Saturday Surprises

I was so excited this morning when I found these prints at goodwill they fit perfectly with my decor and they still had the $30.00 (each) price tags on them from steinmart, well I paid $5.00 so I was very excited because my local goodwill has had zip the past month. They had a toile pillow and plate that someone else got to before me darn it.I am still looking for white platters and went to two thrift shops but didn't find any today the other suprise when I came out it was sleeting, it's in the 40's today so thank goodness it's too warm to stick but good grief it's been in the 70's this week. We always say in Arkansas if you don't like the weather just wait a bit and it will change, so this afternoon I have the fireplace going and cooking meals for the week and staying warm.Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday.....Barb

Lesson Learned

Last night I learned a lesson, I had bought some pre-cooked chicken strips to put in a salad. I had the leaf lettuce chopped and on the plates then I opened the bag of chicken and started putting it on the salad and I thought what is that smell? Turns out the chicken was spoiled and that turned off my appetite really quick, my husband put it in a ziplock and I returned it to Wal-mart today and they gave me a refund. The woman at the desk told me they weren't suppose to do that without a receipt but I stood there looking at her and I think the smell and her manager convinced her otherwise. The lesson I learned always smell pre-cooked chicken before you put it on your salad. See you can teach a dog new tricks notice I'm not using the O word....Barb

I was outside in my backyard this afternoon and thought I would show you a small collection that I have on my fence, I love these clay sunshine's ,the one on the upper right my girls gave me one mother's day and the rest have been birthday gifts over the last few years. they remind me of vacations visiting Mexico. There is a flower bed below them that has daylilies (my fav flower) and black eyed susans and coneflowers.I tried to get a photo of my rosemary bush that has been blooming with it's cute blue flowers but it was so windy today the photos were blury, our weather has been beautiful this week warm with sunshine but I think we are going to have rain tonight and tomorrow. Well I need to start thinking about supper (southern word for dinner) for tonight so talk to you all later....Barb

Golden Drops

Look whats blooming in central Arkansas, Forsythia.Everywhere you look the past few days you see this early spring bloomer, the only thing I hate is the blooms are short lived. We had one in our yard when I was a child and it was huge, I could crawl under it and play because in the heat it was a cool spot to play and my brothers couldn't find me and torment me as brothers tend to do. It's funny now because my youngest brother is one of my best friends.Hope you all had a blessed day....Barb

What do you crave?

This is what I craved today. This is what I ate.

Eating healthier is just not fun some days, I love ice cream and when you have godiva on the carton what's not to like? That's what I crave sometimes and it's also a treat because of the expense and the calories, hopefully my craving will be gone tomorrow but tonight I'll read and try to forget that godiva is calling my name.....Barb

Sisterchics

I'm so excited Robin Jones Gunn's new sisterchic book is going to be out in May. I love these and I love the definition of Sisterchics: friends who share the deepest wonders of your heart, love you like a sister, and provide a reality check when you're being a brat. Thank goodness I have friends like that aren't you?.....Barb

Short and Sweet

I just want to wish each of you a blessed day!

My Dining Room and Batman too!

Batman Appears in my dining room Sometimes! The mirror over the mantel I bought at a yard sale a few years ago it's white and chipped, goes great with my dining room.I trade out the red ginger jar and a vintage tin bucket with fresh flowers on my table.

I bought this about 10 years ago,the gold stemware on the upper left I bought as a teen-ager they are ice tea glasses. My mom has some old mixing bowls of my grandmothers she is giving me so I will set them on here when I get them.The wreath is made of dried flowers,my husband call it the wreath of garbage (men) and the small sugar bowl was my grandmother's it is missing the lid but I still love it!

I'm searching for more baskets to put under here.

Our fireplace has a double side, which I love (one side to the dining room and one side to the living room) I'm thinking about painting the mantel, I am looking for white plates and platters to hang around the white tin planter on the wall. I just painted and sanded the tin it was a dark mossy green with a pineapple on it and I forgot to take a before pic of it. Also another pic of batman.

My dining room table which I love, I think it has that french country feel. The floor is parquet which was here when we bought the house I might put ceramic tile down later. I am also trying to decide if I should change the border it has coffee grinders and french coffee pots on it,I'm thinking maybe fruit or roosters what do you think? Should I leave it or change it?

The top color is barn red and the bottom color is restrained gold that I had leftover from living room and decided to paint last week-end. On the mantel which did not show up very well is a wine decanter and glasses that my husband gave me for christmas 3 years ago ( I have colored water in it) a glass bowl with some of my mom's vintage christmas balls and the hull swan I showed you in an earlier post (that's a temp. spot for the swan until I find something else to put there)

This wall will have plates and platters when I find them, the rooster on top of my china cabinet was an ugly shade of green,blue and red I spray painted a little white on it and let a small amount of color show . I have some rosepoint crystal and other goodies in my china cabinet I will show you in the future. Hope you have enjoyed this tour of my dining room.....Barb

A special delivery for you!

