Pies, Politics, & Penmanship

Hello, dear friends.  I hope that you are having a good week.  Ours has been bitterly cold, but warmer temps are expected today.  We got some snow over the weekend but not enough for a whine-fest. 
The Mister took a 4-day weekend. We stayed in, baked some one-point mini muffins and whipped up a pot of 0-point chili which was delish.  I plan on doing a post in the future about my WW journey and progress.  

Prepare to be bored to tears.


If it's Wednesday, it's time for Wednesday Medley.  Terri writes the soul-searching questions, and brave bloggers answer them.     


National Pie Day is celebrated annually on January 23rd.  (Not to be confused with March 14 which is π Day).

1.  Okay, 'fess up.  Tell us your top three favorite pies, please.  Will you have some pie today?

If I could find a low-point pie, I would.  
Sadly, I don't think that I will be successful.

Taste of Home

When I was growing up, there was a lady that would come to our door and sell fresh raspberries.  My parents always bought some, and my Mom would bake a pie.   This is the only thing I remember her ever baking in her whole life.

My Mom hit it out of the ballpark with her raspberry pie.  She served it piping hot with a big ol' scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.  The first bite practically brought tears to my eyes.

Here's the Recipe for the above-pictured pie.

Breyers

I'm a sucker for a pecan pie, and if you throw a little bourbon in the batter, I start to drool.  The Recipe can be found here.

Betty Crocker

Last but certainly not least, the above photo is of a piece of German chocolate pie.  I've never had it before, but I have a feeling that I would love it.  The Recipe can be found here.

Note to self:  when I get too skinny from WW - learn how to bake.

2.  While we are talking about food... are you a picky eater or are you ready to try any new food?  What is the worst thing that you have ever eaten?

I am not a picky eater.  
Especially not these days.  

The worst thing I have ever eaten was made by my Mister.  
It was blood sausage. 

I still have nightmares about that bite.
Note to self: cut back on the dramatics.

  

3.  Baking could be considered an art as could cooking.  
How do you define art?

4.  Tell us a really stupid joke that made you laugh, please.

I would, but all of the jokes I have heard lately are political. 

5.  January 23rd is also National Handwriting Day.  Do you have nice handwriting?  Did cursive writing come naturally or did you practice in those double-lined practice books until your fingers hurt?

I do have nice handwriting, and I can thank the nuns for that.
I was a scholar in both Spelling and Penmanship.  As a matter of fact, they were the only subjects in which I excelled.

Pardon the bragging.

6.  Tell us something random about your week. 

I'm listening/reading two very good books. 

Amazon

Great thriller!

Amazon

Beautifully written and lovely story.


What's the worst thing that you ever tasted?

Until next time...

rover.com

Bedroom Update & Designing Women

Hello, dear friends.  I hope that you are having a lovely weekend.  We went to see On The Basis of Sex yesterday and really enjoyed it. The story of Ruth Bader Ginsberg's life is an interesting one.  Hottie Armie Hammer provided the eye candy for the film.

I have been participating in a battle of wills with our resident diva, Chili.  It seems as though I am adding an accessory to her wardrobe every day in an effort to keep her from getting at her back wound.  Every time I feel that I have found the perfect protective armor, she manages to get around it and starts scratching.  I swear she is double jointed.  She must have inherited it from me.

Enough about me.  

I'm even boring myself with my Chili stories.

*****

Say hello to the ladies at the helm of K+S Design.  Kathleen (l) and Suzanne have been in the design biz for 15 years.  They are based out of Scituate, Mass.

I met Kathleen about six months ago at Buttonwood's Supper With The Authors.  We hit it off right away and meet monthly with a few other ladies for dinner. 

I decided last Fall that our bedroom needed a facelift.  I didn't want to make major changes because I love the wall color.  New bedding and artwork were in order.  

I asked Kathleen and Suzanne over to look at the project a few months ago.  They suggested to stick with the blue and white and add a pop of another color. 

So on Thursday, Kathleen and Suzanne came over with their roller bags overflowing with colorful swatches.  They asked me lots of questions to get an idea of what I liked and what I didn't.

The thing that I like about them is that they actually listen.  One other thing - Kathleen and Suzanne never try to push me into something I don't want just because it is the latest thing.

