A Perfect Evening

"Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me....."

My handsome husband dined with me tonight in our state's capital. We drove about an hour so our appetites were just where they needed to be upon arrival at this downtown restaurant.My entree of choice was rockfish and risotto. The mood was perfect as we enjoyed our time out together.

Simple Popsicles

Summer would not be summer without pulling out these Tupperware popsicle makers for a cold treat on a hot day. I relive the pleasure of my girlhood as I watch my daughter's excitement with this simple touch of summertime. First, Charlotte had to wash all the winter's dust away then with my assistance they were filled to the brim with Welch's grape juice. Almost any concoction of juices or yogurt will work. I have tried about every one, but for this particular summer afternoon these grape treats were simple and I am all about simple these days.

Sensible Delights

Summer time is for swimming in chlorinated pools...... and swimming lessons. Last year Charlotte had her first swim lesson. She has looked forward to going again all winter. She respectively called her teacher "Mrs. Shark" until I finally convinced her the name was in fact Mrs. Sharpe, not Mrs. Shark.

It was a day for diving into the water and laying on one's back.

Her excitement and joy of the water just couldn't be disguised as she smiled through the entire 30 minute lesson.

Basil is definitely one of my most favorite herbs. Years ago my older son and I had a greenhouse where we so contently grew herbs for our own garden as well as to sell. One of the things I liked to do the best was pinch back the basil plants. I would pinch, gather the tops and stuff them in my pockets. Whatever pockets I possessed at the time....apron, sweater, or jean would be called upon to hold these fragrant leaves. This afternoon I realized a certain plant was in dire need of pinching. This was the conservative harvest from just one plant. Enough for a tomato tart or a small batch of pesto or better yet Green Goddess dressing . This dressing is plain good on anything. I eat it on my green salad and it is delicious on salmon. Just let you imagination run wild with you.
Green Goddess Dressing

1 cup fresh basil
1 cup green onions ( I have used regular onions in a pinch)
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons anchovy paste
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Process all ingredients in food processor and add 1 cup of sour cream.

Of course remember not to allow your basil to flower. Pinch back the leaves to where two leaves are growing and your plant will flourish and continue to put out new leaves. Do you see where I have pinched?

Recapturing Moments of a Special Day

I figured the best way to do the cake and it was divine. I made the same moist white cake recipe and froze it so that when cut, the edges would be so much neater. They were and this fluffy new icing was heavenly too! As a special treat for the unmarried bridesmaids, there were four, I placed a little fake diamond ring in the center of one of the individual servings of cake. Traditionally, the one to find the ring in her cake would be the next bride. It just so happens the one to find it in her cake is anticipating a proposal soon!

Speaking of cakes, the bride's cake was beautiful in its simplicity. Note the hydrangeas from my bush.
Nervous Charlotte was the Flower girl. I will not go into how she finally managed to get down the aisle. I shall show her the video later, then maybe I can be brave and watch it too.
First time for everything. At my house we have certain rites of passages. One of them happens to involve coffee; you may drink coffee when you are of the age of sixteen. While at the wedding reception, Rose talked her father in allowing her to have 1/2 of a cup with sugar and lots of cream. She drank it daintly with a straw.
I know I do not have to clarify this statement, but a photographer I am not! But if I only knew how I would, because there are so many pictures in my brain that I can not capture on the camera's lens. But the lights on the table were so enchanting to my eyes.
Ah, the roses! These beauties adorned my luncheon table with their grace and romance.I wanted to give them to the mother- of- the bride to decorate her dining room table since she would have out of town guests for Sunday lunch, but Rose absolutely could not part with them and I shamefully relinquished any gracious sacrifice on my part.

A little favor please

The big day is rapidly approaching and the preparations for the Bridesmaids' Luncheon are almost complete. Today I fixed the tiniest trio of pearls on the favor's ribbons. After all everyone loves presents!

stars and fireflies

"One clear star hung above the orchard and the fireflies were flitting over in Lover's Lane, in and out among the ferns and rustling boughs. Anne watched them as she talked and somehow felt that wind and stars and fireflies were all tangled up together into something unutterably sweet and enchanting."
Anne of Green Gables
Lucy Maud Montgomery

Last night after eating outside, after cleaning the supper dishes, and after putting the children to bed-a story for each of them- My husband and I had some time to go back outside and with the flitting of the fireflies we settled the evening or rather.....the evening settled us.

A bit of nostalgia

While cleaning out my garage this morning I happened upon a bit of my high school nostalgia in the form of these Dr. Scholls. These shoes were hot when I was in high school and even now I can hear the clumping noise generated by all the wooden shoes going down the halls. Rose pulled them out fascinated by such shoes and hardly believing that her mother would wear such things. But she incorrectly thought of them as junk to be played with until they were relegated to the garbage can. Oh no! These definitely possessed loads of sentimentality, and what if I wanted to wear them again? And wear them again I did as I finished cleaning the garage. But these shoes have shrunk......or is it true that bearing children causes one's feet to grow?

one of my favorite things

Several years ago a friend introduced me to a company that makes the most beautiful feminine nightwear. Verena Designs is appropriately named after the designer of these exquisite elegant gowns and robes. All the lace work is created by her and she selects only the best materials to truly create these works of art that you sleep in and appreciate their loveliness and comfort. I feel so pretty when I wear them, which I do every night. You can find them at verenadesigns. Check out their sight and if you would like I can tell you about their annual sale which enables me to have several of her creations hanging in my closet from which to choose nightly.

A Bush of Many Colors

I would be terribly amiss if I did not mention the hydrangea bush viewed outside my kitchen's sitting area since it swells my soul every day with its prolific blooms and vivid colors. The first summer of our residence in this house, this bush gifted us with lavish pink flowers. Our ignorance in pruning methods caused it to produce absolutely no blooms the next summer. After that disappointment we decided to just leave it alone thinking someone would eventually tell us the correct manner to prune. Now, three years later, we have a copious bush that contains shades ranging from the brightest pink to the coolest purple. I know it is related to the soil content but I prefer its hue ambiguity immensely. These days I cut and place the fresh flowers in crystal vases to bring inside. Soon I will cut them to dry to remind me of hot summer days when the winter winds blow cold outside my kitchen's sitting area.

Enjoy your cake on a china plate

I candied the last of my pansies and johnny jump-ups to decorate this cake for a Mother/Daughter luncheon I hosted today. This cake is indescribably delicious and delectably moist; the secret ingredient being the buttermilk. This is the first of two
luncheons I am hosting this summer. Today's luncheon was the practice run and I received the go ahead from all on the entire menu for the Bridemaids' Luncheon next Saturday. I must admit I am not satisfied with the look of this cake; it is just not tidy enough (probably due to its moistness). But I have an idea to try and bake them in individual little bundt pans.......we will see.

Candied Flowers

2 teaspoons meringue powder (made by Wilton and purchased at Michaels)
2 tablespoons water
1-1/4 cups superfine sugar
Edible flowers such as pansies, nasturtiums or roses

In a small bowl, dissolve the meringue powder with the water. Lightly brush to completely coat the flower. Sprinkle with sugar and let dry on waxed paper for 1-2 days.

The Best Fort

"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust." Psalm 91:2