April Random Finds

1.  This weekend I will attending my nieces wedding in NC.  My niece laughed at all her Aunt's wedding pictures because the style in the 80s was to wear bridal hats.  Well, we will all be sporting hats at her wedding this weekend - even her cousins will be joining in on the fun.  She will be quite surprised - but know that we love her.   Looking forward to a crazy fun weekend.  

  

2.  Spring has arrived in New Jersey and the first sign for me was the crocuses blooming.  

3.  Second sign of Spring is getting out in the garden.   I order my vegetable plants online from Alabama this week.  The large healthy plants will arrive the end of May ready for planting.  

4.  Pineapple is one of my favorite fruits and I eat it every day in my oatmeal.  Who knew the skins could be a form of art.  

5.  I'm taking an on-line photography class through Clickin Mom's on Creativity and Composition.  The class is very challenging.  We spent a week on cropping with the Golden Triangle.  Thought I nailed it with this capture until 10 women ripped it apart with their critiques.  Oh well.  

Well that it's for my Friday Finds and Random Five - stop by and check out Kim and Nancy's blogs.  

Leaving on a road trip to NC today.  Love a road trip.  

Margie

Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds

Out Like a Lamb

1.  This week's find is light.  Light tortures me, can make me late for work, and put cooking dinner on hold.  When I see the perfect light I have to stop and grab my camera.  As I was leaving for work today I passed by this chair and had to take my coat off and take this picture.  Light also makes me happy.  

2.  Last weekend my kids came for a post St. Patrick's day dinner and I made my Irish Soda Bread.

3.  Just got a new dishwasher and this particular model came with a new pre-wash cycle.

4.  While walking in town this week, I stopped and asked these ladies if I could take their picture for a photography class - they were happy to act natural….or maybe they were just ignoring me.  

5.  Soooo Spring is finally arriving in North Jersey and the last bits of snow are melting.  We have been enjoying at least one or two nice days a week.  Looking forward to April.  

Well that it's for my Friday Finds and Random Five - stop by and check out Kim and Nancy's blogs.  
Enjoy your weekend!

Margie

Quiet Please

This week's Texture Tuesday theme is "quiet." This is my favorite quiet, kick-off your shoes kind of spot to relax, read and have a cup of tea. The light in the afternoon on a sunny day is heartwarming.  

Hope all my friends are having a good week. Sad to say but we are expecting snow tomorrow… hopefully the last storm of the year.  

Stop by Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday and enjoy the "quiet." Today I used KK_fully at 13% soft light - love the dreamy feeling it gave.  

Margie

Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography

Spring is Here?

1.  This week the snow melted enough to open the garden gate.  So I cleaned out a few rows and got my seed packs out for some early planting.  Photo textured with Kim Klassen's KK_fully.  

2.  Purchased a new bird house this year and put up a "for rent" sign hoping to attract some new tenants.

3.  Dog Sitting this week for my favorite Golden "CJ."  She loves to play with water bottles (supervised of course).  CJ is 11 months old and still a playful puppy.  

4.  While having lunch with my beautiful daughter this week, I couldn't take my eyes off the collar of her shirt.  She patiently posed for me while I captured the perfect shot for 78/365 of my Photography Challenge.    

4.  My favorite way to cook cod is over roasted vegetables.  Roast brussel sprouts and slice sweet potatoes at 450 for 20 minutes with S&P and Olive oil.  Push vegetable to center and place fish on top, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and lemon - roast for an additional 15 minutes.

Well I hope you like my Friday Finds and Random Five - stop by and check out Kim and Nancy's blogs.  

Looking forward to 60 degree temperatures tomorrow.  Hope you have good plans for this Spring Weekend.

Margie












Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography

Shamrock

This was created for my 76/365 photography challenge prompt.  It was a fun week with St. Patrick Day themed prompts such as Irish, Cheers and Shamrock.  Stop by my Flickr and see my progress.  

Today I'm sharing with Kim Klassen's Textured Tuesday by adding KK_rest as my texture at about 50% soft light.  It gave it just right right softness.  

Enjoy the rest of your week.  

Margie

Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography

It's a Good Day to be Irish

We will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day by toasting the Irish tonight at our favorite pub with friends.  Made my corned beef and soda bread yesterday - so we will be enjoying leftovers tonight before heading out.   

I'll sign off with my father's favorite Irish quote -  "May you be in heaven an hour before the devil knows you dead."  

Enjoy!  Margie

Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography

St. Patrick's Day

1.  Today I'd like to share a few of my past Irish recipes including Irish Soda Bread, Irish Cream Brûlée with Cream De Menthe Whipped Cream, Bailey's Irish Cream Cheese Cake, and Short Rib Guinness Pie.  Click on the links and I hope you try one or two of these recipes this weekend.  Who says the Irish can't cook.

2.  Can't believe the temperatures reached almost 60 degrees this week.  Even though today was zero with the wind chill, those warm days make me believe Spring is actually coming.  

