Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts

Monday, April 14, 2014

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

 
     A few bunnies have shown up around my house in the past few days. The baby above must have slipped away from her mama as she was sitting in the backyard for a while and we kept the big bad beagle away until she was gone, hopefully back to her nest. I really wanted to pick her up and cuddle her, but I knew her mother might not take her back if I did.  
 
 
     My other bunnies aren't nearly as cute, but at least I did bring a little Easter into the house. When we were in  Florida in March I found a William Sonoma Outlet and bought these cute little bunny plates. I actually did a tablescape, not for the blog, just for me. It had been a long time and I forget how nice it makes the house look to have a pretty table.

 
     The only new items are the bunny plates. I had the egg shaped placemats and matching napkins, the flatware I have used many times and the dinner plates are Fiesta. I used my favorite garage sale wine glasses and that was it.


This is my favorite plate!



 
     The centerpiece is a basket (of course, it is Easter). I used silk flowers that I already had and tried to make them look as real as possible. I added a few eggs and a moss bunny to create a natural, simple look for the table.


 
     I think it is easy to forget that not all tablescapes have to be elaborate or expensive. Keeping it simple is quick and easy and it is a great way to add a seasonal look to your home without a major decorating project.
 
     Blogging has obviously taken a back seat to life these days. We have taken on a major project at our house. We are cleaning out, re-packing, decluttering and getting rid of almost 40 years of stuff. We know that an early retirement is coming in the not too distant future and along with that will be a house sale and a major move. We knew we had months of work ahead of us, so we decided to get started. Our first project has been Christmas things. While all of you have been decorating for Easter, I have been going through about 100 boxes of Christmas decorations. Many of our things were already in tubs, but some were in boxes. We are getting rid of things that we either don't use, don't like, or have had for so many years we are just sick of them. The things we are keeping are being packed into tubs and labeled. My goal was to get things down to a dozen tubs, it didn't happen. We probably did cut the Christmas collection in half. Progress. Next up, our kid's toys that they saved. I am loaded with Ghostbusters, Raisin Men, Ninja Turtles, Fraggle Rock, Tonka, Legos, Dolls and all the things that go with them and who knows what else.
 
     The problem we have is that our kids don't have the room to take their own things and they also don't want us to get rid of them. We also have many, many family pieces that pull at my heart strings. I read an article that was about the challenge of my generation getting rid of things. We have items that belonged to our parents and grandparents (and great-grandparents), we have things that our children want but can't or won't take and of course our own things. One of the quotes was, "that sweater your mother gave you isn't your mother" and I am trying to remember that as I go through things. It is only "sort of" working. I am too sentimental but I truly am trying to only keep things that really mean something to me. This is an all consuming task, but one that needs to be done and should have been done years ago!
 
     Other than that, not much is happening in our world. We both got sick as soon as we got home from Florida. It took 2 rounds of meds to get me back to close to normal and my husband (who wouldn't call the doctor) is still not 100%. We, like many of you, have been trying to get our yard back to normal after the harsh winter. We mowed over the weekend when it was almost 80 degrees and tonight we have snow in the forecast. Crazy!
 
     I will be catching up with some of you over the next few days. If there is a post you really want me to read, leave it in the comments please!
 
 
 
 
    



Monday, April 1, 2013

Scattering Spring Around the House

 
Little touches of Spring show up in the kitchen...



 
And on the spool cabinet...


 
And on the dining room table...
 
 
I hope everyone had a Happy Easter!
I guess it is time to put the eggs away.
 
I want to thank you all for your comments
and private messages on my last post.
 
I am joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
for Met Monday
 
I am joining Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life
for Table Top Tuesday
 
 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Bits of Easter

 
     I don't put out a lot of actual Easter decorations. It seems that most of what I put out these days are eggs. I have sparkly eggs, candy looking eggs, eggs that look vintage...you get the picture. I do tuck a few rabbits around, tucked in with birds and nests. The bunny above is an antique candy container. My husband gave me mine when we were dating, you can easily find them on ebay.



 
This little Boyd's Bunny wears her carrot hat well, don't you think?


