We Saw Loads Of Pretty Things!

So to continue the story of our trip to the antiques store...   My friend and I saw loads of pretty things.

This purple star quilt was gorgeous!
More quilts.

McCoy pottery anyone?

Look at all that aqua! 

Blue Spice jars.

Majolica.

Biscuit barrels and parrots!

Before I go any further let me just say that my friend and I have been best buddies for forever and a day-  since we were two years old.  And when we get together, we have a lot of fun.  Sometimes we call each other  made up names like "Gertie" and  "Hilda" and pretend we are from Sweden.   We laugh the whole day.    So you will not be surprised....

We saw this hat rack.

She tried on a lovely flowered hat.

A couple of booths down we found a lovely blue number.

In another booth she discovered a green and white hat and decided it matched my outfit!

And while looking at pretty teacups, we found yet another hat. 

Then we behaved ourselves for a little while.

Look at this cool purple Melmac!

And vintage kitchenware.

Beautiful Belleek!

Sweet little Christening gowns!

But then .......  

We found a tambourine!  Jingle jingle!

And believe it or not, in another booth, 

a second tambourine, this one with ribbons attached.  

Just perfect for a gypsy girl!

We saw cool lighting!

She loved a chandelier that had been converted from gas.

I preferred one with blue prisms as big as my hand!

And so the day went.  We laughed 'til we hurt.  The other shoppers probably thought we were nuts.  We didn't mind.   The shop owners might have.  Do you think they will let us come back?   Or will they post a sign on the front door that says  "No shenanigans!"

Aren't best friends wonderful?

Little Houses

My best friend and I  spent the afternoon browsing around an antiques store and look what we found-  Sweet little doll houses!    Aren't these all adorable?

I already have a cute little blue dollhouse, from when I was a girl (see picture below), but I might have to go back and get another one!

They also had some cute furniture.  I meant to take lots more pictures, but somehow this is the only photo of furniture I got.   I might have to go back and see if this one is still there.

And there was a wonderful little cottage rug.  Soooo cute!

And last but not least, they had little cottage teapots!  Someday, one of these will have to join my teapot collection. 

Be sure to check back later this week for more photos.  You will not believe the shenanigans we two girls got up to.  And that's all I'm going to say about that right now. 

I am joining Laurie for Favorite Things Saturday.   Be sure to stop by and see all the Saturday favorites!

O Is For Ogopogo

O is for the Ogopogo in the Okanagan. 

The Ogopogo is Nessie's Canadian Cousin,  an unidentified and elusive sea creature  living in Okanagan Lake, British Columbia.   There have been documented sightings of a "sea monster" here at this lake since 1872.  

 (This photo was taken by my Dad.  Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Three little girls climb up onto the Ogopogo statue in Kelowna. That's me in front, on the Ogopogo's snout, with two of my sisters up on his head.  (my 3rd sister had not yet been born.)  

This is the new Ogopogo statue.  (pic from the web)

Canada even put the Ogopogo on a stamp. (pic from the web)

The beautiful, semi-arid Okanagan region is known for it's vineyards, fruit orchards , summer and winter sports and tourism.  A really lovely vacation spot!  

 

(both of these pics from the web)

It's Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny's and we are celebrating the letter "O". 

(The first picture was taken by my Dad, the rest are from web.)

Covered!

One of my favorite shrubs!  

The spirea is covered from head to toe in
tiny white flowers!

The Farmers Market

One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday is shop at the local Farmers Market.  Here are the sights that greeted me this morning.

Flowers.

Cilantro.  I bought  a couple of plants to grow in pots.   I love making guacamole during the summer.

Honey and soap.

Some of the first veggies of spring.

Pie.  The kids are home this weekend, so I picked up an apple pie to have with dinner.

The rest of the pictures are from visits to outdoor markets in other cities.

We love to visit the markets, no matter where we are.

Childhood toys  ,  Red Rat and Blue Bear accompanied my sister and I to this flower stall in NE.

(My sister may have taken this picture.  I honestly don't remember anymore.)

Bountiful vegetables.

My daughter choosing a handful of zinnias from a market in NE.

One of my nieces and Mr. Garden checking out the produce at a market in MO.  

This was one of the hottest day of the year, and we were melting!

My friend picking out a few delicious treats at a market in WA.

