Bargain Vintage Plates and Contemporary Mercury Glass Votives {Winter Tablescape}

Naked trees, thin layer of white snow on the grounds and golden harvested corn fields : that's precisely what the view from the picture window in our dinning room for the last couple of weeks. Since I'm seeing it on a daily basis, it became my inspiration for this tablescape .....

The vintage Churchill plate set bearing the naked tree design was a real bargain! My hubby pointed them out to me during a recent trip to Value Village {30 pieces/6 place settings, all in excellent condition for $9.99!!!}. They were covered in thick dust that nobody paid attention to the entire set. As soon as we got home, I soaked my "treasures" in warm water and mild liquid soap and voila!

The mercury vase, votives and candle holders which by the way I also got on sale {buying tip: mercury glasses are almost always 50% to 75%  off the original price after the Christmas holidays, or better yet, make your own : I will post a DIY  mercury glasses soon} are perfect embellishments to the vintage plates.

A bunch of simple and budget-friendly white carnation adds elegance to this winter tablescape.

No need to break the bank on your your next dinner party. Vintage dinnerwares are within reach in thrift shops. And remember inspiration are everywhere. Sometimes, you just have to look outside your window!

Linking with : Treasure Hunt Thursday
                        Tablescape Thursday

Candy Cane Choco-mallows

I have left-over candy canes and marshmallows from our holiday hot drinks serving tray. We also received a lot of chocolates from friends so I put them together for another easy peasy candy cane choco-mallows treat.

All you need are some left-over candy canes, marshmallows (large is preferable), chocolate.

Easy as one two three:

Melt chocolate in microwave (just a few seconds will do the job)
Crush 2-3 candy canes in a plastic bag until you get tiny pieces.
Stick whole candy cane in marshmallow.
Dip marshmallow in melted chocolate.
Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
Place on wax paper (flat side down) until set.

Enjoy them as is or as a topper for your hot chocolate while warming yourselves by the fireplace!

Linking with Better Hens and Gardens

Our First Christmas at Birdsong {Home for Christmas}

Happy New Year everyone!

The "pixie dust" of the Christmas season is slowly dissipating as everyone tries to get back to the daily grind. I'm sure there are people out there like me who clings on to the Christmas spirit as long as I could. This year is no exception, in fact even more! Hubby and I spent our first Christmas in our new old house. This house, as some of you know was originally called The Rooster's Inn (a former vegan B&B and farm animals sanctuary). Now that this house is simply a home to hubby and I + Muning {A.K.A. Miming, the princess cat} + 15 hens + 2 Muscovy ducks + 1 chukar + 3 nosy chipmunks + 2 bullfrogs and their entire family and last but not the least ... countless birds of different kinds, we decided to rename our home THE BIRDSONG!

The snow came a week or two earlier so it was not a white Christmas this year yet the air smelled like Christmas nonetheless with all the pines on the grounds.

Keeping the spirit of Birdsong, we decorated the trees inside the house with things that are near and dear to our hearts - the creatures who complete our growing "family". Yes, even the nosy chipmunks are represented!

Its been our tradition to wrap gifts together while enjoying  a cup of hot chocolate.

This year at Birdsong was no exception. With Christmas carols playing, we wrapped and tied ribbons on simple gifts but this time Muning joined the fun {well, she tore papers and chased ribbon spools!}

On Christmas eve, we went to our new Parish to celebrate the most important part of  Christmas - "Today is born our Saviour, Christ our Lord. Come Let us adore Him"!

Its no secret that I love to cook. What day is more special to prepare food than Christmas? I also put out some of my "plato-platuhan" to go with the feast ....

It was a holly jolly Christmas morning when we opened our gifts in our jammies! Muning has more gifts than the two of us combined. BUT she ignored them all and still preferred her "tansan" {bottle cap}.

Meanwhile in the La Maison de Poulet, our beloved hens are treated with medley of  fresh cabbage, carrots, apples, celery, corn and barley. 

As a write this post, fresh snow covered the grounds and the temperature dropped to -15. It is cold and windy but my heart is still full of joy and warmth brought by Christmas .... wherever we are, new or old home, big or small, far or near, Christmas is where our family is!

"May the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts!"