Easter 2013

Easter Sunday.  He is risen, Alleluia!

Easter Prep:  coloring eggs, making lamb cake, eating hot cross buns.

 Made a new roll recipe thanks to Erin:  Gourgeres = fabulous

Easter Table at Maggies

The Easter Lamb

Our little JoJo is in Orlando for Easter.

Our darling Orlando family.

Thank you Maggie and Don for hosting us once again.

Lovely dinner, lovely company.

Happy Easter!

Guess What I Am Doing?

We pulled Miss Lilah Jane out of storage! I've got into herwith my scrub bucket and Murphy's Oil Soap and gave her a good cleaning. Brought all the linens in to freshen up. We'll do some touch up painting and we're ready to roll. Just need a few more degrees, well maybe more than a few!
I'll be ready!

Spring has Sprung

Look what the UPS man delivered to me this week!

The photo isn't true to color.  It's a gorgeous coral.  Coach does it right!

Now if the snow would totally melt away I could begin to carry it.  Can't wait.  It's so darn classy.

Thanks DJ!

/

Easter Gift Bags

I've been spotting some really cute Easter gift bags around and thought hmmmm, I can do this!

I dug into my stash and found some linen and vintage ribbon and viola'!



What do you think?

Quote

When Life is heavy and hard to take, go off by your self. Enter the silence. Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worse" is never the worse.
Lamentations 3:28-30

From OliveOut.com

Easter Vignettes

I'm working on creating a few little Easter vignettes around the house.  I am not one big on holiday decorations.  I create a few - with me - less is more!

 

I really  like how this little basket came out.

I forgot about this old wooden box.  The Dove Chocolate Rabbit likes being perched there!

Ghiradelli has some cute chocolates this season.

I took vintage postcards and mounted on foam board and glittered the edges.  Kind of cute!

My little Fritz and Floyd Easter pieces from long ago.

Miss Maggie  made progress yesterday.  She received her arms and legs and nose.

Her dress and shawl.  Getting close to being done.

 And this is the only spring related thing that I saw yesterday on the First Day of Spring.  Tulips on my table.

It was 24 degrees and light snow yesterday and today.

Still battling a cold.  This cough is getting the best of me....dry and non-productive but I cough til my ribs hurt.  Not looking for sympathy just letting you know whats happening around here.  My sister Maggie has the same thing so we were definitely exposed to "germs" somewhere recently.

Have you done any Easter decorating.  It's next week just in case you haven't!

Making Progress

My Miss Maggie Bunny is coming along.  Remember this kit I received?

I've been working on it and it's really turning out cute.

Must attach arms and legs.  Make dress and boots and add finishing touches.  I'm confident she'll be ready in time for Easter.

I'm not much of a complainer, however....enough is enough.  So tired of the snow and cold and it's not stopping.  I so want spring.  The tulips I buy each week at the store is my saving grace for now.

Not feeling the greatest,......scratchy throat, headache, no energy.  Trying to kick this!
Be well my friends!

Midwest Bloggers Meetup

Lynne and I attended the Midwest Bloggers Meetup in Naperville, IL this past weekend.
It was held at a cute little shop called Room 363.

There were 25 bloggers gathered from four different states:  Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Kentucky.
I was able to meet a few bloggers I have followed for quite some time and I met a few new ones.
It was a nice gathering.  Everyone introduced themselves and talked a bit about our blogs.  We had some lovely refreshments, chatted, mingled and shop around the store.

Several people brought goodies for the goodie bags.  I received some very lovely things.  Here is a picture of my favors.

After we left the shop, we met up with our dear friend Penny and enjoyed lunch at Five Guys.
The group had a few more things planned, however, we headed over to Bedford Park for a quick visit with Jackie, Joffrey and Joslyn.  I was lucky enough to get JoJo up from her nap to get in a quick squeeze and a kiss.  She is so adorable.!  Getting so big so quick.

A great weekend get away.  A nice event.  Thanks to Jennifer Rizzo for your organizing efforts.

Winds of March

Off to Chicago for the Midwest Blogger event. Stay tuned for a recap!

Soup Supper

During the Lenten Season, our church hosts a soup supper on Wednesday evenings.  After supper, we gather in the Chapel for the Stations of the Cross.

Today, I am contributing a pot of soup, Italian Sausage Soup, a loaf of Dutch Oven Bread, and homemade peanut butter cookies.

My mom, sister, husband and I are all going tonight.   A little Lenten devotion.

