A restful weekend here in Annapolis, in no small part thanks to a crazy burned out electrical transformer that led to a blown out Verizon box that led to a service call to happen between 9am and 9pm that led to a mandatory day at home.  It is a wonder how we ever did anything without the internet…or Fios TV. Anyway, it did give me time to put together a St. Patrick Day mantel.  I have never attempted to capture the luck of the Irish in my decor, but like my Valentine’s mantel, I am quite pleased that the simplest additions really do have major impact.  Do you like the sparkly shamrock? I give the Princess full credit!

Some green depression, vintage postcards and a bunting of shamrock pennants gives homage to Old Saint Patrick.
A close-up of the gorgeous green of the glass.

Vintage St. Patrick postcards are known for their amusing nature and exuberant love of the perfect Irish lass! I love these examples of both.

My Hero also kept busy this weekend.  He was able to hang my darling new antique sampler…a post for another time. Thank goodness he had a reliable helper.  Someone has to chose the perfect nail!

I am partying with these lovely bloggers this week…why don’t you came too!

Show and Share.  Gods growing garden.   Metamorphosis    Made by you    The scoop.  Home of many blessings. . Art of homemaking.  Make it pretty.   Inspire me Tuesday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me monday.   Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Share it. Brag about it. Wow us Wednesday. Talk of the town. Moonlight and Mason jars.  Share your cup. Share your style.  Home and garden. Welcome home.  Thursday favorites. Waste not.  Coffee and conservation.             Create and celebrate. Vintage charm. Friday features. Home sweet home.      Friendship Friday. Feather nest Friday. Tada funtastic Friday. Grace at home.         Sweet inspiration    Morning cup of joe.  Home matters. Vintage chic.  Oh hey Friday.  Best of the weekend.  Create bake grow and gather Sunday at home  share it one more time  snickerdoodle  Simple Saturday  silver pennies  create with joy               inspiration Monday  digging it  let’s add sprinkles   Amaze me Monday  proverbs 31

 

 

Well, old man Winter seems to have returned, and he is quite blustery. This 100 year old house is creaking and moaning, but stands firm and strong, they just don’t build them the same these days.

This has been a good week and I have a lot to smile about…especially at the adorable “Lucky Cat” I am featuring this week. Check it out below!

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I am in a bit of a decorating quandary this week.  The calendar tells me to continue with cozy winter but the weather outside has made me long for Spring delights…so I chose to change nothing until there is a meeting of the minds… between Mother Nature and me. On the plus side, it does give me the opportunity to feature some more of my treasures from another land!

A lovely and well used antique rocking horse from Russia.  One of the few things I decided to buy before I saw the price tag…thankfully it didn’t require a second mortgage on the house.

A beautiful reminder of time spent in Japan.  Just looking at this wood block print brings back happy memories.

My antique tiger cabinet from Hong Kong.  I can’t decide, however, if the tigers are friendly or menacing.

Pottery is a lovely art form that allows you to touch and feel the hands of the artist.

The Princess enjoyed a visit with Grandparents this weekend…as evidenced by the cookie in her hand…and the smirk on her face.  Who could resist spoiling her?

show and Share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at my house. The scoop.                   Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis. Gods great garden. Home of many blessings. Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Share it. Brag about it. Wow us Wednesday talk of the town. Moonlight and Mason jars. Share your cup. Share your style.       Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday favorites  waste not.                              Coffee and conversation   Create and celebrate   Tada. Funtastic Friday                    Feather nest Friday. Friendship friday.  Grace at home.  Friday features.                    Home sweet home.  Vintage charm 

I think Mother Nature is a bit confused…70 degrees…in February…in Maryland. I’m not complaining…just bewildered, like the poor tree blossoms. One thing I am not confused about…the adorable heart cupcakes from Sugar and Spice and Family Life. How can I wait a year to make these? 

 Is the weather confused by you or is Old Man Winter still in residence? And more importantly…are you up for a game of Pooh Sticks?

 

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It started on Friday evening, a series of unfortunate events and news that threatened to dampen this long anticipated holiday weekend…to include a heartbreaking Navy basketball loss to Army and compounded by the announcement that a worldwide shortage of vanilla beans will jack the price of vanilla extract sky high.  It shouldn’t have been a surprise when my car didn’t start this morning…hello AAA tow truck…but it was the last straw. What is a gal to do to turn this weekend around?  Make the most decadent dessert possible of course! Let me give you the recipe…just in case you are in need of a pick me up…

Molten Mocha Cakes ( could it sound any richer?)

