What Are Your Favorites....

My sweetie and I are sitting in our morning spot having coffee and chatting...I just asked him this question..."If there was suddenly a DESIGN BOSS that told you to choose two elements of accessories to use in creating your homes... "STYLE" ...what would your absolute must haves be"...after clarifying furniture and lighting are a given...his go to objects were no surprise to me....CLOCKS...AND BOOKS....

I have mentioned more then a few times how much both of us love books and clocks...so I wasn't surprised those were his favorites...

I have a book that is all about "Designing with Books"....this question brought others ...like why are books such a natural design element in our homes...for me they provide warmth...knowledge....interest...texture...color....etc...clocks have a daily function helping us keep ourselves on schedule...they dictate our day from the moment we wake...

My favorite choices were....??? ....can you guess....

Yep you guessed it ....PICTURES...I couldn't live in a space without them...especially floral prints.....I know myself...I am inspired by their presence in my life...I could never see myself living with a space untouched with pictures...

The second pick was ...Architectural pieces....this last choice took me some time ...first I thought "pillows"...then maybe all things pink...but upon further consideration it was all in the "SURPRISE"  unexpected salvage brings to our home...anything at all architectural is a must have for me....

I hope you all have a little fun thinking about this question yourselves...it's a great way to understand your own design passions ...I did in the end choose to sneak in some ...PLUCKIE PINK DISHES....a girl has to have some pink around her...don't you think...blessings and big hugs girls till next time....Karena

The Bliss They Call......Downton Abbey.....

Good Day Ladies....I've gotten to my posting chair a little later then I planned today..already 12:15 ....that's okay ...I wanted to talk about a ...BLISSFUL INDULGENCE...I'm guilty of lately...the PBS show...DOWNTON ABBEY...have any of you been watching season 2...

If you haven't let me tell you it's addicting...in a DELIGHTFUL sort of way...I watched Season 1 last year and loved it...PBS had it on every Sunday on their Masterpiece Classics series...from the first episode I was enchanted...I love the Edwardian period...I have since the 70's when I picked up my first copy of Edith Holden's Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady....so naturally I tuned in every Sunday...if I missed one I'd watch on my computer....I was that surprised when I heard they were coming back with a Season 2...the pure Bliss of spending time with these characters in this amazing House ...situated on the most beautiful English property...during a time in history that was opulent...visually stunning...fashion forward...and full of the very best of formal living...crystal...silver...flower bowls....knife rests...butter plates...batten berg lace...and the term ....ABOVE STAIRS...which refers to the Lord and Lady's estate...below stairs is all about the servants quarters...hall ways...secret corridors..and passages that seamlessly braid them into the lives of their employers without being seen or heard as they went about their plethora of tasks...from cleaning to cooking to serving..setting tables ..sideboards...even walking across the grounds was all done BELOW STAIRS...such a stunning split in class ...it wasn't boring "Below Stairs" either ...the many people that lived this life had their own explosive...complicated...sometimes larger then life experiences...if you haven't tuned in yet....set your DVR for Sunday ...sit down with the folks at DOWNTON ABBEY...I think you'll be glad you did....blessings and hugs till next time....Karena

Sunday Is For Family....and Flowers...

Happy Sunday girls...how are you this lovely day...I was wandering around after watching a movie this morning looking at the flowers we have scattered around the house...in the winter months it's a HUGE pick me up to see flowers blooming....arranged in pretty pots...smiling at me as I pass by....

This Daffodil bloomed over night ...the inside was so full of "LIGHT" it nearly took my breath away...how do they do that...all I can say is our creator...the star breather....cosmos builder...is.... p.r.e.t.t.y...good at floral details...thank you Lord....I just had to get my camera out and share some of these beauties with you..

A blue hydrangea my sister and I found when we were out and about on Friday...the color is perfect

Flowers we put together in vases... we each chose... the same...then we arranged them...so fun

A bronze bowl on a marble base I've had for years ...with a "Cranberry Glass" bowl placed inside for color...we will be having dinner with the kids tonight...we try to get together as often as we can for ...Sunday Dinner...tonight we will head out to an eatery instead of having a meal at home...FUN....that means we have extra time to relax...hang out...and enjoy one another...whatever your day holds I pray it's filled with family...smiles...fun...and of course good food...take care dear ones...till next time....Karena

Rain & Wind....My Favorite Kind of Day....

Hello everyone...It's one of my favorite kind of days today...we have heavy rain....lot's of wind...AND the temperature is only 58 

This is a peek out our back door...I was hoping to catch the rainfall but it's a little hard to see...

This is a picture of a pot of flower's my sweetie bought me from Trader Joe's...I grew up in Southern California with a Trader Joe's across the street from our house...when they showed up on the East Coast a few years ago It was THRILLING to me...I just love shopping there...raw foods....good produce...the best raw almonds EVER...they come in little packets you can take with you for snacking...almonds are so good for us...I try to eat a packet a day or more...instead of unhealthy things...who knew snacking could be good for you...well Trader Joe's did....and does....

