Paperdolly Valentine Tea Party

This valentine card from 1975

gave little girls a sweet, folk-art kitchen for hosting a paperdolly tea party.

(American Greetings, 1975)

Do they even make cards this adorable anymore? 

Meant To Be

I noticed this little green table a few months ago.

But I walked away.

Later I told myself,

"If I ever go back to that shop and it's still there, it's mine."

Do you ever do that? 

Well.....

Some things are just meant to be.

:-)

Architectural Salvage

 I poked around at A&O Architectural Salvage yesterday afternoon. 

So many wonderful bits and pieces from the past:

Gingerbread trim, door knobs, lights, stained glass and fireplace mantels.

I loved this stained glass Mary.

And I thought the long piece of white lattice trim might look fun

hanging horizontally on the wall above the tv in the family room.

Now if I can just convince my husband to part with a bunch of do-re-mi...

Have you used salvaged pieces in your home?  

For A Special Little Someone

A very SPECIAL little someone will be making an appearance this spring.

So there is a flurry of yellow, green and aqua sewing and crocheting

going on around here.

(All gender neutral colors, as we won't know 'til birth day.)

So excited to be joining the Grandma Club!

Smiling from ear to ear!

:-)

Baby's Blue Granny Square

Finished up one more afghan, a blue baby-sized granny square

because we had a 5th sweet baby join our greater family at the tail end of 2013. 

I love babies!

I used my go-to baby yarn, Baby Bee Sweet Delight, in 12 colors:

Baby's Blue, Surf Baby, Meema's Blue, 

Pea Pod, Infant Teal, Mint Charm, Baby Sage,

Angel, Toy Elephant, Bashful and Sunkisses.

I crocheted 50 rounds and a simple border with a G/6/4mm hook.

(I needed a second skein of Surf Baby and Baby's Blue.)

Now I can get back to work on that ripple I'm working on.

Sleepy Cats

The reason why my bed doesn't get made in the morning:

Sleepy cats.

At least that's my story.

 And I'm stickin' to it. 

Pretty TeaCups and Magic Cookie Bars

Enjoying some tea in the pretty teacups my sister just sent to me.

Royal Standard  and Floral, Staffordshire

Also nibbling on some my son's favorite holiday cookies:

Magic Cookie Bars.

So yummy and gooey!
And super easy to make.

Magic Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 package graham crackers, crushed (inside package, not the entire box) 

1 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 and 1/3 cup coconut 

1 can sweetened condensed milk (15 oz)

Directions:

Pour melted butter into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan.

Sprinkle  graham cracker crumbs evenly onto butter and pat down just a tiny bit.

Sprinkle on nuts, chocolate and finally coconut.

Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top of everything.

Bake in 350 oven for 25 minutes, until very lightly browned on top.

Allow to cool for 15 minutes before cutting. 

Cut into squares.

Notes:

These will store nicely in a tin, with waxed paper between layers.
I love bar cookies like this because they all bake in one pan. 

This recipe used to be on the back of the can of sweetened condensed milk.

Looking Back at 2013

2013 was a good year!

Family population explosion- Five new babies

Son's college graduation

 Creative pursuits
Fun adventures

Connections with friends, old and new 

Appreciation for the small things
Gratitude for our many blessings

Wishing a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!!