Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Strawberry time is here

 This time of year Florida has the most delicious strawberries. So let's enjoy them.













Thursday, January 20, 2022

Roses of Yesterday

“I feel as if I had opened a book and found roses of yesterday sweet and fragrant, between its leaves.” 
― L.M. MontgomeryAnne of the Island




Limoges "Old Abbey"



 A marriage of Haviland China and my Eggshell Nautilus.



I love my pretty Rose teacups. I hope you enjoy them too.


Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Recovering

 While it seems the whole US is covered in snow, our lowest temps dipped down to 39 degrees this morning. No, no snow, as it quickly gets up to the mid 60's, I sit here, recovering from Covid. Omicron seems to be getting around.

So I leave you with this beautiful sunset on one of Florida's beaches.

                                                   Saturday Sparks

Monday, January 17, 2022

Did you know?

 


  • Flowers and other blossoming plants have nectarines that produce sugary nectar. Worker bees suck up the nectar and water and store it in a special honey stomach. When the stomach is full the bee returns to the hive and puts the nectar in an empty honeycomb. Natural chemicals from the bee's head glands and the evaporation of the water change the nectar into honey.
  • Popcorn pops because water is stored in a small circle of soft start in each kernel. As the kernel is heated, the water heats, the droplets of moister turns to steam and the steam builds up pressure until the kernel finally explodes to many times its original volume.
  • In 1970, consumption of broccoli was only a half a pound per person. Today, the average person in the United States eats four and one half pounds a year.
  • The most popular sweet pepper in the United States is the bell pepper.
  • Peanuts are not actually nuts. Peanuts, like soybeans, are members of the legume family.
  • Heart valves from hogs are used to replace damaged or diseased human heart valves.
  • The eggshell may have as many as 17,000 tiny pores over its surface. Through them, the egg can absorb flavors and orders. Storing them in their cartons helps keep them fresh.
  • The bright orange color of carrots tells you they're an excellent source of Vitamin A, which is important for good eyesight, especially at night. Vitamin A helps your body fight infection, and keeps your skin and hair healthy.
  • In the United States, lettuce is the second most popular fresh vegetable.
  • There are about 7,000 cherries on an average tart cherry tree. It takes about 250 cherries to make a cherry pie, so each tree could produce enough cherries for 28 pies!
  • The first ice cream cone was made, served, and eaten in New York City on September 22, 1886. The maker, Italo Marchiony, was granted a paten on his cone mold in 1903.
  • Americans eat about 125 pounds of potatoes a year, about half from fresh potatoes and half in processed foods.

There are just some things in life that we need to know about :-)

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

A Winter table

 The winter months always makes me think of blue. Perhaps it is the icy glow of the snow (even though we don't have any).


I love these blue dinner plates I found at Goodwill.  I googled the letters on the back of the plate -mse.  What a surprise to discover they are a Martha Stewart line. The salad plates are Mornay by Mikasa, Flatware Venetian by Community.








 Fire-King Blue Azurite Delphite Square Cup and Saucer


 The Tea Cozy was a gift from my sweet friend.

Pale shades of icy blue set for a Winter table.

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

I'll Be Seeing you - a review


Brianna Hastings is given a History assignment to interview the oldest member of her family. Daisy is her great grandmother and shares about her life and all that she went through. The good and bad. There are family secrets, long since buried coming to light.

I have not enjoyed some of the split time novels of late. But Robin Hatcher's writing is seamless and intriguing. I was drawn in to the story from the start. Robin makes it interesting and you just keep reading.  This is a Christian fiction, but there were scenes where a young impressionable girl is caught up in a bad situation. These mistakes, made in youth with long lasting consequences, brings warnings from Daisy to Brianna.

There is some romance, heart breaking situations, grief, and reconciliations.  All in all it is a good story written with care and an element of faith that brings forgiveness to self and others.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Happy New Year

 Auld Lang Syne History 


This 18th century poem was written by Robert Burns and is traditionally sung at the moment the clock strikes midnight of the brand new year.
Auld Land Syne actually translates to Good Old Days.


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet 
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine;
we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne

We two hae paidled i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne

And here's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

HAPPY NEW YEAR!