Strawberries and Vintage

The STRAWBERRIES are finished producing this year.  I had a VERY BIG crop.

I 'm excited about today's blog.  I love to share my experiences with everyone in blog land.  It's fun to photograph, bake and play with my dishes. And, I love to make mosaics.  So here goes.

Hope you enjoy the goodies.....

I made Strawberry jam.  Ate Strawberries on Ice Cream.  Baked Strawberry Bars.  Made Strawberry Smoothies and put Strawberries on cold cereal.  I love  having Strawberry plants just outside my back door.  What a blessing.

I found this vintage jam jar at an Estate Sale.  The glass spoon is the cutest.

STRAWBERRY BARS

Makes 2 dozen

      1 cup butter, softened                              

   1/2 cup shortening  

      1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

   1/2 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups strawberry preserves, divided

      2 teaspoons vanilla extract       

      2 large eggs

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

   1/2 teaspoon salt

     Garnish: fresh strawberries, mint 

1. Preheat oven to 350, Line a 13x9 inch pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, letting foil hang over sides of pan.  Spray foil with nonstick baking spray with flour; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine butter, shortening, and sugars.  Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.  Beat in 1/2 cup strawberry preserves and vanilla.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating to combine well.  Spread dough into prepared pan.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes; spread remaining 3/4 cup preserves on top of warm pastry.  Refrigerate for 4 hours to overnight.

4. Lift from pan using foil as handles; cut into squares to serve.  Garnish with strawberries and mint, if desired.  Credit-Southern Lady May/June

Estate sales are great.  I think I have an addiction.  I found this beautiful tea set about a year ago. Just down the street from my house. Two dessert plates, two cups and two saucers. When I was buying the dishes I asked the fellow if he had more of the same.  He said "If I had more I would have put the whole set on eBay." I said. "OK I will buy just what you have."  Thought the dishes would go well with the little red pot. 

Royal Albert Bone China-pattern Nosegay 1935   Total set $6.00 dollars

The harp shaped dessert fork is from my 1847 Rogers Silver plate flatware "FIRST LOVE". 

   'OLYMPIAD'

From my garden

I'm joining Suzanne @ Coloradolady for Vintage Thingies Thursday

I'm joining Leigh @ Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday

I'm joining Michael @ Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

and

I'm joining Cindy @ My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Thank you for stopping over to see the Goodies...

I know when you link back to the wonderful blogs you will find more Goodies.

Please leave a comment and be a follower

Betty

xoxo

White Outdoors

I have always loved white in my garden.  The heat is so intense in our area that white is just wonderful in the summer.  Other colors fade with the hot sun, but the white stays crisp and fresh.   I would love to have a garden completely planted in white, but that is for another lifetime.

Garden ornaments add interest to a garden.  As gardeners know.  A garden is always changing.  Depending on the weather, vision or time spent in the garden. 

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME WHITE AND OUTDOORS.

 I think it's nice to have an angel in the garden.... She is so sweet.

Birds have somewhere to play.  

The strawberries have been producing for weeks and are resting now. But I found a few WHITE blooms.

The white pansies will be wilting soon.  As the weather heats up I will replace these flowers with more heat resistant plants.  I have no idea what I will put in this pot, but "that's gardening".

This duck keeps the snails from eating all the strawberries.  Ha Ha.

My sweetheart just bought this pineapple for my birthday last week.  I have always wanted to have a pineapple garden ornament. The pineapple has been a universal symbol of hospitality and welcome for centuries all over the world.

The pineapple sits on a pedestal in the middle of my rose garden next to the patio. And the angel sits on a perch watching the activity of the garden.  Keeping it safe.

Thanks so much for joining me for White Outdoors.

I'm joining Faded Charm for White Wednesday and A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.  Please link back to see more White Outdoors.

Please leave a comment and be a follower.

Betty

xoxo