"Y" is for Yummmmmmm

I found myself going to a Neighborhood Garage Sale this morning and can you believe "I came home with nothing".. that is a first for me!
Then I did a bit of grocery shopping and found Florida Strawberries at $1.49 a qt... so I bought lots!  I love to make Strawberry Jam and got to work.

Yummmmm is much to small a word, (if this is a word but we do say it a lot) for how good this is!

First, I picked through and cleaned the berries, then put them in the pot to cook....
While that was coming to a boil I put together a new "Cheese Cake" recipe and it turned out so good...

"Cheese Cake with Macaroon Crust"

The recipe was a simple cheese cake but use lime juice in place of the lemon juice. 
The crust was the best part...

2 cups flaked coconut
2 egg whites
1tbl sugar
Fluf the egg whites with the sugar, then add the coconut.  That is it!
Line your pan with this mixture and bake at 375' for about 25 minutes or until browned.

While the crust was browning I made my favorite cheese cake recipe but added zest and juice from one lime instead of the usual lemon juice.

I put the cheese mixture in the crust lined pan then into the oven at 325' for about 50 minutes or until the knife comes out clean.


Then on to the Strawberry Jam.

I found there were some fresh blueberry's  in the freezer that I had stored so I added them to half the batch of strawberries. Made the jam in the usual way, then put in jars.
But first I had to try the jam on the cooled cheese cake... yummmm!

The cheese cake recipe said "Let cool 4 hours"... haha

I had to taste it after only one hour.. but first I added a bit of the "Jam" and a sprig of fresh mint that I have  growing out in my garden.....

Know what,, the "Macaroon Crust and the Lime Zest" really did make a change in the taste, "For the better"... I may just continue to use lime instead of lemon in all my future cheese cakes... and forgo the usual graham cracker crust, for the macaroon.
Give it a try next time your in the mood for Cheese Cake.

Yummmmm!

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 I'll be joining Jenny Matlock @ Alaphabet Thursday

 

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Guest Room Quilt

Several months ago I re did what was once a bland guest room.  When my town house was built, some 30 years ago, this space was meant to be a den.
  I always have a guest spend the night, or weeks with us, so I made it into the perfect little guest space. (when I have a couple come, I give up my room and this little space is mine for the duration).

   Here is the link to the Guest Room reno. (click)

Once the guest room was finished I called it my "Garden Guest Room".
It had so many cottage/garden items and floral patterns,  but not a nice quilt.
So, I started a new one but had so many other projects going in the house
this quilt was only worked on maybe one day a week, if that!

 I'm happy to say, "It's finally finished"

I love to sit quietly and hand quilt.  I see the wonderful machines that will do
the quilting for you  but I so love to stitch it myself. So much more personal.  I don't use elaborate stitches, just a wiggly line stitch.
I found this type of stitch along with 'low loft' batting keeps the quilt light and airy.

 I'm happy with the colors and floral patterns, they all seem to blend in with the garden theme I'm after.

Ok.. room ready for the next guest... 

Sister Dolly,, come on, new soft quilt for you!

I'm joining these linky parties 

Remodelaholic Friday 

Flaunt it Friday 

Lovely Crafty Weekend 

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Gardenia

I posted the photo of my Gardenia Bush ready to burst into blooms..

Here it is... It's Started.

Spring is indeed here!

For all of you up North... hang in there... Spring will show her beautiful face soon!


For now you can look at my Gardenia's, close your eyes, take a whiff and

Believe!

Oh how I wish everyone could smell what is going on by my front door!

I'm Joining
Fishtail Cottage

Cottage Flora Thursday 

Tuesdays Garden Party 

huggss
Sandy

 Some years I work so hard to keep my garden and plants alive.  You know, you buy seeds or plants and put them in the ground only for them to not do very well or by the grace of God, (or my bad gardening)  they just die.

 

 Well, last Fall when the  season was over I took the holiday Pumpkin out back, down by the creek, and left it for the Critters to enjoy.  The Deer and Raccoons  love to munch on pumpkins.


About two weeks ago I went out and found the seeds from the totally rotted Pumpkin remains have "Sprouted"

Look at the Pumpkin plants today.  

I must have  counted about 22 flower buds.

I have never tried to grow Pumpkins and wonder if there is anything I must do to help the plants along?  I do remember seeing a program where the gardener took the pumpkins, once they were about the size of grapefruits,  placed them on flat bricks to protect them from the damp ground... hmmmm? 

