French & Country Chic Gallery........

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY, MAMA......

2009-05-08T19:47:00.001-04:00

THE EASTER BUNNY WILL BE HERE SOON ! ! !

2009-04-08T11:12:00.001-04:00

PRIM AND WHIMSY GIRLS

2009-04-05T16:26:00.002-04:00

DON'T MISS THIS ! ! !

2009-02-23T11:33:00.001-05:00

I'VE RECEIVED THE "LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS" AWARD

2009-02-15T16:31:00.007-05:00

I have been nominated by Lisa, aka BRUSH STROKES N STITCHES, for an award. Thank you, Lisa.
I’ve nominated the following blogger. Be sure to check her inspirational blog.

http://littlesistersdolls.blogspot.com/2009/02/spring-gardening-bunny.html

Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo award on your page.

2. Link the person or persons as I did from your blog that gave you the award.

3. Link to blogs that you are awarding.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

2009-02-14T11:19:00.002-05:00

Be my Valentine, my love,

As I will be for you,

And we will love the whole day long,

And love our whole lives through.

For love has no parameters

And does not end with time,

But is the gift of paradise,

A pinch of the sublime.

So let us take this holiday

To resubmit our love

To those within that know no sin

And with the angels move.

Zuppa di Orzo e Fagioli

2009-02-10T17:46:00.003-05:00

Barley and Bean Soup (serves 4-6)

1 cup cranberry or red kidney beans
2 ounces pancetta or bacon, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
8 cups water
1/2 cup pearl barley
Salt and pepper

Rinse the beans and put in a bowl. Cover with water and allow to sit for 4 hours.

Drain the beans and add to a saucepan with 8 cups of water.
Cook over low heat, uncovered, about 1 hour, or until the beans are tender.
Drain and reserve the liquid.

In a saucepan over medium heat, saute the pancetta in the oil until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Add the celery, carrots, onion, and garlic. Saute about 8 minutes.
Puree the beans and the vegetable mixture in a food mill or blender.
Return the puree to the saucepan. Add the reserved cooking liquid, barley, salt and pepper.
Bring to a simmer and cook until barley is tender about 30 minutes. Serve.

Serves 4 to 6 guests

NEW YEAR'S BLESSINGS.....

2009-01-01T14:22:00.002-05:00

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS.....

2008-12-23T11:16:00.001-05:00

VICTORIAN ADVENT CALENDAR.....

2008-12-18T06:55:00.001-05:00

ADVENT WREATHS.....

2008-12-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe. You sent your Son to be the Light of the world and to spread his light of love to all. Bless us and accept these wreaths of light made from our hands. May their ever increasing brightness be a sign to us of the approaching nearness of your Son, that we might prepare in joy for his humble birth in a manger and be ready to receive him at his coming again in glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

WINTER SNOW......

2008-11-24T08:32:00.002-05:00

SNOW FLAKES

by Emily Dickinson

Snow flakes.
I counted till they danced so

Their slippers leaped the town,

And then I took a pencil

To note the rebels down.

And then they grew so jolly

I did resign the prig,

And ten of my once stately toes

Are marshalled for a jig!

A FINE SUNDAY SUPPER...

2008-10-19T18:56:00.003-04:00

CUT A NICE BAGUETTE OF BREAD IN TWO AND THEN SLICE EACH HALF INTO TWO PIECE.

SPREAD HEAVILY WITH BUTTER AND PUT ASIDE FOR NOW.

SAUTE TWO CLOVES OF GARLIC, ONE LARGE ONION AND AN ASSORTMENT OF MUSHROOMS IN BUTTER AND EVOO.

WHEN THE ONION MIXTURE IS DONE TO YOUR LIKING, POP THE BREAD UNDER THE BROILER UNTIL TOASTY BROWN. REMOVE AND SPREAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND HERBS.

HEAP ON YOUR ONION MIXTURE, GET OUT THE WHITE WINE AND APPLES AND PEARS AND ENJOY YOUR SUNDAY NIGHT FEASTS.

à BRAS OUVERTS, Mme LILY...

WHO GOD IS.....

2008-10-18T16:08:00.002-04:00

A Little Boy's Explanation of God...
THIS IS FABULOUS!!!

It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA . He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well?
... and he had such an assignment, in California, and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen! ... ]

EXPLANATION OF GOD:
'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise inhis ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church.' 'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hardwork, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doingand to forgive them and God said O.K.'
'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself withouthaving to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!'

'Don't skip church to do something you think will bemore fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he cantake me back anytime he pleases.'

'And...that's why I believe in God.'
(If you believe in God, please pass this on, and may God richly bless you, too.) Have an awesome day, and know that someone has thought about you!

ARTUR VASILEVICH WATERCOLOR......

2008-10-16T08:56:00.003-04:00

Gathering Leaves

by Robert Frost

Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.
I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.
But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.

2008-10-15T19:13:00.002-04:00

PHOTOGRAPH BY J MOTTERSHEAD

She Tree
by Linda Jackman

She will not easily surrender to the autumn
Clinging to her leaves as a child
Would cling to its mother.
Her battle begins, one she will lose
Driving winds forge a path though her boughs,
Leaves franticly dance
As if to escape their prison.
The tips of her canopy now exposed,
Revealing an intricate web
Of intertwining limbs.
She has lived many seasons.
Soon she will stand naked against the
Harsh elements that
Procede the autumn of her life
Yet she is strong.
Though winter will take its toll,
It will not penetrate her shell.
She will simply sleep, until
A new season brings fourth new growth.

TILAPIA...YumYum!

2008-10-14T19:15:00.008-04:00

Naughty me, I slipped off to "Margarita Ville" this afternoon and enjoyed a "South Of The Border" lunch while Dave and the pooch minced on leftovers in the kitchen at home. Feeling guilty, I went to the fish monger on the way home and splurged on tilapia fillets for our dinner together. It is so easy to do a fancy fish entree in no time. I served the little fish fillets with white wine (can't live without it), la baguette and sauteed asparagus spears. Here is an idea of how I prepared the fish.

*******************

Tilapia à la française

Tilapia (pronounced /tə,lapiə/) or substitute with flounder, cod, scrod.

As you may remember from my former recipes, I use French, tin lined copper for a majority of my cooking but you can surely use any shallow pan that you have in you cupboard. In your pan, brush a bit of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Place your fish fillets, not touching, on this oiled surface. Squeeze some lemon juice on each fillet and sprinkle with your favorite herbs. (à la grecque ) I use Penezys Spices "Sunny Paris". It contains purple shallots, chives, green peppercorn, French basil, French tarragon, chervil, crushed bay leaf and dill weed. (I have all of these herbs in my herb drawers but I can never get the same combination that Penzeys does). Lay 3 or 4 very thin slices of butter on each fillet, and sprinkle with French sea salt. Put under the broiler until done to your liking. Since I've broiled in the pretty, oval copper pan, I serve it in the same pan. I do add a sprig of an herb and a lemon wedge to to pretty it up.

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO CHECK PENZEYS WEBSITE

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html

Bon appétit, Mme. Lily...

SOUP DU JOUR......

2008-10-14T09:01:00.004-04:00

SOUPE A L'OIGNON

4 LARGE, WHITE ONIONS AND 1 RED ONION PEELED AND SLICE THINLY, ABOUT 1/4 TEASPOON SUGAR. ADD THESE, WITH A
EVOO AND A LITTLE BUTTER TO SAUTE PAN AND COOK UNTIL CARAMELIZED. THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE 20 TO 30 MINUTES.

CRUSH 1 - 2 CLOVES OF GARLIC AND ADD TO MIXTURE ALONG
WITH 1/2 TO 3/4 CUPS OF WHITE (OR EVEN
RED WINE IF THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE), 5 CUPS OF CHICKEN OR BEEF STOCK AND SIMMER FOR A COUPLE OF
MINUTES.

ADD A BAY LEAF (WHOLE) AND A PINCH OF THYME, COVER AND
SIMMER ABOUT 30 MINUTES. SEASON
WITH S & P TO TASTE AS YOU WAIT FOR THE SIMMERING TO BEGIN.

TOSS THE BAY LEAF. LADLE INTO INDIVIDUAL OVEN PROOF

CROCKS, ADD A "CHUNK" OF LA BAGUETTE AND GRUYERE CHEESE.
PLACE UNDER THE BROILER TILL CHEESES BUBBLES.

