Acorn Cottage

What's Going On......

2011-12-11T09:30:00.001-06:00

Seems like in a blink of an eye, someone hit the fast forward button and Christmas is nearly upon us! Here is a quick-at-a-glance what's been going on at Acorn Cottage in a NUTSHELL!!!!!

We went to Powell Pumpkin Patch....in the bug-dee-do. My daughter Nadia and boyfriend Josh found couple doozies!

My son Faris finding the PERFECT pumpkin!

Flew out to California for my nephew Brent & Sarah's Wedding.....LOVEY DOVEY!!!

Hopefully this handsome couple is NEXT (hint, hint) my newphew Bruce and his lovely girlfriend Tanya :)

My nephew Aaron, his beautiful wife Ghea and my grand niece Ava....speaking of Ava.....

Found out my grand niece Ava, is going to be an "older' sister.........and is going to have a sister!!!! .......

and Ava and her soon to be born sister will be busy playing with their cousins,

Catherine & Bryson

along with cousin Caitlyn!

I also

celebrated my Birthday November 27th......

It was a Hercule Poirot Party.....and my son Faris stole the show, we were all in hysterics!

My daughter Nadia came home from college to celebrate Thanksgiving....

and we are working on making dough ornaments....mine are enchanted mushrooms and owls :)

The painting process is still "in progress"

My daughter Nadia has this down to a science!

Dan the Man and I also celebrated our 11 year anniversary! I love you sweetie! XOXOXOX

The elves around here have been hard at work since then....decorating and Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, getting cozy beds together, anxiously awaiting the celebrations around the corner.

There have been many visit to Starbucks to help keep up the momentum, and many nights spent by the fireside, enjoying looking at the twinkle lights and listening to Christmas music.....taking a deep sigh and being so very thankful for all that we have!

Country Drive #137

2011-10-01T09:57:00.000-05:00

Home, Home on the Range......

Nothing like driving on a random road and finding a neat little peace of history!

This historical house is south of Topeka, Kansas and was just so charming!

I know you can't see the house that well....but let me give you some background. We are out in the middle of NO WHERE on a random dirt road by rail road tracks, weaving in and out of trees and hills. The electrical lines had the old glass gadgets on them in turquoise blue and then out of no where...someone built this MANSION. Lovely landscaping and just tucked away, their own little bit of heaven!

Different road, a little cutie, nestled in the trees, I can only image the peace and quiet the enjoy. At night I imagine the stars are shining bright, and crickets are signing in the background. Sigh.....

Trader Joe's Grand Opening!!!!

2011-07-15T11:29:00.002-05:00

Weeks, months, years....my friend Jennifer and I have been bombarding Trader Joe's with emails BEGGING them to come to Kansas City. Finally, our day of glory has arrived! Sure, on occasional trips to California I could fly home with a few non-perishable items, but I have been ~~patiently~~ waiting so I could stock up on all the things I LOVE from there.

Jennifer drove through Caribou coffee and got us treats! We stood in line with the anticipation like two five year olds on Christmas Eve. Local news anchors were out interviewing the loyal followers of this legendary store opening.

No line was going to be too long for us, because we were so happy to be there in all the excitement, taking the day off from work to celebrate the Grand Opening.

We got le'id and high fived as we walked through the door and took in the visual glory of what was before our eyes.
For those of you who have never been, I don't know if I can explain the cult following on this place, but it's magical!

They did a great job on the decor, with beautiful hand painted murals of the fountains at the Plaza to local sports themes like the KC Royals!

Produce, fresh flowers, and gourmet treats like no other. In every isle, people were oooing and awwwing at all the treats!

Okay....I wasn't going to pass up the team mascot. Is that Tahitian red lipstick you are wearing my dear?

Jen and I with "Captain Mike" Store Manager who was as sweet and helpful as could be! Great job Mike!

uh yeah....it got ugly, as we stood in line we kept making dashes for other things we saw in other peoples carts or fellow shoppers who we were standing in line with, telling about things we couldn't live without. Like we needed any incentive.

Say no more, thank goodness we were in Jen's SUV instead of my bug de doo.

Well, there are going to be some happy campers tonight at Acorn Cottage. Yes, there was some Chuck Shaw purchased, better known as Two Buck Chuck, which is actually $2.99 a bottle to wash it all down with. Life is good!

4th Festivities

2011-07-10T08:29:00.001-05:00

Me and my daughter Nadia at the 4th of July Parade!

The girls...me, Nadia and Melinda from Country Dreaming

Dan-the-Man and Mr. Ken (Melinda's sweetie)

Vintage cars showing their 4th of July spirit

Ms. Kansas

You have to have clowns at parades!

Nadia gave the John Deere club a standing ovation!

The Renaissance Festival...God bless them for wearing their costumes on a warm July day!

Festivities after the parade at Acorn Cottage....BBQ'd burgers, brats, and tons of sides including Melinda's delish Veggie Salsa recipe that I am still waiting for her to share with me...um HUM!!!!

We then headed over to the 4th of July fireworks show at a local park and played a mean game of Yahtzee waiting for it to get dark. Nadia was the big winner!

The bestest son a daughter a Mom could ever ask for in the whole entire world! Love, Love, LOVE them to pieces!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!

Home Improvement #28

2011-06-08T06:49:00.000-05:00

AFTER!!!!!

BEFORE (icky)

Home improvement number #28. Our 1942 home had the original carriage doors who had weathered many a storm and days of sunshine, but were tired and ready to go to garage door heaven. We are at the 95.5% solution and our waiting for our "panes" to be delivered and installed, but we are so excited! Dan-the-Man more than me, since this is more of a guy thing and I get more excited over paint chips.....but never the less a big improvement and one that was long over due! Kind of me not blogging in many, many months....but we won't go there...or will we?

Ok, OKAAAAAAAY...it's been a bit. I've been buzzzzzzy. What can I say?!?!?! I felt a little guilty, okay a lot, after I saw my last post was in February. What exactly have I been up to?

1) Planting flowers at Acorn Cottage

2)Playing with glitter with recklessly in the art room

3)Getting use to my new camera...we are bonding

4)Went on vacation to CA to see my Mum, sisters and niece (pictures to come)

5)Sewing (pictures to come)

You know.....stuff! Hope everyone has been having a great spring! The peonies are in bloom and smell heavenly! We have a bird nest outside our kitchen window and the babies are hungry! Love listening to them chirp! The bug-de-doo needs a good scrub and is going to be ready for the wide open roads for country drives and roadside farm stands and I got one of those fancy schmancy c.d. disk organizers so I can have all of my tunes with me. Nothing like listening to the Commodores "Too Hot Too Trot....LADY!" out on Highway 24 singing at the top of your lungs! Yeah, that's what I am talking about!

So Very Cozy

2011-02-26T19:11:00.003-06:00

Ah yes...Old Man Winter and Mother Nature teasing us. Last week we sat out on our porch, listening to the birds chirp and noticed that the lilac bushes had buds on them...the a couple of days ago it snowed, and sifted a layer of magical layer of powdered sugar all over the evergreens. So, I made a fire, lit the candles, put on some nice relaxing music and savoring the evening.

I hope you are all cozy, happy and content. Maybe a dog or cat on your lap, with a cup of tea, and a wonderful book to read, and a handmade blanket to keep you warm. Enjoy the quiet of winter, the solitude it provides for reflection, daydreaming, and looking at that David Austin rose catalog trying to figure out what kind of roses you want to plant in the spring.

Warmly,
Nancy

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-12T08:30:00.004-06:00

I kidnapped these pictures to show you the lovely restaurant Dan the Man and I celebrated Valentine's Day.....I know, I know...it's not until Monday, but we are making a whole weekend out of it (that and they didn't have a reservation on Monday until 9pm when I am usually in bed). The picture doesn't do it justice because it is a fantastic panoramic view 360 degrees of Kansas City. Thank goodness we had a perfectly clear sky to view the city lights!

See that little round thing on top of the hotel? That is the restaurant and it rotates completely in a little over an hour for a pretty spectacular dining experience. It's up on the 44th floor (did I mention I am scared of heights?) I had a cherry/pomegranate martini to calm my nerves once seated. The view takes your breath away, and the food was pretty delicious too!

This was the original restaurant that Dan the Man was going to take me to the night he proposed, but I thought it had a glass elevator to take us up to the restaurant which was a big NO CAN DO for me, so we ended going to another wonderful restaurant that special evening.

Just wanted to say sorry I haven't posted or visited any of my friends in a while...my camera went to the graveyard, and it's not much fun blogging without pictures for show-n-tell, but I hope to change that this weekend!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend celebrating Valentine's Day, one of my all time favorite Holidays of all time!

Much Love to All!

Nancy

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

2010-12-15T17:54:00.004-06:00

Our little happy tree. You have to appreciate the fact we live in a little cap cod house, but the monster tree is a priority. I could sit a look at the twinkle lights for hours on end. I light my favorite Yankee Candle "Red Berry & Cedar" and if I'm lucky, Dan the Man makes a nice fire to enjoy!

Winter is here! I encourage you all to take a moment and STOP everything, the running around, the craziness, trying to find the perfect gift.....make yourself a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, put on some Christmas music and relax....enjoy. Take a nap on the couch, take a hot bubble bath, everything will still be waiting there for you, I promise.

We bundled up and went for a drive, listening to Christmas music while sipping hot cocoa viewing all the beautiful lights people have decorated with. Such a magical time of the year!

Wishing you peace in your hearts, an abundance of love, and the light and love of God in shining brightly in your life!

Merry Christmas!

Love,Nancy

Simple is Best

2010-11-17T06:46:00.003-06:00

This recipe was given to me many years ago by my sister Janet, and although it is simple, it is the BEST! It's one of those recipe cards that is so weathered in my recipe box, you can barely make out some of the writing it's been made so many times! Of course Janet makes her own homemade pie crust, but I'm a rebel and buy Pillsbury ready made crust. Been sure to serve it with some good quality vanilla bean ice cream and enjoy! Just click on image for a larger version...no need to break out the readers :)

Savoring Fall

2010-10-27T21:17:00.006-05:00

Nothing like going on a Sunday country drive! You find all sorts of neat things like this great Scarecrow! He was out by one of my favorite farm stands in Waverly, Missou-RAH. I overhear someone say "You can always tell when someone isn't from Missou-RAH because they say Missouri"....not wanting anyone to figure out I'm a transplant from California, living in Kansas, I gotta get my twang on! Y'all here what I'm sayin'?

The quintessential landmark of many farms dotted across the landscape. We actually have one in our backyard, but it needs some t.l.c. and some WD-40! I decided it can be re-purposed and be used to grow some snow peas on next spring!

My son and future daughter-in-law.....okay, so he hasn't proposed or anything, but she is already part of the fam! C'mon...let me dream! We had a great day, went out for lunch, and stopped at a cider mill where a carmel apple pie made it's way into my hands and promptly up to the counter.

We also went to a winery and came home with some treasures for all those holiday meals that are right around the corner!

Now....as for inquires regarding the pumpkins:

1) Yes, they turned ORANGE!!!

2) No, I didn't take any pictures.....but I can, and will!

3) We planted them from seed, and the big ones came up, but the jack-be-littles didn't grow....well, the vines grew, but no pumpkins this year :( . I had to get my fix and bought a bag of them at Walmart and have them at home and work because I think they are the cutest things EVER!

A Taste of Fall

2010-09-16T06:29:00.006-05:00

There is nothing like planting something from seed, and watching a miracle happy before your eyes. Fall is one of my favorite seasons and I love pumpkins of any shape and size...the more the merrier! You can only imagine my excitement when I strolled down to our garden and realized I had not 1...not two...not three....but four pumpkins! Trixie seems to be more interested in a woodland creature off in the distance! Watching the colors start to change from deep green....now with a little yellow, and just when the timing is right a nice warm orange.

This is the King of the Crop, who is growing expeditiously ever time I go to check on him!

Some where hard to find, tucked in a little cozy spot just waiting to to grow and show their glory.

My Jack-be-little's haven't developed just yet, but there were many blossoms so I am hopeful.

Yesterday I had my first Pumpkin Spiced Latte of the season...it rained for a better part of the day here in Kansas. The gray skies and cooler temperatures had me day dreaming of fall (one official week away from today!) and all the splendor it offers. Antique shopping seems even more fun when you have a cozy sweater on...drives out in the country....looking over hearty soup recipes...the smell of firewood burning, and watching the leaves change on the trees. Heaven!

Rhode Island Part Deux

2010-08-06T07:25:00.003-05:00

Look at the SIZE of these gates....they seemed about 20-30ft tall! We did not go on the tour of the Newport, Rhode Island Mansions as we were on a mission (no not 007 mission) to get down to Ocean Drive and breath in the fresh sea air! The houses from the exterior were *AMAZING*
and I easily could have spent the day marveling at the architecture!

Okay....for those of us who are part Danish and have cheese, butter and half and half pulsing through our veins to begin with....this was a major trouble stop for me. This was at Costentino's market in North Providence. My favorite "Drunken Goat"....don't you love it?

STILL...at Costentino's the case line of FRESH pasta....to die for....and of course the chunks of fresh parmesan nearby calling my name!

Yeah, this was my "bruschetta".....we are not talking about any mamby pamby miniature piece of toast with a light sprinkling of basil and tomato....no sireeee....this is the real deal with fresh cut prosciutto....

