Blissitydoodah

Petit french library

2012-01-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

linking with LaurieAnna's Farmhouse Friday

It dawned on me this morning,

sometime after dawn but before

lunch...

that if I cleared off a certain

sewing machine table

(among my favorite things to collect

and oddly they find me rather than vice

versa, which is awesome)

that I'd have a spot to put

my laptop and sit rather than

let the petit table

hold the collection

of equally awesome things

it was currently holding.

Mind you...this space I call

the library (in jest!!)

is no more than a cubicle.

My hips DO fit even in clothes.

And there are books and magazines

between the collected items.

All of it brings me smiles and keeps

me busy dusting.

You have now viewed both sides of

my library which has many books by Peter Mayle

as well as antique french textbooks and

french/english dictionaries.

I'm currently searching for a certain USB

cable that will hook my brain to those

books and transfer the information

within them to me.

*switching now to my US Capital Rotunda tour voice*

If you'll look over your head you will

see the light fixture that was chosen

to illuminate the space.

Not only does it keep the library in virtual

darkness...

it looks incredibly cute while doing it.

Water fountains and public restrooms are down the

hall to your RIGHT ;)

(a little politicking right on campus)

if you are still with me I'll show you the art.

Old photos, one boy, one girl.

Both parties represented.

Both hoping not to have a bearish market

in the near future.

Hard to photograph in such a dark space...

this tapestry shows a mother and her little child,

representing the sanctity of

human life.

I discovered yesterday a girl from Nashville

doing something to preserve human life

in Uganda.

To say I'm inspired is the understatement

of the century!

Katie is 21 and is mothering 14 girls alone!

How rare to find such a giver anywhere.

You'll see her book on her sidebar.

I understand it is at Wal-Mart...

I will have to add it to my petit library,

once I have read it!

I will!

Thanks for coming by today :)

Back in the kitchen you!

2012-01-23T12:12:00.000-08:00

Top ohhh the day to you!

Crazy things happening for me...gotta turn it around!

I drove 30 minutes to my yoga only to not find

a parking space...ended up buying a Whopper, no cheese.

Went to the grocery for milk and when I opened

the back hatch...a gallon jumped out and popped,

draining itself completely!

Puppy dog just stood there and watched it roll

down the driveway while I scratched my head.

She could have lapped it up :/

But, ohhh what a beauty full day this is!!!

To think last night was scary weather...

leaving so many people at work and school

today weary and tired.

OKAY. So looking through old emails,

I discovered some recipes given to me

by highly respected cooks I know.

I have not tried these yet and don't

want to do it alone.

First up is Maureen's two recipes.

She is my first cousin and her dad

was the CEO of General Mills my whole

life...well until he retired.

Girl can cook.

Angel Hair Pasta with Herbed Chicken

1 tsp. olive oil

2 T. chopped onion

1 carrot, diced

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

½ tsp. basil

½ tsp. oregano

½ tsp. thyme

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1 (12-oz.) can evaporated skim milk

¾ fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1 (9-oz.) pkg. Fresh angel hair pasta

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet. Add onion and carrot; sauté over medium heat until onion is soft, but not brown. Add water if it seems too dry. Add cubed chicken to pan and sauté until no longer pink. Sprinkle with basil, oregano, thyme and pepper. Stir in milk and heat it, but do boil. Meanwhile, boil water for pasta and cook according to package. Drain well and stir into sauce mixture. Add cheese and mix well. Cover pan and cook 3 to 5 minutes or until sauce has thickened slightly. Serve immediately.

Soy Garlic Chicken

¼ C. soy sauce

¼ C. vegetable oil

2 T. Ketchup

1 T. vinegar

4 garlic cloves, minced

¼ tsp. pepper

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, pounded out with a meat mallet

Combine first six ingredients in a shallow dish or zip-top plastic bag, add chicken.

Cover or seal and chill four hours, turning occasionally. Remove chicken from marinade, discard marinade.

Grill over medium heat 3-6 minutes a side. Do not overcook.

This girl in the tureen looks so much like my

grandmother. I consider her my kitchen fairy.

Not that she brings any luck or helps converting

grams to cups or anything...

Next up!

From a friend who'd rather be known as

Cookie on the 'net...

******

DUMPLINGS (As in Chicken 'n...)

adapted from a Betty Crocker recipe

Dumplings are cooked on top of bubbling stews-10 minutes uncovered for lightness and 10 minutes covered to cook them through.

3 TBSP shortening

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour*

2 tsp baking powder

¾ tsp salt

¾ cup milk

* If using self-rising flour, omit baking powder and salt.

Cut shortening into flour, baking powder and salt until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in milk. The dough will be sticky at this point so add in some extra flour until you can handle the dough. Place dough on a floured surface and knead for a minute or two. Roll dough to about ¼ to ½ inch thickness. Cut in to strips about a ½” wide and 4-5” in length.

Place cut dumplings on to a platter and lightly flour between layers. Add all dumplings into boiling broth. Cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover and cook about 10 minutes longer.

*******

Come back and tell me if you tried any of these and how they turned out...I'll pass the word on to my girls for you!

Book Review

2012-01-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

Scenario:

You discover on the day your blog badly needs

a good cleaning and

fresh post,

(Wait. do you think that comma looks good there...

or would the three dots look better?

do you call them dots or is there an official

title? somebody?)

that your english teacher from your

years at a private school is reading

your blog.

What would you blog about?

I say to give that girl a good book review.

Surely she does nothing other than

read, read, read.

Right?

I chose my book,

Diamonds and Toads,

partially because of it's woodsy

setting but also because

I've almost read two

pages

and am way intrigued

about who taped those

ripped pages and like,

what year and stuff.