SERVE WITH YOUR WINE OF CHOICE.

à BRAS OUVERTS, Mme LILY...

REMEMBER WHAT I SAID BEFORE, I DON'T MEASURE SO YOU MAY WANT TO ADJUST THESE MEASUREMENTS TO YOUR TASTE A LITTLE BIT.

A MINUTE TO APPRECIATE YOU.....

2008-10-12T20:16:00.002-04:00

On prend une minute pour t'apprécier,

(we take a minute to appreciate you)

une journée pour t'aimer,(a day to love you)

et une vie entière pour t'oublier !(and an entire life to forget you)

Envois ce message aux personnes(send this message to people)

que tu n'Oublieras jamais(that you will never forget)

******

Aujourd'hui, c'est la journée mondiale de l'amitié ... envoyez cette rose à vos amie

(today is the global day of friendship and send this rose to your friends)

Mme LILY...

POULET AU COULIS DE CREME...

2008-10-09T12:50:00.002-04:00

POULET AU COULIS DE CREME...
(Chicken in cream sauce)

2, 3 to 4 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts > (poitrine)
1, Lime > (lime)
2, Cloves of garlic > (gousse)
4, Tablespoons of butter > (beurre)
1, Cup white wine > (vin blanc)
1, Large portabella mushroom > (champignon)
2/3, Cup sour cream > (Crème Fraîche)
Herbs of your choice

METHOD...
Melt the butter in a tin lined copper saute pan or stainless steel pan.
Add diced mushroom and crushed garlic and cook, stiring until tender, remove from pan.
Add chicken (squeeze lime on each side) and cook approximately 5 or 6 minutes on each side.
Add more butter if you wish.
Put the mushroom mixture back into the pan.
Add the white wine, herbs and cook 'till chicken is done to your liking.
At this point, add the cream and heat 'till hot (never to the boiling point).

PLATE...
Serve with: Lime wedges and sprigs of herbs
French bread > ( la baguette)
A nice white wine

NOTES...
I never measure when I prepare foods. You must use your own judgment when you try my recipes.

Sour Cream and Crème Fraîche are different products but you can sub one for the other in this recipe.

Watch for my recipe for French Onion Soup > (la soupe à l'oignon).

Regards,Passez-moi l'expression. Mme Lily...

PUREE SOUPS......

2008-10-07T19:09:00.004-04:00

MY DEAR FRIEND, ISABELLE, A LADY WHOSE ROOTS ARE IN BELGIUM, IS SUCH A WONDERFUL FRIEND. ON OCCASION, WHEN I'M A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER OR OVER WHELMED WITH PROJECTS, ISABELLE HAS COME TO MY RESCUE WITH A SPECIAL TREAT FOR MY DINNER. SHE MAKES A PUREE SOUP THAT IMPRESSED ME SO MUCH, I DECIDED TO ATTEMPT MY OWN VERSION. MY SWEET DAUGHTER, NANCY, USUALLY PREFERS A VEGETARIAN DIET SO I KEPT MY SOUP SIMPLE AND MEAT FREE.

HERE IS AN IDEA OF WHAT I CREATED.

I MAKE A BASIC BASE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF SPLIT PEAS - 1/4 TO 1/2 CUP,

WHITE AND BROWN RICE - 1/4 TO 1/2 CUP,

VEGETABLE STOCK AND OR WATER - ABOUT 8 CUPS,

PRESSED GARLIC,

MINDED ONION

ADD,

WHEN YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH YOUR BASE,

ANY AND ALL KINDS OF SQUASH,

POTATO,

MORE ONION,

ANY OTHER LEGUME,

TOMATOES.

ALL YOUR FAVORITE SPICES AND HERBS (THAT WORK WITH YOUR VEGGIES)

AND ANY OTHER VEGETABLE THAT YOUR MAY HAVE ON HAND AND WANT TO TOSS IN. (NO BEETS, PLEASE)

SEA SALT (NATURALLY, I USE FRENCH SEA SALT) "FRENCH & COUNTRY CHIC", THAT'S ME!

COOK WELL AND COOL DOWN SLIGHTLY PUT THROUGH YOUR BLENDING MACHINE - ANY KIND THAT YOU USE IS FINE.

TOP OFF WITH A DAB OF SOUR CREAM OR EVEN HEAVY CREAM WILL WORK.

ALWAYS HAVE AN AMPLY SUPPLY OF CHARDONNAY OR CHABLIS ON HAND.

SERVE PEAR SLICES AND CHEESE FOR DESERT.

BLESSINGS,

Mme LILY...

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL MONDAY MORNING....

2008-10-06T13:55:00.009-04:00

I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN THIS MORNING FINALLY ARRIVED. MY DAUGHTER AND HER GUY HAD MY CAR CLEANED, SERVICED AND A FEW DINGS TAPPED OUT THIS WEEKEND. I COULD HARDLY WAIT TO GET IT ON THE ROAD TODAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO FOLLOW MY BLOG, YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT I LIVE IN A LITTLE SEASIDE VILLAGE NAMED OXFORD MARYLAND. WE HAVE ONE TINY MARKET FOR THOSE WHO DOCK HERE TO GET A FEW GOODIES TO ENJOY WHILE THEY VISIT.

THAT MARKET WAS MY FIRST STOP. LUCKY ME FOUND A FRESHLY BAKED LOAF OF BREAD THE SIZE OF MY BREAD BOARD, THAT I QUICKLY SCOOPED UP. I THEN SPOTTED A BOTTLE OF WINE WITH THE LABEL, "OXFORD LANDING". THAT WENT INTO MY BAG JUST AS SWIFTLY.

*****

AFTER I GOT BACK TO MY KITCHEN, THE IDEA STRUCK ME TO DRIVE TO "TOWN" AND LOOK UP A FISH MONGER. I DID JUST THAT AND I FOUND THE MOST WONDERFUL SHRIMP AND GREAT, BIG SCALLOPS JUST RIGHT FOR MONSIEUR DAVID'S AND MY DINNER. AFTER A QUICK STOP AT THE GROCER FOR GARALIC CLOVES AND CITRUS, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AGAIN PLANNING MY FEAST. HERE ARE A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF MY "FINDS" AND THE RECIPE I PLAN TO USE.

Mme LILY...

SEAFOOD SCAMPI...

IN A TIN LINED COPPER SAUTE PAN, MELT THREE TBS. OF BUTTER. (THAT'S MY FAVORITE PAN TO COOK SCAMPI IN BUT STAINLESS STEEL IS JUST FINE ALSO.)

CRUSH 2 CLOVES OF GARLIC AND ADD TO MELTED BUTTER AND STIR GENTLY UNTIL GOLDEN BUT NOT BROWNED.

ADD THE PEELED SHRIMP AND SCALLOPS AND BEGIN TO GENTLY SAUTE, CAREFULLY ADDING YOUR FAVORITE CHARDONNAY OR ANY FAVORITE WHITE WINE AND COOK 'TILL FISH IS DONE TO YOUR LIKING.

PLACE ON A FAVORITE PLATE AND SERVE WITH LEMON WEDGES AND HERB SPRIGS.

I FREQUENTLY ADD BOUQUET GARNI (OR ANY FRESH HERBS YOU CHOOSE) IF THE NOTION STRIKES ME WHEN I ADD THE CHARDONNAY.

I FIND THAT SERVING THE WINE THAT I USE IN COOKING GOES BEST WITH THE FINISHED SCAMPI.

*****

I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST SERVE THE BREAD AND A NICE SALAD BUT AS I TYPE THIS, I JUST GOT A REQUEST FOR COUSCOUS SO I SUPPOSE WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE OF THAT TOO.

MANY NEW PAINTINGS IN MY EBAY STORE......

2008-10-05T05:00:00.002-04:00

IT'S TIME TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS

WHY NOT START HERE ? !

http://cgi.ebay.com/PERE-NOEL-SANTA-STRETCHED-CANVAS-PWGL_W0QQitemZ230298142517QQihZ013QQcategoryZ60437QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

AUTUMN IN OXFORD MARYLAND......

2008-10-02T13:33:00.006-04:00

MARIO BATALI.....

