Olga's Home and Garden Blog

Unknown Blue Flower

2012-02-06T21:55:00.000-08:00

This picture is from my last year’s post Ukraine Independence Day Celebration. I used blue and yellow flowers for my napkin rings. The other day, someone e-mailed me telling me that she liked my table setting and would like to know the name of the blue flower.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t help her as I don’t know the name myself. I remember that the flower came from a garden bunch that I bought at a grocery store.

Could any gardeners or botanists give me a hand here? Does anyone know what this flower is called?

Thank you!

Linzer Torte Cookies

2012-01-26T18:22:00.000-08:00

Back in November, I bought a Linzer torte cookie cutter in hope of using it during the Holiday Season. But even though I did quite a lot of baking during the holidays, I didn’t get to try my new cookie cutter.

A few days ago, I finally got to use it. The cookies came out wonderfully! I loved this recipe, which originally is from Joy of Baking.

1 cup sliced almonds

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup granulated white sugar, divided

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 large egg yolks

Zest of 1 lemon (outer yellow skin of lemon)

Confectioner’s sugar for dusting

1/2 cup Raspberry or Black Currant Preserves or Jam

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place rack in the center of the oven. Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes (or until lightly browned and fragrant). Once the nuts have cooled, place in a food processor and process with 1/4 cup of the sugar from the recipe until finely ground.

In a separate bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, cinnamon, and salt.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and remaining sugar until light and fluffy (approximately 3 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract, egg yolks, and lemon zest. Beat in the ground nuts. Add the flour mixture beating just until incorporated. Divide the dough in half and shape into two rectangles about 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) thick. Wrap the two rectangles of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (at least one hour and up to several days).

Remove one rectangle of dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Using a 2 to 3 inch cookie cutter (round, square, heart, etc.) cut out the dough. Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Use a smaller cookie cutter (3/4 - 1 inch) to cut out the centers of half of the cookies on the baking sheet. (You will be sandwiching two cookies together and there will be a small 'window or cut out' in the top cookie so you can see the jam underneath.)

Reroll any scraps and cut out the cookies. Remove the other half of the dough from the refrigerator and roll and cut out the rest of the cookies. Bake the cookies for 12 - 14 minutes or until they are very lightly browned. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
To Assemble Cookies: Place the cookies with the cut-outs on a wire rack and lightly dust the tops with the confectioner’s sugar.

On the bottom surface of the full cookie (top of cookie will face out) spread with about a 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of jam. Place the cut-out cookie on top and gently sandwich them together, making sure not to smug the confectioner’s sugar. Using a small spoon, fill the cut-out with a little more jam if needed.

Note: You can store the unassembled cookies in the refrigerator for several days in an airtight container. It is best, though, to assemble the cookies the same day as serving in order to keep the cookies crisp.

Makes about 20 - 2 inch sandwiched cookies.

I'm linking this recipe to Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.

My Etsy Shop

2012-01-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

It has finally happened! I have obtained all the necessary permits and licenses, and now I am an official owner of a crochet business. Sounds great!

But how great it’s going to be in reality I don’t know. In fact, after checking dozens of other crochet shops on Etsy, my spirits went down. There are so many talented crocheters out there, so the competition is enormous. The good thing is that my business doesn’t have to be a profitable one. It only has to be an enjoyable one! And since I enjoy crocheting so much, I think it is worth giving a try!

I love everything lacy and enjoy crocheting with thread, so I named my shop Olga’s Lacy Crochet. The items there are mostly doilies, but I hope to include bookmarks, coasters, ornaments, and other crochet items soon.

Before posting an item in my shop, I sometimes share its story on my crocheting blog Lacy Crochet.

So wish me luck and if you’ll have a chance, visit Olga’s Lacy Crochet on Etsy.

Thank you!

Bedroom Remodeling Project: White Chairs

2012-01-15T14:01:00.001-08:00

Last summer, my blogging friend Willow from My Irish Cottage shared several posts about her bedroom-remodeling project. It was exciting to see all the beautiful changes that she worked on. She inspired me to start my own bedroom remodeling.