One thing in my life normally leads

to another without me having

a whole lot to do with it.

This morning was no different.

I DID walk in our woods like

the girl in my highly recommended

book.

Well, I was searching for spring,

carrying my camera, sure I'd find

something with a sprout to show you.

To say things were gray and

dormant would be a huge

understatement.

I may or may not have walked through

two states.

Okay, Dogwood buds...that there is

an official sign of spring.

"Hope springs eternal"...is what I said to

myself when I saw it.

That's when it happened.

Mrs. Lawson right there on my shoulder

said to me,

those fatal words.

Look.

it.

up.

Girl can't rest. Part of me wanted to

tell her to go read a book.

But a bigger part

wanted to know where did those

words from come?

(I could NOT for the life of me put a preposition

at the end just now)

Which brings me to how I discovered Alexander Pope

(why on earth did she not tell me about him before today???)

and read the quoted poem in

it's whole:

Hope springs eternal in the human breast;

Man never Is, but always To be blest:

The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home,

Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

– Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man

Amen and amen.

yadda, yadda

grief, hunger

pearls, diamonds

Listen!

If this doesn't sound like the book

for you,

I have another one:

I just got a recipe printed in the latest

Gooseberry Patch

book!

Page 46~Pork Chop Creole :)

A little bird said

that you'd probably like it ;)

thanks Kathleen!

Moonrise Kingdom

2012-01-16T19:01:00.000-08:00

Wes Anderson has just released the trailer for this latest feature – Moonrise Kingdom.

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore and the peaceful island community is turned upside down.Bruce Willis stars as the local sheriff, Edward Norton is a Scout troop leader and films Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman also make appearances.

Release is set for May 25th. Let's go!

I'm not a big movie-goer mostly due to the price involved but this one sounds like I might have to indulge!
Apparently, Wes Anderson is a filmmaker everyone but me has heard of. Are you a fan?

*****************************************************

2012-01-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

This post is more for me than for readers...

I've decided blogger makes great

photo storage, where

you have to pay flickr, etc. after

getting so many pics uploaded.

Some of you may remember this

little girl, Mimi.

I used to help her with her blog.

We closed it for awhile

and she is ready to start again!

Mimi has been going through lots

of talent tryouts and searches

with Disney in Nashville.

They keep calling her back.

She has an awesome strong

singing voice!

She was full of compliments,

telling me what a great photographer

I am LOL.

She sparkled, wanting her

photos to show different

sides of her for the

talent scouts.

They only want headshots,

so that is what we did.

***

Our little bit of snow is gone.

We are banking on a blizzard

to fulfill our sledding desires before long.

They we will be on the lookout for

the crocuses to pop up!

Farmhouse Friday

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in LaurieAnna's

Farmhouse Friday ~

and Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday

lots of farmhouse and feathery/nesty

posts to view over there,

I for one can't wait to see!

We have white stuff here today~

the kids are home and happy.

I looked around to see what in my home

said "farmhouse" to me.

A white spindle chair spoke out...a three dollar

find this summer at a yardsale.

Then the white pitcher spoke up...

it was my aunt and uncle's.

One more thing...the enamelware

bucket, found at our local flea market.

I LOVE those buckets and WISH

I had hydrangeas spilling out of them.

In America, I think all farmhouses have

a flag...old glory!

My chalkboard skills

are poor...my chalk is the big fat

type for sidewalks which makes it harder.

How do those people in restaurants make such

beautiful menu boards anyway???

My girl Maya...every farmhouse needs

a dog. She is true blue mutt and drags up

the darnedest things.

She adores our old dog and makes sure

that Cheyenne gets to eat first.

She is a stickler on this even though

Cheyenne couldn't care less

anymore, who eats first.

What have you got your paws into today?

Show your farmhouse side, if you have one...

I want to see it!

Petit Dejeuner

2012-01-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

a little breakfast here today...

where's the croissant?

when I say "little" breakfast,

I'm not kidding.

when you are itching to do a photo

shoot and nobody will stop their

busy lives to pose...you just

set up a still life.

and invite your blogging besties

over for a berry and a cracker or two.

mini cruets don't complain

neither do their legs get tired.

onion dill cheese understands

fifty cent Goodwill cutting boards

let you have your way

(oh yes I did!)

I'm not sure if all my butter pat

needs will ever by fulfilled.

I'm crazy for crazed doll dishes.

And crazy for readers who take time to look

at my shots.

Au revoir for now!

Loving Lookbooks!

2012-01-07T19:58:00.000-08:00

This video shows scenes from Ruche's lookbook, or online catalog.
These compilations are tickling my photography/fashion/forest senses and begging me to style
a shoot!
Have you discovered lookbooks?

Hover your mousie over the sides of the book and you can flip the pages. This skill will come
in handy as real books fade into history and ebooks come in vogue.

Here are loads of recent lookbooks from RUCHE

For you Darla! (paper)

Leave me a link if you have a lookbook to send me to! I have to see them all!!

Mrs. Parisienne Farmgirl

2012-01-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

Bonjour!

Angela is a fellow Francophile who does amazing things with macarons!
(besides being a wife and mommy extraordinaire...that should NOT have been the second thing I said about her...my priorities might be a little skewed?)

I subscribed since she is speaking deux of my languages
(not fluent in either!)
I hope to learn more French. Just curious...any of you speaking
it fluently?

I also have big intentions of submitting an article. You see, I'm
a farmgirl too. That strikes me as funny for some reason. I think
I've always thought of farming in a hot/sweaty dirty kind of way.
Truth is...I'm in a rural area on a huge piece of property and I never get very dirty (you can't avoid the heat here...or the humidity WHEW) Sweating is not optional in Kentucky or Tennessee. I have to say I hail from both as the state line goes through the yard.

