A Place for Tea

Thoughts for Thursday: Wisdom Teeth

2012-01-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

Hello again -
This week started pretty yucky, with a much needed trip to the dentist for a wisdom tooth extraction. The dentist had informed me at the last visit that, 'this was going to be a difficult extraction'... these are words you never want to hear from your dentist... or anyone else for that matter...

A picture of a flower... far nicer than anything to do with dentistry...

Anyhoo, I went into the surgery room bravely (albeit after a minor panic attack in the waiting room)... After much pushing, cracking, and general nastiness, the offending tooth was out... Now, I have to say I actually don't know the point in wisdom teeth. For me, they have only ever been the cause of pain. As a teenager, I had perfectly healthy teeth removed to make room for them and now, as an adult, it appears it was all in vain, as the wisdom teeth themselves have gone! Am I any wiser? Only to the pain of tooth extraction. Perhaps tooth pain is needed along the path of enlightenment to attain ultimate wisdom. For now, though, I look like I've been popping testosterone pills, as evidenced by my new manly jaw.
Anyways, I best get off... I'm making soup...
Take care.
Lx

Thoughts for Thursday: Too many signs??

2012-01-11T21:57:00.000-05:00

Hi there,
Well, we've made it past "hump day" and we're on our way to the weekend! Can I please hear a big sigh of relief...? Not that weekdays are bad, but there's still nothing like that "Friday feeling"... and yep, I still get that feeling, even though I am a stay-at-home mum and not bound by the conventional work week. Saturdays mean I have an extra pair of hands to break up squabbles, feed the kids, play Strawberry Shortcake and the likes... and let me tell you, those hands are as welcome as an oasis in a desert!

Anyhoo, that's by the by... what I wanted to chat about today was the amount of labels and signs appearing in homes... signs informing us what to do, whether it be relax, bathe, or simply breathe... or informative labels telling us where items are stored or which room we are about to enter.

Seriously, with the amount of signs in my house, you'd think someone had gone Health and Safety-mad in there! You could even be confused into thinking my little home was a factory employing a dozen or more people (all needing to be informed where everything was at a drop of a hat), and not a poky little house next to the beach.

I have to say, it had gone unnoticed by my eyes until the hubby pointed it out the other day. Then it was like one of those film moments, where the heroine realises that there are clues to the murder all around her and the camera darts around the room to them while a dramatic tune is played on a violin and piano combo! He was right. I had gone sign / label crazy. Almost everything in my kitchen bore some sort of lettering on it... Was that the design look I was going for or had I gone overboard??? Either way, this look will certainly come in useful when my memory starts to fail me!

Anyways, I was just wondering whether this sign / label craze is just something which exists in my house or whether you've jumped aboard too...

Take a look around your home and see how many signs and labels you have. Are these design choices just another indication that our lives have become so stressful that we need to run our homes with office-like precision and then tell ourselves to relax, breathe and drink tea?? Well, I guess we'll at least know where to find the tea!!

Good catching up today!
Take care.
Lx

A spring day in January...

2012-01-09T09:43:00.000-05:00

Hello you!
Happy Monday! I can't quite believe that it's January. We are supposed to be in the depth of winter and yet, here in New Jersey, we are enjoying weather that would be more befitting to the first flourishes of Spring. I even have a bud on one of my roses. Yet, this time last year, we were up to our armpits in snow... not literally, but it sure felt like it.

Anyhoo, making the most of this clement weather, I packed the kids off outside and did a spot of tidying in the garden. Although the weather was Spring-like, the garden confirmed that we were, indeed, not even half-way through January.

My little garden was devoid of any colour (except for my wee rose bud)... just an array of bare brown sticks poking out of the ground. I am always in amazement that, in a matter of months, these sticks will once again come to life and I'll be seeing the sprouts of green pushing up through the ground. Yay for perennials, the plants which just keeps on giving.

Anyways, while the girls and I petered around in the garden, the hubby donned his DIY cap and set about installing bead board in the bathroom... a project that has sat on the back burner for the past 6 months... but, as I said, this is a new year, a year where we are going to get things done about this little old place... starting with finishing our poky bathroom.

It will still be poky on completion, as we haven't the room to add on, but given it's size limitations, we decided to build on it's cozy cottage appeal... in fact, that's the ethos we're adopting for the whole house!

Hopefully, I'll finally be able to show you the finished project by the end of this month, but judging by the fact I just had to stop typing to deal with the hubby's (now missing) thumb nail, I won't hold my breath!

Anyhoo, I just thought I'd check in with you and share a bit of our Sunday with you.
See you later in the week!
Lx

Thoughts for Thursday: Nostalgic for Newspapers

2012-01-04T20:50:00.000-05:00

Hello there, lovelies...
How's your start to the New Year been? Mine has been relaxing... thus far. In fact, since my return from Blighty, the house has been a lot calmer and I've been enjoying the art of sitting down. It's fantastic! You should give it a whirl sometime... but I warn you, it is an addictive past-time.

Anyhoo, while partaking in this new found hobby, I found that, although the old legs enjoy *resting,* the brain is demanding of a little more activity... So, I've taken to reading the news once again. Now, I'm a modern thinking gal (with most things), but I can't get my head around picking up something electronic to read the daily news. I need to hear the rustle of paper... I need to wrestle with the awkward dimensions of the broad sheets (here in the States, the NY Times still remains broad). I need to smell the paper and feel the print on my fingertips. But what I love most of all is the fact that I end up reading a news story that I would ordinarily pass on, simply because it is on the same page as a more intriguing passage.

I was chatting with the hubby the other day about the down-turn in readership of the good old-fashioned newspaper. I then commented on how I couldn't ever imagine reading all of my news on a laptop or the likes, to which he replied that our daughters' generation probably couldn't imagine not reading the news electronically... My heart sank at this... I have such fond memories of the newspapers littered on the floor of the living room on a Sunday morning... sections being passed between family members, until, eventually, they were all gathered up by my mum, stored in a neat pile next to the hearth and used at a later date to help start the fire. Passing electronic devices back and forth or emailing articles doesn't quite conjure up the same soul satisfying image...

Anways, with this fond memory planted firmly in my mind, I renewed our subscription to the NY Times. Our first paper was delivered on New Year's Eve and it has been well and truly thumbed... I feel a little more informed and hope that this action of reading the newspapers at the weekend will sow the seed for my little ones and they carry on the tradition of reading actual newspapers... Although, what excites me even more (if truth be told), is the fact that the *Newspaper basket* I procured while in Blighty now actually has newspapers in it!! Come on, I know I've told you about my basket obsession before and this was just too good to pass! Oh, and just in case you were wondering, we have already created a recycling tub for newspapers.

What's your take on the traditional newspaper? A relic that belongs in the past? The only way to read the news? Or, do you take your news both ways? Let me know, I'd be interested to hear whether it's just me that gets nostalgic for newspapers.

Righty-o, I best be off. Good to catch up!
Lx

A Happy 2012!

2012-01-01T15:45:00.000-05:00

Well, here we are again on the first day of the New Year! And boy, am I looking forward to the year ahead! 2011 was certainly a year for me. One in which I felt a little lost, but one that ended on a good note... not counting the fact that both of my little girls have terrible colds and the poor old dog had a trip to the vets yesterday! But, hey, I'm focusing on the positive here and I'm going to take this positive energy all the way through 2012!
Last night, the hubby, girls, and I rang in the New Year, laughing, dancing and full of good New Year spirit (unfortunately not of the alcoholic variety)... this was a marked contrast with last year's New Year's Eve, whereby we were all slumped on the couch suffering from a bout of food poisoning... strangely, ill health followed me throughout the year... So, being a superstitious gal, I made sure this New Year's Eve that I was happy and confident (albeit wiping the girls noses and administering medication to the dog) and hopefully this up-beat attitude will continue throughout 2012!

2012 is going to be a good year for all of us in this little old place... this is the year for finishing some tasks around here. The year that I will *own* the garden (and win the battle with the mosquitoes), the year I will take a family vacation (and it won't be to the UK), the year I will keep my commitment to the gym, learn to live with my food allergies and finally make that blooming blind for the back door!!! I've committed here, so let's see if I can achieve at least some of the above ;-)

Anyhoo, I flipped the new calendar to January this morning (apparently, my mum says it's bad luck to turn it before... and to have wet laundry on New Year's Day... Did I mention I'm superstitious?)... Where was I? Ah yes, the calendar... not the usual Sainsbury's freebie!! It appears that the recession is biting old Mr J Sainsbury's and he has deemed that the giving of free calendars is a frivolity too far. Bah, humbug!

So, I picked up the January Period Living along with a free 2012 calendar. I know, I could have actually spent money on a calendar, but that would have been a break in tradition too far! The poor hubby was a tad disappointed that he's going to be greeted by piccies of old homes, instead of delicious food, but, hey, he'll have to take his complaints to Mr. Sainsbury... You never know, the hubby could end up being motivated by the gorgeous images of period homes and decide to start fixing this place up! Now there's a thought...

Anyways, I best be getting on, I have sick children and pets to tend... Oh, and a New Year's Dinner to cook. Start the New Year as I mean to go on, and that includes good home cooking! Ooh, but before I leave, let me just say, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Thank you so much for popping by this past year... you were definitely a highlight of 2011!
Lx

Christmas at our little old house...

2011-12-28T09:27:00.000-05:00

Hello there, lovelies.
It's been a while since I popped in, hasn't it? But, let me tell you, it has been one busy, busy time for this ~~old~~ girl! What with weddings, birthdays, and trips to Blighty, the time has just slipped away and here I am at the end of the year!

Anyhoo, I'll start by saying that I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! Mine was sprung upon me. Having spent a month back in the mother land, I landed in NJ on December 21st and then had to get this old place ready for the festive season... which was no mean feat!

But, come Christmas Eve, you'd never have known that, only days earlier, there had still been pumpkins knocking around our home! So, for the past few days, I've been putting the brakes on, breathing in the sweet pine smell, munching on mince pies, and enjoying a nice cuppa from my newly acquired robin mug!

Aww, don't I just love robins? I'm always tempted to smuggle a couple back in my bra when returning from Blighty (since the nursing days, there's always more room in there than I'd like, but that's another story)... They're so cute and plump... I'm back to talking Robins here... keep up... and I just love to hear the cheerful chatter in the garden... although if I ever managed to introduce the much smaller (and cuter) robin to NJ, it would likely end up in a turf war with it's much bigger American counterpart... and we all know how that ended for our little red squirrels don't we? (no? well, lets just say it didn't go well)... Taking that into consideration, I guess I should leave meddling with nature well alone...

Anyhoo, I'm whittering on and I'm sure you have plenty to do before the New Year embarks... I know I do, but I just wanted to pop in, say hi and try out the new (soley for blogging) laptop!

Yeah, Santa left me a new one, so that I don't have to wrestle with hubby, children, dog or any other Tom, Dick or Harry when I want to blog!! So, no excuses!

Ta ta for now!
Lx

A life worth living...

2011-11-14T21:46:00.000-05:00

So, it's been a while hasn't it?
So long, that I am now sat here all tongue-tied, as though it were my first ever post... My first entry into 'Blogland'... so long, that as I tap out these words, there's a sense of awkwardness... I equate it to when you have every intention of sending 'Thank you' cards, but then life sweeps you up and you're caught in this time period where it's been left so long, you don't know whether to skulk under a rock and forget about sending them altogether, or just to bite the bullet and send them... after all, a late 'thank you' is better than no 'thank you' at all isn't it??

Well, I have that proverbial bullet gritted between my teeth (alas, if I were to do this my poor teeth would crumble under the stress... they can barely manage a Granny Smith these days) and here I am... tapping away to anyone passing by...

But what to say?? Well, I think the very first thing I should do is send a big 'thank you' to all who contacted me... I was here, just hiding.. scared to open the lines of communication... scared to share, when I wasn't in the right frame of mind... and so, instead I licked my wounds quietly in the corner... My blog became something I needed a break from while I sorted a few things out... They're still being sorted, but I don't want to skulk under that rock anymore... I have, once again, reminded myself of all the things in my life that make me smile...

... like a beautiful sun-filled day in my Autumnal garden... Where roses still bloom, bathing their delicate petals in the warm orange glow. Where trees cling onto their leaves as they gently rustle in the cool breeze (a precursor to the harsh winds that will whip through in a few weeks time)... Sat in the garden today, I smiled... a big smile... because I do have a lot to smile about... I just need to remind myself of that from time to time... and, even though I've not been feeling my usual chipper self of late, sometimes you just need to pick yourself up, dust yourself down and live life... every facet it of it... the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Anyhoo, I'll let you get off... I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for popping by, showing you care, and getting me out from under that rock!

Take care.
Lx

Little house ♥...

2011-09-05T09:37:00.000-04:00

Hello there...First of all, I would like to say a B-I-G 'thank you' for all of your lovely comments. They really did put a smile on my face in an otherwise yucky time. So, I'm back, after quite a rollercoaster week... I'll not go into details (because there are many), but I will tell you that the exit from the cabin was hairy... trees down, crazy flooding... oh, and I picked up food poisoning en route home. Needless to say, I was very ill and not at all prepared for dealing with the damage that Hurricane Irene had left in our little home.

Anyhoo, I'll fast-forward to Friday... power finally restored, basement pumped and hot water back. Life is pretty much as it was pre-storm. We really had it lucky... other inland residents suffered terribly and my heart really does go out to them. Nature, while beautiful, can sometimes be so cruel...

So, here I am again. Appreciating my little home that bit more... loving it's ~~tiny~~ cozy rooms, and so proud that our teeny old creeky house stood up to the storm. We definitely didn't think she had it in her. When the winds are blowing a hooey outside, it creeks and groans and we always joke that it'll be whipped up into the air and dropped on a witch somewhere (the witch role is substituted at times)... but it made it!!! Apparently, she was built well (and I thought the contractor was kidding when he told me it was well-made the other week). So, if you look past the wonky windows, sloping floors, and totally impractical layout, you will see a pretty sturdy and much-loved home.

Okay, I've finshed gushing about how much I love my home (you're lucky... this post could have been about how much I love electricity and all of the modern amenities that come along with it).

So, what am I thinking about at the moment? Fall. Wahoo! Hello, cool nights... goodbye mosquitos! It's September and all the loveliness which comes with Autumn is almost upon us... I have projects up the wazoo to share and, once the kids are back on their school schedule, I'll finally have the time to blog. Life is good! Go on, smile!

Huge hugs!
Lx

Awaiting Hurricane Irene...

2011-08-27T09:01:00.000-04:00

Okay... sometimes life gets a little scary. As I write this, at the Cabin, I sit and watch Hurricane Irene unfold on the news. Yesterday, the hubby and I returned (briefly) to New Jersey to pick up our cat and secure the house as best we could. As we drove up the Garden State Parkway, we both commented that the scene before us was reminiscent of a disaster movie... the road was bumper to bumper with cars, all evacuating the Jersey Shore. We turned on the local radio station and heard that a mandatory evacuation had been called in our little town... by 9 a.m. Saturday morning, all residents had to leave their homes... This is when the panic set in... even if we wanted to return to our home, we now had to wait until the township gives us the all-clear. Our plan to call the neighbours to check up on our little home also fell to the wayside...

So now, we sit and wait. Pray that the winds leave the huge trees that stand next to our house intact (the irony here, is that we had just contracted a guy last week to cut them back in the upcoming week... I guess nature might help us with that!)... Wait to see whether our roof (already a little leaky) stays on.... wait to see whether the windows which we only had put in 2 weeks ago are still there.... but more importantly, we pray that the water levels they keep talking about are over-exaggerated, and our poor little house stays dry...

I calm my eldest daughters fears, and tell her that her toys will be there when we return.... the hubby calms my fears and tells me it will all be okay... I sense his anxiety, as he nervously paces around.... and pray that he is right...

So, my dears, I try to be upbeat here, but I'm scared... I take comfort that we are all safe here in the Cabin... and everyone tells me that this is what matters... I know this is true... but I do so love my little home...
Take care all.
Lx

The best soup... ever...

2011-08-23T16:31:00.002-04:00

Hello lovelies...
Well, it's coming to the end of summer and, I tell you, I'm looking forward to a bit of routine in my life... I look forward to the kiddies going to bed at a decent time so I can be reunited with my blog once more. As it is, I'm lucky to get a few snatched moments here and there, where I catch up on reading my favourite blogs. I have posts milling around my head, waiting to be tapped out... and then there are those that make it onto the old laptop but are endlessly awaiting pictures... But, hey, you know that this is not a five minute gig, so I'll quit my whinging and let you know what I'm up to...

As I tap this out, I'm getting ready for a Cabin trip. The hubby dictates that we need to go on this trip, as the Cabin is the only place we ever sit down, with nothing to do. Forced relaxation is imposed on me... mind you, I'm planning on taking the old sewing machine up with me, as I have a few projects that are about, oooh, six months overdue... at least I won't be doing endless laundry or cleaning...

