"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad".
C. S. Lewis
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Let's get Crafty!
I'm going to do something in my scrapbook nook today! I refuse to let my family pull me in different directions!
Quote of the Day
"Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up.'
-Allen Klein"
-Allen Klein"
Friday, June 04, 2010
The First Rose
The first rose in my newly planted rose garden. This was a true labor of love. After having to get housing here with a jack hammer to clear out the huge blob of concrete that weighed several hundred pounds from the flower bed so we could actually plant flowers...well here's the end result.
Soon, my little rose garden will be filled with roses as there are rose buds on every one of those small bushes. I made sure to get heavily scented ones...I so miss my flower gardens from our past homes. Every new place gives us the opportunity to start anew- be it in planting flower gardens, making friends or decorating a new to us house. Take every opportunity to explore your new surroundings and it's never to late to take in a new friend!
Soon, my little rose garden will be filled with roses as there are rose buds on every one of those small bushes. I made sure to get heavily scented ones...I so miss my flower gardens from our past homes. Every new place gives us the opportunity to start anew- be it in planting flower gardens, making friends or decorating a new to us house. Take every opportunity to explore your new surroundings and it's never to late to take in a new friend!
Happy Campers
What do you get when you mix... warm weather, a week long term break from British School, a big backyard and a bunch of teenage boys?
It's Camping out in the backyard in a tent!
We've been blessed with quite the backyard here and if our teen son wants to have a camp out what the heck- go for broke! Our camping equipment is (yes you guessed it) it's stateside in storage-ugh! Our son's friends came over with this large tent trust me when I say that they were quite "happy" with having a place to pitch this tent. If it's the normal crew of guys that our son usually hangs out with, then there's got to be at least 5 or 6 of them in there...now that's got to be crowded! They were up talking and laughing until wee hours but that's okay- they were having fun and that's what counts!
For the most part these teen boys stay in a tight-knit group, not letting others really into "the fold" so to speak. I consider myself to be blessed that they brought our son into this group. He was having such a rough go of it with this move here to the UK. It's not easy moving away from everyone and everything you know- especially the summer before your Senior year of High School. These kids have gone through quite a lot, probably even more so than their military and state department parents realize. They too go through that roller coaster of emotions but feel them more deeply. They quite often leave behind the best friends they've ever known, their first loves and quite frankly we pull this all away from them. This group of young men have helped my son to get over that "painful" part and have opened up a new world of adventures to him. Even at his worst they still came and made him go out- to the Lord I am forever thankful!
There are ways of "surviving it" with your teen and how to get them to love you again. It's not an easy path and there were many times when all I could do was to cry with him when he felt so lonely- but I want to say that they have passed. Our son has racked up the frequent flier miles that's for sure! He's now surpassed his mother in overseas flights! Letting go and trusting your child is the key. Let them vent, and buy them an airline ticket to visit their friends. If possible, arrange for your child's friends to come out for a visit. Between flying 2 of his friends out here to England and then flying him state side a handful of times...I should be able to get a free airline ticket soon, LOL! Andrew flies to SD again this month for his college orientation, he'll be there for 5 days and then it's back here to Bicester until Graduation day or as it's called here "Speech Day". Then he flies back to SD later on in the summer. We've not traveled as much as we would have liked but then again our boy's happiness means more to us than anything. With him back in the USA this Autumn being among his old friends at South Dakota State University, we ALL will embark on a new chapter in our lives.
It's Camping out in the backyard in a tent!
We've been blessed with quite the backyard here and if our teen son wants to have a camp out what the heck- go for broke! Our camping equipment is (yes you guessed it) it's stateside in storage-ugh! Our son's friends came over with this large tent trust me when I say that they were quite "happy" with having a place to pitch this tent. If it's the normal crew of guys that our son usually hangs out with, then there's got to be at least 5 or 6 of them in there...now that's got to be crowded! They were up talking and laughing until wee hours but that's okay- they were having fun and that's what counts!For the most part these teen boys stay in a tight-knit group, not letting others really into "the fold" so to speak. I consider myself to be blessed that they brought our son into this group. He was having such a rough go of it with this move here to the UK. It's not easy moving away from everyone and everything you know- especially the summer before your Senior year of High School. These kids have gone through quite a lot, probably even more so than their military and state department parents realize. They too go through that roller coaster of emotions but feel them more deeply. They quite often leave behind the best friends they've ever known, their first loves and quite frankly we pull this all away from them. This group of young men have helped my son to get over that "painful" part and have opened up a new world of adventures to him. Even at his worst they still came and made him go out- to the Lord I am forever thankful!
There are ways of "surviving it" with your teen and how to get them to love you again. It's not an easy path and there were many times when all I could do was to cry with him when he felt so lonely- but I want to say that they have passed. Our son has racked up the frequent flier miles that's for sure! He's now surpassed his mother in overseas flights! Letting go and trusting your child is the key. Let them vent, and buy them an airline ticket to visit their friends. If possible, arrange for your child's friends to come out for a visit. Between flying 2 of his friends out here to England and then flying him state side a handful of times...I should be able to get a free airline ticket soon, LOL! Andrew flies to SD again this month for his college orientation, he'll be there for 5 days and then it's back here to Bicester until Graduation day or as it's called here "Speech Day". Then he flies back to SD later on in the summer. We've not traveled as much as we would have liked but then again our boy's happiness means more to us than anything. With him back in the USA this Autumn being among his old friends at South Dakota State University, we ALL will embark on a new chapter in our lives.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Brain Freeze
Busy is as busy does...and lets face it, I'm just plain busy these days! I had a major brain freeze just now while on the phone trying to change an appointment- it's so sad when old age catches up, LOL! Only a few more days until the old B-day and here I am thinking wow I'm so close to 50 I can almost taste it! No, I'm NOT going to be 50 this year, but I am getting pretty darn close. So what was the brain freeze all about? Trying to change an appointment with the American Orthodontists office that's 2½ hours away and trying to explain to the receptionist what GCSE's and prep are (insert eye roll here). This is what happens when you're calling people who do not have teens enrolled in British schools. I now have an whole new appreciation for all parents of children in British schools be it private or public.
I've gone and triple booked myself twice now (2 different days). I need to have either a palm-pilot or a blackberry so I can have my prior made appointments with me while making other appointments. So it's just one of those kind of days...the run around like a chicken with it's head cut off days that is.
How many BBQs, farewells or seasonal parties can one attend before you just drop dead from exhaustion? Well I'm going to try and find out. The parties start this weekend and keep on rolling until July 3rd. There's never a dull moment around here that's for sure!
I've gone and triple booked myself twice now (2 different days). I need to have either a palm-pilot or a blackberry so I can have my prior made appointments with me while making other appointments. So it's just one of those kind of days...the run around like a chicken with it's head cut off days that is.
How many BBQs, farewells or seasonal parties can one attend before you just drop dead from exhaustion? Well I'm going to try and find out. The parties start this weekend and keep on rolling until July 3rd. There's never a dull moment around here that's for sure!
Quote of the Day
"Education is what survives when what has been
learned has been forgotten.
--B.F. Skinner"
learned has been forgotten.
--B.F. Skinner"
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Is it June already?
It's been a busy few days for me - visiting with family, doing some sight seeing, dining out, dining in, taking my daughter to Lakenheath for an orthodontic appointment, doing some grocery shopping etc etc etc. But now my time is once again my own to command.
It certainly was nice to have my husband's Mother and his Aunt here for a visit. I gave them the quick tour of the base, took them to a couple of my favorite dining establishments, they got to see the inside of a couple of grocery stores out here on their quest for snacks to pack on their train trip up to Scotland. On Saturday, We (husband and me) took the family (b-i-l, s-i-l, m-i-l and aunt) to Blenheim Palace. The tour was lovely and this time I got to tour the upstairs. I didn't bother bringing a camera as the rule of "no picture taking" is allowed in Blenheim Place. Outside yes, inside NO. It was funny to see tourists getting the feathers ruffled on some of the tour guides and getting chewed out by them as well...when they say NO picture taking at Blenheim Place they mean NO PICTURE TAKING! I wish that more people would respect this rule.
The day was a blustery rainy sort of day, perfect for touring such a grand house. Spending time hearing the various stories of the China dinnerware collection that was on display in one of the rooms, the many oil paintings, watercolors and tapestries and even the rugs that were throughout the house. All of it was to be savored. We ate lunch in the restaurant there in the building, the food was delicious and the room was cosy- all perfect for such a rainy day.
I came out from this day trip with BOOKS. Who could pass up reading about Capability Brown? His landscaping works are still visible to this very day! He's done the landscaping of many a famous "home", the man was a visionary and simply put pure genius! I was recently at a farewell luncheon for a friend and the group gift was a book with the title "I never knew that about England". I saw that and said...ooh that's one I want to get for myself BEFORE I leave England. So when I saw it I bought it! I showed it to my daughter Hannah who promptly ran off with it. And just a few minutes ago I saw it in the kitchen on the table...time for me to go grab it and read a few pages of it before Hannah realizes where she left it, HA!
There will be a few things that will come back with me after our tour here in the states is concluded...tons of photographs of everywhere we've been here in the UK, beautiful English made pottery and heaps of books of the various historical places in England and Scotland that we have visited. Now for me to make a cuppa and curl up with a good book.
It certainly was nice to have my husband's Mother and his Aunt here for a visit. I gave them the quick tour of the base, took them to a couple of my favorite dining establishments, they got to see the inside of a couple of grocery stores out here on their quest for snacks to pack on their train trip up to Scotland. On Saturday, We (husband and me) took the family (b-i-l, s-i-l, m-i-l and aunt) to Blenheim Palace. The tour was lovely and this time I got to tour the upstairs. I didn't bother bringing a camera as the rule of "no picture taking" is allowed in Blenheim Place. Outside yes, inside NO. It was funny to see tourists getting the feathers ruffled on some of the tour guides and getting chewed out by them as well...when they say NO picture taking at Blenheim Place they mean NO PICTURE TAKING! I wish that more people would respect this rule.
The day was a blustery rainy sort of day, perfect for touring such a grand house. Spending time hearing the various stories of the China dinnerware collection that was on display in one of the rooms, the many oil paintings, watercolors and tapestries and even the rugs that were throughout the house. All of it was to be savored. We ate lunch in the restaurant there in the building, the food was delicious and the room was cosy- all perfect for such a rainy day.
I came out from this day trip with BOOKS. Who could pass up reading about Capability Brown? His landscaping works are still visible to this very day! He's done the landscaping of many a famous "home", the man was a visionary and simply put pure genius! I was recently at a farewell luncheon for a friend and the group gift was a book with the title "I never knew that about England". I saw that and said...ooh that's one I want to get for myself BEFORE I leave England. So when I saw it I bought it! I showed it to my daughter Hannah who promptly ran off with it. And just a few minutes ago I saw it in the kitchen on the table...time for me to go grab it and read a few pages of it before Hannah realizes where she left it, HA!