2008-09-27T18:46:00.002-04:00

ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHEFS...
HIS TV SERIES, "SPAIN, ON THE ROAD AGAIN" IS WORTHWHILE TV VIEWING.
HIS 'SPAIN' WEBSITE IS
http://www.spainontheroadagain.com/index.shtml

"Chef, restaurateur, television personality. Born in Seattle to French and Italian parents, Batali attended high school in Spain and college at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he was a student of Spanish theater. Always passionate about food, Batali enlisted at Le Cordon Bleu in London only to drop out soon after for an apprenticeship with London's legendary Marco Pierre White. He spent three years training in the Northern Italian village of Borgo Capanne, returning to the States to put his newfound talents to work.
Batali’s flagship restaurant, Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, opened in Manhattan’s West Village in 1998. The restaurant received three stars from the New York Times and was named "The Best New Restaurant of 1998" by the James Beard Foundation. Subsequent Italian eateries included a Roman-style trattoria called Lupa, a southern Italian seafood trattoria called Esca (2000) and Otto Enoteca Pizzeria (2003). Batali also cofounded a retail shop called Italian Wine Merchants.
The chef and restaurateur also hosts two television programs for The Food Network, Molto Mario and Mario Eats Italy. In his signature orange clogs and red beard, Batali encourages viewers to embrace Italian cookery with gusto. He has authored three books, Simple Italian Food, Mario Batali Holiday Food and The Babbo Cookbook."
© 2008 A&E Television Networks. All rights reserved.

AVAILABLE NOW IN MY EBAY STORE......

2008-09-27T15:30:00.002-04:00

" THE LITTLE GREEN TREE FROG "

THE MAGNOLIA LEAVES MAKE A PERFECT HIDING PLACE

$10.00 INCLUDES SHIPPING

http://stores.ebay.com/LILYS-FRENCH-AND-COUNTRY-CHIC_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

GOODNESS, GRACIOUS ~ I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

2008-09-21T13:31:00.002-04:00

OH MY, I'VE JUST BEEN TAGGED BY MANDY,

http://auntmannys.blogspot.com/

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU SIX 'SECRETS' ABOUT MYSELF! !

HERE I GO.....

1. I'VE LIVED ON OR BY THE OCEAN OR BAY FOR MOST OF MY

LIFE BUT I'M AFRAID OF WATER.

2. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER , I WAS A COMPETITION DANCE SKATER.

3. I'M A NATURAL PLATINUM BLONDE AND SO IS MY DAUGHTER.

WOO HOO ! !

4. I CAN PLAY THE PIANO, ORGAN AND MOST BRASS INSTRUMENTS.

DON'T ASK ME WHY I LEARNED BRASS.

5. I'M NOT SCARED TO GO TO THE DENTIST.

6. I'M A CHRISTIAN BUT STILL SLIP AND SAY 'NAUGHTY' WORDS.

YEP, I KNOW - I CHOSE SILLY THINGS TO TELL YA.

HUGS, FRIENDS AND YA'LL HAVE JUST BEEN TAGGED BY ME.

JANELLE.....http://www.littlesistersdolls.blogspot.com/

MY PIXIE FRIENDS.....http://twopixiedolls.blogspot.com/

MS SUSIE.....http://yankeelaneprimitives.blogspot.com/

THE LITTLE BUNNY @.....http://www.rabbithollowprims.blogspot.com/

THE 'WILD ONE' @.....http://wildwoodsart.googlepages.com/

MS LORRAINE @.....http://piecakeprimitives.blogspot.com/

MARYLAND'S EASTERN SHORE DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING.....

2008-09-20T14:20:00.006-04:00

DELL SADLES DESIGNS & LANDSCAPE

http://dellsadler.com/index.shtml

**********

SOME OF MY INTERIORS,

LILY...

~ OUR LITTLE SITTING ROOM ~

**********

DESIGNS BY DAVID R LEE

MY COLONIAL HOME DECOR

THE LANDSCAPE DESIGNER FOR SADLER'S IS MY SON, DAVID, AND HE HAS ALWAYS INFLUENCED OUR HOME DESIGNS. HE HAS JUST MOVED TO A NEW HOME WITH HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN AND I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE THEIR NEW ABODE.

I'VE INCLUDED A FEW SHOTS OF OUR HOME AND USED AN ANTIQUE PHOTOGRPHY SYSTEM TO GIVE THEM THAT EXTRA "UMPH".

LILY'S FRENCH & COUNTRY CHIC,,,,,,

2008-09-17T11:09:00.004-04:00

AUTUMN, IT IS A'COMMIN......

2008-09-17T11:09:00.003-04:00

~ September ~

by
Brierly Ashour

When the goldenrod is yellow,

And leaves are turning brown -

Reluctantly the summer goes

In a cloud of thistledown.

When squirrels are harvesting

And birds in flight appear -

By these autumn signs we know

September days are here.

AVAILABLE NOW IN MY EBAY STORE......

2008-09-16T14:03:00.002-04:00

"AUTOMNE JARDIN"

$45.00 OR MAKE AN OFFER

http://stores.ebay.com/LILYS-FRENCH-AND-COUNTRY-CHIC_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

BE SURE TO CHECK THIS OUT ~ MY NEW EBAY STORE

2008-09-14T18:09:00.005-04:00

COMING SOON ~ WATERCOLORS

PRIMITIVE PAINTINGS

FOLK ART DOLLS

FLOORCLOTHS

PENNY RUGS

GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE...

2008-09-11T07:12:00.002-04:00

~ OLD GLORY ~

Grand birthright of our sires,

Our altars and our fires

Keep we still pure!

Our starry flag unfurled,

The hope of all the world,

In peace and light impearled,

God hold secure!

DON'T MISS THIS ! ! !

2008-09-10T18:27:00.002-04:00

WOO HOO ! ! ! !

2008-08-25T15:39:00.000-04:00

Senator Joe Biden

AN OLD FAVORITE VACATION SPOT, ASSATEAGUE ISLAND MARYLAND

2008-08-10T03:45:00.011-04:00

THE FOLLOWING FROM PRINCE GEORGE'S AUDUBON SOCIETY.....

"Assateague stretches for 37 miles along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Sinepuxent and Chincoteague Bays to the west. Despite its relatively small size, less than 18,000 acres, a surprising array of habitats and natural features can be found on Assateague Island. Differences in elevation and in the proximity to surrounding water bodies give various areas of the island distinctly different plant populations. Along the seaward side, sandy beaches extend the length of the island. Beyond the beach, natural and human-made dunes protect inland habitats from salt spray and ocean waves, allowing shrub thickets and pine forests to thrive. During periods of rain, many freshwater pools form in depressions in these areas."

"Assateague Island is part of a vast chain of barrier islands extending from Maine to Texas. Changing sea level and migration of offshore sediments play vital roles in forming and maintaining these important coastal features. Barrier islands are highly dynamic places, as currents and storms work to continuously reshape the land form. Long shore currents continuously transport sand south along the coast. Harsh winter weather pulls sand from dunes and upper beaches, depositing it into offshore sand bars and reducing beach width, while gentler wave action in the milder summer weather acts to restore the shoreline".
"Assateague is also moving westward as a result of sea-level rise and the force of the surf through a process called “island rollover.” During severe storm events, sand is eroded from the ocean beaches and carried across the island by flood waters and re-deposited in marshes along the western shore, steadily narrowing the bay that separates the island from the mainland. These events can break through dunes, spilling sand in fanlike deposits or even carving inlets, such as the one that has separated Assateague and Ocean City since 1933. Long shore currents will eventually deposit sediments and close these gaps unless, like the Ocean City inlet, it is maintained with jetties and dredging."

"Assateague Island consists of three major public areas: Assateague Island National Seashore in MD and VA, managed by the National Park Service; Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in VA, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Assateague State Park in MD, managed by the MD Department of Natural Resources. Assateague Island National Seashore is administered to provide for recreational use and enjoyment consistent with the perpetuation and maintenance of the seashore's natural environment. Together, these agencies hold in trust a priceless seashore ecosystem of wildlands, wildlife, and outdoor recreation."

* * * * *

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE.....

"Assateague State Park is Maryland's only ocean park. It is located on Assateague Island, a barrier island bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by Sinepuxent Bay. Two miles of ocean beaches offer swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, surfing and fishing. The island's bayside offers visitors the chance to explore secluded coves by canoe or kayak. The marsh areas have a variety of wildlife, including deer, waterfowl and feral horses. Assateague was selected by National Geographic Travel magazine in 1994 as one of the 10 best state parks in the United States."

