Celebrating Birthdays

Around our house, we begin our birthday celebrations at breakfast.  Today is my oldest daughter's 23rd birthday.  Wow, she's 23, when did that happen??

This tradition began years ago when I found this adorable tea cup and saucer.  

Shortly afterwards, I found this cute plate.  It just screamed party to me when I saw it.  So, I grabbed it up and added other pieces to the celebration dish family.  Since we usually go out to eat for the birthday dinner and wouldn't be eating at home to use the dishes, I decided they would be perfect to use for breakfast. 

Before the big day, I ask the birthday girl what she would like for her birthday breakfast.  We have three daughters and, it's funny, each has their favorite combination but they all agree that sausage or bacon MUST be included.  

Another favorite request is biscuits with Mamaw's sausage and gravy.  My mother is an expert gravy maker as was her mother before her.  I'm learning.  I can't say it's always perfect but it's getting there.

This morning's request was pancakes with homemade chocolate syrup and sausage.  

Did you know that if you add a splash of maple flavoring to your pancake batter, they'll taste even better?  

Yeah, like pancakes need to taste even better.  Heaven help us.

There was also good ol' maple syrup on the table for those who may have been deprived as a child and never experienced homemade chocolate syrup on hot buttery pancakes.  

Sadly, they just don't know what their missing.  Let's have a moment of silence for them.  

Amen.

I'm pretty sure pancakes smothered in butter and saturated with hot, chocolate syrup is a little taste of heaven on earth.  

Just sayin' :)

Well, happy birthday to Number 1!  We love you and hope you're having a great day!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS

JENNIFER RIZZO

FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE 

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE

ART IS BEAUTY

 

Shamrocks and Daffodils

I don't know if it's because I'm so o-v-e-r winter or what but I'm just loving these colors right now.  I began my spring decorating with some of my blue and white dishes as you remember from this post.  Yesterday, we went for a walk to the old farm next door and collected these beautiful, bright yellow daffodils.  Add those to the blue and white and it's gorgeous.  Now, with St. Patrick's Day approaching, I picked up a pot of shamrocks at Kroger.  The vibrant green just makes the whole thing over the top WOW!  

The Latin name for shamrock is oxalis acetosella.  

This plant family also includes sorrel.  If you're a Seven Brides for Seven Brothers fan, you'll know that sorrel makes "real nourishing soup."  :)

Look at that yellow and green!  

I always thought a shamrock had 4 leaves...you know, a four leaf clover, luck o' the Irish kinda thing. Nope.  Shamrocks have 3 leaves.  Clover can have 4 or more.  Yeah, I googled that.

Vibrant yellow daffodils against the shamrock green.  

Did you know you can dry daffodils?  You can!  Just like hydrangeas, they will slowly over time become paper like but will retain some of their yellow color.  And like hydrangeas, they will be somewhat fragile.  Once mine are dried, I remove their stems and just used the blooms as a bowl filler or even carefully added to potpourri.  (Does anyone still use potpourri?)

Since it's St. Patrick's Day, I pulled out my old Atlas "Good Luck" jar for the daffodils.  

It's a little hard to see but this jar has a four leaf clover and the words good luck on it.  I can't remember where I found this jar but it was more than likely a thrift store or yard sale years ago.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

I'm linking here:

THE STYLE SISTERS

JENNIFER RIZZO

FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE 

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

ART IS BEAUTY

A Giveaway to the Atlanta Home Show

Who loves something for free??  Me!  Who loves anything and everything to do with homes??  Me!  Well, this weekend is the Atlanta Home Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

The 36th Annual Spring Atlanta Home Show

March 21-23

Cobb Galleria Centre 

Special appearance Saturday by Ahmed Hassan of HGTV's Yard Crashers!  Yeah, how cool is that?!  I always hoped to run in to him in our home improvement store.  I've got a BIG yard that needs BIG help!  

The Atlanta Home Show is being sponsored in part by Hometalk!  Be sure to check them out for tons of great home decorating, gardening, building ideas, and more!

Now, here's your chance to enter!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gathering Daffodils at the Old Farm

This morning my daughter and I walked down to the old farm next door to gather daffodils.  Like a lot of old farms around here, daffodils were planted as borders for walkways, fence lines, and flower beds.  Even though the tenants have been long gone, these tireless harbingers continue to their work, announcing the approach of spring.  

Lovely yellow and green!  What a welcoming sight after a long, colorless winter.  

The farm is "next door" which in the country means about a 5 minute walk down the road.  Of course, taking a walk down the road also means all three dogs MUST go with us.  Try and leave them in the house while you go for a walk and they'll try to guilt you with their pathetic howls.  It's really quite funny and quite loud!

Cooper, the Schneagle (part Beagle and part Schnauzer), being the adolescent that he is, always has to be first at everything...first out the door, first in the door, first to eat...and today first to get to the farm house.  Here he is patiently waiting for the rest of us to catch up.  Such a goofball.  He definitely keeps us entertained.

Here's a sneak peak at the daffodils.  I'll post more about the daffodils and shamrocks tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie


I'm linking here:

JENNIFER RIZZO

FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE 

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

ART IS BEAUTY

MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA

 

Spring in Blue and White

We finally received a decent amount of snow this winter.  And, now I'm over it!  I'm ready to get on with spring.  I've pulled out some of last year's spring decor but it seems I'm going with a blue-white-yellow theme.  So far, I've only added a few things to the kitchen and living room area.  As soon as the temperature gets back in the 50's at least, I'll work on the front porch and deck.

Warning this post is a little photo heavy so grab a cuppa something to enjoy while you're here.

Some of my favorite blue and white dishes in a old brass planter.  

I've also added a glass with vintage silver and ivory handled flatware.  

Love the patina...fancy word for tarnish :)

I swapped out the bamboo tray that was on the bar table for my grandfather's old tool caddy.  I love the mix of the old rough wood with the silver and glass.  Cobalt blue tumblers, found at Goodwill for $1.99, were added for a punch of color.

An old calf muzzle, purchased from a yard sale, holds wine corks.

The silver punch bowl, ladle, and demijohns were all found at my favorite thrift store, The Bargain Center.  I've found SO many things there.  If you're ever in the Murfreesboro area, let me know.  We'll go treasure hunting together.

I didn't use a wreath on the mirror of the bar this season.  I let a couple sprigs of forsythia cascade over one corner.  I love forsythia bushes.  I planted a couple this past summer.  I hope they come back this year.

And, because I'm dying to get my hands in the dirt, I started the kale plants from seeds a few weeks ago.  We love kale broiled with a little sea salt and olive oil.  It's so good it rarely makes it from pan to plate.

Finally, what says spring more than a baby chick?  This little guy is so life-like he's fooled a few people.  We've actually raised chicks before and enjoyed it.  Now, since the girls are older and involved in so many activities, it's easier to just buy pullets and raise for eggs.  It's on my to do list once the temperatures stay warm.

I hope you've enjoyed the spring decorations I've added so far.  I'm linking the The Scoop's Mega Spring Linky Party HERE.  Be sure to check it out!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:

JENNIFER RIZZO

FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE 

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

ART IS BEAUTY