I didn't take this picture when I should have...early in the morning with the sun lighting up the flowers in a wave of magenta glory. Cute little nursery right down the street from my families place....Oh yeah, and they also sell fresh baked pies. Trouble with a capital "T".

I still have MORE pictures to share if you can take it! It was such a wonderful trip. If you ever get a chance to see New England, I highly recommend it!

Rhode Island Vacation

2010-07-14T06:14:00.002-05:00

Ah yes, the fresh seaside air....a warm summer day, and being with people you love...doesn't really get much better. Rhode Island was filled with discoveries around every corner!

Federal Hill is an area in Providence, Rhode Island that is the Italian district. Lovely restaurants, cafes, and shops galore. Nothing like being a place and hearing people speaking Italian to each other to enhance the moment even more. The delis were to die for....oh my fresh made pastas and baked goods, beautiful ceramic painted dishes and bowls ....I wasn't prepared for this much goodness!

I had to travel 1,500 miles across the United States to FINALLY get some pictures of wild turkeys. (They are very camera shy in Kansas, let me tell you!) Not only did we see these beauties, there was another encounter with a mom, dad and all their chicks...too many to count...precious!

Weight Watchers Smatewatchers....You try resisting the case line of the wonderful bakeries on the East Coast....with a latte. There was no will power once these targets were in site, including my mother-in-law making a last minute hit before heading to the airport!

Beautiful Newport, Rhode Island. Picture perfect day driving along Ocean Drive, gawking at the mansions, soaking in the fresh air and sunshine. Lovely, lovely, lovely!

This is my wonderful brother-in-law John on the left, my mother-in-law Estelle in the center, and Dan-the-Man on the right. Guess who was happy with a capital "H" to be with her boys (2 of 4) on one of her favorite beaches! Did I mention getting to see here grandchildren as the icing on the cake? Her smile says it all!

I am a historical home lover...all over the state you would find homes proudly showing off how long they have been around. I had a walking history book with me, who also goes by the name of Dan randomly stating facts like "Benjamin Franklin was in office then" or "that was built before the constitution was written" "that's when Thomas Jefferson was President".

Notice a theme with all my coastal vacation pictures? Yeah, it was scrumpdillyicious! Did I mention we were enjoying this meal on a bay with the corner window view. Heavy sigh.......

Another picture at Federal Hill....the flowers were in full force and there was a beautiful fountain built on the cobblestone. Lovely!

See my seagull? They don't miss many meals around these parts. Very healthy birds in these parts!

There is more to report...more pictures to share, but there is this thing called W_O_R_K and unfortunately, I have to go to it this morning! Just wanted to share a little bit of where I've been.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer so far, that you are staying cool and enjoying the season. It won't be long (or so the stores tell us) that fall will be upon us. So it's nice to be able to savour those glasses of lemonade while sitting on the porch watching the bees drink their nectar from the flowers!

Happy Birthday Cindy!!!

2010-06-09T21:40:00.003-05:00

She that amazing lady in the center of my kids? Her name is Cindy and she is what I call a TRUE BLUE FRIEND. We've known each other since freshman year in high school, and she has been a part of my life, my entire families life with her whole heart. Cindy would pick me up for school in her mustang ( I didn't get my first car until I was 18), we were in gymnastics together (you can stop giggling now!) and have many fond memories together. We spent the night at each other's homes, told each other our secrets, & shared our dreams. We've been on camping trips, shopping sprees, and have celebrated many important events...weddings, babies, baptisms, birthdays...the list goes on and on. Even though I was a rebel and moved to Kansas from California, when we talk, it's like no time has past. She is the godmother to my children and has a heart of gold. She has been there for me through all the ups and downs. She is an amazing cook, contractor, water skier, snorkeler. She is beauty and grace, loves unconditionally, & thoughtful beyond belief.

Right now she is up in Washington at her second home hopefully celebrating a magical, wonderful birthday.

If you are reading this Cindy, I just want you to know how much I love you and miss you...I hope this birthday year ahead brings you all the happiness you deserve in your life and that all your wishes come true!

XOXOXOX Nancy

The Porch Project

2010-06-01T05:39:00.004-05:00

This was a productive 3 day for some people (Dan the Man) and not so much for others (yours truly). Dan the man.... the myth, the legend...home improvement Mr. Extraordinaire, worked deligently all three days and we now have a loverly place to contemplate the birds singing and watch the woodland creatures even better than before! Of course now matter how long I've been blogging I always manage to load the pictures in the reverse order I meant to...one day, maybe, I might do it right! Dan built this whole number from SCRATCH! No pre-made stuff, no sirree!

Our comfortable new settee with cushions that beckon you to stay longer than anticipated! We added the flower box behind the settee for an added touch, and like it so much we want more...greedy I tell ya!

Up in the top right corner is my Squirrel Bell so when Dan the Man is in the back 40 of the yard I can ring-a-ding to catch his attention. (Note: this only works 50% of the time)

As you can see Dan the Man didn't tackle this project single handedly....OH NO, he had a helper...okay so maybe some of the tools were delivered with a little drool on them, but at least he didn't have to constantly go up and down the steps!

See that look of concentration? Or is it the look of "I can't believe you just took a picture of me" Oh well, what's done is done.

Here's the officially "BEFORE" picture. Well, actually there's a real "before" picture when this puppy used to be completely screened in. you can see the last remnants of that on the bottom left corner. It must of served as a place to trap all the bugs. Unfortunately that picture was pre-digital and the chances of me finding it, and converting it just for one show-n-tell picture are slim to none. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Tonight we will be sitting out on our porch, enjoying a chilled Limoncello by the light of a Tuscany Currant scented candle, eating bruschetta and relaxing watching the fireflies!

Girls Week Getaway

2010-05-23T09:36:00.006-05:00

I'm warning you know....this is probably the LONGEST blog entry since the beginning of my blog. I recently went on a trip to California to celebrate Mother's Day with my loving Mama, my two sisters and my niece. We try to get together once a year, usually in May, so we can laugh, tell stories, eat and shop. This year we went to Solvang, California. Solvang is a small Danish community that has lovely stores and a lot of bakeries. We couldn't have picked a better week to go because the weather was perfect with a capital "P"....so was the time with family. I'll stop blabbering and let you enjoy the pictures....

Fresh Lavender
Hollyhocks

The Danes loves their storks!

Wisteria

Good Eats

One Happy Mum!

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!

My beautiful niece Julie~

Yeah, this was my breakfast...heavenly!

These roses....in person the color was even more magnificent!

This little number was for sale and was calling to me....

How cute is that!

Of course we had to stop. They had flower shaped brownies on Popsicle sticks!

Jacks Mum was the sweetest lady and was working on a felting project!

Trouble store in Los Olivos

Just happened to see this number while walking....I was ready to crash the garden party!

Can't mention Solvang without a windmill!

okay...there were only about 10 bakeries in town to choose from...see what I was up against?

Patronized not once, but twice by the fam!

The roses....and they were growing along the mile long fence line to these horse stables...beautiful~

Probably one of the best pictures I've ever taken...and now my screen saver at home.

More storks :)

Foxgloves

Oh happy days.....a charming place called Enchante'

Beautiful store fronts with brick, and leaded glass...just a fairytale village~

Wish there was a thing called smell-a-vision to share with you all!

If you haven't had enough and need to see more pictures, just hoot and holler! I only took 164 and according to my daughter, about 160 of them were of flowers!

Mr. Higgins

2010-05-01T12:12:00.004-05:00

There is a new member of the family here at Acorn Cottage....MR. HIGGINS!!!!! (This is his majestic pose, after he had his Make Over!

Here is a picture of our diamond in the rough. You can tell that Dan the Man didn't like him at all right from to get go.

Before we adopted him we brought Trixie over to meet him and go for several walks. Her face says it all "You are kidding me Mom right? He seriously isn't coming home with us, IS HE????"

Mr. Higgins (formerly Rufus) was on the loose and picked up by animal control. He wasn't groomed, had straw stuck in his coat, hadn't been neutered. Worse off when the animal control officer found out who he belonged to, the didn't want to pay the fees involved and told the officer "just keep him"....well along comes Nancy into the picture. Heartbroken and tearing up just hearing the story, ready to adopt sight unseen, the wheels of motion moved forward. Okay, okay, I had my foot on the pedal going about 100MPH. After He got all checked out at the vet, shots up to date, surgery, grooming, we finally got to bring him home last Thursday and it's been love ever since.

We got for walks nightly, and he plays chase with Trixie in the back yard. Her legs are about two feet long, and his are about 2 inches long, so it's very entertaining to watch.

There is lots of love, doggie treats, and we are so very happy to have him in our lives! He is quit the character, and very intelligent, and likes to be held like a baby and have his black shag carpet of a tummy rubbed. Life is good!

Delights of Springtime

2010-04-11T07:40:00.005-05:00

Went for a lovely country drive yesterday with the top down on my bug-de-doo. My daughter was home from college for the weekend and I wanted to see if I could find a nice cottage/country set of benches for our back porch. While Dan-the-Man was busy, sanding posting, and building new railing for our porch, I was already busy visualizing how I would like to fix things up outside in this cozy spot.
I saw a really cute bench on line, and decided to take the "country" drive to the store that had them in stock. It wasn't hard to twist my arm to go to Louisburg Cider Mill en route, which always has great treats and cute kitchen goodies.

Of course if you go to the cider mill, you might as well go down the country road a little further to a local winery called Somerset Ridge. It's a great little place with the friendliest owners and always a delight to visit. They have tables set outside to just relax and enjoy a glass of wine, and you are welcome to enjoy the majestic views as long as you like. Just our luck, the had an artisan bread maker there for the weekend, with a table set up. Not only artisan bread, gourmet jelly's...the kind that are perfect with cream cheese on a nice cracker, and homemade soaps. Trouble, trouble trouble! The first bread we tried was a sourdough base with Gouda cheese and bacon. I hadn't even tasted it and the words were flowing out of my mouth "We'll take two". Another treat was homemade English muffins with chives and rosemary. Oh my......

Afterwards I bought a few bottles of wine, daydreaming about sitting out on the refurbished back porch by candlelight at dusk....just waiting for the yard to be lit up with the fireflies. It doesn't help that I'm re-reading the best book ever published "A Year in Provence" by Peter Mayle for the 168th time. Puts you right in the mood for a chilled glass of young wine, fresh air and happy memories.

I promise to post some pictures of the porch when all is said and done...but it will be a good month I'm sure before we pull it all together.

As for other minor updates...1) I cut my bangs...I was 90% there and just missed them, now to face my hairdresser when I see her on Tuesday with my tail between my legs. 2) I'm doing great on Weight Watcher and *LOVE* my leader Ann. Such a wonderful women, so funny and inspiring. I'm down 22 pounds! Yipeeeee!

Skip to My Lou My Darlin'

2010-03-09T20:09:00.005-06:00

Did I happen to mention how HAPPY I am that Spring is near?? The snow has melted which feeds the beautiful streams and rivers that run through our country. Can't you almost hear the sound of it...the force...yet peacefulness of being near rushing water. Pull up a chair, let the sun come down on your face and warm you up as the gentle mist keeps you cool.

Come for a drive and get some fresh air and take in all the sites and sounds. Fresh grass with dew drops hanging on...flowers growing in impossible places. Feel the happiness in your heart taking all the marvels around us!

There are robins back in the yard, and the daffodils have poked through the ground. The last of the snow has melted just in time for some crocus' and tulips to start coming up.

Life is good my friends! Every season that comes around I think this is my favorite season. Each one more marvelous than the next. Each one makes us appreciate the special things it has to offer. Take time to take a walk, put a sweater on, go out in your yard, take a look around.

Sit out on your back porch and CLOSE YOUR EYES...and listen to the birds singing, take a deep breath in and ENJOY LIFE!

What's Up?

2010-02-24T20:06:00.007-06:00

It feels like months, not days that I have been on my blog and making my rounds visiting all of you. Please know you are loved....Even if I haven't left a comment, I stop by to see what you have been up to!

I took a little time off because I needed to get focused on something....ME! I know all of you are loving, caring women (sorry Drew, my brother-in-law who is cool enough to admit he likes my blog!) who constantly give, give, give to everyone. We have families, jobs, a home to take care of and SOMETIMES we drop like a pinball to the bottom of the life machine. I finally had to carve out some ME time. Took some deep breaths to figure out what Nancy needs in her life...what Nancy would like to change, to be even more scrumpdilicious than she already is. Well, the answer....HER HEALTH. So I decided to join WEIGHT WATCHERS. Saturday will be two weeks

and I can't wait to weigh in on Saturday. So far I'm doing marvelously. In the past I've either dieted, or exercised, but never together. I've always thrown in the towel when a holiday came up, a birthday needed to be celebrated and gone off track never to return.

I have an AMAZING leader at my weekly meetings who is just so snazzy I want to hug her every time I see her! I've been an ANGEL planning out my meals and getting on the treadmill and exercising (WW likes to use the word "activity"). I am pumped up and just love ETOOLS, their on line program that helps your track what you are up to. And hey, isn't that my "grow your bangs out" mentor on the cover of that magazine? Yup, I'm pretty sure it's her! BTW progress report, the bangs are now down to my top lip...yeah! Veronica Lake, WATCH OUT!!!

