Fiona's Face

Miss Fiona loves to be outside to watch the birds.....

...or just take in the fresh air....
....and sniff the ground.

A bored look.... "I am tired of sitting here," she says.

"I want down so I can sniff the dirt and get Forget-Me-Not seeds stuck in my hair!"

I love you Fiona......

You really do bring sunshine to our family.

Doogie and Socks are adjusting to you as well.

Hungarian Meat Balls

I found this wonderful "vintage" 1958 cookbook at a garage sale for $1.00.

Titled: 365 Ways To Cook Hamburger.

Yeh! A recipe a day! (yea, right!).

I wonder if Zsa Zsa Gabor would have made these Hungarian Meat Balls?

They sound really good and very easy so I thought I'd give them a try.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl...

Make the little balls and put them on top of parchment paper (my new friend - thanks to a tip from a very sweet expert cook friend). Parchment is fabulous and easy to clean up - just wad up the paper and you will have a clean pan underneath!

Bake....hmmmmm.....they smelled devine!

....and serve!

A lovely dish....I recommend that you give it a try!

Recipe:

1 lb hamburger (I used ground chuck - you could use ground turkey, too)

1 large clove finely chopped garlic

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs (I used 3/4 cup)

1 egg, slightly beaten (I used 2 - by mistake and that is why I added more bread crumbs)

3 Tblsp. minced parsley

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Form into small balls. (note: The recipe called to brown the balls on all sides in 1/4 cup cooking fat seasoned with 1 tsp Kitchen Bouquet). To keep down the fat in the recipe, I baked them at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Mix together in a seperate pot:

1 - 4 oz can chopped or sliced mushrooms

2 cups sour cream (low fat is fine)

2 Tblsp flour

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Add the meat balls, cover and cook slowly for 20 minutes.

Serve over cooked wide egg noodles.

Serves 4.

Clean Curves

I love the clean lines of old Ironstone. White. Simple. Clean.

I also like the look of the imperfect pieces that have that "good" crazing. Call it

age spots on dishes. Da mo...da betta.

"Purdy" Little Touches

After having read the newest issue of Romantic Country magazine, my inner "revampness" sprung out like Sigourney Weaver's alien baby! Ok, a bit of an obscure vision there, but really - isn't spring about giving your home a fresh look and clean up the cobwebs in the corners?

It is more fun to find a piece for a few dollars and changing it up with a coat of paint and new fabric. Inexpensive and the end result is your look - your style. Bring out pieces you have had stored away and swap them out with your older displays. Moving items from one room to another can also give a new look.
My "Purdy" little paintbrush has been put to good use lately. A little white paint gives new life to an old brass floor lamp.
A shabby paint job was given to a $5.00 yard sale stool. I recovered the top in a wonderful old piece of linen fabric. I am loving the neutrals these days.

The smaller bench was painted white and sanded. A vintage blue and white ticking was added to the top, which also lifts up for storage. I decided to put this one in my space at the antique store that I sell at. If it doesn't sell, then it will come back home.

See how a little paint makes the details pop? Behind the lamp is an old corner shelf that I painted white and shabbied it all up. It is for sale, too, however I realllllly like it........BUT! I cannot keep everything!......my poor husband......

What kind of projects do you have going on?

Whatever you do, wherever you go......

...............enjoy...... xo

Better Than........?

Better than Robert Redford?

That will be up to you to decide!

Hmm....chocolate, cream cheese, pudding and

cool whip! Sound good?

You may have already read about Liz' fabulous dessert here. I giggled

when she compared it to Mr. Redford - who is quite a hunkadunk

and yummy with a spoon! But I think you will find this

sweet treat more obtainable than Mr. Redford...............shucks!

I am going to dub my dessert "Better Than Simon Baker?"

.....enjoy!

Makes 16 Servings

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts ( I don't care for walnuts so I use cashews and pecans)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1-(8oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed *note: buy the larger container so you will have ample left for the top

4 cups milk

2 boxes (3.4oz each) instant vanilla pudding

2 boxes (3.4oz each) instant chocolate pudding

chopped nuts

chocolate curls

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a medium-size bowl, mix flour nuts and butter. Pat into prepared dish. Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool.

3. In a bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Gold in half of the whipped topping. Spread over cooled crust.

