~♥ Christmas Is Just Around The Corner ♥~

http://www.gooseberrypatch.com
♥ Kim

~♥ Blogging and Baking ♥~

  Good morning, blogging friends...well, I'm officially back to blogging...after a much needed break and lots of prayers I am returning...how often I will post remains to be seen...thank you to all of you who sent emails and who remained Followers of my blog even with my absence...it means a lot!  

    I'm sure most of you are on the "Pinterest" bandwagon...it really is a wonderful site and I've found so many great recipes.  I recently found myself with some over-ripe bananas.  Usually I would make banana nut bread, but wanting to try something different, I went to Pinterest.   

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  This is the most A-M-A-Z-I-N-G cookie ever!  It was really easy, too!  And, I'm all about recipes that are easy...no complicated cookies for this chick...  

  Sure wish you could taste them...you definitely can't eat just one!   ♥ Kim   Graphic by: http://www.gooseberrypatch.com

~♥ Words to Live By ♥~

  ♥ Kim

~♥ P E A C E ♥~

I know it's been awhile blogging friends...I'm sorry I haven't been around...lots on my mind and on my heart...lots of prayers have been said and today I received my answer...it came in the form of an email from "The Brave Girl's Club."  

  So for now, dear blogging friends, I'm going to say Good Bye...only the good Lord knows how long I'll be away...  

♥ Kim   Graphic By: http://www.gooseberrypatch.com

~♥ Kitchen Corner ♥~

I enjoy spending time in my kitchen.  Whenever I was little I spent a lot of time with my Gram in her kitchen.  I'd watch her make pies, helped her cut squares for her quilts, play cards with her or just spend time talking with her.  I wanted a kitchen that was as welcoming as her kitchen was.

I thought I'd share a little corner of my kitchen with you.

I like to keep things handy for my family to snack on.  There's usually something yummy in the cookie jar or on the cake plate.  I love having my Keurig available for a quick Cup O' Joe.  I keep the K-cups handy in the bottom bowl.  Above it are various breakfast bars for when we're on the run in the morning and we don't have time for a good breakfast.  I have started to collect juicers.  I have two on the table that I bought at thrift stores and the green one on the window sill belonged to my Gram.  The school chalkboard was given to me by a friend.  I like to change the message on it using my Chalk Ink markers.   Click Here to Visit the Chalk Ink Website!

Thank you for stopping by...I always enjoy the company.

♥ Kim

~♥ It's A Beautiful Day ♥~

I've been enjoying our lovely weather here in Southwestern PA...in the 70's and no humidity (though I do hear the humidity will be returning this weekend - I'll be hibernating in the air-conditioning).  I'm hoping to get out this week and pick some raspberries (I did enjoy a handful yesterday - so yummy).

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 I thought I'd share this picture of our view with you that my Dear Daughter took the other day...the clouds were amazing to say the least (she captured it perfectly).  Wish you could experience this in person...pictures do not do it justice.

CLICK to visit my Daughter's Blog

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A little something from the Brave Girl's Club that spoke to me...I wanted to share it with you.

CLICK to visit the Brave Girls Club



♥ Kim

~♥ Laundry Day ♥~

Good morning blogger friends...hope you all are doing well.  Sorry I've been MIA...life happens, as you all well know, and blogging takes a backseat.

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I'm enjoying a day off  today and I'm happily catching up on laundry...there's nothing better than freshly laundered bed linens (perhaps freshly baked cookies).  How thankful I am that I can do laundry with an automatic washer and dryer.  If I ever find myself complaining about doing laundry I just have to look at this picture that I have hanging in my laundry room and then it stops...and I am grateful for my faithful washer and dryer that are 22 years old.



That's my great-grandma on the far right...Ophelia was her name.  I think it's a beautiful name.

Here are a few pictures of my laundry room.



Thanks for stopping by...I do appreciate your visits!

