Today we are gathering around the table and want to invite you to LINK UP your favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe and Story. Share a little snippet of your favorite Christmas memory...maybe one from your childhood or a story through the eyes of your children. We will keep the cocoa hot and a chair is saved for you. It was a simple, humble package, but obviously wrapped with care. Every bit of it's surface was covered with Christmas paper. The hand that wrapped it, had not spared any expense on covering the paper with tape … [Read more...]
Hearty Guinness Beef Stew
By on November 12, 2013 with
Maybe it was a visit from our Irish friends that were here for a month on sabbatical. Maybe it was the cold, crisp fall weather outside. Whatever it was, I was inspired to make a big vat of Hearty Guinness Beef Stew. I don't know about you, but nothing says fall meal to me like dark, rich stew with a side of crusty, warm bread slathered with creamy, slightly salted butter. I know, right? You want a bowl right now, don't you? Every good stew starts with a slew of onions. (In my humble opinion.) Then with a generous pat … [Read more...]
Rwandan Baby Shower
By on October 1, 2013 with
About three weeks ago, my life and my family's life was enlarged. We received a call from friends who had received a call from friends (tracking with me?) that an 8 1/2 month pregnant woman, from Rwanda and her 6 year old son, were in need of a place to live. They were homeless. Not knowing anyone else in our area, they called me. Now, this is not entirely new for our family. At different times we have had teenage boys, college aged girls, a military family of 4, live in our home. A number of years ago we converted our basement … [Read more...]
Happy Birthday Chris Ann!!!
By on September 30, 2013 with
"There's a friend that sticks closer then a sister." For almost 20 years I've been blessed to call Chris Ann friend. We have shared the ups and downs of life...the births of our children, baby showers, multiple meals around the table, trips to Mexico & Italy to name a few, emergencies, new businesses, closed businesses, moves that took us oceans apart and kid's firsts...first dances, first driver's licenses, first steps, first graduations...with many more firsts to come. Our friendship has been full! There are times we … [Read more...]
Early Fall Farro Salad Recipe
By on September 24, 2013 with
Recently we were at a writer's retreat with some friends of ours. It was a beautiful weekend with time to relax, be inspired by one another's stories, wiggle our toes in the lake, get a little paddle boarding in and share delicious meals. The first evening we prepared dinner and the dish that was front and center, was this Early Fall Farro Salad. We used it as a bed for baked white sole. It was a dinner full of fresh, clean flavor not to mention, the best of conversations! 5.0 from 1 reviews Early Fall Farro Salad Recipe … [Read more...]
Nana’s Jewelry
By on September 22, 2013 with
I remember when my great grandmother passed away. I was about 9 years old. My mom and grandmother were clearing out her apartment and they came across Nana’s jewelry box. With the expensive pieces taken out, my mom said, “Go ahead and pick out one piece for you to keep.” I thought I’d hit a gold mine! I found a dainty silver necklace with an oval charm filled with diamonds and a pearl. I secretly thought this precious piece had been overlooked when the valuable pieces had been removed. I figured my mom and her sisters didn't … [Read more...]
Homemade “Like Mama Use to Make” Pasta
By on August 20, 2013 with
Now, don't walk away. I know what you're thinking, "Homemade pasta is beyond my skill set, my pay grade!" But, I have to tell you, and I mean this...Homemade Pasta is EASY, PEASY to make! I promise. Years ago, when all my kids were little, I made it all the time. I had a pasta roller and I'd do fancy things like roll out thin sheets of pasta and place single leaves of parsley in between two layers, roll them together and have stain glass like pasta. I'd whip up homemade pesto and toss the velvety, steaming pasta with the sauce … [Read more...]
Win $2,500 Shopping Spree at Havertys!
By on May 22, 2013 with
Every now and then an opportunity comes along that we just have to share with you! This is one of them. I don't know about you, but every spring, when the sunshine begins to come out and the flowers pop their heads above ground, I look around my house and I'm ready for a little sprucing and refreshing. The sofa might look a little tired, or my kid's dressers are just not functioning anymore. Maybe I just need a new pop of color in my decor or new comfy chairs to put around my dining room table. I get a little antsy for … [Read more...]
Upcycle Remodel~Bathroom
By on May 14, 2013 with
We were all gung-ho to build and fill raised beds. My husband built the frames and we were looking into the best places to buy dirt and compost. Then one day, I was in my office and caught a whiff...of mildew. It was wafting down from my boy's flat. I called my husband and said, "I'm changing the order of the "honey do" list. I want to move raised beds to number two and put the boy's bathroom up to number one." That weekend, he began the demo. He had a little help. We wanted to do this on a budget. When we had … [Read more...]
Thrift Store Score!
By on May 10, 2013 with
I just had to share...okay, brag a bit. Look what I scored at our local thrift store! It's a rolling office chair, tufted for $4.99! I called my husband to come meet me with our big cargo van. Even he was impressed with the find. So impressed, he tried to one up me a few days later when he brought home these vintage French curtain pulls off of a rehab job he was working on. Um, it's easy to remember why I fell in love with him. I think he won. Total treasures. How about you? What have been some of your recent … [Read more...]
