Leap Year Bunnies (and Carrots)

Since I have decorated my kitchen with spring bunnies and carrots, it seems appropriate to share the bunnies on leap day!

First of all, look at this attendance gift we received at a business banquet this weekend. These beautiful little tulips are so perfect that they look artificial! To replicate, you could line an ivy bowl, or any glass bowl, with peat moss and then fill with soil to plant small bulbs. I plan to do this next year as I love the look so much.

I came home and added the white tulips to the vignette on the old marble-top chest. The fuzzy little bunny is actually a bank which I received in one of my Easter baskets growing up. I decorate with him each year as I find him realistically cute. I recently found the carrots at Hobby Lobby and had to get them! They worked well since I wanted little pops of orange in the kitchen for spring this year.

If you look just right in the photo below, you can see the little photo-bomber snoozing on the kitchen rug in the mirror's reflection!

This Fitz and Floyd platter and vase set came from my grandma many years ago. The vibrant colors and detailed relief patterns are so appealing to me! I added a glass tray of faux vegetables in front of the platter.

These leaping bunnies don't carrot all what the date is, they just wish you an enjoyable "bonus day", this February 29!

Orange Pineapple Salad

This tasty salad is simple to throw together. It goes especially well with a ham or pork dinner, but works for any meal. I've taken it to countless potlucks and, for years,  it was my standard contribution to Christmas dinner at my in-laws'. My father-in-law, in particular, was fond of this dish and always welcomed any leftovers!

This recipe was shared by the cook on a local tugboat which operated on the Mississippi River. Onboard with the entire tugboat crew, she prepared all of the meals and published some of her favorites in the newspaper.  My mother clipped it when it appeared years ago and then shared it with me.

Orange Pineapple Salad

1  20 ounce can chunk pineapple

2  11 ounce cans mandarin oranges

2  3 ounce boxes instant vanilla pudding mix

2  T. orange-flavored breakfast drink mix (Tang)

2  sliced bananas

Drain pineapple and oranges, reserving juices.

Combine dry pudding mix and Tang in a bowl. Add scant 1 1/4 cup reserved fruit juice. Lightly toss. Add pineapple, oranges and bananas and gently mix (be sure all banana slices are coated with pudding mixture to prevent browning). Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight so that juice is absorbed. Fold before serving to make certain that no "powder" remains in corners.

**I often omit the bananas when making this.

Natural Vase

We love our River Birch tree. We planted it when we built the house and it remains one of my favorites as it grows more interesting with time. It does well in most growing conditions and will even tolerate wet feet. Ours now surpasses the roof in height and stretches its arms wide. Birds and squirrels rest in it as they wait their turns at the nearby feeder and each autumn when it sheds its leaves, I find large cocoons suspended from high branches. My favorite "guest", however, is the barred owl who spends very early mornings there and sometimes shares his"Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you?" song.

The bark is quite unique. Yesterday the strong winds peeled off papery pieces and scattered them.

One of those hunks landed right outside the door, so I decided to make a rustic vase. Using a small cylindrical vase I had on hand (about 6 inches tall), I simply wrapped the bark around. To give it a more "earthy" feel, I tied some natural craft twine, midway, to hold it together. Even a glass jar would have worked fine. What could be more simple than a woodland vase made from a birch?

Do you think this vase is tree-mendous?

Spring Mantel on a Winter Day

It's ironic to be posting my spring mantel today as we're back to winter weather! We awakened to wet, sloppy snow that created some morning commute problems. The snow-lined trees were beautiful early this morning, but between the slowly climbing temperatures and the extremely brisk winds (we're under a wind advisory through this evening) they've lost their appeal!

No matter how it looks or feels outside, we're thinking spring inside!

You know my fondness for cobalt and yellow! This bunny was a gift from my parents and although I've had him for years, I've never used him on the mantel before. He's typically displayed in the kitchen or solarium, but it's fun to switch things around.

