Mellow Yellow

Besides the neutrals of cream and white, one of my favorite colors to decorate with is yellow.  I read once that yellow rooms make people happier.  Think of a smiley face or the yellow brick road...both are very "happy."  A few years ago I painted my living room walls Laura Ashley Cowslip. (I never understood the color name.  What is a cowslip?)  Anyway, it took a little while to get used to but now I LOVE it.  My dining room is connected so I painted the same color below the chair rail.

 These yellow roses gave me the perfect opportunity 

(plus another day off from school) 

to switch up my dining table.  

These little bowls were a Christmas gift from my SIL.  

She got them in a Denver antique store.  

Being a very symmetrical person, she knew I would love a matching set.

Plus...they're yellow.

I made the table runner with the windowpane fabric from IKEA 

and some left over toile from another project.

The past few weeks in Northwest Ohio have been challenging where the weather is concerned.  We have had snow, ice and now we are under flood warnings.  Last week our schools were open only 2 days.  We are closed again today due to the flood threat.  At this rate we will be making days up clear into June.  

Here's hoping things improve soon.  Have a great day!

Linking to

Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House in the Roses

Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Update:  thanks to Kasey at The Little Brick House 

who answered my question "what the heck is a cowslip?"  

Here is the answer...

Thanks Kasey!

Wildstyle Design - Colorfull Sketches of Graffiti Alphabet

3 graffiti alphabet design in a paper on freedom of expression hand in shaping and coloring. The third design uses wildstyle graffiti in the making to make it look beautiful with 3D and color combinations that will be integrated.



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Sketch Graffiti Alphabet Paper (Letter A-Z) - Tribal Design

Sketch Graffiti Alphabet Paper (Letter A-Z) - Tribal Design

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A Weekend in Melbourne

We figure that the weekend starts on Friday nights and this Friday was no exception - I rang home on the way and Sue said she was feeling a cooking thing coming on.
Most of our readers probably know how much we enjoy duck, well it was on the menu but I'll ask Sue to tell you it was prepared - just have to say it was the very best.

I have to say I feel embarrassed to speak about cooking duck when I know we have people from France reading this blog. Never mind..we like it and I'm learning.
The guy at the shop got two ducks and cut the breasts off for me. They had the top part of the wing with bone still attached. Not what I really wanted, but I'm sure he was happy because they weighed a lot heavier.  Go on...call me a cynic!
Pan to get a crispy skin then in the oven for  8 minutes. We don't like them rare, just pink, medium I guess you'd say. While they rested I did a caramel with just sugar in the pan they cooked in, then stopped it cooking with red wine vinegar, then added orange juice and chicken stock. Cooked it down for a while then mounted it by whisking in a little butter (French butter, I really am a tragic)
I love muffin tins. I never make muffins! Sliced potatoes very finely and stacked them in a muffin tin, a little milk, butter and Parmesan cheese and in the oven, then turn them out and they look and taste great. I don't know what to call them. I have done them this way with cream and they are wonderful, but not this day.  I cooked some halved eschallots in EVOO with a little fresh thyme until golden, then added balsamic , covered lightly and cooked still soft.  Popped in muffin tin (did I say I love muffin tins?) topped with puff pastry and baked for 10 minutes. Instant eshallot tarte tartins. Look great, taste great, easy...winner I reckon.

The wine was from France, a Guigal Cotes du Rhone. Its a wine that brings back memories of two days in Vienne on the Rhone river just south of Lyon.

Dinner for three, our son Mitchell has developed a palate for good wine and food at 23.

From across the Rhone from Vienne - a favourite of ours, especially with duck.
Available from Uncle Dan's (Dan Murphy) at less than $20


Saturday started out as one of those perfect sunny mornings as we drift towards autumn. I'm sitting here on Sunday writing this blog and listening to Beatles songs while the rain drizzles down our study window.
That's Melbourne - they say that if you are bored by the weather, wait for an hour and it will change.
Back to Saturday morning - the bay was still, no wind and Beach Road was full of people enjoying this part of heaven on earth. Joggers, walkers, cyclists all enjoying the early morning. I like to do an early morning ride to coffee at 6.30 am before our "real ride". We stop at a little cafe in Brighton on North Road. My friend Darren told me that the Cafe started as the local sailing club's boat shed and that the beach actually came much closer. Reclaimed land is now a car park.
The view from the Cafe extends across the bay to Melbourne central and the Westgate bridge that links the west of Melbourne is an imposing site on the horizon.

My mate Darren wanted to do another ride after our "real ride" in the late morning that took us back to Brighton Beach. As we rode along in the balmy morning sunshine, we noticed many keel boats on the bay - there was a race about to start.

From the point where we stood, we could see the start of the race, but then I looked back over my shoulder and there were two Brighton Beach historic icons. Brighton Beach railway station and the Royal Terminus Hotel (1840s).

The hotel was supposedly the second hotel established south of the Yarra river. Back then it was a fair distance from Marvelous Melbourne and was in fact bailed up by Bushrangers back then.