I’ve been working on it for several months now, yet it’s not completely finished. The biggest work is done – my brother painted the walls pale green and I bought a new furniture set. Still there are lots of small projects to work on.

As soon as all the work is complete, I plan to share pictures of my bedroom. But for now, I’ll just share a few small projects.

The one I’m showing today is an old chair that found a new use (actually, it’s a pair of two identical chairs, but I’m showing only one of them in the pictures).

I absolutely love my new white furniture set, but it felt like having a chair or two for stocking throws and extra blankets would be nice. So I moved two old chairs, which weren’t in use until then, to my room.

However, they looked totally out of place because of their light brown color (my bedroom has three basic colors – green, white, and blue). The solution was to re-paint them. I had never painted furniture before, so I was afraid it won’t turn out the way I want it. But since these were old chairs that I didn’t use anyway, I took the risk.

If you were to take a close look at my re-painted chairs, you would see an amateur’s work right away. But I am quite happy with my lovely white chairs, which now fit in my bedroom perfectly.

I'm linking this post to
Show off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses
and
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch.

Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely week!

Last Rose from the Garden

2012-01-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

Today I got to spend some time in my little garden. I did a bit of cleaning, and I also pruned my rose bushes. I picked this last rose from my Bewitched Hybrid Tea rose bush.

Usually the blooms from this rose are rich pink, but the last one is pale and fragile. Nevertheless, it’s very fragrant. The delicate aroma filled the entire room.

I checked my garden whether there was anything new blooming, but didn’t find anything other than geranium. Last year around this time, my calla lilies already had some blooms, but this year there aren’t any yet.

I really enjoy the warm and sunny days we have, but the garden really needs some rain. I hope we’ll get some soon.

I'm linking to
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time
and
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home.

California Winter

2011-12-14T22:01:00.000-08:00

It’s supposed to be winter, but it feels like spring! The nights do get chilly, but the days are still sunny and warm. And we hardly got any rain yet!

Bermuda Buttercups in my yard are blooming already! They usually start to bloom at the end of February.

The roses are still blooming! I love to bring them in and photograph them on my doilies.

And I recently found a new little treasure in my front yard! I didn't really notice it before. It has beautiful blossoms and green with red leaves. Could anyone help me to identify this plant?

I'm linking to:
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Potpourri Friday @ 2805.

Chocolate Chip Cookies for a Cookie Exchange Party

2011-12-12T20:26:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, my husband has a cookie exchange party at work. I planned to make either Scandinavian chess cookies or Linzer Torte cookies, but didn’t have much time for elaborate baking. Instead, I baked these easy to make yet tasty chocolate chip cookies. I use this recipe quite often; it was printed on a flour bag.

I am excited to see what kind of home-made cookies my husband will bring back tomorrow.

1 cup packed brown sugar
¾ cup white sugar
1 cup margarine
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ tsp salt
¾ tsp soda
1 (12 oz) package chocolate chips
½ cup chopped nuts

Cream sugars and margarine. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes.

I'm linking this recipe to Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.

Thanksgiving 2011 Menu

2011-11-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is only a few days away. Sometimes holidays sneak up on me unexpectedly, but I can proudly say that I am fully prepared for the Thanksgiving celebration!

For dinner, there won’t be a traditional turkey since my family is vegetarian, but there will be other delicious and festive dishes.

Here is the menu:

Mixed Greens Salad

Pumpkin-Ricotta Stuffed Shells (the recipe is from Country Living Magazine)

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Rosemary (I use this recipe but I add two tablespoons of finely chopped fresh rosemary)

Buttermilk Cornbread

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Apple Cider, Cranberry Juice

Caramel-Glazed Apple Cake with Ice-Cream

If you would like to learn about other Thanksgiving favorites, visit Stone Gable for On the Menu Monday link party.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To those of you who celebrate it, I wish a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with warmth and love of your dear ones. And I want to thank you all for being my blog-world friends, for your support and encouragement!

Carrot Souffle

2011-11-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

2 pounds carrots, chopped
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs, beaten
confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.

