Truck A Love Story

By Michael Perry
I hated this book! Then I liked it. Then I was disappointed.

This is largely a year long journal for a late 30's something bachelor who has moved back to his small home town. He takes us through the process of restoring his beloved vintage truck and his frustration of failed gardening. Intertwined is the introduction of his new love and eventually his wife. Sounds like it has all the right ingredients, Right? I thought so too.

Before I launch into all the reasons that I didn't like it, I first wanted to tell you that I really think that his style of writing is poetic. He has a wonderful, rich use of metaphors and similes that in some cases had me laughing out loud (which I never do when reading) and at times touched me to tears and warmed my heart. The guy can write!

What I didn't like.... Don't worry. I'll keep it short. It was a slooooooow start and I don't like being lectured about political views that I don't agree with. That was the disappointing part.

Next book.... Gone With The Wind!

It Was A Busy Weekend!

Well! I did get the house cleaned, and I did get the book read. I got Sweet Daughter's Birthday Cake made (I love Duncan and Betty!) but I did not get the crafts done. : (
But that is okay. I will have them to do next weekend.

This birthday cake looks plan... yes? Don't let that fool you. Sweet Daughter has had 2 week birthday this year! :) She's worth it though!

Twenty Two! Where did the time go?

Just Hanging Out This Weekend!

It's a stay at home weekend for us. I have bunches to-do!

*Clean house
*Finish my book club reading for Monday night
*Bake Sweet Daughters Birthday Cake. (she's officially 22)
*AND I have a couple of crafty items to work on.

I love the weekend!
What's your plan this weekend?
P.S. Don't forget .... Sunday is Flag Day!

Laugh!

My favorite perfume is Laugh, by Brighton. I still love the Brighton products. I don't wear the jewelery as much as I used to, but I LOVE this fragrance.

Laugh: An upbeat, confident pale orange fragrance with an almost avant-garde blend of orange flowers and other very modern scents, together with floriental and floral notes accented with hints of spice. ..... Just in case you were wondering.

What is on your perfume tray?

Nothing Bundt Cake!

Well, I know Mother's Day was weeks ago, however, I thought I better share my Mother's Day treats before Father's Day is here! LOL

Now as you may or may not remember, my Mother's Day gift came early. Like months ago. You can read about it by clicking here. I still LOVE it!!! But Handsome Hubs and Sweet Daughter still made the day very special for me.

They brought home the most adorable, yummy cake from a bakery here in Scottsdale named Nothing Bundt Cakes. If you live here in the Phoenix area it is worth the extra drive. I can highly recommend them!

They do a wonderful job of making it special for your event. Look at the pretty silk flower in the middle....

The cake itself is so moist. They also put chocolate chips in the batter. Then all drizzled, heavily, with cream cheese frosting. OH MY!
Obviously, you don't want this around all the time, but what a special treat!

June/July Issue of Semi-Homemade

I know you guys are going to think I'm weird about Sandra Lee... I'm not really. But when I got this issue I just knew that you guys would love it! It is all Blue and white!

There are some really fun craft ideas... with the how too's. All very simple! Love the "cameo" idea.


And of course the trade mark Semi-Homemade recipes. Look at this cake! I think I am going to have to try it. I just have to say the photos are awesome. I think this is going to be my new favorite magazine. I know I love Tea Time, and Romantic Country but this magazine is packed with everyday ideas that are totally do-able.

I don't know... I've heard it said that Sandra Lee is the New Martha Stewart.... What do you think?

A New Coffee Pot

This is the "coffee station" in our kitchen. It is the first chore or duty of the day. Make the coffee! Hubs and I are both coffee drinkers, but I am a major connoisseur. Last year I splurged and purchased a big expensive Cuisinart 14 cup coffee maker. I thought it would be the end all, be all of coffee pots. Sad to say, I was mistaken. It barely lasted a year and had to be replaced a couple of weeks ago. My coffee maker before that was a Krupps and lasted about 8 years. I'm sure you can understand my disappointment. So this time... we went low end. Just a little Black and Decker. It, actually, makes very good coffee. I thought the carafe style pot would be handy for serving at a table or on a buffet. And it truly does keep the coffee warm without continuing to cook it on the burner. Which brings you to a green bonus....It is energy efficient. The only complaint that I have is that it only makes 8 cups. But perhaps I could consider drinking less coffee? Uh...probably not!

