April

Well. March came in like a lion and out like a lion. Typical Kentucky weather, as unpredictable as ever.

March was full of research, decisions, schedules to try out and a surprise opportunity that I saw, grabbed, and went for it. Sometimes trying to do something in black and white is just the holding place for the color to shine in.

The Sweetheart workshop is hopping, just like the bunnies we are making. Pillows, burlap bunnies, door hangers and spring tees will make a colorful display in the Georgetown Peddler Mall booth. I love what I do and the freedom it gives.

April 1 brings lighthearted trickery. filling a banana peel with cotton balls, switching out the salt and sugar and the classic finger in a box gift. Kiddos to the parents who encourage the lighthearted family laughs.

May your April be full of showers of blessings so May will be full of the flowers they bring.

march

We recently built on to the back of our home. The new room addition has done it’s special job so well to house us, sun us, rest us.

I sat in the new room in the rocker with the sleeping grand yesterday. The sun coming through the window was so nice and warm.

I typically hang on to everything winter as long as I can. Hot coffee, thick sweaters, fuzzy socks, warm quilts. This year feels different.

I’m ready for Spring this year. I found the perfect berry for spring nails, my Stanley is a sweet light pink, and of course there is a whole line up of Sweetheart tees and monogrammables ready for my customers. I’m ready for the windows to be open and a fresh spring clean house to sparkle.

Shop plans are chugging right along after a long winter’s nap. Self care has been a priority starting with the New Year.

I love My Sweetheart Life boutique, but I found that the time I was putting in wasn’t always productive. Flipping thru swatches, scrolling thru products, pulling color families together is a passion. Production, not so much. I have taken time to restructure and while I was doing so, I have to say I had a lot of pampering. Lotions and face potions have taken over my vanity. Quick drying winter colors have entertained my nails. I’ve slept like a sweet baby.

I’m feeling good about the rest of the year as I fill out my planner. There’s a way-too-early spring in my step. I love it.

Blackberry Winter will be welcome, too, if it happens and I’ll enjoy it in the sunroom under a good thick quilt.

february

Where did January go?

January lasted a full year last year. I’m certain of it.

It is now February. A sweet month celebrating heart health, love and typically snow.

The weather in Kentucky has been unpredictable this month. The forecasts have a mix of sun, wind and rain each week.

If love is in the air.. it blew away yesterday along with everyone’s porch decor and winter hats.

Tomorrow will be March 1st. I wonder if it will come in like a lion or a lamb?

Peanut Butter COOKIES

I made my Granddaddy’s favorite cookies yesterday. He loved peanut butter. And he loved peanut butter cookies. He loved the ones with the chocolate kisses on top, too.

Here is the recipe from The Gooseberry Patch Celebrate Autumn Cookbook. This book came out in 1996 and I still love it. I use it and other Gooseberry Patch books in my seasonal decorating, as well as in my kitchen. I’ve included a picture of the recipe because I love the happy country artwork that The Gooseberry Patch is known for.

Peanut Butter Cookies:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 large egg
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg, pb, soda and vanilla. Mix til smooth. Add flour in portions, mix well. Grease baking sheets. Using teaspoonfuls of dough, roll into balls and place on cookie sheet. Flatten dough balls with the times of a fork in a cross cross pattern. Bake app. 12 minutes, until golden. Makes app. 70 2-inch cookies.

My tips: I used a melon baller instead of rolling. It’s quicker and I need every spare minute. I sprayed my pan with cooking spray. I baked the cookies for 11 minutes, and they turned out perfectly delicious. I also sprinkle a bit of sugar on top before baking. I like the glitter effect.

Happy Baking!

Sunday

After the Friday that the world, so long ago, witnessed, it sure was a WoW Sunday.

May all of your Fridays be followed with the new hope of Sundays.

Happy Easter.

april showers… snow showers … bring may flowers

It’s April 1st! Time for fun and pranks and friendly jokes. All the ladies are expecting and all the guys are getting sports cars or moving to Florida. The kids have cotton ball stuffed bananas for their siblings and all the young ladies and men have flunked out of college. It’s all in great fun, and the best of friends go along with your fibs for a bit just to see you happy.

We’ve had several trickery days this month that make you want to tidy the landscaping and plant flowers. Sprucing up the mulch and pulling weeds is fine through this month, but the rule in Kentucky is… ALL TOGETHER NOW… don’t plant annuals until after Derby Day!

I personally love this cold spring weather. It gives me time to wear a sweater one last time, get my duck boots out, arrange the closet with lighter wear and get my rain jacket out for school pick up time. It’s especially nice to think of a colorful annual flower planting plan.

April showers bring May flowers and this year, April stock up for the boutique means May will bring colorful tees, tops with fringe and pompoms, western belts and sparkling earrings. I’m counting floral rompers in the May flowers!

mud on her shoes

Hello March.

What a sunny surprise of a day! So very thankful to see the sun and all of the smiles it will bring around town.

With February rain behind us for a few days, the straw strewn back yard has a chance to dry out. Patches of spring mud catch us off guard as we tidy up and get ready for true spring.

Lucky little leprechauns dance across sweatshirts and tees in the workshop, magical smiles and glimmers of mischief in their eyes. No pinching here, as green is the color of choice on each happy design.

Blessings to all, may March bring you all of the luck and love you richly deserve.

cold snowy month of warm hearts

Hello February. So nice to see you! I love the month of reminders of love.

Love yourself, by honoring what you love.

Love your heart, by getting a check up.

Love others, by celebrating Valentines Day.

Kentucky is getting ready to get walloped by a pre-Valentine icy snowy storm system. Family texts are flying, as we check in with everyone and their house and grocery prep. That’s love.

I’m loving the texts and calls to and from friends to wish we could have “electricity is out” slumber parties. Knowing we will all be happy and content snuggling up at home with our families makes my heart happy. That’s love.

In shop news, my little booth at a local mall is stocked with darling heart and AMOUR comfy tees and sweatshirts. We will be celebrating hearts and love all month long. My porch has been busy with friends picking up Valentines and heart and cute winter gear. I’ve had so much local support as we have adapted to new supply and shipping issues. That’s love.

I was going to end with a love quote, and quickly got lost in so many good and wise ones. It got me wondering what my favorite one would be. How could I possibly choose? And then, like always, a favorite scripture came to mind. John 15:13. There really is no greater love than a friend answering your call, coming to help you, putting their schedule aside to be there for you. This is and will always be my favorite.

Thank you February.

like a snowflake…

We have said goodbye to the year 2021, and are saying farewell today to January of 2022.

There are still patches and half yards of icy, slushy, crispy, crunchy snow around town. We had a blustery winter day into night here late last week.

Sitting in my sunroom that day felt like sitting in a snow globe. Watching the snowflakes swirling and changing was like a sweet winter gift.

As afternoon turned into evening, and then night, I was reminded how the silence of a snowfall is one of my favorite sounds.

See you soon, February

girl LANGUAGE