Before I head off, though, I decided to do a spot of cooking... good old comfort food... soup, dips, quiche and scones.. The sort of food you can grab after a day spent at the pool, or the food you can tuck into while watching the rain pitter-patter in the woods... (this is a more likely scenario, as it has been raining buckets lately)...

Tomatoes are in abundance at this time of year (and these tomatoes taste of what tomatoes should, instead of the watery nothingness we get off-season)... so, this soup explodes with flavour in your mouth. It's the only soup my girls ask for and actually thank me for making (this is a biggie in this house, as meal times are most definitely a chore for my gals!). Served with a thick slice of bread, dripping with ooey-gooey cheese, meals don't get much better...

And so, this gal is taking herself off into the wilderness... apparently my in-laws spied two bears next to the Cabin only last week... the hubby told me this, all excited... I told him he'll be walking the dog solo!
Take care!
Lx

Tomato Soup Recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs of fresh tomatoes (try and pop in several varieties e.g. plum, vine, cherry)

6 cloves of garlic (peeled)

1 yellow onion (peeled & sliced)

1 red onion (peeled & sliced)

olive oil (approx. 1/4 cup... a few good glugs)

salt & fresh black pepper

2 tsp dried thyme

2 bay leaves

3/4 quart (750ml) chicken stock

4 tbsp butter

1/4 cup fresh basil

Method

Preheat the oven to 450F
Wash, core and cut the tomatoes in half.
Spread the tomatoes, onions & garlic cloves in a baking pan. Drizzle with the olive oil, until well covered. Sprinkle with the thyme, add the bay leaves and season with the salt pepper. I like to get my hands in and mix it all together, to ensure everything is covered in the olive oil.
Roast for 30 minutes or until the onions have started to caramelize (this is my favourite part, as the house is filled with the most delicious aroma... bliss...).
Remove the roasting pan and transfer the contents to a large pan. Add the chicken stock and butter. Bring to the boil and then lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Wash and dry the basil leaves and then add to the pot. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve in warm bowls, with a sprig of basil for garnish and a lovely piece of ooey-gooey cheese on toast for dipping...

When taste-tested, two out of two children surveyed stated that this was 'The best soup ever!'

Shared with Sarah at A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesday... go check out her linky party and leave inspired.

Smell the roses...

2011-08-11T10:07:00.000-04:00

Hello there...
Well, I wasn't expecting to leave it so long between chats, but then I wasn't expecting a whole load of building work to be scheduled... I was expecting the hubby to be gone on a bachelor weekend (weekends start mid-week, you know?), but not in the same week as major works began on this little place...

So, with the two kiddies, no bathroom, no windows, a missing door, and a whole lot of mess, I didn't have time to sit down in front of the old laptop...

Had I poured my heart out to you, it would have been a very sorry tale... there would have been tears, tantrums, cursing at males... wishing I was born as a male in my next life... and so on.... Needless to say I was not a happy camper...

But, this is another week and I now have a (nearly,) finished bathroom, new windows and a new back door. Hurrah! Oh, and as the hubby was very sorry for the scheduling mix up (that's what he called it... I say it was planned all the way), I also have a 'thank you, you're awesome, I'm a ****' David Austin rose planted in the front garden. A visual reminder of what I am able to put up with and how my hubby can sometimes get it sooooo wrong!

Hey, but this is my happy space, so I'm not going to dwell... the ice is melting around this place (just), so here I am to share a little of my life with you lovelies... after all you did nothing wrong to warrant my rant and general stroppiness..

So, I'll share some lovely garden shots with you... alas, not mine, though... as my beloved garden has building debris, weeds galore, and a tired-looking paddling pool in the middle... so, instead, I figured I'd show you the lovely Deep Cut Gardens, right here in Monmouth County.

It was a blistering hot day, but we managed to drag ourselves out and smell the roses... literally!

These gardens really are beautiful and the perfect place for a picnic on a beautiful sunny day...

The little ones loved the 'Hunt the Gnome' game and my heart swelled with pride as they took the time to look at the plants (even correctly naming a few... my little gardeners)!

I left inspired...although the hubby dreads this type of inspiration, as it can only equal bad things for the old wallet... In fact, as I write this post, I'm already drawing up a list of plants to pick up in the end of season sales. It seems a garden is never complete, and if the hubby makes any more 'scheduling errors,' I'll sure have me one nice rose garden!

Take care all.
Lx

An English gal's Strawberry Shortcake...

2011-08-02T21:37:00.001-04:00

Strawberry shortcake is a big hit in my house... that would be the toy... I think it's a spin-off of a cartoon (aren't all toys these days??)... or, is this one of those toys that became so popular, it made it onto the screen?? Anyhoo, my girls love it, so we have, oohh at last count, at least eight of these lying around this little place. Usually strategically placed, so that I'll stand on them bare-footed and maximum damage is done to my poor dainty feet (perhaps these could be used in warfare??)...

Oh, and did I tell you (for anyone not lucky enough to have any of these beauties in the house), they smell delicious? Apparently of strawberries... you know, that kind of strawberry that candy tastes of... the bright red candy that can only come from a zillion E numbers and that is likely to give your kids the ability to climb walls.
Anyways, as I brushed the sleep from my eyes on Sunday morning, I was greeted with my eldest wielding said doll about an inch from my nose, declaring 'Mummy, want to play Strawberry Shortcake? You can be Plum'... my insides shrivelled... another day lost to the joys of Strawberry Shortcake...

Then, I had an even better idea (escape plan)... why not make a Strawberry Shortcake???... as in the dessert (not the doll). The fridge is brimming with strawberries at the moment... I'm a sucker for the BOGOF deals (buy-one-get-one-free), so this gave me the perfect opportunity to use some up and, thus, get the hubby off my back about wasting money and free some much needed space in the fridge.... The cherry on top, though, was that my daughter was super-excited about the prospect of actually eating strawberry shortcake... I then explained that we wouldn't be putting the actual Strawberry Shortcake doll in the cake... it did take a bit of the shine off the idea for her, but the deal was done!

Now, to me, when all's said and done, a Strawberry Shortcake looks a lot like a Victoria Sponge (well mine did, as I only had two of the required three cake tins)... but let's not argue about semantics... I'm in America now, so I'll call it a strawberry shortcake. So, I set about whipping this up... a lot of sugar.... oodles of cream... fresh strawberries... how bad can this be??? The end result was a ruddy big cake!! It definitely put the weeny Victoria Sponge cake in its shadow... this monster was H-U-G-E!! I hope the kids like eating cake... all summer long... Which leads me to ponder, if Strawberry Shortcake were actually modelled on this sugary dessert, shouldn't she have the proportions of the Jolly Green Giant!!!
So, if you have the local neighbourhood coming over for a sweet bite, you should give this a bash!
Take care all!
Lx

Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

1 1/2 cups of self-raising flour

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

2 cups of sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (softened)

4 large eggs

1 cup of milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the filling

Strawberry jam

2 cups of whipping cream

1/4 cup of vanilla sugar

4 cups of ripe strawberries, stem removed and quartered

2 tablespoons of sugar

Method

Preheat the oven to 350F
Grease and lightly flour 2 x 9 inch cake tins and line the bottom with grease-proof paper. (To make an authentic strawberry shortcake use 3 x cake tins)
In a small bowl combine the flours.
In a large bowl cream the butter until smooth, using an electric mixer on a medium speed.
Slowly add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the flours, alternating with the milk and the vanilla essence. Make sure they are all mixed together, but don't over beat... Just to make sure it's all mixed together, scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula and give it one last stir!
Divide the cake batter between the cake tins and pop in the oven for approximately 30 mins or until a cake tester comes out clean, when inserted into the middle.
Leave the cakes to cool in the tin for an hour and then remove, and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
Toss the strawberries in the 2 tablespoons of sugar and set aside.
Whip the cream up with sugar, using an electric whisk on a medium speed. When the cream mixture forms stiff peaks, stir in the prepared strawberries.
Take one of the cooled cakes and spread with strawberry jam, then spread the cream and strawberry mixture on top of the jam.
Top with the second cake... it's looking pretty big now, eh?
Lightly dust the top of the cake with confectioners sugar...
Bobs-your-uncle... a ruddy big cake!

Shared with Sarah at a Good Life Wednesday

The perils of a small house...

2011-07-28T20:33:00.000-04:00

I think I've mentioned before, that my house is small. Very, very small. There are certain plus points to this... less to clean, less to heat, and the hubby says it forces us to all get along. Now, I'm not going to lie... I do idly imagine living in a house with more rooms than I know what to do with. Jeez, I'd be happy to have just one extra bedroom, so the girls don't have to share... but, this is my lot, and so, I have learned to be organized, self controlled, and impartial to what's on the telly!

Every now and then, though, my self-control goes AWOL, takes a little vacation, and I end up purchasing things just because it was a 'too-good-a-deal' to pass up. Any thoughts of where I'm going to put said item evaporate, like the early morning dew on a hot summer's day... and I, my dears, are left with a large (and often) impractical item, with nowhere to put it...

Case in point... my rather large pine dresser... ohhh, how I love this... how it called out to me on craigslist... 'look at my aged patina, and I have an aged key to boot'... 'wouldn't I complete that country kitchen look you covet?'.... 'what? I'm too big? No silly... I'm perfect'... I mean, with a hard sell like that, what was a girl to do? My knees buckled and it came home with me...

As soon, as I positioned it in my doll's house size kitchen, I knew deep down that it was too big, but I pushed this niggling doubt to the far reaches of my mind... then, the hubby came home and gave me a slap round the face to bring me back to my senses (not literally, of course)... He looked at the offending item and declared that it looked like a NBA basketball player in a room filled with 'regular'-sized folk!

He was right... humph! Curse this small house *looking at the sky, clenching fists, and shaking them in a curse-like manner *...

But, what to do? It was here. Paid for, and it gave me storage up the wazoo... so after lots of faffing and titivating, we came to a compromise... the hutch part now resides in our basement (the graveyard for all spontanious, impractical purchases) with the old addage that it will get used one day when we open this place up. Meanwhile, I still get the benefit of the extra storage from the dresser... so, not a total washout then...

So you ask me, has my lesson been learned?? Have I recognized that there is only so much you can fit into a two bedroom cape? Of course not! Only the other week I picked up a vintage milk crate... a steal... and perfect to store something in... I just need to find somewhere to put it... ahhh, the perils of a small house...
Hope you're all having a great week!
Lx

A cool basket...

2011-07-25T23:01:00.002-04:00

With all this hot weather, there's only so much indoor time the kids can take. Indoor activities had been exhausted and, although shopping is my favourite past time, the kiddies do not share my enthusiasm... so, what to do?? If only I could combine the joys of air-conditioned shopping with fun kids' activities... wait a minute... doesn't Ikea have a ball room? Light-bulb dazzling above head... Kids strapped into the car faster than a ice-lolly melting in the mid-day sun, and we're off for a sojourn at Ikea!
Now, I've got to say when it comes to Ikea, I never really go there with a plan ('dangerous shopping,' I hear you say), but as I don't have the finances or room for anything more in this little old place, I go on the Ikea pilgrimage safe in the knowledge that any purchases will fit amply in the yellow bag!

Anyhoo, I popped the eldest in the ball room (thank heavens she's grown those couple of inches... we were shy for quite a few visits) and basked in the loveliness of air conditioning and pared-down Swedish design.
The youngest and I plopped ourselves on the Ektorp couch and both agreed that this would be perfect in our living room. She then critiqued all of the rooms, declaring 'I would live in this room, Mummy'... Bless, my influence is definitely rubbing off on her... We then we hit the marketplace. Definitely the area of Ikea where I lose my senses.
I made it through the kitchen section and that old yellow bag was still empty... bathrooms (nada).... fabric... slightly tempted by a jaunty stripe... bedding... oohhh, rose bedding for the girls... no, no don't impulse shop... Storage... schreeechhh... ahhh... Baskets. My weakness...

...but, where to put yet more baskets... ahhh, yes... above the kitchen cabinets!! That's right, it's wasted space, and I was only reading in a housey mag the other day that, 'the space above kitchen cabinets is often overlooked and should be utilised in a small house'... and if there's one thing my house is, it's small!

So, I promptly put said baskets in the yellow bag (and it held all of them)... except the ones in my hands... oh, and the one in my youngest hands (now being used to hold her Strawberry Shortcake doll)... and the one on top of my eldest's head (she'd rejoined the party and decided that baskets were this years head gear... Lady Gaga, eat your heart out!)..

All in all, this had been a successful trip. My eldest had a blast playing in the ball pit, the youngest had run herself ragged sampling the furniture, and I had come up with yet another storage solution!! The best bit of all, though... all this was achieved cooly!!

Oh, and just in case you were wondering... I don't keep the 'Post' basket up top with the gods... that would be far too impractical!

Take care all.
Lx

Hot, hot, hot...

2011-07-22T19:25:00.002-04:00

Phew, it's hot in NJ at the mo'!
And, when I say hot, I mean really hot. I told my mum today during our daily chit chat that it reminded me of when I used to go for my annual fortnight (two weeks) holiday to sunnier climes. I'd leave Blighty dressed in English summer garb (jeans, sweaters, rain coat), land in the Med, descend from the plane, and then, I was hit by the heat. Like stepping into an oven. That's how I feel when I leave the comfort of air conditioning. Can I just say a little thank you prayer for air conditioning!!!

Anyhoo, this is definitely not the weather for a delicate English Rose such as myself (cough, cough). And so, I find myself skulking around my dark house. Dark, because this place has way too many windows... think greenhouse... so, the blinds stay closed and I seek solace in the glory of AC (that would be air conditioning and not Atlantic City).

Nevertheless, every now and then, I feel I should be making the most of the sunshine (a Brit gal never takes a sunny day for granted), and I attempt to leave this little old place only to find myself scuttling towards the nearest cool building... and you know what? Shops have awesome air conditioning (... and I didn't think they could be any more inviting).

So, I find myself mooching around supermarkets for far too long, perusing aisles that I never usually bother dragging myself down... and you know what that equals? Stonking food bill. Oh, and a cupboard full of food that I don't know how to cook. Eek, I hope the kids enjoy curried yak!! Just kidding folks they were all out of Yak today!

So the point of this post? Ah yes, to share these flowers with you. Beautiful, aren't they? I think I might have to shoe horn this variety of Hydrangea into my garden somewhere. I love the cone of flowers. I had to double-take when I saw them, as I thought they were lilacs... In July?? That would be just plain silly!
And, what's more... these lovely flowers are home grown here in NJ. I think I'm starting to get the Jersey Pride now.. Well, for some of it's offerings anyway... I don't think I'll ever warm to Mike 'The Situation' and ilk!!

Have a great weekend all.
Take care.
Lx

Pea & feta salad

2011-07-20T22:48:00.000-04:00

Hi there,
So, what's new? Things are ticking along nicely here in this little old place. Each day drifting into another, and, before I know it, it's time to flip the calendar to yet another new month... the summer is slipping by and I feel as though it has only just begun.

A good indicator that I am in the thick of Summer is the fact that the farmers' market is brimming with fresh produce. Tomatoes so sweet, they may as well be candy... and don't even get me started on Jersey corn... for those not lucky enough to try it, I can only say that you have never tasted anything so lip-smackingly gorgeous... It's even worth getting it stuck in your teeth (anyone know how to eat corn off the cob elegantly, let me know). I used to think that the only thing to come out of New Jersey was 'The Jersey Shore' and 'The Sopranos,' but this is what Jersey should be remembered for... fresh produce... there's a reason it's called the 'Garden State,' you know... (and I thought that was just irony...)

Anyhoo, as I turned the Sainsbury's calender over into the month of July, I was greeted with this month's recipe of a broad bean salsa. Now, I'm not sure if broad beans are known under a different name here in the States, but I never come across them in the supermarkets... so, never one to be defeated at the first hurdle, I decided to substitute beans with fresh peas... I was itching to use fresh peas in something and this gave me the perfect excuse. I also have an abundance of mint growing in the garden (no, I didn't plant it in the pot, and so, it's growing pretty rampant at the moment)... and feta just takes me back to summer holidays spent in Greece... happy days! So, with a tweak here and there, I created this pea & feta salad.

Anyhoo, this dish makes the perfect accompaniment to a burger off the barbie or just as a light lunch. So, if you're short on time, whip this little treat up. You can even try it with broad beans!
Take care all!
Lx

Recipe for Pea & Feta Salad

1 cup of fresh peas

1/2 red onion finely sliced

1 tbsp olive oil

1 handful of mint leaves finely sliced

grated zest & juice of 1/2 lemon

1 cup of cubed feta

pepper to taste

Method

Add the peas to a pan of boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Drain and refresh in cold water.
Put the peas in a bowl with onion, olive oil, mint, lemon zest and lemon juice. A grind of black pepper.
Stir in the feta.
Delish!

Loving life...

2011-07-11T22:31:00.001-04:00

Hello there-
So, how do you dip back into this blogging malarkey when you've had so long away from it? The old laptop has sat there on the desk, gathering dust, while I have been off, out-and-about... patiently sitting there, not demanding me to pick her up and tap away... letting me enjoy the sun, the beach, the kids, and mindless telly. But, enough is enough. So, today, I picked her up and started to blog again... but what to say?

