Happy New Year-2010

I can't believe another year has gone by! Time passes so fast, 2009 started out with my own stimulus plan, first the cottage being remodeled downstairs, a new pergola and great landscaping and then the big one...a demonstration kitchen and now after months of planning and lots of work it is done and my camera ran out of juice so I will be posting the new pictures along with my plans for the cooking classes stayed tuned the best is yet to come! Everyone who sees it starts out with WOW with others saying how do you expect to add this to your calendar? Those who really know me know it will work...May 2010 bring Health and Happiness..

Something old to something New!

I had purchased this dresser at a garage sale a few years ago. I was going to put it in my entry way but it didn't fit so I wasn't in a hurry to finish it. A few month's ago when I was working on Joe's "Man Cave" I had a aha moment and decided to paint it black and add some scrapbook paper to the front. At one time the piece was beautiful but when I bought it there was some gauges on the top that couldn't be fixed. I fixed the top by putting some spackling compound on it, letting it dry then sanding it. I first put on a primer than two coats of black semi-gloss and four coats of high gloss polyerlythene. I love the results hope you liked them to.

Let the gardens Continue!

Life as a gardener is so much fun. Digging in the dirt, arranging the plants on color, and just enjoying the sunshine! These pictures are of the new garden in front of the Inn. The Pergola was a great addition and people slow up to see it. It has actually inspired me to do more. So now the gardening has become at least 5 hours a day to make all of the grounds look good. When I was working my other full time job just keeping the houses up and mowing was all I could get done, retirement has benefits. Hope you enjoy seeing the fruits of my labor!

Some of my gardens

Where has the time gone? I have been working on my mulitple gardens since the spring. Now I am on the second major weeding and changing the structure of the gardens. I need HELP, once you get into it it becomes consuming. Some Hostas have been divided twice and the Stella D'Oros have grown wonderfully. Even by putting down mulch and cover the weeds find their way up! This Fouth of July week-end inspired me to dress up the small gazebo. I will tackle the large one later.

Kitchen Artwork in the Inn

I wanted to have some more color in the kitchen at the Inn, so I made a table runner for the kitchen table. It took some 5 " X 5 " squares of vegetable design, just like the charm packs. In this case, it took 7 of them that I cut out from "stash", added 3 borders and vola it went together!



I found this panel a year ago at a Western Michigan Shop Hop, cut it up, and added a vegetable fabric. Then I put the wall hanging in the kitchen above the coffee maker. I thought everyone would notice them...but alas, I haven't received many comments. My last four groups have been scrapbookers.

Next week will be quilters, maybe they will!

I like it so it really doesn't make a difference.

Spring Breakfast Buffet

Sunday Breakfast with a Easter theme for this last week-end. I am not sure the ladies enjoyed it as much as I did putting it together since many had not gotten to sleep until 4:00 a.m.! This week-end was scrapbookers, they had a good time and booked for another fun week-end.

Orange Cinnamon Poppyseed Cake

INGREDIENTS

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 Tbl. brown sugar

4 tsp. cinnamon

1 Tbl. poppyseed

1 pkg. yellow cake

1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding

1 c. orange juice

1/2 c. vegetable juice

4 eggs

DIRECTIONS

**Preheat the oven to 350 degrees , spray a tube pan, and lightly flour, set aside

**For filling, mix together the sugars, cinnamon, and poppyseeds in a small bowl set aside.

**Blend in a mixing bowl the following yellow cake mix, pudding mix, orange juice, oil, and eggs. The mix will be thick and smooth.

**pour half the batter into the prepared pan, scatter half the filling, swirl with dinner knife. pour the remaining batter on top, and then the remaining filling.

** Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Let rest and remove from pan. Let cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Toile, Toile, Toile......

There's a Toile Party in Blogland and your invited to come along.

The Pretty Organized Palace is hosting this bash, and has invited all of those out there with toile inspired projects to join in.

Upon moving into my newest home, I knew that this purple toile quilt would be the perfect match for this room. Along with the beautiful purple chiffon to match it that I could make a swag out of.

Perfect for Breakfast in Bed....

I also have a wonderful black and white French inspired theme going on in this bathroom. Here my shower curtain is in a black and white toile. I have always loved toile, and thought it was just so beautiful as it tells a story with it's characteristics.

So, come and join in on the fun!

Here we go...