I thought I would send you all a beautiful bright bouquet of flowers, hope you have a wonderful day and a smile on your face and feel God's blessings today.....Barb

Eternal China by Lenox

I still love my china as much as the day I picked it out,it's simple yet elegant.The photo's here make it look white but it's ivory with a gold band.I like it because it's easy to mix and match with other things. I think it's what sold our other house 5 years ago,we had it on the market for months and when I set up the dining room with my china it sold very fast.(LOL) I have been dusting all my treasures in my china cabinet and realized my mother-in-law has bought most of it, she loves crystal,china and glass. My sister-in-law and I have been very lucky to not have to buy our china, we each have 8 complete place settings plus the coffee/tea pots and vegtable bowls. Have a blessed day....Barb ( I have paper towels between each plate )

Crystal Treasures

I wanted to show you today another one of my treasure's, my mother-in-law gave me this beautiful crystal pitcher and stemware years ago. It belonged to her mother, my husband's grandmother so I consider it one of my treasures.I use it for birthday's,holidays and have also used it for a couple of bridal showers.I don't know the name of the pattern and my mother-in-law couldn't remember the name.I feel honored that she gave it to me,it sits in my china cabinet with other treasures that I will show you this week. I just have to tell you today has been a beautiful day here in the 70's and sunshine, I opened windows to air out the house and enjoy the warm wind. I hope the wind will dry out my yard today so I can get a little bit of work done outside,hope you all have a great day and enjoy whatever you may be doing today....Barb

Simple Supper

Spaghetti squash, this is what I had for dinner tonight with a little salt,pepper and cheese sprinkles yummy. Tuesday nights police officer hubby works late, so its just me home for dinner and sometimes it's cereal, popcorn or peanut butter, so about 10 minutes in the microwave I had a fast and healthy meal.I went by goodwill on the way home from work today they had nothing that I wanted it's been that way the past few weeks. I am looking for some vintage white plates to hang in my dining room, I think that would look good with the red and make it pop. Hope you all had a great day....Barb

Looking For Spring

We have had warmer weather the past few weeks and it makes me long for spring,I love spring when the days are warm and the nights are cool. When you don't have to wear a coat and can enjoy longer days and warm sunshine. When you can listen to the birds during the day and the frogs at night, when you can watch the bee's gathering pollen and the butterflies fluttering from flower to flower.When I can sit on the deck and read a book with a warm breeze and a cool drink.I took these photos in my backyard right before dark, the first one is of ny butterfly bush which is beautiful in the summer (please excuse the leaves I have raked 3 times already) and the second photo is my japanese maple ( you can see why we can't get dish because of so many trees). Hope you have had a wonderful day.....Barb

Nap Time!

This is what we may all be doing this lazy sunday afternoon. We had lunch of baked spaghetti and garlic bread and now everyone's full and sleepy.I need to clean the kitchen but I think I hear some zzzzzzzzzzzzzz's calling my name.Have a wonderful and blessed afternoon....Barb

Happy Valentines Day

Valentine Boxed Treats

I found these Martha Stewart boxes on sale after christmas for 1/2 price and bought them because I thought they would be cute for valentine goodies. They have 4 compartments and white tissue paper with red polka dots and labels, perfect! I bought my candy last Friday at Big Lots for 1/2 price (if you are close to a Big Lots you must check it out you can find some great bargains there) so for very little money I have all the sweethearts in my life a cute little goodie box. The sugar cookies are some of the cookies I made and decorated last night and we have valentine M&M's (red,pink and white) and Starbuck Macchiato Truffles and Starbuck Peppermint Mocha Truffles yum. Well now I'm off to put a roast in the crockpot and scrub bathrooms have a blessed Friday.....Barb

Sugar,Sugar

I made sugar cookies and decorated them this afternoon with white icing, pink sugar and heart sprinkles for my little man's valentine party tomorrow. My daughter works full time so she asked me if I wanted to make a treat for Jace's party and since her money is in limited supply also. I enjoy baking and giving away baked goods so it was fun for me, and of course sneaking a few bites to make sure it tastes good. These are not my cookies in the photo, I just thought they were so cute and valentiny (I know that's not a real word).....Barb

I hate this task!

This post is going to be short, Mr.Turbotax and I are working tonight. I just had to come over and take a peek at your blogs, here's hoping Mr.Turbotax and I only have to work one night.Take care ya'll talk to you later....Barb

Countdown To Thursday

Ok I admit I have an addiction, the t.v. show survivor. My husband and friends think I'm crazy but I love watching it, I love the great outdoors. I love playing outside having fun but, when it comes to a hot shower,clean sheets and a diet Dr.Pepper, girl I would win that challenge. If pedicures were a sport I'd have a gold medal and can you imagine a chocolate eating contest? And of course I would need my lip balm, slippers and some cute p.j.'s oh, and how about Southern Living, Country Living and a good book. Throw in a thrift shop on the island and I could outwit, outplay and outlast how about you?.....Barb

Manic Monday and A Sweet Surprise!

