A Romantic Life-The Victorian Gourmet

A farewell to Summer

2010-09-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe summer is over! Today is the first day of fall. Already all the shops have changed to an orange hue. Pumpkins are showing up at farm markets and roadside stands. Where did summer go? I think it just burned out like a comet. It certainly felt that way with temperatures averaging in the 90's and pushing 100. Flowers & people too, drooped. Grass turned brown and the few days it rained were like celebrations. Too hot to lounge on the porch or work in the garden. Happily the zuccini loved all that scorching sun and produced beyond expectations-I was giving it to everyone! There are still a few exuberant plants still yielding crops. Ah perhaps some zuccini bread...

Already planted the urns out front with whopping yellow mums-can't wait till they bloom-they are all covered with tiny buds!

The farm stand I pass on my way to work has a wagon loaded with pumpkins. I miss my weekly bunches of sunflowers though.

Woke up last Sunday to the patter of rain on the roof...and promptly drifted back to sleep again. It's a sound we haven't heard much in the past few months. Hubby bought a surprise at the bakery on Saturday-French Macarons-my favorite! We had a few before breakfast as a special treat.

Last Saturday we celebrated my mom's 86th birthday. For just a month & a half she is my dad's "older woman". We celebrated at our favorite restaurant & had a lovely chocolate mousse cake for dessert. We gave her a sweet painting done by a friend of mine of baby chicks "playing" in a garden pot in a field of wildflowers & her niece gave her a lovely bouquet of fresh flowers.

Summer though is not ready to depart just yet, with temperatures tomorrow in the high 80's or low 90's. Tomorrow is our weekly junking trip. I wonder what bargains I'll find...

April Fool's Day

2010-04-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

April 1st was a blissful, exuberant burst of spring. Sunny and mild, all the bulbs are bursting into radient splashes of color. Mother Nature did not play a prank on us today. A glorious first of April!

Share the beautiful spring day with someone you love...

Put on you prettiest spring finery and gift someone with a beautiful flower....

Tablescape Thursday-A Holiday Table

2010-02-17T20:36:00.001-08:00

Holiday Tablescape

The dining room is festooned with feathers & ice-dusted pine. Topping the table is a silk arrangement of feathers & poinsettias in an earthy terra cotta shade. It sits atop a faux block of ice-(a glass block window) atop a skirt of peacock feathers surrounded by faux berries, pine & orange pomanders studded with cloves & coppery glass ornaments. The tablecloth is a burnished bronze with gold accents-(a gift from my husband the previous Christmas). Three gold & embroidered runners cross the table. The centerpiece is flaked by a pair of English barley twist candlesticks & a pair of woven baskets with glass inserts filled with cranberries & two pillar candles.

The chargers are gilded melamine & the dinnerware Holly & Ivy by Portmeirion. These are my everyday dishes throughout the winter. I bought them all in bits & pieces on eBay throughout the years. The silver is my “company silver”. I call it that because it has to be washed by hand so I use it only for “special” occasions. The glassware is Bavarian etched crystal with deer, pheasants, grouse & ducks. They are lovely in the candle light & bring a bit of a “lodge” feel to the table. I bought them all at a yard sale this past summer for $1.00 each-(What a find). American Brilliant cut glass lends to the feel of sculpted ice. They all have some small imperfection but are beautiful none the less. Red plaid napkins complete each place setting. Sparkling votives twinkle in gold glass cups scattered around the table. The lighting is soft & intimate befitting a dinner of family & friends.

Portmeirion Holly & Ivy china.

Sideboard centerpiece lit with sparkling white lights.

The Pomanders are a tradition in my family. When I was young, my mother & I made them every holiday. The spicy fragrance always reminds me of Christmas. These pomanders are faux. I used real cloves to stud them but the oranges are from Michael’s & the Dollar Store. I made a pattern using mini cookie cutters traced onto paper for the hearts & stars. For the bands encircling the orange, rubber bands did the trick to keep the rows even. I used a permanent marker to place dots on the areas I wanted to insert the cloves. Using a tool to start holes-(It came in a mini screwdriver set of my husbands) I poked a hole just deep enough to insert the clove. The oranges feel like plastic on the outside but have an interior made of Styrofoam so they were fairly easy to work with. Faux lemons or limes would work just as nicely. Everyone thought they were real & but these pomanders will still be lovely next year.

Happy Tablescape Thursday to all. Be sure to Visit our hostess Between Naps on the Front Porch for more eye candy & fabulous ideas.

A Snowy Wednesday

2010-02-16T17:56:00.001-08:00

Snow-Snow-Snow & More Snow!
No snow in the forecast today-but last Wednesday-WOW-18 inches on top of the 20 inches from the weekend before. We no sooner dug out from the first storm-when we were gifted with a second BIG snow. The second storm had near blizzard conditions by mid-day Wednesday. All major highways were closed. I dug a path out to my fishpond to check on their heater & air stone. After that we hunkered down, lit the fireplace & watched it snow! I baked cookies for Valentine’s Day - my grandma’s Sand Tart recipe, which you can find in my Recipes on the right side tab. They are delicious & fast disappearing-unlike the snow!
Our temps here in Central PA are only to be in the 30’s with teens and twenty’s at night-brrrrr! Time to snuggle up to a warm hubby & cozy cat. Mother Nature freshened up the scenery Tuesday afternoon & evening with a light dusting of about one inch. Thankfully-nothing to shovel.

So I am out-and-about today! The roads are clear, even if the sidewalks & parking areas are not. So happy Outdoor Wednesday wherever you are!

Be sure to visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for more Outdoor Wednesdays!

Snowy lane beside our house.

A snow garden.

The patio from my bedroom window.

The side yard from the attic window.

It's a blizzard out there.

Somewhere under there is my car!

Trumpet vine arch in the side yard.

February

2010-02-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

Add a dash of red-it will brighten your mood on even the greyest day. A toss pillow, a lampshade, a throw, a bouquet of red roses-perfect for a little romance.

Just a pinch of pink-it’s girly and brings a smile to your lips. Pink roses in a china teacup: a barkcloth pillow with pink, cabbage roses; a potted amaryllis in candy-stripe pink & white; shortbread cookies iced with sugar; flutes of white zinfandel garnished with red raspberries; a fluttery scarf…

I bring out my collection of Victorian valentines and scatter them though out the house. The most delicate peep out from beneath a clear bell cloche. I have been collecting them since I was young at flea markets, yard sales & antique shops.

I love Tulips in the winter! They hint that spring is right around the corner.

February has been our snowiest month. We’ve had to measure in feet instead of inches!
Nothing like a steaming mug of hot chocolate topped off with caramel/chocolate covered marshmallows to ward off the chill followed by a nice, hot soak in the tub for those weary muscles. When the snow is blowing and outside looks like a freshly shaken snow globe, there’s nothing better than a snuggly quilt and a good book.

My recommended reads: A Year In Provence & Chasing Cezanne by Peter Mayle.

I love to bake in the winter. My grandmother always made her Sand Tart cookies for every holiday-even President’s Day-she made a little hatchet in honor of Washington chopping down the cherry tree. I made hearts for Valentine’s Day & gifted all my friends & family. Her little added sweet is a cinnamon candy heart.

Make your own Sand Tarts in my recipes.

Winter

2010-02-16T13:01:00.001-08:00

Winter - a whisper of whites & silver. After Christmas’ kaleidoscope of color, usher in the New Year with whites, ivories & touches of silver. Tulips add a glimpse of spring-pair them with white ironstone or silver vases. Give your rooms some winter warmth with glowing candles in clear or silver mercury glass holders. Place them in clusters on a mirror or silver tray. Faux ice bedecked branches in a tall crystal vase mirror the frosty weather outside.

Winter...relax...reflect...enjoy!

Bulbs are popping up at all the garden centers & shops- bring some home for an instant winter pick-me-up!

Find a comfy chair… pour yourself a steaming cup of tea…wrap up in a snuggly blanket & get lost in a good book.

Visit your local garden shop or arboretum to visit with spring, if just for a little while.

Add a vintage white lace tablecloth...

Crystal decanters look like sculpted ice...

Host a mid-winter party with lots of comfort food-stews and soups and crusty breads. Get everyone involved and have them bring a favorite dish. It gives everyone something to look forward to after the holiday hustle-bustle. End the evening with some fragrant gingerbread & mulled cider.

Wrap up in your warmest sweater and fur-lined boots, don’t forget the scarf & gloves, take along a thermos of hot cocoa and enjoy the splendor of winter with a walk through your favorite park.

Sharing Christmas

2010-02-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

Where have the days gone? It’s hard to believe that the groundhog has seen his shadow, & we’re nibbling on fasnaughts & next thing you know it will be Easter! As there is still lots of snow on the ground, winter is still very much in the present, so I thought I’d share some Christmas with you as I take down the final piece from the nativity and carefully wrap it in lots of snow-white tissue till next year.

Fragrant greens, spicy pomanders, polished apples and bright red berries-Christmas is here! We start the trimming right after thanksgiving and finish on Christmas Eve. Every room has some small token of this festive season. Bright shiny apples in red & green in the kitchen nestle in boughs of fresh evergreen & holly. The finishing touch sparkling votives in miniature copper molds. Spicy orange pomanders scent the air with fragrance.

The tree is in the family room bedecked with antique ornaments and miles of ribbon. Live & faux greens trim the mantle & top the secretary and Irish dresser. Candles twinkle in glass vases with pomegranates & cranberries.

The dining room is festooned with feathers & ice-dusted pine & coppery glass or velvet ornaments. The tablecloth is a burnished bronze with gold accents. The poinsettia arrangement which tops the table sits on a block of faux ice atop a skirt of peacock feathers. Ice dusted pine boughs with twinkling white lights top the French corner cabinet.

