Show and Tell Friday!

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.


I found some fun strawberry fabric at Hobby Lobby a few months ago and finally got around to making Grace and Emily summer aprons. I used a simple design and let the girls pick the trim and pocket style.


Grace chose a green trim along the bottom.


And a small pocket on the right.




Emily chose a red ruffled trim.


And a double pocket in the middle.


Her favorite part!


Now they just need to find a good cookie recipe to test them out on. :0)

Thank you for looking at our show and tell!


Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!

Homemade Teacup Card

This homemade card was inspired by the lovely card that Marfa at This Life is Totally Scrumptious recently shared.




You will need a 4 x 5 1/2" notecard.


Cut an approx. 3 1/4" circle from coordinating scrapbook paper. I traced a spool of ribbon.


Trim off the top of the circle at 3" and the bottom at 2 1/4"


Glue the bottom and sides to front of notecard.


Add a decorative stitch mark with a pen, if desired.


Along with steam curls.


Write "Enjoy life sip by sip, not gulp by gulp" at the top of card.


Tuck a teabag into the cup.


Send to a friend. Let me know if you make one, too!

Garlic and Cinnamon Bread Twists

Good morning! I hope your week is going well so far. Phillip was out of town for a few days, but is back at home and taking the rest of the week off. Today I'm going to share a new recipe for bread twists, so get out your apron and rolling pin!


I used my Homemade Pizza dough recipe and doubled it, so I could make a batch of both garlic and cinnamon twists.

Soft Bread Twists

1 (.25) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water (110F degrees)
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 425F. In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

2. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 10 minutes.


3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface into a 15 x 12" rectangle.

4. Cut dough into 1 inch strips lengthwise and then in half.


5. Twist each strip several times and place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheet.


Garlic Twists: Combine 3 tablespoons melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder in small bowl and brush over dough twists.


Bake at 425F for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush with remaining butter mixture and enjoy!


Cinnamon Twists: Brush twists with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake at 425F for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned.


These make a great snack on a summer afternoon. Let me know if you make some, too!

Through the Summer Kitchen Window

A favorite book of mine is Through the Kitchen Window by Susan Hill. She takes us through the seasons in her beautiful kitchen, sharing recipes and thoughts:

"In summer, the kitchen is not for lingering in, only for preparing food quickly, wrapping it or dishing it up, and taking it outside. The stillroom and the larder and the dairy are dim and stone-slabbed and pleasingly cool. Jugs and bowls and dishes stand, muslin-covered."

Here are some scenes from my summer kitchen...


Yellow daisies in a mason jar.


A summery table cloth.


Floating flower candles in teacups.


"A pot of basil on the table, a pungent sweet geranium on the windowsill, a bunch of mint hung from the ceiling will all help to keep out summer flies."


Wonderful letters from friends. Farrah sent me the beautiful summer fruit card that she watercolored.


A basket of dish towels by the kitchen sink.


A kid friendly meal of homemade Sloppy Joes.

"In June and July, the kitchen is full of bowls and baskets of fruit, heaps of strawberries and raspberries, gooseberries and logan berries and cherries, red- and white- and black-currants, glistening and richly-ripe."

Strawberry and blueberry shortcake.


Fresh blackberries with whipped cream.


Fruit Filled Oatmeal Bars.


And cheery lemons to brighten up the kitchen or for making homemade lemonade.

I hope you have enjoyed peeking through my summer kitchen window!

Weekend Chit~Chat

Hello! Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments about my embroidered sachet! It is all wrapped up for the bridal shower tomorrow.


In garden news, I just noticed that my sunflowers are beginning to bloom.


I'm pretty sure I planted "Mammoth" seeds, but these flowers are only about 4 inches across.


I spent some time organizing my magazines this past week. I have several back summer issues of Victoria to read through again.


Along with the newest issue of Martha Stewart.


There is a neat idea of using corks to make blueberry stamps that I can't wait to try.


And doesn't this look delicious?


