Orange Vanilla Bean Coffee Cake

I have been working on this recipe for some time to have it come out moist and tender, with just the right balance of citrus to sweet.  Lest you all think that these things come out perfect the first time, some of my attempts didn't go over well with my main recipe tester, DH.  Last …

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Patriotic Tablescape Memorial Day 2015

I planned to have a nice dinner for four the weekend of Memorial Day, so I set the table a little early.  I do that sometimes so I can enjoy the decorations for more than just the holiday day. The reason is our dining table is fully visible from the second floor.  Setting it in …

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Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurel May 2015

We had a couple of gorgeous rhododendrons blooming this past week.  The azaleas are just about done, and this is the next wave of floral beauty. This gorgeous dark pink is behind the house. Those lovely upright flowers and huge leaves give the countryside such color this time of year. Rhodo's are native to this …

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Bloggers Quilt Festival Spring 2015

The Bloggers Quilt Festival starts in just a couple of days over at Amy's Creative Side, and I have decided to enter again this year.  Earlier this year I published my first quilt pattern.  It is called Amazing Value Play, and both of the quilts below were made from the same pattern!   I made two, …

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Port Softies for Chemotherapy Patients

This project was a collaboration of several people in my local quilt club.  It was inspired by my friend and fellow quilter, Nancy Fish, and her need for a cushion to cover her port from the seat belt while riding in a car.  She found a quilted cover online, and the group began to make …

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Shopping Wilmington

Next to last day of vacation, and I had it in mind to visit two really special shopping areas.  I read about these in a review of Wilmington shopping so I had to visit.  The Cotton Exchange is a downtown shopping area of eight restored old buildings connected by walkways and stone paths with a …

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Oysters!

One of the best things about visiting the coast, is all the seafood you can eat.  I love seafood especially shellfish, and spent the week eating as many oysters as I could, along with shrimp, scallops and crab too.  The Pamlico Sound is home to a huge shellfish and fishing industry and I certainly wanted …

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NC Lighthouses

We have returned home from a wonderful week of vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  DH and I spent the entire week working our way from Currituck to Wilmington.  Now, I know there are not many things more boring than other peoples vacation photos, and I promise not to bore you with the …

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Le Challenge – Wood

I like the idea of a challenge where you have barely 30 days to figure something out, make it and then show it, all within a challenge theme.  That is how it works at Le Challenge, and this month the theme was Wood.   Just so happens that I have a project I have been putting …

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Spring Drive with the Car Club

Saturday was a spectacular day, warm and sunny with lazy clouds drifting around.  The car club had planned a drive along the French Broad River and its tributaries, ending at a member's home for a home smoked barbeque dinner with all the fixin's.  We met at one of our rural grocery stores, lining up in …

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