When I Get to Heaven

I'd like to believe that, since God knows the desires of my heart, He is custom building my mansion just the way I'd like it. Why not? I'll never on this side of the sky live in anything this beautiful:

via House of Turquoise

Breathtaking, really. And maybe a few gorgeous leather turquoise chairs like this thrown in for good measure:

via Shelterness

Truth be told though, this old gal would be happy with a crab shack and a fishing pole:

Yeah, I could totally do it. Float down the river all summer and bird watch and cocoon during the holidays:

 

Course, something in between with a view wouldn't be too shabby either.

via Cottage Blue Designs

I am totally happy with what God has seen fit to give me here on this earth. And mighty thankful, too. But when I get to heaven....

Baking is a Beautiful Thing!

Here is my strawberry pie I made this evening from local berries I picked up from the Bush-N-Vine.

Homemade pies always look so much more interesting, don't you think? Imperfection is perfect in my book. The fun was that I pulled the recipes from my grandmother Zelda's Betty Crocker Cookbook. Can we say, really old? Some of the pages were so worn you couldn't read all of the pie crust directions and the spine is falling apart.

Makes me want to cry thinking about her in the kitchen. And let me tell you, she lived in that kitchen. Cooking twice a day, sometimes three, and canning what came out of her garden or baking for the holidays. They didn't call it housework for nothing, ya'll.

So in order to compensate for those tasty strawberry calories I am about to partake in, I made a chicken salad for tonight's dinner. It was good but a little on the tart side because I used greek yogurt instead of mayo. I would suggest using maybe a tad more honey.

Here's the ingredients:

     1 1/2 cup diced chicken
     1/2 vadilla sweet onion, diced
     1/2 teaspoon curry
     1/2 teaspoon paprika
     1 tablespoon pure honey
      handful of red grapes, cubed
     1/4 jar of artichoke salad (contains olives, artichokes and peppers)
     small container of greek yogurt

Garnish with balsamic dressing. Yum!

Summer Scheming

My fondest childhood memories were spending time with my family at the beach or boating on the Potomac River or Chesapeake Bay.

I mean, don't my grandparents look happy?

So it is about this time of year that I start scheming on how and when I'm going to make my escape. It also doesn't help that I am reading Dorothea Benton Frank's novel, Folly Beach (highly recommend), and it is hot in South Carolina today!

I can already hear the sound of the surf, the feel of a fishing pole between my fingers, the hot sun on my shoulders, and a cold beer in my hand. Oh, Yeah!

Niece Rita & Me, Folly Beach, SC

Sigh! I am in a dark cubby at the moment, so I'll just have to placate my surf longing with a few lovely water-inspired designs.

 

via  BB&B

I actually don't like too many themed items in one room, but these turquoise bucket lamps stopped me in my tracks. I like beach done subtle, so I would probably lose the coral and whale and...

  

via classiccasual home

This is a photo of a restaurant design but you could use the same vinette in a home--understated nautical print, white bead board, rope shade, and round mirror. Yep!

via coastal living

Iron bed frame and white bead board equals just plain classic and casual.

via coral cafe

If you have ever been to the beach when it is cold or damp (and I have!), you can imagine how cozy this would be.

Tired yet of the turquoise dresser that appears virtually everywhere on the blogosphere? Not me. Can't get enough.

via belle maison 23

I love this touch of glam (waterfall chandelier) with a tired (and beautiful) rustic table.

 via coral cafe

I am not into the glam factor much but this coral table is really smoking hot.

Me? Not so much! Happy summer dreaming anyway, and I'll see ya'll at the the beach!