TO

VINTAGE FAITH FINDS MUSINGS KITCHEN PRETTIES CREATIONS

Saturday 13 December 2014

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE .....................


Welcome







Dining room dressed up







New mantle decor







Dining table






Feona's handmade ornament circa 1984






A fabric garland







Ordinary items make a holiday vignette






What could be in those boxes?







Pretty ornaments....many are vintage







The dollhouse all decked out








Morning bliss....the fire, music, lighted tree and COFFEE






Shortbread...Love the coffee ones with white chocolate






Salted caramel chocolate squares...yummers!






Homemade salted caramels....I'm seeing a trend here






Cozy corner








A painted 'Picasso" poinsettia from my daughter....so pretty








Special envelopes with donations for African children








Davis' handprint immortalized








Jerod's handprint on my pretty bauble






Love little cardboard houses






Having a lot of red helps 







Make them pretty







I always come back to the manger



................CHRISTMAS!!!!






Tuesday 9 December 2014





....HAPPILY EVER AFTER.....



A birthday...

and then

an anniversary.....

and then

 Christmas all in a row! 

I am so blessed.


Many of you know the circumstances of my new marriage 4 years ago. (You can check it out here http://mslucille.blogspot.com/2014/09/real-tears-after-27-years-of-being.html )






The sweet little chapel where we pledged our love



I wrote a gripper of a poem to put on the front of our invitation.










If we'd written the script, we'd have been cherished sooner,
hearts protected,
unrejected.

We would have slept sweeter,
safely nested,
souls rested.

We woud have danced.


But if we' written the script, we'd have foiled the plan,
characters confused,
timeline skewed.

We'd have settled for less,
still hoping,
just coping.

Not much of a dance.



Someone else took the pen; He caught us off guard.
all-knowing.
blessings flowing.

Someone else tilled our hearts,
seeds planted,
dreams granted.

A reason to dance.


We ponder the words He's written, their beauty sates our souls.
ending undeserved,
joy unreserved.

We adore the way it's ended,
no more waiting,
souls mating.

It's time for the dance!

May I have this dance for the rest of my life?


Fallish flowers on the tables (Yes, I did them the morning of the wedding....no stress here!)


Did I mention that I made my living room drapes and pillows from the tablecloths I made for my wedding? (Mrs. Thrifty)



 The best part was having dear friends and family celebrate with us.


Kinda thinking we won't make it to our 50th, but thankful for the time God gives us.

 Life was meant to be shared.











Monday 24 November 2014

SENIOR DELINQUINT


No.......I haven't passed on. (Please say you would cry!)

 I've been passed out for a few days, but not from excess libation....more like old lady body fatigue. Sorry I haven't been in touch. (I know you missed me??????)

I am now on the government dole having reached the venerable age of 65 on November 1st....All Saints Day (I see you get the connection....ha!)

I feel very young....about 21, I think. My body however has betrayed me in a most sinister manner. I find myself looking to the future with two different views...one where I keep sliding into a more painful, tired, useless, pitiful existence and the other where I embrace my eternal home, glorious in mind and soul and body. I think that will be my focus. That view gives meaning and purpose to my life today and keeps me going.

I am blessed.

And every year I realize it more.

Aside from the fact that my basic needs are met far beyond what is even fathomable by millions around the world, I live with luxury on every hand.

 My Starbucks cup is at the ready. I clutch it in my beautiful deep purple leather gloves gifted to me by my children for my birthday. (Did I mention they were tucked into a matching COACH purse??????????????)




Oh and then a stunning snakeskin wallet inside.

But then inside the wallet, a gift in my name to supply water in Uganda.  They know my heart.

There was also an amazing gift of memories and blessings and sweet nothings written by friends old and new from around the country and cards and a special parcel in the mail and phone calls and birthday lunches and 2 kinds of cake.


Beautiful words....healing to the soul



Sandy and I in the foreseeable future


Beautiful painted rocks from my favourite little boys


The perfect card from my lovely daughter-in-law


A jadeite pedestal from my sweet friend Carol


Judy, my sister came from Nova Scotia to celebrate and shop and talk and eat our way through the week.

We even got to sing at church on Sunday just like we used to do when were small.

Hubby gifted me unmercifully and I am grateful yet embarrassed....... so much after so many years of learning contentment with less.

My favourite thing was getting to spend money on something I wanted and of course I bought the grocery sign. I mean....who wouldn't???






I have decided to have birthdays more often.....well the cake part anyway....minus the additional years.

Talk to you soon.........




Tuesday 28 October 2014

DEARLY DEPARTED


Well it was goodbye to company today. And hello to more on Friday. I had plans of gallavanting and treasure-hunting for my booth and being the cupcake fairy at the grand's school today but my body would not take me there.

And so I sit at 2:30 in the afternoon still in my robe (red) pretty much zoned out.

But we had fun. And good food. And deep conversation. And laughs. And shopping extraordinaire. (Not so much sleep....hence the zoning.)


Excuse me.............Short break while I scarf a piece of chocolate mousse cake......There! I am marginally revived.




Last night we had a Greek Dinner






Sorry, I didn't even think about taking pics of the food.. You will have to use your imagination. Think awesome!



Here is the menu I made for each guest.




It was easy because I had made the spanokapita and had it in the freezer (so simple.....just fresh spinach and a square of feta wrapped in phyllo and slathered with melted butter and frozen unbaked. When ready to bake, put on a cookie sheet at 375 for 10 minutes or so til browned. Nice to have on hand for appies too)

The potatoes are so-o-o-o-o--o yum. I peel and quarter russets lengthwise, poke holes in them and put them in a ziploc bag with lemon juice, fresh garlic, s and p , fresh oregano and other herbs if I have them, like parsley, rosemary and thyme, and olive oil and chicken stock or water. I marinate them in the fridge for a few hours or over night and then the day before or the morning of, put them in a 9 x 13 pan and pour half the marinade over..... then bake at 400 til divine.... about an hour or so. Half an hour before dinner, pour on the rest of your marinade and put in the oven again at 375 for 30 minutes. These are so lemony delish!

For the kabobs, I cut up chicken breasts into cubes and marinate them in olive oil, lemon juice and zest, s and p and garlic and oregano for about 3 hours...no longer. Then thread on soaked wooden skewers and bake in the oven for 30 minutes with your potatoes.

The salad is great made a day or two ahead. Just make an ordinary Greek salad with red onions, peppers, black olives, cuke, tomato and feta, then add cooked and cooled orzo and dress with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and zest and s and p.

 I did make my own pita bread and it is super simple but I won't bore you with that one. But you must have tzaziki sauce because it goes with everything up above. It is just plain greek yogurt or sour cream with grated cuke, lemon juice, garlic and s and p. You can also add some fresh mint if you have it.

I like to make baklava with copious whipped cream for dessert with this meal but a guest has a nut allergy so I went with a light lemon fluff dessert and lemon shortbread cookies with lemon glaze.



Basically everything was do-ahead so I didn't have that last minute panic as dinner was approaching.



This morning I saw them off with a simple fresh fruit salad and baked cinnamon toast.



Now it's on to the next guest....so special...my one and only sister Judy is coming to town...for a whole week.


Can't wait.

Monday 20 October 2014

COMPANY TRUMPS BLOGGING

Well, company is coming...taking advantage of my $2.00 bed and breakfast.

 No time for blogging!!




Bed made......check



Table set.......check






Pumpkin scones ......check




Cauliflower soup.....check



Lasagna steaming......check







Salad......check





Brownies tested......check







Dishes done......check





Actually none of the above are available.....

but what do you expect for 2 bucks???????????