Still Woods Farmhouse

Happy New Years Eve Everyone! First, let me apologize for my epic fail at the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Did I have 12 cookie recipes? Yes! Did I take photos of 12 variety of cookies?  Yes! Did I post 12 different cookie recipes? No! Do  feel like a cotton-headed ninny-muggins? YES!! Oh well...I will try to do better next year! I'll put my epic fail behind me and share some beautiful vintage New Years cards with you! She's a cute, plump snow girl! I love the holly I found in most of the vintage cards.  So delightful! Hearty good wishes going out to all of you! Papa Albert signed this card.  I don't know who he is, but I wonder why he didn't sign the inside? Another pretty girl who is about to throw a snowball wishing you a Happy New Year! This one is a little blurry. Guess these gentleman couldn't get a date! No matter the language, everyone loves to dance in the New Year!. This is a perfect example of why I love vintage c

It's time for another cookie!  This is an heirloom cookie from my father's German side of the family.  Well, both sides of his family are German; so to elaborate further, this recipe came from his maternal Aunt Augusta.  Don't you like how I write the way I think? I know, it's confusing in this brain of mine! My mother tells the story of Aunt Augusta and her famous German Honey Cookies.  Mom was introduced to these cookies not long after she and my father were married.  Mom thought they were absolutely delicious.  She asked Aunt Augusta if she would share her recipe.  Aunt Augusta was beaming with pride as she said "Ja, Josephine!"  I love that they spoke their native language so much. I would often be asked if I wanted "eier mit speck" for "fruhstuck"  Eggs and bacon for breakfast! My favorite breakfast food was good old Haferflocken.  My little German grandmother created magic with a bowl of oatmeal! So many wonderful memories of spe

Hi Everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We certainly did.  I love turkey and dressing! We always have leftovers on the day after Thanksgiving and it is at that time that we have our annual Gingerbread House Day!  For years and I mean years, we have made homemade gingerbread houses.  Now we are not experts at our houses, but we always have fun.  We have tried a variety of structures, but always use the same gingerbread recipe.  It makes A LOT of dough.  So lets start with the recipe... Gingerbread Recipe: 1 cup of shortening 1 cup of sugar 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1 cup of molasses 2 tablespoons white vinegar 1 egg, beaten 5 cups of all purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves Cream shortening, sugar, and salt.  Stir in molasses, vinegar and egg.  Sift together then add the remaining ingredients. Chill mixture overnight.  Roll out dough on a floured board to 1/8 inch.  Bake on parchment

Happy Thanksgiving friends!  The turkey is in the oven roasting to golden perfection or at least that's the goal!  I am sitting here with a cup of coffee and wanted to share a post from several years ago.  It's a few vintage Thanksgiving greetings and magazine covers.  While you're waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven, relax with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy these images from yesteryear. I know this mamma is happy to have her sailor home for Thanksgiving! Please say it isn't so!  I confess...I did love these Banquet dinners when I was little.  Whenever we had them, they seemed like such a treat.   A simmering-talking pot! This adorable girl is eyeing the turkey! I am curious about the article by Demaree Bees listed at the bottom of the cover! Vintage cards are always wonderful expressions of art.  This one is no exception. Wonder what this little Pilgrim is telling the chicken? Another nostalgic Saturday Evening Post. What a diffe

If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, I imagine that you want your entryway to look festive and welcoming.  I love the colors of harvest time.  There is such warmth and beauty in the hues of fall.  There is still time to jazz up your front door before your guests arrive! There is an old English proverb based on Matthew 6:22 which states the "eyes are the window to the soul".  I think it can also be said that the front door of a home is the window to the soul of the home.  The front door and surrounding outer entryway is the first impression for our guests.  Fall entryway decor can be a fabulous way to make that first impression a lasting one.  With the abundance of mums, pumpkins, gourds, and other fall flowers available this time of year, you too can welcome your Thanksgiving guests with a festive atmosphere.   I thought I would put together a few fantastic examples for you to peruse, maybe with a cup of hot cider by your side.  We will start with my home.  The front e

It's the second in the series of the Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies!  Today, I am featuring a brownie or bar cookie. You will thank me for this recipe.  It's that good.  We may even become "bestest" of friends! You will want to know what else is in my Christmas baking arsenal!  You might even volunteer to help me bake! Let me introduce to you Red Velvet Brownies.  Look at those delicious layers of red velvet, then cream cheese, and lastly red velvet swirled on top!  These are best eaten without the interference of coffee or milk. Just take a bite and close your eyes...let the flavors mingle in your mouth.  Groaning is acceptable when eating these brownies! I bet your ready to bake a batch.  Let's take a look at this easy recipe: Red Velvet Brownie Layer: 1 stick butter 1 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon of vanilla 1/4 cup of cocoa powder Pinch of salt 1 tablespoon of red food coloring 1 teaspoon of vinegar 2 eggs 3/4 cup all purpose flour Cream C

Welcome to Still Woods Farmhouse and the Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies!  I am so exited to bring to you a little of my passion at Christmas.  Each Christmas, I put on a cute apron, turn on the Christmas music, and head to the kitchen to begin whipping up batches of cookies.  It's in my genes!  I come from a long line of bakers.  As small children, my sister and I would eagerly await the packages of goodies from our grandmothers.   With my dad in the military, we lived far away from our relatives.  A box of homemade Christmas treats were so special to us.  One grandmother made all kinds of cookies and pies, while the other made delicious candy and cakes.  I take after my paternal grandmother, the cookie baker! My mother is also a Christmas cookie baker.  She has a long list and makes everyone's favorites.  She often bakes over 13 variety of cookies just at Christmas.  Everyone loves her homemade goodness! Who doesn't like homemade cookies?! For the 1st of the T