Happy Birthday Caitlin!

Happy 6th birthday to my Caitlin! Caitlin is my little treasure who every day makes me laugh and smile. She's Daddy's girl and Mommy's helper and buddy. She adores and idolizes her big brother Billy. She arrived on March 28, 2005, ~~it was a difficult time as my Dad had passed away two months before. Caitlin was the little angel from heaven who forced us to carry on and get up each morning to face the world as we desperately missed my Dad. She helped to heal us and although she never met her Grandpa, I know he sees her and laughs and at times maybe even cringes in fear (she can be a little dare devil)! ;) Caitlin restored some joy into our family after Dad's passing and for that I am forever grateful.

Her favorite color is blue, she is crazy about icecream, loves Scooby Doo, flip flops, cats, crafts, coloring, swings, books and enjoys singing loudly. AND she loves her pink monkey named Maboo (pronounced MAH BOO; just in case you were wondering!)

Happy Birthday Caitlin!

Chilly Sunday!

The calendar says Spring but it certainly feels like January here. The pictures of my shed and my yard show the dusting of snow we got the other day; it has melted now but the cold temperatures remain. Poor Uncle Sam is out there holding his flag as steady as possible. When Bill took him out of hibernation, I'm sure he didn't think we'd be seeing any more snow! Well, that is not stopping me from feeling spring-like. I have been busy decorating for Spring and going through different things I have to add/change around the house. I filled this great pot-pourri star. I want to get more of those. Smells great and you can fill it with whatever scent you like.That one is filled with cafe' mocha. Also took out my Terry's Village bunny stacking boxes and put them with a wagon full of eggs. Eastery.

As I am dusting and re-doing, I thought you might like to see some of my favorite signs in the house. I love these little signs and always seek out new ones when I go to PA. The one that says "People that don't like cats..." was gift from Bill's sister Kathy. I had never nor have I since ever seen that one in a store, but she found it!I think there may be some truth to that; just saying. That one seems to get the biggest snicker~~oh, and "Cock & Bull stories told here..." Yeah, sometimes, I admit it! The "Grateful" one and the forever and always one is the absolute truth as is my personal favorite--no rain, no rainbows. To me that sums up my whole philosophy of life! You have to go through the hard times to appreciate the good. You have to take the good with the bad or you won't appreciate the reward!You have to be hopeful and optimistic or you'll just fall apart SO take the rain when it comes! It'll be sunny tomorrow! Lastly, the little cat one with the saying --- 'nuff said! I've sure had a few visitors where I sat and watched the clock....

On this Sunday, Bill is working. He has several large jobs going on and must keep them running like clockwork. He's re-doing a shopping center in a town nearby called Greenlawn which, btw, is where Mariah Carey grew up. (little trivia for ya) He's been working so hard but we are so grateful considering the economy is what it is. Our trip to Massachusetts on April 16-19 will be greatly appreciated :) Today, I will be preparing cupcakes for Caitlin's kindergarten class tomorrow. We are celebrating her 6th birthday and her teacher is graciously allowing not only me to come to the class but my Mom as well. My kids have only my Mom as a grandparent so we get Mom in as much as we can! Caitlin doesn't want to have a party yet though. She wants to wait till it's nicer out and have a "bouncer" party at home. Fine by me!

Also on my agenda: more straightening up and also organizing my craft supplies, making roast beef for dinner (my favorite Sunday dinner) with onion oven-roasted potatoes (my sister's favorite) and veggies. I finished two more stitcheries; I must photograph and post them.

Happy Sunday!

But the Calendar Says Spring (?)

Good afternoon! Well, it may be Spring but here on Long Island we have some snowflakes falling! Nothing is sticking except a little on the lawns but still it is snowing. Upstate New York and New Jersey got between 5-7 inches! They are calling for some more tonight too, but I'm not worried about accumulation.

