Beautiful Bridal Shower

My son 'G' is getting married this summer! On Saturday, we attended a Bridal Shower for his Lovely Bride to Be, 'E'. It was held at a beautiful home overlooking a lake by a long time family friend of E's. They live 3 hours away, and I made the journey with my two lovely Daughters and the equally lovely girlfriend of my youngest Son.

It was a perfect day, bright and sunny. When we arrived we were greeted warmly and introduced, and led out to the most enchanting garden overlooking a lake. Tables were set with brightly colored flowered tablecloths. There were Sunflower centerpieces in polka dot pots, place settings with polka dot napkins, each one a different color, and delightful jars of homemade strawberry jam as favors.

Each table had it's own surprises and unique color combinations.

The setting was lovely, with beautiful gardens surrounding us, the lake glittering in the afternoon sunshine.

The main table was set beneath a beautiful grape arbor. Paper lanterns in colorful hues hung everywhere. The chandelier was decorated with fresh sunflowers.

No Detail was overlooked. I love the slices of fruit floating in the beautiful glass decanters.

A cool shady spot. Everywhere you looked, there were interesting little vignettes. This little stone rabbit was hiding next to some pretty potted flowers at the base of the arbor.

These colorful chairs awaited us after the meal.

The meal was delicious! We were served a light and tasty potato salad, an Asian style chicken salad, and a garden corn salad topped with a grilled slice of whole grain buttered and seasoned bread.

After the meal, we were divided into teams, according to the color of the ribbon on our champagne glasses. There were 5 teams, each designated a different theme to dress our 'toilet paper bride'. There was the 'Flapper Bride', the 'Flower Child Bride', the 'Sexy Bride', the 'Alluring Bride' and this is my daughter 'J' as the 'Sophisticated Bride'. We were each given a bag of materials to work with, including ribbons, silk flowers, paper towels, toilet paper, charms and beads, and of course tape and scissors. We had 20 minutes to complete our design and then the girls had a fashion show and the Bride to Be chose the winner. I was on the 'Flapper Bride' team and we won! The prize was one of the beautiful centerpieces.

The Bride to Be was showered with many lovely gifts.

It was a happy day spent with wonderful new friends and family. We are so blessed to have a new member join our family, a delightful young lady and a joy to spend time with.  A big thank you to the hostess for inviting us to this beautiful bridal shower. It was truly magical. I can't wait to see everyone once again at the big event!  

Pear and Bacon tart

This is an interesting blend of flavors that I think you will enjoy. I first sampled something similar when daughter H and I went to visit youngest son D. We dragged him away from work (he runs his own computer consulting company, which is 24/7) to go out to lunch with him. He took us to this wonderful little Bistro and out of curiosity, I ordered what was called a Pear and Bacon pizza.

I loved it so much that I wrote down all the ingredients I could identify and started experimenting on my own.

This is what I came up with. I have served it to Hubby 5 or 6 times now, and he loves it.

Pear and Bacon Tart

Ingredients

5 or 6 slices of bacon, fried crisp and crumbled

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 firm pear, cored and thinly sliced

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 an 8-oz tub of cream cheese with chives

or

use plain cream cheese and 2 tbsp snipped fresh chives or 1/4 cup green onions

1/4 tsp black pepper

1   12 inch thin crust pizza shell 

(use something pre-baked or it is impossible to spread the cream cheese)

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

several fresh sage leaves 8-12

or

1 tsp or so dried sage

or

fresh basil leaves 8-12

Honey (optional)

Heat oven to 400 degrees

Place pizza shell on an ungreased baking sheet or pizza pan. Spread with cream cheese. (Sprinkle with chives or green onion if using plain cream cheese) 

Sprinkle with pepper

In a small bowl, toss together pear slices and lemon juice. (This prevents pears from turning brown)

In another small bowl, place crumbled bacon and brown sugar and mix well. Microwave for 30 seconds or until brown sugar is melted. Set aside until cooled.

Sprinkle sugared bacon evenly over cream cheese on pizza shell.

Arrange pear slices on bacon.

Top with walnuts and feta cheese.

Arrange sage leaves over top or sprinkle with dried sage. (If using basil, place leaves on after cooking)

Bake in 400 degree oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until cheese begins to brown.

Pass honey for drizzling.

