happy new week

Will winter ever end? I'm not so sure since last week was cold, snowy, even had some sleet. Really waiting to get two or three nice days in a row. It's hard to believe we're into May and still having such cold weather.

photos by spbm

I mean really...what is up with this?

Photos by spbm

So, I found a couple more treasures to keep for myself last week. One was a set of glasses made from wine bottles. I just love the colors. For a while now I've been wanting some of these, but really did not want to try and make them myself. I was surprised when I found these...and got a deal on them. Can't beat that.

Photos by spbm

Now, if someone can tell me why I bought a whole watermelon??? What was I thinking? I love watermelon, but David, being diabetic, is limited to how much he can have and I can only eat so much. Anyways, it was much better than I expected it to be for this time of year. And, if you have never tried watermelon with ginger on it, do. I had a friend from Kenya tell me that they sprinkle ginger juice on their watermelon. I don't have the patience to grate enough ginger to get enough juice, so I just add grated ginger on ours. We LOVE it! I try to get ginger in our diets as often as possible, this is a great way to do that. Unless you LOVE ginger as much as I do, you may not want to add quite as much grated ginger. But do give it a try, I think you'll really enjoy this twist on watermelon.

photo by spbm

Wishing everyone a beautiful week ahead.
xoxo

treasures...and a new song by sara bareilles - brave

Wow, what a great and awesome day - full of sunshine and finally, 80 degree weather. OMG, I've been doing a happy dance all day. They predict 40's and 50's by Thursday and the weekend, so I am enjoying every second of today. It amazes me how much the weather influences my moods, and how a little warm air and sunshine just feel like...renewal.

I had a good weekend, went to the thrift shop and found a few things for the shop, and a couple things for myself.

David went with me, though he is having to watch how much he is on his feet, a new problem we are having to keep an eye on. I'm not going to go into it, I don't want to think about it. :)

When I walked into the thrift store I instantly spotted a vintage scarf that I fell in love with. It's totally awesome beautiful!!! Excellent condition. I handwashed it three times today, let it dry outside to rid it from the mothball smell. It nows smells sweet and delicious, and the colors are so vibrant, it just makes me happy to look at it. See for yourself...

 
 
 
photo by spbm

Aren't the colors just beautiful!?

I FINALLY bought a camera, which I have been without for quite sometime. Got it at the pawn shop. It's older than what most people are using, but it works great for me. And I got it at a great price. I really wanted a nice point and shoot, because I'm kinda lazy when it comes to taking pictures. I just want a great photo without thinking about it. This one is one or two steps above a point and shoot, and I need to read the manual so I can do something other than shooting from auto pilot. :) It does what I want it to do and even more, if I ever learn to do it.

I apologize for all the pics, but I'm like a kid with a new toy. :)

Now, back to the thrift store shopping...I found two glasses that I could not resist. I love pretty dishes. Today was the perfect day for making Rooibos Red Tea with fresh ginger. Trust me, drinks taste so much better in a pretty glass. :)

 

photo by spbm

And the day was so awesome that I just had to have a cup of coffee this evening. (Yeah I know, I'll be awake until 4 a.m.) :(

It gave me another reason to try out my camera.

The process...

 

  

 

photos by spbm

 

I hope everyone had a day as full of sunshine and warmth as what I had.

A new song out by Sara Bareilles - "BRAVE". I love it!

crazy weather

photo by spbm

What is up with this crazy weather??? Seriously, it was in the low thirties today, and another rainy day. Rain almost every day this month. Sun is supposed to shine tomorrow, then rain again on Thursday and Friday. Just so different from the past couple of years when April temps felt much warmer.

 
photo by spbm

It feels like this far too often...

People wait
all week for Friday,
all year for summer,
all life for happiness.
Raimonda.B

avocado fries, egg custard, and a raccoon

  photos by spbm

I finally gave in to my craving for avocado fries and made some yesterday, they were so darn good I made them again today. They were so easy to make I couldn't believe it. The trick is to have everything in place before you start, cause they cook very quickly. It is seldom that I fry anything, but wanted to try it this way first, next time I am going to try baking them. I read several recipes online and they were all pretty much the same. I did not measure anything, beat one egg, and I used Italian panko bread crumbs, and flour with a little pepper and a tiny bit of sea salt. I cut the avocado in half and then into wedges, dipped the wedges in flour, then in the beaten egg, and then into the panko bread crumbs. Frying two at a time so that they did not over-cook. The dipping sauce I made using mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, curry powder, dill weed, paprika, chopped cilantro or parsley, and I have tons of chives growing so I chopped up some chives. You can make this with any spices you and your family like. Also, I will make a yogurt dip next time, I just had some sour cream on hand and wanted to use it up. Lime could also be used in place of lemon. Curry is my new favorite spice to cook with, so I try and incorporate it into a lot of dishes. And one egg worked perfect for one avocado. Be sure to use ripe but firm avocados, it will be almost impossible to work with an avocado that is too soft.

photo by spbm

I just love it when I try something at home and it turns out better than anything I have had at a restaurant. Don't you?

