PieLadyStudio

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T15:04:00.000-08:00

After the Storm

2012-01-14T13:42:00.000-08:00

This was the view out my windshield today on the trip to my favorite quilt shop. You can't get there from here so the route is all snow-covered back roads.... typical of this area, but always worth it in the scenic department. 4WD is a must!

Winter Fairyland

2012-01-13T10:02:00.000-08:00

What a difference a day makes ~ in the weather, that is! I was ice skating yesterday on clear ice all over the lake. Today I am sledding down the driveway in 8" of fresh powder. Schools are closed and roads are unplowed so we are making the best of it.... and enjoying it fully! So happy I don't have to go anywhere!

Enjoy Winter

2012-01-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

With such an unusually mild winter here.... so far.... I decided to put my summertime thinking chair back on our little covered porch today. It's a lovely place to have a cup of coffee and listen to the woodsy world wake up in the morning. I have a 3/4 length down coat that keeps me cozy. Notice the beady little eyes watching out the door.... my corgi, Sadie, doesn't like to miss out on anything.

Yesterday my husband put up this feeding tray for the birds outside my kitchen window. It is fun to watch them come so close. The ever-faithful chickadees and nuthatches have visited already. The squirrels aren't a bit shy. I am hoping for blue jays and cardinals, but I expect we will need some foul weather to bring them in.

And to round out a perfect winter day there is nothing like a fresh pie. This time I used apples, pears and cranberries.... a wonderful combination! I add cinnamon and nutmeg to this pie. Try it!

Father Time

2012-01-01T12:02:00.000-08:00

The month of December 2011 left us with almost no snow which is most unusual for us here in the northwest corner of the lower peninsula of Michigan. I had a couple of days of nice ice skating on the lake and now we are getting some real snow today. Predictions are for up to 20" but we will see.

Regardless of the forecast, I got extra grocery staples just in case. The wood is stacked in case power goes out and we lose heat from the furnace. Bird feeders are full as are the squirrel stashes. Most importantly, perhaps, I organized the garage this morning so I could get my car inside. That meant moving my pack and ship table, sorting items to be listed in my Etsy shop, loading the recyclables and Goodwill drop off items into my car.

I feel ready for anything now. I think I'll curl up with a book and let it snow!

Here is a 1909 postcard from my collection. Happy New Year!

Christmas Away from Home

2011-12-30T17:49:00.000-08:00

This lovely poinsettia tree greeted us in the Fort Myers, Florida, airport.

We rented a lovely home in Venice with a pool and an excellent location between the beach and downtown shops and restaurants... all within walking distance. Here are my son and granddaughter enjoying the pool.

We spent a day visiting a friend who spends winters in Florida. Here is my husband getting acquainted with the egret who regularly visits my friend's deck overlooking the intercoastal waterway. Across the water we had lunch in Cortez, an older working fishing village with every kind of luscious sea creature available for purchase in the market.

The unexpected bonus for me was a free daily yoga class on Venice Beach. I attended every day.... it was rejuvenating! We had a lovely holiday week with family and friends in a beautiful, friendly community. Hope your holiday was special, too.

Cookie Baking

2011-12-19T18:13:00.000-08:00

I love my granddaughter's intensity in her first serious stint at making rolled and cut cookies at Nonna's house! Her attention span was greater than I anticipated for a 2 yr. 9 mo. old. She spent the weekend with me and when her parents came for supper and to take her home, we all enjoyed frosting and decorating!

Ernie, Bert and Emily loving the snow globe music box.... we played it again and again.... and again!

Hope you are having a joyful and peaceful holiday! And Happy Solstice, too! Longer days will be here soon.

Christmas Village in the Library

2011-12-05T18:02:00.000-08:00

You know how one activity must precede another? I so badly wanted to set up my Christmas village on this deep window ledge today, but first I had to sort stacks of books first. I should have taken a "before" picture. Books were stacked 18" high every-which-way on this ledge, on the floor, two rows deep on the upper shelves. So I was ruthless and went through the entire wall of books from the ceiling to the floor and have three shelves full in another room now that will go on Half.com after New Years. This felt so good - so right, and now I have the reward of seeing my Christmas village with all it's pretty lights.

The two shelves of books directly beneath the village are the children's lending library. I have books for toddlers up to older elementary. Some were my own children's books when they were young. There are several visiting neighborhood grandkids who come to the lake in the summer and I encourage them to come borrow two or three books at a time for those occasional boring or rainy days. It is fun to have them here. And now I have a toddler grandchild of my own to enjoy my library as well.

Red

2011-12-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

Irresistible apple tree! An untamed, untrimmed, unpicked tree along the side of the road just loaded with gorgeous red apples. It deserved a photo on a chilly December day. This was last Friday as I took back roads along the shore of Lake Michigan to set up a day early for my final craft show of the season. The day of the show our roads were covered with black ice, so I am especially glad I did not wait to drive the distance on Saturday. This scene was within walking distance of a quilt shop which is one of my favorites in the north. I had the extra time so stopped to purchase supplies for new projects.

Also on this route is this neat old Dodge Power Wagon which is under a lean-to so is well-protected from the weather. Notice the bit of snow on the fender and running board. I have been driving past this oldie for a couple of years and longing to inspect it more closely. Again, time was on my side so I stopped for a photo. I am tempted to crop this pic for the landscape reflected in the side windows. What do you think?

It's beginning to look festive

2011-12-01T09:09:00.000-08:00

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony in our town is this Friday night. The very large donated evergreen is set up in one of the busiest intersections of our 3-block downtown. The trunk of the tree is secured in a man-hole and what was a three lane street is now 1/2 lane on either side of the tree, and, yes, traffic carefully gets through. No one seems to mind this minor inconvenience for a few weeks. I'll try to get some pictures of the lights.

In the meantime, I found myself with extra pie dough again last night and nothing special to put in it.
I sliced two apples, two pears into the pie shell and topped them with a cup of raw cranberries. Spices then a crumb topping made this a very tasty and festive pie.

From my postcard collection I selected this beauty from the 1920's and placed it in this wonderful little vintage art deco swing frame.

Flexible Flyers

2011-11-28T06:43:00.000-08:00

Do you remember trying to "fly" down a hill in a direction of your choosing? Somehow we managed very nicely. The big boys would run carrying these sleds, then throw themselves onto their bellies atop the sleds so they could fly even faster down the snow-packed runs. Now I slide on a molded plastic sled! Seems safer at my age! These are vintage "flyers" I find, restore and decorate with painted snowmen for my booth in the annual Holly Berry Art & Craft fair. Fresh cedar & hemlock from the woods! Very festive on your front porch!