Yeah, I've made some amazing food over the past few weeks. I am in love with any dish containing fresh peas. The mere act of shelling peas brings a smile to my face... my mum used to say that having babies was like shelling peas... Erm, no, can't see that at all??? I definitely didn't have a smile on my face during labor... Anyhoo, I'll be sharing my pea salad recipe next week... as it's just too good not to!
I've watched fireworks on the beach, but sans camera... Now, that would have been a post. Watching the Manhattan 4th of July fireworks from our little beach. Doesn't get much better... Except watching them from a huge yacht, I guess... Okay, it could get better, but it still was a pretty nice experience...

Then, we had the old "shaving the dog" debacle... I couldn't put a picture up of her... it wouldn't be fair... let's just say she looks like a South American street dog and not the beautiful black spaniel she was.... Not to worry though, the hubby said it will grow back and squared it away by declaring she was much happier with her cool, streamline appearance... Never the less I don't think we can add "dog groomer" to his bow... Lets just say them guys earn every bit of that $80...

There's been a whole lot going on in this little place... most of all, I've just enjoyed spending long days and late nights with the kiddies and hubby... and that is what life is about. Enjoying every last minute of it. From the early dawn chorus, to the hot mid-day sun on a salty beach, to watching the sun set, slipping slowly into the ocean, leaving behind a sky of pink and orange... to the dark nights, lit only by the blue hue of the moon and the occasional glow of a firefly... and that, my dears, is where I leave you... sharing a little corner of my life. Our little beach... an amazing sunset and a moonlit beach... Life is good and there to be enjoyed!
Lx

A flower for all you Daddies...

2011-06-16T21:42:00.100-04:00

June... What a beautiful month. The garden is a riot of colours and, oh, so green. Everything looks fresh and bright. Nothing yet scorched by the New Jersey heat. The bugs are manageable. The heat, tolerable, and the nights, long. Nothing short of perfect.

Dads are rewarded with the best month of the year. I always thought that my Dad had a better day to celebrate being a parent than my Mum. I mean, back in Blighty, Mother's Day is celebrated when winter hasn't been fully ushered out of the door. At least, here, in the States, I get to celebrate it in May when things are definitely on the up and up. Dads, on the other hand, get cool beers, barbecues, and beautiful sunshine! You lucky Daddies, you!

This past week, I had a mid-week reward of the hubby being home during the day. The sun was shining and it was a perfect garden day. So, while he entertained the girls, I did a spot of dead-heading, in an attempt to prolong the beauty that has been bestowed on my garden at the moment. As I clipped the delphiniums back, I just had to pop the very tops (which were still in bloom) in a jug. This year, they looked stunning. They stood so tall, one plant garnished 8 spires of electric-blue flowers. Truly amazing... I only hope I'll get a second crop of them like I have with my lupines. I'm not banking on it, though, as I just couldn't bare cutting them back. So, I think that they may have gone to seed. We'll see though.

Anyhoo, the hubby chilled in his hammock (an early Father's Day gift brought back from Blighty) and the girls made mud pies in the birdbath... I like to think of it as a spa treatment for my little feathered friends. It was one of those days were I just smiled and thanked my lucky stars...

So, my Friday Flower this week is dedicated to all you Daddies out there... not that many guys read this, I imagine, but you can pass it on if you feel inclined... This year, I have dear friends that have just become Daddies... some that will become Daddies imminently, "been-around-the-block" Daddies, step-Daddies, and, of course, my Daddy and my girls' Daddy. Each and everyone of you are amazing. You have big shoes to fill. You hold the hearts of your children in your hands, and yours will be forever in theirs.

Have a great weekend all.
Lx

If you would like to join in with this weeks Friday Flower, simply use the linky widget below to link to your flower inspired post. The more the merrier!

Goats Cheese & Red Pepper Quiche

2011-06-13T21:03:00.218-04:00

There are some foods that are more powerful than their taste alone. In fact, some foods can be very bland in taste but still evoke a memory. A memory of happy times... and so, this becomes the reason why this food is in your repertoire. I have so many foods that fall into this category, whether it be the crispy skin of a jacket potato taking me back to bonfire night, a vinegar soaked chip conjuring up images of rainy beaches and vinegar soaked chip paper, or simply, best butter on a freshly baked farmhouse loaf eaten at my granddad's seersucker covered table... all blissful times, relived in the first taste of these simple, yet delicious foods.

Now, this past week, the sun was shining and the girls were playing on the lawn, when my eldest asked for a picnic to be brought out. In my mind, I conjured up all manner of picnic foods... however, the girls were more than happy with cheesy puffs, turkey sandwiches, and grapes... Not me, though... once the seed had been sown, I had to make the perfect picnic food...and nothing says picnic to me like quiche...

When I was little, my mum would knock up a cheese and onion quiche in an afternoon... perfect to eat alfresco. This simple dish conjures up images of tartan blankets, wicker hampers, bowls of strawberries, elderflower cordial and hazy sunshine... Granted, life was probably not like that, and this is more likely a scene from Darling Buds of May (50's style feel-good sitcom), but you're getting the picture...
Anyhoo, quiches have evolved from the days of Quiche Lorraine, and much more sophisticated combinations are being put together. So, while I love the old school combos, I decided I'd bake a red pepper and goat's cheese quiche. I am a fiend for goat's cheese and feel I could eat it all day long, given the chance. So, being able to serve it up in quiche form, coupled with the sweetness of red pepper, is just pure bliss for me.

So, later that afternoon, I donned my pinny (apron), channelled my inner fifties house wife, and baked the perfect picnic food. Even the hubby (not a quiche fan) loved it. I savoured the salty goat's cheese juxtaposed against the sweet red pepper and red onion, all wrapped up in fluffy eggs and crusty pastry... Mmmm... If only I could have persuaded him to drag out the hamper and blanket onto the lawn... second thoughts, I think he'd have thought I was just plain barking...
I'd love to hear what your favourite summer / picnic food is. I could do with expanding my repertoire...
Take care all.
Lx

 Recipe for Goats Cheese & Red Pepper Quiche

Ingredients

25g butter

                                                                                               						 		        			2 eggs

1 red onion,finely chopped                                                  

280ml half & half or light cream
200g goats cheese (I used the kind with rind on but you can use crumbled too)
1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced length-ways

280g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
140g cold butter
8 tbsp iced water

Method

To make the pastry, tip the flour and butter into a bowl, then rub together with your fingertips until completely mixed and crumbly. Add approximately 8 tbsp iced water... just enough to bring everything together with your hands until just combined. Roll into the pastry into a ball. Try to handle the pastry as little as possible.
Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a round about 5cm larger than your quiche dish / tin. Use your rolling pin to lift it up, then drape over the tart case so there is an overhang of pastry on the sides. Using a small ball of pastry scraps, push the pastry into the corners of the tin. By using the pastry to push into the corners, you'll prevent tears in your pastry case. Chill in the fridge or freezer for 20 mins.
Heat oven to 400F/200C/gas 6. While the pastry is chilling, heat the butter in a pan and cook the onion for approximately 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until they become sticky and golden. Remove from the heat.
Lightly prick the base of the tart with a fork, line the tart case with a large circle of foil, then fill with baking beans (no baking beads, then use dried beans or rice). Blind-bake the tart for 20 mins, remove the foil and beans, then continue to cook for 5-10 mins until biscuit brown.
Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a bowl, then gradually add the cream. Stir in the onions and half the goats cheese, then season with salt and pepper. Carefully tip the filling into the case (leave enough room for the peppers. Add the sliced red pepper and the rest of the goats cheese, then bake for 20-25 mins until set and golden. Leave to cool in the case, trim the edges of the pastry, then remove and serve in slices.

Shared with Sarah at A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesday

A rose for a rose...

2011-06-09T20:30:00.109-04:00

Hello poppets,
I'll start today by saying a BIG thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post. I really was feeling a little apprehensive about sharing my little old kitchen with you. There are so many awe-inspiring kitchen pictures out there in blogland... Popping a piccie up of mine was a little daunting, but all I heard was positive comments. So, I feel all those evenings painting weren't wasted! If you didn't catch it you can always read the post here.

Anyhoo, the sun has been shining here in NJ and it has been hot, hot, hot!!! So much so, that I was padding across the garden with a bowl of ice to drop in the bird bath, so my little avian friends could take a nice, cool dip. I think they were very appreciative, as it was a hive of activity all afternoon. I even locked the cat indoors, so that they could be refreshed without the fear of being jumped at any given moment. She's a stealth hunter and positions herself behind a peony, ready to pounce on any poor bird taking a bath... like a scene from Psycho, but reenacted with cats and birds!

The garden has all but transitioned from spring to summer. The spring blooms have gone to seed and the summer blooms are starting to put on their razzle-dazzle. The perennial flowers are opening up and are as bright and bold as ever. It always amazes me how big they get with each successive year and leaves me wondering whether I can squeeze any more in! This season, my perennial of choice has been yarrow (Achillea millefolium). I feel a border punctuated with this just screams English cottage garden. So I popped in a lovely yellow specimen this past week and am now figuring where to shoehorn in a couple more.

So, with the garden well and truly on my mind these days, I picked up another little rose for the Friday Flower this week. I posted a similar one back in March. After it had finished blooming, I popped it in the garden... now, it is in full bloom again and looks a treat! Not bad for a $3.49 supermarket special!
I figured, this weekend, I'll plant this one in the raised bed and see how it fairs.

Oh, and why the rose this week? Well, that would be in honor of my Mum. Her birthday was this past Thursday. She is a true English rose and, with a June birthday, it's only fitting that I dedicate a rose to her this week. This lady means the world to me and, even though there are 3000 miles between us, I carry her with me every day, in everything I do. I love you, Mum, and only wish I had been there in person to share your special day with you!

So, my dears, the week is drawing to a close and the weekend is upon us. We have a trip to the NYC Children's Botanical Garden (my daughter being a prize winner for a local competition she entered) and, other than that, I plan on lazing around this old place... although a week off from the painting and I'm already thinking about what my next project should be...

Wishing you all the weekend you want it to be!
Take care and catch you next week.
Lx

If you would like to link up with this weeks (belated) Friday Flower, simply use the linky widget below to link to your flower inspired post!

Another phase in the kitchen re-do...

2011-06-07T21:45:00.001-04:00

Hello there,
Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!
I was hoping to get this post out on Sunday night, but we were blessed with a nice chilly evening, and so, after a day spent in the garden, we decided to drag the fire pit out and chill with a cuppa on the patio. The evening would have suited a nice Rioja perfectly, but, as it was a school night, tea had to suffice.
Anyhoo, before our impromptu garden campfire, I grabbed a few minutes away from the kiddies to take some shots of the kitchen.

Now, I have to say, I felt a bit silly taking pictures of our run-down, haphazard kitchen... I mean, yes, it has just had a lick of paint, but it's hardly Homes and Gardens... I spend an inordinate amount of time drooling over lip-smackingly gorgeous kitchens (you should see the stack of my well-thumbed issues of Country Living and the likes), and so, when faced with my kitchen through the lens, I saw it with a critical eye, and it appeared exactly what is was: a tiny, old kitchen with a new paint job and a lot of stuff packed in!

Now, I'm not going to downplay my own personal pleasure as to what I have achieved. As for me, it was a pain-staking job... I did the prep-work and painted between the hours of 8pm until 11pm most weeknights. I asked a contractor friend for tips and the best way to complete this daunting task, and I followed his advice to the letter...

... and I am ecstatic with the finish. To be honest, I don't think I could have paid and gotten better...

...but, I imagine for many out there, you look at this little space and say, 'Now, there's a place in need of an update' and you'd be right... but we all have to make the best of what we've got!
So, the cabinets are still old, but have now been refreshed and given a new lease on life. My kitchen is still tiny, but the bright colour opens it up....

I used to refer this room as Dracula's Coffin, because of the red walls and overbearing wood... The picture below makes it look much nicer than it actually was (and even this looks bad...)

Picture from original house specification.

But, now, the macabre look has all but gone... and replaced by a much lighter cottage kitchen... not one worthy of Country Living, granted, but for me, the difference is immense...

Picture from original house specification.

We've still a way to go... the counter tops have yet to be replaced with butcher block...

... all the appliances need replacing...

... I dream of a farmhouse sink some day... subway tile back-splash...

... new light fittings... Oh, and a new ceiling...

... and much, much more.

But for now, I'll take it... I'm happy... happy to have finished painting. Happy to have a space I want to spend time in!

If you would like to read some more kitchen posts, check out why red features so heavily here or read about my conundrum with distressing chairs here!
Take care all and thanks for popping by.
Lx

Shared with Sarah at A Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesday

Friday Flower and a sneak peek...

2011-06-02T21:58:00.001-04:00

I told you I'd be back and, as it's Friday, I just had to post a Friday Flower. While on blogging hiatus, I had stopped my weekly tradition of bringing blooms into our home and, I have to say, there was definitely some sparkle missing around this old place.

The garden is in a transition phase at the moment, as the spring flowers give way to the showy blooms of summer. Even though their petals are tightly-wrapped, I know it's only a matter of a week or so before my hydrangeas display all their beauty... and, let me tell you, I have quite a number of hydrangeas packed into my little garden, so I'm itching to see them in all their glory! Most were picked up and planted at the end of last summer... taking full advantage of the end of season sales. It's always touch-and-go when I do this each year, as I hope that they have established themselves before the onslaught of winter... but, hey, enough of this talk of winter... It's June, the sun is shining, the sandals are on, and the freezer is stacked with juice pops!

Anyhoo, while I patiently await the hydrangea arrival, I popped to the supermarket for this week's Friday Flower and picked up these... not from my garden, but beautiful all the same... I just love the delicate shade of pink (yep, the girls picked the flowers this week)...
... and, this week, my flower is dedicated to all you lovelies... Thank you so much for sticking with me while I've been away and a B-I-G thank you to all my new followers. You guys jumped on board during the lean times, and that just warms my heart. I hope to keep you with me... I so enjoy this little tete-a-tete we have....

Oh, and next week, I'll be showing you the old kitchen cabinets... that's them, there in the background... want a closer look? Check back next week!
Take care all and have a great weekend!
Lx

If you would like to share a bloom inspired post, simply click on the linky widget below, linking to your post. Everyone loves a flower!

An anniversary bench...

2011-06-01T21:03:00.001-04:00

Hello, poppets.
Oohhh, have I been busy? The answer to that is yes! My day-to-day life has ripped me away from my little blog, but I'm back.
My evenings have been spent painting... every single weeknight from 8 'til 11. This is usually my blog time, so my poor old blog has suffered. But, you know, when I started this old blog, it was to document the renovation of this old place, and so, sometimes, I'll have to take a break to get those projects done. I hope you understand and forgive me for neglecting you... I have missed you all...

Anyhoo, the other Friday was my wedding anniversary. Six glorious years with the hubby, and you know what? He makes it easy... We always like to celebrate our anniversary with a traditional gift. The first year being paper, second year, cotton, etc. Well, this year was iron, so we decided to pick up a little bench for the garden. The hubby wasn't completely sold on this one, but once we brought it home and popped it in our little garden, it looked as though it had always been sitting there underneath our pear tree.

I'm thinking vintage floral cushion. What do you think?

A rose was planted in the front garden, a gift from the hubby (no cut flowers are exchanged during the planting season) and a glass of wine shared... the perfect anniversary.

Righty-o chaps, as I'm back on board with the old blog, I'll be sharing tales from this little old place once again... starting with the kitchen cabinets. Yep, you heard right. I have finally finished painting the kitchen cabinets and am ready to share the spoils of my labour!
Watch this space... Oh, and did I mention that I've missed you all??
Lx

Shared with Sarah at A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesday

Gardening makes me happy...

2011-05-11T17:45:00.000-04:00

Hello my dears...
Here's a question for those who write a blog... do you ever have an idea for a post, mull it over and then find that the very thing you were thinking about, was blogged about that very same day?? Happens to me often. A friend of mine read a book, which says that as soon as we have an idea, it goes up into the ether and is then out there ready for someone to act upon... I guess that's where my problem lies... I'm not acting on my ideas sharp enough, so, they are floating around in the atmosphere ready for someone to catch... like a butterfly, in a net....

... or, on the other hand, I could just be very unoriginal....

Anyhoo, I just wanted to share a little of my life... I was pottering around the garden, watering in my new additions and babying my new rose, when I had one of those moments... the one where if you were able to see my aura, it would be all yellow and glowing (I'm not sure if that's the right colour, but I'm assuming yellow is happy).

Yes, I was happy! Happy with my little plot of land, happy watching my little girls playing at the water table... watching the birds zipping through through the trees... the colourful flowers slowly unfurling their delicate petals, ready to display their summer glory...

... and even though, we have a long way to go, before this little old place has the garden I envisage, it sure has come a long way from the chain link fence and crab grass days (although there is still some of both remaining)...