PERKIN'S COVE, OGUNQUIT MAINE.....

2008-08-09T10:24:00.003-04:00

PERKIN'S COVE AT DUSK

I ORIGINALLY POSTED THIS IN DECEMBER, WHEN I WAS LONGING FOR A TRIP TO BEAUTIFUL NEW ENGLAND. I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH POSTING AGAIN, JUST IN CASE YOU NEED A SUGGESTION FOR A LATE SUMMER VACATION. GOD'S BLESSINGS, LILY...

Visit Ogunquit Maine-

Perkins Cove, in Ogunquit Maine, is one of the most beautiful coves in the state. It began as a small fishing community. It wasn't too many years before it was "discovered" & soon became a popular place to visit, relax & enjoy wonderful food. When Dave & I were there, we had the most wonderful oyster chowder I have ever eaten. I'm sorry that I can't remember the name of the chowder house so that you might enjoy some too!

Artists have been attracted to Ogunquit since 1888 and by 1900, Perkins Cove was a well established art colony. In 1952, Henry Strater established the "Ogonquit Museum Of American Art" in the nearby Narrow Cove. It's been refered to as "the most beautiful little art gallery in the world".

THIS IS MY RECIPE FOR OYSTER CHOWDER...It's pretty good! WAIT TILL AN "R" MONTH TO MAKE IT ! !

1/2 lb sliced bacon, 1 large onion, diced fine,

1 1/2 cup hot water, 1 large potato, fine dice, 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

(I use white), 1 pint oysters, 1/2 cup table cream, 1/2 cup milk

Method...Fry bacon then add onions & saute 'till clear. Drain and leave bacon & onions in the pan. Add water, pepper & potato, cover and cook for about 10 - 12 minutes on medium heat until potatoes are soft. (add a little salt if you wish)Reduce heat, add oysters, a cook until edges of oysters begin to curl. Heat the milk & cream to scalting point & add to oyster mixture.
A little fresh parsley is a nice garnish, if you can find it during "oyster season"

Makes a good sized serving for 2 people or small serving for 3 or 4 people.

PAINTINGS BY GEORGE A WEYMOUTH...

2008-08-02T15:46:00.004-04:00

"AUGUST"

"SNOW DROPS"

* * * * *

~ CONTRASTS OF SEASONS ~

PLEASE DON'T FORGET......

2008-07-20T15:40:00.006-04:00

*****

***

FOR "PRIM & WHIMSY GIRLS", JUST TYPE

PWGL IN YOUR EBAY SEARCH

FOR THE "KINDRED SISTERS OF FOLK ART",

JUST TYPE KSOFA IN YOUR EBAY SEARCH

I'VE BEEN HONORED WITH ANOTHER AWARD...

2008-07-15T15:22:00.005-04:00

THANK YOU DEBBI

FOR THE

"ARTE Y PICO AWARD"

PLEASE VISIT DEBBI'S BEAUTIFUL SITE

http://cgtreasures.blogspot.com/

******

THE ORIGIN OF THIS AWARD

"This prize has arisen from the daily visits that I dedicate to many blogs which nourish me and enrich me with creativity. In them I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art.I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain me day to day and to share this prize with those who enrich me every day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few, the people I will name today deserve this prize, as do the very long serious list of bloggers I also enjoy to read, but I will name the first 4 and will leave the rest of the work to all the bloggers that visit other's blogs and are nourished by them."

*****

http://www.littlesistersdolls.blogspot.com/ - JANELLE

http://yankeelaneprimitives.blogspot.com/ - SUSIE

http://diamonddesignandconsulting.blogspot.com/ - DAVE

http://millercampbelldesigns.com/ - BECKY

I'VE RECIEVED AN AWARD!

2008-07-15T14:30:00.005-04:00

THANK YOU, JEANNE!

PLEASE VISIT JEANNE'S BLOG @

http://wildwoodsart.googlepages.com/

My Goodness, My friend has given me a blogsite award. Now I'd like to pass it on to you. You must now pass it on to 7 of your favorites.

Now here's the rules:
1.) Copy and put the Award Logo on your Blog

2.) Add a link to the Person who awarded you

3.)Nominate 7 blogs who haven't received the award yet

4.) Add links to those blogs on your blog (say that 5 times fast!!)

5.) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!!

HERE ARE MY CHOICES...

http://www.littlesistersdolls.blogspot.com/ - JANELLE
http://yankeelaneprimitives.blogspot.com/ - SUSIE
http://piecakeprimitives.blogspot.com/ - LORRAINE
http://diamonddesignandconsulting.blogspot.com/ - DAVE
http://www.rabbithollowprims.blogspot.com/ - SUE
http://millercampbelldesigns.com/ - BECKY
http://boneheadstudio.blogspot.com/ - FLORA

ANOTHER NEW PENNY RUG.....

2008-07-09T04:58:00.002-04:00

http://freewebs.com/frenchcountrychic/

~ PENNY RUG ~

TWO NEW FLOORCLOTHS FOR YOUR HOME......

2008-07-06T12:20:00.005-04:00

* * * * * *

FLOORCLOTHS

http://freewebs.com/frenchcountrychic/

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY 2008...

2008-07-02T16:32:00.003-04:00

Photo Credit - Cameron

THOUGHT FOR TODAY.....

2008-06-09T13:42:00.002-04:00

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.

GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

We make a Living by what we get,

We make a Life by what we give.

ON THIS DAY - JUNE 7TH..........

2008-06-07T12:17:00.004-04:00

***

TAHATIAN WOMEN OF THE BEACH

1891

THE MIDDAY NAP

1894

*****

Eugene Henri Paul Gauguin
Born, 7 June 1848 in Paris France
Died, 8 May 1903 in Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia

AVAILABLE IN MY ONLINE STORE...

2008-05-31T17:38:00.003-04:00

*****

THIS AND OTHER ART AVAILABLE IN MY ONLINE STORE

JUST CLICK ON THE SITE (RIGHT HAND COLUMN)

REMEMBER THOSE WHO SERVED...

2008-05-24T11:36:00.001-04:00

GOD BLESS AMERICA

ART IN BLOOM.....

2008-05-21T17:37:00.003-04:00

~ WELCOME IN THE SUMMER SEASON ~

GO TO EBAY AND TYPE

PWGL

INTO THE SEARCH BOX ON JUNE 1ST.

MEMBERS OF "PRIM AND WHIMSY GIRLS "WILL BE SHOWING WONDERFUL ART & WHIMSY PIECES WITH THE THEME

"ART IN BLOOM"

THE WEEK OF JUNE 1 THROUGH JUNE 7, 2008

MAY FLOWERS.....

2008-05-18T06:33:00.003-04:00

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

BEAUTIFUL, GREEN, SOY BEANS.....

2008-05-16T16:54:00.002-04:00

My daughter, Nancy, and I have been discussing eating a vegetarian diet. This is something that we've done in the past and found very fulfilling as well as a healthier alternative to what we usually eat. We both feel that now is the time to get started down that path once again.

Nancy prefers vegetarian because of her personal feeling regarding the consumption of animals flesh. I feel that our meat supply is filled with growth hormones and other additives that promote the growth of unhealthy cells in OUR bodies and secondly, I just plain like vegies best!

When we ate vegetarian before, we were fortunate that we had a garden that Dave could grow fresh soy beans in. Now, after quite a search, we've been able to find them frozen and marketed under the name, "edamame".
Here's a little recipe that I just love.
__________

SOY BEAN STEW.....

2 cups fresh, green soy beans

1 sweet onion, chopped

2 carrots, sliced

4 potatoes, cut into "potato salad" size pieces

1 cup diced, canned tomatoes

1/2 - 1 cup drained can corn or kernels of 2 fresh ears

4-5 cups water

Seasonsing of your choice. I use basil and thyme

S & P

Add all of the above in a large soup pot, bring to a boil then cut down to a simmer. Cook till the vegies are done to your liking. The soy beans will NEVER get soft as other kinds of beans will so don't wait for that to happen. The beans will stay a litle bit nutty.

Serve with a good hot bread of your choice. Our family prefers hot French spread with goat cheese.

