Tuesday's Tablescape

You're likely aware that I am a Mary Engelbreit fan, so you'll understand why my mother snapped-up this for me at a recent yard sale. Isn't it an adorable pincushion? 

I assume it had been a gift to the recipient as it was still unopened in the original packaging. 

The lid actually flips open.

This new little treasure inspired my tablescape, but it was intended to go outside. I waited for our spotty showers to move out of the area and when they finally did, the patio furniture was too wet for my idea. Oh well! It looks just as merry inside!

A candle and teacup from the Mary Engelbreit line rounded-out the centerpiece and I also used my M.E. fabric napkins.

I hope you have a merry evening! 🍒

Show and Tell

Did you used to have "show and tell" Fridays when you were in school? Let's say that's what we are doing because I decided this was a good day to share a few things with you! I was able to go to an art camp recently with a friend. Although it ran for a week, I attended as a visitor for a day and it was thoroughly enjoyable experience! Featuring heritage arts, the camp teaches crafts which have been handed down through the generations. I was able to see silversmithing, blacksmithing, basket weaving, natural fabric dyeing, wood carving, rug weaving, broom making, flower pressing, soap making and the list goes on and on. Nestled in a small church camp in (very) rural southern MO, it was wonderfully interesting to watch, interact and participate. I was able to attend two classes and also purchased a few items artists had for sale. This treenware came from a dear couple. The husband who produces the pieces is, obviously, exceptionally talented. Although he uses a variety of woods, I selected this 10 inch walnut plate to buy.  

It's no surprise that treen actually means "of the tree". Not to be confused with furniture, treenware includes household items, such as plates, bowls, chopping boards, spoons, etc. Wood was, obviously, the available material before the days of silver, pewter or ceramic and so that's how they made what was needed. Treenware is quite collectible today. The moment my eyes spotted this particular piece, I could envision it as a lovely display platter. 

I, of course, wasn't there long enough to weave any baskets, make any wooden pitchforks or carve one sliver of wood. I  adored both of my classes I did take, though. This is my mini Christmas tree made entirely from nature. The base is a pinecone which I covered in moss and dried native flowers. I look forward to using it this holiday season and being reminded of the my camp experience.

I also had the best time playing with pressed flowers! The instructor had hundreds of perfectly-preserved natives for us and I loved seeing the creations of the classmates. I did three cards.

One of the best aspects of the day was talking to and learning from the artists. Kind, knowledgeable and down-to-earth, most of them had been taught by the previous generation. Now they are instructing others, including the "younger" students. In this age of instant, high-tech, assembly-line everything, it was a refreshing experience.

May you experience the simple joys of life this weekend and I hope it's a blessed one!

Wild Horses Can't Keep Me Away!

We appreciate MO wildlife, but find it particularly interesting to see those more rare species. Although we have personally never spotted any, we know there are bobcats not far from our home. In fact, our next door neighbor has a picture to prove the fact. Earlier this summer, bears were spotted in several area municipalities. As armadillos move further up, they now reside in our county and I have seen them just around the corner from us. How about horses, though? Did you know we have wild horses in southern MO?

We became acquainted with the feral equines while staying at MO's Echo Bluff. It is a two year old state park and, in our option, is also one of the prettiest we have!

Located in Eminence, MO, this park stretches over more than 450 acres and is named for this giant bluff that stretches over the bank of Sinking Creek. 

The views in the park are spectacular.

This was an equally thrilling view for us! We were greeted by a trio when we arrived at the lodge restaurant. The two white horses shown in the first picture, plus the dark foal shown below were meandering along and nibbling on the park's beautiful plantings.

Wild horses have lived in this area for about a century and their origin is not entirely certain. Most of the research I did points to poor farmers who walked away from their farms, leaving behind their livestock to fend for themselves (isn't that horrible??). Those poor horses were the ancestors of today's population there. Today they are protected by law and cared for by the MO Wild Horse League. The herd is kept to a limit of 50 and when the numbers exceed that level, the league steps in and finds homes for some of the younger ones with people who are chomping at the bit to adopt them! I understand that there are currently about 35 horses. We found numerous signs like this one posted throughout the park.

The most unfortunate part is that some people do not chose to follow the rules and so the horses get petted and fed. As a result, they are completely trusting of people and the trio we encountered had no concept of personal space. As we entered the building, they followed us and the foal came right up to my husband and nipped him on the arm because he wanted to be given a treat! We made light of the situation, but we did hear that the same guy chased a little girl on the playground. Sadly, he has spent his entire life surrounded by people and those who have approached, touched and fed him have put him at a disadvantage. My husband said that while he would not have been surprised to have been bitten by a mosquito, he never dreamed he would be bitten by a horse! 

