ssh...a winner

There is something special about Christmas night.  The hustle and bustle is over. The Presents are wrapped, opened and enjoyed.  The cookies are baked and eaten.
Finally, a night you can sit back and enjoy the lights of the tree,  and the quiet that surrounds it.

Before I  grab my blanket,  a cup of tea and curl up on the couch..

I have one more thing to do...announce the winner of the Winter Solstice giveaway...chosen by the highly scientific method, "pick a number."

With no drum roll please (it will spoil the quiet) The winner is ......

The lovely Julia from "Hooked on Houses".  So, Julia if your reading this, congratulations, I will be contacting you "tomorrow" for the address to send your pillow. 

I also want to thank all of you for your wonderful comments and the warm welcome back to blog land

 

I hope your holiday was merry and filled with love and you are now enjoying the beauty of this night ~

Sue

Strugfoli

The baking of Christmas cookies is a large part of the holidays for my family.  We have certain ones that have been handed down through the generations and are still baked every year.  The recipe's may have changed slightly,  but the feeling and memories are as strong each time.

For as many Christmas's that I  remember, my mother would talk about a cookie she always had as a child. She could not remember it's name, just what it looked and tasted like.  Shaped like a cone or tree, it was bits of fried dough stuck together with honey and sprinkled with bits of candy.  A centerpiece on a plate, everyone would simply break off a piece.

This year I did a little searching to see what I could find.  In "The North End Italian Cookbook" I came across a recipe for Strugfoli.  Sounded just like what I was looking for.  So I gave it try.

Here's the recipe, if you'd like to give it a try.
2 cups peanut oil
2 cups sifted flour
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup honey
1 tbsp sugar 
1 tbsp multicolored sprinkles
Mix the flour &  salt in a large bowl -make a well in center of flour - Add the eggs, one at a mix slightly after each using a fork or tossing with your fingers. Add the vanilla- mix well to make a soft dough
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface & knead for 5 mins. - Divide dough in half and lightly roll into 1/4" rectangle- cut the dough into 1/4"wide strips - use the palm of your hand to roll the strips to pencil thickness- Cut each strip into pieces about 1/4" long.
Heat oil in deep saucepan to 365 degrees.  Add enough pieces to hot oil so they float uncrowded- Fry 3 to 5 mins until lightly browned, turning often during cooking. - transfer with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain - Finish frying all the pieces.
Meanwhile cook the honey and sugar in a separate pan over low heat for about 5 mins.
Remove from heat and add the deep fried pieces. - Stir to coat all the pieces with the honey sugar mixture
Put the Strugfoli on cookie sheet and put in refrigerator to chill slightly
Transfer to serving platter and arrange in a cone shaped mound -**Note..wet your hands first, this part was tricky**
Sprinkle with multi colored candies 
Chill in the refrigerator to set the shape desired and cool the syrup. Serve by breaking off individual pieces

Maybe kept in a box for up to 2 weeks. 

**My take on it...good not great..but being my first time making it..it definitely could be the cook.
**I thought it could have used more flavor but the kids loved it!

**I've since found a few slightly different versions of this recipe here and here


If you've made this or have another recipe for this dessert I'd love to hear about it. 
I plan on trying to improve on it myself.

Happy Holiday Baking and Don't forget there's still time to enter my holiday giveaway



Sue

Happy Winter Solstice ~ Thank You Giveaway

I have been wanting to get back to this long lost blog for awhile now.  Each morning, I put it on my list of must dos. Each evening, it seems that is the thing that is not checked off  (well, one of the things). I find lately there are so many thing I'd like to share with you, my mind gets cluttered with all of it.

What better day for Solsticehome to start, but the Winter Solstice. A celebration in recognition of rebirth, gatherings are valued for emotional comfort,  and having something to look forward to at the darkest time of the year.

To celebrate this rebirth and to thank you...my followers.  I'm having a winter solstice giveaway!

 

A handmade vintage fabric lavender filled pillow

made with vintage linen fabric and button it is 6x6 & filled with wonderful dried lavender.
Tuck it on your bed.. or in your closet..it will be a treat for your sense of sight and smell.

