There's going to be a wedding!!!

Isn't it gorgeous? My son FINALLY formally proposed to his girlfriend of four years...and we're all delighted!

The date has been set for May 19, 2012!! Plenty of time to take lots of deep breaths and dream, dream, dream. We're so excited.....WE may not be able to contain ourselves for an ENTIRE year!!!!! Well, I guess I should just chill out...it'll be here before we know it!!

Longing

It's that time. The time of year I start thinking about beautiful linens, delicate china, chicken salad and scones!

It's such a natural ritual to have a spring tea...even my china cabinet seems to start beckoning me to open it up.  My china is speaking. Can you hear it? "Let me out!!"

I just so happened to come upon the most fantastic blessing ever. My dear friend wanted to part with her beloved Lemoges china collection and she just happened to want me to have it! I've never even seen true Lemoges before....now look! I have tons! And isn't it beautiful?

Soooo delicate. It is so fine it's almost translucent. The china I already had is very beautiful....just not quite
the same. Here's a picture of my old set and new set side by side.

They work beautifully together, don't you think?

Oh, my linens are also in need of some loving use:)

Beautiful antique linens. ~~Swoon~~ I don't mind that they are totally imperfect. Some have stains, some even have holes in them from all the loving hands that have held them.

Yep, it's time. Who wants to come over for tea? How many places should I set? What's on the menu? Come on over sweet friends.......it's tea time!

How Simple

 I found this today at a most lovely blog. Anita at Castles, Crowns, and Cottages has such a beautiful place to stop by and visit. She has lots to look at and ponder, but I thought this to be simply....adequate. Have a most blessed evening dear friends.~~~Shine~~~

Soup & Bread

Although today is exceptionally warm (55degrees!!), I still like to put a pot of soup on in my crock pot early in the mornings.

When we have a busy day, it is so good to know I don't have to worry about dinner. It's already done! My friend at With All My Heart...Deborah, posted about some amazing chili she puts in her crock pot, and I wanted to share this with her. So, while sharing with Deborah, I thought I'd share with you also!

 This soup is so good. I used to love Panera Bread's potato soup the best of any I'd tried, but when I found this recipe...well, I changed my mind. This is by far the best I've had, AND, I know everything that goes in it, and when it went in:) Hope you can try it and enjoy it as much as my family has.

 I'm also sharing a favorite bread recipe we love with our soup. This is by far the easiest bread I have ever baked. I love making homemade bread and I do it several times a week, but when I plan ahead, this is the easiest and goes well with all types of dishes.Lots of pictures for the bread also:)  Have a blessed day! Thanks again to Deborah for inspiring me to post up some yumminess!

                     Parmesean Potato Soup
8-med. potatoes
6 cups chicken broth
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 jar (7-oz) roasted sweet red peppers (drained & chopped)
1 sm. celery rib, chopped
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. sage
1/3 cup AP flour
2 cups heavy cream, divided
1 cup parmesean cheese, divided
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (may use turkey bacon:)
2 Tblsp. cilantro, chopped

*Combine first 9 ingredients in a large crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours till veggies are tender.
*Combine flour and 1 cup heavy cream. Add to slow cooker. Stir in 3/4 cup parmesean cheese, bacon, cilantro and remaining cream.
*Cover & cook 30 min. more. Sprinkle remaining cheese on individual bowls.
*Yields: 12 servings
*Note: I have varied this recipe many ways. I have left out the red peppers and cilantro. And I have used turkey bacon. It is STILL always yummy. The only thing I would recommend NOT doing is, DO NOT substitute any other type of milk for the heavy cream. That will definitely ruin your yumminess:)

Yummy bread to go along perfectly with soup

                                     Artsian Bread
3 Cups AP flour (I use half whole wheat & half unbleached bread flour)
1 tsp yeast
1 1/4 tsp. sea salt
2 cups water

Mix dry ingredients, then add water. Stir together till mixed. This will be a very loose dough. Cover bowl and let sit on counter at least 12 hours. Heat a dutch oven w/lid in a 500 degree oven.Turn dough out onto a floured surface and shape into a circle. Plop onto a piece of parchment paper or wax paper and set in your heated dutch oven. Bake @ 500 w/lid on for 30 min. Take lid off and bake another 5-15 min. till brown.
ENJOY!!

Litttle Things

It doesn't take much to make me happy. Really. I have lots of projects in mind to do this year. Some large projects and some not quite as ambitious. My mind is always thinking on something I want to do or change. In my kitchen, I would REALLY LOVE to do a total makeover. My house is super large, but the kitchen....well...while it is very functional, it is just not very roomy. I had all these great plans of knocking out more walls.....adding a pantry...so many visions. Mr.T. however, put a quick halt to all my fabulous plans. OK fine.....since he's the one that would be doing all the work....how about a mini make-over....painting all the cabinets...new appliances...hardware, backsplash, countertops??? Weelllll....no.   Great OK then......what do I get? Well, let me show you. Here's a picture of my kitchen before.

Like I said. Functional.

Great appliances, but, well you know...stainless!!!!! I want it!!!
Anyway...no new appliances for me. Mine work! All Jenn-Aire and in great shape...sooooo. They stay. I'm very thankful for my things actually (though I know it doesn't sound like it:). Now my kitchen looks like this.

Notice anything different?

Something small truly makes me so happy!


How about a closer look?



Hardware!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!
Also. Another change in my dining room has made me smile.

Before


During



And after.

Yep! Mr. T. whipped out this beautiful mantle for the fireplace just for me! He's so sweet to me.  I love it! Makes the room feel so homey.

Well....just thought I'd share my small makeovers with you this evening. We're snowed in here tonight....totally. It's great though. I have thoroughly enjoyed being home, snuggling with the kiddos, getting things done around here. Just being home...it's a very good thing.
Blessings to you all.
Shine

Are you ready for some projects??

As we dig our feet into the new year, I contemplate new projects. I'll spend some time praying on these things, but I've been thinking.

A kitchen facelift.
New window treatments for my dining room.
A new mantle for my stone fireplace.
A master bedroom/bathroom makeover.
A diet and a new me! :)
Finish  my sewing/knitting projects I have started.
Make 6 new quilts.
Knit 6 pairs of socks.
Spend more time on my spinning wheel.

Hmmmmm. Maybe I should stop there, that looks like alot!
Better go and think about getting started.
Blessings dear frineds for a most lovely evening~~Shine

Twenty-Eleven

Happy New Year dear friends. I pray that this will be such a beautiful year for each and every one of you. That you will discover your dreams and all your most lovely wishes will come true.

Spring will be here soon, and as my sweet daughter says, it's only 358 days till Christmas!!!
Blessing to you all~~~Much love~~~~Shine