After the rain...............................

  from Hurricane Patricia,

 Our grapefruits survived!

                                                            BIG and plump!!!!

They're almost ready! 

To our surprise........I think when we moved here in November of 2013, only one was left on the tree.
It was way up high and one of the moving men when up the tree to get it. 

Last year we didn't have any........
This year we have about a dozen big ones!
Exciting!


Hope you have a Happy Wednesday!
Thank you for visiting me! 
Please leave a comment, so I can come and visit you!

Blessings My Friend,

Pasta Day & Making Italian Bread.........

Yesterday was Pasta Day according to Facebook.
Guess what we made for dinner?????

PASTA!!!!

Of course, Mr. Sweetladyelaine had to help....................He wanted to make the meatballs!

Normally, I would make 24 and freeze them
But it was just us so six little meatballs for our feast! They were very yummie too!
Does your hubby cook with you? Mine loves too!  Especially if he gets to eat !!! LOL!

Meatballs go in the sauce....to cook a few hours.
Have I shared how I make my sauce??? I am not sure if I have................................
I will have to look back on my blog.

Making Bread ...............................
You need a mixer with a dough attachment!

Nothing like home made bread when you are eating pasta! It is very easy...................................

         Three cups of flour, One teaspoon of yeast, half teaspoon of salt and warm water( abt. 1 1/2 c).
I heat my water in the microwave for about 1 minute.
You want your dough to be lukewarm when finished.

 Put all ingredients in your mixer except warm water.
 I have a kitchen aid and it does all the work for me!

 Add warm water slowly and keep the mixer running just so the flour doesn't fly all over the place.

 When it forms a ball of dough you are done! I mix the ball about 2 minutes and then..........

 Get my bowl ready. Put olive oil on the bottom of your bowl, about 1 teaspoon,  and spread it all over the inside of the bowl so the dough will not stick!

 Put the ball of dough in the bowl and pour a little oil on top and spread with your hand so the dough does not get hard. If you put too much oil in the bottom of the bowl,  just turn your dough so it gets oil on the top.

Cover the bowl with two towels ! You are trying to keep it warm. I sometimes put mine on top of the dryer if it is running. Just place it in a warm spot. Let it rise about 2 hours or so.

Shape the dough ( it will get flat) and cover. Let it rise another hour or so, just so it gets bigger. If it rises a little longer it doesn't matter. Heat the oven to 375, let it bake until golden brown about 30- 45 minutes.
Put it on a board and let it cool a few minutes before cutting! I usually put it on the table last.
I wait to cook it about 45 minutes before dinner so it's hot when I serve it. Use a sharp knife.
ENJOY!

When we are done eating it I wrap it in a dish towel and store it in the pantry.
You could put it in a plastic bag if you prefer.
If you have any questions just ask me.
 I tend to add seasoning to my bread, like Italian seasonings. I use about 1 tablespoon along with  minced garlic about 1 teaspoon. You can add cinnamon and sugar too! Experiment! You can make sausage bread or pepperoni bread using this recipe too!

Hope you enjoy making bread. I love it!

I am glad to be blogging again! Come visit when you can!
Please leave a comment or a question..........................................

Blessings My Friend,

Still in Texas for Fall!

I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted! I feel like time just flew by...............
We are still waiting for a job and our house has been on the market since the middle of August!
 I am truly surprised that we have not had an offer. It is a pretty house with a beautiful pool!! I have downsized and decluttered every room!  I even sold some furniture!
I gave up  tablescaping after I downsized, since most of my dishes and decorations were sold or given away.  That was a hard and easy task! I knew if I had to pack them, I would be doing it for a long, long time. So out everything went that I didn't really need. I sold some at our garage sales (we had two!) and then the rest went to Goodwill! Task accomplished!

Meanwhile, for the last month I have been going back and forth on whether I should decorate for fall. My husband said,"No, you will only have to pack it all up again".  So I didn't, but I felt I needed too! LOL I just felt like I was in limbo and needed something to do besides waiting and keeping the house clean!
I did not over decorate since we are selling. I kept it very, very simple! This was easy since I have little left. I even set two very simple tables! One in my kitchen and one in the dining room.

This is how I decorated the fireplace in my Family Room.
 Realtors always say to keep it to a minimum. I love white pumpkins! I had the green vase up there already so I just decorated around it. I think it's a little too plain but that's it! I want to put leaves all over and lights around the mirror, and colored little pumpkins and a big white bow and...and.....and !

