A Couple Of Updates

Joyce said, "Look, look see the seeds grow"

Gary said, "Go Joyce, go"

Joyce said, "grow, grow, grow"

Tracy and my day on Friday was a lot of fun we laughed all the way to the estate sale, standing in line and on the way home. My plan was to get this and this this and I came home with this!

Tracy thought this would be nice to add to Gary's guitar collection. AND I came home with more of these!

AND an invite to attend the next insulators meeting! A gent at the sale took a double take when he saw the insulators in my hands. He didn't think he would bump into another collector. Oh dear I didn't have the heart to tell him I only started picking these up because I thought they were pretty.

Last week was vintage week. I picked up these small clock faces, the crown button (because I think every girls should have a crown)

and this cute little milk pail from Tipple & Snack Shop

By the way Tracy came home with a desk and not the church pew!

Have a golden day!

xoxo

In A Matter Of Hours

We went to bed with our trees looking like this Saturday night

To waking up Sunday morning to this!

It was pretty to see so much snow on the trees...

but in the same breathe a little scary. It reminded me of something out of the ice age.

Trees surround our home, but due to the heaviness of the snow, the trees were hugging our home.

The view from almost all of our windows.

This big tree branch was inches away from the patio door. The funny thing is we don't even have a tree near the patio door! By the time I reach for my camera bag, in a matter of seconds the same branch above went to this.

Over all there were four large branches that fell. Thank you God it wasn't any trees on the house.

You can imagine with this much ice snow, we were left without electricity from around 3:00 a.m. to around 7:30 p.m.

A warm fire and lots of blankets to keep us warm. Miss Kelly even wore one of her jackets around the house to keep her warm. Thank goodness we have a gas stovetop to make a cup of hot cocoa.

My dear friends, please bare with me to catch my breathe and visit your blogs. This also happens to be a busy week of work for me too.

And winter slumbering
In the open air
Wears on he his face
A dream of spring
Sam Taylor Coleridge

Happy Vintage Friday!

I am up and ready before the sun today, waiting for Tracy to pick me up and head out to an estate sale.

I have my eye on the table below, and some silver pieces. Tracy is focusing on the church pew.

Do you think the squirrels would enjoy the scale as a nut feeder?

I'll post later on the treasures I find.

I did not want the day to slip away without wishing you a golden weekend my friends!
Hugs and kisses.... xoxo

"One man's trash, another man's treasure"

P.S. I owe a few emails and promise to respond when I get back. Pinky Swear!

For The Love Of Baking and Cooking

Deb over at Lifescapes (stop over to see her favorites on yesterday's post) asked if I would like to participate in her cookbook collections. I thought it would be fun to share a small piece of my collection of books and online favorites.

My little room was originally a closet that we turned into small office and became the perfect place to hold my cookbook and recipes.

Under the desk as you can see are more entertaining and cookbooks along with some other books. Also some loose change in case I burn a dinner or dessert.


I have 4 file drawers of recipes. I really need to go through these files and do some spring cleaning.


The love of baking and cooking has been a big part of my life as far back as I can remember especially for family gatherings. Growing up I didn't have no desire to be in the kitchen, I was more the participate in the eating department. My very first cookbook was Betty Crocker and by the note my mom wrote you can only image the disasters I created in the kitchen.

I didn't step in the kitchen until I lived on my own, more for survial than pleasure. The enjoyment didn't come until later on in life.

Some of my favorite recipes are from my mom’s worn wooden recipe book

with her handwriting inside.

Here are just the tip of some of my many favorite books and blogs.

Betty Crocker (because it was my first and does have some good recipes), The Farmer's Daughter Cookbook (a friend's mother wrote this book years ago, while owning a restaurant in IL) and this jam and jelly book by Christine Feber (I hope someday to take a class with her).


Gale Gand's chocolate and vanilla book is another favorite of mine. I have had the pleasure meeting and seeing her on different occasions. She is so... nice. My first encounter was a few years ago I was having a tamale making partying with a kitchen full of girlfriends coming over. I was “in the weeds” as they say in the restaurant kitchens (meaning I took on more than I could chew). Not only were the tamales happening (never made these on my own) in the kitchen I was trying out new recipes for the party. One was Gale’s Mexican hot chocolate fondue. I was able to get her email and she responded immediately and bailed me out.

