A BIT OF ROMANCE FROM ROMANTIC HOMES

It is COLD COLD COLD here.

What do you do on a cold day?

Well,

I decided to go through

some of my old magazines

and came across this one from

January/February of 2015,

Sadly, they are stopping publication

of the magazine.  

I have all of them from the first

issue forward.  

When I got rid of most of my old magazines

I just could not bear to part with them.

Romance is just kind of timeless,

isn't it?

Anyway--

February is all about Valentine's Day  but-

I don't think you have to wait for 

Valentine's Day to make this for someone special.

 Pink Pearl Lady Cake

HERE is a similar recipe.

The Baking Bible-Rose Beranbaum

Ben Fink-Photographer

I thought the cover was just lovely.

Got your cake mess cleaned up from
baking that heart cake above?
Good!  Now then
 you can see the

PINK HOUSE

owned by 

Malla Ruutiainen

It is softly sweet and livable.

You can find her on Pinterest by clicking on her name.

by-Jo-Anne Coletti

 Here's a little sneak peek at the Florida estate 

of a New York couple.

This home was designed by

Guillaume Gentet

By:Sarah Yoon/Mark Roskams/photographer

It looks like Florida, doesn't it?

You can find more 

PINK FLORIDA HOMES HERE!

Okay-Now-Doesn't the home of

Carolyn Westbrook

just make you dream of warm summer days?

Even though we are freezing our butts off here.

I found her on Facebook.

You can find it by clicking on her name above.

Prepare to  have your mouth hang open for a while.

And while your mouth is hanging open....

purse your lips a bit and 

BLOW HARD.

Then you can blow up balloons to put together

this beautiful garland

styled by  

Selina Lake

photography-Shirlie Kemp

So-There you have it.

A few things I love in the

2015 January/February Issue of

Romantic Homes.

Know what else I love?

You!

Thanks for following along here.

Here's how I am feeling about you this morning....

Lips still puckered up from the balloon blowing

are they?  Good!

Here's to you!

FAIRIES IN FEBRUARY~

As you know,

I believe in fairies...

I think they are some of

God's little angels...

although I couldn't find

that part in the Bible....

One morning~

we awoke to a world kissed by

Fairy Dust

~some of you may call it snow~

Looking out the window I saw this...

(the blue vertical line holds a

bird feeder at the end)

And this....

And this....

The Cherub-Before And After 

THE BIG SNOW

Do you see the cherub there...

surrounded by snow

and lit by sparkling lights?

He's way at the base

hidden in his little snow world.

The fairies will visit this 

sweet little place when

Spring comes to Green Bay.

I will sure miss this little playhouse

in all the seasons as we move.

It's a cold beauty right now but the 

Winter Fairies love it....

I see them flitting around

out there from time to time.

Yes. I. Do.

The other "fairy" that has been

visiting grandkids lately is the

Tooth Fairy.

Here is the one I have.....

He is a Mark Roberts fairy.

He's darling, isn't he?

He's the one that comes to visit

in the depths of night when you

lose a tooth....

IF YOU ARE GOOD.

Of course this is

NOT GOOD 

if you are over the age of 12

AND even worse 

if you have dentures!

Yes, indeedy!

Are you not so good?

Well- HERE is YOUR tooth fairy!

Makes you want to stay on the

Straight and Narrow,

doesn't it????

Have a fairy nice Sunday!!!!

NEVER FAIL CARAMELS ON A SNOWY DAY!

There's a storm brewing here today.

We have 3-5" of snow coming

this morning- 

downgraded from 6-7".

I love to putz in the kitchen

on days like this, don't you?

You are in for a treat today!!!

When I was a kid,

 my mother

often whipped up a batch 

of fudge from scratch

after the chores were done

on a snowy Pennsylvania night.

I make caramels instead.

As you can tell, I love to bake

and make candy.

I don't know how many 

caramel recipes I have tried

over the years.

Some of them called for

stirring for what seemed hours

and then...

they might or might not

"turn out".

These are quick!

Less than 10 minutes from

start to finish AND they

NEVER FAIL 

to set up properly.

Ready?

Get yourself a nice big 

microwave measuring cup.

Make sure it is microwave safe.

Everything that is measured out

is in 1/2 cup increments.

Melt 1/2 cup butter.

Remove from microwave.

Add 1/2 cup Karo syrup,

1/2 cup light brown sugar,

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup sweetened CONDENSED MILK

(not evaporated milk)

Stir until mixed and dissolved.

Microwave on high 3-1/2 minutes.

Stir down.

Microwave on high 3-1/2 more minutes.

Remove from mic.  Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts-if desired- I don't.

Stir until few air bubbles remain.

Pour into 8x8 buttered dish.