Drain and mash. Add melted butter, white sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla extract, and eggs. Mix well and transfer to a 2 quart casserole dish.

Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Makes 8 servings.

I'm linking this recipe to Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.

My New Blog about Crochet

2011-11-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

Did you notice how crocheting was taking over my blog? My crocheting posts proved to be the most popular, but when I first started this blog, I wanted it to be mostly about cooking and gardening, and I still do! So I recently started a new blog dedicated to crocheting.

If you are a crocheter or just a crochet admirer, I invite you to join me on Lacy Crochet.

Cilantro Pesto

2011-11-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

This cilantro pesto is just as delicious as the traditional basil one, but its ingredients are a bit less expensive. My family loved it with pasta!

1 bunch fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans
salt to taste
1/2 cup olive oil (or a bit less)

In an electric food processor or blender, blend cilantro, garlic, vinegar, Parmesan cheese, cayenne pepper, nuts, and salt. Add 1/4 cup of the olive oil, and blend the pesto. Add more olive oil until the pesto reaches your desired consistency.

I'm linking this recipe to:
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Potpourri Friday @ 2805.

Pineapples Big and Small

2011-11-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

I can’t help it! I love crocheting doilies!
Here is another one that I recently crocheted. By the way, thank you so much for your sweet comments on my previous one. I enjoyed reading (and rereading) them. Some of you even encouraged me to open an Etsy shop. I am seriously considering that possibility. Thank you!

It was fun to crochet this pineapple doily, and I am very happy with the way it turned out. I found the pattern online, you can see it here.

Today, I’m joining Jami at An Oregon Cottage for Well-Made Wednesday, a link party to share handmade items and ideas on handmade gifts. Wouldn’t you agree that a doily can make a lovely present?

I am also joining

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Potpourri Friday @ 2805.

Eggplant Parmesan

2011-10-31T18:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your kind comments on my last post in which I bragged about the eggplants I grew. Some of you asked if I’m going to show them cooked. And I thought I should!

I’ve been using this Eggplant Parmesan recipe for a few years now. It’s quite simple, and my husband says it tastes just the same as at an Italian restaurant.

3 eggplant, peeled and sliced about ¾ inches thick
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
6 cups spaghetti sauce, divided
1 (16 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes on each side.

In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top.

Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

I got to go; the trick-or-treaters are at the door.
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Halloween!

Joys from the Garden

2011-10-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

My garden still provides me with occasional joys.
This week, I picked four eggplants from my still-going-strong plants. At my local produce store eggplants cost two dollars each. So I have eight dollars in my basket right there :-)

And people say money doesn’t grow on trees! Ha! I’d say it grows on plants; you just need to know which kind of plants!

I also want to show you a huge tomato that I grew this summer. You can’t really judge about its size from the picture, but it weighted almost a pound!

What a splendid gardener I am :-)

I'm joining Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Best of 2011 Tuesday Garden Party

2011-10-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

Today, Jami at An Oregon Cottage hosts the last Tuesday Garden Party of the season. Everyone is welcome to link up a garden post from 2011.

I’m joining the party with the link to my blue nigella flowers.

Also starting tomorrow, Jami will host a new link party called Well Made Wednesday to share ideas about simple homemade things.

This month has been a tough one for me and my family. I had to put on hold lots of favorite and enjoyable things including blogging. But I hope things will get better soon, and I will be back in the blogland.

Welcome Autumn!

2011-10-07T14:26:00.001-07:00

Autumn has finally arrived to my town too! I was busy last weekend preparing to welcome it.

I cleaned my garden, covered the yard furniture and put away garden tools and other summer things. I stored away summer clothes and pulled out from the back of the closets the fall/winter ones. I inspected my children's wardrobe and made a list of new garments to buy.

But the most enjoyable part of all was brining out my autumn decorations. Now I am certainly ready for the wonderful season of autumn!

New Doily

2011-10-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

Are you tired already of seeing my doilies?