I pray that our new Pope Francis will lead the catholic church well and renew our faith and provide the leadership and changes we need.

Proud

My nephew, Drew passed his flight test yesterday! We now have a pilot in the family. Congratulations Drew. You are so awesome.

Sangria

While in Florida, we went to Celebration!  Have you heard of it?
Celebration is located near Walt Disney World Resort and originally developed by The Walt Disney Company.  Celebration's population is 7,427.  Response to Celebration has ranged from an early visitor who said it resembled the too-perfect town of The Stepford Wives, to those who see Celebration as a return to small-town values with walkable and safe communities.  The town is charming, clean, fun and refreshing.  Cute shops, nice restaurants and a very walkable place to spend some time.



So when we decided to take a drive to check it out, my brother recommended that we stop by the Columbia Restaurant for a pitcher of Sangria.  So, that we did.
First we stopped by the Farmers Market and brought home a few quarts of these!

Of course, we had to make strawberry shortcake and yes, it was delicious.

Now onto the Sangria.  It was fabulous.  They make it at your table.
I was able to secure the recipe....sneaky me!
Simple Syrup
Torres Brandy
Three orange quarters, squeezed and dropped into pitcher
Two lime quarters, squeezed and dropped into pitcher
Muddle together.
Add 1/2 bottle of Torres Sangre de Toro Red Wine from Spain
Add ice cubes and stir. Pour into glasses with fruit garnish.

See the wooden spoon in the pitcher!

Richard is holding a little black bull. It was on the rim of the bottle...a little souvenir.



You can purchase the brandy and wine at Total Wine (if you have one in your area).

Great store!

They have a great selection of Prosecco's also.

If you prefer, you can order a pitcher of sparkly white sangria. That is made table side as well. Same ingredients, simple syrup, fruit and juices, except use these three items:
Jaume Serra Cristalino Spanish Cava
Torres Brandy
Torres Orange Liquer

We brought home the wine and brandy so we will sure make us a pitcher soon.

If you are not familiar with simple syrup, it is just equal parts of sugar and water mixed and boiled on the stove. Bring to a boil for just not more than a minute. You just want the sugar to dissolve. Cool and refrigerate. It keeps a long time if refrigerated. Use in mojitos also.

So, cheers!  Let me know if you make a pitcher (or two).  If you are in Orlando or on the Gulf side of Florida, check out Columbia Restaurant - great cuban food.

Midwest Blogger Event

This is a first for me (and Lynne).  We are going to Naperville, IL for a Midwest Blogger Event.  It is sponsored by Jen Rizzo.  Jen has is a very creative blogger - pay her a visit if you have not done so.

The event is next weekend.  The capacity is capped at 25 and I believe it is near full.  So we will be meeting quite a few bloggers and getting to learn more about what makes a successful, fun blog.  I hope to come home with some fresh ideas on how to spruce it up a bit.

Of course, we will have time to do a little browsing about the town.  So excited.  Hope I don't come across as the little country bumpkin coming to the big city~

Bunny Project

One of my favorite bloggers, Posie Gets Cozy, produced the most wonderful

little bunny recently.

By popular demand, she created kits for sale.

One had to act fast as they sold out in one day.

And yes, I was quick!

Look what arrived today!!

 The kit contains the pattern, directions, templates, felt, fabrics, yarn and floss.

There were many choices of fabrics and yarns

 I will get started tonight!  It's going to be so much fun!

If you would enjoy a nice blog to read, I encourage you to visit Posie Gets Cozy.

Beautiful, creative, warm, and loving!

 Watch for my little bunny as it evolves!

Morse Museum, Winter Park Florida

The Morse Museum is known internationally for its collection of the works of american artist and designer, Louis C. Tiffany. The scope of the collection seen here extends from leaded glass lamps to unique windows. It includes the chapel interior he created for the World's Columbian Expo in Chicago in 1893. The collection also includes objects and architectural elements from Tiffany's Long Island estat






The chapel is breathtaking.



Hundred of thousands mosiac tiles, jewels, pillars, stained glass. A baptismal font.



Stain glass pieces from his estate.






The daffodil terrace pillars were lovely.



Surprisingly, there was very little jewelry.



A lovely afternoon outing. I would highly recommend a visit if you are in the area.
Of course, we had to walk Park Avenue, visit a few shops and make a stop at the french bakery. Brought morsels of goodness for dessert.



Winter Park is a great stop.