An Overdose of Corgi Cuteness!

Enjoy your weekend and take lots of naps!

Crazy Stupid Love

About once a month, I get together with two or three friends for a movie date. Last night we saw Crazy Stupid Love starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling (wow!), Julianne Moore and Emma Stone.  It had lots of unexpected twists  and was so funny.  Great casts of stars too.  Josh Groban even had a cameo appearance.  I think he should probably stick to his "day job".

I believe Emma Stone is also in the movie, The Help, which starts next week.  The previews look great.   Another great preview we saw was One Day starring Anne Hathaway.

I love going to the movies on Tuesdays.  I get a "senior ticket" for $7 and Tuesday's special popcorn for $2.  Of course, I take my own drink (sssh).

Lavender Body Butter

Today I received  the wonderful lavender body butter that I won in Michaele's giveaway from Sprout 'n' Wings blog.  I just have to tell you that it is heavenly!  The lavender fragrance is fantastic!

Thank you so much, Michaele, for this wonderful gift!  I can't wait to try some of your other products!

Beatrix Potter Desktop Calendar

This morning when I changed my desktop calendar, I could not believe it's August.  This year has flown by!  I enjoy using this calendar on my computer  and thought you might like it also. There are three different sizes to download. I use  the 1024 x 768 resolution  for my laptop.  Click on the following link:

http://www.peterrabbit.com/potters-world-downloads.asp.

Cold Oven Pound Cake

I've been using this pound cake recipe for many years.  It originally came from a lady who grew up on Tangier Island, a tiny island just off the coast of Virginia.   This sandcastle cake I baked  today is a gift for my young  neighbor who always helps with my corgi girls.

Cold Oven Pound Cake

Cream 2 sticks margarine or butter and 1/2 cup vegetable oil (Wesson) and 3 cups sugar gradually until grains disappear.  Add 1 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 cup milk, blend.  Add 4 eggs, one at a time, beating until dissolved; add 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 t. salt, 1 t. lemon and 1 t. vanilla or 2 t. vanilla.

Pour into a well greased (I use Bakers Joy spray with flour) tube pan; put in a cold oven.  Turn oven on 325 degrees and bake for 1 hour - raise temperature to 350 and bake 30 minutes longer.  Do Not open oven at all until cake is done (1 1/2 hours).

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

I spent yesterday morning at Lewis Ginter enjoying the flowers before it got too hot.  I especially wanted to see this twig structure built back in the spring by international artist, Patrick Dougherty.  I read that it took at least five tractor and trailer loads of twigs and saplings to construct it.  

This is a beautiful pale yellow marigold.  I  have never seen marigolds this color.

I love this view of the "tree house" in the Children's Garden.

By 11:00 the heat was unbearable so my visit was short but very enjoyable!

Sewing Room Facelift

It all started last Friday when I spotted these beautiful valances hanging at the windows at an estate sale.  I loved the soft colors and all the bugs and flowers.  They were obviously custom made, lined and looked like new.  They were $15 each and there were two. Perfect! I've wanted to replace the dark colored tab curtains in my sewing room for a long time.  I just hadn't found the right ready-made curtain or fabric that I really liked to make a change.  I couldn't begin to buy the fabric for $30 to make these.

That was the beginning.   I made a pin cushion in this ceramic shoe which happened to be the same color with very similar bugs on it. 

 I gathered all my buttons and filled these jars. 

Last I made this arrangement with vintage sewing notions.  Can you believe that Ric Rac ever costs 10 cents?

I think since I've brightened up my sewing area, I'll be ready to work on some projects I've been putting off for a while.