Turkeys

2011-11-24T18:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey Day! Here is my mincemeat pie with a turkey cut out from the extra pie crust.... and an apple crumb pie beneath the mince pie. I love the old fashioned fold-open paper turkey on the table. These never go out of style for Thanksgiving decor! We were fortunate today to serve an organic free-range turkey from a nearby farm. Delicious! Hope your Thanksgiving was bountiful in food, friends and family.

Little Rascals

2011-11-13T16:50:00.000-08:00

These four furry raccoons are why we have been bringing in the bird feeders at night. I suspect they are siblings from this past summer. They are very resourceful and should survive the winter well!

Forgive the blurry and foggy photos. The first three were taken in the dark through the double pane glass of the kitchen window. When I went outdoors to try to get a clearer view, they would scamper away, but not too far..... as in the last photo.

And notice that the deck railing is wrapped with holiday lights already. My husband has learned to do this fun chore before the weather gets too cold!

Autumn Beauties

2011-11-12T17:22:00.000-08:00

This autumn continues with mostly mild and beautiful weather. I cannot resist posting a few more photos of local scenery. The tamaracks along the highway have been prettier this year than ever before, or so it seems. They look like conifers but shed their "needles" so are actually deciduous trees.

And the protected red Michigan Holly berries are plentiful in the swamps.

Today the sun was shining on this tart cherry orchard..... beautiful all year 'round!

Good Timing!

2011-11-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

In the last 3 or 4 days all the leaves have fallen from this lovely twin birch on the shoreline of our front yard. Bushels and bushels of maple leaves have fallen ankle deep into our yard as well. The oaks have not yet let loose of their leaves. It's a good thing, too, or we would be buried in leaves. My husband had hernia repair surgery Monday and I call that very Good Timing! He got out of late season yard work this year! Fortunately I enjoy raking and using the leaf blower and today was beautiful for working outside. It brought back memories of childhood when it was legal to burn leaves. One neighbor always burned leaves on a clear chilly evening and invited all the neighbor kids to bring a stick for toasting marshmallows over the leaf fire. Great fragrance.... leaf smoke!

Pears and Cranberries!

2011-11-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

Another fabulous fruit crumble! No sugar with the fruit, just in the topping. The sweet pears and tart fresh cranberries balance each other out. I never tried this combination of fruits before, but saw a version of this on the site "Smitten Kitchen." I used my favorite crumble topping and..... voila! Give it a try! and check out the site for more good recipes.

Tangerines and Apple Pie

2011-10-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

Nothing says November like the first fresh tangerines at the grocery and the smell of apple pie spices wafting from the kitchen. Ready or not, winter is coming.... just ask our in-laws in Massachusetts! They have been without power since Saturday from that freaky early snowstorm out east. Is that a Halloween joke by Mother Nature? Happy trick or treating, everyone!

New Dog, Old Dog, New Tricks

2011-10-23T13:09:00.000-07:00

Autumn here has been at the very least two plus months long and beautiful. At the end of August maple leaves began to turn here and there. Now nearing the end of October some maples are still beginning their color change along with the oaks...

Here is a view of the shoreline while we were taking our new dog, Griffin, for a boat ride recently. He loves the water, chases frisbees into the lake and absolutely loves boat rides. He is not a young dog, but has adapted very nicely to our home and fits right in with the dogs we already had. He is a corgi with a mellow personality. We are happy to have him.

Our original dog family includes 8 yr. old large hound/lab?/shepherd? mix, Reggie. Usually quite well behaved and sedate, he has taken to grazing along the kitchen counters. Last week I bought a fabulous apple pie at a bake sale. Reggie's new trick was to remove the pie from the counter and share it with our other corgi, Sadie. She is the sassy-looking one in the left front of the group photo. I had to laugh at Sadie licking out the pie pan on the kitchen floor. I am more careful with baked goods now.

Heritage Farmstay

2011-09-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

Escaped to the year 1910 today with a group of lady friends for lunch. A long drive for some, it was only an hour away for me through the beginning of the color changes.... lots of reds and red-oranges in the maples already with a bit of deep wine foliage here and there. I have a feeling it will be a beautiful, colorful fall.

We carpooled and met at this restored farmstead which is also a B & B, or "farmstay" as our hostess prefers. Susan cooks on a vintage "Round Oak" stove, has a hand-pump in the kitchen sink and a yard-full of chickens. She is an authority on vintage recipes and keeps her meals as authentic as possible. Her website is http://www.hillsidehomestead.com/ and an interesting article with photos is here http://www.mlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2011/07/hillside_homestead_new_bb_open.html

More Chenille and a Rainy Driveway Sale

2011-09-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

The chenille quilting bug has bitten me big time.... literally. I just finished this 90" x 102" patchwork creation as a custom order through my Etsy shop. It came together quite beautifully ~ very soft shabby and chic-looking. As a respite from sewing I tackled the garage which is full to over-flowing with my estate sale finds. In fact, I couldn't open the garage door to set up inside, so all the bargains were under tarps in the driveway in case of rain. It poured the first two hours of the sale!!! Nonetheless, it was successful, happy people went away with damp treasures and there is a wee bit more room in my garage!

"I Like Painting"

2011-08-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

My kitchen has seemed as though it is about 18" too wide.... always requiring an extra couple of steps to get from one side to the next when I am rushing. Well, I'm over it! With an almost 2 and 1/2 yr. old granddaughter set up with child-size table and chairs in the middle of it, my kitchen is now the perfect size. I babysat her for a couple of days and an overnight last weekend and thought she would enjoy her first painting experience. She loved it and declared "I like painting!" I enjoyed watching her wield the paintbrush with both hands equally well, but I'd say she is favoring her left hand, yes?

Repurposed Chenille

2011-07-26T07:38:00.000-07:00

Since I do not seem to have the skills [i.e.: attention span] to absolutely love traditional quilting, I have let myself go with my vintage chenille stash and have been creating some luscious patchwork quilts and throws for snuggling with babies and anyone else for that matter. Here are photos of a few yummy quilts recently completed.

Reunion of Generations of Good Friends

2011-07-24T18:46:00.000-07:00

Nearly 40 yrs. ago while living at a rather remote inland lake, I was longing for a friend both for myself and my toddler. Back then homeowners names were posted boldly on mailboxes and births were published in the newspaper daily. When I noticed a birth announcement for neighbors whose name I recognized from having driven by their mailbox, I baked a loaf of banana bread, bundled my toddler on her sled and trudged a half mile through the January snow to introduce myself.

This wonderful friendship grew, we each had another baby within weeks of each other, and we were always on the lookout for other young mothers in the neighborhood. One by one, we found newcomers, created play dates for the kids, potlucks for the entire families and the above photo is the result. Our core group still gets together for birthdays, showers, multi-annual potlucks and parties. Just one more gal is waiting for grandmother-hood. We assure her it will happen with patience. Not all of our daughters were present at this luncheon this past Saturday, but this was a joyful reunion for moms and daughters alike.... one granddaughter could be with us, too.

