Christmas Windowsills, Snow, and Baking........

I've been in several colonial houses this holiday season, and I've noticed something...they seem to always decorate their windowsills for Christmas. I've never decorated a windowsill, other than to put an electric candle in my front windows. I've looked at other houses I've been to during the Christmas season and also noticed that the windowsills are not usually decked out for the holidays. Perhaps it's because most houses now have so many windows, or maybe it's because it is so common to decorate the outside of our houses more elaborately than during the Colonial period. Here are a few examples of some windowsills I've seen this holiday season.








There is just something so welcoming and festive about a decorated windowsill. During colonial times the furnishings inside a house were much more plain than what we have today. Perhaps living amongst our comfortable and overstuffed furnishings we've forgotten how homey and cozy a decorated windowsill can be.

I tried my hand this week at decorating one windowsill in my house. I used an old decoration that I normally would have tossed but instead I "recycled" it with some added "real" greenery and pinecones. Don't laugh, it was my very first attempt at decorating anything with something that didn't come completely put together from a store.



From the same "almost" discarded decoration I made a fragrant bowl of pinecones. It makes the whole room smell heavenly. I found the bowl at a yard sale for 25 cents. I just may be turning "Green." Daughter Susan would be so proud.



Today we had our first measurable snow. It was only a couple of inches, which is enough for me!



I made some cinnamon swirl bread. It is very easy to do. First, I ground my own whole wheat berries into flour. After mixing and kneading the dough, I roll it out into a rectangle:



I then add an egg white wash (some people use butter) and then sprinkle liberally with sugar and cinnamon.



Then roll, starting with the short end and pinching the seams closed as you go. Place in a bread pan and let bread rise till the top comes over the pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 31 minutes.



As Lucy Ricardo would say "It's a happy little loaf"!!!



This makes wonderful toast. I just butter it and enjoy it with a nice cup of hot tea. Perfect for a cold winter's morning.



Have a wonderful weekend!