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

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

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

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

Happy Friday

1.  Don't know if I ever mentioned my absolute love for Lattes every morning.  My husband makes me one every day with a pillow top.  The double expresso definitely gets me going at around 65 miles an hour.  I think that's why I'm a morning person.

2.  Everyone in the south is probably so tired of hearing us complain about our snow and cold saga in the North.  But have we complained about the icicles….  I have four foot icicles hanging off my house.  

3.  Finally got to shovel a path on my deck and celebrated in the sunshine with a glass of wine.  From where I stand I can reach my wine.   

4.  While visiting my Mother last week I took this picture of her hands as we were chatting.  Her hands tell me the beautiful story of her life.  Her creative hands have enjoyed a lifetime of sewing and knitting.  These hands have also raised five children and nine grandchildren.  I love these hands.  

5.  This week I tried snowshoeing and had a blast.  I went out that night and bought myself a pair and have gone out three times this week. It's the perfect winter cardio calorie burner that gets you out of the house and into the fresh air.  The golf course where we hike is a scenic escape from the winter blues.

Well that's it for this weeks finds and random facts.  Please visit Nancy's Random 5 Friday and Kim's Friday Finds.  Have a great weekend, Spring is just around the corner.

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 Valentine's Day

1.  Thought I would share a textured picture and quote in honor of Valentine's day.  I'm such a sap for Winnie the Pooh quotes and strawberries.   

2.  This week three of my appliances stopped working and are need of repair…clothes washer, dish washer and microwave.  Luckily my husband was able to fix the clothes washer.  The dish washer bit the dust though - when the snow lets up we will be purchasing a new one.  The microwave will be put on the repair list.  I will miss heating my coffee up 10 times each morning.  Hey, how come appliances always break down in threes.  

3.  Yesterday was another snow day.  These major snow storms are getting old…and I don't even shovel or blow snow.  Did enjoy the day off though.


4. But I still love to bake and cook on a snow day.  Made some delicious scones, soup and Korean pulled pork yesterday.  Though clean up wasn't fun without a dishwasher.

  5.  And last but not least I found this very cool snow web over our storm drain in the driveway and it made me smile.

So that's it for my Friday Finds and Random 5 Friday.  Visit Kim and Nancy's sites and join the fun.  Have a fantastic Valentine's Weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Margie
XOX

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

Friday Finds and Random 5 Friday

1.  This week we had two snow storms that accumulated about 16 inches of snow and ice and caused two days off from work….(happy) sigh.  Another storm is predicted for this weekend and I say "bring it on" since Punxsutawney Phil has predicted only six more weeks of Winter.


2.  I ordered this lovely set of alphabet stamps from Etsy, only to be disappointed that the size was in centimeters and not inches.  Still heart them though.  

3.  Every week I make a different kind of soup.  There is nothing more heartwarming than a bowl of homemade soup and some crusty bread on a cold day.  This is one of my husband's favorite - split pea soup.   

4.  Sometimes the only things that get me through Winter are my heated seats in my car, electric blanket on my bed and warm alpaca socks on my feet.  Do you have little things that get you through the dog days of Winter?

5.  I finished my first month of a 365 photography challenge and I created a mosaic board to celebrate.   It's very exciting to see it come together…only 11 more months to go.  

Well that's all the randomness I have for this week.  I'm sharing with Kim Klassen's Friday Finds and Random 5 Friday today.  Be sure to stop by and enjoy the random finds.

Have an awesome 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, Simple Things Sunday