February is here . . . Or is it Spring

So while half the country is covered in snow, here in my little homestead it is 63 degrees and sunny.  Incredible!  I walked the dogs out this morning without a coat.  I don't know how long it will last but I'm loving it.
Since it is February I have to post that the Mother Son Dance at my sons prep school is right around the corner.  March 10 to be exact.  So I have been shopping for dresses.  Every year I think of what I want my dress to be like and then I look.  Some people go shopping first and see what catches their eye.  That sounds like the sensible way doesn't it?  Well it doesn't work for me.  When I get something in my head, it's in there until I find it.  So although I must have 8 black cocktail dresses in my closet (no exaggeration) I suddenly had an urge for a black lace dress with a coffee colored or tan like slip.  I found one that I loved that Rachel McAdams wore to the premiere of The Vow, the movie I posted about.  So weird that she had this on.  I loved it.  Contacted the designer and of course, its not out yet, will be out in a few weeks and is way too expensive.  But now that dress is in my head.  So I have been searching for the closest feel to it and I found a dress that I really like.  I ordered it and I'm anxiously waiting for it to arrive.  Let me know what you think?
The first one is the one I wish I could have (Rachel is wearing it.)  The second one is the one I bought.

So I'm thinking of going to Joannes and buying a thick black satin ribbon to use as a sash for the middle. I also will wear it with black velvet heels and skin colored stockings, not black.

It arrives tomorrow.  Hopefully I will like the fit or I'll have to send it back and then it will be time to start all over again.  

A Sweet Story

So as some of you know I'm a writer.  I'm working on my second book with my wonderful editor and anxiously waiting an answer from a few agents who might possibly want to represent me.  Hopefully, I have my fingers crossed, and toes.
Anyway, I love a good story.  A good transcending, mesmerizing, take me away from home story.  Yes I do have a tendency to go for the romantic ones.  I could care less about an artsy film or the latest political drama or the top rated "film dejour"  I want a movie or story that will provide an escape from myself and transport me somewhere else.  I'm a dreamer and a romantic.
Don't laugh, but there's an old lifetime movie staring Jaclyn Smith called I Married A Stranger.
In it she has an accident and looses her memory.  She totally forgets her life and her present life and believes she's back in high school.  She can't remember her husband or who she is and has no recollection of ever being married.  NOTE TO SELF: (I SHOULD TRY THAT)
Anywho, the story is about a husband trying to romance his wife into falling in love again.
The movie may not be oscar wothy but I loved that idea for a premise.
Well a few months ago I read a new movie coming out with two of my favorite people.  THE VOW.
I love Channing Tatum, not as an actor but as total eye candy.  And I love Rachel McAddams as an actor.  I think she's wonderful.  The story is almost identical.
It opens next Friday and I am so excited to go see it.
Here are a few photos of these beautiful people.

Can't wait to go see this!  My secret little wish is that my book is published and then becomes a movie and people will be talking about it and someone will be blogging about how they can't wait to see it and how much they loved the book.

Oh well, it could happen!

Simple Scones

So if your anything like me, on a winter's night, there is nothing better than enjoying something sweet with a cup of your favorite tea or coffee.  Today I made scones.  My sons love them and we enjoy them with some of our favorite Strawberrry or Raspberry Jam and a Hot comforting drink.

I am always on an endless search for the best scone recipes.  (So if you happen to have one please send it to me.)  This is an Alton Brown recipe that I added some sugar and vanilla.  I like my scones sweet (not too sweet but enough to compliment your choice of drink.)

Thought you might want my recipe

2 cups of flour

2 teasp of baking powder

3/4 teasp of salt

1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar (I used 1/2)

4 tbs of butter

2 tbs shortening

3/4 heavy cream

1 egg

1/2 teasp of good vanilla extract

I place the ingredients in my food processor and pulse until I have the perfect dough.  Don't over pulse.  

lightly dust with flour and form into a disc.  Then I used a biscuit cutter to shape.  You can also cut them into triangles with a pastry cutter.

Convection 350/ reg 375

Bake for 15 minutes and the sprinkle with confectioners sugar and  Enjoy!

Comfort & Joy & Curtains

I wanted to take a photo of my two newest curtains that I absolutely love.  They have brought me much comfort and warmth especially this week when we had the snow and the temperatures dropped in the teens.  Below are my family room curtains.  My house is an older home and although we have been restoring it and renovating for years, it can be drafty in the winter so I wanted insulated curtains that would keep us warm but at the same time look pretty.  These are from Pottery Barn.

I paired them with my older lace curtains that I cherish.  I have had these on in the family room forever and in the spring and summer they are the only curtains on my windows.  

These curtains are from Curtainworks.  I fell in love with them when I saw them on one of my favorite blogs a country farmhouse.  She had them in the baby's room and they looked lovely.  I had been looking for something like them for quite sometime.  She posted where they were from and I went on the website.  (I don't know how to do the link where you can just click and go there, so sorry but its' curtainworks.  If anyone knows how to do that please let me know.)

Feeling cold always makes me want to eat something comforting for supper.  I had gotten this wonderful book from Williams Sonoma.

It's truly wonderful.  Today I decided to make my very first chicken pot pie.  

Yummy.  Not only did I make it in less than 45 minutes but I ate it the minute it came out of the oven and burned my tongue.  So I highly recommend that you wait until it cools.  But I just couldn't.  

 I was so proud of the way it came out.  Lovely and delicious.  The perfect dinner for a cold evening.

I even made the crust from page 248.  In under five minutes.  But I have a cuisinart don't know how long it would have taken if I didn't.  I've never made pie crust without it.  

The only thing I didn't use was Tarragon.  I bought it and then took it out because the smell of licorice or anise is too strong for me.  Don't like it and didn't want to infuse the flavor of it in my stock.  

But other than that it was perfect!

Winter's Snow Fall

Although the trees didn't sport their wintery white, it was a nice surprise to wake up to the white blanket around my home.  I wish it had continued but I hear there is more on the way so I probably will get my wish afterall.

I love how the path looks from my neighbors farm to mine.  

Our barn from my neighbors side view.

I have come to love the Winter.  I had been longing for some snow and today I had it.  There is something about being home when it snows, making coffee or tea, I made scones today and it was the perfect touch.  For some reason I write more when it snows.  My mind is constantly creating as the world seems to be frozen for just a few moments, I can loose myself on paper.  It is a nesting, resting and settling down time, to think and listen and do absolutely nothing but enjoy the frozen moments.

New Vanity

So for a few years now my bathroom vanity had been looking out of place.  Our little bathroom in our bedroom had gone through quite a bit of remodeling over the past 17 years.  Two times it had been changed, little by little, and inch by inch to get it where we wanted it.  I believe it's finally evolved to where it should be.  I love it.  The vanity is from Pottery Barn.  Take a look.

My Baby is 16 Today!

Hard to believe these photos were so long ago.  Sixteen years ago to be exact.  I am in awe of time and how it flies and leaves us wondering where it all went.  

My oldest is 21 and the baby above is 16 today.  I miss my babies.  I'm so proud of my Matthew.