Wednesday White

Several months ago, I decided to try to assemble an assortment of white dishes for my table because so many of you have shown how versatile and pretty they can look! It didn't matter to me if they were the same pattern; I like odd dishes to mix and match.
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The first thing I found was this plate (50 cents). It's a lovely pattern -- very fine and delicate and the fruit and flowers are dainty looking.

I also found 2 more white dinner plates and had a couple of small bowls in various patterns. (These were all shown in previous thrifting posts.)
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But then last week, I walked into The Daisy and found 24 pieces for $10.00! I didn't hesitate for a moment -- I scooped it up!

This "Fruit de Blanc" pattern was never was an expensive ironstone set to begin with (made in China), and I believe the pattern is quite common. But it's very pretty; and as Drew Carey now says - "The Price is Right"!

There are 6 each dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls and saucers; plus one platter in a slightly different pattern (Harvest Moon). It's odd, but there were no cups. Ah well -- I think I'll partner the saucers with the bowls.

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I later found these 2 pretty cups at the Salvation Army store for 25 cents each. They look nice on the saucers.

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And I've found a great spot for storing them on the lower shelf of my tea cart. I want to use them fairly often. (They make their premier performance on Easter Sunday.)*
Now my eagle eyes will be on the look-out for sugar & creamer, teapot etc.

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Somewhere, sometime ..... on my doorstep or perhaps in a distant thrift store ..... they lie and wait for me to take them home. I've no doubt about it!

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I love thrifting! What cheap fun!

Easter Decorating

What an extremely busy weekend I've had! There was no time for me to post nor was there any time for me to read your posts. I'm going to try to catch up with them all over the next couple of days. But if something extra special-wonderful happened that I should know about immediately -- like a free chocolate give-away OR a date with a rich, Italian who likes buxom Newfie girls with spunk --- then please let me know!
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In the meantime, let me entertain you with my fabulous Easter decor which I did Thursday evening while the kiddies were at a school dance. And not one to be left out, I had my own dance happening while I decorated: I twisted and jived and bumped (and may have even gotten in a dirty boogie and a crump!) to the likes of ABBA and Stevie Wonder and Shania Twain. Just taking advantage of exercise wherever I can get it!
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I usually have a decorated Easter tree (which requires an Alder branch to be cut on Ash Wednesday and put into a large jug of water so by Easter, the leaves have come out); but it didn't get done this year. These little guys (which were gifts to my girls from their favorite Aunt) have 3 of the eggs that would normally be hung.

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Here are 3 egg cups the girls received from the Bunny when they were very little. They get used on Easter Sunday!*

And here is another row of Easter egg cups. The turkey cup was a find last summer at a yard sale; the next 2 are antique cups that Larry and I purchased many years ago; and the next egg cup with matching mug was a recent find from The Daisy.*

Now a warning! Don't let age or dancing fool you, bloggies!

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While I was decorating and dancing my buns off, I was thinking "Man, I Feel Like a Woman!" and "Isn't She Lovely!" I am still a "Dancing Queen".

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However, once I stopped dancing (and not every part of me stopped at the same time), "The Woman in Me" was saying: "Honey, Honey!" Perhaps I should have taken it a little easier "For Once in My Life". Because "When all is said and done", I was purdy tuckered out and could easily have thrown a hip!

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And "That Don't Impress Me Much".

THRIFTY THURSDAY

One of my favorite thrift stores in the area, The Daisy, always closes down for a day in between seasons to redecorate and bring out the new duds. This Tuesday, they opened their doors at 10 am for the "spring fashion line". The place was stuffed to the gills by the time I got there during my noon hour lunch break. I still scored a wonderful array of pretty clothes, a lot of it in yellow -- the very color I was looking for this season.