There will be a few things that will come back with me after our tour here in the states is concluded...tons of photographs of everywhere we've been here in the UK, beautiful English made pottery and heaps of books of the various historical places in England and Scotland that we have visited. Now for me to make a cuppa and curl up with a good book.
Quote of the Day
"It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.
--Benjamin Elijah Mays, American educator (1895-1984)"
--Benjamin Elijah Mays, American educator (1895-1984)"
Friday, May 28, 2010
TGIF
And I mean that! Thanks be to God that it's Friday! I've made it to Friday and that right there is a miracle! My brother and sister in law arrived after a 22 hour traveling ordeal. They missed the Confirmation Mass but were able to make it to the reception.I'm just happy that they were able to get over here after all what they went through.
So the kids had to go to school today, my m-i-l and her sister are sleeping, I'm typing away in my jammies and the cat is meowing to get outside... yes, my life is back to normal. With coffee in hand I'm ready to conquer the world!
The confirmation Mass was lovely, with the Archbishop presiding, along with my 2 most favorite priests it was a most humbling and beautiful service. How moving? Well at one point I was crying tears of joy. You could feel the love from our fellow parishioners pouring out to our 2 Confirmandi. The dinner event after the Mass was extraordinary! The food, table settings- everything was everything that it should be. My whole hearted thanks go out to everyone who helped to make this event such a special one!
I'll have pictures soon as our Daughter's Religious Education teacher was taking pictures - he is out in residence photographer...Bob's photographic work is astounding! I am so thankful and feel so blessed that he did this for our 2 Confirmandi's for FREE! What a true blessing!
So the kids had to go to school today, my m-i-l and her sister are sleeping, I'm typing away in my jammies and the cat is meowing to get outside... yes, my life is back to normal. With coffee in hand I'm ready to conquer the world!
The confirmation Mass was lovely, with the Archbishop presiding, along with my 2 most favorite priests it was a most humbling and beautiful service. How moving? Well at one point I was crying tears of joy. You could feel the love from our fellow parishioners pouring out to our 2 Confirmandi. The dinner event after the Mass was extraordinary! The food, table settings- everything was everything that it should be. My whole hearted thanks go out to everyone who helped to make this event such a special one!
I'll have pictures soon as our Daughter's Religious Education teacher was taking pictures - he is out in residence photographer...Bob's photographic work is astounding! I am so thankful and feel so blessed that he did this for our 2 Confirmandi's for FREE! What a true blessing!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Confirmation Day
It's here, it's finally here...a real photographic moment for me to take pictures of!!! Something else...we're in panic mode. We have 4 family members arriving from Boston and what happens? Flight delays on one of the flights. So 2 family members will be arriving hours before the others. I feared that something like this would happen. So now were buzzing around like a bunch of bees trying to get last minute things together here, and we have to drive out to the school to pick up our eldest who has testing today. Not what I planned but I'll roll with it. Keep you up to date...now to run off and finish up some stuff and get my spouse out the door to pick up is mom and aunt.
Quote of the day
I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.
-Mother Teresa
-Mother Teresa
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Start Each Day in a Happy Way
It's a Wednesday and what do I seem to be doing on Wednesdays anymore...yup it's cooking! Tomorrow we celebrate Hannah's confirmation in our Catholic Parish. There's of course the Bishop who's coming out to perform the Confirmation Mass and the dinner we parishioners are catering. Our theme is Italian foods.., now who doesn't like Italian food? I mean really!
So here I am. surrounded by meatballs. I've made over 300 of them so far and I still have 2½ pounds ( that's a little over 1kg) of meat to go. The question is...should I open those packages of ground pork and beef (that's "mince" for my friends here in the UK) or should I take a break and call it good? I vote for a break, I think that I deserve one. Oh and all the time while I've been cooking and rolling meatballs I've been having to run outside and move the sprinkler around-ugh!
After my break then I'm on to chopping and dicing fruits and veggies to make chicken salad for tomorrows lunch and possibly (if I haven't fainted from pure exhaustion at this point) making some mini cheesecake desserts for the dinner tomorrow-again that is IF!
Time for a break...toast with jam and tea..m'm!
So here I am. surrounded by meatballs. I've made over 300 of them so far and I still have 2½ pounds ( that's a little over 1kg) of meat to go. The question is...should I open those packages of ground pork and beef (that's "mince" for my friends here in the UK) or should I take a break and call it good? I vote for a break, I think that I deserve one. Oh and all the time while I've been cooking and rolling meatballs I've been having to run outside and move the sprinkler around-ugh!
After my break then I'm on to chopping and dicing fruits and veggies to make chicken salad for tomorrows lunch and possibly (if I haven't fainted from pure exhaustion at this point) making some mini cheesecake desserts for the dinner tomorrow-again that is IF!
Time for a break...toast with jam and tea..m'm!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Art- is in the eye of the beholder
It's hard to imagine my life without art. I see it everywhere- in flower beds, in architecture and in the presentation of food. My crafting medium these days seems to be food. I love to create with my hands, that's why I love paper crafting, designing and making window treatments, needlework and quilting. But there's whole new world opens up for me when I use my chef's knife and a bamboo cutting board. I think my passions take turns and they go in a rotation. I'm starting to work on needlework projects again, I can't go to sleep without reading first and I seem to have a major cooking project going on every time I do "What's on your Work Desk Wednesday".
Today I shall be grocery shopping for items to make that special luncheon for our family that arrives on Thursday, also for those great dishes I'm making for our confirmation dinner on Thursday. I would love to bring my camera to the grocery store- but I would probably get some strange looks when taking pictures of produce or the fresh breads section- don't you think so?
Today I shall be grocery shopping for items to make that special luncheon for our family that arrives on Thursday, also for those great dishes I'm making for our confirmation dinner on Thursday. I would love to bring my camera to the grocery store- but I would probably get some strange looks when taking pictures of produce or the fresh breads section- don't you think so?
Quote of the Day
Please write again soon. Though my own life is filled with activity, letters encourage momentary escape into others lives and I come back to my own with greater contentment.
-Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, 'A Woman of Independent Means'
-Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, 'A Woman of Independent Means'
Monday, May 24, 2010
Why is it...?
That when my life gets hectic that I must immerse myself into something creative? I suppose that it's my way of letting my mind escape it's trappings and do something fun. This week IS going to be a very busy week for me.
♥Monday- planning the weeks menus, getting laundry caught up, clean out fridge, organize the menu for the Confirmation dinner.
♥Tuesday- grocery shopping- make dinner reservations for Friday Night, plan picnic lunch for Saturday and/or Sunday.
♥Wednesday- cook foods for Confirmation dinner (yes,I'm catering), tidy house for guests arriving from the states.
♥Thursday- go over guest bathroom one last time, prepare beds for guests, make some closet space for said guests, Confirmation event to be followed by Confirmation Dinner. Set up tables and arrange flowers, finish meal prep at chapel annex. Go back home get ready, pick up family go back to church.
♥Friday- exhale! Pick kids up early from school- bring Granny and Aunt to Kingham Hill school to have a look see. Dinner reservations planned at Cartwright Hotel.
♥Saturday- take entire family and relations to Blenheim Palace possible dinner at Pudding Face.
♥Sunday- attend church, have picnic lunch- note to self...need to find place for said picnic.
♥Monday- planning the weeks menus, getting laundry caught up, clean out fridge, organize the menu for the Confirmation dinner.
♥Tuesday- grocery shopping- make dinner reservations for Friday Night, plan picnic lunch for Saturday and/or Sunday.
♥Wednesday- cook foods for Confirmation dinner (yes,I'm catering), tidy house for guests arriving from the states.
♥Thursday- go over guest bathroom one last time, prepare beds for guests, make some closet space for said guests, Confirmation event to be followed by Confirmation Dinner. Set up tables and arrange flowers, finish meal prep at chapel annex. Go back home get ready, pick up family go back to church.
♥Friday- exhale! Pick kids up early from school- bring Granny and Aunt to Kingham Hill school to have a look see. Dinner reservations planned at Cartwright Hotel.
♥Saturday- take entire family and relations to Blenheim Palace possible dinner at Pudding Face.
♥Sunday- attend church, have picnic lunch- note to self...need to find place for said picnic.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunshine in England
I know that it's some sort of running joke that it rains all of the time in England but I have to say that it's simply not true! we have had the most enjoyable weather lately. Yesterday my entire family and myself managed to get a sunburn! Today it's supposed to get up to 80º, how delightful! Now for the not so delightful part- homes here do not have central air conditioning. We bought a portable air conditioning unit last summer- it saved us when it got so hot in the house that we couldn't breathe. Here where we are is much like where we lived in Maine- it doesn't get really hot for longer than a couple of weeks each year. BUT when it does get hot, you are truly miserable!
Quote of the Day
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.
- Kurt Vonnegut
- Kurt Vonnegut
Saturday, May 22, 2010
My busy life
As I try to get over feeling so sullen over what has happened in Afghanistan, I'm suddenly snapped into focus on my own base. There was a motorcycle accident involving 2 young military members on Thursday evening. They were taken to two different hospitals one was taken by helicopter. One of those airmen are new to our base, only been here a month. He has a wife-who I just in met in person at our spouses group bingo event on Tuesday and they have a small baby. That poor woman's world is now turned upside down.
Her husband went into surgery yesterday and she wanted to be with him- we had been talking about baby sitters and such before this sad event happened because she was so happy to have made some new friends at the Bingo event and they had made plans are were all going to meet up at the club on base. As we all know, life can turn on a dime and suddenly she doesn't need a baby sitter for Friday night, she needs childcare for her baby all day so she can be with her husband who is having surgery. Of course I step up, what is a friend if not there in another friends hour of need? I can not possibly even begin to imagine the amount of stress this woman has pumping though her veins- new base, new country, husband in a motor vehicle accident. A dear friend lent me a pack and play so baby had a place to sleep, others stopped by and played with baby.Another friend did the tag team babysitting with me while I got out and ran some errands. Our neighborhood pitched in and helped me out with baby- it was wonderful! I was also able to arrange to have a couple more ladies contact our new spouse and arrange child care over the weekend. We've got such a terrific group of spouses here at Croughton, I can't begin to tell how proud I am of them!
Please pray for the recovery of our airmen. We're still waiting to hear on the status of the 2nd person as that person had received spinal injuries.
Her husband went into surgery yesterday and she wanted to be with him- we had been talking about baby sitters and such before this sad event happened because she was so happy to have made some new friends at the Bingo event and they had made plans are were all going to meet up at the club on base. As we all know, life can turn on a dime and suddenly she doesn't need a baby sitter for Friday night, she needs childcare for her baby all day so she can be with her husband who is having surgery. Of course I step up, what is a friend if not there in another friends hour of need? I can not possibly even begin to imagine the amount of stress this woman has pumping though her veins- new base, new country, husband in a motor vehicle accident. A dear friend lent me a pack and play so baby had a place to sleep, others stopped by and played with baby.Another friend did the tag team babysitting with me while I got out and ran some errands. Our neighborhood pitched in and helped me out with baby- it was wonderful! I was also able to arrange to have a couple more ladies contact our new spouse and arrange child care over the weekend. We've got such a terrific group of spouses here at Croughton, I can't begin to tell how proud I am of them!
