Spring/Easter Decorating

Continuing on getting ready for Easter I updated this garland by adding a few more colors (maybe a few more if time permits) to have most likely hang above my fireplace. You can find how to directions here. 

First Day of Spring

 

Happy First Day of Spring!

You may not be able to tell without double checking your calendar, but today's the first day of spring. My patience has finally paid off and I can say goodbye to winter and hello to spring.

Image can be found on our Pinterest account

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time, a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summers magic."

-Adrienne Cook 

It turns out after doing a little bit of research St. Patrick wasn't even Irish but rather British. His story (which you can read in full here) starts when he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and sent to tend sheep as a slave for seven years in Ireland. During this time he became a christian, and he eventually finds his way back home to his family aboard a pirate ship. Back home in Britain he becomes ordained as a priest and returning to Ireland making it his life mission to covert the Irish to Christianity. It would be centuries after his death (March 17, 461) that he would be honored as the patron saint of Ireland.


Image can be found on our Pinterest account

Spring Forward

Don't forget to spring forward by setting your clocks an hour ahead tomorrow night. Daylight savings time begins Sunday March 10th. I'm not sure about you, but I am definitely excited about trading an hour of sleep for longer days and hope of warmer weather in the not so distant future.

Image can be found on our Pinterest account. 

Holiday Vacation

A few images from our recent trip to TN after Christmas. We stayed in a beautiful hotel with lots of twinkling lights, Christmas trees, restaurants, and even enjoyed a boat ride inside the hotel. A wonderful and relaxing way to end the holiday season. 

On The Road Again

{Slick roads as we headed into Southern IL}

It's Wednesday afternoon (the day after Christmas) when most people are relaxing with their loved ones or traveling home from visiting family we left our home behind in Illinois to travel to Nashville, Tennessee for a little get away. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and I wish you all a Happy New Year. 

Thanksgiving Prep

{Three small pie pumpkins}

Thanksgiving will be at my house this year and I have already started prepping. I've made three pies so far (pumpkin, blackberry cobbler, and pecan pie) that are in the freezer waiting for Thursday. Below are a few images of my pumpkin pie prep using real pumpkins to get my pumpkin puree instead of from a can. This is my first time using pie pumpkins instead of canned pumpkin can't wait to taste the results and hopefully enjoy the fruits of my labor.

{I cut my pie pumpkin into quarters and scooped out the seeds}

{The pieces go into the oven after which I can easily scoop out the inside}

Friday Inspiration: Thankful for my Country

Today I would like to say how thankful I am for my country. I am thankful for the freedoms we've enjoyed and hopefully our country will always enjoy. I am thankful for the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for us because freedom isn't free. I am thankful for the beauty of our country "from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam." I'm thankful for the freedom of religion. I am thankful for the freedom to elect our leaders, and as an American I am thankful for the opportunity to become anything I want to be.

I am proud to be an American.

Source for image can be found on my Pinterest account.

Friday Inspiration: Revisit Your Roots

Favorite people,
Favorite places,
Favorite memories of the past.
These are the joys of a lifetime....
These are the things that last.

Found this on a calendar, thought it was appropriate for my trip back to my grandma's house in KY. Many happy memories going to her house. She had a country store which I just loved, couldn't get there fast enough for her to give me some bubblegum and candy. Sitting by the warm wood stove and listening to all the news in the area. Years later the store burnt and this sign was erected to show where it was located.

 {Grandparent's house}

 {Watched my grandma making rag rugs at this old loom. Still sitting in the loom house where it has been for many years}

 

{Tobacco hanging in the barn}

Halloween Candy

While getting ready for Halloween I thought I would pick up a few of my favorite candies (in black & orange wrappers) to start enjoying now. Living out side of town we don't get many (if any) trick-or-treaters so I thought I should at least pick up a few of my favorite just in case I get stuck with all the candy. What are some of your favorites?  

{Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses}

{Love the way the chocolate on Reese's holiday candies is smooth all the way around}

{Heath milk chocolate english toffee bar}

Party Central

Ask any of my friends or family and you will hear it's been party central over at my house. Over the weekend I hosted my grandson's first birthday party which I think marks the last of my entertaining for a while. That is until the holiday season comes upon us. The day before the party I cooked dinner for a friend I hadn't seen in years who I went to high school with and now lives in Arizona. And last weekend was spent with some old friends from Ohio and another girlfriend stopped by (also from Arizona) who I haven't seen in years.

 {My homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream cake}

 {The Birthday Boy with his Elmo cake}

{Not really interested in any desserts yet besides ice cream}

{Getting ready to open presents}

A Bushel of Apples

I went apple picking in my back yard over the weekend and was surprised to find a whole bushel full of (good) apples left that had fallen on the ground. I think this is officially the last of the apples I will gather from our trees probably until not next year but the following year.
With my last bushel of apples this weekend I made more apple butter, enjoyed sliced apples with organic peanut butter, and froze several bags for future pies and applesauce. Also made three apple crisps. Took one to my parents, one to friends and made one for us!

Road trip to California

{Near the Grand Canyon at Williams AZ}

This summer I was lucky enough to get away for two weeks and enjoy an amazing road trip, just my husband and I. We drove all the way from Champaign IL to San Pedro CA. Driving over 5,000 miles through 11 states. We stopped along the way to see 4 cousins and 2 friends. I also managed to grab a few CA goodies which should start showing up in our store over the next few weeks.

Thanks to Ellen, Jerry, and Jodie for a wonderful week in CA.

After going through thousands of pictures, here are some of my favorites from the trip...

{Grand Canyon South Rim}

{View from cousin's home San Pedro CA}

 {Palm trees in Beverly Hills} 

{Hollywood Blvd.}

 {Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Blvd.}

{Looking over LA}

{Tatiana, host family's cat in CA}

{Man and his dog paddleboarding in Dana Point CA}

{San Pedro CA}

{USS Iowa, docked at San Pedro}

{Point Fermin Light House, San Pedro CA}

{Trump's Golf Course, Rancho Palos Verdes CA}

{Stayed at Treasure Island, Las Vegas NV}

{View of the Vegas Strip from our hotel room}