Soup Swap Party - in St. Pat's Style

 

GREETINGS, AND WELL MET, ME DEAR LEPRECHAUNS!

 Hello friends!  It's been a while since I have posted -

 but most of you know how much I love St. Patrick's Day! 

 

So here is what they saw coming up to our house.

 

And what they saw coming up to the front door:

 

 

And what they saw on the table when they came into the kitchen: 

 

My two daughters, their best friend (like a daughter) and I

 do a soup swap luncheon once a quarter

and the one I hosted for this time was only held just a few days ago!

 So of course it had to be all shamrock-y themed, right??

I've had this little sand blasted shamrock for so long

 I can't remember not ever having it.

I didn't fuss about taking simple phone pics -

 no special lights, no editing, and no apologies!

I also didn't fuss with washing, and pressing any linens.

Nope, not this time. Kept it simple and do-able!

This end was different for my grand girl.

The little wrapped present was St. Pat's socks.

♣

The favors were wrapped shamrock cut-out cookies

In the back of each of the cookies I poked two Twining's Irish Breakfast

 wrapped tea bags, and tied the cellophane with green ribbon. 

Of course most of you know how much I love a themed gathering

so I just HAD to make a green soup- so I made Cream of Broccoli!

I used to have a full set of matching shamrock china place settings

for my tea parties in March that I have since sold or given away.

I sure could've used them for this table!

But these sweet hand painted vintage green floral ones worked well

and they perfectly matched the plates that I used as chargers.

(No maker's mark on them or the saucers.)

I also provided a nutritious wee salad in a light spring green pot set.

They are from Pier One probably around 25 years ago.

♣

The other soups: Minestrone, Beef Veg, and Italian Wedding.

How we do the swap:

We each make and bring enough for us to heat up for lunch,

sampling each in a small bowl (or tea cup)

(and refill if we want more but we seldom do) 

and bring your quarts of soup for the others to take home.

We all use the same containers and just circulate them.

(Dollar store for the win!)

♣

We also had bread and butter.

And my elder daughter made the BEST dessert.

It was a 1940's vintage recipe a vanilla cream pie

 with a crisp creme brulee cooked sugar topping.

This pic she took right out of her oven doesn't do it justice.

It cut so perfectly and held its shape beautifully.

(I am kicking myself for not remembering a pic of it when served!) 

I get just entirely too excited about food sometimes haha.

I always keep this hutch fresh in current seasonal decor.

And of course Saint Patrick's Day month is no exception.

Most of my shamrock/ Irish things are gifts from loving friends and family

who know how much I love being of Irish blood lines on both sides.

♥

Oops! I forgot to move my wooden letters rack back.

(It's hiding my Great Irish Short Stories book!)

May you always walk in sunshine

May you never want for more

May Irish Angels rest their wings

Right outside your door

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Thanks for stopping by!

I sure miss you all and am feeling much better.

Thank you for all the sweet messages about my surgery.

~Michele

 

Christmas Tea and Cookies

HELLO FRIENDS! 

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME!

NICE TO BE BACK!

I recently invited an elderly friend over for tea and knew

 I'd get busy and forget to take pictures! 

So I set up a tea for one after she left so I could share.

This is the third wee tea and cookies I hosted this month.

It is easy and intimate and quite pleasant

 to have one-on-one times with old friends.

I made peanut butter fudge and raspberry brownie bites 

and bought iced sugar cookies because I didn't bake mine

until today....and I made Santa's Favorite Cookies!

You see, I was a very lucky winner of a giveaway

from Mary - with her awesome blog Home Is Where The Boat Is.

(Click on her blog name to get her cookie recipe!!)

There are some really surprising ingredients. :-)

If you've never been to her blog you really need to asap!

I know I am late is sharing this so close to Christmas

but in case you want to make them anytime, do. YUM!

I won that amazing shallow cookie tray and cooling rack.

I also won those two nifty heavy-duty Christmas rubber spatulas

and those fancy cookie sprinkles!

I was beyond delighted!

(Thank you, Mary!!!)

