~Scenes From Our Weekend~

Hello everyone! As you can see the Texas wildflowers are in full bloom right now!


Bluebonnets, Daisies, Indian Paintbrushes...


Our Saturday started with a trip to the Farmer's Market. Fresh red romaine and Buttercrunch lettuce ...


Also, some local honey...perfect for toast!


At a local resale store I found this cardboard cupboard for $1.00! The artwork is done by Marjolein Basten, one of my favorite artists.


I tucked it into a corner on the patio.


There are envelopes and shelves inside for seed packets and mini gardening tools.


Saturday afternoon I got out some fabric scraps for a little sewing.


I made these mini strawberry pincushions while watching the new Charlotte's Web movie.


I added mini beads and pearls to a few of them...


I hope you enjoyed these scenes from our weekend. Tuesday is "May Day" so I will be back soon with some fun ways to celebrate it. Have a great week!

"Show and Tell Friday"

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday!" Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, a new antique find, an old love letter. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!

If you would like to join in, all you have to do is post your "Show and Tell" on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky.


My "show and tell" is a doll house known as Daisy Cottage. Fortunately, it doesn't still look like this! I bought it at a yard sale in 2005 for $20.00. I was going through my doll house phase so who knows what I was thinking!


Half of the shingles had already been removed so I got to busy taking off the rest. The ones on the front refused to come off and I thought about sanding them, but I'm just not that patient! Time for Plan B.


I decided to "paint" on some shingles and the lumps of leftover wood and glue helped to give it that rustic look. ;0) I also gave it a fresh coat of yellow paint and painted small daisies on the trim and shutters.


I will freely admit to stealing borrowing the idea of painting the tree, bushes and...


...Wisteria on the sides.


For the wallpaper in each room I used scrapbook paper.


I got cottage style furniture on Ebay.


The bathroom furniture came with the dollhouse.


If you look closely you will see a pie cooling on the stove.


Now all we need is a family to move in!

Fussy Day Chicken

Sandra hosts a Slow Cooking Thursday each week and we happened to have a crockpot meal last night so I thought I would join in.

It's called Fussy Day Chicken because once it's in the crockpot you can forget about dinner while you tend to your fussy baby. Or fussy 7 year old. ;0)


Fussy Day Chicken

-1 whole chicken
-Barbecue Sauce:
1 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons honey
3 shakes worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
dash of pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until well blended. This sauce may seem spicy when tasted before use, but it is not as spicy on the meat.

Put chicken, legs up, into slow cooker. Pour barbecue sauce over and inside chicken. Cook 8-10 hours on low.


The meat falls easily from bones and sauce makes gravy for rice or potatoes. All that's left is to fix a salad!


For more crockpot recipes be sure to visit Sandra at her place, Diary of a SAHM!

Also, for those of you who asked, my Show and Tell will be a weekly feature so be looking through your treasures for something to share tomorrow!

~This and That~

Thank you for your comments about our picnic and for sharing your plans for the week with me. Tracy asked for instructions on how to make the paper boats we sailed at the lake. Here you can see one in our water garden. It reminds me of "Scuffy the Tugboat" and how he needed more room to sail!


Tracy, if you know how to make a basic paper boat (fold a piece of paper in half, fold down the corners into triangles, then fold the bottom flaps up) these instructions will show you how to turn it into something more fancy. The instructions are from "Curious George learns how to ride a bike" book. Click on the picture for a larger view.


After our school work was finished today, I made a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies. I saw the ones Christie made and had to try her recipe. I have only ever used the recipe off the back of the chocolate chip bag but we all agreed these were much better!! My pie safe is full, along with my freezer. I always say I'm going to freeze some in case we have unexpected guests but they never seem to last that long! Thank you for the recipe, Christie!


Speaking of cookies, I just have to share these pictures of my little niece, Keira....

"What is this that Mommy and Daddy left out?"


Caught ya!


What's better than one cookie? Three!


YUM!


Don't worry, she didn't really eat all the cookies and she was a good girl and brushed her teeth afterwards. :0)


Isn't she the cutest thing?!

Ugly Ducklings and a Picnic

Sunday afternoon we decided to go on a picnic at the lake near our library. For the past several years there has been a pair of Swans that nest there every spring. I wanted to see if they had had their babies yet.