Today's post is late, but I wanted to get it in before the day is over because...wild horses can't keep me away! 🐴

Spiralized Veggies

This week I don't have an actual recipe, but it is a food-related post sharing how to make curly-q vegetables. Admittedly, I am tardy to the spiralized world! It wasn't until this past Christmas that I received this cute hand-held spiralizer from a friend.

Summer produce lends itself especially well and this shows how I used fresh zucchini. 

All I did was saute the zucchini noodles in a tad of butter and toss with parmesan cheese. 

I know spiralizers come in a variety of sizes and styles and this small one works perfectly for me. It's easy to clean and effectively does the job. I also received a spiralized cookbook so I have the ability to get more adventuresome with my new tool!

Do you use a spiralizer? What's your favorite thing to prepare using it?

Have a wonderful day.

I Scream. You Scream...

Raise your hand if you enjoy an occasional ice cream during the heat of the summer.🍦 July is National Ice Cream Month and, in fact, last Sunday was actually National Ice Cream Day so it seems timely to post about St. Louis' most famous frozen custard destination. Family-owned, Ted Drewes has been in existence since 1929 and a part of the local community since 1930 (the first year it was located in St. Petersburg, FL). Mr. Drewes is still active around town and even personally does his own ads, both on television and radio. There are two locations and both do a lot of business! We stopped there last night after having spent a delightful evening at nearby MO Botanical Garden where we had enjoyed a picnic dinner with friends. I didn't capture the entire crowd upon arrival at Ted Drewes, but in this snippet you can observe the many customers at 9:00 on an ordinary Wednesday night (with no Cardinal baseball game). Comparatively light, the number of weekend patrons is many times greater with lines that snake around the building and through the large parking lot. Thankfully, they have customer service down to an art after nearly nine decades of experience and they move people through pretty quickly. Last year, this wonderful gem was declared to be the best ice cream shop in the world by an Irish marketing firm who conducted the international contest. 

Ted Drewes sells concretes, malts, shakes, floats and ice cream sodas in more flavors and specialties than you can imagine. At least three dozen different toppings are also available,  so it's safe to say that anyone could satisfy his/her sweet tooth here! The custard is so rich and thick that it can be served upside down without risk of spillage. 

Cups come in four sizes. We were full from our cold fried chicken picnic, but one can't visit this iconic spot on historic route 66 without indulging in a very small cup. This particular location closes only the month of January and from Thanksgiving to Christmas adds to their merchandise by selling live Frasier firs in the lot. 

A recent poll proved vanilla to be the most popular flavor of ice cream. How about you? What's your favorite? If you're like us, you don't often eat it, but from time-to-time in this weather...

I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream...especially from Ted Drewes!

Tuesday's Tablescape

I am so fond of coastal table settings and felt like doing one for today!

I am crazy for crustaceans! 🦀 You've seen my lobster and crab plates in previous years after I bought them on sale at World Market.

My centerpiece "cloth" is really a scarf a friend gave me. It had belonged to her grandmother and came along with vintage hankies and gloves (click here to revisit that post). It's always interesting to add texture to your décor. I have had the lantern for several years and enjoy using it in a variety of applications. 

Hmm...I wonder why seafood sounds good now?!

I hope you've had a wonderful day. Enjoy your evening! 

A Family Piece

As you're aware, I love pieces with history. I find it so interesting to be able to share a story about a treasure, particularly when it's something that has been in the family. Today's blog all began several days ago when my sister-in-law shared these beautiful faux roses, which my mother put in a vintage hobnail vase she had. Aren't they realistic? It's actually the table on which they sit that brings us to today's topic, however. 😉

I can always remember this pretty little stand. When I was a child, it was in my maternal grandparents' home. About 20 years ago my mother was given the table and it's been in my parents' house ever since. It was varnished a darker color when my mother acquired it and so my brother-in-law (ironically, the husband of the sister-in-law who gifted the roses!) refinished it and we have always appreciated the way the process exposed the woodgrain. What is this small piece and what do I know about it?

Standing just two feet tall, this is an antique smoker stand. Popular in the 1930s, this humidor, of sorts, was intended to house cigarettes. I have read that most of them were actually used as side tables or accent stands. The door on the front opens up to a single compartment and that is the confusing part. In all of my research, I've read that the insides of smoker stands are copper-lined. This one is not and it doesn't appear that it ever was since its matching inside wood is flawless. There is no evidence of any liner having been present. My parents use it as a display spot with seasonal décor on top. Since it sits close to their front door, they stash their gloves inside it during the winter months and it's empty the remainder of the time. It was a new piece of furniture when given to my grandparents as a wedding gift and I appreciate that we still have this family piece.

What family pieces do you have in your home? 

Have a great weekend and stay cool! 

LAUGH OFTEN, LOVE MUCH, BIRD WATCH

Even though it seems like I just put out the patriotic décor, it's time to take care of it. As time permits, I've been tackling a space at a time and today was the solarium. I decided some bright colors and birdhouses would fit the bill for a summer look.

