Blues In Bloom

Thunder rumbles in the distance.  Rain has started to fall.

And all the blues are in bloom.

Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)

Vinca (periwinkle)

Wild Violets 

Creeping phlox

 Lilacs

And more lilacs.

Perfect Ending

The perfect way to end a lovely day.



_ _ _ _ _ _ _


Baukje is having a giveaway on her blog.
Be sure to visit her here.

Kim is also having a vintage inspired Easter giveaway on her blog.
Be sure to stop by and enter.

Crocheted Potholders

I love these old crocheted potholders! 

Each design is unique and playful.

And you know me...  everything has to be in my favorite colors of blue and green. 

* * *

Update-  See how this collection has grown here.

Pretty In Pink

Pretty, pink, flowering trees,

on a rainy day.

I am so amazed by nature's beauty

at this time of year.

 Crabapple

 Eastern Redbud

Purple-leaved Plum

Take a peek out your window, 

and tell me what beautiful things you see.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

At the parade!

The O'Riada-McCarty-Manning Academy of Irish Dance.

Some of the OMM dancers on the morning news:

Choose Hope

"Once you choose hope, anything is possible."

                                          - Christopher Reeve

Irish Soda Bread

I made Soda Bread to go with  my Irish Breakfast Tea this morning.  It's a very basic, dense, biscuit-like bread.  I've seen a few other recipes, with slightly different ingredients,  but this one is a super easy favorite.


Irish Soda Bread:

2 cups flour
1/4 cup steel-cut oats
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. sugar
1 cup (1/2 pint) buttermilk

Mix dry ingredients together and then pour buttermilk in.  Stir until just barely moistened.  Form into a lump and place on floured baking sheet.  With a knife, slice an X into the top of the bread.  Bake in 475 oven for 5 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 and bake for another 20 minutes.
Let cool for about 10 minutes, then pull apart, slather with butter and/or jam and eat.
*Makes 4 huge, thick, heavy biscuits. This is not dainty bread.  This is "fill-me-up-with-something-warm-I've-been-working-hard-cutting-peat-in-the soggy-wet-bog-all-day" bread.
*You may add your favorite chopped herbs (rosemary or caraway, etc...) if you want to use for dinner.
*And some people add dried fruit (raisins, etc...) if they want a sweeter bread at tea time.

And here is a fun Irish song for you, from our local Irish Band.... The Elders!!   So hit the play button, then get up and dance!

I'm joining Kathleen in her 

4th Annual St Patrick's Day Blog Crawl

Warm-Up Parade

At the Warm-Up Parade.

(Always held the Saturday before St. Patrick's day)

Joining Kathleen at her
4th Annual St Patrick's Day Blog Crawl

Addicted

I am addicted to mint m&m's! 

(Hazel Atlas "apple orchard" dish from the 1940's.)

More Junk and Donations

I'm rooting junk out of all the nooks, crannies. closets and drawers.

Finding lots more things that can go!!

And getting closer to reaching my 366 Challenge goal!

Boo hoo... broken things.  Oh well, it happens.

(Anyone know a mosaic artist who could reuse these broken bits of china/pottery?)

(I'm missing photos of a few things. 

I dropped a box off at the donation center 

and then realized I had not taken a picture.  Too late!)

At last count, I had reached #118.  So I'll continue from there:

119.   Tablecloth

120-121.   Napkins (2 sets)

122-125.  Table runners (3)

126- 131.  Picture frames (6)

132-133.  Tea towels (2)

134- 144.  Huge sack full of artificial flowers and greenery 

145.  Cookie jar with broken lid.

146.  Broken bowl

147.  Broken plate

148.  Big pile of old computer software and manuals

149- 160.  Old computer games and programs (12)

161-165.  Computer memory, ports and cables (5)

166-167.  Poly quilt batting (2)

168.  Bushel basket

169.  Teddy bear

170.  Old beach towel

171. Twin mattress pad

172. Twin sheet set

173-224- Books (51)

Yipeeeeeee!!!  Yahoooooo!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!  224 things gone from my house !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 142 more to go.

Letting go of things you no longer want or need is easier than you think.

And this is how I feel right now:

I'm doin' a happy dance!

I invite you to join me in the 366 challenge! 

 It's never too late to start.

Wearin' O' The Green

,

Sweet Colleens (Cailini) in green. 

What will you wear on St Patrick's day?

Ready For Spring!

Spring is just around the corner!

I'm ready!  

Are you?

(Hey, Mr. Weatherman, it's a no-no to send us snow in March!)