It isn't nice to talk about yourself as much as I just did. Please forgive. Stop by and say something in French or English to Angela about her venture. Oh now I'm being bossy! ;)

Homely Goods

2012-01-05T11:52:00.000-08:00

~shop update~

a couple of teasers or snippets here...

I confess to be fundraising.

My boys and I are going to Alaska in July

on a mission trip to serve locals who

will be dipnetting salmon!

Enjoy the pics if you aren't shopping today :)

Did you ever make these potholders?

I think I'd still enjoy doing it.
I'm pretty sure I made these for my aunt

when I was little.

graphic little beauties!

Chicken noodle from scratch?

Cheddar broccoli?

Your call.

I'm trying to get back on track with my shop ;)

tee hee!

you are such a sport!

Family vacation part 2

2012-01-03T21:19:00.000-08:00

So, the airline had overbooked

and the crew was busy being rude,

so even though we had purchased tickets

months ago...

we were not permitted on a plane.

We were permitted however to drop an

unsightly amount of money to rent a car

on our own and drive to Key West.

It took four hours more to accomplish

this but to be out of the airport was divine.

We marched ourselves directly to the little beach

and restaurant belonging to our hotel...

the Southernmost Hotel.

After tanking up, our nerves

were calmed somewhat.

Bougainvillea grows rampant in

several colors all over down there.

All I could think about was

the bloggers...oh the bloggers!

It was warm but the water was not.

My baby boy strung up this hammock but had

to roll out since a man came and

wanted to charge him for rental

all day.

Just because it was a warm place

did not mean anyone scrimped on

Christmas decor.

The whole place was a festive as it

could be.

No big waves for surfing,

but people did that thing where

you stand up and paddle around.

We went on an excursion

which included snorkeling

and kayaking.

I stayed on the boat during the kayak

portion since we didn't have an even

number of people.

I talked to the boat captain

about cooking.

He had his personal recipe for a fruit

salad dressing on his phone and showed me.

I'm mad because I didn't ask him to send it to me...

it involved jalepenos and fruit ...I think it would be

wonderful on a green salad and told him so.

He said he was offended when he saw pirate movies

because as a boat captain pirates are true worries

and nothing to laugh at.

I had my picture made in a wetsuit.

My son took the picture but I'm not

showing it.

I'm not looking at it either.

Meeting people has got to be my favorite

part of travel.

We met lots of folks and

had some good times chatting.

A free activity :) no tips required.

That is kind of like how you give a

child a present and they prefer to play

with the box.

I loved having so many things to

photograph of course.

We ate until we were

sleepy and slept until we were

hungry...walk many miles up

and down Duval St.

We rode bikes one day

and came home a little wiser

about life in the deep south.

Pretty sweet.

Like a chocolate dipped key lime pie

on a stick.

Oh yes I did.

Twice!

Back to routine!

2012-01-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

hello all!

whew!

what a celebration, huh?

we had a wonderful Christmas and took off to Key West

for five nights.

It has been a long time since we took a family

vacation.

So many facets to traveling...tips to pay and

tickets to argue over. Lordy...no wonder a certain

airline went bankrupt.

I am a former employee and certain

things were way under par.

Key West was entertaining and warm.

We didn't have a car and did lots of walking which

hopefully counteracted some of the intake if you

know what I mean ;)

Food was good and plentiful.

So much to do here...

I thank you for stopping by and I want to tell

you so much more!

Soon!

Love ya :)

Sweet!

2011-12-19T16:55:00.000-08:00

i hosted our sunday school class dinner at the house.

this is the candy bar where everyone loaded a little red sock for themselves before leaving.

i'm thinking this pic would make a nice card.

my doctor today asked me if I'd been eating candy.

i came clean and confessed.

what's a girl gonna do?

i promised him I'd be skin and bones upon

the next visit in march.

kitty and puppy have been quite loving to each

other and us. they are hoping for some table scraps

this year.

the kids and us...we are all satisfied.

nobody is wishing for anything which is rare

and good.

i have enjoyed Christmas cards from

blog friends so much!

thank you!!!

***

i've gotta tell you about a hot new website....this one has a database getting larger daily, of tutorials. you can search a specific

one or hit the button for a random one. check it out!

winter officially starts thursday!

i for one, am hoping for a nice whiteout

for Christmas.

this photo was taken last year, out a window

here :)

old man winter is just so pretty to me.

i know some people pine for summer

but this is my special time and i'm

so happy!

also?

coats cover a lot of things bikinis do not.

***

~Spin some magic~

2011-12-02T06:45:00.001-08:00

A piece of the rock! No, this isn't a Prudential ad...

it is (can you guess?)...

Gingerbread playdough!

Warm and soft and scented for the season...

this stuff I whipped up in less than five minutes.

What little kid wouldn't love this cheap treat

for play and what mom wouldn't

appreciate some time while her

child is busy playing?

Make some for somebody!

I divided mine and put it in two

ziploc bags for two little girls.

Find the recipe at The Sweet Adventures of Sugar Belle

I've heard lots of girls talking about

whether or not they have tried any of the

things they pinned on Pinterest!

You?

This Pumpkin Pie Cake I have made twice.

It was a hit!

Find the recipe at Jamie Cooks it Up

You know how artists have periods like the Baroque or Renaissance?

I'm in my Pumpkin/Gingerbread period.

Not quite to the Peppermint/German Chocolate phase yet.

It's coming though!

In case you were wondering...the Nativity

came out of my aunt and uncle's home...I'm taking

it to my aunt today for her condo.

