Outdoor Wednesday - Gettysburg, PA

It's time for Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. Be sure and visit her to see all the wonderful posts!


As a graduation trip, my younger daughter asked that we go to one of our favorite places, Gettysburg. Our family of four went, Hubby, Me, Older daughter home from college and not yet working at her museum internship and my younger daughter, The Graduate. Two of younger daughter's graduate friends also came with us. The weather was just perfect and we all had a wonderful time and lots of great food.

Here is the view of the new Visitor's Center from the tower on top of Culp's Hill.


Here is a view from the tower of the Trostle Farm. I love PA barns!


The Devil's Den - Can you imagine having to climb these rocks while muskets and cannons were firing??? AND it's July and you're wearing wool???!!!


The view of The Valley of Death from the top of Little Round Top.


A NY Monument on Little Round Top


More views of the gorgeous countryside




The Pennsylvania Monument


That's the end of my tour! Be sure an drop by Susan's for more Outdoor Wednesday! :D Jewel

A Floral Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis Monday is sponsored by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH . Make sure to visit her blog and see all the wonderful transformations!



For my Metamorphosis, I am showing something that I really can't take the credit for - my flowers. I picked "put them in the ground and stand back flowers", as opposed to "need lots of watering, fertilizing and care" flowers. SO... I just put them in the ground back in April.



And here they are in June... better stand back a bit!!!!




I hesitate to think what those petunias would look like if I watered or fertilized!!!!

Now go visit Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH for more transformations. :D Jewel

Tea Time Tuesday 6/22/09

For Tea Time Tuesday, hosted by Barb at Grits and Glamour, I am sharing pictures of some of my favorite tea pots.



This is a Victorian Breakfast set my mother found in an antique store. I especially love the toast holder.



Here is a chintz teapot that I found in a little store for a good price. I have 2 matching cups and saucers, as you can see.


Here is a coffee and tea set that I got several years ago from Ross-Simons catalogue. It came with 6 cups and saucers.



Here is the same set on a wicker tea cart we got in an antique store.


One day, I got a Tea Time magazine in the mail and the cover looked familiar ....





That is my Cover Girl teapot!

Check out the other Tea Time Tuesday posts at Barb's! :D Jewel

Foodie Friday - Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs

Thank you Gollum for hosting Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum!


For this Foodie Friday, I am sharing another family favorite. Click on the name for the recipe. Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs is a great main dish to cook out or cook in. It works great on the grill, or a cast iron grill pan, or even a George Foreman electric grill.

The cut of chicken is not important. Here is a picture where I used chicken breast tenders. As you can see, I served it with couscous and lightly sauteed fresh green beans. A great meal for summer - or any time!



Be sure to go to Designs by Gollum to check out the other great Foodie posts! :D Jewel

Tablescape Thursday Graduation!

It's Tablescape Thursday sponsored by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH! I am featuring my younger daughter's graduation from High School last Saturday!


Be sure and visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch by clicking the picture below. There are always lots of great tables to ooh and ahh over!!!


My daughter's graduation was Saturday Morning at 9:00. For lunch after the ceremony, we had a cook-out at our house for her and several of her friends and their families,39 people in all.

Here is my table.


I hung with some graduation decorations on my golden ornament tree. I used her Graduation cords, confetti and crystal graduation symbols around the base.

Everyone brought what they wanted to cook out - burgers, hot dogs, chicken, veggie dogs. Every family brought some side dishes and beverages and a great time was had by all!!!!

For Dessert, Cakes and Cupcakes.







One of my friends made this from Martha Stewart - isn't it incredible?



The next day my family along with 2 friends took a trip to Gettysburg, PA. This was my graduating daughter's choice. Our whole family loves Gettysburg!

Happy Tablescape Thursday! :D Jewel

Foodie Friday - Tortellini Two Ways

For Foodie Friday I am sharing Two Tortellini Recipes!
Thank you Gollum for hosting Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum!


Both of these dishes are easy, inexpensive and fast. Neither are my recipes. I found them on Recipezaar, reviewed them and photographed them. Click on the links below for the recipes.

The First Recipe is Mikey's Cheese Tortellini With Roasted Red Pepper Sauce



This sauce could be used with any any pasta or chicken. It is a good vegetarian dish- actually it is just good!

The next recipe is Westphalian Tortellini.



I have used chopped up deli ham or leftover Easter ham in this and it was good either way. Read my review about the amount of peas.

Well, there you have it Tortellini Two Ways! Happy Foodie Friday! Be sure and visit Gollum for more wonderful Foodie posts! :D Jewel

My daughter's 21st Birthday

For this Tablescape Thursday sponsored by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH, I am featuring my older daughter's 21st birthday from last week.


She was born at 12:01 AM, so we had to stay up with her and have some champagne! We picked this because pink is one of her favorite colors and the footprint reminded me of a birth certificate!





Then last Friday, she had 14 friends come from all over for a party. we had a cake for the occasion. Notice the gardenias from my yard!





A wonderful time was had by all on both occasions!

Next Week - Graduation tablescape! :D Jewel

Outdoor Wednesday/Graduation Gifts

Hi Everyone! Sorry I have been absent lately, but things are super busy here!

This is a bit of a stretch, but I am flying our Congratulations Graduate Flag for Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. Be sure and visit her to see all the wonderful posts!


My younger daughter is graduating from High School Saturday and will be attending the same college her big sister attends next year. DH & I will be empty-nesters.




She had so many friends that I wanted to remember, but didn't have lots of cash to spend. So I came up with the idea to make a sewing kit for the girls. I bought 1/2 yard of 2 different fabrics and I had some left over ribbons. I bought these little sewing kits for $1.00 each at Dollar General and Family Dollar. I wiped out my area of these. I ended up making 14 kits for $25.00.

Here they are



Opened up





They can also use the covering as a jewelry roll.

I made a little booklet with instructions for sewing on buttons (shank and flat) and hemming. I used a 3 hole punch and tied them with ribbon.

I was pleased with how they turned out! :D Jewel