I've been working on a few projects here and decorating for Spring/Easter. I set up my collection of egg cups. Hope you enjoy seeing those. I think they are precious. Displayed with pink depression glass they look very festive.

I completed another button stitchery. This is another in blue. I really enjoy doing these, and I flip through magazines like the Country House to find "short sayings" to put. Very simple, and I just have to frame them up. The little peg rack will probably be saved for my craft room. I am just drawn to the burgundy and black combo of colors. I find I am always painting in those colors! I also love mustard yellow and black combo.

Like alot you, I decorate my laundry room. There was an old issue of Country Sampler that really inspired me to do that about ten years ago and over the years I have changed it but I always have it decorated, and I just love it. The little clothesline I made a couple of years back, and I wanted to share it cause many of us have retro hankies and this is a cute way to display them. Just find the mini clothes pins at a craft store. You can create any type of wash line; even a small piece of twine hung against your laundry room wall would be suffice. Improvise! At least the little hankies aren't sitting in a drawer anymore!

My cats all have Spring fever~~Robin has been running around bunching up my foyer rug and then losing his footing and actually tripping (what a klutz). Good thing I don't have these cats as mousers because they would be a comedy of errors trying to catch any. I've been checking the internet to see the availability of roosters as we are seriously thinking of replacing little Jerry, our mini bantam rooster who passed away last September. As we were doing our Spring clean up outdoors, my husband and I both remarked how odd it was to be outside in the sun without Little Jerry following us. I can't even imagine sitting on our front porch at night this Summer without Jerry. We'll see. Craigslist Long Island has several people offering bantams and full size so we may check them out.

Waiting patiently to see what Gina bought at Jo-Ann's today....just saying :)

Busy Sunday!

Good Evening! I just finished cleaning up the dishes and thought I would post before I settle down for the night. We had a busy day and I took advantage of the sunshine cleaning up outside. Although my husband had a business appointment very early this morning out in Southold, he was back by 1:00, and we started cleaning up outside. I was happy to see the crocus sprouting in my backyard and even some hosta. Very little sprouts. The day had some sun (as you can see by the photo of my porch) so it was pleasant work raking and bagging up all the twigs. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We had a rough Winter so I was anticipating the worst, but we got it done and it looks clean! But~~~snow/sleet/rain mix tonight! Just when you thought it was all over! Oh Well! We then reorganized our shed and took out some of the decorative yard things I use. It's always fun seeing your "friends" again after they've been hibernating all Winter! When we were done, we fired up the grill! A good day =)

Yesterday I started my Easter decorating. I love the bunnies that are made of straw or other natural materials. I was happiest to see Mr. Easter Bunny painting the big egg with his palette of paints. The egg opens for candy or whatever but I don't let ANYONE touch him. I got him from a store we used to have in Commack called Maces several years ago. Maces has since closed and Mr. Easter Bunny can't be replaced. He's very fragile. Anyway, I used to go into Maces for odds and ends. It used to sell a variety of things and closeouts too. You never knew what they would have but you always found something. I used to get a ton of seasonal things there. I remember I paid $8.00 for Mr. Easter Bunny! What a steal! He's very retro if you seem him in person.

That's about it for me! Have a great night and Happy Spring!

Simple Fun, Great Candy, & Tweeking the Decor!

