Ding Ding Ding Went the Bell...

I sing... the way most people would whistle or possibly hum... I sing... not very loudly... usually... I mean I don't suddenly burst into song and start belting out Broadway show tunes... but loud enough, occasionally, to be heard... which is not always a good thing... (at the office, in July, part way through a mindless Christmas carol). I have early recollections of my Grandmother singing while meandering around her house... nowhere else... not even the garden... not that I was there the majority of the time...but still, it would be hard to forget... Clang, Clang, Clang went the trolley... (which seems to be so completely out of character for her) but, obviously, was not... So, it must be genetic... this singing...

5th Floor Housewares...

My earliest shopping forays were at our downtown department stores, accompanied by my Grandmother, who always ended our day by taking me out to lunch... Today, I skipped lunch and headed out to Macy's on my lunch hour instead... they're having a one-day sale... this is the preview day... Being a seasoned shopper, I ended up doing a respectable amount of damage in just under an hour and left with some gorgeous bed linens for a mere fraction of their original prices... If you're lucky enough to have a Macy's near you, I highly recommend you check it out... while you're at it...grab your daughter or your granddaughter and make some memories along the way.

My Kingdom for a Barcode...

I have more than my share of "it seemed like a good idea at the time" moments. Today at the market was my latest. Think twice if you are considering using the "scan it yourself checkout" with any of these in your basket (the bok choy didn't make it out of the market)... This healthy eating is challenging on so many fronts... I never had a problem scanning a chocolate bar... I'm just saying...

Meet Guinevere Pettigrew...

Love...love...love. This little charmer grabs you up... twirls you around and around... and finally deposits you dizzy and breathless wishing for more... The story itself is a bubbly, little comedic cocktail... but the casting is perfection and the acting... oh, the acting is sublime...
Settle in with your popcorn... hit play and don't blink an eye...

A Chicken in Every Pot...

I've gotten sidetracked on a couple of projects today, so dinner tonight is going to be a very simple affair... a few pantry staples... minimal prepping and voila! dinner is served... an oven-roasted chicken accompanied by my Grandmother's thickened tomatoes...

Thickened Tomatoes

28 oz. can diced tomatoes

3 to 4 slices French bread (torn into large pieces)

3 T. butter

2 T. flour

1/2 c. water

salt and pepper, to taste

Combine tomatoes and butter in saucepan; cook over medium heat for 8 minutes. In a small bowl, combine flour, water, salt and pepper; gradually add to tomato mixture. Cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add bread, folding in gently. Remove from heat. Serve.

Whirled Peas...

If I were to have only one Easter candy... (ha, like THAT would ever happen) ...well, for the sake of argument anyway, if I were forced to narrow my Easter basket down to one treat, it would, without hesitation, be these Cadbury Mini Eggs. They are so beyond delicious, they could bring about world peace... find some... try them... thank me later...(I'm partial to flowers.)

New at the Louvre Junior...

My very first ACEO... it's b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.

The beginning of what I hope to be a sweet little collection...

Without art,

the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable.

~ George Bernard Shaw

A very thoughtful gift from an equally thoughtful friend.

Time is Making Fools of Us Again...

I don't know why... but there are movies that I can watch over and over... if I'm browsing and happen to land on one... Sleepless in Seattle... Pride and Prejudice... oldies with Cary Grant or Kate Hepburn... the list goes on and on ... well, they're having a Harry Potter marathon WEEKEND... and guess who found it? Moi, that's right. Goodbye good intentions, clean clothing, fresh bedding and dust-free surfaces... I'm hopelessy hooked... must run, commercial break is coming to a close...

Would You Like Fries with That?

...yes ...yes ...yes and YES! Actually, I've been trying to eat healthier... which is causing a little experimentation in the kitchen... first up were some piled-high nachos with organic pinto beans subbing for their refried cousins... ground turkey replacing beef... topped with homemade guacamole. Yum... didn't miss the extra fat one bit. Yesterday, it was stuffed red peppers... ground turkey and brown rice instead of beef and white rice... a little tomato paste added to the ground turkey filling really punched up the flavor... fried chicken and mac and cheese... watch out ... I think you're next...

Et Tu, Brute?

