A Little Bit Irish

Are you Irish?  Hmmm, does Scots Irish count?  If it does, then yes, maybe we are a little bit Irish.  Dear hubby is about half Irish -- his mother was a Bailey.  My mother's last name was  Mc name so probably more a Scottish name than Irish.  I always forget if a Scots Irish person is a Scot living in Ireland or the other way around.

Since everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, I decided to make some Irish Soda Bread to celebrate.  Well, it is kind of like me -- maybe a little bit Irish.  Since I didn't want to go somewhere to buy any ingredients, I used what I had.  I had only whole wheat flour instead of white, so used that.  I did have raisins and dried cranberries, but no currents so I went with the dried cranberries.  I like those better, anyway.  The recipe called for Irish Whiskey - hmm fresh out of that, we'll just leave that out and add a bit more buttermilk.  Oops, no buttermilk either.  No problem, just add white vinegar to milk and you have buttermilk, sort of.

The result?

 

It at lease looks like some of the pictures of Irish Soda Bread I found.

 

 

The recipe was from a very old bread book.  I may try another recipe as there are several variations.

 

 

It would go well with a little Irish Breakfast tea.

 

 

The green Depression glass was given to me when I was a little girl.

 

 

The silver was in a bag and VERY tarnished when I found it.  The tag said it was from about 1929, so just perfect for the Depression glass place setting. All the pieces are not the same pattern. I don't mind.

 

 

A St. Patty's Day tea?

 

 

The flowers were the birthday flowers Dear Hubby brought to my office as a surprise.

 

 

Hope you are having a Fabulous Friday!

 

xoxoXOXOxoxo

Lois

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glimpses of Fall

September is the start of my favorite season -- Fall!  While here in the desert Southwest, we are still in triple digits most of the day, September is the beginning of a cooling trend, or so we hope!  In other parts of the country the breezes are crisper, a leaf or two is beginning to turn for that wonderful crunch as we walk on a path through the woods.  The air smells different, somehow it is fresher.

Apple and pumpkin desserts and the aroma of Cinnamon in the air is just what a creature weary of the oven blast of summer craves.  Ah, Fall!

The first of September sends me scurrying to locate the Fall decorations from previous years and thinking of new ones for this season.  After all, the stores have had Fall items on the shelves since the 4th of July, so it must be time.

I'm ready to start!  Here is a glimpse of the direction my Fall home is taking.

 

This tablescape began with a toolbox made by our grandson C2 and our SIL.  They made one for each of the families for Christmas a couple of years ago.  This, for them, started as a Boy Scout project.  Ours went to the garage where I watched it.  Never was a tool put in it.  So this year, I asked my dear hubby if I could "do something with it".  He said, "sure". A coat of white paint and a little antiquing and it was starting to look the way I wanted it to.  With the addition of a graphic from The Graphics Fairy and a lacy Fleur De Lis, it was really looking like what I envisioned.  I used the freezer paper method to transfer to the wood after first reversing the image.  All I had to do was print onto the waxy side of the freezer paper and with the bowl of a spoon burnish the image to transfer it to the wood.  I love the antique look this method gives on wood.

 

 

Here is a view of one side of the toolbox. The cream colored burlap table runner is from last year. The table cloth is really a length of 108" wide white on white fabric sold for quilt backing.

 

 

The back side shows the back of the ironstone platter, has the same transfer and announces the season.

 

 

I think it definitely says Fall.

 

 

The neutral tones of the pine tree quilt and the painting of a round barn in Iowa also speak to the neutral Fall colors of the room.  There is also a photo of a church in Alabama above the round barn.  On the other side of the window, not shown here is a pen and ink drawing of an historic building in Wisconsin and a watercolor of the Town Clock Plaza in Dubuque, Iowa, all done in more or less Fall colors.  In fact prior to living in Arizona, our houses had been decorated in shades of gold, forest green and russets - very much Fall colors.  I still love them, but Blue, Yellow and tints of white are predominant in this house -- most of the year, but not Fall!

 

 

In one corner a small antique chest holds a basket of dried grasses and flowers and a faux pumpkin seed packet.

 

 

Next to the china cabinet a ceramic high top boot sits next to a silver bowl full of vanilla potpourri.

 

 

The dining room is ready.  Now it's time to "fallify" the rest of the house.  But first, maybe I'd better make some apple butter to make the house smell as yummy as the dining room looks.

 

Are you ready for Fall?  What is your favorite thing about this season?  Will you send me some Fall colored leaves?  I miss that part a lot!