All that to say... I'm happy with the new coffee maker. YEAH! :)



See the cute little lamp? Yup... new! I can't help it. It was on sale. Gooseberries... 80% off.

This little basket.... cut glass. It is getting that purple-ish cast that old glass gets. This is the best Goodwill find that I ever got. It was $1.99. It is really almost tiny, about 7 inches tall. I love it. I saw one in an antique store for $19.00.

Well... We are at the week end!
I will be working on office stuff. No fun what-so-ever! I think next weekend will be my clean-house, play-house weekend.....

The Book Of Want!

This is my Wish Book. I love to get this catalog.
There is little that I can afford in it except for the inspiration. LOL
My home is not French Country, but I sure love the look. We're just Plain Country. That means a mixture of English, French, Cottage, Victorian and what I call Farm House. I did order two area rugs last year that I love. That's probably why I still get the catalog.

The breakfast area in our home could, eventually,
look like this.... I have the window seat and round table...

I just need to find these chairs, put a cushion on the window seat and get the shutters that I want. I really love the chairs. Ours are almost ready to go and need to be replaced....SOON!

How about this for a Living Room?

Or maybe this?
These pictures are from their online catalog.

Some Tableware?

Or French Country Fabric?

A Rug? I hear they are on sale......

Love these pillows!

I hope you enjoyed perusing through the Pierre Deux Catalog. I'm going to fix a cup of tea and start again at the beginning.

Peach Pie A La Mode!

Filling: 2 12oz bags of frozen peach slices (thawed)
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Instant Tapioca
2 TBS Crystallized Ginger
1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Combine ingredients and set aside.


Crust: 1 (11oz) Box Pie Crust Mix
1/3 cup plus 1 TBS Peach Nectar
1 egg


Combine egg, pie crust mix, and 1/3 cup peach nectar. Divide dough in half. Roll and place one in the bottom of 9inch pie pan. Pour filling in pan and place the second crust on top. Pinch closed and vent. Brush the top of the pie with remaining peach nectar. Bake 30 to 35 minutes in a preheated 450 degree oven. Tent the rim of crust with aluminum foil to prevent burning.

It is just plain good with or without Ice Cream!


My Peach Pie is a special request from Handsome Husband for his birthday. Happy Birthday Sweetie Pie! I was blessed the day you were born!

Happy Memorial Day!

Make sure you hang your flag this weekend!

And Perfect for the Memorial Day festivities....

The first time that I saw this wreath was last year on QVC. I really wanted it, but decided that it just wasn't needed. So I put the phone down and talked myself out of the purchase. Of course by the middle of the day it was sold out. So I told myself that that was it. But, like so many pretty things that I have come across, once it is gone, I truly believed that I really, REALLY should have snapped it up and that I let an opportunity to be shop-happy pass.(Shop-Happy is my term for that feeling of buying something that you just love and that you got at a great price AND that you have absolutely no remorse or guilt for purchasing) I still wanted it! I even, believe it or not, gathered up all the stuff to make it. Unfortunately, it would have been twice the price that QVC was asking. So, in sad defeat, I put it all back and pretty much forgot about it. I know, I Know.... "OH! THE DRAMA!"

Then one day in April I was browsing the blogs and decided to check out Shanda's blog, because I knew she would be doing something great to get ready for spring. So I flipped over to her blog and THERE IT WAS! Shanda was sharing her special arrival of The Summer Wreath. All those old feelings that I felt the first time we met came flooding back and I knew it was meant to be! So I ordered it and it arrived a week ago. I love it so much that I hung it on the pantry door in the kitchen.

Eventually I will move it to the front door to share with the rest of the world, but for now I will enjoy it inside and savor that feeling of SHOP-HAPPY!

If you have never seen Shanda's sweet blog you should zip over there. She has a beautiful country home and shares all her great ideas and bargains. Shanda at Front Porches, Sweet Tea and Old Aprons

I hope you all have a Happy Memorial Day with your families. Please remember many have chosen to serve our great country and have paid a very high price. Freedom and Liberty are never free!