I’ve crocheted quite a few of them this year, but my huge ball of crocheting thread (it’s cheaper if bought in big sizes from Michael’s) is only half gone!

Perhaps it’s a magical one that will never be over no matter how many doilies I crochet!

Strawberry and Banana Stuffed French Toast

2011-09-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

My munchkin and I had these stuffed French toasts with tea for breakfast today. After each bite of his toast, he would say “Mmmm” and after each sip of his tea he would say “Aahhhh”. That’s how I concluded the recipe is worth sharing.

1 loaf French bread
2 tablespoons strawberry jam
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ cup chopped strawberries
¼ cup chopped banana
6 eggs, lightly beaten
¾ cup milk
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided

Cut French bread into eight 1 ½ inch slices. Make pocket in each slice by cutting slit from top of bread almost to bottom.

Combine jam, cream cheese, strawberries and banana in small bowl to make filling. Place heaping tablespoon of strawberry filling into each pocket. Press back together.

Beat eggs and milk in wide shallow bowl (even though not in the recipe, I added a pinch of salt, a tablespoon of sugar, and a bit of ground cinnamon as well). Add bread; let stand to coat, then turn to coat other side.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in large skillet over medium-low heat. Add as many bread slices as will fit; cook until brown. Remove and keep warm. Repeat with remaining butter and bread slices.
Makes 8 slices.

I'm linking this recipe to:
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Potpourri Friday @ 2805.

Eggplants

2011-09-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I planted four eggplant seedlings. They established quite well and turned into beautiful and healthy plants. They bloomed a lot too, but… no eggplants.

Through the three summer months, I didn’t get a single eggplant! I thought I should check if other eggplant growers had this problem. Through the Internet, I found out that I’m not the only one. Moreover, I found the solution!

The trick is to thump the blooms. How simple is that! I was so excited to find several baby eggplants on the plants just a few days after I thumped the flowers. And more of them appear every day. Luckily, here in California we still have summer weather, so there is still a chance to harvest some eggplants!

With the eggplants, tomatoes, and basil from my garden, I can now make my favorite End-of-Summer Pasta.

I wish I learned this little eggplant pollination trick earlier.

Today, I'm joining An Oregon Cottage for Tuesday Garden Party.

Tea Time Tuesday

2011-09-19T14:16:00.001-07:00

It’s been quite a while since I joined Tuesday Tea Time link parties, which are always so much fun to participate in.

So today I want to share a charming little teacup from my collection. I bought it at a flea market in Copenhagen when I went there on a short vacation a year ago. Even though I bought it in Denmark, the cup itself is from Germany. The lady who was selling it had the entire dinning set, but I only bought one cup.

I love its sweet flower pattern on the saucer and the same one inside the cup. The colors are a bit faded (especially inside the cup), but that’s the charm of it.

Thank you for stopping by and if you have a moment, please visit these tea parties and their gracious hostesses.

Martha's Favorites @ Martha's Favorites,
Tea for Two @ The Plumed Pen,
Teacup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations,
Teapot and Tea Things @ Silken Purse,
Teapot and Tea Things @ Breath of Fresh Air,
Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage,
Teatime Tuesday @ Lady Katherine Tea Parlor

Spinach and Feta Bake

2011-09-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

This bake is one of the favorite spinach recipes in our family. It is best served cold so all the flavors can fully develop.

1 lb spinach
5 eggs
1 tablespoon chopped mint
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
4 ounces feta, crumbled
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Gently cook the washed spinach in a saucepan until soft. Put the spinach in a colander to drain off all the excess water. Press the spinach down with the back of a wooden spoon to squeeze out as much water as possible. Chop the spinach coarsely.

In a bowl stir the eggs lightly to combine the yolks and white. Add the chopped spinach, mint and cumin. Stir in feta and season with salt and pepper.

Pour the mixture into a lightly oiled ovenproof dish and bake in a preheated oven (350 degrees Fahrenheit), for 25-30 minutes, or until just set. Leave until cold then cut into wedges or squares to serve.
Makes 4 servings.

Today I'm joining:
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Potpourri Friday @ 2805.