MOTHERS' DAY

2008-05-09T14:36:00.004-04:00

~ MAMA ~

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden. - Attributed to Claudia Ghandi

* * * * * *

Of all the hours of day or night

Give me the twilight hour,

When little birds hide out of sight

And every sylvan bower

Is filled with their sweet good night song,

While darkness creeps apace

O'er all the bright blue sky along

And hides the sun's gold face.

That is the hour when Mother dear

Says, "Come, sweetheart," to me,"

And of the earth's great heroes hear

While sitting on my knee."

Upon her arm I rest my hand

And wondrous stories hear,

Until it's time to go to bed,

Tucked in by Mother dear.

By Winifred Sackville Stoner, Jr.

LOVE...

2008-05-08T16:34:00.004-04:00

1 Corinthians 13:4 - 8

Love is patient. Love is kind...It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

MORELS BY REBECCA MILLER CAMPBELL...

2008-05-07T11:38:00.003-04:00

BECKY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE "ONLINE" FRIENDS AND A FELLOW KENTUCKY LADY. I CONSIDER HER TO BE AN EXPERT ON GATHERING MORELS AND PREPARING THEM. BECKY WAS KIND ENOUGH TO WRITE THIS WONDERFUL ARTICLE FOR ME AND TO PROVIDE PICTURES OF HER LATEST FINDINGS, IN THE BEAUTIFUL WOODS OF KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU BECKY!

LILY

********

Searching for Morel Mushrooms in Kentucky’s Woods For my family, in Kentucky, springtime means two things–trout fishing & mushroom hunting. Often referred to as dry land fish (because of the shape when viewed from the side), morel mushrooms begin popping up mid-late April & end early May. I’ve been hunting them since childhood, when my dad would announce that mushrooms were probably up & it was time to go dry land fishing. We would take to the woods–a group of adults & lots of little ones. Dad would remind us to watch where we stepped, lead us to poplar trees & when he bent down & plucked something from the earth, we all came running, too excited to remember to watch where our feet landed. Many times I stood, in the middle of the woods, thinking ‘God, why can’t they be purple or blue?’. My eyes could not see them & I had not yet developed the patience to search for the elusive morel.

My how things change.
Over the years, I kept going mushroom hunting with Dad. He taught me how to identify a poplar tree, took me to his secret mushroom spots, places where he had found oodles in the past. We discovered new spots together & still every time he bent down to pluck one from the earth, I had to resist the urge to break into a full run to see what he had found. The most important thing I’ve learned from my Dad about searching for the morel is that you can’t be in a hurry. I’ve learned a wealth of other important information, too: Look near sycamore trees & poplars. Search old apple orchards. Begin searching in mid-late April after a rain & then a few warm days in a row. Never eat a morel with a ‘cottony’ stem (This is the ‘False Morel’, which is poisonous. ‘True Morels’ have hollow stems.) Pinch mushrooms off at the bottom. Conceal your mushroom bag until you get in the woods! And never reveal your good mushroom spots. But most importantly, take your time, look in a spot two or three times. Move slowly & cautiously. Enjoy the hunt as well as the finding. And if you find a lot, share them with someone you love!

Last night’s findings–My husband & I found 106! We were ecstatic.

(See Pictures Of Becky's Goodies Below)

WONDERFUL MOREL MUSHROOMS...

2008-05-07T11:36:00.002-04:00

DERBY DAY....

2008-05-03T17:01:00.002-04:00

IF YOU ARE FROM THE BLUE GRASS REGION OF KENTUCKY, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DAYS OF THE YEAR.

GET YOU MINT JULIP AND GET READY FOR THE RUNNING OF THE 134 KENTUCKY DERBY. YOU HAVE 20 HORSES TO CHOOSE FROM THIS YEAR. MY PICK IS THE ONLY MARE, EIGHT BELLES.

SEE YOU THERE!

LILLY BELLE LEE...

WELCOME, MAY.....

2008-04-30T13:23:00.007-04:00

"The job now in hand was May baskets, for it was the custom of the children to hang them on the doors of their friends the night before May-day; and the girls had agreed to supply baskets if the boys would hunt for flowers, much the harder task of the two. Jill had more leisure as well as taste and skill than the other girls, so she amused herself with making a goodly store of pretty baskets of all shapes, sizes, and colors, quite confident that they would be filled, though not a flower had shown its head except a few hardy dandelions, and here and there a small cluster of saxifrage." (a type of herb called Greater Burnet).

~ FROM A WRITING BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT ~

~ MAYPOLE DANCE~

I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF DOING THIS WHEN I WAS A CHILD. WE WOULD PRACTICE EACH AFTERNOON, DURING RECESS, AND HAVE OUR "PERFORMANCE" FOR THE PARENTS ON MAY 1ST IN THE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. ALL OF WE GIRLS WOULD WEAR OUR BEST DRESSES AND HAVE RIBBONS IN OUR HAIR TO MATCH THE RIBBONS THAT WE WERE GOING TO WRAP AROUND THE MAYPOLE.

MAY BLESSINGS FROM LILY...

A NICE BLOG SITE

2008-04-25T06:59:00.004-04:00

"ANSWERED PRAYERS"
from THE GARCIA FAMILY EDITIONS

LITTLE SISTERS DOLLS

YOU MUST BE SURE TO VIEW THIS INSPIRATIONAL AND INFORMATIVE NEW BLOG BY JANELLE. A WONDERFUL WAY TO BEGIN YOUR DAY. CLICK ON THE SITE TO THE RIGHT OF THIS BLOG.

LILY...

HAPPY EARTH DAY, FELLOW "EARTHLINGS".....

2008-04-22T15:57:00.002-04:00

HEAVENLY SALAD...

2008-04-22T15:54:00.002-04:00

I LOVE SPRING AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT GOD IS BRINGING ON FOR US. WITH STRAWBERRY SEASON HERE, THIS RECIPE MAY BE JUST THE THING TO APPEASE YOUR HUNGER. IT IS NOT AN ORIGINAL OF MINE. I BELIEVE I FOUND IT ON "EATING WELL". IT'S WONDERFUL, GIVE IT A TRY. LILY...

Recipe Ingredients
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red-wine vinegar
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Pinch of salt
4 cups baby spinach
1 small avocado (4-5 ounces), peeled, pitted and cut into 16 slices
16 thin slices cantaloupe (about 1/2 small cantaloupe), rind removed
1 1/2 cups hulled strawberries , sliced
2 teaspoons sesame seeds , toasted (see Tip)

Recipe Directions
Whisk honey, vinegar, mint, pepper and salt in a small bowl.
Divide spinach among 4 salad plates. Arrange alternating slices of avocado and cantaloupe in a fan on top of the spinach. Top each salad with strawberries, drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
The dressing will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

Tip: To toast sesame seeds, heat a small dry skillet over low heat. Add sesame seeds and stir constantly until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool.

Health Advantages: diabetes appropriate, heart healthy, low sat fat, low sodium, high fiber, low calorie.

Nutrition Information
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per serving
Calories: 202 cal Carbohydrate Servings: 2
Carbohydrates: 24 g Dietary Fiber: 7 g Cholesterol: 0 mg
Fat: 8 g Sodium: 90 mg Saturated Fat: 1 g
Protein: 3 g Potassium: 503 mg Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (100% daily value), Vitamin A (60% dv), Folate (18% dv).
Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 2 fruit, 1 1/2 fat (mono)

FRENCH & COUNTRY CHIC'S NEW COUNTRY & COLONIAL STORE...

2008-04-12T06:47:00.004-04:00

JUST A FEW SAMPLES OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER ON THIS NEW SITE. CLICK "FRENCH & COUNTRY CHIC WEB PAGES - ONLINE SHOP, AT THE LEFT, AND GO DIRECTLY TO THE STORE.

GIVE AWAY AT "TWO PIXIE DOLLS"

2008-04-10T19:11:00.002-04:00

http://twopixiedolls.blogspot.com/

HERES THE SITE - DON'T FORGET TO CHECK IT OUT!

KATIE'S HAVING A GIVE AWAY...

2008-04-10T18:44:00.002-04:00

YOU BETTER HURRY AND ENTER - YOU MAY BE THE BIG WINNER!
http://www.punkindoodleboo.blogspot.com/

2008-04-06T09:35:00.000-04:00

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN, KENNETH.

A LITTLE MORE ROUGEAU...

