Cottage Chic for Wedding Gifts

It's that time of year again, when unique and meaningful wedding gifts can be somewhat hard to find. With re-purposing and up-cycling such a popular trend, why not give a gift with purpose, style and charm. These pedestal style dishes are very useful for soaps in the bathroom. They keep the muck off the counter, eliminate plastic bottles on the counter, and look stylish. Or, you can use these for jewelry and rings, even candy. There are many possibilities! Visit Simply Sheryl's for more gift ideas.

What Happens When You Drop a Dish..... Whaalaa! Artisan Jewelry!

True story...... I found a lovely little saucer at a yard sale in Wallowa, Oregon along with some other treasures I can't even remember. I had tucked the saucer up against my chest, so it was hidden from view after I found more lovelies to take home. I get up to the sales table and start taking things out of my bundle one by one. I moved the arm that had the saucer tucked in it and eeek! it crashed to the porch, shattering in several pieces. The nice lady wasn't going to charge me, but it was my mistake so I paid her anyway. I had planned on using the saucer for a pedestal dish, so that wasn't going to work. Thank goodness I had started using broken china to make pendants and dangles for jewelry.
I found gorgeous midnight blue glass rondell beads so a necklace idea was born!

You can find this at Simply Sheryl's etsy

Monday and Lilacs ....

A lilac scented breeze tickled my cheeks as I meandered up the road this morning. The promise of a hot day was felt in the cool, then warm wisps of air brushing my arms. The sun hadn't quite come up yet, although an azure tinge sent shadows over Deseret peak, stroking the last of the snow dotting the mountain range in purple and blue hues. I marvel at the goodness of God in the beauty He sends us each day.

Running with the quail.....

Yes, it's a lousy photo, one that was taken as I was trying to wog up the street. Two quail were leading me up the hill this morning. I had passed a flock of chickens grazing in a neighbors yard when I looked up to see these two little California quail skittering up the sidewalk in front of me. We almost made it to the end of the block together before they decided enough was enough and flew into a tree. I smiled all the way up the road though, as it's always a treat to go running. See what you miss when you sleep in on a Saturday?

Utah in Spring....

Well.... I was going to post a recipe, but my camera is in the back of the car, which is in a repair bay at the dealership, and the matching photos for the recipe are still on the camera, so.... I will share some springtime photos instead. We took my MIL for a drive the other night and here is what we were treated to...

I am looking for painting subject matter. I love the colors in the bottom photo. Oh, it looks as if the care may be ready.... hold on.... in the mean time I will see if I have time to download some flower photos before I have to go...

Oh looky, I think I will be here until Memorial Day , but hey, I have photos to share right?

So...springtime in Utah is quite lovely, even if it did snow today. Tomorrow promises to be warmer, but I better go check night time temps so I know whether to shelter the tender seedlings in my mini green house.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars - Best In the West!

My grand daughters made a special request to make cookies together, sooooo we looked around the house to see what was available. Hmmm, time to run to the store for supplies! I was making chicken enchiladas anyway so we needed supplies for that as well. Off Mommy and I go to Walmart, which is different in every community I've visited so far. It took us a bit longer than expected to gather what we needed, so when we got home I plopped two cubes of butter in a bowl and tackled the enchiladas. We didn't get to eat until after 6:30 and grandma was running out of steam here, thus a bit of a compromise. Instead of cookies we made bars. I doubled a peanut butter cookie recipe from one of my daughters cookbooks and threw in some chocolate chips,  so we could have enough to keep everyone happy. I warn you that right out of the pan, these are so good you might not be able to stop eating them!

Best In the West Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
 preheat oven to 350 degrees
1 c. each butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, white sugar 
1 t. each baking soda, salt
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 10 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl cream butter and sugars, add peanut butter and mix in well. Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Sift dry ingredients together and with vanilla, mix in well. Stir in chocolate chips.  Spread in large cookie sheet and be sure and spread the dough evenly. Bake for 15 minutes or until just turning golden brown. Let cool slightly as they will fall apart a bit when still warm, but hey, they are soooo yummy you probably won't care. Yield 4 dozen.

Family Time- Enjoying it in spite of challenges.

We are on our way back from a Spring Break run to the Midwest to visit my daughter and family. I took this photo of Jinxy Cat, who was skulking under the dining room table. I'm really loving the things my new camera can do. She was in the dark, but this looks as if she was out in the light. Amazing!

I would love to share some great family photos of our trip, but everyone was sick! Strep throat got my daughter and oldest grand daughter, and the two younger kidlets were suffering fevers and such off and on as well. We enjoyed our time in spite of it and I can't wait to see them again. I was glad Nature Guy got to meet everyone, plus we have a commitment of them coming out our way. Yay!

I tried a new recipe twist that I hope to share when I get a photo before we munch the last of the treats sometime today. Best in the West Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars I've dubbed them.

My daughter has done a great job decorating her home! Funny, she called me in a panic when they first moved, not knowing where to put everything, but she's done a very nice job. Sick bodies all over the furniture didn't give me an opportunity to share though....lol.

For now we are making our way to Cheyenne for the night. The weather is pleasant, signs of spring are cropping up, migrating birds are gleaning last Fall's leavings as they stop on their way up north, and we are rested believe it or not. Time is running out on the lap top battery so taa taa for now!