Doilies

2011-09-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe the summer is almost over! It went by way too quickly…

I don’t have any projects or recipes to share with you today, but I love joining Friday link parties, so today I’m showing a few white doilies that I crocheted earlier this year.

As usual on Fridays, I am joining

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic On a Shoestring Decorating,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Feathering Your Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage.

There is also a new link party at 2805 called Potpourri Friday.

Three-Course Ukrainian Dinner

2011-08-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I shared the Ukrainian tablescape that I set to celebrate Ukraine Independence Day.

And today, I want to share what we had for dinner than night.

For the first course we had borscht (a beetroot soup that is popular in many East-European countries). I learned to make borscht a long time ago and I cook it quite often. However, making the same old borsht for a special dinner wouldn’t be any special!
So I searched the web for a new and exciting recipe, and I found it here. At first, I was skeptical about the recipe, but it turned out pretty good and my family liked it.
This is my official special occasion borscht recipe now!

For the second course, we had cabbage rolls and boiled potatoes. Cabbage rolls (another dish common in Ukraine) consist of meat and grain filling (such as beef and rice, or pork and barley) wrapped in cooked cabbage leaves.
My family is vegetarian, so I had to get creative about the filling. I substituted ground beef with vegetarian Morning Star crumbles. I must admit I wasn’t too happy about it, I think next time I will omit meat altogether and add more seasoning. Anyway, you can see the original recipe here.

For the sweet course, we had thin pancakes that are similar to crepes. In Russian they are called blini, and if memory serves me right in Ukrainian they are called nalesniki. I learned to make them when I was a little girl, so I don’t follow a measured recipe and don’t have one to share with you today.

I served my blini with homemade plum jam that I made just the day before. The plums came from my (neighbor’s) garden; they weren’t very big but very sweet. I followed the measuring from this recipe, but I didn’t peel my plums as suggested in the recipe.

I now only have to tell you what we drank during our celebration. My husband suggested Horilka (Ukrainian vodka), but I did not approve. Instead, I made a fruit drink that I remember my mom and grandmother making back in Ukraine. It’s kind of like fruit punch. It’s made by boiling fresh fruits in a big amount of water. When the fruits release their juices and aromas, sugar is added. The drink is strained and chilled, and the fruits are discarded.

And this was our traditional Ukraine Independence Day celebration dinner! It might sound simple, but it actually took me two days to make it!

I’m joining Stone Gable for On the Menu Monday Link Party.

Ukraine Independence Day Celebration

2011-08-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

Today is a very special day! It’s the day when Ukraine celebrates its independence. And being of Ukrainian descent I have a tradition to make a special dinner on this day to celebrate my cultural heritage and pass it on to my children.

All month long, I was looking forward to setting a Ukraine inspired dining table. And now I want to share it with you!

I used one of my Ukrainian rushnyks as a table runner.
The center piece was a Ukraine countryside inspired bouquet. Two things here are of special importance.

In Ukraine there is a tradition that wheat ears must be present on the table during celebrations as they represent prosperity of the family. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any luck finding them at the craft stores I went to. But I did not despair! I substituted wheat ears with millet ones (they grew in my garden from the seeds that fell down from a bird feeder); they both are grains after all!

If you take a drive in the Ukrainian countryside during summer, one thing you are sure to see is endless fields of sunflowers. To remind me of that beautiful sight, I have a sunflower in my bouquet.

To hold my bouquet, I used a plain clay jug that I received as a present on my visit in Ukraine several years ago.

And here are a couple of details on my table: the clay ram and the straw pig bring country charm to my diner setting.

Blue and yellow are the colors of the Ukrainian flag. That is why I used the flowers of these colors for napkin rings.

The dinnerware is quite simple. All the plates are from different sources (the bowls are from a yard sale, the salad plates are from a thrift store, and the dinner plates are from Wal-Mart), but I think they matched nicely.

Setting this table and making dinner brought so many beautiful memories of Ukraine.

By the way, if you would like to see my Ukrainian outfit, you can check my post from the last year here. Sorry to say, I didn’t take a picture this year.