Brighton Beach station based on Wikipedia information was opened December 21, 1861. The area was a popular bayside destination from its inception and many grand homes still stand in the area - many have also tumbled under the wrecking ball to make way for some very bland modern homes.

The tram also was another way to get to Brighton Beach - the line running from St Kilda. It no longer exists, nor does the the pier seen in the background. Just opposite the tram can be seen some brickwork just visible to the side of the road. This was a tunnel leading from the station and from my research it was a way of getting baggage from the station, directly to the  beach. Although not functional, the tunnel still can be seen from the beach.

Taken in 1982, Brighton Beach Station. To the right shows where the line came to an end until the government extended the line to Hampton and  then to Sandringham, seen to the left.



The entrance to the Brighton Beach Railway Station.

 On the foreshore of Brighton Beach and further up the bay to Beaumaris a bluestone retaining wall was built during the Great Depression to relieve unemployment. The bluesto ne blocks came from Melbourne's Old Gaol. Some of these blocks have initials and dates on them. They signify the initials and dates of inmates of the Old Melbourne gaol who were hanged and buried there. Many of the bones were exhumed and reburied at Pentridge Gaol in Coburg. Infamous Bushranger Ned Kelly was one. On being hanged, its said his last words were "Such is Life".

Next month in Melbourne is the MELBOURNE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL and runs from March 4 to 14. Do I have a chance of not being there with Sue - NO!!!!!!
http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/festival-events/browse-events CLICK HERE for more

I can hardly believe it!

I have been getting the spring Pottery Barn catalogs for a few weeks now.  I finally took the time to really look at everything.  As always, I wish I could win the lottery.  Anyway, on the very LAST page they are showing new window panels.
5 different lengths and 4 different colors and here's the best part...the pole top 84 in. panel is only $29.00.
I looked at it twice and could hardly believe my eyes.
Here they are:







If anyone has these or has seen them can you let me know what you think?

Thanks and have a great day!

7 Graffiti Font Character

7 Graffiti Font Character

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Saturday song - Well, not Really!!! Instrumental.

I mentioned in a post earlier in the week of a fellow cyclist I met at out State Masters Track Titles. I didn't mention him or his wife by name but now I know that he is FAMOUS, I get the chance to introduce Anton Wurzer to you. His wife is Loris and they make a lovely couple.
Anton sent me a rather obscure email to say he had something in the mail for me. I had no idea what this would be, but I thought it may be connected to our mutual passion for our sport.
But no!!!!!
He mentioned that besides cycling he had an interest in such things as racing motorcycles and playing the accordian. Yes, I agree with you, they do seem to have a connection, don't they?
Both of these passions were passed down by his father.

This morning (Friday) I worked from home in the morning and Sue brought in the mail. Lo and behold, there was the package that Anton had promised. It had a very nice hand written letter with it - unusual in this age.



He's quite handsome, isn't he???????????

 It was a CD recorded by him and Nicole Canham called "Live for Life". I wacked it in the CD stacker in my car and listened to it all the way to the office. I arrived there in a very happy mood.
Thanks Anton - The favor will be returned very soon - There will be a return present on the way to you next week. (You're not no only famous person who rides a bike)

 I found Anton on You Tube.

runDMC Adidas Graffiti Wall Street

runDMC Adidas Graffiti Wall Street

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4 Life Love Graffiti Wall Brick - STeve & Bob

4 Life Love Graffiti Wall Brick - STeve & Bob

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Super Simple Sugar Cookies

I always appreciate a recipe that is easy and uses basic ingredients that most cooks already have in their pantry. This is one of those recipes.  No fuss...no muss.  In less than 20 minutes you can have hot cookies ready to eat.

Sugar Cookies~makes about 30 but can be doubled

1 stick butter softened
1/8 c. canola oil
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. powdered sugar (if you don't have this just use 1 c. of regular sugar)
1 t. vanilla
1 egg
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking soda
2 c. flour
Mix first 6 ingredients together.  Add dry ingredients a little at a time.
Bake at 350 for 9 - 10 min.

The dough already mixed up.

 A cookie baker's best friend!

 Ready to go in the oven.

 The cracks in the dough make cracks in the baked cookies...yum.

The finished product.

 Remember those cracks I mentioned?

I hope you try this out.  Once I lost track of what I was doing and may have left a batch in the oven too long. They ended up as doggie treats...now my little dog loves them too!

Linking to

Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence
Debbie's Newbie Linky Party
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Blue Monday at Smiling Sally's
Tuesday Blog Trail at Six in The Nest


Happy To Design

Have a great day!

FUNNY FRIDAY

I had no idea what to post this Friday - that is until I decided to polish my shoes.
This is the Australian icon shoe polish - KIWI.
We don't have Kiwis in Australia - It was a native bird to New Zealand. Strange!!!!

The current Kiwi shoe polish tin I used this morning.



A couple of early newspaper advertisements



 

You'll love this little clip - nothing to do with shoe polish.