La Mia Vita, La Mia Musa

Christmas count down...

  Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.. I am finalizing store shopping for Thanksgiving.. I found some fun decorations for Christmas..some chestnuts for our dressing for the turkey bird..

  I wanted to share some inspiration for the season. I pulled out my Mary Engelbreit collection of magazines! I have everyone since day one..I'm actually sad that Home Companion isn't around anymore.

  So, I'm paging through and just had to share the many pages of true home decoration..art inspiration JOY!! 

 These pictures all came from my December 2004/ January 2005 issue of Mary's Mag....

  anybody notice the theme I have found? Wonderful bottle brush trees!! I love the collection of the ones on the mantle with the warm fire and mirrors..oh and how about the ones on the table..they make a fun center piece!

.. I will be sharing more pictures from the pages of Home Companion... stay tuned..

Ciao.
 
 
 

whew!! glad that's done with...

been there..done it.. don't want to go back..don't even want the t-shirt!

-please..take the button.. whew.. glad it's over!! It's been through EVERY person in our town now I think... we haven't even had a chance to get the shot..{which doesn't have good results I hear...}... hit me like a @#!! truck last Wed... looking forward to feeling much better.. for EVERYONE!!  Hope everyone gets over this bug quickly..

a tuesday...

it's Tuesday.. first day of school for the boys..

  I have to offer you this fun wooden vintage bin..available now in the shoppe..I have one that I have hanging in my kitchen...

  let your imagination run! wow..you could use it in a baby's room for diapers or other necessities... in the bath for towels and such..

  I never got to share the big puffy paper flowers we made in the studio!! I  have them hanging right over my work table...

  It really makes you smile when you walk in and see these big blooms over head!

Well..that's my Tuesday.. the other gal that started at the agency to alleviate some of the work load up and quit today... Summer is 'over'.. back to schedules and discipline... oh well..only 179 days left till Summer vacation!! Yay!

home...

  ohh.. we are home now from a much needed vacation.

Some special family members flew all the way from PA... to join us on our camping trip..gosh, it felt so good to just relax and enjoy life again..{oh yeah... wonderful DH fixed the camera!! }

 We spent a few days at our homestead before heading up to Peninsula State Park in Door County WI...steaks on the grill... sunsets.. catching up since Jan... the special family members are DH's brother and his wife , my fabulous sister-in-heart.. we haven't seen them since my mom-in-heart passed in Jan. and it feels like it was just yesterday..that incredible feeling of 'Famille' ...OHANA..Famiglia

 one of the joys of living in the country is when a special event happens.. or when you just want to let loose and shoot some off!... booyahh! crack bang.. and boy did we!

lots of pics taken, lots of memories.. I'll share more later..one thing that was stylish AND useful.. my Ballard bags.. I loaded these bags down and they didn't even blink!! I mean, they are sturdy and the leather handles are riveted into the stylish burlap.... waaay strong! lots of treks to and from.. loooove 'em! They come in a rainbow of colors and you can design the logo to say just the right thing...

Ahh.. it's good to be home..but I will have such wonderful memories of this wonderful vacation we had... good to be back Bellas!

Ciao!

summer bounty...and stuff...

 

 There are soo many good things coming out of the garden now! My tomatoes haven't started to turn yet, but I'm sure lots of other's are enjoying scrumptious, mouth watering tomatoes!!

I've pulled out my Summer Notebook by Carolyne Roehm to strum up some ideas on how to enjoy the bounty of the season... here is a recipe for you...or two

Tomato-Dill Soup: You can enjoy this hot or cold... you will need..

  2 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 cups of chopped onions, 5 cups of chopped fresh tomatoes..salt & pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon of ground sage, 1 bay leaf.. One 12 ounce can of tomato puree' , 1/2 cup heavy cream chilled and 3/4 cup chopped fresh dill.....

 1. Add olive oil to a large pan over medium heat and saute' onions until soft and slightly golden, about 7 minutes. 2. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, sage, bay leaf, and tomato puree' and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. 3. Working in small batches, push mixture through sieve with a rubber spatula into a medium sized bowl; discard solids. Chill puree' in refrigerator. 4. One hour before serving whisk in cream and dill. Continue chilling and serve cold.... hehehe.. as you can tell..this is a rich soup..so small portions are recommended.

  Corn.. We actually have some coming in!! It's been so long since we've had a garden.. ours isn't the prettiest to look at {garden }, but.. all the produce is looking nice and healthy!

Here are some tips! Older varieties of corn need to be soaked longer before cooking ...  the wonderful hybrids are more sweet and tender..how about the speckled yellow & white varieties??! yum.

Don't salt the water..salt in cooking water toughens kernels.. always roast corn with the husks on and silk removed. Soak the husks in cold water for a few minutes to keep them from burning..

Peaches?? OH yeah..I'm there.. I love peaches! Who's with me??!!lol..

