Storybook Woods

Molly Ward's Garden

Thank you for the Mother Day wishes. I had a lovely Mother's day. My girls made me orange, chocolate baked french toast, bacon, greek yogurt with strawberries and tea. Aubern'e gave me a Toby Mac CD  with my favorite song right now and Chloe a beautiful purple glass bottle. We went antiquing in Gig Harbor and had an amazing dinner at Molly Ward's. It is an old barn that use to be a yarn shop. Lynn and Sam have taken the land and made some amazing gardens. Which were just magical at sunset. To top off the evening, my dear friend is the pastry chef and I have a praline mouse with hazelnut cookies to die for xoxoxox

Garden photos by my daughter Aubern'e

I Am Off Having Fun

 

    

Today is my mother's day, I am off having breakfast in bed, enjoying the sun (what little there is), shopping for antiques and mostly not cleaning !!!! Please enjoy these tags I made for you. Click on each one and save. I hope you are having as yummy a day as I am xoxoxoxxo

Images from Anna Corba and Sandra Evertson 

Healthy Candy

My goodness over 40 comments. I think I get the idea that you like my pantry ;-) Thank you so much for all the kind comments and I am sorry for causing pantry envy.

I have been busy cooking since my new space is so inspiring. I have been looking at what we eat and trying to make it the most of it. To make it both tasty and healthy. I saw these peanut butter candies on-line at a blog and of course forgot to save it. (if you know what blog it is please let me know). I tweaked the recipe just a hair. I used agave syrup instead of honey. I have been playing with agave and are really liking it. Agave is very low on the glycemic level.

These candies also have flax meal. I just wanted to say that flax is so healthy and you should try to work in both flax oil and flax seeds into your diet. They are an excellent  and affordable source of omega 3 fatty acids. If you do not know this, you should buy your flax seeds whole, not ground meal. Also your flax seeds and oil should be refrigerated, they are very fragile. So look for it keep cold in storage and then ground your flax at time of use. I use a coffee grinder and it only takes a few seconds.

I also added a piece of bittersweet chocolate. In my opinion a small bit of bittersweet chocolate is very good for your health. And that is my story and I am sticking to it. I liked these too because they are pretty rich, so my family did not gobble them down and they lasted a few days. I am playing with another version that does not have peanut butter. If they turn out good, I will post them soon. Enjoy

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Peanut Butter Candies

1/2 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth

1/2 cup agave or honey

1/2 cup of flax meal

pinch of salt

3/4 cup powdered milk

Put all ingredients in bowl of electric mixer. I put powdered milk and flax meal in first, then the rest to help the powdered milk adsorb the agave. Mix till it all comes together.

Roll into small balls and put a piece of chocolate on top. Yummm xoxoxox

Thank You's

I have had a very lucky week and won several giveaways. It was Karla's at Karla's Cottage birthday (happy birthday sweetie) and she had a giveaway. Look at all the yummy vintage wallpaper, trims, buttons, ect. She was even kind enough to send my girls come chocolate. Karla has a giveaway every month. I have to say she is one of the most giving bloggers I know xoxoxoxo

This is Queen Bianca who is waiting for a dark and brooding pirate to sweep her off her feet. Isn't she charming. Thank you Heather at Bumblebird, I love her.

I also won at the Pirate soiree this wonderful dexterity game from Melissa Valeriote at Holiday Queen. Thank you Melissa, it was very generous to have a giveaway and the game is a lovely reminder of the soiree.   

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day everyone. I made this card for you to save and print up as an encouragement. I am so blessed to have become a mother because my girls have helped me to become not such a selfish person. Before my girls, I was very self centered (actually I am still working on this but getting better). But there is nothing like motherhood to put you in your place and make you take your eyes off yourself. And as good, as all of this is for me, I still need to make sure I do not totally put myself on the back burner. In order to give in a full way, I need to make sure I have not run myself down. The fuller I am, the more love, patients and attention I can give my girls.

Mostly I made this card as a reminder, that what we do says much more to our children, then what we say. So be good to yourself, so you can be good to your children xoxoxo

A Baking Pantry

 

I have this little room off my kitchen, Mrs. Mathews the previous owner used it as a breakfast room. We were using it for an office, but there was always a huge mess. I decided to not fight the mess and just move it were I can not see it. Makes a happier marriage ;-) Even thought I have a big kitchen, I still needed more room. I need storage for all my bulk (almost 30 jars) and baking items. So I decided to turn the room into a baking pantry. I am just using what I already have on-hand but slowly over time will replace and make the room more like I want. I want it to feel more Victorian, without feeling cutesy. You know what I mean ? So I decide use use black as an ascent color. It feels a bit more formal. My big find (well I did buy this) is this French marble pastry table. I was looking on-line all day and could not find one I could afford. When low and behold on Craig's list was one, Wa-hooo !!! I love it and it works great to make my bread and doughs right on the table.

