What this translates into is Nancy in art room ALL DAY LONG with coffee, slippers and p.j's. Ah yes, listening to c.d after c.d and doing something artzy craftsy. Curious minds need to know, what do YOU like to do during unexpected weather events???
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Good Morning
What this translates into is Nancy in art room ALL DAY LONG with coffee, slippers and p.j's. Ah yes, listening to c.d after c.d and doing something artzy craftsy. Curious minds need to know, what do YOU like to do during unexpected weather events???
Friday, February 27, 2009
Chocolate Cake
This is my Mom's recipe that has been made countless times over the years and is a staple anytime there have been chocolate cravings. Be sure you have iced cold milk near by!
Chocolate Snacking Cake
1 1/2 c. flour
1c. sugar
3 Tbs. cocoa (I use dark cocoa)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbs. vinegar
1 c. cold water
Sift all dry ingredients, making three holes. Pour oil in one, vinegar in another, and vanilla in the last one. Pout water over all and mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Check to make sure no gooey spot in center...may need an additional 5 minutes.
Frosting
1 c. sugar
1/4c. cocoa
1/4c. butter
1/4c. milk
Stir while boiling one minute. Cool to touch. Beat until thick and spread.
ORRRRRRR........option number two (my preference). Stir until boiling one minute, let cool for 2 seconds, pour immediately over cake so it absorbs frosting and eat immediately.
Thursday, February 26, 2009

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Prothe's Pecans

Every spring and fall the county south of where I live (country drive heaven) has a wonderful farm tour. One of the farms I love is Prothe's Pecan Farm.

For those of you who have never, ever made a pecan pie, let me put ALL of your fears at ease. It is THE EASIEST pie recipe you could ever make.
Southern Pecan Pie
The goods: 3 eggs
1/3 cup melted butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup pecans
1 cup dark corn syrup
pie crust (I cheat and use Pillsbury)
Directions: Beat eggs thoroughly with sugar, a dash of salt, corn syrup & melted butter. Add pecans.
Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.
Cool. Make a pot of some good french roast coffee, whip up
fresh whip cream. Maybe grate a smidgen of whole nutmeg with a
microplane on top of your whip cream. Enjoy!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Morning Glory

Isn't this a lovely bird house? All houses should be so pretty for our little feathered friends. I have plans to add lots more birdhouse throughout our yard....in addition to the two Acorn bird houses I already have. I love the Victorian one, as well as the ones that are hand painted like the one above. They say Cottage with a capital "C".
Sunday, February 22, 2009
This Old House
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Daydreaming

Friday, February 20, 2009
No...this ISN"T Acorn Cottage!!!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Impatient for Spring
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Spoiled
Valentine's Day turned into Valentine's weekend.....unbeknownst to me someone, okay, the husband...was sneaky...very sneaky....and made plans to kidnap me from my humble home and sweep me away to...to...this! Now mind you, there aren't any other pictures except the bathroom, because that in itself, was enough, to make me float on air.
Now you have to keep in mind that my bathroom at Acorn Cottage (built in 1942) is probably 3x5 (and that's probably being generous). My ENTIRE bathroom could have fit in this shower! My Volkswagen Bug could have fit in there!
Lovely granite surface with garnet gemstones embedded within...I should have taken a picture of the ceiling, which was recessed and had a giant light fixture, and the toilet
was in a separate room and had a telephone in it...just in case...(I'm still scratching my head on why you would want to call someone while..well...uh hum..yeah). The weekend was amazing, but that's because I'm a loved. Being loved is good!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Artsy Craftzy
ANYHOW....what I'm trying to say is you are all GENIUSES! My hats off to you for making your blogs look so great, so enticing. I will conquer Photoshop...I WILL figure out this *!#$^&*()_&%+HTML language! If I need to buy Photoshop and Blogger for Dummies, so be it. So desperate in my attempt to be just like you, I even signed up for a Typepad account, yes, when I was delusional at o'dark thirty convincing myself that it would probably be easier. Boost my ego, actually get something looking like everyone else's. By 6:30am, the account was cancelled and I stand here, humbly before you...saying "I'm not worthy...I'm not worthy" You are all creative geniuses. I think I'm going to brew some more java!
Lovey Dovey
Friday, February 13, 2009
Valentine's Day Breakfast
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Hummingbird

Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Anxious for Spring

Monday, February 9, 2009
The puppies
I went to a furniture store this weekend, and leisurely walked around. Running my hands over a rich chocolate brown sofa, dreaming about falling into the over-sized stuffed chair that came along with it. Trying to decide which Jane Austen book I would read, and what tea I would prepare. Lost in a moment in time. Then reality hit me of what it's REALLY like at my home. Floyd on the left, Trixie on the right...couch dogs. Yeah I should have trained them when they were little not to get up, but they are going on 8 years old now. Floyd's main focus in life is to sleep about 22 1/2 hours of each given day. Trixie about 21 hours. Their thrill each day is when then pretend they are sleeping and then spring up to terrorize our postman each day. I still refer to them as "the puppies" which causes people to look up at me sideways. I love them dearly, and come to my senses that a new couch will have to wait. After all, they just got this one broken it the way they like it!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Old house in the country
One of my friends surprised me for my birthday and had bought this oil painting by Maxine Booker for me. It was at an art exhibit and I mentioned how much I loved it, and always regretted not purchasing it. Three months later, when I clueless she had made arrangements and contacted the artist, I was presented with this wonderful gift.
I have it in my art room and just love looking at it and daydreaming.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The Birds at Acorn Cottage
Here are some of the beautiful birds that live here at Acorn Cottage. The illusive Woodpecker. They seem like a fairly shy bunch. I was very surprised when this one came to feed. He's got a sunflower seed in his beak.
One of my favorites, the Robin. During the summer I see them fanning their wings out to cool down on the green grass.
This trio was captured on camera during the warmer months. During wintertime there is nothing more beautiful than seeing the brilliant red of a cardinal against the backdrop of snow. It always reminds mind how amazing it is that they survive outside during the cold weather. One of life's little miracles.


My Art Room
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Woodland Creatures

Monday, February 2, 2009
Wintertime

Being from California, I never really experienced the seasons the way I do now living in the Midwest. There is a distinction with all the seasons, and just when you start to tire of one, the climate changes and and you start noticing subtle changes occurring. I love each season we have and all the things I associate with them. During the winter, I make the most of being indoors and take the time to work on artzy craftsy projects, organize my art room which has a multitude of projects going on at any giving time and cooking comfort foods. I love having a fire going, putting on my gnome p.j.'s and settling into the couch with my favorite Mom crochet blanket and having a cup of this creamy cocoa. Now, to you Midwesterners, this recipe is like second nature. One of those recipes that your Mom taught you to make when you were 7 years old. This winter I made a big batch, filled mason jars, cut out stock card in the shape of a mitten and wrote the recipe on them and tied them to the jar with raffia. Everyone that lives here said "Oh I've had that recipe before". Deflated, my only hope was to impress my relatives that are still in California, hoping they would think it was the greatest thing since the Espresso Latte from Starbucks. Okay, who am I fooling, but it is a great cocoa mix, nice and creamy, not like that packaged stuff you get in the store that taste like chocolate with water in it.
Hot Chocolate Mix
1 cup powdered cream (such as Cremora)
2 cups Nestle's chocolate milk mix
2 cups powdered sugar
enough powdered milk to make 9 quarts (basically a 25.6 ou. box, minus 1 cup)
Blend all ingredients together. Store in air tight container. When ready to make hot cocoa mix 1/3 cup of mix with 8 ou. of hot water.
Enjoy!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Recipe Book
A couple of years ago, I came up with an idea to make recipe books for family and friends for Christmas presents. I bought 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 "Half Pint" binders by We R Memory Keepers at http://www.wereonthenet.com and page protector sheets (for when that brownie batter is flying in the air). I pre-cut background paper to fit inside, and then cut card stock style smaller in size to print the recipes on. I hand lettered the titles on each page and used embellishments that complemented each recipe or coordinated with the background paper. I must say I think from the compliments I received, it was one of the nicest homemade gifts that really touched everyone.
The first books I made all had a European theme. The ones I have made more recently have been customized for each person, which can get you into all sorts of mischief while shopping.
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Springtime!
Spring has sprung and I am enjoying every little blossom and bird that comes my way! Have a beautiful day my friends!

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