Outdoor Wednesday

This week I have been spending with the grandchildren. Their mother, my oldest daughter, went back to school, not studying, but teaching, andhas no one to keep the kids now that they are school age.
On Monday, we went out to the Inn at the Mill and looked  around and took some pictures.  It's a beautiful place, although no longer "in the country" as growth and progress knocks on its door.  Christopher wanted to look at the old wheel and the grindstones, which are all still in place. 

We took a few pictures.  Then a couple of days later, it rained, thank goodness, and the heat wave has abated.
To see other Outdoor Wednesday shots, visit
http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

The big wheel.

Waterfall from the spring into the pond.  This mill was owned by the Johnson family.  When it operated as a mill, the spring fed the wheel  to keep it turning.


Inside the lobby area which is the old mill part.

Christopher and Olivia check out one of the Remingtons.

And check out the Indian out front. 
If you are ever in the Northwest Arkansas area this is a great place to stay and has an excellent resturant on the hill above it.

Enjoy ! And thanks for the rain!!!

SG

Crafty days

I attended a wedding on Sunday last. It was a wonderful wedding of friends and I wish them much happiness because they just deserve it!

My gift was a gift card so I did a fancy wrapping...I had no idea what her colors were, so I used pink because I have a lot of pink....I just like pink...
I made crepe paper flowers and a custom handmade tag for this.  I wrapped the envelope in a layer of pink lace, gauzy ribbon and crepe paper, then attached three flowers with double stick tape so they could be removed easily...here is the result...

Here is the tag.  The little top tag on this one has a small copy of their wedding invitation on the back...

And the flip side is a vintage picture of a wedding dress pattern....

This was super easy and made a card look nicer!

Stay cool...

Love,

SG

Fresh Pesto

Yesterday I made my first ever batch of fresh pesto using the basil I am growing in my garden.  It is so hot that most of my garden is just burning up in spite of it getting late afternoon shade and my watering efforts. 
I planted 2 basil plants which are doing pretty well, and I am keeping the blossoms pinched off of them.  I went out and harvested 2 big handfuls and made Pesto, which I didn't take any pictures of. This is a stock photo of basil...

I first put 4 cloves of garlic and a handful of walnuts in the food processor and ground them up. ( used walnuts because they are about $2 a pound and pine nuts are $30 a pound!)
Then I added the 2 handfuls of basil with a small sprig of fresh oregano I also grew in my garden. Then I threw in 2 big handfuls of fresh  spinach and processed it until it made a paste.  Then I added about 1/3 cup of parmesan, and with the processor running, I streamed in olive oil until it became the consistency I wanted, not too thick, not too runny.  I also added some sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

I tossed this with some hot angel hair pasta, and garnished it with chopped fresh tomato and some more parm.

It was yum!  The spinach kept it from getting so strong, and the walnuts added a nutty taste.  All that planting and watering was worth it! If I had to buy the basil, the cost would be just too much.

Hope you are keeping cool today!

SG

Just a little something I made

I found this idea over at one of the blogs, but since my computer was re-vamped, I have lost the link.  She first made these for a tablescape in February and then re-did it for July.  She used illusion for the "whipped cream" but I decided to try a white crepe paper flower, smooshed down.  I also substituted the truffle she used for the cherry with a red cinnamon candy my husband had in his office. I'll keep looking for this lovely blog, and maybe she will see it and let me know!
UPDATE!!!  I found it at Between naps on the Porch.
Check out this great blog at:
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/06/4th-of-july-craft-or-party-favor.html


 My sorority group has its annual weenie roast tonight and the gift theme is 4th of July so I had to do this for my gift to share.  It's supposed to be a $5 limit, but I kind of exceeded that!  I hope whoever gets this likes it!

I took this with my phone and left my messy work area in it!  The tools I needed were a sewing maching and hot glue gun.  The hardest part was pushing those pins through the candy wrappers!

Happy 4th!  (it's my birthday also!)

