Sesame Seeds and Almonds

What you ask, more recipes?? Oh no, my friends I have a very important announcement to make... drum roll please... attention please everyone! Yes, I am about to be a "Very" Great Aunt again! Indeed, these two beautiful sisters will be soon providing our family with two precious little sweetie pies for all to enjoy. Very clever of them to arrange for both babies to arrive so close together, that way there will be no arguing over who gets to hold the baby... Well it will at least cut the problem in half, there would need to be one for each of us for no arguing...
So, what does that have to do with sesame seeds and almonds?? Apparently there is a book about pregnancy these days, that compares the baby's size as she develops, to something that you can relate too. This makes sense to me as I have no clue as to how big a millimeter or centimeter is... I can relate to at three weeks, the size of a sesame seed and at 8 weeks an almond. I understand there are blueberries and other descriptives I can visualize. I might have to get this book so I can keep track of these little pumpkins!

I'm sure you are wondering how Miss Addie feels about being the BIG sister and cousin in charge. She is pretty sure the whole thing is going to be a big headache!

There will be so much she needs to do to keep the little ones up to date on all the fun places to checkout. She will have to show the babies everything at Poppy and Posie's, (aka Grandpa and Grandma Colvin)
There is the garden shed, where you can sit at the little table and have a tea party,
The big umbrella where you can relax in the garden and have snacks...Where the tall pink flowers grow...
Always be very careful here... because this is where the dinosaurs roam, under these great big leaves of the prehistoric plant!! Be certain you watch for bumblebees they can sting if you mess with them!

But be sure and take time to stop and smell the roses!!
So no wonder Miss Adelaide has a headache, this is a fairly daunting task for a little one that won't quite be 3 years old.

For other not so important or exciting news. Last Saturday, was the Lake Oswego Antique Faire. What a beautiful venue for a show.
Isabel and I were neighbors.
And yes, I was as tired as I look in the picture. Isabel being the dear friend she is, kept suggesting that I go take a little nap under the tree. So after about the second time she offered to watch my booth, I stumbled on over to catch a few zzz's. Luckily no pictures of that!!! Wait, as I'm reading here I see someone did indeed catch a candid shot! You don't suppose this was a setup?
Here is Isabel's booth, where do you suppose she is? Perhaps out taking pictures?? That's unfortunate, this lady looks as though she might be interested in buying something...

Here are the adorable girls from Adorn.
And here is a shot of our friends Margot and her daughter Karen.
Shoppers checking out Margot's treasures.

We had a fun day and I left feeling ever so rested!
Undoubtably you are wondering what will I be up to this weekend... I'm headed to Yakima, Washington. I wanted to go to the Antique Show at Clayson Farms, since it is a mere 400 miles, why not??

And since we were going anyway, why not hook up the trailer to Dumbo and see if I couldn't hawk a few of my wares along the way?? In truth I have a spot okay I actually have 2, and I am so excited to go to a new show!! This looks so cute!! They moved an old barn on to their property (last week) and I can't wait to see it! I love going to new places, meeting new friends. I can be anything I want... I think I'll be quiet and shy. I think I'll be totally ready, rested, and organized! What the heck as long as I'm dreaming, I might as well be tall and thin!!

Hope to see you there!! I'm sure you won't recognize me!

Sweet Peas, Raspberries and Broccoli

Mix all the above in blender and drink... just joking! I wanted to share a couple other recipes I took to Barn House, I promised Lulu I would next time I did a post. I did want to mention that I got the Butterscotch Poppy Seed Cake which I posted last time, from a very dear friend of mine, Carol. She went to great lengths to get the recipe, I can NOT divulge how .... But, it is worth the effort she went too, everyone LOVES this cake (except maybe the judges.)

The Broccoli Salad is in a lot of cookbooks I have. I make it so often I just wing it but you probably would like a little better idea, where to start.

Broccoli Salad

8 cups broccoli, bite size

1 medium red onion, diced

2 lbs bacon fried crisp, cut into bite size pieces

1 1/2 cup dark raisins

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sugar

2 T. cider vinegar

1/2 t. black pepper

1t. seasoning salt

whisk and pour over salad

At this point you can add sunflower seeds or sliced almonds. I have added apples, and I have used craisins. It is hard to mess this up and it is good for a couple of days. I like it best when the broccoli is cut pretty small.

Enjoy!

The Raspberry Pie is a new recipe for me from my friend Pam. We had it at her house just a week before I took it to Barn House. It is so pretty it wouldn't necessarily have to be delicious, but it is!

Fresh Raspberry Pie

Crust
1 1/2 Cup flour 1 1/2 T sugar 1 t salt
Combine 1/2 Cup oil with 2 T of milk. Whip with a fork.

Combine everything together and press into pie plate.

Bake 8 minutes at 475. Cool thoroughly.

Filling
Fill the cooled shell with raspberries. It takes more than you think, I used 5 pints, they were small berries. Set aside.

Combine 1 Cup Sugar, 2 T corn starch and 1 Cup water.