Sunday, before we left for the Flower & Garden Show, I was filling my bird feeders, and I gave Caitlin a water whistle to blow for the birds. If you haven't seen these, it's a plastic whistle and you fill it about 1/2 way with water and it makes bird sounds when you blow into it. She was so happy blowing that whistle and waiting to see if the birds answered her. It was cute to see her make the different sounds; adjusting her "blows" to make different calls. Anyone who has little ones should definitely get one. I always see them out at Easter, and she actuallygot it in her basket last year from Easter Bunny :) but had forgotten about it. I put it away and came across it recently. Am I glad I did! Check CVS or Walgreeens or whatever drug store chain you have. They're only $1.00 Simple Fun!
For a one-two-three candy recipe, you must try this one. (Recipe at the end of the post) I could easily eat this all by myself ( I almsot did !I went back & forth to the kitchen taking a little piece, then another little piece, etc.) You will not be disapointed.
One of my neighbors knows of my love for roosters (both real & fake), and I was thrilled when for my birthday she gave me a big tea cup planter with a rooster on it. I thought it was a tabletop planter when I saw it in the box but when I opened it, it was actually half of a tea cup and it hangs on the wall. I wasn't sure I wanted to hang it. Right now I'm pretty happy with what I have hanging already and didn't want to change it so arranged it with hydrangeas that I had dried from my backyard last Summer and put it on my corner shelf. What do you think? That corner piece has alot of sentimental value to me as it was the first piece of amish furniture I ever bought! I think the shelves "pop", as the expression goes!

Crack Up! Candy

2 sticks of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1 sleeve of saltines
1 bag of chocolate chips
finely chopped walnuts (optional)

Lay out saltines on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Melt butter and sugar in a saucepan. Cook about 3 minutes (almost boiling)until mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan. Pour and smooth butter mixture over the saltines.
Bake @400 degrees for 7 minutes. Pour chocolate chips on top and smooth over saltines. They will melt! Sprinkle with nuts or not. Cool in freezer until hard and then CRACK 'EM UP! Enjoy! Go ahead and make 2 batches - 1 for you and 1 to send to me ;)

Have a great night! Love you all!

Flower & Garden Show

We had a great Sunday!We headed to Old Westbury for the annual Flower & Garden Show at Hicks Nursery. I've mentioned this nursery before. It is over a hundred years old and is still owned by one of the earliest families on Long Island, the Hicks family. It's such a tradition for us for all the seasons whether it be walking through their Halloween display and seeing Otto the Ghost or seeing Santa every year there (for free, too!). We visit for all the various events . The flower show is special because you can walk at your own pace and spend as much time as you want looking at the flowers, bushes, ponds, etc. It was so beautiful and really had me aching for flowers and planting. They had some beautiful Easter displays set up as well. I hope everyone enjoys the photos. We can't even think of planting here until Mother's Day. Even though the weather has warmed up a little, even on the days when it is 55 degrees, it still feels cold. We'll see how the end of the week feels when it is supposed to go up to almost 70.

Today I have a few errands to run, and I'm going to pick up the ingredients for a homemade, super SIMPLE candy recipe today. I tasted this last week and had to get the recipe. After I make it, I will post it. Something so easy tastes so incredible. I also plan to start a new Amish fiction book from a different author, Cindy Woodsmall. I've read several by other authors so lets see how Cindy's Amish books measure up :) Have a great day!

St. Paddy's Lunch, P.I.F, & Birdhouses!

Good Morning, I sure hope everyone remembered to set the clocks ahead! I ran around last night changing them before I went to bed. I was pooped last night. We had a full day. My good friend Johanna was coming over with her three daughters, the youngest only 4 months old, and we had a St. Patrick's themed lunch that was very fun. I know I was supposed to take a bunch of pictures, and I'm usually good at that, but unfortunately once she came, I never got to! I only took a photo of my table decorations! :( We had a nice time ~~Caitlin loves to play with her daughter Olivia who is 5, and Lilah who is 3 and seeing baby Ella was such a joy. I haven't held a new baby sine Caitlin was that size, and I was melting. The day went from food, to fun back to food (naturally) and that little Ella so I never got to photograph our day!

On to the luncheon, I made tea -sized corned beef sandwiches, potato salad, a big salad, a cheese platter and other goodies the kids love like mozzarella sticks, hash brown patties and chicken nuggets. We had Irish soda bread, shamrock cookies, cupcakes....and more. Caitlin was so happy to give her friend's our little favor. It was a leprechaun pipe filled with chocolate gold coins, a necklace and a green "glo" bracelet. We had a really nice time~Jo is one of those gals that you chat the whole afternoon away with and then wish she'd stay for dinner! Caitlin loved playing with her friends, and I also think she enjoyed being an "older" sister to Lilah. Next party up is our annual "Easter Egg Coloring Party" on Holy Thursday. That we do with our neighbors who live behind us and this year we''ll be including Johanna and her three girls.