I've got homemade chicken vegetable soup to

take her and my mother for lunch.

Two elderly sister-in-laws, kickin' it old style

while I put up a little Christmas tree.

My aunt is so excited.

My uncle always did the decorating and

nothing was gone undone.

I have to spin some magic for her!

***

Go shopping with me!

2011-11-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

I'm window shopping today!

What is catching your eye lately?

Leave a link!

A gypsy and a ???

2011-11-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

nobody knows HOW exactly i got my husband

to participate in this nutty holiday....

we just know that it happened and

we are grateful.

maybe he wanted to partake of the incredible

spread of food our friends displayed.

or simply to date this gypsy girl who was

getting into his car.

well, they made some memories!

i so loved being a gypsy...

it would be fun to dress that way

for good!

my stockings were that same blue.

did you see some funny sights over the

weekend?

fill me in!

Fall day with a little niece

2011-10-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

Finally got my hands on this little great-niece

for a photo shoot.

She was more than ready and I've been

told to pick her up tomorrow again

after school.

The clothes I collected from Goodwill and she

had the boots already.

This is my current favorite hobby...styling and doing

photo shoots. SO fun. The children love it

too...they feel special.

I really wanted to keep the sunglasses

because they are a rare find...

little tortoise shell Hollywood-looking specs...

but she begged and I caved :)

She nearly scared me to death!

In all seriousness she said that she

had crawled out her window in the night

last night and couldn't get back in because

nobody heard her.

I tried to stay calm and asked more questions...

she told how she ended up crawling back in

the window...and I asked what happened

next with baited breath...

" a baby monster poked me in the eye".

I've never been so thankful for a monster!

I asked her if she'd read the book,

Where the Wild Things Are.

She looked at me like I was crazy.

I have always loved that book and

the movie is precious.

To quote one of my friends...

"thanks for your indulgence" !

Sweet Paul

2011-10-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

His online magazine is impressive! A nice place to hang out if
you can't for some odd reason enjoy the incredible fall weather.
There are pages and pages to enjoy and it is good stuff on top of good stuff.
Now if you have never looked at an online magazine I'll tell you this...

hover your mouse over the sides of the pages and arrows will appear (on both left and right side pages) so that you can flip through.

This picture made me smile because yesterday in cleaning out yet more of my aunt and uncle's house...I found a thermos with a pump
type top in faux bois that someone had gifted them with. One of my boys is pretty woodsy and likes to camp, so I gave it to him and told him it was for his hot chocolate. I'll have to turn his next campout into a photo-session now!
I'm going to shut up now so you can head over to see Sweet Paul who also has a blog wouldn't you know it ;)

my boy, my shop and lookie what i saw!

2011-10-17T11:09:00.000-07:00

this is my big boy, y'all!

he is going to graduate this may.

i've been taking some pictures of him

in our woods.

surely that will keep him from leaving?

***

shop update:

for the vintage barware collector on your list...

this is an etched cocktail shaker with a

Scotty dog design :)

i guess it is "vices" day since

i also have an ashtray listed.

(it might be just a dish, I can't tell)

or we could just say it is Scotty day...

that sounds better.

i know lots of people collect Scotty dogs,

they are so cute!

***

i didn't even get out of the car to

capture this scene the other day!

red barns and horses are just so beautiful, aren't they?

see the tobacco hanging behind the horse?

that is a common sight here in our part of the country.

i'm sure it was soon hung in that barn for firing.

that woodsmoke is the most wonderful scent!

feel free to click on this photo and print it

on some cardstock...surely somebody

is tapping their fingers, waiting for a card from you!

Blue Lily Photo

2011-10-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

precious, no?

this was done at the salt flats in Utah.
this couple of photographers (with children :) travel and can possibly be found in your area!
here is what their "about" says:

We are Wendy and Tyler. We like to take pictures, meet new people, travel, and play. One day, we thought, “Heck, why not make a business of it.” Our goal is capturing personality, not just a smile. Don’t get us wrong, we are rather fond of smiling/ watching people smile.

We photograph weddings, events and portraits. Our philosophy is that if you are having a good time, you will look fantastic in your pictures. We have photographed a lot of people enjoying themselves.

We have made a lot of good friends taking pictures. We would love to befriend you too. Please have a look at our blog, and when you are done, jump over to Blue Lily Photography .

Untitled from angie monson on Vimeo.

I heart walking in the woods

2011-10-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

my middle boy and i went out to

the country today where there used to

be the most precious covered bridge.

it got knocked down by a large tree that came down

the river after some flooding years ago.

now, there is a wonderful Mexican restaurant

which is attracting locals by the tens and dozens!

it is important to spend time with

each child alone...especially

when they are so close to flying the coop!

(a little chicken humor...this is my boy who raises chickens)

he is in his junior year.

my boy has his first girlfriend

and she isn't me.

she is younger and they can't actually

go anywhere LOL.

i understand there are conversations

in the hall at school.

and lots of texting.

this toy is a Kendama...

my boy is hosting an event

in which kids come from all

over to compete in many

tricks with this Japanese toy.

he wrote the company and got them

to donate the prizes.

he is a smart cookie.

our one kitten is at it's most cute stage!

it has a new home to go to when the time is

right...i'm just snapping away, trying

to savor it's babyhood ;)

thanks for stopping by!

Bowls and Rolls

2011-10-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

My friend, Kathy, is the best.

I'm just gonna brag on her a moment here...

she is the mother of two beautiful and sweet

daughters.

Kathy is a homemaker who also works outside the

home.

She designs patterns for sewing pillows...

very crafty and

original.

This girl can cook, design a website and take

amazing photos!

She is a Christ-follower that I admire.