Anyhow, I just want to encourage anyone who feels like they have gotten lost in the shuffle of life to tell yourself YOU ARE IMPORTANT!!! Just as important as all of those people you constantly take care of all the time. SO schedule some YOU time. Get a manicure, take a bubble bath by candlelight, find a juicy novel and curl up in bed an hour earlier than normal and tell everyone you're tired and going to sleep! Carving out time for you to have quiet to think, and make you a priority in your life because YOU DESERVE IT!!!!!

Tales of Love

2010-02-12T05:53:00.005-06:00

As an incurable romantic Valentine's Day is one of my FAVORITE holidays. Ever since I was little I have always been sentimental. My Mom, the greatest example of a loving human being here on the face of the earth, always showed by example her unconditional love to all of her children. As I grew older, and became a young wife and mother, I discovered just how much I could love others and felt so blessed to have my husband and kids (who are young adults now) in my life. There were changes that would occur, that were unexpected. When Dan-the-Man came into my life a whole new chapter (more like book) of the meaning of romance came into my life......
I was divorced with two young children to care for, and didn't exactly have the faith that love would come my way again. Dates gone bad, fix up by friends that went south left me wondering if love would ever come my way again.

One day while on the Internet I found a link for pen pals. This wasn't a romance site, just a place to exchange e.mails, have some conversation. I met a nice lady from France who was a school teacher, a hilarious guy named Bob (whom I'm still pen pals with today 11 years later) from Michigan, a farmer's wife from Tennessee with three children.....and then Dan-the-Man. Dan and I started exchanging e.mails, stories about our lives, families, work, interest.....and things started getting more and more interesting. After several months of e.mailing each other, we braved the waters and took a graduated step to phone calls. On one phone call Dan announced "I want to fly out to meet you in person". **GULP** Scared, excited, twitter patted, butterflies, all wrapped into one, I agreed.

The weekend was memorable beyond belief. Our first kiss took place at the top of a mountain after a tram ride up the Palm Springs Ariel Tramway on a beautiful September day and our romance began. I was living in California, Dan in Kansas, and when we had to say goodbye for his flight home, we knew we should never be apart. Both of us were already lovesick. That's when the romance became incredible....love letters, emails that made me (and close friends who were in the inside loop) swoon. Love quotes everyday that left me floating on air! After flights back and forth from Kansas to California and California to Kansas our hearts could not take the separation. I flew out to Kansas and Dan had the most magical weekend for us planned. A single rose for me when picking me up at the airport, a dozen long stemmed roses at his place with chilled champagne, dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant....then a walk down at the Country Club Plaza. He arranged for a carriage ride and while under the stars above, proposed to me and I have been madly in love with him ever since!

Of course you are getting the reader's digest version of this story, but I just want to say if you have a lonely heart on Valentine's Day, keep your chin up and eyes open because sometimes God had other plans for you. We may not always understand at the time why we face the challenges we do, but there is a reason....sometimes those reasons aren't clear at the time, but when the time is right, things fall into place and you will live your happily ever after life, like me!

XOXOXO, Nancy

The Wedding

2010-02-08T05:22:00.003-06:00

We are back from sunny California and it was everything and more we could have wished for! Here is my nephew Aaron and his beautiful wife Ghea! My pictures are not in a sequence of events, so bear with me! The brides heritage is Indonesian and she had two wedding dresses, one for the ceremony and one for the reception one more beautiful than the next!

This is my other handsome nephew Bruce (Aaron's older brother) and his beautiful girlfriend Tanya. He caught the garter!! Uh Hum...cough....cough. Yes-sir-reeeeee. Hint, hint.....

One of the many beautiful details of this gorgeous wedding. They also had a special tray out side of these babies injected with liquor!

Being a foodie, just had to snap a photo of the salad. The whole menu was delicious and served with such style. The staff did an outstanding job in every way shape and form.

The bride's bouquet, just a vision of loveliness. All of the flowers were so beautiful!

Each of the tables had different arrangements of flowers...combinations of floating orchids, roses, lilies, just lovely!

The weeding cake was so beautiful. I don't know if you can see, but the 4th layer had tiny rhinestones in the design! Just beautiful! (and delicious too!)

This picture was next to the guest book, along with other photos of Aaron and Ghea! Such a beautiful foyer. They also had table favors with seat assignments to the right of this area that were so cute!

This was the setting for the bride and groom. Married outdoors in the late afternoon on a beautiful day. The one thing I forgot to bring in my purse....Kleenex and I needed it. The ceremony was just wonderful. So well spoken and touching!

This is a picture of the building were all the festivities took place. You can tell by the palm trees we are in California.

I have more pictures to share, but at least wanted to post these. One thing that wasn't caught on camera was Dan-the-Man out on the dance floor doing some moves that have made a lifetime impression on his nieces and nephews that they will never forget! (anyone remember the bar scene from the movie Dan in Real Life?....yeah...along those lines)

Such a wonderful time with family and friends. The newlyweds are enjoying a honeymoon in Maui...can't wait to here all about it!

California Here We Come!!!

2010-01-28T05:56:00.003-06:00

Watching the morning news and learning that the morning temperatures will be 19 degrees as Dan-the-Man and I hop on a plan for sunny California makes me a little giddy inside. Ah yes, as my co-workers will be trudging into work I'll be OFF. Sauntering up to the airline check out counter, with a little pep in my step, generously tipping the bag handlers, and skipping down the isle of the plane, nestling into my seat, with an ear to ear grin. "Why yes, I WOULD love a bag of peanuts and a ginger ale". I made sure that when we change planes to get to our final destination, it wasn't in Denver or Chicago in January, but balmy Phoenix, Arizona. Did I ever tell you the story of my Chicago O'Hare flight? The one that was supposed to arrive at 1:00pm in the afternoon and my toes didn't touch the carpet of the airport terminal until 2:30am, the very carpet I got to "sleep" on overnight??? Yeah, that's a story for another time and place....

I have better things to look forward to....like my sister Janet picking us up from the airport and giving one of the best hugs ever! The happiness of seeing my family that I haven't seen in MONTHS....

Including this LOVE BUG. My MOMMY! Talk about the best hugs in the world, hers are the best. I know, because I've been getting them from her my whole life!

The reason for the visit, not that there HAS to be one....because this handsome devil, my nephew Aaron is GETTING MARRIED!!!! What is better than a visit, than a visit with a CELEBRATION!!!!! (pictured here with his favorite Aunt, Me....sorry Barbara, just stating the facts!)

Ah yes...Aaron(aka "Peaches" a despised nickname given by his older brother) is getting married. He's like a second son to me and we always have the best of times together. You never see him without a smile on his face, and now he has more reason than ever to be happy and he is going to be walking down the isle this weekend. We couldn't be happier for him! (pictures to follow upon our return)....now for that check list of mine......

Clothes packed.....um

Camera charged...check

Wedding gift purchased....oops, not yet....

New shoes to wear.....whoops

Clothes washed.....ut oh...

Suitcase recovered from basement....check

Melinda nagging me if I've packed yet....check :)

Wedding card....dang!

Okay, so I'm kind of a last minute kinda gal. I can say I'm always ready to walk out the door right on time, every time, it's my process!

Here's Dan checklist when we get to California (not necessarily in order of importance)

In and Out Burger

Fresh seafood Dinner

In and Out Burger

Walk Around Balboa Island, including a Balboa Bar

In and Out Burger

and finally.... In and Out Burger

Anxious for Spring

2010-01-26T06:33:00.003-06:00

It happens every year. Despite my resolves to get through January and February, they are not my favorite months of the year. (Except Valentine's Day :) It's dark, gray and cold, and although I mentally try to prepare, and try to convince myself it's a good time to drink lattes and be artzy fartsy, I find myself day dreaming about spring. Lovely images like this that make me want to build a pergola in our back yard and have a lovely chandelier like this one.....I imagine a table, filled with things like caprese salad, bruchetta, and vino, laughing under the stars with family and friends.
I LOVE twinkle lights. I lay in bed at night wondering if I should ask Dan the Man to perilously climb the extension ladder so out massive oak tree could look like this?

Perhaps a fountain, to listen to the trickling of water...so relaxing. I could sit by a fountain for hours and be content!

Especially if I have a nice glass of Limoncello.... a good book, sunshine streaming down through the opening in the tree leaves finding just the right spot to sit and cover my eyes. Watching the birds fly here and there, thinking how wonderful life is...and how I want the day to go on forever.

Ah yes, my dream table setting. A pergola with wisteria growing up and over the top. Looking at all the delicate blossoms, and the bees and butterflies.

Images are from apartmenttherapy, James Beard Foundation, & ehow

Artzy Craftsy

2010-01-24T17:16:00.011-06:00

I have been in my gnome p.j.'s for the better part of the day in the art room being artzy craftsy. This is a look at the creative genius in progress. I start out with a clear space and before I know it there is stuff everywhere!

This is the creative team mascot. Trixie Petunia...aka Trix...aka....Trigger Doone...aka...Tricky...
Daddy just bought her a new pink sparkle collar! Santa brought her a new deluxe doggie bed.

Yes, don't fall over, those are actual RAYS OF SUNSHINE outside. Hours, days, weeks of grey skies, and for a brief period, we actually saw sunlight today. It was very exciting. The squirrels were out in full force and I fed them some turbo squirrel food to help them get through another possible dusting of snow scheduled this evening.

And to my dear friend Melinda.....do you SEE what is on the craft table? That's right....a recipe book. (okay so it's Nadia's and not yours) Yes, I realized I "kidnapped" yours weeks ago....and yes, I realize that I promised to give your back to you after some minor adjustments on New Years Eve....I know it's January 24th.....the good news is we are somehow still in your good graces and have been invited over to your home for Superbowl Sunday....and there is an incredibly high chance I will have your recipe book returned to you by then! Scouts honor, pinky swear....Hugs-n-kisses and Trix sends you a lick! :) I know how you love that on the back of your arm when you least expect it! :)

Apple Cake

2010-01-24T08:34:00.004-06:00

I wish I was technically savvy enough to have a link to open this up and print the recipe, but I'm a dumby-dumb dumb when it comes to this computer stuff. Anyways, enough about that...this recipe was given to me by a dear friend as is just one of those delicious things to make when it is cold outside. It is hardy, but very moist. One of the few cakes that doesn't need frosting, and is great with a hot cup of tea!

Just click on the image above to enlarge it, then you could print it from there!

The "BOB" Haircut

2010-01-21T05:51:00.002-06:00

Ever since I was very young, I always thought the "BOB" haircut was tres chic! I loved watching movies set in the 20's and 30's and thought the movie stars were incredibly sophisticated. The slim line of the dresses, usually chiffon with sequins and the stars all had characters that were strong, sophisticated and feminine all wrapped into one.

Move into modern times, and it's still a haircut that is just timeless. No matter what your face shape, I think it looks fabulous on everyone.

Marion Davies, such a classic beauty. She was the starlet who was the girlfriend of William Randolph Hearst and if you ever get a chance to go to central California, you MUST see Hearst Castle...but that's a post/pictures for another day :)

In inverted "BOB"....shorter in the back, longer in the front, which I have been told by a stylist or two is always flattering on the face.

Here is my mentor picture. Clean lines, classic, chic. Now many of you have goals like to loose X number of pounds for New Year's Resolutions (don't worry it's on my list too every year) but one of my MAIN goals is to develop PATIENCE and grow my bangs out. I really need hair therapy, because I've already been in the bathroom twice, with them combed down, scissors in hand, ready to relieve myself of the agony of having them hang right at the wrong spot. I think of the shame I would face, tail in between the legs, going back to my stylist, having to admit defeat and then I somehow muster up enough strength to set the scissors down and make it through another day and let them grow.

I know I have fellow friends out there who understand this. The last time I didn't have bangs was 2nd grade. (we won't do the math how many years ago that was right now) If there was a 1-800-DONT-CUT-BANGS hot line number, I'd be their numero uno client. Wish me luck!!!

P.S. I have the picture of Jenny printed at home and at my desk at work as a visual reminder to put the scissors down. I may need some support from time to time, and felt the need to reach out to my peeps. Kind of like therapy. "Hi, my name is Nancy, and I've gone for 6 weeks without cutting my bangs". Next........

Tartine

2010-01-16T11:34:00.004-06:00

By Elisabeth Prueitt & Chad Robertson

This is a book, that despite New Year's Resolutions, needs to be ordered. The cover alone was enough to reel me in hook, line and sinker....BUT WAIT! They show you how to make croissants inside!

I've lived in Kansas for 5 1/2 years and I give it a 99.8% and I'll tell you what the missing percentages are for.

1) No FRENCH BAKERIES! What's up with that? There was one, it went out of business for some shenanigans I won't go into.....Then I "heard" about another one, made a field trip....it had closed. Do you know the trauma of NEEDING a good chocolate croissant with a cafe creme and not being able to get a fix? Anyone seen the movie "It's Complicated" and died when they were at the bakery at night? I know you know what I'm talking about.

2) The other percent is because there are no TRADER JOES out here....yet. There are a group of us who write to them, okay, beg them to PLEASE open up a store. Heck, I'd drive an hour if it meant being able to saunter down the isle, stock piling on all their treats.

I'm order the book, it's happening today, and I am going to try my hand at baking croissants and will have to give you all a report once I do. It can't be any more complicated than rice crispy treats....RIGHT????? Raise your hand if you have braved the waters and made homemade croisssants? Cathy...did I see you raise your hand in Oregon? If so, we need to talk girl!

