Do You Remember Mary?

Mary Engelbreit that is.............. oh how I used to (and still do) love her and her wonderful, whimsical art. I collected her magazines, Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, for YEARS. I still have them.... can't part with them. Each one is an absolute treasure.

The other day, I happened to find one of her little books at a local gift shop, and of course, I just HAD to buy it.  It's entitled Words for Gardeners to Live By and I love it! 

What a sweet little book! I love gardening and flowers, and quotes and poems, and this little book embodies all of that. It brought back such good memories, browsing through it, of the times I'd see her artwork and little treasures for sale in shops I would visit, years ago. Her artwork was showcased on so many wonderful household items, teapots, books, calendars, linens, dishes, etc. and I wanted them all! I never really did buy many of her items, but have collected some of her calendars just for the artwork. I saved the Home Companion magazines for her prints in each one and the paper dolls!

It was always her style, and still is, to use poems and quotes in her drawings.  Here are a few from the book:

Perfect for Valentine's Day!

I love her trademark flowers. You see these in much of her artwork.

And my little front  yard plot looks suspiciously like her drawing (below)! I must have seen this years ago and it's been in my subconscious mind ever since. I had a picture in my mind of how I wanted to make a little area in my front  yard that looked like a "cottage" garden.

Here's Mary's.............

Here's mine!

Here's a link to information on Mary Engelbreit if you would like:
Mary Engelbreit biography  I just headed on over to her ONLINE STORE to see what is there, and I see that she has apparel, books, coloring books, greeting cards and accessories. I know she has written and illustrated some childrens' books in the past too. 

Mary (ME as she is known as) is still drawing up a storm and now has her own online store. Sadly we don't see many of her darling household goodies, accessories and cards in stores and shops anymore. Every once in awhile though, I'll find a shop that has a space just dedicated to Mary! She has quite a story from where she began to now............ 

Did you love her (and do you still?) as much as I do?

Have a great week and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to you all.....

~Marilyn~

Pretty Pinks from Past Posts.

I've been reminiscing about and looking at my blog posts from the past.............. as I'm in the mood for some PINK since Valentine's Day is right around the corner! 

Some newer subscribers may not remember these pictures and projects... some of my favorite "pink" memories..................... flowers.........scenes...........things I've created...................

TINY THANK YOU CARDS.

BLOSSOM FROM A TREE AT MY HOUSE IN WASHOUGAL, WA. - LOVE THE VERSE.

FOLDED STAR I MADE WITH FABRIC, AND FRAMED WITH WOOD FELT.

PRETTY DECK FLOWERS FROM 5 YEARS AGO.

PEONY FROM MY YARD IN WASHINGTON.

CARD I MADE USING THE "BLOCK FILL" TECHNIQUE. LOVE IT!

CANVAS BOARD HANGING WALL ART, WITH A SEWING THEME.. I MADE FOR MY SISTER WHO QUILTS ALL THE TIME. SHE QUILTED THE STRIP QUILT I MADE MY SON LAST SUMMER(2018).

ANOTHER CANVAS BOARD WALL HANGING I MADE.

RHODODENDRON BLOOM FROM ONE OF MY SHRUBS IN SW WASHINGTON WHEN I LIVED THERE. LOVED THE PINK ONES!

PAPER "DAHLIA" FLOWER I MADE.

GORGEOUS ROCK DAPHNE BUSH (I THINK) FROM THE OREGON COAST.

A LITTLE GUEST COTTAGE FROM OUR RENTAL HOUSE 5 YEARS AGO, IN CENTRAL OREGON. I "COLORIZED' IT WITH PINK (OF COURSE)!

SWEET LITTLE "TAG ALBUM" I MADE.

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE HEXAGON BOXES I MADE. I LOVE THE VINTAGE SHABBY PAPERS AND AM STILL HOARDING MOST OF THEM!

FOX GLOVE FROM MY PREVIOUS HOME OF MANY YEARS AGO, IN WASHINGTON STATE. THEY GREW WILD THERE ALL OVER THE HILLSIDES.

ONE OF MY MOM'S TEACUPS.

SHABBY "ORNAMENT' I MADE WITH FABRICS AND NO SEWING.

TINY 3" BOX TO HOLD TINY GIFTS.