... and so, while I have been away from this blogging malarkey, I have been a busy bee, planting moving and digging...

... and there's still plenty to do out here, but that's the joy of gardening... come July I'll be able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labour.

Take care all.
Lx

Here's one of the cat... she was desperate to get in on the action!

A Sunday flower for mums

2011-05-08T10:02:00.000-04:00

Hello lovelies,
I know my posts have been very sporadic lately, but I really have been cracking on with projects around this house, so poor old me has had no time for anything (other than resting my weary head at the end of the day)...

So, this past Friday, I was off at a neighbour's on a play-date when she offered me some of her Lily of the Valley to plant in my garden. Who could refuse that offer? If these flowers are good enough for a princess's wedding bouquet, then they are certainly good enough for my little garden. So, they were promptly transplanted two doors down and are now residing in the raised bed. The neighbour said they do really well here, so I'm hoping I'll be overrun with them come next Spring.

Anyhoo, while I was busy digging up said flowers, my eldest was merrily picking them and making the perfect Mother's Day posy. The smell is divine... I so wish you could take a big whiff through the computer, but, as it is, you'll just have to make do with the beautiful image...

... the perfect Mother's Day flowers. Collected by the little hands of my 4-year old, on a beautiful Spring day... dedicated to all the Mummies out there. Whether here in the States celebrating, or in the UK (or any other country), where it's just another Sunday... but, hey, it's Mother's Day here! So, go tell your loved ones to pop the kettle on and treat you like the queen that you are. Because all Mums are queens, deserving flowers fit for royalty!
Take care all!
Lx

Friday Flower & a right royal knees-up...

2011-04-29T18:10:00.000-04:00

Okay, I was supposed to post this last night, but preparations for our Royal Wedding Tea Party ran over...

As I just missed out on the action back in Blighty, I figured I would bring a little of the Blighty hullabaloo to New Jersey. Granted, it's not the same as the street party I experienced as a child for Charles and Diana's wedding day, but I didn't want the day to pass by unnoticed by my little ones. To this day, I still remember the build-up to our street party... making the decorations, hanging the bunting, and then, the wonderful party which followed.

On the day of the wedding, our telly blew up, so we all sat around a neighbour's and watched the ceremony before spilling out onto the cul-de-sac and partying...

Oh, the memories... I dressed as a fairy for a fancy dress party and we still laugh at the pictures of me, with my skinny legs encased in white tights... ahhh, good times...

Anyhoo, now that we have watched and celebrated, and (between you and I) shed a little tear, I can now share my belated Friday Flower with you...

... beautiful and simple snapdragons... it won't be long before I'll be planting these in our garden to enjoy all summer long, but for now, I'll take them in the kitchen...
Today's Friday Flower is dedicated to Deborah over at A Fisherman's Cottage. The title immediately had me hooked. I couldn't think of anything more romantic than living in a little fisherman's cottage in one of my favourite places... Norfolk... and then, added to this is the fact that she takes beautiful pictures of her wonderful cottage, flowers, and anything else that takes her fancy... each picture, so beautifully put together and inspiring... Her blog is a must-read, and I guarantee if you pop over, you'll be just as enamoured with The Fisherman's Cottage, as I am.

Righty-o, I best get off as I have a weekend jam-packed with beach clean-ups and painting (naturally), but, before I leave, I just have to say how my heart swelled with pride as I watched my beloved country come together and celebrate such a beautiful occasion. It really was a treat to watch every last minute of it... and, as the BBC news anchor ended the show, my youngest daughter turned to me and said 'It's the happy-ever-after part, Mummy'... cue small tear rolling down my cheek...
Toodle-pip!
Lx

Sorry there's no opportunity to link up this week folks, but for some reason I was unable to get the linky widget to work... apologies!

A day in the garden...

2011-04-26T21:26:00.001-04:00

Hello there,
I was planning on posting on Sunday night, but I've been knuckling down with the painting of the kitchen cabinets... I think I've mentioned this project before... cough, cough... So, the bases are all ready and awaiting the completion of the doors.... I've got to say, though, that when I started out this job, I really didn't take into account just how tedious a task it would be. Needless to say, come Sunday morning, I was in the 'it will just have to do' frame of mind, desperate to get in the garden, enjoy the sun, and hunt for Easter eggs...

My wise owl, nestled behind some creeping phlox...

Our garden is ever-evolving... when we moved in, it was bereft of any plants... not even a stick... nothing, nada. In those days, it was the 'yard.' But, over the years, we have attempted to create a 'garden'... it sounds so much better to have a cup of tea in the garden than to sit in the yard... the latter conjures up images of sitting outside a terrace-house up north, surrounded by concrete, and a coal bunker at the back... not that I'm knocking this, as I spent many an hour in a yard just like that growing up in Nottingham!

Apple blossom... here's hoping for apples!

Anyhoo, while away in Blighty, the hubby procured a ginormous swing set for the back of the garden... now, I did have romantic notions of a summerhouse there, complete with bunting and sling deckchairs, but the kiddies come first... so, that idea will have to go on the back burner until they are older, we move, or we acquire more land... whichever comes first... for now, though, it serves it's purpose... the girls are occupied for hours while I potter around the garden, and that is something you can't put a price on!

The plastic chairs are a stop gap, until we get our Adirondack beauties!

Oh, and while pottering this past Easter weekend, I popped in some Forget-Me-Nots.... these grow like weeds all over my brother's garden in Blighty, sprouting up in any crack, giving off a lovely display of delicate blue flowers. While in the UK, my eldest daughter became quite enamoured by the beauty of the little Forget-Me-Not, so much so that, while at our local garden centre, she actually spotted them and correctly named them.... I guess they are a flower that you just can't forget... (get it? too lame?) Anyways, in attempting to foster a love of plants in her, we picked some up and planted them in the raised bed between the two gardens. A permanent reminder of our trip back home.

I popped a few pictures of our garden on here today, but we are currently in the process of digging up a lawn at the moment and replacing it with gravel (I'm not a lawn lass, as I just haven't the time or the know-how to maintain one). When that task has been completed, I'll share some more pictures of our little English garden... but before that, I best crack on with those cabinets...

Tulips standing to attention and a honeysuckle to attract the hummingbirds in the summer...

Ta ta for now...
Lx

Shared with Sarah at A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesday

Friday Flower returns...

2011-04-21T21:19:00.000-04:00

Hello there, lovelies...
I'd like to say I achieved a lot this week, but the old jet-lag really took it's toll on me... so, I've done nothing more than mooch around, take the kiddies on a bike ride, a spot of gardening and a little bit of baking... it's good to be back at the helm and serving up dinner again. I actually missed dishing out food to my very appreciative husband... I think he missed it, too ;-)

The old house is looking a little dishevelled at the moment... partly due to my landing and unpacking all my goodies from England... even though this little old place is pretty much tapped out on space, I still managed to haul even more stuff across the Atlantic on the premise that I would simply find space for it on my return... that's where I'm becoming a little unstuck, as there just isn't any. So, for now, my kitchen counter tops have that cluttered look, but what the heck, I think that's the look I'm going for anyway...

Anyhoo, I added more jobs to my ever growing list of things I need to achieve / complete... of course, the kitchen cabinets are still midway through... the garden now needs tending to and I picked up some dotty fabric in the UK to make a Roman blind for the back door... the hubby has laid down the law, though, and said that no new projects can be started until the kitchen is completed... the "open shelf" look is beginning to grate, I think...

Well, I'm starting to waffle, so I'll wrap up this post by telling you that these lovely blooms were my welcome home bunch from the hubby... he's such a sweetie... and the jug is one of my trans-Atlantic finds, although no money was transferred for this (the best type of purchase), as this was my grandma's. Apparently, it used to sit underneath her kitchen sink. It was on it's way to the charity shop until I salvaged it out of the box... along with some other treasures... seriously, an afternoon in my Mum's attic is the best day spent thrifting!
Okay, chicks, wishing you all a beautiful, relaxing weekend. If in Blighty, enjoy the Easter break and sunshine... a rare gift!
Catch you next week.
Lx

I'm back...

2011-04-18T13:13:00.000-04:00

Hello there,
It's been awhile, hasn't it? I've been off enjoying the delights of England in the springtime... My favourite time of the year back home.

There's a quintessentially English spring-time smell. What it is, I don't know... maybe the Hawthorne... but, whatever it is, I breathed deep lung-fills of it.

I was blessed with sunshine, and really got to see my home in all it's beautiful glory... so much so that I landed here in the States with a bit of a heavy heart... and a bad back, but that was from dealing with a tantruming child for 8 hours on the plane... Yes, I am the Mummy that you just dread being placed next to... apologies if you were the (rather smart) lady sat behind me that had a cheese stick thrown at your head and orange juice spilt on your fancy bag... kids, eh?

Anyhoo, I'm back in a bit of a jet-lagged haze... mulling over what stories to tell you and what projects to get finished... or started... The hubby is home for a week, so I fully plan on utilising this time, letting him reacquaint himself with his daughters, while I just 'do'...

Good to chat to you again... I've missed our little conflabs.
Take care.
Lx

A Friday Flower & a trip to Blighty...

2011-03-24T23:33:00.001-04:00

Well, well, well... it's Friday again... but not any old Friday, not for this gal anyway... it's going to be a Friday filled with frantic packing, planning, and tying up loose ends before I jet off to Blighty on Sunday... Yep, you heard right. Me and the gals are heading off to see mama and grandad back home.

All this talk of Spring, daffodils, and the green, green grass of England has led me to book a flight and go see it for myself! Seriously, there was a flight deal that just could not be passed up... so now I'm left wondering how I'm going to get me and the girls all sorted for Sunday evening... oh, and did I mention we have a date with Mary Poppins on Broadway this Saturday, too?? Talk about flying by the seat of your pants!

Anyhoo, I am giddy with the thought of being home for a few weeks, and so, I'm going to leave you lovelies while I go make lists, do laundry, and everything else in between...

Oh, and the kitchen cabinets... they'll be waiting for me on my return... half-finished, but, sometimes in life, you just have to act on opportunities when they land in your lap!
Hopefully, I'll be sharing my trip with you over the next few weeks... Mmmm, I can taste the chips and mushy peas already...
Ta ta for now.
Lx

If you would like to join in with this week's Friday Flower, simply use the linky widget below to link to your flower inspired post.

Come on Spring...

2011-03-24T09:31:00.000-04:00

Ah come, come quickly, spring!

come and lift us towards our culmination, we myriads;

we who have never flowered, like patient cactuses.

Come and lift us to our end, to blossom, bring us to our summer

we who are winter-weary in the winter of the of the world.

D. H. Lawrence, Craving for Spring

Just checking... it was the first day of spring the other day, wasn't it? Well, I patiently await you Spring... My Birks are by the front door...

... my spring coat is hung in the closet... my gardening bag is poised and waiting for action... and my toes are awaiting a much needed pedicure, in anticipation of bare foot strolls along the beach...

... I'm ready, when you are...

Friday Flower

2011-03-18T16:16:00.002-04:00

Hello there...
I really am missing our little natters... but, what with the girls painting and other day-to-day chores, I'm really being pulled every which way. I have several blog posts floating in the ether, awaiting me to sit down and tap them out and take the accompanying pictures... speaking of which, I'm in a bit of a picture slump at the moment... I just don't have the vision these days... perhaps it's from painting... like snow-blindness, all my eyes can see is the whiteness of primer... I'll get my creative hat back on this weekend... I think it's buried under a tarp somewhere in the kitchen...

Anyhoo, en route back from a play date today, I realised it was Thursday and no Friday flower had been procured. I had hoped to get some Ranunculus (one of my favourite Spring flowers), but they had sold out... I'm guessing these rank high with others, too.

So, after playing in the Spring sunshine today, I opted for the trusty Hyacinth (I bet you can almost smell it from where you are)... It was on special and I figured I can pop it in the garden in Autumn. I'm all about buying flowers that I can plant after their blooms have faded. When we brought this shabby old place it was bereft of any plants... totally... except for a gnarly old tree, which we had removed, as it acted as a spring board into our roof for the neighbourhood squirrels... Each year, I add to our garden (yeah, it's a garden not a yard), and slowly, it is transforming into the cottage garden I aspire to... plodding around it this morning, I spied Delphiniums, Lupines, and Foxgloves all pushing through the ground.

Hopefully, over the summer months, I will be able to show you what we have achieved... For now, though, you'll have to settle with my Friday Flower... a taste of good things to come.
Thank you for popping by today. I'll catch you next week. Wishing you all a healthy and happy weekend.
Lx

If you would like to join in with this weeks Friday Flower (sorry it's late, but you can link up all the same), simply use the linky widget below and link to your flower inspired post!

Appreciating the local sites...

2011-03-13T22:35:00.000-04:00

The sun was shining this weekend and, after a Saturday of painting, I decided to take advantage of this spring weather and go for a bike ride with the hubby and girls... there's no rush on the cabinet painting and days like today are just too hard to pass up!

The wind was chilly, so we bundled up and decided to bike along Sandy Hook to a place called Fort Hancock. With the Raritan Bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, it was quite blustery, but the kite surfers were making the most of it... I wonder if we could just strap a kite to the bikes... I know the hubby complains about the extra weight of the kiddies...

Anyhoo, riding around these beautiful old buildings, my heart was saddened by their state of disrepair. The Fort was originally set up in 1899 and included 18 Georgian Revival-style homes for officers and their families.

These beautiful houses have spectacular waterfront views and the sunsets along this six mile sand bar peninsula are amazing... and yet here they are crumbling... the beautiful grand doorways decaying... such a shame that these buildings can't be put to some good use.

This building, once the officers house, is open to the public as a museum.

With views of Manhattan from these golden beaches, the mind boggles as to why they haven't been developed???

One can but hope, though... reading in the local paper the other day, there were talks about potential uses for these grand homes, so as I rode around with the hubby and the girls, we chatted about what we would love to see them transformed into... restaurants, shops, cafes, guest houses... to see these derelict houses, once again bustling with people... but, this time around, filled with the vibrance of life and not the ominous threat of war...

Wishing you all a great start to the week!
Lx

Painting, planning & flowers...

2011-03-10T22:18:00.000-05:00

Hi there...
Just popping in to show you the fruits of my labour, what I've got planned (for the next month... urgh), and to share my Friday Flower.

I had very good intentions this week, but I started it feeling sluggish and pretty much stuck with that feeling all week... I attempted to get something together for a mid-week post by whipping something up in the kitchen... but, then, I absentmindedly dished it up, and it was eaten before any photos were taken... it was delicious, so it gives me an excuse to make it again, and share it with all you lovelies at some point in the near future...

A selection of the doors... ohh, there are more...

Kitchen update: I did manage to undercoat the kitchen cabinets, but that's about it... it takes soooo long... I foolishly thought it was a weekend job..... nooooo... Anyhoo, a painter friend gave them the thumbs-up... he did the whole, looking at them in daylight, an inch from his nose (as though expecting a diamond), and declared them top notch! I have every intention of giving them a top coat this weekend. I even drew up this little time plan (lets see if I stick to it)...

... it's right over the kitchen sink (which I am chained to), so there's no excuses for not 'getting with the program'...

Anyhoo, as it's Friday I dutifully popped out in the torrential rain to pick up this week's Friday Flower... and, let me tell you, I'm sat here writing this tonight while it's raining cats and dogs and blowing a hooey outside... we're praying that all of the work done in the basement this past Fall will help us to not flood (prior to this, we would have had water to the top of our welly boots)... So, keep your fingers crossed for us... my dad said we should just invest in a dinghy...

... sorry to digress... Friday Flower... yes... My Friday flower is dedicated to the writer of the blog Bibbity-Bob... I have two daughters under 5, and so, hear 'bippity-bob' a lot in my house...well, actually, my youngest says 'zippity bar-bra'... nevertheless, it's a cool blog name (Bibbity-bob, not Zippity-bar-bra), and, you know what? It's a cool blog... she features crafts, home renovations, and (my favourite posts) eye candy and retail therapy from stores in Blighty... shops I so wish I could shop at... Pop over to her blog this weekend. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Anyways, I've kept you long enough (because I've missed chatting to you so much)... off you trot, have a super weekend and I'll catch you next week!
Lx

If you would like to join in with this week's Friday Flower, simply use the linky widget below to link to your flower post (new or old)... It's blooming marvelous!

New season, updated cloche...

2011-03-07T21:52:00.000-05:00

It must be Spring, as the cloche has been updated... there was a glimpse of it in Friday's post... All Spring-like, with it's blossom, nest, and eggs. The girls were disappointed to see the wintery cardinal go (you can see it here), making way for the nesting Blue Jay... but time is marching on and the season is a-changing.

I love the little bird scenes we create each season (you can see our Autumnal owl here), and even my two-year-old can actually name several bird species now... not sure what that says about me (unless bird-watching is the new cool thing to do...). Anyhoo, I'll make a twitcher out of her yet!

I know this is not to all tastes, but it's now become a little fun thing that me and the girls do and, it's certainly teaching them about the revolving year... in fact, we're already planning Summer...

