Sad little me...

I have lost my wedding band. I am so so sad. I have searched high and low. Under, over, inside, outside for that matter. I fear I left it in my lap while in the car, after putting lotion on my hands, and jumped out without putting it back on. I've went back to the flower nursery parking lot twice, no ring. If the universe is listening, please send my ring back to me. It's a size 8, platinum, antique style, 1/4 wide band, with 53 pave diamonds across the front. Please.

Going home...

Going home next week to see my family. Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, Nephews, Niece, Granny & Grandad, Aunts, Uncles, etc. All in one spot. Kind of nice. The kids will splash in the creek, catch minnows, feed the horse, go fishing, look for frogs, pick wildflowers, and enjoy a campfire without the possibility of getting fined...(sheesh, do they really think we're going to burn the place down.) I. cannot. wait.

The finer things in life...

Homemade Ice Cream

Two years ago my daughter asked Santa to bring her an ice cream maker. Santa thought that was a GREAT idea. Santa has been using it ever since. This weekend we had the neighborhood little people over for cones. On tap: Mint Chocolate Chip & Cherry with Fudge Brownie Chunks.

Mint Chocolate Chip



2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
green food coloring (optional)
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips



Stir together the milk, cream, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and peppermint extract until the sugar has dissolved. Color to your liking with the green food coloring. Pour mix into your ice cream maker (process may vary per manufacturer's instructions). Mix about 20 minutes, then add chocolate chips. Continue mixing another 10 minutes. Scoop into freezer safe bowl, cover and freeze another 2 hours.

Cherry with Fudge Brownie Chunks

First make the brownies as follows:

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. cocoa
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Melt butter in microwave and stir in cocoa until well blended. Add sugar, mix. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla, flour, and salt. Pour into buttered pan and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to completely cool.

Ice Cream:


2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup maraschino cherries, pits/stems removed and cut in quarters
1/4 c. reserved cherry juice
1 egg
1 c. finely chopped brownie bits

In a large bowl beat egg for about two minutes. Gradually add sugar and beat until dissolved. Mix in vanilla and almond extracts. Stir in heavy cream, milk, and cherry juice. Then add cherry bits.

Pour into ice cream maker, mix 20 minutes, then add brownie bits and continue mixing 10 minutes. Scoop into freezer safe bowl, cover and freeze an additional 2 hours.

Notes: The chips and brownie bits are added after ice cream has thickened to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the mixer. Adding an egg gives the mix a more custard style result...it is raw, so if serving to little ones, use your own judgement. I do not recommend substituting anything low-fat for the heavy cream or whole milk. It will yield a grainy icy textured cream, not the silky smooth stuff you want! Enjoy :)

Around the house...

Weathered pot.

Black + White + Grey + Thread

Wood table, found in trash yesterday (!)

Plush-n-plaid...

Bubbletime

Penguinandfish

Stitchface

I ♥ Etsians who make cute plushies! Button eyes, stitched noses, and those sweet little shop names. Yesterday Ava de-stuffed the wee doll I made for her last year. We're in need of a little softie surgery...

cool bag...

Ruffled Linen Bag in Grey by Sraige

Not that I need another purse, but if I did...

for the Detroit peeps...

100 Abandoned Houses

I came across this site today while reading A Cup Of Jo 's weekly round-up. Photographer Kevin Bauman started taking pictures of abandoned & burned homes in Detroit almost 10 years ago. He believes there are about 12,000 such homes in our city. Anyone who's been to Detroit has seen this, at least on some level. You can see charred mansions from Woodward as you head downtown to see the Tigers and you can see them from any freeway in and out of the city. It's sad. With the economic downturn and fate of the motor industry looking pretty bleak, it's hard to believe that we'll see a huge turnaround anytime soon. Every time we pass one of the forgotten houses, I wonder what it was like in it's prime. Who built it? who lived there? I wonder what the woodwork looks like...how many fireplaces does it have? Did the owners have fancy parties? children? a butler? hmmm...

I recently read another article saying foreign investors were buying hundreds of these houses at a time. Entire neighborhoods. No word on what they plan to do with it. Can you image what would happen if thousands of Anna's moved into Detroit? If people took a chance, put their money, time and hearts into restoring these old homes to their original condition. What a pretty place Detroit could be.

All photos copyright Kevin Bauman.

off for the weekend...

Couragemylove

Actually, I'm not really going anywhere...but I'm still declaring myself off. If the rain stays away, (crossing my fingers), my husband and I might just hit the river in a couple of kayaks. Time to pack a picnic!

Have a lovely weekend.

For the kids...

Did you know Julianne Moore writes children's books?

Well...she does. The original Freckleface Strawberry has been a favorite in our house for a couple of years now. Today I took my daughter to kindergarten round-up and upon entering the library I spied her latest, Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully. Everyone loves a story about a playground villian! The illustrations are pretty swell too :)

Rylo's sketchpad...

Big Bad Wolf and Lil' Red

Love Bugs

One-Eyed Monster

hello world...

The resident robin must be so proud!

We noticed the robin acting a little strange this evening, and her mate was hanging around particularly close. Do you think today's the big day, I asked my husband. Apparently so. One down, one to go.

and a cherry on top...

The best thing about parties...leftover cupcakes.

The rain held off this weekend, our little par-tay was a go! I was too busy to take pics but it looked like everyone had fun. The kids blew bubbles and sat around the bonfire, ate way too many cupcakes, and popped a few dozen balloons. The birthday girl spent the rest of the weekend playing sculptor with her new Tinkertoys. Gosh, I forgot how much those are! :)

colorful inspiration...

Circular Series by Ben Branagan via Oh Joy!

somewhere over the...

part of a commissioned alphabet set

lilfishstudios

Pleem1983

Ah...rainbows! I haven't seen one in a while...though I've seen plenty of rain...

The "Letter R" was part of a commissioned name set for a mother-to-be. The original "R" was illustrated as a rocket and the mother wanted something a little more girly. Lots of people want to spell their child's name with letters from the alphabet set, so if I don't have what you're looking for, convo me, we can come up with something custom!

cruising...

photo by Patrick Demarcelier via Gypsy Girl's Guide

If I didn't have a bike.

so shiny...

sfgirlbybay

sfgirlbybay

brunoffrance

ihaas


Seriously, I love these.

ahhh, friday...

Lots and lots of rain lately. Things are looking rather green. yay! I had hoped the husband and I could hit some hiking trails (and have a picnic) after we dropped the kids off at Grandma's today, but alas, he has an afternoon meeting with a client. :( So maybe this weekend. Every year around this time I get the urge to pack our bags and head south for a little r&r with the family in Tennessee. It's warm there already, but not scorching, perfect weather for wading in the creek, catching minnows and skipping rocks. What will you be doing this weekend?

All photos via Pia's blog.

She also has a new book, which I'm sure is divine, as her blog is always filled with gorgeousness.