I still adore my Christmas cozy I bought from 

my old blogger friend from her Etsy shop

Bernideen's Tea Time

Music and bird theme. Sigh.

I always get compliments about it.

I hope to post my home tour this Christmas.

 I have had such good intentions.

So if I am able, I will try to do so.

But I am soooo running out of time.

If I do it, it may be late. Ugh. 

I have had some tough health issues that's kept me from blogging. 

I have surgery scheduled in January.

 I hope and pray that it remedies the situation.

But I have NEVER stopped thinking about you all!

I haven't stopped wanting to blog post!

 I have so much to share, but so little energy to do so.

So I am sure hoping for better in 2024!!

In the meantime heat up your kettle,

 make yourself a nice hot cuppa,

and try to enjoy the peace and joy celebrating

 The Reason for the Season!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hugs, prayers and smiles to my very precious readers.

Thanks for not giving up on me! 

~Michele

St. Patrick's Day Tea Time!

Hi friends!

I couldn't let this day slip by without wishing you a very

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

It's an important day to my family,

though this year none of us could get together.

And whew do I ever miss my father today!

Thought I'd put together a little tea-for-one

and gather some of my more favorite Irish-themed

things to make a tea vignette with my twin Adderly teacups.

I used to have a fairly large collection of shamrock

teacups, but I have since sold or gifted most of them.

I cannot even begin to tell you how many proper

 St. Patrick's Afternoon Tea Parties 

 I have had to cancel due to snow storms. 

(It's entirely too much work to do to have to then cancel.)

 So I stopped having them some years ago.

 And of course today is in the 70s. 

Not complaining, but still!

Last week we had a huge snow storm. 

Life in mid-Ohio is not boring!

I made a cinnamon coffee cake and in my excitement putting this together forgot about the cake. Oops. 

I received three wonderful cards (above) this year.

Thank you Marina, Ginny and Mary Beth.

They help things look and feel so festive. 

♣

And I can't close without sharing a pic of my grand girl

with her smiling Irish eyes (and her two new teeth!)

I think she may have just quit Irish dancing for this pic her momma too, because her hands are still in fists.

Sure hope one day soon she may begin lessons.

God love her, she watches the videos

and tries to self teach. Precious.

A world of wishes at your command.

God and his angels close to hand.

Friends and family their love impart,

And Irish blessings in your heart!

As always, thank you for your visit!

♣

~Michele

Valentine's Tea Luncheon

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE'S DAY!

Well now, it certainly has been a minute

 since I last posted - and for that I sincerely apologize.

I could give you a thousand reasons why it happened.

But I have decided to just hop on back and share

a Val Day Tea Luncheon I hosted last week.

♥

I figured it would be a nice way to

wish you all a happy Val Day, too.

I set up a pretty table in the kitchen and invited

my two daughters and my grand daughter.

It's the first formal luncheon I have hosted

since before Covid hit the world.

So hosting this tea was good in many ways.

It brings such a smile to my face to share these happy pics!

Hasn't our grand gotten big?

She lost her first tooth just a few days prior to the tea.

And she lost her second tooth only just today!

(Perhaps it was due to eating

too many conversation hearts candies!)

This sweet girl makes every holiday better. 

Royal Albert Old English Rose china

along with pink Depression glass together

makes a perfect Valentine's table.

♥

And I used my favorite pink linen vintage napkins.

I love love love an opportunity to use them.

I kept the plates easy to wash up-

and nothing that would devastate me should

a little 5 year old accidentally break any.

Up till now she and Mom have been nervous to use.

Some of my older readers may remember my youngest

daughter will always choose a hefty mug over a china cup.

Slowly but surely she is coming around! Ha!

About a week before this luncheon I had my girls

over for an easy casual lunch and we made valentines.

We had such a fun day!

She still had all her baby teeth then!

Hope you all had a truly wonderful 

St. Valentine's Day.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

(Thank you for not giving up on me!)

XXX and OOO

~Michele

 

Love a Snowy Day!

 Hi friends! Just popping in with a big hello

on this beautiful Sunday winter morning.