Happy days!
Lx

More Spring Friday Flowers

2011-03-03T21:54:00.004-05:00

Friday, at last... and this weekend, I really am going to paint. I'm avidly watching the weather forecast, hoping for sunny skies so I can get out in the garden and paint the cabinets. I will hold my resolve and not be tempted by the bike path, beach walks, gardening, or any other Spring-like activities.

Although I speak of Spring as though it were warm outside, in fact it was pretty bracing today... Outside, the sun was shining, but I was not about to be fooled (again), so I dipped my toe outside before choosing my daily attire... and, good job, too. Otherwise, I'd have been swanning around in a Spring coat when my heavy Duffle was called for...

Anyhoo, sat at my desk, how could Spring not be on my mind with these lovely violas to remind me, so cute and dainty... and these are the best flowers, as, when they've finished flowering, I'll simply pop them in the garden to enjoy next year! I love a flower which just keeps on giving!

This week, I'd like to dedicate my Friday Flower to Steph, who writes the blog Curlew Country. I stumbled upon her blog a few weeks back and was instantly hooked. When reading it, I feel I have an insight into her beautiful life, and, for some reason, I've decided that she's like the Felicity Kendal character in the TV show, 'The Good Life' (anyone not from the UK around the 70's will have no idea what I'm talking about... to you, I apologise), in that her blog echoes the simple life that we all would love to attain.. oh, and the fact that Felicity Kendal is just gorgeous!

Anyways, on that note I will leave you all and wish you a fantastic weekend... I'll report back on the kitchen progress next week!

Take care.
Lx

If you would like to join in with Friday Flower this week, simply use the linky widget below to link to your flower inspired blog (it doesn't have to be recent)... share the flower love!

Egg custards, tea & a good old chin wag...

2011-03-02T22:43:00.001-05:00

Hello there... yes, I'm still here... just!
So, I would love to report that the kitchen cabinets have been painted, hung, and dutifully adored, but, alas, I am a fickle girl... easily tempted by the beautiful Spring sunshine and the promise of warmer days... So, instead of painting this past weekend (as intended), I went for a bike ride... and it was lovely... so no apologies! The kitchen update at this point in time is they are all cleaned, sanded, and eagerly awaiting that first lick of paint... that, and the new kitchen dresser I procured the other day... Did I not mention that??

Picture taken from Craigslist

'It needs a lot of TLC, but I think it will fit in like a charm in my little kitchen'... These were the exact words I used to the hubby, as he rolled his eyes at the prospect of me taking on yet another project... Oh, and just in case you were wondering, the prints on the front will be going... Watch this space to see it transformed into something spectacular (cough, cough)...

Anyhoo, this week has entailed sanding kitchen cabinets, doctors visits, trailing across the Jersey Shore in search of the kitchen dresser, parents' evening at my eldest daughter's school, the usual Mummy duties, and a much needed cup of tea and natter with my ex-Pat chum...

She'd just been home to Blighty, and so, I needed filling in as to what is happening in my beloved home country... Are the shops all decked out for Spring and the Royal Wedding? What food did she eat? What was on the telly? Did she get the current issue of Country Living?? I bathed in her English experiences, hoping that, somehow, they would rub off on me... and, as I can't go to see a friend empty-handed, I also whipped up a batch of Egg Custards to go with the tea, and to help us pretend that we were having a good old chin-wag back in Blighty...

Egg Custards were one of my favourite desserts back home (England), but I've not been able to get them here in the States. So, my mum passed me the recipe, and, really, I don't know why I never made them in the past... they're so easy! As I'm super busy at the mo', I did cheat and buy the ready-made Graham Cracker cases (instead of making my own pastry) and, I have to say, they were quite yummy... I guess they were a little Americanised... just like me!
Take care all... I'm off to paint, sew, check Craigslist or something...
Lx

A Cheat's Egg Custard Tarts

Ingredients

2 Eggs

250ml milk

2 tablespoons of sugar (vanilla sugar if you have it)

grated nutmeg

6 small tart cases

Method

Preheat oven to 350F (180c)
To prepare the custard filling, whisk eggs separately, and bring the milk and sugar to the boil in a pan. Pour milk mixture onto the eggs and cool.
Pour the custard mixture into the tart cases and grate nutmeg on top over the tarts.
Pop the tarts in the oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the tarts have set.

I cheated and brought Graham Cracker cases (which were delicious), but if you're wanting a traditional Custard Tart, then follow the recipe above using shortcrust pastry tart cases.

Daffs for Dad...

2011-02-24T21:57:00.000-05:00

Spring is in the air... granted, here in the Northeast, it's still pretty chilly, but Spring is definitely brewing... I can finally see grass... brown instead of green, but no snow... bulbs are starting to push through the ground and buds are forming on the trees... the days are getting longer and the birds are getting busy.

It's only a matter of time before my attention turns to the great outdoors and all my indoor projects go on the back burner... So, before Spring fever takes a hold of me, I decided to start painting the kitchen cabinets... I've taken them all down and removed the hardware, and so, I am now committed to the task ahead... it's going to be a long and arduous one, but it has to be done... Wish me luck, chaps!

Anyhoo, before I get elbow-deep in paint, I thought I'd just pop in to let you know why I'm not posting as frequently, and, also, to share my Friday Flower.

Daffodils... the epitome of Spring... This week, my flower is dedicated to my Dad, as this past Thursday was his birthday. I won't go into details, but his story is an amazing one of survival against the odds... Each year that we celebrate his birthday, I always say, 'you've made it to see the daffodils for another year'... You did it again Dad! Love you!
Wishing you all a very happy and healthy weekend!
Take care.
Lx

If you would like to join in with this week's Friday Flower, simply use the linky widget below to link to your lovely blooms...

I ♥ hearts...

2011-02-21T21:40:00.002-05:00

This past Valentine's Day, I felt inspired by all the blogs out there making paper heart decorations and so, I decided to snip some out myself and string them across the headboard in our bedroom... As I strung the little hearts over our marital bed, I smiled to myself, thinking it was like dressing the bed up for the bride and groom on their wedding night... not that anyone did that for us, but I imagine that this could happen...

Anyhoo, I was quite taken by the sight of those little hearts dangling above us as our heads hit the pillow... hearts mean 'love'... and, with this physical reminder staring us in the face, I figured that if they were always there, then we could never go to bed angry with each other... this little cue would tell us, 'hey you're in love'...

So, this past weekend, I dragged out the sewing machine and created a more permanent string of hearts. As I'm still a novice at this sewing game, I spent an inordinate amount of time cutting out the 'perfect' heart ... and that was supposed to be the easy part... well, in hind sight, I guess it was, because then came the sewing...

Now, sewing the perfect heart has proved a little elusive to me, but I'm always preaching to my girls 'practice makes perfect'... and, I have to admit, towards the end of this little exercise, I was getting a little more proficient in the old heart sewing...
There was one lesson learnt... the opening for turning should be left at the bottom... well, in my case anyway, as my dodgy hand-sewing led to some bumpy hearts... But, who ever said the road to love was smooth??

Hope you're all having a great start to the week. Toodle pip!
Lx

Shared at A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesday, nip over for inspiration and a lovely yarn from Sarah.

Say it with flowers...

2011-02-17T22:54:00.000-05:00

Flowers... I wonder, when the first flower was given as a gift?? Flowers are given to express so many emotions... whether it be love, sympathy, congratulations, or a thank you. The simple act of giving this delicate bloom can convey it all... and, let's face it, there's no such thing as a bad flower (unless it's dead)... Granted, some flowers are considered passe or unimaginative, but each in their own right is beautiful... I mean, they have to be, after all they are the reproductive organs of a plant... their beauty is there to attract that passing insect... but, hey, we won't go there, as the act of giving reproductive organs as a gift just becomes plain weird...

Anyhoo, this past Valentine's, the hubby came home with this wonderful bouquet, and it just spoke to me... metaphorically, that is, not literally (although after the few glasses of wine I'd drunk, who knows). This bouquet told me that this man knows me well... knows that I love the natural look (green filler... no idea what it is but love it), a little traditional (in the form of a rose), a little different (as an orchid), and something a little showy (the Gerber daisy). This bouquet told me that my man gets me and all the facets of my personality. Flowers really can say it all...

This week, I would like to dedicate my Friday Flower to Lou, who writes the beautiful blog Lou, Boos and Shoes. I never miss a post. I find myself nodding along to her insightful words... sometimes, I almost feel as though she were writing on behalf of me, as though she has insider knowledge of my life and, not only are we treated to her wonderful prose, but we can then sit back and swoon over the beautiful pictures that sync with her posts perfectly.

This week, I was also lucky to receive a a voucher for Belle and Boo from Lou (I feel I should be writing a rhyming ditty now)... yeah, little old me actually won something... Thank you, Lou, for hosting the competition but, most of all, thank you for putting together a perfect blog! If you haven't visited Lou yet, pop over... savour her words and absorb the pictures.

Have a great weekend all.
Lx

If you would like to join in with this weeks Friday Flower, simply use the linky widget below to link to your flower post and then post a link to this page.

Blogging & friendship...

2011-02-16T23:17:00.000-05:00

When I first jumped into this blogging malarkey, I don't know what I expected of it, or for that matter, why I was doing it... I'd been reading blogs for a while and I guess I just wanted to join in... wanted to create, write... document my life... stop and smell the coffee (or tea, in my case)... Life is there, happening every day on your doorstep and all too often, we close the door on it. Letting it slip by without even a mention... but the simple act of recording life's daily events makes us slow down, linger on an image viewed through once-tired eyes... it was all there before, but there was never a reason to capture it, a reason to preserve these precious times...

When I was very little, I found a four-leaved clover on the lawn (we didn't maintain the grass too well). I plucked it from the ground and placed it in our huge leather-bound family dictionary and it is still there to this day. You can open that book today and that memory of lying on the grass on a hot summer's day is right there somewhere in the middle of a musty old page... probably around the letter M's... and that is how I feel about this blog... one day I read these entries and be taken back these happy days...

Anyhoo, this blog has now become so much more than a record of my life... it has brought me something very dear... friendship... Friendship from people I will probably never meet, other than in 'Blogland'... but, nevertheless, I feel the warmth of their friendship, as though it were the sun streaming through my windows. It can be in the form of an e-mail to check how I am or some encouraging words posted in a comment... but, today, friendship came in a parcel...

The lovely Melissa, who writes Miss Sew and So, sent a parcel for me and my girls for Christmas via snail mail... it landed on my doorstep today... So, beautifully-wrapped, I welled up at the sheer thoughtfulness of it... even if it had been an half-eaten Mars bar in there, it wouldn't have mattered (for the record, it wasn't... it was a box of loveliness)...

I cannot express enough gratitude... this random act of kindness tells me that friendship can cross an ocean... can be gained via an exchange of words in an e-mail or merely a comment at the end of a post...

When I first corresponded with the sweet Melissa, I mentioned that she was like a modern day pen-friend, and the beauty of this blog is that I feel I can now say I have so many pen-friends... fortunate for you guys, though, you don't have to endure my awful written French!
Take care all, and, if you get a chance, pop over to Melissa, and just tell her how wonderful she is...

A Valentine's birthday...

2011-02-15T21:55:00.002-05:00

So, yesterday, when the majority were concerned with amore and matters of the heart, my focus was on my nearest and dearest (the hubby), as he shares his birthday with Valentine's Day. So, while all others are receiving flowers and being pampered by their loved ones, I become the pamperer, and all thoughts of Valentine's were swept aside... Okay, so maybe there were a smattering of hearts...

... starting with the 6:00 a.m. wake-up to bake cookies for my daughter's Valentine's party at school. As the hubby rubbed the sleep from his eyes and poured his morning coffee, his only comment was, 'Now that's a dedicated mummy'... no, that's a crazy mummy!

Anyhoo, cookies baked and daughter packed off to school, I then set about preparing a birthday meal for my man. Now, once upon a time, we would have hit the restaurants, but, after years of being squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder with other loved-up couples, presented with a prix fix menu (with obligatory glass of champers), and a nice fat bill at the end of it, we decided to ditch the restaurant and have a blow out meal at home... this also solved the problem that no one is up for babysitting on Valentine's night.

So, ingredients brought, I then foolishly decided to bake a birthday cake with girls... this was after we had made a glitter card, and so, said cake had a nice unhealthy amount of red glitter added to it (you know how hard it is to clean up glitter?? I think I'll still be finding it next Valentine's).
Needless to say, after the candle-blowing, the wish-making, and the frosting being licked off the cake, the rest went into the bin (garbage)...

... kids packed off to bed and then down to adult matters... those being food-related (nothing saucy here; it's a kid-friendly blog... you never know who's reading)... I'd decided to cook a man's meal of steak (such a cliche, I know, but it is his favourite)... as I don't eat red meat, I have no idea how to cook steak, so when the hubby stuck his knife in (the steak, not me), it practically mooed. Luckily, I'd doused it in lashings of Stilton sauce. He was very polite, though, and said 'That's just how I like my steak'... not sure if that was a lie... but anyhoo, it made him look very manly... with the blood dripping from his chin, I was taken away to the Brad Pitt vampire movie....

With dinner cooked, eaten, and cleared away, I slumped into the couch at 9:30 realising that I had not sat down all day. A far cry from the days of being pampered... hand fed chocolate-dipped strawberries while sipping Dom Perignon ... wait a minute, that never happened...
Anyhoo, I hope you all had the day that you wished for... strangely, I did!
Lx

Today's post is also linked up with Sarah at A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesday head over for some truly inspiring posts.

Don't be fooled...

2011-02-10T22:32:00.000-05:00

This past week, I sat in my living room... the sun was streaming through the windows... the paperwhite bulbs I have growing in planters on the desk were shooting up.. the birds were busy in the garden and the world just appeared that little bit brighter. I was on the phone to my mum and she too remarked that her garden was full of snowdrops... So, without stepping a foot outside, I decided it was Spring.
Gathered the girls up and left the warmth of home...

... and I was greeted by an icy blast... you know, the sort where you feel you could lose an appendage if you knocked into something... as the kids meandered around inside the car, I (outside in the cold, dressed for Spring) hopped from one foot to another, geeing them along, pleading with them to get into their car seats...QUICKLY!!

Winter is definitely still in full effect... granted, the snow has stopped, but there'll be no Spring bunnies hopping around yet... I guess I'd just got caught up in the moment and forgot that it is still February, after all...

Anyhoo, I'm not a girl to sit and accept things, so I figured I would create a little Spring here in the house... well, when I say 'create Spring', I actually mean I brought some Spring-like branches for the Friday Flower this week... I'm not sure what they are, but to me they ooze Spring... and so, I can sit here in my warm house, watch the birds, feel the sun, and pretend that Spring is here! Now, where's that bunny with my Cadbury's Mini Eggs?
Wishing you all a fantastic weekend... with just the right amount of warmth in it!
Lx

If you want to join in with this week's Friday Flower, just use the linky widget below... You know, flowers are a good cure for Winter blues...

An English Gal's Mexican Eggs...

2011-02-07T21:53:00.001-05:00

So, this past Sunday was 'Superbowl Sunday'... now, as far as I can ascertain (in my house, anyway), this just means that we eat all day, and then watch American football. Breakfast was light (just a muffin), but we decided to push the boat out and eat brunch. I've got to say, brunch was something that passed me by in the UK. I was a breakfast, dinner, tea gal ('tea' being 'dinner' and 'dinner' being 'lunch'...get me? Nevermind, it's a northern thing)... every now and then, I would succumb to the old tummy rumblings and have 'Elevenses'... usually some bickies (cookies) or a pastry, but that's about as close as I got to brunch. On my arrival in the States, I found myself meeting people for 'brunch'... this newfound mealtime, where you could have either breakfast or lunch... or, in my mind, you could eat more and sleep in!

Anyhoo, originally, my favourite brunch dish was Eggs Benedict... the poached eggs then gradually gave way to Mexican Eggs... I then messed about with the ingredients at home, and 'Laura's Mexican Eggs' were born.

They always go down a treat... especially on lazy Sunday mornings.. There's quite a few ingredients in this dish, but it's worth it and, as it's lunch and breakfast, I think you can get away with it. So, this up and coming weekend, with romance in the air, why not dish up this sizzling treat to your loved one?... after all, apparently if you win over the stomach, you get the heart!

Take care all.
Lx

A Recipe for Mexican Eggs

Ingredients

mini tater tots or any fried potato product (two servings... you be the judge)

a handful of tortilla chips (I use multi grain)

1/2 a 15oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup of grated cheddar

1 avocado, sliced

2 scallions, chopped

black bean & corn salsa (you can use regular salsa)

4 heaped teaspoons of sour cream

1 small carton of grape tomatoes, cut in half

1/4 cup of cilantro (coriander), chopped

4 eggs (I personally have one, but the hubby has two)

Method
Cook the tater tots (of other potato product like this... sauteed potatoes, potato crowns, mini hash browns etc.) as per the manufacturers instructions. Transfer to a oven proof dish.

