art and home from iraq~take a looksie

Hi there! Instead of focusing on the storm that is headed my way, I'm looking at doing some art as my yard floods and the lights go out...I'm staying positive, really! ;)
Here's my new Apple Star postcard and my Queen Bee art postcard. These 4x6 prints are for sale in my Etsy shoppe. ;)

Grannie's Star

Queen Bee 

My step-son came home from Iraq for leave and there was a cookout today at a family member's home. He will be spending the hurricane with us! It will be good to have a soldier on board! ;)

Family Photo Take 1.

Family Photo Take 2.



Stay safe!

school days and fall days

Well, tomorrow is the first day my son heads off to Kindergarten and I head off to teach grade 3 in a few days! Wow! I can't believe it!!! We had a ton of fun this summer and seeing it end is bittersweet, but he can't wait to see his buddies again and I can't wait to get back into the classroom. This summer, he learned how to ride a bike without training wheels! Today, I looked behind me and he was speeding off, but yes, he did crash. His balance is way off due to his ear surgery yesterday. His little ear is full of an ointment to heal the hole that was forming in his ear drum. That doesn't hold him back though! He is super proud!

 How Time Flies!

On top of Mt. Washington

Today, we went to the local farmer's market for some fresh fruit and vegetables. I love the taste and look of pears. I had to take a pic...I sense an art project coming on here...

I need one of these timers! How cute!

Oh, and here are some organic and local apples. We picked these randomly in the bin, but look at how they line up...Ready for school! :)

Pretty soon we will be going apple picking at the orchards and eating dumplings and apple pie. We'll be snuggling up enjoying our warm fireplace and watching movies together.

Carving pumpkins, going on hikes for bittersweet, watching the leaves turn and just enjoying every bit of autumn in New England.

I'll be simmering mulled cider and planning for our Halloween Party. Complete with a donut eating contest, of course! Ahhh, Fall in New England... I love it!

A Field of Jacks!

It's coming...It's in the air!

for sale! my patisserie postcards notecards are now available!

Exciting news! My patisserie notecards/postcards are now available for purchase in my Etsy shop! These have been professionally printed here in Massachusetts. Go there now by clicking into my shop over on the right side of my blog.

I can't thank my printer and close friend, Jeff enough for taking the time to work with me to get this dream checked off of my bucket list! He is waiting for me to become famous...Hmm.....What do ya think? There is more to come! I'm keeping him VERY busy! :)

a gentle reminder~Nana LOVE!

A quote I live by!

Because of this...

Can you tell I'm creating art?

NANA LOVE! My cousin Dawn of wannabebostonbee.blogspot.com and I always say, "Nana Love" when something mysterious and quirky happens to us. We've been sifting through old photos for a project that we've been working on together. This is our Great Nana holding Dawn's daddy. She was always entertaining and LOVED to bake and paint. Can you see where we get it?

it's good to be queen art

My newest mixed media art!

"It's Good To Be Queen"

Bee Happy!

hey, what's cookin'?

Time to take the apron off the hook

I haven't been posting much lately...But, I promise more!  I've been finishing up a graduate course and getting ready for the new school year. Also, family time comes first and I've been doing just that. Squeezing in every last bit of summer I can. But, it's time for some mouth watering desserts!
So to start back into the swing, here are some yummy blueberry muffins!

Old Fashion Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

Old Fashion Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins. Some of you may remember going to this MA department store. My Nana and Mom used to take me here most of my dresses and play clothes. I used to get a gingerbread cookie treat and the blueberry muffins were to die for. This recipe used to be secret at one time I think, well that's the word on the street, but here it is...Note-Mom said that these muffins were very large! Not mine, I just used my basic muffin tin.
Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients:
1 pint of blueberries (or 2 1/2 cups)
1/2 C butter
1 1/4 C sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C milk
save 2 teaspoons of sugar for sprinkling on top of muffins after they have cooled
 On low speed in a large bowl cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Sift dry ingredients and add, alternating a little dry, little milk. Scoop a 1/2 c of blueberries out of the pint and mash them up and stir into the batter. Gently add the rest of the blueberries into the batter, carefully folding them into the mix. Grease muffin tins and tops of muffin pan. Fill up with batter, almost to the top. Bake at 375 degrees for approx. 25-30 min. Yields 12-14 muffins. Let cool and sprinkle with sugar. 
Next,

Sweet Lily's Eggless Banana Chip Cookies
Here are my sweet lily's favorite cookies. (Eggless and Yummy!!!)
~Note: If you love banana bread then these are the perfect little snippets to pack into a lunch box for a morning or afternoon treat! Especially for the Fall days that will be ahead~ 


1/2 C oil- I use smart balance
3 bananas (very ripe)
1/2 C sugar
1 1/2 C flour (whole wheat okay)
1 tsp. baking soda
Few tbsp. ground flax seeds
1 1/2 C chocolate chips (eyeball it)
 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash bananas, add sugar and oil. Mix well. Add flour, flax and baking soda. Mix well. Add chips. Drop BIG tbsp onto baking sheet. Yields a baker's dozen. Bake 15 min, or until golden brown.
As my cousin Dawn says over at wannabe boston bee. Who cares what they look like as long as they taste good! 


I never really paid attention to the pictures on food products before. But, today if you're out and about, look for unique labels on food products. My friend Kathy over at Two Sisters pointed this out to me. Today, while at Wal-Mart I found the Indian Head Corn Meal that she posted on her blog and I also found this great baking soda hidden on the shelf at Wal-Mart as well. These products are high in quality, have great labels and are cheaper! You're also supporting the good ol' U.S.A.

More to come!