Kathy's etsy is featuring

wooden handcrafted dough

bowls by her husband Earl

(the cheesecake baker...where is that man?)

I have a couple of antique dough

bowls...they are really fun to

fill and display in all seasons.

Do you have one?

I spotted these rolls on Pinterest

and the recipe is at Mommy's Kitchen.

They look so amazing...I'm gonna try them.

Are you a bread maker?

Do you know where Kathy's husband is?

(probably in the shop making dough bowls...)

2011-10-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

having fall arrive, having october arrive...

is like getting a rock out of my shoe...

or poison ivy itched.

sweet relief and fun decorating :)

you are seeing the marbletop

sewing machine table i got at a

yard sale for thirty dollars recently.

i was supposed to be selling things

at my own sale and raising funds for

an alaska trip...which i did

but first things first...i had to

grab this table for the porch.

the white box holding the mums

came from our local flea market months ago.

people surrounded me that day...asking

where was this? why didn't I see it?

the mirror came out of my inherited stash...

why not a mirror on the porch?

we shall watch as the trees turn orange.

can you tell it is crispy and dry here?

the little tree is a bald cypress.

i need help hanging this shabby candlelier

where it will hang in front of the mirror...

then fill it with candles.

thinking too, of a party on the porch...

and autumn tea with lots of

treats.

you want to come, punkin?

Parts of my home are clean

2011-09-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

and presentable...

thought i'd share some areas

of our home today...

i have added a few things

from my aunt and uncle's.

she (my aunt) is well (thank you) and

living in a new condo

(how strange!)

it is adorable and clean.

she discovered her neighbor

is a cousin of sorts

and the lady brings my aunt

meals which is not a problem

at all!

her name is Nello ...

and she isn't too mello...

she'll talk your ear off... :/

you know how i would trade these things all back

to have my uncle!

although *giggle* he would be

just OVERJOYED seeing it all here in

it's new place.

we were instructed more than a thousand times

NOT to part with anything...

(oh please don't look into my living room and hallway...what to do, what to do...)

you guys would have enjoyed him.

he never met a stranger!!!!

he could talk on many subjects,

trains and the circus was his obsession.

Charles played the organ in

the same church for 56 years!!!

blue delft/mirrored shelf

with old tin ship toy on top

my uncle kept every toy, valentine,

receipt, box, gift wrap,

article of clothing...(you are getting my drift)

HOARDER wasn't a word back then,

i don't think.

one pane of glass fell out in transit...

my uncle's old bear peeks thru

i've seen all of your many incredible

spaces that you blog from and create in...

see my laptop?

well, my lap is my "office" and I'm

sitting in my husband's recliner :)

SHHH!!! don't tell him ;)

no, i'm very spoiled and thankful for this room, this house,

this chair....talked to my mother this a.m.

about how we think we must change our sheets

weekly or it is a shame ,etc. etc.

but there are more people in the world who

have never HAD sheets nor a bed to put them on than those who

do.

our ideas are skewed because we are blessed.

that's all.

ninety years ago my uncle had a high chair.

i'll bet he was a doll sitting there eating...

probably tied in place with a floursack.

little rosy cheeks

thinking about how he'd have six

awesome nieces and nephews

who'd treasure his chair someday.

