her mouth. Shivers ran down her spine.

She became braver and slipped into the closet even when she was not alone in the house. She was very quiet, scooting the chair across the floor without a sound, climbing up and getting a piece of candy. She ate a different kind each time so there would be some of each left for Christmas. But soon she could tell the box was less full and she felt afraid. She put the candy box back on the shelf, vowing not to eat another piece. Then she found the cookies.

She could hardly contain herself. She loved cookies better than anything, even better than the candy. It was hard to get them out of the wrapping without messing up the whole container but she just had to eat some. She took one of each kind, put them in her pocket, returned the container to the shelf, and went to the corner of the side room to eat them. They were glorious. 

On Christmas Eve morning, Fannie Lee began to worry about eating the candy and cookies. She knew her mother would be opening the boxes for everyone to share. Maybe it would be Christmas Day before they would eat the sweets. Would she get a whipping?

Much to her relief, Christmas Eve night came and it was time to go to bed. The cookies and candy were still on the shelf in the little closet. But with the excitement of Christmas and being nervous about eating the sweets, Fannie Lee couldn’t sleep. For a while, she cried. Then she decided she wouldn’t be in trouble since it was Christmas and she felt good and excited. It wasn’t long until she cried some more.

She pretended to be sleeping when Mama came to her bed. She didn’t move at all, although it was hard to be still.

Soon after Mama left the room she could hear soft noises coming from the direction of the Christmas tree. Could it be Santa? She just couldn’t stay in bed. She crept as quiet as a mouse across the floor to the door, which had been left slightly open. The lamp was burning in the living room, making big shadows that willowed like ghosts on the walls.

Fannie Lee was scared, but not enough to make her go back to bed.

Her heart nearly stopped when she saw her Mama hanging presents on the Christmas tree, a little truck and a bag of blocks for Wellington, and for her a blue lamp with a clear glass chimney. It was just the right size to sit on the table in her playhouse. It was perfect.

Fannie Lee didn’t think she could be any happier when, to her surprise, Mama tied a doll on the tree. It wore a blue checked dress and small black shoes and white socks. It was the most beautiful doll she had ever seen.

She watched as Mama went to the closet to get the candy and cookies. Fear gripped her chest. Mama opened the boxes. Fannie Lee heard her sigh and watched her shake her head. Mama spread the candy and cookies on white plates, set them on the table beside the tree, and covered them with a clean cloth. Then she went to bed.

Fannie Lee hurried to her bed. She stayed awake as long as she could, thinking of the doll and lamp. It only seemed like minutes before Wellington woke her up to come to see what had been left for them.

They gathered their presents from the tree, jumping up and down and squealing. Mama and Papa sat in their chairs by the fireplace, watching.

After they settled down to play with their toys, Mama passed around the plates of cookies and candy. When she handed them to Fannie Lee, she winked at her and smiled.

Mazzarino Family Struffoli

  BY STACY MAZZARINO CURRIE

I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A TRADITIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN HOME AND FOLLOW MANY ITALIAN TRADITIONS, like the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, attending Midnight Mass, and of course making Struffoli, also known as Honey Balls. They are light, crispy little balls of deep fried dough, drenched in Honey and topped with colorful sprinkles. My family and I would gather around the kitchen table to make them together. Christmas music on the radio and elbow deep in flour, my dad and grandma would roll out the dough into thin strips, my brother and I would cut and roll the dough into balls and my mom would fry them. We used to fight over who would add the sprinkles at the end, and that’s still my favorite part! There was never a shortage of laughter and memory making, and 40 years later, we still carry on the tradition with our children. From generation to generation we continue to make memories and share our delicious treats with friends and family. My daughter Allie and my niece Segi particularly love these sweet treats and my niece asks to bake them throughout the year.

STRUFFOLI RECIPE

4 Cups Flour

Pinch of salt

6 Eggs

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 ½ tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 Jar Honey

Colorful Nonpareils/Sprinkles

Oil for frying

*Optional: Zest of an Orange

Combine flour, salt, eggs, baking powder, vanilla and zest together. Break off pieces and roll into long strips about 1/4 inch thick. Cut the strips into pieces and roll into little balls about the size of a small marble. Heat oil in a dutch oven and fry the balls in batches until puffed and golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Once they are all fried, heat honey in a small saucepan and pour over the balls, and immediately sprinkle with nonpareils. These stay nicely in a sealed container for up to a week.

