Character and Charm

Driving in a new town the other day, this lovely home caught my eye! I would love to take a peek at that "tower room". I envision a wonderful little reading room with a window seat and lots of pillows! That's where you'd find me in the afternoon, curled up with a cup of chai and a good book!

This house was next door to the home above. I imagine it was the same builder, they were almost identical.

I love this stone! Can't you just picture the inside of this house .......wide plank wood floors everywhere, a fireplace in the kitchen.

You all know how I love a Cape Cod! This one just says "SWEET " to me. I'd put a little white picket fence in the front yard and window boxes under all the windows to complete the picture.

On a totally unrelated note....  Friends I have not abandoned you, I am having major computer problems and am unable to view almost all your blogs let alone post a comment. I am missing so much and will have major reading to do when the husband gets a chance to address this problem!

So, so frustrating!!! I have a major love/hate relationship with this computer! I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you and can only see a tiny portion of your posts in Google Reader. I think I need to call in the Geek Squad!

some days.......

I take a picture of something and immediately I know what I want to write about. Other times I just come up empty handed, and that pretty much sums up how I've felt in the last two weeks. So enjoy the pictures and come up with your own captions, cause I've got nothin! Just a funk (I hope) but I continue to be amazed and inspired by each and every one of your blogs that I read every day! How does everyone do it, constantly thinking up new and creative things.....EVERY DAY??? Maybe my brain just isn't wired like that.

Enjoy your weekend! The end of October already!! Wow, where did it go??

A Day in PA

this was my morning

driving on a scenic byway, soaking up the countryside

all the beauty forcing me to slow down and appreciate

slowest moving John Deere on earth........stuck behind him for miles

reminding myself it's not how fast I get there, it's about the journey

scary vulture

met the driver of this buggy at the grocery store

reflecting on how different our lives are

imagine the history in this house

enjoy your day

find the beauty

Hidden Treasures

Funny how I can live in the same town for 18 years and drive down this street numerous times and miss this little gem!!!! I just discovered this the other day and when I saw it I think I actually squealed.

 ( husband hates when I do this while he's driving............. fun-sucker!)

 I made him drive around the block twice just so I could get a picture of the front and side of the house.

Well done people in #301, I love it! So cute!! And you all know I have a thing for little cottages!!

Happy Weekend All! I'm off to find more hidden gems!

My Favorite Kind of Night!

Rain falling, all sports cancelled, everyone home but doing their own thing in different parts of the house, warm cookies, fresh laundry, cup of tea, reading in my favorite chair!!

It's a good night!

Relaxed, Quiet, Peaceful

Thank you Mother Nature!!

We all needed a night like this!

Go-to-Meal # 2

I am a huge fan of the crock pot! This meal is used frequently in my monthly rotation especially during the fall and winter months because it is made in the crock pot and is super easy with very little prep involved! The only thing you really need to make is the "secret" ingredient that makes this sandwich so tasty.....celery seed dressing. I know, sounds strange but drizzle a bit of this on the hot beef and you will understand!

Here's what you need to make Hot Sweet Beef Sandwich (I just made that name up)

Put a chunk of meat  in the crock pot, empty a packet of dry onion soup mix over the meat and add water to mostly cover the meat. Cook on low all day. Shred the beef and place on a hard roll with juices from crock pot and drizzle with celery seed dressing. Eat and enjoy! You can read about my original go-to meal  here.

 Celery Seed Dressing

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. dry mustard

1 1/2 tsp. celery seed

1/2 tsp. grated onion

Mix all of the above in a small bowl. Pour mixture into a blender with 1 cup oil and 1/2 cup vinegar. Process on low speed for a few minutes.

Speaking of good things.....

TEABERRY ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!

Absolutely one of the best things on earth, from a local shop that has been making ice cream since the 1950's!!!!! Hands down our favorite flavor!

Makes your lips all nice and shiny and is such a pretty color!

they could sell me anything......

Is it possible to be addicted to products? Of course it is! Then Sephora is like my own little crack house! I drove through monsoon rains yesterday with a girlfriend just to get more products. That's a sign of addiction right? The workers are all so pretty, with flawless makeup and perfectly coiffed hair. (so not like me)

They could convince me to buy anything........almost anything. I passed on the $120 face cream that smelled like dead fish! (nasty stuff) and the perfume that smells like cannabis. (yes, it really did)  Not sure that is the fragrance for me, didn't think it would be appropriate to show up at the PTO meeting, soccer games and church smelling like marijuana!

I just can't resist pretty colors .

And cool designs!

Just tell me it will cover the dark circles, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, make me look younger and rejuvenated and I'll hand you $80!

Just call me SUCKER!!!!