Can you spot them?



Three ugly duckings! I don't think they are ugly though. :0)



So soft and fluffy!!



We fed them some bread which made them happy.



We took along a picnic and lemonade.



It was more of a snack-y type lunch.



Homemade paper boats...



...ready to be sailed.



I hope you enjoyed the Swan pictures! They will come in handy for our upcoming science lessons. I decided to pick a different animal and bird to study each month. In April it will be Swans and Squirrels (since we have one that visits our birdfeeders!). We will read stories, write poems, draw pictures, etc.

We are expecting thunderstorms for the next few days so we won't be working in the garden. I'm going to try and get some sewing projects finished. What are your plans for the week?

~Sunday Morning Breakfast~

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His Heaven;
All's right with the world!
- Robert Browning

Thank you so much for joining in my "Show and Tell" this past Friday! I had so much fun seeing your special treasures and meeting some new friends along the way!

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday with your family.

"Show and Tell Friday"

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday!" Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, a new antique find, an old love letter. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!

If you would like to join in, all you have to do is post your "Show and Tell" on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky.

Here is my "Show and Tell...."


It was the summer of 1994. Phillip and I were newlyweds and living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was the perfect day for going out to the lake, and Phillip also thought it was the perfect day for teaching me how to drive his stick shift car. Oh, the mistakes new husbands make! ;0) The driving lesson took place on an old dirt road and my younger brother tagged along for the show. Let's just say I didn't learn how to drive stick shift that day but I did make a new record--stalling a car 168 times in 15 minutes! ;0) That was the end of that lesson. Forever!

I thought the day was ruined until my brother decided to go for a swim. On one of his dives to the bottom of the lake he found something shiny. I love jewelry so I was very excited to see this Black Hills Gold and diamond ring.


Being a young teenager, he didn't have any need for the ring so he gave it to me! On one condition though...when he got a serious girlfriend, I would have to give it back to him. I agreed.

The years have passed and the ring has been tucked away in my jewelry box. I wonder if my brother even remembers our trip to the lake! He will have been married for 2 years this May. Sounds like a serious girlfriend to me!



The time has come for me to hold up my end of the deal, don't you think?

Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a great week so far. It's been rainy and gloomy here and I feel like sleeping until the sun comes out again. Something tells me the girls and Benjamin wouldn't go for that though. ;0)

We had another missions meeting at our house this week and I want to share the recipe of what I made for dessert.


It's called Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake.


It has a wonderful almond crumb topping...


Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Cake Layer:
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. almond extract
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup sour cream
1 egg

Cream Cheese Layer:
8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg

3/4 cup raspberry jam
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Grease and flour bottom and sides of a spring form pan. In a large bowl mix flour and sugar together. Using pasty blender cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 cup of mixture for later.

To remaining mixture add baking powder, baking soda, almond extract, salt, sour cream and egg. Blend well and pour into greased pan., spreading out evenly and bringing batter about two inches up the sides.

In separate bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and egg. Blend well and pour into batter lined pan. Carefully spoon raspberry jam over cream cheese mixture.

Combine remaining crumb mixture with almonds and sprinkle over top of jam. Bake at 350F for 45-55 minutes or until cream cheese is set and crust is golden brown. Let cool at least 15 minutes.

Enjoy!


My first "Show & Tell" will be this Friday. Phillip took this picture of a few of my special things and made a "button" from it. You can see if on my sidebar. Feel free to download it and use it in your "Show and Tell" post.


I'll add a Mr. Linky Friday morning and all you need to do is come here and add your post link to the box!

Talk to you soon!

~In the Garden~

Hello everyone! I'm glad to hear there is an interest in "Show and Tell Friday." Some of you mentioned not knowing about Mr. Linky. Since I'm awful at explaining things, I'll show you instead!

My friend, Sandra uses a Mr. Linky for her "Slow Cooking Thursday." Click on the link, scroll down to the bottom of her post and you will see a box for typing in your name and the link of your post. On Friday, everyone will be able to click on your link and see your "Show and Tell." Very easy!

I got a wonderful surprise in the mail yesterday. My friend, Anita sent me some some of her flower seeds all the way from Germany!


She made the prettiest little card holders for them too...