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This first shirt ($3.50) is a Northern Reflections ultra-suede - very soft! I wore it last night to our TOPS Easter auction with the glass bead necklace you see in the picture (The Sally Ann for $1.00); it reminds me of easter eggs.*
My next shirt ($3.50) is a pretty cotton one in yellow, grey & white with shirring at the sides (to accentuate my womanly curves!!!)*
And my next shirt ($3.50) is another Northern Reflections brand. (Do you have that in the US??) It's 50% cotton/50% linen, so it's nice and crisp feeling; and it will be a perfect cover-up over a simple white cotton cami. I've paired it with a (tucked away and hidden until Mother's Day) bead and chain necklace.Here's a close-up. You look at it; I can't because it's a surprise until Mother's Day!Isn't it pretty; it's so spring like! It was bought at a great sale in February for $2.97; I bought another one exactly like it and a purple one for my eldest daughter. Now, if only I could find where I put them ....... Hmmm..........
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And to go with all that pretty yellow, what could be better than this bracelet ($1.00).
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Just so you don't get the idea that I want to wear sunshiney-yellow all spring, I did buy something in another color. I bought this pretty little t-shirt ($2.50).*
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But my big score for this week -- heck, probably for the whole month -- is this ace condition leather jacket ($20). My soon-to-be 20 yr old has a birthday coming up the end of April. And I think she's at that age where she would appreciate a good jacket.*

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One of the nice things about the store just re-opening this week is that you could go in several times a day for the whole week and find so many wonderful treasures.
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So ................. guess where I'm going tomorrow at lunch time??

Spicy Lime Seafood Pasta

Last night's birthday dinner was sooooo delicious! It's been a long time since I've cooked anything this decadant. It will not be my last.

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Spicy Lime Seafood Pasta

(adapted from an online recipe - 20 Minute Supper Club)

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1/4 cup olive oil (plus extra for serving)

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2 cloves minced garlic

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2 chilies, finely chopped

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2 limes, zested and juiced
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1 500-g box spaghetti (I used fresh Fettuccini)

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1 lb Halibut skin off, cut into chunks

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1/2 lb scallops

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12 large peeled, de-veined shrimp

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OR whatever seafood you wish to use

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Warm the oil in a large saute pan over med heat. Add minced garlic, chilies and lime zest; and cook 2 min until warm and fragrant. Remove pan from heat and allow flavors to mingle. The scent is marvelous!!

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Cook the noodles in boiling, salted water until just undercooked. (Remove from heat but keep noodles in water.)

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While the noodles are cooking, cook the halibut. Add scallops next; lastly add shrimp. (Perhaps 5-10 min total depending on size of pan and amount of seafood.)

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Drain noodles and toss with lime juice and a little extra oil. Toss to coat well. Top with seafood and fresh ground pepper. Serve with a little fresh Parmesan, if desired!

A meal fit for a king!

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Or a princess and a queen!!

Feliz Cumple Adris!

April (I mean March) 23rd dawned as Adriana's 17th birthday. She's made friends with the Mexican family who moved in next door; and they came over before school this morning to bring their best wishes.

Adriana loves seafood; so for dinner we had a wonderful spicy lime seafood pasta dish (recipe tomorrow). And the girls next door as well as another Mexican friend came by for homemade carrot cake with cream cheese icing -- her favorite.

Was this piece #1 or #2, Adriana? A huge compliment to the cook!

Birthdays are always more fun with friends.

That's what Mom's are for..............

When your kids are little, you always know what your role in their life is. Then they get to be teenagers, and your role begins to change --- from one of manager to one of consultant. Then they move away and get a job and begin to fend for themselves. And you don't see them or hear from them very often; and you wonder how you fit into their world now.
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My soon-to-be 20 yr old daughter called me the other night and said that she'd broken up with her boyfriend of over 2 years. (And in my attempt to be less opinionated and outspoken, I did not cheer ----- externally!)
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Can she come home to live for a few months, she asked? While she works her 2 weeks notice, she can stay with a girlfriend in the city. But she wants to try being a single person and maybe find work down here. She needs to regroup and rethink her life and breathe a little easier.

(Molly overlooking the lake at her Dad's 2006)
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"Of course you can", I said!
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That's what Mom's are for, right!

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Isn't that how God treats us: no matter how many mistakes we've made or if we've been good or bad or spent any time with Him; His arms are always open to receive us when we need Him.
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So, I drove to Halifax to help her move out and into her new temporary home. She kept just what she'll need for 2 weeks; and the rest came home to with me.
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What the heck!!! I had just gotten the spare room and the

basement organized!! And now look at it again!!

(This is just a little of what's here!)

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And I was reminded once again of a lesson from the most perfect parent .....
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"I take you with ALL your baggage", said God. "And I love you and support you anyway."
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Yup! That what Mom's are for?

HAPPY SPRING ....... & a Giveaway!

It's officially spring!

