We're all Irish on St. Patrick's Day!

May there always be work for your hands to do

May your purse always hold a coin or two

May the sun always shine upon your window pane

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain

May the hand of a friend always be near you and

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. 

                                                           --traditional Irish blessing

I made the Irish Potato Candies, but no corned beef and cabbage this year, because we were with the grandkids overnight.   Our granddaughter's high school girl's softball team had a fund-raiser, so we attended a spaghetti dinner instead!

Here's my recipe for 

Irish Potato Candy

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 lb. confectioner's sugar

1 pkg. flaked coconut 
4 cups confectioner's sugar
 Mix together, shape into oblong balls
dip in cinnamon Coating

Coating:

1 tbsp.cinnamon

1 tbsp. cocoa powder

I like the coconut extra fine, so I process it in the food processor, then I simply add the butter, sugar, vanilla, and blend, then slowly add sugar and pulse on slow.  When it is well blended, roll into 1" balls and shape slightly oblong.  Roll in cinnamon-cocoa mixture to resemble potatoes.  
   It makes about 4 dozen, if you can't use that many, save the fondant and form Easter eggs to dip in melted chocolate.  Keeps well in refrigerator.  

Tradition states that St. Patrick used to travel the Irish countryside and use the symbol of the shamrock to explain the trinity- the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  It's Ireland's National Plant and used and worn  in many ways on St. Patrick's Day.  

Four-leafed clovers are supposed to be really lucky, and  I have one in my Etsy shop! 



 My lucky find!
A pretty  silk scarf with Irish landmarks printed on it!  It's in my Etsy shop!



St. Patrick's Cathedral

Since I am posting so late today, I'll leave you with an evening prayer of St.Patrick's.

 "May our sleep be deep and soft, 

So our work be fresh and hard."

 May the blessing of light be with you--

light outside and light within.  

  Love, Linda

Warm and Fuzzy February

You have a baby girl, and you think, could I ever be happier?   Can it get any better than this?  Then suddenly she's all grown up, with children of her own, and you know.
Yes, happiness grows and grows.
The story gets better and better!

 Birthday lunch,  went for  Sushi  with my daughter and her little boy!  

My little Valentine

 My baby girl turned 35!    I made her an album on facebook, and working on it was incredible,  bringing back all the memories.    It's amazing!   She's a nurse and she worked on her birthday, Super Bowl Sunday, so we just went out to lunch today,  to be together.  Then grocery shopping, and even that was fun, with her little boy in tow.
 I was in my glory, just being with them.  And feeling very helpful, keeping  toddler Tommy entertained while  his Mama shopped.

 
 Over the weekend, I decorated for Valentine's Day at my house.
  Then,  I made some sugar cookies to go with our hot cocoa.
 Later I'll make some decorated ones.

How romantic, cocoa and sugar cookies on a chilly night with my sweetheart!

Floral  Toile by  American Atelier

 Oh,  it's fun to mix up the novelty plates and pretty new ones with the old  vintage ones.

My little old fashioned parlor, with my snowman pillows

and  my old vintage teacups and lace doilies.

A cuppa tea,  wraps up my day nicely. 

Pretty teacup, Irish Elegance, by Royal Standard, Made in England

  How do you like my "new"  lampshade!

I am so excited about this lampshade!  It was a beautiful vintage silk shade that got torn during my move.
  I just turned the bad  part around to the back, but it bothered me.
 So, I was just playing around with my doilies, and thought I'd try placing  some different ones on the shade, maybe I could save it.
Well, I had this one that was a dresser scarf,  that wrapped around the whole shade and fit just right!  I simply pinned it on, as an experiment.   I loved it!    It's nice to use these wonderful   hand-crocheted pieces, some made by favorite aunts, mother-in-law and grandmother.  I treasure them!     I think I'll stitch it to the shade!  Pretty cool, huh?

 I've been thinking about the beauty of the simple things,
 like my vintagey home, my lovies,
and  everyday things all around us, 

like beautiful sunsets! 

Had to pull over  and take a shot of the gorgeous sunset on my drive home last night.
.

the other night,

 And again tonight on the way home from Julie's.

 Chilly wintry days and nights, but feeling warm and fuzzy in my little home, and having family to love! 

Take care of yourself, keep warm and safe when it's blustery, and slippery out there! 

Love, Linda

I've joined the tea party at Rose Chintz Cottage
sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Comfort Food

    Did you ever have a heartache, a hurt that you tried to smile through, and pretend that it everything was okay? But you really felt just plain wounded, totally deflated, and just left wondering what you ever did to deserve such a thing.  Well, I do today.
 It's a simple family problem, some family members can't come to terms and make peace, no matter how hard I try to reach out.    BUMMER!   
  People sometimes like to hold on to grudges, but I think life is too short,
and that it's ridiculous to waste time, letting misunderstandings go unresolved,
letting anything come between people who love each other.
 Family is everything.    Friends are too!
I've chosen to truly unconditionally love no matter what, to forgive, and to move on.
To focus on good memories and hope for restored relationships.

 There, I got it off my chest. Here's what I did:

*Made a decision to forgive and to love.   Best choice, I will never regret. 
.
* I sent private Facebook messages, just saying I love them and asking for a response and a truce.