Fairy Doors

2010-01-15T05:42:00.005-06:00

I'm not sure when I came across seeing the first one...but I can tell you, it was love at first sight!

vflora

It makes me happy knowing that there is someone out there crafting these little treasures. Can you imagine being at a cocktail party "So...what line of work are you in?" "I make fairy doors"...I love it! Hats off to the artisans and the believers to add a little magic to their garden or home. Whenever I have grandchildren ( don't worry nobody is married...or even engaged yet, so family members reading this post don't let your imagination run wild) I am definitely going to have a fairy door in my house, and fill their heads with enchanted stories!

Heavenly Treats

2010-01-11T18:48:00.009-06:00

Recipe & Photo BBC Good Food

I lucked upon this recipe when I was browsing around the Internet and it's been trouble ever since. Maybe it's the teen temperatures and icicles dripping on my head when I'm unlocking the door. Maybe it's the fact that I HEART strawberries. Maybe it's because I've been non-compliant getting back on track (all though I did do the treadmill today...yeah!) since the holidays but this little naughty had to be made. It's like a sponge cake make on a jelly roll pan, sliced impossibly thin, then CHAMBORD (raspberry heavenly liquor) brushed in between the layers...while that is soaking in, you make the BUTTER CREAM frosting with more fresh strawberries blended in, and viola....your family thinks you are a pastry goddess.

Now, as your friend, I must warn you...the recipe (BTW the link is here) is in METRIC. I'm sure you college educated folks out there will have no problem switching the metric values around, and then there are the Nancy's of the world. The girl who only passed High School Algebra because her gymnastic coach was the teacher and if he failed me, I couldn't be on the team...I know Too Much Information. ANYHOW friends, I'm going to save you. The caster sugar is roughly 3/4c. and the flour is roughly 1c. The butter in the icing is a 1/2c. and the icing sugar (aka powdered sugar) is 2 1/2 c. You can thank me later, because if you've ever gone on to a metric conversion website, words may come out of your mouth that you haven't heard since the girls bathroom in High School (or as Melinda says "Potty Mouth")

My local liquor store had a $4.00 mini-airplane size bottle(not that I'm a lush when I fly or anything) of the Chamboud...which was a little shy of what I could have used. You also can use a strawberry liquor too. Either way I'm sure they are both delicious! Enjoy my friends! You will not be disappointed! 58 days until Spring and victory will be ours!

Dreamy Linens

2010-01-10T14:30:00.005-06:00

These lovelies are from COTTAGECHICSTORE which carries all of my favorite vendors. I daydream about having a bed like this........

or this.....It just kind of puts you in another place and time. I believe these are by Bella Notte. It would make for a perfect place for reading fairy tales and sipping a cup of Earl Grey tea don't you think?

Toadstools

2010-01-03T15:27:00.010-06:00

These cutie patooties are from littlehousebythesea.wordpress.com Just adorable! Such dainty little handwork!

How cute is this little felt project? You can get the directions at whipup.net I love how they use buttons on top.

These are actually baby rattle from the website http://www.purlbee.com/

The creme de la creme....A Pixie toadstool birthday cake from dailymail.uk.com , click on the food link and type in pixie cake and you can down load the directions. If i was more technically savvy, I could do it for you, but that's the price you pay being blog friends with the Nancemeister. There are strengths and weaknesses and technology is not my strength.
Daydreaming and being artsy fartsy is though!

2009-12-27T13:00:00.004-06:00

Mug shot of me and my daughter. She used Photoshop because she is smart like that! It's a wonderful thing. Fixed my fly-away hairs, whitened my teeth. She naturally looks this gorgeous....I don't as you'll see on my Christmas morning picture below....rolling fresh out of bed, in all my glory here to share with the world!
You see, we've had snow...a lot of snow....for us. It's snowed for about 2 days. Little more to come this afternoon. We've been working on that blasted !#%$&^$( jigsaw puzzle....ready to throw it into its box. Some artist who thought it would be funny to make several areas in the same color tones, just to drive me nuts. You stare at the pieces over and over again, hoping you will find a glimmer of hope. When all else fails, you start focusing on the shapes. Yes my friends, I know you have suffered this pain along with me, and understand why I had to make a change and stop working on it before I went insane....it's still on the coffee table, taunting me. That's when you shift gears, and watch the whole ENTIRE season 1 of Castle dvd. Yes, the son pulled through for me! Watched episode after episode while doing my cross stitch (which is just about done FYI)
Then when your husband forces you out of the living room that you've been holding up in and announces "There's a game on today" (translation FOOTBALL) you realize you made actually need to get up, shower, get out of the pj's you've been living in and move to a different room. Fortunately, that's when I was able to bust out my new Cricut machine. I was good this year, I was very, very good, because Santa also got me a new Canon photo printer. What do you get when you have a Cricut+Photo printer?=SCRAP BOOKING!!!!! Life is good my friends, oh yes indeed it is! I will be listening to my new Brad Paisley c.d. while figuring out the intricacy of my new devices. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I'll be in the artsy craftsy mode for the remainder of the day if you need me!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

2009-12-22T08:18:00.003-06:00

Our tree nestled into the corner of Acorn Cottage. I love laying on the couch with a blanket and something hot to drink and gaze at the lights and ornaments each and every night.

This is a German Smoker my husband brought home for me from his trip to Germany. If you have never seen one before, they open up and you put a small incent cone inside and light it. The "smoke" come out of the Toy Makers mouth and it looks like he is really smoking his pipe!

There is no room for anymore gifts! Each year I say I am going to be conservative, and something happens....and I keep finding things that I can't resist. It isn't until the morning of Christmas when I realize I went overboard. What can I say...I love spoiling my family!

One of my most precious decorations of all times. My elves that climb their ladder to help decorate the tree. They are just the cutest thing in the world!

Well, I have approximately one hour until the daughter arrives home from college and then chaos will ensue. No doubt more shopping for last minute items and then baking, baking, baking.

I can't wait!!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful CHRISTMAS. May there be much joy and laughter in your homes. Lots of hugs and kisses ( you did remember the mistletoe didn't you????). Some quiet time to reflect on the reason for the season, and memories to last a lifetime! You are all very dear to me and I am so thankful for the friendships I've made. God Bless and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

The Anticipation

2009-12-12T04:42:00.002-06:00

Right now it the time of the season that I love the most. The excitement of finding the last of the gifts to go under the tree, working on putting the finishing touches on gifts, and deciding what else I would like to bake for Christmas goodies.

I LOVE sitting in the living room in the evening by a nice fire, looking at the Christmas tree lights while thinking about things I can do to make this Christmas memorable for my family. I love finding some funny things to put in the kids stockings, and even though they are grown, I think they look forward to getting into their stocking almost as much as opening their gifts!

It's the time when neighbors are extra kind to one another. I had a little elf stop by my door with a bag of baked goodies, and beside tasty treats, my neighbor had made 2 Christmas c.d.'s with her favorite Christmas songs to share. These acts of kindness warm my heart. Nothing in life brings me greater pleasure that being able to give. Being kind and thoughtful to others make me warm and fuzzy inside like no other feeling in the world. Sometimes it's hard to pull yourself away and reflect a moment...but I always ask myself....is there someone I could do something nice for? Maybe it's the girl at the coffee shop who always has a smile on her face in the morning, or the postman who weathers the elements to delivery Christmas cards of good cheer, or the lonely elderly neighbor who always has time to talk. It doesn't have to be something big and fancy...just a little something to acknowledge them. The rewards you get supersede their happiness of being remembered at this magical time of the year.

Life Lesson #237

2009-12-07T07:02:00.003-06:00

Here are my beauties.....although I THOUGHT I would never see the project completed. Months ago Dan the Man and I went blackberry picking over at a farm and picked 18 POUNDS of blackberries. I was on a mission....a mission to make blackberry jam, just like my Mom used to make.

I got not one, but two books out about canning and decided to go with the "old fashioned" recipe that only calls for fruit and sugar.......

Had my jar sterilized, lids ready to go.....cooking, stirring, waiting for the jam to slide off the spoon just like the illustrations showed in the bible of all canning book....by Ball.

Something wasn't looking right...things weren't thickening up....time for a crisis call to Mom to ask what was going wrong. My sister answers my Moms phone and puts me on speaker phone so we can all three talk. I tell Mom my dilemma and she says..."Did you use pectin?" and I told her "No, I making the old-fashioned recipe" and Mom says "Oh, I never do that...I always use pectin"....about then I hear my sister cackling (isn't that what witches do?) in the background and she says "Nancy, I've never canned before BUT EVEN I KNOW YOU HAVE TO USE PECTIN"....that will be one of those statements that will never be erased from my head. Long story short...I made a LOVELY batch of Blackberry Syrup that will be fabulous on my Swedish pancake recipe (although I'm Danish).....but there is light at the end of the tunnel.....I still had enough blackberries and went back to the store, bought pectin and managed to pull though with a batch that came out! Yes! For more kitchen disasters and entertaining stories stay tuned to Acorn Cottage....News at 11:00p.m.

I know, I know......what does a fox have to do with all this? He just happened to show up in our backyard...a rare site indeed! My photo-op lasted about two seconds, as I opened the door, with all the steam coming out from the kitchen, and scared the little guy and he took off! Between the clouds of steam and flash from the camera, I'm sure he thought he saw a haunted mansion and wanted to get as far away from Acorn Cottage as possible! Not to mention the cook in the kitchen with smears of berry on her, probably looking like blood just to add to the vision. Oh my!
So much for making the woodland creatures feel welcome......

Christmas Magic

2009-12-02T20:08:00.004-06:00

I love lighting candles year round...but it's especially nice during the holidays. My mother in law gave me some lovely candle stick holders with Yankee sampler Red Berry & Cedar candles to burn and the scent is heavenly!
Mini marshmallows in hot cocoa....doesn't get much better....except maybe some shaved chocolate on top of that!
Love to bake and try new recipes each year...can't wait to have some time off to bake and try new recipes! I love listening to Christmas music and making a day of it!
My son loves peanut brittle. I just got my mittens on a recipe by Paula Deen for English Toffee which in my sons mind, will beat out the peanut brittle!
Pretzel rods, dipped in melted white chocolate and decorated. So easy and so cute in the decorative cellophane bags. Nice little gifts to put on co-workers desks just because, or delivery to random people who are nice!

What traditions to you have each year?

Ornments Part II

2009-11-27T18:06:00.004-06:00

Just wanted to do a little show-n-tell on the progress we are making around here. It's been an artsy crafzy kind of afternoon. The daughter is particularly proud of her fish....and I love my acorns....but we're not done! Stay tuned........

Ornament Time!

2009-11-27T07:02:00.008-06:00

These are a few of the ornaments we elves have been working on here at Acorn Cottage.The angel is a clothes pin design that my Mom did years ago, and I decided it would be nice to make some to hand down to family.

My daughter and I are working on the salt dough ornaments Cathy at Cobblestone Farms posted. Bet you can't guess which ones are mine.....he he he. We are going to paint those today, so we will show-n-tell are "after" pictures in a bit! Have paint brush...can travel :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2009-11-23T06:56:00.005-06:00

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year to take time to reflect about all the things we have in our lives to be thankful for....so very many blessings. During the anticipation of the holidays I always like to have some quiet time to reflect about how fortunate I am! I make it a point to have Thanksgiving in my heart every night as I say my prayers and thank the Lord for all that I have.

My family~My life revolves around them, and my happiness is seeing their happiness. They bring me so much joy, delight, and laughter and there is no place I'd rather be then spending time with them!

My friends~Each and everyone of them, unique in their personalities, bring a richness to my life. To be able to talk, share dreams, hopes and wishes. We are there for each other through all the ups and downs of life, a constant support to each other. Some friends are seen frequently, others not a frequently as we would like, but always in our heart and minds.

My home Acorn Cottage~As they say in Danish it's very "hygge". In one of my cookbooks Danish Food and Cooking...they say there is no literal translation for hygge in the English language. It's best described as mental and physical contentment, the security and warmth connected with good feelings about home and family. Hygge includes eating and drinking with family and friends in a convivial atmosphere of generous hospitality and comfort. That it was my home brings me, a sense of coziness and contentment, like no other place on earth.

I wish for all of you, each and everyone one of you both near and far a wonderful Thanksgiving.
My favorite Thanksgiving was one that for our pray we stood around the table, holding hands, and one by one gave our thanks aloud for all to hear. Count your blessings, for you will find there are many. You are each loved, more than you know!

Painted Ladies

2009-11-19T06:51:00.003-06:00

Went for a country drive up to a little town north of Kansas City and discovered these beauties! I love the old stone work and wrought iron fences! Can't you just imagine sitting on the porch sipping a glass of lemonade during the summer time?

Such beautiful detail...can't even imagine painting all the nooks and crannies! Why can't homes still be built like this today?

This little cutie is FOR SALE....trouble!!!!

Can you imagine how beautiful it is going to look at Christmas time with twinkle light strung all over?

Details like no other! Simple amazing. Never know what you are going to find on those random country drives!

Addendum: For those of you who are local and want to take a drive, the town is Plattsburg, Missou-RAH :)

Treasures!

2009-11-09T06:35:00.002-06:00

When Dan the Man and I were in Abeline, Kansas we went to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum which was pretty spectacular. Dan loves history, and I loved looking at the gifts received during President Eisenhower's term. You HAVE TO click on these pictures and enlarge them to fully appreciate the detail in the craftsmanship. Extraordinary!!!!!