The usual cast of characters

1. 1 package semi-sweet baking chocolate or 1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2. 1 cup of butter…2 whole sticks

3. 2 cups powdered sugar

4. 1/2 cup instant coffee powder…any flavor

5. 5 Eggs

6. 4 Egg yolks…yes, you read that correctly

7. 3/4 cup flour

8. Garnishes of your choice

The Steps

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees

2. Butter 5 (1 cup) ramekins and place on cookie sheet

3. Microwave chocolate and butter for 2 minutes, stir well

4. Stir in sugar and coffee until well blended

5. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks

6. Stir in flour and stir well, pour into prepared cups

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the sides are firm but the centers are soft. Let stand 1-2 minutes.

8. Run a knife around edges and invert carefully onto a dessert plate

But wait…the best part hasn’t happened!

Garnish, grab a fork and watch the explosion of chocolate goodness…instant mood lifter!
Of course, all the Princess needs for a great afternoon is a warm day, a bit of water and a couple of branches…Pooh Sticks anyone?

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis. Gods great garden.  Home of many blessings.  Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Share it. Brag about it. Wow us Wednesday. Talk of the town. Moonlight and Mason jars.      Share your style. Welcome home. Share your cup. Home and garden.                  Thursday favorites waste not. Coffee and conversation. Friday features.                    Home sweet home. Feather nest Friday. Tada. Friendship Friday.  Funtastic Friday. Grace at home.  Morning cup of joe. Home matters. Sweet inspiration. Vintage chic. Oh hey Friday. Best of the weekend.  Sunday at home. Share it one more time. Snickerdoodle Simple Saturday. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. Digging it. Let’s add sprinkles. Amaze me. Proverbs 31

I hope everyone had a wonderful and loving Valentine’s Day.  Enjoy these awesome features!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

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Kelly at Under a Texas Sky – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

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“We were given: Two hands to hold.

Two legs to walk. Two eyes to see.

Two ears to listen.

But why only one heart?

Because the other was given to someone else. For us to find.” ~Unknown

Lucky me…my two favorite valentines!

Show and share. Inspire me Monday.  Tuesday at our house. The scoop.                  Inspire me Tuesday   Make it pretty. Art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis. Gods great garden. Blessings. Tuesday with a twist. Talk of the Town. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Share it. Brag about it. Wow us Wednesday. Moonlight and Mason Jars. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday favorites waste not. Coffee and conversation.               Vintage charm. Friday features. Home sweet home. Feather nest Friday. Tada. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at home.  Morning cup of joe.                    Home matters. Sweet inspiration. Vintage chic. Oh hey Friday. Best of the weekend. Sunday at home. Share it one more time. Snickerdoodle Simple Saturday.                  Silver pennies   Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. Digging it  let’s add sprinkles. Amaze me. Proverbs 31

I am dreaming of a new kitchen…just dreaming at this point. I imagine beautiful countertops, a large center island and a real pantry. Right now I  am content with what I have and my dreams…but it does not hurt to put some images with those dreams. The French doors “just measuring up” used on her pantry…dreamy…and pinned!

Enjoy your weekend!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

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Dawn at LeroyLime – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

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Kelly at Under a Texas Sky – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

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I have never really decorated for Valentine’s Day. I really don’t like a lot of pastels and the idea of little naked cherubs all over my home kind of creeped me out. Then, I noticed all the cute decorating and party ideas all over blogland and something inside admitted that it looked…pretty cute. The challenge remained, however, how was I going to pull off this “love” decor with only what I already had on hand…a handful of vintage postcards and a few little vintage quilt hearts.  Then I remembered…the box of pink depression glass in the basement…never really used.  A few berry bowls and parfait glasses later I think it turned out very well!

Simple but pretty effective…

I just love how the enamelware candleholder and depression glass give the effect of valentines without venturing into “cutesy”.

I, and probably thousands more, totally stole this idea from Sadie Seasongoods. I mean who is brilliant enough to think of putting vintage valentines on a rug beater?

We are STILL waiting for snow…the Princess has stepped up her efforts with her performance of the snow dance.

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty   The art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis. Gods great garden. Wow us Wednesday. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Share it. Brag about it. Tuesday with a twist. Talk of the town. Moonlight and Mason jars   Waste not Wednesday. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden.       Welcome home. Thursday favorites. Simplify. Coffee and conversation                        best of the weekend    Sweet inspiration. Vintage charm. Friendship Friday             Home matters    Friday Features   Home sweet home.  Your inspired design. Tada.  Vintage chic.  Morning cup of joe.  Grace at home.  Oh hey Friday.  Snickerdoodle. Share it one more time     Simple Saturday.  Sunday at home. Feather nest Friday. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. Digging it. Let’s add sprinkles. Amaze me Monday. Proverbs 31

Happy Friday everyone! I love the weekend, I love the leisurely breakfasts of the weekend.  I can’t wait to try this heavenly breakfast pizza! Enjoy all the lovely features this week!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and Savvy – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively Homemade – Twitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLime – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

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