♥ Kim

~♥ Words To Live By ♥~

 ♥ Kim

~♥ A New Treasure ♥~

Hello Friends...hope you all had a nice relaxing weekend.  That's what I mostly did...relaxed, napped, journaled,  read, finished watching Season 2 of Downton Abbey, and more relaxing.  I am feeling so much better since my surgery.  I went back to work on Tuesday but I had to take it easy.  My daughter, Emily, came to work with me since she's on break from business school until she starts back for her summer term in June.  She's a good kid, she could be doing other things on her break (I know I'd want to do other things as well) but instead she's helping her mama clean...I love her! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Just look at what I found in our garage...there are quite a few more treasures I spotted if only I can talk my hubby into letting me have them...keep your fingers crossed!

I'm thinking about adding some plants to it...I found some nice herbs that would look great in here. I'm hoping to get to some church sales this weekend...I'll be sure and post pictures if I find anything.Thanks for stopping by!♥ Kim

~♥ From The Brave Girls Club ♥~

Do you ever read something that you feel was meant just for you?  This was the case when I read what I posted below...I am signed up for emails from the Brave Girls Club...this was the email I received yesterday.

For more information on the Brave Girls Club go to: http://www.bravegirlsclub.com

It's life-changing fun for Women.

♥ Kim

~♥ Cake Makes Everything Better ♥~

I honestly believe this statement...I've been recovering from some minor surgery and my sweet MIL brought me a cake...she knows how much I love cake!  It was chocolate with buttercream icing from our local Giant Eagle...boy was it delicious!  It has to be buttercream or a sweet icing, too, no whipped icing for me! 

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We have a tradition in our family that the day after your birthday you can eat cake for breakfast every day until it's all gone...my daughter's 19th birthday is coming up in June so we're looking forward to eating cake for breakfast.

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Speaking of cake...I thought I'd share with you this picture of my Gram and Aunt Betty...see, look how happy they are eating cake (I wish I  knew who the other ladies are in the picture or even what year this was taken.) 

What cracks me up about this picture is the size of the cake on the woman's fork beside my Gram.

Thank you so much for stopping by

♥ Kim

~♥ Fern Love ♥~

Hello friends...I finally got around to getting ferns for my porch...here's the before picture:

And here's the after:

Here's another view of the house with the ferns.

Joni, from Old Centennial Farmhouse talked about Wild Phlox in her post:

http://www.oldcentennialfarmhouse.com/2012/05/magic-in-ordinary-weeds.html

No matter where we go, the kitties like to follow us.

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Thank you so much for stopping by...I always enjoy the company!

♥ Kim

~♥ Flower Love ♥~

Hello to you on this lovely sunny afternoon in Southwestern PA...we were blessed with such a wonderful day...it literally puts sunshine in my soul!

I have finally gotten around to purchasing some flowers for my porch. 

The barrel was a yard sale find.

"Calabrachoa - Hot Pink"

I got this toolbox out of our garage...hubby wasn't using it.

"Gerbera Daisy, Orange Mint, Ivy"

I love milk glass...thrift store find.

"Angelart - Pineapple"

More "Angelart - Pineapple" in milk glass.

Silver bowl from my friend, Josie.

I bought geraniums for my deck...still need to spruce up the deck a little.

I have decided to get ferns to hang on my porch this year. My dear hubby found some big beautiful ones at one of our favorite garden store so hopefully I'll get them this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!

♥ Kim

~♥ For My Mom ♥~

I miss you more and more each day...there's not a day that goes by that I don't think you!  I still have a hard time believing you've been gone for 22 years...

♥ Kim

I'd also like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all of my blogging friends as well.

p.s. I found this picture on Facebook and I wish I would have remembered where I found it so I could give credit to who it belongs to...if you know, please let me know!

~♥ Yard Sales & Crafting ♥~

Hello on this lovely Monday afternoon.  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I had the opportunity to do a little yard saling with my friend, Lisa, on Saturday before we headed to a baby shower.  I found this porcelain figurine for $1.00!  I thought it was sweet...I love baby animals.

