Saltwater Sounds Wrap-Up
Welcome to Saltwater Sounds, a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration. This is where I share all that’s been going on in the world of Shiplap and Shells, what’s to come and the inspiration I have found from other bloggers around the web.
This and That…
What a whirlwind week before Christmas this will be.
Our power went out on Saturday afternoon while I was working on my original wrap-up which was supposed to go out to you on Sunday.
Real-life doesn’t really seem to care about deadlines or plans, does it?
And this happened this morning…SNOW! I don’t think it’s sticking around for long but we may see some more this week.
The Lighted Car Parade
Saturday night was the lighted car parade that went down our street. So much fun! The pictures didn’t turn out as I had hoped, but I’m sure you get the idea.
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Christmas Caroling This Week
A group of us will be Christmas caroling this week. I think I would like to keep my friends so I will be lipsynching.
I’ve had so much fun this holiday season with friends, enjoying the holiday decorations, my Antique Candle Co. candles, and Christmas music this month. Especially the twinkle lights. That’s the beauty of winter. You can ALWAYS keep the twinkle lights up.
Drying Orange Slices
Let’s talk dried oranges.
I have shared my post on how to dry oranges several times this fall and holiday season. I dried them in a 200° oven for hours.
But when my husband reminded me that we had a dehydrator, I decided to try drying more oranges using that method and sharing my thoughts on which I liked better.
The dehydrator took 36 hours to dry the oranges but there was literally no work to it after I had added the oranges and plugged it in. And the orange slices were beautiful. The ones from the oven had more of a brown and burnt look to them, even though they were still pretty.
The picture above shows the orange I took from the batch I dried in the oven so you can see the comparison. Have you ever dried oranges? What method do you use or like better?
December 24th – A Good Day for Our Pups
Christmas Eve is a special date around here.
First, puppy Ollie became part of the family a year ago. It’s so hard to believe that it’s only been a year.
He looks so different. His coloring has really lightened up. This was taken when we all went to Hood River, OR. in November.
If you look closely, you can see Jax winking. Not sure what that was all about!
Little Lucy’s 15th birthday is on December 24th.
What’s Happening at Shiplap and Shells…
Last Wednesday was the Vintage Christmas Tour of Homes. 13 bloggers shared their beautiful homes all decked out for the holidays.
A Very Vintage Inspired Christmas Cottage Bedroom Tour
I shared my bedroom on the tour HERE. All the links for the other bloggers participating in this tour are in my blog post at the end.
In case you missed it… My living room and kitchen holiday tour.
14 Wonderful Ways to Use Vintage Finds in Your Christmas Decor
I’m not only sharing how I’ve been using my vintage items in Christmas decor for the last few years, but I’m also sharing the beautiful ways some of my favorite bloggers use antiques and vintage in their holiday decor as well HERE.
An Oldie But a Goodie
My Warm and Cozy Winter Cottage Tips and Tour
Do you struggle with what to do between the time you take down your holiday decor and springtime? This is a winter tour of our cottage living room and kitchen from last year. I shared some winter decor tips on how to keep warm and cozy during this time of transition. Read more HERE.
Coming Up on the Blog:
My flower seed selection for 2022
The 2021 Year in Review
Top Posts for 2021
Planning the Garden for Next Year
My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web…
Michele at Vintage Home Designs has created the most beautiful New Year’s Eve table. Talk about inspiration!!!
Still looking for that last-minute holiday gift? Meeghan at Cali Girl in a Southern World shared a DIY Simmer Pot Gift that you will have to go take a look at.
Are you having guests staying at your house this holiday season? CoCo at The Crowned Goat has some great tips for how to make your overnight guests feel welcome.
Here are More Inspiring Posts…
Delicious appetizer ideas.
And another yummy recipe.
The most beautiful vintage ski lodge porch.
This no-bake dessert shooter.
I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment and let me know what you’d like to see on the blog! Thank you for being here. It means the world.
Wishing you a safe and happy holiday, full of love, peace, and kindness my friends.
Until next time,
Happy Holidays!
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Kim the boat light parade looked like it was so fun! I would love to go!!!
Love the lighted truck parade … what fun and I think the photos are great! It’s good to be a pup at ShipLap and Shells! Happy Birthday to sweet Little Lucy. xo
How amazing to have a Christmas car parade right in front of your home! That was so cute! Frank gifted me a dehydrator, I never had one before. I plan to use it for drying herbs. I am so excited about it! Never had one before.
I love the dried oranges, Kim. I have an old dehydrated that I won as a prize way back in my 4-H days for some of my canning and dehydrating projects. I think it still works. I should dig it out next year and give this a try. Thanks for the inspiration. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
Oh.. that photo of baby Ollie almost made my heart stop it is so cute. And they are all so sweet. Love the tutu. Our little yorkie, Sydney, wears dresses everyday as she has allergies and it protects her skin from scratching. She has quite the wardrobe. I may be one of the worlds biggest holiday light fans, so really enjoyed the photos from the parade. Would have really liked seeing that. We drive around many times looking at lights every year and hubby hangs a lot outside. I hang a lot inside. Wishing you and your family a happy Christmas.
Hi Jillian! I hope you are enjoying the holiday season and it sounds like you are definitely taking advantage of the lights your hubby has hung. We are so in love with our pups, aren’t we? It sounds like Sydney has made the best out of her allergies and now looks extra special with her dresses. Wishing you joy, peace, and kindness this holiday season and in the new year my friend.
Great Big WOW! for the light parade! What a wonderful sight, a Christmas delight! I live in Florida, the St. John’s River is at the end of my street. There is a Christmas boat parade every year – so much fun. Masses of lights and other decor, revelers dressed in Holiday costumes, lots of waving and cheers. However, I must say your car parade lighting is maybe even a little more impressive!
Thank you for the dog update – always enjoyable to see the furry family members. I think dogs have Christmas spirit all year long, Love and Joy comes to you (?and to your wassail too?) from them.
Happiest of Holidays!
We had a couple of boat parades around the area this year. They are very festive, aren’t they? It sounds like you live in a great area. I would have loved to see people dressed up in holiday costumes.
I always love showing off my little pups. It’s hard for me to believe that one of them just turned one and the other one is starting to struggle a bit with her old age. Just giving her extra love and hugs. Wishing you joy and happiness this season Beth. Thank you for being here.
Kim,
I love that parade. You’re so lucky to watch from you house. Thanks for sharing my recipe !
We absolutely loved it, Rachel. The only thing that was missing was your recipe! Maybe next year!
That first pic of your greenhouse with the night sky is so beautifully dramatic! And I love the orange Garland with the greens and lights on the mantel. I don’t like the red and green Christmas look so much, but I’m always looking for cozy winter decor idea. I’ll have to read the blog you shared on that too! Thanks Kim and happy holidays to you.
Thank you so much for stopping by Suzanne. I was shocked that I captured that shot. It was one of those very lucky moments that I’ll probably never get on camera again. I’m not much of a traditional colors kind of decorator either when it comes to Christmas. I like to mix it up. Have a wonderful holiday, full of joy and love.
I love making dried orange garland for the holidays, Kim! So inspiring. Thank you for sharing my DIY Simmer Pot homemade gift idea! It’s hard to believe Christmas is this week! I hope you have a very merry holiday.
I love your gift idea Meeghan and can’t wait to try this next year. Happy holidays!
Kim dried oranges are my favorite for the holidays. So festive and beautiful. Thanks for sharing my porch??
Who knew a Dried orange could be so pretty mixed into all the Christmas decorations?! Have a great week Ann.