The week-end....

....is now a memory!  A very tasty one, I might add!

The end result of all the above was this....

Then, there was this....

Yes, that is a cooker of spaghetti sauce!

It was the finishing touch to a plate of spaghetti!

These....

....became these!

Some even became items auctioned....

In a nutshell, this was our local church United Methodist Women Spaghetti Dinner!  Greatly enjoyed by all who attended - approximately 150!

It's that time again....

Here is City Girl at three months old!!  

City Girl, you were the very best birthday present ever!!  Happy Birthday to you!!

Spring blossoms....

A favorite - the lilac!  

The first of the Knock Out Roses!

Lovely Columbine!

Waiting on those buds on the David Austin rose!  

Spring pleasures....

Strawberries in bloom.....

Asparagus growing (looks like that patch needs some weeding!)....

Blueberries in bloom!  The cold temps didn't cause any damage!  Yay!

Twitter friends....

A Twitter friend is the author of this book -

Marcia Ferguson is not only an author.  She also delights in surprising her friends!

This was quite an unexpected pleasure to receive in the mail!

We are having another lovely spring day here!  It's a good time to enjoy a cup of Downton Abbey tea! Thank you, Marcia!

Answering a question....or two....

While Susan Branch is first known for books such as these -

....the last two pictures being her first ever book to write 30 years ago.  To celebrate that anniversary, there will be a reissue of Heart of the Home sometime this summer with new recipes added.

She has also written a trilogy!  Autobiographical, they are, and written using the same handwritten style and water colors of the first one.

The first of the trilogy that she wrote actually became the third book in the series.  It is really a travel guide written from events experienced while on a visit to England.

How I'd love to show you page after page of these books!!  

To answer a question, though you will find recipes scattered throughout these last three books, they are not designed to be cookbooks.  Instead, they are accounts of Susan Branch's life.  That is an answer to a second question.:-)

As I mentioned in a recent post, her website will be able to give you some shopping fun, if you wish to place a book order.  Try it at susanbranch.com and discover what other surprises are available.

The week-end is here!  I hope it is a good one for you!

What we have loved....

Those first spears of homegrown asparagus!  We love it sautéed with scrambled eggs, roasted in the oven, steamed, in quiche - just about anyway we've tried it!  Macho man even likes it raw!:-)

 

The wind - not so much, but the dogwood blossom was blown off the neighbor's tree into our yard. It's Dogwood Festival time around here.

The bunnies on parade, even though it's after Easter!  We still see bunnies hopping about our yard!

The table set for spring!  Hopefully the predicted cold week-end temperatures will "get the message.":-)

China - Brookdale by Lenox, discontinued.

Have a great day!

What I'm doing....

It was a true pleasure when this arrived in the mail Wednesday!

I began reading it immediately!! I have intentionally slowed my reading pace, however, as I want it to last longer.:-)

If you have followed this blog very long, you know that I am a fan of Susan Branch.  You may want to check out her website - susanbranch.com - and see what is going on with her!  

By the way, the book can be ordered through the website, too!

Have a great day!

There was food....

It is a week after the fact, I know, but I do want to share the lovely meal we enjoyed with Munchomom and family on Easter.

There must be that macaroni and cheese, and this one was destined for the crockpot!  There were even bunny shapes of pasta!

Munchomom made good use of her two crockpots with pork loin in the one on the back left.  On the right front would be those Cheddar Chive Biscuits from The Pioneer Woman.  Green beans with almonds are center front, quinoa center back, and roasted sweet potatoes.  (Hey! I turned on the oven for those!):-)

Lovely decorated cookies from her kitchen....

....and a glorious gluten-free carrot cake!!  Absolutely delicious!!

China - Charleston by Lenox, now discontinued.

Birthday time....

Happy Birthday, Sister!!

I'm not sure how old you were here, but you already had that wonderful brown hair and brown eyes!  

I hope you have a very special day today!