Weekend Review

This is the finished product of our weekend. The mulch is down, new areas of the yard are in the process of being developed, and I even found time for a quick trip to the gardening center to pick up a few of my favorite herbs.
I added a fresh coat of black paint to my "find" (thought of you Lisa while I was spraying away) and they are ready for their new home in my herb garden. While roaming our front beds, I found this nest. Over spring break I saw a very busy bird working hard to build a home for her babies. She flew back and forth with goodies she found and created this ~ I'm amazed at the details and workmanship of this nest. I guess I never put much thought into the construction of a nest. How do they know to create a rounded opening that gradually gets smaller towards the bottom with sides that fit so well between branches with a support system? I must admit that I was very impressed as I took in all the details of this little home ~ perhaps the heat from our 86 degree day is getting to me and I'm slightly dehydrated or even delirious! :)

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Wonderful Weekend

It has been a gorgeous weekend here in Connecticut! The sun is out and the weather is wonderful ~ 77 yesterday and the same is in store for today only better.

My husband and I spent the entire day outdoors working in the yard. While it's too early to plant, I did clean out my herb garden, planted a few flats of veggies, gourdes and additional herbs. I put up the peonie supports, rounded up my trellises, and put down fresh compost from our own composter. I let my husband have all the real fun ~ spreading the mountain of mulch that was delivered on Thursday. : )

I'm so ready to see everything in bloom. My favorite flowers are peonies. Last year for Mother's Day I was given a white plant. I can't wait to see its fluffy head blooms this summer. I'm trying to figure out how to make a hedge along the side of our yard in all peony bushes. Unfortunately, this area doesn't get much sun.

After a long day of working in the yard, we met two other couples (good friends) at Sol Toro Grill for a delicious mexican dinner. It was great to catch up with them and enjoy an evening out.

Today I'm back outside for a short time and then hitting the market to pick up a few things for my weekly dinner menu. I see a lot of grilling going on in this household for the up coming week!

Enjoy your day!

Jo

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Spring Break ...

Has sadly come to an end.

It was a great week off {with the exception of the computer issues we've had} and I could really use just one more week; please?

It's amazing how much you can accomplish when you don't have to the leave the house from 8~5 each day. I must admit I also enjoyed lounging in my pj's and enjoying an extra cup of coffee each morning.

We were lucky enough to have sunshine and warm temperatures. There were even a few days in the high 70's ~ yeah!

How many more days until summer vacation?

I think I may need to start a count down calendar ~ something like a Christmas advent calendar with the chocolates in each window : )

We celebrated spring with our first visit of the season to Eliza B . There were so many wonderful choice that it was really hard to pick just a couple.

I added to my pink collection and also added a few "fun" items as well ~ can't wait to wear them.

However, that day must be postponed. It is 50 today with heavy showers in the forecast. Oh yes, reality has returned with the reminder that we live in the northeast and it's just not ready to commit to 70 degrees just yet.

Hope you have a great day!

Jo

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Score!

Guess what I got ...
First I must explain that this never and I mean never happens to me. I'm always the one that just misses a great deal or hears about it the next day from a friend and it's too late! For that reason alone, I was jumping for joy ~ I was finally at the right place at the right time!
While running a few errands, I decided to pop into Talbots. I needed {wanted} something springy to wear while I pretend it's spring here in the still chilly northeast. While meandering around the store, I noticed they had items in the back of the store that resembled homeware (not sure that's a word) goods next to the shorts, and summer shirts ~ not the normal selection one would find at Talbots. The lovely Talbots lady explained that they were display items that may or may not have been used in the store and were selling them to make room ~ at ridiculous prices I might add!



What's a girl to do when faced with such an unexpected surprise? Load the back of your SUV and quickly drive home to admire your stolen {I mean sale} items!

My herb garden will look lovely dressed in black this year ~ just what I was looking at last week at the garden shop ~ three staggered sizes with cute finial tops.

I've always wanted a pair of "old" suitcases but could never purchase them from an antique shop due to my mold allergy.

The picture is hard to see and I don't care for the blond wood frame so I'll have to add a few personal touches before it makes its grand debut in our home.

My real thrill of a deal are the three self standing lattice panels ~ I'll share what I'm doing with them in just a few days.

Even Bozley admired my fabulous deals.