Refrigerate until set.

Cut into squares.

You can wrap these if they last long enough.

Ours never seem to make it to the

wrapped stage!

Serve these to your husband.

Make sure he eats twice as many

as you do.

Remember- the fatter he gets

the skinnier you look

standing next to him!;>)

Happy Wednesday!!!!

PICK YOUR FAVORITE TABLE- JANUARY RESULTS

Well, holy cow...

No- I don't really think cows are sacred--

it's just a Wisconsin saying.

Anyway-

I went to tally up the votes for tables

and thought my fingers would go numb

writing them all down.

You all REALLY LIKE this game!

So- without further chit-chat from me,

I will get right into it...

AND--remember you are 

ALL FAIR GAME

and I can beWICKED.

Hurt your feelings on purpose? Nope!

Trash you a little bit?  Yep!

Here were your choices:

#1-Woodland-Party Animals Invited

Let's just say there are a FEW party animals here.

Carol Slater had a hard time but finally picked #1.

Debra, Pam (doesn't eat squirrel--too bad for her),

Jeanie, Carol W.(#1 & # 6-CAN'T decide--so she's here--hahahahaha-hostess choice),

DJ-A NEWBIE--Wants to eat here and go to #6 for dessert....I will have to educate her before she plays again!

Carrie, Missy-complaining about wood placemats,

Bonnie-NO COMPLAINTS, Jane, 

Carla #1 & #4--She KNOWS better-I picked FOR her!

Su-Says 4 is her style but is sitting here? m'kay,

Connie, Sharon/Sugar, Cecilia (clean paint smock on)

Jenn (likes the rabbits-um...I might be missing something but do YOU see ANY rabbits?

TABLE #2 JANUARY BLUES- SPRING IS COMING

Hello Moontides, Theresa, MA, 

Suz-freely admits to being hungover,

Gert-says her hangover is flab over her belt,

Sally-will put ALL of her butt here (not sure what that means), Linda-alaCarte-bringing a flask but NOT sharing, Merle,

Marilyn (loves winter-something WRONG with that woman in my humble opinion), 

Barbara -Southern Baptist-doesn't drink (or smoke)-will have to separate her from Linda's flask & Jettie- DOES NOT eat wild game or pineapple upside down cake-

Thanks for the menu options, Jettie!
AND MELANIE---THAT I FORGOT
BUT AM ADDING!!!! 

#3-HELLO SNOWFLAKE

bj-- Wants a frozen margarita! LOL- She fooled everyone by not picking the black and white check table!  

Sandi- says bring on the drunks for singing after dinner, Kathy,
Sandie/Chatty, ADAM-thanks for playing, 

Karen/Happy One, Louise, Noreen,

Cheri-What the what? 1,7,3 or 4--she's HERE!

Kim-doesn't like snow-but says "when in Rome"(shhhh-she has no idea where she is)

DebbieDabble- #3 or  #4--you is a'sitting here!

Julie  says she will eat and then roam the tables,

& sweet Sheri!

#4 BLACK & WHITE ALL OVER

Linda/Ramblings, Dawn, Katie,

Gay-wants pignot (does she think she's on Housewives?),

Susie & V (here because of bj...hahaha-joke is on them),

bobbie-came back to check to see who else was sitting here....(in case she wanted to move?)

Carol-black/white/read all over joke--newspaper, BAD!

Nancy Notes & Nancy Wild Oak,

Karen/PomPom- Called me Queenie--she's got that right!

G Dazee-bringing biscuits-hope she's got a big oven cuz this is a full table.

Connie- wearing black & white to match the table.....

little cray-cray there as the kids say,

Debbie/Lakehouse-welcome back to blogland,

Terri, Denise, Cindy/Creations, 

Liz-also has a hangover-flab...shhhh...hey she said it--not me!,

Leena, Cindy/Cloches, Joyous Chaos,

Amy, Anonymous-you know who you are!
,Susan K, Penny,

Louca por porcelina, Jenny,

& Joan-going to copy the table-

she must have a really BIG copy machine!!

#5-JUST SO SIMPLE & SWEET

Lisa- whining about the chairs already, KimMalk-likes to whisper and thinks she can with that centerpiece as a cover,

Rita-the accountant that mixed up 5 & 6 so had to delete her first post, 

Cathy/1934 Ctg-Wants to move to #6 after she has "had a few"---still hung over maybe?

#6-WOOD YOU LIKE TO SIT HERE?

Karen Ann- talking about her TAVERN MULE-

I assumed she was talking about one of her horse-type animals until she gave a recipe that included ginger brandy...so there you go...,

Willie-hopes there is game on the menu and wonders "what's a drunk"?  hmmmm,

Jack & Karen (my sweet travelers that RV it all over the country), Fran, Linda & 

Linda-Itsy/Bitsy,  Kitty (not a REAL kitty), Saimi, and our featured guest

UNKNOWN!