When I think of Christmas I always think of Struffoli, a very sweet memory for our family. Though this year we will be making them in our separate houses, we will still carry on the tradition, together on Zoom.

Sweet Christmas Traditions with @tifforelie

an essay by Tiffany Mitchell

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR TRADITIONS.  I grew up in a two family home in the suburbs of northeastern New Jersey where Christmas was the event of the year.  Birthdays were fun, Thanksgiving was exciting, but Christmas was the big deal - the major deal.  Our traditions started on Christmas Eve.  The whole family would gather at my aunt’s house where we would play games, eat, do the “cousins grab bag”, eat some more, and sing Happy Birthday to my aunt (who was born on Christmas Eve).  At midnight, everyone would trek out to the front yard in the freezing cold where we would complete the nativity scene with a baby doll and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  We would then sing carols until us “kids” began sneaking off one by one either out of fatigue, or the desire to avoid scaring any more of the neighbors.

Getting home from the Christmas Eve party was a tradition in and of itself.  Whoever snuck away first would arrive at the house and ascend the stairs to our second story living room where they would be met with the warm glow of a fully decorated Christmas tree and the familiar scent of pine needles.  Christmas morning was only hours away and even though as adults we don’t experience it the same way we did when we were kids, it’s somehow just as magical.

I’ve always been the first to wake up on Christmas morning.  My mom had a rule not to wake her until 7:30, so my 3 siblings and I would tackle the stockings while we waited for her to join us.  Once we were all up, we would open one gift each (in age order) until we ran out of presents.  At that point we were both starving and exhausted, so lots of eating and napping followed.

We’ve done the same thing every year for as long as I can remember.  Without those traditions, I don’t think Christmas would have been the grand occasion my family made of it.  When my husband and I moved to Lexington a year ago, we had only been married 2 years and were looking to start holiday traditions of our own.  This will be our 4th Christmas together and it still feels like we’re starting from square one.  Maybe it takes a few years before a tradition actually starts to take root.

Each year we’ve added something new.  The first year it was visiting our families.  The second year it was making hot cocoa from scratch.  Last year we visited our families, made the cocoa and took funny Christmas card pictures of our cat.  This year we’ll be adding something to complement the cocoa - sugar cookies!  Our traditions seem so simple, but I guess that’s how all great traditions start out, right?

Bringing Back the Magic of Christmas

An essay by Melissa McArdle

WHEN SHE THINKS OF CHRISTMAS, I want shimmering stars, scents of evergreen, warm cups of hot chocolate, and rooms filled with jolly laughter to fill her mind. Cozy blankets wrapped around our shoulders as we read classic tales beside the roaring flames of a burning fire. The tingling trace of pure peppermint oil as she continuously licks the stick of chalky peppermint candy, the old-fashioned kind that my great-grandfather used to fill his shirt pocket with and hand out as if we won the jackpot of tasty bliss. Afternoons spent in the kitchen preparing baked goods with our own hands, chasing flour clouds in the air, decorating our noses with buttercream icing, and giggling non-stop from the sugar high. Choosing the tree we know needs the most tender loving care because no one else would have it…channeling A Charlie Brown Christmas. Creating gifts for those we love, cherish and hold dear to our hearts, gifts that mean something and have a story we want to share. Decorating our tree with offerings from nature, garland strung of cranberries, pinecones hand-painted with glitter, leaves gilded golden, and mistletoe hung in all the right places.

Christmas is meant to be magical. The very roots of Christmas are considered other-worldly. When did we lose touch with this magic? For me, it is vital to plant the seeds of wonderland in her mind, fill her thoughts and soul with the simple beauties of giving with love, receiving with pure gratitude, and absorbing the true essence of the season. A season meant to be filled with joy and peace. She is young, she is impressionable, and now is the time to engrave the pureness of Christmas onto her heart. Lists can be made, but let’s allow those lists to be filled with good tidings, wishes for others and special achievements, and prayers of hope for better tomorrows. She is my one and only, and I have vowed to bring back the magic of Christmas. So far, her enthusiasm for painting cut-out stars, singing “O Holy Night”, and running with wild abandon through a Christmas tree farm lead me to believe I’m on the right track.

O Christmas Tree

A lifetime of plastic-fake Christmas trees makes way for the annual Christmas tree cutting trip.