Art & Craft Fairs

2011-07-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

Thought you might enjoy a couple of shots of my booth at the beachfront fair yesterday. Pure shabby chic cottage decor. It was great! Lots of friends came through. Sales were good. The location was excellent. I so enjoy a public presentation and feedback, don't you?

Busy Summer Days

2011-07-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

What a delightful summer it is here! Perfect weather for the 4th of July neighborhood potluck and right through the following week of the National Cherry Festival. Our town was so busy! In between activities and my 2 yr. old granddaughter's first overnight with Nonna and Poppy, I've been painting furniture and sewing up a storm in preparation for an arts and crafts fair this Saturday. I have been perching all the furniture to be painted and in-process on top of our all-purpose trailer.... works well... just the right height. Packing the van today... set up tomorrow... wish me luck!

Summer Solstice and Strawberry Pie

2011-06-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

It rained constantly last week so one hardly noticed that there was an extra long day. There is something so special about the Solstices. They put you in touch with the earth, sky, planets. Now that the days are getting shorter, though only slightly noticeable, I am feeling very in touch with summer. Slow down. Enjoy it. I even took time to "rest my eyes" in the hammock this sunny afternoon. The strawberries are ripe here now ........ so strawberry ice cream pie was just the perfect desert tonight!

The Pie Lady Strikes Again!

2011-06-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

Some cooler weather and sunshine inspired the baking of a strawberry rhubarb pie today!

And a little stroll around the yard and garden. The wild flowers are as beautiful as the garden variety!
Hope your Sunday was lovely, too.

Now I am Committed.

2011-06-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

It has been years since I have done an outdoor Art Fair..... and I remember some of the reasons why!
The wind takes the booth tent like a kite no matter how it is secured, the rain makes your nice grassy space all mud, the usual moderate Michigan summers suddenly turn "fair day" into a record-setting temperature high for the year!

So I have been missing all of that, but especially the people! There is nothing like getting person-to-person feedback when presenting your handmade creations. Therefore when I found the used E-Z- Up at a yard sale, I immediately applied to one of my favorite summer shows. And I was juried in.... voila!

The application required a photo of my booth which I did not have, so I quickly created a mock-up on the deck on a sunny day... picture included here. Now I have my work cut out for me... no pun intended. My work table has sewing projects piled high and my calendar is scheduled full. What fun! Can't wait!

Seven Friends

2011-06-02T04:21:00.000-07:00

Here we all are on the Stairs to Nowhere at the top of the garden: Nonna (me), Tigger, Kitty (being held close), Emily (my granddaughter), Pooh and Piglet. This is why we save everything! The cement creatures came into our lives many years ago, long before a grandchild was even a twinkle. And when replacing a deck with stairs, we could not possibly discard the stairs, but instead installed them in the hillside and built a garden below and beside them. Voila! A place to visit with friends!
Oh, and the seventh friend is Eeyore, sitting off by himself in the ferns out of camera-range.

While Waiting for Summer.....

2011-05-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

I have been visiting estate sales in obscure places. Yesterday while following signs to a sale down gravelly roads, I stopped to take photos of this stately old house and barn. Makes me wonder what the story is... someone is tending the lawns beautifully. And the lilacs.... aren't they gorgeous? Even though the foundation is falling into the basement under the house, the building is still square as can be. Just a few of the old asphalt siding shingles are still clinging to the upper exterior.

A Perfect Event!

2011-05-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

We had the pleasure of hearing Sebastian Junger speak the other night. If you will remember the movie with George Clooney: "The Perfect Storm," Junger is the author. He has written other true life thrillers including the just-out-in-paperback: "War." He also co-created the movie "Restrepo" now out on DVD. We are so fortunate to have the National Writers Series here in our town: http://nationalwritersseries.org/
Lots of talent here and lots of talented visitors.

Mobile Farm Market

2011-05-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

Returning from an estate sale today I spotted this truck/farm market alongside the road. The truck is a 1946 Ford. Note the attached "greenhouse." The vendor had split dry firewood, huge pots of gladioli, well-established blueberry plants.... all for sale including the truck.... but not the dog. I carry a box of

dog treats under my car seat for just such occasions and made a new friend.

Coast Guard and Culinary School

2011-05-06T06:50:00.000-07:00

We have a wonderful community college here. It includes a fine Culinary School which serves lunches to the public in a fabulous facility overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan. I had lunch here this past week with six lady-friends.... wonderful food and conversation. Thought you'd like to see the gleaming kitchen in plain view of the patrons as well as the Coast Guard cutter docked out front.

This is a beautiful place to eat and view the expansive fresh water if you are ever in the area!

We are Pretending it's Spring

2011-04-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

My neighbor baked a lovely summery strawberry cake today and shared it with us. Delicious.
And I continue to sew clothes pin bags for my Etsy shoppe. Had to wait for the all-day-pouring
rain to stop around suppertime so I could hang it on the clothesline for a snapshot!
Such a damp chill in the air called for a crock pot full of beef vegetable stew.... it saved the day!
Hope it's warmer where you live.

Like Snow Off a Duck's Back.....

2011-04-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

Wait, isn't it supposed to be "like water off a duck's back?" Mr. and Mrs. Mallard have been hanging around in the snow under our bird feeder. After on-again off-again spring, we had a good 6" of snow dumped on us here over night complete with power outages. Hopefully this late spring storm will be the last. Only our hound-mix, Reggie, gets it right.... have a good nap somewhere comfy!

Where is Spring, anyway?

2011-03-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

We thought Spring was here when we drove to Tennessee mid-March and flowering trees were in bloom and robins were everywhere. We came back to Michigan, the snow was mostly gone and daffodils were peeping through the frozen crust of earth.

Vernal Equinox sounds magical, so I continued my personal tradition of burning the Christmas tree
in the fire pit on the beach.... light mist.... no snow.... hoping for Spring on the official first day.

And this is NOW! We were hit with a foot of "Spring Snow" and the deer are back at the bird feeder looking for hand outs.... here they are roaming on the frozen lake. So, where is Spring, anyway?

Sock # 3 plus Chenille

2011-03-06T19:20:00.000-08:00

Perhaps I have been permanently bitten by the sock bug. Here is a photo of sock # 3 and the beginning of it's mate. I included some examples of my failed attempts at sock knitting.... several, in fact, yet one day I may finish them all. I never could get past the "heel turn" before and at long last it is beginning to make sense.

Otherwise, I have been absent from blogging because I am doing a bit of spring sorting and clearing out. I have an extensive vintage chenille collection... many of the beautiful old bedspreads are cutters or in pieces. I have been packaging them in craft-project-sized bundles for my eBay friends and they are flying out of here. A neighbor stopped by before the clear out began and looked at the shelves heaped full to the ceiling.... she said if those shelves fell over on me I would die of "chenilluffocation!"