Next stop:  the Boston Design Center.

You'll never guess who I ran into!  My first husband.  This guy never gives up.  Does anyone know the stalking laws here in Massachusetts?   

Kathleen filling out the paperwork for checking out more swatches.

I fell in love with these gorgeous pillows.

This is a fabric with cut-out words.

Perhaps a blogger duvet?

How cute is this darling lamp?

We stopped into a lot of the showrooms.  We spent the most time in Schumacher.  The above swatches are strong contenders. I love the added color of celery green.

The lovely lady in the middle is Monique, who works for Schumacher.  Kathleen and Suzanne notified her ahead of time with my specs and photos of the bedroom.  Monique had a whole table laid out with suggested swatches.  She really knows her stuff. 

Did you know that the public can walk around the Design Center?  At one time, you had to have a designer's card.  You can't check anything out or order anything without a designer, but you are free to browse.

There is an area in the Design Center that is called the Market Stalls where antique dealers sell their goods.  The public is invited to buy things right off the floor.  The only card needed is a credit card.

I wish that I had a spot for this gorgeous chest.

My Sista has an affinity for round tables.  
She would probably go bananas over this one.

What??  
No portraits of an overactive Goldendoodle or a Million Dollar Malti-Mutt?

There's something about old books that I absolutely love.

This huge armoire had actual book bindings glued to the front of it.

As we were on our way out, I spotted this darling photo.

The lady in the middle is the spitting image of me in my dreams.  If I had a back like that, I would walk backward for the rest of my life.

It was a delightful day with the designing women of K+S Design.  Next step?  Kathleen and Suzanne come back to the house with prospective design plans.

I'm counting the minutes.

Until next time...

RIP
sweet
Fenway

Linking up with:
Silver Pennies Sundays
Sunday Features
Sundays at Home
Block Party
Amaze Me Monday
Mix It Up Monday
Inspiration Monday
Hello Monday
Inspire Me Monday

Doin' Nuttin', Fig Newtons, & First Dates

Photo by Amy Reed on Unsplash

Hello, dear friends.  I hope that you are enjoying your week.  It looks like our first snowfall of the season is on its way to Massachusetts this weekend.

Yesterday, I met my good friend Jill for a lovely lunch in Plymouth.  Yeah, that Plymouth - the one with the Rock.  It was too darn cold to venture out for a sightseeing trip.

Today, I am linking up with my friend Terri for Wednesday Medley. She writes the questions and bloggers answer them.

Wednesday, January 16th is National Do Nothing Day.  National Do Nothing Day was proposed in 1972 by columnist Harold Pullman Coffin.  This day has been observed annually since 1973.  Of course, the way to celebrate is to do nothing.

1. To commemorate Do Nothing Day in SOME way, tell us something about your life (or the life of someone close to you) in 1973.

In 1973, I was a chunky teenager rocking a burnt tangerine colored shag compliments of Sun-In. 

Most weekends were taken up with waiting for the phone to ring from a prospective suitor.

In other words, most weekends I did nothing.

Look at that shag - are you surprised?

2.  Now that we're thinking back, please tell us what your favorite pastime was as a child.

It hasn't changed much.  

3.  What is the best way to cheer you up on a bad day?

Besides spending time with our girls, a fancy lunch and an uplifting movie is the perfect recipe for boosting my spirits on a cold, grey Winter's day.

4. How old were you when you first started dating?  

Do you remember your first date?

I was about 14 when I had my first date with a lucky young man named John.  Don't worry ladies, it was not Dirty John.

We went to the movie They Shoot Horses, Don't They?.

After that date, I experienced a bit of a dry spell.

It lasted for about ten years.

Remember the shag?

5.  Today is National Fig Newton Day.  

Do you like figs/Fig Newtons?

These days, my life revolves around WW points.  

If I had the choice between a couple of Fig Newtons for 5 points

or

a glass of wine, 

I would choose the vino.

6.  Tell us something random about your week.

It wouldn't be a fun week without a Vet appointment.  

I crossed that one off the list on Monday.

Amazon

This week holds a root touch up, Supper With the Authors, a trip to the Design Center, and catching up on my new book.

Until next time...

Photo by Josh Bean on Unsplash