It's the same with my jar. I've never placed it on the mantel, either. It barely fits in this spot, but the mantel is just the right width for it.

These faux forsythia came from Michael's many years ago, but they still carry a realistic line of floral stems in their stores. I can't wait for the real thing to bloom out in the yard!

Stay warm...and think spring!

Tuesday's Tablescape

Today's tablescape is very special because I have been given a wonderful gift! For a long time, I've been smitten with Metlox Poppytrail tableware. Although I never actually saw any in person, I became acquainted with the dishes on a decorator's blog and I thought they were spectacular! I adored the cheerful daisies and marveled at the raised floral edge, as described online. Made in the 60s, they're no longer manufactured. I wondered, however, if perhaps I might find a set at a yard sale or thrift store sometime.

When my friend and I recently volunteered at a church event, the topic of dishes came up in conversation since she and I are both addicted to them! When Bonnie mentioned her vintage daisy set, my antennae went up! After asking her to explain them, I knew exactly what they were. A few days after we'd been together, Bonnie called and blindsided me with the kindest offer. She wanted to share her collection with me! I was astounded! I am now the proud recipient of complete service for four and hostess pieces. I am exceptionally touched by her generosity and remain over-the-moon excited! Look at this spring-like table I created with these new treasures.

I wanted to incorporate all of the pieces in this tablescape, so I stacked the bowl, luncheon and dinner plate. I used the cups and saucers for a centerpiece and then added the little chick for a touch of spring.

You know how I love the background stories on precious things, so I have to include some history. The set originally belonged to Bonnie's brother and sister-in-law and had been given to them when they were married nearly 50 years ago. Over the years, they shared them with Bonnie. By the way, they do have knowledge of their sister sharing with me and are happy with it!

I'll bet you agree that this is a bright and happy set.

I hope you have a bright and happy day!

Hurry, Spring!

I've been putting away winter décor and decorating for spring. I know it's a tad early, but it felt like spring this weekend with sunshine and a high of 79 degrees! Some bulbs are poking up and some of the leaf buds are swelling on certain trees. The temperatures are supposed to be a little more seasonal this week with light snow tomorrow night, but it's too late. We're already caught "spring fever" and we're all ready for crocus, spring colors and bunnies!

I began my seasonal efforts in the solarium and decided to couple emerald with the cobalt for this spring.

Peter Rabbit is gardening under a burst of real pussy willow branches!

I needed a St. Patrick's Day pillow, so I bought one of Hobby Lobby's pillow covers (50% off last week) and ironed on three shamrocks. You know that I am a huge fan of those pillow covers because you just throw them on an existing pillow and when you're finished, storage is a snap! It folds up flat. The pillow covers are reasonably priced and even have a nice zipper on the back! This linen one was $2.50 on sale. You can't beat that!

Pardon the stripe across the pillow. It's a shadow.

I'll share more pictures of seasonal accents later this week.

Are you ready for spring, too?!

Bloomin' Beauties

Are you familiar with Lenten rose? It's an amazing plant because it always blooms during lent. It doesn't matter when it falls on the calendar, this plant knows! Easter is early this year, of course, and I happened to remember to check on ours a few days ago. See that bit of green popping through last fall's blanket of leaves?

Here is a closeup.

Lenten rose (Helleborus) is a perennial with large green leaves which are divided into multi jagged-edged sections. It grows nearly 24 inches wide and almost as tall. I believe there is a variety with white flowers, but ours are dusty pinkish-mauve and it seems that's what I typically see. A bonus to this beauty is that the blossoms are long-lasting. Very often, my parents have sprigs of this flower on their Easter table.

Not found out in the yard, this beauty sits in our windowsill. I've used this orchid before as a centerpiece so you've seen it. A retirement gift from my PTO at school, it was in full bloom when I received it last May. After the flowers faded and dried, I diligently tended to the plant and then, right after Christmas, I found two stalks growing upward! I was delighted when it began blooming again!

