this and that...

I finally finished these seat cushions for my mother in law. I was off to a rocky start with them. In my thriftiness I decided to recycle the old stuffing, I pre-cut all the fabric before I realized the stuffing was going to be very difficult to work with-oopsie- but by that point, with the fabric cut I was already committed to working with this stuffing. I perservered and I am happy with the finished product.
Remember these dishtowels. I said I would keep them for a while and enjoy them. Oh well, I still have more, at least for now.

The pillows, made from really cheerful vintage linens as well as new fabrics are now available at Lulu and Tutz...
We enjoyed the first red potatoes of the year from the garden. We like them best sprinkled with EVOO, (Extra Virgin Olive Oil-yikes did I just use a Rachael Ray-ism) course salt, fresh cracked pepper and roasted in the oven-yummy! I don't think you can tell but when these were just taken out of the ground they are a really bright fabulous fuschia color, just one more reason to have a garden.
We also had the first of the broccoli. I made the broccoli salad for the little one and I and used this recipe, it's so tasty.

It is sooo hot here today!!!
I usually don't mind the heat that much. But this is just a little too much, a little too soon.

Stay cool! =)

everything is coming up roses...

Except maybe these geraniums...

Here are the peonies I picked up at Market yesterday. I still can't believe these were only fifty cents each! The girl at the stand said she has never seen peonies this beautiful and she has been working with flowers her whole life.
I have been hitting the vintage linen jackpot at yard sales lately...
These dish towels were a nickel each. They are the very large ones too.
They would make some very pretty pillows or something, but I think

I will just keep them and enjoy them.

eek!!!

I'm 40!!!

Our neighborhood does a mom's night out, monthly. Last night we all went out to the nearby Olive Garden that just opened yesterday. The girls surprised me with presents, cake, singing, and treated me to dinner. I haven't been a huge fan of Olive Garden in the past but the service was impeccable, the food, delicioso and the company was delightful...a wonderful night.
After Mass this morning, the kids and I headed down to Central Market for Fruit Smoothies.

and none of this....
There is a great selection of produce, flowers, meats, cheeses, all kinds of things... I got the most beautiful bouquet of peonies, I forgot to take a picture, I'll do that tomorrow.
The market has been around a couple of hundred years and is so charming...

Hubby and I drove down to a nearby farm to pick up some perenials this afternoon.
I noticed this adorable plaid vintage lunchbox...
It was the help yourself cashier...
labeled "money box"...

Ahh... to trust is a beautiful thing indeed....

I Love Lancaster County Part Two...

Sorry if you subscribe to the is blog and are getting this post repeatedly, I rushed through and keep finding typos...oopsie! =)

We were driving around to a couple of garage sales yesterday. I was once again struck by the beauty of our everyday surroundings. I was born and raised in Long Island, NY and have lived here for six years.

Although the transition was a rough one for me. I am forever grateful to God for bringing us here, it has been good, really, really, good for us.I never want to take any of it for granted, but I'm quite sure,

in my humanness I do.

These covered bridges are all over the county. They are hundreds of years old and were built to last. That kind of craftmanship seems so rare in our times.
I still get a chuckle every time one of these guys park next to me.

We are surrounded by Amish folk everywhere we go. I know they are not perfect, but they remind me to live consciously and simply. I don't always get that right either, I am a work in progress...
Small hospitable gestures abound...

All this within a five mile radius of our home...
Oh the possibilities...

happy things...

I got up at the crack of dawn and made these this morning.

Little one who also gets up at the crack of dawn, sat nearby and strung buttons on a needle and thread.

They look like cousins, don't they?

now we're rockin...

Not...

I picked up these 1940's metal rocking chairs recently at a yard sale. They are so comfortable! I have always wanted chairs like these. They have been painted over a few times. They are fine for now, they go with the house the way they are. But someday...

I hope these will be sitting on the big old porch of our farmhouse overlooking our organic produce stand/other home business. And of course they will be painted pink, aqua or maybe a sunny yellow. Humor me, I'm daydreaming...

P.S. I just added some more pictures to flickr.

yummy...

That is one super thick fruit smoothie!

I'm probably behind the times but I never knew you could just freeze all those really ripe bananas. I think I'll thaw them out a little next time I make her one of these babies.
I found all these groovy vintage gardening tools for her at a yard sale this weekend.
Happy Monday!