What Fun Would It Be Without Another Project?

I just heart Salvation Army! It's like i get an idea of something i want, and Salvation Army sneaks in my head, reads my thoughts and POOF! I find it in their store! So weird.

This table may have looked better in my head but after it gets sanded down and painted i think we'll be fast friends!

Somebody took a lot of care in painting these flowers all around the top. I like the way the sides fold down too (that idea wasn't in my head) and i don't believe the base is original to the table (different woods) but it's gonna be great when it's all finished! I keep repeating this to my self. Over and over.

Ms.B and i had our girls day out. We went to estate sales, shopped and had a great lunch together. We found these ballet slippers, china birds and tray. I've never been much of a pink girl, EEK, i know! For shame! But it's starting to grow on me. Sometimes i'm a little slow to catch on.

Still thinking about making that fairy garden...these little guys would be perfect.

Enjoy your weekend!

Breathe

I love a good storm.

Breathe.

Yesterday afternoon the skies opened up and unleashed a hum dinger of a storm. Thunder and lightning and torrents of rain filled our afternoon and left us without power. Ya Hoo!!! Crazy woman, i know! I use to love when the power went out. Lighting the candles, no television, eating out of the pantry, however, sweet man had a natural gas generator installed last year...yeh, there goes my little house on the prairie party!

Breathe.

While the rest of the neighborhood was in the dark, we were glowing like a lightning bug. Still not sure if i love it or not. Sweet man loves not bailing out the sump. That's a good thing. Breathe.

The beauty after the storm.

Power is back on, there is a blissful cool breeze blowing and the windows are wide open for the first time in weeks.

Breathe.

It's a perfect day for Ms. B and i to go treasure hunting, spend some girl time and breathe.

Sometimes i forget to breathe.

Old Books

Old books have always been part of my life. Summers spent with my Grandparents always included trips to estate sales searching for books amongst other treasures.

The Gene Stratton Porter series was one of the first books my Grandpa introduced me to. I have several from his collection and any time i come across one of her books, i snatch it up even if i already own that title. Just love 'em!

Children's school books and writing ledgers are some of my faves. I found these recently at an estate sale.

This primer has the sweetest illustrations.

(sorry, gremlins flippin' my pics!)

Written inside is, " Because you have been a little gentleman, i am giving you this book"

Isn't that sweet?
I use to sing this song, "The Moon" to my babies.

On a completely different note, look who arrived! It's Mr. Sole Monkey! He's here for a visit! Check out his adventures at mrsolemonkey.blogspot.com

Have a great Wednesday!

Strange Skies

You have to admit, it's been a strange summer.

Here in Michigan we've had lots of rain, and the air hangs thick with humidity and mosquitoes!

The other night after our nightly batch of storms had passed, Ms. B went outside and shot these pictures.

The sky took on an eerie shade of orange.

Everything in the yard that was pink, became an oompa-loompa orange!

It was quite a show

Muffin Tops

No, no, no, not the "I'm wearing my daughters jeans but really shouldn't be" muffin top, the yummy blueberry kind!

It's blueberry season in Michigan and even though i didn't pick these, the farmers market had a wonderful selection.

I tore out this recipe from the September 2003 issue of Gourmet. It was inspired by the 1997 "Seinfeld" episode about Elaine and the muffin tops (remember that one?) I finally located a muffin top pan and was ready to go ( It really didn't take me seven years to find a pan !)

Good gravy, i've been trying to type in this recipe for over half an hour and for some reason it ends up scattered all over (gremlins in my computer) SO, i apologize for no recipe, however i'm sure if you googled Gourmet Magazine 2003 you would find it there. Sorry!

The only change i would make would be to use a brown sugar and butter crumble for the topping. They used white sugar. I also threw in a dash of cinnamon- it makes everything better!

How do you say 'no' to that face?

My taste testers

Right from the oven with a smear of butter. Heaven!

Here is the down side. The mess.

This is where a teenage daughter and five bucks comes in handy! Works like a charm!

Happy Wednesday! Go enjoy yourself some blueberry love!

Get Your Rosette On!

It's rosette party time!




Today the French Cupboard is hosting a rosette party! Love this! Hopefully i can figure out this 'link up' business! Go check out this beautiful site, you're gonna love it!

Keepin' Cool

No one knows better than a dog, how to keep cool in the summer!

Rylee has taken the 'attack the sprinkler' approach

Max, who is a bit more cautious, isn't sure sprinkler water is fit for consumption

And for snack time...a big 'ol stick

It doesn't get much better than this!

Hope you're keeping cool!

4th of July

This weekend celebration always reminds me of the annual summer bike parade my childhood neighborhood held. We kids would spend the day washing our rides- bikes, trikes, big wheels, scooters and wagons. Then came the crate paper. We'd wrap our rides in miles of red, white and blue paper and pray it didn't rain (imagine puddles of soggy paper and tear stained faces! So sad!) We also decorated ourselves, red, white and blue shorts and halter tops, high pony tails with matching bows, white vinyl go-go boots -oh wait, maybe that was just me. Any way, we'd set off down the street and ride around the park with our streamers and pin wheels flying. I don't remember if there was a prize involved or if we even cared, but there was a pride that only a child could have felt of that moment when best friends and neighborhood bullies came together to celebrate our independence.Hope you enjoy this long weekend!