Boil until clear ( 2-3 minutes) Add 3 T Raspberry Jello mix. Cool.
Pour cooled mixture over berries. Cool in refrigerator.
Serve with whipping cream or ice cream.
This is easy and fast! Very yummy, I imagine people think it is a healthy dessert and I'm pretty sure they don't want to know about the oil and sugar. Let them focus on the berries...
So are you wondering how the Sweet Peas fit in? I love Sweet Peas, I have A Thing for Sweet Peas, and come to find out so does Lisa at A Thing for Roses! I love everything about them. I love how they just keep blooming and blooming. If they are growing on your fence and you pass by, I LOVE the fragrance! It is so fun to have a bouquet on your table, walk by and you get the slightest whiff... They are so fragile they look like tissue paper. They are the greatest. So then I ask, why don't I plant them every year?? Packets and packets of them? Probably because in Oregon they need to be planted in February, or some crazy time...
I always mean to get them planted, but usually don't. I was more than just a little excited when I saw Sweet Pea starts, at our local farm store this winter. I grabbed them up and let them sit in the box for way too long. But I did eventually got them planted. I waited much too long to get them strings to climb up but finally I did... Oh my, I am so glad! So I'm thinking, I am so special, I have Sweet Peas! Then last weekend at Barn House, amongst every other wonderful thing, I see this...

You can't see them very well from the photo, but on the outside of the fence, SWEET PEAS, all lined up in perfect little groups of white , lavender and purple. What a vision, what a lovely garden! I also love the wash tubs! How cute are they hanging on the fence? I have a wire fence, I have wash tubs, I think I have an idea!

Guess Who I Saw?

I pretty much saw everyone!! We all had a great time Saturday at The Barn House Flea Market. We actually had fun Friday setting up our spaces. The most fun part for me is seeing who else is there, I usually know some of them, and then meeting new people and seeing their treasures is so fun! We had intended to leave at 9am but, (through no fault of my own) we left about 11:30... Thankfully we didn't miss the show, like I did the family reunion...Diane and I both took our own vehicles and decided not to use our trailers and drivers/loaders/husbands help. I'm hoping that wasn't my idea, since it was a BAD ONE! I'm not planning to do that again!! Goodness the stuff we haul is heavy!! And as it turned out I decided I couldn't get enough in the truck so Dave had to make a load after work Friday, he may as well had pulled the trailer... And if you must know the whole truth, I called him when it was over and asked him to come help me load up what didn't sale...
Gee what wimp, I know that is what your thinking. It is about an hour and half one way ... And I know what else you are thinking, why don't I pull the trailer like the big girls do?? Well, did I tell you about the time I pulled up my big girl panties and was going take the boat to the lake and on the way hit a car in the church parking lot?? It kinda put me off pulling trailers. I would if I had too, and I have several times since, but really when I have so many other things on my to do list, do I HAVE to pull the trailer too?? I like to think it makes Dave the Driver feel needed...
Lucky for Diane and I those Barn House Boys/Men, are very strong!
This picture makes it look like Joe is running away from me.. I'm sure that is just a camera trick, maybe the angle or something?? Why would he be running??
Besides strong, Joe and Jermonne are also organized, creative, fun, helpful, nice, and on and on...Seriously they are so sweet and enthusiastic, they actually unloaded our stuff, while I stood by wringing my hands like a damsel in distress. Which I pretty much was!
I did finally get my booth together, I would have spent more time but... it got dark!
Here are the girls from Couture Junquies
This was Little Byrd's booth, she was my neighbor. This was her first show, you don't suppose she got placed to me because she was the only one that didn't request not to be?? That thought didn't occur to me until just now...
She did a great job , but I understand she wants a different spot next year...(just kidding)
Here is Diane aka Molly Mo, she is off gallivanting in someone else's booth. She quickly and effeciently finishes her work and has time to spare...she says she makes a list.. So do I but I can't find it..This is the booth of Worthy Goods, I met these sister in laws at Expo and was so glad to spend a little more time getting acquainted with them this weekend.
This is Natalie, of Sparrow and her sweetie Linn, I wish I had got a picture of her daughter Zoe, she is 10 years old and has a flourishing business of her own.. she is in the food and beverage industry.
Speaking of Flourishes, here is Aleta, I got a picture of her taking a picture ...
Here are the girls from, yes just as the sign says..Uncovered Ruby It was a pleasure to get acquainted with Lulu, I have seen her before but I didn't recognize her as she wasn't soaking wet... She was outside at Farm Chicks and it was POURING !! Not to mention the wind was blowing like a hurricane, she says next time she will take an indoor booth... Outside is great when the weather co operates, but when it doesn't...
These are some of Lulu's necklaces, aren't they....charming

This is Julie from The Whities, I told her she looks like her booth, she blends in, or looks like she should be in there... Which is probably true of most of us, our booths like our homes are a reflection of us. I realize there are some exceptions, but I think most dealers buy what they like or are attracted to, and they also realize that once they buy something they own it..

