A CHARMED LIFE

Sally at Smiling Sally is once again hosting Blue Monday where everyone may post about the blue in their life. Be sure to check out Sally's blog for a list of the other participants. You may click on the pictures to enlarge.

When I was five years old, my parents bought me a silver bracelet with a little mailbox on it, as I loved getting mail from my grandmother who lived in another state. I would roll up a tiny piece of paper and put it in my little mailbox and pretend I had received mail that day.

Over the years, I would often receive charms to add to my bracelet from my parents.

As life events happened, silver disks with dates were added such as when Bob and I started going 'steady' in high school, when we got engaged, and then when we married. There are disks for each of our children and grand children with their name and birth date engraved. There is a charm from our college and one from my sorority. Places we have lived and visited are represented. That tiny bit of BLUE on my bracelet is a map of Montana where we lived for five years.

One of my favorites is a little house Bob gave me engraved with Nov. 15, 1962, the date we bought our first house. The newest charms are ones we bought on Portobello Road in London and at the Eiffel Tower in Paris when we were on our 50th wedding anniversary trip. There are now 43 charms on my bracelet.

It really has been a CHARMED life. I'm continuously amazed how joyful and content I feel about my life, and I thank God each day for my blessings.

Sally

P.S.: I'm going to take a little break from blogging to enjoy my charmed life by unplugging. Maybe I'll eat breakfast on the porch instead of in front of the computer or I might even go somewhere without my camera and cell phone! At any rate, please check back in a week or two. I have a post planned about our trip this past weekend to attend the Antiques Roadshow in Denver. What a fun experience that was!! Stay tuned.

BLUE MONDAY

Sally at Smiling Sally is hosting Blue Monday once again. Please check out her blog for a list of participants in this week's show of blue wonders.


We had a great Easter weekend that included a three day visit from our son, Mike. We had not seen him since he returned from a 2-week trip with some of his students to Italy and Greece over spring break. On this trip he took over 1000 pictures, so a lot of time was spent checking those out and hearing his tales of travel!! Plus, he always brings back great presents for everyone. And look what he brought back for me: a beautiful piece of blue Murano glass.

It is full of encased gold etching and little bubbles that catch the light.

I couldn't be any more thrilled. It is beautiful!!

Thanks for stopping by to see my new treasure.
Sally

BLUE MONDAY

Sally at Smiling Sally is once again hosting Blue Monday. Check out her blog for a plethora of Blue Loveliness!!!


In an effort to spruce up things around here, I have been trying to work on our bedroom. I made a new dust ruffle and some pillows; and also purchased a new summer-weight matelasse spread in a yummy shade of blue.

I discovered that by ordering a full-sized bedspread instead of a king-sized coverlet, it fit our king-sized bed generously and was less money.

I love the raised paisley pattern!

Thanks for stopping by,
Sally

BLUE MONDAY AND A RECIPE

I haven't participated in Blue Monday for awhile, so I decided I should search for something blue and participate once again. Please check our Sally at Smiling Sal for a list of all the other blue-lover participants.

When all else fails, I can always find a quilt around here that has some blue in it! Today, I have chosen a quilt entitled "Mother's Kitchen" that I made for inclusion in a book I wrote on two block quilt design. By combining a checkerboard block with an appliqued cherry block and using fabrics reminiscent of the 1950s, it brought back memories of my mother's kitchen.

And now for the recipe -- the cherries on the quilt reminded me of this recipe called "Cherry Berries on a Cloud". The preparation is spread out over two days; but don't let that scare you as it is really easy.

For the first part you need the following ingredients:

6 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 - 1/2 cups sugar

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in large mixer bowl on medium speed until foamy. On high speed, beat in 1 - 1/2 cups sugar, one tablespoon at a time; beat until stiff and glossy. Do not under beat.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans with Pam. Divide the meringue and spread evenly in the two pans. Bake for one hour. Turn off oven; leave pans of meringue in oven with door closed at least 12 hours.

The next day for the filling you will need:

8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups whipping cream
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Mix cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, and the vanilla. Beat whipping cream in separate chilled bowl until stiff. Fold whipped cream and marshmallows into cream cheese mixture; spread over cooked meringue. Refrigerate at least 6 hours.

Now for the topping, you will need:

1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
1 package (16 oz.) frozen strawberries (thawed)
1 teaspoon lemon juice.

Mix pie filling, strawberries, and lemon juice together. This is also wonderful with fresh fruit in the summertime.

Cut into serving pieces and top with fruit topping. This makes two 9" round desserts, enough for at least 12 people. You can save one for you and your sweetheart, and give one away to a friend or neighbor on Valentine's Day! Yum!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Sally