Happy Easter! ♥

 

Happy Easter! 🐰

Hello Friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Our Sunday was lovely.  We started with church, breakfast, and then a lovely day at my brother-in-law's.  I wore a green sparkly top, my mother's gold watch, stud earrings, and I didn't take one picture!  Not even of the delicious grilled lamb chops my brother-in-law made or the yummy fruit pavlova with fresh whip cream my sister-in-law brought.  The food was divine and it was great day celebrating one of the most important days....we are blessed ♱ 

And even though I didn't take any photos, I must admit it was nice to have my phone tucked away for the day.  I'm trying to be better at that ♥

Easter (as with all holidays) are much different these days.  John is grown so there are no more egg hunts or Easter Bunny surprises anymore. That makes me sad, but there are still games, and laughs, and coffee chats galore.  And I love that.  My mom is not here obviously, and that changes everything about everything.  I'm still trying to get used to living with it.  My mom was the anchor of my family and now that she's gone, I cannot even begin to tell you how things have changed.  People and dynamics change and I've spent way too long trying to understand it.  It's sad, but I must carry on. And I will. 

I ate way too many jellybeans and Cadbury mini eggs and I have not one single regret. When we got home I managed the strength to do a lap around the neighborhood in hopes of digesting before bed.  It kinda-sorta worked, if not physically, then mentally at least :)  

I hopped into my stretchy pants, watched two episodes of Downton Abbey (I'm rewatching again!!!) and off to bed I went ♥ 

I love Easter.  I love springtime.  I'm so happy the flowers are starting to bud.  May good days lay ahead for all of us!

Happy new week, Friends! I'll be back tomorrow! Xx 

Creamy Garlic Mushroom Chicken ♥

This made me laugh today because that's how I feel sometimes.  I have no idea what to cook anymore.  Wouldn't it be nice if we all didn't mind eating cereal for dinner.  How easy would that be? 

But alas, that's not the case.  

These days I'm trying to spend less time in the kitchen and am constantly searching for quick and easy meals, preferably made in one pot - the less dishes the better!

♥

I've been forcing myself to try new recipes lately (making my endless online scrolling count for something I guess!).  Sometimes they work and sadly, sometimes they don't. 

 Oh, the disappointment!  I had such high hopes :(  

For example, I tried that porkchop recipe I was telling you about.  I was so hopeful.  Well, it was a dud.  I should have known.  I never have good luck with pork chops! Please remind me of that next time I start talking about pork chops! 

Anyway, not to say that sometimes they aren't winners! Another example....I tried a chicken recipe last week that we all loved! Praise the Lord!  This one is definitely worth sharing and although my pictures aren't great, I assure you the chicken was! 

 

I added some cooked brown rice (of the instant variety :) to the sauce before serving and it was absolutely delicious!  ♥

I'll definitely be making this one again and adding in to the rotation.  

Now, what to make tonight???  Cereal anyone??  

Happy Friday eve, friends!  ♥

We've almost made it through another week! 

Xx  

A good day ♥

 

Hello Friends! ♥

I'm just winding down work for the day, and I thought I'd pop on and say hello.  My day started early this morning.  Once a month I take my Dad to the hospital to have bloodwork done.  Today was the day.  Thankfully he got a very good report and didn't need any shots or infusions!  His numbers are all very good! We celebrated with a coffee & donut (which is NOT on his diet but since this was a happy occasion, I let it slide...:) 

I came home, switched on my Easter village, and got to work.  I am so grateful I can work from home!!  I don't have to leave my Dad home by himself all day, and believe it or not - I'm much more productive in my home office than my real office.   

Sidenote: I'm loving my Easter decorations this year.  They are so cheery after the long winter.  I suppose its like that every year, I just am really appreciating it this year.  It has been so so cold.  I'm o-v-e-r it!  We are definitely over the worst of it now and warmer days are coming.  I can feel it! 

I wanted to show you something else that made me smile today...♥

I found this tiny little cup with some of my mother's things.  

It's the prettiest floral pattern (love) and has four legs, which is very different.  

I have no idea what it would ever be used for besides decoration.  For now, I've put it on a teacup shelf I have in my upstairs kitchen.  

This shows you how small it is compared to a regular teacup.... ♥

Regardless I love it and it will probably stay there forever.  My mom and I clearly had the same taste and love for the same things.  She saved it for a reason and I will too ♥

Overall, it's been a good day and one that has gone by very quickly.  A typical ordinary March day that I have truly appreciated - there was sun, good health, and pretty things. 

Yup, a good day indeed ♥

I'm off to start dinner now.  I'm trying a new pork chop recipe tonight.  If it's good, I'll share it!