If you are ever in the Chicago area she is executive pastry chef and co-owner of TRU restaurant and has a wonderful coffee bar in Wheeling, called Gale's Coffee Bar.

Some of my favorite food blogs I visit often are pastry chefs, Marilyn with simmer till done, Helen with tartelette and Aran at cannelle et vanille. I have not had the chance to meet them, but they have a wealth of information and are so giving with sharing their love of pastries. When I'm in a crunch or don't understand something they eagerly give me guidence as a friend would do. Visiting their blogs are worth the visit just to look at their photos.

My cupcakes and muffins have come along ways from when I first stated baking, just ask my family.

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience."

James Beard

Enjoy your day and make it a golden one!

xoxo

My Lucky Stars!

Do you ever wonder some days what you did to deserves the treasures the day brings? I ask myself this question often, as I did twice this past week.

The other day I was at a doctor’s appointment, when I came home my love said there was an envelope on the counter. I start to smile when I saw the address in the corner. The envelope was from my special friend, Deb at lifescapes Carefully opening the envelope thinking what could my friend be sending me.

Inside was a neatly wrapped gift in my favorite green with a beautiful plaid ribbon. Once I removed the paper I started to jump with joy to see a painting of our front door! I had no clue she was painting our door.

I must have been loud, because shortly my love comes down the stairs to see what all the noise is about. Before I continue I'm talking about a man who doesn't notice things in the house. Yet twice this week he surprised me with his observation. I said "honey look, look... at this beautiful drawing done by my new friend, Deb, isn't it gorgeous?" His response “yes it is very pretty, it looks like our door only better. I said "it is our door"! Deb made our door so inviting and I love it! In each corner there are oak leaves . We have a few oak trees in our yard, how did she know or remember?

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.
Henry Ward Beecher

A few days later, I came home to another beautiful envelope sitting on the counter. Yes, can you believe it? This envelope was from my dear friend Patricia Patricia at pve design I started to smile and lightly clapped my hands, again for me?! Asking what do you think is inside? This time Gary was by my side as I gently open the envelope to find this beautiful wrapped gift in my favorite green and blue!

Inside was this adorable "Happy Love" book and this beautiful illustraion of our Kelly girl, and butterflies around her cute head!! I love it! As I was dancing with my painting of Kelly, Gary was asking is that really a drawing of Kelly (observation number 2)!

Once I could stop jumping with excitement, singing how lucky can a girl get with two beautiful art pieces from two very talented and beautiful women, I call my friends. Gary and I walked around the house thinking where we were going to put our beautiful art, but first I will get them framed. Oh I can't wait!!!

"A friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart"

Enjoy your day my friends! xoxo

You Asked And I Will Share…

... one of my favorite corners of our home, the storage room. It is the home to most of my entertaining things. Ready my friends? Grab your morning beverage and have a seat. **BEWARE** it isn't pretty, but holds some of my favorite treasures!

Come on in! Be careful it is a tiny room. I am on a mission to find a vintage sign that says "rental" to put on the door for fun. You will see why shortly.

On this side of the room are three shelves, holding these white boxes labeled and filled either with glasses, or plates (white, white with red borders, solid creme, pink flowers etc...) I think one has some glass cake stands.

This side of the room has serving pieces. Some new, some hand painted and some vintage.

Here is my picnic basket, that I adore from Crate & Barrel (one of my many purchases while working there) and a bed tray (we had since we got married 18 yrs ago). We use both the basket and tray for those special times.

I forgot I picked up this flatware years ago at a rectory estate sale.

Oh my goodness how many muffin/cupcake pans does one need? I think the cake and pie plates come in small, medium and large too! In my defense, a couple of years ago I use to do a lot more baking for a diner and special orders.

Here are mini bread boards I sometime use by each place seating. I'm not sure if you can see the wood paddles with the grooves on the left. These I used to make rose petals out of butter. I make the petals one by one, until I formed a big open rose about the size of a dessert plate. I put the rose on a small clear glass plate with a couple of lemon leaves for the finishing touch. The larger boards behind, I use at times as chargers depending on the theme of the party.