It's supposed to get up to 103F today, so we'll be drinking lots of lemonade and trying to stay cool. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Show and Tell Friday!

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.


I finally finished my embroidery project: a small sachet bag.


The satin stitch wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, but the bullions gave me some trouble.




White lattice.


The bag is lined and I hand stitched the top.


A good friend of mine is getting married in a few weeks and the bag, along with these Crabtree and Evelyn lotions and soaps will be her bridal shower gift.

Thank you for looking at my show and tell!

Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!

Homemade Card

This is the card I made for this week's project. Remember that you can use any kind of paper, stamps or stickers.


You will need a 5 1/2 x 4" notecard. I used thick scrapbook paper.


Cut out the center of a small paper doily. Cut out a circle of scrapbook paper. Make it slightly larger than the center of doily.


Glue doily onto front of card. Glue scrapbook circle in the center.


Print out saying or poem of your choice on regular printing paper.


Cut into strips with decorative scissors. Dab edges with ink pad.


Add a stamp or sticker to center of doily.


Glue paper strips to card and add additional stamps and a bow at the top. Let me know if you make one too!

A Day in the Life of a Golden Retriever

My mornings start early with a puppy in the house. Last week I sat back with my camera and took some pictures of how things usually go around here.


"I love playing in the sandbox."


"And chewing on pails."


"Oops, how did that happen?"


"This wasn't part of my plan."


"Time for plan B."


"Boy, am I thirsty."


"Really thirsty."


"Much better!"


"It was an accident...I promise!"

Moonflowers and Fairies

Thank you for telling me what you've been up to this summer. It sounds like we all have been busy! Last week, I shared some pictures of my morning glories. I also planted a few moonflowers, but wasn't sure if any had come up.


I noticed a small curled bud as we pulled out of the driveway this past weekend. I was reminded of one of my favorite poems by Robert Louis Stevenson and some pictures from my garden that I took last year. I hope you don't mind if I share them again!


~The Flowers~

All the names I know from nurse: Gardener's garters, shepherd's purse,



Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock, and the Lady Hollyhock,



Fairy places, fairy things, Fairy woods where the wild bee wings,



Tiny trees for tiny dames-- These must all be fairy names!



Tiny woods below whose boughs Shady fairies weave a house,



Tiny tree-tops, rose or thyme, Where the braver fairies climb!



Fair are grown-up people's trees, But the fairest woods are these,



Where, if I were not so tall I should live for good and all.


Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!

Fun Days of Summer

Good morning! How is your summer going so far? We've been busy, but have enjoyed plenty of relaxing and lazy afternoons, too. The girls and Benjamin took two weeks of swim lessons, visited a couple of VBS's and we have more fun planned when Phillip takes the last week of July off. Time is flying by!


The girls and Benjamin were very brave about their swim lessons. They have never liked water on their faces but are now able to hold their breath under water for more than 30 seconds, swim across the pool and they even jumped off the diving board!


As a reward, we packed a picnic lunch and spent Friday afternoon at the nearby waterpark. The large bucket at the top of the slide slowly fills up with water and then tips over.


Watch out down below!


My summer garden is hanging in there, but my rhubarb loves the heat.


I have been harvesting the stalks a few at a time, chopping them into small pieces and storing in the freezer. Hopefully I will have enough for a rhubarb strawberry pie next month.


Sarah asked if I had a recipe for the Pink Lemonade I made on the 4th of July. I actually used a mix, but last week I tried a homemade version. This is my favorite regular lemonade recipe:

Old-Fashioned Lemonade

4 lemons
3/4 cup sugar
4 cups cold water

Cut lemons into thin slices, remove seeds. Place slices in a large non metal bowl; sprinkle with sugar and let stand 10 minutes. Press lemons with the back of a spoon (or potato masher) to extract juice. Transfer mixture to a pitcher and add water. Stir and then remove lemons. (I left in a few slices.) Serve over ice.

For pink lemonade, just add a spoonful of cranberry juice frozen concentrate!




We have been having fun with our water color pencils.


This is my attempt at drawing a morning glory vine.


