Robins are one of the happiest signs of spring. I spied the first arrivals way back in January, and now there are lots of them visiting every day. They always give my heart a little lift, knowing that when they arrive, warmer weather can’t be far behind. They’re so comical, bobbing around, all plump and […]
Month: March 2011
Sausage-Apple-Sweet Potato Bake
We had tornado warnings here last evening. One of those crazy spring thunderstorms blew through, with howling winds, rain, and hail. Fred was out grading the driveway, and I was watching from the kitchen while making dinner. I had just turned away from the kitchen window for a minute, and when I looked back, a […]
March Days
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it’s summer in the light, and winter in the shade. Charles Dickens It feels so good to be outside this time of year, even if there is still a nip in the air. The fields are showing […]
Waiting and Sketching
What do you do when you have to sit around a car dealership waiting for your vehicle to be serviced? The local Dodge dealer where I take my van has a grungy, depressing waiting room with ancient, grimy chairs, 5 year old magazines, and a TV that blares inane TV shows all day long. Sitting […]
Gallery Views
I spent a few hours working at our local gallery, Artisans, this afternoon. I had the place to myself, so I grabbed my little 3.5″ x 5″ sketchbook and spent some time with my pens and watercolors. It was so peaceful and quiet as I sat there sketching, looking out the windows at a bright […]
Baby Shower Week – Day 7: Games & Activities III
Okay, so I went a little nutty with coordinating everything for the baby shower. When I decided to build the decorations around the pennant banners, the ideas just blossomed and grew – I couldn’t stop myself! The napkin rings, the baby clothes banner hung from the mantel, the vase for the flowers, the ties for […]
Baby Shower Week – Day 6: Games & Activities II
Baby showers are all about gifts, but not only gifts for the mother-to-be. It’s nice when the guests get to take home some fun surprises, too. I started the party off by having everyone introduce themselves and tell where they were from and how they knew or were related to my daughter. Then I gave […]
Baby Shower Week – Day 5: Games & Activities I
This is the first and only baby shower I’ve ever planned, and I was kind of intimidated by the thoughts of having to choose the games and activities. I just couldn’t see myself myself making people taste jars of unknown baby food to figure out what it was, or playing the “Dirty Diapers” game. (Don’t […]
Baby Shower Week – Day 4: Sweet Treats
Since I am a self-confessed sugar addict, it was pure joy for me to make all the sweet treats for the baby shower. The cupcakes, of course, were the star of the show. I used my old standby recipe for Yellow Cake from the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook, along with their Butter Frosting recipe. […]
Baby Shower Week – Day 3: Savory Snacks
For our afternoon baby shower, I looked for savory recipes that were light, delicious, attractive, and easy to serve and eat. I didn’t want anyone dripping marinara sauce on their clothes or ending up with spinach in their teeth! Here’s what I came up with: Tortilla Ranch Roll-Ups Ingredients: 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, […]