Thursday, October 28, 2010

Moving on through sadness...

When we decide to become a mother we make the decision to live forever with our hearts ourside our bodies....later I want to remember who wrote that quote or look it up!

No dinner in this house today...but, trying to move on I found a blog that I am happy I clicked into, maybe tomorrow I will make this online adaptation of  our families delicious Pasta 'e Fajole.


Italian Sausage & White Bean Soup

2 - links sweet Italian sausage, casings removed

1 -tablespoon olive oil

1/2 - cup chopped onion

1 - clove garlic minced

1 - teaspoon fresh rosemary

1/2 - teaspoon basil

1/4 - teaspoon pepper

1 - 15 oz can bushs cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

4 - 5 cup low sodium chicken broth

1 - 14.5 oz can Italian diced tomatoes

1/2 - cup mini penne pasta

1/4 - cup Parmesan or Romano cheese


Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Remove casing and add the sausage. Cook sausage until almost done crumbling as you go. Add the onions and garlic and and cook 5 additional minutes stirring frequently or until the sausage is browned.


Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, cannellini beans and spices. Simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes. Add pasta; cook 7 minutes or until done. Sprinkle each serving with one tablespoon parmesan or romano cheese.

Credit for this recipe: Mommy'skitchen.net

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Practical Magic Night

Tonight's the night! After working our shoppe today, we will gather just us girls at my niece's home for our annual fun night. My niece makes a large pot of chicken stew, individual baked corn pudding in pumpkin pots, baked goodies and all the fresh coffee we want..but, no " Lime in the Coconuts" drinks as yet LOL...if you haven't seen this Sandra Bullock movie yet, I hope you do so; it is a great stress reliever, loads of laughs and make you feel good movie.

I am cold...burrr! have my little quartz heater here in my pc area...someone posted of their chimney sweep guy coming and it reminded me to call mine...I so love a cozy fire.

Take care all, Gail

Friday, October 22, 2010

On Being Yourself...

Believe in the impossible, and don't ever forget that you are unique. Be your best self and not an imitation of someone else.


I do not know the author of that quote...but, isn't it wonderful?


Somedays are harder than others to be myself, best or not so, but I try. Today, I am longing to stay in the comfort of my home in my jammies and just  "be me" but alas, I will shower and dress and go to our struggling little shoppe and be a good mom to the daughter who will work this day with me.
Come for a visit, if you have time, I'll be inside  to greet you:)

www.theenchantedcottageshoppe.com/

I made these yummies and thought you might like them...sorry, no pic:(  thanks Mandy:)

If you love pecan pie, but want something quicker and easier, try these.


Pecan Pie Muffins    (there is NO baking powder or soda in these)


1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 eggs

2/3 cup melted butter

1 cup chopped pecans (I toast them a few mins in a hot skillet Before chopping them)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a wooden spoon. Pour into a greased mini-muffin pan, filling each cup 2/3 full. Bake 12 to 15 minutes.
Wishing you dear readers a lovely "be you" day of joy:)

Gail

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Saturday's Wedding...

Wedding Date: October 09, 2010
What a joyous few days....Jennifer and Jack are so in love, praying for them:)
Life has a way of tricking us and making us doubt because of silly little things!
I came home feeling so refreshed in some ways and longing to get on with creating for our shop. I did receive my new pattern Hallowe'en Jack Sewing Roll from Stacy Nash, not for the shop, but just to relax and get totally into those placement of tiny X-stitches...what a passion!!
My Hallowe'en Pinkeep Pillow is totally finished and setting in our shop...wish we could open more than three days...but, the main street was switched with the off ramp from the tunnel:(
Also, I made a line of  fall fragrances for our shop that the customers seem to like smelling...it did boost our sale of Cookie Dough Candles  LOL
Going away for a few days to visit my sisters in Virginia Beach...can't believe it is almost Halloween and the beginning of the Holliday season sorta.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

What a busy, busy week...

If I don't post something now, it'll be over a week:(   blogging is still so new to me but I do love checking out some of the ones I follow and fully intend to post but getting lost in blog land is something I must learn to time myself on!! 
My Goddaughter's wedding Saturday was so wonderful...so peaceful; Jenny is about to graduate from med school and enter her four years of internship as an emergency room doctor...YIKES, times flies. She was here  in Virginia
at a local hospital learning for a month and left for Greenville, N.C. a few days before the 9th to relax and get beautiful....
I came home exhausted...not sure why...but, anticipating big events and preparing etc. sometimes does that to me.
Today and yesterday I got so tangled up trying to design some cones to fill with my wonderful Sweet Annie for our little shop...frustrated me so put it aside and worked on printing on fabric to do a different holder for Annie...still have NO NEW CAMERA  so still no pics...embarassing, I know how we all love pictures as my good friend Mandy keeps reminding me. Maybe this week I can shop for one and so add them to my words. 
Today was another Happy Anniversary for hubby and me...so much to be thankful for, so many memories;  we had our favorite Italian dinner at our local restaurant  the wine was so good but always makes me sleepy!
Wishing my blogger friends a peaceful night and bright, busy productive days ahead:)

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Learning the Drop Spindle....

OMGosh, this arrived two days ago and Pam just makes it look so "easy" as she is a real pro at it.
Just in case some of you wondered about a drop spindle and spinning yarn for a scarf ( in my case at least) here is her http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjkTXUfMLd0&NR=1  video. She is a lovely lady and if you click her name pamsfiber below the video, you can visit her wonderful farm and might even see the chocolate alpaca from which my chocolate wool was taken. I am so excited about this BUT with all that is happening right now I may get a scarf by next spring:)

I will post pics AFTER I buy a new camera and AFTER I learn to use it...grrrrr, my brain just isn't co-operative about learning something techi right now.

It is such a lovely fallish day here in my part of S.E. Virginia
Gail wishing you contentment and joy in your day