Please pray for the recovery of our airmen. We're still waiting to hear on the status of the 2nd person as that person had received spinal injuries.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
My military life
It's not easy being a military wife. It's reading my e-mails this morning that have put me in a somber mood. The first was from a dear friend whose husband is deployed to Afghanistan who wrote of her husband called her to tell her that their base was under attack. That they were sustaining heavy fire. he was scared for his life. The other being from another military girlfriend who I've known for nearly 20 years who asked us to pray for a friend of hers- her friends husband was killed in that attack on the same base in Afghanistan. He left behind a wife and 5 children and a new grandchild- of whom he probably never got to see in person. Here is the news story on MSNBC if you care to care it- Insurgents attack Bagram Air Field. My Heart is breaking for both of these families.
...meanwhile as I pull myself together after wiping away the tears I remember my duty to the airmen and women living in our dorms at the base. Tonight is Dorm Dinner night, where we have a big sit down meal with the single members of our military community and show them how much we appreciate their service to our great country and that we truly do care about them. As I sit here peeling what seems to be an enormous amount of apples I think about how happy this meal will make them, those that are so far away from home- some for the very first time. It's important to get to know those around you, to show them kindness and let them know that they're aren't alone. I did this last night with the spouses function. Sure it was pottery bingo- but we had a handful of new to our base spouses come to their first ever base spouses group function. It's important to give a warm welcome to those ladies (and men) who stand here on the sidelines waiting for their loved ones to come back to them after being "down range". Many of these military spouses are new to this strange world of acronyms and uniforms not to mention having their husbands or wives working such long or strange hours. Many of our spouses are the farthest away from home as they've ever been, and they feel lonely. I'm here and with the help from a terrific group of ladies to help them through that lonely transition time. We do this through getting out and becoming active in things like dorm dinners, lunch bunch, crafting groups, walking groups and more. If you read my bio you know how truly dedicated I am to the military spouse support system. No military spouse has it easy but we can help to ease their burden by showing that we care.
Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.
Mother Teresa
...meanwhile as I pull myself together after wiping away the tears I remember my duty to the airmen and women living in our dorms at the base. Tonight is Dorm Dinner night, where we have a big sit down meal with the single members of our military community and show them how much we appreciate their service to our great country and that we truly do care about them. As I sit here peeling what seems to be an enormous amount of apples I think about how happy this meal will make them, those that are so far away from home- some for the very first time. It's important to get to know those around you, to show them kindness and let them know that they're aren't alone. I did this last night with the spouses function. Sure it was pottery bingo- but we had a handful of new to our base spouses come to their first ever base spouses group function. It's important to give a warm welcome to those ladies (and men) who stand here on the sidelines waiting for their loved ones to come back to them after being "down range". Many of these military spouses are new to this strange world of acronyms and uniforms not to mention having their husbands or wives working such long or strange hours. Many of our spouses are the farthest away from home as they've ever been, and they feel lonely. I'm here and with the help from a terrific group of ladies to help them through that lonely transition time. We do this through getting out and becoming active in things like dorm dinners, lunch bunch, crafting groups, walking groups and more. If you read my bio you know how truly dedicated I am to the military spouse support system. No military spouse has it easy but we can help to ease their burden by showing that we care.
Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.
Mother Teresa
Quote of the Day
The Serenity Prayer
The full text of the original "Serenity Prayer" written by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
GOD, grant me the serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change,
Courage to change the
things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the
pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this
sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make
all things right if I
surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy
in this life, and supremely
happy with Him forever in
the next.
Amen
The full text of the original "Serenity Prayer" written by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
GOD, grant me the serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change,
Courage to change the
things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the
pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this
sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make
all things right if I
surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy
in this life, and supremely
happy with Him forever in
the next.
Amen
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Copy Machines- a Security Risk
I'm posting a youtube news video that I hope that everyone will take the time to watch- it is an eye opener to say the least about the dangers of digital copiers. And this is why we never donate a computer- we take the hard drive out of it and smash it to smithereens with a hammer...same goes for our copier/scanner/fax machines.
Can you say BUSY?
My days are filled with busy whatnot's. I seem to spend a lot more time in my kitchen and laundry room than in my craft room these days. Last week was the dinner party for 15, yesterday there was the appreciation luncheon I hosted for my board members (lunch for 5) this morning I'm baking treats for the Spouses group event tonight and tomorrow I'm making a big Ole pot of Jambalaya for the dorm dinner (another base function) and then Hearts Apart on Thursday. There's next week -Hannah's confirmation of which I am in charge of the catering. Yup, I am spending my life in the kitchen. Good thing that I like to cook eh?
Quote of the Day
People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)
Monday, May 17, 2010
Quote of the Day
What a blessing it would be if we could open and shut our ears as easily as we open and shut our eyes!
- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Sunday, May 16, 2010
I ♥ my daughter
I think that I have just about the most thoughtful and fun loving daughter anyone could ever wish to have. This is a wonderful child that I thank the Lord for (on most days). She continues to amaze me with her quirky sense of humor, her thoughtfulness, her generosity and her unconditional love of her friends and of course her dork brother.This is a person that will find happiness wherever life takes her and will strive to make a difference in the world around her.
Yesterday as we are on our mother/daughter trip to Maidenhead to pick up my latest e-bay find and then to Windsor Castle she says to me "Mom, I want to pay for the tureen, I want it to be a gift from me to you". As feelings rushed through me all I could think was Oh my goodness what a truly wonderful, loving thoughtful and generous child I have been blessed with!
So here it is, my gift from my daughter...a Portmeirion Soup Tureen, pattern is Pomona. I know that this kind of thing isn't for everyone and some people are happy serving their store bought soup right out of the cook-pot. As for me, I like to make soup from scratch and now I can serve it up right! My many thanks go to my loving daughter Hannah! Now her Momma can have luncheons and dinner parties in style!
Yesterday as we are on our mother/daughter trip to Maidenhead to pick up my latest e-bay find and then to Windsor Castle she says to me "Mom, I want to pay for the tureen, I want it to be a gift from me to you". As feelings rushed through me all I could think was Oh my goodness what a truly wonderful, loving thoughtful and generous child I have been blessed with!
So here it is, my gift from my daughter...a Portmeirion Soup Tureen, pattern is Pomona. I know that this kind of thing isn't for everyone and some people are happy serving their store bought soup right out of the cook-pot. As for me, I like to make soup from scratch and now I can serve it up right! My many thanks go to my loving daughter Hannah! Now her Momma can have luncheons and dinner parties in style!
Quote of the Day
There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer; no disease that enough love will not heal; no door that enough love will not open.
-Emmet Fox
-Emmet Fox
Saturday, May 15, 2010
It's Saturday!
What to do on a nice weekend like this...maybe go out and do something touristy with my daughter while my husband has to work and our teenage son wants to do nothing but sleep and play video games with his friends.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Dinner for 15
This went off so well that I would love to do it again! The recipes should soon be trickling in and once they are then I will be posting them on my cooking blog. Clean up was a snap! My behind the scenes helpers kicked in and did a fantastic job -many thanks to my awesome husband and daughter!
Just so you know- I'm not one to use disposable cups, plates or plastic eating utensils- I have a serious aversion to using such things in my own home. It's been about 15 years now but I remember it like it was yesterday - I ruined a very nice outfit because of a cheap quality paper plate at a First Friday function and ever since then I just avoid using them period!
I served everyone off of real dinner plates- a big Hooray goes out to my Fiesta Ware 10 inch plates and my Portmeirion 8 inch plates! I was in my element last night! I got to use those lovely large serving bowls and platters that I have collected. German pottery, English pottery, American pottery and Polish pottery. And it all looked so beautiful together. I received many compliments from the ladies who loved how all of the dishes meshed together and I have a few ladies who are VERY interested in going on a pottery shopping trip to Stoke-on-Trent with me the next time I go. Life is Good!
Now for the good stuff- what was served (m'm). My theme was "Salad's". I was the hostess for this months event (meals I made have a * by them) and everyone brought a dish to share (on our theme)...We had 3 different versions of
♥Caprese Salad* (one can never have enough of this stuff) I made a roasted tomato version of this the evenings event.
♥Cornbread Salad
♥Broccoli Salad
♥Grilled marinated Steak Salad
♥Orzo Pasta Chicken Salad
♥Raw Spinach w/Fresh Fruit Salad* and home made Asian dressing*
♥Baked Spinach Salad*
♥Sandie's Chick Food Chicken Salad* with Croissants
♥Asian Salad* with homemade Asian salad dressing*
♥Italian Pasta Salad
♥Curried Chicken Salad
♥Apple Snicker Salad (this tastes just like a caramel apple rolled in nuts-YUM)
♥Rhubarb/Apple/Strawberry Gelatin Salad
♥Chocolate cake with marshmallows
♥Lemon Bars
♥Mimosas...which is nothing more than orange juice and champagne
And lets not forget about all of the breads, crackers, olives and other nibbles that I placed throughout the table. You can't have a big spread without the nibbles! Polish Pottery to the rescue! Besides using platters and sandwich trays, I also got to use those cool Olive Trays that I bought at the Polish Pottery store in Germany. :-D I feel so happy today that dinner went off so well! We had sooo much food that I'm bringing in a surprise lunch for my husbands entire office today! They will ALL be doing the happy dance!
Just so you know- I'm not one to use disposable cups, plates or plastic eating utensils- I have a serious aversion to using such things in my own home. It's been about 15 years now but I remember it like it was yesterday - I ruined a very nice outfit because of a cheap quality paper plate at a First Friday function and ever since then I just avoid using them period!
I served everyone off of real dinner plates- a big Hooray goes out to my Fiesta Ware 10 inch plates and my Portmeirion 8 inch plates! I was in my element last night! I got to use those lovely large serving bowls and platters that I have collected. German pottery, English pottery, American pottery and Polish pottery. And it all looked so beautiful together. I received many compliments from the ladies who loved how all of the dishes meshed together and I have a few ladies who are VERY interested in going on a pottery shopping trip to Stoke-on-Trent with me the next time I go. Life is Good!
Now for the good stuff- what was served (m'm). My theme was "Salad's". I was the hostess for this months event (meals I made have a * by them) and everyone brought a dish to share (on our theme)...We had 3 different versions of
♥Caprese Salad* (one can never have enough of this stuff) I made a roasted tomato version of this the evenings event.
