End Table Makeover

Local Flavor Swap - Meet "Indiana" through Patty's Pretty Things

I recently participated in a "Local Flavor Swap" over at Chaotic Goddess

and my swap partner was Patty @ Patty's Pretty Things.

This was a fun swap and a wonderful way to meet a new blogging friend.  Patty lives in Indiana and sent me a package of wonderful gifts:

This is a book from the Sanctuary in Zionsville with lovely art work and a special signed print, which I plan to frame and hang in my bedroom!

And who knew?  Vera Bradley is located in Ft Wayne.  She took time to download the VB patterns and, using her silhouette, made the cutest note cards (VB - have you thought of this?)

These adorable notepads will be great to toss into my purse - I am always looking for a piece of paper to jot down thoughts or email addys!

The state flower and state bird is represented in these cute little gift tags:

When I think of Indiana, I think of corn, so she cleverly used candy corn to represent it!  And who knew?  Balls canning jars are made in Indiana?  Can you see the Clabber Girl baking powder in the background?  Again, who knew?

Patty also included some poems byJames Whitcomb Riley along with some prints.

It was so enjoyable to meet Patty and learn so much about her home state - and it's also rewarding to meet a new blogging friend!  Thanks, Patty!

Visit Chaotic Goddess to see what other bloggers swapped.  This was so much fun!

Lunch, Creamsicle Martinis and Pointsettias

I had some girlfriends over for lunch and play today.

We started with a creamsicle martini:

My mother introduced me to this drink.  It's simply orange juice and Pinnacle Whipped vodka with some whipped cream on top!

I served chicken and salad, quick breads and cheesy zucchini medallions.

My centerpieces were fresh flowers, some from my garden, in M-C Courtly Checked vases:

I served 3 types of quick breads (all recipes in recent posts):

After lunch we played with paints and I showed my friends how to paint a pointsettia table mats...

I am lucky that I have a lot of counter space to "play on"!

And here are our Pointsettia masterpieces:

It was a fun afternoon with friends!

Sharing with:

Inspire me@ A Stroll Thru Life

and

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

and

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Quick and Easy Zucchini Side Dish

This zucchini side dish is so easy to make and it tastes sooo good!

Slice a zucchini in half and season it with salt and pepper.  

Bake in a 350' oven for 10 minutes:

 Grate some parmigiano reggiano cheese:

Cut a few slices of tomato and slice a few basil leaves in ribbons:

Lay sliced tomatoes and cheese on baked zucchini:

Season with Italian Seasonings and bake for 5 more minutes:

Garnish with ribbons of basil:

So tasty!!

Sharing with:

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

and

A Glimpse Inside

Carrot, Zucchini and Apple Bread

I love quick breads!  I saw this recipe online (somewhere?) and decided to try it and alter it a bit.  It was so tasty that I will make this again!

Zucchini and carrots grated and an apple chopped up:

Beautiful color for fall:

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 350'

Grease 2 bread pans

Blend together:

1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 eggs, 1/4 cup orange juice and 1 T vanilla (or 1 t banana extract)

In a separate bowl combine:

3 1/4 c flour, 1/2 t salt, 2 1/2 t baking powder, 3/4 t baking soda, 1 T cinnamon.

Grate 2 cups carrots and 1 cup zucchini and dice up one apple.

Alternately stir together dry mixture and grated/diced mix into the butter mixture.  

Divide evenly between two pans and bake for 1 hour

MMMmmmm good!

Chalkboard Table

This is made simply by using an extra large candlestick I found at Hobby Lobby and a cheap clock from GW.  I ripped the guts out of the back of the clock and sprayed it with chalkboard paint.  I painted the candlestick with black paint and adhered the top to the bottom.

Anything can be written on this with chalk.... 

                                                                  ... an easy peasy project!

                                                                         Sharing with:

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

A Summer of Carter

I was lucky this summer that I got to spend a few weeks with my only grandson, Carter.  He turned 4 and is such a "boy"!  I have two daughters, so the "energy and play of a little boy" is new to me!

We played hide 'n seek, race cars, Power Rangers, assembled puzzles and he taught me how to play a game on the iPad....

....we played ball, went on bike rides, told ghost stories, played "bad guys" and looked for monsters....

....we "surfed", collected shells and saw pirates out in the sea.We even stole their hidden, buried treasure of coins and gold!

We went to the Market, Papa took him fishing, and he met new friends down the street.

Carter begins preschool and I can't wait to hear all about it!

His new school haircut makes him look so grown up!

Ray, Carter and Sara

Lucky me!!