No flash camera's were allowed, so I lightened things up on my computer. You have no idea how intricate the detail on this tea set it, hours, days...weeks...months it must have taken to make!

This desk is mosaic work like you've never seen before. So small, so detailed, I was just in awe! Of course this is just a small fraction of the gifts that are on display at the museum.

Beautiful medals and ribbons that were given as gifts. An interesting fact is that he was the last President that was able to keep the gifts that were given to him. Now the government declares any gifts as it's own. I sure am glad these beautiful objects were on display for all to enjoy!

Beautiful jeweled swords that were simply breathtaking! Abeline is a small town about 2 1/2 hours west of Kansas City. We really enjoyed our day visiting the LeBold Mansion (see previous post) and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum.

The LeBold Mansion

2009-11-07T06:14:00.005-06:00

Just look at this beauty. Out in the middle of Kansas in a small town named Abeline we stumbled upon the LeBold Mansion. Abeline is the home of President Dwight Eisenhower and is everything you could hope a small Midwest town to be.

These are the grand doors that enter into this amazing mansion. It was built in the 1800's and had a series of owners. It once was an orphanage and also housed young ladies who were training to become telephone operators.

When we walked inside and I could think was HOLY SMOKES! So opulent of an entry...Rich colors, beautiful carved wood, and something to take in visually at every corner!

This was in Mr. LeBold's library. He was a prominent banker in town . Back in the day, the average price of homes for $300 to $500. The LeBold mansion cost $18,000 to build

They had a few Halloween decorations up as you can see. This fireplace was also in Mr. LeBolds

library. Usually, the library was the smaller room in Victorian mansions, but Mr. LeBold wanted to make an impression upon his guest and had a large room to receive businessmen.

The antiques were just beautiful. I don't know why things like this aren't made anymore...or maybe they are and I'm just out of the loop!

The current owners are partners who travel the USA finding homes to restore and then move on for another conquest. One of their "specialties" is doing a jigsaw of wallpaper on the ceilings. You can get a glimpse in this photo.

Here is another ceiling shot...just amazing. The time and effort and measuring....unbelievable!

The window treatments were a site to behold. Each room was paid careful attention to detail.

I asked about the ceiling medallion, and although not authentic to the home, there is an artisan they contracted to make this plaster medallion from an antique version.

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the time period and explained that back in the Victorian era, the home was were all the entertaining took place. There weren't movie theaters yet, so when people came to visit, there were special rooms in the house for different activities, and rooms that only the immediate family would use.

This is the dining room...so spacious.

Don't you feel like we live decorate very plainly after seeing these rooms? My goodness, everything was over the top.

This was in Mrs. LeBolds private study. Can you imagine having a room all to yourself just to dress or have a friend over for tea?

This bedroom was in a Asian theme...should have taken more pictures, but I was too busy standing with my mouth hanging open, listening to the stories about the house, saying "WOW" a thousand times over in my mind.

This was the Moroccan room a family room of sorts. That is a tusk with the most intricate carving and I loved the puppets as I call them.

This was the girls nursery. Sorry I didn't get a picture of the bed. It has a lovely patchwork quilt on it. Reminded me of the Shirley Temple movie The Little Princess.

The home is up for sale for $899,000 and is currently in escrow. The new owners are planning on using it as a private residence, so I'm very happy I got to tippy toe inside before it will no longer be open to the public!

Acorn Collection

2009-10-25T08:52:00.005-05:00

I originally posted these pictures in March, but HECK...I wasn't even friends with some of you back in the day and wanted to show you my Acorn Collection! It IS fall after all! I feel like my house just comes alive during this time of year...and I become like a little kid excited for the upcoming holidays. The anticipation is WONDERFUL! These are my little place card holders I purchased at Nell Hill in Atchison, KS. What a wonderful store!

My fall table setting, with yes....you see right....acorn and leaf confetti!

My acorn pie crust attempt!

My red transfer ware plates, with you guessed it...ACORNS on the rim of the plate!

Acorn cakelet pan from William Sonoma. So cool! Made them last fall and use edible gold dust to brush the tops. Everyone loved them!

My Acorn teapot set that my sweet co-worker bought for me. He said it had my name written all over it!

A little bit of my random acorn collection...ceramic, wood, felt, wrought iron...I'll take them in way, shape or form!

My Acorn plaque that sits on our mantel

My Acorn wreath that is up YEAR ROUND....a gift from my sister :)

Fairytale Germany

2009-10-16T22:27:00.005-05:00

This is the beautiful village Dan-the-Man stayed in on his recent business trip in Germany.
The towns name is Windischeschenbach (Say that fast three times!) It's in the south east region of Germany(Bavaria) and looks pristine clean and breathtaking! Addendum 10/18: Dan the Man pointed out that the picture of the above town is Flossenburg, not Windischeschenbach where he was staying....heaven forbid you make a trip to Europe and I pointed you to the wrong town! Mercy!

This is in Munich at Marion Platz...just some incredible architecture. Dan said you can't even begin to appreciate the detail carved in the stone at some of the buildings.

Out of all the photographs, I fell I LOVE with this and am ready to build this in my backyard right now. Elves, fairies, chipmunks...whoever wants to reside there, this is just the cutest thing ever. The steps? C'mon! Absolutely magical!

Do yourself a favor and click on this picture so you can enjoy the beautiful details inside this church, just breathtaking!

Dan said there were trails and parks everywhere in the area where you just enjoy nature. Germans are big hikers and love to be outside, weather permitting of course!

Beautiful buildings everywhere dressed up with bountiful flower boxes. I am all for it and love how charming it makes everything look. Lovely!

There is more to share, I'll have to do a part two. We just got back from celebrating our anniversary early since Dan will be on yet another business trip on the real date, but at least this trip is much closer to home. We've just been enjoying each others company and had a lovely dinner. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Smiles, Nancy

Love Sick

2009-10-09T05:55:00.003-05:00

This is a picture of me and my sweetie Dan the Man. He has been in Germany on a business trip for three looooooonnnnnnnnggggggggg weeks. He is coming home this Sunday at o'late thirty and I can not wait to see him! We have been married for 9 years this month and I have been madly in love with him ever since we met. There have been many love letters exchanged, letters that took my breath away. When we were dating I would often get a love quote of the day that would make me swoon and walk on clouds. I saved every one of them. The day we got engaged was so memorable. He had a brought me the most beautiful long stemmed red roses I had ever seen, and we had a glass of champagne that evening. We went out to dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant and had a great meal, then went down to the Plaza in Kansas City. For those of you who haven't been to Kansas City, the Plaza is a wonderful shopping area with beautiful architecture. It's sister city is Seville, Spain, so there are beautiful tile mosaics, and fountains everywhere. The whole area is lit up with twinkle lights in November and it's just magical. Dan arranged for us to take a horse drawn carriage ride underneath the stars and proposed to me while on the ride. After the ride we ran into a bar and shouted out "WE'RE ENGAGED" as I flashed my beautiful diamond ring, and the bartender popped open a bottle of bubbly and everyone around congratulated us as we had a toast.

So, it is that man, that I anxiously await to come home. The last few days have been the worst...the anticipation of wanting him in my arms again, where he belongs!

So thank you my friends for allowing me a little trip down memory lane. I am most fortunate that I keep having wonderful memories made and a love to last a lifetime!

Yam Souffle

2009-10-07T06:09:00.004-05:00

This is such a good and easy recipe to make in the fall. For people who don't care for yams with marshmallows melted on top, this is a nice little change, a little more sophisticated, with a delicious topping that everyone will love! Just click to enlarge. Enjoy!!!

Favorite Fall Destinations

2009-09-28T19:06:00.002-05:00

Given the opportunity, I'm not one to turn down a drive out in the country. I have covered anything within a 3 1/2 hour radius in any given direction from Kansas City. North, East, South, West it doesn't matter, because once you drive 15 minutes in any direction, you are going to hit the countryside.

Fieldstone Orchards is a favorite get-away and about an hour plus drive heading slightly south and west. I day dream about staying at one of the little bed-n-breakfasts inns dotted along the route, love inhaling the fresh country air and can't help but hum a song of happiness in my heart.

Beautiful, breathtaking views that make you wonder why to don't do this every free moment you get. The hands of time slow down to a pace that unfamiliar and yet absolutely delicious.

Suddenly you have time to see if a fish will jump up in the pond, how long that bee will spend getting it's nectar from a flower and savoring the sound of crickets....AHHHHH...peace. We all crave it, and some of our souls need it more than others.

Just look at the bountiful apple tree. You have to have one, a fresh picked juicy apple. You start thinking about homemade pie, applesauce, apple cake, spiced apples and cave in a pick more than your arms can carry.

What a vision. Every fall the excitement of seeing pumpkins gets me all twitterpatted. Why are they so dear to our hearts? Do you think the acorn squash feels unloved and left out? The magic begins here. Picking out the shape, visualizing what design you want to carve, the lovely glow of lit pumpkins welcoming children to your door for their treats. What a grand time!

Fall is Here!!!

2009-09-23T06:41:00.002-05:00

My favorite of all seasons is here! The anticipation of the Holidays, the change in the weather, cravings for anything made with pumpkin....Pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake, pumpkin lattes....the rich smell of the earth after it's been harvested and turned. There is just an excitement this time of the year. The woodland creatures gathering, and preparing and the fresh crisp air. Wearing sweaters again, baking apple crumb pies, lighting candles. Looking up at the clear skies the stars seem more brilliant than ever. Sitting in front of the fireplace with a hot cup of coffee and a good book! Decorating outside with corn stalks, hay, pumpkins and mums. Going up to Red Barn Farm and looking out at the magnificent view of the rolling hills dotted with farmsteads. You pickem' apple orchards, and having a crisp carmel apple.

I wish you could truly see how vibrant these colors are in person. God took his paint brush and colored all these lovely trees with these beautiful rich tones. The peacefulness watching the leaves slowly fall and float through the air and gently land upon each other.

Every morning finding another tree, more beautiful than the next as I make my way around, just in awe of how magnificent the colors are to behold! The joy of being inside of a warm loving home, with a blanket, curling up on the couch with a window cracked open in the evening breathing in the air.

Taking long walks and picking up acorns, bird feathers, a sycamore leaf large enough to shelter at least three fairies for their tea party. It's heavenly!

Family History

2009-09-07T07:47:00.005-05:00

Has anyone caught the genealogy bug before? For some reason out of the blue, I have an overwhelming urge to find out more about my families history! Above is a picture of my Danish Grandparents and my two aunts are uncle. This was taken before my Mom was born and she is 84 years old now!

This is a picture of my handsome Danish Grandfather John Winther Jensen Egelund. I found the ships manifest for the Ellis Island web site from when he came over from Denmark. I've caught the genealogy bug pretty bad, been spending hours going over information, signed up on Ancestry.com, Family search.org, and another website that's free called My Heritage.com and have been passionate about working on this. I even started working on my husband family tree too and have been so lucky to trace back one side of the family to the 1500's!!!!!! I wanted to squeeze as much information out of my Mom in regards to memories, customs, celebrations and of course recipes and have grand plans to get something composed to give to my nieces and nephews for Christmas....that being said it will probably be Christmas 2010 or 2011, but the important thing is I'm working on it!

Anybody else have the bug? Curious minds need to know :)

Room Makeover

2009-08-30T07:51:00.004-05:00

I forgot to take pictures of the "BEFORE" in the daughter's room....She had painted in a dark taupe color, and after she went back to college, I told her I was going to be doing a makeover. We picked out fabric together, and I decided to take a week off work and well, work...but at home. A labor of love if you will. I tore out the carpet as there were beautiful hardwoods that had been covered up and painted it a fresh color called "Mystic Sea", a very pale blue/green that has tranquil written all over it. I am convinced that for punishment of bad people, they should be assigned taking up carpet strip tack, because those things were surely invented by the devil himself. I conquered it though, and Phase II will consist of me renting a belt sander from Home Depot and redoing our floor. Bob Villa watch out!

This is a lovely picture that Auntie Barbara bought for my daughter, and the Eiffel tower has a lovely touch of glitter on it....just love it!

Sorry for the GLARE.....a Fleur de Lis switch plate purchased at Provence on the Prairie!

A tiara places on top of the mirror to remind her of the goddess that she is each and everyday!

This is a antique mirror I had in the basement for 5 years....I am glad it has finally found a place in our home as it was my brother Lee's and hold great sentimental value to me.

These are the curtains I sewed, and got such a deal on the tassel trim. I thought they turned out real cute.

Words to live by....I had to show the toggle bolts who was boss and miraculously won the battle!

A vintage Parisian postcard holder that I found at a winery of all places that just had to come home with me!

Also in Phase II will be a toile duvet to complete the looks. It incorporates all the colors and will be the final touch on this project.

SPECIAL NOTE: I was actually tossing and turning last night....thinking about my blog friends and my book recommendation by Bill Bryson on my August 20th post. I was only into the first chapter that I found so hilarious when I made my recommendation. There were things about traveling with my parents as a child that I could relate to that struck my funny bone....after reading more of his book, which I am enjoying still, I discovered that some of the things he has commented on were plain, down right offensive, and he also uses some language that I wasn't expecting. I value all of my blog friendships and would hate to think anyone ran out to buy the same book and had ill thoughts about my recommendation so just wanted to clear the air. Alrighty then...I feel a little better now!