♥Cornbread Salad
♥Broccoli Salad
♥Grilled marinated Steak Salad
♥Orzo Pasta Chicken Salad
♥Raw Spinach w/Fresh Fruit Salad* and home made Asian dressing*
♥Baked Spinach Salad*
♥Sandie's Chick Food Chicken Salad* with Croissants
♥Asian Salad* with homemade Asian salad dressing*
♥Italian Pasta Salad
♥Curried Chicken Salad
♥Apple Snicker Salad (this tastes just like a caramel apple rolled in nuts-YUM)
♥Rhubarb/Apple/Strawberry Gelatin Salad
♥Chocolate cake with marshmallows
♥Lemon Bars
♥Mimosas...which is nothing more than orange juice and champagne
And lets not forget about all of the breads, crackers, olives and other nibbles that I placed throughout the table. You can't have a big spread without the nibbles! Polish Pottery to the rescue! Besides using platters and sandwich trays, I also got to use those cool Olive Trays that I bought at the Polish Pottery store in Germany. :-D I feel so happy today that dinner went off so well! We had sooo much food that I'm bringing in a surprise lunch for my husbands entire office today! They will ALL be doing the happy dance!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Portmeirion, Burleigh & everything else good and wonderful
It's a fact, I'm in love with British pottery! I simply don't seem to be able to get enough of it! All of my Homer Laughlin solid colored Fiesta pottery ties in with it all! This is the best of both of my worlds- solid colored pottery from the USA and the lovely floral potteries from England- I'm in heaven! Throw in some Polish pottery to go with my Burleigh pottery and I'm sooo there!
In case you're wondering what I'm going to do with all of this pottery that I've been buying up like a crazy woman...Do I ever use it? Oh yeah! Tonight it's a casual dinner for 15 or at least it was at the last RSVP count, there's always those that don't RSVP and just show up and I'm okay with that! I bet that you're wondering -what's up with this dinner? Believe it or not, but I'm in a cooking club. I giggle with the mere mention of it!
As for the Cooking Club- we limited it to being neighbors (we want to keep it small and within walking distance). We set our own themes and work from there. The theme that I set for tonight is "salad". Now lets think outside of the box for a minute...not all salads are lettuce based. I wanted to challenge people with this one...I make the main dishes and everyone else brings smaller items to go with the theme...desserts included. I'm anxious to see what others come up with. Another great by-product is that my family also gets to partake of this huge feast!
Now for me to prepare my formal dining room for the the buffet. The table leaf needs to be inserted, tablecloth needs to be pressed, plates set out, glasses set out along with napkins and flatware. OOh I'm sooo in for this!!!
In case you're wondering what I'm going to do with all of this pottery that I've been buying up like a crazy woman...Do I ever use it? Oh yeah! Tonight it's a casual dinner for 15 or at least it was at the last RSVP count, there's always those that don't RSVP and just show up and I'm okay with that! I bet that you're wondering -what's up with this dinner? Believe it or not, but I'm in a cooking club. I giggle with the mere mention of it!
As for the Cooking Club- we limited it to being neighbors (we want to keep it small and within walking distance). We set our own themes and work from there. The theme that I set for tonight is "salad". Now lets think outside of the box for a minute...not all salads are lettuce based. I wanted to challenge people with this one...I make the main dishes and everyone else brings smaller items to go with the theme...desserts included. I'm anxious to see what others come up with. Another great by-product is that my family also gets to partake of this huge feast!
Now for me to prepare my formal dining room for the the buffet. The table leaf needs to be inserted, tablecloth needs to be pressed, plates set out, glasses set out along with napkins and flatware. OOh I'm sooo in for this!!!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Every Day!
Every new place leaves me with something to do- always. Everyday is a blessing, Everyday is an adventure, Everyday something new will happen...Everyday is a Blessing!
Kindness, love, compassion- this can be shown and expressed in so many ways.
You know that you have the best kind of friends when they phone to tell you that they've been praying about something that involves you. With that...I am now a board member on our Parish Advisory Council. I truly feel Blessed! First for having friends think that I would be good at this and secondly for having friends that see what I've done as far as military community relations are concerned. We may be a small parish, but we do so much more than any other church I've ever been a member of these past 20 years! Being here at Croughton has had it's ups and downs but most of all I feel that it certainly is a blessing!
Kindness, love, compassion- this can be shown and expressed in so many ways.
You know that you have the best kind of friends when they phone to tell you that they've been praying about something that involves you. With that...I am now a board member on our Parish Advisory Council. I truly feel Blessed! First for having friends think that I would be good at this and secondly for having friends that see what I've done as far as military community relations are concerned. We may be a small parish, but we do so much more than any other church I've ever been a member of these past 20 years! Being here at Croughton has had it's ups and downs but most of all I feel that it certainly is a blessing!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Just When you think you're ready...
You're not. At the end of next month I will have been living here in England for a year. In the past 11 months I've moved house twice, lived with temporary/borrowed furnishings for over 5 months, have 2 shipments of items in non-temp storage and here I am hosting my first dinner party in my home and I'm not feeling ready. I'm sure it's just nerves and the thought of having people in my home not just to dine but ones that want have a tour of the place. Lets face it, I'm the mother of 2 teenagers who NEVER have clean rooms. It's hard enough for me to keep their bathroom tidy, never mind having to clean their rooms...I'm a Mom not a Maid. So if I take the thought out of my head of having to clean my teenagers rooms then I'm okay with having 12 friends dining in my home.
Now to get on my menu...this for me (feeding 12 people) is the easy part, cleaning the teenagers rooms on the other hand put me into a temporary tail spin!
Now to get on my menu...this for me (feeding 12 people) is the easy part, cleaning the teenagers rooms on the other hand put me into a temporary tail spin!
Quote of the Day
A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?
George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language", 1946
George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language", 1946
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Mother's Day Trivia
♥Mother's Day can be traced back to ancient Greece, when the Greeks held festivals honoring Rhea, the mother of the gods.
♥The ancient Egyptians celebrated the goddess Isis, who was considered the mother of the pharoahs. Romans also honored Isis by celebrating for three days.
♥Anna Jarvis is recognized as the founder of the Mother's Day holiday in the United States of America. On May 12, 1907, two years after her mother's death, she held a memorial to her mother and thereafter embarked upon a campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday. She succeeded in making this nationally recognized in 1914
♥President Woodrow Wilson helped celebrate the first national Mother's Day in 1914. As the holiday became more commercialized, Anna Jarvis filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvannia to try to stop the commercialization. She failed.
♥The official flower for Mother's Day is the carnation. Red carnations are for mothers still living, while white carnations are to honor those that have passed away.
♥Mothering Sunday is held on the fourth Sunday of Lent, or three weeks before Easter, in the UK and Ireland. In South America, most countries celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May as well. Argentina celebrates it in October because it is in the southern hemisphere and spring is in October.
♥The ancient Egyptians celebrated the goddess Isis, who was considered the mother of the pharoahs. Romans also honored Isis by celebrating for three days.
♥Anna Jarvis is recognized as the founder of the Mother's Day holiday in the United States of America. On May 12, 1907, two years after her mother's death, she held a memorial to her mother and thereafter embarked upon a campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday. She succeeded in making this nationally recognized in 1914
♥President Woodrow Wilson helped celebrate the first national Mother's Day in 1914. As the holiday became more commercialized, Anna Jarvis filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvannia to try to stop the commercialization. She failed.
♥The official flower for Mother's Day is the carnation. Red carnations are for mothers still living, while white carnations are to honor those that have passed away.
♥Mothering Sunday is held on the fourth Sunday of Lent, or three weeks before Easter, in the UK and Ireland. In South America, most countries celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May as well. Argentina celebrates it in October because it is in the southern hemisphere and spring is in October.
Quote of the day
"A mother is not a person to lean on but a person to make leaning unnecessary."
- Dorothy Canfield Fisher
- Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Saturday, May 08, 2010
why haven't I posted?
I'm sorry that I haven't been posting anything more than a quote these last few days. I've been hit with an intestinal bug and it was brutal! Yesterday afternoon I was finally feeling okay enough to eat toast.I'm having coffee now and lets hope that it doesn't cause a set back.
It's our children's last mandatory School Saturday. The next one will be Graduation Day for Andrew (July 3rd- so mark your calendars) and we're all going to be thrilled! Now for me to make sure that my teens are up and are getting ready for school.
It's our children's last mandatory School Saturday. The next one will be Graduation Day for Andrew (July 3rd- so mark your calendars) and we're all going to be thrilled! Now for me to make sure that my teens are up and are getting ready for school.
Quote of the day
The trouble with jogging is that, by the time you realize you're not in shape for it, it's too far to walk back.
- Franklin P. Jones
- Franklin P. Jones
Friday, May 07, 2010
Quote of the Day
Our heroes are those... who... act above and beyond the call of duty and in so doing give definition to patriotism and elevate all of us.... America is the land of the free because we are the home of the brave.
--David Mahoney
--David Mahoney
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Quote of the day
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
–Jack Handey
–Jack Handey
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
A Magnetic Personality
I bet you're wondering where I'm going with this topic...I've been thinking about making something for a little friend but am wondering how to go about it then it hit me! Magnets! I want to make a paper doll with changeable clothing but not like the paper dolls of old where you would fold over tabs to the back of the doll, I want this to me more durable so then the though of magnets hit me BUT then I need to make the base of my doll have metal in her. This project is going to take me a while since I'm here in the UK and not back in the States where I know I can find the things I need to create this latest endeavor. Hmmm, so for now my dolly is on the sketch pad.
Quote of the day
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
- Noel Coward
- Noel Coward
Monday, May 03, 2010
Quote of the day
Can anyone imagine Moses, Jesus, or Gandhi armed with the money-bags of Carnegie?
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Sunday, May 02, 2010
A rainy day in England
I'll say it, I'm an American who gets to live in England through the USAF/MOD and am LOVING IT! There are so many historic places to see/visit out here but one of my most favorite towns (besides Stoke on Trent- purely for shopping reasons) is Stratford-upon-Avon- home to William Shakespeare. The tour of homes and gardens connected with Mr.Shakespeare are amazing. I myself had made my own English flower garden after our trip to England in 2006- I did this in my backyard of the house we own in South Dakota (I wonder how it looks now). I know that we will recreate another garden like that with our next home as well. Currently we're planting flowers in the flower beds here in my true English garden, I'm so happy to have areas in which I can plant flowers.
The sad thing about being out here as with living anywhere is that so many of the locals haven't been to the places that I have. How can you not want/desire to go see these historic homes that are in books and period piece movies? The same thing applies to those that can eat off of dishes that are made in China. Why aren't you using that wonderful made in England, Ireland or Scotland pottery? Savor your history, support your pottery companies that still produce their wares in your country before they go off and start having it made in china (ugh).
It might be raining today but it IS gorgeous outside! Everything is bright green from the grassy lawn to the new leaves growing on the trees and shrubs. Living here is like a little slice of heaven to me!