To enter..just leave me a little note & hopefully you will visit often...

winner chosen Dec 25th Christmas night!

 

Happy Winter Solstice & remember the days can only get longer now

Sue

The Great Crate Caper

by solsticehome

As you can probably guess by my shop, I have a weakness for all things vintage. I confess to losing quite a few hours getting lost in all the great vintage shops on etsy and poppytalk.

One of the most useful trends happening now, is the growing infatuation with vintage crates. The primitive almost earthy look to them seems to work with all but the most formal home decor. Both the soda & milk crates in particular lend themselves to so many clever uses. With so many great colors on crates it's fairly easy to find one to match your look.

I have a few ideas to share with you.

Storage.. the deeper crates are great for toys & books

Divide & conquer... some of the many storage needs in the studio, office, kitchen.

One of my favorite uses for the divided crate is to use them in the kitchen as a spice rack.


Serving ..used as a tray, it sets a casual mood, that says, let's hang out & enjoy ourselves.


Need more ideas..

Cityvintage, another sweet etsy seller has an interesting vintage DIY listing on
CONVERTING BOXES and MILK CRATES ...

Do you have other ideas on how to use crates?
I'd love you to share them here with all of us.  If you need help with sharing the photos, just give me a shout.

I'm Hooked on these crates..so we're heading over to Julia's Hooked on Blog party...join us!


<3

Sue

summer solstice sale starts......

NO!! .....don't head to the beach...... YET!!!

THE SOLSTICE SUMMER SALE STARTS....... N O W!!

only untill midnight Monday June 22th....

everything @ Solsticehome is ....20% OFF!

{see the details }
{discount is refunded after purchase}


a little temptation maybe??

Etsy Buy Handmade solsticehome

Happy Summer Solstice



Sue

beach rocks project

from down under & another lover of the beach…

the lovely Simone Georgette author of {Beach Vintage} blog

comes this perfect project

"Here is a really simple and easy project. I made this with my daughter and niece so it's a good project for kid's to get involved with. You will need: A small blank canvas (I bought this one from a "cheapie" store for $5.00) , a collection of rocks from your favourite beach ( I have used 16) and some Tarzan Grip glue (or similar craft glue). You need to make sure your rocks are flat and you will need different sizes to form each "pod". Firstly you glue the rocks on top of each other. It's best to use 2 or 3 to form one "pod". Then glue the finished "pods" onto the canvas however you please. I have finished it off with the date and location in pencil"

when I saw this I immediately thought of those rainy cape days with my grandson and now I have a plan!

I also thought of my readers who will be visiting beaches this summer.. & what a nice reminder of those sunny summer days

& it will also help me do something with the absurd piles of beach rocks I can’t seem to stop collecting!

three in one..I love it!

Sue

{happy mother's day}

Happy Mothers Day

all you lovely mom's out there

Hope it's sunny, bright & warms your heart!

Sue

busy week @ solstice....{thank you everyone}

it's been a busy, happy week here on cape cod
thanks to etsy for including me in this wonderful gift guide

{Greetings and Flowers}

& thanks to Strandredesign for including me in this beautiful treasury

{My Brown Insiration}

and a big thank you & congratulations to budpnq for including me in this stunning treasury & making Front Page!

{Olive lifts her face to the sky}

take a minute everyone and visit these lovely people and their shops...you really should!

sue
ps..don't forget to visit the Vintage Market Teams Earth Sale!

Happy Earth Day Everyone! ethanollie knows how to do it!

heartwarming and encouraging to see the network of online shops and blogs, not only talking about but actually making an effort to celebrate Earth Day.

I've mentioned the lovely kim {ethanollie from trampoline} before.. I'm in love with her unique polaroid collages & now all the vintage love she's been sharing in her shop.

Her shop announcement says "welcome to trampoline! where i bounce all my ideas around, and then see what comes about." "part of a new series i'm working on in celebration of Earth Day entitled TERRAIN. each one will honor a different landscape. we are so lucky to live among them every day, aren't we?"