So I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Cat Nap Primitives, and she posted about Pay It Forward. She saw this idea on another blog and I want to pass this on as well as I believe it's a truly great and fun thing to do. Now listen closely and hopefully you will participate as well:

When something good happens to you, turn around and pass the goodness on to another. But instead of paying it "back", pay it "forward" to the NEXT person. Like a kindness chain. Keep it going. Now I think all of us love getting surprises in the mail, I know I do, so this is the thing--The first five who comment on my blog, will receive a little gift. You must send me your address of course and I will send you a little gift. In return, you must write a blog post explaining "Pay It Forward" and send goodies to your first five posters. You are now "Paying it Forward". Now you don't have to send everything out immediately. There's no pressure here. Over the next couple of months, if you'd like. As Gina said, we want this to be a joyful experience.

I've been painting birdhouses for a display I would like to do on my porch for the Spring/Summer. I finished the barn the other night and have another drying. I had previously done the other two. One has black capped chickadees (a family favorite bird), and the other is sunflower themed---one of my favorite flowers. I painted them, then used rub on transfers. I love sunflowers so much. They always look like such happy flowers, and I love how they look in country decorating. I just have to spray sealant on them, and they are good to go on the porch. I'm waiting to go back to Lancaster to pick up this black wrought iron shelf that I plan to display my birdhouses on. It will be a perfect size cause it's kind of a "tower"shape and will fit nicely in the corner of my porch; not obstructing my chairs.

I guess that's it for me. Bill has two business appointments this Sunday morning to get to and then he'll be back before lunch, and we're heading to the Hicks Nursery Garden & Flower Show. I'll have some nice photos to post from that, I'm sure! Enjoy your day!

More Goodies!

Hi! Are you having a soggy afternoon like we are here on Long Island? We are expecting 2" of rain to fall. That's okay; I have plenty to keep me busy. It has been a busy week, and I know I haven't blogged in a couple of days . I'm getting some things done but I've also been hindered by a recurring case of shingles. This time I had a breakout on my arm and it's been painful and uncomfortable. I first got them after I got chickenpox from Caitlin last January and now it seems every so often the shingles appear and aggravate me for a week or so and then slowly go away. Oh well, NOT gonna let it ruin my day!

Onto the good stuff~~I'm getting very spoiled! I received another package!~this one is from my lovely cousin Johanna and her family in Amish Country, PA. What a spectacular few days it has been for me! It's so much fun getting packages in the mail. I think I actually won't dread turning a year older anymore! ;) I opened it up to find beautiful, and I mean BEAUTIFUL pink depression glass~~a sugar and creamer! Johanna knows I collect pink depression glass; I have since I was in my teens when I got my first piece from my Grandma's house. Over the years I have added several nice pieces and I use it too. Yes, I USE my things. I love to have luncheons and use the large platter for my main course or the smaller one for pastries. This gift just made my day! I display my collection for Spring.I've posted some of my collection. UI have some more inscluding a vase, some smaller platters and a pitcher. To think they used to give this stuff out for free at the movie theatres in the 1930's! Oh well! It's so pretty for Easter. Thank you Jo, I love you guys so much! Check out her blog: look at my sidebar for Bittersweet Cottage. I can never thank her enough for introducing me to the world of blogging. Not only have I found more people who enjoy what I do, but I have found some very wonderful and inspiring friends I care a great deal about! :)

Thanks for all the ideas for my St. Patrick's luncheon on Saturday. Gina, I am actually going to use your idea for dress up for my Girl Scout Daisy Troop, not for Saturday. Caitlin's troop will love that! It will be a real high tea for them, thanks buddy!

