Table Runner

What a perfect gift from the perfect family who happens to live in my neighborhood!  

My fave color combo is black/brown/beige/white. My preferred style - basic Scandinavian. Topped with stark dried flowers in a clear, glass pitcher, this table runner presents a clean, crisp look. LOVE it!

click on picture to enlarge

Oh What Funny Things Are Seen

Some old and new Halloweenie stuff 2012

  - click on each picture to enlarge -

Beauty in the gamelands

Yesterday restricted sections of the gameland were open for tours so DH and his best bud took advantage of the opportunity. "Take pictures," I begged, hoping for brillant fall foliage scenes.

Here's what I got -

Beautiful yellow slime mold. Well, most certainly the Drearys would approve.

A Timeline car for Viola

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Viola would have been a mere TWENTY years old

when this beautiful car was released. Amazing!

Misc Birthday

A mixture of birthday gifts - WONDERFUL

Elvira's Disappearing Act

Fortunately Elvira the big black snake was last seen on my neighbor's deck!

(Appropriate to view while reading Roald Dahl's THE WISH and if you dare to have the pictures enlarged - just click on each one)

Lettuce observe

I do not have a green thumb. Books like me - plants do not. LOL But - lettuce observe (pun intended) the green line growth from the DH's planting of last week. They will grow up to be healthy Mesclun mix. Or maybe not! LOL

A Night to Remember and this is NOT about the Titanic -

On 4/21/2012at 1:45 AM I received a phone call informing me that my son Christopher and his girlfriend Johnna had become ENGAGED! : )

This marvelous card was made for me by Nikki in North Wales. I have been anxiously waiting to send it their way!

Love you both - you are a lovely, beautiful couple!

Steamtown Model A Event 4/22/12

Tomorrow is the Model A/Classic Car event P and SMN are holding at Bartolai Winery -

Sunday, April 22nd 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Classic Car Show

Antique and Classic Cars on Display brought to you by the "Steamtown A's".

The event will include a light buffet, music by "Wild String-dom", and of course WINE!

The Bartolai Winery Link

and a blurry teaser sneak preview of some of the fantasic foods by SMN

A few of the vehicles owned by Steamtown Model A members -

LCHS - Titanic Night 4/19/12

Great time with BFFs! Met two lovely women at our table: Donna and Carol who was dressed  in a copy of the "jump" dress Kate W. wore in the famous movie.

The First Class Menu on the Titanic that fateful night was the following:

The First-Class Menu As served in the first-class dining saloon of the R.M.S. Titanic on April 14, 1912

First Course

Hors D'Oeuvres Oysters

Second Course

Consommé Olga Cream of Barley

Third Course

Poached Salmon with Mousseline Sauce, Cucumbers

Fourth Course

Filet Mignons Lili Saute of Chicken, Lyonnaise Vegetable Marrow Farci

Fifth Course

Lamb, Mint Sauce Roast Duckling, Apple Sauce Sirloin of Beef, Chateau Potatoes Green Pea Creamed CarrotsBoiled Rice Parmentier & Boiled New Potatoes

Sixth Course

Punch Romaine

Seventh Course

Roast Squab & Cress

Eighth Course

Cold Asparagus Vinaigrette

Ninth Course

Pate de Foie Gras Celery

Tenth Course

Waldorf Pudding Peaches in Chartreuse Jelly Chocolate & Vanilla Eclairs French Ice Cream

The repast was served with a different wine for each course. Following the tenth course fresh fruits and cheeses were available followed by coffee and cigars accompanied by port and, if desired, distilled spirits. If you have to have a last dinner, you could do a lot worse!

Our menu consisted of the above highlighted foods (75 dollar per person)

Snake Memory - SSssssssssss not funny!

May 5 - 2010 OMG The thunder started, ran to shut windows and saw a "stick" resting outside the kitchen window - but I was wrong - it was a Sssssssssssnake . A corn snake. Please don't return this May Mr. Snake.

Click on pic for the super fear element

The Bul

Many Phoenix projects have risen under J's hand. His favorite hobby is fixing that which has been forgotten and forsaken.

The Bultaco is cleaning up "pretty darn good."

TREE (the 2nd and best part)

"And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything." ~ William Shakespeare

(click on pictures to enlarge)

The dictionary states that

"A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event."

 Well - how morbid sounding is that? Yikes! I think I prefer this definition

 - "an object served as a memory of something."

Going to add - (of something) remembered with wonder, appreciation, devotion, respect, comfort, and love.  

 I believe this is what our dear friend and artist PN intended in his creation of this amazing watercolor which was gifted to us as a thank you for participating in the arboreal "closing ceremonies."

While the favored tree is no longer in PN's view - his  artistic rendition is in ours. Placed on a humble yet visible wall, we enjoy the view - daily!  With our love and appreciation, C and J

TREE (part 1)

"If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees."

                                        ~ Hal Borland

(today's trees from the back deck - click on pic to enlarge.)

Bringing a tree motif/design indoors makes the life journey even more of an adventure!

I have always been surrounded by trees. Living in a location/climate that doesn't present trees highlighted by the four seasons is not a place I could ever choose to live. Trees with soft, sweet blooming in the spring to summer, in colorful foliage of autumn, or barren limbed and coated in ice/snow throughout the winter present the yearly journey we all must take. We would have no direction minus the visible seasons through the trees.  ~ cvw159

Freshly baked bread ; )

When the temps hit the teens  - there is nothing better than a bowl of hot soup and

When life gives you lemons -

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade - so the saying goes. OR - in this case - when mother nature tumbled a mighty tree in the path of dear friends -

(click on each picture to enlarge)

we made FIREWOOD - thanks to ...

ROY

 the amazing wood splitter and two outstanding days outdoors with dear friends, devoted teamwork, and glorious fresh air and sunshine!

Swings and vintage linen

Can my passion for 40s tableclothes be this deep rooted??? LOL

Mother and son (a mere 42/62 years later)