Where Did the Time Go?

Wow, I can not believe how long it has been since    I last posted...  it has  been a   wild, rocky,     depressed,   exuberant ride  this first  5 months of 2015...  Many of you know my mother  died   Dec. 27th.    This after  a  very long   trial of seeing her    fail to thrive  the last two  years of her life...  As an only child it took its toll on me.  I actually  became physically  ill  with my  depression.. My   IBS  (Irritable  Bowel Syndrome) that    is  usually a  constant  bane of life   became   unbearable.   I became a slave to   home.  And it threw me into an ever deepening  funk.  finally  I found  hope    for  it  through   administration of tons of advise..  but I    had  quit   choir,   going to church  ,   and  basically  everything  during this time. I  was  also  determined that in my  recovery form  this    malady I  would take myself off of  a longtime  use of  Nexium...   it took me months to  recover  and   I am so glad to  be Nexium free  as  well as IBS  free  now... well, I had a very   good reason to  want to be   free of these two   albatrosses!  My husband and I  were   expectantly  getting ready for a two week  tour of Ireland  leaving on   April 14- April 27th...  I absolutely had to  be  able to go  freely... without bondage to the bathroom!Taking  daily Metamucil and  substituting  Zantac for the Nexium and      created in my a  new    digestive constitution.  And through the many prayers  my friends and family   prayed over me....  Glory!  SO   by mid March I was    feeling up  to actually  trying to put  life back together and    start thinking of  preparing for  our dream trip!   Praise God  he saw me through every  moment of  the  journey...  I had absolutely no    problem     with the long  flights,   layovers,   travelling,, bus touring,    walking,   hiking....   He  saw me through it all gloriously!  I cant wait to    start sharing about  the trip...   but you might ask  why  havent you!  it has  been almost 2 weeks...   Well,  unfortunately,  we  came home to  the worse pollen season in several years....  and   that has knocked me for a loop...  I finally went to the doctor yesterday to just make sure  that  I didnt have  strep....  I dont  but I can barely lift my head off the pillow...   But a new round of  meds  is  working and I shall be  tip top    by Mother's Day!   Please see this  post as    a joyful one  for I am  persuaded that      we  do suffer seasons of  despond   along with the  joys of life....   and my    am looking  expectantly to    much joy in the coming  week and   summer months!

Before and After

Return to the Dedicated House here.

Today I  happen to have a before and after to share.... actually   maybe two....     I inherited  a chair from my mother....  she had it  by her bedside in the nursing facility  for a few years and so it  was getting rather  dingy... I wish I had a photo of   that chair,   but  alas,  I cant find one,  but it  is a fine chair....  my mom actually let me  purchase the chair in 1964  when I was  a freshman in HS and taking Home  Ec...  I  was  very interested n  interior design and  my project was to redo my bedroom...  my room being small, this chair  has  very small lines....  and is the perfect  bedroom  chair!

So when I  received it...   Amanda and I took it straight away to get it reupholstered  to  go in  lil Birdie's room.
The moment Amanda and I saw this Jacobean print.. we knew it was the one....  

  the  pale blue background  perfectly matches the new wall paint.... the  whimsical flowers  so youthful yet  graceful for  our sweet  little   granddaughter...

  I  haven't bought a new chair in  decades....   not when the  lines and    construction of older  chairs   is  so   appropriate to me...  so  we get chairs  redone   over and over again.

 When hubby's  chair  got to looking  sort of sad .

 I took it  to get it redone, as well. I liked this  color combination because it  easily could  be used  either here in the den, or in the parlor....  so I was  desiring to   try to stay in the same palette...   but  I ended  up with    something quite different,  after all...
 I definitely didn't play it safe with a  stripe... but when  all out with  paisley!

Our daughter Amanda  has been asking to see the  finished    product....    so I took this photo without the flash.....  but  once the flash  goes off it  revels in its   bright  tones and  hues...

  but  once the flash  goes off it  revels in its   bright  tones and  hues...

a close-

up of the pattern....
  It is a bit wild...   but   I love the way it  warms up the room!!!

Who's That Hiding in the Daffodils

Who's that hiding  in the daffodils?

The reds and hearts are all packed away and  the    bunnies are making their  return.. for spring is only 24 days away,,, and  even though  the  ground is white,     you've got to know that they are ready for spring,  and so am I!

 The  soft greens of  spring  are so soothing to my  eye and    warms the room  with  the delicate  fragrance of   the  pre-eminent vernal pleasures  to come!

