Vacation Continued - Day 2

We enjoyed a hearty breakfast at the Red Lion Inn and visited a few country shops in Stockbridge. We then continued on our way; destination Freeport, Maine. Along the way we stopped at several country shops. I've been making a list of some that I've read about on other blogs. (My husband was a very good sport about this. It was even his birthday.)

We also went through the Country Curtains shop in Stockbridge, MA and also the one in Sturbridge, MA. I fell in love with this bedding set. It also has matching curtains. I think this might be perfect for the new house.

One of the shops I really like is called The Purple Onion. It is located in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. I'll have to post pictures of my purchases when I get a chance to take pictures of them. This shop had some beautiful pieces of furniture, but I had to settle for small items that would fit in the car.

After doing some shopping it was back to the highway; destination Haraseekett Inn. When we stop Freeport we always choose to stay at the Haraseekett Inn. It's a beautiful country inn located only two blocks from L.L. Bean and a ton of other outlet stores. My husband and I aren't really into the whole outlet shopping thing, but the Haraseekett Inn is conveniently located to some other great spots along the coast.

We had dinner at the Muddy Rudder. Delicious food and a great view of the salt marsh. We did a little shopping at L.L. Bean and then retired to our room at the Haraseekett Inn. Tomorrow we will meander along the coast.  One of the towns we will be stopping in Ogunquit. We love walking along the Marginal Way. This is a paved path that winds its way along the rocky shore from downtown Ogunquit to the quaint fishing village of Perkins Cove. Along the way are benches to rest and enjoy the view.

Vacation Time is Almost Here - Stop #1

Our annual trek to Maine is right around the corner. We started vacationing in Maine about 18 years ago. People always ask us why we continue to go to the same place. A vacation in Maine is good for the soul. We love the beauty of the woods, the ocean, and the rocky coastline. This year we have decided to drive. It's about an 19 hour drive to Bar Harbor, Maine/Acadia National Park which is where we spend the bulk of our trip.

One of our first stop will be in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. We will be staying at The Red Lion Inn. This is a very historic hotel that has been in operation for two centuries. It is located in the heart of the Berkshires in a quaint New England town. It's the home of Norman Rockwell. His studio and museum are very interesting to visit if you are in the area.

If we leave early enough we can be there in time to have dinner on the patio and spend some time sitting on the front porch.

Grandchildren Complete the Circle of Love

I just love being a grandmother. I feel very fortunate that I'm able to see my sweet granddaughter every week. A couple of days a week my husband and I babysit.  (This past year, my husband was the babysitter on his days off work.) Now that I'm retired I can join in on the fun. My parents also like to babysit. Addison is not quite a year and a half old, but she takes great delight in learning new things. She especially likes playing outside. She loves playing with her ball, pushing her doll baby in her stroller, and blowing bubbles. Her smile just melts your heart.

Another Good Read

I just finished reading The Walk by Richard Paul Evans. This is the first book of a new series Evans will be writing. The main character, Alan Christoffersen, loses everything that is important to him. First his wife is involved in a horseback riding accident that leaves her paralyzed.  He stays by her side and leaves his business in the hands of his partner. When his wife dies, he discovers that his partner has set up his own advertising company and has stolen Alan's clients. Alan isn't able to keep his business afloat and is unable to pay the bills. He ends up losing his car and his house. He decides to set out on a soul searching trek by walking across the country with little more than a backpack and a tent. This book covers the first twelve days of his journey. I've always found this author's books inspiring. This one will make you stop and think about what is really important in your life.

Frank and Beans

This is another recipe from Taste of Home's Fast Fixes with Mixes. I think this is a recipe that would be a hit with a family and kids.  My husband and I are empty nesters, but he thought this recipe was a keeper and it is so easy.

2 cans (16 ounces each) pork and beans
1 package (12 ounces) hot dogs, halved lengthwise and sliced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 package (8 1/2 ounces) corn bread/muffin mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients; mix well. Transfer to a greased 9 inch square baking dish. Prepare corn bread batter according to directions; stir in cheese. Drop by spoonfuls onto bean mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until heated through.  (6 servings)

Hop on over to Colleen's recipe swap at And Baby Makes Five. She posted a recipe this week for a Strawberry Coffe Cake that sounds delicious.

Hearty Hamburger Casserole

We have another winner! This is a new recipe I prepared this week. It's from another favorite cookbook, Taste of Home's Fast Fixes with Mixes.

1pound ground beef
1 can (19 oz) ready to serve chunky vegetable soup
1 package (6 oz) instant stuffing mix
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a skillet, cook beef until no longer pink; drain. Stir in soup and set aside. Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions; spoon half into a greased 2 qt. baking dish. Top with beef mixture, cheese and remaining stuffing. Bake uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until heated through.

Take a peak at Colleen's weekly recipe swap at And Baby Makes Five for more great recipes.

I Need a Plan

It's been two weeks since school ended. Since I retired and this isn't going to be just a summer break, I think I need a plan of action. At the end of the day, I like the feeling that I've accomplished something. Now it isn't like I don't have things to do. The problem is there are too many ideas swirling around, that I just don't always know where to start. I'm a list maker, so I figured this shouldn't be any different, except that now my lists don't have to revolve around work; my projects can now be all of those things I haven't had time to do in the past.

Here are some of my goals:

1. Try one new recipe a week. Two of my favorite cookbooks are Favorite Recipes From Quilters and Fast Fixes with Mixes.  I'm also taking part in Colleen's weekly recipe swap at And Baby Makes Five.

2. Read Daily.  So far, this hasn't been a problem. I have a stack of books I purchased and also a stack from the library. I'm reading a great book now, called The Walk by Richard Paul Evans.

