A SON'S UNEXPECTED GIFT....

After a long hiatus, which lasted from spring to summer,
I am back.



I am sorry for the long absence.
These nearly 3 months have been a whirlwind
and all things "computer" had to take a back seat.



As of yesterday, we are totally finished with the bathroom.
Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!

This remodel was fraught with so many unexpected things.

After 4 1/2 days the carpenter walked off the job,
leaving us stranded.

Thank God that our son is truly gifted with all things
concerning carpentry....and no, this is not his profession.

He jumped in and literally saved our sanity!!!!!!



Taking a look back at how the bathroom was,
shows just how much there was to do.

Oh, that "lovely" 1960 yellow......



The old sink sat on a fake wooden countertop.

By the way, only the cold water was working
in the end.

The plumber hard at work.

We had a very limited time frame.

Our son took over a job poorly done...

the insulation was all wrong,

the electric, sheetrock etc.

He worked so hard and got it done right.

Even the bathtub was set crooked,

so all the tile would have been set crooked too.

And the tile had a box of ten that turned gray after grouting.
I felt really bad for the tile man. That was a job, getting it out

and replaced. Another setback.

Here you can see it taking shape.

And then another setback.
Looks like a spotted hyena to me.
Oh, I was pulling my hair!

Peter worked hard and got it done, right down to the wire.

He gave up every free minute, and with two children

this was not easy.

Every time I walked into this bathroom, I saw him giving

so much of himself.

This is our guest bathroom and we were expecting my

brother and sister-in law from Germany.

As they were driving to us from the airport,

hubby and I were cleaning the tub and floor tiles.

But besides a few little things, we got it done.

Having my family here was fun and we enjoyed our

time together.

The time went by way too fast!

And this is the bathroom they got to enjoy!

After they left, I had to get to my weed-

overgrown garden, and I am still at it.

A very cold and rainy spring did not help!

So instead of going on my computer in the evening,

I went to bed. Too tired to do anything else.
Now it is back to my old life.
And hopefully I will also get back to doll making and other projects.

I hope you enjoyed the "before" and "after"

Peter, I dedicate this post to you with thanks and gratitude.

Love you lot's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God bless,

Evi

IT'S IN THE BAG

I have an affinity for all things small...

whether they are antique little shoes,

children's dresses, little toys...

... coin purses or small bags.

The little Steiff mouse in this cute bag was given to me

by my beloved niece and her husband many years ago.

Little treasures greet me every morning

hanging from the bathroom mirror.

I enjoy these sweet things from the past.

What a thrifty idea one mom had to make a little purse from an old shoe.

I wonder if it was worn around the neck?

Is this not precious?

It must have been meant for a doll.

Hope you had fun looking at some of my collection.

God bless, Evi

SIGNS OF SPRING

Spring is the time for rebirth and new beginnings.
After some trying month, lots of medical tests
and care, I am feeling much better.
And so I am also starting a new cycle of rebirth,
of new beginnings.
A heartfelt thanks goes out to all my blogger friends
for their well -wishes and patience.
Thank you all for not giving up on me and checking
in from time to time.
And as this little birdie is ready to nest again.......
so am I.



Because I seldom do things half way,
I thought why not start nesting with a very
BIG project, our downstairs bathroom !!!!!
As you can see, it was definitely stuck
in the sixties......all yellow etc., yack!
We made do for many (way too many) years.

So I thought I share the process.
This is the beginning of a wonderful endeavor.
I have been dreaming about this for so long.




Our wonderful plumber and carpenter at work
tearing it all apart.
They have a lot ahead of them, while I day dream
of things to come.
There are many issues to overcome,
a fairly low ceiling, the right drainage, and expanding
the new tub in to the garage.



So, I will take you on a journey and hope
that you will enjoy the end result, which
I will share with you in the coming weeks.

Here is to nesting and a wonderful Spring
to you all !

God bless,
Evi

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

See what's new for Spring

on my "Selling blog".