Emily's pretty parakeets.


I have also been working on a little embroidery project. Hopefully it will be finished in time for show and tell.

I would love to hear how your summer is going!

Weekend Chit~Chat

Thank you to all who joined in for show and tell and your comments about my early Christmas gifts! I always enjoying seeing your treasures, too. Not much is happening in my gardens, but I did see a few Wisteria blooms this week.


Last night I made Mrs. H's delicious Blueberry Crumb Cake.


We all enjoyed a slice out on the pack patio after dinner.


The recipe makes two cakes, so I saved one for Saturday morning. Getting up at 6:00am isn't so bad when there's blueberry cake and hot coffee, right?!

Our weekend plans include taking a meal over to some friends who just had a baby. We will grill this evening and I would like to squeeze in some sewing. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Show and Tell Friday

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

When my family came for a visit last month, my mom and dad spent an afternoon running errands and visiting antique shops. My mom found a couple of Christmas presents and gave them to me early. :0)


A lovely vintage embroidered table runner.


It must have taken a long time to embroider. The same pattern is repeated on the other end.




I love all the french knots!


Crocheted trim.


My mom also gave me these beautiful salt and pepper shakers.


They are so tiny!


A carnation.


And a rose.

Thank you for looking at my show and tell!

*Please note: Since I get up at around 6:00am now, 11:00pm is too late for me to stay up. Mr. Linky will be posted at 10:00pm EST on Thursday evenings from now on.


Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!

Homemade Bookmark

I always have lots of leftover scrapbook paper after making cards, so today I'm going to show you what I use it for: homemade bookmarks!


Cut a rectangle of scrapbook paper or cardstock approx. 2 x 5 1/2"


Cut a small oval from cardstock. Add a stamp, sticker or writing.


Decorate the bottom half of bookmark. I also cut the corners with decorative scissors.


Punch a hole through the small oval and top of bookmark. I added the gold border around the oval by dabbing it with an inkpad.


Tie on a bow.


Ready for you to use or send to a friend! Here are a few more bookmark ideas...








If you cut the paper shorter, you can make gift tags. I hope you have enjoyed this week's paper project!

Rain Showers and Morning Glories

Hello everyone! We had a wonderful summer rain shower yesterday and it cooled off enough for us to sit out on the pack patio in the middle of the afternoon.


Emily's sunflower heavy with raindrops.




Daisy wasn't quite sure what to think of the rain.


But she soon decided that she liked it.


She especially liked catching raindrops.


And umbrellas!


These next few pictures are for my friend, Jenn. A couple of days ago she asked if I had any morning glory blooms and I said I hadn't seen any yet. There was a surprise waiting for me this morning though.








I hope you see some of your own blooms soon, Jenn!

Cream Cheese Banana Nut Bread

I have been making the same banana bread for the last 12 years. This past Friday I tried my friend, Linda's Cream Cheese Banana Bread and it is now my new favorite recipe!


The recipe makes two loaves which is nice because one is never enough! I actually made one regular loaf and three mini loaves.


We had unexpected company Friday night and this was a perfect snack. Thank you for sharing the recipe with me, Linda!

Cream Cheese Banana Nut Bread

3/4 cup butter softened
1- 8oz. cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups self rising flour
3-4 medium sized mashed bananas
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2 tea. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter and cream cheese until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time beating until just blended. Gradually add the flour to the mixture, beating at low speed until just blended. Stir in bananas, nuts and vanilla. Spoon batter into two greased and floured 8x4 loaf pans. Bake for 50-60 minutes. (if it starts getting too brown, put some aluminum foil over the top. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.
Makes 2 loaves. Recipe reprinted with permission.


The leftovers made a wonderful Saturday morning breakfast. Let me know if you make some too!

Bird Nest Display

Happy Monday! Thank you for stopping by to say hi this past weekend. We have another week of swim lessons and various errands. We will also be taking a meal over to some friends who just had a new baby.


Recently, I worked on a small project that I would like to share with you. Benjamin found this beautiful nest on the ground and brought it to me.


