My Heart of Roses

Earth laughs in flowers.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"

Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair...  ~Susan Polis Shutz

Apples & Pears

What a wonderful combination.

Apples & Pears

My mother-in-law, Mary, 

helped cook an

 Apple and Pear Crisp for dessert.

She is turning 87 years old in July

 and loves to help in the kitchen. 

Our niece, Katlynn, helped too!

Lots of fun telling old stories 

and making each other laugh.

Cooking with the family is so important, especially when we don't live near each other. 

It's always a time to 

reconnect and enjoy memories.

A little of this and a little of that!

Apple Pear Crisp With Fresh Whipped Cream

Bon Appetit!

Ina Garten's

Apple and Pear Crisp Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ripe Bosc pears (4 pears)
• 2 pounds firm Macoun apples (6 apples)
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the topping:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Peel, core, and cut the pears and apples into large chunks. Place the fruit in a large bowl and add the zests, juices, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch oval baking dish.

For the topping:

Combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 minute, until the mixture is in large crumbles. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit, covering the fruit completely.

Place the baking dish on a sheet pan and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is brown and the fruit is bubbly. Serve warm.

Day Light Savings Time

Day light savings time has started! 

Can't wait to have more time in the garden.

Thinking of all my garden friends and 

looking forward to seeing flowers late at night.

Inspirational Frame

I found a frame I wanted to use as a 

display for our daughter, Carly's room. 

I painted it with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint. The color was Duck Egg Blue.

We used wire across so we could display on it. 

All her favorite pictures hung.

I surprised her with some letters.

Some special added touches!

I wanted her to know how much she inspires us...

Thank you Carly for always being there for everyone.   

We Love You,

Mom and Dad

Madeline Cookies With a Twist

I was thinking of something sweet today and thought of a cookie.

Dusting the pan with flour.

Making sure all the shells are covered.

The flour is so pretty in my Anthropologie measuring cup.

The batter is poured carefully into the pan.

I then cooled them off before adding the powdered sugar.

Now for the surprise!

 Cut some paper from an old book with pinking shears.

Use regular scissors to make a straight cut on the top.

Cut the paper the length of the cookie.

Use tape to close the edges.

Line them up in a basket.

On a platter or tray.

Have fun with it and don't forget to share!

Romantic Homes "A Dream Come True"

Romantic Homes

I am on cloud 9 right now.

Romantic Homes made a dream come true for me.

I wasn't sure if I was going to be featured in the

We Love/ Make it article for March 2012.

Of course, you can dream. 

Today my dream came true. 

The issue came out and I peeked inside the magazine and couldn't believe what I saw. There was my project of Parisian switch plates and my eyes got bigger and I started to cry in excitement.

It is such an honor to have my name in 

Romantic Homes

 with all the other women who I admire so much.

Thank you, Meryl Schoenbaum, Executive Editor and Hillary Black, Contributing Editor for Romantic Homes Magazine.

   Hope you get a chance to see the article in the magazine. Look for us on Etsy with the French Parisian switch plates and more designs in the near future. Thank you to all my friends and family for the support they have given me to make my dream come true.

Valentine Brunch at Tami's House

Tami invited our small group of girlfriends over to her house for Valentine's Brunch and to make living wreaths for a project to take home. 

We all seemed to match in our Valentine's outfits.

Tami served melted brie cheese, sliced apples and homemade churros for appetizers.

She made a beautiful ice bucket made out of geraniums for the champagne and served orange juice for mimosas.

 Vignettes everywhere decorated for 

Valentine's Day.

The table was set with lots of beautiful red chargers and accent pieces. Love the wine glasses...The  brunch was a breakfast dish, fresh fruit and cranberry orange muffins.

Candles placed to set the mood for a 

Valentine's Day luncheon.

 Black velvet cupcakes and chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert.

We all felt very special and enjoyed every bite.

After brunch Tami had bought us all wreath frames and moss. We picked our own flowers and designed our living wreaths.

Each one of us had a different look and had lots of fun making them. 

After our project her husband, Mark, had a fire waiting for us and we enjoyed talking about our day with a cup of coffee in their living room.

Thank you, Tami, for a wonderful Valentine's Brunch and fun project.

I love my new living wreath.