2008-04-06T09:28:00.002-04:00

WE THE SHEEPLE...

ART BY KENNETH ROUGEAU...

2008-03-31T17:17:00.002-04:00

DANDY LIONS AND HEP CATS

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE UM!!!!

PLAN TO DO SOMETHING "GREEN" ON APRIL 22nd

2008-03-24T07:20:00.003-04:00

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970. This year, we'll
recognize April 22 as Earth Day 2008. Environmentalism is
nothing new. Below are 7 people who were influential in
trying to make out Earth a better place to live.

.........

1. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American essayist and
poet. Emerson was a leader of the transcendentalist
movement, the philosophies of which helped lay the
groundwork for modern environmentalism.

2. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), American writer,
naturalist, and philosopher. Another transcendentalist
leader, Thoreau wrote about his reverence for the natural
world and his belief that humans and nature share a divine
spirit.

3. John Muir (1838-1914), American naturalist, explorer, and
writer. Muir was a founder of the Sierra Club, an
organization dedicated to protecting the natural environment
and wildlife. His environmental lobbying also contributed to
the establishment of Yosemite National Park and Sequoia
National Park, both located in California.

4. Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), 26th president of the
United States. Roosevelt worked with U.S. Forest Service chief
Gifford Pinchot to set aside more than 220 million acres of
public land during his administration, more than any
previous president.
5. Lucy Braun (1889-1971), American botanist and ecologist.
Braun's extensive research on plants was a major impetus in
establishing plant ecology as an academic discipline. Her
commitment to conservation led to the eventual preservation
of more than 10,000 acres in Ohio.

6. Rachel Carson (1907-1964), American marine biologist.
Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring helped prompt a
widespread ban of the chemical pesticide
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and raised awareness
of the negative effects of pesticides.

7. Jacques Cousteau (1910-1997), French marine explorer.
Cousteau's films and writings drew attention to the plight of
the world's oceans.

FROM ENCARTA-MSN

EASTER BLESSINGS...

2008-03-21T17:06:00.003-04:00

A JOYOUS EASTER

AHHHH, THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING...

2008-03-20T12:28:00.004-04:00

WHEN THIS DAY FINALLY ARRIVES, I BEGIN TO THINK OF ALL THE GOOD THING THAT THE CHANGE OF SEASON BRINGS US. ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPRING VEGETABLE IS ASPARAGUS. HERE'S A LITTLE DISH THAT SHOULD PLEASE MANY OF YOU.

PLEASE REMEMBER - THIS IS NOT A HEART HEALTHY DISH!

BACON & ASPARAGUS SPRING OMELETS...
SERVES TWO

3 eggs, beaten
1 cup chopped asparagus
1/2 lb bacon
1+ tbsp butter
salt and pepper

Wash asparagus and cut into 1 inch size pieces. Melt the
butter and add asparagus. Saute until tender.

Fry bacon & crumble.

Add a little butter and a little bacon fat to a pan and heat.

Add beaten eggs. When the omelet has cooked to your liking, add the bacon and asparagus and finish the omelet.

If you wish, you can substitute crab instead of bacon, in this dish.

Serve with fresh fruit cups, raisin bread toast with cinnamon, and
Mimosas...

YOU MADE MY DAY...

2008-03-13T13:14:00.004-04:00

Oh Wow, Flora @ Bone Head Studio just made my day by giving me her "Make My Day Award". Now it's my turn to choose some of you ladies that make lots of people's day just a little bit nicer!

PALMETTO PRIMS, http://palmettoprims.blogspot.com/

RABBIT HOLLOW PRIMS, http://www.rabbithollowprims.blogspot.com/

BeFRuiTFuL KReaTioNS, http://befruitfulkreations.blogspot.com/

aRt GIRLs, http://2artgirls.blogspot.com/

LOVETHEPRIMLOOK, http://lovetheprimlook.blogspot.com/

WILDWOODS ART, http://wildwoodsstudio.blogspot.com/

TWO OF MY GREAT NEW GROUPS...

2008-03-04T18:15:00.003-05:00

OLD PRIMITIVE SISTERS' MARKERPLACE...

KINDRED SISTERS' OF FOLK ART...

APRIL'S HAVING A GIVEAWAY!

2008-02-20T10:49:00.002-05:00

My friend, April, is having a wonderful give-away. Please check out her blog. Just click on the link to the right of this post. Lily...

PIECAKE PRIMITIVE GIVEAWAY...

2008-02-11T07:11:00.000-05:00

HERE IS A MUST SEE...

CHECK IT OUT AT,
http://piecakeprimitives.blogspot.com/

MAYBE YOU'LL BE THE LUCKY ONE TO WIN THE GREAT PRIZES THAT LORRAINE IS OFFERING!

YOU CAN CLICK ON HER SITE, TO THE RIGHT OF THIS POST...

THE LEPRECHAUN WATCH...

2008-02-08T16:39:00.001-05:00

Rather or not you celebrate St Patrick's Day, this is a fun site to monitor.

YOU WILL FIND THE LINK TO THE RIGHT OF THIS POST->

REMEMBERING JIMMIE LEE SUDDUTH...

2008-01-29T05:24:00.000-05:00

Jimmy Lee Sudduth...

"A self-taught artist who began painting as a very small child, Mr. Sudduth was renowned for the effects he could produce with his own handmade paint, which consisted of mud blended with a variety of common substances including sugar, honey, Dr. Pepper, coffee grounds, plants, sand and soot. Mr. Sudduth called the mixture “sweet mud." Applied and worked with his fingers, the mud assumed contour, line and form. Painted on materials he could find such as scrap lumber, sheet metal and most commonly plywood, Mr. Sudduth’s art often depicted everyday life in Alabama––portraits of houses, farm animals, churches, people, his dog Toto and himself. It also included paintings of far away places such as Washington landmarks and New York City skyscrapers. His art is in the permanent collections of The Museum of American Folk Art in New York, The Smithsonian Institution, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. His works are also featured in “The Life and Art of Jimmy Lee Sudduth” (Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, 2005). A prolific artist who could finish half-dozen pictures or more in a day, Mr. Sudduth was once asked why he never used a paintbrush. “I paint with my finger’ cause that’s why I got it, and the brush don’t wear out,” he said quoted in a catalog of one of his exhibitions. “When I die, the brush dies.” Mr. Sudduth died on September 2, 2007 at the age of 97. His artwork lives on in famous museums and art collections around the world."

OOPS, I'M IT!...

2008-01-26T09:39:00.000-05:00

Good morning, I've been tagged by my online buddy, Rebecca Campbell, of Miller Campbell Designs.

Here are five (5) things that you may not know about me...

1. Jimmy Henson, Muppet guy, and I went to art class together. I was fortunate to meet "Kermit The Frog" before he became a TV Star.

2. I have been an exhibitor in the Easton Waterfowl Festival, a national event.

3. I love to write haiku & have printed many in native Japanese script. (Had to have loads of assistance with the script.)

4. In my early career, I designed bridal fashion accessories & was fortunate to accessorize a wedding at an embassy in Washington, DC.

5. My husband, Dave, and I are sponsors of the newest Smithsonian Institute Museum, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN.

MY TURN TO TAG:

1. Rabbit Hollow Primitives, http://www.rabbithollowprims.blogspot.com/

2. Bonehead Studios, http://boneheadstudio.blogspot.com/

3. Artist Dolls by Gloria, http://artistdollsbygloria.blogspot.com/

4. Chickadee Primitives, http://chickadeeprimitives.blogspot.com/

5. Two Girls/Art Girls, http://2artgirls.blogspot.com/

OK LADIES, YOU'RE IT!!

COMMING SOON...

2008-01-21T14:32:00.000-05:00

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY HOME TOWN...

2008-01-17T17:54:00.000-05:00

2008-01-17T17:48:00.001-05:00

Oxford Bellevue Ferry...America's oldest privately owned ferry.

Aerial View Of Town

2008-01-17T17:35:00.000-05:00

AROUND TOWN

2008-01-17T17:30:00.001-05:00

James A. Michner's Notes...

"At a small store in Oxford, I purchased a school boy's notebook, and that evening we sat at the Robert Morris Inn (see picture above) awaiting a shore dinner. I jotted down the complete outline of the novel and went to bed this night satisfied that I had made a good decision...."