Here is what she sent: Columbine (2 varieties), Marigolds, White Marigolds, Sunflowers, Hollyhocks, Honestly, Cosmos, Love-in-a-mist and Pumpkins. Thank you, for your thoughtful gift, Anita!!


So, where are we going to plant all of these seeds?? Anita's package arrived just in time. Last week I had a small corner of the backyard dug up for planting flowers.

Here is a "before" picture with all of our winter bird feeders still out...


Here it is now. We kept the birdbath and added two stepping stones. This will be Grace's garden to take care of.


Benjamin has a spot for the Sunflowers he grows every year.


Emily is very excited about her new garden. It is actually my old compost box. I'm a composting failure, please don't yell at me. ;0) Emily is going to grow peas, carrots, radishes and four o'clocks.


As you can see, we will be very busy this week!



I'll be back soon though. Until then, I'll be in the garden!

Picture from www.art.com.

Show & Tell and Cookies

How is that for a title. ;0) Clarice mentioned the blue and white tea set on the top of my fridge so I thought I would get it down to show you.


I found it at a resale shop a few years ago. I can't remember the exact price but I know it was around $10.00. It was handmade by a lady named "Barb" because she has scratched her name on the bottom of each piece. I used it for several months but stopped for a few reasons. The first one being that the spout leaks when you pour the tea. I will give it another try though, maybe it's not as bad as I remember it.


It came with these 6 little cups but they don't have handles so they get *very* hot. I think I will keep them out though and let the girls and Benjamin use them for cold drinks.


The last part of the set is this pretty scalloped dish. I'm not sure what it's supposed to be used for but I keep teabags in it!


I also want to share with you a new cookie recipe that I got from my friend, Amber. If you like banana bread and chocolate, then you will love these cookies!


Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies

1/3 C. butter, softened
1/2 C. sugar
1 egg
1/2 C. mashed ripe banana
1/2 t. vanilla extract
1 C. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. baking soda
1 C. semisweet chocolate chips

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, banana and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto baking sheets coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks.

You may want to double the recipe, they go quickly! Thank you for the recipe, Amber!


Speaking of show and tell, I had an idea. Sometimes I come across something I want to post about but it's small - a special book, a childhood item, a new find, etc. What if I figured out how to use Mr. Linky and every Friday we could have "show and tell" time? We could share a picture(s) and the story behind our item. Would you be interested in something like this??

A Craft Filled Day

"The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in the house
All that cold, cold, wet day."
-The Cat in the Hat

Friday was wet and rainy, so we decided to get out some craft supplies. We had a "petal people" kit and some pressed pansies to work with.


In the past for pressed flowers, I have used paper towel between phone book pages but the flowers tend to stick to the paper towel. The cheapest flower press was $15.00 at Michaels but I found a paper refill package for $2.99. I put the flowers between the paper and cardboard layers and then put several heavy books on top of it. The books worked as a substitute press. In two weeks our flowers were ready...






We made 8 petal people. The yellow one is mine...


Emily's doll...


I love how Grace made her doll with glasses! Benjamin wasn't too interested in these crafts so he ate crackers and watched a movie. Two of his favorite things to do!


With our leftover supplies we made three petal babies. A walnut half makes a perfect cradle.


I got the idea for this next craft from a back issue of Victoria magazine. Heidi Garnello makes amazing pictures of flower fairies from pressed flowers. The pansies become skirts or dresses and the bodies and faces are painted on.

It was much harder than I thought it would be!




Grace's Victorian lady is playing croquet!


Four hours went by so we took the rest of the pansies and made a mini wreath picture from them.


I have a huge to-do list for this weekend. I still don't have our winter vs. summer clothes sorted and if I don't get that done I think I will
scream! ;0) We have a missionary staying with us for a few days next week so I need to get Benjamin's closet cleaned out. The garage is a mess and our toliet is leaking!! Thank goodness for leftover Easter candy!

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

~Through the kitchen window-In Springtime~

"On the first day of spring, whenever that may be, any day of March, April or May, the sky is swept clear of cloud and rain and winter murk, the morning sun shines in through the kitchen window and there is a little warmth in it.

Start to spring clean, very early."

This is a quote for a sweet book called "Through the Kitchen Window" by Susan Hill. I did some spring cleaning in my kitchen last week.

I dusted my canisters and made sure they were full.


Here is the rest of Susan's quote...

