Chick, Bunny and Rose Plates I Found Today!!

Are these adorable or what?!?! I went to the "big city" today for fabric and to eat out with hubby and found these also. Jack wanted me to get more of the roses plates! Will wonders never cease?! But I said "no" that 2 are enough. I truly had to restrain myself but what am I going to do with 4 rose plates when I already have more than I can hang on the walls, fit into cabinets, lean against baseboards and stuff in boxes in the attic. Am I having a senior moment or what?! I think hubby was also stunned at me for turning down extra roses plates! Hmmmmm....... Anyway, here they are. My group of PRH sisters on an ebay group (who I refer to as chicks, chickees, chickadees, bunnies, sweets, sweetpeas, gals and various other terms of endearment - bratski for my daughter who is a member) of decorating and creating romantic homes will probably drool over these. And look at that little pink hearts bag in the background. It is adorable also. In fact, I'm sure they'll drool but they are mine. However...........................tune in tomorrow!

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Okay!!!!!!!!! Now for the good part on this saturday......... I'm going to be giving away the bunny bowl. All you have to do is respond to this post and your name goes in a hat for a drawing next week to win it. Simple and easy. Even men could figure this one out! Hah. I love men!!

Don't Tell Me You're Photographing My Food Again!!

And this is after it's cooked for about 9 hours! It's yummy!!

OR the Great Chile Recipe!!
OR hubbies just don't get "blogging"!!

I've made chili for 45 years but decided about 7 or 8 years ago to come up with my own recipe instead of making it from a cookbook. I like it much better. The main reason is the chili powders I found back then. The pictures below are a pot of chili that is simmering on my stove today. I cook it all day long so the pot below isn't simmered down yet, but I am very visual and have to include pix with most everything I send people. (Much to their consternation, I afraid.) :-) Anyway, today I'm sharing with you a truly great recipe with specialty chili powders that you can find at most any Mexican market. DO NOT use the regular chili powder you see in the spice section of your local supermarkets; the taste difference is definitely in the chili powder. Oh, and the alcohol in the wine cooks off for those of us who are non-alcoholic drinkers. (ME!) But the taste is superb and the recipe is below scanned from my actual recipe card.

Oh, and if your hubby views this over your shoulder and wonders at the pix????? Just tell him it's a chick "blogger" thing! He'll never understand that, but then again, hubbies just don't get the blogger OR the shabby thing!! Hah. But that's another story completely, chickadees! Sigh.............

Victorian Living Room for Sharon and Vickie

I'm not particularly fond of victorian but I do love this room. I posted it for 2 friends to see - Sharon and Vickie - because I thought they'd love it!

Roses and Buffalo Checks!

A cottage in a ski town with a LOT of junker finds is this sweet cottage. The owner of this house chopped down the pedestal and painted the coffee table white. She then made all the slipcovers and pillows. Multi talented lady. But look how everything just seems to go together with her "styling hand"!

Her dining room is the epitome of graciousness with the touches she has applied here also. Now I wouldn't call that chandelier "crystal elegance" but somehow it just works here. She's painted some chairs black and some white and one is even slipcovered. The table underneath that black and white check table with the lace drape isn't elegant at all but with the beautiful cloths over it who in the world would know? It goes so well with her black and pink curtains on one window and the lace and topper on the other window. I had to do the same thing in my living room because of a small side window - just put a lace curtain and a small drawn back drape because of its size. Works though!!

A small entry near the stairs is more victorian looking with an antique sofa and then another sofa with black and white checks and a "hint of pink" on the wall. A pot of flowers is hanging with a mirror and what a statement it makes! A throw made out of her favorite fabric matches the other rooms in close proximity to this entry.

A lounge chair with more of her favorite flowered fabric in an upstairs hallway is surrounded with candy apple red walls and a "vacant" old frame letting the beauty of that red show through. The other frames have mirrors reflecting the walls and are hung high and low also - something I've done and recommended assiduously for years. Remember HIGH and low!

Her yellow and red guest bedroom looks like some place we'd all like to hunker down in! A collection of hats hung vertically down a wall and the little birdhouses make her statement. A miniature chair on the bedside table and on the chest mimics the larger one on the floor beside her chest. Notice how many different roses fabrics she has on just that one window making a very bold statement. Think "remnant fabrics" here and create your own style! The golden yellow of the walls make it such a cheery place and the red quilt and pillows just punches it up a notch. The plaid border brings it all together in this room.

This is another view of the room and sweet vignette she has on the wall.

The kitchen window has not been finished yet but she didn't let that stop her from making it beautiful to look at with some viney branches and a bit of lace drawn back at the window and then some tacked on to the sill. Maybe she has one of those hubbies whose list of honey dos far exceed his time to get them done!

Maybe I'm just "into" checks today but I thought this is rather bold also - a white sectional sofa and red buffalo checks with flowers. I'd call this "feminine/frou frouy country"! I really do like this room with all the antique touches with a girlie girl feel.

And what a bedroom! Red walls, tole trays, antique mirror and painted wicker trunk, black and white buffalo checks, beautiful shawl hanging from pegs along with an old straw hat, beautiful roses rug and luxurious bed linens.

This is another part of her bedroom - a wicker chaise lounge with white lace pillow, wicker table and chair for writing and layered lace at the window. Notice her collection of purses hanging on the wall and the cute white curio cabinet hanging above the desk. Just a lovely place for an afternoon of relaxing.
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A Book Tea Party

Several years ago I had a book themed tea party. I served some coconut shrimp and cooked cucumbers and scallions in a cream sauce. The ladies were astounded as it was a great surprise to them. The picture above reminds me of that day.

I had to invite them with something less than the truth because they weren't into afternoon teas, but they came. And boy were they surprised. I had the menu all written out for them in french on little menu cards at each place setting. There were the requisite place cards and lovely china, shiny and sparkling silverware, gorgeous stem ware because it really wasn't really a tea but more a luncheon with sparkling beverages.

The theme was books and I have old pages torn out of old but not valuable books put down as their place mats. They there were stacks of book all over the table. I had lemons in a bowl for a centerpiece on my finest white linen tablecloth. It was spring I believe. They had pencils and note paper to write down their observations, feelings or just about anything they wanted. I had old eyeglasses strewn about the table. We had candles on the table but I had a glorious huge chandelier in that house. It was delightful.

But the most fun part was watching these women experienceing something they'd never experienced before. Most were middle aged and some were younger women who had never attended anything like this in the small town we lived in at that time. We'd moved there from a very large city and it was enlightening to see how small towns lived. Actually, it was a real eye opener. But I decided to do this for them to have the experience. I believe they loved it. I know I did! I didn't eat with them. Jack and I waited on them just like a maitre d' in a fine restaurant. They were astounded when they left my house and I was lifted up because of what I gave them that day - a luncheon they'll probably never forget. I know I won't. I loved it and them!