Sea creatures are notoriously shy, but the ones you're about to meet came out of their shells (so to speak) to tell you their story. My photographer tried his best to make this gang of beach bums smile. Some did ham it up; there are wise guys in every group!
Mr. Mouse holds a degree in architecture. He designed his own house, built it out of inexpensive cardboard, then covered it in shells to remind him of his childhood home.
Mr. Mouse's Seaside Bunglow. His small flower garden includes just one lonely blossom.
This elegant giraffe was born in Florida, where many augers - the pointy shells that make up her neck and legs - wash ashore. "I love the beach, but I came to New York City to dance in the ballet. I have a talent for tiptoeing," she says.
The koala finds the climate in the northern hemisphere too clammy for his taste.
Tiny pink shells grace the ears of this fluffy poodle. She has just gotten back from the groomers. You do look lovely Madame poodle!
Please remember to take your animals to the shore now and then. As the bird says with a sigh, "We get a little homesick sometimes!"
Friday, June 30, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 06
We had a busy, but fun day today. We picked up Nana (Phillip's mom) around noon and went grocery shopping. Well, first we stopped by Williams Sonoma and got a cherry pitter. I was amazed at some of the beautiful things they have, so fun to look at, but was shocked at some of the prices. $58.00 for 8 white dinner napkins?!!
Then we went to Whole Foods, Costco and Tom Thumb. Got back home at around 5:00pm. Put away groceries and decided to sit down and rest for 5 minutes. 45 minutes later, we thought maybe we should start dinner. ;0)
On the menu, more of that Cherry Lettuce Salad, Sweet and Spicy Bratwursts. Philllip grilled them when he got home. Stuffed mushrooms, and lemon pepper green beans. Oh, and sweet tea of course!! We put on a pot of water for corn on the cob and then realized it hadn't made it into the grocery cart. I'm still trying to figure out what happened. I remember ripping off two bags from the roll and walking over to the corn, but evidently I didn't actually put it in the bag!
After dinner, and everything was cleaned up, we pitted cherries with the new pitter. Lots of fun! LOL Then, everyone but me, did Sudoku puzzles. Maybe I should find out what all the fuss is about those little games!
Then we went to Whole Foods, Costco and Tom Thumb. Got back home at around 5:00pm. Put away groceries and decided to sit down and rest for 5 minutes. 45 minutes later, we thought maybe we should start dinner. ;0)
On the menu, more of that Cherry Lettuce Salad, Sweet and Spicy Bratwursts. Philllip grilled them when he got home. Stuffed mushrooms, and lemon pepper green beans. Oh, and sweet tea of course!! We put on a pot of water for corn on the cob and then realized it hadn't made it into the grocery cart. I'm still trying to figure out what happened. I remember ripping off two bags from the roll and walking over to the corn, but evidently I didn't actually put it in the bag!
After dinner, and everything was cleaned up, we pitted cherries with the new pitter. Lots of fun! LOL Then, everyone but me, did Sudoku puzzles. Maybe I should find out what all the fuss is about those little games!
4th of July Table
I was so inspired by Mrs. Wilt's festive 4th of July table I decided to use some of her ideas. :0) I already had the blue tablecloth and white napkins. I purchased the red and white fabric, blue ribbon and seashells yesterday at Hobby Lobby. All for under $7.00.
Grace designed her own napkin ring and helped me with the others.
The candes were also a great idea of Mrs. Wilt's. All the little girls at Emily's birthday party made one. No heating was required, put a wick it the bottom of a jar, pour in the little candle beads and tie a ribbon around the jar. They were a big hit!
Since Autumn is my favorite season, I've always been in a big hurry for summer to be over with. Learning about all these fun summer decorating ideas has helped me enjoy it so much more!
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Cherry Lettuce Salad
"Oh, Anne, mayn't I help you cook the dinner?" implored Diana. "You know I can make splendid lettuce salad." ~Anne of Avonlea, XVI
There is a splendid lettuce salad in the book but this one is different. I just wanted to use the quote! :0)
Red Leaf Lettuce
Toasted slivered almond
Bing Cherries, cut in half, pits removed
Walnut, Raspberry vinaigrette
1. Tear up the lettuce leaves into a bowl.
2. Add some slivered almonds.
3. Add 1/2 cup cherries.
4. Toss with vinaigrette.
5. Serve right away.
Old-fashioned Lemonade
"Anne had brought glasses and lemonade for her guests, but for her own part drank cold brook water from a cup fashioned out of birch bark...Anne thought it more appropriate to the occasion than lemonade." ~Anne of Avonlea, XIII.