Laurie is hosting Favorite Things Saturday.  Please visit her blog to see all the other wonderful favorite posts!

N Is For Nanaimo Bars

N is for Nanaimo Bars, a wonderful, triple layered, custard and chocolate cookie.    So yummy!     It is said that a housewife from the town of Nanaimo, British Columbia, submitted this bar cookie for publication in a cookbook.  It turned out to be a hit and put both the treat and the town on the map!

You may have seen these mentioned on TV during the 2010 Winter Olympics.   They are truly a favorite Canadian confection!

This recipe comes from my best friend, who is Canadian.  She makes them every year.  My son loves them!

(picture from the www)

NANAIMO BARS:

First Layer:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
5 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups graham crackers crumbs
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup walnuts
Mix butter, sugar, egg and cocoa,  Place over boiling water (double boiler) and stir until mixture looks like custard.    Remove from heat;  and add crumbs, coconut and nuts.   Press into buttered 9x9 pan.

Second Layer:
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons vanilla custard powder
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
Cream butter, custard powder, milk and sugar until smooth.  Spread on graham cracker base.   Chill for about 15 minutes.

Third Layer:
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate
1 tablespoon butter
Melt chocolate and butter over hot water (double boiler).  Spread over custard layer.

Chill.  Cut into squares.  (Keep refrigerated.)


My Notes:

I use Bird's Custard Powder.  You may substitute vanilla pudding if you can not find custard powder.

You may substitute any of your favorite nuts for the walnuts.

Use a hot knife to cut into squares, to keep the chocolate from cracking.

I have seen several variations on this recipe.  My sister adds 1 teaspoon of mint extract and 2 drops of green food coloring to the middle layer, to make it green at Christmas.


It's Alphabe-Thursday!  Join us over at Jenny's to see all the other N posts!

Other N news.... our naughty Natasha kitty decided to climb a tree in the back yard.  She did not know how to come down.  Mr. Garden had to get out the ladder and go up after her.  She kept climbing higher.  He climbed off the ladder and further up into the tree, while I  had visions of broken legs and backs.   Finally got them both down to safety.  I would have taken a picture, but I was too busy holding the ladder.

And for even more N, see yesterday's post about my niece.

Tea Parties With My Niece

It has become a tradition in our family to have a tea party in my parents backyard every summer.   It started a few years ago when my youngest niece said she would like to have a dolly tea.  So every summer we invite the dolls, get out all my Mom's pretty teacups and serving dishes,  dig out the hats, make the food, pick the flowers, and have a fun afternoon for the whole family.   (These photos are from several years worth of backyard teaparties, and many of them were taken by my sisters and mom.)

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

My niece and her dollies.

One of the cats decided to join the party.

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Helping to make the tea sandwiches.

The table is ready.

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

My 3 sisters and niece at the table.

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

My sweet little niece picked the flowers for the centerpiece.

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

This was  from another year.

My daughter, son, niece and her Mom (my youngest sister).

And yet another year.  Little dollies coming to see if there is anything good to nibble.

Scrumptious goodies ready to serve.

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Waiting patiently for everything to begin.

Putting all these pictures together in one place made me realize just how much 

she has grown in the past few years. 

Tea made just the way each person likes it.  And one little glass of strawberry milk.

I'm joining  Lady Katherine Tea Parlor for Tea Time Tuesday

Polish Pottery Cheese Ladies

Today I'm joining Laurie for Favorite Things Saturday.

I love Polish Pottery Cheese Ladies.  Aren't they cute?   I love the hands on their hips and their facial expressions!  They are hand painted with little stamps.  Many traditional and contemporary designs exist.

They are called cheese ladies because traditionally they were used to store cheese.   But these days they are used for all sorts of things.   You can keep a whole stack of pancakes warm in a big one.   Or keep fresh baked cookies warm until your kids get home from school.   The smaller ones can be used for a few pats of butter or lemon slices for your tea. Or to hide your scrubby pad on your kitchen sink.

This one looks surprised,  like someone just goosed her rump.

This one looks like she is saying "Don't sass me young lady or you'll be grounded!"  (Not that I know anything about saying things like that.)

The plate underneath is always decorated to match.

You can find cheese ladies and other  beautiful Polish pottery pieces for sale at  Euro Pottery, one of my favorite shops in Leavenworth, KS. 

  (these two photos were from Euro Pottery website)