The splash of yellow   puts a smile of each face  in anticipation of a sun drenched  mornings   just around the  corner...

A delightfully intimate   tea  for  my love and I  to just  enjoy a  morning break and  linger over our Earl Grey  and discuss  the momentous  events  that are upcoming  with  the changes in the weather  as  spring  makes its happy appearance!

 Today I'm sharing  with   

Make it Pretty

A Return to Loveliness

Home Sweet Home

Thursday Favorite Things

Martha’s Favorites 

Tea Time Tuesday 

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea 

Share Your Cup Thursday

Happy Homemaker Monday

Click here  to return to  HHM!

The weather outside is::::

is partly cloudy and   36 degrees

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

 Greek yogurt  with strawberries, blueberries and granola and  a cup of delicious coffee!

As I look outside my window:::

 a carpet of white still lies  about with  no green peeking through!

Right now I am::::

pondering the  lit of items on my to-do list!

As I look around the house::::

I have clothes to put away, and more to wash...

a bit of organizing to do....  target-  linen closet

On today's to do list::::
laundry

put clothes away

organize linen closet

do a bit of  cooking

  correspondence

Currently reading::::

Storm, by Jim Cymbala

Gifted Hands, by  Ben Carson, MD

Beth Moore's study guide on Daniel

What am I hearing:

and loving it....   Pandora

On the TV today::::

Oscar winning films  on TCM and  Hallmark love stories

On the menu this week::::

Baked chicken, salad, and cornbread

chef salad and baked potatoes

Pizza

What I am creating at the moment::::

an organized house

New recipe I tried or want to try this week::::
nothing I can think of

Favorite photo from the camera::::

How big is Birdie?

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

Time to Lay Red to Rest!

  It was   a rather easy  way to  transition from  Christmas  to  February.. just  keep the red  and   pull out the hearts...  and  surely sweetheart will   provide  more red  somwhere along the way,  and  he did!!!   Such  luscious red roses...

You love the roses - so do I.      I wish 

The sky would rain down roses, as they rain 

From off the shaken bush. Why will it not? 

Then all the valley would be pink and white 

And soft to tread on. They would fall as light 

As feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be 

Like sleeping and like waking, all at once!

George Eliot 

       

Febrauary was a great time to plan a get together....

 so  about 8 of our  prayer team got together to plan  ahead  for   Christians United to Pray prayer and praise events  around my table over  chocolate pie and coffee. The recipe found here.

Highly recommended!

  

A splash of  valentine red 

set off by valentine hearts  lends such a cheerfulness to the  drab of winter days...

A rosy mantel   spills into    the parlor sharing  a joyful mirth even though that room  sees  little other attention..as  we seek the comfort of cosier  spaces!

but a chilly parlor  seems the fitting spot  to  preserve for as long as possible the  gorgeous  roses  sent by my  lover and best friend, Lynn! They definitely  brighten up the room!

 So I have made my decision  today...  Ive had it with  winter...  we've had our snow  which still blankets  the ground...  the kiddies have had their  sleigh ride.... 

 and  when the    bloom has  lost  its    beauty, then  the red will be gone.. packed away... and  spring will  sprout  fresh and alive  around the house....  I will bid adieu to  February  and it's  lovely red  that has  almost   out lived its welcome.... time for  yellow, violet,  green, and blue!

Home Party@ Sandi's   Rose Chintz Cottage     

Thursday  Favorite Things

Grace at Home  @ Imparting Grace

Home Sweet Home at Charm of Home

Valentine Memories

Valentine's Day  is  such a great  holiday... nothing more preceious  than  showing your preferencefor others  in love... 
As a third grade teacher,    our classes  looked forward to    making the valentine  box,  

the best one I could find  (HEHEHE)  ours were always much better!
 then in later years creating their own  puppy  dog  valentine  holder made out of  2 paper plates and  construction paper...

  the valentine bulletin boards  bedecked in  red and pink hearts and  paper doilies     to  present  our best penmanship....

 alas,  so few classes  hold lovely penmanship    of value  anymore!
But valentine's day  is   an expression  of all things  lovely...
roses.... petit fours.....  lace..... valentines'


SO  now well into my sixties,  I enjoy  the valentine memories in my heart  over a    warming  cup of tea!

My  collection of  red transferwear is  a hodgepodege....   but I love  finding  choice  pieces in consignment /thrift shops. 

