window shopping: Alice B. Gardens
the way I see it
>>
–
365,
photography,
the way I see it
Whew! Summer seemed bent on making her presence known this past week, not only with the official start of the season, but the truly hot and muggy days we experienced. I was a bit of a wimp and spent a lot of time in the a/c with our guests, but I did manage to get outdoors a few times to snag a few photos. How was your week?
rays
welcome
leaning in
on the fence
lilypads
translucence
tang
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rays
welcome
leaning in
on the fence
lilypads
translucence
tang
wise words
>>
–
fragrance,
little things,
meadow,
quotes,
wise words
Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odorless but all together perfume the air.
Georges Bernanos
Georges Bernanos
what's cooking: easy as pie apple tart
>>
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apple tart,
recipe,
recipes,
what's cooking
What's with that saying, anyway? Is pie all that easy? If it is, this is definitely simpler. I LOVE this recipe, which I adapted from one of my favorite bloggers, the Pioneer Woman. Make this. Your guests will rave. If you choose to share. :)
easy as pie apple tart
1 sheet puffed pastry, thawed (get the all butter kind in the freezer section of your grocery)
3 small-medium apples (use your favorite variety---these are gala)
3/4 cup brown sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Preheat the oven to 415 degrees. Cut each apple in half, then scoop out the core with a spoon. Slice the apples in the thinnest slices you can manage and toss them into a bowl with the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and cardamom. Stir to coat and let them sit for a few minutes until the sugar mostly dissolves.
Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Unfold the thawed pastry and cut it in half width-wise. Place the sheets side by side (but not touching) on the baking sheet. When the apples are ready, arrange the slices on the pastry. Get artistic. Have fun. I just made two overlapping rows on mine. You might go for a zig-zag pattern or concentric rectangles.
Bake for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until pastry is puffed and golden brown. Slice and eat it while it's warm. So good. This is wonderful paired with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. And it makes a pretty tasty breakfast as well. Bon appétit!
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easy as pie apple tart
1 sheet puffed pastry, thawed (get the all butter kind in the freezer section of your grocery)
3 small-medium apples (use your favorite variety---these are gala)
3/4 cup brown sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Preheat the oven to 415 degrees. Cut each apple in half, then scoop out the core with a spoon. Slice the apples in the thinnest slices you can manage and toss them into a bowl with the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and cardamom. Stir to coat and let them sit for a few minutes until the sugar mostly dissolves.
Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Unfold the thawed pastry and cut it in half width-wise. Place the sheets side by side (but not touching) on the baking sheet. When the apples are ready, arrange the slices on the pastry. Get artistic. Have fun. I just made two overlapping rows on mine. You might go for a zig-zag pattern or concentric rectangles.
Bake for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until pastry is puffed and golden brown. Slice and eat it while it's warm. So good. This is wonderful paired with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. And it makes a pretty tasty breakfast as well. Bon appétit!
I spy
1. green doodle loafers by Craftastrophe
2. heirloom chile pepper seeds by my victory garden
3. saree scarf by blue sea blue
4. little bits tee dress by ellaina boutique
5. retro suit by Bettie B
6. lucky print by My Fine Garden
7. crochet necklace by elin thomas
8. you are so loved print by jessica gonacha
let's make {pet pouches}
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diy,
let's make,
pet pouches
I don't want to offend anyone by being too graphic, but Lola and I take a lot of walks and jogs and sometimes I forget to bring along a little baggie for...well, you know. So, it dawned on my on a recent excursion that I could make a little "wallet" to store a plastic baggie right on her collar. Of course they have little baggy things that dangle from the collar, but I know I wouldn't like that banging around, and I thought Lola'd be annoyed by it too. She's kinda particular. Anyway, here's a quick little project to make such a pouch. Of course, you could keep a card or key in it, too, if you're so inclined. This pouch fits one large or a few small plastic baggies inside, just to keep you prepared.
let's make {pet pouches}
You'll need just a few items for this project:
fabric (3" x 8") swatch
needle and thread (a sewing machine makes this project lightning fast, but isn't necessary)
straight pins
scissors
2 inches of 1" wide velcro
To begin, cut your fabric into a 3x8" rectangle (I've had this ruler since grade school in case you were wondering).
Now, with the good side of the fabric toward you, pin the velcro to the middle of the fabric. Make sure that one side of the velcro (for instance, the fuzzy side) is up while the other (the sticky side) is down. They should be overlapping quite a bit and sticking to each other now. Baste the velcro in place and remove pins.
P.S. I almost forgot to mention (thanks for the reminder, Melis!) that Lola's collar is from Lucky Fiona, who makes the most fabulous doggie "necklaces", in my opinion. I'm a huge fan of the martingale style in particular, especially for skinny-necked pups like our weimie!
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let's make {pet pouches}
fabric (3" x 8") swatch
needle and thread (a sewing machine makes this project lightning fast, but isn't necessary)
straight pins
scissors
2 inches of 1" wide velcro
Fold each of the short ends over by 1/2 inch and sew down the center of the fabric, 1/4 inch from the fold.
Repeat on the other end.
P.S. I almost forgot to mention (thanks for the reminder, Melis!) that Lola's collar is from Lucky Fiona, who makes the most fabulous doggie "necklaces", in my opinion. I'm a huge fan of the martingale style in particular, especially for skinny-necked pups like our weimie!
drumroll, please...
