Martha's Cocoa Buttermilk Cake

In anticipation of my visit to "The Martha Stewart Show" this Tues ~
and some serious PMS ~

I decided to make Martha's Cocoa Buttermilk Cake!

I broke out Grama's baking pans and lined them with wax paper ~ just like she does.

Isn't this beautiful ~ the sugar and butter mixing together!

MMMMM ~ too bad ~ I was the only one home to lick the mixers :)

A sweet chocolate mess!

I love having an excuse to use this cool vintage cake dish.

Taaa DA AAA!!!

This BIG piece is JUST for YOU !!!!!!!!

ENJOY!!!!

Crazy Quilted Eye Case

I will be listing this sweet little eye glass case on my Etsy site tomorrow.
It is perfect to keep by your bedside or sofa.

Between the back layer ~ I have placed a handfull of lavender :)

This item is now sold ~ more on the way.

Turning 50 ........

I cant believe in just one month from tomorrow ~ I will be 50!

I have a history of having not so good birthdays and then there is that little bit
of depression that seems to creep in about this time of year.
I am always happy to get the day here and gone but this year
I decided to turn that around.

Sometimes I gauge my decisions on how I would want my daughters to behave in a certain situation.
It would hurt me terribly if they didn't honor the day of their birth so I have decided to lead by example and honor mine.
Thankfully before I left my job this fall ~ I put a small stash aside for a camera but have decided to dig into it
to create a few fun adventures and to celebrate!

I signed up to go to Martha Stewart and I got a ticket for this Tues Feb 10Th!
As an extra God Wink from the Lord I believe ~ they contacted me yesterday and said it will be the
Valentines Day taping so we all have to wear RED!
I simply can't WAIT!!!!

Then I got an offer to purchase Broadway tickets HALF PRICE!!!
AND ~ hotel rooms in New York are at an all time low!
SOOOOO ~ I am leaving Monday afternoon to take the train in.
Monday night I have an Orchestra seat to see "Phantom of the Opera " then I booked a room for myself at a nice place.... a short walk from Times Square for just $99.00!!!
I don't think I will feel alone in my wonderful NYC!
Anyway ~ whenever I go there by myself ~ I feel God walking step by step right along side of me! He really is the best kind of freind!
The next morning I will go to Martha's show . I will get in line at 8:30am ~ taping is at 11:00.
They always have pastry or muffins and juice and water while you are waiting.
After Martha ~ I will walk through bead and button row ~ stroll through the fabric stores.
Just looking this time but I will find great ideas for sure!
City Quilter is very close to Martha's studio ~ oh boy!!!!

That afternoon my daughter Jaci is meeting me in the city and we have orchestra seats at 8:00pm to see "Mama Mia" ~ a play she has been wanting to see for a long time.
We will take a very late train back home that evening.

On March 4Th ~ I am using a $200.00 gift certificate I have had forever at Foxwoods Casino Spa for a facial.
They let you use the facility's for the day so I may take a sauna and feel pampered.

THEN ~ on March 28st ~ I booked one night at my home away from home ~ my sweet Room # 904 over the Quilt Shop in Intercourse , PA.
It is the last week-end of $99.00 rooms for the season.
I don't have to do anything but just be there.
This time Frank is going to come so I will have someone to sit on the big front porch with and watch the Amish buggies go by.

Also ~ I am promising myself one entire day in the month of March of doing nothing but sitting in front of my little library with a big stack of books next to me ~ Teddi on the other side and reading.
I love all my books so much !
I collect books on local history on all the places I visit, U.S. History, gardening , decorating and biography's.
Also I have several 100 plus yr old books I love to read.
And my books on Mark Twain ~ most are out of print.

Hopefully we will have at least one good gardening day in March ~ I will plant pansy's and celebrate spring!

I thought I would be old at 50 but I feel better than ever ~ seasoned in the most wonderful way ~ and have a vision of where the Lord has me headed.
I do need desperately to lose 10 pounds but I am determined to do it!
I would love an eye lid lift ~ hehe ~ maybe someday!
I don't know all the bumps and turns between here and there but I am hopeful and more than anything else ~
want my Dear Lord in heaven to be proud of me.

Please my blogging friends ~ let's not EVER let each other feel guilty for celebrating our lives.
We really need to love ourselves so we can love each other.
God chose us to be here and now for a very special purpose ~ knowing that all of our paths would cross.
Remember the ONE and ONLY thing NO one can EVER take from YOU ~ is God's LOVE.
It's yours NO MATTER WHAT!!!!

I wish for you all to feel lifted up and beautiful.
Because YOU ARE!!!!!

Yummy Winter Meal ~ Tortilla Soup

I really get my money's worth from Martha Stewarts "Everyday Food!"
It comes out monthly and was just $10.00 for a years subscription.
Today I tryed the " Tortilla Soup With Black Beans. "

It was WONDERFUL !

Recipe ~ my version ~

Add 4 large minced garlic cloves to 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet.

Add 2 teaspoons chili powder and cook on med. heat till garlic is cooked ~ a few minutes.

Add one carton of Pomi chopped tomatoes (16 oz) (or your fav brand)

1 can 14.4 oz chicken broth (i use the organic cartons)

2 cans (15 oz ea) black beans, rinsed and drained

1 package (10 oz) frozen organic corn ~ i used shoe peg corn

Simmer for about 10 minutes.

Season with salt, pepper and hot pepper flakes to taste.

I melted cheddar cheese over organic blue tortilla chips and put this on top of the soup before serving.

Also a little lime is wonderful.