"Turn out the cupboards. Sweep to the back, cleaning all the debris of spilled rice and sugar and currants and dead ants; rub away the sticky round rings of jam and marmalade. Throw out half-empty packets and half-full jars with lost lids, and dented cans and unlabeled bottles. Rip off the dirty shelf papers. Brush cobwebs from corners.

Soon, everything smells of hot soapy water, and woodwork drying slowly in the sun and the spring breeze blowing through the open door."

Along with spring cleaning, I also got out some of my special things to display. They had been put away around the holidays and I had forgotten about them.

This shelf holds a special plate and server that was a birthday gift from my mom. In the front are our mini creamers. We have a cow, elephant and bunny so far.


My friend, Julieann recently asked what we have on the top of our refrigerators. I have various tea things and a pitcher. They were all found at resale stores over the years.


I completely rearranged my sideboard last week. Here is the "before" from this past Christmas...


I tried to overcome my symmetrical issues by making things uneven. :0)


I've been wanting to do "Art Study" with the girls and Benjamin so I framed the first picture we will be looking at. Dried roses are in the silver dish and there is a Mourning Dove nest under the glass.


Various tea books and jars of apple butter are on the left.


After cleaning, I brought in some of my Asparagus fern and Columbine to enjoy in the house.


Lastly, I want to show you an idea I read about in an old Victoria magazine. I see teacup saucers that are missing their cups in antique stores quite often. They can be used as saucers for other glasses too.


If you have been spring cleaning, be sure to reward yourself with a special treat!


Thank you for looking at the pictures of my springtime kitchen!

~Easy Entertaining~

Hello everyone! Thank you for your comments about our Easter, my new blog header and the well-wishes for Emily. Her bruise has changed from pink/ purple to black, but is shrinking in size. We went to Home Depot yesterday and the salesman said, "I have one question for you....did you win?" I told him the bed won!!

I had a few question in the comments so I thought I would answer them here...

Rebecca, I found the lamb cake mold at a store called "Party City." It's made by Wilton and it was $10.99. I bought it several years ago so if they don't sell it anymore, Ebay might have it.

I was also asked how I did Grace and Emily's hair. First, I put it up in a pony tail. Then I twisted it tightly and at the same time looped it around like a cinnamon run, against their head. I used lots of bobby pins and hairspray! I added the ribbon last.

Oh, and yes, we ate the cake. :0)

Last night we had some friends over for a mission's meeting. Phillip is in charge of the mission's committee at our church so we will need to get together every quarter.

I wanted to share with you my quick and easy menu. Mondays are always busy with school work, laundry and catching up after the weekend. This week was especially busy after Easter. Lots of plastic grass to vacuum up. ;0)

I set everything up buffet style.


I made chicken salad sandwiches on rolls and croissants. I used canned chicken, mayonnaise, salt, pepper and a little garlic powder.


The only thing I had to do for the veggie tray was slice up the green pepper.


I wanted to serve grapes but they were $2.50 per lb. Strawberries were $1.77 a carton so I went with those.


I put the snack-y type foods on the table.


For drinks I served soda, ice tea, lemonade and water. I made unsweetened tea but set out some sugar, a sugar substitute and slices of lemon.


Since it was an evening party, I also made a pot of coffee. Everything was set up for easy self-serve.


For extra seating I brought in our patio furniture and extra kitchen chairs.


I also put my patio couch cushion (which I covered with a blanket) on the fireplace.


Pepperidge Farm cookies were on sale so that was dessert.


I put them, along with leftover Easter candy in the living room, to munch on during the meeting.

It took less than 1 hour to set everything up and clean-up was nice and easy too. I hope I have given you some ideas for simple entertaining! I would love to hear your easy entertaining ideas and tips.


Grace wanted me to mention that the wild bunny living in our yard has had a name change...it's "Carrot" now. I discovered he's been eating my Lamb's Ear plant so I'm rethinking this whole "cute bunny in the garden" thing!

I hope your week is going well and I'll talk to you soon!

Our Easter

As you can see, I have a new blog topper. A special thank you to Phillip for making it for me! He was very patient while I said, "No, to the right...up a bit...no, down..ok, now to the left." ;0)
The fern is from my front flower bed. The welcome sign hangs on my front porch and the bistro table is an early Mother's Day present. Very early!