The manger set is carefully unpacked and placed in the glass-fronted china cabinet in the living room. Every surface sparkles with jars of antique ornaments-(an idea I borrowed from my friend Patti).

Everywhere there are flowers-poinsettias, orchids, & amaryllis. The packages are wrapped. A final touch of greens around the banister-we’re ready!

Let it Snow!

2010-01-07T11:50:00.001-08:00

"The whole sky was blue,

and the thick flakes floating at a pause,

Were but frost knots on an airy gauze,

With the sun shining through."

Robert Frost

"Heap on more wood! - the wind is chill;

But let it whistle as it will,

We'll keep our Christmas merry still."

Sir Walter Scott

Landis Valley Herb Faire

2009-05-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

I have been very busy the past three weeks preparing for the annual Herb Faire at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, PA. The annual heirloom plant sale is the largest on the East Coast. Gardeners interested in heirloom plants, herbs, vegetables, & garden related wares may want to attend my personal favorite festival, the Herb & Garden Faire at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pa., on May 8 and 9. I have been a vendor there with my dip, spread, soup, bread & herbal sugar mixes for almost twenty years.

There are over 65 vendors selling heirloom plants, vegetables, native plants, antique roses, garden art & crafts. The Faire is held on the historic grounds of the Landis Valley Museum. It is like taking a step back in time. The grounds are beautiful and it is a lovely place for a spring stroll and a gardener’s paradise.

website for more information.

Living in an old home, I enjoy buying plants that would have been popular when my home was built. The museum’s Heirloom Seed Project offers vegetable and ornamental seedlings historically grown by Pennsylvania Germans at the Heirloom Seed Project Marketplace. I also like to buy heirloom tomato plants. The fair runs from 9 to 5 Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. Admission is $8.00. Proceeds benefit the Heirloom Seed Project. You can visit the museum's

I’ll be in the yellow barn. You won’t be able to miss me-I’m the one with the buffet! I sample almost all of my dips, tapenade, herb sugars & soups.
My booth is black & white toile. The barn is a magical place inside with thousands of tiny white lights wrapped in grapevine garlands that adorn the rafters and supports. Tin chandeliers provide a soft, romantic light. It is truly a fairyland!

The show goes on rain or shine, and this year I’m afraid we’ll have to get out those wellies! It has been raining all week, but the garden die-hards that we are; it doesn’t dampen our spirits much! Besides I have packaged over 1,000 packages of dip mix, cheese spread, soups, and herb sugars. The lavender pound cake is worth the trip alone!

Outdoor Wednesday this week is rainy & chilly. I know from dashing between the house and my workshop. Last week I had the air conditioner on and now I had to break down and turn on the heat! The rain is melting all the blossoms on the lilacs, azaleas, and flowering trees away. The peony blossoms look like wet crepe paper. My husband cut me a bunch of white lilacs and lavender azaleas to bring inside. Their fragrance greets me everytime I come in to the room.
Everyone have a lovely Mother's Day!

Tablescape Thursday-Girls Night Out Benefit

2009-04-15T18:48:00.000-07:00

My tablescape for today is from a benefit I did at the West Shore Farmer’s Market for breast cancer awareness. Girl’s Night Out featured after-hours shopping at the specialty stores of the market with a donation to get in at the door and donations from various vendors such as myself and percentages of sales donated from the shops. Hors d’ouvres, wine and cheese were donated with a jazz ensemble providing entertainment. Lucky for me, my location offered me a front row seat for the entertainment.

I choose a garden theme for my table using my signature black toile tablecloths. I found them years ago at TJ Maxx on sale and coordinated the rest of my display around them. I used clean garden pots to hold ice to chill my cheese spread and fitted them with plastic bowls or plates with kale for garnish. I used garlands of faux ivy intertwined with white Christmas lights. Small glass flower pot votives added some extra twinkle to the table. Annie B’s sells the neatest little battery operated tea lights, so I used those instead of real candles. I used a tiered plant holder in silver-washed black metal to hold my packages of cheese spread & dip mixes. The best part is that it folds together to transport. They had a great turnout for a very good cause and everyone had a fabulous night out!

Thanks to our hostess Susan for hosting another Tablescape Thursday.

A "Gifted Garden"

2009-04-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

A “Gifted Garden”
Many of the plants that now make their home in my garden started off in the gardens of family and friends. When we moved into our home, I was gifted with plants from my mother, grandmother, aunt, and neighbors. My cousin gave me a Lavender plant on my wedding day to plant by my front door. I was a complete novice and knew next to nothing about gardening. The previous owners of the house had left me peonies, roses, and unusual double day lilies. My garden has been a constant pleasure and subtle teacher. My friends and I often swap plants, thus expanding our gardens and friendship. My garden is a scrapbook of memories-the Hydrangeas from Donna-peonies from my grandmother-primroses from my former neighbor Bonnie-Iris from my Mom..

Naturalized daffodils on the side bank.

Spring is here, but those lovely spring temperatures still elude us. Some hardy blossoms are putting on a show anyway. The magnolia in my neighbor’s yard is stellar with big fist-sized blossoms. In a little while when the petals drop it will look like a carpet of pink snow.

My old fashioned red primroses turn their little faces to the sun and a bunch of Forget Me Nots has seeded itself in my front bed.

The Lenten Rose is a fascinating piece of art captured up close. The double daffodils were a gift from my mother’s garden as well as the old fashioned bleeding hearts. I have a white variety that has yet to bloom.

Since we had company for the weekend, I needed some color for the back door so I planted a wire basket with magenta pansies. Since we use the backdoor more than the front, this would be the first sight to greet my guests upon their arrival.

The PJM Rhododendron is just beginning its show. With all the rain showers things will really start to burst into bloom.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my early spring garden. Just a little show for
Outdoor Wednesday.

Have a lovely day!

Three or More

2009-04-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

It wasn’t hard to decide the theme of my first “Three or More Tuesday” as one of the participants has made himself cozy on my bed while I am supposed to be working in my office just off the master bedroom. As he is so cute, I couldn’t say no, so he is happily purring away snug in the comforter while it continues to drizzle outside my window. Micky is one of our three cats. He is a very sweet orange tiger who was first a stray, then a shelter cat and now king of the roost-(or so he thinks).

His little brother, Pee Wee, all twenty plus pounds of him, is happily snoring away with his head pillowed on my shoes-(If he had been a girl we would have called him Imelda or Carrie. He so-o-o loves shoes!) The Grande dame is Tasha. She is the queen-no mistake about it. She is fifteen this summer and has to put up with the five year olds. The house runs smoothly as long as neither of the boys upsets the hierarchy. So for now it is only three-(not more), but you never know!

Join The Gypsy's Corner for more fun Three or More Tuesday!

An Easter Table-Pretty In Pink

2009-04-08T18:55:00.001-07:00

A Happy "Pink" Easter to everyone!

The theme for my Easter table started with this basket of little pink birds. Aren't they adorable!

I decided they would become my napkin rings. I used my red toile napkins I bought at 75% off at Williams-Sonoma. I found the ruched fabric napkin rings at the Dollar store. I had some gorgeous French wired pink ribbon with gold trim I bought for $1.00 a roll at a Fabric outlet. I just wired the little birds to the napkin rings and tied them with a bow.

I continued my theme with the lovely tulip floral transfer plates I found at the Salvation Army for $5.99.

I have been polishing silver all week. I used my silverplate chargers I bought on eBay and tied the whole thing together with a fabulous candelabra I bought in an antique shop years ago. I bought a box of 100 prisms at the antique mall last week. I decided to dress up the candleabra with a few to give it some sparkle. I unpacked my Fitz & Floyd bunnies. I have received them as gifts over the years.

For place cards, I scanned an antique postcard and added my dinner guests names in Photoshop. I had some little bows in pink -(of course!) with a tiny pearl I hot-glued to the card.

The Victorian bride's basket was in pieces when I bought it. Before silver went sky-high, I had it repaired and replated at a local jeweler. I just loved the little bird in the center of the handle.

The flowers I picked up out-of-season for $1.00 each. I just love tulips! The vase is a piece of American Brilliant cut glass. I bought a table full at an auction for $2.00. All of it was slightly damaged, but just beautiful. Only one other person bid against me-you had to pack it up right away. Guess no one else wanted to pack that much glass.

I used my "good" silver, which is a 1940 pattern called Milburn Rose, by the Westmorland company. I had it on Lay Away years ago at a antique shop and paid a little on it each month till it was mine.

Aren't these little bunnies sweet?

Those "faux" silk burgundy placemats came from Target for 97 cents each!

I used mirrors under the flowers and candelabra.

The nest in the center of the candelabra will hold chocolate eggs. I tucked a glittery Easter egg in the fold of my napkin for a little surprise. I bought them at a yard sale on Saturday.

The table by candlelight.

Hop on over to see Susan for Tablescape Thursday. And everyone have a Happy Easter!

Happy Birthday Wishes

2009-04-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

A Happy birthday!

My I have had a lot of birthdays to celebrate in the past week. Tomorrow is my cousin Kendra’s birthday so I want to wish her a happy birthday. I hope she has a lovely day and her husband takes her somewhere fabulous to celebrate!

A Happy Birthday to all who are “April Flowers”!

Thrifty Thursday-A Cache of Treasures

2009-04-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

Thrifty Thursday -head on over to Bloggaritaville to check out the bargains!

Being self-employed paychecks don’t arrive on a normal schedule. Sometimes it is “feast or famine), so I have learned to look for treasures in all avenues to fuel my shopping passion. My mom is my “junking” buddy. She is 84 years young and still can shop with the best of them.