I also found this Pennsylvania Dutch plate for .50 cents...some of the sayings on it are a hoot!

Here's some of them:

"Papa's at the table and half et already."

"Eat the plate clean and tomorrow will be a good day."

"We grow too soon olde und too late schmart."

"Katie wants marryin' she's 16 already."

"She's chust so wonderful nice."

"You get me all ferhuddled."

"Outen the light."

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On Sunday, I met with a few friends for brunch at the local I-Hop...it was so yummy!

I decided to make the girls a little Mother's Day gift from an idea I saw on Pinterest...I love that site.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

This is what mine looked like:

I gave each friend a notepad, pen and a packet of "Forget Me Not" seeds.  They can use the tag as a bookmarker as well.

I scanned the picture of four children all dressed in white from a photograph that belonged to my Husband's Grandmother.  My Mother-In-Law inherited a whole box of pictures but she was going to get rid of them because she had no idea who they were...I told her I would gladly take them off of her hands.

Please feel free to use the picture for your crafting purposes.

♥ Kim

~♥ Yard Saling ♥~

Good morning blogging friends...I thought I'd share with you what I found this past Saturday when my closest friends and I went to some sales...we really had a lot of fun searching for treasures!  I wish I would have taken pictures of what my friends found as well...you can be sure I will the next time we are out and about.

1. My dear friend Josie gave me the greenware items before we even left on our shopping trip...she is one of the most loving and giving people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  
2. The plates and dishes were found at a church sale for $3.00 for a set of 8.  We looked at an antique shop which had something similiar and was very high priced for a set of 4.  I'll use these at my annual Christmas cookie exchange.
3. A little glass jar for .25 cents.
4. An oil lamp for .50 cents.
5. Kitchen utensils given to me by Josie.
6. VHS tape of Little Women for .25 cents...it was never opened!

My friend Lisa found these great wooden folding chairs...she got them for $3.00 for a set of 2.  My friend Sue got the cutest little school desks...I wish I could remember the price, but I'm almost certain she didn't pay more than $6.00 for both of them (please correct me if I'm wrong, Sue).  Josie found an old wire basket that she is putting on her fence.

After we were done shopping we went for lunch at a local eatery called, "Carol and Dave's Roadhouse".  If you're ever in the Ligonier, PA, area you defnitely need to stop there for some great food!

I'm first in the fuscia jacket, next to me is Sue, then Lisa and then Josie...I really do love these ladies and am so blessed to have them in my life!

xoxo Kim

~♥ Facebook Page ♥~

Hi blogging friends...just wanted you to be aware that I created a Facebook page for "Home Is Where The Heart Is"  Here's the link or you can click on the link in the sidebar.  Hope you'll stop over :)

http://www.facebook.com/KimsHomeIsWhereTheHeartIs

♥ Kim

~♥ Words To Live By ♥~

Today before you think of saying an unkind word
Think of someone who can’t speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife
Think of someone who’s crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life
Think of someone who went too early to the grave.

Before you complain about your children
Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep
Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job
Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another
Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down
Put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.

~ Author Unknown

♥ Kim

Graphic by: www.gooseberrypatch.com

~♥ It's An Honor ♥~

I have been a fan of Gooseberry Patch for many many years.  I honestly can't even remember when I started collecting their cookbooks, but once I bought one I couldn't stop.  I wish I had written in them when I got them so I would know which one was the first one I bought. 

I was asked last year to be an Early Bird Reviewer, which was an honor for me.  I had the opportunity to review, " Best Ever Cookies".  I love baking since I definitely have a sweet tooth.  I love to cook as well, but sweets have always been my first love!



Click Here to order your own copy...you won't be disappointed!