IN KENTUCKY, YOU DON’T REALLY HAVE THE LUXURY OF FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES. The stories I’ve heard about people going out to the old mine lands and cutting a cedar tree truly confuse me. Every cedar tree I’ve ever known has bent and bowed with the addition of even the lightest ornament or light. I’ve also learned that pine trees, while pretty, aren’t particularly shaped to be a Christmas tree. Beyond those two imperfect choices, you are pretty much left with “fake” down here in the Bluegrass State. Today, the options for fake trees are endless, but twenty years ago, the stereotypical cone-shaped green fake tree was all that could be found.

I believe there is a real science to fake Christmas tree development.  Right now, as you read this, there is someone in a lab (yes, a literal laboratory) creating more advanced fake Christmas tree varieties and technologies. In some small way, those people will change the world. However, on countless farms across the country at this very minute families are celebrating the time-honored tradition of cutting their family Christmas trees. In a world where chocolate and vanilla soft serve can swirl out of the same machine, I believe we have a place for both fake and real Christmas trees. This year I have already put up ten fake trees, and before it is over there will be at least one real one in the mix.

I grew up in the 90s with strictly the fake variety of Christmas tree, for the reasons explained above. In Kentucky, we simply didn’t have fresh tree farms, and even the Boy Scouts quit selling them down in front of the grocery stores sometime around 2000. Ours was a Walmart special bought in 1994 at the Walmart that is now a Mexican restaurant in town. It claims to be a six-foot tree, according to its box, but you and I both know it is a five-foot tree at the very most. That extra foot of alleged height only comes into play if you stretch, pull, and fluff that long branch on the very top like Alfalfa’s hair in The Little Rascals. That tree is currently displayed next to a bright green velvet sectional in my backroom. It is looking rough after twenty-five years, but is still going strong.

There is one place in our town that does sell live Christmas trees, but they truck them in from Alabama, which feels weird to me. I’ve only ever bought one tree from there, but I do highly recommend their fruit baskets. However, each year I do buy a live tree, be it at a random tree farm out in the country or somewhere in the Catskills. I wouldn’t say I am a Christmas tree expert by any means, but I have learned a few things over the years.

My first lesson, and one I still don’t fully understand the logic of, was the lesson I learned the year I cut down a tree for a photoshoot, but forgot that I had to actually buy it. Somewhere it escaped me that I had to take the tree home with me until it was being stuffed into my car for the forthcoming two-hour drive. I’m not sure whatever happened to that tree. I think we ended up keeping it until June to use for crafts.  I guess the moral of the story is, make sure you have the right vehicle to transport your tree home, and a place to put it once you get there.

Another lesson was: just don’t buy a blue spruce. One year before I knew better, I was really specific that I wanted a tree that looked like it belonged in Martha Stewart Living. For the record, blue spruce isn’t one of those, but I was cold and hungry and just ready to cut anything I saw. If a porcupine could be made into a Christmas tree, it would be a blue spruce. Spruce needles became literal needles as they dried. Skip the blue spruce. Just skip the blue spruce.

There is something magical about a live Christmas tree. It is equal parts nostalgia for the images of the past, and the general peer pressure that the perfect Christmas must include a live Christmas tree. Homespun Christmas trees bedecked with homemade ornaments and shiny glass balls fill the photos of the past, making us feel that to achieve the perfect Christmas, we must have our own photo-worthy tree.

If I were to offer any form of advice for cutting a live tree it would be to be realistic about the size, and to measure – both your home and your potential tree. Your living room is a much smaller scale than what a tree looks like on a farm. It is way too easy to end up cutting a tree that you think will be perfect in your living room with its eight-foot ceilings, only to find you’ve cut a ten-foot tree.

I do believe that there is magic in the annual trip to the tree farm: the search for the perfect tree, the thrill of cutting it yourself using the hand saw, carrying it to that silly little machine that cuts off all the extra branches and wraps it in netting, and figuring out how to best secure the tree to your roof with the hope it won’t launch into oncoming traffic, Final Destination-style, as you head down the New York State Thruway at ninety miles an hour. The magic is especially tangible in those years when snow is on the ground, the sky is grey, and the chilly weather is just right. The year I took these photos we were lucky enough to find that true magic. These were taken at Bell’s Tree Christmas Tree Farm near Accord, New York.

I used to believe that a tree had to look perfect; it had to be Martha Stewart Living-level perfection. Yes, that is a common theme in my belief systems. Over the years though, I’ve realized I like trees that just feel good. Over-the-top trees that look like art installations or a clearance sale at the Hobby Lobby are fantastic and awe-inspiring, but I think the magic is in the idea that the tree is an altar to all the ornaments and memories it supports.