I'm busy painting up a birdhouse which is almost done; I will post tomorrow. I think it came out cute. I'm thinking of displaying them on one of my porches. I just hope my little squirrels don't decide to disassemble them accidentally on purpose! I can't get angry at them though; they're so darn cute!

Have a great afternoon and stay dry!

Super Saturday!

Happy Monday! We had the rainiest Sunday afternoon and night ever! Oh my! 2" of rain fell and in some parts almost 3"! Thankfully, Billy built us a good strong WATERPROOF house so there are no leaks! :) I hope all of you are dry!

I had such a wonderful weekend! Saturday morning I went with shopping with my sister-in-law Linda, and we had a great time. We went to Christmas Tree Shoppes, and I got some goodies I just love! I love that store because you can get a whole lotta stuff for little money! Probably my favorite place to shop! Next to AC Moore & Michaels, that is. I got some cool things~~I got an adorable sign of a rocking chair that says "sit for a spell", and a Raggedy Ann & Andy wooden sign that says "I Love Us" only the word "love" is a heart. That will be for mine & Bill's bedroom. I love my Raggedy Annes! For our new bedroom, I have collected items that represent our feelings for each other so "I Love Us" fit right in. I also got these adorable sunflower candles and a decorative birdhouse. I had fun shopping.

After shopping, and we were in the store two hours (!) just taking our time, Linda treated me to a birthday lunch! My birthday was March 3rd. It was so nice. Lunch & shopping, what could be better, right? Well, now comes the cherry on my sundae! Because if all that fun wasn't enough, I come home to find a package on my porch from Mrs. Cat Nap Primitives! I was so excited; AND when I opened it, I was beside myself because of all the incredible things she packed in it! Such beautiful handcrafted items among other things. Look at the picture and see! Getting packages in the mail is the best! I love that so much. Beautiful hand stitched vintage cloth Halloween pillow, Halloween purse that has a nifty checkbook cover to match!, homemade room/linen spray that is out of this world! ,the cutest towels of pussycats, cookie cutters, gardening gloves, and on and on! We share a love for prims, cats & vintage Halloween so of course I loved it all. She even included a copy of a vhs movie from the 70's called The Young Pioneers Christmas~~we had been talking about our love for shows like that (Little House, Waltons, etc) and she told me about it. I had never heard of it. SO we will be having a family movie night to watch it. My husband will love it cause he loves pioneer type shows like Bonanza and Big Valley so we can't wait. She even sent me an artificial caramel apple that is adorable. Fall is my favorite time of year! Sooooo, now you can see how special Saturday was! I thank Linda, and I thank Gina from my heart!

I'm putting together a little St. Patrick's Day luncheon for my good friend Johanna and her three little daughters on Saturday. I'm going to do tea sandwiches of corned beef, and I'm looking for other recipes to do. I have a great potato salad recipe from Linda that I will make but I'm open for suggestions from anyone who has some cute ideas. I have some cute items to decorate the table with. I know Caitlin wants to make a cake or cupcakes, but I'm still trying to think of some special lunch items to make. Desserts are never a problem!

I'm working on Gina's package this week so I can get it out to her by the weekend! And Jo, you know I saw some Easter goodies for you....'nuff said!

Well, I better get going. Robin is trying to make a mess out of the tissue paper from Gina's box! My cats go nuts for boxes but boxes with tissue paper~~Oh Boy!

Hot Cross Buns

Yesterday I was at the library and was browsing through some cookbooks. I found one called "What Can I Bring"? and saw a recipe I think I might be trying in the next day or two. Easy Hot Cross Buns! And when you read it, why I don't think it could BE any easier. I'm gonna print the recipe and give it a whirl. Even though it's March and I should be thinking Irish Soda Bread, I know my Mom will be making me some so I'm gonna go ahead and make these. I think they'll be delicious with a nice cup of coffee.