When Jen from Gooseberry Patch contacted me and told me they wanted me to be fan of the week on their Gooseberry Patch Facebook Fan Page I was so excited...thank you so much Gooseberry Patch...I will always sing your praises!

Why not stop over and visit them?

www.gooseberrypatch.com

www.facebook.com/gooseberrypatch

http://www.gooseberrypatch.typepad.com/blog/

♥ Kim



~♥ Words To Live By ♥~

♥ Kim

~♥ A Wish List ♥~

I'm sure all of you have things you wish for...thought I'd share with you what's on my wish list:
Just added one more item at the bottom...take a look!

http://www.bn.com

I bought my daughter a Nook Tablet for Christmas.  She absolutely loves it.  I thought it would be nice to have one to download some of the free E-books that are being offered by Gooseberry Patch.

http://www.gooseberrypatch.com

 

http://www.o.co

I've always wanted a Kitchen Aide Mixer.  I do a lot of baking and this beauty would come in very handy.

 http://www.verabradley.com

I've been a fan of Vera Bradley for many years...back when it wasn't very popular.  Boy have the styles and patterns changed over the years.  They are so much nicer now.  I'm loving this Doodle Daisy Frame Bag.

http://shopping.susanbranch.com

I love anything that Susan Branch is involved in.  She was featured in this book along with other fantastic blogging women.  Here's what's written on Susan's website about the book:

"Your personal invitation into the kitchens (and beyond) of 28 top food bloggers and chefs! Based on the Where Women Cook magazine, this unique book profiles 28 extraordinary women who share their passion for cooking and entertaining. Every meal they make and share is a celebration, and each photo-rich profile offers a peek into their cooking environment, favorite recipes (more than 60 of them), and tips on how to turn every moment festive, whether it's a holiday party or a family dinner.The women include: Susan Branch (of course!); popular food blogger Molly Wizenberg of Orangette; bestselling author and blogger Angie Dudley of Bakerella; The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond; Farm Chick Serena Thompson, and other popular food personalities. "- Susan Branch Website         

http://www.felixdoolittle.com

Felix Doolittle Notecards...the illustrations are out of this world...just so darling!

  So that's a few things on my wish list...what about yours?

♥ Kim

~♥ A Quote ♥~

“Trust is like a vase.. once it's broken, though you can fix it, the vase will never be the same again.” I'm starting a new series on my blog...I've always loved quotes and I'll share those that speak to me. ♥ Kim

~♥ Easter Dress-Up ♥~

Gooseberry Patch had a post on their blog about Easter Memories...I always remember dressing up for chuch.  Here is one of my favorite pictures.  I was almost three years old way back in 1968.

Click Here to see Jo Ann and Vickie as little girls and read their Easter Memories.

♥ Kim

 

~♥ Peek Into My Pantry ♥~

Hello friends...I hope you all are doing well. It's a lovely Monday afternoon here in Southwestern Pa...we've been blessed with a pretty mild winter so far...I am certainly not complaining! My Dear Daughter and I headed out for a 30 minute walk this afternoon.  So glad I got to spend time with her since she had a day off from college because of President's Day.

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Thanks to those of you who continued to follow my blog even though I haven't really blogged much about my home lately...that's about to change today!  I thought I'd share with you pictures of my pantry.  Having this pantry really keeps my kitchen organized.  Let's take a look:

 Here's a look with all of the doors opened.

 I keep my kitchen gadgets in this side of the pantry.  Love the pull-out shelves for easy access.

 Cookie sheets, baking pans, muffin tins, and cooling racks are in this area.

 My little Dirt Devil vacuum, Swiffer Wet Jet, and other misc. items are stored here.

 Breakfast items and items that won't fit on the other shelves go here.

 Top shelf is for condiments, etc. Next Shelf is for canned goods, etc. Shelf below that is for snacks and the bottom two shelves (you can only see one of them) is for baking supplies.

Hope you enjoyed this little tour...thanks for stopping by!

♥ Kim