Many of us get lost in the quest for the perfect Christmas. We have somehow convinced ourselves that everything has to be across-the-board perfect. For many of us, we also don’t have a clue what that perfection looks like, yet we ruin the season and the holiday while on that fruitless quest. We are just racing and searching for a goal that isn’t even real. I’ve learned that Christmas is a season much more than it is a day. It is a vestige of an era where we lived slow, lived authentically, lived within our communities, and lived as families and neighbors. Christmas, in my opinion, extends well beyond the religious connotations that are oftentimes connected with it, and represents a more universal set of ideals. I’ve learned that for me, the secret to enjoying Christmas is stripping away the pomp and circumstance of perfection and truly enjoying what makes you happy during the season…be it 50 pounds of pralines and fudge, a half-dozen fake Christmas trees, an endless supply of Cozy Cabin sweaters and socks, sneaking candies from tins in the side room, seeing Santa up on the top floor at Macy’s after a stroll through Rockefeller Plaza, a trip to the Christmas tree farm, retelling the stories of cussing angels, sending cards, or simply enjoying the season with family and friends.

This year, whether it be a brand new fake tree, a worn-out fake tree, a grocery store variety “live” tree, or a freshly-cut farm tree, I urge everyone to create a Christmas tree and a Christmas season that make you happy, but for the love of God, don’t get a blue spruce.

Hillenmeyer Christmas Shop

Hillenmeyer Christmas Shop, a fun and family-friendly experience where the nostalgia of the past meets today's Christmas traditions, is opening its doors for another holiday season starting late November each year.

Inspired by yuletides of yesteryear, Hillenmeyer Christmas Shop invites guests to enjoy hot cider, marshmallow roasting, animals, a vintage sleigh and visits from Santa. Visitors are welcomed by the smell of fresh pine and holiday spices as they discover an extensive assortment of freshly cut trees, custom wreaths, garlands and more. Partnering with hand-selected regional merchants and growers allows the shop to provide the freshest greens and quality goods available.

Since 1950, the Hillenmeyer family has been providing a Christmas experience for Lexington. A family-owned business, today Hillenmeyer Christmas Shop is owned and operated by husband and wife team, Joseph and Shannon Hillenmeyer, whose vision is to bring holiday traditions to life for generations of families. Steeped in local heritage, a visit to Hillenmeyer Christmas Shop transports guests to a simpler time while bringing families together in celebration of the season. Offering a unique and eclectic experience, visitors will find cups of hot cider to enjoy along with a fireplace where bags of marshmallows are ready for roasting. Inviting families to enjoy themselves leisurely, children can visit the live nativity scene and even pet the shop’s sheep and donkeys. A large vintage sleigh, originally belonging to Joseph Hillenmeyer’s great-great grandfather, sits within to create the perfect opportunity for family photos. And occasionally, Santa comes to visit and listen to children’s Christmas wishes while spreading holiday cheer among visitors.

Guests can visit Hillenmeyer Christmas Shop at 3389 Tates Creek Road, Lexington, Kentucky 40502 where it is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 8pm and Sunday from 11am to 8pm. For further information and a compete schedule of activities, please visit http://hillenmeyerchristmas.com

Americana Christmas 2022 Gift Guide

I haven’t done a Christmas gift guide in years, usually someone else from the team does them…I give a list of brands I like and topics to hit and a series of gift guides is created from there, but this year I wanted it to be more personal. I wanted it to be goods and items that I really do love and use and for the most part already own. A couple of the items on this list are dream goods, but hey, without dreams we tend to become a bit Scrooge like.

This year the main theme is simple…an Americana Christmas. It has been a long year here at the farm and I am really having to force the Christmas spirit, but hey, fake it til you make it…but I do have a love of American made, so in many ways this is a bit cathartic.

The rules for this gift guide are simple…nine of my favorite goods that I own or dream of owning (the motorcycle) and are made in the U.S. I did try to make a point to include brands we’ve done stories on in the past as we continue our 10 years of FOLK.