Weekend Getaway

2009-08-25T07:34:00.003-05:00

Here are some happy pictures to share of our weekend getaway. We had a lovely drive to and fro, perfect weather, and a wonderful time. Not being technically savvy, the pictures are not uploaded in the correct sequence of events....so sorry for any confusion. This was taken in Lindsborg, Kansas which was a lovely little Swedish Community about 3+ hours west of Kansas City. Very charming with lovely flowers all along the store fronts.

Slojd in Swedish translates to "Crafts". I just loved all the wrought iron and wood signs throughout the town.

This beauty was actually in an antique store in Palexico, Kansas. This particular store specializes in refurbishing these beautiful wood burning stoves. The picture doesn't do it justice, it was HUGE and really a sight for the eyes to behold in person.

This picture was also taken in Palexico....a lovely Antique store with an out of control morning glory vine. Dan-the-Man asked me how come I couldn't get ours to grow like that at home. Guess I'll have to find out what Miracle Grow has to offer to get our vines to take off like that!

This is another cure Antique shop in Palexico.....they carried a nice selection of Western themed

items and furniture.

Back to Lindsborg (I told you the photos were not in sequence!). This is the Swedish Crown where we had lunch. Dan-the-Man had his sights set on some Swedish meatballs!

This was a cute little place where we had Swedish pancakes with lingo berries. I got the feeling this was every one's favorite hang out in town! The owner seemed to know everyone except us!

If we stayed a little longer, I'm sure we would have been on a first name basis too!

This is a Bed and Breakfast in Lindsborg. All of the homes in the town were very well kept and this B & B was no exception.

The whole purpose for our trip was for Dan-the-man and I to attend a military officers function in Salina, Kansas. It was nice for Dan to get to reconnect with some people from his past, and for each of the officers to be recognized for all of their hard work and dedication serving our country.

I am deliriously proud of him, and am always overwhelmed hearing the speeches, recognizing the sacrifices these men and women make for us to enjoy the freedom we have in our country.

Driving back home we decided to take the scenic route vs. the interstate, and I'm always glad we do. We strolled over rolling hills, doted with farms along the way, and just outside of Topeka, Kansas came across Lake Wabaunsee. It was lined with cabins and cottages....people were on the lake in sea-doos and boats....some people floating on rafts, and we found this cabin for sale that had our wheels turning the rest of the drive home. Daydreaming about having a vacation home and imagining BBQ's our on the deck, the kids coming up wet from the lake wanting a snack, sitting out on the deck early in the morning having a hot cup of coffee.....now only if those darn lotto tickets would pull through for me...just once. That's all I'm asking.

Valkommen!

2009-08-20T20:10:00.004-05:00

Dan-the-Man, AKA "Captain Dan", retired USA ARMY r.s.v.p.'d for him and his bride (that's me) to attend a Military Officers Reunion in the middle of Kansas. Maybe not quite in the middle of Kansas, but waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy out there in Gods country where they have the Kansas State Fair, in Salina Kansas. At o'dark thirty we will wake up and hit the road in the bug-de-doo(top down), slathered with Coppertone and armed with a venti latte. We will have ample time to reach our destination and do a little site seeing along the way. After settling in to our hotel and maybe catching a nap we will prepare for the evening event. There is going to be cocktails, followed by a sit down dinner, the dancing til the wee hours. I had to buy fluff-n-fold (fancy schmancy) clothes and shudder to think in less than 24 hours time will be conversing with complete strangers that I've never met in my life. I will probably have to have a cocktail (or two...maybe three) so I can come across as relaxed and be able to break out with my moves on the dance floor as effortlessly as those folks on Dancing with the Stars (more along the lines of Chloris Leachman and Betty White) That's were the pictures come in......

I am being bribed, and I'm not too proud to admit it. Ever since we moved to Kansas five years ago, I found out about the town of Lindsborg. Home of famous artist Berger Sandzen (forgive me Berger if rearranged the spelling of your name) who lived in this quaint little Swedish town that I know will make my heart pitter patter.

I am going to be rewarded the next day soaking up the charms of this Swedish village. As luck would have it, it's only about a half hour south of Salina. You see, I am half Danish, so there will be an immediate Scandinavian bond going on. I will be scouring the streets looking for the best bakery in town, and any handmade Christmas ornaments that need to come home with me. Yes, you can all be assured the camera is coming with....I have no idea what type of roadside revelations we will find among the flint hills, but if there's something interesting along the way, I will find it, photograph it and share it with you.

So....to Tom Collins and KC and the Sunshine Band....may the luck of the Danish be with me on the dance floor!

My New Favorite Author

2009-08-20T06:53:00.004-05:00

You know when you buy a book, and after reading the first few pages, you can tell what sort of ride your going to be in for? If there is anyone out there that wants to be curled up in ball with streams of tears coming down your face from uncontrollable laughter, this is the book for you.

Maybe it's because there are so many things I can identify with, that make it all the more funny to me, but Bill Bryson has a way with words.

He has a hugely popular book called "A Walk in the Woods" with a picture of a bear on the cover, and I had a prejudice towards buying it for some reason. I always like to support the under dogs, the obscure writers who need help with their sales, that maybe have just written their first novel. Almost like refusing to buy music in High School, if I heard it on the radio way too many times, and knew there were other bands that deserved their time in the spotlight. I thought I would scream if I heard REO Speedwagon sing "I can't fight this feeling anymore" one more time, and therefore band them altogether.

This is different. I realize I now have been punishing myself by not allowing myself to buy a Bill Bryson book before, and know, without a doubt, just like when I discovered Peter Mayle, that I will in fact read every single book he has wrote or has yet to write. Yeah, he's that good!

Again, Dan-the-Man was passed out sleeping, thunderstorms, lightening and all, as I laid in bed in absolute hysterics reading and laughing so hard, I couldn't get my windshield wipers to work fast enough to get to the next sentence. After the first two chapters, I had to put it down, for the sake of my husband being able to get a good night's sleep. Just needed to share with you all, because nothing in the world beats a great book....nothing! Except for that lucky duck in South Carolina that won the Powerball last night.

A Little Enticement

2009-08-19T06:42:00.004-05:00

I'd like you to meet Winnifred the Witch. She told me she was bored traveling to Crafts Fair after Crafts fair and would like to settle in a home so she could have a place to nestle in and cast some spells. She promised the wouldn't be anything too mischievous, or harmful in anyway, so I fell for it, hook line and sinker and brought her home from the Lenexa Community Center where we came eye to eye during a fall crafts fair. Now you can't really see just how glamorous she truly is...Hollywood move over, because Winnifred the Witch is sporting some ruby earrings, has her nails polished and insist her hair be colored "Fireside Glow" although she'll never own up to it. She has been pretty tame for the most part, but I know she has been up to a little mischief lately(gearing up for Halloween and all) because she cast a spell on my dog Trixie, telling her the last 5 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken in the bucket were hers.....And Trixie BELIEVED her! I'll have to keep you posted if any other shenanigans happen around Acorn Cottage.I also found these little gems at the crafts fair and thought they were the cutest things ever! They are candy bars, made with special wrappers...the pumpkin wrapper covered a Twix bar, and the Mummy covered a pack of gum. You can click on the image to enlarge it. I hope the artist can forgive me for making this post without giving her a shout out, but I have temporarily misplaced her business card.

I have noticed that once 4th of July is over, the next decorations that flood the store are Fall/Halloween. And rightfully so, my favorite season SHOULD be granted as many months as time can allow to drool over all the wares we have to choose from. I thought for those of us crafty peeps, it would be-who-of-me (is that how that's spelled?????) to share these IDEAS in case anyone is having Fall-ITIS like I am, and would like to cute project ideas to start working on! I'll put some cider on a pot to warm up and pull the pumpkin bread out of the oven...let me find some paper and scissors and you can come right over and we'll sit at the dining room table, listen to Stacey Kent 'Tis Autumn and craft OKAY??????

Cross Stitch Project

2009-08-17T06:42:00.004-05:00

I may have shared this before, so please forgive me if I'm having a 40's-itis memory problem...but this is the latest sampler I'm working on by Prairie Schooler. You can click on the image to enlarge it. I have found that cross stitch is a perfect hobby in so many ways. 1) It's small and portable 2) When everyone else is enthralled watching football (and you aren't) I can have something to work on 3) It gives me something to do while waiting (ie...surgery room for daughter's tonsillectomy) 4) It's really relaxing (except for when I get an unwelcome knot in my thread...then high anxiety occurs!) My Mom cross stitched and I had no idea the labor of love that went into her projects and now I cherish them all them more! I had no experience cross stitching, but with a little coaching from a co-worker who helped me get started (Mom's in California) I was on my way! There are so many web sites that have the most wonderful patterns no matter what you taste are. One of my favorites is called Everything Cross Stitch . If you can't find it there, you're in trouble! They have thousands upon thousands of patterns! So give it a go! Even if you've never tried it, and don't have a bomb-diggity co-worker like I do, there are easy tutorials on line as well as pamphlets available. Trust me if I can learn, anyone can do it!

I've been tagged

2009-08-16T08:51:00.011-05:00

My Best Bud Melinda tagged me from Country Dreaming and the rules are you are supposed to post 6 random things about yourself.....then tag 6 more people. I usually don't like tags, but I always love to learn more things about my blogging friends, so I am going to be compliant. Plus if I don't, Melinda might flick me next time I see her, and she has a pretty mean flick!

Okay six random things....let's see what fascinating things I can rummage up....

-I have a complete filing system for all the things I tear out of magazines that I might find useful at some later point and time (I can hear you thinking..."She's a little OCD!") I have files for recipes, decorating, home improvement ideas, etc. since I have way too many magazine subscriptions.

-I have a sachet of dried lavender that I rub over over bed pillows before we go to sleep at night. It makes for the most heavenly of dreams.

-I feel compelled to bake everyone at work a homemade birthday cake, whether they are in my immediate area or not, because I like to celebrate their special day. I have a list in a drawer and know all their favorites.

-I think whoever came up with the bumper sticker "PRACTICE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS" was genius. Nothing makes me happier than sending someone a box of specially selected presents, specially gift wrapped, with a handful of glitter thrown in on top (don't comment if you work at a post office) to unsuspecting family/friends.

-I have a serious problem buying books and need to find a local chapter of book buying anonymous. I belong to a book club and order monthly as well as patronize Half Price Books and Borders on a regular basis, and fantasize about having built in bookcases through out the house. I get butterflies (the good ones) when I see home that have those floor to ceiling libraries, especially if there is a rolling ladder to access all the treasures.

-One of the best days in my entire life was when I went snorkeling at Poipu Beach in Kauai. The minute I was able to see all of the tropical fish in the water swimming around, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I floated on top of the water for HOURS mesmerized with all their beautiful colors.

Okay now to pass the assignment.....You can do it!!!! I pick the following folks:
Please forgive me if you are a tag free zone....let me know and I will select someone else.

Carrie at Cottage Cozy

Elizabeth at Gossamer Wings

Becky at Holiday In The Sun

Martha at Lines from Linderhof

Julie at Living in the Wine Country

Valerie at From Our Front Porch Looking In

Rules of the Game:

-Link to the person who tagged you

-Post the rules on your blog

-Write 6 random things about yourself

-Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them

-Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog

-Let the blogger know when your post is up on your site

Wishing for Fall

2009-08-14T07:01:00.003-05:00

This happens every year around this time.....I start craving fall. You start seeing things arrive in stores, magazine covers that are always a month ahead of schedule, school starting back up and that's enough to get me daydreaming! I start thinking about what variety of pumpkins I want to buy for the front steps, noticing the little acorns forming on our oak trees, and longing to wear a sweater and breath in that fresh autumn air. Thoughts of buying good country apple cider, burning more candles, and the Holidays occupy my mind. I long for it, I crave it and start looking at the calender thinking...only about a month to go. Is anyone else a fall lover like me?

Local Hauntings

2009-08-09T08:58:00.011-05:00

Let me preface this story by saying this all got started when we went over to our good friends, Ken and Melinda to celebrate Ken's Birthday. You may know Melinda from her blog Country Dreaming. After a wonder meal, and everyone had settled down, story telling occurred, as it usually does when we get together. Dan-the-Man and Ken have known each other since grade school, so as you can imagine, there is never a lack of material to draw from. Ken was recounting when he was in High School, finding out about a Haunted House that was referred to as Igor's Castle....and the Urban Legend that the owner's wife and hung herself and their son tragically drowned in a fountain on the property.

Ken went on to say there was groundskeeper that had two ferocious German Shepperds that lived in a shack on the property, patrolling the property to keep vandals out.

After an evening of much laughter to the point of tears, we said our good nights and left to go home for the evening. While driving home, mind you this is about 11:oo pm, Dan-the-Man gets the notion we should drive by the castle and check it out. We wind around this hill, through thick forested trees, searching and straining our eyes in the dark for the home. We see and old stone house, with a wrought iron fence....false alarm. We keep winding around and up and down streets, when we head around a bend, and both say almost at the same time "THAT'S IT!!" OMG...It's enormous, and it's dark and it looks like a haunted castle!!!! There are two lions guarding the entrance. We stared in the silence, both of our imaginations running wild, half expecting to see a ghost walking on the widows peak.