silly boy.

~~~~off to stash some stuff...send boxes, please~~~

Monday Petit Flea!

2011-09-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

it's been a long time since i had a flea market blog!

i will send a paypal invoice to anyone wanting to make a purchase.

i must have your email address to do this...and here is mine...rules are

1st come..1st serve...I won't be home until later so I'll take them

in order should anyone want anything.

pcovington270@bellsouth.net

Thanks!!!

these things come from the corners of my aunt and uncle's home.

things other people left them...so they are not sentimental to me...don't fret :)

two little crown pins with stone intact and a scalloped pin...all

in good shape with pin backs...

$4 each will incl. the shipping in America.

anyone else...a tad more.

vintage compact with powder inside and a cloth

applicator...angel design on top..goldtone.

$10 incl. shipping in USA ~

wee compact below is $6

i LOVE makeup!

do you?

recently i was at a lame yard sale...hehe...

and there was nothing good there...

except a big box of Estee Lauder...

and I had decided to buy it as all the products

were new...then I discovered the price

FREE!

What???

they gave me all of it?

still haven't figured that out but all

the colors were my match and i'm sooo happy!

quite a few lotions, etc. were in there as well.

these very old quilt pieces, if put together,

will make a wedding ring quilt...or runner, whatever.

there are many pieces and i would have no clue

as to whether it would form a certain size

finished piece...

$12 incl. ship in the US~

i am saving up for a trip to Alaska!

when the people come for the salmon runs

(or however you say it...LOL)

their children enjoy bible clubs on the beach.

so, I want to take my boys next July and help..it is called the Salmon Frenzy.

i'm hoping my boys will learn how to filet fish...these people

will do it there on the beach...and also that we might

bring some home. i understand the airlines help in

low shipping costs for this so that people will be

more likely to fly to Alaska on their airlines.

i can't wait to love on some children up there!

have you been to Alaska?

and do you cook salmon?

i have one boy that LOVES it...

nice to see you today...i'll check back this afternoon :)

In the country, it's like this:

2011-09-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

hi deer!

this is how close i was.

in state parks apparently,

deer don't run away!

we talked about things like deer ticks and how they cause

diseases like rocky mtn. spotted fever...

then I ran off...

i don't mean to be corny, but...

farming is everybody's bread and butter.

there is in this pile (not ours by the way...)

4 million dollars worth of corn.

and guess what?

it has to be kept dry or it will rot.

animals don't want to eat rotten corn.

neither do i :/

since these pics were taken, it

has been covered with a huge heavy tarp

and sealed around the edges.

come to think of it...this corn might be seed corn

for replanting...yes, i think the animal food

is in the ENORMOUS bins.

i'll have to ask.

kind of a rare sight to see!

there was a wonderful old wooden barn in this

scene...

i noticed they knocked it down

recently.

photo-op destroyed :/

are you in a farm family?

would you be able to live an agricultural life?

i'm kind of like this stalk of corn

in the soybeans...

i'm blooming where i was planted!

i enjoy my atmosphere...and i thrive in it.

even though...i'm more of a sweat-free,

air-conditioning/internet kinda girl.

i have deep admiration for those

who do the hot sticky labor early morning

to late night

did you know that

about half of a farmer's job is

paperwork???

TONS of record-keeping is

required to be a success.

it isn't just waiting on rain.

many farm wives do the paperwork.

it involves sweat of a different kind :/

my all time favorite view on a farm

and smell as well,

is the tobacco barns full of tobacco

being smoked.

it is not the smell of a cigarette,

rather the wonderful scent

of woodsmoke!

the crisp fall breezes keep

the country outdoors

smelling wonderful!

it is always a sign that leaves will change

color and fall festivals will happen...

you are free to cook with pumpkin :)

put your watermelons and tomatoes in the closet

until next june...

and realize too...

your jeans from last march are

waaaayyyy tighter than

you thought they'd be and

unless you want to buy a size

larger...you'd best leave that pumpkin

in the can on the lazy susan

and go walkin'.

(stick around for one more post if you will :)

Notorious criminals

2011-09-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

they came to my house today...

restless and ready for a heist~

dressed to the nines, you could tell

they had money...nevermind it wasn't theirs.

this one had been on the front page of

newspapers all over the country.

he was a bad dude.

if you could see past that innocent

face...

you'd know there was a mastermind

of many crimes.

not the least of which was

theft of his brother's hat.

lock your doors...it isn't safe out there.

and someone thinks it's funny!

I'm a spelunker

2011-09-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

if i told you i'd been in the longest cave

system in the world this last saturday...

would you believe me?

mammoth cave is only an hour and a half from

my home in Kentucky and always has been,

yet i've never been in it...

until now :)

this cave system has

(are you sitting down?)

390 miles of tunnels!

the depth we went down

was equal to three football field

lengths

(i didn't know this until i was down there)

and i'm okay with it but really

they could have told me earlier

so i could have brought some chocolate

at the bottomest,

they requested all cell phone lights, etc.

be off and they were going to turn off the lights

(yeah, there were some dim light fixtures around)

so we could experience absolute darkness.

i thought i knew what the absolute darkness

would be like...but it was darker.

and OH so quiet...well, dripping

we could hear...there was a river running directly behind

us she said, but we couldn't see it because it was so deep

and dark.

all i could think about was YOU and how

i'd show you my photos...

although i could barely get a clear pic down

in the deep dark cavernous/chocolate-free

hole.

we had been warned about the tight space

we'd have to go thru at one point...

and it was probably 30 feet long...

it measures 18 inches in width.

i was happy to see that the tight part didn't go as high

as my shoulders...i was anticipating

a clausterphobic episode...

but it wasn't bad at all, coming only

to my waist.

two hours until we had this view of

daylight and freedom!

three of us had a sense of

accomplishment because of

well...

i have MS...a mild form but still...

another is a stroke survivor who still limps,

the last is a guy with mild cerebral palsy.

we didn't really talk about it,

but i think we all were pretty happy with

ourselves for doing a daring

and strenuous thing.

that hill back up outta that place was killer!

the history of the cave is just unreal.

how many people have died inside and why...

about a slave who crawled in there and did

so much exploring...he ended up being a tour

guide for years and told stories and sang

to the delight of wealthy folks with

lanterns.

about how the names we see on the ceilings

were burnt with smoke using fire on a stick.

back in town...

i did find my chocolate...

no, actually it was a pecan log roll.

