YUM...YUM...

We spent the morning making our strawberry jam. Freckles cut the strawberries and helped mashing them down as I did all the stirring, which seemed like forever since we did two batches. I think after the many years I have been canning the hardest part would have to be in the stirring over the hot boiling lava fruit. Nah, it's not reallly that bad...I guess you can say it is my least favorite part of the whole process.
 Yet, so well worth it!

The magical part of canning is in the end as your jars are cooling off...you anticipate each lid to POP! Once you hear that...You can breath, knowing you did it all right! After that we put our cute little fabric squares and tags on them...As a blogger friend mentioned to me they will surely look like prize winning jam...I agree..They are so cute, they belong in a Faire! LOL!
They really are quite charming with the fabric on them.
 Freckles is looking forward to her
 peanut butter & jelly sandwich for lunch tomorrow!
 I think I just might have me one too!!!
I know I have said this before, but if you have never tried your hand at canning...You should...It is fun and rewarding.You will never go back to store bought jam again if you tasted home made!
Have a lovely day!!!
Linking to:
A Bowl Full Of Lemons
Ruby Tuesday
It's A Very Cherry World
Reasons To Skip Housework

Vintage Meringue Cookies....

I got out my vintage Betty Crocker Cooky Cookbook over the weekend to try my hand at some of the old recipes inside! And so glad I did! I made a meringue cookie recipe that instantly reminded me of my childhood days when I took the first nibble. My Gramma would make these. It's funny how a taste or a smell or even an item will bring you instantly back to a time. For me it reminded me of  some of the visits with my Grandparents...One specific memory was a Summer spent with them. Gramma and Grampa were in the kitchen baking cookies as they sang me a Latvian song called
Little Monkey.
nedaudz maz mērkaķis ooh ooh ooh
 which meant Little, Little Monkey, ooh ooh ooh!
It is one of my favorite memories from childhood. Which i will always hold dear.
 I should get her to sing it to me or write it down before she forgets the words.

I used my vintage enamelware double boiler I found at a yard sale a couple years back with my mom.
It does a great job for just a couple bucks!

Meringue Cookies
3 eggs
1 Cup sugar
1/4 tsp.salt 1 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Blend egg, sugar, salt and vanilla in top of double boiler. Place over boiling water; beat with rotary beater until mixture stands in stiff peaks, scraping bottom and sides of pan occasionally with rubber scraper. ( meringue will become lumpy if you don't scrape)  Drop heaping teaspoonfuls of dough on 2 lightly greased baking sheets...Place cookies on sheet immediately; bake one sheet at a time. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from sheet immediately. Makes about 3 1/2 doz. cookies.
Enjoy!!!

 
Thanks for popping in and sharing with me my childhood memory.
 Do you have any memories that remind you of something when you make food?
Have a great week!!!
Linking To:
It's A Very Cherry World
Ruby Tuesday
Happy Homemaker Monday

Mug Shots....

I love mugs!
Every morning I use a different mug for my tea, coffee or cocoa.
Today I am sharing my mug shots....The ones I use during the week and which are my faves of course!

 
Hearts, Cherries, Polka Dots.......

Funky Floral, Strawberries and a Rooster!
And of course my Cookies Mug pictured in the first photo.
A mug for every day...

Linking to:
It's A Very Cherry World!
Ruby Tuesday
Table Top Tuesday
Tuesday Tea For Two

Cheerful Winter Finds......

I spent the whole week trying to catch up on housework and laundry. Finally got the chance to take a few pics. of the little treasures I found while thrifting with my Mom and Gramma. I put together a simple table display in the kitchen nook... Lemons from my moms tree under a glass cloche with gingham ribbon sitting sweetly on my favorite find...A darling vintage table cloth ...red with daisies and roses. I got it for $3.00. First I soaked in in cold water and lemon then gently hand washed it. There are a few spots that can't get out...But doesn't really matter for the price I got it for.

Another shop we went through, I found these two sisters...It reminds me of me and my Sister, Shawny. She has blond hair and I am a brunette. They were just $2.00. I couldn't resist their sisterly love!

Lastly I found a couple old children's books. I am a hobby children's book collector. Our collection is slowly growing... My daughter really enjoys the old stories and graphics from older books. Someday I will have them for my Grand Children...Lord willing. This last week I have been reading the tales from Little Prudy's Story Book before she slumbers down for her long Winter's nap. It is sweet thus far!

 
It's almost Friday... Back to work finishing up my daily chores, a brisk walk then a scrumptious dinner of BBQ Spare Ribs and homemade sweet potato fries...YUM! Wishing you all a happy day!

A Funny Float, A Fruitful Pitcher & A Springtime Music Box....

My daughter drew this picture to enter in The American Girl magazine for their float contest. She came up with a funny colorful float...A rainbow colored owl with her pulling the float along in a parade the sky is filled with balloons and confetti.Too cute for words. She hopes they will like it and publish it in the next magazine. I think it is quite a whimsical Festive piece. By the way...The owlets we watch from the live cams are now hatching from their eggs...
It is so fun to see.

This was a find from Thrifting...It had a little chip, but I loved it anyway. The fruit is colorful and I adore the crazing in the piece.... For now it sits in my kitchen on a shelf. It was only $1.00!!!
 I am open for ideas on what to do with it. I thought perhaps a vase for flowers.

 

This cute find made me smile. It is simple, sweet and cheery on a Winter day.
 It gets me in the mood for Spring!!! I found this when we were in Santa Maria this Summer for .75 cents.
It plays music even.
Love Blooms where it is planted.
Have a wonderful day!!!
I am linking to:
 Rednesday
&
Ruby Tuesday

Little Glimmers Of Red....

I took these pics. from a recent antique shop spree. We only window shopped, yet it was fun...I love window shopping, especially if I can take a picture of it. The sweet plaque above screamed sweet to me. A little Hummel style farm girl with chickies...too cute.
The stuffed chenille pups are so soft and darling may I add,
it gave me a little smile.

I am a sucker for old flour, sugar tins...
this one is cheerfully cherry!

Another pup...this one is leather...He is so cute,
 I bet he would just love for someone to take him for a walk.

 
And hearts of course...
 I love hearts!

This little embroidered towel made
 me only think of my Mr. Darling.
I love my man!

True words from the above picture...
Let your HEART be glad this day!!!
*******
P.S I won the give away from Sweet Bee Cottages Give away!!!
See what goodies I won!
 I am so excited!!!
 Look at the sweet REDS!!!
 Thanks Sweet Bee Cottage!!!!

I started another blog....For my journey through wellness...
If you are interested in reading my long overdue
 journey to losing weight and getting well please visit
The Ugly Duckling
*******
I'm linking up with:
Ruby Tuesday
Rednesday