I just have to show off a few of my favorite junking buys! The first is this fabulous red & mustard tole cachepot. I bought it at a Salvation Army thinking it was a knock-off made in China, but it was pretty, so for $3.99 it was a deal. When I got it home and cleaned it up, I was pleased to find in neat black script on the bottom, Made in France. The Francophile in me was thrilled! It now graces the table in my family room. I filled it with pears, but will change it with the season. Maybe someday I will use it for an arrangement.
The second is this Mason’s aqua jug. I bought it to sell, but it has not made it to the co-op just yet. I am still enjoying it. Thrift find, it also cost a whopping $3.99.

On a $3.99 roll, my mom bought me this fabulous antique reproduction sheep at Goodwill.
I also found a Crate & Barrel tablecloth and matching ten napkins for $10.00. It is a jacquard fruit print in my favorite shade of mustard.

I am just crazy for mustard right now! I bought this clock-(originally from Target in original box) at a thrift store for $9.99. Sold “As Is”, I just had to tighten the hands, pop in some batteries and it works great.

The first yard sale of the season is coming up Saturday. It will be a little chilly, but I’ll fill my thermos with some nice hot English Breakfast tea and be off at the crack of dawn. (I’ll probably make it home before my husband has his first cup of coffee), loot-(I hope!) in tow. Last year I found a huge, wicker peacock chair for $10.00. It has become my favorite place to read on my front porch.

Happy thrifting everyone!

Spring’s A Poppin’!

2009-04-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Spring’s A Poppin’! time for another Tablescape Thursday. It’s a lot of fun to do a table setting with things that are not your own. You get a whole new perspective! I do displays for a sweet little shop in the West Shore Farmer’s Market called Annie B’s.

For this cute little bistro table I used a hot pink check gossamer table topper. The plates were carrots tied with a spring green bow at the top. The centerpiece was a tall glass ginger jar filled with pastel mache eggs, topped with a vine candle ring with pastel silk tulips and pussy willow branches-also faux! The candle ring had little yellow chicks, eggs, and flowers on it. The candle holders were tea cup shaped metal flowers and I scattered jewel-tone glass flower pots with votives here and there.

Faux jelly bean candle rings held still more votives-little glass pastel bunnies. The tablescape changed as things were sold-we only had two of the brown polka dot plates to work with when originally there were four. There were also mini pots of tulips in the first version.
It was a fun, springy, colorful table and loads of fun to do!

Hope everyone is ready for Easter. Pop on over to Between Naps On the Front Porch for Tablescape Thursday for lots of table top inspirations. Many thanks to Susan, our hostess for this weekly event.

Happy April 1st

2009-04-01T07:02:00.001-07:00

Happy April 1st!

Hope you like my little "April Fool"!

Outdoor Wednesday, Hydrangeas

2009-03-31T21:04:00.000-07:00

Ah Wednesday again! Be sure to drop by A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday. It has been lovely the past two days with weather reaching almost 60. With a little rain which we will be getting buckets of any day now, the blooms should finally show their spring finery. I have one lowly daffodil blooming and some lovely lavender heather keeping my yellow pansies company.

With Easter right around the corner, flowers are popping up everywhere. It’s hard not to fall in love with one and give it a good home. I have to add to my Hydrangea “collection” every year. They are everywhere for Easter, grocery stores, home centers, garden shops, & street corners. Here are a couple rules of thumb-(green)! To make you a happy Hydrangea owner.

Mop head Hydrangeas are the fickle ladies of the garden. One year they are prone to blue couture & pink the next. They embrace a woman’s prerogative of changing her mind.

If your garden has acid soil, your hydrangeas will sport a wardrobe of blue. If you have base, sweet soil, she’ll deck herself out in pink.

If you desire that coveted blue finery, check the pH level of your soil. You can get test kits at most garden shops. A pH of 6.5 is considered in the neutral range. If your test indicates a reading below this level, your soil is considered acid. Lady Mop head will produce blooms in a blue hue in acid soil.

Alkaline soil, with a pH above 6.5, will dress the ladies in pink or red.
Working lime into neutral or acidic soil will turn the soil more alkaline or sweet. Lime may be applied around the base of the shrub in spring & fall.

But like most Grande dames, they are slow to change their favorite attire. They will not make a dramatic change overnight. It may take them several years to change their frocks.

Even though that showy lady was dressed in blue at the garden center, like a leopard she may change her “spots” in her own home, based on where her “feet” are planted.

I try to choose a place in the garden where they get morning sun & afternoon shade. My grandma always planted one near a down-spout, because they like lots of water.

Hydrangeas make excellent cut flowers. Cut blooms in early morning before mid-day heat has caused their floppy heads to droop. I lightly spritz them with water from my sprayer at the sink to dislodge any little uninvited guests. Cut the stems on an angle underwater on the green growth, not the woody stems. Remove any leaves that will be below the water line. Leaves left underwater will produce bacteria & shorten the life-span of the arrangement. Cutting the stem underwater allows water instead of air to travel up the stem. Fill a bucket with several inches of water & place your cut flowers in a cool, dark place for a few hours before arranging. I have found cut hydrangeas are not fond of the floral food that comes in those little packets with cut bouquets. To keep my bouquet looking its freshest, I re-cut the stems every few days & change the water in the vase. I have had bouquets of hydrangeas last for up to two weeks.

Get outside & enjoy this lovely Wednesday!

Happy Birthday-Bonne fête à tous mes amis

2009-03-31T06:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday-Bonne fête à tous mes amis!

I'd like to wish my two friends Donna & Joyce a Happy Birthday!

Bonne fête!

And a happy Birthday to all who are

celebrating! Much Joy!

A Blue Monday with "Glass"

2009-03-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

Oh My! I am late to the party today! Blue Monday hosted by Smiling Sally has rolled around again. I have to make a quick post then run to the antique mall so I won’t be able to visit till later. I am posting some of my favorite pieces of blue glass. Some I still own and others that now someone else enjoys. I have a friend who says “You never really own an antique. You just borrow it”. How true!

I wish I would have taken a photo of the fancy little Victorian stand that holds my Blueberry Fruit Dip. When I bought the silver plated frame, it was bent almost completely in half. I had it restored and replated. They did such a good job you can’t tell it was ever damaged.

Happy Blue Monday. Be sure to visit over at Smiling Sally’s and see who else is “blue”!

And the Winner is....

2009-03-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

And the winner is…..
Congratulations to Kim of The Manning Family Tree for guessing the exact number of corks in the apothecary jar! There were 325! She will receive a package of my White Pizza Cheese Spread from my product line, The Victorian Garden.
Thanks to all who played along. I was surprised myself when I counted them all

Tablescape Thursday-Easter Table

2009-03-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

Tablescape Thursday-Easter Table in Blue

Hubby carved the ham.

Tablescape Thursday-Easter Table

Another Thursday-another tablescape! Many thanks to Susan from Between Naps On the Front Porch for being our hostess.

My tablescape this week is my Easter table last year. There were just five of us for dinner, but I always cook something for everyone. We had a traditional Easter ham, stir-fry vegetables, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, sweet potatoes, fresh fruit & of course-dessert! Dessert was a marvelous confection for the Dingeldein Bakery-my favorite bakery. It was a yellow cake with chocolate butter cream frosting with a bright orange tiger lily made from marzipan. My mom also made some great egg-shaped sugar cookies.

Love blue, as you can tell! I used my everyday shadow-print tulip dishes. I spotted them years ago at TJ Maxx and my in-laws surprised me with them for our anniversary.

I also used my robin’s egg blue cased glass goblets. We filled paper mache egg halves with a gathered net buddle of candy at every place setting. My centerpiece was a quick put-together. I used a clear hurricane; put a small candle cup in the middle surrounded by excelsior & filled it with paper mache eggs. I sat a pillar candle on top of the candle cup to give it height. I found the wreath candle ring at Marshall’s. Surrounding the wreath are my little Lefton bunnies another gift from my mother-in-law. My mom brought the little rabbit place card holders. Easter is always a good time to use my spring-y Fitz & Floyd pieces like the platter & rabbit tea pot. My mom gave me an F & F candy dish as an Easter gift. The Endless summer Hydrangea was an Easter gift from my dad. We later planted it in the urn in the backyard-mom got one too! Hubby carved the ham and helped serve and clean up!

Yes that cauliflower is purple! I bought the orange variety too-just for fun! Everyone loves my stir-fry veggies. If I am in a hurry, I steam them slightly first. I then add a tablespoon olive oil to my skillet, toss in the veggies & about 2 tablespoons of Newman’s Own Original Recipe Salad Dressing & a teaspoon of Italian seasonings. I stir fry until my onion has just started to crisp at the edges and the other veggies are fork tender. That salad dressing is a staple in my kitchen-I also use it to marinate chicken.

Happy Tablescape Thursday, the bunny is on his way!

Hydrangea planted in the back yard.

Cheers!

Kate

A Vintage Outdoor Wednesday

2009-03-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to believe another Wednesday has rolled around so quickly. It’s time again for Outdoor Wednesday hosted by A Southern Daydreamer.

The calendar may say spring, but temps have only reached the low 50’s by afternoon, and many nights are in the 20’s.Haven’t put away those winter coats just yet! For inspiration I have turned to some of my vintage garden books. One, “Garden Bulbs in Color” was published in 1948 by the J. Horace McFarland Company. We toured Mr. McFarland’s home in Belleview Park for the Christmas Holiday tour. It is in a state of renovation right now. The house had been left in disrepair for years. It’s wonderful to see someone taking the time to restore this former Grand Dame. The other book I am showing pages from is, “Chase Fruit & Flowers in Natural Colors”. This lovely garden book was written in 1922. Some of the illustrations take you back in time to a simpler, beautiful, romantic life. See how many of these heirloom plants you have in your garden or maybe might want to add.