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
finely grated peel of 1 lemon
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
Ice cubes
Cold water
Lemon slices
Fresh mint leaves (optional)
1. Measure the sugar, water, and finely grated lemon peel into the saucepan.
2. While stirring contantly with a wooden spoon, bring the mixture to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from the stove and let the mixture cool.
3. Add 1 1/2 cups lemon juice slowly to the cooled sugar mixture.
4. Pour the lemonade syup into the jar and cover tightly with the lid. The syrup can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 weeks.
5. When you're ready to serve the lemonade, put two ice cubes in the bottom of a glass. Pour 1/4 cup lemonade syrup over the icecubes. Add 3/4 cup of cold water and stir.
6. Float a thin slice of lemon and, if you like, a fresh mint leaf on top of each glass.
7. The recipe makes enough syrup for 14 glasses of lemonade.
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
finely grated peel of 1 lemon
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
Ice cubes
Cold water
Lemon slices
Fresh mint leaves (optional)
1. Measure the sugar, water, and finely grated lemon peel into the saucepan.
2. While stirring contantly with a wooden spoon, bring the mixture to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from the stove and let the mixture cool.
3. Add 1 1/2 cups lemon juice slowly to the cooled sugar mixture.
4. Pour the lemonade syup into the jar and cover tightly with the lid. The syrup can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 weeks.
5. When you're ready to serve the lemonade, put two ice cubes in the bottom of a glass. Pour 1/4 cup lemonade syrup over the icecubes. Add 3/4 cup of cold water and stir.
6. Float a thin slice of lemon and, if you like, a fresh mint leaf on top of each glass.
7. The recipe makes enough syrup for 14 glasses of lemonade.
Poetical Egg Salad Sandwiches
"The girls sat down by the roots and did full justice to Anne's dainties, even the unpoetical sandwiches being greatly appreciated by heartly, unspoiled appetites sharpened by all the fresh air and exercise they had enjoyed." ~Anne of Avonlea, XIII
4 eggs
1 celery stalk
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
a pinch of pepper
1/4 cup softened butter
2 tablespoons dried mint or parsley
8 slices of fresh bread
1. In a small saucepan cover eggs with cold water - at least 1 inch above the eggs. Place saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil.
2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and cover it. Let the eggs stand in the hot water for 25 minutes. Empty the hot water into the sink and fill with cold running water until eggs have cooled down.
3. Meanwhile wash celery stalk. Chop it into tiny pieces.
4. Peel the eggs. Add them with the chopped celery to a small mixing bowl and mash them together with a fork.
5. Stir the mayonnaise, salt and pepper into the egg mixture. Set the egg salad in the refrigerator.
6. Mix the softened butter with the dried parsley (I used fresh) in a small bowl. Set aside.
7. Butter one slice of bread. On the other half spread the egg salad. Put together and cut in half.
4 eggs
1 celery stalk
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
a pinch of pepper
1/4 cup softened butter
2 tablespoons dried mint or parsley
8 slices of fresh bread
1. In a small saucepan cover eggs with cold water - at least 1 inch above the eggs. Place saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil.
2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and cover it. Let the eggs stand in the hot water for 25 minutes. Empty the hot water into the sink and fill with cold running water until eggs have cooled down.
3. Meanwhile wash celery stalk. Chop it into tiny pieces.
4. Peel the eggs. Add them with the chopped celery to a small mixing bowl and mash them together with a fork.
5. Stir the mayonnaise, salt and pepper into the egg mixture. Set the egg salad in the refrigerator.
6. Mix the softened butter with the dried parsley (I used fresh) in a small bowl. Set aside.
7. Butter one slice of bread. On the other half spread the egg salad. Put together and cut in half.
Anne of Green Gables Cookbook
This wonderful cookbook was inspired by the most famous of all Canadian children's books, L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. It is written by Kate MacDonald who is a home economist and food stylist with a very special interest in the Anne books: she is L.M. Montgomery's granddaughter!
I have had my copy since before I was married and enjoyed getting it down from the shelf this afternoon and looking through it. I made her Poetical Egg Salad Sandwiches, Lettuce Salad, and Old-fashioned Lemonade for dinner.
"There, there, never mind your kissing nonsense. I'd sooner see you doing strickly as you're told. As for cooking, I mean to begin giving you lessons in that some of these days. But you're so feather-brained, Anne, I've been waiting to see if you'd sober down a little and learn to be steady before I begin. You've got to keep your wits about you in cooking and not stop in the middle of things to let your thoughts rove over all creation." -Anne of Green Gables, XIII.
