A Berry Busy Weekend...

I am kind of sad that the weekend is over and it is back to the "real" world tomorrow. It was a fun weekend with a porch sale, party or picnic everyday. We have definately eaten too much wonderful food.

Since going back to work full time, I cherish these long weekends and days off with the kids.

It was one of our most fun weekends. We feel very lucky to be blessed with great family, wonderful neighbors and fantastic friends!

I wanted to share some of the fun recipes we made with berries....

Fruit Dip

1 pkg cream cheese softened

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1-2 tablespoons maple syrup

Mix and chill

Serve with your choice of fruit

Blueberry Pie

Pie Crust

(I cheated and used the refrigerated pie dough)

Filling

4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix filling ingredients together and pour into pie crust.

Lay second piece of pie dough over filling.

Press moistened edges of dough together and crimp edges. 

Cut slits on top to vent.

Place pie in oven, then reduce heat to 375 degrees.

Bake until crust is golden and juices are bubbling, approx. 50 minutes.

Let cool on wire rack.

(recipe adapted from Everyday Food, June 2010)

Whip Cream

2 cups heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoon sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla 

(we honestly don't measure the vanilla...we just pour)

Miss Sarah has become the queen of making whip cream.

She no longer needs my help.

Actually I was told to leave her alone....

gosh she sounds like someone else I know! LOL!

Strawberry Pie

We made 3 strawberry pies this weekend! You can find the recipe Here!

It is so much fun when we adjust our cooking and

recipes to the fruits that are in season. 

We are excited for peaches next!

Peach cobbler I can smell it baking already!

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Linking to Mosaic Monday at  Little Red House

Words to live by.....

To accomplish great things we must not only act,

but also dream,

not only plan,

but also believe.

  Anatole France (1844-1924)

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Join us today at Notes from a Cottage Industry

for Weekly words to live by

Porch Sale...

Last month I shared with you the quaint cottage community where my brother lives. This weekend was their porch sale. We had so much fun walking and visiting porch to porch.

No vehicles allow (or fit)

Bicycles are allowed and little red wagons!

My mom and I walked the camp meeting side and then stayed with

my brother's porch while they walked around.

The "big" girls told us we didn't miss much on the other side of the community.

Although Maddie did get some pretty jewelry.

Here are my finds! I was so excited...

Across the street from my brother were these 2 folding metal chairs.

I told my mom, if they are still there at the end of the day I'll buy them.

While I sat on my brother's porch  I watched everyone look at them and decided

I couldn't take the chance...

Yep...they came home with us!

She didn't have a table to match. That is okay...I'll just add a table to my

thrifting / yard sale wish list!

Here is a closer look at the detail of the back of the chair!

Next stop we spotted 2 rugs for sale...$5.00 each!

There was a moment of silence between my mom and I...

who would get them?

Then my mom said, "I don't think it will work for the kitchen."

"Aww...are you sure?"

Sold!!

Perfect at my front door!

(I only bought one...I know I am kicking myself for not buying both!)

Found tap shoes for Miss Sarah...

$2.00 a pair!

Milk Glass....I thought my shelf could use some more pieces.

These had lids! Love it!

Kept the price tags on for you  to see.

75 cents and One Dollar!

I just love the look of milk glass!

The owner of this porch sale said that she has a spare bedroom full of boxes of china, crystal, milk glass that she needs to sell. I asked her if she'll be setting up next year...yep...this will be my first stop!

My last purchase was from my brother. This actually was from the first cottage and traveled with them to this cottage. I am thinking I'll paint it white and put fabric in doors and new hardware. I thought it would go to the booth, but now I am thinking it might stay. I'll keep you up to date on it's progress!

It was a fun day! We ran into old neighbors, childhood friends, and my brother's first grade teacher!

I guess I should be productive today....the wash is calling my name and the house needs a good cleaning!

Hope you are having a fun day!

There are so many great thrifting and yard sale parties...

I am linking to Debbiedoo's

and

Tales from Bloggeritaville

stop over and see everyone's super finds!

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Todays song actually goes with this post!

Strawberry Pie

Yesterday my father-in-law picked 4 quarts of strawberries! Yum!

There is nothing better than fresh picked berries!

Today is Tony's 40th Birthday and seeing these strawberries made us all hungry for some Strawberry Pie.

I know it is not the traditional Birthday Cake, but we go with what the birthday person wants....pie...cake...cup cakes...ice cream cake....it's their special day!