Pair of Purple Socks

2011-02-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

At long last I have completed two matching socks! And all thanks to a great sock knitting class by

Amy Tyler of www.stonesockfibers.com

You can also view Amy's blog here.

National Pie Day

2011-01-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

According to the American Pie Council, today is "National Pie Day." I learned this from fellow blogger Pat of Mille Fiori Favoriti. Today is another cold but sunny beautiful day in northwest lower Michigan. It warmed up to zero at noon. So I dove into cooking again.... While Split Pea Soup and my basic recipe for Goulash/Chili Base simmered, I tried Pat's Apple Cheese Tart.... doesn't it look yummy? I added a pear as well because I had one!

Sunday Afternoon ~ 10 degrees

2011-01-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

It seemed the best thing for this frigid day was to do a bit of meditative chopping and put a couple of pots of soup on the stove to simmer, then settle in with an enjoyable book: Reading ~ "A Servant's Tale" by Margaret Frazer. Simmering ~ Creamy Chicken Vegetable on the left and Buffalo Black Bean Chili on the right. Stay warm!

New Year Thoughts..... diary, fireplace, knitting....

2011-01-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

Aren't these lovely cup and plate snack sets? "Old Country Roses" by Royal Albert. I listed them on eBay today but so hope they do not sell.... yet can I possibly keep and display every last pretty thing I find? I am doing some serious purging again... sort of early spring cleaning. Have found an old diary I kept from 1971 - 1975. Was just sharing some of the entries with an old friend from those days. We have had some good chuckles over some fond memories.

Have you made resolutions for this new year? Usually I make a list, but seldom act. This year I skipped the list and in time I have found a few important projects. Like sorting through old slides... next I will put the keepers on DVDs. Also sorted through my knitting books, needles and yarn. Found a sock knitting class that begins tomorrow evening and runs for three Thursday evenings... just what I needed.

A blogger friend commented on our fireplace and thought I'd mention that it was made of split Michigan field stone by a remarkable local craftsman. He spent about three weeks building it. Never in a hurry, he sorted, arranged, contemplated every possible rock split and position. He included us in his decision-making process as we went along. He found the pine log for the mantel. All in all, it was a great experience and we are so pleased.

Playing in the Snow

2011-01-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

An afternoon off for everyone found my son and granddaughter sledding down our steep driveway today.

We have lots of fresh snow and more on the way, but we dress for it and enjoy it. The lake has wonderful ice for skating if we can keep the rink shoveled. Here's my daughter and her dog enjoying the process.

Happy Ice Skating in 2011

2011-01-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

After two days of rain and mild weather our beautiful snow is mostly gone. Just look at the ice on the lake!!! The sun came up bright today, this first day of 2011. The temperatures are dropping. The wind is whipping the flag! With any luck at all I'll be on my ice skates tomorrow. Happy New Year to you all!

Lamb Barley Soup

2010-12-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

We had a fantastic roast leg of lamb for Christmas dinner.... slow cooked with lots of garlic, onion, fresh thyme and rosemary! Today I made an equally delicious soup from the leftovers ~ a suggestion from my daughter-in-law. Great idea!

Ingredients: Beef broth, red wine, tomatoes, the usual veggies, marjoram, thyme, garlic and barley. Don't forget the lamb!

1909 Christmas Cards

2010-12-26T15:13:00.000-08:00

Here are special holiday cards for special friends made from printing images of 1909 vintage cards onto cotton, then sewing them to heavy parchment blank cards. I think it worked very well.

Deer in the Garden - Summer & Winter

2010-12-20T17:24:00.000-08:00

The deer arrive at dusk to see what I have left them in my compost pile. No wonder they check out the garden buffet in the summer.

Ready or not......

2010-12-20T14:55:00.000-08:00

We have shoveled out from that beautiful snowstorm, the tree is up and decorated and company is coming whether we are ready or not.... This morning I left home early under a beautiful blue sky with the cold sun making hoar frost glisten on every twig and clump of weeds. It was 2* ~ crispy and crunchy! A few errands to run, then back home I found the mantel looking especially pretty on this bright day. Every year I decorate it differently and I rather like the lace, candles and poinsettias. The candle holders are etched red flash antiques from my husband's Aunt Martha.... a treasure.

And, of course, any pie will do anytime......... I made a chicken pot pie for dinner last night. It was especially delicious! I was short of time so picked up a hot ready-cooked chicken from the grocery, cooked a pot full of veggies slightly, made a white sauce, topped it all with a freshly blended pie crust, popped it in the oven while I made
a salad and..... voila! Perfect winter supper!

Lake Effect Snow

2010-12-17T06:35:00.000-08:00

The sledding is terrific on our steep driveway. How we love that first significant lake effect snowstorm. 18" to 20" of snow fell here. It's been a beautiful week. Hope everyone is safe and warm.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

2010-12-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite summer farm markets offers freshly cut trees and homemade wreaths. We love to get our tree here. They drill the trunk to fit on a special stand so we aren't struggling with trying to straighten the tree... saves some stress. Inside the market is the wood stove for warming chilly fingers and toes. A pair of kitty siblings snuggle together by the fire. Frenchy Groleau established this farm, but has recently passed away. Many French Canadians settled in this region. Frenchy had some great stories about the early days and we miss him. Thankfully his family is carrying on.

Arts & Crafts Finale

2010-12-07T14:16:00.000-08:00

A remaining treasure from my final holiday arts and crafts show is this small collection of beaded and embroidered birds made from felted vintage blankets. They hang by a loop of fish line if you wish. Of course, I made oodles of cardinals in both red and wine and they "flew" off the display. The weather held and roads were clear for the show this past weekend, but we have since received around 15" of snow in the last 36 hrs. It is beautiful, but internet service is wonky. The candles and matches are handy in case of a full blown power outage. Very cozy!

My neighboring vendors always have tempting products, too. I bought an ounce of roving from a spinner/knitter and ordered felting needles. Have no idea what I am going to make, but am looking forward to learning something new. Feel free to suggest a beginner's project for me.

First Ice & Penny Rugs

2010-11-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

A series of nightly low temps in the 20's and we have a skim of ice on the lake this morning. Even though it won't last.... yet.... I am thinking about my ice skates! Hope everyone had a wonderful
Thanksgiving as we did here with family and extended family.

Christmas Craft Fairs are in full swing here in the north woods. Thought you'd like to see the reclaimed wool and velvet embroidered and appliqued pillows I made for my booth this past weekend. Also, I painted vintage furniture~chairs, tables, sleds~with snowmen and Santas.... sold out!!! What fun!

