Asparagus Interrupted

 This is what i've been waiting YEARS for- fresh, home grown, asparagus

 This is what i'm left with- nubbins. Yes, nubbins

 This guy? Sleeping on the job!

And his little friend? USELESS!  Stupid gnomes

The guilty parties. Hope they enjoyed it!

Now i have to wait at least two weeks for another crop.

Maybe i need bigger gnomes?

Oh well! Hope you have a nice Tuesday!

Gaia

Cupcake Love

I love a good Farmers Market...and i love me a good cupcake, so when i found cupcakes at our farmers Market this weekend? hello, i think i found heaven!  The first thing i noticed was the cutest little pink and white striped truck { sorry, no picture} and then there they were- "Kate's Little Cakes" This Michigan couple use all natural Michigan made products, no mono-poly anything, to create their little works of love.

I picked up a sampler of Lemon chiffon with raspberry butter cream and fruit topping, a peanut butter and devils food chocolate, a vanilla and raspberry, and my favorite, a chocolate and butter cream filled with a candied flower.










This one's mine! It reminds me of a Saunders Bumpy Cake {and it reminded me i need to work out more!}
Even the cupcake papers are darling.
Some serious love goes into the making of "Kate's Little Cakes" If you happen to be in Northern Michigan, be sure to check out this extra special treat!

What delicious treasures have you tried lately?

                     Gaia

Roasted Garbanzo Beans

One of my girls favorite healthy snacks are roasted garbanzo beans. We make these just about every week.  We start with two cans of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed.

We dump those into a zip lock bag to which we add 1/4 cup of olive oil, Natures Seasoning, and a dash of ground red pepper, to mix. 

Pour those onto a foil lined sheet pan and pop into a 350 degree oven. Bake for about 10 minutes, shaking every now and then to turn the beans. Keep checking every 10 minutes, and bake until golden . Sprinkle with grated Parmesan, and enjoy!

Dee-lish!


How has your week been? Hope it's yummy!


Gaia

Hanging Around

Spring has sprung early here in Michigan. The grass is green, the tree's are budding and the cleaning bug has bitten! Every spring we go through our closets, donating what hasn't been worn, what we've outgrown {shame} or bad fashion choices. Over the winter i picked up these beautiful wooden hangers with the fleur de lis painted on them.

I got fourteen hangers, some are black and some are gold, for $7.00. Love me a great deal ; )

They take up a bit more space then your traditional hanger, but i love how they look!

I organized my shoes, storing some of the dressier numbers that i don't wear that often, into boxes {cute box, right? Thank you, HomeGoods} I took pictures with my Instax mini camera, to label the boxes, that way i don't forget whats in there. Because i will.

Shoes shelved by style, and heel height

Purses stuffed with tissue, then bagged or boxed.

Baubles hung on a towel rack helps keep them untangled and visible. Because, yes, if i don't see it, i forget about it. I must have short term accessory memory loss...yea, that's it! ...maybe that explains the piles of stuff hiding in my craft room...

Has the cleaning bug bitten you? I'm tackling my family room next- stay tuned!

Gaia

A Jane Austen Moment

Oh, Jane! I do love your work. I've read and re-read so many of your books, at so many different times in my life.

I think you'd be pleased as punch to see this sweet collection of yours done up in these smart colorful jackets!

Aren't they just juicy and wonderful? They're colors remind me of candy. I can't wait to dive in and rediscover your delightful tales.

I picked up this lovely collection at an estate sale this weekend. The house literally had thousands of books to go through- lucky for me, a slice of turquoise caught my eye, and i didn't have to go through thousands of books to find my treasure!

What's your favorite Jane Austen book? I think mine is "Persuasion"

Happy Monday!

Gaia

Happy Heart Day!

Will you be mine?

Happy Valentines Day!

How are you spending your day?

Gaia

Autograph Albums

Did you have an autograph book when you were little? I did- it must have been a 70's thing. With today's technology, nobody wants your autograph anymore, you just exchange 'contact info'- yick. Being an old fashion kind of girl, i love collecting and reading these sweet little books.

This is written on the inside cover

They all are filled with sentimental rhymes and verse. This one has the dearest sepia photo's.

I love those bird pictures!
There are also a few water colors

Such good advice!

This is my favorite book. It's small, and made up of a soft green leather. Under the bow, you can see how bright the original color once was.

The owner used it to keep track of bridal gifts {she received a lot of lace doilies!}

This is the oldest autograph book i own. It's tiny, and the inscription inside touches my heart.

"Lizzie, From your Dear Papa, Michigan City, 1879"

It is filled with quaint rhymes, beautiful ink drawings, and Victorian stickers.

Some of it is in German {i think}

This book was my paternal great grandmothers. A lovely collection of verses that correspond with a space to write your friends birthdays. I found my fathers name written down in his little boy hand writing- so cute!
Here my Great Aunts married names are entered- they were twins!

I love this picture if them together ♡ I never got to meet Melva, but Mernie and her sister Maybel were wonderful Great Aunts to me.

Well, time to let the puppy out {again!}

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Gaia