Francoise Hardy - So Many Friends (l'amitié - En Anglais)

Friends....

Image via Pinterest ~ Originally pinned by Terra Righi

Quote of the Day ~

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
Oprah Winfrey~


Here is a lovely song about friendship by French singer Francoise Hardy.  Enjoy!

The Beautiful Colors of Spring

While at the grocery store the other day, I was struck by the beautiful flowers, their color combinations and the varieties. I saw these sunflowers and had to snap a photo with my IPhone...not a bad picture. I was wondering what sunflowers represent so I checked online and found out that they symbolize loyalty and wishes. They are so cheerful and can turn a frown upside down in a heartbeat.

Then, I found these and thought of how nature, with the help of rain and sunshine, brings us the most simplest pleasures.

Hydrangeas are my favorites...and their symbolism is two fold.  On the positive side they express thank you and on the negative side they can signify frigidity and heartlessness.  I choose to think of them in their most favorable light and will use them right now to thank all of my faithful readers who take time out of their busy schedules to pay me a visit.  Your visits and comments mean the world to me.  So thank you!

What is your favorite flower?  Do you know what it symbolizes?

I've been busy sewing and adding new items to my Etsy shop lately so that explains my lack of posting as of late.

Here is a sample of what is new in the shop:

Table Runner ~ Ivory and blue floral with an ivory canvas back.
Measures approximately 16 1/2 x 54 1/2

Blue floral pillowcase made with Rachael Ashworth Shabby Chic Fabric~ a silk strip of silk sari, and a white linen border

A  pink floral pillowcase on a pale lavender background with a pale green strip of silk sari and an ivory linen border

Bird eggs with twine ties for Easter

Stop by my Etsy shop for my Spring Sale and receive 20% off. Use SPRINGSALE20 at the checkout to receive discount.  If discount coupon is not used I can't give you the discount! ~HERE~

Patterns and Colors Swirling in my Mind

I've been wanting to sew a new shower curtain for our bathroom and have been visiting different fabric sites online trying to decide on a pattern and color.  Right now, my shower curtain is a natural linen color on the bottom half and a cream cotton color on the top half with a bit of black piping to separate the two.  It is B~O~R~I~N~G and I want to add a bright splash of color.  Since spring has sprung here in Texas and all the beautiful colors are everywhere I am itching to do something different  Here are a few samples of the patterns and colors I've been looking at and believe me when I say that I've looked at so many colors and styles that my eyes have started to cross which is why I can't decide.  I love white and grey/taupe with pops of color but sometimes I like to incorporate a bold splash of color and a bit of whimsey to shake things up a bit.

Image via ~ Fabric Guru
Brunschwig and Fils
A floral that is colorful ~ 100% cotton

Image via ~ Fabric Guru
Brunschwig and Fils
This has a Tahitian flair to it...I kinda like it ~ 100% cotton

Image via ~ Fabric Guru
Brunschwig and Fils
Another floral...a bit softer - 100% cotton

Image via ~ Fabric Guru
Brunschwig and Fils
A softer floral in a cotton/linen mix

As you can see, I can't seem to get away from the florals but I'm thinking both color and whimsey will come from the Tahitian pattern which I think would be fun and the one I am leaning towards! What do you think?

I love looking at bedrooms.  Everyone I see always looks so put together...I'm afraid mine is a far cry from these but I sure can dream.  Each of these bedrooms are a beautiful in their own right.

Image vai Pinterest ~ Originally pinned by Michelle Yard  (Great bedspread!)

Image Via Pinterest ~ Originally pinned by Amy Benton (I'm loving the purple)

Image via Pinterest ~ Originally pinned by Sarah @ Comfortand  (I love the way they used doors for the headboard.)

Image via Pinterest ~ Originally pinned by Joanne Thomas  (What a mirror!)

Image via Pinterest ~ via Originally pinned by Marlene Garau

Image via Pinterest ~ via Originally pinned by Karen Chapman

Image via Pinterest ~ Originally pinned by Cole Imperi

Image via Pinterest ~ Originally pinned by Mary Trainum Adan

I'll take any of these...what about you?  Which one is your favorite?

