Sometimes Miracles Do Happen

     It is funny how things work out sometimes. Something happens that you just can't explain and truthfully, I'm not sure I even want an explanation. I sort of like letting my imagination run wild with this one. As most of you know, I spent a few weeks recently in Florida, going through my mother's belongings. Actually, I didn't just go through her things, I went through almost everything in their home, organizing in ways that would be easier for my dad.

     Late one evening I was going through a drawer full of paperwork, envelopes and various "stuff". In the midst of saved banking information, medical paperwork and bookwork...I found my parent's wedding pictures. I have a copy of one of their wedding pictures at my house, but I'd never seen the rest of the pictures. I grabbed my camera and took "pictures of the pictures" so I would have a set of them safely stored somewhere. I sat them aside and finished the drawer. About an hour later, when I was working on a different drawer, from a different place in the house...I found an envelope of old pictures and clippings. In that envelope was the newspaper announcement from my parent's wedding. Coincidence? I don't know.

     The best part of this story is that when I called my dad into the room to see what I'd found the look on his face was priceless. He thought the wedding pictures had been lost when a prior home had flooded. He didn't think he still had any of his wedding pictures and he had them all. What a blessing for all of us. Thankfully, I looked in every envelope at every item before throwing anything away.

Today, I'll share a few of the pictures and take you back to 1947...

They are all named Bob

Look at those outfits my grandmothers were wearing!

Weren't they cute and so very young!

Sounds Bad...Tastes Good, Foodie Friday

     I haven't been cooking much lately, but I decided it was time to try a few new recipes. I had torn out a recipe for Reuben Pie from a magazine quite some time ago. After reading it, I knew I would make a few adjustments of my own before trying it. It was a huge success at my house. We loved it!

The ingredients are fairly simple and affordable.

What I love about this was how quickly it went together.

Ingredients

Crust:

1 1/3 cup crushed Triscuit Crackers (I used regular Triscuits, rye would be also be good)

1 T. flour

3 T. butter, melted

Combine and press into bottom of a 9" pie plate or tart pan. Bake 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Filling:

2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

2-2 oz. packages deli style corned beef, sliced into strips

1/2 cup sauerkraut, rinsed and well drained

4 eggs

1 cup half and half

1 T. flour

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

1/4 tsp. salt

Remove crust from the oven and top with 1/2 of the cheese, the corned beef, sauerkraut and remaining cheese. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs, cream, flour, mustard and salt and gently pour over the assembled "pie". Bake in a 375 oven for 30-35 minutes, until the top is brown and a knife inserted comes out clean. Slice into wedges and serve with fruit or a green salad.

Is there anything better than freshly grated Swiss cheese?

     The finished pie is cheesey, chewy and very good. I also think I would like it with a little 1000 Island Dressing served on the side to drizzle over the top for that authentic Reuben Sandwich taste.

I am linking to Foodie Friday with our hostess

Michael @ Designs by Gollum.

I know I will find some wonderful recipes

linked to her blog today...check it out!

Happy 100th Tablescape Thursday!

     It was October 8th, 2009 when I first took the leap and decided to participate in Tablescape Thursday and I haven't missed many weeks since. It never crossed my mind when I started my blog last August, that I would be setting tables and taking pictures of them for my blog...or that I would have such a good time doing it! I really need to thank Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for reminding me of my love for dishes, pretty things and entertaining. Today, she celebrates her 100th Tablescape Thursday and I hope you will visit her to join in the festivities.

     Today's table is devoted to the dragonfly. I have a dragonfly fountain in my backyard, dragonfly metal art in the garden...it was time to bring the darling dragonfly into my house.

I even found matches with dragonflies to light the candles!

     I started the place setting with a round green placemat that pulls out the green in the trim of the dessert plates. I used my white American Atelier Bianca Leaf Square dinner plates, bargain flatware in a metallic slate and my new PS Portmeirion Studio dragonfly dessert plates...all from HomeGoods. The napkins are white with green trim and were my mother's. The napkin rings are from Crate and Barrel.

     In the center of the table, I draped one of my mom's scarves. The colors and the metallic threads added just a pop of sparkle to the table. I used sterling candlesticks (a wedding present) and a silver bowl (mom's) full of lemons to add some additional shine and color. The cute little "shot glass" candles I bought in Franklin, TN on our way home from Florida. At $8.50 each, I probably spent too much, but I couldn't resist the Citrus Cilantro scent.

     Because I wasn't using fresh flowers on this table, I added a touch of color with this sparkly, beaded flower bouquet.

I

The stemware is from TJMaxx and had a

bit more of the blue and green.

Who would think lemons by candlelight would be so pretty?

I hope Susan hosts another 100 Tablescape Thursdays.

Don't forget to visit her!

Where Does The Time Go? Tabletop Tuesday

Once upon a time, my big boy was a little boy.

Even then, our family loved Mickey Mouse.

We took our little boy to Walt Disney World for his

first visit and came home with the cutest denim bib

overalls, with Mickey on the front. His picture

(in the red turtleneck) in them became

our Christmas Card that year.

Many years later, our little boy had a little boy of his own.

Knowing that someday this would happen, we saved the overalls

 for when that little boy was also around 2-years-old.

On Sunday, we once again pulled out the

old Mickey overalls for my son's second son.

Time for me to buy a new picture frame!

I'm linking to Table Top Tuesday with our hostess Marty @

A Stroll Thru Life. Please visit her today!

What Does He Do When I'm Away? Met Monday

     He builds things! You may remember the

adirondack chairs my husband made last year...

 Look what I came home to finding waiting on my patio

We found an orange cushion to match the other pillows and I just love it!

That wasn't his only project while I was gone...

He added a pergola to our deck! It is wonderful

to be able to have a bit of shade during the heat

of the day. I love how we can pull back the awning to

allow as much sun as we want (or in my case, don't want).

I needed that bit of shade this weekend at my house!

I am linking this post to Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch and Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer. Please take time to visit both of our wonderful hostesses.