SG

Outdoor Wednesday

Last weekend we visited Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.  We did not go to the regular garden walk, but instead visitied the gardens and chapel they have there for weddings and such.

Enjoy the pictures and visit Susan at Southern Daydreamer for more!

If this looks familiar, its because the buildings were designed by Fay Jones' firm. They are in the style of Thorncrown.

Dogwoods



Ornamental Cherry







Garven is owned by the University of Arkansas and there is always something in bloom there.  If you are in Hot Springs, go out to see it!  Next time we will take the regular tour.

It was a nice outing on the first day of Spring!  What did you do that day?

Love,

SG

Weekend update

Last weekend we spent 3 days in Hot Springs, where I lived until I was 13.  I love going back and always hate to leave for some reason.

The good part about going in March is this place:

Oaklawn Race Track
These horses are beautiful and watching them do what they love to do is a treat!

My favorite sign!

This year I came out ahead, actually doubled my betting money. For the first time I hit a Daily Double that paid $52.80 on a $2 bet!

This last Saturday was the Rebel Stakes and a horse called The Factor had it in a runaway.  I thought Bill O-Reilly owned it, but its just named after his show.  That horse is a really fast horse and I think maybe we will see it in the winner's circle at the Kentucky Derby.

Of course when we first got to town on Friday we timed it so we arrived here at the end of the lunch rush:

And had us a plate of ribs!  I took 2 of mine with us and thats what we had for dinner!

We stayed at a nice old hotel up Fountain Street from the Arlington and had dinner after the races in their very fine italian restuarant called Angels on the Park.

Sunday we went out to Garvan Woodland Gardens and walked around to see the chapel and buildings, but didnt go into the garden part.  We will save that for another time.  I'll post pictures of that tour on here for Outdoor Wednesday!

Next year, same place, same race, hopefully as good a turnout as this year!

Love,

SG







Weekend update: Grandchildren, storms and earthquake!

Wow, what a weekend!  The lovely grandchildren came to spend the night Friday night. We picked them up at home, and dead skunk count was an all time high of 10!
Then while Pawpaw, aka Alex, fixed a gourmet dinner of chicken nuggets and Kraft mac n cheese, I took them to the neighborhood D-G to pick out a new toy.  Christopher of course got a transformer, then later informed me that there were two more there that he could use, I guess if I found myself in the D-G with nothing to buy, and Olivia got a dinosaur. Then we went home for dinner, playing, a movie on the DVD and bed.  Christopher went off to sleep, but Olivia stayed up through Blues Clues and Bambi.  I think she would stay up all night if we let her.

At 5 am the next morning, Christoper wakes me up.
Gammie, is it time to get up?
No, go back to sleep.
Gammie, do you have bedbugs?
No, go back to sleep. (where does he get this stuff?)
Gammie, is it light outside?
No, go back to sleep.
Then the cursed alarm goes off at 6:30.
Christopher pops up.
Is it time to get up?

So we got up

Later on, after Alex got up, we took them to the IHOP for breakfast.  That went amazingly well, I guess they are growing up!  Olivia had little pancakes, eggs and bacon.  Christopher had grilled cheese and fries.  And half of Olivia's bacon.  Then I had to give her one of mine.  Then he wanted more bacon and I had to give him half of mine.  I ended up with a half piece out of two! Oh well, less calories!

Then we went home, they played outside.  Overheard Christopher saying to Olivia: Well that's just stupid!.  Not sure what that was about.  Then Susan showed up and I took them home to get out of her way.  They slept all the way home.

Then I went to  flea market on the way home. Alex avoided this by staying home and working on his schoolwork.  He avoids flea markets at all costs.

Sunday night, what a night.  About 10:15 pm it started to storm, lots of lightening, much thunder, much rain, much wind.  And in the middle of it, an earthquake.  I didn't feel it, but a friend who lives a few blocks away did.  As did almost everyone I know.  How did we miss that?

And then Pioneer Woman put Chicken Fried Steak on her blog today and thats all I can think about.

So we are off on another work week. 
6 years, 6 months, 3 days from retirement.

