Saturday, July 30, 2011

Vintage Day with (almost) Vintage Friends!

My friends Debi and Carmelle joined me
on this beautiful Summer day
to browse the special sales at
Vintage Gathering and
Barn House.
Everything was arranged beautifully
and the vendors really put their best into
both sales. It was a pleasure to browse!
We are starting to feel kind of vintage ourselves 
when we see things from our cupboards
in this kind of a sale
or remember using them in our childhood!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Farmstand Ingredients Salad

This salad is a fave of mine, that I make every summer
when the beets appear at the farm stands. 
I eat it a lot for lunch with a side of fresh green beans
and (if I have the right ingredients) Fried Green Tomatoes.

Gigi Barbina Salad
(not sure why it's named this)

4 fresh beets, 
washed and ends cut off
wrap in foil and roast for 45 min @ 400*
Open foil and allow to cool, peel and slice.
 Baby Greens
1/3c. walnuts toasted
goat cheese

Layer beets, walnuts and crumbled goat cheese
over lettuce on plate and
drizzle with vinaigrette.

Vinaigrette
2 T. Mayonnaise
2 T. Sherry vinegar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1 small shallot, coarsely chopped (or chives)
3 T. canola or olive oil
Mix together mayo, vinegar, mustard
and shallot. While whisking
rapidly add oil in a steady thin stream,
season with salt and pepper if desired.




Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Bye Bye Birdie Tunic

I finally got one thing done from my stack of
sewing projects!
The fabric was one I just love because it
has birds and flowers on it,
however when I put it on it looked a 
little like an old lady house coat...
Oh well, I can wear it around the house then,
and no one will mistakenly think I
am pregnant...it has that kind of feel to it, but
very comfy and covers up all the Grandma-ish 
lumps and bumps:)

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Southern Style Onion Rings


2 Large onions, (I used Walla Walla Sweets)
cut into 1/4 inch slices, and 
separated into rings. 
Mix
2 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
Put onion rings into buttermilk mixture and let set
for several hours in refrig.
Mix together
1 1/2 c. flour (I used GF flour and it works fine)
1/4 c. cornmeal
1 T. salt
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4. tsp pepper
1 T. chopped chives 

Dredge onion rings in flour mixture and lay out
on wax paper.
Heat 1 inch oil in pan until hot.
Fry the rings a few at a time, until golden brown.
Drain on paper towel and then place on
baking sheet in 200* oven to stay warm until
all are cooked. Salt and serve hot.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Blueberry Lemon Bars

Blueberries...
"little blue sacks full of swampy nectar
and ambrosia commingled"
Thoreau

1 1/8 c. flour (GF flour works fine)
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. butter
mix until crumbly and pat into 8x8 pan
Bake at 350* for 15 min.


Beat together until frothy
2 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 tsp baking powder
dash salt
mix in 1 c. fresh blueberries
and pour over hot crust.
Bake for 15 minutes.
cool and cut into squares

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Summer Evening Bike Ride

Soft wind in my hair,
warm air scented with roses and raspberries,
farms and barns lying quiet in the light.
Country evening,
summer sky,
day at it's sweet close...

Friday, July 22, 2011

Summer Lunch for Special Friends

 We had a chance to entertain visitors from South Carolina
today. My son's girlfriend Marrisa, her mom and brother.
You know how once in awhile you meet someone for the 
first time but you feel like you've known them forever?
Well that's how I felt with Maria!
( cupcakes are from The Sugar Mama's Cupcakery)

Summer BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad

8 oz. cooked and cooled pasta
2 c. cut up, cooked chicken
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c. frozen corn thawed
1/2c. chopped jicama
1 red pepper, cut into chunks
1 orange pepper, cut up
1 c. halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro
mix with ranch dressing until moist and coated.
( I used Uncle Dans)

Just before serving
cut up 1 avocado, place on top and
drizzle with BBQ sauce.
You could also add crumbled tortilla chips
on top also for more crunch.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Layered Fresh Berry Dessert

Layer in canning jar for individual servings 

graham cracker crumbs
(8 oz cream cheese beaten together with
1 c.powdered sugar and 1.c cool whip)
cool whip
blueberries
vanilla pudding
raspberries
cool whip
graham cracker crumbs

a tasty and easy summer dessert

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

 The simple joys of childhood!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Great with Child

"For You created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully
and wonderfully made:"
Psalm 139:13-14

Thursday, July 14, 2011

How to Create a Vintage Look

The 50's style outfits that we 
modeled on our beach trip were
ideas taken directly from 50's sewing 
patterns that I found on Etsy.
I didn't buy the patterns but it's
a great way to get a look that's authentic
because that is what ordinary people were 
sewing and wearing in that era.





The only real vintage thing is the middle dress 
all the rest were thrift shop finds, or from
items I already had available.
I figured they could be used in the dress up
box later so it wouldn't be a total
waste of money:)

Monday, July 11, 2011

Beach Weekend

Our Mom and Daughters weekend was
the most fun ever! The weather was stunningly
beautiful and the time relaxing and fun.
For the invites I used a clip board so that I 
could put all the info in one spot...
The house was so cute and just a short walk to 
the beach.
It was plenty nice enough to read and sleep
in the sun.
So great to have time away with my girls, 
who as adults are really more like 
friends then just daughters.
We had PLENTY of snacks!
and good food:)
And some time to be silly and dress up 
in 50's style and to model,
including some very hysterical 
moments in thrift store wedding clothes, 
(which pictures my pregnant daughter 
forbade me to post on my blog!)

Friday, July 8, 2011

I'm Going to the Beach!

My 2 daughters and I are heading to the beach
this weekend for a last "girls" weekend
before Shana gets married.
I have a lot of fun things planned and the
weather sounds like it should be nice...
Time to hit the road:)

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The Glorious 4th of July

 Below is the BBQ set up.
and Paper and Pigtails I got lots of great ideas
and the free printables!
The wooden painted USA in the background
is something I did a long time ago 
and haven't had the heart to get rid of yet
because it was so much work...:)
 I used old jeans pockets for napkin and flatware
holders, paper cones for chips,
and galvanized buckets for the salads.
And of course my trusty little canning jars for 
the baked beans topped with the free circle printables.

 For dessert we had a shortcake bar,
also an idea from Celebrations at home.
Hope you enjoyed your Independence Day,
God Bless the USA!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Getting my Groove On

I found this great pattern for PJ
bottoms and decided that I would go
with a kind of groovy mix of fabric.
Sewing pajamas gives me a chance
to go for a look
that I wouldn't do on any 
other item of clothing:)
Super comfy too!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Wedding Inspiration Board

This is the inspiration board that I put 
together for my daughters wedding which
is coming up in October.
Did you know the average wedding these
days costs & 25,000!!!
Sorry to say that is NOT happening here!
I can't imagine how parents can afford it...
I love my girls, but...
we're doing a DIY budget version
and it will still be lovely:)

Friday, July 1, 2011

Fish Tacos (trying a new recipe)

This recipe is from All Recipes
 "Fish Tacos with Chipotle Lime sauce".
I added avocado and Monterey Jack cheese 
to mine along with 
the recommended toppings.
The rice is Texamati/wild/brown rice blend
made with juice of a fresh lime, chopped cilantro,
salt and pepper added in with the water and 
cooked as normal.
It was extremely filling and definitely different!
You would either really like it or not at all 
as it has a flavor all it's own