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A few days ago, I tempted fate and took most of the protective layer of leaves off my flower beds so those beautiful green shoots could get more sun. There's so much coming up! Look! These are just a few of my first crocus' this year ....
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I also bought myself flowers: beautiful tulips, just ready to open -- some for the living room and some for my bedroom so I can experience spring as often as possible. I adore spring!
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Sense of Spring

Spring is the loveliest season of them all,

A source of life and love and gentle things,

Reward for winter's frost and icy pall.

A time when fledglings spread their tiny wings.

Spring is the gentlest season of them all,

When lambs their frail appendages must try,

The sheep stay close, concerned lest they should fall,

And gently nuzzle them to help them try.

Spring is the brightest season of them all,

Spring flowers yellow, mauve and red and blue,

And grasses growing silky, slender, tall;

And trees whose leaves are green of every hue.

Spring is the shortest season of them all,

Dissolving into summer's eager call.

(John Knight - September 2009)


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On my way home from work, I found a great bargain on bulbs. So, to celebrate spring's arrival and to say thank you to my fans and followers, I'm going to host a giveaway.






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I think we're all familiar with the Lilium or Lily; and I choose white so it would go with everything else in the garden. (And I don't have a white one in mine yet!)
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The Sparaxis or Harlequin Flower is a new one for me. (That means, if you know this flower, HELP ME!) There's not much information on the back of the package. Some info I found online said it's fine to leave the corms in the ground over winter, some say dig them up. Perhaps I'll know more by the time I draw a winner.
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So, here's how you enter my fabulous giveaway.
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1. Just leave me a comment on any of my posts from now until the draw date.

• Just mention "Happy Spring Giveaway"
• Gush over how wonderful and beneficient I am (And how extravagant a spender at $2 a package + shipping! ....... and don't forget the love involved here!)
• Tell me all about your love of flowers and gardening ..... 'cause if you're a gardener, we all know that you're going to anyway. (Just try not to talk about your garden! You just won't be able to help yourself, I know!)

2. If you follow, put your name in again.

3. And spread the word for another chance to win.

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I'll draw for the winner on April 1st ................... and I'll even include a token April 1st silly gift along with the bulbs to commerate April Fools Day -- that favorite day of 12 yr old boys and phone companies!
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Happy Spring bloggies!

And if the sun isn't shining where you are today, I hope it's aglow in your hearts!

OMG! I had to sell one of the kids!!

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I know! I know! Pretty darned tramatic! But it had to be done; there was no other way, I tell you. THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY!!!
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But ..................
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at least, now I've got this baby!! Ain't she purdy!!

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(And although I'll miss the laundry, balled up tissues and empty

milk-rimmed glasses, I think this will be cheaper in the end.)

Thrifty Thursday

It's time to catch up with my thrifty clothing purchases over the past couple of weeks.
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I bought this red satin tunic-type shirt ($3.85) and the satin scarf ($1.99) at the Liverpool Frenchies on our March 6th day trip. Looks like a good team, huh?*
This beautiful satin blouse was found during my Molly Day trip at The Salvation Army Thrift Shop in Halifax on March 12th. It was expensive at $4.99.*
This large sparkly fringed scarf was found at Value Village ($1.99) also on March 12th. Too bad the photo doesn't quite capture how lovely it is. (Sort-of like pictures of me, huh?)
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This sweet little blouse ($3.85) was found at the Coldbrook Frenchies March 15th. I imagined wearing it this summer paired with my crisp white knee-length shorts!*
Also found that day at Coldbrook Frenchies were these pretty LL Bean pj's ($3.85) -- long sleeved shirt and long pants.*
This scrumptuous wrap dress was bought Tuesday at The Daisy for 50% off; so it cost me all of $2!!

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Sorry I didn't have time to iron these things for you. I've been too busy thrifting!!!

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Happy Thrifting yourselves, dear bloggy friends!

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY

On this day of the "wearin of the green", jigs and reels, soda bread, shamrocks and green beer, I have 3 things to present to you:

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• The only St Patrick's Day ornament in my house:

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• This green algae filled, shamrock-shaped rock pool (found last Monday at the beach):*

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• And this beautiful, beloved birthday girl:*
  And no! Although she is in fetal position, she wasn't this large when she was born! (Ew boy! Talk about "girl power"! And ouchie!!!)

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Here she is as a newborn bambino: (and is that the "Nanu, nanu" greeting that Mork used to use?)

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I love you darling 23 yr old!

I hope you're dancing up a storm and having fun!

('Cause you're probably drinking that vile green stuff!)