Ahhh... this spot is one of my favorite things. I love silver, old, new, tarnish or polished. There is something about using silver when you serve your guest.

I like having odds and ends of teacups. Again some old, new and hand painted. Will you join me for a cup of tea?

Have a golden day!

xoxo

P.S. I realized I forgot to take a picture of the wall that has a shelf of the cake stands. I guess this will have to keep for another day.

Plant A Seed

My goal this year is to create a small butterfly garden. This will be a BIG task for me, first we have a lot of shade in our yard, but there is a small batch that does get some sunlight. The most challenging part is, I don't have a green thumb.
One time a friend was talking about her garden, when I mentioned I was not one for yard work. She laughed and said she could tell because I called it "yard work"!

I usually either buy plants or friends give me their overgrown plants. This year I thought it would be fun to start my own from a seed. Off to the nursery I go...

I knew seeds were tiny, but I didn't think this tiny! I started this process when Gary went to workout and still was planting when he came back!

Wouldn't you know it, right after this photo I decided to sneeze!! I'm not sure if I will be having Black-eye Susan's growing on our dinning room floor, but time will tell.

The Hollyhock seeds were a tad bigger, but not much!

I made a couple of little banners because I knew I would forget which plant is what. Needless to say the extra tray and seeds I purchase will be going back today to the nursery. I will take the store credit and wait for the weather to warm up to buy the plants for my garden.

In the meantime I will keep my fingers cross these little seeds will grow into plants, that someday will bloom into flowers to attract the butterflies.

Does anyone know how long it will take before I see a little green come up?

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

Have a golden day my friends!

xoxo

Friday In The Kitchen: Rhubarb Crunch

Happy Friday My Friends!

I have always loved rhubarb! Growing up we had rhubarb plants in our backyard. My sisters and I would pull a stalk or two, sprinkle sugar on it and enjoy our treasure as we sat on the backsteps. I love how the tartiness and sweetness come together. Afterwards, we would fill bags full of rhubarb for my grandma, so she could make my favorite dessert. Rhubarb custard pie! Ahhh... the memories.

When I saw this recipe here I knew I had to give it a try. It is too early for my rhubarb to come up, so when I saw fresh rhubarb at the grocery store I knew I was meant to try this recipe.

Did you know, rhubarb is actually a vegetable, not a fruit?

...And that the bright red stalk vegetable that "eats like a fruit" has come a long way from Eastern Europe, where it got its name from a word meaning "barbarians of the Volga River." Rhubarb was consumed by the Germanics in Europe, while the Chinese used it for medicinal purposes as early as 2700 B.C. Pretty intersting, huh?

If you still are looking for a little more tartness, stop over and visit Fifi Flowers Design Decor, Fifi is hosting another Fashionable Friday.

I hope your weekend is a sweet one!
Enjoy~
xoxo

All In A Day Of Work...

I go one day a week to the office and put in a couple of hours here and there from home. I work for a project and program consulting company for the last 8 years. The funny thing is after the interview I went home thinking the job wasn't for me and sent out a thank you, but no thank you note. I knew nothing about computers or managing an office. I didn't think the job could keep my interest after I would go through the huge piles and piles of paperwork etc. Low and behold my employer called asking me if I would give it a try at least week by week. Well the rest is history.

The biggest highlight of my day going into work for the last 6 years , is seeing this adorable little face.

she was just about ready to take a nap before I took her picture

Her name is Riley. We bonded the first day she came home as tiny little puppy and the bond as grown over the years. While I was off of work for a bit a year and half ago she was so depress that Laura (friend/employer) had to bring her over to visit once a week. I don't know how Riley does it, but she knows when it is my day to come into the office. She sits by the window, waiting for me to pull up the drive, once she sees me, she runs to the door to greet me, her tail swinging from side to side, wheezing because she is so excited she can't catch her breathe (LOL..). Wouldn't it be nice for everyone to either have a dog at work or bring your own pet to work?

Before work I managed to finish the last of this book I have been reading.

Speaking of work... I better get going.

Have a golden day!

xoxo