Enjoy and God bless,

Evi

OH DEAR, DEER ME !

This Winter has been brutal !!!!!
It has been snowing and snowing...
it has been icing....



the temperatures are mostly in the "deep-freeze",
and the winds are often howling.




Even though some snow has melted in a brief thaw,
there are still deep piles everywhere.......




here the heights of the fence by the walk-up to our entrance.

It is no wonder, that the deer are starving and eating

everything in sight, even things they normally

don't eat.

We often have at least ten or more deer feeding at the

bird station.
This mom and her one year old little girl have chosen

to make our property their "main base".

This is the mom...we call her Dopey.
She got over all the netting and is laying on the
door mat, keeping warm.
Her baby is always close by, but on the outside

of the netting.

I think Dopey ate something not to her liking!

She really does not scare easily and stood

there looking at me for the longest time.

She also was not budging from the mat.

I think it was cozy there for her.

And because some of you have asked.....

this was our girls get-together Valentines table.
We were missing three friends,

Laura @52 Flea, Carole @ maynardgreenhouse,

and Deanna from Gather in CT.

The weather played with our plans,
and the date was changed three times.
We had a wonderful day, but missed

the rest of the girls !!!!!!
Plus, Laura and Carole are our photographers.
With them missing, and I as the hostess
being busy, not many pictures were taken.

Paula made these lovely cones for all of us.

She tied little metal hearts to each bag..
( they came from an antique floor mat ),
and each cone held hand-made buttery toffees.
Yum !!!!

After a meal of cream of wild mushroom soup....
( Ina Garten's recipe),
spinach quiche, quiche Loraine, a nice salad and rolls......
we indulged in dessert....

and what would Valentines day be without heart-shaped

chocolate cakes.

I sliced and filled these with seedless raspberry jam

mixed with Chambord, chocolate ganache,

whipped cream and raspberries.

Kathleen's nails matched the strawberries......

and if that was not enough,

an apple cake from a baking book, that my nice

send to me from Germany.

It is called ...German Baking Today..

and is by Dr. Oetker.

It is written in English.

The women in my family are great cooks and bakers.

Stephanie, thank you my love, for this great book

and always sharing recipes.

And so, I want to share this recipe with all

my blogger friends.

APPLE CAKE, VERY DELICATE

For the topping 2 tbsp butter, melted

1 1/2 lb apples..I used firm Golden Delicious

For the cake...

4 1/2 oz ( 5/8 cup) soft butter

4 1/2 oz (5/8 cup) sugar

1 tbsp vanilla sugar, 1 pinch of salt

freshly squeezed lemon (from 1 small lemon)

or a few drops of Natural Lemon Extract

3 medium eggs

2 cups all purpose flour

2 level tsp baking powder

1 - 2 tbsp milk

For the glaze:

2 tbsp apricot jam ( I used more )

1 tbsp water

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease the bottom of a 10 " springform pan....(removable sides)

Whisk butter until soft. Add sugar, vanilla sugar, salt,

lemon juice or extract little by little, whisking all the

time until you obtain a smooth mixture.

Whisk in the eggs, one after the other, for about 1/2 minute

each at the highest setting on your mixer.

Mix together the flour and baking powder and whisk briefly

in 2 instalments on medium setting, alternating with the milk

into the batter.

Transfer to springform and smooth to make even.

Melt butter, peel apples, cut into quarters, remove cores

and make several length ways incisions.

I use the tines of a fork.

Arrange the apple quarters in two concentric circles

on the cake and pour melted butter over apples.

Put cake in the bottom third of the oven.

Bake for about 45 minutes.

Heat apricot jam till warm and strain through a sieve.

Put back on stove and bring to boil with a little water,

stirring all the time.

Pour or brush on the cake immediately

after taking cake out of the oven.

Release, then remove the ring of the springform.

Loosen the cake away from the bottom of the springform,

then leave to cool on cake rack.

Enjoy.....this cake is great!

Blessing,

Evi