I have chores to do today...still haven't made our bed...laundry is staring at me ....the kitchen needs a good scrub...and the family room could use a vacum ...I don't mind ....on days like this when Mother Nature is feeling emotional I am inspired...quirky I know but I have been this way my whole life...living in sunny California growing up it was rarely gloomy...my best friend and I would call each other up ANY time it was cloudy...cold...rainy..we'd squeal at one another..."Have You Looked Outside"...still to this day with over 23 years of friendship...one of the first things we ask each other over the phone is "How's the Weather"...so while I try to get motivated to tackle my to do list...I wish you blessings...big hugs....and some cloudy weather....thanks for popping in...Karena

No Piknik....Don't Understand Google+....NOW WHAT....

Good Morning girls...okay so these pictures were downloaded into Google+ I decided to try it out....not too excited about it...yes I drug my pictures to the box indicated one at a time...but once they're there ...what then....as in ...how do I edit them...pretty them up...frame them...there isn't a place to do that...urgggg

This perplexes me no end....I don't know the computer very well ....if we don't have Piknik to edit our photos then what do we have...I know you all understand how to do this...I would be so....HAPPY....If you would share with me...okay my mini rant is over...this "pink rose bowl" is so sweet...I just love it....

There is a saying I grew up with in church....it's in the Bible somewhere ...a loose translation ....PEACE BE STILL....I hear it often throughout my day in the back of my mind....sometimes in the front of my mind....Jesus our best friend ...Savior...Lord of our lives reminding us to be still....listen...feel HIS  peace  surrounding us....LOVE THAT THOUGHT....

These little flowers in my kitchen cabinet bring me joy...just the sight of them...reminding me a hundred times a day...as I walk by .....SPRING IS COMING...

Frankie Coffee Cake and I would like to wish you a blessed day full of joy and PEACE....till next time...big hugs...Karena

Simple ...Tastie...& Down To Earth....

When I was little my mom would make what she called "Boiled Dinner"...I have wonderful memories of how the house smelled...the process of cutting the veggies (which I helped her do as I grew older)...this tasty simple dinner was always one of my favorites...This is really Corn Beef and Cabbage....with extra veggies...You get your corn beef wash it off being sure to find the spice packet they include in  the packaging...put  in a dutch oven...add water enough to fill the pot 1/2 way ...add the spice packet...put it in the oven at 350 degrees for 3 hours...no need to check it...the less you uncover the pot the better...

45 minutes before your 3 hours is up get your carrots ...onion...and potatoes...( russet work best here...they are sturdy enough to take the boiling without turning to mush...) Add to your pot on top of the corn beef...set timer for 25 minutes...

Now is a good time to cut and quarter your cabbage...I always use green cabbage...just because I love the taste of it...but you could use purple if you prefer...

When the 25 minutes is up for your veggies....open your pot and add the cabbage...depending on how much your cooking this may take some "lid squishing" ...not to worry the cabbage cooks down quickly...

After your full 3 hours is up I spoon the meat and veggies onto a platter for serving ...which as you can see is a step I missed with my camera...but you get the idea...it is a REALLY YUMMY MEAL....the kids did come and share this with us last night...these are their plates served up...mine is off the side...they were happy little eaters...we ALL were...I am thankful to have this memory of Marmie's boiled dinner ...I hope you all have a great day today...were just a few days away from another weekend...OH BOY....hoping you all have a brilliant day whether  in sun...rain...or snow....till next time big hugs ....Karena

Thoughts ..On A Tuesday Morning....

Well another Tuesday morning is upon us girls...how are you all this morning...I  went  around with my  ipad  practicing with the camera ...I ended up taking these with my power shot camera so they'd be clearer...I do not have a steady hand yet with the ipad..I think it's because the screen is so big and I tend to move with it as I click the camera...oh well ...I will keep trying...practice makes perfect...

I am having the kids over tonight for a "Boiled Dinner"....that's what Marmie used to call it when she made corned beef and cabbage...she would put carrots ...potatoes and onions in during the last 20 minutes of cooking..then add the   Cabbage for 15 minutes after that....what you have then is a SCRUMPTIOUS meal that is filling...tasty...and hardly any work...

I included this picture to show you these battery candles that I am in love with...they are on a timer battery that will turn the candles on for 6 hours ...then off for 8...I just think they're fabulous...I don't have to do anything but enjoy them...

How are you girls spending your Tuesday....I love to cook....I like everything about it...shopping for the meal....washing it all up....chopping...sauteing ....browning...then of course cooking it...I know many of you share this passion....I will take some pictures of our boiled dinner later today and share it with you tomorrow...

Hoping you all have a great day...till next time...blessings and big hugs...Karena