Congrats also to Heidi, who won a print from Inspiration Board. And thanks to Erin of Perfect Sentiment for hosting the contest!
window shopping: namolio
>>
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etsy,
linen,
namolio,
summertime,
window shopping
Shown here (clockwise from top left): linen pincushion, linen teddy bear, crochet linen rose, set of four linen coasters, and picnic placemat.
the way I see it
>>
–
365,
photography,
the way I see it
I fear I might be going overboard, but I'm having a blast working with some new actions by CinnamonRose and textures by Florabella. I don't want to tamper too much, but I do enjoy using these tools to give my photos the look and feel they evoke in me when I'm taking these shots. How do you feel about textures?
promise
sunday ride
showoff
on fire
patented
tangled
love letter
wise words
>>
–
father's day,
quotes,
wise words
Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Any man can be a father,
but it takes a special person to be a dad.
but it takes a special person to be a dad.
Unknown
what's cooking: bacony shrimp and cheese grits
I let my fingers do the walking through several of my cookbooks the other day. Once they found this page in Paula Deen's: Paula Deen and Friends, living it up country style, the stroll was over. I changed things up a bit, but this was marvelous, y'all!
bacony shrimp and cheese grits
3/4 cup quick cooking grits
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 pound raw shrimp (we used 51-70 count), peeled and deveined
6 slices bacon, cut into ~1 inch pieces
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup chopped green onions (green and white parts)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a boil, then add the grits and stir well. Reduce heat to low and cool for about 5-10 minutes or until all the broth is absorbed. Stir in the cheese and keep covered until ready to serve.
Rinse the shrimp at pat dry. Fry the bacon until crisp (or however you like it), then drain the bacon on a paper towel. Remove all but one tablespoon of bacon grease from the pan, then add the shrimp and sauté over medium heat just until the shrimp turn pink, about 3 minutes. (DON'T OVERCOOK!) Quickly add the lemon juice, parsley, and green onions, then remove the skillet from heat.
Serve the grits topped with the shrimp mixture and garnish with bacon pieces. Yum! (Serves 4.)
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bacony shrimp and cheese grits
3/4 cup quick cooking grits
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 pound raw shrimp (we used 51-70 count), peeled and deveined
6 slices bacon, cut into ~1 inch pieces
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup chopped green onions (green and white parts)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a boil, then add the grits and stir well. Reduce heat to low and cool for about 5-10 minutes or until all the broth is absorbed. Stir in the cheese and keep covered until ready to serve.
Rinse the shrimp at pat dry. Fry the bacon until crisp (or however you like it), then drain the bacon on a paper towel. Remove all but one tablespoon of bacon grease from the pan, then add the shrimp and sauté over medium heat just until the shrimp turn pink, about 3 minutes. (DON'T OVERCOOK!) Quickly add the lemon juice, parsley, and green onions, then remove the skillet from heat.
Serve the grits topped with the shrimp mixture and garnish with bacon pieces. Yum! (Serves 4.)
I spy
1. bowling game by sweetshorn vintage
2. doily clock by and furthermore
3. sheep chess by matilda beldroega
4. strapless dress by christina pires
5. enameled bracelet set by bullfinch and barbury
6. cuff, wallet wristband by beautiful skin
7. round handbag by geometrics style
8. saree skirt by blue sea blue
2. doily clock by and furthermore
3. sheep chess by matilda beldroega
4. strapless dress by christina pires
5. enameled bracelet set by bullfinch and barbury
6. cuff, wallet wristband by beautiful skin
7. round handbag by geometrics style
8. saree skirt by blue sea blue
june giveaway by Musette
>>
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blog contest,
earrings,
giveaway,
musette,
musettemade
Woohoo! It's giveaway time again. I'm so pleased to introduce Shannon, who is sponsoring this month's giveaway. Shannon is the creative soul behind Musette, a most darling jewelry shop on etsy. She's been making jewelry for over 10 years but have only recently started focusing on it as a business. Like most creative folk I know, Shannon has several creative irons in the fire. She's a lifelong painter and also works part time in an art gallery.
Four beautiful items from Musette. Be sure to check out more in the shop!
And now you have a chance to win something from this great shop! Shannon has graciously offered a pair of her frida earrings to the lucky winner. To enter, visit Musette and pick out your favorite piece, then come back here and let us know in the comments.
Want to increase your odds? You can pick up one additional entry for each of the following:
1. following this blog
2. following Shannon or me on twitter
3. tweeting about this post
4. blogging about this post
5. becoming a fan of Shannon's
If you choose to do any of these things, please leave a note in the comments! Good luck! And be sure to leave your email addy or etsy username so we can contact you if you win.
Contest ends 11:59 pm edt on Monday, 22 June and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, 23 June.
Oh, and while you're at it, check out this contest for a free print from Inspiration Board!
...follow the breadcrumbs ...
Read more...
And now you have a chance to win something from this great shop! Shannon has graciously offered a pair of her frida earrings to the lucky winner. To enter, visit Musette and pick out your favorite piece, then come back here and let us know in the comments.
Want to increase your odds? You can pick up one additional entry for each of the following:
1. following this blog
2. following Shannon or me on twitter
3. tweeting about this post
4. blogging about this post
5. becoming a fan of Shannon's
If you choose to do any of these things, please leave a note in the comments! Good luck! And be sure to leave your email addy or etsy username so we can contact you if you win.
Contest ends 11:59 pm edt on Monday, 22 June and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, 23 June.
Oh, and while you're at it, check out this contest for a free print from Inspiration Board!
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