Baking, Cooking Doing It All

I needed to keep busy today and what better way than to bake and cook! First I baked the cranberry muffins using a simple recipe. I love eating them all year around. I always make sure there is a good supply of them put away in the freezer during the winter.

                                     

                                                       
 Recipe
1/2 cup sugar
1-egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 cups plain flour
3- teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
3/4 cup milk

Method
Cream sugar, egg, and butter til smooth. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. Blend until mixture is smooth. Fold in cranberries. Fill greased muffin pans 3/4 full and bake at 400 degrees until done. Allow to cool on rack.
  Now that they are baked, I'm not waiting until they cool.lol. I'm taking two with a cup of  French Vanilla coffee and going to sit on the porch. It is so nice and sunny outside, with the birdsong and soothing noises of  out-doors. I'm sure to have a treat. Why not join me. Luv-Loretta

Yeah, My Garden Is Growing

We have not has any rain since I planted part of my garden. So, i've been watering to help the growth. These pics shows how well it is growing.

This row has young peppers growing and 2 squash plant have covered the rows!

Beans and melons on these rows

I started the peppers, tomatoes and squash from seeds during the 1st of January, then planted the plants in the garden. Now they have blooms, and peppers, and squash on them!

There is one lone tomato, but notice the young squash plant. I decided to add a few more to the row, they are much younger than the others.

On the row where the squash covers the rows, I went underneath them and discovered this lone squash and all those blooms! 

I amended the soil with miracle-gro garden soil; and used miracle-gro for the veggies. They were blooming in my little hot house, now there are three small one on this one plant. . Each year I work the soil, plant and water, but it is God who makes it grow! I thank Him each time we plant and harvest, because without Him there wouldn't be anything to harvest! As it continues to grow I pray that there will be enough to share with others.

Luv-Loretta

My Message Board Make-Over

I was sitting at my computer, trying hard to think of something for my column. Each time I wrote a sentence, I deleted it! I just didn't feel like writing and my little gray cells seemed to be dwindling, if that's possible.
Through all of this fog, I found myself looking at my message board on the wall! After about 20 or 30 minutes, I just took the board off the wall and did it!

The unfinished Board

I painted it red around the border

I used unfinished cut-outs from my stash to make the lady bugs design on them. I found out quickly not to move them because the paint will smudge. Not to worry, I had spares.

                                  

After gluing them in place, I allowed them to dry

This is the finished board Hanging on the wall. It certainly added a little color to that dull space. Now I will definitely use it more.

                                                                              





A Close-Up Walk

Good Morning, Here's hoping your Wednesday morning a merry one. But, just in case you are feeling a bit low...how about a short stroll in my garden to lift your spirits. Sit back with a cup of your choice and Enjoy!

The bees were flying, buzzing and drinking. I have to be careful of them because of being allergic. But, I find them fascinating!

The Dogwoods are beautiful this year in full bloom.

 Remembr this bush. I asked the name of it.

This is what it look like now! Can you name it?

More Thrift Finds

These pieces were also found with last weekend's finds, but I had an idea for the little crate. It was full of debris but, I went ahead and bought it for a nickel. However, the little mice figurines cost more. The little lady on the left is Falicity Fieldmouse and numbered, the cost: $2! The one to the left is a Beatrix  Potter's piece, numbered and dated sold for $1! After getting a good cleaning, they are nice collectibles for a mere $3.05!

The little crate was cleaned and I glued the blue ribbon on and tied a bow. I went through my stash of goodies and found the large heart, then glued it on. I allowed it to dry overnight so the gule would be completely set.

I keep a little of everything, because you never know when you might need it. I put a little of this used excelsior inside and added a few pieces of my heart soap that I made earlier. The room smelled so clean and fresh from the soap.

I haven't displayed any of the pieces to date, but will certainly share them when that time comes. Hope you have a wonderful Monday morning! Luv-Loretta

Our Thrift Finds

Our Sunday will be a cloudy and rainy one. That's quite okay with us, because we need the rain on our young gardens. My husband and I went thrift shopping again yesterday and I found what I was looking for, milk glass! We were quite fortunate to find these beautiful pieces at a little shop on the eastern outskirts of Texas. Dusty, cobwebs and dirty, we searched from corner to corner of that little shop, because things were haphazardly placed everywhere. The pieces found were crusted dirty and had to be washed immediately.

 It was a successful hunt and these will be added to our growing collection. The last two pictures shows a close-up of the three pieces that are heavier. I was amazed at the weight when I lifted them. I'm sorry I forgot to tell you, there are more, but these are the pieces I liked. There were a total of thirty-two pieces! What a find. I love them all!

Luv-Loretta