  

The girls and I painted over the wallpaper a pale buttery yellow and all the trim white. It looks much more yellow in these pictures (it also looks much more crowded with stuff in the pictures). This room has some sweet woodwork and corner shelves, I really wanted them to stand out. But I also wanted the walls to be neural and warm for those gray days we have. I am really happy with it.

A lot of the accessories you see, I will change out. I just sort of set things in, to live with it for a while. I can not decided if I want a more European French feel (which I am leaning towards) or a old fashioned general store. Or a mish-mash of both. I know everything I do not want the room to be, but still working on what I do want. It is very tempting to go out a buy a bunch of new stuff, but I am trying to be good. 

By the way the below picture is standing in the party looking into my kitchen. The hall on the right goes to the library. So this is what I have been up to. Next is taking the room apart again and pulling up all the yucky linoleum. There is hard wood floor underneath. I will see what it is like and then decided what to do. I have my lap-top back and just today I can get on-line. Thank goodness. All is right with the word. I would love your feedback on the pantry. Remember be honest , not polite xoxoxoxox

Mother's Day Plea

 

I am reposting my Mother's Day Plea post from last year. This is a subject I feel passionate about and will probably repost it every year. I will be having my Mother's day next Thursday becuase this week is turning out to be a bad week. It is better to wait and enjoy it.  I hope you have a plan xoxoxox

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I try not to give sermons on this blog (even though I do it all the time in real life) but I want to write a Mothers day plea. I am hoping this does not apply to any of you ladies. But I know to many who do not get the pampering they need on Mothers day and it is usually because they do not ask for it, they do not plan for it. You know if you have a dream, it does not happen without some work and since most hubbies can not read our minds (well I know mine can't) we have to ask for what we want. We have to know what we want, we have to make it a priority.

I will probably not be having my mothers day this weekend. It will be pushed off till next weekend (I take a whole weekend by the way, not just Sunday !!) We do not have the money. Not that I need a lot but we do not have any money till pay-day. I could just suck it up and say oh it is no problem. But that really would not be true. I would rather wait and  do it right. If I had to wait a month I would.

I do it not just to be pampered (although I really like that part) but I do for my girls. When they grow up and (hopefully) are mothers, I do NOT want them to suck it up. I want them to feel honored, I want them to feel loved, I want them to get a break. How I live says much more to my girls, then what I say.

So I have a dream, I have a plan. Before Mothers day I will make sure the fridge has something yummy in it for me, I will have a stack of mags. for me to read in bed, I will have let hubby know what I would like. Which will probably be a picnic somewhere and go look at a few antique stores.

So why I am telling you all this? If you alway put yourself on the back burner on Mothers day, please not do it this year. For your sake, for you hubbies sake, for your children's sake. Have a dream, make a plan, ask for what you need. And if you need to wait a couple of weeks till you can do it, please do. Do not let things get in the way.

Pink Frillyness

I though I would share a few more pictures of my favorite tree. You have asked what kind of tree it is but sadly I do not have a clue. It does not bare any fruit, just these lovely pinks frills. It is almost the first thing to bloom in my yard.

This above is the view from my bedroom window.

After this trees bloom, I have another tree that blooms. It is just starting and the flowers are a deeper pink. But it is just as big and beautiful as my favorite tree.

I have been busy putting my baking pantry together. I was so blessed to walking into a wonderful deal. I will share soon xoxoxo

Black Pearl Grog

Miss Donna at Ribbon Crown is having a A Swashbuckler Soiree today. I just do not have the time to craft something. When one is soo busy they do not have time to craft, a drink is appropate ;-P  I know nothing about pirate's but I live with to pirate-freak girls (whom I adore), so I asked them what do pirates eat. They said Barbossa always wanted apples and they drank lots of rum. Well I can do something with apples and rum. I created Black Pearl grog. I can just picture myself on a cold lonely black sea, covered in jewels, wrapped in my black rose shawl, waiting for my swashbuckler. With my Black Pearl grog to keep me warm !!!!!

Black Pearl Grog

1 cup apple cider

1-3 TBL. caramel sauce, depending on how sweet you like it

1 shot of dark rum

Heat cider, then stir in caramel sauce till melted and add rum !!!!!

A Goode Ladye's Press

I received the yummiest mail the other day. I subscribed to A Goode Ladye's Press and love it. It is a wonderful newspaper written but Katie Estvold at Home Keeping Heart's. As Katie says Goode Press is written in an 18th. century broadside (I had to look that up and see what that means. So I thought you might have to, too. See what you learn reading Goode Press) . Volume one comes with a Miss. Ginny paper doll and each issue has a goode thing for Ginny (plus other goode's). I have to say it was a very interesting read. I will never look at my hair produces the same ;-) I like that it was just tidbit of information that I really did not know. Aubern'e really loved it to. We have had several discussions about how life use to be. I think it is an awfully pretty way to learn history. Thank you Katie and well done. I am looking forward to the next issue.