Can you guess who said this?!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Fern is home
She is resting quietly on my bed. She needs to stay in the same room for at least two days so we moved her litter and food in there too. They of course shaved her belly and also part of her leg. I think that is where they put in the I.V.
She was definitely glad to see us and wanted out of the pet carrier right away! I'm sure in time she will forgive us. :0) She has already given Grace several kisses on the hand.
She was definitely glad to see us and wanted out of the pet carrier right away! I'm sure in time she will forgive us. :0) She has already given Grace several kisses on the hand.
"After" Bedroom Pictures
Believe it or not, this room actually took longer than the pantry! There were lots of little "treasures" hidden everywhere! I cleaned up their baskets and other drawers so they would have more room to put things.
Grace now has 5 things on the end of her bed instead of 25! The rest of her friends now sit on the bookshelf.
I put various containers in their nightstand drawers for "stuff." One for papers, knick-knacks and purses. Both Grace and Emily seem to collect purses and they didn't get it from me. I still haven't switched over from my winter one. Ha!
I think it will be easier to maintain for them now.
Grace now has 5 things on the end of her bed instead of 25! The rest of her friends now sit on the bookshelf.
I put various containers in their nightstand drawers for "stuff." One for papers, knick-knacks and purses. Both Grace and Emily seem to collect purses and they didn't get it from me. I still haven't switched over from my winter one. Ha!
I think it will be easier to maintain for them now.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Keeping it real
I have had several friends ask me to help them organize their home and I'm very flattered by the suggestion! But as you can see, I have plenty of mess around here to keep me busy! ;0) Back in February I deep cleaned Grace and Emily's room and it is usually very tidy but things got crazy this weekend. All the new birthday presents were alot of it! I asked Grace to clear off her bed this morning so I could change the sheets so that is most of the pile on the floor. I need to come up with some space to store stuffed animals...all best friends of course! Both of my girls inherited the "packrat" gene from their mommy! Here are some "before" pictures, nothing to hide! I will post the "after" ones tomorrow.
Major junk drawers going on here!
Major junk drawers going on here!
Fun Rhymes and Songs
We started back at our schoolwork this morning after taking several weeks off. We had an extra light day and I split up lessons with some neat rhymes I found in "A Child's Seasonal Treasury" by Betty Jones.
Beehive
Here is the beehive, where are the bees? (Hold out clenched fist)
Hidden away where nobody sees! (Look at fist; shake head "no.")
Here they come creeping out of the hive, (Open fist slowly, gradually
extend fingers.)
One, two, three, four, five,
ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM, see they're alive! (Flutter fingers all around.)
My Horses
My white horses like to step
Peaceful and slow,
Over mountains, through valleys,
So upright they go.
My brown horses merrily
Trot in the sun,
With their silver hooves beating
The ground as they run.
My black horses gallop
With courage around,
And they throw up their heads
As they hammer the ground.
(Children enact horse movements as described, my kids ran around in a circle in the livingroom)
Little Birdie
I saw a little birdie coming hop, hop, hop!
And I said, "Little Birdie, won't you stop, stop, stop?
Won't you stop a moment and play with me?"
But he wagged his little tail and away flew he!
(Beginning in a circle, children hold their hands under their armpits like wings, hop, stop, and fly away.)
Big Cow
I saw a big cow saying, "Moo, moo, moo,"
And I said, "Big big cow, how do you do, do, do?
Can't you come awhile and play with me?"
"I'm busy eating grass to make milk for your tea!"
(Beginning in a circle on hands and knees, say Moo, and pretend to eat grass.)
Little Fish
I saw a little fish come swimming past,
And I said, "Little Fish, why do you go so fast?
Can't you stop a moment and play with me?"
But he wagged his little tail and swam down to the sea.
(Beginning in a circle, children make a breast stroke swimming gesture and swim all around and then away.)
Little Horses
Far out at sea there are horses to ride,
Little white horses that race with the tide,
Their tossing manes are the white sea foam,
And the lashing winds are driving them home,
To shadowy stables, fast they must flee,
To the great green caravan under the sea.
(Children pretend to mount their seahorses, then trot and gallop going in one direction around a circle. Shake heads and return to original place in circle.)