When I worked as a visiting nurse this recipe was shared with me by a patient. Her and her 2 sisters made these pie's and sold them at the local farmers market. I cherish her hand written recipe.

Every time I pull out her recipe it reminds me of how sweet they were and what wonderful bakers they were.

Strawberry Pie

Pie Crust:

1 cup Bisquick

1/4 cup Margarine (softened)

3 tablespoons boiling water

Mix together and press in pie plate.

Bake at 425 for 8 minutes and then 350 for 8 minutes

Filling

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Mix these before adding 1 1/2 cup cold water

Cook till it comes to a boil, stir occassionally then turn to low and

cook until it gets clear,

take off stove and add a small box of strawberry jello

Let stand for 10 minutes

Pour over berries and top with whip cream!

(we let it set up in the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving)

Maddie and Sarah were my helpers today!!

Maddie Mixing the Pie Crust

and

Pressing into Pie Plate

Making the simple syrup

Pouring the syrup over the berries and pie crust!

I usually put the pie in the refrigerator for approx. 2 hours and allow it to set up.

Now this is Sarah's favorite part....

making home made whip cream.

Whip Cream Ingredients:

 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream

2 tablespoon Sugar

1/2 tsp Vanilla

In a blender mix all ingredients until medium peaks form.

Sarah is waiting patiently for the whip cream....

actually she wants to stake her claim to the whisk.

We sometimes have arguements over who gets to lick the whisk, who gets the bowl, who gets the spoon.

Medium Peaks have formed and we are ready to spread it onto the pie!!

Yum...home made whip cream.

Maybe I'll claim the spatula...

Now we just need to find 40 candles!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Join us at Designs by Gollum

for Foodie Friday

and some delicious recipes!

I think they'll stay for awhile....

Do you remember awhile back I bought these shutters at my very favorite antique store....

and turned them into this....

(you can read about that here)

I have been trying to decide what to put on top of the shelf. It has been a decorating dilemma. I am not sure why I have been having a mind block with this shelf. Does this happen to you?

Maybe I was giving it too much thought?

Well.....I was at the thrift store and bought some milk glass for the booth.

 For fun I put the milk glass on top of the shelf and was thinking

that I should take the shelf to the booth, since it wasn't working in our bedroom.

(So I thought)

I was not intending for the milk glass to stay here either...

it is to go to the booth, too...

right....

In total all milk glass pieces together cost $5.50.

Looking at this photo makes me think a long print would look good above the milk glass. Maybe of roses?

Any thoughts??

The tulips are from another favorite store. She actually started her shop in her livingroom of her farm house and has grown to filling an entire barn! Yes, the tulips are fake. They make me smile every time I look at them. To be honest....they cost a little bit more than the milk glass. Okay maybe a lot more.

I thought they were worth it...tulips have always been my favorite flower.

Tonight I removed the price tags and I think they are staying...

at least for now they are!

I hope you join me at

My Romantic Home

and

Debbiedoo's

Face Lift....

Today I sat down to find a before picture of the front of the house. I went through hundreds of photo's and couldn't find the one photo I was looking for. I did discover that I have a new project that needs to be tackled....organize my pictures that are saved on the computer. What a mess!!

So....after my search I found a picture that showed as much of the front of the house as possible.

I think you'll get the idea of what it looked like.

(that is Maddie's good friend jumping the bike ramp)

We bought our home 11 years ago as a spec. home. We did not have the option to choose the siding or shutters. We did enjoy the red for awhile, but I was ready for a change. I love the look of tan siding and black shutters. You can't see the front door in the before picture, but it was also red.

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First I painted the front and side door black. Then Tony removed all of the shutters and we painted the shutters black.  Next on the "to do list" was outside lights and we were able to change them last week.

I can't believe the difference a little paint and new lights make.

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These are the old lights.

 New Lights...

Front Door

Garage

Last summer we added the rocking chairs to the front. I do miss not having a front porch.

We seem to use the front yard more than the back, it is where the neighborhood kids hang out.

Of course it is where the bike ramp goes, too! Hid that for the picture.

Side Door

This is looking into the backyard. Tony and I bought the little girl when we moved into our first home 17 yrs ago. She has traveled with us on each move. She is a favorite.

I love this time of year when the miniture iris's are blooming around her.

Isn't she so sweet!

It is raining here today in Pa. giving all the flowers a quick drink of water.

Hopefully the sun will be out tomorrow!!

Wishing you a great week...don't know where the weekend went!

Hope you join me at
The DIY Show off
and

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

and

Between naps on the porch for Metamorphosis Monday