My tribute to Outdoor Wednesday is a bit of Victorian Scrap I purchased at the antique mall when I was supposed to be working in my booth-it’s hard not to shop and I almost always bring something home.

Enjoy Outdoor Wednesday and visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for more inspirational Outdoor posts.

These vintage garden books are still fairly easy to find at reasonable prices. I've found them

at yard sales, flea markets, antique shops & co-ops. They have many lovely illustrations &

great ideas for the vintage gardener. I have included a photo of grapes. Before all our trees were mature the former owners had grape arbors stretched the whole way across the back yard.

I almost wish they were still there.

the former Mcfarland Mansion.

Toile Tales

2009-03-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

A toile party!
A toile party-count me in! I just love anything toile! There are bits &pieces of it throughout my house. All colors and sizes-chairs, clocks, pillows, bedspreads, lampshades, dishes…the list goes on. My most toile-rific room is my guest bath. It is decorated in a garden-themed Toile de Jouy. I found the fabric on eBay. My red and white dishes have a toile sort-of-feel to them and I topped off my lights with toile shades as well. I have a fun black & white toile clock in my workshop. My cat Micky seems to gravitate toward toile-asleep on my guest bedspread and one the bench in the library.
There’s a blue & white toile runner on my dresser in the kitchen. I use a black & white country toile on my tables at craft fairs & herb festivals. Don’t forget o join the other party guests for a toile good time. Hosted by Pretty Organized & Wendy at The Shabby Nest.

Breakfast room.

Pretty snuggly cats! Micky

Pee Wee under the covers!

Our Toile de Jouy guest bath.

Victorian Screen was a

consignment shop find.

My neighbor made the toile pannels.

I bought the fabric on eBay.

Found the light at a consignment co-op

for $10.00.

There’s a blue & white toile runner on my dresser in the kitchen. I use a black & white country toile on my tables at craft fairs & herb festivals.

Don’t forget to join the other party guests for a toile good time. Hosted by Pretty Organized & Wendy at The Shabby Nest.

Table at Breast Cancer Awareness Benefit.

Blue Monday

2009-03-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

I am participating in my first Blue Monday hosted by Smiling Sally whose favorite color is blue. Blue is definitely one of my favorite colors too! I have been collecting blue china since I was about 8. I used to find lots of them at flea markets, auctions, yard sales, and antique shops. Then I learned about eBay-big mistake! My collection just keeps growing-a piece at a time. I go off on another collecting tangent and I forget about the blue & white, but always keep coming back to it. I must admit I have ‘strayed” to other colors as well, but the bulk of my collection is blue! One of my favorite pieces is a platter my mom & dad bought for me as an 18th birthday present. It is large about 17” long and is flow blue. They paid all of about $35.00 for it-my dad-(silly man) thought they had spent too much!

Most of my collection are English pieces, but I have a

French piece & even some American pieces of Flow blue. The little Mason's aqua jug I picked up at the Salvation Army for $3.95-what a buy!

Be sure to stop on over at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ to check out all the other participating Blue Mondays.

Welcome Spring

2009-03-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is finally the first day of spring! You may not be able to tell from the temperatures-(in the mid 40’s), but there are signs if you look closely. Winter coats are gone, colors are brighter, and moods are lighter. The garden shops & farmer’s markets are full of spring bulbs and pansies. There is the faintest blush of green on the mountains. The birds are singing with a joyous enthusiasm. The cats are ready to jump through the window after them! Bunnies are appearing everywhere. All the churches are starting their chocolate egg sales. Welcome spring-she has finally made her debut!

Can the bunny be far behind?

Happy spring!

A Wine And Cheese Party

2009-03-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

A Wine & Cheese Tasting

The invitations have gone out, “Do join us this weekend to taste a bit of the grape”. We have some favorites from the cellar & some samplings that we have brought back from our travels. The big glass apothecary jar that serves as the table centerpiece is filled to the rim with wine corks. I have collected them for a long while. Some are marked with dates of special occasions, others friends have “donated” to the collection. The table is set with some select offerings, a bottle of red...a bottle of white…hmm, where did I hear that before? A little jazz is playing-the lights are low-candles flicker on the table. It is still cool enough to have a fire going. Brass branches of ivy surround the centerpiece and corks are scattered willy-nilly across the table. The napkins are imprinted with assorted wine labels. The glasses are covered with grapes & vines-(they are actually vintage candy dishes minus the lids-a flea market find). Fromage choices for the evening include a nice smoked round of Gouda, herbed Vermont cheddar, a mild provolone & a pot of Boursin. A nice crusty baguette & fresh fruit accompany the cheese. A perfect first course. Friends arrive bearing offerings for the table.

For our next course we’ll have a salad of spring greens tossed with a light red wine vinaigrette followed by Salmon stuffed with Crab and topped with an apricot/ginger glaze, roasted new potatoes, & asparagus finished with a brown butter. For dessert-chocolate dipped strawberries & a fruit sorbet .Do bring your jammies & stay the weekend!

Details: The plates feature varieties of pears & are by Rosanna & from my favorite thrift shop. The wine glasses-former candy dishes are from a flea market-(I collected them one-by-one never knowing they were supposed to have lids). The metal sculpture ivy came from the Salvation Army. The English bread board came from “across the pond” via eBay. That vibrant blue pottery basket another thrift find-(I sort-of collect them). The napkins & wine-bottle-shaped cheese board were a gift from bro & sis in-law. Those heavy bronze candlesticks are French-an eBay treasure.
Can you guess just how many corks are in the jar? Email me your guess & I will send the one who guesses correctly-or closest a package of my White Pizza Cheese Spread to make for your next gathering. This is a great little party game too!

I'll reveal the winner on next week's Tablescape Thursday!

To your health! à vo·tre san·té

Did you bring your jammies?

*Note-This menu is deceptively easy though it sounds quite complicated. Most grocery stores including the “Big Box” stores like Sam’s & Costco stock a similar Stuffed Salmon. My favorite is from Costco-they use imitation crab instead of the real thing so hubby can have it too! I first add 1 Tablespoon olive oil and ½ tablespoon Red Pepper Oil to my pan & swirl to coat. I add the salmon turning once to coat. I dash on ½ teaspoon-(dried) dill, 1 teaspoon Chinese 5 Spice Powder-(*Again available at most grocery stores & even Dollar General!), a pinch of dried tarragon, & ½ teaspoon granulated garlic. I bake it at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. I take it out of the oven and top it with about 1 tablespoon per slice of fish, Apricot Ginger Glaze-(*I buy it at Stauffer’s of Kissel Hill in Lancaster county, but I’m sure you can find similar varieties at the grocers). I turn the oven to broil & pop them back in till the glaze is bubbly & the crab just the slight bit crispy.

For the Roast Potatoes, I like to use baby redskins. I coat a baking dish with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place the potatoes in the pan and stir to coat. Season potatoes with your favorite seasoned salt or multi-purpose seasoning, stirring to coat. *(I make my own seasonings & use The Perfect Season, but McCormick’s or Mrs. Dash will work too!) If you have some fresh rosemary, strip the leaves leaving just a “tassel” at the top. Run a skewer through your potatoes then “thread” onto the rosemary skewer. Roast or grill until tender.

I love to dip strawberries in chocolate! I use whatever candy I have on hand, usually Wilbur Buds in dark chocolate from the Wilbur Chocolate Factory in Lititz. Line a baking sheet or tray with wax paper. I melt the chocolate in the microwave on 30 power and watch till it is just about melted. I take it out and stir it to melt any lumps. I let the chocolate cool slightly, and then carefully dip each berry, letting excess chocolate dip back into the dish. Place on wax paper-lined tray to cool. If you like melt another chocolate-(you can buy candy-making chocolate at many craft stores) and drizzle over dark-chocolate dipped berries. My favorite is pink! You could also sprinkle the dipped berries with colored jimmies. Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.
The presentation has a longer prep time than the actual meal.

Outdoor Wednesday-A taste of Spring

2009-03-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

My favorite greenhouse opens the end of the month. I can't wait! Last year this wagon was filled to over-flowing with baskets of petunias.

This fabulous allium is an early spring bloomer.

This is the fish pond as it looks now. The iris are

about eight inches tall. Fish are lovin' the sunshine!

By late May or early June we are in full bloom!

I am partial to those tropical-looking coral begonias.

Another Outdoor Wednesday has rolled around. Spring is taking her time, but the weather is finally turning fair. Temperatures are expected in the 60’s today. I noticed tiny little green buds clinging to the ornamental cherry today. The water irises are popping above water. The fish lazed in the sunshine rippling across the surface of the pond.

Still nothing to get too excited about. This first phase of spring is all about clean-up. The amount of twigs and branches cluttering the garden is phenomenal. The bulbs are pushing up in spite of it so we rake it away to give them room to grow. The larger limbs we cut up and save for outdoor fires later. Can’t wait to roast some marshmallows.

So I leave you with scenes from gardens past-while spring is yet preparing for her grand entrance!
Happy outdoor Wednesday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T11:47:00.001-07:00

Today everyone is just a little bit Irish. Somewhere in my family tree a few shamrocks have taken root. I am making Shepard's Pie for dinner tonight. Everyone has their own recipe, each a little bit different. All enjoyable!

Shepard’s Pie

1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 pounds ground beef
Dash Worcestershire sauce
1 can green beans, drained-14-1/2 oz.
1 teaspoon pickle relish
1 teaspoon brown sugar
Dash mustard-(dry)
Pinch thyme
Fresh ground pepper
¾ teaspoon seasoned salt
2 dash granulated garlic
1 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained 14-1/2 oz.
1 cut carrots, cut into ½ inch diagonals-(cooked till fork tender)

3 medium potatoes, cooked until tender
1 egg, beaten
½ cup skim milk
½ Tablespoon butter or margarine
Teaspoon chives
1-1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar

Heat oil in large skillet and sauté onion until golden. Add beef and seasonings and cook until meat has browned. Stir in green beans and tomatoes. Simmer five minutes, and then add carrots.

