people are watching

Was it the confident walk  ( you know, when you check out your outfit in the mirror before you leave the house and you feel good about it )
Was it the hair style  ( happened to be a good hair day )
Was it the smile on my face ( i think I was smiling)

Whatever it was,  I was getting second glances.  At least two of them.

on second thought, could it have been because my cozy winter coat made me look like the Michelin man with almost bare feet 
 ( couldn't  they tell I was wearing cute sandals ! )


People are watching..
that is what they do.
that is what we do

BOOKS, and more BOOKS

 cook books 
    they make good reading material
              and I have many
     ( Martha, since I know you are probably the only person who reads these things, I am thinking about you and want you to know that most people don't spend time "journaling" if no one is going to read it. So, I appreciate when you take the time to let me know you understood my story and smiled )

And the rest of you , I know you are out there, because I can see behind the scenes how many people have opened ( maybe not read the entire story ) but just not WHO?   So, feel free to leave a little note
                 ♪  ♫  will do   ☺

 Favorites: Joy  ( I have 3 copies )
Barefoot Contessa ( thanks to my girl Anita who gave me my first one ) 

    Favorite:  My mother's copy of Betty Crocker
        ( my mother Betty was a great cook )

 Favorite:  How to be a Domestic Goddess
    ( I am still trying, just not hard enough )
         there are others upstairs, I am too lazy to go there

Well, I was looking through a number of books trying to find something for Easter.  I was totally engrossed in one,when the singing stopped and David Jeremiah started his message. ( mind you, it was only 15 minutes.  While in N. Y. he has special singers and they had entertained for 45 minutes.)

In 15 minutes he shared the value of reading a book.    THE book.  The Word of God.

He said:  It is all I need to know about salvation and how to be happy along the way.

I said: It even has recipes. Recipes for what is important in life. 

Knowing that God has given each of us gifts.

Mine is hospitality and that is right there in 

I Peter 4,  Acts 28,  and my favorite chapter in the whole Bible Romans 12  (verse 13 ).

My second ( and I am pretty sure I have only two) is encouragement.   

I know you will be encouraged if you pick up your Bible and read for a few minutes right now.

( and now the second reason I am thinking about you Martha, I was reading the book you gave to me )

The book by Shirley and Danae does not have recipes, but talks about the  lost tradition of entertaining.   ( They do not know that, entertaining is my gift   ☺   )

Enough !

I live an exciting life ! 

it starts with a pound of butter - chapter two

Butter 
  
       more and  more

                      Butter

Well, I had to try again, this is a recipe I have made for years. It is dated and signed...Z  1987.
So what did I do wrong? 
Shortbread Princess,...really she is the Queen of Shortbread,
           too much  flour.

So, I make them again.
      And they looked great.

    But I had to be sure

                    

You can't always tell with just one                             

Trying to imagine what might happen with a cup of coffee  .

Should I go there?

Did I go there?

♥

treats to treat

treats to treat

first  I got treated

with a coupon for 5 free little treats. They look like little doughnut holes

I ate one right away.

then I sat down in one of the comfy chairs at Nordstrom, to have another.

 Along came a little fellow and his mother.
 He could not take his eyes off my little box as his mother walked briskly along

I heard a little chuckle.  It was the lady beside me.
We both smiled
" we know what he was thinking" she laughed.
I ate one more little treat and was ready to head home.


" Would you like one?"   I asked the lady
She smiled " what are they?" she responded
I showed her and held the box out to her.

"Well,yes I would, thank you " she said,
 to my surprise and delight.
"I have never had them"


"Well", I said, "I haven't either.  They were part of a little packet of coupons from Valentine's Day and I just pulled  one out and walked up to the counter and asked if I could redeem it.
Sorry, you will have to go downstairs, that coupon is for Cinnabon, we are Auntie's pretzels." ( he was very polite )
So I did and all the pink was gone from my cheeks as I explained what happened, and the clerk told me it happens often. Same corner, different floors.  :)  

So, we laughed some more, and I said goodbye,
I feel warm inside.

I live an exciting life. 

I get it !

I get it !   I love math !

it works with butter too !

it starts with a pound of butter

Butter. there is nothing like it.
no not  margarine

.  no  not "looks like butter"...
            not "can't believe it 's not butter ".

          BECAUSE, I KNOW BETTER.
                           
                  BUTTER IS BUTTER AND
                       BUTTER IS BETTER  !

Then why is there something wrong with this picture ?
Why did I spend two hours mixing a pound of butter into sugar and flour and rolling the dough and cutting the heart shapes, 
only to have them crack and fall apart and then bake up harder than a rock ?

That is the question I have for my Scottish friend Zina. 
 She gave me the recipe, and I have made them many times.
They always turn out. My family loves them and that is why I am getting them ready for Easter weekend. 
 But Zina  is the expert and I am not. She will know. 
 Another pound of butter is on the counter, waiting  to to soften,
and I am off to Zina's ! 

the tour

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT 

a little quiz at the end  ☺

THE FIRST PEEK.........

FEATURE BY FEATURE 

FIREPLACES

AT THE ENTRY, IN A LITTLE NOOK.

LIGHTING  

                                           Ceiling, recessed lighting

Ceiling, light from outside.

Furniture

Favorites  

                and just because

And now for the quiz..
 did you find..
1. hidden Steinway Grand piano
2. Shelf with hidden window
3. Handsome host with hat  ( Russ )
4. Tree growing through the house
5. Cute hiding hostess  ( Sharon )
6. My tall dark and handsome husband ( Darrell )
7. A lonely icicle 
And did you notice very little wall decor. Many walls were completely bare. 
Also, minimal closets. Apparently, wardrobes were smaller in those days.  A lady might have only 3 or 4 outfits.  
 Times have changed. 
However, Mr Wright had amazing ideas and his skill was nurtured by his mother.  At an early age she gave him a little set of  "tools" and told him he would become an architect some day.
  And he did.  

How will I use the gifts that God has given me?  You know, He has given each of us our own skill.  First we can thank Him, then we can use it. 

Let's do it !