Add the chips, black beans, scallions, avocado, chopped cilantro (reserve a small amount for garnish), and tomatoes, and cover with the grated cheddar. Pop under the grill (broiler), until the cheese has melted and is bubbling...

While the dish is in the broiler, poach the eggs. To poach the eggs; bring a medium size pan of water to boil. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water. When the water is bubbling gently, crack the egg into a small ramekin or bowl, gently slide the egg from the bowl into the water. (I use the freshest eggs, as these keep their shape better). Poach gently for 2 minutes for a runny yolk. Remove the eggs, one at a time, from water with a slotted spoon. I usually place on a plate and cover with a bowl to keep the eggs warm if they are ready before the dish is ready, but in an ideal world, they'll be ready at the same time!

Once the potato mixture has been removed from the grill, transfer it from the ovenproof dish onto warm plates. Add the poached eggs on top of each plate. Season with pepper and a sprinkling of the chopped cilantro. Add a couple of teaspoons (or more if you fancy) of the sour cream and the salsa.

Enjoy!

Shared at A Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesday, pop over for some inspiration!

Running with the pack...

2011-02-04T11:35:00.001-05:00

When a friend first told me about blogging, I was a bit baffled by it... who would be interested in reading about someone else's day-to-day life? Years later, I sat at home nursing my newborn, and I suddenly felt very isolated and alone... I felt I no longer had a voice or anything else to offer society... That was when I first made my blog entry. My electronic diary... That was back in the dark days, when I was learning to be a mother in a foreign country... dealing with the overwhelming feeling of homesickness, coupled with the raging hormones of a new mother... I only made a handful of entries and, reading back on them, I can feel my loneliness...

Fast forward a few years and another baby later and, this time, I felt I wanted to share again... but it would be more positive this time around, as I had a life and ideas I wanted share... and so, 'A Place for Tea' was born... and I don't think I have ever looked back.
Through this blog, I have met some amazing individuals... People who inspire me, encourage me, and make me look at things in a different light. I feel I can rise to any challenge... these virtual friends are right there, running alongside me... they pick me up and brush me off when I am feeling low. They encourage me in all my endeavours, no matter how trivial. They share their ideas and want nothing in return, other than friendship. Through this blog I feel that I am running in a pack again...

Thank you...

And, with this in mind, I would dedicate my Friday Flower to a like to a lady named Cindy Sue. She writes a blog called My Craftiness Only Dollar Store Allowed. After reading her comment one day, I popped over to her blog and was instantly won over by the openness in her profile. She has just started her blog, documenting her craft projects on a $20 a month budget. I love the idea of that! I'm looking forward to seeing what she conjures up... I'm already planning on stealing her 'To Plant - Pin Board with Pockets'...

Anyhoo, if you get a chance, pop over. We could all do with a little encouragement so we feel we're running with the pack!

Have a great weekend, all!
Lx

If you would like to link up with this weeks Friday Flower, just use the linky widget below to link to your flower post.

For the love of books...

2011-02-02T18:05:00.000-05:00

I love books... I dream of a day when I can have a whole room dedicated to them... floor to ceiling bookshelves... it doesn't have to be a big room... I envisage one like the one here from Iris's house in 'The Holiday'... Oh, to dream...
Anyhoo, in anticipation of getting said room, I just can't resist buying pretty books to adorn the shelves. Now, don't judge, it's not all about aesthetics, I love to read them, too. Although, I did read a lot more prior to the little ones joining me. These days though, my literary exploration is limited to the latest Julia Donaldson offering (at the moment, the kids are in love with 'The Wizard and the Princess'... I have to say I'm quite partial to it, too)...

Where was I? Ahh, yes, books... so, last year when I was browsing through Anthropolgie, my eye immediately locked onto the stack of pretty books on an oh-so-beautiful-table.
Penguin Classics had brought out hardback versions of their classics... all prettied up with a clothbound cover designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith.... Needless to say, my heart skipped a beat and these were promptly added to my 'Wish List' (you know, the one as big as the Magna Carta).

Then I went to England and found that there were even more titles in the series... double skip, clicking heals in joy... So, over the course of the year, my hubby and various family members have helped me build this collection up...

They are all good fodder for the old brain and are pretty to look at too... I'm currently ploughing through 'Tess of the D'urbervilles'... and it's so nice to revisit these old classics without having to write an essay afterwards... I'm not sure whether Penguin will keep releasing new titles with this make-over. I hope they do... I'd love to see Evelyn Waugh's 'Vile Bodies' or 'Brideshead Revisited'... especially after the success surrounding 'Downtown Abbey'...

... and, so my question to you is, which classic would you like to see prettied up? Come on lurkers, I'd love to hear from you!
Lx

A welcoming draught excluder...

2011-01-31T21:59:00.004-05:00

So... it's pretty darn cold here, with yet more snow forecast this week... I feel I've been starting a lot of blogs with that opening line... I guess all of this snow is still a bit of a novelty for me...
Anyhoo, our little old house is standing up to the elements (so far... I hope I don't jinx it), but this harsh weather does bring a few problems with it... like the half-inch gap at the bottom of the kitchen door... normally not an issue, but the cool breeze that circles around my ankles while I drink my morning cuppa is becoming a bit of a pain... even my ankle booty slippers aren't helping. So, in an attempt to address the micro-climate I have going on in the kitchen, I decided to make a draught excluder... or draft dodger as the hubby calls them...

Sorry about the cat flap, but this is real life...

Got to say, I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew, as sewing the letters on was a tad tricky (beyond my novice capabilities), but I stuck with it, and I like the results. My mother-in-law said it looked homely... I think that's a good thing... right?

Anyways, I'm chuffed to pieces (very pleased) with the fact that I tackled piping and succeeded... I had no pattern to work from and even put weighty bits in it so it stays put! But, the point of this post today was to let you know that if I can try my hand at this sewing malarkey, then anyone can. I know my end product isn't amazing, but it's a start... if you're on the fence and want to start sewing, but don't think you can... give it a go and, before long, you'll be churning out all manner of creations! Now, I'm going whip up another one for the living room... Oohh, I wonder if it would work for the windows, too... Perhaps I'll just wrap the whole house in fluff!

More snow tonight and tomorrow... this is New Jersey, right. and not Canada??

Have a great week, all, and thanks for visiting today. You bring warmth and sunshine to me on these cold, cold days!
Lx

I've linked up with Sarah at A beach cottage - Good life Wednesday ... head on over and you'll find more inspiration than you can shake a stick at!

A birthday and a Friday Flower...

2011-01-27T21:54:00.009-05:00

So, this past Tuesday was my birthday... another year closer to the big 4-0... not that I'm that worried by this prospect... honest... From what I hear, 40's are the new 30's... and, I have to admit, with each passing year, I become more confident in my own skin. Crazy, that when I had youth on my side, I spent so much time preoccupied with my weight, skin, hair, etc. instead of just enjoying what god gave me and making the most of it! When thinking about this, I always think of the Baz Luhrmann lyrics from 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)':

You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.

But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and

recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before

you and how fabulous you really looked….

Anyhoo, what am I wittering on about? My mum assures me that I am still a spring chicken, and mums are always right...
And so, to my Friday Flower this week... naturally, a birthday bunch from the hubby... well, a selection of them, as they also included roses, but I decided to split them as I found the colours jarred... beautiful and thoughtful nonetheless...

This week's floral offering is dedicated to Maureen from Daydream Living. I visit her blog whenever I see a post and always come away with a smile on my face. Sometimes her posts are short and sweet, while, at other times, she introduces us to individuals that inspire her... and, sometimes, we are treated into an insight into Maureen's life... whatever the post, though, you will always leave feeling happy, as Maureen's warmth and friendliness radiate through her blog. While your tea is still warm, you could nip over and say hi. I know you'll be welcome!

Take care, all, and have a fantastic weekend... I have Disney Princesses on Ice to look forward to... a treat for the girls, for my birthday... how did that happen??
Lx

If you would like to link up with Friday Flower, use the linky widget below... share your blooms!

Raspberry, White Chocolate & Almond Muffins

2011-01-26T22:28:00.001-05:00

January is a month that drags... well, for me anyway. I feel as though January has 60 days... no, make that 90! This year, we have seen an exceptionally snowy start. In fact, the last time I saw green, green grass was Christmas day... and, this evening, we had thunder-snow again... and, boy, was it loud. The poor dog nearly shot up her own backside (sorry, but that's the best way to describe it)...

Anyhoo, with all this dastardly weather, I feel compelled to bake and cook... It's an almost primitive instinct... not unlike the squirrels I see gathering whatever they can in the garden (usually all the bird food I placed outside moments earlier). I get great comfort from the knowledge that I have multiple options readily available when asked the age old question, 'I'm hungry, what is there to eat?'... and, even though I might fall down in a zillion and one other categories, I know that, at least in this one, I'm keeping pace!

When the wind is howling outside and the snow is whirling around the street light, I get the most comfort from this little old house and it's little old oven. And, even though by many people's standards, it's not all that much to look at, I am thankful that it is warm, welcoming, and full of good food to eat...

Speaking of which, I whipped up a batch of muffins this morning and once my chief taster (the hubby) tried one, he promptly told me to share the recipe with you guys... They're super easy to put together, and as I'm on a total raspberry kick at the moment, they are just the ticket. If you give these a try, let me know what you think of them.

Hope you're all having a great week. Catch you on Friday for a Friday Flower.
Lx

Raspberry, Almond & White Chocolate Muffins

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup ground almonds (I usually get slithered almonds and chop them in the blender for a course texture)

1 cup of raspberries

1 cup of white chocolate chips.

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup of milk

1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), melted

1 large egg

1 teaspoon almond extract

Method

Preheat the oven to 400F. Line 12 muffin pan cups with muffin cases.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, ground almonds, baking powder, and salt.
In a medium bowl or jug, using a fork, beat the milk, melted butter, egg and almond extract until blended. Add to the flour mixture and stir until flour is just moistened. Stir in the raspberries and white chocolate chips, to the batter mixture.
Spoon batter into prepared muffin pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center, comes out clean.... approximately 20-25 minutes.
Remove muffins from the pan and cool on a wire rack.

Blue Peter Special Recipe

2011-01-23T22:30:00.000-05:00

Growing up, I was a pretty poor eater... in fact, my hubby would say that I still am... My mum was 'old school,' in that everything was baked from scratch and nothing went to waste. There were no meal choices... meals were dished up and eaten... no questions. I remember coming in from school during the winter months with the kitchen windows steamed up from the pots bubbling away on the stove top... On asking what what was for dinner, my mum would reply, "Dinner"... to which I would respond "Dinner? What, dinner, dinner?"... you see, I hated 'Dinner' mid-week... dinner being 'meat and two veg'... When my mum would confirm that it was in fact 'Dinner, Dinner', my bottom lip would tremble and I would burst into tears... Can you imagine crying over meat and two veg? Ahhh, the troubles of an eight year old...

Anyhoo, when it was my birthday, my mum would cook an evening meal of my choice (no fancy eating out for me)... I had to wait a whole 365 days to chose the meal that I actually wanted, and it was always 'Blue Peter Special'... Now, what's this, I hear you ask? Well, to anyone not brought up in the 70's in the UK, Blue Peter was a kids show on the BBC... My mum felt that is was more educational than other children's television shows, and so, deemed it appropriate to watch... there were all sorts of craft segments (like making spaceships from washing-up liquid bottles) and a cooking segment... the poor hosts would cook live and would generally hash it up... burning or dropping something mid-scene...

Anyways, I would furtively scribble down the recipes and ask my mum if we could make them... some we did... most we didn't, but this recipe stuck... it's my go-to meal... my 'had a bad day' meal... 'I need comfort' meal... This recipe, as stood me in good stead, and still does to this day, being an all round family favourite... and, it's even better now that I don't have to wait until my birthday to eat it.

So, if you want a quick supper meal, give it a try (it tastes delicious with a dash of Worcestershire sauce)... It sure would make me smile to know that others are eating my birthday meal!
Here's to the start of a great week!
Lx

A Recipe for Blue Peter Special

Ingredients

2lb potatoes peeled & diced small (I usually use approx. 4 baking potatoes)

1 large onion (chopped)

4 tomatoes chopped

1 tablespoon flour

4oz cheese (you can use more if you like it cheesy like me)

salt & pepper

1 1/4 cup (300ml) of warm milk

2 tablespoons butter chopped into small cubes

4 teaspoons of chopped parsley (I add a little more)

Method

Preheat the oven to 375F and grease an ovenproof dish. Add the diced potatoes, chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, grated cheese, chopped parsley and flour, and mix together.

Pour the warm milk over the top. Season with salt and pepper.
Place the pieces of butter on top of the mixture.

Cover with foil and pop in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook for a further 40 minutes or until the top has nicely browned and the potatoes are cooked through.

This dish tastes delicious with a dash of Worcestershire sauce and is great reheated for a bit of supper... Mmmmm....

The circus that is life...

2011-01-21T09:08:00.000-05:00

First, I want to apologise for not posting mid-week... I had every intention of sharing a little of my world with you, but life happened, bowled me over, and left me with a migraine... You know, one of those heads where even the glare of the television is too much.
Before all this, I had one of those days where you sit back and look at what's going off around you and wonder, 'When did I join the circus?'
As I walked through my front door, I had my youngest screaming 'Coat! Coat! Coat!' at me... you see, she hates clothes, and as soon as we enter the house she starts demanding that I de-robe her... This is all with a sense of urgency, that if I don't do it in seven seconds flat, she'll spontaneously combust...

Add to this chaos, a dog running around, bounding up at said child... charged with sheer happiness... happy that we have finally returned from our 2 hour jaunt... and if I don't acknowledge her and her joy, she'll promptly skulk off to the kitchen and tear apart one of her stuffed animals... leaving the innards of little doggie toys floating around my kitchen like tumbleweed in the desert...

... then there was the 4-year old... asleep in the car... yet to be brought in... the phrase, 'don't wake sleeping bears' was running through my mind... knowing (from experience), that, once awoken, I would be greeted by crying... no, make that shrieking and tantrums... followed by a bathroom break (her) and more tears. The energy level in the house was at 10... and none of it was happy energy (apart from the dog's, although at this point, I think even she had started ripping up her stuffed elephant). After all this had finally calmed down to a dull roar (about 45 minutes later), I locked myself in the kitchen and made myself a cup of tea... I imagined what my house was like 5 minutes before we descended... imagined it still, and quiet, the peaceful haven I try to create... you see, I never see it like this... ever... it's always full of energy, noise... life... that's what a home is... it takes on the energy that fills it and becomes this persona. One day, it will be quiet... one day, I will hear the tick of the clock in an empty house and remember these 'happy' times... Not on this day, though... this day, the house had a migraine and needed the blinds pulled!

Sorry for the long post today... I just wanted to share a little... Anyhoo, my Friday Flower, was brought by my hubby this week... a pity bouquet... he picked them all out and presented them to me last night. I think they have a country feel to them... they even have a little bit of lucky heather in... I guess he thinks I need it.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend... Lets make it a relaxing one!
Lx

If you would like to join in with this weeks Friday Flower, simply use the Linky widget below... we all could do with more flowers in our lives!

Tea cozy love...

2011-01-17T09:46:00.001-05:00

I love tea... I think I've mentioned it before. First thing in the morning, I plod down to the kitchen bleary-eyed, and pop the kettle on. It's a red stove-top one... I toyed with getting an electric kettle, but there's something about the urgent whistle of a stove-top that I find quite soothing... like it's shouting, 'Tea! Tea! Quick!' (which is exactly the sentiment I'm feeling when I get that cup of tea).
I start the day by having two cups of tea (to 'wet my whistle,' as my grandad used to say)... I would have more, but by the last sip of my second cup, the girls are awake, and my attention turns to Cheerios, milk, and settling disputes over princess dolls.

Anyhoo, in an ideal world, I would make a pot... When I was little, we had a big brown teapot (a 'Brown Betty'); whoever was first up in the morning would make the pot, and then we would all saunter downstairs at various intervals and take a cup from it. Our big brown Bess was kept warm by a tea cozy... and this is where my problem lay... You see, I'm currently the only tea drinker in the house (this is practically unheard of in Blighty), and so, when I make a pot, it gets cold... and, unlike some, I like my tea piping hot!

Anyways, to circumnavigate this problem, I decided to drag out the sewing machine and set about making a tea cozy. I used this website here to help me... I didn't follow it to the letter (mainly because I have no idea what I am doing), but it gave me the framework... and I would have never worked out how to line the thing without this helpful site. There's a couple of things I'd do differently if I were making it again.. like invest in a compass, so I'd have a more rounded tea cozy, and create a little loop in the top, so I can hang it somewhere... but, as they say, 'practice makes perfect'... so, I think I'll be making another for my English gal pal T... after all, you can't have a teapot without a tea cozy.

Have a happy start to the week all!
Lx

This post is linked to A Beach Cottage- Good Life Wednesday, pop over for inspiration!

A Friday Flower and hope...