Easy Hot Cross Buns

1 large egg white

1/4 cup plus 2 tsps of sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 16 oz cans of refrigerated large butter flavored biscuits

1/2 cup raisins

a tub of white or cream cheese icing

Preheat the oven to 375.

Put non-stick spray on baking sheets.

Lightly beat egg white. Add 2 tsps of the sugar and stir till combined. Set aside.

Take remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and cinnamon & combine. Set aside.

Open biscuits, flatten each into a circle. Sprinkle each with 1/3 tsp of the cinnamon & sugar mix, Press in 8-10 raisins in to the center. Pull up the edges so it resembles a taco, then pinch to seal the dough closed. Flatten into a bun. Repeat.

Brush each bun with the egg mixture. Bake until golden brown and add icing as desired.

Sounded good to me! I love finding simple little recipes like that because you can invite someone over spur of the moment and they bake up so fast! Tea & buns in an instant!

I've been itching to start a new craft project but it has been a hectic week. I've had some preparation to do for my Daisy Troop meeting on Friday (for those of you who don't know, I am a leader for Caitlin's kindergarten troop of 13 girls). We are working on our Honest & Fair petal of the daisy. My co-leader is wonderful, and together we've tried to make it fun for the girls while at the same time educational. I'm dying to get back to the craft store and get some supplies. I think I want to get some fabric for the rag wreath I've been wanting to start. I just haven't seen the right fabric around. I think I would like to go with a solid and a check in the colors I love but when I looked recently at Jo-Ann there was nothing out that remotely resembled it. Surprising but then again they were doing inventory and the store was a wreck.

Our weather is on the improve for sure. Tomorrow it's supposed to get very cold but on Friday it's going up to 50 degrees! I hope it lasts. Our streets are covered with twigs and small branches from all the snow, and Billy and I are anxious to get out there and clean. I wish the street sweepers would come. Bill also removed the remnants of our metal gazebo that was a casualty of our last snowstorm. Sad. It was very nice, and we had it several years but it couldn't withstand the snow and down she came. Billy said he plans to build a new one himself. No more buying a metal frame one; and when Bill says he going to build something, I don't even inquire too much what he's doing because I always love it. He knows what I like, and he'll build it. We'll just have to wait till he has the time because *thankfully* he's busy with his own carpentry/construction business and that comes first :) My cats all have spring fever and have been acting goofier than usual~~~how 'bout yours???

Well, we are finally seeing some grass outside! The snow has been (mostly) washed away from the very heavy rains we had on Monday. I can't ever recall looking forward to Spring as much as I am this year! 20 days away! Plus, we have the Hicks Nursery Flower & Garden show coming up in two weeks and that just makes me so happy!

I have so much enjoyed reading other blogs, and I have been learning so much and making wonderful friends. I am so intrigued by the crafts they do and what others are baking or cooking and generally "what's goin' on in your home?" It has brought so much joy to my life! There are so many amazing and creative people out there.

Something I have wanted to share with you are two special items we have. I love door toppers. I have an amish/sunbonnet kids one in my bathroom, but I wanted to show you these two hand-painted toppers we have over each of the two doorways into our family room. I bought them in Bird in Hand, PA ~~first we bought one not knowing which door we would be hanging it over. Then, when Bill completed the familyroom, and he put it over one of the doorways, we loved it so much we had to go back and buy its sister! I love them. I love the painting. My Dad used to do beautiful landscape oil paintings of barns and different scenes inspired by places we would visit in Pennsylvania or Massachusetts. I'll have to photograph those for you to see in the near future.

Over my bathroom door is an "amish kids" one. I love that motif, and when I see little items with them on it, I have to buy it. My husband told me to find a wooden pattern of them, and he would cut them out of wood for me. Now that he's finished building the house, he can put all those tools to other good uses (besides his work) !!!