Our Easter weekend was cold. We actually had two hours of snow flurries on Saturday! That night it got down to 33F, so I covered up my plants and brought in the potted ones.

Fern was a good "watch-cat." She also thought the dirt made a good snack!


Poor Emily got an unexpected "Easter Egg." A huge bruise on her cheek. She and Grace shared the upper bunk Saturday night and during a tickling/wrestling game she hit her face on the bed rail. Fortunately, she says it doesn't hurt very much and was pleased when hardly anyone noticed it at church.


Everyone woke up to an Easter basket and some new outside toys. Hopefully it will be a bit warmer this week and they can play in the sandbox.


The string Benjamin is holding is edible grass. It feels like straw and probably tastes like it too! Not much has been eaten!


Here are the girls and Benjamin all ready for church. Grace and Emily were flower girls in a wedding 2 years ago and Emily is wearing one of the dresses. We found Grace's dress and Benjamin's shirt and the children's resale store this past week.


Grace and Emily wore their hair in a "cinnamon roll" bun, and I added a pink bow.


Here they are putting fresh flowers on the cross, at the front of our church.


After the service was the egg hunt...


It was about 45F degrees but they braved the cold!


We had lunch at Phillip's family's house. We had ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, carrots, asparagus and rolls.

I made this lemon with butter cream lamb cake.


"Don't eat me!"


Lastly, I want to show you a real life Easter bunny. A baby rabbit has decided to live behind my Columbine flowers. The girls have named him Peter.


Off he goes, he's very camera shy!


Thank you for looking at my Easter pictures. I hope you had a wonderful day with your family!

~An Easter Blessing~

May Easter bring you a happy heart,
and may your spirit rejoice in the risen Lord.

More Easter Crafts

Hello everyone. We have been working out in the garden the last few days and also making some more Easter crafts.

My friend Susan shared the idea for these bunny napkin ring holders. Grace and Emily glued mini pom-poms on for the tails and we secured them with a small piece of scotch tape.


These next two crafts are from Martha Stewart. A soft basket make from pipe cleaners, make a good home for two little chicks.


The girls and Benjamin did a great job on their baskets!


I wasn't going to post these pictures because I don't like how they turned out, but then I thought maybe you've never seen a "Bunny rat."

I'm pretty sure they bite and even worse they smell like boiled eggs. ;0)


They have cute little bunny tales but it doesn't seem to help. Poor things!


Last night we dyed our eggs and today we will decorate them with glitter and stickers. Then they go into baskets and Saturday night the Easter Bunny exchanges them for Peeps and other Easter candy. Hopefully some chocolate. :0)


Having fun with all the colors...



While chicks and bunnies are lots of fun, Grace drew a picture of what we will be really celebrating this Easter Sunday. The Empty Tomb--Matthew 28:1-10.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. Mark 16:6

From my family to yours, may you have a joyous Easter celebration.

Hot Cross Buns

In England, hot-cross buns-soft and slightly sweet little cakes with a cross cut into the tops-are traditionally served on Good Friday.


You can never have too much icing!


Ingredients:

12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter melted and cooled, plus more for bowl and baking sheet
1 Cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
2 active dry yeast
1/2 Cup granulated sugar
2 Teaspoons plus one pinch salt
3/4 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 Teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
4 large eggs lightly beaten
5 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
1 1/3 Cups currants

Egg Wash and Icing
1 large egg white
2 Cups confectioners' sugar
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (I substituted milk)

Directions:

1. Generously butter a large bowl. In a small saucepan set over medium heat, heat 1 cup milk until it is warm to the touch.

2. Pour warm milk into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook. With mixer on low, add yeast, granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, melted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and beaten eggs.

3. With mixer on low, add flour, 1 cup at a time, until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms around the dough hook, about 3 minutes. Continue kneading, scraping down hook and sides of bowl as necessary until smooth, about 4 minutes longer. Add currants, and knead until combined, about 30 seconds.

4. Turn dough out onto a heavily floured surface. Knead by hand to evenly distribute currants, about 1 minute.

5. Shape dough into a ball, and place in the buttered bowl; turn ball to coat with butter, and cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour 20 minutes. For a richer flavor, let dough rise in a refrigerator overnight.

