What A Weekend

It started out with a day full of Royal Wedding madness. Thank you Daily Mail and BBC America for feeding my addiction all day Friday (yes my weekend started Friday). I honestly hadn’t planned on watching much of it, but I was sucked in from the moment I woke up at 5:45am, to sounds of hymns, church bells, one loud organ, and this beautiful woman walking down the aisle. My man is awesome. He left the TV on so we could wake up to it. I had no idea he was into this kind of thing. I love it when he surprises me! Isn’t this picture above just divine? I also love that she did her own make-up. As for Prince William, he looked so handsome. I choked up, a lot. In a happy way, of course. What’s gotten into me?

Saturday’s weather was perfect, and I spent all day out in the yard weeding, digging, and planting. Seriously, I was out there until the sun went down at around 8pm. Once again, what’s gotten into me??

Sunday, I worked until 5, then came home and did a little more weeding and pruning around the house. I made an easy baked ravioli dish, then settled in with Jake to watch the Phillies game. It was the Sunday night ESPN featured game, which I just learned is a big deal.  I also learned that when a team scores a point, you do not call it a point, it’s called a run. ‘Scuse me Mr. I Played College Baseball. Hehe! We lost, but it was completely overshadowed by the announcement of the capture and death of Osama Bin Ladin. It was wonderful to see the crowd chanting “U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” Truly memorable.

Last night, I was happy to be an American! Last Friday however, I wanted to be British. Dang royal wedding! What’s gotten into me???

Did you obsess over the wedding too?

Goodwill Goodies

“One man’s trash, is another man’s treasure”

I love nothing more than a great bargain, and the Goodwill located south of me always has a good treasure or two, or twenty.  It’s an untapped gem, shhh, don’t tell anyone! So, while driving home today from a doctors appointment in the next town over, I felt that magnetic pull, and boy I am ever glad I made that u-turn and went inside.

This was my most prized find:

A hardcover first edition printing of Caribbean, by James A. Michener!!

Last Fall, Jake and I were down in the Caribbean for his mother’s birthday, and I sat on the porch most evenings and read this book. I was able to read a few chapters by the end of our stay, and hated to leave with the book un-read. So, I’ve been seeking a copy ever since. But, to find a first edition! I almost did a cart wheel in the book aisle. Ha! Here is the breathtaking view from the porch where I was so lucky to sit and read part of this book:

For that week, I died and went to heaven.

Heloise’s Kitchen Hints, by Heloise (1963) should have some practical, fun, and whacky tips. I’ll try and share the funniest ones.

Some others:

~ The Vogue Sewing Book (1975) I’ll be giving this as a fun gift. Hello big collars!

~ Woods and Woodworking (1974) For when Jake and I build that cabin we always talk about, haha

~ The Wonderful Sibleys by William Maier (1956)

~ Madeleine by Catherine Gavin (1956)

~ Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell (1996) Pre SJP and the HBO show. Also a first edition. 

~ The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller (1992) To give as a gift, and it’s a pre-movie copy.

~ The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (1992 edition) Bought mostly for following inscription:

Too neat! I wonder if it was a teacher giving this book to a student?

I also picked up a set of eight funky green glasses:

They’ll be great for spring, summer, and even Christmas. Jake says St Patrick’s Day. Slainte!

Here’s a set of five small juice glasses. Precious!

A small dish that could be used for serving olives or mixed nuts. Honestly I’m not sure? But it’s still neat-o.

Retro Christmas tree icicles, that will probably be part of a gift.

The last great find, a super-duper extra soft Martex hand towel, maybe from the 80’s. My grandmother used to have towels this color in her guest bathroom. Totally a nostalgic purchase.

Man, they just don’t make things like this anymore! Well, without paying through the nose, and still sometimes not even then.

I had a blast, and only spent $14.25. Boy, do I love a good thrift store!

I also have to say that Goodwill was full of even more surprises. Did you know you can return items? That just sounds nuts to me.

There were loads of self-help books, as well as many copies of the various Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Lots of fad diet books and Danielle Steel novels. Tons of children’s books. It made me a little sad that none of the many parents there, with children in tow, were even looking through these. I saw quite a few of my favorite childhood books, and wish I knew a kid to buy them for.

In the end, it was fun to see what people were pushing around in their carts.

What’s your best find?

Daffodils & Spring

Today, there is a massive storm rolling through Delaware. While we can always use the rain, I am hoping it is not as severe as it was when it went through Alabama yesterday. Those poor people! Tornados are super scary, and I remember, while living in Arkansas as a child, the warning sirens going off and having to hide in the hallway during bad storms like these. Last summer, Jake and I were visiting my Aunt Beth, who lives right outside of Little Rock, AR, and a huge storm came through. Tornado sirens were howling, the cows were mooing, wind was a blowing, and we went out to dinner. Ha! Meteorology has come a long way since the days of my childhood. The tornadoes were far away, and we weren’t in any immediate danger. Though I think it freaked Jake out a bit!

So, since I can’t go outside today, I’ll share some pictures of the daffodils I picked a few weeks ago.

The blooms have all died off now as spring is here, and I’m glad I picked them while I could.