Wonder if I should use plant food?

"I'm on a mission to grow "Pumpkins" this year"

I'll be joining

Fertilizer Friday

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laundry Ingredients

Get whiter whites and darker darks with these ingenious additions to your laundry.
Whiter whites

 Do your white T-shirts tend to go grey? White socks look dirty no matter how many times they’re washed? Try one of these tried and trusted methods for making whites stay white.
1. Baking soda
Soak in a solution of 4 liters water and 1 cup baking soda.
2. Aspirin
Soak in hot water in which you’ve dissolved 5 aspirin tablets (325mg each).
3. Vinegar
Add 1 cup white vinegar to the washing machine’s rinse cycle.

PLUS:

Blacker blacks and darker darks
While faded and distressed-looking garments are sometimes the height of fashion, you may prefer not to look as if the last time you went clothes shopping was in the 80s. Here are some tips for keeping black and dark-colored clothes looking like new.
4. Coffee or tea
For black clothes, add 2 cups brewed coffee or tea to the rinse cycle.
5. Salt
For dark colors like navy blue or plum, add 1 cup table salt to the rinse cycle.
6. Vinegar and salt
To keep denim from fading quickly, soak jeans in salt water or a 50:50 solution of water and white vinegar before the first wash. Turn the jeans inside out before putting them in the machine and turn the temperature setting to cold.

 Look, my Amaryllis bulbs are blooming!

 Hope these tips might be of help on this beautiful Spring Sunday....
If anyone may need me....
I'll be out in the garden today, getting my clothes all full of dirt and mud.  

May have to try a few of these tips.

huggsss
Sandy
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Outdoor Friday

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When you walk out my front door in Spring the most beautiful whiff invades your senses.

"Gardenias are a gift from the Angels"

Each year this bush just gets bigger and bigger.  I've had to top it several times, or it would reach my second story windows.

Right now there are literally hundreds of blooms that may open in another week.  They open slow and that is fine with me.. one at a time would make me happy because they only last about two days. That is if the little ants don't destroy them.  Teeny tiny ants invade the bush once the first bloom appears.  I don't spray them, I'm completely Green!

If only I could bottle the aroma of the wonderful Gardenia

I'll be joining Tootsie Time @

Fertilizer Friday

Romantic Home  Show and Tell Friday 

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I Bow MY Head in Silence

Shelter Box . Please click and donate 

Hope begins with having a roof over your head.

Along with my donation, I'll be sending my prayers for the safety of all involved in the Japan Disaster.

For all who died and for all who are hurting.

"Lord Please Be Kind" 

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St. Pattys Day

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

~Irish Blessing

hugggsss
Sandy
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Painting to ease my Worried Mind

There was a tall bar stool in the trash a few months ago and I grabbed it only to put in my store room.  I knew one day I would find a place for it in my home.
Mr. N. is always telling me  "Stop bringing home junk". haha

He is not laughing now! 

This would make the best desk chair!  

It swivels and is perfect, except I needed to make is shorter.

Put on a coat of primer and some "Krylon, Ivy Green  Spray Paint".

Let it dry while we went to lunch.

It's so perfect for my little desk.

A seat cushion that I had made months ago,  and there it is!  I could not have found a better pop of color for the space.

I may have to give the chair one more coat of paint but for now, I'll just sit and look at it. I just love the color. It matches my crochet place mats and a few other accessories I have scattered......

Today, working on the desk chair was therapeutic for me.  I have been really "Worried about my Daughter and her family". They are down wind from all the radiation blowing East in the Pacific... Everyone keeps telling me "Guam is out of danger" but as a mom I just can't help being concerned!  This morning I have called pharmacies and health food stores.. drove to a few and each had the same message, "No Potassium Iodide pills to be found".  Gina asked for me to send some to her.  She can not find any in Guam and wants them on hand for her three little boys "Just in case"?  Right now I have my daughter-in-law up in Michigan, just a 15 minute drive to the Canadian border, searching for me? She did say she would mail them out to Gina, if she found any.  I have to complain though.  
Do you believe how the gouging is happening... so far that $10.00 bottle of pills is now selling for more than $300.00!!  They are on the internet for that price!
I have hope though... some how Gina will get those pills or the wind will stop blowing East..  In the mean time, we just wait for better news to come out from Japan!

