Apron Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to everyone who signed up for the apron giveaway! I printed out all the comments and folded them up...

Emily gave them a good stir...


Drum roll please! The winner is....


...Mrs. Townsend!!! Congratulations! Email me your address and I will mail out your new apron!


I wish I could send you all an apron but with my history of UFO's (Un-finished Objects) you wouldn't get it until 2056. ;0)

I want to say thank you for all of your sweet comments. I read and appreciate each one! I am so thankful your friendship and encouragement. I also enjoyed hearing from my "anonymous" friends so I'm going to leave that comment option open. Feel free to stop by and say hi anytime!

I'll be back soon for Show and Tell!

A New Quilt Rack

Hello everyone! Phillip had to work late last night so we decided to go to Goodwill. Earlier that day I had been looking through a catalog at some $70.00 quilt racks...Yikes! Imagine my surprise when I saw one at Goodwill a few hours later for $10.99! It just needed a good polish with some Old English wood cleaner.


It has three long wooden bars on it for hanging quilts.


I also displayed my vintage linens, an idea I borrowed from Martha. :0)




Thank you for looking at my new quilt rack!


My apron giveaway is still going, scroll down to see the post!

My New Apron and a *Giveaway!!!*

In addition to my yo-yo projects I have also been working on a new apron...

I went to check out a new quilt store and as soon as I saw this line of April Cornell fabric I was in love. :0)


I used an apron I already have, as a pattern and copied the design from a vintage apron I remember seeing a long time ago.


All finished...


I covered each seam with either rick-rack or tiny daisy trim.


Well, guess what? I ended up with enough fabric for two aprons so I thought I would have a giveaway for the other one!!

If you'd like to be entered into the drawing this coming Thursday at noon (central time), then let me know in the comments! I am opening up the "anonymous" comment option too so be sure to leave your name!

Our Memorial Day

We had a nice and quiet Memorial Day. Whenever there was a break from the rain the girls and Benjamin played on their scooters and enjoyed the first popsicles of summer.


Susan recently shared her recipe for Strawberry "Poke" Cake and I thought it would be perfect for our BBQ.

Here Grace is poking holes in the cake with a wooden spoon. They get filled with strawberry jello!


Grace made the whole cake by herself! Thank you for the recipe, Susan, we all loved it!


Later in the afternoon we went to the used book store and then had two single friends from church over for dinner. Phillip grilled up some chicken and finished it just as it began pouring rain again. I will share what I got at the book store later this week!

One more thing before I go...

Becky left me a comment today saying how I burst her bubble by having Little Debbie snacks in my pantry. :0) She suggested serving them on a crystal platter and I wanted to let everyone know that that is exactly how I serve Little Debbie Snacks! ;0)


Have a great week!

~Long Weekend This and That~

It was a dark and stormy night. Oh wait, wrong post. ;0) It has been rainy and wet here for the past few days! Yesterday we had an interesting visitor to our neighborhood. The bird you see is a Turkey Vulture and he landed right in the middle of our street for a fresh snack. I'll spare you those pictures though, they are really gross!


I have been getting a lot of sewing done. I finally made some progress on my yo-yo's. While searching online I found this cute way to store them...


I decided to turn mine into a hot pad. I really admire those of you who make bigger things like table runners and quilts! I will say it was nice to actually finish a project for once!


I also got out my pink fabric scraps and made 18 quarter size yo-yo's.


I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them but in the end I surprised the girls with a...


...yo-yo garland for their bedroom valance. And now I'm all yo-yo-ed out!


I would like to say a big thank you to those that left a comment for Grace and Emily's bedroom post. They loved reading through your notes and had big smiles on their faces. They would also like to say that no, their room is not always so neat. ;0)

We will be having a family BBQ tomorrow. Hot dogs, grilled chicken, baked beans and corn on the cob. The pantry is full of bad things to eat...Cheetos, Little Debbie snacks, etc.


Heroism, Dedication, Courage
Remembering with you the beauty of a life past, but not forgotten.

