Sunday, August 29, 2010

imagine

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imagine……..

beach…

sand….

shells….

sounds good to me!

these wonderful pillows were made by a talented etsy artist…and silly me didn’t save her name, but aren’t they devine?

dreaming of solitude on a deserted beach somewhere with umbrella drinks and a hammock..oh and a massage sounds good, too.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

an old store sign holder brings back memories

When I was a little girl my family and I lived in an itty-bitty farming community in Central California. There was a dairy down each country road, horses grazing in pastures and big red barns dotting the outstretched green landscape. Bales of hay lined up like tin soldiers waiting to be distributed to the fat black and white cows. I remember the smells of those dairies – kind of pungent, especially on a hot summer evening. My uncle had a dairy and it was my very favorite place to go. Us kids would entertain ourselves for hours-on-end playing hide-and-go-seek around the stacked hay bales and chase each other around the barn and over the fenced pastures. We would stay out as long as we could before the mosquitoes would start to attack us.

Going “up town” was always such a treat. Oftentimes mom would treat us to an ice cream cone at the corner hamburger stand. My favorite: “The Twist” – you know, the half vanilla, half chocolate soft serve ice-cream. So cool and frosty…..mmm. (note to self: I am going to get one of those today!). Sometimes I would change it up a bit and settle for a chocolate dipped soft serve. Hard chocolate over frosty vanilla ice cream – cracking into pieces with each bite. Delicious!

P1010116aMartino’s market was the go-to grocery store in town. I remember that the building had very high ceilings, brick walls, whirling black ceiling fans, a deli counter filled with fresh cut meats, pastry racks full of tempting treats, freshly made Portuguese sweet bread and an old black and white linoleum floor – PERFECT to play hopscotch on. This was also where I was at the day President Kennedy was assassinated. Mom and I had just driven up to the front of the store and the news flash came over the radio of our little yellow Rambler station wagon. Needless to say, we didn’t get to go inside the store that trip. Mom sat there and cried. I was only three, however I remember that moment very clearly.

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Martino’s Market had hundreds of these old sign holders, too. When I saw this one at a flea market for $2.00 I snatched it up. Not only is it serendipitous, it has such a great look to it. Metal with a little rust…..perfection! I am also loving the contrast of the black frame against the white ironstone dishes.

So what do I want to put in the holder?

A picture?

A chalkboard?

Love notes?

I thought about using it to hold “what’s for dinner” – like a little menu board to stand on the counter, or table, when company comes for dinner.

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So tell me, how would YOU use this piece?

I would LOVE to hear your ideas!!

See y’all next week! Till then, sending a ((hug)) to each and every one of you! Oh, and one more thing… Duhgall and Fiona want to remind you that a little nap now and then is good for the soul! *woof*

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I am also participating in my first "White Wednesday" at Faded Charm blog. Stop over to visit and see all of the beautiful posts for today.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

look deeply into my eyes…..

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……you are getting sleepy…

verrrrrrrrrry sleepy…..

ahhhhhhh…that is it…….

close your eyes…..

shhhhhh….

