Parsimonious Décor Darling: November 2020

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Quick Entertaining Idea for the Holiday Season, Enjoying the Fruits of My Labor

Happy Sunday, Friends! Although we have not gathered here with my extended family for a while now, and I didn't cook a huge feast for the Thanksgiving holiday like I typically do (much smaller in scale this year), I still am a voracious foodie at heart, whether entertaining for large gatherings or not.

A charcuterie board is a perfect crowd pleaser, especially for entertaining guests. Even though gatherings may be sparse if you are following health officials' guidelines, you may enjoy this super-easy entertaining idea this holiday season.

At the tail-end of the summertime, my grapevines were abundant with fruit and we had a small get-together with the immediate family to enjoy that bounty.

Fruits of my labor:

Grapes are still available in the grocery stores, so you can definitely put together an epic charcuterie board using those or simply edit to include other fruits that are still in season. A charcuterie board full of different types of food offers guests a plethora of choices, and can be enjoyed any time of year! With Christmas and New Year's soon to be upon us, I thought, why not still share this idea?

Several weeks ago in this post, I showed you how to make your own large-scale charcuterie board. These boards are perfect for entertaining year-round!

For me, a great charcuterie board is the perfect balance of sweet and savory. I also like to include something outside the box. Consider cheeses that are not typical such as those flavored with fruit, or meats that are a little more upscale such as a great aged proscuitto. Chilled grapes compliment cheese and meat perfectly, but you may also consider berries like strawberries and blueberries which are also still available in stores currently.

On my board, I also included homemade dolmas (stuffed grape leaves). This Mediterranean classic is a perfect addition to a great charcuterie board. I made mine from scratch using self-preserved grape leaves right off of my grapevines. To view the recipe, you may see the post here on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum. There is also a video.

Add all the yummy elements and add a garnish such as a grapevine as I’ve done, or even flowers!!

There you have it!

A simple entertaining idea anyone can put together in about ten minutes' time, and an absolute no-brainer.

You can see me put it all together here. Please be sure to be in full website viewing mode rather than mobile or you may not see the link:

I hope you have had a wonderful and restful weekend!

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Thursday, November 26, 2020

Thankful

A grateful heart

Is one that endures.

I am counting my blessings...and am thankful for God’s beautiful bounty.

I am trying to remember to find the joy in this world and remember to smile

Especially during these uncertain times.

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub.

Follow me on Pinterest!! Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines! Thank you!

Thank you for stopping by! ❤

Friday, November 20, 2020

Ageing Galvanized Metal

Hello, Blogland Buddies and beyond! I hope everyone is enjoying the beauty that Autumn has to offer, even in the state of the world today with a horrific pandemic looming.

I attempt to keep some sense of normalcy these days as much as possible. It is a comfort in these trying times. I have decorated for the fall, and it will remain that way until next week because we will still have our immediate family (seven of us total!) over this coming Thanksgiving. I think especially this year, it is important to count those small blessings, and all of my children save for one are still minors living at home. Our eldest has been home quarantined, so we feel safe to be together this coming holiday.

Today, I am sharing a quick tutorial about how to age galvanized metal. It is perfect for decorating fall crafts. I hope you enjoy the post!

There is something so charming to me about things that are old and tell a history. It is likely why I love collecting antiques. Sometimes, though, homemade "oldness" can be just as lovely. This tutorial is one I found by perusing YouTube. Of all the tutorials I found, this one via Mr. DIY Dork seemed to be the most comprehensive. The video also includes three ways to age your galvanized metal. The method I chose is using Lysol toilet cleaner.

To age your galvanized metal you will need:

Steel wool (I used S.O.S. pads)

Lysol toilet bowl cleaner

Gloves to protect your hands

A galvanized bucket. I found this extra-large one at Lowe’s.

First, I began by removing the sticker and any remaining residue. I used the toilet cleaner, but I’m sure Goof-Off or Goo-Gone would work as well. Generously wet down the metal with the toilet bowl cleaner.

Add additional toilet bowl cleaner and work the solution into the metal using the S.O.S. pad. Allow to sit for a half hour or so to allow the chemical reaction to take place. Rinse off. Here is a shot of an untreated bucket next to the treated one. Easy Peasy!!