The sad thing about being out here as with living anywhere is that so many of the locals haven't been to the places that I have. How can you not want/desire to go see these historic homes that are in books and period piece movies? The same thing applies to those that can eat off of dishes that are made in China. Why aren't you using that wonderful made in England, Ireland or Scotland pottery? Savor your history, support your pottery companies that still produce their wares in your country before they go off and start having it made in china (ugh).
It might be raining today but it IS gorgeous outside! Everything is bright green from the grassy lawn to the new leaves growing on the trees and shrubs. Living here is like a little slice of heaven to me!
Quote of the Day
The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he really is very good, in spite of all the people who say he is very good.
- Robert Graves
- Robert Graves
Saturday, May 01, 2010
What Inspires You?
There are so many things that I feel passionately about, that give me true inspiration- Flowers are hands down my favorite! I can look at flowers and see so many things in them. Their wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes and scents can overwhelm most people but not me. I can walk into a flower market with and idea of what I want to buy and walk out with that very item in my hands. Some days it's all about pinks and reds, others it's shades of blue with a splash of green.
Each room in my house has a totally different feel. A good way to describe it is- walking through a doorway is like walking into a different season- not everyone can say that about their own place now can they? No, I didn't think so. I've been told that it's the artist in me and other say it's the Gemini in me that is always looking for change, for something new and interesting. Whatever it is, I know I've always been this way- always wanting to rearrange the furniture, change out valances, rugs, the way things are hung on the wall. But my one constant is flowers. Flowers are in every room of my house in some shape or form.
Change something in your house today- bring in some color! A bouquet of flowers will brighten up and room, I guarantee it! For another change- maybe it's new dishes, new curtains or new bedding and throw pillows. Find your inspiration and bring some colors of Spring Time into your home!
Each room in my house has a totally different feel. A good way to describe it is- walking through a doorway is like walking into a different season- not everyone can say that about their own place now can they? No, I didn't think so. I've been told that it's the artist in me and other say it's the Gemini in me that is always looking for change, for something new and interesting. Whatever it is, I know I've always been this way- always wanting to rearrange the furniture, change out valances, rugs, the way things are hung on the wall. But my one constant is flowers. Flowers are in every room of my house in some shape or form.
Change something in your house today- bring in some color! A bouquet of flowers will brighten up and room, I guarantee it! For another change- maybe it's new dishes, new curtains or new bedding and throw pillows. Find your inspiration and bring some colors of Spring Time into your home!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
A top 10 Trivia
I'm a reading person- I like to do research and am always looking for more things to learn about. I came across this story and had to snicker. The more I read the more I was intrigued. The Article is about the top 10 appliances that we can't seem to be able to live without read about here HERE it's Over on "How Stuff Works" (owned by the Discovery Channel).
So here's the run down
♥Clocks
♥Toilets
♥The Refrigerator
♥The Washing Machine
♥The Telephone
♥Recorded Sound
♥Television
♥Air Conditioning (my personal favorite)
♥The Microwave Oven
♥The computer
Now go read the article and find out why these items made the top list. I have to agree, I use all of these items on a daily basis,okay minus the air conditioning. To be honest though, I could not see myself ever buying a car or a house for that matter that does not have air conditioning.
So here's the run down
♥Clocks
♥Toilets
♥The Refrigerator
♥The Washing Machine
♥The Telephone
♥Recorded Sound
♥Television
♥Air Conditioning (my personal favorite)
♥The Microwave Oven
♥The computer
Now go read the article and find out why these items made the top list. I have to agree, I use all of these items on a daily basis,okay minus the air conditioning. To be honest though, I could not see myself ever buying a car or a house for that matter that does not have air conditioning.
Quote of the Day
The great use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.
-William James (1842 - 1910)
-William James (1842 - 1910)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
What's on your Work Desk Wednesday
ME! May sound weird but I'm going to be on someone else's work desk per-say...going in for a 1 hour Swedish massage, a 1 hour facial and a full pedicure! Yes I am some one's work project today...got to love life!
Quote of the day
One of the things that keeps you from dropping them in the nearest volcano is that you had to work too hard to get them. You had to cry, you had to scream, you had to sweat, you had to cuss out health care officials, and when that's all over with, you'll be willing to put up with a lot more from your kids.
--Barbara Hall
--Barbara Hall
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
a day in life...
Not a day goes by where I don't hear construction noises going on around me. Heck it's been like that for me in every house we've lived in since 1994! I'm so tired of dirt clods and nails in the road, seriously I've been living with this kind of thing for 15 plus years and frankly it's getting a little old.
Hopefully we'll have some new neighbors here on our little street now that all of the houses have been renovated and that those renovations have been completed (or so I've been told). The sod (grass) has been laid and now for us to get some new neighbors!
We've been busy making this place look like a home- you should see our flower beds, they are so pretty and bursting with color! I need to get out there and take some pictures.
Hopefully we'll have some new neighbors here on our little street now that all of the houses have been renovated and that those renovations have been completed (or so I've been told). The sod (grass) has been laid and now for us to get some new neighbors!
We've been busy making this place look like a home- you should see our flower beds, they are so pretty and bursting with color! I need to get out there and take some pictures.
Quote of the day
People who reach the top of the tree are only those who haven't got the qualifications to detain them at the bottom.
- Peter Ustinov
- Peter Ustinov
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sandie's Fabulous Pottery Tour- the details
It's the little things that one does for ones friends that end up being the really big things. On this trip there were 4 women, 1 Honda Odyssey minivan and an ice chest full of treats! We were driving down the road by 7 am -yes, we really were!
♥ Our first stop was the Wedgwood factory Shop and we were there by 8:45 am! This time around we were able to take our dear sweet time shopping as the shelves were fully stocked and for the first 30 minutes were were the only customers! everyone found something that they liked, and we found some prizes for our bingo event for the spouses club.
♥Next stop was the Burleigh factory Shop Oh my word were we ever to find some great items in there! I found a few rare pieces done in retired colors. Oh I think we all found a little something something at Burleigh! I bought an entire place setting in the Dark Blue Felicity pattern now that makes 8 place settings and I'm done! Okay not done as in done buying any more Burleigh period, more like done with buying place settings.
♥Onward James to the next stop...Portmeirion! Holy Catfish did the others go wild in that shop! Granted I came with a list and an idea of what I was interested in buying. I have to say that I was VERY pleased with what I came home with :-) I was able to get the 50th anniversary Parrot Tulip Teapot , to be honest,that was the #1 thing on my list! I was able to pick up the Spode dinner plates for a friend (she's now on her way back from Texas after being stuck there for a little over a week). More Bingo Prizes from here too!
♥We were trying to get to Churchill pottery but after driving around in circles for 40 minutes we figured out that this outlet was no longer in business at this location so we decided to go to Aynsley China and along the way we stopped at yet another Portmeirion outlet shop. Every place carries different items and here was no different! I was able to find the ever elusive Portmeirion measuring cups (they're new) and a 2 cup measuring pitcher (another hard to find item) and this one had American measuring lines as well as metric!
♥Number 5 on our tour Aynsley China what a lovely shop! I read up a bit on Aynsley and knew that they were acquired by Belleek China (Irish bone china) back in 1997. We all found a little something here! I came out with a Belleek bread plate and a Belleek Templemore Vase at a price that I couldn't resist! Needless to say, I left there doing the happy dance!
♥Last but not least on our Fabulous Pottery tour we found Churchill China! We were not disappointed in this shop in any way shape or form! We all found more goodies to bring home. I'm in love with Churchill's Eden pattern and bought a few serving trays. Nothing like having serving trays to help you bring loads of clean or dirty dishes to and from the kitchen! And after months of searching, I was able to find a Brown Betty Teapot HERE for my Mom! I also bought one for our Bingo event and will pair it up with some PG Tips Tea (that would make a sweet prize).
For lunch- Well I packed a gourmet picnic basket. There was Flock of Geese Chicken salad, marinated Italian Pasta Salad, Caprese Salad, Babybel Cheeses, croissants, baguettes, yummy herbed olives, mini almond poppy seed muffins, Ghirardelli Chocolate brownies and mini New York Cheesecakes! Evian bottled water was the drink of choice! We never touched the bag of kettle chips- probably too full of the other stuff to worry about it, LOL!
I'm assured by my girlfriends that they've never had a picnic lunch like that before. I'm glad that I was able to give them a happy shopping and dining experience :-)
♥ Our first stop was the Wedgwood factory Shop and we were there by 8:45 am! This time around we were able to take our dear sweet time shopping as the shelves were fully stocked and for the first 30 minutes were were the only customers! everyone found something that they liked, and we found some prizes for our bingo event for the spouses club.
♥Next stop was the Burleigh factory Shop Oh my word were we ever to find some great items in there! I found a few rare pieces done in retired colors. Oh I think we all found a little something something at Burleigh! I bought an entire place setting in the Dark Blue Felicity pattern now that makes 8 place settings and I'm done! Okay not done as in done buying any more Burleigh period, more like done with buying place settings.
♥Onward James to the next stop...Portmeirion! Holy Catfish did the others go wild in that shop! Granted I came with a list and an idea of what I was interested in buying. I have to say that I was VERY pleased with what I came home with :-) I was able to get the 50th anniversary Parrot Tulip Teapot , to be honest,that was the #1 thing on my list! I was able to pick up the Spode dinner plates for a friend (she's now on her way back from Texas after being stuck there for a little over a week). More Bingo Prizes from here too!
♥We were trying to get to Churchill pottery but after driving around in circles for 40 minutes we figured out that this outlet was no longer in business at this location so we decided to go to Aynsley China and along the way we stopped at yet another Portmeirion outlet shop. Every place carries different items and here was no different! I was able to find the ever elusive Portmeirion measuring cups (they're new) and a 2 cup measuring pitcher (another hard to find item) and this one had American measuring lines as well as metric!
♥Number 5 on our tour Aynsley China what a lovely shop! I read up a bit on Aynsley and knew that they were acquired by Belleek China (Irish bone china) back in 1997. We all found a little something here! I came out with a Belleek bread plate and a Belleek Templemore Vase at a price that I couldn't resist! Needless to say, I left there doing the happy dance!
♥Last but not least on our Fabulous Pottery tour we found Churchill China! We were not disappointed in this shop in any way shape or form! We all found more goodies to bring home. I'm in love with Churchill's Eden pattern and bought a few serving trays. Nothing like having serving trays to help you bring loads of clean or dirty dishes to and from the kitchen! And after months of searching, I was able to find a Brown Betty Teapot HERE for my Mom! I also bought one for our Bingo event and will pair it up with some PG Tips Tea (that would make a sweet prize).
