What Color Is LOVE To You?

A  "Pink" Love Story
I was five years old when My Dearest Auntie asked me what color Love was to me....I said... "PINK"...and every single year from that moment on she planted the most beautiful PINK tree in the whole wide world... on My Birthday! I was forty three when God took her Home.... An incredible birthday each year, an acre of PINK IN BLOOM!!!!! The most amazing sight and feeling! The sweet fragrance of a million blossoms and the softness of  a Pink Cloud in full bloom above me is something I will never forget! The first tree she planted for me was a Japanese Flowering Cherry. It was just outside her biggest window and the most magnificent of all! Always in it's full glory on My Day. We would sit and marvel at it's beauty and size. Every family picture was taken under it...'Our Favorite.' With each coming year we anticipated how beautiful it would be. On my birthday in 1993 the phone rang and she said..."Darling, the cherry tree didn't bloom this year!" I gasped, and we both cried! Two weeks later, she went to Heaven.......... Such a story of Love! Of listening and knowing a little girl's heart and understanding, even then, what beauty meant to me. I will always marvel at how she knew how to love me...and how she was able to make all things special and wonderful! When I arrived back home, (I had moved away), most of MY PINK CLOUD was still in bloom...but not...'Our Favorite!'  I stood there under it feeling so alone and sad, and as I looked down, right out of the bottom of the trunk, there was a tiny twig...with one PINK BLOSSOM!  I knew at that moment that God wanted me to know I was not alone and that I was Loved! Even though I live far away now, I know that the bloom of Spring is just around the corner and MY PINK TREES will be in their glory!  Thinking of My Auntie this morning and My Precious Gift I  put together a Pink Treasury on My Etsy Page to share with all of you. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d3d000fb4696d91065fc8e4/love-is-pink?ref=pr_treasury Have you ever thought of what color LOVE is to YOU?...or to someone you love?...or what you could do with THE COLOR THAT IS LOVE TO THEM ? Happy LOVING, Loves!

May Your New Year Be Filled To The Brim With Love!

A Very Happy New Year Loves!

May it be filled...To The Brim With LOVE!

I have been pondering on the year and thinking of all of the Love that it held. Have you ever thought of that?

OH My Goodness! It suddenly becomes absolutely filled to the brim and overflowing!

The simplest of things can say...I Love You.

My Precious Grandchildren giggling as they walk into the house and call out..."Nana"...makes me feel like a warm blanket of Love just wrapped all around me!

The thoughtfulness of My Wonderful Husband...each and everyday...is as tho, even without a word, he can surround my world in Amazing Love!

All of My Children home at the same time is Love to me. The fact that they simply "Made It Happen"...feels like being in God's arms!

Thinking of our own actions and showing someone else our love is such joy!!!! 

Paying attention...

What do we do that puts the Biggest Smile on their face?

What is there that they need help with?

What can we do to be sure that our Patience and Kindness is ALWAYS available for them?

Just very simple thoughts from a very simple girl wanting to be sure that a year filled with Love is the goal!

...and so for fun and a sweet reminder... I filled some bowls right up...To The Brim With LOVE!!!

May this New Year hold Love for You...

May you Fill and be Filled...right up...

To The Brim With Love!

One Little Note!

Hello Loves!

'Tis the Season'...and I have found myself way too busy...as usual!

How about you?...are you realizing, right about now, that there just isn't enough time to make it or bake it or create it?...me too!...and so for today, I have decided to do just one little thing...Write a note!...just one...by hand...that tells one person one thing about them that is special to me.

That's all...and then I am going to walk to the mail box and mail it.

It is 'The Season'...but each and everyday is too, and...if we could always remember that one sweet thought, from our heart, to someone else truly is a gift, we would realize that what we can make or bake or create really isn't so important. Our heart touching theirs is what matters most!

All of a sudden you may find yourself, as I did, thinking of many wonderful moments... don't get overwhelmed!...This is for today... Just Today!...there will be other days for... "One Little Note"...for one special person... when it isn't even 'The Season'.

Who are You thinking of today, Loves?

Is there a precious person that blessed you by being with you when you needed them most? Was there a loving look that encouraged you or is there someone that you admire and love...Tell them!

Just..."One Little Note"...one little  thing...to one special person, today...written by hand...and mailed!

We may all be surprised at how many "One Little Notes" we can write...one little day at a time!

Blessings To All...

A Day For Cooking

This cool autumn morning has me thinking of my Grandma and how she loved to cook. I remember her always in the kitchen and that she never had her apron on without her pearls!

Everything she did was lovely and beautiful and everything she made was absolutely scrumptious!