The lake is cooling down

2010-10-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Here is an early morning scene a few days ago as the air cooled the lake we swam in all summer. Perhaps it's beginning to think about making ice for ice-skating! Beautiful mists. Today we are getting such strong, gusting winds that the remaining leaves are being blown from the trees and away. Makes me wonder why I bothered raking the other day.

One of 4 Fave Seasons

2010-10-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

Right now Autumn is my favorite season. Soon Winter will be my favorite and so on! We have been enjoying one of the most beautiful falls on record with moderate temps and glorious colors. Here are some photos from my yard and home. I raked leaves into a huge pile one recent day.... another reason why I love fall... raking! Yes, truly. Good exercise and it smells so good.

I also made this pieced candy corn banner of quilt weight fabrics.... a "green" way to decorate and I can use it again next year. The reverse is a Halloween print as well as the double fold tape. I made the tape with one of those neat little tools and an iron.... very easy to do, inexpensive and it coordinates perfectly with the flags.

Lake Michigan Squalls & Lunch

2010-09-25T18:46:00.000-07:00

The winds whip wildly off Lake Michigan this time of the year.... up and over the dunes creating white caps on the inland lakes, many of which have dredged access to the "big" water. Such has been the weather the past couple of days, but that didn't keep me away from an estate sale yesterday providing vintage treasures. I don't admit to many people that I get up before dawn, drive for an hour in a storm, sign up for a number to be issued in another hour securing my rightful order in entering the houseful of treasures, then wait yet one more hour in the rain for the sale to begin! It takes some kind of nut......

The rewards are great, however. I found two wonderful old oak school chairs, vintage skeleton keys, sewing notions, a fantastic vintage recipe file box chock full of hand written recipes.... can't wait to read through them all and try a few. And to top off the morning I had an early lunch at the Blue Slipper Bistro Cafe at the end of the lake.... Chicken Curry Eggplant Soup to thaw me out!! Awesome Greek- influenced menu.

Harvest Moon and Pumpkin Spice Cake

2010-09-23T17:53:00.000-07:00

If it isn't too cloudy where you live, check out that gorgeous moon. I walked onto the end of the dock last night before bed and there it was shining down. It's a special time of year. The leaves are beginning to turn colors. The squirrels are extra busy stashing acorns and raiding the bird feeders.

The autumn fruits and vegetables are in ample supply at the farmers market. They make lovely centerpieces.... a good reason to display my vintage Vera tablecloth with the red ladybugs scattered through the brown and gold leaves.

The cool days have inspired me to make spice cake... what smells better than an apple pie or pumpkin spice cake baking?

If I am not baking, then I am sewing. I just made some "candy corn" from quilt weight fabrics and perched them with pip berries in old vintage bed springs. You can find them for sale in my Etsy shoppe.

Finding Tranquility

2010-09-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

What a couple of weeks it has been! A dear and talented neighbor/friend who was a genuinely careful and experienced motorcyclist had a car turn in front of him unexpectedly. In spite of modern medical surgical miracles, he passed away as a result of his injuries. Please watch out for bikers ~ both pedal and motor. Thankfully, during this sad time, I have had my granddaughter's corgi ~ the middle dog ~ to baby sit. He gets along really well with my two dogs and there hasn't been a dull moment... a good distraction.

During a recent morning I heard the old-fashioned sound of a single engine airplane motor. It was still and quiet with the lake like glass.... a perfect day to practice take-offs and landings. And that is exactly what this little yellow sea plane did for a couple of hours. I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to the "thinking" bench by the shore and watched for quite a long while. Hence, the tranquility I was looking for.

Flea Market Sundays

2010-08-30T14:52:00.000-07:00

A friend alerted me to this fabulous Flea Market held each Sunday through the summer. We went this past weekend and what a delight!

The first thing that hits you when you get out of your car is the smell of a bakery!! Fresh donuts are made all morning long.... melt-in-your-mouth fantastic! And on the honor system, no less. A tiny sign states 50 cents for coffee and 50 cents for a donut. You make your own change and bag your own donuts.... if they make it to the bag!

The kitchen is in this delightful old building with the big porch and blue gingerbread trim... lots of tables and chairs to sit and savor the day and the donuts.

My finds at the Flea Market were this great rustic cottage table, a cluster of skeleton keys for my "steampunk" projects and appropriate to my last blog ~ a book of Hemingway's Short Stories!

Hemingway's Summer Territory

2010-08-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

Ernest Hemingway's family's summer home was about 50 miles north of my home here in northwestern lower Michigan. Workshops, retreats and tours abound in this area for the Hemingway fan. Last week was our 5-county regional Quilt Store Shop Hop. It does indeed take an entire week to leisurely visit all of the quilt shops and it was a great time of being inspired by all the wonderful new fabrics just in for fall quilting as well as the many quilts on display.

Three shops are in the vicinity of the Hemingway region.... between Lake Charlevoix and Walloon Lake. Here are lots of woods to hunt in and streams to fish in.... all were inspiration for Hemingway's Nick Adams stories. Here are a couple of photos from the village of Horton Bay... a sign for the book store and the General Store which hasn't changed one bit since Ernest was a teenager.

Film Festival Hoopla

2010-08-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

What can I say? Time got away from me. Three batches of summer lake company ago was the big deal Traverse City Film Festival. My daughter came for the week from out of state. All of my family who live in town coordinated which movies we wanted to see... most of them foreign... and we had so much fun seeing some of the greatest films! Michael Moore is the founder of the festival along with local photographer John Robert Williams and local author Doug Stanton (Horse Soldiers). Their efforts have really paid off for our town. It is a fabulous event run by volunteers.

Bats in my Belfry

2010-07-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted something moving swiftly while I was sewing in my studio today. It was, to my surprise .... a swooping bat! Not one to panic, I immediately thought I had to find a way for him to get back outside. I took a screen off a window but it didn't go near the window, just kept swooping wildly.... then landed on a shelf and looked at me. I opened the front screen door and held it open while ... er... um... hiding behind it. Soon the bat swooped out the door and was gone. Whew!

It was a very handsome bat. Rich brown furry body with black ears and wings... wingspan was about 8" - 9"..... it is called "Little Brown Bat." Eats mosquitoes. You gotta love 'em for eating mosquitoes.

My husband's woodworking shop is in the same building and he always works with the utility doors wide open with no screen doors .... easier to move the large projects in and out! That's the only way we think a bat could possibly get in. I haven't seen a bat since third grade. I attended a two room rural school with, yes, a belfry. The rope hung down in the entrance hallway and occasionally the teacher would let one of us swing on the rope to ring the bell. One day a bat was loose in our classroom. The teacher grabbed a broom and calmly guided it out the front door. Thank you, Mrs. Gregory, for being such a wonderful example to us all.