— Feb.8 1975
While writing his best selling novel "Chesapeake", Mr. Michener collected his notes into his Chesapeake diary. All of his notes are now the property of the Talbot County Free Library in Easton, Maryland. I'll write more about Easton at a later time. It is one of my favorite towns on the shore & a place that Dave & I lived for a number of years prior to coming to Oxford.

I was fortunate to have a book from Mr. Michner's library, which he used to research the birds indiginous to the Chesapeake Bay region. I have since given the book to my daughter, Nancy.

2008-01-17T17:26:00.000-05:00

Oxford History...

Oxford is one of the oldest towns in Maryland. Although it existed 20 years earlier, in 1683 Oxford was named by the Maryland General Assembly as a seaport and was laid out as a town. In 1694, Oxford and Annapolis were the only ports of entry for the entire province of Maryland.

"Early citizens included Robert Morris, Sr.*, agent for a Liverpool shipping firm who greatly influenced the town’s growth; his son Robert Morris, Jr., known as “the financier of the Revolution;” Jeremiah Banning, sea captain, war hero, and statesman; The Reverend Thomas Bacon, Anglican clergyman who wrote the first compilation of the laws of Maryland; Matthew Tilghman, known as the “patriarch of Maryland” and “father of statehood” and Colonel Tench Tilghman, aide-de-camp to George Washington and the man who carried the message of Cornwallis’ surrender to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia."

British ships ,with their variety of goods, no longer came to port in Oxford after the Revolutionary War and Oxford businesses went bankrupt. The population began a decline.

After the Civil War, Oxford enjoyed an emerged of prosperity when railroad traffic opened up the oyster trade to national market places but the oyster beds played out in the early 20th century and once again Oxford became a sleepy little village.

A few watermen work the waters of the Tred Avon but Oxford remains a quiet village today.

LET'S HAVE A LITTLE CUP OF COFFEE...

2008-01-10T15:56:00.001-05:00

We talked about tea in November. It's now time to talk about coffee. Why not pour self a cup and read some of the information that I've gathered for you? Let's begin with my favorite, Kenyan. Lily...

Kenya is the 17th largest producer of coffee in the world. The high plateaus around Mt. Kenya are the largest producing area. The acitic soil in this region provide the excellent conditions needed to grow this excellent coffee.
The full bodied Kenyan coffee is known for its intense flavor & aroma. Coffee enthusiasts consider the flavor bright & acitic in flavor.

Columbian Coffee also has a bright, acitic flavor & heavy in body & aroma. It is the 12th largest producer of coffee in the world.

The United States has the largest market for coffee. Coffee houses are popular throughout.

Popular coffee drinks are "Cafe au lait" is simply French for coffee with cream. The Italians call this drink Caffe Latte, the Spanish "Cafe com leite".

"In many American coffeehouses, a café au lait is simply a latte with strong drip brewed or French pressed coffee substituted for espresso, though a French roast or similarly dark coffee may be the base of the beverage. In the US they serve both caffè latte and café au lait as two different coffee beverages, and define them as such while this is not so in Europe, except in the German variation of the drink, Milchkaffee ("milk coffee") which in Germany is served side by side with the espresso-based caffè latte (which in addition is sometimes called café au lait to add to the confusion)."

"New Orleans style...Café au lait in New Orleans has been popularized, at least in part, by Café du Monde. There it is made with whole milk and chicory, giving it a characteristically strong, bitter taste. Inclusion of roasted chicory root as an extender in coffee became common in colonial Louisiana, and eventually was incorporated in its local variant of the French-style coffee drink. Particularly at Café du Monde, the bitterness of the chicory in the beverage offsets the sweetness of a common accompaniment — powdered sugar-covered beignets."

If you've never tried chicory, you're missing something special. It's available now in most large grocery stores as well as speciality shops. Lily...

Painting credit - Lisa Audit

2008-01-09T07:23:00.000-05:00

We talked about my favorite Italian cuisine, Northern Italian, earlier this month. Today, let's go all of the way to the tip of the "boot" and out in the sea to the island of Sicily and talk a little bit about their food.

*****

"Sicilian Cuisine is one of Italy's most sophisticated and certainly the most eclectic; almost every people to sail the Mediterranean -- the Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards, and even the English -- has visited, bringing new ingredients and ideas that the long-term residents adapted and reworked."

A few specifics:

"Around Syracuse and Ragusa cooks still draw from Greek traditions, making abundant use of vegetables -- their eggplant parmesan is renowned -- while meats, mostly pork and mutton, were traditionally reserved for feast days. Palermo's cooking is more sophisticated, revealing French influences that emerge in dishes such as caponata, falsomagro, a rich meats stew, and involtini alla palermitana.In Trapani fish of all kinds predominate. The area, which faces North Africa, has maintained closer ties with the Arabs than other parts of the island, and is especially known for fish-laced cuscus.Messina is instead more Continental, with an abundance of fish, many recipes that reveal French influences, and others that hearken back to the peasantry, for example Spaghetti alla Norma. Finally, there are the sweets: Pasta Reale, Cassata, Cannoli...

Wines of Sicily

"Sicily's best known wine is Marsala, a fortified wine similar to Sherry and Madeira. It can be dry or sweet and is widely used by chefs as a cooking wine. The best-known table wine is the dry white Mt. Etna."

******

"SPINACHI IN TEGAME (SPINACH SAUTEED WITH GARLIC)
A fast, savory side dish.

2 Tablespoons olive oil

6 garlic cloves, minced

2 pounds (or three 10-ounce bogs) fresh spinach, washed and trimmed

1 teaspoon black pepper

Place olive oil in a large frying pan and heat. Add garlic and saute until just golden. (Do not allow to brown.) Add spinach, tossing constantly, until just wilted. Remove from heat, toss in pepper,and serve immediately."

serves 6

******

"Caponata - Chopped vegetables such as eggplant (the most essential ingredient), tomatoes, onions, green peppers, olives, and celery individually cooked in olive oil, then combined. Caponata is similar in concept to the French Ratatouille."

Use your imagination and created your own version of this dish. Lily...

PRIMITIVE ARTIST...

2008-01-04T05:11:00.000-05:00

Bernice Sims...

"The eldest of 10 children, Bernice Sims grew up in the Hickory Hill community near Brewton, Alabama and has lived there her whole life. Bernice raised six children as a single parent after her husband deserted the family. She trained and worked as a nurse’s aid until 1975, when knee surgery forced her to take a disability retirement. Subsequently, at the age of fifty-two, Bernice Sims passed her high school equivalency exam. Class field trips to museums reawakened a dormant interest she had had as a child in painting. She tried her hand again at painting, and discovered a talent for rendering scenes from her youth. Colorful scenes of farm life, church activities, community gatherings, daily life and the civil rights struggles she participated in, have all become part of her portfolio. Bernice said “I want our children to know what things were like.” In the 1980s Bernice Sims enrolled in a community college nearby hoping to sharpen her artistic skills. However, her professor was so impressed by her artwork that he advised her to keep painting “her own way”. Bernice was active in encouraging voter registration, and was in Selma for the Civil Rights March. In 1995, The United States Postal Service honored Bernice Sims by issuing a stamp of her painting depicting the Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Bernice paints with bright oil colors on canvas."

A LITTLE MORE NORTHERN ITALIAN COOKING...

2008-01-03T06:45:00.000-05:00

Pasta e Fagioli...

3 teaspoons Olive Oil / 1 1/2 teaspoon OO

2 pounds Ground beef / 1 lb ground beef

12 ounces Onion; chopped / 1/2 white onion

14 ounces Carrots; slivered / 2 carrots, sliveres

14 ounces Celery; diced / 2 stalks celery

48 ounces Tomatoes; canned, diced / 1 large can chopped tomatoes

2 cups cooked Red Kidney beans / 1 small can

2 cups cooked Canellini beans / 1 small can

88 ounces Beef stock / 44 ounces beef stock

3 teaspoons Oregano / 1 1/2 teaspoon Oregano

2 1/2 teaspoons Pepper / 1 teaspoon pepper

5 teaspoons Parsley; (fresh chopped) / 2 1/2 tea parsley

6 Basil leaves chopped/ 3 leaves

1 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce / dash of tabasco

12 ounces Spaghetti sauce / 6 oz spaghetti sauce

8 ounces dry pasta Shell macaroni; or other pasta/ 4 oz pasta

Parmesan

Optional: A little garlic to taste

1 cup of good white wine (add when you add the stock)

Method...