relax….

~~~~ enjoy your sunday nap ~~~~

Thursday, August 19, 2010

mixing eggs with butter

Eggs and butter go together nicely, wouldn’t you say?

That is what I thought!

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My sweet mother, who loves to junk as much as I do, recently gave me this old metal egg scale. She bought it knowing that I love antique metal objects, especially those with a little rust around the edges. When I got home, I went from room to room trying to figure out just the perfect place to put the old scale.

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For now, Mr. “Reliable” is holding his own with some vintage ironstone butter pats resting on his arms. Old pieces don’t need to be used for their intended purposes. Mix it up….eggs and butter DO go together, right?

And that’s the way it is……

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

flowers for friends

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Just thinking of you today, like I do each day.


Please know that I care about all of you and am thankful to have each and every one of you in my life. Though our days get busy with the things that life brings to us, I want you to know that YOU are just wonderful blessings and wonderful friends! You make me smile with your comments AND emails! To be connected to so many of you – from all corners of this big earth we live on – is so amazing to me! I never EVER imagined the connectivity and the sweet friendships…..mind blowing, to say the least….


Because you are the sweetest people on earth…


these are for you…..


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May God shine His loving light upon you and be gracious to you, lift His countenance upon you and give you peace - this day and always.


(Numbers 6:25)



xo


me

Sunday, August 15, 2010

what to do with a rusty lampshade frame

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I bought this rusty iron lampshade thinking I would hang an old fashioned lamp bulb from the center of it and use it on the patio. HOWEVER…

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I thought it could also be used as an “open” cloche – if you will. Just fit it onto a pretty base – like this silver plate compote and voila!

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A rustic and pretty little display.

I can just see this over an ironstone bowl with tiny pumpkins for the fall. A little twine on the top and maybe a little hay under the pumpkins…..*sigh*….fall is just around the corner!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

oh, hello there!

P1010016b And how are you this fine Friday?

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The lady of the house has been dusting around me today so I thought I’d sneak in for a little blog action!

I am usually pretty quiet here as I sit on the hutch, sporting my crown that Rosemary made and wearing my fancy pink pearl and rhinestone necklace. I just love my crown and am so proud of Rosemary having been featured in Romantic Country magazine! Rosemary shares about it HERE.

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Oh, oh….. where did you go?

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….I think that someone pushed it down too far after having dusted me off!

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Oh! There you are!

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All better!

It’s Friday so go and enjoy yourself!

xo

Penelope

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

the magic cottage

magic cottage

Ever have days like this?

….and a dust cloth was slapping her in the head….

the nerve!

If only our house could clean itself….

now that would be a JOY!

Monday, August 9, 2010

a moon crater for breakfast?

P1010071b Nope ….

but we are traveling to Germany today to have some German pancakes!

Ok, not quite to Germany – but at least downstairs to my kitchen.

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Tender.

Warm.

Slightly sweet with a fine dusting of powdered sugar on top…

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…and a perfect accompaniment with fresh sliced white peaches and scrambled eggs.

A good start to a new week!

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Baked German Pancakes

3 large eggs at room temperature

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional)

powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Generously butter the bottom, sides and rim of a 12-inch metal pin tin. Note: for the photos above, I doubled this recipe.

Break eggs into a mixing bowl and beat until well mixed together. note: I beat for about a minute, until little bubbles form around the edges.

Add the milk to the eggs and mix well.

Sift the flour and salt onto a piece of parchment paper – or waxed paper. Slowly pour the flour and salt into the milk and egg mixture, while whisking the entire time. Mix until very smooth. Add the melted butter and continue to whisk until the batter is smooth and silky looking.

Pour batter into pan and bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Sprinkle the top of the pancake with lemon (optional) and dust the top with powdered sugar. Serve warm. We love maple syrup on ours.

enjoy!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

an old salt

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Old salt -

used,

chippy,

rusty,

and perfect in an imperfect way.

I love these old tins with the old graphics and chippy white paint! This one reminds me of one that may have been in an old mercantile shop. Now it sits with other old favorites up on top of an old white cabinet. Home sweet home for this old salt.

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Miss Fiona thanks you for all of the wonderful offers to come and play with her and for the kind words left in her behalf!! You are all so sweet!!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

watchaupto?

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So…….

watcha doin’?

Any plans for the weekend?

Maw is SEW busy working on something that has my name all over it….but she cannot reveal what it is JUST yet. Soon though…….

Till them, I am a lounge critter……

waiting..

watching…

hoping someone will throw my squishy red ball now and then.

Where is Duhgall?

Oh, I don’t know….perhaps in his crate – he loves his beauty sleep.

Can you come and play with me?

love,

Fiona

Monday, August 2, 2010

just peachy…

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Just peachy!

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Beautiful any way that you look at them.

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And they are pretty on the inside and out!

Have a “peachy” day!