Wednesday, June 29, 2011

My First Before & After Picture

Well after living here for 6 months, I finally, finally, can show you one of my  finished bedrooms. I also can show you a sweet telephone table that got a fresh coat of paint.


Before Picture of the Bedroom:
I love this soft green so I kept the color!


The Before Picture of the Telephone Table:
This table was given to me about 30 years ago. I had big plans for this telephone table and cute chair! Since then I changed my mind....



My husband sawed the side pieces out, they got broken.




A picture of most of the bedroom......On the other wall is a white built in filled with books, ducks and swans.
The pictures were a Goodwill find in Buffalo, NY. The lamps I bought at second hand stores, both are crystal. Can you see the telephone table? 


This is on the other side of the bed. The built in go all the way to the ceiling. The door is a walk in closet.



Pretty in white.....I was thinking to decoupage the top. I'm just not sure. I also thought to use paper just on the top to give it more color. But for now, I do like it simple.


Here it is with the light on.....



The antique dresser is at the bottom of the bed and was bought at an estate sale.


The steamer trunk was a birthday gift from my parents when I was under 20. My love for antiques grew as I got older. It has moved with me each time! The diaper pail is repurposed as a magazine holder.



I have realized while writing this post that I have alot of memories in my possessions. The rocker was given to me for a wedding present from my maid of honor in 1977. I bought her the very same one for her wedding. The afghan was made by my Aunt Lena who passed many years ago. She would have been 105. I love the pattern and colors. It is wool.





This is one of my guest rooms. I have three. I like this one the best. It seems to be together more than the other two.
My daughter will stay in this room when she comes on Friday from Schenectady, NY.

When people come and stay with us, I try to make our home like a bed & breakfast. When I hear them moving around, I will set a tray in front of  their door with fresh coffee and a muffin. Then they can have their coffee and get dressed at their leisure. I like making people feel at home.

White & gold cups and sugar & creamer are Bella Lux. The pattern is Alexandra Gold.


I also have bathrobes and extras for my guests laid out on their bed. It just makes their stay a little more comfortable. You can only take so much in a suitcase!
I find they are so appreciative knowing that if they forget something or couldn't pack it, I have it here for them.
Hope you enjoyed my post today. As always, I am glad you stopped by...please be sure to leave me a comment or two. I love hearing from my friends.
Hope you have a Happy & Safe Fourth of July! I will catch up with you .....


This week I am joining:
Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan Between Naps On The Porch


Show Off Your Cottage Monday hosted by Cielo at House of Roses

Vintage Thingie Thursday hosted by Suzanne at The Coloradolady
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday hosted by Wanda at Silken Purse

Their buttons are on my sidebar.


Have fun and enjoy your day that the Lord has made!

Blessings My Friends,

























Saturday, June 25, 2011

Peanut Butter Cookies

It has been summer here in Texas for me since April. Yes, I went in our pool in April...yes...I am a  crazy New Yorker. No, it was not heated! Yes....I am all mixed up coming from New York. No, I just can't seem to get it together! Yes, the Texas sun has invaded my brain and I am loving it!
It rained here yesterday,the first time since January 24th. So today the sun was playing hide and go seek. I have seen nothing but sunshine and I felt a little odd. I had no goal...maybe a dip in the pool.
Then I got a burst of energy ( more like I better do something before this day is gone, feeling) and I made cookies. I was going to bake a cake but decided I didn't want to eat a whole cake myself and it would be easier to keep myself from eating all the cookies. I also decided to freeze some for when my daughter comes to visit July 1st!
Is it only me or does everyone go through talking yourself out of eating sweets?




I got this recipe out of the Taste of Home magazine. It is excellent! The old fashioned taste of these crisp peanut buttery cookies is irresistible. I always make a double batch and freeze some.

Peanut Butter Cookies
1/2 cup butter or margarine softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Additional sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add peanut butter, egg, vanilla; beat until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda and baking powder; add to creamed mixture and mix well. For easier shaping chill the dough for 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten each ball by crisscrossing with the tines of a fork dipped in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned and cookies are set
Yields about 4 dozen cookies.


