The Sunroom Project

Finally got the pillows finished. May add a few more when I find the right fabric.  Will be working on a few throws & lap quilts, too. 

Hoping to find a silver tea service for this room, too. 

Still working on painting the cherubs to match the candle holders on the shelf. Also hope to add a book of the artwork of the Louvre to this room.  Such a lovely place to have tea or a glass of wine. 

Morning Study Time

I love quiet mornings. 

Rainy Day

It's cold and it's raining out. And very windy. I've been sitting by the fire with a blanket and coffee all morning. I can't seem to get warm. Really wish I could spend the day like this, but I have obligated myself to work the ALR booth at the Bike Show this afternoon. That wouldn't be quite so bad if they just served a proper afternoon tea. (Apparently, bikers don't generally have afternoon tea) So....I will leather up and work the Bike Show. I might just pack a thermos of hot tea and a scone to take with me, though.

Favorite Rainy Day Stuff

Black Currant Scone, Strawberry Jam, Mock Devonshire Cream

Green Beans!

Just finished canning a 26 pound case of gorgeous green beans. I ended up with 32 quarts! I found the  green beans at the international market for $15. I would prefer to grow my own....and that certainly would be cheaper, but I've not been able to have much of a garden for the last two years. I'm hoping to try again this year. Until then, I look for inexpensive bulk items to can. My favorite source is the state farmers market. Nothing like getting 100 pounds of tomatoes for less than $10! Or 50 pounds of carrots for $7! I get goosebumps just thinking about that. Did I mention that I love canning? There are also several international markets in my area that sell cases of produce at incredibly good prices. And the orchards.....soooooo many local apple orchards! I can quite a bit of applesauce. So garden or not, I'm able to can year round. That makes me very happy! 

32 Quarts of Green Beans! 

                                           

My Canning Pantry

                             
                                                         

Razzleberry Jam!

I found some beautiful berries on sale this past weekend, so I decided to make a batch of Razzleberry Jam. The recipe usually calls for raspberries & blackberries. I did not find blackberries, so I used strawberries & blueberries with the raspberries instead. It smells and tastes just like a raspberry tootsie pop! Yum!

A Few of my Favorite Homemaking Quotes

"I enjoy doing housework, ironing, washing, cooking, dishwashing. Whenever I get one of those questionaires and they ask what is your profession, I always put down housewife. It's an admirable profession, why apologize for it. You aren't stupid because you're a housewife. When you're stirring the jam you can read Shakespeare." ~ Tasha Tudor

"...when he walks in that door, I want him to feel that he's really home. What he doesn't realize is that what feels very casual is, in fact, quite deliberate: the music is playing, there are flowers everywhere, and chicken and onions are roasting in the oven."
                          ~ Ina Garten

Outfit Of The Day January 14, 2015

Irish Wool & Denim