Spring Tidings Swap Sign Up

 Time for our Spring Swap. This will be a open swap upon approval. To join in as a new swapper you must have a active blog and have posted within the last 60 days. This swap is for swappers who are into Primitive and Farmhouse styles.I will check your info and get back to you to let you know if you are approved. The main rule of the swap is Give as you'd like to receive and be gracious to the person giving you a gift.. I do check up and if you are bad swapper you will not be able to join in future swaps.We have a great group and would love to add a few new faces....

 Easter is early this year so try to keep this more Spring theme since it will not arrive till after easter. Sign up by March 6  Mail by April 1st.. The swap must include 4 items one must be a Doll or soft sculpture at least 7 inches tall. you can include extra most do but no less than 4. You must live in the USA or Canada...You must contact your partner within 48 hours and introduce yourself.It's not a secret swap. You must do a Thank You post once you receive your package..

 You can post the swap image with a link back to this post on your side bar if you want....

 To sign up comment here. Then email me at cottageprims@hotmail.com   with your name,address,email,blog . I need to know if you are willing to ship to Canada if you ship first class or parcel it does not cost that much more... Please include if you have any allergies or dislikes as well as a short list of styles, favorite things etc. You will be contacting your partner so you can discuss with them as well. As always I will send you a confirmation letting you know I received your sign up. .

If you have any Questions or concerns I'm always here to help...All pics are ideas of the types of things that the girls send. They all have the etsy shop name so you can check them out as well...Let's have Fun!~Amy

Love in the air

Oh my long time since I've had a chance to post.Life just gets in the way sometimes. We've had some not so pleasant happenings and it has kept me distracted with those things. Day by day and most days are filled with little joys. Thought I'd stop in to say Hi! and share som of my February decor...

The old grainery box gets done up each season now. Sad I let hubby sell the large square wood bowl that came with it now, but when you deal in old junk sometimes just gotta let some go...

Lots of goodness from blog friends and family....

Issaboo's Christmas Pics since I didn't get to show off her adorableness. She is 10 months now. Vet says she's a little chubby.Hubby just says she's a little pudding belly. She'll take it off this spring when she goes to Flea Market on the weekends.She loves to visit and dig in boxes.

Yep cute..cute..cute... I know I'm partial...smile...

And the reality of why Mung is hardly ever photographed....Baby sis likes all the attention....

Mung has recently been sick some kind of auto immune thing were his blood cells are fighting each other.He started bleeding out of the nose from it. They are not sure what the cause is(poseably a reaction to lyme which they are not sure because when tested it was minimal to none positive). He is on steroids and a bunch of meds. He seems ok now but they says some dogs once weened will relasp  if that happens they say he will die. I'm not ready and having a hard time accepting it especially since it's been less than a year since my other dog passed of cancer. If you are a dog person you understand they are like your family.So if you could just send up a little prayer for him that he does not relasp. ...Ok on to better things I'm planning our spring swap and will have it posted soon..... We've had lots of snow our way including a blizzard..I love each season and snow is perfect nesting weather but the below freezing temps are getting old.I like to get out and walk with the dogs but it's been way to cold to be out.I have been sorting through my spare room and loft trying to declutter my etsy stuff I have way to much stuff that I'll never have time to list so sending a bunch to market as soon as spring hits. I'll do a separate day since my regular flea market stuff is Primitives. My etsy is alot of different stuff really not even sure what all it is since alot has been packed away for a few years. Just ready to let it go and have minimum stuff. Well hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day. I don't like the crowds so hubby is making me a steak and shrimp dinner at home tonite. I have lots to share just got to get back to blogging more regular. Seems every spare minute is taken then the few I get I just want to do my own things.Warm Blessings!~Amy

Christmas Decor and Merry Christmas

 Oh my is it Christmas Eve already? The weather here makes it feel like it should be Thanksgiving.We've had a very mild Pennsylvania winter so far. Usually we have a little snow by now but it is a rainy 60's and we have some windows open. Figured I'd share a few of my decorating pics. No tree this year with Issaboo.Not worth the fight to try to make her understand figured by next year she'll be big enough to know better. Hubby was a little dissapointed with no tree but sweet Linda sent a little LED lighted tree and he claimed it and put it beside his chair...smile...Above is the red grainery box Hubby found over the summer.Loving decorating it for each Season....

 Small simple Feather tree...My Christmas tree for this year. Yes Issaboo does nose it everyday but hasn't bothered it yet.....

 Elf on the shelf watching for Santa...We had one just like this since I can remember as a child....

 The child's stepback decorated for Christmas....

Well just Wanted to Wish everyone A very Merry Christmas! Hope it is filled with joys, family and Blessings! Remember the reason for the the season in your heart through out the year.We'll be enjoying Christmas at Grandma's old farmhouse crammed full of family and memories.~Amy

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop ~ My Post

 Wendy is our gracious host of the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop. She organized a wonderful bunch of girls to share tutorials and recipes. You can get on the image on my sidebar to take you to her blog.Be sure to visit each day for some great ideas to put you in the spirit. My Tutorial is solid beeswax lotion bars. These are wonderful for dry winter hands,elbows and feet.

•  Beeswax lotion bars
• By weight 2 oz each
•  1 part beeswax can be any type I prefer natural block
• 1 part coconut or olive oil ( I use coconut but olive is easy to find at the grocery store)
• 1 part cocoa butter or you can use shea butter as well but it makes them slightly sticky

I like to add a few drops of vanilla,orange or peppermint oil to mine( about 10 drops) but if you prefer all natural they have a lite honey scent.

• Put in a double boiler and melt ingredients together till thy are a smooth liquid
• Pour into molds.I have molds from other projects but mini muffin tins or candy molds work well
• Allow to set 24 hours if they do not pop right out you can put them in the freezer about a half hour to release.

 So over the holidays we all over indulge plus some people at our gatherings have health restrictions so my recipe is Guilt Free Peanut Butter Cookies. They are super easy.Low Carb 6 grams per cookie and just 80 calories. Plus they taste amazing.No one will know they are Better for you.

                                                              Peanut Butter Cookies

• Preheat oven 350
• Mix with spoon in a medium bowl ~
• 1 cup peanut butter, 3/4 cup splenda, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 teas baking soda and 1 teas vanilla extract 
• Add 1 large egg (must be large for recipe to work) stir till dough is formed
• Roll into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet
• use a fork to flatten and form a criss cross pattern
• Bake 10 min or untill golden brown on bottom but still slightly soft in the middle
• Remove from oven let cool 5 mins on cookie sheet

Enjoy! Hope you all are enjoying the season.Warm Blessings!~Amy