Whatever your plans are tomorrow, I hope you have a wonderful day and for my U.S. friends, a Happy Memorial Day to you!

"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, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. 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!

This week I want to show you my record player and records. I bought the player a few years ago at a consignment store. I have many of the records I listened to when I was little and I wanted to introduce the girls and Benjamin to them! I keep the player and records in our entertainment center so it's easy to pull everything out.


Growing up, my very favorite singer was Evie. She began recording Christian music as a young teenager in the 1970's. Some of my records have been damaged or lost so I'm slowly replacing them thanks to Ebay!


Here are just a few more of my childhood collection...

-Kid's Praise with Psalty.
-Circle Square Gang
-Joni Eareckson Tada


Bullfrogs and Butterflies is another fun classic to sing along with. Do you remember any of these albums?


I also enjoy listening to Linda Ronstadt (The Blue Bayou is my favorite!) and being the good Canadian that I am, Anne Murray is at the top of my favorite list. :0)


Thank you for looking at my show and tell!

If you would like to join in for Show and Tell, here are the guidelines:

-Post your "Show and Tell" on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky. Please do not use Mr. Linky unless you have a Show and Tell or the link will be deleted.

-In your post, link back here so that others can share and read through all the links.

Grace and Emily's Room

I have two special guest bloggers today! My daughters, Grace (9) and Emily (7) would like to show you around their bedroom. Up until a few weeks ago they had bunk beds but they begged asked nicely if Dad would take them apart for hopefully the last time!

Grace says: I like my bunk beds down because I get to sleep by the window. :0)

Emily says: I like having my bunk beds put down because I was getting claustrophobic up on the top bunk.


Grace says: The bedspread on my bed was made by my Grandma for my mom when she was little. My American Girl doll, Molly sits at the head of the bed. The horse pillow was made by my Aunt, Melissa.


Emily says: My mom made my ballerina pillowcase for me and my Aunt Melissa made the knitted rose pillow.


Grace says: I have lots of books and I love to read! One of my favorite books is On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My mom and I are reading Jane of Lantern Hill by Lucy Maud Montgomery together.

Emily says: I like to read Biscuit the Dog books and Henry and Mudge books. I like when my mom reads me stories. We are reading The Secret Garden for school.


Emily says: I keep lots of special dolls and toys at the end of my bed. My best friend is Christmas Mouse. She is red and white and I got her in Tennessee when I was 2.


Grace says: This is where I do my art. I like drawing and painting. In history I am learning about the artists, Michaelangelo and Raphael. When I grow up I want to train horses and in my spare time I'll paint.


Grace says: Thank you for looking at my room!

Emily says: Thank you for looking at my bedroom pictures!

Queen Anne's Lace

It's time for free flower bouquets again! Queen Anne's Lace is in bloom here in Texas.


Queen Anne's Lace, is a common plant in dry fields, ditches, and open areas. It was introduced from Europe, and the carrots that we eat today were once cultivated from this plant.

It is best known for its flowers, were are tiny and white, blooming in lacey, flat topped clusters. Each little flower has a dark purplish center.


Queen Anne’s Lace is said to have been named after Queen Anne of England, an expert lace maker. English legend tells us that Queen Anne challenged the ladies of the court to a contest to see who could produce a pattern of lace as lovely as the flower of this plant. No one could rival the queen's handiwork. She however, pricked her finger with a needle and a single drop of blood fell into the lace, that is said to be the dark purple floret in the center of the flower.

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has washed her lace
(She chose a summer's day)
And hung it in a grassy place
To whiten, if it may.

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has left it there,
And slept the dewy night;
Then waked, to find the sunshine fair,
And all the meadows white.

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, is dead and gone
(She died a summer's day),
But left her lace to whiten in
Each weed-entangled way!

- Mary Leslie Newton

Coconut Layer Cake

As promised, here is the recipe for the Coconut Layer Cake I made for Phillip's birthday.



I found the recipe in the May 2000 Victoria magazine...

"There are few things that stir warmer memories than the classics we remember from childhood--the buttercream-clad treats that Mother would whip up for a birthday or the church's Sunday bake sale.

