Friday, March 24, 2017

Taking a break and a GIVEAWAY!

Visit 
 for a chance to win this hand painted jewelry rack:


Winner will be picked on April 8th

RULES:
To win this wooden necklace/jewelry knob hanger:  
SHARE my FACEBOOK post AND leave a COMMENT on Facebook to be entered in the giveaway.   Winner will not be announced on this blog so make sure you are FOLLOWING my Facebook page for notification of winner on April 8th! Good Luck!

Winner will not be announced on this blog!

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

A few table settings....

 These photos got lost in my photo files - either that or I might have thought they weren't worthy and set them aside....BUT I am in a blog funk, so I thought I would share them!

A friend came by one afternoon for some sweets...


...so I tossed the tablecloth on my small table and pulled out some paper placemats...


 ...vintage cross-stitch napkins and pretty dishes.
We enjoyed some homemade cookies and brownies:


This setting highlights the napkin rings I made (HERE)


I think they overpowered the the small setting, but I let it go...


...this table was set for a light lunch...


...and I used my favorite color - green!


These spring colors made me wish for spring...


...on a cold and snowy afternoon!


I love using my stack of pretty luncheon dishes!



This was a table set for tea, and I think it needed some greenery, or some type of colorful centerpiece...


...but I adore these napkins...


...and my favorite vintage milk glass tea cups...


...and Mom's vintage milk glass dessert dishes...


I am taking a little break, while I "get out of dodge" for a few weeks....and maybe that will help me to get out of this blogging funk!!



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Saturday, March 18, 2017

Watercolor....



Watercolor, or Aquarelle, has always been my favorite art medium, and it is a tricky one to master!

I am drawn to it and unfortunately, even after some art classes, I haven't mastered the skill!

So, instead, I purchase it!!

Jenna @ The Painted Apron has beautiful pillows for sale on Society 6.  


It really brightens up my little reading corner: 


Another one of my favorite watercolorist is Susan Branch....


and I just got lucky and found another on of her books, published years ago - with 2 engaged daughters, this will come in handy:



Another Cape Cod artist whose work I love is Robert Kennedy:


I have been a collector of his art for quite a while...


Grant Dolge is a local artist....


...and this was painted for me by another local artist, Shelly Truitt, over 36 years ago...


Angie Strauss, from Niagara on the Lake, is also another one of my favorites...


...and when I travel I like to pick up local artwork...


...for my "travel gallery wall"...


...in the guest room


So what do I do because I can't master this style of painting?

I use an app!


So, now I wonder....If I took the photo, and used the app, can I now consider myself a watercolorist?



Do you enjoy a special medium of art?


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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

St Patrick's Day Happy Hour


For the last few years our family has assembled for "what the kids call PIRISH".

The "cousins", who are mostly Polish, love to celebrate St Patty's Day and renamed it "Pirish", for the Polish and Irish heritage we all share.

This year is a busy one for the "kids" with weddings, vacations, new jobs and moving, so John and I are celebrating anyway!


Happy Hour for 2 is set up on my entry table ...


and I will be serving a "green" cocktail...


GREEN DEVIL
4 oz Malibu Rum
2 oz Blue Curacao
14 oz Orange Juice
Mix together in a large pitcher, makes 2 drinks!



 I have just discovered this popcorn and it has become my FAVORITE new snack...


...it is SO addicting that I might need an intervention soon!


CHEERS!


Depending on the weather,  we hope be at Coleman's Irish Pub on the 17th in the Tipperary Hill section of Syracuse for some green beer and corned beef sandwiches.  This Nor'easter might put a damper on this year's festivities - in years past we have spent a lot of the day outdoors, under the tent or on the patio!


The GREEN beer arrived a few weeks ago: 


And Tipperary Hill is the only place where you will find the green stop light on the top and the red on the bottom.

As legend has it, the local Irish youth wouldn't stand for British red sitting on top of Irish green. They repeatedly threw stones to break the lights, over and over again. Supposedly, evil leprechauns were even blamed for some of the mischief. Eventually, the city's council relented, and an upside-down traffic light has directed cars at Tipperary Hill ever since.



So, CHEERS to whatever you celebrate on the 17th, 
Happy St. Patrick's Day, 
Happy Pirish, 
Happy Day!


Sláinte !

When Irish eyes are smiling, 
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring. 
In the lilt of Irish laughter 
You can hear the angels sing. 
When Irish hearts are happy, 
All the world seems bright and gay. 
And when Irish eyes are smiling, 
Sure, they steal your heart away. 


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Sunday, March 12, 2017

Cheesy-Spicy Bread....

It is COLD and SNOWY here today, so I decided to bake. 

I had a frozen bread dough in the freezer and I wanted to spice it up a bit so I gathered a bunch of ingredients and just mixed them all together....


...I flattened out the dough and brushed on some melted butter...


...I sprinkled my "mixture" all over it and also added some chives I found in the freezer...


...I rolled up the bread and brushed the top with a little more butter and sprinkled with some more of my "concoction", and then I let it rise...


... after baking for about 30-40 min, the house smelled so good...


...and I couldn't wait to slice into this...


...and I must say, it was delish!!!



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