House of Design at the Kraft

I am so excited to share with you the House of Design at the Kraft in Red Bluff, CA.  This is just some of the photos I took one rainy day in February.  Decor Accessories, Beauty & Fragrance are some of wonderful things you can see.
Please visit Kate Gleim's website and enjoy the story of the Historical Kraft Library and the history of the restoration of the Kraft Library.

I am linking up with http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/ for Mosaic Monday.  Please stop by and see more mosaics.

Thank you for stopping by. And if you could leave a comment, I would love to read them.  I try to answer them too.
Betty

Comfort in a Cup

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring.  Easter will be here very soon. And, what to do with the leftover ham?  Make soup. 

CORN CHOWDER

2 tbsp. butter

6 oz. diced ham

1 large onion, chopped

3 tbsp. flour

32 oz. Chicken Stock

1 large russet potato, peeled and diced

(about 2-1/2 cups)

1 cup evaporated skim milk

(or half-and-half)

4 cups fresh or frozen corn

1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced

3 green onions, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp. chopped basil or cilantro

Melt butter in a medium skillet.  Add ham and onions; cook for 5 minutes.  Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.  Add stock and potatoes; cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.  Add milk, corn, red peppers and green onions;  cook for 10 minutes more.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and garish with basil or cilantro. 

I serve this soup with a tossed green salad and crusty bread with butter. Ah!!!!!

Hope you enjoy the soup. 

Today I'm linking to Michael's Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.  And also linking to Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.   

Please come back soon and leave a comment

Betty

My Angel

Today is Outdoor Wednesday and I'm so pleased to show you my beautiful angel.
My angel protects my home and garden.  With spring just around the corner I am excited about putting the garden back in order.  This picture was taken last spring.  Each year is a new adventure for me in my garden.  This is a benchmark for my journey I have planned for the garden in 2010.

Can you see the lavender behind the angel?  I love yellow and lavender together.
The barrels have a different patio rose in each one. A yellow, pink, and salmon.

A close up of my angel and the beautiful pansies.

Hollyhocks are a favorite of mine. They are so easy to grow and very English. And, the lilac  Buddleia (Fountain Butterfly Bush) attracts butterflies all summer long.

 I have rose bushes at the far end of my garden and several other roses in another part of the garden.

Hope you have enjoyed visiting my angel and my garden.  Be sure to stop by A Southern Daydreamer and enjoy many other trips to Outdoor Wednesday.

Thank you for joining me, and please leave a comment. 

Betty

My Christmas Bear - Show and Tell Friday

I want to share My Christmas Bear.  This is the perfect time and place.  My Christmas Bear was given to me when I was six months old (December 24, 1941).  My mom and dad bought this bear for me on my First Christmas.  Teddy is 15" tall and well worn.  Under his arms and between his legs where the light has not reached is the original most beautiful cinnamon color.  Teddy's arms and legs move, but his head does not.  When Teddy was 35 years old, I had his nose, eyes and the pads on his paws redone.

As you can see the mohair is getting thinner as he is getting older.  I seem to be having the same problem with my hair.  I love to look at him.  I should put him away in a dark place to preserve his fur, but I just don't have the heart to.  I love him so much and I want to enjoy him everyday.  I hope you have enjoyed my Show and Tell today.  I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.  Be sure to visit  her and see the amazing blogs.
Thanks
Betty

Lemon Dimples

This weekend I made some small tea cookies. They are called lemon dimples.  They taste like lemon bars, but easier to eat (not so messy ). 

Look at that lemon curd.  Maybe some scones are in the baking future.

Lemon Dimples
1 1/2 sticks(3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, plus extra for dusting
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 scant cup prepared lemon curd

1. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in egg, lemon zest and juice, and vanilla.  On low speed, beat in baking powder, then flour, until incorporated.  Cover; chill dough 1 hour.  Place lemon curd into a small ziptop food-storage bag; seal bag.

2. Heat oven to 350 degree F.  You'll need baking sheets lined with nonstick foil, liners or parchment.  Shape scant tablespoonsful of dough into balls; place 2 in. apart on prepared sheets.  With index finger, make a deep indentation in center of each.  Snip a tiny corner of ziptop bag and pipe lemon curd into dough indentationsl to fill completely (about 1 tsp per cookie).

3. Bake 15 minutes or until cookie edges just begin to lightly brown.  Cool completely on baking sheet on wire rack.  Dust cookie edges with confectioners, sugar before serving.

Per cookie 93 cal, 1 g car, 0g fiber, 4 g fat (2 g sat fat), 20 mg chol,  20 mg sod
Makes 40 cookies  active: 15 min Total 1 hr 15 min (includes chilling dough)

Hope you enjoy!!!!
Betty

Spring Flowers

I went to visit my mom the first week in February. While my sister went on a fourteen day cruise to the Amazon River.  I shopped for groceries and cooked meals large enough for mom to freeze into small meals that are easy to heat up in the microwave.  We took rides to see how our home town has grown in 65 years.  I took her for a ride to see the house I lived in when I was three years old.  It is still standing.  Some things never change.  I bought this bouquet of tulips for the kitchen table to cheer us up since we have had so much rain this winter.  I just love the tulips the growers are developing for the mass market now. 

I was out picking some lemons in my mom's back yard to take home and  I found this strange looking lemon growing on the tree.  It looks like three lemons have grown together.  I just had to take a picture. Has anyone ever seen a lemon grow like this?

Just another look at those beautiful tulips.  

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine card making is just great fun.  I made two cards like this one for my older granddaughters.  I also included money and a piece of gum in each card.  The gum is a tradition since they were small and they love it.

The four younger granddaughters received these cards. 

On another note!!  Today my honey and I are celebrating the anniversary of our engagement of 50 years.  We were married on July 17, 1960. in Santa Clara, CA.  About ten years ago we started celebrating Valentines Day at home.  We have Lobster for dinner and dance in our kitchen.  Our favorite music is Steve Tyrell's A New Standard.  It is very romantic.