For lunch- Well I packed a gourmet picnic basket. There was Flock of Geese Chicken salad, marinated Italian Pasta Salad, Caprese Salad, Babybel Cheeses, croissants, baguettes, yummy herbed olives, mini almond poppy seed muffins, Ghirardelli Chocolate brownies and mini New York Cheesecakes! Evian bottled water was the drink of choice! We never touched the bag of kettle chips- probably too full of the other stuff to worry about it, LOL!
I'm assured by my girlfriends that they've never had a picnic lunch like that before. I'm glad that I was able to give them a happy shopping and dining experience :-)
Quote of the Day
You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are!
--Alice Kingsley
--Alice Kingsley
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sandie's Fabulous Pottery Tour (with lunch)
I like to think that I have a good sense of humor, I try to laugh daily and today is a day that I hope to be laughing nearly every minute of the hour!
In about an hour we're setting off to go to Stoke-on-Trent. Oh as it is, I'm the one driving. Distance wise it's not that far but the crazy road system here in England makes it a 2 hour adventure (one way). Off we go!
In about an hour we're setting off to go to Stoke-on-Trent. Oh as it is, I'm the one driving. Distance wise it's not that far but the crazy road system here in England makes it a 2 hour adventure (one way). Off we go!
Quote of the day
Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Friday, April 23, 2010
Heaven on Earth
I wrote this to my friend René and I thought to myself why not share this on my blog. Our friendship dates back to nearly 20 years ago from our first military assignment in Maine. René hails from the Mississippi/Louisiana border and me being from all over but I claim California as my home. We hit it off right from the start! We've been dear friends ever since! Enjoy the read...
Here I am putting everything together for my chick food chicken salad and am taste testing- talk about a little bit of heaven on earth! I decided to go with the salted cashews instead of the toasted pecans and I’m glad that I did! The cashews gives just the right amount of salt that this dish needs w/o having to add any salt…got to love that!
The Caprese salad is simple enough, basically it’s tomatoes, olive oil either mozzarella or feta cheese and some salt. And it’s so true, the better the quality of the ingredients the better the food! I’m so glad that I roasted those chickens myself, I put just the right herbs on them to bring out the flavor.
Now to whip up the little treats- that will go quickly enough. I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy cooking…especially when my husband and children aren't around to bug me-HA! I feel as if I get so much more accomplished. I do wish you were here though, you could keep me company and we could laugh and enjoy the sunshine and sit on the patio and have lunch. Today is going to be a perfect day to have lunch on that patio!
Here I am putting everything together for my chick food chicken salad and am taste testing- talk about a little bit of heaven on earth! I decided to go with the salted cashews instead of the toasted pecans and I’m glad that I did! The cashews gives just the right amount of salt that this dish needs w/o having to add any salt…got to love that!
The Caprese salad is simple enough, basically it’s tomatoes, olive oil either mozzarella or feta cheese and some salt. And it’s so true, the better the quality of the ingredients the better the food! I’m so glad that I roasted those chickens myself, I put just the right herbs on them to bring out the flavor.
Now to whip up the little treats- that will go quickly enough. I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy cooking…especially when my husband and children aren't around to bug me-HA! I feel as if I get so much more accomplished. I do wish you were here though, you could keep me company and we could laugh and enjoy the sunshine and sit on the patio and have lunch. Today is going to be a perfect day to have lunch on that patio!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Count down to FUN!
I've got a busy day planned for myself...I've got gourmet cooking on the brain (that’s why I’m up so early). I’m making the following for our trip;
*Caprese Salad –tomato slices drizzled with olive, a little fresh ground gray sea salt (it’s a moist salt and it’s yummy), herbed feta cheese That’s it and it’s soooo yummy!!! I also make this with fresh sliced mozzarella but right now I'm on a Feta Cheese kick.
*Marinated Italian Pasta Salad- twisty pasta with marinated artichoke hearts, roasted red bell pepper, red onions, finely chopped black olives, some fresh parsley and some made from scratch Italian salad dressing.
*Chicken Salad- it’s got a dressing made from sour cream and mayonnaise with a dash of lemon juice, there’s roasted chicken (of which I did yesterday), seedless grapes (bought these huge dark purple ones), celery and topped with roasted cashews. I've had this several times made by others and it's to die for- yes it's a total chick food item!
*Marinated green olives- I get these at Tesco and they come in a pouch(bag) oh my gosh they are seriously addictive! I almost ate an entire bag the other day- good thing the bags are quite small, LOL!
*Baguettes (for the chicken salad- no I'm not making these I'm buying them)
*Almond poppy seed mini muffins- morning snack on the road (now I am making these)
*Brownies- afternoon snack on the road (and these too)
*New York Cheesecake- hey a girl has got to have dessert! (and yes I'm also making these).
*And of course Evian bottled water ♥
So do you think that my girlfriends will like their lunch? Two of them are PCSing (one to Turkey and the other back to the USA) and this trip is like a big final farewell to England. So I’m sure that they both will be loading up on china, crystal and pottery of all sorts!
Meanwhile in-between all of this cooking I've got to take the hubby to work, do some grocery shopping, gas up the shopping mobile, call a couple of Portmeirion stores to see what their in store specials are, get the exchange rate of the day, finish up my pottery quiz, get some more GPS coordinates for a few more pottery places in Stoke-on-Trent, clean the house, fold a mountain of laundry and squeeze in a nap ;-) Wish me luck!
*Caprese Salad –tomato slices drizzled with olive, a little fresh ground gray sea salt (it’s a moist salt and it’s yummy), herbed feta cheese That’s it and it’s soooo yummy!!! I also make this with fresh sliced mozzarella but right now I'm on a Feta Cheese kick.
*Marinated Italian Pasta Salad- twisty pasta with marinated artichoke hearts, roasted red bell pepper, red onions, finely chopped black olives, some fresh parsley and some made from scratch Italian salad dressing.
*Chicken Salad- it’s got a dressing made from sour cream and mayonnaise with a dash of lemon juice, there’s roasted chicken (of which I did yesterday), seedless grapes (bought these huge dark purple ones), celery and topped with roasted cashews. I've had this several times made by others and it's to die for- yes it's a total chick food item!
*Marinated green olives- I get these at Tesco and they come in a pouch(bag) oh my gosh they are seriously addictive! I almost ate an entire bag the other day- good thing the bags are quite small, LOL!
*Baguettes (for the chicken salad- no I'm not making these I'm buying them)
*Almond poppy seed mini muffins- morning snack on the road (now I am making these)
*Brownies- afternoon snack on the road (and these too)
*New York Cheesecake- hey a girl has got to have dessert! (and yes I'm also making these).
*And of course Evian bottled water ♥
So do you think that my girlfriends will like their lunch? Two of them are PCSing (one to Turkey and the other back to the USA) and this trip is like a big final farewell to England. So I’m sure that they both will be loading up on china, crystal and pottery of all sorts!
Meanwhile in-between all of this cooking I've got to take the hubby to work, do some grocery shopping, gas up the shopping mobile, call a couple of Portmeirion stores to see what their in store specials are, get the exchange rate of the day, finish up my pottery quiz, get some more GPS coordinates for a few more pottery places in Stoke-on-Trent, clean the house, fold a mountain of laundry and squeeze in a nap ;-) Wish me luck!
Quote of the Day
If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?
- Laurence J. Peter
- Laurence J. Peter
Thursday already?
I went to be tired, I woke up tired, I am tired. It's Thursday and I've got a long way to go until Sunday.
Yesterday was spent at Lakenheath- yes another orthodontic appointment for Hannah. That medical shuttle program may be free but I tell you it's like revisiting childhood... with carsickness! I had to make the driver pull over so I could vomit on the side of the road! To be honest, I've been getting car sick every time I ride with this guy and yesterday I couldn't hold it back- I threw up! It was horrible! Hannah has the right idea with sleeping on the shuttle, but I can't, this guy drives like he's an ex-race car driver and to be honest I want to be awake when he gets into an accident (trust me it's only a matter of time). So here I am cringing at the thought of having to ride in that shuttle again. So I'm debating driving there myself. Would I rather be sick all day long from that van ride OR just suck up the gas costs and drive there myself and be stressed for a little while but feel good all day? Hmmmm, I'll go with the 2nd one.
Yesterday was spent at Lakenheath- yes another orthodontic appointment for Hannah. That medical shuttle program may be free but I tell you it's like revisiting childhood... with carsickness! I had to make the driver pull over so I could vomit on the side of the road! To be honest, I've been getting car sick every time I ride with this guy and yesterday I couldn't hold it back- I threw up! It was horrible! Hannah has the right idea with sleeping on the shuttle, but I can't, this guy drives like he's an ex-race car driver and to be honest I want to be awake when he gets into an accident (trust me it's only a matter of time). So here I am cringing at the thought of having to ride in that shuttle again. So I'm debating driving there myself. Would I rather be sick all day long from that van ride OR just suck up the gas costs and drive there myself and be stressed for a little while but feel good all day? Hmmmm, I'll go with the 2nd one.
Quote of the Day
Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken.
--Jane Austen
--Jane Austen
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tea Anyone?
Today's adventure is...
Going out with group of friends for High Tea. I've tried on at least 6 different outfits and I THINK that I've stumbled upon THE outfit that I want to wear. Keep in mind that "think" is the key word here. I'm between 2 blouses and 2 different skirts- same shoes though (wink wink). To wear pantyhose or not...that is the other big question. I feel as if my legs are rather pale and I think that wearing hose lends to an overall more finished "look" per say than not wearing hose. Oh the choices I have- then we're on to the choice of handbags, I've got the accessories (aka jewelry) picked out, that's not a problem. Oh to wrangle a pair of pantyhose. Other things to contend with- full makeup or simply eyeliner and mascara? Hmmmm. I dare say I better get back upstairs and check out my magic mirror and see what it says to me ;-)
Going out with group of friends for High Tea. I've tried on at least 6 different outfits and I THINK that I've stumbled upon THE outfit that I want to wear. Keep in mind that "think" is the key word here. I'm between 2 blouses and 2 different skirts- same shoes though (wink wink). To wear pantyhose or not...that is the other big question. I feel as if my legs are rather pale and I think that wearing hose lends to an overall more finished "look" per say than not wearing hose. Oh the choices I have- then we're on to the choice of handbags, I've got the accessories (aka jewelry) picked out, that's not a problem. Oh to wrangle a pair of pantyhose. Other things to contend with- full makeup or simply eyeliner and mascara? Hmmmm. I dare say I better get back upstairs and check out my magic mirror and see what it says to me ;-)
Pretty in Pink?
For a person such as myself who loves the color PINK... I paint my nails pink (fingers and toes), have numerous t-shirts in various shades of pink, I have pink Crocs, pink slippers, pink jammies, I love pinks flowers and I even have a Fuchsia colored coat and look at my blog- pink is everywhere! My daughter swears that pink is my signature color (I suddenly feel like Elle on Legally Blonde with that latest statement). But for whatever reason, I simply find it impossible to warm up to the pink Burleigh dishes. A close friend suggested that maybe it's the shade of pink that makes me cringe. But honestly, I have some pink Fiesta-ware and it doesn't make me cringe so why does the thought of eating off of pink flowery china make the hairs in my arms stand up?
