Old World

Several years ago I traveled with my husband to Europe for the first time.

The sights in Brussels were so amazing. I've heard of all the old architecture, but seeing it was truly an incredible experience. We are such a young country, and even seeing some of the pilgrim areas of the US do not compare.

This was the parking lot at the train station.

In the town of Bruges, the streets were lined with these cozy buildings.

It is a canal based city which had significant economic importance. At one time, it was the "chief commercial city" of the world.

The city was chartered in July 1128.

Starting around 1500, the Zwin channel, which had given the city its economic dominance, started silting. The cities prosperity soon fell behind Antwerp. During the 17th century, the lace industry took off, and various efforts to bring back the glorious past were made.

The young woman who was demonstrating hand made lace told us it takes 8 years of schooling to make Belgium lace.


I was really fascinated with the beautiful churches and cathedrals.

Especially when you realize they were built in the 12th Century.

The center of town is the Market.


And of course there is a Royal residence.

We all commented that the little window at the top of this building was for a damsel in distress.


A very quaint restaurant by the canal.

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Tea in the Garden

 Spring brings a wash of all things new. The refreshment of rain, birds building their nests and flowers waking in full bloom.

My African Violet has been so full of blooms.  I just had to take it out to the garden and enjoy its beauty.

This Old Royal Bone China sugar and creamer were purchased on one of my trips to Chicago.

My daughter brought the Russian Orenburg Lace Scarf on her first trip to Russia.

Spring makes way for summer. Taking a few minutes to enjoy the delightful spring breeze is such a refreshing way to start the day.

 All About Home

Grace at Home

Tablescape Thursday

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Sky Watching

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Grow your own food

 I love gardening. Although I really don't have much of a green thumb, it is satisfying in many ways. I do much better growing flowers, sometimes reviving them when they have been neglected. But in the last couple of years I have tried my hand at vegetables. 

There are many things to learn about growing food. I think the most important thing is to grow things you enjoy eating. 

Another key point is trying new things. Last year I grew cucumbers for the first time, and I loved them. 

What I have also learned is you can grow things and not spend any more money.  Did you know that you can cut off the ends of certain veggies and stick them in the ground and they will grow!

I started cutting off the end of Romaine lettuce and it has been growing new leaves.

Even cutting a stem off of basil and sticking it water will produce roots that you can plant and start new one.

Another thing I have learned is some veggies can come back year after year.  I planted this parsley plant a couple of years ago, and after looking so forlorn I picked off the dead leaves. 

This is what it look's like now!

I am hoping to plant some beans in the next few weeks. I understand the beans refresh the soil as well as being prolific 

As the cost of food has escalated over the last two years, it seems to be wise to start growing our own food. You don't really need a lot of space to plant a few veggies. I have a planter and several large black pots that I bought at Lowe's. For me it will be trial and error. But it will be worth it in the long run.

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Saturday Sparks

Windswept

 

We have been experiencing some strong winds recently.

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Springtime Lunch

 Spring is bursting all over down here in the south.  The flowers are showing their amazing rainbow of colors everywhere I go.

I love setting up a table on our back porch.  The weather is so fine that we are enjoying it any time of day.

If you stop by, we can share a little bit of  lunch.

 All About Home

Grace at Home

Tablescape Thursday

Full Plate Thursday

Happy Easter

 

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." (John 11:25-27)

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said" (Matt. 28:6)

May you rejoice in knowing that the Savior of this world lives.

Wishing you a Blessed Easter.

Cedar Key Florida

When my hubby and I were dating, we would drive up to the quaint little town of Cedar Key and eat a fabulous seafood dinner. The food was always delicious and plentiful and the atmosphere was charming. We would relish the Cabbage Palm salad, fried shrimp or grouper and top it off with Key Lime Pie.

It has been many years since we visited again, but it sure seems like the masses have found this little hide away town.

Johnson's restaurant is long gone, so we tried the newer Seabreeze.

Although it offered an amazing view, the food was an average seafood menu. I can guess catering to the tourist crowd is never the same as when they mostly fed hometown residents 

 There is a lot of Florida history buried in Cedar Key. Driving across the causeway brought back many memories of this small fishing community. 

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