Solstice of Sorrow

My youngest daughter Alexis had her first book published!! 

My husband Bill and I received our first addition copy on our Anniversary, such a wonderful surprise! 

We're so proud of her, congrats Alexis Elizabeth

You can purchase her book on Amazon and it's also now available on Kindle.

Halloween Candelabra

I have been keeping my eye out for an old brass candelabra and happen to come across one at a yard sale.

As a teenager and young adult, I loved old haunted mansion horror movies like ones starring actor Vincent Price. 

Those old movies always seemed to have a woman in a long flowing gown, descending a huge staircase at night, holding a candelabra!

I still love fall, Halloween, pumpkins, and a good scary movie.

When I came across this old brass candelabra at a sale in Michigan, it was the end of the day and they took $1.00 for it.  I knew with a facelift, it would work great for our annual fall party!

Chunky Applesauce

I love chunky applesauce and fondly remember having it with meals when I was young.  

chunky Applesauce makes a great side dish, garnish is yummy with pork especially a roast but is also good served over ice cream.

While on a girl road trip with my daughter Alexis and Daughter-in-law Jennica, we found a small family-owned farm with a market selling various types of apples.  

We bought a lot of apples with the intent of making our own Homemade Chunky Applesauce and jam.

And oh my gosh, I'm in love.  
This will now be on my list to make every fall when apples are in season!

Upcycled Chalkboard Signs

OK, so yeah, I'm a trash picker.  I will definitely stop along the road if there is something in someone's trash that I think I can repurpose. And that's where I picked up the kitchen cabinet drawers to make these: Vintage Display Shelves,

and where I scored the wood for these Chalkboard signs!

These chalkboard signs are actually the ends or sides of kitchen cabinets. The cabinets already had this old, flaky grayish-blue paint, which really gives them a great vintage weathered look.

But you could also use an old heavy picture frame or mirror. Heavy because you don't want the wind to blow the signs over.

Honey - Cilantro Chicken Kabobs

This is one of my most requested recipes.  Not only is it flavorful and delicious, it's also easy to make and very versatile. You can add any additional veggies or fruits you like, but the kabobs are perfect just following this recipe.

I sometimes add quartered peaches and red bell pepper or whatever is in season from my garden.

Sweet Smoky Barbecue Sauce

Summer is here and it's barbecuing season! 

My husband purchased a smoker a couple summers ago so we love to smoke on the weekends.  We even have what we call "Smokin Sundays."              

Years ago my sister Debra and her husband Phil came over on a hot summer Saturday to show us how to make our own homemade barbecue sauce. 

They supplied all the ingredients and we spent the day on our patio mixing, stirring, simmering, and tossing back a few cold adult beverages. 

 

Michigan's U.P. Pasty

My hubby and I love to travel and one of our fav states to spend a 3 day weekend is the neighboring state of Michigan.  There are tons of lighthouses, wineries, bodies of water and beaches, ATV and snowmobile trails, historic sites, beautiful scenery, and tree-lined winding roads.

Other trips we have taken to Michigan were to the Holland, Michigan Tulip Festival and on another, we tent camped around the big lake while doing the Lake Superior Circle Tour. 

Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage

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A traditional St Patrick's Day dish I make every year.  

But first, what is Corned Beef?

Corned beef is made from a beef brisket that is cured or pickled in brine. Brine is just salt water.

In North America, corned beef dishes are associated with traditional Irish cuisine. However, there is considerable debate about the association of the corned beef and cabbage dish with Ireland.

The World's Longest Yard Sale

The 127 Yard Sale

The weather has been in the '60s here in Ohio and spring is in the air so yep, I'm daydreaming about gardening and yard sales!!

The World's Longest Yard Sale is also known as The 127 Yard Sale or The 127 Corridor Sale and is a 4-day event every year. The dates are always the first Thursday of the month of August, from Thursday to Sunday.  And that's 4 whole days of yard sale heaven!

If you are a yard-saler, antiquer, flea-marketer, thrift store shopper, or anything in-between, you will love this!

Texas State Flag Quilt

My daughter Jami and her husband Donnie and their kids moved to Texas for a job in 2009.  

I hate that they're so far away (I'm in Ohio) and that I don't get to see them much. 

But we have taken numerous trips to Texas and we think it's a nice state to visit. We've even been to the Dealey Plaza and the Grassy Knoll in Dallas.

I'm a new quilter, I have only been making quilts for family members for the last year.  I decided to make Jami and Donnie one as a Christmas gift.

Best Ever Monster Cookies

I make these cookies for many different holidays so this week they're for Valentine's Day!

Monster Cookies are not new and the recipes for making them are endless. Probably 95% of my cookies are homemade, but sometimes you just need a quick and easy recipe. 

I decided to come up with my own version of Monster Cookies which are easy and great to throw together when we have unexpected visitors or to serve at club meetings or any other last-minute function.

The Mercantile

A few years back I received The Pioneer Woman's first cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks, as a gift for Christmas. 

I love it and have since bought for myself or received as gifts all her other cookbooks!

The Pioneer Woman or Ree Drummond also has her own blog and recently opened a shop called The Mercantile in her hometown of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

Ree and her husband Ladd purchased an old red brick building in downtown Pawhuska and had it completely remodeled.  

And the results are stunning. 

I just love old red brick buildings and am always so happy to see them rescued from demolition.