*Then I just got busy, made silver dollar pancakes for breakfast.  Simple comfort food.

The Grandma mug made me cry today, I'm just being overly sensitive.
 Do you see my mismatched silverware?
I am putting together a "set" for me and Teddy, all different patterns of vintage silver
  that long ago some other people once loved and set their family tables with.
Polished up and treasured once again.  Isn't it cool?

                    *Started a pot of soup, using whatever vegetables I had on hand.

               * Had a cup of tea..

.
* Set the table with my best dishes as though we were having a gourmet feast.
  Ted went out to get some  fried chicken,  and I warmed up some veggies.

  *Had another cup of tea.  The best thing to have with tea- is more tea!

  *  Lovingly added photos to the birthday posts on Facebook,
 to honor my grandmother, turning 100, bless her heart,
 and my sweet mother 82, and a childhood favorite TV personality, Sally Starr, 90.

Mom and some of her wonderful friends

Grandmom and some of her grandkids, great, and great, great-grandkids
My sister, Faith's family.

my grandmom, Mary Helen Layton, is 100 years old!

Sally Starr, a   beloved Philadelphia area celebrity who hosted Popeye Theatre
 and The Three Stooges in the 50's, 60's until 1971, turned 90 on the 25th, my Grandmom's birthday!.

Update, January 27, 2013,
     I am so sad and sorry to announce that Sally died today,
 just two days after her birthday. I found out about it just hours after ,
when I went to her website to get a url to add to this post so you could
 learn more about her.  She will be sadly missed, as she was so loved 
by the many she brought so much joy to, and those she helped tremendously. 

 At the end of each broadcast, Sally always said,

 "May the good Lord be with you and your family" .

  *Played good music.

  *Prayed.   A lot.

  *  Blogged about it!

Now, see, I got through it!

I thank God for all my blessings and choose joy and love, and I'll think upon all good things, for He will strengthen me!  Just filled my head with things which are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, things of good report, virtue, and praise, like it says in Philippians 4:8.
.

 "May the good Lord be with you and your family!"

Love, Linda

Birthday Highlights

 My sweetheart's birthday is today, and
 our youngest granddaughter turned 3 yesterday.

The New Year is off to a good start with mostly
 happy events, birthday's being especially fun! 

  My mother, and both daughters-in law have birthdays this month.

And my grandmother turns 100 
later this month! 

Happy Birthday Teddy and Ava!

Grandpa Teddy and his little sweetheart Ava ,  who share birthdays.
 He takes her out to lunch at his favorite local diner, to show her off!

 Happy Birthday, Mother!

Mom and me, last year, at a steakhouse!

 Happy 100th Birthday, Grandmom!

Here's Grandmom, a few years ago, with my daughter and me

Ah, I  fondly remember those          
 early childhood birthday celebrations!

Mama always baked us a cake and had the grandparents over,
and a few friends too,  as we got older.

Nothing fancy, or expensive, just cake and ice cream,
 and we always sang  "Happy Birthday".

She once told me that when she was a very young girl,
 she invited several schoolmates to her house for her birthday
 and sadly,  her mother sent them away.
  You see, there really was no party.

  That made her feel so bad, so she always had a simple
celebration for all seven of us, no matter how bare the pantry was,
 or how little she had.  She could always come up with something,
cupcakes,  or a layer cake from a mix.
She often made Betty Crocker cake mixes,
 and I thought she was Betty Crocker, because to me,
 she looked like the pretty brunette lady  on the box.

 Betty Crocker, artists depictions  of the average homemaker through the years.

 A fascinating article about Betty Crocker,  and how she changed through the decades at
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695214930/Betty-Crocker-through-the-years.html.        



Here's some of the photos from our family's fun 
and memorable  birthday bashes.

 My homemade Elmo cupcakes for 2 yr. old Tommy's  birthday.

 Good old summertime birthdays on the deck.  

 Abby's ice cream cake, super yummy! 

Julie made Rice Krispie Treats in the shape of baseballs for Tommy's 1st birthday.
 They are big-time Phillies Phanatics!

Ava loves Dora!

The littlest granddaughter, Ava, turned 3!

She got a camera and took pictures of Buck all by herself!

Now, we always go see our grandkids on their birthdays, sometimes it's simple

 homemade cakes, and sometimes it's full-blown affairs with pony rides,

 barbeques, pizza parties, ice cream cakes, or sit down suppers. 

 But what's important is that we are all together, making the birthday person know

 how special they are and how much we love them.!

Now each month of the new year we will fill in the new datebook
 with everyone's special day, and in a big family there are  surely birthdays every month!

Wish you lots of  fun Birthday Celebrations this new year!

Love,  Linda

  :(    I just missed the party at

 http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2013/01/mop-it-up-monday-49-birthday-bash.html

  We were supposed to write about our ways of celebrating birthdays!
  Check it out, it's great!  

 However,  I could not upload photos last week, due to a problem with
Internet Explorer and Blogger. 

I tried unsuccessfully to send feedback, and finally found out that if
I posted using Goggle Chrome as my browser instead,
 that I  might be able to upload.   Yeah!  It worked!

I've joined Grand Social at http://wwwgrandmasbriefs.com