Sabbatical

I know I have had a long absence from my blog....I have experienced some health issues and my attention has been devoted to getting well and focusing on the most important thing in my life which is my family.
Please forgive my little sabbatical...I'm not sure when I will be back on a regular basis. But I will continue to look in on all of my blog friends.
May God bless you with his gracious love....


Denise

Sorry it has been so long since I've been here....

I've been a busy busy bee.

My mom has been busy with her garden

the strawberries are ripening as fast

as she can pick them. She has already

sold about 50 quarts and we haven't

even done our first market yet.

I've been busy trying to make a few things,

go through my antiques that have been

in storage and get all of our props

together for our booth.

I'm truly looking forward

to doing this market with

my mom....we are going to

have such a great time.

Have a wonderful week and please

forgive my possible absence this week...

but  I promise pictures after the market!

Family Market

A friend of mine suggested that I try

presenting some "stuff" at our local

farmer's market which also features

artist and creative wares.

After some consideration...

I thought what have I got to lose.

So I am putting myself out there...

I haven't done any kind of market or show
since I closed my shop 4 years ago.

I've been busy collecting and planting garden goodies

in the unexpected....like hen & chicks in these

sweet vintage baby shoes.

I will also have various other items

like altered planting pots, mini terrariums,

pillows and so much more.

Not only am I going to feature some of my "stuff"

but my parents are going to sell

produce from their huge...I mean HUGE

organic garden....so it's become a

family affair!

It's going to be a FABULOUS summer

and I can hardly wait!

Sweet Treat

Strawberry season is approaching...

and I decided to kick it off by

making one of my husband's favorite

strawberry desserts. 

Strawberry-Kiwi Tarts 

This recipe is directed for making a 9" tart, however, I make small individual tarts for my family. They all want to have their own.

Crust:
1-15oz Box of Refrigerated Pie Crust. soften as directed on box

Filling:
1-1/2 Cups Vanilla Low-Fat Yogurt
1 Container (8oz) Reduced-Fat Sour Cream
1 Box (4oz Serving Size) Vanilla Instant Pudding
2 Tablespoons Orange Marmalade

Topping:
1 Cup Halved Fresh Strawberries
2 Kiwi, Peeled, thinly sliced
2 Tablespoons Orange Marmalade

Heat Oven to 450 degrees. Make pie crust as directed on box for one-crust baked shell using 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom or 9-inch glass pie plate. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In medium bowl, mix all filling ingredients with wire whisk until well blended. Pour into cooled baking shell. Arrange strawberries and kiwifruit on filling.

In small microwaveable bowl, microwave marmalade on high 5 - 10 seconds or until melted. Brush over fruit. Refrigerate 1 hour or until set before serving. Store in refrigerator.

Enjoy!

I am usually not a person who is envious...

that is until now....

My husband and I watched the movie "It's Complicated"

over the weekend...and well the

envy began when I saw Meryl Streep's

character in her cook's garden.

At the time I was truly mesmerized

by it's awe inspiring layout...

it's contents and well it was

unbelievably gorgeous.

Evidently my infatuation was quite

noticeable because my husband and I

visited some greenhouses this week

and he sweetly asked me if I

would like to have a garden...

I asked him whatever made you

think of that...he said..'You should

have seen the look on your face

when you saw the garden in "It's Complicated"...

He already had given thought to

where it could go and how

we could make it work...

sigh...he is wonderful.

Needless to say I will

settle for an extensive herb garden...

but next year who knows.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

May your day be filled

with joy and your heart

filled with love.

Happy May Day!

I had such fun yesterday!

After I put my son on the bus for

school I decided to go visit

the coffee chicks (my friends).

Standing in my kitchen I was admiring all  

of the lovely flowers in my yard.

As the day's agenda rolled around in my head

I realized that it was going to be May Day.

So I decided to make some small

May Day gifts for my friends

using things that I had...

paper, stickers, flowers from my garden.

I always have a great time with

my friends but it was heartwarming

to see the joy on their faces

with such a small token of friendship.

Happy May Day to all of you

and have a wonderful weekend!

Instant Sunshine

Flowers....Flowers...Flowers

I have flowers on the brain.

Flowers are like an instant

shot of sunshine for the soul.

Sweet Peas and Tulips are so lovely...

although I have many personal favorites.

I have been perusing several greenhouses

lately looking for new flower plants.

Going to them it's like being on overload...

My mind says...I want this and this and this..

Well you get the picture. 

I have been stock piling plants...

it is still a little early to plant where I live.

But come Mother's Day...

look out...I'll be on a

planting frenzy.

The sun is shining today...

and I'm feeling FAB!

Photosource: Country Living Magazine

Faithful Companion

There is nothing like the comfort

of a sweet and faithful companion...

one of mine happens to be

my dog CeCe.

