Happy New Year!

I don't know who said this, but as you can see, I painted this saying years ago, but never have the heart to throw it away when I start sorting through my things.
So today I hung it up, all crinkled as it may be.
I know how true this statement is and I hope this new year I make the most of my free time and tap into, more passionately, my creativity.
To all the blogs I love to pour over with my cups of tea, thank you for your inspiration !
Wishing you a blessed, happy creative New Year!!

Feeling at home with some things from England


My day started out with Pillsbury Cinnabon rolls...not really homemade, but does the trick in a hurry before a morning of sledding for my man/boy son : )

This is one of my most favorite gifts this Christmas. My beloved Cath Kidston sewing basket!
Thanks to my sister who ordered it directly from England : )
I plan on filling it with lovely notions and will keep you updated on new projects : )
For Christmas, I purchased a Country Living magazine from UK for my sister-in-law, because I had been teased for being a bit reluctant to give away my beloved magazines on the day we came together for our Sewing Saturday when she and my sister came to my home laden down with gifts for me!
So, I found the last Christmas Edition of British Country Living at Borders and gave it to her on Christmas. I quickly flipped through the pages and thought of how much I would looovvvveee to read it with a cup of tea....but wanted to prove that I too can part with those things I hold dear....
My mom and friend Sue gave me some money to do something for me for Christmas, so instead of putting it towards a bill, I went to Border's today and bought a cup of coffee and British Edition of Country Living. The Christmas edition was gone but the January issue was there. I love this magazine! I then decided that I am going to treat myself all year with a monthly delivery from England.
This ad was so cute...I posted the Loop's blog on the side where all my favorite blogs are listed.
I hope you are having a cozy day today and are finding things in your life to make you smile : )

Doughnut Shop


I took one last picture of the student's pincushions before I passed them back. I just love them!!


My new (Old) Singer 99-13 born in 1931

I lifted up my machine and found this bottle of oil tucked underneath.

I did some research and I found that my machine's birthday is October 6, 1931 and it was made in Elizabeth New Jersey at a factory called Elizabethport : )
Here is a great reference to look up your Singer if your have the serial number.
http://www.singerco.com/pdf/SINGER_AD_nos.pdf
I found this on Sleepy Cat Hollow's blog : )

Santa visits the auction!


Santa made a surprise visit to the Sandwich Auction tonight!

There were prizes awarded and I won a poinsettia!
I bid on this Singer and got it for $10!!
It has everything...the instructions, bobbin, needle and even a key to lock the case, but no knee lever : (
I will have to check out Ebay!
It weighs about 50 lbs!!! : )
Not sure of the date....I think I need stronger Christmas Tree glasses!

Special delivery

Thank you Tom and Sue for sharing your garden's tomatoes!

Love these!

I just discovered these products last year from a woman at work. They work great, are non-toxic and smell terrific. The all purpose cleaner smells like tangerines and the glass cleaner smells like oranges with a touch of vanilla.

I am not going swimming today


I have reached that weight when I stop and say to myself, Ok, If I keep going, I am going to be at the weight I was when I gave birth to my son 14 years ago : )
(And, at that time, I had gained 50 lbs!!)

I am at that place when I think, "Ok, enough."

I told one of my friends,
when it comes to my weight,
when my stomach looks like (what I call) "the bum in front" (lol!!!)
the time has come for me to do something!!

I have been at this place several times before. This time I am trying to apply all that I have learned so far and combine it all together.
Eat heathy.
Exercise.
Drink lots of water.
Commit.

The other night I was at the gym, looking at my chubby self in the floor to ceiling, wall to wall mirror, and maybe because I was dressed completely in grey, (which must have subconsciously brought to mind the thought of cement), I thought about the artist Michelangelo, and how he sculpted beautiful figures out of marble. .
I wondered what my ideal figure should look like under all this chubbiness. Not to be a perfect beach body per se, but the healthy happy body that is full of energy
that I was intended to have without an aching back (from the bum in front) lol!!
So this is my quest.

With inspiration from my brother Blog who has inspired me with his own success and, additional advice from my oldest brother, who told me reverse psychology has worked for some-telling yourself that you are not going to the pool or you are not going to the gym, but merely putting on your suit or workout clothes.

So far it has worked for me.
I have worked out and swam 11 times in the last 12 days.
The one day I missed I was having tea and toast at my hairdressers : )

Honestly, I am not seeing the results on the scale as quickly as in the past, but I know that if I am in this for the long haul, and for my overall health, the scale is just one piece of the pie...(with vanilla ice cream : )
So, I am not going to let it discourage me, but will continue to chip
away at this cement one day at a time : )

One of my summer's passions....


I have been shopping for my fruits and vegetables at farm stands this summer
and at one of my new favorite places,
farmer's markets : )
Of all the markets, I visit the Plymouth Farmer's Market the most.




This swiss chard is from Web of Life Organic Farm from Carver, MA.
They have a booth every Thursday at the market.

I have never eaten swiss chard before. It tasted a bit like spinach, but not as bitter.
I sauteed it with olive oil and sprinkled it with salt. : )
The colors of the leaves and stems were so beautiful!




When I can't make it to the Thursday Market then I catch the one on Saturday morning.






This is Blue Blinds Bakery's Organic Four Seed Spelt Bread.
I tasted it last night for the first time at my hairdressers.
It was dinner time and I was starving and Diane (my hairdresser) was going upstairs (her shop is in her basement) while I was under the dryer with my hair covered in foil.
She asked if I was hungry and if I would like some tea and toast.
It was the best toast I have ever had!
I went right to the Blue Blinds booth today at the Farmer's Market and was so happy to see there was still a loaf left!
This is pre-peanut butter. It truly is the best toast ever!!

My mom and I went to this farmer's market in Londonderry Vermont on our way to
The Vermont Country Store.
What a nice place to stop for lunch : )




Check out what farmer's markets are close to you!!


Happy Breakfast on a rainy morning

Eggs from Bull Frog Acres in West Wareham,
Homemade Brown Sugar Wheat bread made by Honey I'm Home in Plymouth.
I purchased these at the Plymouth Farmer's Market which is held every Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning in Plymouth, MA.
Tomatoes from my friends Tom and Sue's garden.
Smiley Toast's eyes from Kashi : )
Orange Juice compliments of Tropicana.
Dishes a great find from mom at the Weston Book Sale in Weston Vermont.
Have a happy day!

Love is....on a rainy day : )





I love Cath Kidston and was so happy to have the chance to visit her store in New York a few years back. I went on her website and requested a catalog and was so happy to get this in the mail....it is more like a magazine and it's free!
To request a magazine go to www.cathkidston.com
Now for the wish list : )

"These are a few of my favorite things"....The Library

(Obviously I haven't taken these pictures lately with that nice green grass)
This is a new favorite library. It has been converted into a cozy coffee shop with used books for sale. It is on my way to work or my way home, whenever I need a pick me up : )

This is the cutest library in Dennis. I did not go inside but it must be tiny!! They must really notice when your books are overdue!!

This is one of my favorite libraries in Sandwich. Everyone is so friendly and they have a great book sale every Saturday.

January 5th 2010~Christmas ornaments and all the memories they hold.

January 4th 2010~Christmas company...


January 3rd 2010~I love books!! My dream is to have a library room in my home someday....must put that on my bucket list : )



January 2nd 2010~Strawberry Fair dishes....
I found 2 cups and saucers at the most adorable shop in Sandwich called Horsefeathers.