Banana Bread & Field Trip to the City

Hello, blogging friends I can't wait to tell you about my little trip, but I wanted to include a recipe I promised you first.  I had some bananas just sittting there going bad and I thought banana bread.  I just love it anytime of year!  Lo and behold there was a recipe on my bag of flour.  Here's the link if you want to give it a try.  My family loved it.  It made two loaves so I made one without nuts for my hubby.  Everyone really liked it!

Best-Ever Banana Bread

The kids are on Spring break this week so we went down to Cincinatti for the day.  My husband suggested that we go to Jungle Jim's and it was so neat.  I think we spent over two hours there.  Let me just say I'm a self-confessed Foodie and I was in food heaven! Whew...cheese, butter, sauces, wine, Le Crueset, Italian, German, any kind of food and they have it.  It started as a roadside stand believe it or not.  You can read about it here.  We bought the kids some cheese, candy, and a little glass bottled old fashioned soda.  My hubby bought some aged cheddar (his favorite)  I bought chocolate, Irish butter, and some wine a gift for my MIL. 

Just look at all these olives!

Cheese Glorious Cheese!

I loved this giant rolling pin, near the bakery.

 There were several rows like this one of just produce.

A band was playing for us too

I recommend you not go hungry though, LOL!

Next, we went to the John Rosling Bridge.  This one is like the Brooklyn Bridge only smaller. 

My son enjoyed hearing about the design.  He loves to see how things are made.  They got a kick out of it when my husband told them after going half way to the other side that now we were in Kentucky.  

We were going to also go the the National Underground Museum, it was supposed to be free, not!  Then the audio tour was already over with.  Bummer, maybe next time.  My little country bumpkins got to see what the city is all about when we were looking for the restroom.  My son wanted to know why it's so stinky, LOL!

We rounded out the day at the Bass Pro Shop (aka the Man's Mall)

Blessings to you and your family,

Carey

Spring Inspirations

Are you dreamin' of spring?  I sure am.  My mailbox has been flowing with new spring ideas.  I'm itching to decorate and wear some spring clothes, but alas old mother nature just isn't giving in yet.  We're expecting warmer temperatures on Sunday.  I can't wait!  I'm going to window shop a little bit about what I would love to see come Spring.

Here's what I'll be wearing:

Shabby Apple Dress

Fresh Spring Towels for the kitchen

While we're in the kitchen how about an apron that says rise and shine!

Rise and Shine Apron

Then for my new laundry room, how about this basket

Vintage Inspired Basket

Country Home

I love the touches of aqua blue in this laundry room with the backsplash pattern.

light and airy curtains

Mostly I can't wait to see this!

Have a great day,

Carey

More Christmas Inspiration and Shopping Finds!

Good Saturday, blogging friends! I hope this weekend finds you with all the joy the season offers with reflection on the reason for the Season...the little baby in a manger.

I went shopping with hubby yesterday and we had lunch together.  I look forward to these daytime dates.  We have a hard time doing this on the weekends.  I found these lighted twigs (Kirkland's) I have looked for them for awhile.  I finally got them.  They are really neat I look forward to them using them all year round.  They are not LED.  I have to tell you I'm not a huge fan of the LED's.  Last year we bought the icycle LED's they cast a bluish white that I just didn't care for.  All season long they broke off as the wind battered them so this year we drug out our little white lights that we've had forever buying a few more strands.  Our house has a very high peak that you can't reach even with a tall ladder, you really need a cherry picker.  At $150 a day we decided against that .  Our lights are just on the porch and rails.  One of my goals this year was to buy the candles for the windows with the timers and new stockings.  I got candles but not the stockings just yet.  I'm still trying to find ones I like.  I'm going to have my MIL embroider our names on them.  Here's a peak at our new candles and the source was Plow and Hearth.  They were pricey but worth it.  I got the dark bronze. They come on by turning them the first night (we set ours for 5:30) then they come on every night at the same time and stay on for 6 hours or so.  They have a built in timer. No more coming home in the dark.  I have always loved the candle in the window, so welcoming! I'm going to eventually buy candles for my side windows as well.  Right now we have some for our front, that was 11 window in all...Whew! 

Here they are at night in the background.

They are a soft yellow.

Here's the little branches in my mantle, I added the Let It Snow on the chalkboard too.

Up close

I hope to share my outdoor decorations soon.  The candles in the windows are so pretty at night.

Next week I'll be sharing my upstairs and downstairs decorations along with holiday goodies.

Hope you're having a blessed weekend,

Carey

Gooseberry Patch and Country Living Fair

I'm one happy girl after visiting the Country Living Fair yesterday.  It was so neat!  The highlight of my day was definately meeting Jo Ann and Vicki from Gooseberry Patch!  I brought one of my favorite cookbooks Welcome Home for the Holidays to sign and then couldn't resist the urge to buy a few more!  LOL!  They had a show special so I was able to get 3, one gift and 2 new ones Homemade Harvest and Homemade Christmas!  By the way, these are on sale right now and they're having a contest you can enter to win the Harvest one on their website.

I didn't take too many pictures, it was so crowded and I wasn't sure of the policies of many of the booths.

Vicki and Jo Ann recommended I go over and try some dessert from this booth after mentioning I like pie.  However, the line was incredibly long and they were just serving cobbler so I passed.  It looked yummy though! 