A Spring Poem

Happy First Day of Spring! After a milder than normal winter it is still nice to welcome our spring season with open arms. Who doesn't love the fresh smell of cut grass, new buds on the trees, the arrival of our feathered friends and those first bulbs pushing up through the ground. It is my favorite time of the year and even though it is here for only a short time, it is a welcomed time!  So, if your weather permits, "spring" open those door and windows and breath in the fresh scent spring! AHHHH....

Image via ~ Pinterest ~ Original pin by Natalia Harandon

"♬♪ Spring is busting ♩♫♭ out all over"

For winter's rains and ruins are over,
And all the season of snows and sins;
The days dividing lover and lover,
The light that loses, the night that wins;
And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotton,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.

Verse ~ by Ann-Marie Imbornoni via ~ Poetry for Spring

Homemade Marinara Sauce via ~ Dom DeLuise

Happy Sunday to everyone!  I thought I would share a great and easy recipe for Marinara sauce with an added bonus of Italian Sausage.  Not your most fat free recipe (maybe without the Italian Sausage) but delicious and very filling.

Do you remember him now?

I purchased Dom Deluise's Eat This Too cookbook at least 10 years ago or better.  I am wondering if some of you even remember who he is.  A comedian, who starred with Carol Burnett, Bob Newhart and a very young John Davidson just to name a few.  Anyway his cookbook has so many wonderful Italian dishes and desserts too.

I thought you might like to try his homemade Marinara Sauce but with a twist...I added 1 1/2 pounds of Italian Sausage (1/2 pound hot and spicy and 1 pound mild)

Recipe:

4~ Tablespoons Oil Oil
5~ Garlic Cloves, minced
1~ small onion, chopped
8~ fresh basil leaves, chopped
2~ tablespoons chopped parsley
1~ 6-oz can tomato paste
2~ 28-oz cans tomatoes (I used crushed)
1/2~ teaspoon oregano
      pepper to taste

Onion and garlic

Sauteing olive oil, onion, garlic

Browning Sausage

End results!!

Pour olive oil in a large saucepan, and saute garlic and onion until translucent.  Add basil, parsley, tomato paste, tomatoes and oregano.  Simmer for 20 minutes, then add pepper to taste.  Serve on your choice of pasta or any dish needing marinara sauce-chicken, fish, veal, beef, vegetables, lasagne.

Serves 4-6

***I browned and drained the 1-1/2 pounds of Italian sausage and mixed it into the marinara sauce.  I like to let my sauces simmer all day but even if you choose
cook it for 20 minutes it is delicious!  I hope you will try this recipe...it is my go to recipe if I want just a quick marinara sauce without meat.

Bon Appetite!

A Spring Surprise

Today I received a "spring package" from a very dear friend who lives in Holland, Marijke. She is the author of the blog Waar Nostalgie en Romantiek elkaar ontmoeten (Where nostalgia and romance meet) and she also makes some of the most beautiful animals and dolls I have ever seen.  You can visit her (HERE).  She was so kind to send me this package of "goodies" to use in my sewing just because.  The laces, ribbons, and buttons are simply gorgeous and I feel humbled that she took the time to do this as she is very busy right now with a book she is writing and the birth of her first grandchild, a little girl.  (I'm so excited for her...those of us who have been through this know how exciting it is when your first grandchild is born).  I wanted to take this opportunity to thank her for her thoughtfulness and the friendship we share, it means so much to me.  So, thank you Marijke for being my friend.  We would have never met had it not been for blogging.  I feel so honored to call her my friend.

Beautiful Antique lace, ribbon, buttons 

Another view

This is some new fabric that I will be using to make up some new items for my shop...I love the colors.

Anna Griffin 100% cotton fabric

And these gorgeous silk sari strips will be used in the items as well.  Are you curious?  HA

Gorgeous silk sari ribbon 

Over the next few days I will be busy with sewing and I will be finishing up my spring cleaning.  The carpets will be cleaned tomorrow and then I can relax and enjoy the nice warm spring temperatures that spring brought us early.  After all, who wants to spend days like these indoors...not me!  What will you be doing this weekend?