 People need to see the actual fireplace and not my decorations. I had a hard time with this...........
Can you tell???

The kitchen seemed a little easier......

The dining room tablescape is set with a red charger, a Country Rose dinner plate and a green depression glass salad plate. The gold rimmed crystal wine glasses and Thanksgiving napkins complete the tablesetting.

My coffee table in the living room.........

I love this picture of the dining room and living room. The living room is my favorite spot in the whole house. This is where I pray, drink my morning coffee, read and talk on the phone. 

Where is your favorite spot in your house??

We all have one! I am hoping you share your favorite spot with me. I will be waiting!
Until you come visit me again! Soon I hope! I am missing my blogging friends! You encourage me!


Blessings My Friend,

You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
Psalm 77:14

A Silver & Cream Tea Time!

I love silver! I have said this many times ........

I love the patina but most of all I love to clean it! You probably think I'm crazy 

but it is the process I think that I love. 

Seeing something worn and tarnished looking brand new.
The process of getting out the silver cleaner and scrubbing the tarnish away!

On my table today, nothing is new..........all is worn and tarnished.
 Some days I feel that way about myself, don't you?

 A simple place setting using a silver tray as a charger with cream rose bordered plates.
Topped off with an elegant fruit parfait!
.

 One of my favorite patterns is Blue Garland by Haviland China.
I love teacups with their unique shapes.

I used handkerchiefs as napkins.
A MEMORY........................
I use to put this one in my lapel pocket of my green corduroy suit jacket! LOL

The work that went into these creations is amazing to me. So pretty!

 This one is so delicate.............I would NEVER use it for blowing my nose!

 Just beautiful!

I used my tea set as the centerpiece.........along with a candelabra.

An old teapot and sugar bowl that had been given to me at least thirty years ago.
 I finally have taken it out of its box!

Love the pink dish here, it's so frilly!

My cupcake plate that I made holds a delicate rose.

The blue bird of happiness had to be included!

Notice the blue handkerchief under the pitcher. I have several handkerchiefs that I love.
I always thought I'd make something with them, but I just can't part with them being something new.

 A handkerchief inside a crystal bowl that will be sold,

sitting on this pretty handkerchief.

The lace tablecloth is actually a twin size bed covering that my Aunt Catherine gave me years ago.
 I use it often remembering her.

I guess I can update you a little too. I did not have the garage sale.
 Somehow I hurt my hip and could hardly walk.
I was in so much pain that I decided it would be best to wait.
I hope to have it on the 11th unless God changes my plans again.
My heart is heavy as I sell some of my things but I do know God is good.
And all will be well in the end. I think the hardest part is to know exactly what we should do.
I find myself asking God everyday to show me what I need to do as I go through my cabinets.
I see that they are just possessions and they are meaningless. I can not take them with me!
Although, I think if I could, I would pack as many as I could in that casket! LOL

Thank you for stopping by.......I guess I need to post more as my followers are few and far between.
Have a great week.........

Blessings My Friend,
 "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us".  (1 John 4:10)
The truth of God's love is that His love is unconditional.
He loves us at all times with infinite, overwhelming, merciful, gracious, passionate love!


I will be joining:

Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP

Table It Monday at Rustic & Refined

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

                       

Downsizing ???????

It's been about two weeks since I last posted.
I decided I should catch you all up to what's been happening around here.........
Mr. Sweetladyelaine has been unemployed for about a year.
I guess simply said, we have to downsize! We are just taking one step at a time!

I will have a garage sale in about two weeks.
I have been selling on our area "Beg, Barter, Buy" sites on Facebook.
I have sold some furniture. It is a lot to keep track of and a little demanding.
Just in case you are interested.
So here is today's project! LOL
The kitchen..........................................
When I am cleaning out every room seems to be in disarray.
I just emptied the bottom cabinets on this side.
It's all I can handle!
It is so overwhelming when you are a dishoholic!

The dining room table....................
I had to get it all out and look at everything before I could make choices!
Then back on the kitchen counter to be looked at again and put away!
Everything I am letting go of  I left on the dining room table.

My head is spinning! So many favorites! I happen to love, love glass!
These are keepers! At least for now!

A few not so much! LOL

I have already dug through the upstairs! This is my upstairs family room bursting at the seams with garage sale stuff! What a mess!

Anyway, I decided to share with you so you know what's happening at Sweetladyelaine's.
I didn't even have time to set a table this week.
My table from June 4th is still set up as you can see! LOL

Hopefully this coming week I will try and set a table.

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment.

Blessings My Friend,