Thinking of her has made me miss her and my tummy homesick for her cooking...and so, without further ado, I am going to make My Grandma's Apple Pie!..out with the rolling pin and apples and on with the pearls and the "Cutest Apron Ever"!

You can find Your Very Own Perfect Apron at... 

The Best Kitchen Shop Ever! 

The Kitchen Sync                                                     http://thekitchensync.com/
 

My Grandma's Apple Pie
   Crust 

2 sticks of butter 

2cups of flour 

3 tbsp brown sugar 

bit of salt 

1/4 teaspoon baking powder 

4 tablespoon ice cold water with 1 tbsp. vanilla

Stir flour, salt and baking powder together cut in chilled butter with fork or pastry blender until crumby, (I use the food processor). Add the vanilla ice water mixture one tablespoon at a time, stirring with fork until dough sticks together but not really wet.
Make two balls and chill for a while before rolling it out.

   Filling

10 apples sliced thin
1 1/2 cups of brown sugar (a little less if apples are really sweet) Honey Crisps...if you can find them are wonderful!
2/3 cup water minus 1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons of flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon of Brandy
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the brown sugar and water in saucepan add lemon juice and apples. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes or until apples are starting to get tender. Using a slotted spoon, put apples into a bowl and set aside. Add flour and granulated sugar to saucepan, stir and cook until it thickens...then add butter, salt, vanilla, brandy, apples and cinnamon. Cool a bit, add to rolled out bottom crust in pie dish.
Roll out the top crust and place over apples, cut vent slits. Brush with beaten egg white  decorate with leaves cut from left over dough and sprinkle it with raw sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 35 to 45 minutes
or until crust is perfect. If browning too fast reduce heat to 375 degrees and cover edges with foil.

My Grandfather loved his pie with a huge slice of sharp cheddar cheese...I prefer mine with vanilla whipping cream.

I promise that you will want to lick your plate!

My Beautiful "Incanto" Dinnerware by Vietri at...    

The Kitchen Sync

http://thekitchensync.com/

Does Your tummy ever get homesick?

Is there a recipe that makes You think of someone You love?...or maybe You just might want to try...

My Grandma's Apple Pie!

Happy Cooking Day To You!

A Gift

On the sunlight path to my studio...A Gift!

The most beautiful nest and perfect blue eggs!

Why was it on my path?

I love nests! I am always pondering...how on earth can one tiny bird, with no hands, build such a perfect home for something as fragile and delicate as teeny eggs and babies without feathers?

"A nest is a perfect home, one without any nails"

Marveling at My Gift, I began to think of Our Nests and that this time of year always makes for "cozy-ing" them up.

and so...a precious reminder to me to make My Nest cozy and warm and soft and wonderful for a winter season at home with my loved ones.

 

I made an oil painting of My Gift to be always reminded of how important Our Nests are and what a Gift it is to have one to make wonderful!

Is there A Gift on your path?

or...has the smell of Fall in the air touched your heart and inspired you to start "cozy-ing" up Your Nest to make it warm and wonderful for your loved ones?

Happy Nesting, Loves!

Forever Leaves

The ground is covered with the most beautiful color and light this Fall, and there are leaves everywhere! Not just gorgeous normal leaves, but amazing enormous ones! Our Chinese Empress Tree is their mother and...

every year when they begin to fall, I am so inspired!

Doing lovely things with them is very fun. One year I ironed them and they were our Thanksgiving place mats. Another time they were so wonderful decoupaged onto a dressing screen, but this year..."Something Forever" is what popped in my little head!

And so...from Leaf...to Forever...became a Platter!

Making them... as each leaf falls, (before the frost) is quite a challenge, but I have been smiling the entire time!

Does the beauty of this Fall catch your eye in a special way, Loves?

Is there "Something Forever" you can create this year?

Whatever it may be....Keep Smiling!!!

Five Dollars In My Pocket...

My new studio is really wonderful and finding sweet things to use in it is so much fun!

I stopped at the thrift store yesterday, with five dollars in my pocket, and guess who came home a happy girl!

one broken lamp....1 dollar

one torn shade....25 cents

one dirty lace dresser scarf...50 cents

one dented silver champagne bucket...2 dollars

one rusted frame...25 cents

one ugly brass tin...1 dollar

Transformed into...

one, very cute, rewired lamp

one shade covered with clean lace dresser scarf...tied with ribbon

one polished champagne bucket...filled with paint brush bouquet 

one frame, painted...with a new mirror

one brass tin sprayed cream...filled with erasers

Perfect!

A darling arrangement of usable things for my work station!

What corner of YOUR world are you going to transform?

You could be surprised, you may just have some treasures right under your nose...or a stop at the thrift shop (with five dollars in your pocket) might be a treat after your morning coffee!

I hope you have fun creating something new today, Loves!