Serve with a big salad ~ what a yummy meal!!!

And easy on the wallet too!

This brand is HANDS DOWN the BEST!!!

We started using it when my daughter and husband developed food allergy's many years ago.

You can eat it right out of the carton ~ it taste like summer fresh tomatoes!

Beautiful Marilyn

I think she was one of the most beautiful woman in all the world.

I don't believe she ever knew how loved she was.

Do you?

New Items About To Go on Etsy

Sweet Sunbonnet Pot Holders ~ I designed this pattern from an old Amish potholder purchased in Pa.

This is a sneak peek at a delicate Cottage Look Organizer crafted with beautiful fabric, vintage hanky's and other fun stuff.

Little 8" by 2" pillows with French phrases ~ sweet bowel fillers

or rested on a window sill. revised note ~ Laurie kindly emailed me to tell me my spelling of the word bowl was wrong. I am sitting here crying from laughter so I decided to leave it for your amusement!

I will change it on ETSY though ~ Thanks Laurie!

Cottage / Shabby Pin Cushion.

A Few of My Beautiful Children

January 31st was my beautiful girl's Jaci and Cheri's 26Th Birthday!
So clear is the day my baby twins were born ~ weighing 3.9 and 5.4.
God preformed one miracle after another in their tiny little lives and
gifted them with great health and strength.
It was a wonderful time.
Here is Jaci eating her birthday dinner ~ Cher wasn't able to join us.

My other little girl ~ Daisy ~ my son's dog ~ is SO pretty wearing Teddi's poncho.

My sweet handsome boy ~ Franky and Daisy.

Signs of Spring !!!

I knew it ~ I knew it!!!! The 2ND day of February and LOOK!!!!
Signs of Spring in my garden!!!!

Won't these Foxglove be heavenly in just a few months!

I am pretending the snow is really the foamy white wave washing ashore on my beach chairs ;)

Jacobs Ladder unfurling it's long slender leaves.

The Ornamental Cherry Tree has new growth busting out of every direction!

My Little Lion ~ Teddi ~ watching over his kingdom.

Now if I could just remove the candy canes frozen in the ground behind this little angel.........

Good Buy's From Target, Walmart, Homegoods ~ Get Um While Their HOT!!!

Target has a brand new line of rugs!
They will brighten any room with a SPLASH of springtime!
I LOVE everything about this product ~ the least of which it arrives at your door for $60.00 total.

Folks ~Always remember when you are ordering on line check for FREE coupons on line.
I almost always find something or at least free shipping!
For so long I have needed to organize my jewelery! This HUGE bargain was just $ 37.00 ~ 75% off!!!
Not bad when you have a $40.00 gift card!!!
The quality is wonderful and the drawers are divided and lined with velvet.

I need some of that special stuff to get the "sticky" off the mirror ~ sorry : )


My 26 year old blender finally bite the dust. I only needed one to grind my flax seed and fruit for my morning shakes.
I found this at Walmart for under $50.00.
It has one toggle switch that is PERFECT for my needs.
This little guy is a work horse and seems built to last.




Recipe ~My Mom's Morning Shake



3 Tablespoons Hemp Protein Powder
3 Tablespoon Flax seed (put this is blender first and grind it up. Do not buy the kind already ground)
about 2 cups ORGANIC fruit ~ I add fresh banana, pineapple, and a handful of frozen berries
1 Tablespoon Green powder
about 3/4 cup water

Blend and drink with your vitamins.

I make one 5 or 6 mornings a week for my daughter and myself ~
YUMMY!!!


SimpleHuman garbage can ~ otherwise known as " Jake Proof "
Jake is getting weird! He will consume everything in the garbage and this week
started eating the Handi Wipes I use as dish rags!
He Cannot get into this!
You can now find these at HomeGoods for a much better price than on-line.
http://www.simplehuman.com/

It opens with a foot peddle and glides nicely shut without touching it at all.
No silly ~ I don't always have my garbage covered with doily's.
I just did it for you to spare you the sight of our garbage.

Rooms In My Home

Meet my tiny little 1st floor bathroom ~ how I love her!
Her mini 4 1/2 foot claw foot tub is mine all mine!
No one else can fit in her but me ~ nice planning huh??

She has lavender walls with white waistcoating walls , cedar ceiling
and a black and white tiny tile floor.

The shower curtain is from Vera Wang collection at Kohl's. Vintage linens are everywhere else.

This is one of those wonderful train racks from Restoration Hardware.

When we purchased the tub ~ they called this a " Sunflower " shower head.

I want to kiss these lovely claw feet sitting pretty on their porcelain cups.

The hand held shower is perfect for bathing Teddi and Jake ~

the only other's allowed to share my tub!

She look's so inviting with the warm afternoon sun pouring in!

"Even the smallest pleasure is big enough to rejoice in."

Happy February and Free Clip Art

Happy February!!!

This is the delightful month that begins showing sweet signs of spring ~
even in the midst of ice and snow covered lawns ~ at least here in Conn.
Oh YES I am ready!!!

Now I must share with you ~ or maybe I am the last to know ~
about this amazing blog I just discovered tonight.

Called ' The Graphic Fairy " ~ Karen offers free vintage clip art ~ for you all to use and enjoy.
She just asks a few simple considerations ~ listed to the left of her blog.

I am SO excited ~ she has some of the most beautiful images I have ever laid eyes on!
The Shell below is one of my favorites.

All you creative souls must pay Karen a visit ~ plan on spending some time there!

Karen thank you SO much for this wonderful gift!!!

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/