It's fun to go back and see what I was doing a year ago. Come to find out, my mother and I had taken a day to enjoy the beauty of Fuller Gardens. Trust me, you don't want to miss these flowers and the beauty of the gardens. I do remember this........it was hotter than hell. Just shy of 100 degrees. And we even went through the greenhouse! What are we nuts? Check out our visit here.
Lately, I've been feeding my soul by painting with watercolors. Not enough in the last couple of weeks, but I did paint something for my niece's baby shower last weekend. Something for the nursery which will soon welcome her and her husband's first baby.
It's something I say, usually as an inscription in a book for baby, when a new little one arrives. This one for my great niece-to-be, Olivia.
I wish I'd taken a picture of it in the frame, because it looked very nice.
It's always nice to give something you made to someone you love for a special occasion, don't you think? What's the last thing you made for someone?
Freeform Friday
I've never heard of Xavier Rudd, but my friend down under- Andrea of Strong Southerly was kind enough to introduce us. This song is beautiful..........and the video has some incredible nature imagery. It makes me feel good. Enjoy. Click here if you're reading via email.
No big plans this weekend other than getting ourselves ready for our big annual Independence Day Lobster Bake! Oh and pool time for sure.
Hi gang. Good news! It's Friday. Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about.
The rest of the week is behind us and the weekend lies ahead, but before we go there here's some links to peruse while you catch up on things over the next couple of days.
Take a thrifting trip to Goodwill with Sam on the Junk House. I totally would have scored those blue willow mugs.
As a work-at-homer for the last 20 years, this post on setting deadlines by Angela at if found, make, spoke to me. I might have to do a post of my own on making it work when working from home, especially since it's a question I'm asked on a regular basis.
Oh, and have I told you lately that I love..........eggs? I know, you thought I was going to say you. And I'm here to tell you, that I'm awfully fond of the latter, but I can say with certainty I am an egg gal. Omelettes are my favorite so I had to smile when I thought about Diana trying to master an omelette this weekend. My tip, don't be afraid to make a mistake! After all, it's just an egg. And I'd go with Julia's technique. No fear.
How about something classic to start us off? Well, at least in my book. The man in black and his lovely wife. Other than the fact that Johnny has a little cough in this, these two really know how to rip it up. Click here if reading via email.
Let's follow that up by something new my best pal Tina sent me this morning. An Irish lad, Hozier, I'd yet to hear of, who did quite well in his performance on Letterman. I think his voice is wonderful. Click here if you're reading via email.
For us, this weekend starts with a night out to dinner with my parents to the 40th annual opening of a beach institution- Mama Leone's. It's like 'Old Home Day' and there are always lots of old beach friends to chat to when Mama's opens for the season. It's old school, no fuss Italian, complete with park benches in the waiting area. You just have to love it. I'll also be working a bit at my desk, raking after the rain is done, and perhaps we'll be able to get a campfire in tomorrow night if the rain ends in time. I won't be watching any hockey playoff games with my Bs in them. We lost game seven to our rivals the other night, so we won't be moving on to the final round. It was quite sad after the season we had (best record in NHL), but these things happen. No Stanley Cup for us this year. What's happening in your world?
Before I get to the above cake...........did you enter the current giveaway yet? No? What, are you nuts? Go here. Do it now. You only have until the end of the day!
Onto the cake........
I've said it before and have no problem saying it again. I am a cook. Not a baker. Not a candlestick maker either by the way.
I do have a few things in my repetoire that I can bake, and this cake is, well how should we say it..........ah yes, the only cake. That's it. My only cake.
Trust me, if I can bake a cake that is actually edible, than you can too. This is the one. Great recipe for fall when it's apple picking time.
I adjusted the recipe just a wee bit this time, because I had a couple of pears that needed to be used. Instead of all apples, this time I made the cake with two pears and one apple. Just as good. I'm sure you could use whatever kind of apple you like for baking too. It is a very dense cake and rich enough to not need anything like ice cream on the side, and that's coming from an ice cream lover.
Go pick some apples and get baking. This cake is easy. Really easy. It's also delicious.
My Ear Hurts and I Don't Have an Earache
If you ever wonder whether being on facebook is worth it, I'm here to tell you it is. This morning I got a call from one of my best pals and college roommates. We'd lost each other in moves and life, and were finally able to find each other through facebook. She called this morning (Hi Ro! I know you're probably reading this!!!). It was like we had just spoken yesterday. Well, except that we had a few years to catch up on. OK, like 15 or so. Silly, right? We must have talked for 2 hours and when we hung up, my ear hurt. Cool, huh?
Now, when I talk to this little guy, my face hurts. From smiling.
That's Harry. He's my godson. He's in Dublin and I'm in Stratham. We're an ocean apart. I can't say how happy Skype makes me. If you were skyping with him, wouldn't you be happy too?
It's his first birthday today.
Happy Birthday Harry Boy!As your cousin Ali would say, love you lots like jelly tots.
And a bday shout out to my other nephew in Dublin, Conor. He celebrated yesterday.
You're the man Conor. I'm sure you did it up right! Did you make it to class this morning? It's ok, surely Trinity will understand it was the day after your bday.
Freeform Friday
Today is not so pretty. Weather-wise that is. So I needed a sunny, groovy, pick me up. Ala Jack Johnson no less.
Sunset Meadows
What? You can't see it?
Maybe you need to clean your monitor?
Oh sorry. It's the fog. No sun going down last night. I guess I can't expect a beautiful sunset every night. I can hope for better than this though. Still here today. See why I needed Jack Johnson on a surfboard in the sun?
Lots on the list for the rest of the day. No idea what the weekend holds. Probably wood splitting and stacking. Adding new items to Bates Mercantile Co. Perhaps cleaning the basement since it's supposed to be raining and because we didn't get to it last weekend. I know, we live on the edge.
Hope your Friday is fantastic and your weekend wonderful. Thanks for being here.