6. Generously butter an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet. Turn dough out onto work surface, and knead briefly to redistribute the yeast. Divide dough into twenty-four equal pieces, about 2 ounces each. Shape pieces into tight balls, and place on baking sheet, spaced 1/2 inch apart. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until touching and doubled in bulk, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

7. Heat oven to 375 degrees;, with rack positioned in center. To make egg wash, whisk together egg white, 1 tablespoon water, and pinch of salt in a small bowl; brush tops of buns with egg wash. Using very sharp scissors or a buttered slicing knife, slice a cross into the top of each bun. Transfer pan to oven, and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool.
8. Make glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon milk, confectioners’ sugar, and lemon juice. Pipe or ladle glaze over buns, and serve.

Hot cross buns,
Hot cross buns,
one ha' penny,
two a penny,
hot cross buns.

If you have no daughters,
give them to your sons,
one ha' penny,
two a penny,
Hot Cross Buns



They make a great breakfast with a hot cup of tea or coffee!

~A Home Tour~

Hello everyone! I thought I would take you on a little house tour today. My parents just moved into a new home and sent me some pictures this morning. It has been well taken care of and they are 4th owners.

It is a 1925 Tudor style home and here is the charming front door. Can you see the lion door knocker?


The kitchen is bright and cheery. Of course I love the yellow. :0)


They have done a lot of unpacking this week. The pantry is so cute!


This is an antique light fixture that will hang in the hall. It had to be taken down to get the furniture upstairs!


Here is the diningroom...I love all of the windows in this house!


This is one of my favorite rooms. The yellow and white is so pretty.


When I saw these next pictures I called my mom and said, "I'm moving in!" Here is their wonderful sunroom...


The wall lamp is a nice touch.


I wouldn't get anything done if I had this sunroom. Wouldn't you like to sit here with a cup of coffee or tea? All day long!


I would also like to say a special Happy Birthday to my mom! I hope you are having a wonderful day, Mom! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you. Take a break from the unpacking and eat lots of cake. :0)

Thank you for coming along on the tour with me!

Monday, April 2, 2007

Hello everyone! Did you have a nice weekend? We got lots of rain which we always need. Our grass really needs cut now, but our electric garage door broke over the weekend, which means we can't get the lawn mower out until it's fixed!!

On Saturday, I got up early to make lasagna and brownies for our friends that just had a new baby. I used the no-cook noodles and followed the recipe on the back of the box.


I also made these Peanut Butter and Chocolate Brownies...


If you are a fan of peanut butter and chocolate together these brownies are for you! Be warned though, they are very rich!


Peanut Butter Marbled Brownies

Ingredients:

2 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk

1 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, peanut butter, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1 egg, and milk until smooth. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, 2 cups white sugar, and vanilla. Mix in the remaining 3 eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; mix into the batter. Stir in chocolate chips.

4. Remove 1 cup of the chocolate batter. Spread the remaining batter into the prepared pan. Spread the peanut butter filling over the top. Drop the reserved chocolate batter by teaspoonful over the filling. Using a knife, gently swirl through the top layers for a marbled effect.

5. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out almost clean. Cool completely, then cut into bars.

Recipe from Allrecipes.com



I've been looking through my magazines for Easter decoration and craft ideas. Yesterday, we went to Michaels and got some supplies. As you can see we will be having lots of fun with pipe cleaners and pom-poms this week. :0)


Speaking of Easter crafts I wanted to show you these cute Easter baskets. I had the pleasure of meeting Heather from Steven's Rib, her daughter Elissa and little boy, Seth. We had a wonderful visit and we chatted like we were old friends! She made us these stamped Easter baskets filled with Easter candy. Aren't they cute?!



Thank you, again Heather for the baskets and the wonderful visit!


I made a few Easter decorations Sunday afternoon. The first are place card holders for our Easter dinner. I found these gift tags at Michaels. I added an Easter sticker and wrote our names on each one. Very easy!




Lastly, this idea came from the latest Martha Stewart issue. If you follow the link, you can print out the templates and get directions.

This mother hen is busy watching over her three chicks.


A baby chick...


Two more...


These is a candy surprise inside each chick. These would make great place card holders too!


Thank you for looking at my Easter decorations! I'll have a few more to show you later and also share a Hot Cross Bun recipe. Have a great week!