Kitchen Renovations

The 6th photo in my 6th file happened to be a picture of my newly renovated kitchen. This project began the end of October and as I was told turned out to be way more than I planned on. It was worth it and now I truly feel like it is my kitchen. Prior to this I had very little cupboard space and 3 tiny drawers. Now I have a place for almost everything. Don't we always need more space? Of course the great kitchen has led to redecorating and painting every where else. Valerie

I've been tagged!!

My friend Anne of http://eccentricpastiche.blogspot.com has tagged me. This is a fun way to see who we all look at and admire. I admire many who are good about updating their blog. I just never seem to find the time to do so but promise to do better this year.

Here are the rules to the photo meme: 6th Picture Meme!
1.Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.
2.Go to the 6th Folder, then pick the 6th picture in that folder.
3.Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.
4.Tag 6 other people that you know or don’t know to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them.

Here are my 6 blog picks:
http://mommydoodles.blogspot.com - Melanie is my daughter who not only has 2 of the most wonderful little boys (my grandsons) and a truly great husband but works full time and maintains her blog every day.

http://www.labyrinthhill.com -Susan who I envy for her lovely gardens

http://www.teacelebrations.net - Cheryl in Arizona who I got to visit in November

http://friendshiptea.blogspot.com - Linda in Kentucky whose daughter and mine are blog pals

http://www.gardenweb.com - great subjects and information

http://www.cottagetales.com - great author Susan Whittig Albert of the China Bayles Herbal Mysteries

Cantaloupe Blueberry Soup

Cantaloupe Blueberry Soup

1 cantaloupe - peeled, seeded and cubed
1 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

DIRECTIONS
Peel, seed, and cube the cantaloupe.
Place cantaloupe and orange juice and lime juice into a food processor;
cover, and process until smooth.

Blueberry "Jam"

1 cup fresh blueberries

Puree blueberries in a blender.

Garnish with a spoon of sour cream and a piece of mint or edible flowers.

Cantaloupe Blueberry Soup

I recently served this soup as a beginning to a wonderful afternoon tea for some special grandmothers, grandchildren, aunts and moms. It looked and tasted great on a sunny afternoon.

I have been Tagged

I was tagged by my blogging friend Nancy Reppert of http://www.therosemaryhouse.blogspot.com/

The rules of the game: Each player answers the questions themselves.
At the end of the post the player tags 4 people and posts their names, and goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment
letting them know that they've been tagged asking them to read your blog.
Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answers.

++++++++++++++++++++

Ten years ago I was getting ready for my youngest to graduate high school, working as a chef at a great local restaurant as well as
running Tea and Trinkets.

Five things on today's to do list - Take 3 carloads of tree branches I cut down yesterday to the compost area, paint antique metal lawn chairs apple green,
clean my canoe from yesterday's rain and wind storm, take car to the car wash due to the tree branches and grocery shop. All but groceries are done.

Snacks I enjoy - ice cream, popcorn, crackers and cheese

Things I would do if I was a millionaire - be sure my children and their families as well as myself are comfortable and able to enjoy life more.

Places I have lived - Panama, Walpole, Attleboro, North Attleboro and Norton, Massachusetts

I was tagged by my friend Nancy Reppert of http://www.therosemaryhouse.blogspot.com/

I have tagged:

My daughter Melanie of http://mommydoodles.blogspot.com
Jenny of http://www.teapartygirl.com/
Melissa of http://thecottagerose.blogspot.com/
Anne of http://liberteas.blogspot.com

We didn't get a helping hand!!

In March I had asked for help with the Hamburger Helper Helping Hand nominations for help. Unfortunately we did not make this round of grants from them but I do want to thank all who helped in our cause. On behalf of the Arc of Northern Bristol County http://www.arcnbc.org/index.htm thank you all. I will keep you updated as to our progress which is currently almost at the end of an elevator installation so that our building will be fully accessible and able to serve many more people in many different ways. Somehow we will find a way to get a new kitchen downstairs to be able to do classes and projects. Again thank you all. Valerie Zagami on behalf of: The Arc of Northern Bristol County, 141 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703

Tea Photos

Finally I have figured out how to put photos from the great Chartley Garden Club Mad Hatters Tea on the site. This was a great event, the ladies came in a few hours early and like elves decorated the entire hall into a spring garden. Great time, thank you ladies of the Chartley Garden Club.. http://www.chartleygardenclub.com/

Chartley Garden Club Tea Photos

Peeps Easter Cupcakes

Anyone who knows me knows I love peeps! You can visit the peeps website here:

http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/

So here is a recipe using one of my favorite "foods"

Easter Peeps Cupcakes

1 cake mix (or scratch cake recipe)

white frosting

grated coconut, colored with green food coloring

Marshmallow Peeps® (yellow, pink, white, blue or lavender)

jelly beans

Bake cupcakes according to directions. Let cool and frost with white frosting.
Sprinkle colored coconut on top of each frosted cupcakes and place a Peep® in the center. Add a few jelly beans around the Peeps®, so they look like eggs.If you choose not to use coconut you may pipe a "nest" of green icing around the top of each cupcake and place a Peep® in the center. Sprinkle with colored sprinkles for a festive ending. How to Tint Coconut Place an amount of coconut into a bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring and mix well. Continue until desired color is reached. Be sure it is mixed well and be cautious as food color is concentrated.

St. Patrick's Day Wish

May the road you walk be a smooth one,
May your troubles be few, if any,
May the days and years that lie ahead
Be healthy, happy, and many...
May you find friends in abundance,
May the sun shine bright above you,
May the world be a wonderful place to live,
May you always have someone to love you.
Wishing You a Wonderful St. Patrick's Day