In separate bowl, mash potatoes with egg, butter, and milk.

Turn out meat mixture into large casserole or Dutch oven. Layer with one cup cheese and spread mashed potatoes over top. Sprinkle with chives.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes to one half hour. Serve with brown ale sauce if desired.

An Invitation to Tea

2009-03-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

It’s a lovely day for a tea party. We’ll invite all our friends. Invitations will be sent out.
We’ll use Grandmother’s China-oh do be careful!

Who will wear the most outrageous hat?

The prettiest dress?

Who will bring flowers for the hostess?

Shall we plan the menu?

Tea-of course! English Breakfast, Darjeeling, Earl Grey…
Scones with clotted cream…
Little finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off…
Shortbread cookies shaped like hearts...

The table in the morning room is set for a ladies tea. Everyone will choose their cup and a fancy lace napkin. I’ll use mum-in-law’s china-it has a lovely rose in the center. The tablecloth is Grandma’s wedding ring quilt. It is in all the right pastel shades. The early afternoon sun coming through the window throws a rainbow of light on our festivities.
Everyone will leave with a box of treats tied up with a pretty ribbon to remember this day.

One lump or two?

Oh it has been a pleasant day!

"For every happy smile, the world

Whirls on its way with less of care".

I'm glad you could join us for tea on Tablescape Thursday.

I must say the afternoon slipped by rather quickly.

I'll just relax in my favorite chair after bidding goodbye to my friends.

The Making of A Garden

2009-03-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Making of A Garden

When we first saw our home it was a day much like today. The day was cold with snow flurries off & on-also mid-March. I fell in love with the house at first sight-although it was defiantly a diamond in the rough. We moved in mid-May. The “garden” was a tangle of ivy & weeds, but we had lovely old trees-the property had nice “bones”. We did inherit some lovely old roses, a few lavender lilacs & peonies. Except for the lilacs we have probably moved everything else several times over with every renovation. We lost some trees due to old age or wind storms-that changed the type of plants that would do well in the garden. The spot that used to be for shade-lovers was now out in the sunshine. When we added the addition, sunny spots now became shady ones.

These photos of spring plantings from last year still seem in the far, distant future. The landscape is still brown & green-a very neutral palate. Still Rosalie & the cherub greet me smiling every morning. As I rake away the winter twigs & fall leaves, brave green tips of bulbs appear; crepe leaf buds cling to the bare hydrangea stems & tight spring-green buds cover the lilacs. Spring readies herself for her debut!

These photos show the house in 1892, 1917, 1986, & 2008.

Take time to smell the flowers!

The iris garden.

My little garden helper.

The garden angel nested in white lilacs & azaeleas.

Lilacs original to the house.

Thanks for visiting my nest!

Join our hostess Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday!

Have a lovely Wenesday & try to spend a little bit of it outdoors!

Doing a little spring daydreaming!

Almost Spring

2009-03-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

As I sit here sipping a cup of tea, I can hear a bird singing outside. His song is sweet & clear & another will join in with an answering refrain. It is quiet other than the little bird’s duet. If I don’t look out the window and ignore the turtleneck I’m wearing I can imagine I’ll walk out into lovely, warm sunshine. Alas, that is not the case. We were given a small taste of spring over the weekend. Friday & Saturday were sunny and warm. We had a case of “garden fever” & to our delight; the garden centers were ready with a cure. The cool-weather annuals were out with all their bright crayon box colors. We chose a flat of yellow pansies for the urns by our front door. Finally a bit of color instead of the winter drab browns & greens. Even though it is chilly today with the scent of rain in the air, I can look out at that bright slash of yellow & know Spring is just hiding behind the clouds.

I love to grow Pansies not just because they make their debut in early spring, but because I can enjoy them into early summer. If they are kept in a spot that gets morning sunshine and afternoon shade, they will survive until scorching summer heat. I use them for garnish on appetizer trays & salads. I like to dust them with sugar to decorate cakes.

Sugar Frosted Flowers

1 egg white, beat until smooth but not stiff or use powdered egg white or meringue powder-(prepared according to package directions).
Super-fined granulated sugar-free of lumps-(I put a half-cup in the food processor for about 30 seconds)
Small un-used, clean paintbrush

I like to use pansies, violets, scented geraniums & roses. You can also use mint leaves & scented geranium leaves. Remember, not all flowers are edible. Choose, clean, perfect pesticide-free blooms. If needed gently wash and let them air-dry on a paper towel. Gently brush all petals with egg white. Gently sprinkle under-side then top with sugar. Gently shake off excess sugar. Place on wax paper lined tray to dry. Embellish!

From the Herb Garden-Tablescape Thursday

2009-03-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

From The Herb Garden Tablescape Thursday..

Spring is in the air…well at least on the way. My Tablescape Thursday is From the Herb Garden. I have been collecting bits & pieces of Fitz & Floyd for a long time. They drift my way as gifts, as great buys at Flea markets, yard sales or TJ Maxx. I love their whimsical animals-especially the rabbits-did I mention I love rabbits. So here is my breakfast room table set for a leisurely lunch. With bread & brioche with chocolate & strawberry butters followed by a plate of home made chocolate chip scones. Fresh fruit & turkey tea sandwiches with cranberry chutney.

The woven chargers are Pier 1, but I got them at a yard sale for $8.00 for a set of 10. The original price tag of $15.00 each was still on the bottom! The tablecloth is a Raymond Waites fabric remnant I bought at a local co-op. I got the lovely green woven placemats at Target marked down to $2.47 for a set of 4. The butter-yellow napkins were a steal at $1.74 for a four-pack & the fruit plates were under $5.00. The nifty butterfly plates I bought at a church thrift sale for $2.00 & then found a second set of four at Goodwill for $6.00. The ceramic fruit & vegetable boxes I collected years ago. They just tickled my fancy at the time & usually parade across the bottom of my Irish dresser in the kitchen.
The flatware is an old Rogers pattern in silver plate called “Vintage”. I picked it up as a service for six at a flea market years ago.

Don’t the flowers look real? The centerpiece is one of my latest arrangements. Too soon for the real thing from my garden. The roses are silk in faux water. The yellow rose napkin rings are a package clip-on I bought at a local dollar store. The petals look & feel real. I tied the napkin with a plaid, wired ribbon bow & just clipped them on. The candlesticks are Victorian spatter glass-another co-op find.

Try some flavored butters for your next brunch or tea. My favorite is the chocolate!

Tea Butters

For chocolate butter-melt ½ cup chocolate on low in microwave-I like to use Wilbur buds in dark chocolate. Allow to cool, but still workable. Have about ½ cup butter at room temp. Slowly with a hand mixer, blend chocolate into butter. If it is too runny refrigerate till easier to spread.

Fruit butters-For each fruit butter you will need ½ cup whipped butter at room temp & ¼ cup of your favorite flavor of jam-strawberry, raspberry, orange marmalade, blueberry….the combinations are endless.

With a hand mixer, blend jam into butter. Transfer to a pretty serving dish. Try the orange on a cranberry scone. Mmmm…

Here is a close-up of the napkin ring.

Thoughts of Spring

2009-03-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

For the past several days temperatures here have been in the 20's. It snowed Monday & even though the sun has been shining, with the cold temps, the snow has lingered. The pond is frozen over completely, when only last week you could see down to the bottom.

For my first Outdoor Wednesday, I profile my garden instead of bleak & snow-covered but as it will be with the first kiss of Spring.

Be sure to visit our hostess for this lovely event at A Southern Daydreamer & join in the fun!

Chicken Soup

2009-03-03T07:47:00.000-08:00

On Thursday I woke up with a good dose of the common cold. I was still able to function through a normal day but by evening I was pretty beat. My husband came home from work with all the appropriate cold remedies & a bouquet of flowers to brighten my spirits. On Friday morning he woke up with the flu, so we spent the weekend into Monday in turn playing nursemaid to one another. I spent my day Friday running up & down the stirs with Jell-O, water, & chicken soup. Monday it snowed all morning & we spent our day wrapped up in quilts by the fireplace. I made the best of things by flipping though magazines & reading a book I have had for some time, but had not yet read. If you like historical fiction, you may enjoy this one-Thirteen Moons by Charles Frasier. I read Cold Mountain when it first came out. I found it a good read, but a bit grisly at times. Thirteen Moons was excellent & I’d love to see another book from Charles Frasier. Here is one of our favorite “comfort” foods.

Mom’s Chicken Soup

12 cups chicken broth or 2 large cans 49-1/2 oz each
Hand full of baby carrots cut on the diagonal- about 1 cup chopped
1 stalk celery-cut on the diagonal plus leaves finely chopped
Freshly ground sea salt & pepper to taste
¼ teaspoon marjoram – (dried)
1 teaspoon dried or 1 TB fresh-(chopped) parsley
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic granulated
¼ teaspoon granulated onion
1/3 bag of egg noodles

I usually fly-by-the-seat-of my-pants when I am making this recipe, but have tried to measure for once instead of a pinch of this…a dash of that…
I always find it is good for “what ails you”, and if you use a thicker egg noodle, it re-heats well again & again. You can add shredded chicken if you are making your broth from “scratch”

Bring broth or stock to the boil. Add chopped carrots, celery & seasonings. Reduce heat to low, maintain a gentle boil until carrots & celery are fork tender. Sample a spoonful of broth & add more salt/pepper to taste. Add noodles & simmer till noodles are al dente, about ten minutes. You can adjust the amount of noodles to your liking. Remember as they cook, they absorb the broth.