Aren't orchids dainty? I love their little throats.

I hope your weekend is the blooming best!

Grandmother's Poems

Today would have been my grandmother's 110th birthday!  In posts over the months, I have written about some of her possessions which we now treasure in our home. I've shared, for example, two of her dainty tea cups I have, as well as five of her pretty demitasse spoons.

Grandmother was a loving, graceful, brilliant and talented lady. Handiwork was one of her gifts.  As we were growing up, she affectionately knitted warm, colorful scarves for my cousins, sister and me. All of  her granddaughters also sported solid-colored ponchos when they were very much in style (I had them in white, red and butterscotch). I can remember her teaching me to knit during one of her visits when our family lived in Indianapolis. I was a kindergartener and, together, we made a brightly colored skirt for my Barbie doll!  I still have the child-sized knitting needles in my craft room. She made this afghan for our family, which I'm sure you can deduce was created in the late 60s/early 70s by the color scheme!!

Writing was another gift of hers...and it was a biggie. A hugely talented word smith, Grandmother wrote various forms of poetry and even has a published story. Over the years, she was encouraged to compile her poetry for the family, so she typed out her pages (no computers in those days!) and put together a binder for both of her children and their families. My, how we all cherish that collection of her work!!

She wrote poems about life experiences, both ordinary and dramatic, and even penned a piece for each of her five grandchildren when we were born (mine is framed and hangs in a guest room upstairs). As both an educator and grandparent, she was always supportive and "published" poems her grandchildren would write. Even though we were in grade school,  we felt very special and important to have our works included in her binder. I've always enjoyed writing, too, so that was a bond we shared. I have several of Grandmother's poems memorized, or nearly-memorized, and I have always loved this one, for example, as it makes me smile.

Latecomer

I learned to drive

At sixty-five,

With care, as I was taught;

But I can't deny
As the kids whiz by--

It's later than I thought!


Out of her enormous collection, I could go on and on, but will end with this pretty writing.

Love Gift

Who gives a rose

Gives many things;

Perfume and softness

Like butterfly wings.

Each folded petal,

A wondrous part--

God's handiwork

In its beautiful heart.

                         September, 1968

Last fall I was able to share a post commemorating my grandma's 100th birthday and now this is my grandmother's 110th.

I think it's special that each of these extraordinary

women has had a remembrance birthday since I've

begun blogging!

Enjoy your day.

Breakfast Casserole

Do you ever need a good recipe for a morning pot-luck? It's been my experience that many people tend to contribute  pastries for a morning gathering, so it's nice to be able to provide some protein. I have shared this at before-school teacher breakfasts and Sunday school brunches. It's also perfect for serving at your home, especially if you're hosting a brunch. A flavorful crowd-pleaser, it's simple to prepare because your slow cooker does the work for you!

Breakfast Casserole

1 bag frozen hash browns (don't thaw beforehand)

12 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 T. ground mustard

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 pound sausage (cooked, crumbled and drained)

16 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

1 large onion, finely chopped (optional--I omit this)

Spray your crock pot and spread the hash browns in the bottom. In a bowl, beat the 12 eggs well before adding the milk. Sprinkle in the ground mustard, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Set aside.

Layer cooked sausage on top of the hash browns. Put cheese on top of the sausage. With a long handled spoon, mix well those three ingredients. Then pour egg mixture over everything, making sure it's spread evenly. Put on the lid and set your crock pot on low to cook 6-8 hours.

* I use this whenever I need sausage for a recipe. In addition to having a great taste, it's very lean. You will have very little grease in your pan after cooking it. I first began using it due to its lack of MSG (something we have to avoid in Randy's diet) so that's how I became familiar with it. Now I wouldn't use any other kind!