Have a great night, dear friends! ♥

Byeeee! xo 

A trip to Michaels, a plate wall, and a lemon bundt cake recipe - Happy Monday! ♥

 Good Monday morning friends! ♥

Hello from rainy Massachusetts.  The rain started yesterday afternoon and hasn't stopped.  It's gray and gloomy but at least it's not snow, so I'm not complaining.  John is home sick today.  He's curled up on the couch with the beginnings of a flu and I feel it's the perfect day to make soup and stay in this outfit all day.  In fact, that's the plan : ) 

Rob left for work about 6 this morning. I don't know how he does it, honestly.  I was up with him, but as soon as he left I poured myself a coffee and swiftly returned to my warm bed to drink it and scroll my phone - where I stayed for a good hour and it was lovely.  I love starting my days with coffee in bed.  Especially rainy days.  Especially rainy Mondays.  

Anyway, it's now a few hours and a few more coffees later.  I came downstairs, flipped on the furnace (because it's freezing again) and a fresh pot of coffee for my Dad when he wakes up...and such is the start of a new week.  

So, how was your weekend?  Mine was actually quite nice! ♥

Despite the rain Sunday and today, Saturday was a beautiful day.  It was warm and sunny and I left the house with only a sweatshirt and no coat!  Fabulous!  If you recall, I had high intentions of going to the thrift store, but I ended up getting sidetracked and decided to put that off until next weekend.  I had some other errands to run first.  One being Staples to get ink for our printer (very boring), however right next to Staples was Michaels craft store.  My mom and I LOVED Michaels and would go there often. As soon as I entered the store I got hit with that "craft store" smell (you know the one) and brought me right back.  It made me so sad yet I didn't want to leave.  My mom was a big crafter and I spent many years doing craft fairs and Christmas bazaars with her.  Trips to Michaels, JoAnn's Fabrics, and Hobby Lobby for supplies were a part of everyday life for many years.  We had a lot of fun in those stores and being there brought back all those memories.  

My heart was breaking but I was smiling at the same time ♥

While I was wondering around, I remembered something I needed! A few months ago Rob's mother was cleaning out her basement and gave me these floral plates. I'm obsessed with anything floral and everyone knows it ♥

 They were just too pretty to leave in the cabinet.  I've been wanting to do plate wall somewhere in my house and I finally decided where.  I just needed the hangers.  I bought 4 packs and headed home to complete my project.  

Just the sweetest corner now!  I'm crazy about how it turned out.  

I think my mom and my mother-in-law would approve ♥

On Sunday we had some family stop by for a visit - my two cousins who we haven't seen in while.  Isn't funny how when you are young you see your cousins all the time (at least I did) and then one day everyone grows up, gets married, and you now hardly ever see them?!  I hate that part of life, but the good side of it is when you finally do make the time to see each other, it's wonderful. 

 I made this yummy lemon bundt cake and we all sat around the table and talked for 3 hours.  

It was such a nice afternoon catching up ♥

The cake was really good too.  I got the recipe (here) from A Latte Food.  It was light and fluffy and sooooo good!  I didn't make the glaze and just dusted with powdered sugar instead.  It was still warm when the arrived and completely heavenly.  

Perfectly springy! 🍋

We will be picking on the rest of this for the next few days and I'm not mad about it. 

♥

Well friends, thanks for listening to me ramble on. I'm off to start my day now. Lots of "real life" work to do today. Boooo! 

Have a wonderful Monday!  I hope you're week is off to a good start.  Hey, we're already one day closer to Friday : )   

I'll be back tomorrow - I'm going to try to start daily blogging again.  We'll see how it goes! 

XO 

Friday Musings ♥

  Hello Friends! ♥

Happy Friday! I'm just back from my weekly grocery shopping, a task that I do not enjoy and am always so happy once it's done!  And isn't it so nice for two or three days when the fridge is full?! I feel like I have my life together when we are fully stocked.  Check in with me around Wednesday when I'm scrounging for crumbs. Total chaos :) 

I'll enjoy it while it lasts ♥

The sun is shining today, and it promises to be a nice weekend.  I'm planning on a little shopping tomorrow morning.  I'd like to grab an ice coffee and pop into a few local charity shops. I have a list of items that I'm looking to thrift so hopefully I'll have good luck.  My kitchen painting project is finally complete (pictures coming soon)!!  I'm SO happy to have things back to normal and not have workers all over the place.  And now the fun part - I can focus on a little decorating.  I feel like I'm starting over with a clean slate and that makes me very happy. My parents hadn't changed anything in a long time.  It was hard to do at first but over time it's gotten easier. We have a bakers rack in the kitchen that I'd like to makeover, and some bare spots on the walls that need "a little something"... I don't know what yet, but hopefully I'll find something fun ♥

On Sunday we have some family coming by for coffee to visit my Dad. Everyone is so busy these days, so when people make time to visit it is very much appreciated.  My Dad loves it too. Sunday is a perfect day to do it too, because oh shoot...I guess my housework will have to wait! DARN! lol...Well, except for laundry that unfortunately can't wait and won't stop.  But that's a rant for another day.