3. Devote a few hours each week to scrapbooking. Right now I'm into digital scrapbooking. It seems to save me lots of time. I'm also taking a digital scrapbooking class from Jessica Sprague. She is offering a free class right now called "Computer Tricks for Cards."

4. UFOs - I have several unfinished projects or projects I purchased patterns and materials for but never even started. Top of the list of things to finish is the 9 patch baby quilt I started. The top is already pieced. Here are a few of the other projects that need finished:

These are cross stitch pieces that just need turned into something. I think the heart cross stitch would be a great pillow. Maybe I'll add a scrappy fabric border to it. Then theres all these Christmas stitcheries. They will probably end up being ornaments. I think I might have a few more Santas. I may decide to frame these. The Noah's Ark Sampler will probably be framed.

Here are some patterns that I purchased. I have all the materials. These would be great projects to do while watching television.

4. Use up some of my stash.  I'm working on a string quilt.  Another idea might be a Disappearing Nine Patch.

5. A few new projects I'd like to try:

Jodi at Pleasant Home has some wonderful quilt projects and great tutorials. I would like to try my hand at a pinwheel quilt and a double hour glass quilt.

Check out Camille's quilts at Simplify. She has some beautiful designs. I'm particularly fond of  Wild Things and have purchased the pattern for this.

The Moda Bake Shop has oodles of projects. I'd like to make the Charming Handbag. With all the projects I've listed I probably should do this one first to hold them all. I'd like to use the charm pack called Attitude Girls for this project.

Well, as you can see I have more projects than I can possibly get done. I've heard some people say they are bored when they retire. I don't think I'll have a problem with boredom.

Rainy Day Reading

Rainy days are perfect days to curl up with a good book. I just finished reading Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber. Hannah Everett dies at age 36 from ovarian cancer. Michael, her pediatrician husband, is still grieving a year later when he receives a letter written by Hannah. In this letter she tells Michael that she would like him to marry again. She suggests he consider one of three women as his next wife, her cousin, chef Winter Adams; Leanne Lancaster, Hannah's divorced oncology nurse; and Macy Roth, a ditzy, animal-loving artist.

If you are looking for a good "wholesome" love story then give this book a try.

Rain, Rain Go Away

It seems like it has rained here in central Ohio just about every day since the beginning of May.  Normally I don't mind.  I usually find this is a great time to curl up with a good book or sit on the porch and listen to the rain come down. I did finally get all my flowers planted.  I decided this year I would do mostly container gardening, so I drug the pots into the garage and waited until the dirt dried out. 
The real aggrevation is that this year Mr. Slow Lane and I decided to build a new home.  Well, you can't start digging in a mud pile so we aren't any further than this.

Our lot is the last lot on the road. There is a tree line on the right hand side and back of the lot. Many of those trees will remain. They will be removing only what they need to move in order to build our house in the center of the lot.

The good news is that since this picture was taken, blacktop has been poured, and you can at least drive on the road. Now we are just waiting for the installation of the utilities to be finished and for the rain to subside. We are hoping that the digging can begin by the end of June. I figure when it comes time to moving it will be either the coldest day Ohio has ever had or there will be a hugh snowstorm.

Orange Pineapple Cake

Since I will have more time on my hands since I retired, I decided this would be a good time to try out new recipes.  This recipe comes from one of my favorite cook books, Favorite Recipes From Quilters.

11 oz. can mandarin oranges
1 box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup cooking oil
1 large pkg. instant vanilla pudding
8 oz. can crushed pineapple
9 oz. carton whipped topping

Combine undrained oranges, cake mix, eggs and cooking oil and beat at least 3 minutes. Pour into greased 9" x 13" baking pan. Bake according to cake mix directions. Cool.

Combine pudding and pineapple with juice and mix well. Fold in whipped topping. Spread on cooled cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

This cake was a hit with the rest of the family.  I will also be trying out some recipes I have found over at  Colleen's recipe swap at And Baby Makes Five.

No Strings Attached

I've been contemplating this project ever since I saw this string quilt on The Painted Quilt. Kaaren also made some cute needle books using this method. I'm working on decluttering the craft room, finishing up some unfinished projects, and using up my stash. I love the borders Kaaren added to her string quilt. I don't know exactly what my finished product will be. It might end up as a lap quilt, 

Robyn at Daisy Quilts has a great tutorial on how to create a string quilt. Since I'm a beginning quilter I needed something easy.  This is perfect and I'm having a great time. Caution: This is addictive.

From this to this:

Limbo Land Decorating

I'm living in limbo land. My husband and I are having a home built. It won't be done until probably November or December. While this new adventure is exciting, it also leaves me living in limbo land. I love reading decorating magazines and blogs, but I don't want to do any redecorating in this home, so I'm trying to think about how I want the new home to be decorated.  I will still be following my love of primitives and colonial decor, but there are a couple of areas in the new home that present new opportunities. One of those is a bedroom/playroom for the grandkids. I think I'm going to go with a vintage schoolroom look. In my 34 years of teaching I've collected a few teacher related memorabilia.  Instead of boxing it all up, this might be a place to use it.  I will have a twin bed in this room and possibly a small love seat. (Grandma has to have a place to sit after all.) I also have a toy box/shelf that used to be mine when I was little so it fits the vintage theme.   Here are a few pictures of items I have around the house that might end up in this room.

 Antique Library Table-The sides have a place to stow toys and books.

 

 Antique School Books

Reproduction wooden toys and globe

Antique Student School Desk

In the months prior to moving, I will be going through each room deciding what needs to go to the yard sale/Goodwill pile and what needs to be boxed up for the move. I will also spend some time looking for just the right items I would like to add to the mix.  Right now I'm on the lookout for a burgundy checked bedskirt and an antique chalkboard.