The Irish have their day... so do my Italians!!

We will be celebrating "St Pattys Day" soon and being half Irish and half Italian I felt the need to celebrate my Italian heritage by going to my favorite Italian store... I mean they have 'good stuff' there...  "Mazzaro's Italian Market" here in St. Petersburg, Fl... is the next best thing south of the Bronx! 

                              The front of the store does not tell the story of what is inside... so come on in and smell the food.. feel the atmosphere, listen to the talk of the Italians .......

             The religion greets you when you enter... although they don't push their thoughts on their customers they do celebrate their feelings on the subject.... 

 

Then you enter the world of the "Food"... raw, cooked, spiced, boxed... so much food!

This is the worlds largest "Provolone".. yes this is a 1200lb chunk of cheese! They can't cut it for another  year.. it's got to age more!

There is also two refrigerated cases of cheese... imported cheeses from all over the world.

Walk around the corner and you will smell your way to the bread ovens.. they make every kind of bread my Italian ancestors love... 

Then we come to the "Sweets"... and the one that has me doing a dance for is the "Rum Balls"... 

I could just eat one of each sweet in this case!

But knowing it's going to lay on my hips at a very fast rate I was so good and ordered a Ciabatta, with butter and a really good cup of coffee.

Being the good Italian that I am I had to order a bit of Gelato... Spumoni to be exact! My will power just went out the window.. but it was so worth it!

 

My sister and I spent about two hours in this wonderful store.. we were good and did not eat alot.. we did spend a bit of time checking out the bread baking area.. it had many people working there and it was fun to watch... I did try to 'pan' the photo...not too bad! I hope it posts here on my blog for all to see.. (no it was cut in half, sorry).


Time to say good by to this wonderful store... I celebrated my Italian heritage this day.. so now I can say "Happy St Patricks Day" with out guilt!

 

Ok...Ok... had to share one more photo.... The Pepperoni... how can we leave without the Pepperoni?

Bye Italian store... bye .......

  

For the Irish in me and for the Italian in me!!

And to all of you, celebrate your heritage in style!

The Seasons are changing..... thank you!

I took a walk outside today.... my yard needs a team of people to clean it up!  As you all know the cold and freezing came to my part of Florida,, it really did alot of damage to my yard....How happy I was to see my 'yellow rose bush in bloom'.  
I also have a new toy... a made for TV toy.. this new 'tool' is a blower, vacuum and makes the leaves into mulch... I can't wait to get outside and use it.  This was a gift from my sister.. everyone needs a sister like my "Dolly".

 

I wish all of you could have heard the 'bull frogs' in the creek out back last night. Was a symphony going on out there, loud too!

My little Angel friend sits in the front of the house.. greeting the critters and the humans that may come by.

 

 

For some reason I get a kick out of the 'metal dragonflies' scattered around my yard!

Some of my friends don't understand them... but I do!

 

I have a neighbor... you know the ones.. who look at your yard and make comments! This one told me "Your yard looks like a trailer park"... I did not know if I should 'laugh or cry'! Now I don't have alot of 'stuff' around my yard.. the front only has a bird bath and one little angel? The back, now that is another matter.. but it's so large back there you really miss most of the little statues and things... awww,, this guy is just an old grouch!

   

The bench sitting way back in the 'south 40'... (as my husband calls it!) I found the bench several years ago sitting on the side of the road.. for the trash man!.. well, it ended up in the back of my car and I bought some new seat wood to repair the broken slats.. I'll tell you the back of the bench is made of a really nice metal floral motif and could be used for wall art when the bench wood has finally seen it's last day!

     

Take a look at the large 'crack' on the side of the 'chiminea'... Yep, I found this in someones trash, cracked in three pieces... it came home with me and I got out the 'liquid nails' and it's been holding up for about 5 years now! I love it in the back... but, I don't use it for a fireplace... I'm sure the whole thing will crack and be very dangerous!

I have been pushing the season.. Think Spring, Think Spring.. but we here in Florida will go right into summer. Any day now it will be in the 80's and I will be happy along with my friend, St Francis...he does not like the cold!  I have been wheezing and sneezing for weeks now.. I can't believe it but I had an old fashioned 'head cold'... you know the one where you need a tissue every 20 minutes... well.. this is Florida.. I have not had a head cold since leaving Illinois 15 years ago.. Texas had no colds??

Anyway... "Think Spring"!! I know it's coming cause my "Easter Lilly's" are all coming up out front!  Think Spring!

Play along food.....

Grandma is at it again.... My grandsons have a play area in their classroom, with dishes to 'make believe' cooking and serving... Gina wants to give them the freedom to 'choose' their adult profession and being a 'Chef' is on the list.  She asked me to create 'felt food' for them... So here I go!
I did first look on the net for a few photos to give me some guidance and I was amazed how many people make 'Felt Food"....
I then went to my local "JoAnns" for felt.. I did find all the colors needed but "Buns", not the correct colors for "Hamburger or Hot dog buns"??  I'll have to make do and maybe add a bit of paint?

 

First let me gather all the supplies. Tacky gule or needle and thread?

Grapes? Eggs, sunny side up or scrambled?  hmmmm... scrambled seemed a but much. Sunny side up it is!

I then went to cutting the felt in the shapes of each food. 