{trampolines} terrain series

well one of the sincerely nice ideas to come out..is offering free shipping on any Terrain Collage Piece through the end of the month and 25% of the sale goes to Hope In Bloom, a Massachusetts charity that plants gardens for sufferers of breast cancer.

As brittni from {paper n stitch} said in her post.. It really doesn’t get much better than that!
Visit Trampoline's shop here.

Sue

Follow me...{i know a shortcut}

Follow me.....
Originally uploaded by solsticehome

"I'm late...I'm late...the Etsy Vintage Market Team Earth Sale has started!!!
finally...I've been waiting for weeks for this sale & those other gulls let me over sleep!

I'll have to hurry...there's this really cute vintage sun hat I have to have and whoa..solsticehome has an awesome bowl (i hate sand in my food)

All this and I help save my home {upkeep on this big ocean is not easy}, so I buy vintage whenever I can and now it's ON SALE!

oh ya..the shortcut..ssh..{don't want those other gulls to hear}
etsy... search box ...type... vmteamearth .. hundreds of vintage items are waiting for you!
Find discounts between 20% and 50% OFF from participating vintage sellers."

& remember...

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Buy Vintage!

Mr. Sammy Sea Gull

Save the Earth...Save the Date

Originally uploaded by solsticehome

Be Green ...Be Seen.....Be at the...
Vintage Market Team Earth Day Salebration

A plethora of vintage goodness awaits you ...April 20th - 25th

It's almost here...hop over to etsy...
Simply type: vmteamearth into the Etsy search box and you will find all kinds of vintage goodies from the Vintage Market Team.
Don't forget to stop at solsticehome and check my Earth Sale too!

Happy Shopping
Sue

Save the Earth...Save the Date

Hooked on...

Be Green ...Be Seen.....Be at the...
Vintage Market Team Earth Day Salebration

A plethora of vintage goodness awaits you ...April 20th - 25th

We're having a huge sale April 20th-25th
in honor of Mother Earth and Earth Day!

Solsticehome will be joining in with our Farmhouse collection and a few other surprises...

You can save 20-50% off of hundreds of vintage items from our team members! The video below is just a sampling of the vintage goodies waiting for you...on http://Etsy.com Simply type: vmteamearth into the Etsy search box and you will find all kinds of vintage goodies from the Vintage Market Team. Items will be discounted 20% or more.





So what are you hooked on this week? Come-on share with us...then head on over to the blog party @ Julia's..she always dishes up something yummy!

Have a wonderful Friday

Sue

a little etsy whisper

while I paint the kitchen walls ...so we can install the banquette ..which started from opening up the sun room wall...which started from ripping up the floor in said sun room & installing heat...

yes..it's the unending project which I hope to have time to blog about...

in the meantime a little etsy eye candy for you...from some of my soft favorites that whisper lovely things to me....

this treasury ..soft as a whisperrrr..will be live until this Saturday am
go visit...when you need a calm little hug...they really are lovely!
Enjoy!


Sue

out & about...sandwich cape cod...check this house out!

if your in the market... or if your just like me and love going to open houses...well, because you just love houses...you must go to this one!

after searching for a home in sandwich for 6 months... i am somewhat of an amateur professional house stalker in town. this is my favorite house...it has everything, beautifully renovated & decorated (did i say beautiful? i hope so!)...walking distance to boardwalk & town...across from the marsh...
ok...i'll just let the pictures do the talking...

