In Loving Memory

In memory of all who have fought and died for our freedom, and in gratitude for all who serve now.

Lilac Time

The rain has finally stopped, the sun is shining in the most beautiful way, and oh my goodness, the lilacs are in full bloom!

 I don't believe I have ever in my life lived in a home without several lilac bushes on the property.

I have 4 big bushes here at the cottage.

Love.

Victoria just grabbed a basket and the clippers and harvested some for me:>)

You can't even tell she took any from the bush.

♥I wish you could smell these.♥

Do you have lilacs?



Cute Shoes Make the World Go 'Round

Well ok, not really, but I really like them. These were my Mothers Day gift from Victoria. The girl knows what I ♥:>)

Looks like it's time to paint the front porch again.

And why did I paint it white last time? It gets too dirty.

Do you suppose the neighbors who were driving by on their way to work wondered why on earth I was taking pictures of my feet on the front porch? lol

Or maybe they're used to me.
Ah well, I've gotta be me:>)

Cold and rainy today, and that always inspires us to head for the kitchen.

Stir fried veggies and toasted multi grain baguette slices with smoked Cajun salmon dip. Another one of the recipes we tried at the awesome fish place last weekend.  Earl put together equal parts low fat sour cream and low fat mayo, some chopped thyme, red pepper, scallions, chives, dill and shallots to taste with the 1/2 lb. of Cajun smoked salmon we bought at the restaurant.

 On the toasted baguettes it was heavenly:>)

 Then it was time to try the caramel macchiato cupcake recipe I found online, here.

My daughters did the honors and baked these delightful cupcakes with home made caramel drizzled on top of the coffee flavored whipped cream. Did I mention they have mad skills like their father? They do.

Salad for dinner. I've had my allotment of comfort food for the day:>) Maybe for the week.

Oh my.

I Love Mail

And who wouldn't when they get this kind of cute in the mailbox?  A dear friend sent me this gorgeous runner for my upcoming birthday.  In all my favorite colors and it looks sooo cute in my dining room:>)

 Here's a close up, and see, she hand quilted this beauty and added Jumbo red ric rac. ♥

Thank you Trish, I adore my runner, and it means so much to me that you did this just for me!

 And just a peek at springtime so far in Michigan.  Finally we have warm weather and sunshine and everything is bursting into bloom.  I cut my first vase full of lilacs for the house to go on my pretty runner.
The little speckled violets below are called "Freckles" and were given to me by my dear husband years ago, just because he knows how much I love violets.

The white blossoms are the old pear tree, the pink blossoms are the peach tree and I'm sure you all recognize forsythia. It doesn't grow in my yard, but the neighbors have some planted right up next to the lot line so I can enjoy them too.  It's a rainy, easy Saturday here today, and apparently for the next week. Rain forecast almost every day. I'm ok with that. Time to hunker down and get some sewing done. I've been looking forward to getting back to the machine and letting mundane things like laundry and mowing the lawn and just generally messing around get in the way. No more, I'll have some fun things for you soon, and I think its just about time for a giveaway. I want to make it a good one, so it's off to the machine to whip up something fun:>)

What do you have planned this week?