Opened my front door and snapped this phone photo

 and thought the flag made it look so awesome.

Jan 31, 2021

I absolutely love beautiful snowy winter days.
I could never live year-round where there isn't 4 seasons.


(Though the older I get the more my joints + bones beg to differ.)

Now that I need not rush to work at the crack of dawn in this stuff
I do love snow much much better now!


♥



I was so surprised to have our snow completely untouched.

It is seldom we don't see a zillion deer tracks all over.

What a pleasant bit of eye candy to discover
on this cold winter's morning!

It's a great day for sipping on some nice hot cuppas,
reading a good book, enjoying the warmth of a roaring fire....

Whatever you do today,
 I wish you peace and harmony and the joy of living.

God bless you and your families.


(And please remember to feed the birds!)

Finch Rest loves goldfinches and bluebirds best.

♥

Stay home, stay safe, stay well.

~Michele

Christmas Morning Biscotti Gifts!

 

Today I am sharing an adaption of a post
 I did last year - but was a little late getting it posted.

And I think good timing is everything -

so right now seems to be the perfect time to share this,

for early enough planning ahead!

CHRISTMAS BISCOTTI!

Biscotti is a double-baked dry crisp Italian "cookie,"

that travels well and keeps a while in an air tight container.

And just who wouldn't want a simple crispy crunchy biscuit

really good for dippin' and dunkin 

 in tea or coffee to start a morning off to a sweet start?

These easy-to-make baked super crunchy goodies

are the perfect answer!

I have been making them for years -

and last year had the idea (I got from Diana at Nana Takes a Break blog) to make them just 

the right size to fit inside Christmas card boxes

to give as gifts.

I love cleverly repurposing the use of things, don't you?

She made fudge for hers.

(I am adding this now- last year I had mentioned her and this year I omitted, so fixing now.)

 I always save these heavy-duty card boxes,

 and they'd been really adding up.

Last year I filled my seven boxes I had saved

 and dropped off to all my neighbors in my cul-de-sac.

(Hobby Lobby sells my favorite cards and have the best boxes.)

Of course biscotti individually wrapped up

 in cellophane & tied with a bow

 tucked into a jar or basket,

filled in a repurposed large jar, put in cute square cookie tins or filled up a cute holiday box...any contained works!

Two favorite recipes for fall & winter:

Cranberry-Orange Biscotti

and

White Chocolate Cranberry Biscotti

I cut up the cranberries much smaller and use less 

from the above recipes, which helps them

 keep their shape and stay together and not break too easily.

These make really great treats to mail to loved ones!

So, remember:

 SAVE YOUR CHRISTMAS CARD BOXES

 and plan to do some biscotti baking this year!

As always, thanks for your visit.

Hugs and prayers,

~Michele

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December's First Snow!

I sure enjoyed waking up

 on the first day of December to finding it had really snowed!

I do love having all 4 seasons here, and I do really like snow!

(Especially when I decorating for Christmas!)

It helps me really get into the spirit of it all!

I love the patterns the snow made

on the stone pavers...

And how the piles of snow sits on the branches of

the boxwood outside our kitchen window.

And on the lilac bush next to it on the right....

But the BEST part of a good snow day

 is when sweet little girls get to make snow angels!

Oh, the sheer joy of being a child!

Vivi says to herself:

"OK, I am going to look at my mommy. Smile, even. 

Think she will notice that I am making a snowball?

Don't look at my hands. Just focus. Just keep smiling at mommy.

I think I am almost ready to throw it at her..."

(Just look at that "innocent" look she's giving her!)

I know that look all too well myself! 

Seems sweet, but really is T.R.O.U.B.L.E!

Hahaha!

And of course there are no pics of the war that ensued!

Alas, the paparazzi were nowhere to be found.

(THIS grandma sure loved getting these happy pics from them!)

♥

Incidentally these are her shiny new "Olaf" boots

 from the movie Frozen.

In pic below she is holding her Olaf plushie toy.

Yes, she still has a strong Frozen obsession.

 As always, thanks for your visit!

Hugs,

~Michele