Thanks Brittany at Sweet Nothings you are a real sweetheart, somehow you must have known I needed this today. With this award I'm supposed to list 5 addictions (only 5)! Ok here we go.

1. My Family ( husband,daughters and 1 special little boy)

2. Anything with Sugar (it's too hard to list just one dessert)

3. Reading all your wonderful blogs

4. Starbucks ( tall non-fat vanilla latte anyone?)

5. Survivor ( it starts this week, yeah)

Today was one of those days at work ... and some worries about loved ones. I just need a good nights sleep and prayers and remember that God has a plan....Have a great night....Barb ( I pass this award to all my new blog friends that read my blog, you guys rock)

Don't Commit Crepe Murder

This afternoon we worked in our yard and I pruned my crepe myrtle's so this is how they will look this summer,but it seems to me (and heaven forbid if you do this) alot of our neighbors commit what I and Southern Living calls crepe murder. Why they do it I don't know, my best friend commits crepe murder (gasp) I've tried to talk her out of it, o.k. thats out of my system. I cleaned out a few flower beds and my daylilies have their little heads popped up and filled up bird feeders also today. I know we will have some more cold days we always have a few like this to make us have spring fever.May you all have a blessed and wonderful day.....Barb

Let's Play!!!

Warm day, sunshine and the local park with gigi and papaw. Priceless

Sunshine, rain and sunshine

Some days are like that you have a little sunshine and then a little rain then some more sunshine. This is how today has been for me I woke up this morning feeling great the weather today was warm and we had sunshine and I was ready for play (thrift shops). Then my phone rang and some bad news, one of my dear friend's brother was rushed back to the hospital and the family was called in and told he may not make it through the day. He was told a few weeks ago he has lung cancer and it seems to be rapidly spreading the doctor's did and emergency procedure on him earlier today, my friend is exhausted. Please pray for this family, my friend is a strong christian woman and she knows God will be with them through this. Then came sunshine again when I picked up my grandson and he saw me and came running to me with a big smile and gave me a kiss. We have had a wonderful afternoon, we went by the police station to see papaw at work, Sonic for a diet Dr.Pepper (don't tell his mommy it wasn't milk or juice) and played outside in the late afternoon. We now have on our p.j.'s after a bath and we are watching a movie until bedtime. He smells so sweet and warm it reminds me life is good and to enjoy the simple moments.....Barb

Chocolate Pie

I made a chocolate pie this afternoon for my hubby,it's been a while since I made one so he was surprised. It was yummy while it was still warm.

Chocolate Pie

3 egg yolks 3 Tbsp. cocoa

1 Cup Sugar 2 Tbsp. butter

2 Cup Milk 4 Tbsp. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

Beat egg yolks well,add sugar, milk, salt, cocoa, and flour in heavy saucepan. Cook on low heat,

stirring constantly until thick add butter and let cool then pour into baked pie crust. Cover

with meringue made from egg whites, 6 Tbsp. sugar, 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar, dash of salt

and 1 tsp. vanilla. Bake ay 350 degrees until meringue is brown.

Books,books and more books

I love to read and I seem to be passing that on to my little man, he has tons of books at home and when he come's over to stay with Gigi we love to "read" a good story. Cars, animals and fish are high on the reading list right now and anything that has a bug or worm. One of my favorite children's books is Goodnight Moon, that was a book I read to my girls a million times when they were growing up. A good memory and now making more good memories....Barb

Sweet Tray

My mom gave me this very cute tray sunday,it's so cute.I love that it's a mirror with silver rose handles.I put it on my coffee table with some of my vanilla candles. The small dish with the candle was my grandmother's, I've had it about 19 years now. The gold fabric has beads on the ends and I just scrunched it around on the coffee table. Have a blessed day....Barb

Hull Swan

My mother-in-law gave me this swan a few years ago it has been in my amoire in my bedroom. I have to admit I never really liked it much but, lately I'm thinking it's growing on me. Now my next question is what would you put in it ?If anything and where in your home would you display it? I have been moving it around the past week trying to find a spot for it.....Barb (I took this pic from the internet as I was searching for the age of the swan)

My reason today to eat junk food!

It's a good reason, right? Nacho's and some chicken wings things I don't eat most of the time. I was good this morning, I drank a berry smoothie drink on the way to church .Hope you enjoy the game and may your team win. I will have some pics of some new treasures to show you this week. Oh and when you go to Wal-mart check out the Paula Deen Candles they have yummy smells, I have one burning now and even with a stuffy nose it smells good....Barb (have a blessed day)