Sunflower Fields

2010-07-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

I was searching for a "Barn Sale" the other day and got distracted by these fields of sunflowers.

Thought you would enjoy seeing them, too. Another week or two of hot July weather should have
them in full bloom. I love how they truly follow the sun. I have painted them in the past and feel
the urge again to get out a blank canvas .... not that I can improve on nature's handiwork, but there
is such joy in slopping on brushes full of those happy bright yellows!

Busy in my Sewing Room

2010-07-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

It is a beautiful summer here in the north and the long warm days and evenings give me lots of time outdoors... gardening, walking the dogs.... I love my cozy corner of the deck for reading. And still I am finding plenty of time to sew as well. Here is a reversible liner of new Ava Rose fabrics I made for a great old vintage flea market cart. I just listed this in my Etsy shop if you want a closer look.

Happy Indepence Day!

2010-07-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

Here are photos of our neighborhood potluck and the boat parade!

Cherries are Ripe*Blue Angels are Here

2010-07-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of quick postings of photos.... cherry trees are loaded if you care to pick your own.
The farmers are busy, busy getting the fruit harvested and to the packing plant. With the National Cherry Festival officially beginning tomorrow, we have all been stealing away to our favorite viewing sites to watch

the Blue Angels practice. Windows are known to shatter when they roar over our little town. My granddaughter is coming to my house for a quiet nap tomorrow since we aren't in the direct path of the jets. My, but they are impressive. Someone called their noise .... "the sound of Freedom." Happy Independence Day!

Good bye, June. Hello, Cherry Festival!

2010-06-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that June is over? Turn the calendar pages tomorrow morning.... or tonight if you can't stop yourself. Our small town on dual bays of Lake Michigan hosts the National Cherry Festival each July. This year, due to an unusually warm spring, the cherries are ripe in time for the festival!

I just tonight finished this sweet cherry print dress for my 14 mo. old granddaughter. It's her first year to truly witness the clowns, music, and many events of a Cherry Festival. Her daddy used to march in the parades as a member of the high school band percussion section. Will she?

Oh, and I baked a raspberry-rhubarb pie tonight. Never tried that combination before. Delicious!

Summer Solstice

2010-06-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I love the longest day of the year! It reminds me to get better in tune with the earth, the sky, the elements. The long, warm days of summer are with us for a while now. It's time to steal an afternoon with a good book and head for the hammock, the beach, your favorite porch chair. Or, like the young people fishing off the end of our dock late on the Solstice evening .... seize the moment and enjoy the beauty of the season.

These young folks grew up fishing off this dock. There is a wonderful fishing hole there semi-surrounded by a sandbar. It's a natural hiding place for large bass and all sizes of bluegill. It's a winning spot for learning to fish. Dads bring their young children to this prime learn-to-fish location for a winning experience. Loons fish here. Muskrats fish here. Happy summer!

Pies

2010-06-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

A few cool, rainy days here put me in the mood for pie!!

First I made a chicken pot pie, then a cherry - rhubarb pie.
My, how we enjoyed them.

Summer Treasures

2010-06-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

I am delighting in babysitting my 13-month-old granddaughter, Emily, a couple of mornings a week.
It is as good as any yoga class! Getting up and down off the floor is great exercise and I put my "all" into it. I neglected to tell her folks today that I am teaching her how to throw a ball.... this was immediately translated into throwing the dog's dish across the kitchen. Emi is a fast learner.

Another darling youngster is this newborn fawn we found in the yard at the edge of the woods a couple of days ago. It was tucked under some newly cut branches and thick ferns. I did not go too close but was able to snap this sweet photo. It didn't blink or twitch a whisker! Later in the evening a neighbor saw the fawn with it's mother so all is well.

Estate Quilts

2010-05-29T19:17:00.000-07:00

Just look at these old beauties!! Crazy Quilt and Churn Dash lovingly made of the most beautiful vintage fabrics. Found them at an estate sale this weekend and love them dearly. Flung them over my loft railing and they are so pretty there in the summer light.

Desert Bloom

2010-05-26T18:36:00.000-07:00

The Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix is all in bloom right now. We don't think to visit the desert this time of year when spirea and peonies are popping in Michigan. But I just spent a lovely week with my daughter in Arizona. We visited the DBG and I took lots and lots of photos.... it was gorgeous! Thought I'd share a few here.

Another Quilt

2010-05-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a wonderfully shabby nine-patch quilt I found at a yard sale this weekend. It is such a pretty old thing, I had to share it.

Quilt Barn Trail

2010-05-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

On one of our lovely peninsulas jutting out into Lake Michigan is the "Quilt Barn Trail." There are ten quilt barns on the trail although there are many more historic barns on Old Mission peninsula. Many volunteers came forth to help construct, paint, and install the quilt squares on the ten barns. Each quilt design has special significance to the family and history of the farm. A tour map is available. Recently I came across a couple of these barns and thought you might enjoy seeing them.

The saltbox barn above is decorated with a Windmill quilt design with a cluster of cherries in the center. The barn sits high on a windy hill and the family raises cherries.

The white barn below was built in 1870. The quilt square is a modified Bear Paw pattern taken from a family heirloom quilt.

NATIONAL CHERRY CAPITAL !

2010-05-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, I live in the National Cherry Capital and we get very excited about our cherries. Thought you'd enjoy seeing the orchards in bloom this spring. First the sweet cherries bloom followed by the tarts, or pie cherries. They nearly always bloom around Mother's Day and an excursion through the orchards is a must. Many of us grow up here picking cherries as a summer job or working in the canneries. Dried cherries are a relatively new product and are wonderful to use as you would raisins or cranberries. They are fantastic covered in chocolate!

Happy Mother's Day to All

2010-05-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Patchwork quilts bring back memories for many of us. I found this partially assembled quilt top at an estate sale recently. 5~1/2" square 4-patches .... 85 of them! They were a bit musty and I didn't want to launder them and have them ravel or shrink so I pinned them out on the clothesline on a windy afternoon. Don't they look like prayer flags?

Here's a photo of them placed on a bed... I know I will never put them together and I cannot bear to see anything like this lost, so I put them in my Etsy shoppe. Someone's mother began this project and I hope a daughter finishes it. A bit sentimental today.

Hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day complete with brunches, bouquets, dog walks and phone calls to and from loved ones.

BEES BUZZING - MUST BE HEAVEN!

2010-04-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

Once in a rare while one finds oneself thoroughly immersed in heaven on earth. I was driving home from an estate sale one sunny day last week and had to keep pulling off the road to take photos of "heaven." First was the hillside within a roadside park.... yes, Michigan has beautiful roadside parks and mostly they are open now for the summer. The daffodils here were absolutely perfect. Such a sweet fragrance!