4. Prepare vanilla pudding using 2 cups of the milk. Spread over cream cheese layer. Prepare chocolate pudding with remaining 2 cups milk. Spread over the vanilla pudding layer. Spread remaining whipped topping over pudding.(hint. I used extra whipped topping)

Refrigerate at least 2 hours or over night. Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate curls. Cut into squares.

note: The next time I make this I am going to double the ingredients for the crust so that there will be a thicker base to cut into. It is good with a thin layer, however I like a bit more of a crunch.

What's In A Name?

What is in a name?

A name is special and is usually well thought about before giving it to someone or something.

Some names even have a meaning behind them or, perhaps, is an old family name.

Many of asked where we got the name for our Wheaten Scottie Dog, Fiona. Some asked if we got her name from the movie Shrek or the TV show Burn Notice. Both the movie and the show have characters named Fiona. (I like the tenacious Fiona character on Burn Notice!)

For both of our dogs, we chose their names from a Gaelic website. Of course, we had to choose a Scottish or Gaelic name because they ARE, after all, Scotties!

Fiona translates to white or fair haired. She is NOT looking so white after having attempted to help me in the muddy flower beds.

Duhgall (pronounced Duh-gall, also spelled Dougal or Dugan) translates to dark stranger.

Mr. Duhgall can be a bit of a mysterious chap. Like some Scotties, a bit on the quiet and aloof side - but give him a Guinness and he will be your best friend!

Parting away for today to get some spring cleaning done.

Wishing everyone a lovely new week.

The Best Gift Of All!!!!

God promises us all salvation!

God gave his ONLY son who died for all of US.

Imagine this, to have your only son die for others' sins.

Amazing!

We are promised salvation should we choose it.

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." (John 14:6)

Glory be to God! The promise of eternal life is such a gift!! God reaches out in love to you and wants you to be His child. All you have to do is accept Christ as your Savior and believe in Him.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and it is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

Isn't that the best gift ever?

Thank you, God, for the best gift in the world!!!

I have said before, faith gets me through my days. Though I grieve, cry, and my heart breaks each day over losing my son - it is by the grace of God that I keep going. It is all about that one word .....

FAITH!!!!

Happy Easter!!!!

Jordan, give our Father a hug from us!!!!!! We love you all!!! Till we see each other again...

always and forever...forever you'll be my baby to me!!

mom-pa-c

A Day Of Random Putterin'

What do you do when it is windy, rainy and cold outside?

Well, I putter around the house.

Today I puttered with the camera in my hands.

See that little birdhouse in the front? That is a gift from sweet Elyse!

She made it all up with graphics from my blog. Above it hangs a darling

little picture made by talented Cherry! In January, Cherry and I had a swap and this is just one of the lovely things she made for me. Thank you girls!

Pictures on a kitchen wall...
..and in that grouping is a motto that my dear friend, Jean (in Roanoke, Virginia)
recently sent to me. I just love the pink cottage! Thank you, Jean!

Miss Kitty is oblivious to the puttering ....or is she? She thinks I cannot see her if she covers her eye with her paw.

A view out our kitchen window....no sunshine here in the sunshine state!

Snippets of a cabinet reorganization.

A favorite shade...

..a new "old" tin box with roses...

..a little pillow I purchased for our guestroom bed.

Even Miss Matilda got a little scottie pin added to her dress for Easter...
...and she has the skinniest legs!

The base of an old table in the half bathroom...

...and a little vignette on the shelf above.

Which apron shall I wear today?

Cherry gave me the sweet card that sits in an old frog behind this little Britain flowering girl and dog house.Little soaps, if you need one, sit on the shelf in the laundry room.

Little pincushions atop an old box. See the enamelware one? My fellow Boston Red Sox fan friend, Patrice, made this and gave it to me! Isn't it cute? What a great idea, too! Thank you, Patrice! It goes nicely with a little scottie pincushion that I bought from my friend, Denise.

A little birdie, a gift from my friend Kathy Long, watches over the eggs.
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work I go....

What do you call working around your house?

Puttering?

Putzing?

Fluffing?

Momma's Job?

Plain NO FUN at all?

Do tell......

In the meantime, I need to go and wash the paint off of my fingers....

Honey, get me a bar of soap, please!

tootles......

xxxxxxx

oooooo