Would you like to see a picture of this delicious dish after it's cooked? I'm afraid you'll have to close your eyes and imagine. When I recently made this for church, we dashed out the door with it before remembering to lift the lid for a photo! It's kind of like my forgetting the punchline to a joke! Our Sunday school class gobbled it up, leaving no leftovers to photograph. Oh, well.

You might want to try this some time. We love it and I think it's an egg-cellent recipe!

Tuesday's Tablescape

Did you have a good Presidents' Day? Today's table is a nod to one of the presidents whom we honor this time of year. Remember the story we all learned in first grade? So the tale goes, young George chopped down his father's cherry tree and when his father asked who had done it,  George replied, "Father, I cannot a lie. It was I ."

These cherry dishes are my mother's, but I just borrowed them for this tablescape. I think they're adorable! I love the contrast of the bright red cherries and medium blue rims. She even has matching napkins! The plates look bright and cheery on this gray winter day.

I hope you have a cherry-on-the-top kind of day!

Finished!

I have finally completed my quilt! It's just a small wall-hanging, but it's a quilt! Originally slated to go on the wall in my craft room, I now think I will hang it on my new copper quilt ladder. I spread it out on the floor for this picture, but I see a few spots where I didn't get it smoothed out all the way.

A friend took me through the steps of this project and I learned so much! My favorite part was selecting the bright fabrics and putting them together to complement the Mary Engelbreit fabric border. My least favorite part was ripping out a lot of stitches along the way!  I was probably the most intimidated by the binding, but I did it!

Look who photobombed my picture!

It was a personal goal to learn to quilt upon retirement, so this is something I 've really wanted to do.  I look forward to more quilting in the future!

Have a great Monday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

These little girls wish you

love and happiness not only

on Valentine's Day...

but 'fur'-ever!

Vintage Tea Towel Pillow

I've always been drawn to vintage fabrics. I have a few tea towels and some hankies which are all fun to display. I currently have these tea towels hanging on an antique medicine cabinet in the guest bathroom, but they can be used in a variety of ways. Besides serving as guest hand towels, you could line a basket with them or even use them as dinner napkins.

When my Aunt Kay sent me a little surprise last fall, I was thrilled to find a beautiful vintage tea towel! I loved its colors and decided it needed to be used for something special, so I began thinking of ideas. Wouldn't it be a pretty little pillow? Fortunately I already had a small pillow which happened to be just the right size because I did not want to cut the tea towel in the process. A small running stitch exactly lined-up with the towel's side hems allows me the option of taking apart the pillow in the future without causing any damage to the fabric.

I often wondered how tea towels earned their name since their flat cotton fabric is far from the absorbent terry we use today. After a little research, I found out that they originated in England in the 18th century when woman used them to dry their fine china, crystal and tea sets that were not to be entrusted to the careless servants who might chip the fragile pieces. Additionally, these thin tea towels (also known as glass towels) could be embroidered and were used to "show off" personal handiwork. That makes sense because some of the towels that I have are edged with beautiful stitchery!

I think it's fun to use these old linens

and enjoy them.

Pork Tenderloin

My friend, Donna, gave this recipe to me. It's one of her favorites and we love it, too. The sauce, with a horseradish flavor, completes it!

Pork Tenderloin

2 pork tenderloins (3 pounds)

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup cranberry juice

2 T. brown sugar

Combine soy sauce, juice and sugar in a large Ziploc bag. Put in the meat and allow to marinate in refrigerator for 3-4 hours.

Bake in a 350 oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Topping:

1 T. dry mustard

1 1/2 tsp. white vinegar

1/3 cup sour cream

dash of onion powder

Enjoy~

Tuesday's Tablescape

Today's table is all set for Valentine's Day (or as we refer to it in first grade--Balentime's Day).

You recognize the table runner from a few weeks ago when I made it and then I just used my white everyday dishes, coupled with the red salad plates and glasses. The silver platter underneath the candles was a wedding gift.

We may end up getting snow on Valentine's Day. Stay warm and have a good day!