2011-01-14T13:55:00.000-05:00

It is bitterly cold here in New Jersey. Once upon a time, this would have been a day where I'd have waved the hubby goodbye at the door, and then snuggled up on the couch with my little ones all day... but times are 'a changing... I now have to bundle us all up and get my eldest to Pre-K ('nursery' for anyone outside the States), much to my youngest daughters displeasure. It feels like a whole lot of effort for a mere 3 hours break. By the time I've dropped her off, settled her in the classroom, cajoled my other one back into the car, and then driven home, it's almost time to think about heading back! Needless to say, on days when it's this cold, I do mull over the possibility of us all staying at home... Does that make me a bad Mum? Wait, don't answer that.

Anyhoo, even though it is in the low teens here (Fahrenheit), I know that we are heading in the right direction... shops are, once again, full of Spring flowers... from hyacinth bulbs, to narcissus, to daffodils and, my favourite, tulips. Spring flowers, so vibrant in colour, so delicate and yet so hardy. A symbol of new beginnings, fresh starts, and better things to come.

With this sentiment in mind, I would like to dedicate my Friday Flower this week to all those individuals that have been tragically effected by the floods in Queensland, Australia. The stories that have come out of this disaster are beyond comprehension... families dealing with the loss of fathers, mothers, and, most tragically, children. Dealing with the loss of their homes... a sacred place to all individuals... Some things can be replaced, but not all... All we can hope for is that time will heal and that each day is a step in the right direction.

If you would like to donate to the Queensland Flood Appeal, please click here.

Take care all and wishing you all a relaxing weekend...
Lx

Blueberry muffins, hot chocolate and bird watching...

2011-01-12T21:50:00.001-05:00

We woke up to even more snow this morning in New Jersey, and, even though it came over the top of my wellies, I was quite blase, declaring that, 'it's not too bad at all'... I guess I have been living here a while now. Nevertheless, the hubby got the day off work, and so, I had someone to share the parenting load with me. While he cleared the snow outside, the girls and I whipped up a batch of blueberry muffins... a little mid-week treat to enjoy later in the day with a hot chocolate... I try to get the little ones really involved in the whole baking process... it makes it a bit more messy, but they get so much out of it... and, while the hubby was around to tag team with the kids, this endeavor appeared less daunting.

Anyhoo, early this morning, when the house was still, I brushed the sleep from eyes, pulled on my wellies, trekked across the snow in the garden, and cleared the bird bath so that I could add some much needed sustenance for the poor little birds that were sat in the trees with their little chests puffed out. By the time the girls woke up, the garden was alive with the chatter of birds. I managed to shoot these through the kitchen backdoor and I just had to share them with you...

As a child, my Mum would teach me the names of all the birds that frequented our garden... living here in the States, I've had to re-educate myself on the birds native to New Jersey, and it hasn't grown old... I still get just as much enjoyment out of watching these dart around our garden...

... but, best of all, I think I've managed to pass this love of birds along to my little girls. They independently pushed a chair to the back door, just so they can watch our little visitors (although they still have to learn the art of being still and quiet, so as not to scare them off)... hopefully, this skill will come sooner rather than later...

Hope you are all having a great week.
Lx

Blueberry Muffin Recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

1/2 cup of light brown sugar

1 tablespoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup of milk

1 stick butter (1/2 cup), melted

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

oats for topping

Method

Preheat your oven to 400f and line 12 muffin pan cups with greaseproof muffin cases. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

In a medium bowl or jug, using a fork, beat the milk, melted butter, egg and vanilla essence until blended. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture; stir just until the flour is moistened (don't worry, the batter will look lumpy).

Spoon the batter mixture into the prepared muffin-pan cups. (I use an ice-cream scoop to ensure nice even sized muffins). Sprinkle the muffins with oats and a little brown sugar.

Bake until toothpick inserted in center of the muffin comes out clean. Approximately 20-25 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and cool on a wire rack...

I like to eat these why are still a little warm... Mmmmm...

A winter walk and a recipe for pear & raspberry crumble

2011-01-09T22:52:00.004-05:00

Today, I took the dog for a walk. There was a fresh coat of snow from the day before, and so, the dirty grey snow left over from Christmas had been given a new lease of life. It was, once again, pristine and white, as though the land had been draped in a crisp white sheet, hiding the messy bed beneath.

During the warmer months, this path is alive with wildlife... birds darting in and out of the reeds, young rabbits nibbling lush green grass at the side, and butterflies twirling around the sky, as though they were taking part in an elaborate ballet... but, today, it was still and quiet. The only sound was the crunching of the snow underfoot... each footstep pushing the snow back to reveal the glassy ice beneath. I trudged along the path, pulled my hood tighter against me and buried my head into my scarf so that I could feel my warm breath against my skin.

As the wind blew, the dog braced herself against it, until I turned on my heal and declared, 'Come Bea, let's head home...,' to which she returned an almost grateful tail wag.

As I walked into our little home, the warmth of the house was greeted by the throbbing of my cold cheeks. I looked at the healthy snack of raspberries that I had left on the side, pre-walk, and decided that today was a crumble day... it's too cold for diets...

If you're wanting a little comfort food, give this delicious combination a try... you won't be disappointed.

Take care all and have a great Monday!

Pear & Raspberry Crumble

Ingredients

1 cup plain flour

1 1/4 stick of butter, cut into cubes

1/2 cup of brown sugar

3 pears peeled and cut into slices

1 cup of raspberries (I used a small carton)

2 heaped tablespoons of vanilla sugar (granulated sugar if you don't have it)

honey for drizzling (optional)

Method

Preheat the oven to 375F. Place the pear slices and raspberries in an oven-proof dish or pie dish, sprinkle with the vanilla sugar and stir in with a spoon.

Sift the flour into a bowl, add the cubed butter and rub in with your fingers, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir the brown sugar into the flour mixture.

Spread the crumble mixture over the pears and raspberries. Don't pat down the mixture... you want it to stay airy. Drizzle the top with a little honey... this gives a chewy texture to your crumble top... it's not necessary, but I like it.

Place the crumble in the oven for approximately 40-45 minutes, or until the crumble is golden brown on top and the fruit is bubbling at the sides.

Serve with either custard of vanilla ice-cream... both are delicious!

Note: I don't precook the pears, as with apple crumble, as they're usually softer already. If you're not able to get vanilla sugar, you can always try and make it. Sarah's blog here offers a tutorial on how to do this. It really does make a difference.

If January were a dress...

2011-01-07T10:32:00.002-05:00

December is a month of excess, opulence, and over-indulgence.. the perfect way to end the year. It's as though the eleven months prior were there simply to build anticipation, leading us to the crescendo that is December. During this month, we bid farewell to the year, surrounded by vibrant colours, rich food, drink, glitz, and glamour! If December were a dress, it would be a figure-hugging, swanky, red velvet number, encrusted in rhinestones... the type of dress Jane Mansfield would have worn as she sashayed down the red carpet...

... and now, here we are in January... the beginning... the bottom step. A month of reflection, cleansing, simplicity, hope, and optimism. All the brashness of December has been packed away and we return to normality. I imagine that the sentence, 'it's so bare in here now' has been uttered in many a household this week. Furniture is pushed out and allowed to breathe again. Walls are, once again, bare and uncluttered. Lighting becomes subdued. Meals are functional... During the month of January, I find myself wanting to be grounded, and am reminded as to what is really important in life... If January were a dress it would be a plain, simple, practical, grey, and wool...

... with this in mind, I picked a Friday Flower that encapsulated the month of January. Clean, pure, and uncomplicated... displayed simply in a vintage jar... no hoopla, just pretty...

Wishing you all a great weekend. Looking forward to catching up next week!
Lx

Smile in 2011

2011-01-05T22:00:00.000-05:00

I'm a little bit late off the starting block when it comes to the New Year... but I've made it... I'm finally here in 2011. How's yours going so far? I've been trying to get the this little old place ship-shape and ready for the up and coming year (which mainly just involved packing away the holiday decorations). A job which I never relish, packing away all the magic, carefully, in bubble wrap, knowing that it will be a whole 11 months before I see them again (by which time I've usually forgotten what has been squirreled away).

Anyhoo, I was listening to the radio (yes, Santa did treat me to that cream Roberts radio... I must have been a really good girl...) and there was a segment on New Year's resolutions... who makes them and what they were for 2011. There were the usual... stop smoking... diet... be more organised, etc... and then, one women announced that, in order to keep her New Year's resolution, she was setting her goals a lot lower in 2011... My ears pricked up and I decided I liked the cut of her jib... my kind of gal... Anyways, her resolution was to smile every morning... and my first thought was, 'attainable... really?'
This thought was closely followed by 'You cynic, Laura. Is it really that hard to smile every morning?'
I'd love to say no... I'd love to say that I wake up, think of my life, and smile... just as the bluebirds peal back my bed linen and the dog runs in with my nicely warmed slippers, and places them beside my bed... but life isn't a fairytale... I'm not going to go into my morning routine, as I'm sure, most of you out there have your own morning tales to tell. All I will say is that it's like waking up strapped into a roller coaster and knowing that there's no way off until bedtime.

Where am I going with this?... Ahh, yes... to smile every morning... Yes, this is my New Year's resolution... to do it right before the chaos happens... that split second where my eyelids are still heavy and clinging onto my eyeballs for dear life, I'm going to remind myself that I would not have my life any other way... remind myself that, throughout the day, there will be tears and there will be tantrums, but there will be lots and lots of smiles...

Take care all and keep smiling!
L :-)

New Year, a New Calendar...

2010-12-30T21:33:00.001-05:00

Someone once said that the week between Christmas and New Year's is like a week's worth of Sundays, and I have to agree. Each day slips by and, at the end of it, I've done absolutely nothing other than eat and enjoy being around the hubby and my girls. The huge amount of snow we've had here in the Northeast only added to my lethargy... not that I'm complaining. I've managed to flick through my old magazines and get some ideas together for the New Year. I'm almost like a racehorse, chomping at the bit, waiting to spring into 2011 and get all my plans into gear.

Anyhoo, the other day, a magazine landed in my mailbox, all the way from Blighty. My mum sends me the January edition of the 'Sainsbury's Magazine' each year... Sainsbury's is a UK supermarket... so why do I get the magazine when I can only dream of doing my weekly shop there? Well, this is the calendar that becomes our kitchen family calendar. This supermarket freebie has been the diary in my house well before I came to America, and ever since I have been here. I scribble down every event in the little square box, no matter how trivial. And, at the end of the year, I pack away the calendar, with all of the others.... but not before I've flicked through them all. These little 12 page diaries show me when guests have visited, the vacations I've taken, my visits to the UK, events from during my pregnancies, and all manner of both momentous and tedious occasions. I love that they are all in the same format... this supermarket recipe calendar takes me through the year via healthy suppers at the start of the year, to Easter lamb, to sumptuous strawberry dishes and juicy burgers mid-Summer, and onto stodgy warming meals when the nights draw in, and, finally, back to some Christmas offering at the end of the year. I love looking back at all of the years of my life, from when there was just me, to the two of us, and then to the four of us... like a stack of maps, charting the path that my life has taken to get me to the present day...

Who knows what will go down in this year's calendar... what will I be smiling at when I pack away my trusty Sainsbury's calendar at the end of 2011?

Oh, and before I forget... with it being Friday tomorrow, I figured I would share my Christmas roses with you (the hubby gets me two dozen every Christmas)... I know I've done these so many times before, but they're just too beautiful not to show you...

Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year. I'll raise a glass to you all at the stroke of twelve!
Lx

A Very, Very Merry Christmas to all...

2010-12-24T08:22:00.000-05:00

Our little house is filled with anticipation... the levels that can only come from two little girls brimming with excitement, knowing that the visit is just one sleep away... The stockings and Santa sacks are hung... mince pies baked... mulled wine drunk... house cleaned... cold medicine brought in bulk (Santa's entering a sick house tonight)... and now, it's time to sit back and breathe before the cooking marathon tomorrow... So, I'm sat here in my p-jams, with my trusty cup of tea in hand, wanting to take this quiet time to wish one and all a Peaceful and Merry Christmas. You all deserve it! Catch you soon!
With lots and lots of love to you all!
Lx

A big thank you & a Santa sack...

2010-12-19T17:04:00.000-05:00

It was a cold, cold night on Saturday... the Christmas tree lights were twinkling... the hubby and my eldest were cuddling on the couch under the heavy red throw (she, waiting to see if she could see Santa... he, tired from a day of Christmas shopping) while I sat in my faithful red armchair sewing a zillion buttons into the shape of the letter 'E'... you know, it takes a lot of buttons to make the letter 'E'... and, with only the soft light of the lamp, flickering blue hue of the telly, and a glass of wine in me, it sure was hard work... My eyesight is definitely not what it was, and so, by the last button, I couldn't see the needle to thread (not to mention the fact that my poor fingers had had more prickles than a hedgehog handler), so I called it a night and started the next day...

I pulled out my trusty old sewing machine and ran through the pointers my mum had bestowed on me... I even managed to change the shuttle (I gave myself a big pat on the back for that)...
Anyhoo, I had an idea as to how I wanted these to look... the hubby said that, as always, I had lofty aspirations, but I decided to go with the, 'if we don't try, we'll never know what we can achieve' attitude, and set about making the first of the two Santa sacks... there were a few hiccups along the way, but I treat these as part of the learning process, and, maybe one day, I'll look back at these imperfections and smile at my inexperience at sewing and how it` was outweighed by my willingness to please my little girls...

... and this led me to think of you guys... yes, you ... thinking how I don't think I'd be creating for my little girls if it weren't for the fact that you so very kindly read my blog... forcing me to be creative, to try new things and push the boundaries.... Thank you so much for giving me the umph to do this. Without your kind words, I don't know if I would have tried this sewing malarkey... so, by the very act of reading this blog, you have touched my life and helped me create something that may very well be passed on to future generations (that's if my sewing holds up)...

Right now, though, I have to start sewing that letter 'M'... my poor, poor eyes...

Take care all!
Lx

A Christmas yarn & a Friday Flower

2010-12-17T13:23:00.001-05:00

So, it's almost here... am I ready? Not at all, but there are seven days left to do just about everything that needs to be done! After writing this post, I'm zooming off to the fabric store (well, zooming is perhaps and exaggeration, as I don't think you can zoom anywhere in a Nissan Versa)... anyhow, I'm picking up fabric to make the girls Santa sacks. I'd spied some in a swanky store and remembered how I would put out pillowcases as a child. Ahhh, waking up on Christmas morn, to the sight of those pillowcases bulging with gifts... One year, I was terribly sick on Christmas Eve (my mum said it was brought upon by sheer excitement.... I wish I could get that excited about life again!)... I managed to empty my stomach in practically every room in the house (sorry to share this, but there is a point)... as my poor mum set about cleaning up the mess, I sat bleary-eyed on the couch and declared, 'but, look, Mummy, Santa came'... and everything was made better (well, for me anyway)... Where am I going with this post?... Oh yeah, the Santa sacks... I'll share them with you next week... I just wanted to share a little Christmas tale with you today... showing that the magic of Christmas can be a cure for many ailments...

Anyhoo, sorry to start reminiscing... this time of year really has that effect on me. Back to the Friday Flower. Lovely white roses, with a dash of rosemary, a sprinkle of holly, and a smattering of ivy. What a lovely combination! This week my Friday Flower is dedicated to a very talented writer. Her blog, Vintch, is like an oasis in a desert. When I see that she has posted, I steal away into my kitchen (away from the kids), turn off the radio and savour her words. Her posts are so beautifully written and descriptive... so easy to lose myself in... you know the feeling when you stumble across a well-written book and you want to share... well, that's how I feel about this blog. I don't know her name, but I promise you that if you pop over and see her, you'll surely recognize the very special talent this person has.

Wishing you all an amazing weekend. Take care.

If you would like to join in with this weeks Friday Flower, simply use the linky widget below, to link to your Friday Flower Post. You've got to love a flower!

Home

2010-12-15T22:13:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about home over the past few weeks... Now, I have two versions of home... there's the home where I currently live... my little run down Cape Cod in New Jersey... and then, there's 'Home', as in 'I'm going home'... and that home is England. I don't know when I'll stop referring to England as home or if I ever will... perhaps England is so ingrained into me, that it is at the very core of my existence... I live and breathe it, and when the plane touches the tarmac at Heathrow, the only thought going through my mind is, ' I'm home'...

During the holidays, I may be, physically, here in the States, but my heart and mind are well and truly 3,000 miles away... reliving past Christmases... my Christmases as a child... I close my eyes and remember the decorations, the smells, the excitement, the food, and even the TV shows (right down to the excitement of getting the Radio Times and flipping through to see what was on the Christmas telly line up)... Lost in a sea of nostalgia, I then set about thinking how I can recreate that here in America for my girls. Now, I have a pretty blank slate to start with, as my husband is Jewish... so, as the girls experience all their firsts at Christmas, so does he... I am the seasoned veteran in this house.