haha!! i was reminiscing about the

old Stuckey's shops we used to

stop at in our travels when i was a kid.

not one person in our SUV remembered

Stuckey's!

they were all over the place...

and they sold pecan log rolls...

oh well.

***

tell me your caving adventures

and your tales of pecan log rolls~

Naomi

2011-09-08T17:18:00.000-07:00

today i got to hang out with one of my

great-nieces, Naomi.

i edited the photos using the Piknik program which is free online.

she reminds me a little of Shirley Temple.

our cat had two kittens last night...

about two hours after i'd found a stray which is no

more than three weeks old and needed to be fed.

i plopped it in the mix and everything

continued just as nothing was different!

sweet, huh?

Copper, White Chocolate, Tomatoes and Brownie Points

2011-09-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

we were talking about copper...

well, i have this hmmm...bin?

tub!

that's all, oh and that thing

on the plate?

cranberry, white chocolate and pecan cookie.

i made 'em twice recently

...such a nice break from chocolate chip...

which is always the one everyone wants.

i am a walking recipe when it comes to the

one on the back of the chocolate chip bag...

and i half it always.

well you can customize the basic dough

with whatever...so here is how to make a half recipe

of these in the pic:

1 stick of softened butter

3/4 cup of light brown sugar

1 egg

1 t vanilla

1 cup all -purpose flour

1 t baking soda

handful of dried cranberries

handful of white chocolate chips

handful of chopped pecans

mix in that order and bake by spoonfuls

at three-fifty degrees F.

food in clear things always looks so pretty!

what's in my jar?

this tomato salad just absolutely

thrills everyone i serve it to!

maybe you make it too...but if not,

here it is:

take a saucepan and boil equal parts of vinegar

and water.

like a cup of each for example...

now add say...a half cup of white sugar.

see how precisely i cook?

hop on one foot and say the alphabet

backwards.

chop tomatoes,

cucumbers,

onions (white or purple)

and add them to the cooled

vinegar/water.

i sprinkle either dill weed

or a seasoned salt in as well.

you take either of these

foods to a friend's house...

you are going to

score some points!

(hope you don't need points... :/)

edited to add...

i always repay comments...

but i have a problem and get

an error on some but not all

blogs...is this happening to anyone else?

it says i don't have permission to

view "this page" after i hit the publish

comment button

(after having already read the blog post which i DID have permission to read...)

well, don't think i'm being rude by not visiting...)

French Country

2011-08-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

source

ever with tech problems of one sort or another...

i came up with this pic today of mega-french farmhouse-inspiration

to share with you and discuss...

i LOVE copper,

you?

it cooks really nicely and makes an awesome gift...

i have given it recently and over-joyed the recipient.

i also "borrowed" my mother's copper pots as she can't stand

in her kitchen anymore and her meals are served to

her...i am honoring her cooking with my own...

mostly apples these days.

my husband's late cousin had planted 40

trees and they are honoring him

with a lot of fruit!

i am not able to hang my copper pots

as i have a really little galley kitchen

with no space for such frivolity

BUT oh, i would!

do you love that look too?

where are your pots?

any other copper in your kitchen?

***

Saturday fun

2011-08-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

these old photos found at Sepia Saturday

we all love old pics

and can't seem to get enough of them!

this is a really fun way to share

i'm giggling at these dapper dudes

playing cards

in a doorway of sorts...

the little guy is learning the ropes

and has his suspenders and tie

hopefully he is sipping an RC

instead of the wine~

lucky housewife gets a break

from her chores!

fella shows up to give her a little sugar...

or maybe he is just borrowing a cup?

here is how to play, per the Sepia Saturday blog:

a weekly meme which encourages bloggers to publish and share old images and photographs. All that is required is for contributors to post an old image (it doesn't have to be in sepia) and provide a few words in explanation. If you could provide a link back to the Sepia Saturday Blog and visit as many of the other contributors as you can, it would also be appreciated. There is no weekly theme, as such, but some people like to use the archive image published with the weekly call as a kind of theme. There is no requirement to adopt such an approach : the choice of image is entirely up to you. Once you have published your Sepia Saturday post, add a link to that post to the Linky List published each week and leave a comment to let everyone know you are joining in.

+++++++

i'm having problems getting pics off my camera card,

so i'm thankful for these shared ones online and have wanted

to tell you about the Sepia Saturday site...

although i have not participated in the meme...

it is still fun watching.

I'm Taking You Out

2011-08-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

linking to Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest

when it comes to reading magazine articles,

or pinning on Pinterest...

what i love the most is

photos of alfresco dining...

that is, eating outdoors!

it isn't just eating outdoors though, no sir, that excites me.
it is the setting that does the trick!
and food that i like...not ROOBARB pie (sorry, Mama...)
my Mama doesn't like quiche best i recall, either.

styling is SO fun and taking pictures, funner!

just wish all of you were here to sit and chat

and nibble with me!

this past year was one loooong wait for apples

to come in again...

i picked two bags full the other day

and they are yummy,

tart and tangy/sweet!

my pie is spinach with swiss cheese

and apple slices are floating in the water.

have you seen all the fruit flavored waters

that people are making?

how fresh!

listen closely...

store bought crust, unbaked

swiss slices X 3 on the bottom

handful of frozen/thawed/drained chopped spinach

4 eggs whipped with some milk or cream

salt to taste

two slices of swiss on top

bake at 350 degrees until crust and cheese are browned

to your liking~

embroidered pillowcase a must!

quiche will NOT turn out

if this element is forgotten

take your pristine day,

and make it a sweet one!

Sweetpeas, antiques and parenting?

2011-08-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

hello, sweetpea

have you had your breakfast?

it's almost time for lunch by now

(don't ask...)

got your home spic and span?

me neither...but I will...

i'm thinking i'll put these items into my etsy later on,

that you see in this post

solid walnut handmade sleigh

howwww cute!

as for chatter...well...

today i find myself alone at home

with the kiddies gone to school

and me with no doctor appointment

or anything.

gosh, it's quiet!

i just read that it takes 7000 days to get a child

from the crib to college.

that is quite a commitment, isn't it?

some of you have done it and some are just

on your way...or maybe are avoiding it at

all costs...which is okay if that is what you want.

we struggled with infertility for years and so

consider our children huge blessings!

thankfully we get to take one day at a time, huh?

and not all 7000 days at once!

you are now welcome to leave your

most helpful piece of parenting advice