 


  

 
     Did you notice my book? Did you? Did you? I have wanted this book since it first came out several years ago. It was $60 and I just couldn't make myself do it. It still is close to $40 on Amazon, but I found it on half.com for $9! It is in perfect condition and it is every bit as beautiful as I expected it to be. Do you remember when I told you all about half.com? Click here to read the post. I get some of the most beautiful books from this site and many times they are cheap, cheap, cheap! In fact, this was one of the most expensive I have purchased!


 
 
I am actually reading it from front to back...
it is my afternoon guilty pleasure!
 
I am joining Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday
and
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
 

 

Monday, February 25, 2013

And the colors are...


 
     Most of you know about my color "themes" at Christmas, but I confess that I also seem to do the same thing for spring/summer too. It usually starts with a piece of ribbon (I love ribbon) and I just go from there. It certainly doesn't mean that I buy all new things for the changing of the season. Part of the reason I write this blog is to help others realize that you can use things you already have without buying anything new...or at least spending very little money. This year, it was the blue burlap and the green check that called my name. More to come!
 
 
     The photo below has nothing to do with the post, I just thought it was interesting. I wanted to take a picture of the full moon tonight and this is what I ended up with. Don't you just love polka dots?
 
 

Friday, April 13, 2012

Heavenly Torte, Almost


     My mom had a recipe that she made often for special occasions, including Easter. She called it Heavenly Torte and it basically is a meringue base with whipping cream and strawberries on top. I have her recipe, but I'd never made it. I planned to make it for Easter dinner, but when I saw that I had to make it one day and let it sit overnight in the oven before assembly the next day, I decided to make a variation of the same dessert.




Almost Heavenly Torte

6 egg whites
1/2 tsp. cream of tarter
1 1/2 tsp. real vanilla
1 1/2 T. cornstarch
1 1/2 cups white sugar
pinch salt

1/2 pint whipping cream

Fresh (or frozen) Strawberries, sliced and slightly sweetened

Preheat oven to 275 degrees
Line baking sheet with parchment paper



Mix cornstarch with sugar and set aside.


     In mixing bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tarter and salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar/cornstarch mixture, adding the vanilla after all the sugar is added. Continue to beat on high until stiff, glossy peaks form (see above picture). I actually used a hand mixer with no problems. It took about 3-4 minutes of beating to reach stiff peaks.



     With a large spoon, drop "globs" of the meringue onto the parchment paper, using the back of the spoon make a slight dent in the top. I made 8 large meringues using this recipe. Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees and place the baking sheet on the center rack of the oven. Bake 50-55 minutes until shells appear firm, but not brown. Remove from parchment paper carefully to wire rack to cool. They will keep in a ziploc bag for a few days. They are soft and sticky on the inside.

     To serve: Whip the cream until stiff, do not add sugar. I placed a meringue on the plate, topped with the whipping cream and another meringue...then covered with berries. You can also do a single layer, filling the impression in the center with the whipping cream and adding strawberries to get 8 servings rather than 4.

     It tasted just like mom's overnight recipe and
was a light, sweet ending to a large meal.


I am joining Michael @ Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday
Please stop in to say hello!


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Hopping Down The Bunny Trail...


     Easter dinner this year will be casual at our house. My son has to work early in the day, so he will be coming over for dinner. With just 3 of us, I haven't decided if I will cook a traditional Easter meal or if we will simply have something on the grill. I think that will be determined by how much we get done on the bathroom project Friday and Saturday. So, I wanted to set a table that was comfortable and festive. My Dept 56 Snow Bunnies are the focal point, along with a few fresh flowers from the yard.


     The dinner plates are Crate and Barrel and the salad plates are plastic (don't tell anyone)! Small Crate and Barrel vases with violets from my yard add a little extra touch. You have seen my HomeGoods fun flatware many times. I used a silver water pitcher that was a wedding present as a "vase" for lilacs, tulips and honeysuckle from our yard. The light blue tablecloth and stemware along with Easter colored napkins with china bunny napkin rings finish the look.

     











 



I am joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
for Tablescape Thursday.

Please visit our hostess!