Could it be that I'm not as "foofy" as I thought I was? Oh say it isn't so!
I love all things girly, from headbands and hats, jewelry, shoes, and handbags! I have throw pillows on every bed and even the sofas, flowers in every room and pretty British tea-sets. I don't own any dress trousers (that's pants for those in the USA), when I go out if it's not jeans casual, then I wear either a skirt or a dress- I've been that way since- well for forever. So what it is about those pink dishes that make me cringe when I look at them? I love my Portmeirion dishes with the pink flowers, heck I'm having coffee right now and my mug has lovely Pink Dog Rose blossoms on it and looking at it makes me happy. Maybe it's nothing more than I don't care for Asian inspired drawings done in baby pink, change the color to black yeah maybe, pink? No!
Could it be that I'm not as "foofy" as I thought I was? Oh say it isn't so!
I love all things girly, from headbands and hats, jewelry, shoes, and handbags! I have throw pillows on every bed and even the sofas, flowers in every room and pretty British tea-sets. I don't own any dress trousers (that's pants for those in the USA), when I go out if it's not jeans casual, then I wear either a skirt or a dress- I've been that way since- well for forever. So what it is about those pink dishes that make me cringe when I look at them? I love my Portmeirion dishes with the pink flowers, heck I'm having coffee right now and my mug has lovely Pink Dog Rose blossoms on it and looking at it makes me happy. Maybe it's nothing more than I don't care for Asian inspired drawings done in baby pink, change the color to black yeah maybe, pink? No!
Quote of the Day
If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.
-Jane Austen "Emma" Mr. Knightly to Emma
-Jane Austen "Emma" Mr. Knightly to Emma
Monday, April 19, 2010
Volcano? What Volcano?
Iceland has an active what? Yes that was my first recation how about you?
It's crazy that a volcano can effect world wide travelers and yet it does. I can't believe how many friends I have that are effected by this natural disaster.
*One set of friends ended up driving the 19 hour trip to Venice so they could make their cruise. Apparently the trip insurance didn't cover the volcano erupting- nice!
*Some friends are currently stranded in Germany after a family vacation.
*And a third set of dear friends (also traveling with their teen son) is stranded back in the states.
*Friends and neighbors of ours currently have company from the states and I doubt highly that they are able to travel back home until next week at the earliest.
Makes me kind of glad that I'm just toodling around England, seeing the sights and having tea in garden settings :-)
Off to get ready for my day...it's been a long weekend of fun in the sun and well it's time for me to get to working on some research that I've been having on the back burner.
It's crazy that a volcano can effect world wide travelers and yet it does. I can't believe how many friends I have that are effected by this natural disaster.
*One set of friends ended up driving the 19 hour trip to Venice so they could make their cruise. Apparently the trip insurance didn't cover the volcano erupting- nice!
*Some friends are currently stranded in Germany after a family vacation.
*And a third set of dear friends (also traveling with their teen son) is stranded back in the states.
*Friends and neighbors of ours currently have company from the states and I doubt highly that they are able to travel back home until next week at the earliest.
Makes me kind of glad that I'm just toodling around England, seeing the sights and having tea in garden settings :-)
Off to get ready for my day...it's been a long weekend of fun in the sun and well it's time for me to get to working on some research that I've been having on the back burner.
Quote of the Day
Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us.
-Jane Austen
-Jane Austen
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Is it really Spring?
Yesterday's weather I dare say was delicious! It's funny how it takes our bodies a while to get acclimated to the weather after we move across country or across the globe. How 67º felt very warm to me. While I was on the phone talking to my mom yesterday (she lives in Northern California) I was telling her how delightful the weather was and how we were turning down the radiators in the house because of said "warm" day. She shuddered and sad "OOh Sandie when did you start thinking that 67º was warm?" I let her know that 67º has been warm for me for YEARS! Living in the Midwest with it's harsh winters will do that to a person.
I wish that my Mom could see England and that I could take her to the many wonderful historic places I've been. Heck I want my friends to come out here as well and experience the country...not just London, anyone can do London. It's here where people really live and do things, the grand historic Estates are truly the heart of England. If I had a choice to tour the country side of England or London, I'd choose the country hands down! Wait- I did that before back in 2006 when we came here for a family vacation- and I've never regretted that decision either!
Now to get ready for church- I can wear a dress and NOT feel like I'm going to freeze my legs off :-)
I wish that my Mom could see England and that I could take her to the many wonderful historic places I've been. Heck I want my friends to come out here as well and experience the country...not just London, anyone can do London. It's here where people really live and do things, the grand historic Estates are truly the heart of England. If I had a choice to tour the country side of England or London, I'd choose the country hands down! Wait- I did that before back in 2006 when we came here for a family vacation- and I've never regretted that decision either!
Now to get ready for church- I can wear a dress and NOT feel like I'm going to freeze my legs off :-)
Quote of the Day
It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are they the result of previous study?
Jane Austen - Mr Bennett to his cousin Mr Collins- Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen - Mr Bennett to his cousin Mr Collins- Pride and Prejudice
Saturday, April 17, 2010
All things Jane
Yesterday was spent reminiscing of the great time I had with my husband visiting the historic country estates. I talked with friends about the trip and have sent e-mails to friends with the post codes of the places we visited so they can plan their own trips. I think that I found the hidden romantic in many of my girlfriends here in the UK and back in America.
I love the Jane Austen Centre that is in located in Bath, it sells All Things Jane! I adore this shop and am on their e-mail list (yes, imagine that). There is a woman who makes up counted cross stitch kits with quotes from Jane Austen's novels- I have many of them on my wish list! The Sampler Girl You MUST go check out her stuff...I dare say it's seriously cool!
I'm filling my home with things that will remind me and my family of the wonderful years we've spent living here in England. Be it in the dining room with my lovely England dishes or the artwork and books that will be throughout my home. No matter where you look, you see bits and pieces of what makes a house a home. Things one has collected from their travels.
How could one live here for any amount of time and not have one (or more) teapots (of which are made in England of course). The most elusive teapot is of course the Brown Betty. Why on earth this is so hard to find is beyond me! I've found places on line where I can get them but no one local sells them! I'm going to look on line and see if someplace in Stoke on Trent sells them. I want to introduce my friends here to the lovely art of drinking tea and tea time.
Picture it- a Tea Party and everyone must dress up in costume from Jane Austen's time. What fun we could all have!
I love the Jane Austen Centre that is in located in Bath, it sells All Things Jane! I adore this shop and am on their e-mail list (yes, imagine that). There is a woman who makes up counted cross stitch kits with quotes from Jane Austen's novels- I have many of them on my wish list! The Sampler Girl You MUST go check out her stuff...I dare say it's seriously cool!
I'm filling my home with things that will remind me and my family of the wonderful years we've spent living here in England. Be it in the dining room with my lovely England dishes or the artwork and books that will be throughout my home. No matter where you look, you see bits and pieces of what makes a house a home. Things one has collected from their travels.
How could one live here for any amount of time and not have one (or more) teapots (of which are made in England of course). The most elusive teapot is of course the Brown Betty. Why on earth this is so hard to find is beyond me! I've found places on line where I can get them but no one local sells them! I'm going to look on line and see if someplace in Stoke on Trent sells them. I want to introduce my friends here to the lovely art of drinking tea and tea time.
Picture it- a Tea Party and everyone must dress up in costume from Jane Austen's time. What fun we could all have!
Quote of the Day
My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.
-Jane Austen
-Jane Austen
Friday, April 16, 2010
How to tell if you are a Janeite-
Pride and Prejudice- Hands down this is my favorite book of all time! I've read the book countless times, have more than one copy of it and have many stories/book that are spin-offs from Jane Austen's novel by various authors. I also have modern day versions of the 200 year old Classic. I've read numerous biographies of her life, my 2nd favorite of her novels is a toss up between Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion,
Those things I just listed- well those are clear indications that if I am not a Janeite, then I am well on my way to being one! Well that and the fact that I recently went on a trip with my husband to see the grand country estates that were in the film versions of Pride and Prejudice. Oh my word they were breathtakingly beautiful homes. I've got way more pictures that what I posted here...they will go in my on line photo album over at webshots. Now for me to start working on uploading to that website. Enjoy!
This is a french inspired garden , the flowers were remarkable! We actually did get closer to the garden but this was by far the best view of it! This Garden being at the house that was from the 1995 BBC versions of P&P
The back side of Pemberley- or more over where the carriages would bring you. There's a courtyard in the middle through the arch where you would actually enter the home.
Here we are on the side of Pemberley, the side that faces the lake, stream and of course the beautiful gardens. This place was AMAZING! IN the green house is a Camellia plant that is 185 years old and is still blooming like crazy!
This is where the interior scenes were filmed for the movie- this is the back side of the home- facing the lake.
Here I am...loving every minute of this tour!
Netherfield Park- okay it's not the real name of this house but it was place that was filmed as being Bigley's country estate. I was surprised to find out how close I actually live to this place. I'm not going to spill the beans about where it is because it's an actual private home with people living in it.
Those things I just listed- well those are clear indications that if I am not a Janeite, then I am well on my way to being one! Well that and the fact that I recently went on a trip with my husband to see the grand country estates that were in the film versions of Pride and Prejudice. Oh my word they were breathtakingly beautiful homes. I've got way more pictures that what I posted here...they will go in my on line photo album over at webshots. Now for me to start working on uploading to that website. Enjoy!
This is a french inspired garden , the flowers were remarkable! We actually did get closer to the garden but this was by far the best view of it! This Garden being at the house that was from the 1995 BBC versions of P&P
The back side of Pemberley- or more over where the carriages would bring you. There's a courtyard in the middle through the arch where you would actually enter the home.
Here we are on the side of Pemberley, the side that faces the lake, stream and of course the beautiful gardens. This place was AMAZING! IN the green house is a Camellia plant that is 185 years old and is still blooming like crazy!
This is where the interior scenes were filmed for the movie- this is the back side of the home- facing the lake.
Here I am...loving every minute of this tour!
Netherfield Park- okay it's not the real name of this house but it was place that was filmed as being Bigley's country estate. I was surprised to find out how close I actually live to this place. I'm not going to spill the beans about where it is because it's an actual private home with people living in it.
Quote of the Day
"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. --Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."
- Chapter 20, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
- Chapter 20, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Quote of the Day
I think there are few places with such society as Highbury. I always say, we are quite blessed in our neighbors.
-Miss Bates in "Emma" by Jane Austen
-Miss Bates in "Emma" by Jane Austen
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Pride and Prejudice
Of all of Jane Austen's books Pride and Prejudice is my all time favorite! Today I'm off on a little road trip to visit/tour the houses from the BBC version of the movie with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. Will be back tomorrow with hopefully oodles of pictures to share. Oh I can only imagine the scrapbook layouts that I can make with them!