Well I will (hopefully) be done painting today. It has been a long week (plus David is gone fishing for 5 days) I had to strip all the painting I did on the wood trim and sand it all. Sighhh, it is done. Thank goodness. Okay I will not whine anymore. I will try to put my house back in order (it is a wreak here) and then come and put my blog back in order. So hang in there with me. I hope things are calmer at your house and happy May day xoxoxox

More Christmas House Inspiration

Oh and my killer deal for Aubern'e I got was 8 dinner plates, 4 salad plates and one serving bowl of Limoges Haviland china, free. Just because they were a bit chipped. They will go perfect with her gold crown teapot Yeah for chipped french china xoxoxoxo

A Cheap Trick

The Christmas House is having their spring sale this weekend and as usual there was plenty of eye candy and inspiring ideas. Carolee had a black, white and red section. I loved it. I thought it was so simple and stunning all at the same time. One of the things she did, that I wanted to share was her shelf-liner, scalloped newspaper. The red dots are only finger prints made with red paint. The gold dots are thumb tacks. Notice how this is just an old cabinet (bet Carolee painted it red) and took off the doors. There is even a black and white calico apron. I have more pictures to share, when I can. I have the primer (3 coats) painted on the pantry and now maybe we can get to painting some color. By the way, shocking enough, I did not buy myself one thing. But got a killer deal for Aubern'e. Will share xoxoxoxo

Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-Thon: The-Sweet-And-Savory-Of-Yummy

 

This week on Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-Thon the theme is The-Sweet-And-Savory-Of-Yummy. Share you favorites tea time recipe for sweet or savory. This is actually new recipe I created for the blog-a-thon. Spiced chocolate scones with a strusel topping. It is a soft chocolate flavor with pronounced spice flavors. If you perfer it more chocolaty, cut back on the spices and added chopped chocolate to the dough. Enjoy !!!

Well I dropped my lap-top and have to send into the fix-my-lap-top-and-give-me-back-my-life hospital. It will be a good week and half till I get my lap-top back. We do have a computer but I have to mud wrestle the girls to use it. So my "access" to the computer is limited. As seems to be the way things are going, my posts will be scattered. If I do not come by your blog and say hello or I am late in getting back to an e-mail, that is why. 

 

 

Spiced Chocolate Scones

1 cup white flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 cup coco powder
1/3 cup evaporated cane or sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground dried ginger

1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled, cubed butter
1 large egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup buttermilk

Streusel Topping

1/4 cup toasted pecans (does not need to be chopped processor will do it)
1/4 cup rapadura or brown sugar
3 TBL. white flour
2 TBL cubed, cold butter
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground dried ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg 


Pre-heat oven 375.

Mix dry ingredient in a food processor and add butter. Pulse till butter is the size of small peas. Put dried ingredients in bowl, add wet and mix. Dough should be a shaggy, wet and you should see bits of butter throughout the dough (see picture above).

For streusel put sugar, butter, flour and spices to in food processor you just used and process till crumbly. Then added nuts and process for 30 seconds.

Grease a cookie sheet or large baking pan. Spoon dough on cookie sheet and pat into a circle about an inch or so thick (you can use with wet hands). Sprinkle strudel topping on top (see picture abouve). Bake 25-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes clean. Cool five minutes and then cut into 8 wedges.

Firecracker Favors

Aubern'e made these wonderful firecracker favors for the Hobbit birthday party. Gandalf brought firework to Bilbo Baggins birthday party. I guess Gandalf is known for his fireworks !!! Aubern'e took a toilet-paper roll and covered it in paper. Added string for the fuse and glued a bamboo stick to the side. They filled them with leaf pin, dragon egg (rock), poppers, mushroom bead, fluffy patch for their feet and of course a gold ring. Then she taped a top, like a little hat. I was soo impressed with these and how well executed they were done. You must also check out the hobbit house Aubern'e made as a birthday gift for Chloe's dragons to live in. Aubern'e you are amazing me xoxoxo

Hobbit Birthday Party

Chloe's says this was the best birthday party she ever had. Here she is with her new sword hand-made by Angie's husband.  I was not thinking, most of the pictures I took had all the children in it. I do not want to share pictures of my friends children. So I do not have as many to share, but really it was a simple party. They played a game of pin the limb on the Ent. I think they should had done hot rocks, but I was outvoted by the birthday girl ;-) In true hobbit fashion there was a great feast, with plenty of root"beer". They even had hobbit music playing in the background as the danced under the trees. Next post I will share the wonderful gifts Aubern'e made for each kid. Aubern'e also did all the baking. She made this amazing ring cake, even with the elvish writing.

I have to say, I really did not do much for this party. The girls came up with all the ideas and made everything themselves. My favorite thing they made was the furry patches that go on their feet. Now they are true hobbits. You girls are so clever, I do not know were you get it xoxoxoxo

Menu

Lembas (cinnamon biscuits) with honey butter 

Baked soy/ginger chicken drumsticks

Dragon eyes (stuffed eggs with olives for eye slits)

Raw baby carrots with homemade maple ranch dressing

Chocolate mushrooms

Chocolate cake with buttercream

Root"beer"