Love,
SG

Back from the Snow of the Century!

Today, its back to work.  And it's Valentines Day.  Last year my new hubby bought a Moleskin journal and wrote me a sweet entry in it.  The thought was that we would write in it on special days, or whatever days and leave it for each other. 
I forgot.
For a whole year.
I forgot.
I apologize.
This morning I wrote in it and left it on his pillow.  And I didn't make up the bed. So...if he decided to make up the bed (he is retired), then he will find it.
He drove me to work today.  When I got out of the car, I told him to have a plan by 5 when he picks me up.

We will see.

Last year my daughter and I made a bunch of Valentine Tags (see my tab called tags)  This year, I didnt make one stinkin' tag.  You would think locked up in the house for 8 of the last 14 days, I would do that.  Nope, I read 4 books and watched a LOT of tv.  Then I decided that it's true...there really IS nothing on tv in the daytime!

So back to the grind, and Happy Valentine's Day to you and your sweetheart!

Love,
SG

Another snow day....

Well, we are having another snow day here in Arkansas.  This time it is from 10 to 24 inches.  I have never seen that much snow at one time. I'm just so over snow!



This is the pot on my porch, and it's under the porch roof!



This snow is so deep, its up to the bottom of the seat of my garden bench and it's still snowing. 

This is my lawn chair and the lawnmower on my patio...

And the trees...

These people were trying to get up the street, and it took them about an hour to go 2 blocks!

To see other neat outdoor shots, visit Susan at Southern Daydreamer

Enjoy!

SG

My First Award

Holly over at Beneath The Big Oak awarded me a Stylish Blogger Award the other day.
She has a wonderful blog full of thoughts, pictures, decorating and recipes.

So go on over and visit her and the other stylish blogs I have awarded. I am supposed to tell you 7 things about myself and link to 15 other delightful blogs...so here goes

Seven things about me...
1. I am an Andy Griffith Show Fan-atic. I will also spend unreasonable amounts of time watching re-runs on TV Land.
2. I am the 3rd great-granddaughter of a Confederate veteran and the 6th great-grandaughter of a Revolutionary veteran and the daughter of a World War II veteran.
3. I have come to dislike snow very much in the last few years.
4. I have aspirations to become a Parrot Head.
5. I read anything I get my hands on, even cookbooks.
6. I can ride a horse.
7.  I have unreasonable fears of rodents,heights, escalators, needles, walking and being in a car on snow and ice (see #3) and interstates.

Here are some blogs I love to visit:

1.  Mindy @ Apron Girls

2.  Aunt Ruthie @ Sugar Pie Farmhouse

3.  Debi and the Sorority Sisters @ The Blogerette Sorority

4,

Outoor Wednesday and the Snow!

Last week we had a little snow, and got a snow day out of it.  I took these off the porch...didn't want to put the boots etc on and get out in it!

Thank goodness the rental property is empty, it needs some major foundation work!

See more cool outdoors shots at:

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Later,

SG





After Christmas Confessions

I did not decorate for Christmas this year.  There, I said it.  I don't know why I didn't...I just never got around to it.  I did make individual handmade tags for everyone on one gift...that took an incredible amount of time and made an incredible mess!  I'll start that about July next year!

I did hang my Santa Face.  One of my daughters thinks this is a little creepy.  The other one thinks its not Christmas if he is not hanging up somewhere.  He is a plaster Santa face that a little old lady who lived next door to us when I was in jr. high gave to me.  I just liked him and she liked that.  I have had him ever since, and that was 46 years ago.
Here he is in his place...

I didn't put up a tree either.  How bad is that?  I just decorated this little tree that sits in the corner of my dining area all the time.  I decorate it for Christmas, Easter, July 4th and Halloween/Fall.it actually has lights on it so its cute when they are lit...but this was it for the tree...



Now for news...I think I'll try a food blog..a learning experience for sure.  I need to learn more about cooking so it may turn out to be a "OOPS, don't do that!" kind of thing.  It will link here so check back later!

Happy New Year...

SG