Vee's Note Card Party

It's time again for Vee's Party!

I'm so happy you stopped by for a visit.

 Kitchen Window Ledge Vignettes 

Whimsical Friends

Heart of My Heart

Christmas Bling

Autumn Delight

Now, go visit Vee to see all the fun note cards.

click on picture for the link

Recipe Reviews

I've got a couple of recipes to share with you today.

Two weeks ago I made a Strawberry Angel Food Trifle with a recipe I found on Facebook.  It was also on Pinterest so I knew it must be delicious.  I was so busy during our family gathering I forgot to take a picture.  So, here's the picture from the original source.

source 

Strawberry Angel Food Trifle 

(1) store-bought angel food cake (used 1 1/2 cakes)

24 oz. container frozen strawberries, sliced with sugar added, thawed

24 oz. or 3 cups vanilla pudding (I used 3 individual store bought cups.)

16 oz. container of whipped cream

Fresh strawberries for garnish

Assembly Instructions

Tear angel food cake into medium pieces. 

Begin layering cake, strawberries, pudding and whip cream in a large clear glass bowl. 

Continue irregular layers, filling the bowl. 

Top entire dessert with a solid layer of whip cream. 

 Slice a few fresh strawberries for garnish. 

Refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours before serving. 

(I think mine was refrigerated for only about an hour.)

It was a delicious hit.  I'm adding it to my list of easy dessert recipes.

Yesterday, I baked Banana Blueberry Bread with another Facebook recipe.

Source 

Blueberry Banana Bread

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup fresh blueberries

(I also added 1/4 cup flaux & 1/4 cup oatmeal.)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 2 medium size loaf pans.

Mix together flour, baking soda and salt.

In mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add 1 egg in at a time, then add vanilla.

Add in bananas and then flour mixture until thoroughly combined.

Carefully fold blueberries into batter, pour into loaf pans.

Bake in preheated oven 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in comes out clean.

Cool pans on wire rack for 10 minutes, then take bread out of pans, cool thoroughly on wire racks.

Moist & delicious!

I wonder how long this will last!

This is another recipe I will make again when I have over ripe bananas.

If you try these recipes let me know what you think.

Not A Cloud In The Sky

Happy Monday to you all!

I love mornings like this.

Not a cloud in the sky.

A nice breeze & pleasant temperatures.

The front entrance flowers are doing well.

I planted flowers & vines in the rail basket yesterday.

I think the sweet potato vines grew bigger overnight! 

\

Rosemary, lemon grass & citronella plants need to be potted today.

I can't wait to pick some tomatoes from these plants.

Thanks for visiting today!

Have a marvelous start to your week

Happy Mother's Day

Me, mother, Susan & Mary

the 90's

I cherish the memories of my Mother, Helen. 

Her love, kindness, beautiful singing voice, & generous heart are a legacy of love to her family.

 She loved the Lord. 

I find sweet comfort in knowing that I will

 see her again in heaven. 

I thank God for my wonderful mother.

My Mother taught me so much in her lifetime, but 

the greatest thing she taught me was to love others just as Christ loves you.

A new commandment I give to you,

That you love one another; as I have loved you . . .

John 13:34

Wishing you a Mother's Day filled with memories & love . . .

Saturday Snapshots

Hubby & I spent some time here this morning drooling over all the gorgeous flowers & plants.

Southwood Garden Center

source

We bought two big, beautiful tomato plants.

Also brought home some colorful plants & flowers for this deck basket.

I'm planting lemon grass & citronella plants in pots as natural mosquito repellents..

The rosemary plant will be so fragrant on the deck.

It's a beautiful day here in NE Oklahoma.  Hope the weather is nice in your neck of the woods.

Updates On & Around The Kitchen Table

Happy Friday!  

I got so excited a little earlier when I noticed I had 15 comments on yesterday's post.  I rarely see comments in the double digits.  My excitement soon turned to disappointment when I saw that the 8 new comments were spam from someone in Australia trying to peddle insurance & a bunch of other stuff.  I deleted them.  Hope that doesn't happen again.  

Now, for today's post.

Updates on & around the kitchen table.

My sister helped me remove the shades from the chandelier.

It's a brighter look & I like it.

This set of place mats came from Target.  The price was right at less than $8.00.

I also bought the napkins that match.  I'll show those off later.

These faux flowers go well with the sunny colors of the place mats.

This little lamp had been in the utility room for years.  The original shade was faded & needed to go.

Susan & I found the new burlap shade at Target.  Love it!

Susan bought this sweet little reading gnome for me. 

It looks like the rabbit is listening to him read.

The kitchen is ready for sunny, warm weather.

Changes On The Mantel

A few weeks ago I ordered some birdie items from 

Stone Gable.

She sells products from a collection called 

At Home.

This candle holder & little bird caught my eye.

They were priced very reasonably 

I added some faux geraniums to the urns.

 I think I need to add a banner.

I'll have to give that idea some thought.

I need to troll Pinterest.

Any suggestions?

I'm linking with . . .

Ashley & Robert's Wedding

The reason our Houston family came home to Oklahoma was to attend the wedding of my brother-in-law's niece.

We started celebrating on Thursday evening when Ashley's mom, Sharon, hosted a casual family supper.

Sharon & I are classmates.  Ashley has always called me, Aunt Carol.  

I was so busy hugging babies & eating I forgot to take pictures!  

Ashley & Robert's wedding was Saturday afternoon in our hometown.

Photos courtesy,
Picturesque Photos by Amanda
Tulsa, OK

Mother & daughter before the ceremony.

My brother-in-law escorted Ashley down the aisle.

Pictures of the couple hung from each sconce in the sanctuary.

After the ceremony.
The reception was held at the Country Club.

What a pleasant surprise that the meal was breakfast!  So delicious!

Elegant cake.

Best wishes Robert & Ashley!

Table For Two

A few weeks ago my sister, Susan & I were on the lookout for a children's table for the reading corner in my living room.  We were unsuccessful.  When Susan & Mike headed back home they found the perfect table in Springfield, MO.  Susan refinished the top.  It's beautiful!

Emma had a great time coloring at the table last Friday.

It's the perfect place to work on puzzles.

I went a little crazy at Target this morning.

I bought some super cute plates, flatware, cups, napkins & placemats.

Emma's placesetting.

Ethan's placesetting.

The table has drop leaves so it can be used as an end table when the grandkids aren't here.

Thank you, Susan & Mike for gifting us with a table for two!

I'm linking with . . .