What's Going On......

Seems like in a blink of an eye, someone hit the fast forward button and Christmas is nearly upon us!  Here is a quick-at-a-glance what's been going on at Acorn Cottage in a NUTSHELL!!!!!

We went to Powell Pumpkin Patch....in the bug-dee-do. My daughter Nadia and boyfriend Josh found couple doozies!

My son Faris finding the PERFECT pumpkin!

Flew out to California for my nephew Brent & Sarah's Wedding.....LOVEY DOVEY!!!

Hopefully this handsome couple is NEXT (hint, hint) my newphew Bruce and his lovely girlfriend Tanya :)

My nephew Aaron, his beautiful wife Ghea and my grand niece Ava....speaking of Ava.....

Found out my grand niece Ava, is going to be an "older' sister.........and is going to have a sister!!!! .......

and Ava and her soon to be born sister will be busy playing with their cousins,

Catherine & Bryson

along with cousin Caitlyn!

I also

                        celebrated my Birthday November 27th......               

It was a Hercule Poirot Party.....and my son Faris stole the show, we were all in hysterics!

My daughter Nadia came home from college to celebrate Thanksgiving....

and we are working on making dough ornaments....mine are enchanted mushrooms and owls :)

The painting process is still "in progress"

My daughter Nadia has this down to a science!

Dan the Man and I also celebrated our 11 year anniversary!  I love you sweetie! XOXOXOX

The elves around here have been hard at work since then....decorating and Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, getting cozy beds together, anxiously awaiting the celebrations around the corner.

There have been many visit to Starbucks to help keep up the momentum, and many nights spent by the fireside, enjoying looking at the twinkle lights and listening to Christmas music.....taking a deep sigh and being so very thankful for all that we have!

Country Drive #137

Home, Home on the Range......

Nothing like driving on a random road and finding a neat little peace of history!

This historical house is south of Topeka, Kansas and was just so charming!

I know you can't see the house that well....but let me give you some background.  We are out in the middle of NO WHERE on a random dirt road by rail road tracks, weaving in and out of trees and hills.  The electrical lines had the old glass gadgets on them in turquoise blue and then out of no where...someone built this MANSION.  Lovely landscaping and just tucked away, their own little bit of heaven!

Different road, a little cutie, nestled in the trees, I can only image the peace and quiet the enjoy.  At night I imagine the stars are shining bright, and crickets are signing in the background.  Sigh.....

Trader Joe's Grand Opening!!!!

Weeks, months, years....my friend Jennifer and I have been bombarding Trader Joe's with emails BEGGING them to come to Kansas City.  Finally, our day of glory has arrived!  Sure, on occasional trips to California I could fly home with a few non-perishable items, but I have been patiently waiting so I could stock up on all the things I LOVE from there.

Jennifer drove through Caribou coffee and got us treats!  We stood in line with the anticipation like two five year olds on Christmas Eve.  Local news anchors were out interviewing the loyal followers of this legendary store opening.

No line was going to be too long for us, because we were so happy to be there in all the excitement, taking the day off from work to celebrate the Grand Opening.

We got le'id and high fived as we walked through the door and took in the visual glory of what was before our eyes.
For those of you who have never been, I don't know if I can explain the cult following on this place, but it's magical!

They did a great job on the decor, with beautiful hand painted murals of the fountains at the Plaza to local sports themes like the KC Royals!

Produce, fresh flowers, and gourmet treats like no other.  In every isle, people were oooing and awwwing at all the treats!

Okay....I wasn't going to pass up the team mascot. Is that Tahitian red lipstick you are wearing my dear?

Jen and I with "Captain Mike" Store Manager who was as sweet and helpful as could be!  Great job Mike!

uh yeah....it got ugly, as we stood in line we kept making dashes for other things we saw in other peoples carts or fellow shoppers who we were standing in line with, telling about things we couldn't live without.  Like we needed any incentive.

Say no more, thank goodness we were in Jen's SUV instead of my bug de doo. 

Well, there are going to be some happy campers tonight at Acorn Cottage.  Yes, there was some Chuck Shaw purchased, better known as Two Buck Chuck, which is actually $2.99 a bottle to wash it all down with.  Life is good!

4th Festivities

 Me and my daughter Nadia at the 4th of July Parade!

 The girls...me, Nadia and Melinda from Country Dreaming

 Dan-the-Man and Mr. Ken (Melinda's sweetie)

 Vintage cars showing their 4th of July spirit

 Ms. Kansas

 You have to have clowns at parades!

 Nadia gave the John Deere club a standing ovation!

 The Renaissance Festival...God bless them for wearing their costumes on a warm July day!

 Festivities after the parade at Acorn Cottage....BBQ'd burgers, brats, and tons of sides including Melinda's delish Veggie Salsa recipe that I am still waiting for her to share with me...um HUM!!!!

We then headed over to the 4th of July fireworks show at a local park and played a mean game of Yahtzee waiting for it to get dark.  Nadia was the big winner!