Meanwhile I pour out a cup of  Cinnamon Spice  on  this    brisk and windy day....  there is a hint of snow  in the wind!

Martha’s Favorites 

Tea Time Tuesday 

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Teacup Tuesday 

Friends Sharing Tea 

Share Your Cup Thursday

Happy Homemaker Monday

Click here  to return to  HHM!

The weather outside is::::

sunny and brisk....
 The  almost 9 inches of snow we  received Monday  still blanket   the  neighbor and  things are  pretty much  slow going,  

yet, a lone songbird  sings a reminder  song that spring is right around the corner!

I realize it is Wednesday,  but  I  have been  under the weather quite a bit lately and am just  beginning to see light a the end of  a long tunnel of   discomfiture.  The  bird's lovely  tune inspired me to  get  back to blogging today!

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

Fluffy  cheesy scrambled eggs, buttered  English muffin and  a cup of delicious coffee!

As I look outside my window:::

I am delighted by the  pristine  whiteness of our first  snow of the season!

Right now I am::::

sitting here in my jammies and house coat awaiting hubby to return...  he was determined to keep his haircut appointment... 

As I look around the house::::

I see   my  beautiful  red roses  my sweetheart gave me on Valentine's Day...  still just as  beautiful as  they  were then!!!!  Gorgeous!

On today's to do list::::
Blog and blog some more....  everything is cancelled today and it is a glorious feeling!

A bit of correspondence... slow mail...  I love to  receive a letter and so I need to write them first!

Currently reading::::

The book of Daniel

Beth Moore's study guide on Daniel

research on Ireland for our trip this year

What am I hearing:

On the TV today::::

I have been enjoying the  Oscar  series  they have been doing on TCM  but I have no idea what is coming on.. I like to be surprised!

On the menu this week::::

barbecued pork loin, salad, and cornbread

chef salad and baked potatoes

What I am creating at the moment::::

an organized house

New recipe I tried or want to try this week::::
http://www.gotmixer.com/meringue-cookie-recipe/

I  got a Kitchenaid mixer for Valentine's Day as well and I cant wait to make 

This Meringue Cookie Recipe is super delicate and looks divine. All you need is a little patience since this takes 2 hours to bake But your KitchenAid Mixer will do all the hard work for ya!
INGREDIENTS:
– 3 egg whites at room temperature
– 3/4 cup of white sugar (you can use your food processor to fine the sugar)
– pinch of salt
– 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar
– 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
– few drops of your favorite food coloring
HERE ARE A FEW HINTS:

I am going to give you a few hints in how to make successful meringue cookies, here are a few:

* your egg whites have to be at room temperature and not have ANY egg yolks on them

* you need to start whipping your egg whites at a low speed for a while until they become foamy, this will help keep its shape, small bubbles, better shape

* cream of tartar is essential to a good shape meringue cookie

* you really need to use your food processor to fine your white sugar, NO YOU CANNOT use powdered sugar and NO YOU CANNOT use white sugar, if you dont have a food processor just use the blender, just a few pushes until it fines the sugar a little more

* make sure you add the sugar spoon by spoon giving time to incorporate it into the egg whites before adding more

* only add the vanilla and food coloring at the very end

* You will know when Its ready when It looks shiny like marshmallow and the peak holds up

* bake it at a very very very low temperature. DONT try to bake it faster, otherwise it wont work, these have to bake for 2 hours at low temperature

HOW TO MAKE IT:

Preheat your oven to 170F.

On a cookie sheet (you will probably need 2) lay wax paper and reserve.

Lets start adding the egg whites to your KitchenAid Mixer bowl with the whipping attachment on and start on speed 2 whipping it until it foams. Once it gets to that point its time to sprinkle the cream of tartar and crank up to speed 6 and start whipping those eggs.

It will take about less than a minute and you will notice the egg whites will be almost thick and hard, at this point you will start adding the fine sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, VERY SLOWLY, always letting it melt into the egg white before adding the next spoon of sugar.

Once you have added all the sugar into the mixture it will look shiny like marshmallow, at this stage you will add your vanilla extract and your food coloring (enough drops to get to the color you want).

Pour the mixture into an icing bag or a zip lock bag (with a cut off tip) and shape your meringues over the wax paper on the cookie sheet.

Bake it for about 2 hours.
Let it cool off completely before removing them from the wax paper.

Favorite photo from the camera::::

Taken through the screen door....  dear hubby  taking care of business.....  what  would we do without our menfolk!  Sweetheart blesses me in to many ways!

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::