This snowy white coconut layer cake comes from recipes and cookbooks of long ago, when cakes were made from scratch with lots of wholesome ingredients."


Coconut Layer Cake
(The Magnolia Bakery)

For the cake:
2 sticks (1 cup) softened butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

For the filling:
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
One 7-ounce package sweetened, shredded coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frosting:
3 large egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup cold water
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/8 teaspoon cream of tartar (equals 1/4 plus 1/8 teaspoons)
( I added 1 teaspoon of coconut extract to the frosting for extra flavor.)

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease three 9 x 2-inch cake pans, line pans with wax paper, and grease the paper. Dust pans with flour, shaking out excess. Set aside.

2. MAKE THE CAKE: In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream butter, add the sugar a little at a time, and beat mixture until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flours and add to the butter mixture in four parts, alternating with the milk and the vanilla extract, beating well after each addition. Divide the batter among the cake pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the centers of cakes comes out clean. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes. Invert onto racks and let cool completely.

3. MAKE THE FILLING: In a saucepan combine the milk, sugar, and flour and whisk mixture until smooth. Cook over moderately high heat, whisking constantly, for 5 minutes, or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and add the coconut, reserving a handful. Stir in the vanilla extract. Cover and cool to room temperature.

4. ASSEMBLE THE CAKE: When the cake has cooled, spread half the filling between the first two layers of cake, then the other half between the second and third layers. The cake should be assembled so it can be iced as soon as the frosting is completed.

5. MAKE THE FROSTING: In a large bowl with an electric mixer combine the egg whites and the vanilla extract. In a saucepan over moderately high heat combine the water with the sugar and cream of tartar. As mixture begins to bubble at edges, stir once to make sure the sugar is dissolved completely, then let come to a rolling boil (about 2-3 minutes). Remove immediately from heat.

6. With the electric mixer on medium-high, beat the egg whites and the vanilla extract until foamy, about 1 minute. Without turning off mixer, pour the sugar syrup into the beaten egg whites in a thin, steady stream. Continue beating constantly, on medium-high speed, for about 5 minutes, or until stiff peaks form but frosting is still creamy. Frost top and sides of cake immediately and sprinkle top with reserved coconut.





Do you have a favorite cake from your childhood?

Saturday Afternoon

We had a couple from church over for dinner last night. Phillip grilled chicken and I made baked potatoes, corn on the cob and a garden salad.


It was a nice sunny day to work in the kitchen.


Fresh corn waiting to be boiled.


I found these corn on the cob holders at the resale store a few months ago.


Mrs. Wilt shared a Cottage Pudding recipe this week and I thought I would try it for dessert. I looked up cottage pudding on google and read that it's a dessert composed of a plain but rich cake smothered with a sweet sauce, such as lemon or chocolate.


I'm not sure why pudding is in the name but it was a very moist cake, perfect for...


...strawberries and cream!


I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

Happy Birthday to my Husband!

Today is Phillip's birthday!! I started his morning off right by giving him a couple of chocolate bars. :0) He met is brother and Dad for lunch and this evening he is watching a movie with a couple of friends. Later this weekend we will celebrate with his family and I will make him a coconut cake...his favorite.

Here are just a few reasons why he deserves the best birthday ever...

1. He takes most of the pictures for my blog and never complains.

2. He puts up with my yellow kitchen.

4. He listens to my knock-knock jokes. Sometimes he even laughs!

3. And last but not least, he has put up with me for almost 13 years. ;0)

Happy Birthday Phillip!

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, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. 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!

My Show and Tell is this Pansy teapot and Violet dessert teacup sets. I found them at the resale store a few years ago. They are perfect if you want to have a snack with your tea.


One of the cups has a small chip but this is known as Shabby Chic. ;0)


Anyone care to join me for tea?


Thank you for looking at my Show and Tell!

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.

Please don't use Mr. Linky unless you have a Show and Tell and be sure to link back here in your post so that others can share and read through all the links.