My prayers have not eased up for all involved in the Japan Disaster

"Lord Please Be Kind"


I'll be joining these linky parties
Alphabet Thursday

Strut your Stuff 

Ideas under $100.00 

Furniture Feature Friday 

Sister Sister Sunday 

Color My World @ debbiedoos 

 

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Outdoor

The world could be falling down around me, but when I step outside my "Fly" greets me and it sends a message, "All will be well".

Just about all my plants are starting to bloom.

This plant has small blue flowers that come out in the early morning.  I have no idea what it is.  I pulled a plant from around a lake here in town.. they grow like weeds, but sure are pretty.

The Dahlias  are coming up in numbers.

This next photo is another plant that I simply don't know the name of .  We have a really nice spot here in Clearwater called the "Sunken Gardens" and this plant was in full bloom one year.  I took a few seed pods and planted them in the yard.. the seeds finally took last year and are now full size plants.  The flowers are like orchids but the flowers don't last very long.. a few hours only.  I need to run out in about an hour to get the open flower.

There, I got the shot two hours later, when the sun came out full.

These are so beautiful and I had to bring one inside.
I'm also happy to say it's an "African Iris". My local nursery today had them.

This is another of 6 flowering plants that I put in this past week.. their annuals and fill the spaces between the perennials.

I just love the blue

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The Black Eyed Susan came up from last years seeds scattered in the wind.

All the flowering potted plants are coming back and it's warming my soul.
Todays worry is the Radiation from the Nuclear Power Plants failing in Japan.  My Gina and her family may be down wind.. She told me this morning, "If radiation is detected they will send the military families home".
I'm praying for all the people there!


If any of you want to help.. there is an origization in Sarasota, Florida that sends "Shelter Boxes" for the families with no home and no hope!

I really believe, "Having a roof over your head is the first step to hope"

Shelter Green Boxes

If you would like to help, this may be the charity that will do more than most.  The people will have a Tent, cooking pots and dishes and drinking water etc.  Read about it on the link.
I believe the Red Cross is involved with this company.  Do your research before giving to any charity.

If I may post a quote from my Niece Mona,
"With all this political chaos..mother nature's anger...nuclear explosions...people dying from both humans and nature...I can't help but say this...God....I love life and everything in it...we don't ask that You change what is written but we ask that You please be kind"

My thoughts on giving to people in great need, 

"One day by the grace of God go I"

huggsss

Sandy

I'll be joining

Oregon Cottage Tuesday Garden Party

Outdoor Wednesday 

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Kitchen Cabinet/Desk

I finally finished my Cabinet-Laptop Desk.

I had this Odd Space, useless space really and thought about 'What to do with it" for several months.  Then the idea came to me one day while in the Doctors office. 
I saw this cabinet.  Funny thing was I was at the OB/Gyn on the table, yes with my feet in the, well, you know the place... took out my camera and snapped a photo.. the Doctor and her assistant both looked at me funny... I had to tell them the story... they laughed!  

My first thought was I needed a pattern of sorts before I could cut the wood. Then took out a roll of Christmas paper and placed it on the floor.

Once I had the pattern cut,  I placed it on the wood, just like a dress pattern and cut it out.

To make my life easier, thinking "How will I get under all this to paint it?"  Once I had all the wood cut to size I primed and put on the first coat of Semi Gloss Paint.

After putting all the pieces together with nails and liquid nails, I then did a quick sanding to smooth.

After thinking of the space to the left I thought "Why not add a little shelf".  More storage or a space for little baskets or cook books?

I know I must have broken "The cardinal rule of carpentry" but I did not have the energy to take away the wall paper and simply painted over it with white.  Who will know except me,,, well, now you do!

Finished!
It's the perfect spot for the house phone and keys to open the back French Doors.

What is nice about this little desk,  I found a place for my hand bag.  It's not dropped on the table or chair when I come in.

Mr. N said "Can I put my stuff on your desk?"

silly man,,, This desk is mine!

Now to figure out a chair?  The stool in the photo is a bit too high so I thought of cutting down the legs?  There is not a lot of space to put a proper chair and I don't sit at the laptop for any length of time.  I do all my writing and surfing up in my bed at night. So we will see about a chair another time?

I'll be joining  

Creating With The Stars 

 

 

 

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