Open house this Sat {April 4th, 1:00 - 4:00 pm}
100 Tupper Rd., Sandwich, Ma

Graceful, iconic Federal architecture in the original brick Parson Ezra Goodwin House, dated 1815. Behind the front facade is a large, lovingly renovated and redecorated home. 11 rooms, 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths. This early spring view of the house shows its large extension, added in the early to mid-1900's.

below a few pictures i took at christmas on the holiday home tour..
i've been stalking this home for awhile

you can also see a video tour here http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours
more info from Joan Bates realtor

have a wonderful weekend everyone


sue

hooked on.. snips and snails, and puppy-dogs' tails,

this week my { hooked on } & { my beautiful life } posts have collided & isn't it wonderful when that happens!

it can not be possible...can it?.....this week my grandson Ethan turned 6 years old!

the time swiftly flew by...

with so many wonderful memories....

these pictures speak 1000 words....

of all the joy you've given us....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.....my Ethan.....
I have always been......Will always be......Hooked on you!

love you

nana

Share your beautiful life & hooked on this week with us ...then head on over to Julia's & Melissa's parties...to see what everyone else is up to

Sue

etsy finds for lisa

lisa.. the ultra talented force behind Portland Child Photography just happens (luckily) to be my daughter in law. among other talents, she is also a dedicated runner. lisa had a birthday awhile back and I thought I'd surprise her and dedicate an etsy treasury to her.

a spot for an etsy treasury is becoming harder and harder to grab and publish as so many people are waiting to create one. a way for me to use some creative energy and also highlight a few of my favorites among the many talented people on etsy. i really enjoy making them!

well..I finally managed to get one! as luck would have it...lisa is on vacation, away from all means of modern contact...yup... think deserted island .....{sun, sand, water}

so..we will all have to enjoy this treasury for her.. until she returns to this cruel, cruel world..

take a peek...you might also enjoy visiting all the wonderful sellers on this treasury..

as this treasury disappears from etsy in a few days i have included links below
bestartstudios2, heidiburton, motomoto,
laurasgeorge, ethanollie, vintagevendor
doghoundblues, shanon1972, jcparkerfineart
minitoes, fabrichouse, gleancreativereuse

Oh..and you do not want to miss lisa's photography here

now..lisa aren't you sorry you missed this :)

hooked on..floating away

It's Friday again...{is it just me or are the weeks flying by lately?}

OK...don't jump on me...I am definitely not complaining it's Friday.
&
it's time for Julia's {Hooked on Houses} Friday blog party

I'm such a water lover, I could live near the water. (Oh..wait I do) Well not close enough.

today I feel like floating away...listening to the river ripple below me...sitting in a comfy chair on my deck...reading a good book...sipping a glass of wine..

problem you say..."can't sit on your deck and float away at the same time"

Ah Ha! not a problem any more...which is why today I'm hooked on.....
this....

Yes, it is a floating home, or to be correct, a Floating Pod.

Compact modular green homes built for energy efficiency, indoor air quality and sustainability.
{And It's on the Water} I could absolutely be sustained here!

The interiors look just as amazing. Life simplified beautifully!

If your interested in joining me go here for more info Green Pod Development.com

have a wonderful friday everyone!


sue

Woot! Toot!

some times something happens to make you just want to shout out!

if you work online... you know the feeling...
sitting in front of the computer working away all day...

you wonder..is there anyone out there?.. anyone?.. anywhere?

you write..you search..you seek..
then suddenly...bleep..what's that...was it...it was..

solsticehome's vintage item is featured on

The Storque {Etsy finds Vintage: The Art of Display}

1920's Laundry Pak Suitcase

So yes, I am wooting & tooting this & thank you Alison for being there

sue

Monday's Discoveries

it was a cold cloudy weekend day on Cape Cod yesterday

which made it a perfect day to do a little vintage shopping

so..this week's Mondays discoveries are really some fun Sundays finds!

vintage hotel bell ~ alarm clock

vintage red handled syrup pitcher

vintage nutmeg grinder & cookbook ~love the colors


happy monday everyone


sue

hooked on..right in front of you

Julia from {Hooked on Houses} hosts a hooked on blog party on Fridays..I love following what everyone is hooked on..it's a great way to end a week.

This Friday I'm joining in &
I'm hooked on this

Rarely Eye Chart
by Lucas & Hayley

seen here @ the keep calm gallery

I'm such a typography stalker and I love the so true message....

Jump over and join in the blog party & keep an eye on what is right in front of you this weekend.

Sue