1) Escape Weekender by Forestbound

I have carried this weekend for the past year and lusted after it since we first fell in love with Forestbound a decade ago. The bag, made by hand in New England is one that just always looks effortlessly good in photo and is the perfect size for a weekend road trip or to throw in the car. Cabin vibes not included, but will inspire you to escape. So long Daisy Mae. | ORDER HERE

2) Country Boot by Mark Albert Boots

I have worn Mark Albert Boots for years, since I first was introduced to them at an American Field trade show. This final collection of boots features boots that were made in Italy, but for years the Mark Albert mission has been to produce top quality boots in rural Western Pennsylvania. While I will miss the brand I am glad that I have collected so many pairs over the years and I can assure you that you need a pair of these boots for yourself. | ORDER HERE

3) Halcyon 250 by Janus Motorcycles

To be totally fair I would settle for any of these motorcycles. I have lusted after everything Janus makes for years. Each bike is made by hand in Indiana. The brand is known for their attention to detail and their classic feel. For me each motorcycle has such a timeless look and feel that I dream daily of having one on a beautiful oversized rug in my studio. | ORDER HERE

4) Suede Jacket by Todd Snyder

Okay it isn’t made in America, it is made in Italy, but when you want an incredibly well made suede jacket Italy is where you go. If you know me you know I have a full on obsession with Todd Snyder. I love everything the brand releases, I love their shops, I love their style and quality, and I love the classic Americana feel the brand carries in such an effortless way. I wear something by Todd Snyder almost daily. | ORDER HERE (or better, visit one of their stores)

5) Roll Neck Sweater by Whalerknits

A few weeks ago I was walking out of Sault in Boston and one of these sweaters caught my eye. I fell in love and have dreamt of it daily. The sweaters are made in New England by Whalerknits, a brand that has been creating quality sweaters in the US for over 100 years. It feels and looks endlessly and iconically Americana. | ORDER HERE

6) Laurel Crocks by Farmhouse Pottery

For years I have loved Farmhouse Pottery and I do have a good bit of it around the farmhouse. I love the luxury feel of each piece. I also love that we know it is all made by hand in America. Each piece feels like a piece you will carry from generation to generation. I typically go for the more homespun feel of their classic pieces, the ones thrown by hand in their Woodstock, VT studio, but this Christmas I am in love with these crocks that feel like ones I have been collecting in antique stores for years. | ORDER HERE

7) The Bellfield Tote in Pine by FOUNT

If you’ve been around me you know I always have my FOUNT tote close. Since I first saw one of their pieces at a Country Living Far nearly a decade ago I have been blown away by their commitment to making the very best American made bags. This new pine color is a fun change of tradition for the Christmas season. | ORDER HERE

8) Baskets by Longaberger

Longaberger baskets are an institution that just about any child of the 90s grew up surrounded by. To me they represent the perfect throwback to 90s country culture in the very best way. Each basket is handmade in central Ohio like they have been for decades. | ORDER HERE

9) Tents by Stout

I have had two of these tents standing in my garden all year and had one in my yard until December’s tornado took it away. I love these tents, not just because they’re fun additions to any yard, but because they’re aesthetically pleasing and add unexpected flair to your yard, farm, forest, or garden. | ORDER HERE

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This is just the beginning. Each day will bring a new gift guide for the Christmas season. Merry Christmas and please remember to shop small!

Easy Sweetened Condensed Milk 3 Ingredient Microwave 3 Minute Fudge

This is one of those recipes that really couldn’t be more simple. You have without a doubt had this simple form of fudge before. It isn’t old fashioned fudge that is an absolute art form, but if you’re in a hurry this recipe feels like equal parts instant gratification and a nostalgic throwback. You can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips for this recipe, and likely could use peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips, but we prefer the classic semisweet.

THE RECIPE:

2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

1 can (14 ounces) NESTLÉ LA LECHERA Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Line an 8x8 baking pan with foil or heavily grease with butter. Combine morsels and sweetened condensed milk in large, microwave-safe dish. Microwave for 1 minute; stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract. Spread into prepared baking pan. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Lift from pan. Cut into pieces. Store in refrigerator.

Thursday’s Fall Roundup

Thursday’s Fall Roundup

Welcome to Friday eve, here’s some goodness to get you through.

James Smith

@jamesrcs

James Smith Instagram

Angela Ferraro-Fanning

@axeandroothomEstead

Axe And Root Homestead Instagram

Miranda Chadwick

@awalkinthewild

A Walk In The Wild Instagram

John Thatcher

@johnthatcher

John Thatcher Instagram

Sarah Patrick

@sarahkjp

Sarah Patrick Instagram

And then a happy Thursday it was.

Thursday’s Fall Roundup

Thursday’s Fall Roundup

An autumn mood board, if you will. All the way from rich, bold leaves to a touch of spooky season.

