Jessie loves to dress up in her little pink dress! Did I buy a special dress for her birthday? Of course not!--I bought it for Easter :) I think she knows it's her special day--she's posing. I instructed her to give you her dreamy faraway look--She wants to be taken seriously!
While Jessie does like her dresses--hats--not so much. You know, not everyone looks good in a hat. I understand. Hats are not great on me either and the apple doesn't usually fall far from the tree. I bought it at a darling store called Bark Avenue.
In honor of Jessie's third birthday, I baked her and a couple of close friends several small birthday cakes. Her green cookies were a gift from her friend, Tazee Mae, the Yorkie. Even southern dogs have double names!
Jessie is such a lady. She let her guest have the first bite. Taz wore her pink jeweled collar in honor of the occasion!
1 cup white or whole wheat flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1 cup grated carrots, 1/3 tsp. vanilla, 1/3 cup honey. Combine all ingredients. I baked these in greased creme brulee` ramekins. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. "Frost" with tinted cottage cheese.
I have one question---Do you think I need grandchildren?
Have a great Saturday!
When I was a young bride to be, my friends and I all picked out three patterns: good china, everyday, and an "in between". The "in between" was company china--not for meatloaf on a Tuesday or turkey on Christmas Day--just in between. This is my pattern, Perouges by Longchamp. Many of my friends had the same pattern and we all just called it Yellow Bird. I received eight place settings and several lovely serving pieces. Later, when one of my dear friends went through a bitter divorce, she gave me all of her Perouges. (Thank you Mr. Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater!). I now have place settings for 13 with LOTS of serving pieces!
I always start with flowers. The hydrangeas are silk; the yellow roses are from the sale bin at Kroger--as always. The urn is leftover from the wedding reception.
I combined Dollar Tree glasses with Waterford crystal. The Lismore wine hocs will add that "company" touch. The Target birds, well-rested from their honeymoon, were anxious to get back to work!
Crystal candle pillars and votive holders will provide soft lighting.
The flamingos playing in their pool were another favorite. I love pink and green together. How about a tablescape centered around pink and green featuring flamingos?
The gardens at the zoo are gorgeous and well tended. Wouldn't this water garden make a beautiful poster? Lori at 
I've been an American Idol fan since the second season. I can't sing a note on key, but I love music of all types and styles. Besides that, I love a "girl or boy makes good" story. This week the top 2009 contestants appeared at the Fedex Forum in Memphis and I was right there with them--all the swooning little girls in sequin high tops, the rabid Adam fans, and some slightly embarrassed boyfriends and husbands. It was a sold-out concert in a venue that seats about 18,000. It didn't hurt that Kris Allen is from Conway, Arkansas right across the river and Lil Rounds is home-grown talent! The atmosphere was electric! The show featured the top ten from ten down singing solos with a few duets and a couple of group numbers rounding it out. The production itself was a visual light show and huge monitors provided closeups.
Lil got the crowd really moving with "If You Want it Then You Better Put a Ring on It"! The road seems to agree with her--she looked great and sounded much more controlled and relaxed than she did during the season. Anoop and Scott were also favorites. Scott and Matt did an amazing piano duet with Matt adopting his Justin Timberlake swagger and hat. Danny Gokey was surely a favorite. But you could tell...everyone was waiting.... and waiting...for Adam and Kris.
Adam stayed true to his image. He wore his jet black hair slicked back in a bouffant Elvis style Memphians have grown to love as with all things Elvis. The blue eye shadow was bluer and the eye liner was thicker than on television appearances. And of course, the pelvic thrusts...well let's just say they might have made even Elvis blush :). I loved his performance of "Mad World, a haunting song on a smoke-filled stage. He and Allison repeated their duet "Slow Ride". It's hard to believe that little red headed spitfire is seventeen years old. She performs like a seasoned veteran and the two brought the house down! Finally, the cute little guy from Conway Arkansas appeared. The youth minister the girls love and swoon over. The cute guy whose cheeks you want to pinch. The boy next door in the plaid shirt and sneakers.
The entire group visited Graceland (the home of Elvis). I had to wonder as they ended their performance and left the stage: Were they dreaming of hearing their own version of "Elvis has left the building" ? :) Thanks for visiting. Tam has lots more at 
The most important requirement is a well-seasoned black iron skillet. Now a good skillet is a little like money: the easiest way to get it is to inherit it. But do not despair if you don't have one. It will require a little time, but you can have one. Then YOUR children can fight over it! New cast iron skillets don't come that wonderful rich black color. The new one will be gray looking. Wash the new skillet to remove any film. Using a paper towel, coat the skillet generously with vegetable oil, lard, or bacon grease. Place the coated skillet in a preheated oven of about 250-350 degrees. Just leave it in the oven for about two hours. The purpose is to allow the oil to seap into the pores of the cast iron. This should get you started and the skillet will improve with use and time. Remember, never wash it with anything harsher than a cloth and mild dish liquid and always dry it thoroughly. 
The Saturday one week before the wedding, Beloved showed up with five cans of black spray paint and offered to move the furniture so I could paint it---(I said he was sweet, not handy!). It seems the Home Depot clerk had told him that would be plenty of paint and the job would take no time at all. Frankly, if I didn't love the end result so much I'd turn that salesman in! Twelve hours and about twenty cans more of black spray paint and the job was done.
In retrospect, there was probably an easier way to do it. I have arthritis in my hands and thought for a while I might have to do the job over the course of several days--my trigger finger kept cramping up. Then one of neighbors show up with this little helper and it was a positive life and hand saver! These little gadgets cost under three dollars and are worth every penny!
I recovered the seat cushions for the bistro table with red outdoor fabric that I found on sale half price at Joann's. 3/4 of yard of fabric per cushion and a staple gun made this an easy project.
I used the wicker love seat in the breezeway by my back door. I decided to leave it white to separate it from the deck furniture. It's the perfect place to sit and change into my yard shoes or sort the mail.
Here is a picture of the original green wicked witch of the West played by Margaret Hamilton. She still scares me :).
This musical is a little dark...not the land of rainbows and munchkins but a story of social injustice, romance, and twisted perceptions with a lot of humor thrown in for good measure. The music, scenery, and songs are unbelievable! I have included a video from the Tony awards with a performance by Kristin Chenowith and Idina Menzel. Click on my playlist to stop the regular music (I could NOT figure out how without removing the whole thing)! I hope if you get the chance you'll see this different trip to Oz and you agree with my "thoughtsfromovertherainbow"! Susan is waiting with lots of participants at 