I don't use the additional sugar. I think they are sweet enough.

 If you make them let me know. I'd like to know what you think!





The finished product is yummy! ENJOY!!!!!





Don't forget.....StoneGable is hosting the
MIKASA MIDNIGHT BLOOM GIVEAWAY it will end Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 7:00 PM and the winner will be randomly selected.





Blessings My Friend,

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A Blast From The Past

A childhood friend is coming to lunch today so I thought I would use the tablesetting as my Tablescape for this week.

We haven't seen each other in at least 40 years. I guess life happened and we lost touch. I happened to find her last year on Facebook. I told her I was moving to Texas in December and to keep in touch. She told me she lived in Texas in the 80's and loved it. I never thought anything of it. I just was glad to hear from her and rekindle the friendship of long ago.
 We went to grade school together and she moved to Pa. when we were in the 4th grade. We kept in touch a little while, visiting back and forth. After that I remember letters....... 
When I got married the first time she sent me crystal on the rock glasses with flowers from HI, where she was living at the time. I moved around alot and we lost  track!
She Facebooked me a few weeks ago and said she was coming to Texas and could we get together. YES!!!!
Sooooooo....
 I started setting my table yesterday, Monday .....well I didn't like it! I changed it a few times (alot) and even thought to use my Blue Garland china. I just couldn't find the right thing! I wanted it to be special....I figured, I may not see her again for another 40 years! I just wanted everything to be perfect....I wanted to bless my friend!

I did take a before picture.



I just felt it looked so plain......I don't have very many tablecloths most of them are white. It needed some pizazz! A big table and nothing on it!

What to do???? What to do???????????

What would you do when you are serving two people and have a huge table? Any ideas?

This is what I did.
 I put our places in the center of the table and removed the extra chairs. It seemed to be a little more intimate. I figured by the time I served our lunch the table wouldn't look so bare. Plus I needed to add salt and pepper, bread and the butter dish.




The menu had to be light but relaxing, not fussy. I wanted to be able to sit down and not jump up and down. So I decided on sliced, breaded, baked chicken on top of field greens with cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms, red onion and carrots,  with walnut raspberry dressing, fruit salad, bartard bread, and sweet tea.  For dessert, my favorite, chocolate covered strawberries.



I forgot to take pictures of the chicken and salad. I used the green plate for the sliced chicken. The yellow for our salad. I bought this green and yellow straw placemat at Marshal's a few months ago. Notice I left the blue ruffled placemat underneath. I have had them a long, long time.


I used a colbalt blue charger bought at a thrift store.


The yellow plate I  bought in Marshal's. They are Sweet Olive Design by Jane Adams " Fancy Scroll Collection".




I bought the green plates there too! The napkins came from
The  Salvation Army.


My centerpeice I have on my table everyday. Roses in a silver pitcher. I bought the pitcher at Goodwill in Buffalo, NY.



Our fruit bowl... I love these bowls. They look like little crowns.



My Favorite...chocolate covered strawberries. Delicious! I could have eaten all of them and more! I made them.




We had a lovely time reminiscing. The time seemed to fly by. Since I live closer to the airport she may stay with me the night before she leaves. I will see her again before she leaves. She is staying with friends in Houston an hour away. It was good to see her.
The funny thing about our friendship....we picked up where we left off. Do you have a friend like that? Isn't it so special!

I wish you all a great week...Go find your special friend ande invite her to lunch, you won't regret it!



I am joining Susan at BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/TP

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday
http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/





Blessings My Friend,



























Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Guiding Friendly Strangers.....

My inspriration for this post came from a book I bought at The Salvation Army for 50 cents.


When we lived on the east coast and went on vacation, I would buy "Building Collectibles" of the lighthouses I visited. I seemed to be drawn to them. I would drive everyone crazy until I got to see one, especially if it was close. I was in awe how the ocean slapped its waves against the rocks of the lighthouse and the huge light it produced. I would sit for as long as my family would let me and think about Jesus doing that for me. He is my lighthouse everyday. He guides me through tides of temptation, reefs of sin, lighting my way through dark troubled waters until the day He takes me home.