This partial egg was nearby. Isn't it pretty?


I placed a little floral moss in a glass container and set the nest inside.


I added a piece of sheet music scrapbook paper.


And made a tag and a tiny ~Home Sweet Home~ banner.


I also got out some ribbon and the two old keys that I got at the antique shop last week.


I laid the banner across the nest.


And tied on the tag and keys with ribbon.


Thank you for looking at my new bird nest display!

Weekend Chit~Chat

Good morning! I hope you are having a relaxing weekend. Thank you for your wonderful comments about my new gifts. I haven't had a chance to visit your show and tells yet, but I will soon.

My Saturday morning began at 6:30am thanks to a little friend of mine. She doesn't believe in sleeping in!


Some of you may remember the beginnings of my sunflower house.


Now it is my morning glory house and a wild and crazy one at that!


The few remaining sunflowers are growing well.


But are no match for this fast growing vine!


Later in the morning, Phillip took the girls and Benjamin out to run a few errands and Daisy had her morning nap. I lighted a candle and spent some time "puttering" around the house.


I dusted my kitchen window shelves and filled a few old bottles with flowers (actually they were weeds from the backyard!) and ferns.




I made a new baby card for a friend from church.


And made Mrs. H's delicious Summer Sub Sandwiches for an early dinner. Thank you for stopping by and reading about our weekend!

Show and Tell Friday!

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.


Recently I met a new friend named Christina, through blogging. We've been keeping in touch through email and letters and last week she sent me a surprise package in the mail. It was filled with so many wonderful gifts that I would like to share with you.


A lovely morning glory hot pad, hand cream and a white and yellow hankie.




Special items to have a tea party with the girls, including some recipes and napkins.


Pretty place card holders and candles.


Lovely vintage lace that I can't wait to use in some of my sewing and embroidery projects.




A wonderful collection of books with dried flower projects and seasonal wreaths.


Christina's daughter sent along some fun notepads, stickers and pens so she can exchange letters with Grace and Emily.


A beautiful teapot tealight holder.


And last but not least, a homemade pink blanket that is perfect out on my patio loveseat. Thank you so much for the beautiful and thoughtful gifts, Christina!

Thank you for looking at my show and tell!


Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!

Teacups and Seashells

Thank you for your comments on our Girls Afternoon Out. I think it is neat that many of you have the same (or similar) doll!

I added various seashells to my dining room teacup shelf last week and thought I would share a few pictures.


A dish of sand and shells.


Seashells tucked in the ivy.


Seaside candles.






Thank you for taking a look and I hope you are having a great week. We've been busy with swim lessons, which are going very well. I'll be back later for Show and Tell Friday!

Homemade Card

Welcome to this week's homemade card project!


You will need a 5 1/2 x 4" notecard.


Cut a 5 1/2 x 3 1/2" rectangle from scrapbook paper.


Cut the bottom edge with decorative scissors and glue to front of card.


Glue a 5 1/2 x 1/2" strip of scrapbook paper to front of card.


Glue a small oval (cut with decorative scissors) to middle of strip. Add a sticker, stamp or embellishment of your choice.


Send to a friend!

Girls Afternoon Out and New Finds

This past Saturday, the girls and I had a spur of the moment Girls Afternoon Out. We headed out to our city's Old Town Square, where there was a 4th of July celebration going on. We visited the shops, drank raspberry punch and had a fun time together.


We stopped by our favorite antique/junk store and Grace fell in love with this beautiful Native American doll.


Tiny moccasins.


Doesn't she have a pretty face? Her eyes close when you lay her down and she is holding a little papoose.


We also went to "The Pink House" which is a neat gift shop. It's a very old house with lots of rooms, narrow staircases and an hidden attic room where they display their Christmas decorations.


I bought these sticker sheets at a great price of $0.67 each.


I found some old hankies and plan on adding a little embroidery to the corners.


And finally two old rusty keys for my collection.

Thank you for looking at our new finds!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

I am participating in Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook today.