A trip to the veterinary
If you could say a little prayer for my kitty today I would really appreciate it. She is on her way to get spayed and will be spending all day and night there. A good thing that may come out of it is, she will finally realize she is a cat. :0)
As you can see from the photos, she has issues drinking from her perfectly fine *kitty* bowl! We do have her trained to stay away from glasses now so she switched the the bathroom and kitchen faucets. I hope today goes by fast.
(Testing the milk for Santa!)
As you can see from the photos, she has issues drinking from her perfectly fine *kitty* bowl! We do have her trained to stay away from glasses now so she switched the the bathroom and kitchen faucets. I hope today goes by fast.
(Testing the milk for Santa!)
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Making good use of my new table linens
I ironed up my vintage linens today and I'm thinking my iron is getting old because I had an awful time getting the wrinkles out. As you will see in the pictures, I gave up for some of the pieces!
When I first saw this piece of cutwork I was thinking it was just a random pattern but as you can see there is a peacock and butterfly pattern all the way around! What patience and diligence this must have taken to do the same design over and over again. A lesson I can definitely learn!
Our breakfast dishes and a tea set on top of my piesafe.
I put two of the smaller pieces in our master bathroom.
Lastly, in the main bathroom. Now my candle will stop sliding to the back of the toliet and marking up the wall!
When I first saw this piece of cutwork I was thinking it was just a random pattern but as you can see there is a peacock and butterfly pattern all the way around! What patience and diligence this must have taken to do the same design over and over again. A lesson I can definitely learn!
Our breakfast dishes and a tea set on top of my piesafe.
I put two of the smaller pieces in our master bathroom.
Lastly, in the main bathroom. Now my candle will stop sliding to the back of the toliet and marking up the wall!
Saturday, June 24, 2006
"After" Closet Pictures
I can see the floor again!!! I moved all the organizers that were in the bedroom into here.
On the top shelf are boxes of pictures, wedding dress, childhood papers and journals and completed schoolbooks from Grace and Emily.
The bottom shelf contain pillow stuffing, ribbon, felt, and candle making supplies. All of these things were given to me by my next door neighbor when she moved.
The rubbermaid containers contain fabric, alot of it given to me by my friend Elizabeth. I have very generous friends. :0)
Now I need to go tidy up the rest of the house. It was clean when I started these projects but over the course of the day, things got very messy. Does this happen at your house too?!
On the top shelf are boxes of pictures, wedding dress, childhood papers and journals and completed schoolbooks from Grace and Emily.
The bottom shelf contain pillow stuffing, ribbon, felt, and candle making supplies. All of these things were given to me by my next door neighbor when she moved.
The rubbermaid containers contain fabric, alot of it given to me by my friend Elizabeth. I have very generous friends. :0)
Now I need to go tidy up the rest of the house. It was clean when I started these projects but over the course of the day, things got very messy. Does this happen at your house too?!
Master Bedroom
After cleaning out my closet, I decided to rearrange the bedroom. :0)
The green bedskirt really stands out to me so I think I will keep my eye out for a cream or white one. The stuffed animals on the bed are a bunny (her name is Buttercup!) from my childhood and a Winnie-the-Pooh my mom gave me when Grace was born. The wall color is called "Warm Nutmeg" and Phillip says it reminds him of a Wendy's Frosty. LOL
I used two of my new vintage placemats for our bedside tables.
My sewing area looks so bare compared to before but I'm sure it will fill up quickly with the unfinished projects I'm so good at. Hehe.
The green bedskirt really stands out to me so I think I will keep my eye out for a cream or white one. The stuffed animals on the bed are a bunny (her name is Buttercup!) from my childhood and a Winnie-the-Pooh my mom gave me when Grace was born. The wall color is called "Warm Nutmeg" and Phillip says it reminds him of a Wendy's Frosty. LOL
I used two of my new vintage placemats for our bedside tables.
My sewing area looks so bare compared to before but I'm sure it will fill up quickly with the unfinished projects I'm so good at. Hehe.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Vintage Linens
While everyone was at VBS this morning I decided to take a trip to my favorite antique store. On the way there I saw an "Estate Sale" sign and pulled over. This house was vintage linens galore! I could have filled up 10 clotheslines with all the things there! I picked out my favorites, along with a pair of sweet gloves and 8 gold teaspoons. I was so excited about my finds I came straight home and got everything soaking in the kitchen sink. There are a few stains, but for the most part the pieces are in good shape.
Oh, I wanted to share a picture of my strawberry planter. I planted an assortment of annuals a few months ago and they have been loving the sun lately!
Oh, I wanted to share a picture of my strawberry planter. I planted an assortment of annuals a few months ago and they have been loving the sun lately!