My charger and white plates came from thrift stores. The shell plate I bought as a set years ago in Maine. The little cobalt blue bowl is a salad set I got for a present one Christmas.


The Lord is my light and my salvation...
whom shall I fear?

The tablecloth is from my mother in love. She has passed and I think of her everytime I use something she gave me.


The "Building collectible" is Cape Neddick Lighthouse,
York, Maine.


This is written on the back....


Cape May Lighthouse
 Cape May, New Jersey


This is my centerpeice..I couldn't find all my shells. They will turn up I'm sure.... around Christmas time!





Portland Head Light
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
It was lit on January 10, 1791 and is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. Portland Head Light wa automated in1989 during the Lighthouse Service Bicentennial.


Tarrytown Lighthouse; New York
Located on the Hudson River, this type of lighthouse is sometimes called the "spark plug" because of it's shape. The lighthouse is armored with heavy steel plates to protect it against the winter ice flows on the river.



                 Thank you for stopping by today and visiting.


I am participating in Tablescape Thursday with Susan at BNOTP.


Be sure to visit as many blogs as you can ...We love comments!



                         We must build our faith not on fading lights
                                 but on the Light that never fails.    
                                         Oswald Chambers


                           Blessings My Friend,













Tuesday, June 14, 2011

A Great Product.....NeilMed Sinus Rinse!

If you have been following my blog, you know I have been sick for about a month and a half with sinus and upper respiratory infections. Recently I spoke to my friend Shelly from Buffalo, NY and she told me of a wonderful product she uses so I thought I would share it with you.




I found it to be better than the neti pot. I felt like I was drowning using the neti pot. It comes as a kit shown below or you can buy the bottle and packets separately.



It is very, very easy to use. It has a booklet that tells you exactly what to do. (They make one for children one year and older). The bottle is straight and that helps. You just bend over the sink with your mouth open and squeeze gently. Blow softly one or two times. That's it!
You can purchase this product at Amazon.com, CVS, Walgreens and several other stores.
They have their own website:  http://www.neilmed.com/usa/index.php 
 I hope this helps someone.


Thanks for stopping by......

Blessings My Friend,

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

How Did Green Turn Pink????

Last post I told you I would share a picture of my dining room.
I find every time I move, I tend to mix things up. So when I buy pieces I always make sure they will go anywhere in the house. That way my house always looks put together!
The gold mirror was bought at a flea market in Buffalo, NY. The Schonbek chandelier followed us home one day when we lived in Chicago.


 The cabinet below my Dad & Mom gave me. The story behind it...he did plumbing two days and the man gave it to him. I'm not sure how old it is. The picture is a Thomas Kincaid we bought in Canada. The highchair I refinished and my daughter used it.



Hope you like what I did with my dining room...... all pieces are vintage.

Did you ever have a table all planned out in your mind and the finished product came out all different?? Well, that's what happened to me today. I had thought I was settling the table in the dining room and realized I did not have enough time. Then I thought I was using green and yellow and it turned out.....Oh well, let me just show you!


I was so determined to use green with the clear dishes that I set one
place setting using a green napkin and the other pink!

  
The inspiration for this tablescape came from the glass dishes that my mother-in- love gave me.


I just think they are very pretty......



I put a paper plate in between so you can see the swirl in the dinner and salad plates.



The top pink flower plate is plastic and I bought them at Wegman's in Buffalo, NY. I use these alot in the summer!




I love the ruffled edges.....the place mats I bought at HomeGoods.




My favorite candle today and the little bird I bought at Michael's on sale. It has roses on it! Too cute!!


  I made this bowl in college! lol


A very simple centerpiece.....A teapot and flowers!



This week I am joining several parties..

Tablescape Thursday with Susan
Vintage Thingie Thursday with Suzanne
Show Off Your Cottage Monday with Cielo

Thank you to all the hosts of these fun events. Please try and visit as many blogs as you can. We love comments!

Hope you have a great week.



Blessings My Friend,