The bestest son a daughter a Mom could ever ask for in the whole entire world! Love, Love, LOVE them to pieces!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!

Home Improvement #28

AFTER!!!!!

BEFORE (icky)

Home improvement number #28. Our 1942 home had the original carriage doors who had weathered many a storm and days of sunshine, but were tired and ready to go to garage door heaven. We are at the 95.5% solution and our waiting for our "panes" to be delivered and installed, but we are so excited! Dan-the-Man more than me, since this is more of a guy thing and I get more excited over paint chips.....but never the less a big improvement and one that was long over due! Kind of me not blogging in many, many months....but we won't go there...or will we?

Ok, OKAAAAAAAY...it's been a bit. I've been buzzzzzzy. What can I say?!?!?! I felt a little guilty, okay a lot, after I saw my last post was in February. What exactly have I been up to?

1) Planting flowers at Acorn Cottage

2)Playing with glitter with recklessly in the art room

3)Getting use to my new camera...we are bonding

4)Went on vacation to CA to see my Mum, sisters and niece (pictures to come)

5)Sewing (pictures to come)

You know.....stuff! Hope everyone has been having a great spring! The peonies are in bloom and smell heavenly! We have a bird nest outside our kitchen window and the babies are hungry! Love listening to them chirp! The bug-de-doo needs a good scrub and is going to be ready for the wide open roads for country drives and roadside farm stands and I got one of those fancy schmancy c.d. disk organizers so I can have all of my tunes with me. Nothing like listening to the Commodores "Too Hot Too Trot....LADY!" out on Highway 24 singing at the top of your lungs! Yeah, that's what I am talking about!

So Very Cozy

Ah yes...Old Man Winter and Mother Nature teasing us. Last week we sat out on our porch, listening to the birds chirp and noticed that the lilac bushes had buds on them...the a couple of days ago it snowed, and sifted a layer of magical layer of powdered sugar all over the evergreens. So, I made a fire, lit the candles, put on some nice relaxing music and savoring the evening.

I hope you are all cozy, happy and content. Maybe a dog or cat on your lap, with a cup of tea, and a wonderful book to read, and a handmade blanket to keep you warm. Enjoy the quiet of winter, the solitude it provides for reflection, daydreaming, and looking at that David Austin rose catalog trying to figure out what kind of roses you want to plant in the spring.

Warmly,
Nancy

Happy Valentine's Day

I kidnapped these pictures to show you the lovely restaurant Dan the Man and I celebrated Valentine's Day.....I know, I know...it's not until Monday, but we are making a whole weekend out of it (that and they didn't have a reservation on Monday until 9pm when I am usually in bed). The picture doesn't do it justice because it is a fantastic panoramic view 360 degrees of Kansas City. Thank goodness we had a perfectly clear sky to view the city lights!

See that little round thing on top of the hotel? That is the restaurant and it rotates completely in a little over an hour for a pretty spectacular dining experience. It's up on the 44th floor (did I mention I am scared of heights?) I had a cherry/pomegranate martini to calm my nerves once seated. The view takes your breath away, and the food was pretty delicious too!

This was the original restaurant that Dan the Man was going to take me to the night he proposed, but I thought it had a glass elevator to take us up to the restaurant which was a big NO CAN DO for me, so we ended going to another wonderful restaurant that special evening.

Just wanted to say sorry I haven't posted or visited any of my friends in a while...my camera went to the graveyard, and it's not much fun blogging without pictures for show-n-tell, but I hope to change that this weekend!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend celebrating Valentine's Day, one of my all time favorite Holidays of all time!

Much Love to All!

Nancy

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

Our little happy tree. You have to appreciate the fact we live in a little cap cod house, but the monster tree is a priority. I could sit a look at the twinkle lights for hours on end. I light my favorite Yankee Candle "Red Berry & Cedar" and if I'm lucky, Dan the Man makes a nice fire to enjoy!

Winter is here! I encourage you all to take a moment and STOP everything, the running around, the craziness, trying to find the perfect gift.....make yourself a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, put on some Christmas music and relax....enjoy. Take a nap on the couch, take a hot bubble bath, everything will still be waiting there for you, I promise.

We bundled up and went for a drive, listening to Christmas music while sipping hot cocoa viewing all the beautiful lights people have decorated with. Such a magical time of the year!

Wishing you peace in your hearts, an abundance of love, and the light and love of God in shining brightly in your life!

Merry Christmas!

Love,Nancy

Simple is Best

This recipe was given to me many years ago by my sister Janet, and although it is simple, it is the BEST! It's one of those recipe cards that is so weathered in my recipe box, you can barely make out some of the writing it's been made so many times! Of course Janet makes her own homemade pie crust, but I'm a rebel and buy Pillsbury ready made crust. Been sure to serve it with some good quality vanilla bean ice cream and enjoy! Just click on image for a larger version...no need to break out the readers :)