Friday Favorites! Thought I'd share a few of my faves for this week.
Photo: Sophie with a rawhide bone. What can I say? She is intense. Everything she does, she does it full force, no holds back. We have had our issues with this strong willed little dog, but she has been behaving lately. She is a girl who wants a job. With a capital J. She is busy all the time, constantly on the alert, ready for anything. Any Thing. I wish I could leave a list of tasks for her to complete while I am at work during the day. I know I'd come home and they all would be done. If only she could fold laundry. She spent today protecting our garden from some kind of creature–it could have been a gopher, or maybe it was a big ground squirrel or prairie dog. Who knows, last I saw she had it scrambling over the back fence.
Reads: While in the car, I've been listening to an audio recording of a book called The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes. It is a fictional story of a landlord and his wife who take in a lodger that they believe could be Jack the Ripper. Do they turn him in and give up the rent money that they so desperately need? This is such a suspenseful tale I find myself driving past my own house I am so caught up in the story! Don't miss this oldie!
On my bedside table is The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. The characters in this book move from Pre World War 1 to the present, and between Brisbane, Australia and Cornwall, England. Morton's books are best sellers in England and Australia, and I am so pleased to have discovered her. I recently finished her House at Riverton and couldn't wait to get my hands on more of her works.
Listen: Pink Martini. If you don't know Pink Martini, your life is incomplete! This is their third album, Hey Eugene. They have quite a global sound, and one of their songs that I can't get out of my head when I hear it is "Donde Estas, Yolanda?" from their Sympathique cd. Fun music, always lifts my mood.
Cooking: My fave meal of the past week has to have been the Shepherd's Pie I made when my son Ahren came from Cal Poly. You hardly need a recipe for this stick to your ribs dish. Brown a pound or so of hamburger along with some diced onion, carrot and celery. Add a couple tablespoons of flour to thicken. I also added salt and pepper, some broth and Worchestershire. It needed something else, so I put in a squeeze of lemon juice. Put it all in an oval baking dish and top with mashed potatoes. Yum. I sprinkled on some cheddar cheese for color and cooked it for 30 minutes at 350. Supposed to serve six and the three of us ate it all at one sitting.
Favorite New Find: This gingham skirt with a botanical print from Talbots. So cute with a black tee and a narrow belt. Add your favorite strappy sandals, and you are good to go anywhere. I adore this skirt and it will be in regular rotation all summer long!
Out and About: I think I neglected to mention that I have taken on a second part time job at said Talbots, mentioned above. They have me working this Friday and Saturday, so that will pretty much be my outing! With any luck I will not be scheduled to work Sunday and can get up to Palo Alto to see my dear dad, who I have missed the past two weekends. Sunday Dinner with the family is what feeds my soul!
Quilting Project: Fabric is Dandelion Girl by Fig Tree for Moda. Very pretty colors of pale blue, yellow, pale coral. I am making two blocks, a nine patch surround block and a pinwheel block. The nine patch block will form a chain pattern on the quilt top and will be a strong contrast to the pastels. I hope to get some pinwheels finished this weekend in my spare moments.
Gratitude: My children are safe and happy. Sara and Ryan bought their first home in Angel's Camp, California and the deal should close escrow this following weekend. Ahren is doing well in graduate school and doesn't ride his motorcycle anymore. That is one worry gone from my life!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
26 responses to “Friday Favorites”
I just loved reading this post. Thanks for sharing all these. I’m the reader who wrote you once how my grandson Owen loves seeing Ozzie’s photos on here (and me too). I am glad Sophie is playing nice (I assume so, for you didn’t write that she isn’t). Happy weekend.
I just loved reading this post. Thanks for sharing all these. I’m the reader who wrote you once how my grandson Owen loves seeing Ozzie’s photos on here (and me too). I am glad Sophie is playing nice (I assume so, for you didn’t write that she isn’t). Happy weekend.
Yes, counting our blessings is always a good thing. Thanks for sharing! Pink Martini is so fun. I have seen them at Chico State twice. They do pick up the mood don’t they? That Sophie, isn’t she just adorable. Glad things are working better…maybe it’s possible those last arguments set things in order and Ozzie knows who’s the boss! Happy Mother’s Day Nicole! Your family is so very lucky to have you! Pam in Chico
Yes, counting our blessings is always a good thing. Thanks for sharing! Pink Martini is so fun. I have seen them at Chico State twice. They do pick up the mood don’t they? That Sophie, isn’t she just adorable. Glad things are working better…maybe it’s possible those last arguments set things in order and Ozzie knows who’s the boss! Happy Mother’s Day Nicole! Your family is so very lucky to have you! Pam in Chico
Gee, I miss seeing happy pictures of Ozzy. I hope all is well with him.
Gee, I miss seeing happy pictures of Ozzy. I hope all is well with him.
Great post! I loved that book, The Forgotten Garden. I stumbled on it in an English language bookstore in Munich and bought it for the plane ride home. And Talbots, my home away from home (or so my husband thinks). Working there is a tempting idea except I’m afraid all the money earned would go right back to the store.