I'll be the first to admit that I have retained only a fraction of the knowledge my formal education afforded me. And that paltry store seems to be comprised primarily of the oddest bits I learned...
For instance, each year as March 15th rounds the corner "Beware the Ides of March" rattles through my brain. Where did I pick up that obscure little tidbit? World History? My Latin classes? I don't remember... I'm fairly sure it wasn't Home Ec though... although considering the level of cooking skills in that class, a warning or two might have proved rather useful...

Do You Have Those in a Size...

Did I ever mention I have a slight issue with shoes? I own way too many... and yet, somehow, never quite enough. My latest acquisition? A pair of dreamy heels one size larger than I wear... because, alas, they did not have my size... and I, of course, had to have those shoes... I'll make it work I told myself confidently as I headed out of the store swinging the bag containing those beauties... Two weeks, several air pillow insoles and heel wraps later... you'll find me scuffling along, curling my toes in a frantic effort to keep those boats on my feet with about as much aplomb as a newly-walking toddler with a full diaper...

It Was a Dark and Stormy Morning...

It was gray, cold, windy and raining when we headed out on our weekend excursion early this morning... but everything changed the minute we entered the coziest tiniest little gem of a diner just across the state line... the Three Stooges were pummeling each other on the flatscreen above the coffee maker... eggs and bacon were sizzling on the flat top grill... earlier diners were finishing their coffee along with the morning paper... all was right with the world...

Spring Has (Nearly) Sprung...

My great grandmother and grandmother both possessed those proverbial green thumbs. My mother and myself, not so much... I remember my grandmother's garden particularly... it was spacious, full of heirloom flowers, rose bushes, raspberry bushes, mulberry trees and constantly in bloom. I have one lilac bush... its been clinging to life for 8 years now... apparently I kept pruning it at the wrong time... I used to have two heirloom rose bushes... they're dead... I don't know what I did to those, but it must have been something awfully bad... because they managed quite happily for over twenty years before I took over their care. If you, like me, love flowers but are a bit botanically backward... take a moment to educate yourself... there are resources everywhere.

"The best time for pruning lilac bushes is right after their flowering has ceased. This allows new shoots plenty of time to develop the next season of blooms. Pruning lilacs too late can kill young developing buds...Pruning lilac bushes is important for their health and flower production."

Read first... snip second... your plants will thank you... my meager band of survivors does...

If I Only Had a Frog...

This is one of many treasures to be found at this this great little place. It's full of useful advice... Use thin [wine] glasses, as thick ones affect the temperature of the wine... Prevent potates from budding by storing them with an apple... And some just fun and funky offerings... Rub a frog on your wart. If you don't have a frog handy, then rub the wart with a peeled apple and give it to a pig. Easy...peasy...

Alternative Art...

I like vintage...especially kitchen vintage...

I've amassed quite a collection of vintage cookbooklets... Some I matted and framed...

They actually make quite cheap and cheerful wall art... While others are tucked away in drawers...

Doing as they were originally intended...

Instructing us on the art of flaky pie crusts, moist cakes,

feather-light biscuits

and adding inches to unsuspecting hips...

You Really Shouldn't Have...

...but I'm so happy you did! One of my most favorite gifts... I didn't pack it away with the rest because I want to keep it out all year... but where? The perfect little spot will present itself at some point... until then, it waits. If I had two, I'd make earrings. Imagine those two danglies coming at you through the airport gate... (my NY sweeties just fell off their couch in horror) ...they know me... and they're a bit unsure...

Plumping the Economy...

Look what greeted me on my doorstep... my little splurge from bookcloseouts.com ...a place definitely worth perusing... Their everyday prices are amazing... special promotions and sales? Beyond ridiculous... Don't believe me? All this scrumptiousness combined cost less than one hardcover novel at full retail... Just in time for the weekend too! Of course, I had planned on doing a little early Spring cleaning... although I'm pretty sure if I spray paint the dust bunnies I could pass them off as Easter peeps...

Bread and Water...

Two very thoughtful people visited one of my favorite out-of-town breakfast spots and brought me back a newly-baked loaf of bread. This cozy little place bakes their own bread each morning (and they have bacon) what more could you want? So tonight, after a particularly busy day today, it ended up as my dinner... oh, I toasted it and buttered it... but that's all... I'd intended to at least make a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich... but I was too impatient... lazy ...just keeping it real...