Here is a wonderful desert!! ..Poached peaches in White Wine.. you will need... 6 ripe whole peaches, 1 bottle white wine { 750 ml.} 1/2 cup cognac, 1 cup granulated sugar and 4 cups water..

1.  To peel peaches, dip in a large pot o f boiling water for 30 seconds then place in cold water for one minute. Peel skins. 2.  Combine wine, cognac, sugar, and water in a large saucepan: bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add peaches and cook, uncovered, over low heat for 20 minutes, or until peaches are tender. Remove peaches and place in bowl. 3.  Over medium heat, briskly simmer poaching liquid until reduced by half, approximately 30 minutes. Strain liquid into bowl of peaches and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving..

Thanks so much for visitin' !!

Ciao bellas...

{All photos and recipes from Summer Notebook by Carolyne Roehm }

Wishing everyone a Happy & Safe Independence day!!

 

God Bless America..May Everyone have a safe and Blessed Holiday...

 

We will be having a subdued 4th.. How about you? .. Let's remember what this country stands for..what were the principles that It was founded on?..

a floor...

You are going to have to wear a pair of these if you are going to come and visit... the floor is a bit..shall we say.. a MESS!

See..we've had to deal with ucky brown indoor/outdoor carpet in our kitchen for the past 8 years!! I'm sorry.. I just can't see the logic in this. Our house at one time had 100 acres attached.{all gone save 2 acres..= (   }..It was a real working dairy farm ages and ages ago..The farmer & the wife..kids running in and out. I can just see all the uck from the barns being traipsed in...why oh why would one put carpet down?!!!

So.. Mother's day weekend.. I just couldn't take it anymore! This carpet is history! Come to find out there ARE five layers of flooring here in this kitchen!! 5 layers! Talk about 5 layers of foolishness...

 Yeah, the carpet..then a layer of linoleum, then a thick layer of particle board, two more layers of linoleum..Okay, the kitchen isn't that big so I thought 'shoot, #1 and I can get this done..HA!

We were into ripping things up for about an hour..that particle board is like trying to rip up cement with your bare hands.. to heck with that! So #1 called a friend... This young man in the orange sweat shirt is a 'local' which means he has grown up around here on the farms and well, knows how to work!! This awesome guy helped us get the floor ripped up finally!! Hooray for 'H'!! You rock man! ... Its's amazing what the promise of all the pizza you can eat will do..lol..

Can you see it?!! It's the prettiest thing!! The 109+ year old wood floor is in amazing shape. There are a few oily ring stains.. but I only think it adds character.. they will eventually be sanded..and varnished..There are no holes, gaps, or bowed pieces of wood! I just love it!

So, for now.. please bring your flip flops.. careful the gap between the doors! Don't trip! But..ahh... can't you just imagine the history this floor has seen!

Ciao Bellas!

i'm bAAaack!!

yes, that's right..I'm baAaack..I'm sooo happy! Just got my Mother's day present..Wahoo...

a super fast wireless card..now..I can surf at lightning speed! yippeee!!!

  ..gone are the chains..I know folks have thought some things..but really..I haven't visited because I just couldn't... not that I'm being a snob..I would literally sit for hours just trying to visit and well..waiting and waiting for a single page to load..that's just no good..my family was suffering..so I gave up... But, Thank the Lord..things have worked out... for now... I don't have to be silent anymore!

 I'm FREEE!!! 

its' soo liberating!! So... I'm back..I'm free to come and annoy all you fab folks!{ Thank you soo much to those who have visited faithfully during this silent time..}  I'm sure your gonna be like 'oh my goodness.. would you just shush!!'lol!

Oh gosh..I've got lots to share.. let's see..marvelous charms.. we've ripped up the floor in the kitchen to reveal amazing 109+ year old hard wood floors.. base ball.. and a birthday is coming up!

Ciao Bellas! I've missed you...

A beautiful light that shines brightly...

Yes..Suger Pie Farmhouse is one of the lights that shine brightly in this dark world..

'Aunt Ruthie' is such an amazing lady..You will find wonderful recipes..fashion inspirations..{How about those wonderful sassy aprons! }..tales of Aunt Ruthie and her family's adventures..but most of all sound Spiritual inspiration! Every time I visit, it's as if she wrote that particular post or story for me.. I know she didn't..but God speaks to my heart through her..Thanks Ruthann! You are amazing. I always get a priority check when I visit..and I am soo thankful for that!

Pleeease visit the "Farmhouse" today..you will be so glad you did..

a Sunday...

 

 

 

 

A little lemony goodness for the kitchen this Sunday afternoon...

Just a quick note.. my internet connection isn't the best right now..so if I haven't visited in a while..that's why.. Really, even though we live in the 'sticks'... doesn't mean we should have to deal with dial up..uggh..lol...That's my mission this week! Find something faster..

Sooo..what did you do this Sunday?..

XO