bye blonde curls

Carrason's curls are gone (at least for the summer).  He asked his daddy to cut his hair like this.  Carrs has never been a fan of his curls.   He looks so much older.

I can already feel myself having curl withdrawl. 

BLUEberry pancakes with BLUEberry syrup on a BLUE plate = delicious weekend breakfast.

These pictures are from Mt. Olivet cemetery in Nashville.  Cayd and I took a trip last week  to shoot some photos.  I've been there several times and have only seen a small part of the 250 acres.  Of course my interest is in the oldest parts of the cemetery where the headstones and other monuments date back to the 1800's.   

The history is vast and amazing.    

                                                    

                                                                 Handsome!

                                                             Fetch Spurgie!

My lawn guy.

                                                            

                                  
  I took some pictures of my neighbor's flag this evening at dusk.  Old Glory was billowing beautifully.

New Roof!!

Top picture: before

bottom picture: after

Now just need to work on my landscaping. :)

Trader Joe's 100% whole wheat sour dough

If you're lucky enough to have a Trader Joe's in your city you probably know the deliciousness of their bread.  We got one in Nashville last year. The 100% whole wheat sour dough is so delish!!  For a sandwich or slathered with some budda.  Like a little bread with your budda?  Me too.  This yummy stuff puts California sour dough to shame.
Omaha, NE is getting a Trader Joe's soon I hear!!  Yay!

Spurgie the toy poodle

I am not ashamed to say I love poodles!!  Poodles are the second most intelligent breed of dog.  They have a great disposition, and most are great with kids.  Their coats for the most part don't shed and rarely have any smell.  What an awesome breed of dog!  Of course if you're looking for an intimidating watch dog a poodle is not your breed.  Spurgie will bark someone's socks off though and try his best to defend his family (standing behind them shaking of course)  :)

Reeses PB bars

I got this recipe about 5 yrs. ago from a friend.  It was called PB fudge.  While I was browsing through some blogs I found the familiar recipe but this one was called Reeses PB cup bars.  So I decided to make them for Memorial Day and attach this name to them.  Although everyone liked them before, they seem to even be more interested when I called them Reeses PB bars.  Easy, decadent, and addicting.  

1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Line a 8×8 pan with foil.

Melt 1/2 c. butter of low heat. Remove from heat and stir in confectioner’s sugar. Add peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs, stirring until creamy. Spread mixture into pan, patting down evenly.

In same pot, on low heat, melt butter. Add chocolate chips and stir until chips are nearly melted and very soft. Remove from heat and continue stirring until chocolate is smooth and shiny. Spread over peanut butter layer. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cut into bars.

Store bars in refrigerator.

Lemon Yogurt Cake

I also had plain yogurt left over from the Indian food.  I haven't used my oven in awhile due to the heat but today I decided to make a lemon yogurt cake.  It's a recipe from one of my Ina Garten cookbooks and I really like it in the summer time.  It is a lighter recipe using only 1/2 c. oil and 1 c. plain yogurt in place of any butter.  The yogurt makes the cake so moist and the lemon glaze makes it nice and tart.

Lemon Yogurt cake

1 1/2 all purpose flour

2 t. baking powder

1/2 kosher salt

1 c. plain yogurt

1 1/3 c. sugar, divided

3 extra large eggs

2 t. grated lemon zest

1/2 t. pure vanilla extract

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1/3 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice

for the glaze:

1 c. confectioners' sugar

2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease an 8 1/2 X 4 1/4 X 2 1/2 loaf pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into one bowl. 

 In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 c. sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla.  Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.  With a rubber spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter, making sure it's all incorporated.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 40-45 min.  or until knife in the middle comes out clean.  Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 c. lemon juice and remaining 1/3 c. sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear.  Set aside.  The the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan.  While the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in.  Cool.  For the glaze, combine the confectioners sugar and lemon juice and pour over the cake.

Friday lunch

It's been a nice Friday at home with all 3 of my boys.  Nobody ate breakfast so by the time noon rolled around we had some hungry tummies.  I had marinated chicken in my fridge we were supposed to eat last night but something else came up and with the weekend not sure when it would be eaten.  So a big lunch we all had.  This is a supper I make often.  I grill marinated chicken and serve it with Naan, couscous, and salad.  My two older boys are crazy about couscous.  I made Indian food a couple weeks ago and had the Naan in my freezer.  I'm also going to make a lemon yogurt cake with the leftover yogurt. 

kitchen rah

                  

 Yesterday while shopping I found a bright green Chantal (what a great name :) dish.  I placed it up in my cupboard with my turquoise plates ( to the right of the microwave) and Blue Willow dishes.  It looked so lovely I had to snap a couple pics.  I think it's such a pretty color combination.  It definitely looks like summer especially with the pineapple.

I love Denby stoneware.  I found this beautiful mug today while doing some shopping.  My new favorite coffee vessel.   I'd love to have a whole set of Denby dishes. Maybe someday.

www.DenbyUSA.com

                           The most beautiful clouds were in the sky late this afternoon. What do you see?

The Lollipop Guild

Doesn't their hair look like the Lollipop Guild munchkins from Wizard of Oz?

                                      

                                                     1993

                                              2010
                                          Where did 17+ years go?

Yay! I finally have a little studio all of my own! I am so excited! I still have more work to do but I'm pleased with my progress so far.

photo: from trothome.com

I'm on the hunt for some vintage canisters like these. I'd love them to be turquoise and copper like the top picture. Any suggestions on where I might go to look??...please comment or send me an email. :)