Tablescape Thursday-From the Garden

2009-02-25T21:04:00.000-08:00

Another Tablescape Thursday-Today it seemed one step closer to spring. Bright & sunny without the gale force winds we’ve been having, you could forget it’s February. My Tablescape Thursday reflects my spring “state of mind”. My theme is “In the Garden”. The blue toile tablecloth was a yard sale find for $4.00-(it’s originally from Williams-Sonoma). The table topper is a pattern by Brunswig & Fils called Trophies- a decorator sample I picked up at their bargain-bin sale. I removed the coordinating swatches of fabric & trim attached to it and just finished it off. It is the perfect size for the round table in my breakfast room.

The center runner is actually two tea towels I purchased at Target at 75% off. I loved the Chinoiserie-look of them. The centerpiece is a faux orchid with a Staffordshire spill vase of two gardeners in front. The lacy, shabby iron lanterns were purchased at Michael’s last year at the end of the season. I used little, clear flowerpot style votives centered in a mini grapevine wreath. The stem wear & water glasses are over-shot glass from the 1960’s I found at a flea market years ago. The yellow side plates are Andrea by Sadek, I found at a local thrift shop. I am planning to hang them-(I have four) in my guest room.

Fresh strawberries in a robin’s egg blue dish-(probably Fenton that I just bought at Goodwill) are a perfect end to a light spring lunch “for two”. The first course a salad with mixed baby greens, strawberries & blueberries with a Pomegranate vinaigrette. After, I’ll serve my Golden Tuscan Pea Soup & warm, crusty rolls with herb butter.

I must thank our charming hostess, Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch & visit all the other luscious tablescapes that await!

I'll be posting the recipe for the spring salad on my blog as well as my website. Just click on my recipe link!

Shared Treasures-Discount Decorating

2009-02-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

I was “thrifting” yesterday despite the snow, then rain, then sleet. Pickings were pretty slim but I did buy a neat, scrolly iron wine rack & sweater for myself. I have to share some of my past finds though. I am in the process of redecorating a room around one! It is by far one of my favorite prizes-a queen size Waverly comforter in shades of mustard, coral, & teal. I bought it at the Salvation Army for $9.99. It was new & had never been used. I found a pair of matching coral linen pillows with cream embroidery at
Target for $8.99 each.

I got even luckier at JC Penney when I was shopping for curtains for my Mom & Dad. I found 100% silk plaid panels for 80% off of the original price + an additional discount for their newspaper ad. I saved almost $800.00. My room is really coming together-all I have to do is paint...ugh! I am thinking coral for the walls and ivory trim on the woodwork. Any suggestions?

Another find is this Flue Cover I bought at a co-op for $2.00 & the little twig chair it is sitting on at a yard sale for $2.00.

The crystal horn was a thrift shop find for $2.99.

Don't ya just love a bargain!

Tablescape Thursday-It's All About the Toile

2009-02-19T05:47:00.000-08:00

BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH: Pink Saturday and A New Tablescape Thursday Button-I am participating in my first Tablescape Thursday. It was a lot of fun creating my place setting-I rummaged through totes that have not seen the light of day for awhile and came up with the scalloped border Limoge plate. It is really lovely & unless you look very closely, you can't tell it has a chip on the bottom rim. Even though it isn't perfect, its charm has preserved it all these years. Dinner took on an air of elegance, even if it was just stuffed chicken breasts & mashed potatoes. Thank you Susan for the inspiration!

Tablescape Thursday-It's All about the Toile

2009-02-18T20:57:00.000-08:00

It's All About the Toile-I just love toile-any design-any color-I am smitten! I just found this fabulous garnet-red tablecloth on sale for 75% off at Williams-Sonoma. It is the perfect backdrop for the garnet faux-silk placemats I bought at Target for 98 cents each-what a bargain! For my Tablescape Thursday, I chose a silverplate charger I bought as a set on eBay years ago as my first layer topped it with a vintage transferware plate in red-(I feel like I'm frosting a cake!), then a vintage Limoge plate I bought at a Flea Market & crowned it with another red transferware plate in a pattern I collect called Andalusia. The flatware is Milburn Rose, a pattern that dates circa 1930. It is my "Good Silver" I purchased at an antique shop shortly after I was married-(thank goodness for LayAway!) The knife is mother-of-pearl handled-(part of a set purchased on eBay). The little crystal votive is actually an individual salt dish. The napkin is also toile folded together with a damask in garnet. Isn't it romantic?

Mardi Gras

2009-02-18T13:54:00.001-08:00

Don’t forget next week is “Fat Tuesday”- By definition, "Mardi Gras" (mär`dē grä) & "Mardi Gras Season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, ending the day before Ash Wednesday. From the French "Mardi Gras" (literally translates to "Fat Tuesday"), the term has come to mean the whole period of activity related to those events, beyond just the single day, often called Mardi Gras Day or Fat Tuesday

2009-02-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

Winter is back today after our brief flirtation with spring. This morning it snowed in big, fluffy flakes blanketing everything like a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. A lovely morning to sip a cup of tea & peruse the paper. By this afternoon the snow has vanished & it’s cold & damp. Rain is pouring from the downspouts & running down the roof. The sky is grey blanketed with clouds. I think I’ll pour another cup of tea….

The Victorian Garden Gourmet

2009-02-18T13:11:00.001-08:00

A Mental Health Day

2009-02-17T15:07:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I was supposed to be working but alas the fabric store was having a half-off sale-how could I say no!?! I have a sweet little French caned chair that is in dire need of a frouffy down cushion. I want to make-over my livingroom & this is a simple & inexpensive jumping-off point. So needless to say one of my favorite antique shops is right next to the fabric store which is right up the road from the pastry shop-it just kept snowballing! I bought a delicate little ribbon style fabric & a linen check-not sure if either will cushion the chair or just become cushions! I finished my afternoon off with a cappuccino & French pastry-naturally! But I behaved at the antique shop & didn't buy a thing-but tomorrow I go thrifting so maybe something will turn up!

I am parting with some of my transferware collection. As my husband says, I cannot keep it all. I have been sifting through the totes in the attic and have added some to my website. I have been collecting since I was ten-mostly blue but I have yellow, green, brown, mulberry, lavender, pink, red & bi-color. My most unusual is the yellow/brown bi-color. It is a Ridgway,one of my favorite manufacturer's. Yellow is a rare color. I have only ever found one in all my year's of collecting. I started my obsession at our local flea market. At the time you could find pieces for under a dollar especially if they had a chip or crack. A few years ago I bought a red & black plate for four dollars that I sold for over a hundred. Alas, those deals are few & far between. When I first started buying dishes I knew very little about them. I bought several books which have become well-worn reference books. One is Romantic Staffordshire Ceramics by Jeffrey B. Snyder. It is a handy guide for identifying many popular patterns & manufacturers.

This one is also a Ridgway, polychrome-(multi-color transfer) plate as is the green/brown & yellow/brown.

I have them everywhere throughout the house. I change them with my mood & color-scheme. I have also passed this "bug" to my neighbor. Beware-it is quite contagious, often spreading to other family members & friends! My neighbor's partial to lavender-my cousin to green! With all the varieties out there-the possibilities are endless!

January-Resolutions & Solutions

2009-01-15T08:36:00.000-08:00

January is a good month to...

Read a good book...

Catch up on correspondence...

Redecorate a room-just changing pillows can give a room a whole new look. Add a vase of fresh flowers-tulips are a lovely transition flower.

Clean out your closet. Donate clothes you no longer wear to a local shelter, Goodwill, or the Salvation Army.

Get organized! It is my New Year’s resolution every year. Maybe 2009 is my year!

Make a huge pot of home-made soup or stew. Divide & freeze in meal-size containers for one of those “What to have for dinner?” Nights.

Pamper yourself! Maybe a manicure, pedicure, facial, or soothing massage. Not the spa type? Take a relaxing bubble bath complete with all the trimmings-fragrant bath soaps, fluffy towels, restful music, candles & your favorite beverage. Indulge-relax!

Take a Day Trip to an arboretum. Just walking through the lush plants & flowers reminds us that spring is just around the corner.

Build a snowman...

Take a walk. Bundle up in your favorite wooly sweater & head for your local park or walking trail. Take along a thermos of hot chocolate. It’s extra special if it’s snowing!

After the hustle & bustle of the holidays, January gets lost in the shuffle. Celebrate the month with family & friends you may not have seen over the holidays. We have a group of friends that get together every year for our neighborhood party. Even though only two of us still live in the same area anymore. We always have the party in January, because everyone is pulled in too many directions in December. We all have a chance to catch-up, enjoy some good food & company & keep the spirit of the holiday going.

Since we are still doing a lot of entertaining, I want my house to look festive, but not so Christmas-y. Here are a few things to make your house sparkle as we glide into midwinter.

For a quick touch of elegance-fill a silver tray with clear glass votives & white or ivory candles. Tumblers from your local department or discount store work great if you don’t have votives & give you a wider choice of shapes & patterns.

Group different size/style candlesticks together in the same medium – (brass, silver, crystal) together to make a warm glowing statement. Place on a mirrored plateau for extra shimmer.

Winter lends itself to shades of white. Pair it with shimmery silver, gold or pearl. Fill clear rose bowls with clear glass florist’s stones (like ice) & fill with ivory or the palest of pink blooms.

I love touches of apple green in the winter. I fill jars & bowls with faux lady & Granny Smith apples.