I have a small collection of birdhouses, so I pulled three for this vignette and added my little granite bird (a birthday gift from my cousin a few years ago). As you can see, I used my wood slab for the base.

I know I have shared the small birdhouse quilt a few years ago and although it's really a wall hanging, it works as a throw, too. It was a piece I made in quilting lessons.

These birdhouses are always on display in the solarium.

While these have been shown in previous posts over the past few years, too, it's still good advice!

Here's a closeup, but it's still tough to read.

LAUGH OFTEN, LOVE MUCH, BIRD WATCH!

Strawberry Bread and Some History...

I needed to bake some sweeet bread for someone, so I decided on a recipe a teacher friend shared many years ago. This strawberry bread is moist and flavorful without being too sweetsie. Made with frozen berries, it goes together easily and freezes well. I made a half-batch because it was enough for my needs.

Strawberry Bread

3 c. flour

2 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2 (10 ounce) packages frozen strawberries, thawed

1 1/4 c. cooking oil

1 1/4 c. pecans

4 eggs, well beaten

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Mix strawberries with oil, pecans and eggs; pour into well. Slowly and thoroughly mix with flour mixture. Put in two well-greased loaf pans or 6 mini loaf pans. Bake at 350 for about 1 hour or until bread springs back when touched in center.  (My baking time was less.)

It's best when the slices are warm. Speaking of sliced, I know everyone heard on the news that this past Saturday was the 90th anniversary of sliced bread. It's especially interesting to note that this invention happened in our state! Chillicothe Baking Company (in Chillicothe, Mo) first sold sliced bread on July 7, 1928. Otto Rohwedder invented the slicing machine that was used. Although born in Iowa, he was living in Missouri. Prior to his invention, it was necessary for people to slice their own bread in their kitchens, of course. While researching, I discovered that sliced bread wasn't an instant success. It tended to dry out more quickly (remember, there were no preservatives then). Some customers felt the loaves had a rather unkept appearance and so, in response, Mr. Rohwedder invented a U-shaped pin that was inserted in the ends of the bread to keep it together and that improved the presentation. His machine was tweaked over the years and everyone seemed to agree that his idea was a good thing!

Any way you slice it, I hope your day is berry good. 

A Novel of George and Martha Washington

I haven't shared a book review for a bit. Mary Higgins Clark's book, A Novel of George and Martha Washington; Mount Vernon Love Story is historical fiction. My mother's friend gave her a signed copy for her birthday and she loaned it to me.

In the late 1960s when Mary Higgins Clark wrote this book, it was titled Aspire to the Heavens. She arrived at the name because that was the Washington family motto. This story depicts the relationship between George and Martha Washington and shows a personal side to our country's first president as the man he was to his family. The book was no longer being printed when Mary Higgins Clark was approached by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. The group of women have supported Washington's estate since they acquired it from the family in 1858 and they wanted the book to be reprinted so that it could aid Mount Vernon (which is not a state or national park or supported by any historic preservation efforts). The author retitled it, as it appears today, and is interesting! Perhaps you'd enjoy it as a summer read.

Have a wonderful weekend!

No Sew Pillow

I enjoy using seasonal pillows and a few times I have shared some ideas in posts. You may recall a couple of summer pillows I showed you. Click here and here to see those. You can click here to see some fall ideas, while a few winter pillows may be revisited here and here and here. I find that actual pillows,  pillow covers and handmade pillows are all useful! One of my friends shared this no-sew method with me and I wanted to pass it along. 

You will need a small pillow and a square of fabric. I was able to use a patriotic bandana for my project. You can, obviously, cut a square of fabric as large as necessary. 

Open the bandana (or fabric) and lay it flat in a diamond shape. Center the pillow and fold the bottom point up and top point down, overlapping in the center.

Did you catch the "made in China" label on my American

flag bandana? 🙄

Next you can fold in the sides, envelope-style. Pinch and smooth the corners for a crisper look.

Where the two points meet, tie a knot.

 You will note that the nautical design showed through the bottom white stripe, so I ended up taking it apart and  reversing the pillow to resolve that problem.

You can change the color and look of a pillow...and it's knot difficult!

Happy Fourth of July!

As we celebrate America's birthday, we send you wishes for a blessed day!

Tuesday's Tablescape

It's a patriotic table for us tonight! 

I paired my USA plates (from Dollar Tree a few years ago) with two of my lighthouse plates (from my set of David Carter Brown dishes).

I tucked the flatware and patriotic napkin in a Mason jar.

Even in a yard of flowers, I ended up using my faux geraniums since they were the right color and height for the table!

We always enjoy dinner on the patio. Even a warm day, we have a breeze on the shaded patio and it's a great way to unwind. Would you care to join us?