Next was an old house on a rural road with the yard overgrown with grape hyacinths. The bees were sooo busy here I was careful to stay out of the way. There were a few daffodils mixed in as well - double blooms... gorgeous.

My GPS friend kept trying to steer me toward the main highway but I persisted and remained on the back roads. Much more interesting and with time and space to smell the flowers.

Documentary..... NOT!!

2010-04-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

I literally spent most of the past two months purging, sorting, selling and giving away a multitude of treasures from my stash, closets, spare room, cubbies! The "American Pickers" should have found ME for their scavenging! A friend suggested I should have made a documentary of the process. It would have been too embarrassing! Okay, no more hoarding! Onward.....

REWORKing my thinking

2010-04-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

Have you read the new bestseller "Rework" by Fried and Hansson? How to simplify your life,
your business, your whatevers. Do what works, get started, keep your lists short, focus, decide
and move forward, etc., etc. Two bright guys have written a very useful book for business or just
plain life! Easy, quick read.

Upside Down World

2010-04-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

How delighted I am to have my granddaughter, Emily, living nearby. Here she is with her doggie's dish upside down on her head. Yes, the brown fluffy thing next to her is her dog trying to gobble his food. Emily and her parents moved across the country during last week and are settling into their new home just a dozen miles from Nonna and Poppy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-09T17:58:00.000-08:00

My little granddaughter, Emily, is 9~1/2 months old now and is enjoying playing with blocks.
So I sewed together this little carrying tote for her. Squished flat it measures about 9" x 9" with
the 2~1/2" gusset folded under. The outside is made from a sturdy bed coverlet, an appliqued heart
on a pocket with a simple, single handle for little hands. I strengthened it with Warm & Natural and

lined it with 10 oz. cotton duck. Fun and easy!

A New Pie Recipe!

2010-02-08T17:52:00.000-08:00

A friend suggested a favorite pie recipe of hers ~ Blackberry/Banana Pie! Just slice a banana in the bottom of the pie crust. Top with fresh blackberries. Sprinkle on a little sugar, a shake of cinnamon and the top crust and bake as usual. With a little vanilla ice cream ~ Delicious!! A nice treat in mid-winter.

The Best Project of All

2010-01-25T16:55:00.000-08:00

I found the pattern for these darling booties on Etsy. Made a pair today from a vintage double weave wool blanket. Aren't they cute? Velcro closings at the ankle. The best thing is I will deliver them in person to my 9 mo. old granddaughter, Emily. Yes, Nonna and Poppy are flying out west for a good visit with her, her parents and her Auntie.

... And More New Projects!

2010-01-19T19:01:00.000-08:00

Regarding my knitting, I am trusting the book a little too much... or the book thinks I know more than I know. About the time I began shaping the heel, I realized I should have been working on 4-5 double-pointed needles. Oh, well, ripping out and starting over is a good thing!

Regarding the wool pillows I made before Christmas, I am still enthralled with vintage wool fabrics and so made heart-shaped pin cushions using old textile bobbins as a base. Trimmed with vintage velvet, little red penny rug hearts, with vintage hat and corsage pins!

To follow up I took a beginning one-day quilt workshop last Saturday through a local quilt guild. There will be more classes throughout the winter. I think I'm hooked!

Happy New Year! New Projects!

2010-01-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

Just a quick hello in this new year of 2010. My daughter gave me this knitting book with her niece/my granddaughter in mind. It is full of delightful patterns and not too difficult for a beginning knitter ~ just what I need. So I have jumped right into making a sweet and simple pair of socks. The snow is coming down like crazy here today. Hubby is watching the Rose Bowl. Leftover snacks from last night's neighborhood potluck will make an easy supper.

Sleigh Bells

2009-12-27T15:27:00.000-08:00

An old-fashioned style Christmas in our circle of friends this year.... delightful! We joined neighbors, their children and grandchildren on a sleigh ride through the snowy woods. The horses were simply amazing taking us up and down hills to eventually stop at a warming cabin complete with hot chocolate and a sizzling fire in the wood stove. The view was fantastic overlooking Lake Michigan and N. and S. Manitou Islands off the shore of Leelanau County.

Christmas Eve found us at the charming home of friends where we shared a potluck supper and went to a candlelight service with traditional holiday music and carols.

At home I set our dining table with my husband's Aunt Martha's etched clear and red fruit bowl and candle holders. Always brings back fond memories of her.

Hope your holiday has been happy!

Happy Solstice

2009-12-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

And tomorrow the days will begin to grow a wee bit longer.... day by day. In the meantime, I am loving all the beautiful lights of the season. One of the greatest pleasures of this season for me is putting on some good CDs and baking cookies all day! Yesterday I made mincemeat bars, 7-layer bars, almond shortbread, gingersnaps, Russian tea cookies and two kinds of fudge. We immediately wrapped and boxed them and today they are on their way to my husband's customers, to friends and family. Enjoy your celebration of this beautiful season!

Vintage Sleigh Project

2009-12-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

Here is the darling wood sleigh we have been enjoying making this season. Found a homemade antique sleigh, refurbished and restored it, made a pattern from it and gave it a couple coats of paint. Trimmed the hemlock tree and tramped in the swamp for some cedar boughs, tied them up in vintage velvet ribbon, and..... voila! We have made several reproductions now and expect there will be more in the future. It looks darling on the front porch. One lady bought one from us to display her Victorian dolls!

Kitchen Window Panorama

2009-12-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

Winter's First Blizzard

2009-12-11T08:52:00.000-08:00

For those in the south who don't like to hear whining about the weather and wonder why some of us spend our winter's in the north.... I will post mostly pictures here today. For those in the north who understand, I hope you will enjoy knowing you are not alone. Although we spend time shoveling, we also spend time playing. Our house is at the bottom of a steep hill near the lakeshore.... wonderful in the summer.... challenging in the winter. The garage, cars, mailbox, newspaper, etc. are all at the top of the hill!

Here's a shot of me bringing a package from the mailman down to the house on my plastic sled.
And also the gorgeous panoramic view from my kitchen windows!

Upcycled Vintage

2009-12-03T16:54:00.000-08:00

My booth sales were fantastic at my favorite annual Holly Berry Arts & Crafts Fair in Frankfort, Michigan. Frankfort is a friendly and welcoming small Lake Michigan village.... delightful to visit
during any season. It has art galleries, funky shops and a variety of good restaurants.

Back to my booth.... the catnip fish sold out - wish I could make hundreds, but there isn't enough time in a day. Vintage wool, velvet and corduroy made popular quilted pillows. Hard to find that great wool, however. Perhaps my favorite upcycling involves odds and ends of vintage furniture which my husband restores and I paint.... often with snowmen and winter scenes. Nearly every item found a new home this year.