Jessica - Rustic Bones

@rusticbones

Rustic Bones Instagram

Keeley McKendree

@keeleymckendree

Keeley McKendree Instagram

Anna&James

@leavethemap

Leave the Map Instagram

Chelsea Mealo

@chelseamealo

Chelsea Mealo Instagram

Sam Horine

@samhorine

Sam Horine Instagram

Which fits your mood today?

Tuesdays with Makers

Tuesdays with Makers

Makers making my Tuesday that much better. It’s what they do, guys.

Elsie Green

Elsie Green Instagram

Shop Tabby

Shop Tabby Instagram

Framed Florals

Framed Florals Instagram

Hanselmann Pottery

Hanselmann Pottery Instagram

Goods Apothecary

Goods Apothecary Instagram

What are you adding to cart first?

Monday Coffee Moments

Monday Coffee Moments

It’s that time, friends. Make it a venti and make it strong, please and thanks.

Ethan Abitz

@ethanabitZ

Ethan Abitz Instagram

Liesbeth Disbergen

@sloppopyeah

Sloppopyeah Instagram

Christian Trustrup

@christiantrustrup

Christian Trustrup Instagram

Emilie Ristevski

@helloemilie

Helloemilie Instagram

Magdalena Adamczuk

@pinedorpines

Pineforpines Instagram

If you had to pick a place for your morning cup, which scene are you taking?

Friday Fashions

Friday Fashions

Clothing brands we love and staples for our wardrobe. Something for everyone.

Bradley Mountain

Bradley Mountain Instagram

PendletOn

Pendleton Instagram

Farmhouse Frocks

Farmhouse Frocks Instagram

Bridge & Burn

Bridge&Burn Instagram

RevivALL Clothing

Revival Clothing Instagram

Be sure to Support these amazing businesses as we transition to a new season + update that fall closet.

Thursdays Fall Roundup

Thursdays Fall Roundup

A little bit of everything we’re obsessed with right now. Aka, a little bit of everything cozy and warm and fall.

Jess Olm

@jessolm

Jess Olm Instagram

Kayley McCabe

@thekitchenmccabe

The Kitchen McCabe Instagram

Christopher Funk

@cfunk44

CFunk Instagram

Elena - Pine and Proper

@pine.and.proper

Pine and Proper Instagram

Kiel James Patrick

@kjp

KJP Instagram

Now on my way to frolic through a pumpkin patch and buy all the flannel.

Wednesdays and Landscapes

Wednesdays and Landscapes

Some lovely scenery coming at you on a Wednesday. Heres to getting you over the hump.

Eric Matt

@ericmattt

Eric Matt Instagram

Chris Henry

@chrishenry

Chris Henry Instagram

Brayden Hall

@braybraywoOwoo

Brayden Hall Instagram

Renee Hahnel

@reneeroaming

Renee Hahnel Instagram

Gareth Llewellyn

@withgar

Gareth Llewellyn Instagram

Where are you headed to next?

Tuesdays with Makers

Tuesdays with Makers

It’s a good day to celebrate makers and all the good they give. Here are Some products and makers always on our must-share list.

Song Of A Sparrow

Song of a Sparrow Instagram

Clayton & Crume

Clayton & Crume Instagram

Millstream Home

Millstream Home Instagram

Tin Can Studios

@tincanstudios

Tin Can Studios Instagram

Great Bear Wax Co.

Great Bear Wax Co. Instagram

Forever favorites for a reason.

Monday Coffee Moments

Monday Coffee Moments

Needing a quick jolt so turning to these coffee moments. A Monday mood if i ever heard it.

Cup Of Couple

@cupofcouple

Cup Of Couple Instagram

Stefan Heldzinger

@stefanheldzinger

Stefan Heldzinger Instagram

County Road Living

@countyroadliving

Country Road Living Instagram

Nikki Bigger

@nikkibigger

Nikki Bigger Instagram

Peppe Cantone

@peppecant

Peppe Cantone Instagram

Hoping This gave a pep in your weekday step.

Wednesdays and Landscapes

Wednesdays and Landscapes

Ever want to move into a photo? Just pack your bags, say see ya later, and completely escape? Got that feeling right now.

Hannah Rheaume

@hannahrheaume

Hannah Rheaume Instagram

Rachel Blaire

@rachelbpressley

Rachel Blaire Instagram

Michael Block

@mblockk

Michael Block Instagram

Nathan Lee

@nathanleeallen

Nathan Lee Instagram

Joshua Winders

@jkwinders

• Immediately plans trip to Vermont *