~For Today~
Monday, July 7, 08

Outside My Window...
Blue skies, green grass and yellow waterlilies.

I am thinking...
how much I love the early morning quiet.

I am thankful for...
good friends that celebrate the holidays with us.

From the kitchen...
Monday-Taco Salad
Tuesday-Homemade Pizza
Wednesday-Honeyed Chicken Teriyaki
Thursday-Garlic Chicken Spaghetti
Friday-Green chile chicken and tortillas

I am wearing...
black pajama pants and T-shirt.

I am creating...
an embroidered hankie and lavender filled heart sachet.

I am reading...
Circle of Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini

I am hoping...
the girls and Benjamin do well at their first swim lesson today.

I am hearing...
birds singing and the water garden fountain.

Around the house...
everything is tidy and ready for a new week.

One of my favorite things...
decorating with seashells

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
We have swim lessons every day this week. I'm going to start practicing piano again and order pictures for our family photo albums.

Here is a picture that I am sharing...


Emily's sunflower in full bloom.

Thank you for reading my Daybook!

Quick and Easy Homemade Pizza

Tuesday night is "Family Night" at our house. I've been using this pizza recipe since January and it always gets eaten right up! It will make two thin crusts, but I usually double it since the crust is the best part. :0)

Quick and Easy Pizza Crust

1 (.25) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water (110F degrees)
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 450F. In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 10 minutes.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a circle. Transfer to a lightly greased pizza pan.
4. Spread with desired toppings and bake 15-20 minutes.

4th of July Fun

We had a really fun 4th of July cook-out with our family and friends.


Phillip grilled the best burgers and brauts.


We squeezed 20+ people into our house. Sorry about the blurry pictures, I had my camera settings wrong.


Grace made some pink lemonade and we served it in mason jars.


I found this large tub on clearance at Walmart. We filled it up with the jars and lots of ice.


Delicious cold lemonade!


I made Mrs. H's Pasta Salad which was perfect. Thank you for the recipe, Mrs. H!


Even Daisy had a fun day.

Thank you for coming by and taking a look at our weekend celebration!

Happy 4th of July!

We are having a cook-out for the 4th of July. Phillip's family and some friends from church will be coming over. I will be busy tidying up the house and preparing the food today. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I'll be back later to share pictures of our celebration. There will be no "Show and Tell Friday" due to the long weekend.

~4th of July Menu~

Hamburgers
Hot dogs
Pasta salad
Baked beans
Crackers and Parmesan/artichoke dip
Chips and guacamole
Watermelon
Strawberry/Blueberry shortcake
Peach Cobbler and vanilla ice cream
Iced Tea
Lemonade



~July~

Past the meadows, parched and brown,
We drove across the hills to town
To see the big parade;
The sunny pavements burned our feet.
It was so noisy in the street;
That Tommy felt afraid.

Through the crowds, with fife and drum
And flags, we saw the soldiers come,
And boys marched either side,
And one big fat man rode ahead
Who had a sword, and Billy said,
"They're captains when they ride."

They carried flags, red, white and blue.
I wished I was a soldier too;
Then when the big drum beat
The people all would run to see,
And little boys would stare at me
As we marched up the street.
K. Pyle



~Happy 4th of July!~

4th of July Shortcake

I made this red, white and blue dessert for our company this past Saturday and everyone loved it. It would be perfect for the 4th of July, too!


Fresh strawberries and blueberries, sweetened with a little sugar.


Amy's delicious Sugar Cookie Cake.


Layered with lots of whipped cream!

For those of you celebrating the 4th of July, what are your plans?

Welcome July!

Hot July brings cooling showers,
Apricots and gillyflowers.
-Sara Coleridge


Happy July! It's a beautiful summer morning here in Texas. Emily's sunflower is just beginning to open.


My thyme has gone a little wild and has plenty of pretty flowers.


Speaking of wild things, I haven't weeded my gardens in about a month. I'm off to work before it gets too hot.

Give a weed an inch and it will take a yard.
~Author Unknown