Catnip Fish

2009-11-22T17:32:00.000-08:00

While preparing items for my booth in the one craft fair I participate in each fall, I like to make a basket full of Catnip Fish! They are both my "loss leader" and something little kids can afford. I always place the basket of fish at a 5 yr. old's level. If the child doesn't have a kitty of his/her own, then surely his grandma or auntie has a kitty. I keep the price extremely low and have been known to negotiate down or suddenly have a 2 for 1 sale. It's fun to see the children find something they can purchase which they know is the perfect gift!

At my house the act of stuffing these fishies with fresh catnip is quite the trick with my two cats hovering. I store the completed fish in the refrigerator until the craft fair and always save a couple for my own kittens. I like the batik fabrics for this purpose.

Short Getaway to "The Island"

2009-10-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

We have had such a cool and rainy autumn this year. Yet the trees have turned fabulous colors.
My husband and I decided that regardless of the weather, we would go to Mackinac Island for an overnight getaway at the Cloghaun B & B. As luck would have it, we were there the only two sunny days in a stretch of gloom. It was a delightful visit. The afternoon "tea" and the breakfast fare was above and beyond anything we'd ever had before at B & Bs. Highly recommended!

Mackinac Island is situated in the Straits of Mackinac where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron "meet" or join, if you will. In 1670 a Jesuit priest wintered on the island. The British in 1781 made it a center of their military and fur-trade activity. The island was occupied by the Americans in 1796. Held by the British during the War of 1812, it became the hub of Astor's fur empire after 1817. Mackinac Island was already becoming a popular resort when fur trading declined during the 1830's. The Michigan governor's summer retreat is here.

Arriving by ferry, one immediately realizes no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island which makes for a very peaceful vacation. Bikes are for rent. Carriage rides and horseback-riding are offered. It's a beautiful escape to another era. I've included photos of the Grand Hotel, a retired Coast Guard ice-cutter which is now a museum & the Cloghaun B & B.

Typical Market Day

2009-10-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

While in France we visited the Saturday market in the lovely town of Uzes which is about 20 miles north of Nimes. Besides the typical fresh produce one finds at farmers markets in the U.S., French markets also offer linens, clothing, soaps, meats, fish and street performers. People come from all over, make a day of it and stay for lunch after the vendors pack up. The cafes fill up quickly so it is wise to make reservations. Last picture is a sweet one of the children watching the mime/clown.

Storybook Villages in France

2009-10-11T19:12:00.000-07:00

While hiking through and around the small villages and hamlets in the Ardeche region of France mid-September, I was amazed at the age of the buildings and remarkable way they are maintained for generations. I am posting just a few of many photos. The first is of the village of Banne - simply charming. It is situated in the foothills of the Cevennes Mountains just below the ruins of a Knights Templar Chateau built around the early 1200's.

Second is the very small walled village of Lussan where the well-known ceramic guinea hens are made. It is perched high on a hill for easy defense.

Within the smaller hamlets I found many archways connecting homes one to another. They are not large enough for even small cars to pass through but just right for a donkey with wagon.

Last photo is the farmhouse where I stayed for a week. Portions of it date back to the 1300's with the majority of the visible structure dating to the 17 - 1800's when it was a silkworm farm.
It has been lovingly restored with all modern conveniences and an indescribable view.

French Plum Crumble

2009-10-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

Mid-September I took a much awaited trip to France. I traveled with a couple of friends to Paris where we caught the TGV (high-speed train) to Nimes. We picked up a rental car and drove an hour to a small village/hamlet in the Ardeche region where we stayed at a renovated French farmhouse, parts of which date back to the 1300's. This is an area where chestnuts have been the main crop since the Greeks brought them in 700 A.D. More recently the silkworm industry has been important in the area. Oh, and don't forget grapes and French wine!

Our hostess at the farmhouse is an artist/friend who also happens to be a marvelous cook.
Here are pics of the Plum Crumble she made one evening. She cut cold butter in chunks into the
flour/sugar/oatmeal topping mixture and mixed it all by hand. Dark brown sugar as well as white sugar over the plums. Baked long and slowly. Served with a dollop of creme fraiche.

First Frost

2009-10-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

Back to the CSA next summer! I just have to face it.... my little garden spot does not get enough hours of sunshine to grow veggies. Most herbs do well and semi-shade loving flowers do well.
Between the chipmunks, squirrels, shade and insects..... not much to harvest. I did pick a half quart of green beans. The green peppers were there one day and vanished the next! Here is a photo of the full tomato and potato harvest at frost time!

Summer's Bounty

2009-09-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

Other people's gardens are bountiful. Not mine!! We had a cool, rainy summer and I have to face it.... I don't get enough sun for veggies. My two rows of green beans yielded 1/2 qt. I have yet to harvest a tomato. The nice fence my husband put up to keep out the deer and bunnies worked just fine. However, the squirrels and chipmunks are stealing the green tomatoes like crazy. They leave them half-eaten all over the yard. The bonus? the flowers are doing very well.... best ever! So, I learned something. I will return to my CSA next summer.

In the meantime, our "honor system" fruit and vegetable stands thrive throughout the region. Most allow you to make your own change! I have included pics of my favorite nearby stand. Also pics of a tart cherry cobbler and early apple pie I made recently.

Ooops! It's August already!

2009-08-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go? Summer has been a whirlwind. My sweet little granddaughter, Emily, visited with her parents for a whole month. I was in heaven. So was my little girl corgi whose mothering instincts took over. What a joy to watch little Emi grow and change day by day. Cannot wait to see her again, but when families are spread out across the country one must be patient.

We have had a cool summer in the 70's mostly and plentiful rain. Not much heat to make the garden grow. The fence, however, has kept most of the critters out and there may be a small veggie harvest if frost does not come early.

June Garden.... Ooops! It's July already!

2009-07-08T05:26:00.000-07:00

Time flies! Will post the photos of my June garden planting following the late frosts even though the beans are now up.... one row anyway. The second variety didn't take. Planted a nice amount of marigolds to ward off insects, but the marigolds have been eaten!! Who eats marigolds???

In the meantime, sweet cherries are ripe just in time for the National Cherry Festival all this week!
My sweet granddaughter is visiting with her parents. What joy!! So we are busy, busy, busy!

Lilacs and Rhubarb Pie

2009-05-31T17:22:00.000-07:00

End of May.... Already!

2009-05-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

The month of May went so quickly. My intentions to blog more frequently just aren't coming to fruition... but I will keep trying. It is lilac time here, and time to bake anything with rhubarb. Our annual neighborhood Memorial Day picnic is traditionally held at our house and this year was no different.... great fun with a group of long-time friends on a beautiful day ... not too hot, no rain and just enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes at bay! I will post some photos today of strawberry rhubarb pie-baking and lilacs, of course.... they are so fragrant!