Gina asked for "Eggs and Bacon"... 

And what would food be for three little boys, age 2, 4 and 6, without the ever present Hot Dog.

Grandma had to put "Salad" on the menu. They need their 'greens'.

The "French Frys" were a trick and not the correct color.. but, these are young boys mind you, I don't think they will mind?

Gina said "The boys love Ravoli" 

A few 'Grapes' to give them their 'fruit'

I had such fun making 'Felt Food'.... I used a needle and thread and a bit of 'craft cotton filler' to stuff them... now lets see if I can put them in a packing box without smashing them... Their on their way to "Guam" for the boys play house!   Have fun 'guys'!!

    

I'm linking up to

  We can do it Cheaper @ The Virginia House                            

"St Patty's Day"

I come from a very "Irish" Mother named "Mary Eileen Murray". Her father came to America as a young man from Ireland toting along his very English wife.
He was one of the Irish that had to work hard to establish himself living in New York, doing different trades, until he had the good sense to join the United States Coast Guard and served in WW1 and WW2.  He and his wife, Cora B Davis, created 5 children. One being my mom... 
                                                     

 

As most of you know the Irish had a rough start in America. They were considered a lesser people and most worked as laborers and house maids.  After my mom grew into a young woman she met my father. Anthony Gerbino, (who also was in the USCG) from a very Sicilian family who came to America 'on the boat".... Moms marrying an Italian was a very big "No No" in those days because it was considered beneath  the Italians  to even socialize with the Irish.  Mom told me so many stories of her early days in the 1940's when she was shunned by his family and friends. I would like to add, my son, Thomas, is a Lutinent in the USCG and my youngest daughter is married to a CG man, carrying on the family tradition.

 

Today I'm so happy to say being half Irish and half Italian is not a bad thing anymore, so celebrating "St. Patricks" day was and is a big thing in my home.  My grandfathers name was, "Thomas Partick Murray"... how much more Irish can one be?

During the time I lived in Chicago I witnessed the turning of the Chicago River, Green. 

 

Another time I lived in San Antonio TX, and walked the River Walk while it was Green.

 

 

To all of you, Irish or not, or 'just a little bit" Irish let me say 

"Happy St Patty's Day"

Follow that rainbow and let all your dreams come true!

Month long Giveaway at "Diva's Hammer"

If you want or need a new, beautiful accent chair go to this blog...


http://adivashammer.com/archives/913/comment-page-1#comment-8391


It's a contest and "A Diva's Hammer" is telling what you must do to be chosen...

I'm in and going to win,,, but, good luck to you all!

My Valentines Day dinner

While on a search for a really nice Valentines Day dinner I found this wonderful menu in the current issue of "Country Living" magazine... if anyone loves Shrimp as I do, and Lamp Chops (something I never make due to the cost of those little charmers)... this is an amazing meal.

 

Shrimp Bisque with Bourbon

  

                                 Lamb Chops with Mint Gremolata

 

                        
     Avocado and Strawberries with Honey Vinaigrette

 

Only one more part of this meal is needed. A good bottle of wine. I found this one on line, but it's much too late for me to order so I went to my local wine store.. they did not have it, so I opted for a different brand, but just as nice.  This one sounds amazing!

Alto Almanzora Este, 2006 Blueberry, plum, fruitcake, and chocolate are just some of the flavors in this six-grape blend from Spain, a favorite of Lucas Paya's at the Bazaar in Los Angeles. ($8.99; garnetwine.com)

I did think of posting the recipes for this menu but then thought better of it.. I'm sure at this late date you all have your dinners in the oven or on the stove... if you have the copy of "Country Living" look into it, for your next special occasion.

 

"Happy Valentines Day" Everyone!

 

Home Schooled Tees

I took on a task for my daughter, and what fun I had designing "Tees" for my grandsons. They live overseas and are Home Schooled. When Gina go's shopping she gets looks from others, "Why are your boys not in school" kinda looks. So we thought "if they had tees telling the story" others might understand "they don't go to public school".

 

I bought three tees in their sizes, with an added size for growth. 

 

I first cut cardboard to fit into each shirt, then using masking tape to give me a line to follow for the lettering.

At first I thought of 'free hand' painting the words, then thought better of that, I'm not that good with straight lines so I used the tape. I then found these really nice 'sponge letters' at Walmart and for the entire alphabet the price was only $2.98 and for someone who has trouble with lettering this was ideal. 

 

  

I used yellow fabric paint in a dish and dabbed the paint on the sponges then onto the tees. For the lettering "Home" I braved my skills and used "Metallic" fabric paint with a tip. The first try was a bit jittery but I managed to complete all three shirts with a "not too bad" look.  I did let the tees 'dry' for the night before putting on the little 'iron on' sports guy.

I'm happy to say "The tees turned out so cute"

Now being the fun loving Mom that I am, I had to add one last thing...I found whistles made like the sports balls the boys love so much... Gina may not like the noise but I think after years of my kids noise and always telling them to shush... now it's her turn.... sorry I have to laugh at this.. I call it "pay back".... the boys will love the whistles.....

 

 

I can't wait to see the photos of the boys in their Tees. 

I'm linking to this great party

Sew Cute Tuesday @ Creative Itch