On a different note, we've had a vistor this past week, a raccoon. He or she is coming by every day, not to my liking. Only because I am afraid to let Portia and Marelli out in the back yard now, he or she is bigger than they are. Even though they have had their shots I would not want them to be attacked. I feel really sorry for him or her, it looks like it is not getting enough to eat. Portia is totally convinced she could take care of the problem if she could just get to it. I was hoping it would just stop coming, but I guess this is the new route to...somewhere. :) 

photo by spbm

It is three times as big as Portia and Marelli. I need to give "it" a name. :)

photo by spbm

Trees are starting to leaf. I can't believe how much different April has been this year from last year. Last year this time, I had all my yard work done. It's been cold and rain or snow almost every single day in April. More rain predicted tomorrow and throughout the week.

photo by spbm

I made this awesome egg custard, again. :) Oh my, I can't get enough of this stuff.

I hope everyone had a great weekend, and wishing each of you the best week ahead.

at the plaza and anthropologie

I had really good intentions of posting this on Sunday. (Do good intentions count as the same as posting?) LOL

Anyway, we went to the Plaza - our real first day out for a very long time. David can't be on his feet much at all, so it's almost more trouble than it is worth to go out - need to let him out at the door and then driving around to find a parking place, then going to get the car and meeting him back at the door is a bit of inconvenience, actually a big inconvenience. But, I was needing desperately to see something besides the inside of doctor's office or hospital, so off we went. Going out to eat is about the only thing we can do since he can't walk from store to store, nor can he walk for very long. We went to Cheesecake Factory and it was good, but not exceptional.

 

And don't get me wrong, I enjoyed dinner, and David really enjoyed getting out and seeing something different. I even had a 'first' experience, ordered a piece of cheesecake. Had a couple of bites and brought the rest home, had the last bite yesterday.

When food doesn't do it for me, Anthropologie does. I LOVE that store, though I never buy anything in there. It's a great place for inspiration. For one thing, I can't afford those prices, and, I would feel guilty spending that kind of money on things. I'm a thrift shop/Salvation Army/Goodwill shopper. It's more about the thrill of finding something than anything else. Anyways, I did puchase a mug on this trip.

Every time I come home from Anthropologie, I want to rearrange my furniture. It's really a good way of getting some deep cleaning done.

Here are some pics from the trip to the Plaza, and Anthropologie.

I don't like this! My stomach does flip-flops when I see these horses.

Amazing sky.

Pretty in yellow.

I had a table similar to this in Germany. Had to leave it due to weight limit on returning. How I have wished many times I had shipped it and a few other things anyways and payed the extra for shipping. The price was $980.00 for the table. Not suitable for a thrift store girl. lol

Love these cups - the colors are just stunning.

I kept hearing "take me home" whispers from this chair. Way out of my price range, but that doesn't stop me from loving it. :)

Another thing I left behind in Germany, a cabinet similar to this. :( Lesson: Never make decision in the middle of moving. lol

Pretty quilts.

Love the wood floor.

I have to make a light fixture like this. Love the simplicity.

This lamp is so cool.

Robe love.

The bench is just gorgeous! Rustic love.

Love the whole setting.

Love this scarf.

What a pretty clutch.

Love this one, too.

Will be making myself one of these.

Pretty.

How cute with a pair of jean shorts, or jeans.

I adore these boxes.

The mirrors are breath-taking.

I must make letters for my daughters, and myself. :) Love these.

 Cabinet love.

 I would love to have this table and these chrome chairs in my kitchens. Too cute.

I need one of these cookie jars. :) I did break down and buy myself an owl mug. It's adorable and my favorite coffee mug now. I may have to buy myself another.

Then, there was this pamphlet given to David by a Plaza security guy. David gave a homeless man some money and the security police walked up to David and gave this to him. I guess the homeless are hurting the image of the Plaza. I have a real problem when others start discouraging us from giving.