 

 

xoxoXOXOsoso

 

Lois



 

 

 

Joining These Parties

 

The Graphics Fairy Brag Monday 

Cowgirl Up Party at Farmhouse Porch

Dixie & Dotties Fall Y'all

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Life on Lakeshore Drive  Bouquet of Talent

On a Pedestal

While it is never a good idea to put people on a pedestal since it's pretty ugly when they fall off, I love other things on pedestals.  A cake just looks so much more festive on a pedestal.  An apothecary jar with a pedestal is just exciting with anything in it.

Since it's July, I've been thinking Christmas.  I know it's early, but I'm so slow getting things done, it will take me until then to get even half of the things I've got dogeared in magazines and books that I've been going through.  S many ideas, so little time!

Remember the first time I went to Sweet Salvage and bought this apothecary jar?  Well, I was really thinking Christmas even then, but in the meantime, it looks great with the shells and sand.  But, when I was at the dollar tree one day, I noticed they had these great glass candle holders next to some cylindrical and rounded glass containers that could be vases or hold candles as well.  My mind started putting the two together.  I had recently read about someone who was making cake pedestals using thrift store plates and candle holders, so why not!

Here is what I put with the great apothecary jar I already purchased once the glue dried.

I was so excited to do these, I had the two I purchased put together before I even thought about taking photos of the process.  I had planned to go buy some more, but when I opened a cabinet door one day I noticed these.

Even with the different textures on the two pieces, it seemed like they could make a great little pedestal to go with the other two.

So, out came the glue and the newspaper to protect the counter again.  I used a glue especially for glass, but there are many types available at the craft stores that would work on glass.  This one called for putting glue on both pieces, waiting a couple of minutes and then putting them together.  Of course, you do need to make sure they are centered correctly.

Then set something heavy on top while they dry.  The glue I used said it would be set in 15 minutes, but it would be 24 hours before it was completely cured. 

The votive looks great on a pedestal.

A few shells in the cylindrical one look good, but more would be better -- need to go shell hunting at Hobby Lobby again.

Only a few shells were left for the rounded pedestal container, but won't it look great with miniature ornaments at Christmas?

A final look at the group and I'm still thinking Christmas possibilities!

Now, I have three things with paint drying on them, so I need to go check if I can do the next step on any of them yet.

Hope you are having a creative and wonderful day.

xoxoXOXOxoxo

Lois

Bastille Day Breakfast

Good Morning Friends!  Happy Bastille Day!  You did know it was Bastille Day didn't you?

If not, that is the celebration of the French Revolution which began in 1789.  There are celebrations all over the world today wherever there are French people or descendants.  So let's celebrate with breakfast!

Won't you join me for quiche?

Of course we'll have French Roast Coffee or perhaps you would prefer French Lemonade.

Seriously, friends, French Lemonade from Safeway!

And Le Bon Lait for our cafe au lait.

Here's your quiche with a few strawberries, too.

Won't you have a croissant?

A little fresh strawberry preserves - made yesterday, honest!

 Note we'll be using the French Press for our cafe.  Alas, this one only makes 1 cup so be patient, OK?

The French enjoy and linger, n'est pas?

Al Fresco, of course!

Un petit dejeuner.

Mmmmmm!

There is room for two more, come join us!

Hope you have a wonderful day whether you celebrate Bastille Day or not!  Merci for joining me!

xoxoXOXOxoxo

Lois

Simply Shells

Don't you just love beaches? 

They just bring to mind lazy days building sandcastles and soaking up the sun.

Sea shells are part of the scene for who hasn't strolled along the beach hoping to find a real beauty of a shell?

Bringing those feelings home is surely why people collect those shells.

Remember when I told you about Sweet Salvage here and here? This is the apothecary jar I brought home.  I had in mind all the while to fill it first with sand and shells.

Where do I collect my shells?  Hobby Lobby, of course, I live in the desert, remember?  No beaches with shells here!

The large shell on the left was a gift from a friend.

The napkin rings?  Tiny shells.  I have a box of these and I have no idea where they came from!

Love the spindly star fish!

A few more shells under glass and on a box.

The box was a gift from a friend and the skinny shell on the pedestal was given to me by another friend.  Ya gotta love those friends who share treasures!

There are a few more shells on the little art piece I told you about here. And the closest I've come to ocean waves hangs in the loft area.  Life has not included the beach this summer.  How about you?  Going to the beach?  I hope so!

Bring home some shells and put them under glass so you can relive the ocean breezes.  We've had 113 degrees this week -- bring on those ocean breezes!

xoxoXOXOxoxo

Lois