Makes 10 to 12 appetizer servings or 3 to 4 main dish servings

Summer Daze

We are finally getting some summer weather and the last several days were actually HOT!!! I even have a little bit of a sunburn! But today is a cloudy and drizzly day, so I can take a break from watering. I garden mostly in pots and barrels, and raised beds, as the ground here is heavy clay and full of rocks, not to mention the voracious slugs, rabbits, squirrels, and deer. It is a wonder I am able to grow anything at all! But my secret is........ta dah!.......native plants! We have a treasure trove of native flowering bushes, trees, and of course wildflowers, and I take advantage of every bit of it. I have been known to make Hubby stop the car on our way somewhere, just to collect a few seeds.

But back to my story.... I was out watering some of my hanging baskets and this beautiful butterfly stopped by for a visit. According to my 'Insects of the Pacific Northwest' guide, he is a Western Tiger Swallowtail. They live on Alder trees, of which I have an abundance, and thrive in cool, coastal areas. He was a study in motion and it took about 25 shots for me to get this one clear picture. One of his 'Swallowtails' was missing.

This is where he was visiting; the hanging baskets in my little picnic/potting area. As you can see the landscape is lush with greenery and I can barely keep up with trying to keep it orderly. Once it gets really hot, the cover goes on the canopy frame so we can have a cool area to sit during the day.

I had a very busy week with the 4th of July Holiday and Hubby being home for several days on a little vacation from work. I also had my daughter J's two mini dachshunds over the holiday, pet sitting. They are very active and with my two dogs, 3 cats, and one bird, I was exhausted from keeping them all happy and calm with a mini war going on all around us. We live on a large hill with several other families, all separated by trees and acreage, but on the 4th of July, everyone loves to celebrate with fireworks. This is a state that allows freedom of explosions, shall we say, although some cities and towns are now trying to regulate things. But out here in the county, with no laws to enforce things, it is a giant free for all. I swear someone was setting off dynamite at one point. All of this led to very unhappy animals, not only my pets, but the poor wild things. I can just imagine what it did to very sensitive ears. As it was, Hubby had to spend the whole evening in the kennel with poor Little Bear, soothing her shattered nerves, and I spent the night inside with terrified cats and dogs.

The next day, we all slept in. The cats and the bird never even made a peep, the dogs kept flopping down anywhere I stopped (they follow me all day), and even the wild birds were fairly quiet. We had one little brown bat disoriented and trying to find his roost, end up on the ground in front of the house and so I covered him with a basket until he gained the strength to fly into a large cedar tree nearby. (We are an equal opportunity family)

Speaking of winged creatures....

This large moth visited our porch light last night. Hubby and I were just settling in to bed, I with my latest book, he watching the late night talk show, when we were startled by the shadow of flapping wings right outside the bedroom sliding doors. At first I thought it was a bat. This was a large creature. I ran and grabbed my camera and it finally came to a rest on the eaves by the light and I snapped this photo. It was dark and it is a little blurry, but I think you can see it's incredible beauty. According to the guide, it is a Polyphemus Moth, one of the most widely distributed giant silkworm moths in North America and one of the largest moths in the region, having a wingspan of 140mm. That would be approx. 6 inches, I think. Anyway, it was that large and an amazing sight.

Here is a clearer picture of him. I didn't dare open the glass door for fear he would fly inside. I wouldn't want to have to try and capture it and destroy it's beautiful wings. They feed on woody

 broad-leaf trees and shrubs, such as Maple and Oak. We don't have Oak here, but plenty of Large Leaf Maple and the smaller Vine Maple. It is the males that are attracted to the lights.

On a more domestic note, Daughter J stopped by yesterday to pick up her precious pup dogs, but spent the day with me, as she has the week off work. We ate blueberry corn muffins and drank coffee on the deck and chatted about decorating. (Blueberry corn muffins- add one egg and 1/2 cup light sour cream to one box Jiffy corn muffin mix. Throw in a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries and bake according to directions- 15-20 minutes. Yum!)

We decided to do a little shopping in the town nearby. So we left the dogs home and headed downtown. We found some sweet little treasures.

I found a miniature painting of the French countryside, and this darling little table. I have been searching for a small table for my new settee and this one is perfect! Only $30!

Look how nicely they go together!

Our next stop was a small antique mall filled with individual booths and way in the back I found this beautiful little chest of drawers. It is made of maple with tongue and groove joinery. And to my surprise, it was filled with art supplies!

When I saw the price, I practically ran to the cash register. It was only $7 !!! I had a little bidding war with the ladies at the register who offered me more money for it and commented on what a steal it was. I have been dabbling in sketching, something I have done all of my life periodically, and this will give me added inspiration. As soon as I have something to show you, I will post it. My little sketching table is up here in my office, right under the window to give me natural light. I enjoy coming up here and relaxing once in a while, and have been working on a sketch book of native birds.

