Look What Came In The Mail Monday!

Yesterday, I came home to the sweetest treat!

My gift from Lisa at Hospitable Pursuits arrived and let me just tell you what! I had so much fun opening it up. I just had to tell you all about it!
See the sweet gift box? Take a closer look.... It's from her gift card line!


All of my pictures can be expanded. So feel free to look closely.

Rose Coop Farm is an adorable line of artwork that Lisa sells on her blog. But she is so modest that you might have missed them. So I think that you should make sure that you check out her work. It really is cute!! Click on Rose Coop Farm to see what I'm talking about.

A lovely cup and saucer, tea towel, and some of her special note cards!

A very fragrant candle and a bath cupcake. How cute!

A Rose Coop Farm Journal. See the cow bell and key? I love it!!

Thank you Lisa! I love my beautiful gifts!

Make sure you go visit Lisa's Beautiful Blog!!!!

Tea Time Tuesday! #4

This week for Tea Time Tuesday I am showing the last table from the Ladies Tea and Luncheon at our Church.

This table is my table. I kept it pretty simple. Usually I would haul everything in, but this year I felt the need to down size. Plus I usually do 8 place settings and this year I did 10. So I didn't want to make the table too crowded.

As you can see... I kept it Mary Engelbreit....
You can't go wrong with Blue, White, Red and Black!

Cherries, Polka-dots and Checks! LOVE'UM! I actually made the table topper. But here's a sad story. When I washed it after the tea, I ruined it. The ribbon bled all over the fabric. Oh My Goodness! It was a disaster! Un-Salvageable! I was so bummed! I went back to get more of the fabric and it was sold out. So this will be its last appearance.

For more delightful tea tables head over to Barb's Blog Grits and Glamour. Thank you, Barb, for hosting!

Happy Father's Day!

Yes! We Have No Bananas!

Join me!

Look at those nasty bananas! They really look much worse than they were. My hubs likes green bananas. I personally think that is a little odd but, hey! If it makes him happy, what the heck! So I buy them green and then in a couple of days they are perfect for me and in a couple more days we have perfect bananas for bread!

This is the recipe that I just tried from my Jan Karon Mitford Cookbook. It calls for lemon juice and yogurt. I thought that sounded very interesting. By the way....This is a great cookbook! It has all the recipes from her books. Plus the pictures are beautiful. I got mine from Amazon for about $4! SWEET!

Any Hoo! On to the recipe!

Cynthia's Banana Bread pg 274

Nonstick cooking spray for the pan
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 large very ripe bananas, mashed with a fork
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
(I don't care for nuts and thought the bread was wonderful without)


Preheat the oven to 350*F. Coat a 9x13 loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Place the sugar and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer and cream until light and fluffy, about 8 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the yogurt, lemon juice, bananas, and lemon zest and beat well. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and stir until just blended. Add the walnuts and mix again until just incorporated.

Pour the batter into the pan, smooth the top, and bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out fairly clean. Do not overcook. Cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes, then invert onto the rack to cool completely.

This is a very heavy, moist, banana bread!
AND it was delish!

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?