I couldn't make out 100% if this was an old doll house, built in the likeness of the castle or a dog house for one of those ferocious German Shepperds Ken was talking about. Dan and I came home and immediately had to get on the computer to see what we could find out about the history of the house. We found a site www.Ghost-Investigators.com-Stories-SauerCastle

It was 1:00am by the time we got to bed, and I was walking to over to the hallway and went to turn on the upstairs light, when poof, it flashed a creepy blue and blew out scaring me.....timing was everything and I didn't walk upstairs until Dan-the-Man went with me.

This history of the home is pretty incredible, although the stories Ken heard were not 100% accurate. There have been four deaths at the home, two from health issues, one suicide, and a child who did drown in the fountain (which wasn't visible anywhere).

We went back the next day around dusk and I took these pictures. The architecture is amazing, and I could only imagine what the house looked like in it's glory. I could see there were at least 3 fireplaces and it sits on 25 acres. The person who owns it now lives in New York and has aspirations to restore it some day. It has now been listed on the Historical Registry and I can only hope I can go inside it someday.

Sew What

2009-07-26T08:02:00.004-05:00

I recently did some updates to my arts-n-crafts room I thought I would share with y'all. I have a little spot that I love to hang out at....my little sewing table! I bought the table at a garage sale for $10 and it was painted metallic turquoise blue....hours and hours of sanding and I finally got to the wood!

I found these giganto wood scissors at Michael's Craft Store and HAD TO HAVE THEM!!! I painted them to match my room and painted the "blades" twice before I got the right shade of silver.

I bought these two toile inspired pictures from a co-worker at her garage sale as they were the perfect color for my art room.

My little collection of pin cushions and I bought Heather Bailey's pattern booklet to make even more! I can't help it, there are so many cute things she has! Below, I sewed the curtains myself, a little idea I borrowed from a cute little shop in town, of mixing prints and used gingham, toile and a paisley mix. I added some decorative trim and I thought they came out so cute! I love the way they look when the sun is filtering in through them in the morning.

I decided to do what Nell Hill does, and hung a little picture board between my windows.....speaking of which we are getting new windows this Wednesday!!!! I am so very excited! Our house was built in 1942 and we still have the original windows....on the old rope and bar weight system. Some of you out there are scratching your heads saying WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT???? That's right, because they are so ancient and made waaaaayyyyy before most of your time, you haven't even heard of it. Let's just say about 80% of them don't work, and I am so delighted we will have functioning windows! Right outside this view are where my peonies grow, and right now sweet peas, my all time favorite flower. It's a cozy little spot to be in our home. Nothing like listening to some Stacey Kent and humming away on my little machine.

Country Drive

2009-07-21T08:45:00.004-05:00

Dan-the-Man and I took off for a wonderful country drive this Saturday. Various c.d's where selected for the drive, sunscreen lathered on, cold beverages to enjoy and off we went. Top down on the bug-de-doo we hit the Highway and had Styx blasting in the bug (when those bands are etched in your memory from High School, you have to rock out sometimes). I had 3 or 4 Farms for us to visit in Missou-RAH, and it's always an adventure getting to them, especially when the address starts as "RR 1", you know you will be on some gravel roads hoping that map quest doesn't fail you! Of course we always come upon the loveliest homes in the country, especially when passing through small country towns that make me wish we lived far, far away from the bright city lights. Above is my dream fence and flowers, just as cute as a button. We changed gears and were listening to Italian instrumental c.d by now as we floated through the country roads, watching the fields change from one patchwork of farmland to the next...Heavenly!

We stopped at Beckner's Orchard and Farmer Beckner had some healthy looking produce. Although the big sell is peaches, his candied onions were to die for. He said they are so sweet, you can eat them like an apple. His favorite sandwich isn't a BLT, it's a BOT (onion). We had some in our garden salad for dinner and they were out of this world!

Here's another beauty of a stand....oh they had trouble items! Fresh baked breads, cinnamon rolls, produce and all sorts of little canned things you just can't say no to. We bought the best blueberry syrup and had them on pancakes Sunday morning. Three ingredients....blueberries, sugar and lemon juice....just the right consistency and so yummy!

Missouri believe it or not, has some excellent wineries. We stopped at two that day and found a new favorite Baltimore Bend . Everything we tasted was delicious! After we had the bug loaded down with a whole watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, cucumbers, bread, cinnamon rolls, honey, blueberry syrup, salsa, pickles, salsa, wine, and did I mention salsa? (someone has an addiction ....DAN!) we headed home. Now, if only i could find a job where I could get paid for scouting out the best roadside stands and wineries. Public Television DO YOU HEAR ME????

Provence on the Prairie

2009-07-16T19:14:00.004-05:00

I bet you thought I was making up cool names for Kansas....THIS IS FOR REAL MAN!!!! Just when I think things can't get any better around here I lucked upon this store. Dan-the-Man and I were taking a leisurely country drive one day, and there was a detour that lead us directly on the street when we were heading back to civilization and I SAW THIS SIGN!!!!! My heart skipped a beat, I made him pull an illegal u-turn (law enforcement folks, pretend you didn't read that last statement) and I bolted out of the car up to the store front with raccoon eyes peering in.
First thing I noticed were my most favoritist candles in the whole wide world "Nouvelle" and immediately I knew I would be back to shop. (have you ever smelled Nouvelle's scent Tuscany Currant?.....heaven, simply heaven)

There was this adorable french table and chairs... perfect for have your French pressed coffee at on a dewy morning while watching the morning glories bloom. It doesn't know it yet, but it's coming home with me soon.

C'mon now.....how cute it that! Notice the little fleur-de-lis in cornflower blue? Melt.....heavy sigh.

Notice the cute little Provencal print cushion? Perfect spot for kitten to curl up and have a nap on! The shop owner had so many wrought-iron treasure in the front yard. I wanted them all!

The shop owner bought this little home and with the help of her handy -can -do custom -carpentry -on -the -side- contractor of a husband, put up bead board, built custom cabinets and all sorts to cute little finishing touches inside. Now I wasn't my usual obnoxious self, taking pictures of all the treasures inside like I should have...but the owner reassured me she is working on a WEBSITE, and you will all be the benefactors of me sharing that information....Let's just say the store is trouble with a capital "T"...dishes, lavender, clocks, furniture (custom made), candles, food treats, and all sorts of lovelies for the home.

Kansas Rocks Man!!!!!

You can come out and visit this gem of a store at: 141 N. Nettleton, Bonner Springs, KS 66012 Phone (913)441-6491.

Antique Sale!!!!!

2009-07-12T07:54:00.012-05:00

I am doing you all a disservice by not showing you more pictures of this grand home known at the Bingham Waggoner Estate located in Independence, Missou-RAH. It was originally owned by George Caleb Bingham, a famous 19th century American artist and Missouri Politician. When my best buddy Melinda announced that there was going to be an Antique/Crafts fair on the grounds.....all focus was centered around what treasures could be found. For those history buffs out there, I don't want you to feel slighted, and would encourage for some "real" photos of the house and history that can be found at www.bwestate.org We tried to have some assemblage of a path, but sometimes certain things just call out to you saying "take me home, take me home" like this chair below.

This was a really interesting bird cage, that unfortunately your truly was not able to capture to show off the true magnificence of the artist. It was a looking box that had all sorts of interesting details.

This is a wonderful paper designer named Michele Grotenhuis who has a business called Dandeline Design. We have had the good fortune of running into her a few times at local crafts fair and she is as sweet as can be! Her scrapbooks are the cutest things ever if you want something custom to just plunk your pictures into!

This was another little diddy asking me to take her home. The cutest old tea pots that found a second career as windchimes!

There were lovely antiques everywhere. This beautiful leaded glass would be a fantastic piece in a cottage home!

This was a fun artist, Ann Jansen, whose business is called "The Key of A". She takes old typewriter keys and makes jewelry from it! Her website is www.thekeyofa.com and her etsy shop is www.ajsoftail.etsy.com

Treasure abound around every bend......

These two ladies are Chasity and Debbie Heck, sisters & owners of The Wild Raspberry....don't you just love the name? They have a variety of handcrafted goods & unique gifts and their booth was trouble with a capital "T". I bought a lovely door hanger (an inspiration for The French General Sewing Book) that just happened to be in the right colors for my art room! They had aprons, scrapbooks and all sorts of little treasures! I also bought some cloth covered clothes pins they made into magnets for the fridge, or file cabinet.....cute, cute cute and so very sweet! Their website is www.thewildraspberry.org and they also have a lovely blog www.thewildraspberrysisters.blogspot.com which is just a breath of fresh air and sunshine

The minute I saw this booth I was in love, and low and behold, guess whose booth it was?

Carol Spinski from Raised in Cotton! Now Melinda and I traveled to her store.....she wasn't there...she was at an antique show that day, and we didn't get to meet her :(......today I luck upon her booth, and guess what.....she wasn't there. She was THERE at the show, but happened to get up and take a breather......strike two NO FAIR!

This vendor had the cutest magnet boards and made handmade magnets to go with....she didn't have a web site or blog for me to share will you all, so please forgive me, I wouldn't hold out on you....cross my fingers!

After ensuring we went to every single booth, the 95 degrees plus humidity finally caught up with us. I four wheeled it with my bug, driving over sidewalks and the grassy knoll and managed to get the bug-de-doo up to the booth and get my new/old chair into the back of the bug securely fastened down. Melinda and I had a great time as always but we needed a cold drink like there was no tomorrow! Until our next adventure!!!!!! Enjoy visiting the websites. Hope we don't get you into too much trouble :)

Off to Langley on Whidbey Island, WA

2009-07-02T06:28:00.003-05:00

My tattooed son the mechanic and beautiful future daughter in law (that's how I like to think of her) are off to see my son's Godparents up at beautiful Whidbey Island, Washington today. My best friend Cindy and her husband built a beautiful home up on the Island and I have yet to go visit, but feel confident this year IT WILL HAPPEN!
This is a picture Cindy sent me of the Langley Lighthouse. Nearby, she goes clamming and make a mean chowder! Nothing beats having the freshest ingredients right at fingers reach!
Cindy could be an interior decorator by all rights. She has supervised enough remodels, including her gorgeous home in California, and natural has a gift for choosing classic furniture pieces and clean lines.
The deck accessible by the french doors overlooks a beautiful wooded area. Out front Cindy has planted tons of french lavender bushes that must smell heavenly with the mix of pine trees and fresh ocean air.
This is a pictures of the beautiful stone fireplace which she helped build. She found the perfect piece of driftwood and has that for her fireplace mantel. I'm sure the two lovebirds will have the time of their lives. Cindy and I have been friends since of freshman year in High School and she is a true blue friend. She has been by my side through the peaks and valleys in my life and is like a sister to me. I know she will spoil them rotten on their vacation. She just doesn't know how to do things any other way. She is giving with a capital "G", a fantastic cook, tour guide, and has a heart of gold.

U Pick'em Farm

2009-06-28T15:50:00.007-05:00

With the anticipation eqivilant of a little kid being told they were going to Disneyland, my eyes read the e.mail notification 80mph from Fieldstone Orchards that the blackberries were ripe and ready for picking. I forwarded the e.mail to Dan-the-Man and begged him that we could forego all plans and be on the road at the crack of dawn to be at the gates of berry farm.
Just look at the size of these beauties! Have you ever seen anything so gianormous in all your life? Hate to tell you all this, but they even taste better than you can imagine...pure sweet heaven bursting in your mouth with each bite.
One for the bucket, two for me, two for the bucket, three for me.....

We ended up picking a total of 18 pounds of blackberries. Let me tell you, my food saver machine and I were tight in the kitchen for the rest of the night. We have enough berries to last for many, many cobblers.

Somerset Ridge Winery

2009-06-25T06:16:00.007-05:00

Sometimes when you are taking random drives like this...... You come across neat things like this.......

and just when you think it can't get any better.....you find a great little winery out on a lovely gravel country road, and you pinch yourself!

Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery is a great little winery with the nicest owners you could ever meet. They have an inviting tasting room, and make you feel like you've been friends for years as they take you through a sampling of all of their wonderful wines. Yes, I know.....some of you are questioning "What????Great wine in Kansas?????" YES!!! It is true. Even my well traveled best friend Cindy, who lives in California, who has a very good nose for fine wine, bought a case...YES A CASE of their Chardonel and had it shipped home!

Shaun the Sheep

2009-06-23T06:45:00.004-05:00

Most people are blogging about wonderful french grain sack pillows, or how wonderful it was meeting the Farm Chicks at the Antique show....and then there's me. Don't get me wrong, I want to own a French grain sack pillow and meet the Farm Chicks, but my latest addiction is buying dvd after dvd of Shaun the Sheep. Now you may be familiar with him if you have little ones.....or if you happen to love Wallace and Gromit (which I do...alot). We celebrated Dan-the-Man's birthday last Thursday and after eating dinner, cake and presents forced everyone to watch one of the dvd's I had. There's no talking, just antics. There's a farmer who is clueless what his sheep herding dog Bitzer is up to when he should be minding his flock of sheep. I guess it's the kid in me, but I have a new love. I've found that Target sells a few story lines you can find in the kids section, and as always Amazon has a great selection. I'll be the one in the living room with my gnome p.j.'s on and a bowl of popcorn watching Shaun if you are wondering what I'm up to at night.