To whomever planted them all around this property many years ago, I love you!!

I just love love love these flowers!!

They are my second favorite, after tulips.

I picked a large basketful,

and made a beautiful arrangement.

The pups like to think that they helped, I’ll give it to ’em! They really just barked at deer, and me, and a neighbor walking by. Silly pups!

Duke (right) looks like a whale compared to Pudge. He’s currently on a diet, poor chunker.

Ahhh, all done! Time to enjoy the lovely spring evening.

Spring Is Here!!

I couldn’t be more excited to finally put all of that cold weather behind me for a while! All of the plants are alive with color, and I can open the windows and let the fresh air in. Ahhhh…. I’m a happy lady.

Easter weekend was just about perfect, and I was so glad to spend the day with friends and family. The rain held off until the evening, so we were able to spend most of the day outside at a friend’s farm. We packed a picnic lunch of deviled eggs and chicken salad sandwiches, and darn it if I didn’t forget to bring my camera (see “almost” perfect), as well as sunscreen, so I had a funky little sunburn the next day. But, all was fine in the end. My sister Ann came from D.C. for the weekend, and it was great to see her. I asked Mom to ship me Ann’s childhood Easter basket to surprise her with on Easter morning. Of course Jake got a basket too, and I made one for myself. I can’t go an easter without Cadbury Eggs, marshmallow filled chocolate eggs, and jelly beans!! They loved it, I loved it, my waistline doesn’t, ha.

The past month has been hectic, and I’m peeved that I dropped the ball on blogging. I have been cooking up a storm, fighting stink bugs, and taking 3 hyper Boxers to the vet, and trying to clean up after said 3 hyper Boxers, 1 messy cook (me), and 1 outdoorsy boyfriend. Oh yeah, and 2 shedding Maine Coon cats. What in the world am I going to do when I have children? You mothers out there are Saints, absolute Saints!

Well, here’s to Spring and another chapter of life beginning! I hope you too, are all finally out of the cold.

What a Busy Week!

Lots and lots has been going on since I last posted. Some bad, but mostly good. The bad news is that my 64 y/0 father is in the hospital. We are praying for a recovery, and it is possible. For now, I’m still in the North East, but will be making a trip to Florida when he is doing a little better, and can actually see me.

I have lots of good things to share, so I’m going to focus on the positive right now! *smile*

It has been 5 or 6 years since I last colored my hair, so I made a change and here it is: Before……………………..

aaaannnddd…. After:

It’s darker, I have bangs again, and I’m loving it! In a few months, I would like to lighten it up for summer, I just wanted to have a color that would fade out and no root touch up would be needed (in case I hated it, which I am so glad I don’t!).

Pudge got a new toy, his first in a long time:

He loves it, and I had to go get another one for Duke, so they would stop fighting over it. Oops!! I’m learning to be a good dog owner, one step at a time.

I made a loaf of the Chocolate Chip Quick Bread:

Trust me, it was delicious! We ate a slice warm out of the oven, topped with vanilla ice cream. The rest is being consumed this week with our morning cup of coffee. I am now becoming obsessed with baking homemade bread, ha!

Lots of friends have stopped by the house in the last week. Mark and Mary came over last night for drinks and dinner. For appetizers, I served homemade salsa and guacamole with blue corn tortilla chips, dinner was chicken & green chili enchiladas with a side of spanish rice. Enchiladas were topped with sour cream and the home made salsa. Oh so good! I am still tweaking those recipes, and will post when they are in the perfecto category. On Sunday, Cait, her hubby Eric, and my dear friend Lizzie came over for a big family style meal of “Cait’s Marriage Proposal Bolognese Sauce” served over pasta, with a fresh salad and crusty herb buttered french bread.

Here’s that sauce:

I am looking forward to thawing out the leftover sauce, and having it again, and again.

St. Patrick’s Day was also a fun one. Lots of Cider (over ice) and Irish songs. I think I went to bed still dancing in my head, haha!

I am going to attempt a beef stew today, but it might have to wait until tomorrow. My beloved Dyson vacuum cleaner has broken, and I have to take it to town to be serviced. I guess after 5 + years of faithful service, it’s time for a little repair.

Keep my father’s health in your prayers! xo ~Kate

Fresh flowers are never overrated!

Until spring arrives, and flowers start blooming in the yard around the house, I will gladly purchase cheap flowers to scatter around the house in random vases. The skies are finally blue, and I’m going to fake spring indoors as long as I have to!

Playing around in Adobe Photoshop

When I say Photoshop, I mean an old version from 2002, haha! The updated versions would probably blow my socks off. It has been months and months since I last tried to create something for my sad little website, littleredhenpress.com. I really really enjoy creating digital images, and the past few hours flew by. Granted I cursed at the screen a few times, my leg went dead, and I got up to make another cup of coffee, but I don’t care. It was fun! It took a little while to refresh my memory on how things work, as I am pretty much self taught. Maybe I should take a photoshop class at the local college…. hmm! I’ll keep you posted.

Here is the banner I made today (in case I change it some more)

 

Her is a screenshot of my sad website (I HAVE to get rid of that huge blue border!)