Quote of the day
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, first line
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, first line
Monday, April 12, 2010
Trips and Tours
Have you ever wanted to do something nice for your friends? I mean truly nice and from the heart. Ever since a group of us went on that pottery buying trip to Stoke-on-Trent we've all talked about how we would love to go again. we looked into going again but the cost was going to increase by a third because it was considered a private chartered trip. I said no thanks to that, it was too much to pay just to go shopping. So I thought to myself...I have a Honda Odyssey minivan with split fold down rear seats, I have a deep trunk area too! I can take several of us up there, cater the trip and have it cost less than what we would have been charged for our "private" trip.
So here I am, I've got the trip all planned out, my girlfriends have RSVP'd yes to the trip, the date and time of departure and set, and the menu for my catering has been selected. I've even got a pottery trivia game planned with prizes! A couple of ladies in our party will be moving within the next couple of months and I would dearly love to give them pleasant memories of this shopping trip and time spent with good friends. If this indeed goes well, I could be doing this every other month!
So here I am, I've got the trip all planned out, my girlfriends have RSVP'd yes to the trip, the date and time of departure and set, and the menu for my catering has been selected. I've even got a pottery trivia game planned with prizes! A couple of ladies in our party will be moving within the next couple of months and I would dearly love to give them pleasant memories of this shopping trip and time spent with good friends. If this indeed goes well, I could be doing this every other month!
Friday, April 09, 2010
TGIF
Thanks goodness it's Friday! I've got all sorts of things in the works...counted cross stitching projects, projects with beads, cooking projects, quilting projects oh my word I'm full it them! Having such a delicious spring day yesterday (it actually got up to 67º! My daughter and I took a leisurely stroll to a mini Tesco located within walking distance to our home. Since walking there I feel confident that I can send her to the store for me when I need bread, milk or anything else. And it's not like a 7-11 or a Quickie Mart back in the states where the prices on everything is 50% more than in a regular retail grocery store, this is just a smaller version of Tesco with the same prices on merchandise as it's regular sized grocery stores-sweet!
It was such a beautiful day yesterday that we decided to have lunch outside on the patio!
Now I'm off to enjoy a quite morning as my family sleeps in and enjoys a holiday from school and work :-)
It was such a beautiful day yesterday that we decided to have lunch outside on the patio!
Now I'm off to enjoy a quite morning as my family sleeps in and enjoys a holiday from school and work :-)
Quote of the Day
Ancient Egyptians believed that upon death they would be asked two questions and their answers would determine whether they could continue their journey in the afterlife.
The first question was, "Did you bring joy?"
The second was, "Did you find joy?"
--Leo Buscaglia
The first question was, "Did you bring joy?"
The second was, "Did you find joy?"
--Leo Buscaglia
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Quote of the Day
"A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist."
-- Franklin P. Jones
-- Franklin P. Jones
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
another busy day
I'm off to spend a good portion of the day on the road traveling to and from my daughters orthodontist. There's nearly no end to what I don't do for our children.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Monday, April 05, 2010
Our Road Trip
Our road trip took us all over the place. First we dropped off our boy at the Heathrow airport to go spend his Spring Break with his friends in South Dakota. Nothing makes a child more unhappy than being thousands of miles away from his BFF's and his girlfriend. So after the airport on we went to Dover to take the Channel Tunnel also known as the "chunnel" to Calais, France. It was a brief 30 minute trip on the train in our automobile- this is the only way to go if you ask me! No chopping water, no seasickness, no being cold. Just hanging out in your car for 30 minutes reading a book or doing a crossword puzzle. Life is GOOD!
We basically drove through France and didn't spend any true time sight seeing there (note to self- actually do some touristy thing in France in the future). Belgium- on the way back we spent the night at a B&B- lovely place in a wooded area, so peaceful and restful- would truly recommend it to friends driving through the area).
Germany- Have you ever looked at pictures in a book or on line and wondered if the place is as beautiful in person as the pictures make it out to be? Well for me it was all that and MORE! It's amazing how lovely the places we visited were/are. The word 'picturesque' sums up Heidelberg for me. It's lovely there. We stayed in a hotel that was within walking distance from Heidelberg Castle, our room looked out onto the plaza. When we arrived we checked into our hotel room and sat in the plaza drinking a beer soaking up the sun. It was delightful to sit there looking around seeing people going here and there going about their daily business.
Now for the shopping aspect of it all...(this is for my American military friends). Ramstein Air Base has this PX/BX complex that nothing less than a shopping mall. Picture the biggest BX you've ever been to then times it by say... 5 and that's the BX at Ramstein. It was everything you could ever want or need. For me, I liked the shopping to be something like shopping at Kohl's with little extras like Clinique, Estee Lauder, Vera Bradley, Coach, Dooney and Bourke, and there's a selection Yankee Candles like you're at a Yankee candle store in Massachusetts! Clothing selections were great and so were the shoes, housewares, furniture bedding and basically everything else! So that was the stuff available in the BX store it's self, now for the mall part of the BX complex...The Clock Shop that had such a vast variety of Cuckoo Clocks, Grandfather Clocks, Mantel Clocks , German dolls in authentic dress and Beer Steins galore! There were at least 2 different shoe stores, of course there was an AFEES Book Store (it's size and selection rivals Barnes and Noble), a Candy Store that sells all things Gummi Bear (m'm), a Cinnabon (another yummy place) a Romano's Macaroni Grill (yes we ate dinner there), the food court was awesome! Tons of great places to eat there. There were 2 hair salons, there was also a day Spa there...I only wish that I had more time there because I sooo would have gone in for a day spa treatment! The Turkish Rug Store- this place would have you oohing at everything! Every rug in that shop was like looking at a work of art. When my husband asked me if I wanted to go into the shop I didn't hesitate. We looked at the pretty rugs that were in so many lovely patterns and colors. When he asked me if I wanted one I thought that he was joking...then he said "pick one" oh my gosh my heart leapt for joy! I've always wanted a Turkish rug for our formal dining room- but always saw them as being too expensive. But since all of the rugs were trucked in to this shop from Turkey the prices were seriously reasonable! So here I am, the proud owner of a beautiful Turkish Rug! I didn't buy a German Cuckoo Clock on this trip, I will do it next time though! There are a lot more stores there in that mall that I've listed, a lot more these are just the few that I went into ;-) Hannah was in heaven, she got all kinds of clothes suitable for a teenager in Europe. Oh I didn't mention the movie theater! There's a big movie theater there on the 2nd floor of this mall! There's also a pub, a German Style resturant the Polish Pottery Store Yes I bought a few pieces of pottery there). I'm here at home doing the happy dance with my purchases not to mention That I'm also cleaning the house, doing laundry, putting things away and catching up on my e-mails. Now for me to get the floor dusted in the formal dining room so I can get my new rug out on display!
We basically drove through France and didn't spend any true time sight seeing there (note to self- actually do some touristy thing in France in the future). Belgium- on the way back we spent the night at a B&B- lovely place in a wooded area, so peaceful and restful- would truly recommend it to friends driving through the area).
Germany- Have you ever looked at pictures in a book or on line and wondered if the place is as beautiful in person as the pictures make it out to be? Well for me it was all that and MORE! It's amazing how lovely the places we visited were/are. The word 'picturesque' sums up Heidelberg for me. It's lovely there. We stayed in a hotel that was within walking distance from Heidelberg Castle, our room looked out onto the plaza. When we arrived we checked into our hotel room and sat in the plaza drinking a beer soaking up the sun. It was delightful to sit there looking around seeing people going here and there going about their daily business.
Now for the shopping aspect of it all...(this is for my American military friends). Ramstein Air Base has this PX/BX complex that nothing less than a shopping mall. Picture the biggest BX you've ever been to then times it by say... 5 and that's the BX at Ramstein. It was everything you could ever want or need. For me, I liked the shopping to be something like shopping at Kohl's with little extras like Clinique, Estee Lauder, Vera Bradley, Coach, Dooney and Bourke, and there's a selection Yankee Candles like you're at a Yankee candle store in Massachusetts! Clothing selections were great and so were the shoes, housewares, furniture bedding and basically everything else! So that was the stuff available in the BX store it's self, now for the mall part of the BX complex...The Clock Shop that had such a vast variety of Cuckoo Clocks, Grandfather Clocks, Mantel Clocks , German dolls in authentic dress and Beer Steins galore! There were at least 2 different shoe stores, of course there was an AFEES Book Store (it's size and selection rivals Barnes and Noble), a Candy Store that sells all things Gummi Bear (m'm), a Cinnabon (another yummy place) a Romano's Macaroni Grill (yes we ate dinner there), the food court was awesome! Tons of great places to eat there. There were 2 hair salons, there was also a day Spa there...I only wish that I had more time there because I sooo would have gone in for a day spa treatment! The Turkish Rug Store- this place would have you oohing at everything! Every rug in that shop was like looking at a work of art. When my husband asked me if I wanted to go into the shop I didn't hesitate. We looked at the pretty rugs that were in so many lovely patterns and colors. When he asked me if I wanted one I thought that he was joking...then he said "pick one" oh my gosh my heart leapt for joy! I've always wanted a Turkish rug for our formal dining room- but always saw them as being too expensive. But since all of the rugs were trucked in to this shop from Turkey the prices were seriously reasonable! So here I am, the proud owner of a beautiful Turkish Rug! I didn't buy a German Cuckoo Clock on this trip, I will do it next time though! There are a lot more stores there in that mall that I've listed, a lot more these are just the few that I went into ;-) Hannah was in heaven, she got all kinds of clothes suitable for a teenager in Europe. Oh I didn't mention the movie theater! There's a big movie theater there on the 2nd floor of this mall! There's also a pub, a German Style resturant the Polish Pottery Store Yes I bought a few pieces of pottery there). I'm here at home doing the happy dance with my purchases not to mention That I'm also cleaning the house, doing laundry, putting things away and catching up on my e-mails. Now for me to get the floor dusted in the formal dining room so I can get my new rug out on display!
Thursday, April 01, 2010
We made it to Germany!
The train is the only way to go from England to France! 30 minutes and you're there on the other side! We drove through France and Belgium and finally Germany! It's so beautiful out here, it's no wonder why settlers from France and Germany settled in Wisconsin the geography is very similar. I look forward to meeting up with friends, shopping and touring my childhood homeland.
going on a road trip
No quotes today- sorry! I'm headed off to Germany for a few days. I'm bringing my camera. Our bags are packed and we are ready to go! Hopefully we'll have internet where we are staying so I can keep in touch :-)
First stop London Heathrow airport to drop off our son- he's going to SD to visit his friends and then we drive off to to catch a train!
First stop London Heathrow airport to drop off our son- he's going to SD to visit his friends and then we drive off to to catch a train!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
