back from the brink

I have had the worst cold for the past 2 weeks!  It definitely put a damper on the holidays!!!
I have NO pictures of Christmas....so my little blog picks up a few days after.

I have been busy (in between my horrible hacking cough) making things for my little shop area.  Now that Christmas has passed, it is time to think spring!  This project is super easy, and very inexpensive.  It is a lavender planting kit.

The chalk board paint was the most expensive part of this whole project.
The quart was $9.00, but I have enough to do 1000 pots (if they are a hit).

I bought a big bag of soil, and portioned off bags for each pot.

The pots were 89 cents. 

the seeds are $1.19 a packet

I added ribbon and some rafia stuff, and presto....lavender planting kits.

Since I have been so sick, Bob has really stepped up to the plate.  He made a fabulous Christmas dinner, and ran around on Christmas eve, doing all of the little extra things that I couldn't get done.
 Ivan helped...he picked out breakfast at the grocery store.

the worlds most perfect foods.

donuts and bacon! woop!

I saw this basket in a little antique shop.  I will definitely be trying to copy this!!!! I love it!

I think they used puffy paint

I am starting to get my studio together...I love stuff! Lots and lots of stuff!

stuff in glass jars.  I need to be able to see my stuff.

I think I may have posted this meal in my other blog some time ago.
It's worth a repost because its so yummy. It's a take on Nicoise (minus the anchovies), which I love.

eggs, tuna, olives, onion, tomatoes, string beens, red potatoes

lettuce and a light balsamic

roast the potatoes, lightly steam the beans, hard boil the eggs.
 arrange all the ingredients in a pleasing arrangement. yum yum!

The above chocolate is gross. That's all I have about that.

Santa brought the game Qwirkle.  It is a great game!!!!!

I had to go out and harvest our oranges, since we are expecting a deep frost here on the island.
It was cold, hard, dirty work, but it had to be done.

 I managed to get them all in before the frost...phew, it was close!

I am hoping for a bumper crop next year...maybe 20-30 oranges!

I have been reading some great books lately..... I highly recommend them all!

I hope to be back on here soon with a new post!!!!

catching up....

There has been a bit of a rush in my days this past week.
Having to ship all the Christmas gifts north, and in a timely manor, can be a bit hectic!
I think more than one package will arrive just in time for Boxing Day.

Boxing Day, London 1927

Which isn't all bad, everyone likes a good Boxing Day gift....maybe some gloves?

Last weekend, we went to dinner at a strip mall Chinese food place.  Sounds yummy, huh?
It was YUMMY!  This has to be the nicest Chinese food place I have even been too.
The decor was lovely;  beautiful lighting, wall treatments, and art.  Seriously!
The food was very good as well!

lovely decor

Orange chicken

Bob's pepper chicken

We will definitely dine at Jade's Bistro again.

Bob has a new ride!  Nice huh! It's a Honda S2000.
Bob says that it will be a collectable one day.
He wasn't going to get it because it isn't practical.
I told him he should definitely get it, and we would be practical in the CRV.

Ivan has been into skateboarding lately....loads of it.
"Mama, come watch this trick".
The word of the day is EPIC!

He also has been golfing with "the papa"
The child has a knack for fashion!

An unexpected package arrived in the mail. I love packages!!!!
It was from my lovely Beach Bosom friend Karen....She's such a HOOT!
Thanks Karen!!!!!!!

I do love me some owls!

Also, I have been busy making up some merriment.
The house is decorated, and the presents for the most part are wrapped.
My family has been asking for some of these! Can you just taste them???

the frosting is so light;  the cake not to sweet!

I even made some peppermint ones!

Here's the recipe!
Whoopie Pies!!!!!!!

WHOOPIE PIE SHELLS

4 cups flour, sifted 

2 teaspoons salt 

2 teaspoons baking soda 

1 cup cocoa 

2 cups sugar 

1 cup hot water 

1/2 cup butter 

1/2 cup shortening 

1 cup sour milk 

2 large eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla

WHOOPIE PIE FILLING

6 tablespoons marshmallow cream 

4 tablespoons vanilla ( this is not a typo) 

4 tablespoons flour 

4 tablespoons milk 

4 cups confectioners' sugar 

1 1/2 cups shortening

Directions

1. Shell: Mix together shortening, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. 

2. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside. Add milk, cocoa and hot water. 

Then add the dry

ingredients.

3. Scoop large rounded spoonfuls of batter onto a greased cookie sheet and space at least 2-inches apart.

4. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.

5. Frosting:  Beat all ingredients well.




I will leave you all with a few happy photos....

hot tea...

Ivan had a school project, which was to learn everything about an English Christmas.
Providing an English snack was part of the project.
Hands down setting fire to a figgy pudding was tops on the list!
That would be EPIC!

Setting fire to the pudding is an English custom used to scare away evil spirits.
It was also a way to keep the firemen busy!

No matter how you garnish it,  it is still a mussy, fruity, sticky glob.
I seriously doubted that any of the kids would eat it.

Ivan and I settled for a nice English toffee, and a peppermint tea.

English toffee is incredibly easy to make.  This is the recipe I used.
Here are a few hints...
1. line the cookie sheet with wax paper
2. stir the butter and sugar constantly!
3. be patient, do not remove mixture from heat until you get that true toffee  color!

The rest is pretty easy!

The kiddos seamed to like the toffee, the tea was a different story.

lots and lots and lots of sugar!

Ivan supervising

excuse me ma'am, but this tea is hot!
FYI southerns drink their tea iced!

,

I did bring in graham crackers (which the kiddos called Honey Maids),
they ate the entire box.

This is Ivan's best-ie.

The house is starting to come together nicely. It is starting to feel like a home. I have just finished painting the kitchen and dining area a lovely ivory color.  I do love it! It is very different than the bright colors I generally use!

a little preview...the area was pretty messy to photograph the entire space.

The living room is just about finished.
I am still moving pictures and other decor around....it's a process!

I need a tree skirt!

a reading elf!

peace out!

Christmas tree lighting, and a few other things...

I really enjoy seeing these every time I leave my house!

I will never cook a turkey again without brining it first!
It was so amazing!!
Recipe is here.

next to sunlight,  nothing beats candle light!

Ivan's favorite reading spot on the upper porch.
Porch make-over photos coming soon!

Downtown Fernandina Beach

Christmas tree lighting in shorts!!!!!

Pirates wandering-about!
Most are quite friendly, even after too much sauce!!!!

The perfect artificial tree. hem....
but lovely warm breezes!!!!!

Hat shopping.

The boy's bought the hats, and are ready for tomorrow's golf game!