Garden Tour Part I

2009-06-21T12:53:00.006-05:00

I received an invitation from my blog friend Martha to come down for a spell as her town was hosting a Garden Tour. Martha and I have been blog friends, and have enjoyed e.mailing with each other for some time now, so I couldn't turn down an opportunity to finally meet her and her kind husband. I arrived to Linderhof and the first female I saw asked "Are you Martha?" and was told Martha was inside. We went around back where we met her kind husband Jim who had settled in for a much deserved rest in a patio chair and was delighted to be greeting all the folks who were on the garden tour. He told me Martha would be out in a moment. I enjoyed visiting with him, as he had a very easy going nature. It was surreal to be in their garden and see their home after many visits to Martha's blog. When Martha came out we immediately gave each other a hug, and I was so happy to get to meet her in person. She invited us to get a glass of herbal iced tea, and had made delicious homemade shortbread cookies that had lavender in them. She said after we had a chance to look around, she would take me on a tour inside her home. A beautiful angel in the garden with bird seed to treat all the feathered friends that come over.

Hand painted Italian wallpaper....simple amazing! I've never seen anything so beautiful!

Martha and her hubby have a incredible collection of lovely antiques that they have collected from all over the world!

A favorite in her garden...a English Cottage special made for the fairies that come and visit!

The warm welcoming sign on the front entry. So many unique things at every corner of their incredible home. If you haven't been over to see Martha's blog you are in for a treat. She is an incredible cook, master gardener, book-aholic, and lives a very full life in her community. I encourage you my fellow bloggers that if you have chance to meet someone who you have befriended through blogging, you should take every advantage of meeting them in person. They are some of the nicest people I have come to know! Thank you Martha and Jim for opening up your home. Look forward to seeing you both again soon!

Garden Tour Part II

2009-06-21T12:38:00.002-05:00

I couldn't squeeze in all the pictures in just one post, so bear with me, I am doing it in two sections. It's hard to convey the feeling of having it go from pouring rain, to sunshine and humidity, but that's Kansas for you. Dan-the-Man always says "If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes" Fell in love with this chair....anything weather worn with nostalgia is always nice to see out in a garden. Love the faded turquoise blue.

I could have sat by this fountain and listened to it all afternoon. So soothing...and butterflies and
dragonflies were flitting around from one flowers to the next.

I loved this old wrought iron gate piece with a garden basket attached. The colors were so much more vibrant than my little camera that could can show you though!

Neat idea for a bird bath, plant with flowers to switch things up a bit!

Beautiful tiger lilies that always seem to do so well in Kansas. Ask me if I've planted any in my yard? Next topic of conversation......

Justus Pharmacy-The Restaurant

2009-06-18T09:05:00.005-05:00

Throwing caution to the wind, last Friday night we put the top down on our convertible bug and drove up Hwy 169 to Justus Drugstore, without making a reservation. This is Smithville after all, small town USA north of Kansas City. We were greeted by the hostess and with my tail in between my legs, I confessed we didn't make a reservation, and what were the chances they would have us for the evening. She told us to have a seat at the bar, and she would she what she could do, as they had a full schedule. We snuggled into the bar, taking in the ambiance, wondering how a hip restaurant like this could make it in a small country town. I felt like I was up in Napa. One glance at the wine list told me I should exchange Napa for Tuscany or Provence. The bartenders were great, and just as we started enjoying our cocktail, the hostess announced she had a table for us. The kitchen is wide open and I noticed that every employee would frequently stop by a faucet and wash their hands randomly and frequently...nice. We had a great waitress that gave us a heads up that everything was prepared fresh, so things took a bit to come out to the table and recommended an appetizer to satisfy our appetites until our entrees would be served. I appreciated the suggestion and knew we should settle in and prepare for what I was already anticipating would be a good meal. I noticed on the back of the menu all the local farms they restaurant supported, and having just read the book SLOW FOOD, appreciated anyone who "got" the notion of supporting local farmers who grew or raised a great product and incorporated it into their menu. After ordering, and before our appetizer came out, our waitress brought us out a little nosh. A crostini sliced impossible thin, with a layer of fig jam, the creamiest liver pate', with a sauce and herbs to die for. That set the tone for the whole evening. I'm not going to bore you with a play by play of each thing we ordered, but instead invite you to try the restaurant for yourself. All I can say is each and every dish had a melody of flavors that didn't overpower one taste over the other. There was unusual combinations that surprised your mouth with every bite. After dessert and individual french pressed coffee, our waitress brought us out a petite glass of moscato, another wonderful touch. I told her to tell everyone in the kitchen I wished I could have given them ALL a big hug. By far the best meal I had ever had in my life! I can't wait to get back up there again....and this time I will call and make a reservation.

http://www.drugstorerestaurant.com/ see what all the fuss is about!

Home, Home on the Range

2009-06-10T20:25:00.003-05:00

One of my very favorite things to do in the whole wide world is to go on country drives. I love the peace and serenity of being away from everything....no traffic, telephones, television, just quiet. I love the smells, listening to the birds chirp, looking at old barns and daydreaming.

"I think my right side is my better side, how's this?"

It's nice when you are away from your normal pattern of thinking....the continual chatter that goes on in our mind "I need to do another load of laundry, geez did I forget to pick up 409 at the store, I have to remember to mail that bill tomorrow, I've got to remember to get that cob web, I can't believe it's time service my car again...."blah, blah, blah.

When I am out in the country my thoughts are lovely, wonderful, I could swim in them for hours...I think about what jam I want to make, what flowers I want to grow in my garden, how I want to try make a cherry clafoutis (sp?), what my country dream home would be like, how amazing dragonflies wings are...I marvel at everything God has created and good the sun feels...how I can't wait to have that good corn on cob with melted butter and salt. When does that you pick'em farm open up?

Bruschetta

2009-06-01T06:05:00.009-05:00

This is an easy crowd pleaser that always taste great. So simple and easy there are only a few steps to make this nice appetizer.

To make the crostini, slice baguette to desired width. Drizzle with extra

virgin olive oil and toast in oven until golden...about 7-10 minutes.

Chopped up a nice fresh garden tomato and some fresh basil. I like to add

some dashes of balsamic vinegar to the mix. Add salt & pepper to taste.

After crostini had cooled, spread with goat cheese and add tomato mixture.

Goes really nice with a chilled glass of your favorite wine, someone you love and watching the sunset out in the backyard. Make sure you have the bird feeder filled and fresh water in the bird bath for best results! :) Enjoy!

Everything's Coming Up Roses

2009-05-28T06:15:00.002-05:00

Just a few lovely pictures to day dream over. Roses actually grow very well here in Kansas. I'm surprised more people don't have them in their yard. My mission is to keep adding more and more flowers to my yard each year so by the time I'm 90 it will be a palette of color to wander through. My peonies are in full bloom and the scent is the most heavenly thing around. I put a bouquet of them on the dining room table, and just walking by I go into a trance.

R & R

2009-05-26T06:35:00.003-05:00

Hope everyone had a nice relaxing Memorial Day Weekend! We had a BBQ and invited some family and friends over. I have failed you all by taking no pictures. This weekend just seemed to fly by, but many things were accomplished, which is good...right? I was on mission organization, and made a small dent into orderliness around Acorn Cottage. I wish it was a weekend spent being artsy craftzy....who knows maybe this upcoming weekend!

We bought a new crisp American Flag to hang out front, and I noticed many homes in our neighborhood acknowledging Memorial Day. It always makes me very sentimental and tear up thinking about the sacrifices many, many families have made and what they have been through. I'm so very proud to be an American and the fact the Dan-the-Man is a retired Army Captain has made me even more aware of how much the men and women of our country do to keep us safe and out of harms way. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

Chipmunks

2009-05-21T06:29:00.002-05:00

Maybe it was weeks....possibly years. I started on the bottom stair, crumbled some Peanut Butter Ritz Bits....

With methodical precision, I gradually worked the trail up a step, then another. Asking myself, do I dare brave risking the trust level I've established and put some on the porch?

I sat in my chair like a Roman statue, camera ready at any given moment to take these pictures.

With stealth like maneuvering and only a slight of hand, I managed to capture these pictures of the elusive chipmunk.

I love chipmunks and think they are the cutest thing ever. Unlike some people I know, who live in neighboring Lenexa...and I won't mention names.....you know who you are....(by the way did you actually SEE the chipmunk "eat" your flowers, or are you just looking for someone to blame for their disappearance?????) I welcome them to Acorn Cottage, as nothing bring me more delight than watching these little creatures scurry about. Chip and Dale, C'mon!

Signs of Spring

2009-05-20T06:24:00.004-05:00

From the ground looking up...a birds nest. Lots of activity going on there, but want to respect their space....wish I could take a peak inside and see who is in there!

On a completely different note..............the mechanic tattooed son is bringing unbenounced to her as of yet, my future daughter in law, over for dinner tonight. Somehow cooking during weeknights doesn't stir my creative juices as well as weekend cooking does....I'm in a dilemma what to make, but will figure something out. Since my daughter is home for summer for college this is the first time they will get to meet. What's not to love? I predict everything will go splendidly. Hopefully more pictures to follow!

On another completely different note..........my husbands best friend has a job interview today. This is the sweetest guy around...one that my kids loves, who we never tire of seeing, who we get silly with, BBQ, play bocce ball, spend every 4th of July with....the guy who introduced me to a top secret bakery located in an industrial park to the best cinnamon bread you've ever had in your life. A guy who if you looked up in the dictionary "true blue friend" would have the name Ken listed. (okay, and his wife isn't so bad either :) So......anyone who prays....please take a minute of your time to say a little prayer for him that he dazzles the socks right off these management people who he's meeting with today. I have champagne chilling in the fridge RIGHT NOW, ready to be opened!!!!

P.S. If ANYONE knows when Season 2 of Castle is going to start, please let me know so I can sleep at night. My world just isn't the same on Monday nights....there is a void like no other.

Random Scrapbook

2009-05-19T06:38:00.004-05:00

Just thought I'd share a random little scrapbook I am making. Instead of something more traditional, I thought I'd just let my imagination roam and see where things went.

Thought that it might be fun to do something spontaneous instead of my usual, methodical page planning.

I thought I could use it just to journal some random thoughts or maybe as a travel journal for one of my trips somewhere.

One of my favorite kinds of journals I love is when people do a mini sketch book with drawing or watercolors....those are always fun!

Castle

2009-05-18T19:08:00.008-05:00

Is it just me? Am I the only one????? Is this or is this not the sharpest thing that's come out on tv lately or what? Here's something to sink your teeth into. Cat and mouse...detective.....muder....mystery.....and a lovely little anticipation of a tantalizing flirtatious chemistry between a novelist and detective. I am NOT one to watch tv....if I do it's PBS, or National Geographic, or my favorite person in the whole world...Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel. But this show takes the cake....I love every episode. It makes me giddy with excitement to watch it. I actually just found out you can watch missed episode on line. I'm ready to pre-order for when the seasons come out on dvd. I can not get enough of this show! You know what's great about it, beside the witty writing, the twist in the plots...they never turn out like you think how they are heading. I love a good mystery and you add the sizzle undercurrent between Rick Castle and Detective Beckett.....sigh....it's right up there with the anticipation of a good Jane Austin movie. Heavy sigh.

P.S. Monday nights at 9:00pm on ABC (CST)

P.S.S. Bummer....the Season Finale was May 18th....now I don't know how many Mondays I have to wait until it's back on again (oh yes, it got renewed!!!) Amazon is selling Season 1 on DVD...Release date Sept. 22....somebody have mercy on me!

Pizza

2009-05-17T09:03:00.002-05:00

How about this blog? You get a picture of the "BEFORE", but no "AFTER" photo.....that's because Dan-the-Man and I got those crazy eyes (like the snake in Jungle Book) as soon as this came out of the oven and it wasn't until it was sitting comfortably in our bellies as we were breathing a deep sigh of contentment that I realized I forgot to take a picture of the after. I have failed you my blogging buddies.....but trust me....it was GOOD....okay VERY GOOD!!!!!!

Here's what I did....I went to Whole Foods (I hope you have one nearby) and bought their pre-made pizza dough. I stretched the dough by hanging it from my fingertips, then rotating each side, letting gravity do the work until it was stretched out to the right shape. I lightly sprinkled the pan with cornmeal, and then added these toppings:

BBQ Sauce (just go with me on this)

Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella cut into Rounds

Cilantro

Cubed cooked Chicken

Red Onion-Thinly sliced

Some chunks of Cream Cheese (trust me)

Shredded Mozzarella on top

It was heaven! You won't be disappointed, I promise. Now to make matters worse....last night we made two pizzas and there were no "BEFORE" or "AFTER" pictures. How's that for a forgetful 40's moment. It kills me, as i am a visual person, as I know most of you are too and you deserve better than leftover cold pizza(oh...some of you like that do you? Yeah me too!) pictures.

Heavenly Flowers

2009-05-15T06:29:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to share for shots from around the crib. I have a hard time going to work each day because I just want to stop and smell the flowers and watch the bees come drink the nectar and feel the spring breezes pass by with rays of sunlight coming through the tree leaves warming me up. Who wants to be at a desk when you have these beauties to gaze upon!

I don't know if it's where I bought my pansies, or using Miracle Grow potting soil, but they are doing fantastic this year. I've never had such tall pansies! They are just lovely and when I'm sitting in the living room the are right there visiting with me. I always think about Alice and Wonderland and the pansies singing.

Extreme close up of my hanging flower basket on the back porch.

This is one of my favorite flowers, foxglove with some allysum(sp?)planted all around. I love sitting out on our back porch overlooking the sea of emerald green. It couldn't possible get any better than this....well okay....maybe when the fireflies come out and turn my backyard into a magical forest.