Grocers & garden centers will soon be full of cyclamen, heather, & primroses. It’s always nice to have a breath of spring in the heart of winter. I love the fragrant silver-green leaves of lavender too-available at some garden centers & mail order companies such as Jackson & Perkins.

What to replace those Christmas ball bowl fillers with? I gather pinecones & spray paint them a metallic silver or bronze or give them a quick shot of spray adhesive & dust with crystal glitter.

New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-07T21:10:00.000-08:00

A Happy New Year to All!

Like most people do I made a few New Year's resolutions. How many will make it through the year is anybody's guess. Some of them are the same as last year. Above all I resolve to spend more time enjoying life, less time worrying about what will be, & spending more time with family & friends!

But above all..this will be the year i get organized!

And even if life is not always "A bowl of cherries", I will simply-

make cherry pie!

Bonne Annee

2009-01-06T21:22:00.000-08:00

Bonne Annee-a happy new year to you all! The start of a brand new year full of possibilities, fresh ideas-relaxation! December is my busy, busy time of year. I look forward to a little breathing room in January. I try to clear my mind and shoo away all those thoughts of work, but my mind-(like the rest of me) is going in a thousand different directions! I hope to be adding lots of new things to my food line this year. I have some ideas that have not yet gone to print-look for them in early spring! But I'm jumping ahead. We still have holiday parties to attend & host so I am still in a holiday mood. And Valentine's Day is just around the corner-hmmm.....

Last Minute Holiday Gifts

2008-12-20T23:04:00.000-08:00

The last Saturday before Christmas-of course I am not ready. We went over to my parents toting a tree & outdoor decorations-they are 84 & my Dad needs a knee replacement so they were not up to decorating. By the time we left the tree was decroated and wreathes were hung and garland surrounded the door. Time for a quick bite & some last minute shopping. Here are some ideas I came up with for those last minute gifts.

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Italian Dinner in a Basket
I can shop almost anywhere! A quick trip to the grocery store turned into Christmas shopping & I checked one more name off the list. Here is what I purchased to make an
Italian Dinner in a basket for friends of mine who both work with limited time to cook.
4 jars of gourmet-style pasta sauce
Assorted pastas: linguini, fettuccini, ziti, penne-get creative & choose some spinach, tomato basil or whole wheat varieties
Parmesan & Romano cheese
A jar of minced garlic
Balsamic Vinegar
Salad Dressing-red wine vinaigrette
Olive Oil
Cooking Spray-olive oil
Peppercorns in a self-contained grinder
Whole Grain Crackers
Breadsticks
Gourmet Cookies
I bought a red check tea towel to line the basket and arranged the ingredients. I also put in a bottle of red wine, a package of my pesto mix and a quick bread mix. Wrapped it all in cellophane and tied it with a raffia bow & wooden spoon. I collect baskets through out the year at yard sales & thrift stores. If you don’t have one on hand a quick trip to your local dollar store should yield a serviceable container. Another great container for this gift would be a big, ceramic pasta bowl. Nothing in this basket is perishable & doesn’t require refrigeration.

Christmas in a Basket-Know someone who is celebrating their first Christmas? Give them a basket full of ornaments to decorate their tree. I went to my local dollar store & found some lovely ornaments for $1.00 each. Just as pretty as the department & craft stores were selling! I included a box of ornament hangers, a box of popcorn-(to string for the tree or to munch on while decorating), a tin of cocoa mix, a bag of mini marshmallows, two mugs & a box of pirouette cookies-yes at the dollar store!

Holiday Housekeeping Basket-My cousins gave me this basket as a thank you gift when they came to stay for Thanksgiving. It was everything I needed for a houseful of guests right at my finger tips! The basket included dish soap, hand soap, counter spray, Laundry detergent & softener, rubber gloves, sponges & scrubber & room spray all packed into a lovely sea grass laundry basket. All the products were geranium scented by Mrs. Meyers. It has a delightful fresh smell that wafts through the house when you are doing laundry. I am now “hooked” and won’t buy anything else. The fragrance was so perfect for me because it smells just like my house when I am drying scented geranium leaves in my oven. They also make a Lemon Verbena, Lavender, & gingerbread fragrance that are just heavenly. Check your local grocery store or look them up on line.

Tea Lover’s Basket-All the ingredients for this basket can come from the grocery store as well. I purchased mugs, assorted teas, cookies, & candies. You can take this a step further with a stop at a gourmet store & add a tea cozy, spoon rests, unrefined sugar, & tea bag squeezers. I popped into a favorite antique mall to pick up lacey linens & silver tea spoons. I placed all my goodies on an elegant silver plated tray & wrapped it with a yard of netting I bought at the fabric store. You could use the same “formula” for the coffee lover on your list too!

For The Gardener-As I so love a garden, this one was easy for me. I went to my local garden center, Home Depot or Lowe’s will do too & purchased a pair of sturdy, comfortable work gloves, several bags of assorted spring bulbs, Miracle Grow, Bone Meal, some essential hand tools with padded grips, some plant markers, & knee pads. This basket is easy to get carried away with-you could add a garden ornament, wind chimes, garden statuary, watering can, etc. I put everything into a brightly colored plastic tub tied with raffia & a garden-themed ornament for the tree.

It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas

2008-11-20T20:50:00.000-08:00

Snow flurries have been flying and so have my fingers -packing lots of Christmas Confetti Cheese Spread, Night Before Christmas Soup, & Country Christmas Bread. You can find them all on my website-www.victoriangardengourmet.com, at Annie B's in the West Shore Farmer's Market, PABrown's Orchards in Loganville, PA or online from The Victorian Trading Company.

Hot Mulled Cider

2008-10-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

There definitely has been a chill in the air lately and frost blanketed the grass like new fallen snow. I stopped by the farm market on the way home and picked up a jug of fresh-pressed apple cider. Just felt like a warm cup of mulled cider in my favorite transferware cup, wrapped up in an old quilt with my head in a book by the fireplace. Our Merry Molly's Mulling Spice is back for the season. It is a quick, delicious way to treat yourself to a favorite fall beverage. One package goes a long way. Made with natural spices, fruits,& sugar. Packaged with a lovely 19Th century engraving-you can find it on my website-www.victoriangardengourmet.com.

Happy fall!

Mums The Word

2008-10-12T20:30:00.000-07:00

I love fall-the colors, the scent of the woods, fireplaces with that first curl of smoke, apples, pumpkins & spices. Shaking out those wool sweaters from the blanket chest & throws to wrap up in with the scent of lavender sachets still clinging to them. Earthy buckwheat pancakes for breakfast with hot apples, carmelized in maple syrup & hearty baked pumpkin oatmeal. Changing the flowers to the frost-kissed, mop head hydrangeas that I'll dry later to decorate the Christmas tree.

We took a drive in the country to our favorite road side stand for pumpkins & mums to finish decorating. The colors looked like patches in a quilt. It was so hard to decide-but there's only so much room in the car! I love all the funky gourds-especially the ones with all the "warts".

On the way home we stopped for a leg-stretch at the Haldeman Mansion. The Haldeman Mansion, is on the Pennsylvania & National Registers of Historic places. It was the birthplace of Professor Samuel Stehman Haldeman and was completed in 1812 by his grandparents, John and Maria Brenneman Haldeman. The style of architecture is vernacular German combined with Federal elements. When it is restored, it will be the first historic structure in the Bainbridge-Conoy Township areas, and will serve as a museum house, community landmark and meeting place. It was a lovely day and perfect for a stroll!

I always get a bit nostalgic this time of year. When my husband & I first went "house hunting" 23 years ago, the first two properties we looked at were stone farmhouses. I love my Victorian-(it is after all my first house), but I am always drawn every fall to a stone house.

Fur Ball

2008-10-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

Every year our local Humane Society sponsors an auction & gala to raise funds for the animals at the shelter. It is called the Fur Ball-(little play on words for us cat owners!) since Micky & Pee Wee were fromer shelter mates, the Humane Society is one of my"pet" -(no pun intended) charities. This is the gift basket I donated from The Victorian Garden this year. I truely have a great time coming up with a new basket each year. This one was an autumn theme-(my favorite time of year) with soup mixes, herb sugars, tea, pastas, Dansk cutting board, tea towel, mugs, plates, napkins... I just love the basket-it reminds me of a country French market basket. When it was all put together it weighed about 20 pounds. Even though times are tough & we have to make every cent count, we can't forget about those who need our help. Donate to your favorite charity-it just makes you feel warm & fuzzy all over!

Everlasting Flowers

2008-10-11T22:11:00.001-07:00

I love fall-even that it blends into winter, but I will miss my roses and hydrangeas. I love to create silk arrangements. They don't take the place of real flowers, but are lovely stand-ins. Here are just a few.

I love the deep blue of the hydrangeas against the silver chalice with the apple green ribbon.

Apple Picking

2008-10-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was the perfect fall day-the air was crisp, the sky was a brilliant blue, and you needed that jacket or sweater. My Mom has been going to the same orchard for over 20 years-she just celebrated her 84th birthday last month. She and my grandmother and aunt used to go-what a wild bunch that was! Grandma was in her nineties, my aunt her late seventies with mom just a few years behind. Now it is just me and my mom bounching over the country roads our bushel baskets at the ready. We brought home some lovely delicious-(my husband's favorite), some crispin-(they make delightful dumplings) and blush-skinned Jonagold. Couldn't resist a home-baked apple dumpling to take home & more gourds & mums. I just can't help myself!

Made some Orchard fruit dip for the cut-up apples-mmmmm!

Added to the outdoor decorations and in a few spooky weeks it will be Halloween. Time to bring the spiders down from the attic and polish up the silver treat bowl. I wonder if the clock will chime again this year. We bought it at auction four years ago and it never ran. Wound it-jiggled it-nothing. Last year when I was filling the treat bowl the clock started running and went through its repetoire of chimes, ran for half an hour and stopped. Spooky! Whose ghost was it-maybe this year we'll find out! Mickey was not impressed-he continued his afternoon nap on the ottoman.

