~ What I'm loving this week....

Beautiful jar of faux lemons on the island, and a vase filled with babies breath.

Ingredients for protein bites: Almond butter, raw honey, organic unsweetened coconut, ground flax, black chia seeds, organic dried cranberries, honey roasted almonds, rolled oatmeal, and mini 'Enjoy Life' brand of mini chocolate chips.

A new apron in a sage and white check.

An enjoyable book series. I've been reading a ton this winter.

A thrifted rocking chair getting a chalk paint makeover.

Our thrifted kitchen table also got a chalk paint makeover. We gifted our rather large kitchen table to our youngest son and his wife. It was a massive table and we simply did not need such a large table anymore. This smaller double drop leaf table we bought at a yard sale a few years ago. It's perfect. I will also be painting the chairs to match the table.

Attitude of gratitude:

Last night, as we were bringing home our new trailer, we got about 40 miles into our 55~60 mile trip home, when we heard a loud 'pop'. 

Fearing something had gone terribly wrong, we pulled over... thankfully there was a spot perfect to pull our Yukon and trailer over and get off the highway. 

The 'dummy' light indicated that our hood was unlatched. Evidently, the hood didn't get shut tight enough,  when the dealership was installing our brake assist, and it was a simple fix to open the hood and slam it shut. 

I feel so grateful that it wasn't anything serious, and that the hood stayed shut and didn't fly open on the highway in a spot where we wouldn't have been able to pull over. 

Prayers are answered!!

We said a prayer before we went to pick up the trailer, and we said a prayer before we left the dealership to travel back home with the trailer. Heavenly Father watches over us and for safe travels I am grateful!!

* A Daisy kind of day *

One of the fun things about being in a new home aside from new spaces to decorate, of course, are some really pretty perennials growing in the berm and the borders.
Adorable petite daisies.  Anyone know the name of these?

 I placed a few stems of the petite daisies in a hob nail vase, and added a few Shasta daisies.
There are clumps of daisies planted every where.  In the borders, and in the berms.... daisies.
Another nice find, is the wooden basket.  
I found it in a box of stuff that I was organizing and putting away.
Like Christmas in July!! Even though we've had it for a few years, it's been packed away. 
Nice to have it out, and be able to use it again.

Geraniums are flourishing in the old wheelbarrow.
We bought this old wheelbarrow a few summers ago at a yard sale.  I've never regretted it!
I still love that old wheelbarrow, and I've placed it on a landing
 by the front porch steps.
Perfect colors for summer, and July.

On the front porch glider, new pillows.
As I was looking through my fabric stash for fabric to sew curtains for our youngest son's office and kitchen, I found these fabrics.
No wonder I bought them. They are so darling, and I still love these colors and patterns!
A bit of time at the sewing machine, and I had 3 new 20'x 20' pillows for the front porch.

This weekend:
~ I hope to take inventory of my canning supplies, and get my canning jars all washed and ready to fill.
~I want to finish the second guest bath paint job.  Just need to add trim, and paint a little bit more.
~Put a couple of batches of turkey jerky in the food dehydrator.

*** Edited to add.... so far, the deer spray IS WORKING... Yay!!

Attitude of gratitude:
~I'm grateful for morning walks : time to ponder, and prepare myself for the day.
~I'm grateful that I have learned a few skills in my days that can be a blessing to my family.
 Sewing curtains for Spencer, cooking meals, and baking, canning and putting food up.
 I truly enjoy making a comfortable and welcoming home for my family. A place of respite from the world and a place to feel peace, and feel of our Heavenly Fathers spirit. It's important to me, and I'm grateful that I have the desire to be a girl that loves her home and wants to make it the best place in the world for her family to be.

All Around The Cottage...

 All the ingredients for making Lemon-Coconut body butter.
Homemade lemon infused oil, and coconut oil

 Add coconut oil to mixer and pour in a bit of lemon oil.
Whip for a few minutes until frothy.

 Refill old canning jar, and ta-da... Lemon-Coconut body butter. 
Great for slathering on when you get out of the shower, or rubbing into your heels and putting on a warm pair of sock before bed.  Sure helps my hands stay crack free too.
Easy to make, affordable,  smells wonderful, and best of all... great for your skin!

 Spencer was asked to play his bagpipes for a funeral in a neighboring town.
He's played at quite a few funerals now, and he feels honored to be asked.
Here he is with members of the VFW.

 Just after the 21 gun salute... he's ready to play.
Spencer embraces our Scottish heritage, and taught himself to play the bagpipes.
He's very, very good.  Maybe it's in the blood.... his 3rd great grandfather was from Scotland, and played the pipes too.

Scottish shortbread sounded good this weekend , so I made some.

 Lemon Shortbread.
Pressed into a pie tin, scored and ready for the oven.

 Cooling on the baking rack. Baking shortbread in the pie tins makes it really easy to remove in one piece for cooling. 

Cut along the score lines with a sharp knife.
Delicious!!'


Recipe : Lemon Shortbread (You may double the recipe if you like)
1/2 C. butter
1/4 C. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. lemon zest
1 1/4 Cups of flour

*Cream sugar and butter together. Add lemon zest and stir in to butter mixture.
Add flour a little at a time, and stir in by hand.
Dough will be crumbly, so work it together by hand, until smooth.
Divide dough in half and press into pie tins.  Prick dough with fork, and score.
(You may also cut dough into squares or rounds)
Bake in oven preheated to 325 degrees, for about 14-15 minutes, or until the bottom edges are just starting to turn golden brown.
When cool enough to handle, cut along score lines with sharp knife.
Enjoy !

Attitude of gratitude:
~I'm grateful that General Conference was this past weekend.  I always feel so inspired.
~I'm grateful for a visit from a dear friend.  Good conversation, and laughter.