ONE OF MY MANY MINI TREAT BOXES.

I "adore" you all sweet subscribers and blog friends!

Have a great week!

Paleo apricot tea squares - yum!

Apricot Tea Squares

I've been experimenting with not eating grains... not even gluten free rice grains, etc.! It's hard! I have fibromyalgia and I'm trying to see if cutting out all grains and all most sugars will help me to feel better. That's what "everyone" says, right? I started doing this around January 3rd.

So far, I haven't noticed much of a difference, other than I'm CRAVING (my gluten free) bread! I'm not really eating strictly "paleo" as I'm not dairy free (and don't want to be as love my cheese), but I'm really trying very hard to eat NO grains whatsoever, and as little sugar as possible. I use raw local honey in my baking recipes. 

I've been experimenting with some almond flour and/or coconut flour recipes and even ordered a book from Amazon by Elana Amsterdam entitled The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam.  She has a Paleo cookbook also. 

I love her website and all of her almond flour and/or coconut flour recipes. I had previously baked her almond flour banana bread which I loved.

Here's the first recipe from her book that I tried:

Absolutely DELICIOUS!  I added nuts and raisins.

Moist, melt in your mouth goodness in every bite! I may have even added a few chocolate chips.... oops sugar! But there was no "added" sugar at all in this recipe.  I can eat these mostly guilt-free.

As I said... I REALLY miss bread..... a nice piece of toast with butter, or a sandwich, or something to soak up the gravy on my plate... so I decided to try to make some sort of paleo flatbread. Elana's cookbook does have a recipe for "sandwich bread" that I'm going to definitely try, and I'll let you know when I do.

My flatbread recipe came from a Bob's Red Mill package of Paleo Baking Flour. I was so surprised to see it sitting on the store shelf! I had been wishing someone would make a grain free "paleo" flour mix and leave it to Bob's Red Mill! They rock! They are actually located here in Oregon.

I was going to use a recipe from Elana's cookbook, but this package had a recipe right on the back for pizza and/or flatbread... so I thought I'd try it!

I did exactly as it said, and it turned out REALLY good. It's not "bread" by any means, but came out flat and soft(ish) so I could spread it with butter and jam (don't think I can toast it though). 

It came out the size of a 12" pizza, so I cut the slices in pie shapes and kept them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.... used it for several days and even had sandwiches with it! I'm pretty happy with it.

Cup of tea with my flatbread spread with cream cheese? Sounds good to me!

One trouble is........ buying the almond and coconut flours can be VERY expensive. The Bob's Red Mill Paleo Baking flour was $12.99 for the bag. Ouch. So... I won't be eating a whole lot of anything made with almond flour..... it's nice to have it now and then though, when those cravings kick up.  Straight almond flour is spendy too.

See that chocolate cake on the front of the cookbook above? Well... that's probably going to be my next "experiment" with almond flour! Only 7 ingredients in it which I love. She uses agave nectar for sweetener, but I prefer using local raw organic honey. I think it's healthier.

I know cutting out ALL sugar would be awesome and so healthy.. but I'm working at that in a more gradual manner. How can I resist making those wonderful desserts and sweets that all of my fellow bloggers make???

Does anyone else eat grain free? Has it helped your fibro?

~Marilyn~

Blessed Greetings to all of you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you wonderful friends who follow my blog. I hope you are spending time with family and friends and are blessed with love surrounding you. If you are alone this year, then I hope the spirit of God's love will surround  you with peace and calmness and cloak you with His Love.  

I was so BEHIND this year. I did manage to get a few decorations put out and the tree is up and lit but only a few ornaments that I handmade yesterday! I didn't even get out my big huge box of ornaments. My hubby is gone over Christmas and New Year's house sitting for my sister, who goes to Florida each Christmas to be with her son and grandson. 

I really don't mind being alone. I can take it all in.. the feeling of peace and joy and His Love and what the season is really about. My house is cozy and warm...... (and now has some festive cheer), and I'm enjoying watching many of the old Christmas movies! I'll put a turkey in the oven tomorrow so the smells will waft through the house. My Christmas "dinner" will be a yummy turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce on it. My most favorite!

Blessings to all of you!

~Marilyn~