Great post! I loved that book, The Forgotten Garden. I stumbled on it in an English language bookstore in Munich and bought it for the plane ride home. And Talbots, my home away from home (or so my husband thinks). Working there is a tempting idea except I’m afraid all the money earned would go right back to the store.
What a great post…thanks for the book recommendation, I’m always looking for new authors. Love the new quilt! Look at that Sophie!
What a great post…thanks for the book recommendation, I’m always looking for new authors. Love the new quilt! Look at that Sophie!
Thanks for the Friday Fav’s. Your post just validates that, depending on how you look at things, Life is pretty darn good. I feel the same in my world, even with all the challenges that come our way!
Sharon
Thanks for the Friday Fav’s. Your post just validates that, depending on how you look at things, Life is pretty darn good. I feel the same in my world, even with all the challenges that come our way!
Sharon
You’re squeezing a lot out of your day my friend! Talbots is always my dream clothing. For thinner people but still, nothing says classic style to me like Talbots.
You’re squeezing a lot out of your day my friend! Talbots is always my dream clothing. For thinner people but still, nothing says classic style to me like Talbots.
ANGELS CAMP? Why so far away?
ANGELS CAMP? Why so far away?
Good morning Nicole! Thanks for sharing your week with us. Your life is full of many blessings. How exciting for your daughter to buy her first home. I love Angels Camp. I grew up in Placerville and we spent alot of time in the summers out in that direction…watching the frog jumping races…..and camping at Calaveras State Park. I hope she enjoys it there.
Am glad that Sophie is playing nice. Hoping it stays that way for you. I dearly love that quilt. Everythime you show it in a photo, I go on a wild internet search, trying to find that fabric line. No luck yet. I’m a sucker for star quilts. And anything with red.
Have a good weekend. Happy Mothers Day!
Good morning Nicole! Thanks for sharing your week with us. Your life is full of many blessings. How exciting for your daughter to buy her first home. I love Angels Camp. I grew up in Placerville and we spent alot of time in the summers out in that direction…watching the frog jumping races…..and camping at Calaveras State Park. I hope she enjoys it there.
Am glad that Sophie is playing nice. Hoping it stays that way for you. I dearly love that quilt. Everythime you show it in a photo, I go on a wild internet search, trying to find that fabric line. No luck yet. I’m a sucker for star quilts. And anything with red.
Have a good weekend. Happy Mothers Day!
Nicole, the picture of Sophie is adorable. I love the skirt too except for me it is all jeans and tee’s or sweatshirts and at home it is almost always jammies. Comfort clothing is my thing now. If it is something I have to dress up for, I don’t go…I think it because I had to wear a suit every single day for 8 years as a manager. I go so tired of it. Also I think the color combination on your quilt is really beautiful. Okay, that’s it except one question…Where is Ozzie? Is he okay?
Nicole, the picture of Sophie is adorable. I love the skirt too except for me it is all jeans and tee’s or sweatshirts and at home it is almost always jammies. Comfort clothing is my thing now. If it is something I have to dress up for, I don’t go…I think it because I had to wear a suit every single day for 8 years as a manager. I go so tired of it. Also I think the color combination on your quilt is really beautiful. Okay, that’s it except one question…Where is Ozzie? Is he okay?
Your post is as enjoyable to read as the books you recommend. Would you please post another picture of the quilt blocks? I would like to see the block in the upper left hand corner that is tucked underneath. It looks too intriquing to pass up a second look. Thanks. Sounds like life is good.
Your post is as enjoyable to read as the books you recommend. Would you please post another picture of the quilt blocks? I would like to see the block in the upper left hand corner that is tucked underneath. It looks too intriquing to pass up a second look. Thanks. Sounds like life is good.
Hi Nicole
thank you for telling us all about what you love at the moment
I Have read the Book The Forgotten Garden
and I loved it
also I live in Maryborough and the wharf she talked about is just down the road from me house
hugs Beth
Hi Nicole
thank you for telling us all about what you love at the moment
I Have read the Book The Forgotten Garden
and I loved it
also I live in Maryborough and the wharf she talked about is just down the road from me house
hugs Beth
What a fun posting, Nicole, I enjoyed all of it! I love Talbots though they are a bit “spendy” for me. Wearing a skirt and Tshirt is such a nice change from jeans and Tshirt. I wore a skirt and dressier Tshirt to work today and the doctor (my boss) commented that I don’t even need to wear white hose, it already looks like I have some on! lol. Thanks for sharing
What a fun posting, Nicole, I enjoyed all of it! I love Talbots though they are a bit “spendy” for me. Wearing a skirt and Tshirt is such a nice change from jeans and Tshirt. I wore a skirt and dressier Tshirt to work today and the doctor (my boss) commented that I don’t even need to wear white hose, it already looks like I have some on! lol. Thanks for sharing