She is as good as it gets....

I have been under the weather

and she has been following me

around and just"has" to

be with me. She's even

wanted to be with me when I

lay down in bed....snoozing on

the pillow beside me.

For all of you animal lover's

you know what I am talking

about. They just have a way of

knowing that you need to be comforted.

I'm thankful for CeCe....

she brings me immense comfort and joy!

Bling

Every girl likes a little bling....right.

I am no exception.

However....I would have to say

that my preference would be vintage.

Yes that's right....

I LOVE LOVE LOVE

vintage jewelry.

I think it all started when I

would visit my Grandmother
as a little girl...

She would let me play with

all of her jewelry...

and she had ALOT.

So girls how do you bling?

Photo Source: Country Living Magazine

Coffee & A Little Chit Chat

I'm not sure when it started....

but I have lost touch with

friends that I truly care about...

I have been trying to reestablish

the relationships that I have missed.

I want to be a better friend.

I want to enjoy life....laugh...

embrace fun...and be around

people who want the same thing.

I spent this morning with a group
of friends that meet for coffee.
I used to do this frequently....sadly I think

it's been over a year since I did this...

It was one of the best moments I've
had in quite some time.
A little coffee, great friends and
feeling free to be me...
it was awesome!

Outside Living

My husband and I have been

discussing some ideas for creating

some outdoor "rooms" for a section

of our little cottage home's yard.

Different places to gather

with family and friends...

To be surrounded by the people

we love in cozy and

welcoming spots....

Life just doesn't get any

better than that!

Photos: Country Living

Treasures Galore!

Just a few pictures from my friend Tricia's Open House at

her lovely shop Backyard Candle Company.

The shop was filled to the brim with all kinds of

treasures....browse my photos and

see for yourself.

Bloom and Grow

Ahhhh...The sweet smell of SPRING...

There is something so magical about spring.

As everything that lie dormant over the winter

stirs from it's slumber and

awakens with a fresh and

renewed spirit...

to embrace and grow leaving

all of the past behind.

I too feel awakened...

I am ready to bloom and grow..

to sow and to share...

to love.

I am also ready to get outside too.

To work on creating my gardens....

But it struck me that I don't

have to wait...how about

bringing a little spring inside.

I am taking a small day trip with a friend

tomorrow and maybe I can find some

treasures to plant a few little

green goodies in...

I am going to be visiting my friend Tricia

of Backyard Candle Co. tomorrow.

She is having her spring open house this weekend...

if you live close please go and see her...if not

visit her blog and Etsy shop...she's FAB!

LOVE

A few more pictures from Matthew's Wedding....

Love....Love...Love

The Happy Couple

It was a beautiful simple wedding...

good music, good food

and family.

Congratulations Matthew & Julie

May You Know Nothing But Happiness

My son Matthew is getting married tomorrow...

I just saw him trying on his tux at the bridal shop.

My eyes filled with tears of joy for

this wonderful man who

it seems like yesterday was

just a little boy...my little boy.

A new chapter in his life will begin

and so Matthew...

May God be with you and bless you.

May you see your children's children.

May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings,

May you know nothing but happiness.

From this day forward.

Irish Wedding Blessing

I love you Matthew with my whole heart.

Matthew as a boy pictured with my youngest son Blake.

I Have Returned!

I bet you thought I fell off

the face of the earth

didn't you...

well pretty close...

The past few weeks have been

filled with ups and downs...

too much so that I couldn't bring myself

to write a thing.

My life has been filled with a sick child, a sick me,

a death in the family, a little bout of the blues ...

which I have struggled with my entire life...

and one of my boys is getting married in 2 weeks

which we just found out about a week ago...

which is a happy event....

but oh my lots to do!

So I picked myself up...and said

okay that's enough...

get on with it...

and so I begin again.

In the times that I am surrounded
by challenges, sorrow and even joy...
I hope to be like a butterfly that emerges from
it's cocoon...
forever changed and grateful
for the life that lies ahead. 

SICK

Sorry I haven't posted anything new....

Blake has been sick for several days

and now so am I.

Will post more when

I feel better.

Thanks for stopping by....

I hope to be able to stop by and

visit all my blog friends soon.

Let's Eat CAKE!

I love cake...yes I do!

I love to eat cake, make cake...

and share cake!

There is a FABULOUS website

called Bakerella....
which I found through my friend
Federica of  Sweet As Candy

It is filled with FUN baking ideas.

And for Valentine's Day ...

they have featured this scrumptious looking

Valentine's Day Gift Box.

And guess what...

it's all made out of cake!

Yes...the whole thing is cake!

Visit Bakerella's website at

http://www.bakerella.com/

for the recipe and instructions

and make one of these

delectable delights...

Now...Let's Eat Cake!

Photosource: Bakerella