Fall Decorating

2008-09-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

It is so much fun at the start of a new season. Replacing the quiet colors of summer with the rich jewels of fall. I draped the mantles with bittersweet, filled baskets with hydrangea blooms and lavender. Replaced bowl fillers with apples, pears, & gourds. My husband found a perfect, dried gourd, a cast-off from last year. I varnished it. It turned out the most marvelous color like aged stucco. It was such a wonderful surprise that now is part of a still-life on my back-door cupboard. I filled a great, green basket with silk sunflowers, hydrangea & bittersweet to put outside my front door. Poor Pee Wee is just "decorated out". He had to take a qucik cat-nap.

Fall is here

2008-09-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

These past few mornings it has really felt like fall. When I poke my nose out the door, the scent of fallen leaves is in the air. It is cool on my feet-(still in sandals). There are still a few late-comer tomatoes hanging on the vine and two lush purple eggplant to be picked. It's time to toast marshmallows by the fire. The days are shorter and time seems to travel by just a little bit faster.

Time to pick Hydrangeas for drying. Replace all the faded summer blooms with the jewel-tones of fall. Pumpkins that come in all shapes and colors. And time once again to bring Miss Witch down from the attic to reign as queen of the porch.

Apple cider is fresh at the orchard. Time to go and pick apples. Yes, fall is here.

My eBay Store

2008-09-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

Pancakes for Breakfast

2008-09-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

Despite a rainy start to the weekend, we awoke Sunday to pleasant temperatures and bright sunshine. Hubby offered to make breakfast-(buckwheat pancakes) so I set the table. I cut up the last peach from our peach picking trip & garnished it with a bright pansy. We ate on the back patio. It was a delightful morning, the air had just a little crisp to it-a harbinger of days to come.

Musing for the Day:

Think how fast a year flies by,

A month flies by

A week flies by

A single day

How fast it flies

How fast it goes. Mary Ann Hoberman

Picking Peaches

2008-08-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,
What a perfect summer day! The sky is the color of a robin’s egg dotted with cotton candy clouds. My mother & I set off on our annual peach picking trip. She has been going to the same farm to pick peaches (Red haven) for over twenty years. We use our vintage bushel baskets & pick till we have a trunk-full. I am making a double crust pie tonight. I found some delicious peach frozen yogurt for a la mode. This day truly embraces “find joy in your journey”. It is a delightful drive through the country on miles of twisty, turn-y back roads. We stopped on the way home at an antique mall & thrift store. I bought a delicate, little enamel painted vase & found a lamp that my neighbor had been looking for. Something for everyone – what a successful trip!

Peach Pie
1-1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (sprinkle & toss with the peaches)
4 cups fresh peaches, peeled & sliced
2 tablespoons butter
Pastry for double-crust 9-inch pie
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Combine the sugar, flour & cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Stir in the peach slices, folding to coat with the sugar/flour mixture. Pour peaches into a 9-inch unbaked pie shell. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust, seal edges & crimp. Cut vents in top crust with a sharp knife. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until crust is golden brown.

New In the Shop...

2008-08-13T20:36:00.000-07:00

New in the shop…
I’ve just added some gorgeous things from Fringe Studio. I love the graphics! They encompass everything I love-nature-the color blue-anything French. They remind me of the French country side or maybe Provence.

Also have a few architectural pieces just in. Lot’s of fun to decorate with-a little shabby-a bit cottage. Stop by and see what’s new!

Just Started a new book-

Paris to the Moon - By ADAM GOPNIK

Musing for the Day....

"For yesterday is but a dream, And tomorrow is only a vision; but today, well lived, Makes every yesterday A dream of happiness, And every tomorrow a vision of hope"

Always find Joy in your Journey

2008-08-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Always find Joy in your Journey...Time for a little mental health day-a drive through the country to visit a lovely town full of art & history-Mount Gretna. It was a picture-perfect summer day with miles of blue sky & white puffy clouds. With lots of shade & light breezes, we walked the town, had lunch & of course ice cream at the Jigger shop, browsed through a couple shops & took the long way home.

Walking through this lovely Victorian town is like stepping back in time. Life moves at a slower pace here. How can you help but relax on one of those inviting summer porches? There was a jazz worship service in the open theater that morning. The annual arts festival is two weeks away & the town is bursting with people then. But today was quiet, peaceful & relaxing.

A cottage windowbox over-flowing with blooms...

Serendipity-Shared Ideas

2008-07-27T20:20:00.001-07:00

By definition serendipity means: "the gift of making fortunate discoveries by accident ". I'd like to share some of my personal discoveries. Some I've learned from family or friends or even complete strangers. Some I've discovered through my own trial & error. Savor those sweet, simple moments that happen on even an ordinary day.

Recycle
Don’t throw out those wine bottles!
Cleanse thoroughly & use to make your herb vinegars.* Decant large cans of olive oil for easier handling. Mix fragrant oil for dipping crusty bread. Use a clean cork available at most hardware or craft stores.

I like to use the empty bottles-especially the cobalt blue ones on my tables as centerpieces for outdoor parties. They look great with a single large bloom – especially a Dahlia, Hydrangea or Sunflower. Tie with a raffia bow, embellish with charms, buttons or shells. I found some stars & stripes ribbon at a local craft store for the 4th! For a wine-tasting party I leave the labels on.

Musing on a Summer's Day

2008-07-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

"I thought I'd give you a little bit of sunshine to brighten your day. I bet no one ever gave you sunshine before".

Life Happens

2008-07-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans".

Had so many plans for this lovely summer day. I started my morning in the garden and stopped to check the nest for the baby birds. The nest was empty, but there they were peeking back at me sitting on a branch - oh - next they will be learning to fly! Grabbed my bag and I was off to the antique mall. Put the key in the ignition & nothing. When my husband came home from work, he & my neighbor jumped the car & we were off to the auto parts store -(not exactly the shopping trip I had in mind). All was going smoothly till we had to stop for a red light & the engine died. Luckily we were on a slight hill & we coasted into the parking lot into a parking spot right in front of the store. If you ever doubt there is a God or a Guardian Angel, I didn't today. What are the odds? We had to cross traffic without power steering or brakes & landed a primo parking spot. I laughed like crazy. It was just too impossible.

Back to work tomorrow but maybe I will have better luck on Thursday. Aren't these two hand painted china plates lovely? I found these out treasure-hunting Monday.

Zuccinni Tart from the Garden

2008-07-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

There is a little grey Catbird who follows me whenever I am out in the garden. When I am pulling weeds, sometimes I find a tasty morsel for him & toss it on the walk where he can see it. This year he has brought his mate & they have "Gone Housekeeping" - (as my grandmother used to say) in our Bridal Wreath. They are proud parents of two fuzzy-headed babies. Our cat Tasha spent the morning on the brick path beneath the cherry tree while papa bird kept a watchful eye on her. When I went inside to grab a cup of tea, I surprised a little grey furball-(PeeWee) having a siesta on my dining room table.

I picked my first zucchini today. I know most folks have them by the bushel-full, but this is a real accomplishment for us as our property has very few hours of direct sunlight I found this fabulous recipe in one of my British Homes magazines. It is just divine!

ZUCCHINI TART WITH TOMATO & PESTO

1 PIE CRUST
2 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL
1/2 SWEET ONION-THINLY SLICED
1 CLOVE GARLIC-PEELED & CHOPPED
1 LEEK-CUT INTO MATCHSTICKS-*OPTIONAL
1 MEDIUM ZUCCHINI-SLICED INTO ½” THICK STICKS
1 MEDIUM TOMATO- SLICED
SALT & PEPPER
3 TABLESPOONS PESTO-HOMEMADE OR STORE-BOUGHT
2-3 TABLESPOONS FRESH BASIL LEAVES
3 EGGS
6 OUNCES LIGHT CREAM-1/2 & ½ OR MILK-(I USED SKIM MILK FOR THIS & IT TURNED OUT FINE)
2 OUNCES PARMESAN CHEESE SHREDDED OR GRATED
3 TABLESPOONS TOASTED PINE NUTS

PREHEAT OVEN TO 375. ROLL OUT PASTRY CRUST PLACE IN TART TIN WITH REMOVABLE BASE.
CHILL 30 MINUTES AND BAKE BLIND FOR 10-15 MINUTES TILL PASTRY IS LIGHTLY COLORED BUT NOT FULLY COOKED.

MEANWHILE PREPARE FILLING. HEAT OIL IN LARGE FRYING PAN & COOK ONION GENTLY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. ADD GARLIC, ZUCCHINI, GARLIC, & LEAKS & COOK UNTIL ZUCCHINI IS JUST TENDER. REMOVE FROM PAN & LIGHTLY COOK TOMATO SLICES ABOUT 3 MINUTES PER SIDE. SEASON WITH SALT & PEPPER.

ALLOW PIE CRUST TO COOL SLIGHTLY & SPREAD PESTO EVENLY OVER THE BOTTOM. ARRANGE ZUCCHINI OVER PESTO & TOP WITH TOMATO SLICES. SCATTER BASIL ON TOP.

BEAT TOGETHER EGGS & CREAM OR MILK. SEASON WITH SALT & PEPPER AND POUR OVER VEGETABLES. SCATTER PARMESAN NEXT AND THEN THE PINE NUTS. LOWER OVEN TEMPERATURE TO 350 AND BAKE FOR 30-40 MINUTES OR TILL THE FILLING IS GOLDEN BROWN, RISEN & JUST SET.
SERVES 6-8.