I get to pick and choose what Christmas traditions I want to carry on, and, along the way, even throw in some new ones.... Unfortunately, some of the traditions from England I've had to leave behind, due to my geographical location... bye bye, Queen's Speech and Top of the Pops...

... some of them, I manage to keep going, even though it becomes a little pricier when paying import prices... case in point, Quality Streets... to anyone from the UK, these chocolates are synonymous with Christmas (well, they were in my house). The opening of the Quality Street tin of chocolates on Christmas Eve signalled the start of the festivities... now, they're not particularly tasty, but I'm sure most people don't get them because of their deliciousness, but simply, because that is just the way it is... I still manage to get these in for the season, but, instead of a generic chocolate price tag, they now cost the same as a swanky Belgian number! Is it worth it? Yes... to watch my girls oohh and ahh and pick out their favourite colour... just like I did many moons ago...

Another tradition was reintroduced this Christmas... after discovering a holly bush by chance... and so, the other day, I nipped down to the waterfront (secateurs in hand) and liberated some holly from said bush... it was laden with berries and perfect for trimming up the house... the very act of carrying bushels of holly into the house reminded me of walking across the fields with my father as a child... the hazy sun low in the sky, frosty ground under foot, seeking out the bright red berries amongst the hawthorn hedges... old rickety wooden stiles and cattle gathered around the feeding trough, piled high with food... we would bring our bounty into the house and trim the old mirror over the fire, and it would stay there, 'til the leaves went brittle and the plump berries would wrinkle... so, even though this experience was so very different from my English holly gathering days, the simple sight of holly in my little home will always keep my memory alive...

So, this year, I'll be pulling a Christmas cracker, eating Christmas pudding, while drinking a glass of port... bringing a little bit of 'home' Christmas, into my new home...

It's been good catching up with you all today... I've missed writing this little old blog and sharing my thoughts with you!
Take care.
Lx

A festive Friday Flower

2010-12-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

We're well into the month of December now... counting down the sleeps 'til the big day... Well, that's how it used to be when I was a kid... but now, I want to hold onto the build-up for as long as possible... savouring the season and all the wondrous sights it brings... Evening drives around my neighbourhood are heavenly... almost all the houses are decorated in an array of beautiful twinkling lights. Lighting up the cold winter's night and rivalling any Summer floral display. This festive season really brings so much joy and beauty into a month than would normally be cold and bleak... but, instead, we are bombarded with rich images... colours of red, gold, and green bringing a much welcomed warmth to our world... allowing us to forget the cold winter months that are ahead of us... that's why I love this season!

I wanted my Friday Flower to capture this feeling... and so, I picked all the colours that encapsulate this time of year... I threw in some rosemary, too, because, lets face it, Christmas definitely has a smell... and this herb certainly lends itself very well to the season... it's a pity you can't get 'smelly-vision,' as you would be able to enjoy the heady fragrance of this week's Friday Flower, too...

Anyhoo, I dedicate my Friday Flower to a lovely gal named Beth. Originally from the UK (beautiful Wales to be exact), she now lives in Brisbane, Australia. Her blog, A Welsh Girl in Australia, documents her new life Down Under... a life where cold winter nights have been replaced by all the warmth that an Australian summer has to offer... I personally remember seeing the familiar Santa image (complete with thick red suit) out and about on the streets of Sydney and thinking 'Strewth, I bet he's hot'... but, hey, to get a better depiction of life in Australia, head over to Beth's and say hi.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend... keep warm or cool (depending where you are).
Lx

If you want to join in with this weeks Friday Flower, link to your page below... the more the merrier!

A pickle jar snow globe

2010-12-09T09:24:00.002-05:00

I don't know about anyone else, but I have a zillion catalogues delivered each week... Now, I'm guessing that this is somehow linked to my penchant for online buying... brochures selling the weird and the wonderful land in my mailbox and, given that I'm always on the hunt for that next idea, I always give them a quick flick through... I mean, you never know when you'll need a life size reindeer...

Anyhoo, I was flicking through one of the said catalogues the other day, when I came across a mason snow globe... apparently, in days gone by, mason jars where used to create homemade snow globes... Even though this had all the appeal of homemade Christmassy loveliness, it certainly didn't have a homemade price tag... so I decided to set about making one of my own. I've been stashing jars away for a while... a blogger once wrote that 'they'll always come in handy' and so, following her lead, I began saving all the pretty jars... in fact, I'd go as far to say that the jar housing the product has become the clincher when picking out my jam! I am a marketer's dream...

Anyways, a Branston Pickle jar was recycled, a (waterproof) Santa tree ornament was ripped off the tree and glued to the lid using waterproof craft cement, the jar was filled with cooled boiled water and a spot of glycerin was added... voila, a homemade snow globe! I think I'll make another with one of my vintage mason jars next year, but, for now, this will do!

I'm linking up with one of my favourite blogs Hooked on Houses. Julia is holding a holiday house tour, giving all us bloggers the opportunity to share our festive posts... pop over and prepare to be dazzled...

... I'm also linking up for the first time with Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest. I've been trying to do this for an age and finally got my act together, and produced something to link up with! It's a great round-up of all the creative ideas that are floating out there in Blogland!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!
Lx

Christmas is... a mince pie...

2010-12-06T22:02:00.000-05:00

There's a chill in the air, but home sure looks cozy... the twinkle of the white lights on the Christmas tree...

... the rich colours of red, gold, and green dotted around this tiny place... Our home was made for this season... I think I've mentioned before that red features heavily in this place, and so, during this festive season, it really comes into it's own...

The radio is continuously set on the Madeleine Peyroux station and I'm feeling all 50's-housewife... I even donned my frilly pinny (apron)... the girls are playing nicely in the living room (okay, I'm starting to weave a little yarn here... they're actually watching Phineas and Ferb)... and what would complete this perfect Christmas image?

Yes, the smell of freshly baked mince pies... Now, the hubby thinks they're a hideous creation, but, for an English gal like me, they are Christmas on a plate. It's all down to the mincemeat, though... in particular, the alcohol used to give it that special je ne sais quoi... luckily for me, my mum left me with a jar of Marks and Spencers mincemeat, laden with liquor (I'm not quite up to making my own mincemeat... but maybe next year)... And so, to further propel me into this festive season, I set about making this boozy, fruity pie... and it was just the ticket... Christmas is in every corner of this house... including my tummy ;-) I popped the recipe on the bottom, just in case you wanted to give this festive treat a try... I recommend serving them warm with a dollop of fresh cream.. you can even try pepping up the cream by adding some freshly grated orange zest and a sprinkle of sugar (vanilla sugar, if you have it)... if it's later in the day, you can always wash it down with a tot of something strong... to warm your cockles...

Take care all!
Lx

Easy Peasy Mince Pies

2 cups of plain flour

2/3 cup of icing sugar (confectioners sugar)

1 stick of cold butter (cut into small cubes)

3 tablespoons iced water (approx)

Icing sugar to dust

1 jar of quality mincemeat

Method

Preheat the oven to 350F (180c). Brush a shallow muffin tin with melted butter.

Sift the flour and icing sugar into a large bowl, add the butter, and rub in with your fingertips until fine and crumbly (my mum always taught me to have cold hands when handling pastry, so I always run them under the cold tap to cool them off before starting this step).

Add almost all the water and mix with a round ended knife, until the mixture comes together. Try not to add too much water, otherwise your end up with a hard pastry.

Turn the pastry out onto a lightly floured surface and gather into a ball. Roll out two thirds of the pastry and cut rounds with a pastry cutter. Fit the rounds into the tins.

Put a good sized heaped teaspoon of mincemeat into each pastry case.

Roll out the remaining pastry and cut out slightly smaller rounds and place on top of the mincemeat. Press the edges to seal.

Brush with either a spot of milk or egg (egg will give more of a glaze).

Bake in the oven for around 30 minutes or until golden.

Remove from the oven, but leave in the tins for 5 minutes... The mincemeat is super hot, so you don't want to burn your pinkies!

After 5 minutes, lift them out with a knife and cool on wire racks.

Dust slightly with icing sugar... just like a little snow flurry has been going off in the kitchen!

A Friday Flower for Robynne

2010-12-03T09:30:00.001-05:00

Sorry I'm late posting a Friday Flower today, but yesterday was a bit of a sad one for me... My mum returned to Blighty... leaving behind her poorly, sick, broken-hearted daughter... Why do colds come along at the most inopportune times? I guess you could say that my nose is looking pretty festive at the moment... to put it another way, if Rudolph finds himself otherwise engaged on Christmas Eve, I could certainly fill his shoes... make that hooves!

Anyhoo, my mum is returning to some Christmassy weather herself (that's if you're from the northern hemisphere), as the UK has been hit with a pretty hefty amount of snow... oohh, how I wish I was there to experience the beautiful English countryside covered in a white blanket... as it is, I have had to make do with the snapshots of those living in my beautiful homeland...

Which leads me nicely to my Friday Flower... this week, I dedicate my flower to a lady with a name that compliments this glorious season... her name is Robynne and she has just moved to the UK from another favourite place of mine, Australia. She has just started her blog, Robynne's Nest, which documents her life in rural England and her travels across Europe. Today, my mum and I oohhed and ahhed at her pictures of an English robin and the beautiful English countryside... now that's my kind of eye candy... So, Robynne, here's my Friday Flower for you... I picked them because they reminded me of snowflakes... something that I imagine, you are just loving at the moment... Anyhoo, if you get a chance, pop over to Robynne and catch up on life in Blighty. I'm sure you will get a warm welcome...

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend, wherever you are and whatever you're doing!
Take care.
Lx

If you would like to join in with this week's Friday Flower, there's a Linky widget below where you can add a link to your page... then pop over to miss sew and so and do the same there... the more the merrier!

Christmas bunting....and a mummy's heart..

2010-11-30T21:36:00.000-05:00

Hi there... I'm still here, just in case you were thinking I'd been dragged off into the woods by a bear...This past Sunday, we returned from the cabin having had a wonderfully relaxing Thanksgiving... being taken away from the home certainly forces you to relax; or, in my case, brush up on the old sewing skills... under my mum's tutelage, I managed to rustle up a little Christmas bunting...

Baring in mind that less than 3 weeks ago, I had not been near a sewing machine since Home Economics class (circa 1988)... I am pretty chuffed (pleased) with the results! There's no stopping me now!... I having an ongoing list in my head of things I want to make...

My next mission is to make some fabric heart decorations.... I did attempt one at the cabin, but not sewing in a straight line is proving a little tricky for this novice...

Anyhoo, my eldest daughter loved my heart attempt, and went to bed cuddling 'Mummy's heart'... I now just have to make one for my other little one... after all, they both share it...

Hoping you are all having a beautiful week!

Happy Thanksgiving to All

2010-11-25T11:36:00.001-05:00

I'll keep this brief, because a lot can be said in a few words... Wishing all a Happy Thanksgiving...

We have a lot to be thankful for in this world... for me, I am thankful for the love and support of all my family and friends... I'm also thankful for health and happiness... If you have these covered, you pretty much want for nothing! As the hubby would say, 'the rest is gravy!'

Sorry for the lack of pictures today... packing in a hurry caused some things to be left behind, but all the important things made it to the cabin and that's all that matters! I'm off to enjoy the feast!

Not our turkey, but I did manage to find a picture of a chicken on the laptop

A festive bird

2010-11-21T21:31:00.002-05:00

We're quickly approaching the end of November. Any leaves that were left on the trees have been blown off by last week's gales. The trees are bare and all of the rich colours of Fall have all but gone... not quite a winter wonderland yet, but I'm sure we're only weeks away... With this in mind, I decided to update the old cloche... so, the owl, pumpkins, and leaves have been relegated to the attic and I set about creating a new nature scene to commemorate the season...

Had this been the UK, I'd have definitely popped an English robin in there... Oohh, how I miss the English robin... it's beautiful, red fat chest adorning any traditional Christmas card... I have to say, I'm quite disappointed with it's American cousin... definitely not as cheery, little, and fat!

However, there is a festive bird to rival our little robin... the stunning male red cardinal... I have to say, there is nothing more beautiful than this scarlet bird against a snowy backdrop... With this in mind, I decided to create an American winter scene, complete with my own little cardinal. I'm really pleased with how it turned out... What do you think?

If you're requiring some more Christmas inspiration, pop over to the lovely Melissa... she's hosting a little Christmas Inspiration party... After reading her beautiful blog, I'm ready to get creating...

... and I'm also linking with the Christmas blog Tinsel and Company... They host a Deck the Halls Friday, giving us all the chance to share our Christmas creativity!

... and finally head over to Hooked on Houses for an impromptu Christmas Party!

Wishing you all a great start to the week!
Lx

Tea cups, cup cakes & Friday Flowers...

2010-11-18T22:39:00.000-05:00

Hi there... November is going super fast. I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving already... Normally, I'm super-prepared and very much in the festive spirit, but this year, I feel like I've barely packed away the Halloween decorations... My head is definitely not hearing the tinkle of jingle bells or thinking of my Christmas decorations.
So, over the next week, I plan on kicking it up a notch and dragging myself into Christmas... I started the other day by practically raiding the library of all the children's Christmas books... I figured that if I can get them super-hyped for Christmas (hope I don't regret that move), then I'll be soon to follow... after all, I'm always told it's a holiday for the kiddies!

Anyhoo, another great way to get me in the festive mood is to start drawing up that gift list... or should I say, wish list... I started this list around December 26th, 2009... in fact, make that 2003... it's an ongoing list that just keeps on growing... In an antique store this past week, I spied something else to add to it... some divine vintage tea plates... I oohh-ed and ahh-ed, envisaging having afternoon tea served upon them (like I ever get a chance to have an afternoon tea)... given that really any spare cash should go on gift-giving, I walked away and informed the hubby of said plates later... just in case he's stuck on what to get me...

I'd like to say I left the store empty-handed, but I couldn't pass up these cute tea cups...

I got a set of four for less than the cost of two lattes... now that's something you can't sniff at!

Today, I enjoyed a nice cup of tea and a party cupcake... it wasn't quite an afternoon tea, but it's a step in the right direction... I just need those tea plates...

My Friday Flower this week is dedicated to all of you... I know I've done this before, but really, I can't thank you enough for taking the time out of your day and reading my thoughts... thank you so much for sticking with me... leaving your comments... making me smile and brightening my day... You make it all worth while!

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend.
Lx

If you would like to join in with this week's Friday Flower, there's a Linky widget below where you can add a link to your page... then pop over to miss sew and so and do the same there... it's all about sharing the love!

An English corner shop in NYC

2010-11-17T22:22:00.000-05:00

Today, we took a trip into NYC.. Boy, do I love this city... although when I was doing the 9-5 grind here everyday, I couldn't wait to get on the Path train and head back to NJ.

Nowadays, the visits are few and far between... largely due to the logistical challenges of mooching around with a 4-year old and 2-year old in tow... How native New Yorkers do this is beyond me...

I can tell that my eldest has been removed from this lifestyle when she asked if we could just drive around rather than walk.... memories of apartment life and trawling around parks have all but been forgotten for this little one, and she is definitely a 'burbs girl!

Anyhoo, any visit to NYC has to involve a trip to Myers of Keswick. A little English corner shop in the center of the Village. This place gives me my fix of all things English (although the price tag lets me know that I'm definitely not in the UK). Not only does it sell all manner of English household-named goodies, but it also offers a great selection of homemade pasties, sausage rolls, and, just for the season... mince pies! Mmmm, if I close my eyes I could be in a quaint corner shop in Keswick..... except when I open the door, the bells jingle and I'm right back on Hudson Street... a few blocks from Perry Street (where the legendary Carrie lived on Sex In the City)...

I so hoped to capture more shots, but the battery ran out on my camera... lesson learned... remember camera and batteries...

I'm learning all this the hard way, though... I even joked that I could have been part of the papparazzi for the day, as we spied Ralph Fiennes sitting outside a coffee shop... Liv Tyler walking down 6th Avenue, and John Mayer looking moody near the Blue Note...

Hope you're all having a great week.
Take care.
Lx

A beach day, for a November birthday girl...

2010-11-15T23:29:00.000-05:00

Saturday was my eldest daughter's fourth birthday... being a November baby, we always assume that we'll spend the day doing indoor activities... but, for this day, the sun had his hat on and it was unseasonably warm for New Jersey...so what better way to spend the day than at the beach?

There's nothing better than a beach out of season...

... the sky appears endless and uninterrupted...

... the beach vast and desolate...

... all the hurley burley replaced by the gentle sounds of waves breaking and gulls calling in the distance.

The boardwalk was scattered with a few people here and there... normally, we'd be holding on to the girls' hands, but today, they ran ahead... chasing the birds that were scavenging for the meagre offerings from the few stalls that were open.

From the sand, the waves were crashing with such ferocity. I tried to capture them on my camera, but they look so tame compared to the giants we actually saw...

We watched the surfers braving the icy waters... my eldest declaring that they looked like seals in their full body suits.

The day was perfect... so I figured I'd share a little of it with you...

Hoping you're all having a great start to your week... thank you so much for stopping by and spending a little time with me!