Daughter J saw a few things she really liked, but wasn't willing to part with her hard earned money quite yet, although she gave me some insight on what she liked for future gift giving.

She did treat me to lunch at a cute little diner where we had BLT sandwiches on thick sliced home baked bread and a delicious salad.

It was lovely spending the day with my sweet daughter, and catching up on her life. Everyone is so busy these days and to have this one perfect day to spend with her was wonderful.

Well, I must leave you, as I am coming out of my 'Summer Daze' and the laundry is calling my name.

 I will be having a little 'give away' this week to encourage everyone to post comments on the blog page. Anyone who posts a comment gets their name put in a hat. The more comments, the more your name gets entered. I will be showing the prize this week. Hubby will do the honors of pulling the name out of the hat. It will be fun!!!

Savory Quiche

This is an easy way to make a quiche without having to make a crust.  I have served this recipe to my family for years and even children love it. I have also served adaptions of this recipe at bridal and baby showers and for brunch. It keeps very well and can be made ahead and served either at room temperature or heated in the microwave. But fresh out of the oven is delicious and Hubby loves it, too. Who says, 'Real men don't eat quiche?'

Savory Quiche

6-8 servings

Ingredients

8-12 slices of bacon (about 1/2 lb), crisply fried, drained on paper towels and crumbled

1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese (use a medium or sharp cheddar) about 4 ounces

or Swiss Cheese, or a mixture of cheeses that includes Swiss or Cheddar

1/3 cup chopped onion ( I use a sweet mild onion)

2 cups milk

1 cup Buttermilk baking mix

4 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Crisco, butter or cooking spray to grease pie plate

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly grease a 10 inch deep pie plate.

Sprinkle crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, and chopped onion evenly in pie plate.

Beat eggs in large bowl, (if you have a pouring bowl, that would be ideal), then add remaining ingredients. Beat well with a whisk for one minute until smooth.

Pour into pie plate.

Bake until golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting. Refrigerate remaining pie.

Note: If using a 9 inch pie plate, decrease milk to 1 1/2 cups, baking mix to 3/4 cup and eggs to 3.

Independence Day

As Hubby and I prepare to celebrate this 4th of July Holiday, I started to think of what Independence Day really means.

'The measure of a democracy is the measure of the freedom of its humblest citizens.'

 John Galsworthy



This is what I found. In a copy of the actual Declaration of Independence that my dear daughter J had sent for as a young student, were these words written in the foreword of a little pamphlet that came with the document,  written by Warren Burger, Chief Justice of the United States from 1969-1986:

'In the last quarter of the 18th century, there was no country in the world that governed with separated and divided powers providing checks and balances on the exercise of authority by those who governed. A first step toward such a result was taken with the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which was followed by the Constitution drafted in Philadelphia in 1787; and in 1791 the Bill of Rights was added.

In place of the absolutism of monarchy, the freedoms flowing from this document created a land of opportunities. Ever since then discouraged and oppressed people from every part of the world have made a beaten path to our shores. This is the meaning of our Constitution.

'Government of the people, by the people, for the people, still remains the sovereign definition of democracy'

Sir Winston Churchill



But what does this really mean? Why do we celebrate our Independence every year?

I decided to stop at the new Veteran's Memorial Park just completed in the little town nearby. I needed to think about things. Here was our very own 'wall' of soldiers who gave their very lives in all the wars fighting for our freedom. Both sides had names carved into the solid polished rock.

One side of the massive Cedar erected in the center of the memorial, had the words 'Freedom'.

The other side had the word 'Veterans' carved into it. This is a logging community and it is only fitting that this majestic Cedar tree was used as the Memorial's Centerpiece.

And there, at the very top, the symbol of our Country, the Bald Eagle, with outstretched wings and holding the American Flag in it's talons.

I thought of all the lives sacrificed fighting for our freedom.

Freedom to decide who we want to lead our country.

Freedom of Speech.

The right to Equality.

The right to fair Representation.

And I realized, this is not to be taken for granted. People all over the world still live oppressed lives. They are not allowed these rights. They can't elect their leaders. They don't have freedom to speak their mind. They don't have fair trials. They don't have human rights.  

'Democracy...is the only form of government that is founded on the dignity of man, not the dignity of some men, but of all men.'

Robert Maynard Hutchins

And so, as we prepare for another year of celebration, let's remember the brave men and women who fight for our freedoms. Who fight for the world's freedoms. Let's not take for granted our freedom, as others around the world still struggle. Let's remember the fallen who have died for our freedoms.

'As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.'

Abraham Lincoln

Let's be thankful.