3.  Nothing makes me think Spring like strawberries at the grocery store.  This week they were exceptionally perfect.  

4.  Warmer weather and daylight savings time gives me a chance to walk along the Avenue after the gym in the evening.  Caught this sunset in the windows of a shop the other night.

5.  With a name like Margaret Ann Frances O'Donnell O'Hara I will be celebrating this weekend with corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread and maybe a trip to the pub for a Guinness.

Sharing this week with Kim's Friday Finds and Nancy's Random Five Friday- stop by and visit other randoms and finds.  

Have a great weekend and Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Margie

Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography

Flowers

Nothing makes me happier each week than buying flowers at the grocery store.  It's that special treat I cannot deny myself.

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend.  With the temperatures on Saturday getting up to almost 60 degrees I can feel my spirits already lifting.  

Textured this with Kim's KK_simple at multiply which softened the dark colors.  Stop by Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesdays and see all the amazing creations.

Margie



Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography

Where is Spring?

1.  While wasting time in a coffee shop before an appointment in the city - this was the lamp shade over our table.  Thought it was a pretty cool find.   Textured with Kim Klassens KK_rest_magic.

2.  With everything still covered in snow and temperatures some morning still in the single digits, I'm looking for Spring anywhere I can find it.  Forcing bulbs helps me patiently wait to see my garden again.  Leaving early for work everyday forces me to take a picture at sunrise for my 365 project.  With the time slowly changing the light is truly beautiful this time of day.   

"As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."  - John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

3.  I'm reading John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars".  It is a wondrously painful story told with humor.  John Green writes young adult fiction - put this on your reading list and make sure you have a tissue close by.  

4.  Embracing pancakes is a big step for me since I'm more of an egg person for breakfast.  My husband has a sweet tooth and has been totally enjoying my latest obsession with perfecting blueberry pancakes.    

5.  Don't you think fire escapes can be a work of art?  Especially love the details and color red on this one.

That about sums up my week for Friday Finds and Random Five - stop by and check out Kim and Nancy's blogs.  

I'll be busy this weekend desperately looking for Spring!

Margie












Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography

Happy March

Happy March.  We were missed by the storm that hit NJ on Monday….not one snowflake.  Can't say the same for southern NJ.  It almost makes me enjoy the single digit temperatures this evening.  

Found these luscious berries at the Fairway on Sunday.  Must admit I solely purchased them for creative purposes, but will enjoy them on my oatmeal tomorrow.  

Textured this photo with Kim Klassen's KK_unexpected and used Photoshop's pen tool to create a path - a trick from the Beyond Layers class -  then added Sweetly Broken type.  Yes, life is berry berry good.  

Have a great week.  

Margie

Stop by Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday to see more textured fun.




Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography

Farewell February

1.  It's not that I don't love you February, but it's time to say goodbye.  Your snow storms, frigid temperatures and ice have worn me down and ate up all of my snow days and probably my Easter break too.  There were a few things I liked about you including the color red, hearts, cooking, baking and snow shoeing.   But that's about it February - good riddance.  

2.  Digging my new combat boots this week.  Working in a high school makes you want all the cool teenage trends even if it's 40th anniversary of my 16th birthday.

 3.  Sancerre is my favorite white wine.  Sancerre is a place, a village in the Loire Valley of France.  It's also a wine made from the Sauvignon Blanc Grape.  I first tried it while in Paris and fell in love with it's crisp elegant taste.  It's always my go to white wine.

4.  Love making pizza at the end of the week- the recipe -Trader Joe's Pizza dough, empty refrigerator of all leftovers, add cheese.

5.  For my 365 day photography challenge I try to take a picture early in the morning in case the day gets crazy and I don't have an opportunity to take another picture.  Today while getting ready for work I looked down and saw this still life.  Since my bathroom is vintage I gave this capture an Instagram feel.  Thanks Kim Klassen for the recipe from her Beyond Layers class.  

Well that's about it for my Friday Finds and Random Five - stop by and check out Kim and Nancy's blogs.  

Have a great weekend and say HELLO to March!

xox
Margie












Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography

Pink Ranunculus

This week I'm sharing some lovely pink Ranunculus with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday.  Must say these could be my favorite flowers with their multiple paper-like layers.  They could lift anyone spirits this time of year.  I added KK_the veil two times at soft light.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.  I had a busy but my kind of fun weekend.  Dinner out with friends on Friday night, shopping with a mani/pedi and a birthday party on Saturday.  Sunday a train ride to the city and brunch with my daughter and friends.  Who could ask for more from a weekend.  

Margie



Linked to:  Boogie Board Cottage, Alderberry Hill, Dwellings, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Chicken Chick, A Stroll thru Life, My uncommon Slice of Suburia, Savvy Southern Style, Gingerly Made, Live laugh Rowe, Farm House Porch, Domestic Super Hero, Jennifer Rizzo, Costal Charm, Cedar Hill Ranch, Lamberts Lately, Textured Tuesday, Friday Finds, Quotography