Made by Hand with Heart...

I don't know if it was just me or not... but this past Holiday season seemed subdued... shopping wise that is... not much merriment in the malls... by way of decorations or merchandise... and since there was such a lack of goods beforehand... there seemed little point in going back for any post-Christmas treasure hunting... instead, I opted to do it differently this year...  with a steaming mug of coffee... in my comfiest pajamas... on that little gem known as Etsy... just a few of my sweet little purchases (so far)...

try Etsy for a treat for yourself... or anyone on your gift list...

A Pinch of This...

Who doesn't like a free cookbook?
Today I received a letter in the mail

letting me know a recipe I submitted a while ago

was being included in a new cookbook

and I was getting a free copy of the newly-published tome...

Pretty snazzy, huh?  I thought so...

You've got recipes, right??

submit one or two here

and don't be surprised to see a cookbook turn up in your future...

gooseberrypatch recipes

Respect...

Some guests leave their shoes at the door...

While others leave their manners there as well.

Cha... Cha... Changes...

I am a sentimentalist and for that reason... I think... very resistant to change.  They're tearing down my beautiful old elementary school...

Goodbye classrooms...

and while I know change is often times necessary...
it's not always for the better...

I guess the trees were as obsolete as the architecture...

The new building is already up and running...
it's modern... it's jarring...
it's... well, to be blunt... it's ugly.
Not a graceful line in sight...
and for that reason (and perhaps a few more)
no pictures appear here for posterity.