This afternoon I have to finish up some work and maybe go for a short walk before dinner (if I feel motivated enough). I think the fresh air and exercise would do me good.  Tonight I'm making baked haddock for dinner (yum!) and then settling in to watch part 2 of the Bob Barker documentary series on E. I watched part 1 last night and as a child of the 80's and lover of The Price is Right (especially on sick days!), I am horrified. Have you watched it?  Here's your warning...it was not all sunshine and roses on the set.  That's all I'll say about that.  

Have a great weekend, friends! Stay cozy and I'll be back on Monday! Xx 

PS. Happy First Day of Spring!!!!!!  ⚘🎕

Happy St. Patrick's Day! ♥

Hello Dear Friends! ♥

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope you all had a wonderful day! 🍀

We celebrated last night with a boiled ham dinner and my friend Eileen's mom's Irish bread that I look forward to making every year.  

I had a warm slice with my coffee this morning.

It was yummy! ♥

My mom loved this Irish bread and I was thinking of her while I was making it. 

She looked forward to it every year too ♥

I've scattered a few more bunnies around the house because it's time to start thinking about Easter.  

Only 2 weeks away! 

 These two little guys on the windowsill are making me smile today ♥

These early days of spring are so nice because I can finally see the river again.  

Nature is waking up ♥

It's refreshing after the long winter!

I put up my "egg tree" this morning. So simple. I probably could have found a better stick, but this was the first one I saw :) 

I love the pastel colors of the eggs ♥

Especially in the sunlight. 

The sun shadows in my front window are a sign of better days to come.  Warmer days with the smell of Lillies of the Valley in the air. 

They usually bloom around Mother's Day ♥

 I hope you're having a great week friends! We are having leftovers tonight, so I don't have to cook (yippee!).  It's currently 4:00 pm as I type this.  I'm going to make myself a cup of English Breakfast tea and take 5 before Rob gets home.  John is having a friend over tonight to "jam" so the house will be rocking with music later...haha.  Can you believe he's in his last semester of his first year of college?! Last year at this time I was starting to plan his graduation party! It blows my mind how fast time flies: )

Happy Wednesday everyone! xx 

♥

Spring Fever ♥

Good morning Friends! ♥

Look what I just noticed?  We have signs of life in here. 

Yay! 

This week we had two days of 70 degree weather. It was glorious and it's what we New Englander's call "false spring" ♥

We know we are being teased but we are living for it anyway. 

We open windows, go for walks without jackets, and would you believe John had shorts on yesterday?!  

Yes, we lost an hour of sleep from daylight savings but last night I was doing the dishes at 6:30 and it dawned on me that it was still light outside.  I saw neighborhood kids on bikes and one kid on a scooter.  We are all waking up.  

 

Its already dropped 20 degrees since yesterday, but it's ok.  We are heading in the right direction.  Our minds are fixed on spring now and nothing is going to mess with that.  

I went out for a walk yesterday for the first time in a while.  It was so nice to breathe in the fresh air and hear the birds chirping.  

We all have spring fever ♥

Within two days most of the snow from the blizzard (20 inches from just a few weeks ago!) has melted.  

The bushes (that were completely buried!!) are still here aaaand look what I saw.....

...alive and thriving ♥

Nature is so amazing.  She knows just what to do. 

I can't wait for these hydrangeas to be blooming.  

It's hard to believe these deadheads (that are so delicate) are still in one piece after all that snow.  

We had happy ducks swimming in the river yesterday morning.  

They were too quick for me to photograph, but I was thrilled to see them and hear their quacks!  

♥

I'm sure we have more cold days ahead, but they are getting fewer and fewer.  

We've made it through the winter of 2026.  It was a tough one! 

This is a side note, but did your mom have these porcelain China flowers?  This wheel barrel has lived in my house my entire life. I have no idea where it came from.  I remember it on a shadow box in our living room when I was a kid.  I recently found it on a shelf (when I was removing it for the painter!!! - who came last weekend!).  

Anyway, I always LOVED it and now it has a permanent place on my coffee table upstairs.  Why was it hidden on a shelf?  I put it with another one I have, that my mom gave me as a gift.  

It's a little trio of flowers and I love it ♥

My coffee table feels so springy now and colorful.  It's matching the mood outside.  

I have decided that this year will be the year I bring out the old antiques in my home and display them.  Our attic is full of them, and I have my mother to thank for never throwing anything away : )

Out with the new and in with the old, I say!  I'm in my granny-chic era and I'm loving it ♥

Happy Wednesday, my friends! Spring is officially here in 10 days!!  

We made it ♥

Xx