to me or anyone reading :)

we have all been a child once...

so if you aren't in the parenting business,

I'd say you still know

something about it...

saggy diapers not good?

tell us about it!

mashed carrots not good?

we want to hear it!

well, not really....

Early August Fun

2011-08-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

we found a local creek to play in today

a last hurrah before school starts this thursday

one of us is ready for the season to change...

this wild blossom had the most delicious scent i've ever

smelled!

we took a picnic and a girl with us :)

this isn't her.

boy number two...practicing his Kendama skills.

this was a first for us...swinging out over water and letting go.

this little white kitty came up to greet us.

i intended to adopt it but it disappeared after it

got a full tummy.

what fun have you had of late?

Great-aunt I am and will be!

2011-08-03T21:57:00.000-07:00

i told you about the new twins in our family

awhile back :)

they are four weeks old now, at home and doing well!

this is so surreal looking at the photos i took myself...

TWINS!!! crazy, right? we have never had a set in

our family and no fertility drugs were used.

they don't look like our side of the family in the least LOL

but are adorable just the same!!

here is the mommy...my niece who only weighed five pounds

and ten ounces herself...

she is a modern-day mommy who knows how to handle a baby.

she has a two year old girl already.

Emily works for the chamber of commerce in her city and

has won a prestigous award for the whole state!

she is on leave of course :)

i wanted you to see my aunt's antique loom

that she gave Emily.

she intends to learn how to use it...

although when i don't know.

there is a second loom, my aunt said...

in the attic somewhere...

we will wait until after the temps

drop below one-hundred degrees to go up there.

my aunt once made a set of placemats.

she entered them at the fair to see if she could

win a ribbon...

well, they said store-bought items were

not allowed and wouldn't let her enter them!

should i kiss those fellas for you?

are there twins and looms in your family?

Sweet relief!

2011-07-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

relief only from a problem i had...not from this

oppressive heat and humidity!!

send ice!

i'm dreaming of a nor'easter!!!

oh the shame!

i couldn't have friends over...

my cords

were embarrassing me like,

stained teeth or gas even!

i live with four guys...they didn't see a problem :/

(husband and sons...don't worry...)

i put my thinking cap on and came up with a fine solution

you've gotta see!

i had a piece of fabric i'd saved for years...

a wonderful blue stripe, woven, not stamped on.

i called my friend to help me make a curtain

for the console table.

and she took over like a custom designer

and solved my problem before sundown!

i just slid all that tangled mess under the curtain :)

shhh! now don't tell anybody, okay?

holy cuteness!

i can't tell you how relieved i am to have this!

(and the friend, right?)

****

i have not made my usual rounds leaving comments

as i'm having trouble with my laptop and

certain people aren't too fond of sharing...

bear with me and don't leave, okay?

it is always fun to hear what you have to say.

tell me now...

is there a design problem of sorts at your house

that is worrying you?

let's hear it!

Hi Doll!

2011-07-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

shop update today!

but wait!

read on...you'll find some nostalgic talk about

my childhood...

jump in and tell your tales too~

we're all here to help each other heal.

three items added woohoo :/

it takes so long to photograph and list...whew.

at the same time, it is really fun and i'd rather

do that than...you know...iron that pile of stuff on the bed.

i was rather shocked to find these drink stirrers

with whistles (so cute, right?!) while thrifting...

my uncle had these, and we are cleaning out his house.

did one of my brothers donate them?

weird. i'll get to the bottom of it soon enough...

they work.

i blew on one :)

i also found more of them on etsy...someone needs to

grab all of them, for a party!

limoges.

blue.

lunch.

supper.

dinner.

or petit dejeuner.

eat right!

i'm off to the kitchen to make...

banana nut muffins.

milk chocolate chip with pecans cookies.

pecan tassies.

granola.

i'm getting ready to sell lunch items tomorrow at our local flea market!

sell, sell, sell.

i come by it honest...my depression-era parents

had to hustle.

(those people worked circles around me! i could not

ever work as hard as they did)

always snapping beans, canning tomatoes...endless gardening.

peeling apples, making pies :)

and ME a picky bad eater!

didn't like anything with cooked fruit...raisins in the what?

Blech.

ROOBARB?!

purple celery? and you are making a pie?

i wanted spaghettios and suzy Q's!!!

potpies and tunafish sandwiches LOL.

did i ever tell you what my grandmother always

gave me for Christmas and birthdays...???

flannel.

like a yard and a half of flannel.

LOL.

mama had to sew me a gown.

she always wondered (my grandmother)

why my face didn't just light up

when i opened her gift.

i didn't want to see my mama cry, i guess.

my other grandmother thought she was funny,

when she gave me one of those little starter bras

one Christmas.

i ripped excitedly into my package,

as kids do...in front of my three brothers

who had never to my knowledge even seen my panties

since mama kept me covered and concealed tight

as ft. knox.

what was i saying?

OH. the bra.

lord help me i am still blushing, nay, crying

because three, not one brother saw me open

a bra

in which i'd never had nor needed

and didn't still far as i knew.

and my grandmother,

who probably could have used some brownie points,

fell decidedly low on the granddaughter

approval meter.

i didn't hug her neck or thank her.

she should have known better.

excuse me while i blow into my kleenex...you tell yours now...

i'll read in between mixing batters.

be strong.

I have Flat Princess!

2011-07-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Shout out to our waitress extraordinaire *Megan* in Chicago at the Pizzaria Due! Hellooo!!!

who is Flat Princess?

she has a colorful past!

see her here

her first experience with us was on a ferris wheel...

i did not remember she had been on one previously...but she does enjoy a carnival ride!

that girl is always ready to travel!

she has been around the world and needs a new

destination.

can she visit you next?

let me know and i'll make travel arrangements for her.

she insisted on our photo together being small,

which was cool with me being as how I'm not

the seventeen year old I feel I am :/

poor girl couldn't see out but still enjoyed the breeze!

***\

our nephew's fiance *Dai* comes from artsy Arizona and wanted her name in her Etsy shop name.

Jamison helped come up with the shop name and she has now opened for business!

stop by and see her awesome vintage goods :)

****

this girl I "met" on a blog

Jowann jumped out and grabbed my heart!!!!

she is an unloved girl with nothing... to say the least.

if you are a pray-er...jump in with me in asking God

to tend to her in special ways.

People ask God, "why haven't you provided for your children?"

God would say..."I did...you kept what I provided and didn't take care of those I intended for you to. YOU are my hands and feet."

I have so much more than I need and can sacrifice so much

more than I have. God forgive me.