Currently Loving!

Fun Arm Parties

Leather Clutches

The Color Orange!

Coffee, Crochet and Camera!

Some of my favorite subjects! 

Look at that cute little Hawkeye. Rescued from my mom's attic. 

Even if I could find the film for it... I doubt it would work. But I do love

having it. I think I bought it with my horse walking money ....  I was about 

10???  Anyway, there were some people at church that owned a bunch of shetland ponies. They would go to local carnivals and sell rides to little kids. My job, along with about 10 other kids was 

to walk the pony and rider in a big circle. We got paid a whopping $1.oo an hour. Getting paid to walk horses (eh...ponies) ... That was my dream come true.  I was impressed with myself. Ah well... it was fun. I hadn't thought about that in forever until I saw this little camera.

I have all of my squares done... Just need to hook them all together! 

Any one know of a pretty edge that I can put on it?

Last Sunday evening the Women's Ministry Team of North Phoenix Baptist Church was invited to spend an evening of fun and preview at our friend, Jo Hale's shop: The Perfect Accent. 

So today I am showing you some fun pictures from that event and her shop.

 Jo's custom designs have been installed all over the state and featured in Phoenix Home and Garden.

 Although, she has a big-is-better, over-the-top style, her priorities are always in the right place.

She has a special place in her heart for Women's Ministry and has taught a women's bible study at our church for many years. 

Three or four times a year she hosts an event at her shop or will teach a design class at our church.  The events are always big hits. Some have had as many as 150 or more women. 

 My favorite events are the ones in her shop. 

Because then I shop!

 I'll be quiet and just let you drool now....

I love this chair! I have no place for it, but I love it!

What did I buy? A twine spool and matching scissors. 

Do you love it? 

If you would like to see more....

The Perfect Accent

(602) 944-4009 9507 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85020

For some pictures of her installations go to her web site! 

 Jo Hale Interiors

I'll be Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for The Scoop

Oh! Hello Saturday!

It's Saturday! 

My favorite day of the week. (except for those rare days off in the middle of the week where I have the house to myself)  I have a few chores to do and then the day is mine! 

I love it. 

I have a book to finish 

and of course I have many a needle project to finish

and then there is the tea cup project in the kitchen.... More later! 

Do you have plans for the weekend? 

Oh! I hope you do. 

AND I hope it's all fun!

Mrs. Mike

Mrs. Mike, the Story of Katherine Mary Flannigan

by Benedict and Nancy Mars Freedman

From the back of the book: 

Set in the Canadian wilderness in the early 1900s. Considered by some a young adult classic, Mrs. Mike has been published in several editions and is read worldwide. The work combines the landscape and hardships of the Great Canadian North with a love story between Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Mike Flannigan and a young Katherine Mary O'Fallon, newly arrived from Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs. Mike, based on the life of Katherine Mary O'Fallon Flannigan, documents the young couple's trials, sorrows, and growth.

 There were mixed reviews from the book club on this one. Several of the ladies thought that it was a little rambling and didn't really like it to much. But I really liked it. In fact, I would read it again. I learned a lot about the Mounties and all that their job included. (amazing) Plus, I don't know that much about the Great Canadian North, so I found it very interesting. I thought this was a good read and well worth recommending.

I will be joining Art At Home for Literary Fridays

Finished!

Just popping in to show off one of my projects that I actually finished! 

WOO HOO!

I love that feeling.

 I think that the last of the cool (cool enough for this anyway) 

weather is over.

 I'm glad that I got it finished in time to wear it once or twice.

A fun, easy and quick little scarf.

• Cast on 42 on size 5's
• just knit till it is the length you desire
• stitch the ends together 
• I added a picot stitch edge on both sides. 

Finished!

Top-O-The-Mornin' To Ya!

This fun little table was all inspired by this darling Leprechaun hat.  One of the girls

where I work has had it on her desk for the last month or so. She is totally Irish. 

ANYWAY!

I asked if I could borrow it and she said " yes... wait! What are you going to do with it?" 

I explained and she relented with an odd look. 

 I'm glad she did. Because this was fun and cheep. 

The only thing I bought were the little plastic hats and the 

shamrocks that are scattered about. One dollar each at the 

dollar store.

I will be making corned beef for dinner next Sunday...

What about you? 

I'm joining 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday
The Home Girl for Festive Friday

The Dressmaker

The Dressmaker

by Kate Alcott

If you love anything that involves the Titanic, you will love this!

From the back of the book:

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she’s had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be her personal maid on the Titanic. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men—a kind sailor and an enigmatic Chicago businessman—who offer differing views of what lies ahead for her in America. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes, and amidst the chaos, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat.

The survivors are rescued and taken to New York, but when rumors begin to circulate about the choices they made, Tess is forced to confront a serious question.  Did Lady Duff Gordon save herself at the expense of others? Torn between loyalty to Lucile and her growing suspicion that the media’s charges might be true, Tess must decide whether to stay quiet and keep her fiery mentor’s good will or face what might be true and forever change her future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a fast read with unexpected twists and turns. Let me know if you have read or decide to read this selection.  I would love to know what you thought. 

I'm joining Riki Jill for : 

Something Great Somebody Said

Starbuck's Cinnamon Chocolate Bread

SO! 

One morning I was in Starbucks and saw this incredible chocolate bread. Normally I am not terribly smitten or tempted by the baked goods at Starbucks (frankly they are usually overpriced and stale)... but this looked so amazing I had to try it. BOY! Did it deliver.  So much so that I googled it and found the recipe.

Now, I have made 2 batches and I have to tell you.... You MUST follow the recipe exactly and the dutch processed cocoa is key ( I finally found mine at Sprouts). The first batch I made with regular unsweetened baking cocoa and the bread was just okay. Not the bread that I had at Starbucks. The second time I had found the right cocoa and the finished product was perfect. 

Without further adue... I give you....

Starbuck's Cinnamon Chocolate Bread

Ingredients (makes two loaves):
Chocolate Batter –

• 3 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 5 large eggs at room temperature
• 2 cups flour
• 1 ¼ cup dutch processed cocoa
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tsp vanilla

Step 1 – Preheat oven to 350 F. Grab two 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pans and line with parchment paper.
Step 2 – To mix the batter you’ll start with the butter and sugar. Mix these in an electric mixer until light and creamy, around 5 minutes. Then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until each is fully incorporated. You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times to get them fully mixed in.

Step 3 – Grab another bowl and sift together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, water and vanilla. With your mixer on a low speed, begin adding the contents of each bowl to the butter mixture, alternating between the two until your mixture is fully blended, but not overly whipped. Then split your batter between the two pans. If your batter is slightly uneven, you can lightly shake the pan to even out the tops.


Cocoa Spice Topping –

• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp dutch processed cocoa
• Pinch of ground ginger
• Pinch of ground cloves
• ¼ cup sparkle sugar (for decorating)

Step 4 –  For the topping combine the sugar, cinnamon, cocoa, ginger and cloves. Then evenly layer the decorating sugar over your batter, followed by the spice mixture.
Step 5 – Bake for 45-50 minutes.