The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window... It is a beautiful late afternoon with clear skies and 74 degrees. My elderly chocolate brown Lab is tossing a large chew stick up in the air and then retrieving it. Someone should go out and play with him. Someone...



I am thinking... about my three grown sons and how their lives are spinning like tops... some in a good way... and some not so much. They've proven they can pretty well handle their challenges without my husband and me... and long as we'll be listeners and not advisors. Thank goodness I'm a pretty good cheerleader!


I am thankful... for my dear husband who was so patient to help me work with a cloche display about an hour ago. He's so patient with me, especially when I should keep a neater house and wouldn't request eating out so much. You see, I'm just so very busy.


From the learning rooms... my mind is my learning room and is constanting embeding things that are new insights and perspectives I was unable to discern before. I am practicing regaining my birthright of personal empowerment that has been lost through my own neglect. No one is to blame. Blame - the most useless and destructive word in any language.


In the kitchen... the coffee pot just clicked off. My husband and I enjoyed a cup of coffee with two Girl Scout shortbread cookies.. 24 calories, I think. (smile)


I am wearing... my church clothes.. didn't change but should have. Nice black slacks, black stretch top and I tossed the navy blue flats I wore, thinking they were black. This has reconfirmed my worst suspicion... I'm old! Well, at least the two shoes matched!


I am creating... I've about finished my cloche, but unless my husband will come help me, there is no getting the top off without destroying the whole look... so, yes, it is done!


I am going... to finish SOMETHING!


I am wondering... What big project I can conquer and complete in 15 minutes for I am about to think that I have become ADD... again, in my old age!


I am reading... nothing but blogs and looking at pictures in magazines. Not good! It's time to start a reread of Jan Karon's Mitford series. The peace and calm that those books give me are worth a fourth re-read.


I am hoping... to make a trip back to Mexico soon.


I am looking forward to... getting my house in order... someday.


I am hearing... a mass of parrots in the trees outside. They are fussing very loudly about something.


Around the house... are a few things that need to be rearranged. Trying to figure out just how to do it.


I am pondering... how much MacKenzie Childs I can live with. (Alot!)


One of my favorite things... Having the opportunity to write about my thoughts and feelings. That's pretty rare.


A few plans for the rest of the week ... I want to prepare for a quick trip to Mexico just in case the opportunity arises.


Picture of the Day . . .

A painting depicting my husband's Swedish ancestors

coming to Texas from Kansas by covered wagon.

"A Lady Prepares to Go Out" -- Cloche

I enjoy making cloche displays... especially when they contain a few family heirlooms. Unfortunately the metal shoe doesn't show up very well in these pictures. It was really my inspiration for my theme. Lace would have been nice however I didn't have any.

The cloche contains:

    * "Pearls" ( water pearls?) from a recent visit to Mexico

    *  A silver "threader" (I hope you will correct me if I am wrong) belonged to my great-grandmother. An "R" is engraved on it for "Rosa".

     * The little Moon and Star toothpick holder is the same pattern of glass that my paternal grandmother collected.

     * The hat pins also belonged to my great-grandmother, Rosa.

     * The little birds were given to me by a dear friend.

Link to these great blogs for some real fun!

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

&

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Fostoria American - Hook, line and s.....

Isn't this a beautiful candy dish?

Notice anything?

Now I know the bottom right photo looks as though

you are peering down the throat of a jellyfish,

 but look closely... it's a space.

Hmmmmn....

Fostoria American. I love it!

I started my collection when I inherited a bowl from

my mother. It had been a wedding gift.

Then, I inherited a vase from my mother-in-law.

It too had been a wedding gift.

Popular stuff!

Well, if you think this candy dish has the same value as

my inherited pieces... you are mistaken

just as I was.

Hook, line and sinker....

The gap between the lid and the bowl was the first clue.

The 18 ribs in the bottom of the bowl was the second.

Here is an authentic Fostoria American candy dish.

No cover here... it may have bit the dust years ago.

21 ribs in the bottom of the bowl.

I won't toss the imitation Fostoria American candy dish,

however, I'll do my homework next time!

It was a $12 lesson.

Anyone ready to go fishing??

I'm linking to some great parties,

so come check them out...

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

&

http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/


&

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

&

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

Last Cancer Treatment Was TODAY!

Congratulations to Tissa!

She has made it through 33 treatments for

breast cancer...

chemotherapy and radiation.

Tissa is amazing.

She kept a positive outlook,

She took care of herself

(her husband passed away nearly six years ago)

by ...

eating properly

exercising almost daily

sufficient rest

(even though she hardly gave up any of her family, church,

and civic duties... and there are many!)

and just knowing that all would be okay.

Tissa, you are an amazing woman

and sister-in-law who I am also blessed to call

"my dear, dear friend"!

I'm saying many prayers these days

that Tissa has been spared.

Delicious Roasted Asparagus!



Supper was quick and oh so good!

Veggies with chicken breast.

I think you can figure out the different vegetables with the chicken breast... but

I wanted to share with you the way I prepared the asparagus...

I made a trip to Sprouts, the only real health food store in our area. (I'm not a health nut by any means, but for where I was in town, it was convenient.)

Sprouts had fresh asparagus for 99 cents a bunch. I bought two.

I "popped" the ends of one bunch and after washing and drying them I placed them in a large Zip-Lock bag. 

I poured olive oil over them and sprinkled sea salt and Beau Monde Seasoning in the bag and sort of "mushed" them around.

I turned the oven to 425 degrees and poured the asparagus onto a cookie sheet.

I roasted the asparagus for about 12 minutes.

Downright yummy! So glad I have one more bunch to cook.

I'm linking to Savvy Southern Style for

Wow Us Wednesdays!

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Greening Up at the Ranch

A weekend at the ranch is always full of surprises.

I hadn't realized the cactus would be starting to show 

new growth and the wildflowers were just coming out.

We don't have our state flower, the Bluebonnet, yet, 

but this field of yellow flowers were so beautiful.

As we left the ranch today, I couldn't resist

snapping this picture.

I had some fun with the color on my photos 

today, however, in "real life" what we enjoyed

 was just as beautiful.

I am linking to Little Red House

for

Mosaic Monday

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Be sure to stop by Little Red House for some beautiful

photography and collages.