Le Love, Sweet Le Love

Yes, sweet le love for Le Creuset!



This little beauty is mine, all mine!



I have wanted one of these braisers for the longest time. I saved up for it & although I experienced a few seconds of panic right before I clicked on the "process order button," I can honestly say that all panic has left me. I love it...it's like my little piece of cooking heaven. It cooks beautifully & cleans beautifully.

What more can a chef wannabe ask for?

Back to School Tablescape

Since our first day of school begins tomorrow, I decided to put together a little tablescape in honor of it.



It has been a beautiful summer, we've done so much & I've gotten so much done as well. But sadly, in my eyes, summer is now over.



I've had the placements for many years. The apple dishes are from Christmas Tree Shop. Green plates are Pfaltzgraff. Yellow dinner plates from the grocery store. Napkins from Pier 1. Flatware is Cambrige found at Home Goods. Glasses from Target.



I found the bus shaped chalk board at Joanns. The bag came from Dollar Tree.


Hey...wait a minute! Aren't I missing an apple from the above photo? I thought I had three.


This is what I found in the kitchen. Sheesh, stealing apples from the tablescape! My goodness, my children are sneaky! :D



I'll be linking this up at Susan's blog, Between Naps on the Porch, for her fabulous Tablescape Thursday. Also, I'm linking to Sherry's Open House Thursday, although Ann of On Sutton Place is graciously hosting this week. Have I confused you? :D





Thanks so much for visiting & for all the kind comments...you are the best!

Excuse Me, Mr. Parsley Lover

Recently, with a pot of homemade sauce simmering away on the stove, I set out to make meatballs.

I love summer because I am able to grow my own Italian flat leaf parsley & just hop out my back door for fresh parsley whenever I wish.

On this particular day, as I grabbed a handful of the herb, I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw this:



I am no bug lover so upon closer examination (yet with one foot ready to run should he attack me) it appears that this fellow enjoys eating parsley. He has eaten all the leaves off that stem.



Honestly now. Do all caterpillars eat parsley or have I discovered the only one who finds a feast in Italian parsley? I've been checking for him for several days now & he is still hanging out on that same spot of parsley. Weird.

Since he obviously loves parsley, of the Italian flat leaf variety, perhaps I should name him Carmine? Carmine the Caterpillar, mio amico. Si?

Versatile Blogger Award

Jane and Leo at Cottage at the Crossroads have nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award. Thanks so much Jane & Leo!



Here are the rules associated with accepting this award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 10 recently discovered blogs.

Seven things about myself. Hmmm. I always hate this part because I can't really ever think of anything interesting to say.

1. I love to watch Christmas movies in the summertime.

2. I have 2 older sisters & 1 older brother. I was "the baby" & spoiled rotten!

3. My husband & I are 2 days apart. We were born at the same hospital. In those days, they actually kept mothers in the hospital a bit, so I'm sure we met as newborns! lol

4. I was a cheerleader in high school.

5. I put peanut butter on my pancakes.

6. I have met celebrity chefs Sara Moulton, Giada DeLaurentiis & Paula Deen.

7. I love 80s music & have Sirius radio for my car just so I can listen to the 80s station.

Phew! That was rough. See, I told you, I'm just not that interesting.

Thank you again to Cottage at the Crossroads. Have a pleasant weekend. (Ugh! Back to school starting for us next week.)

The Great Pillow Pile Up

I've got a little ranting to do today, so I hope you will bear with me.

Why, I ask again, WHY do I even bother to put pillows on the couch?

Everytime I walk in the living room, I find this:



I have spent the last 2 months picking pillows up off the floor!

And...if they're not thrown all over the floor, I walk in to find this:



Ahhh yes, the great pillow pile up!

I can only guess that this is obviously done by some poor person who knows that mother is getting angry picking pillows up off the floor. This is obviously the work of someone who thinks that piling them up semi-neatly, will make me less angry. Or perhaps, just perhaps, this person has actually tripped over the pillows strewn about the floor & decided to pile them up out of the way to avoid injury.

I don't know the answer to this aggravating dilemma. I don't know if I've got the heart or energy left to find out the answer.

Please, for my sanity, just tell me...do you have pillows on your couch? Do the pillows sit there, all perky & pretty, or do you find them thrown all over the floor? I will listen to any sage advice you may want to provide.

Thank you for your time.

Beadboard ala Blogland

I find one BIG problem with blogging. There are so many wonderful & creative ideas out there, it's hard not to copy all of them.

This idea, however, is one I've wanted to copy for some time....my family room entertainment center. It always gives me stress.

1. I think it's just enormous.
2. I am constantly struggling to prettily arrange the shelves.
3. I don't completely hate the piece, so I keep it around. Crazy?

I always thought the dull wood background was a huge source of my struggle. Nothing ever shows up against it.

Enter blogland. Enter beadboard. Enter the idea that has been done thousands of times.

My hubby assisted with this project & honestly, he was shaking his head & rolling his eyes the entire time.

Once it was completed, what did my wondering ears hear? He actually said, "I like it. It looks better." Hmmmm.





Score one for blogland!

Linking to Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch:

A Flower Mosaic

Just thought I would share a collage of some of the pretty flowers that have bloomed in our yard this summer.



Everything has really flourished this year, especially my hydrangeas. I have never had so many blooms on that bush in all the 11 years I've owned it.

Today, my daughter & I are going to spend the day shopping. Just we two girls. We're both looking forward to it. I can't help but wonder how many more years before she no longer looks forward to shopping with her mother.

You know what?

I don't want to even think about it. I'll just cherish the moment now.

A pleasant weekend to all..and if you are in the path of Hurricane Irene...I pray that you will be safe.