Here is Lynn in her booth,

And look here is Diane again back in her booth.. She is wearing the apron that Dusty silkscreened for her and I sewed, took awhile to do that cross stitching, but she's worth it.. Actually I used a vintage apron for the bottom and added a ruffle.
And even Cindy, Queen of Tarte (sporting a new hair do )in her booth ready to go!
These were only some of the vendors, I have a hard time getting away from my booth to take pictures and when I do I keep getting distracted and forget to take pictures, or forget my camera, or the battery goes dead, or...

Naturally there were many, many, famous and news worthy people at this fantastic event, but my sister Toni and I were so happy that we got to meet Tracey from Notes From A Cottage Industry

Tracey came with her girls, she was one of the judges in the baking and chili cookoff..

I'm sure some of you recognize these famous personalities, strangely enough I did not win... here is the recipe for my Butterscotch Poppyseed Cake, try it for yourself and see if it is not a winner!
Butterscotch Poppyseed Cake

1 box yellow pudding in the mix cake mix

2 pkg instant butterscotch instant pudding

1 1/2 cup oil

1 Cup flat 7up

1 tsp almond extract

4 eggs

1/4 Cup Poppyseeds

mix and pour into greased bundtpan

Bake 350 for 45- 60 minutes check with toothpick

Can be sprinkled with powered sugar or frosted

Frosting

Cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar and lemon juice

Enjoy!!

A Change of Plans

When we came home from vacation, this was in the mail and I have been wanting to share it since. This is Baby Jack and he is doing wonderful since his liver transplant!

I knew you would all want to know.

If your thinking you have committed the biggest faux paux ever, well I want you to know that is not so! Here is a picture of what it looked like when we got to the family reunion Saturday.Actually it was worse than that because there were still a few people lingering when we pulled up, so they were there to witness our tardy arrival! One being my dad, he had exhausted himself pacing... He was there at the crack of dawn.

I thought it started in the afternoon sometime, you know 1 or 2 o'clock. No, it actually started at 11am! Opps, guess I should have checked the flyer, but seriously, do you think I could find the flyer? You know the one with the directions and even the name of the park?? We left LATE, we had to buy gas for Dumbo (the rv), not far down the road, Sam announces that he didn't bring any shoes. A quick stop for flip flops and we are off like a herd of turtles...

I was sooo tired I just cuddled right up on the bed and slept the whole way, that is until Dave shouts, "what exit were we suppose to take.. "opps went to far.. back track, go to the wrong park, blah blah blah!! So that is why we missed the whole reunion!!

Things were a little chaotic Saturday morning when we were getting ready to go to family reunion, much like usual only a little more so. I still needed to make the food, so I picked an easy butterscotch, poppy seed cake. Then thought I would whip up a Frog Eye salad (sound delicious, I know) and then we decided to take Dumbo might as well spend the night...So then I had to throw the food together for that, made that yummy Top Ramien Cabbage salad. So all that would have been bad enough, but remember I decided to Flip that House, well I did get started on that; here is a picture or two to prove it.

This furniture is from the living room, and it is now in the office. The furniture will stay but not all the pretties. Do you recognize the family room? Now it is the dining room!

This made it just a wee bit hard to find the things we were looking for...

All because someone at expo was throwing away 6 chairs that needed work bad and I needed 6 chairs. Naturally I took the free chairs, because as we all know, you get what you pay for… That is what really got the flip this house going and was most likely the reason we missed the reunion!

I like the table in the old family room. I like the tv in the living room, I hate the mess I have created. So… Friday I decided to move some of the disaster out to the front porch, that way I could see better what need to go where. When I opened the front door it was clear that I first had to reorganize the porch so more would fit, apparently I had the move it to the porch idea before. So I got rid of all the extra stuff on the porch, I set it in front of the barn. Then I figured I might as well pressure wash the porch since it was incredibly dirty and there was nothing on it. Next why not do the walls and then the gutters, the sidewalk was dirty, so that was next. Then as you move around there is the brick path through the garden which looks great pressure washed… You get the picture, I spent the whole day outside making everything sparkly clean. I wasn’t aware that the pressure washer works like a blower. But it makes even the grass look great!
While I was at it I did the back deck and the chairs. I did the throw rugs the floor mats out of the car and I even did an old upholstered chair and ottoman! What did I have to loose, it was beyond dirty and it turned out wonderful! I did use the upholster cleaner to suck out the dirty water, otherwise it drips to the bottom and that is definitely not good. Next thing I knew it was dark, I was way too tired and went to bed!
I'm not sure what the lesson in this was... I hope it wasn't, finish one project before you start another? Or what about, a place for everything and everything in it's place?

Not being one to cry over spilled milk or in this case missed reunions. We ended up enjoying the late afternoon and evening. Dexter Lake is a beautiful place with apparently several campgrounds and day use areas! If you decide to go there, you might want to figure out ahead which area, especially if your planning on meeting someone...