Last but not least--

#7-OH DEAR DEER, DEAR

Well, lucky you-Ron The Cocktail King

is sitting here-along with- 

Diane-it's her birthday and she wanted 

everyone to bring her presents but then decided

SHE would bring everyone else presents!

Kris, Krishna, Jan, Debby Ray, Doris,

Lorrie-who is afraid of critters but apparently likes deer, 

Judy with the red dress, red dress red dress on,

Fabby- who has more fabulous dishes than

any of us could ever imagine,

& Sylvia- feeling like Alice In Wonderland

(I think she needs to quit that "stuff" she is using),

Now- I am sure I missed someone-

I always do, you know.

If I did-let me know so that I can place 

you and make fun of you, too.

If you don't like your tablemates,

too bad--you are stuck with them!

Happy Day Friends.

Let's Feast!

ANNA IRELAND BUILDS A SHELF

If you have 2-1/2 minutes

this is 

THE BEST TUTORIAL

on building a shelf

I have ever seen.

If nothing else,

you will get your laugh 

for the day.

Featuring Anna & Peggy Sue the dog!

CLICK HERE!

See you in a day or so with the

PICK YOUR FAVORITE  RESULTS!

PICK YOUR FAVORITE JANUARY TABLE--NO DRUNKS ALLOWED

The reason for the 

NO DRUNKS ALLOWED?

I ran into someone the other day

that said they were still

HUNG OVER FROM NEW YEAR'S EVE!

Seriously?

Personally, I can't imagine.

I "think" they meant that they were just

exhausted after the holidays---but--

who knows!!

So- here we go.

It's January-  a "downer" for some of us.

But---CHEER UP!!!!

You've been invited to a wonderful dinner

with a good friend.

You would put on a great looking outfit

and pick which table to sit at~

Ready?

TABLE #1

WOODLAND-PARTY ANIMALS INVITED

TABLE #2

JANUARY BLUES- SPRING IS COMING

TABLE #3

HELLO SNOWFLAKE! 

TABLE #4

BLACK & WHITE ALL OVER

TABLE #5

JUST SO SIMPLE AND SWEET

TABLE #6

WOOD YOU LIKE TO SIT HERE?

TABLE #7

OH DEAR DEER, DEAR

You know the routine.

Pick ONE--YES ONE--table

to plunk your butt at.

No complaints allowed!

And DON'T ask me what's 

ON THE MENU

because it is NOT my party!

Got it?

As you know- I don't like winter

SO

You will see me immediately 

when you get there......

I'll be the one with the frozen expression!

HA!!!! TOLD YOU I'D BE BACK AFTER THE FIRST

You didn't really think I would 

abandon you, right?

I know sometimes bloggers

say they are 

TAKING A BREAK

and then they disappear forever.

I sometimes wonder if their mate

got tired of them blogging and

"offed them"-if you know what I mean!

Anyway

When you wake up and it is 

27 DEGREES outside it is 

WINTER!

Winter calls for food that

"warm-your-bones"!

This is what Midwesterners

like to refer to as

HEARTLAND food-

Mostly because it will put you at

coronary risk...

don't say I didn't warn you. 

image

Now- If you are looking 

GLUTEN FREE 

or 

LOW FAT 

or 

HEART HEALTHY

please run away from here as fast as your

bony little butt will take you.

This is none of those!

I had SOME hamburger but not enough 

to feed two kids and two adults-

and-I did need to use it up.

Isn't raw hamburger kind of gross to look at?

So...I thought- if you can make 

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

why can't you make 

CHICKEN FRIED HAMBURGER?

Guess what?

YOU CAN!

I had about 2/3 pound of hamburger.

I added 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese,

and 1/3 cup of the Shake & Bake crumbs.

Mixed it all together with my hands 

(yes my hands)

then formed patties that were less than 1/2" thick.

Is 3/8" of an inch too calculated?

Then I turned them once in the flour,

then put them in the beaten egg,

then put them into the 

Shake & Bake mixture.

Lined up and waiting-

Then I cooked them in medium hot oil 

for about 2 minutes per side.

They were delicious.

And while EVERYONE ELSE likes theirs

with a bit of gravy,

I like mine with KETCHUP.

It tastes like a cutlet that way (to me).

Listen- Here is my advice for 2019!

ALWAYS eat before you go

grocery shopping.

Otherwise you will be posting 

a sign like this one.

Have a Happy Saturday night

and a wonderful Sunday!!!!

I will be around soon with another

PICK YOUR FAVORITE!

I am back in the loop

or loopy-you decide!