All these goodies for a mere $50.oo!

As if actually finding this amazing deal wasn't enough ~ I was able to use my Talbots card and get double points ~ that makes this a double score!

I was so excited about my goodies I completely forgot to look for clothing ~ guess I'll just have to go back : )

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Easter memories

~ A few pictures of our Easter ~

We had a quiet and relaxing day at home ~ just what we all needed.

I made our traditional Easter breakfast before scooting off. We enjoyed brie and fresh fruit while preparing dinner. Once everything was in the oven, my daughter and I took a very chilly walk with Bozley. After dinner was over and we found a little extra room, we managed to "try" the cheesecake with a chocolate drizzle and fresh strawberries ~ I hope Lori isn't reading this ~ I only had a small piece :) Our evening was topped off with movies in our jammies!

It was my first year without my son so I sent him a monogrammed pail in Carolina blue filled with Easter treats and goodies. I made a friend of mine a special Peter Cottontail to hang in her home.

Easter morning my husband surprised me with a few goodies and some lovely spring flowers {much appreciated in the 50 degree weather we had} . Bozely enjoying his first Easter basket ~ it was rather humours watching him prance around his basket. He had no clue what to do or how to get the toys out with the basket handle in the way.

Sorry, no pictures of my husband {not willing to be photographed} and our teenage daughter needed more than 15 minutes notice before her photo is taken and me? Well someone had to be behind the lens!

{just a little side note, I FINALLY figured out how to make a collage!}

Hope you all had a blessed Easter!

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Easter Eggs

Ukrainian Eggs

My father created these many years ago. They are much more elaborate than the Easter eggs my brother and I decorated with the Paas kit!

It's a process similar to batik. The eggs are raw so it requires a delicate touch with the tools. To begin, you create a design of choice. Many are created with symbols and family crests. You cover the area you want to keep white or your desired color with wax then dye the rest. Once the egg is dry, you melt the wax to remove it and begin the process all over. The orange egg below was in the beginning steps of the laborious process. The black egg is close to being finished.

It takes hours to complete these mini master pieces and very good eye site :)

If you look closely, you'll notice he placed the date on off the eggs ~ 1979.

My father passed away almost 15 years ago. I have many items that remind me of him tucked away. While looking for something unrelated a few weeks ago, I came across these eggs. I decided to display them in our home for Easter. While some of the eggs were never completed, they help me to remember the layering process and stages of the art. They also bring back the times I sat and watched him while he worked away and the conversations we shared.

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Dinner and Dessert

Our friends came over for dinner the other evening with their sweet boys.

To keep them interested until dinner was served, I had them

create their dessert. They decorated {self designed} Easter basket

cupcakes. They had a blast, the adults were able to chat, and all were content

until dinner was served.

~ I sent all the cupcakes home with them so I didn't "accidentally" sneak one while no one was looking. Bathing suit season is right around the corner. I don't need an extra cupcake sitting on these thighs! ~

Don't you just love the look of concentration ~ sugar overload will it every time!

Currently I am the "bestest" in his eyes. He reminded me a few times that he doesn't get candy like this at home ~ I hope the payback coming my way isn't too severe: )

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A little fun!

To support MSU's win on Saturday, I made a few of these fun goodies

to share with my fellow teachers

(many just happen to be UCONN grads)

because I'm just nice like that :)

They are white chocolate cupcakes with a whipped topping

tinted a lovely shade of Spartan green

{get it? green and white!}

I packaged them up and tucked them sweetly

on their desks as a special little treat to enjoy

this morning ~ a simple little "thank you" for all their

kind words on Friday about my choice of teams.

Tonight's game should be interesting as I've already recieved many phone
calls from my son who just happens to attend the "other college."
I told him to make a "good choice" about who he cheers for ~ he says he will.
Oh, that son of mine!

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I have just two simple words

(maybe a few more at the bottom)

GO STATE!

I wish I could be there to support you in person (instead my lucky little brother will be ~ no, I'm not jealous, why would you think that? I'm a immature adult!)

Instead I'll be here in Connecticut with those "other people" that want the team you're playing against today to win.

I've banned all blue and white from our home and I'm forcing my entire family to sport the lovely MSU colors of green and white.

(they don't really have a choice if they are hoping to be fed today!)

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