Brown the ground beef & set aside;

Lightly saute the onion, carrots & celery. In a large pot, add the ground beef & sauted vegies to the chopped tomatoes, spaghetti sauce and the beef stock, the pepper, oregano, basil & tabasco sauce.

Cook over medium heat for 20 to 30 minutes

Add the beans (drain well & rinse) and the pasta. Cook aditional 10 to 15 minutes. Add the parsley, parmesan cheese & serve.

I go a litttle bit lighter on the spaghetti sauce & add more beef stock as needed. I like it a little thinner. Being from the south, I like my food cooked a bit longer so, if you wish, increase the cooking time - I do! Lily....

I given you 1/2 recipe infor too (after the /'s)

NORTHERN ITALIAN CUISINE...

2008-01-02T13:01:00.000-05:00

While most people are thinking about beginning the new year with healthy, low cal diets, I'm thinking about eating really tasty dishes. I'll do the weight loss thing after a while, but now I want to indulge in some really good foods that have nothing to do with turkeys, hams or pumpkin. Northern Italian comes to mind first. Lily...

Northern Italy differs from the rest of the Italy in a many ways. Most traditional North Italian recipes call for unsalted butter rather than olive oil, and though there are many kinds of stuffed pasta, polenta and risotto, in the winter they indulge in rich, hearty soups.

"The North has excellent cattle breeds suited to meat and milk production, and also excellent hogs; as a consequence beef, veal, and pork are the meats of choice, with lamb and other animals playing a lesser role. Cooking ranges from boiling and frying through slow braising and stewing, and in the latter cases northern cooks use much less tomato, preferring to use wine or broth as the liquid, and chopped herbs for flavor. The results can be extraordinarily elegant, and the same holds true for roasts, especially those that contain winter vegetable stuffings."

There is also an variety of fish; Comacchio is renowned for its eels and Veneto's coastal lowlands provide mussels and clams, and the lakes and waterways inland a tremendous variety of fresh water fish, in addition to ducks and other wild birds.

Three important Northern cities are Venice, Milan and Genoa.

***************************

Here's A Real Goodie!

Northern Italian Pasta Shells...

Ingredients:
2 packages of fresh spinach
1 pounds ground round
1 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 large onions, chopped
Grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper
1 large egg
1 package jumbo pasta shells
1 cups tomato sauce

Saute the washed spinach in a little butter. In a large saute pan, cook the ground round until browned. Drain meat, reserving 1 tablespoon fat in the pan & add to the spinach. Stir in the cream cheese until blended with the meat and spinach. Saute the chopped onions in the reserved meat fat until transparent. Add to the other ingredients and stir to combine. Add grated cheese, salt, and pepper. Cool and then add the egg.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook pasta shells. Drain and cool. Stuff the shells with the meat mixture. Place in a baking dish and cover with tomato sauce.

Cover with foil and bake for approximately 1 hour.

BUNO APPETITO!!

SOME THOUGHTS FOR 2008...

2007-12-29T06:41:00.000-05:00

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things. ~John Burroughs

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~Bill Vaughn

*****

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

.....

We meet today

To thank Thee for the era done,

And Thee for the opening one.

~John Greenleaf Whittier

*****

FOR YOUR 2008 KITCHEN & PARTY & GIFT NEEDS...

Wonderful Herbs & Spices,

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html

Gourmet & Gift Foods,

http://www.igourmet.com/index.asp

I've used both of these stores many times & never had an unpleasant experience with either one. Lily...

SOMETHING VERY NICE FOR 2008!

2007-12-28T12:31:00.001-05:00

corps d'elite

THIS LOVELY BRACELET MAY BE A LITTLE LATE FOR

NEW YEARS EVE, BUT IT WILL BE PERFECT FOR

ANY SPECIAL EVENT ALL YEAR LONG!

Presented by

MONA @

carriers*curiousity*shop

A Member Of

~Raspberry Rose Sellers' Club~

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=rrsc&category0=

NEW YEARS GREETINGS...

2007-12-28T05:12:00.000-05:00

(click to make your champagne sparkle)

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS...

2007-12-25T10:18:00.000-05:00

DECEMBER 25th, A BLESSED CHRISTMAS

2007-12-23T04:37:00.001-05:00

What child is this who laid to rest

On Mary's lap is sleeping

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping.

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing

Haste, haste to bring Him laud

The babe, the son of Mary..

Why lies He in such mean estate

Where ox and cattle are feeding

Good christian fear for sinners here

The silent world is pleading.

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing

Haste, haste to bring Him laud

The babe, the son of Mary.

So bring Him incense gold and myrrh

Come peasant king to own Him

The King of Kings salvation brings

Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing

Haste, haste to bring Him laud

The babe, the son of Mary.

ADVENT CALENDAR FOR TODAY, 24 DECEMBER 2007

2007-12-23T04:28:00.000-05:00

AWAY IN A MANGER...
Away in a manger,

No crib for His bed

The little Lord Jesus

Laid down His sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky

Looked down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing

The poor Baby wakes

But little Lord Jesus

No crying He makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus

Look down from the sky

And stay by my side,

'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care

And take us to heaven

To live with Thee there.

****

A Visit from Saint Nicholas

by Clement Clark Moore
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

ADVENT CALENDAR FOR TODAY, 23 DECEMBER 2007

2007-12-23T04:14:00.000-05:00

While shepherds watched

Their flocks by night

All seated on the ground

The angel of the Lord came down

And glory shone around

"Fear not," he said,

For mighty dread

Had seized their troubled minds

"Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind,

To you and all mankind."

"To you in David's

Town this day

Is born of David's line

The Savior who is Christ the Lord

And this shall be the sign

And this shall be the sign."

"The heavenly Babe

You there shall find

To human view displayed

And meanly wrappedIn swathing bands

And in a manger laid

And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph,

And forthwith

Appeared a shining throng

Of angels praising God, who thus

Addressed their joyful song

"All glory be to

God on high

And to the earth be peace;

Goodwill henceforth

From heaven to men

Begin and never cease

Begin and never cease!"

*****

And it came to pass in those day there went out a decree from Ceasar Augustus,

that all the world should be taxed.

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,

into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: (because he was of the house and lineage of David).

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manager; because there was no room for them at the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

*****

Hang Up The Baby's Stocking

Hang up the baby's stocking

Be sure you don't forget!

The dear little dimpled darling,

She never saw Christmas yet!

But I've told her all about it,

And she opened her big blue eyes;

And I'm sure she understood it-

She looked so funny and wise.

Dear, what a tiny stocking!

It doesn't take much to hold

Such little pink toe's as baby's

Away from the frost and the cold

But then, for the baby's Christmas,

It will never do at all.Why!

Santa wouldn't be looking

For anything half so small.

I know what I will do for the baby.

I've thought of the very best plan.

I'll borrow a stocking of Grandma's,

The longest that ever I can

And you'll hang it by mine, dear mother,

Right here in the corner so!

And leave a letter to Santa,

And fasten it in the toe.

ADVENT CALENDAR FOR TODAY, 22 DECEMBER 2007

2007-12-22T04:32:00.001-05:00

2007-12-22T04:28:00.000-05:00

O Christmas Tree...

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

How lovely are your branches.

In summer sun and winter snow,

A dress of green you always show.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

How lovely are your branches.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

With happiness we greet you.

When decked with candles once a year,

You fill our hearts with yultide cheer.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

With happiness we greet you.

2007-12-22T04:25:00.000-05:00

JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER...

2007-12-21T06:53:00.000-05:00

The Frost Spirit

He comes, - he comes, - the Frost Spirit comes!

You may trace his footsteps now

On the naked woods and the blasted fields

And the brown hill's withered brow.

He has smitten the leaves of the gray old trees

Where their pleasant green came forth,

And the winds, which follow wherever he goes,

Have shaken them down to earth.

IT WON'T BE LONG NOW!!!!!!!

2007-12-21T06:39:00.001-05:00

3 MORE DAYS 'TILL CHRISTMAS EVE

ADVENT CALENDAR FOR TODAY, 21 DECEMBER 2007

2007-12-21T06:36:00.001-05:00