It was very windy and hot so there were a lot of tents and goodies blowing over.  I felt sorry for the vendors.  I was overwhelmed with all the tents and vendors.  I would love to go again next year with someone and make a weekend of it.  I think the early bird might be worth it.  I got there at 10 and the exit was completely backed up.  I didn't even need my GPS.  There was a variety of decorating styles, lots of candles, arts and antiques.  I loved the prim shops the best.  I already had made up my mind that I wasn't go to buy much unless I found that one of a kind thing that I just couldn't pass up.  I searched but never found it.  I did buy some signs, very reasonable.  He has a blog called Berries in the Meadow Art and a shop on etsy too.  He was a very nice gentleman.  Some people had folding carts and they did offer a drop off station where you could rent space to put larger items.  It was so far from the fair to the parking lot, I think that makes you think twice before purchasing things. 

Well, my family and I are off to visit the apple orchard today for some apple cider donuts and fresh cider.  Have a blessed weekend, enjoy the season!

Carey

Little Glimpses of my Home

Sometimes it's the little areas or things you love the most about your home.  I love my little reading area where I read my bible in the morning, the way the light travels in my kitchen on my table top.  I just love the little hallway nook that I have a table nestled with my sheep things.  I just love my new little coffee sign, I consider myself Queen of Coffee, LOL...not really! I just love flavored coffee creamers.  I'm enjoying french vanilla right now but I can't wait for the fall ones. 

I found this at Hobby Lobby, 1/2 off of signs.

My newest tabletop, I have some old kitchen tools, my grandmother's rolling pin.  The large ball jar and new cake plate (found at Home Goods)  you can change out the ribbon.  Then I got a little rooster at Cracker Barrel 1/2 off.  I finally gave in to the Roosters and chickens.  This is my first one.  I think I'm enjoying them because of my recent farm experience.  I've recently been inspired by some Rooster Blog parties too.   What do you guys think?  Do you love them or hate them?

I'll be back soon, I've been tweaking and have some more pictures and signs to share with you.  My children go back to school tomorrow and they are excited, and I'm ready! Whew...I am looking forward to a little more quiet time. The only problem is mom is going back too!

Have a Blessed Day!

Carey

Birthday Celebration!

Last Saturday was my birthday too.  This was yet another reason my hubby planned this little get away weekend for us.  I hope I'm not overloading you with too many pictures.  We just had such a good time.

Well, you know this gal loves some homemade pie so that's what I wanted for my birthday, no cake for me!
He took me to a town called Glendale, KY where we went antique and prim shopping.  While we were there we stopped at the Whistlestop Cafe and had lunch.  My husband ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and I had a Salad (saving room for pie) then I picked the coconut cream pie for dessert.  It was delicious!!! My family doesn't like coconut so I never get to make this one.

I loved the little lights at the table.  The sign was a recipe for homemade peach pie.  It was very crowded so I didn't get a lot of pictures but it was decorated with lots of old railroad themed memoriabelia.

a lil' log cabin edition

house on main street

Isn't it charming?

This was my favorite store, GreenTop.  It was filled with antiques and primitive booths.

My hubby bought me a redware crow plate.

The front of the store was all decked out with crows and summer.  This old time window frame with the crow and sign was so cute but at $49 I had to pass.  Inside they had some fall in the corner and upstairs, I could have done some real damage but I'm trying to stick to our budget.

This train was made completely out of wood down to the wheels.  I had to take a picture for my son and his grandpa, who loves to build.

Thanks for sharing my day with me, have a great weekend!

Carey

Remembering the Past and Weekend Happenings

Good morning!  How was your weekend?  We had a very good one.  It was hard to get back into the full mode this am.  My kiddos have three days left of school.  They are very excited. 

On Saturday we cooked out and had that delicious Strawberry Diner style pie I was telling you I would make.  I used my strawberries from my yard and it turned out great.  I really liked the topping.  I'll post the recipe for that later.  On Sunday we went to the cementary where most of my family is buried.  We had some pretty frank discussions with the kids about how much our country sacrifices and we remembered our loved ones.  We tried to find some of the oldest graves in the cementary and tried to do some rubbings.  The oldest of those were 1847.  My daughter thought is was pretty sad that they had no decorations at all on them.  We explained that all their family was gone too. 

my son puts a flag on my Father's grave who he is named after

My daughter places a flag for a great Uncle who served his country.

Great Grandparents

Defibaugh

Great Great Grandparents

Locke

On Sunday we went to Cincinnati and took back my sewing table to IKEA went to a few more stores for shopping.  I found a Bath and Body works outlet, it was fabulous!!! Very cheap!  Then we ate at bd's Mongolian Barbecue.  My husband and I love those kinda places.  If you've never eaten at one you should check it out there's something for everyone.  My son just loved it!  He really likes watching them grill it.  We also went to Archiver's and it's the best in the scrapbooking world (IMO).  If you're looking for the latest greatest products, there's something for everyone.  I fell in love with a new vintage paper line called Graphic 45.  Another favorite new one is called Homespun Chic by Melody Ross.  Her blog is really neat.  If you thought that scrapbooking and vintage things don't mix check them out.  Even if you're not a scrapbooker many lines have predone pages, books and kits that are simple to put together.  I'm thinking of using some to decorate my new space.   I ended up buying some diecuts from Homespun Chic, Jenni Bowlin, & 7 gypsies various date stickers etc.  Then this line from October Afternoon called Thrift Shop.  I think it would be great to use to feature someone who likes to sew.

Check out more about October Afternoon here

Have a great Tuesday!

Carey