You might ask what we had for dinner. Well, I’ll tell you that in my next post.

Thank you for stopping by.

I am joining these link parties:

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Feathering Your Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage.

Tuscan Chickpea Soup

2011-08-18T14:51:00.000-07:00

My blogging friend Sheila recently returned from a vacation in Italy. On her blog, she shared pictures and cultural notes about the town of Cortona in Tuscany. I’ve never been there, so I really enjoyed Sheila’s photo tour. I even went a step farther and took a “culinary trip” to Tuscany :-)

I found the recipe for Tuscan chickpea soup on My Recipes. The soup is delicious and easy to make.

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups finely chopped onion
8 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups water
1 teaspoon minced fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 (15 1/2-ounce) cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 to 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
6 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Heat the olive oil in a cooking pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the water and the next 5 ingredients (water through tomatoes), and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes.

Place 2 cups soup in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Pour the pureed soup into a bowl. Repeat procedure with 2 cups soup. Return all pureed soup to pan. Stir in the vinegar, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Serve sprinkled with 1 tablespoon cheese.

Makes 6 servings.

I'm contributing this recipe to Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum and sharing it at Home Sweet Home Friday @ The Charm of Home.

I'm also joining Friday Potluck Recipe Hop @ EKat's Kitchen.

From the Garden to the Kitchen

2011-08-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

Just look at these vegetables! Aren’t they beautiful? They all came from my garden!

Actually, what I love to call “garden” in reality is a tiny suburban backyard. It makes me happy to realize that even with so little space I manage to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, onions, and herbs.

It’s great to go to “the garden” and pick a few ripe tomatoes, a red onion, and a bit of fresh basil, then wash and chop everything, add a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, and enjoy a delicious summer salad.

I love picking vegetables from my garden, and my son loves picking berries. Just when I thought that all the berries were gone, he managed to find a big blackberry and a small strawberry.

Luckily, the raspberry vines are begging to bloom again, so there will be more raspberries for my sonny to enjoy in the fall.

If you are a gardener, don't forget to visit An Oregon Cottage for Tuesday Garden Party.

It’s a Roosters and Chickens Party!

2011-08-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

Shelia at Note Songs is having Heart of the Home Party - Roosters and Chickens, and I wanted my darling kitchen rooster to join too.

When my husband and I bought our house a few years ago, I was so happy that it had a nice and roomy kitchen. The kitchen is the place where I spend a lot of my time (no, not eating, cooking!), so it must be a pleasant and enjoyable place. Even though we live in a suburban city, I wanted my kitchen to have that cozy and warm farm-living feeling.

Originally, I wanted a duck or a goose to inhabit my kitchen. But when I came across this colorful and vibrant rooster, I knew right away that’s the bird for my kitchen!

Thank you for stopping by and, please, join Shelia to see more roosters and chickens in other homes.

My Pink Crepe Myrtle Tree

2011-08-04T17:49:00.000-07:00

My crepe myrtle tree (Lagerstroemia) is in full bloom now. I love its deep pink color. And I love the way it looks against the blue clear sky.

I also like how it looks indoors!

The only thing I don’t like about this tree is that I have to sweep the fallen down flowers off my garden pathway almost every day!

I'm linking this post to:

Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fish Tail Cottage,
Fresh Cut Friday @ Rose Vignettes,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
and Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

A Little Bit of Texas Flavor

2011-08-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, a package from Texas arrived at my doorstep. Inside I found a delicious present.

The Kitchen Witch from The Mouth of the South blog sent it (in case you don’t know, the legend says that Kitchen Witch is a good witch that protects kitchens with her magic). On her blog, you will find lots of interesting recipes and little excerpts from her life in Texas.

She celebrated her blog’s anniversary and held a giveaway. I was the lucky winner!

The trio of Mary Louise Butters Brownies was very pretty and delicious. My son and I enjoyed them today sitting in the garden and watching the airplanes in the sky. It was a beautiful and sweet bonding moment.
Big thanks to the Kitchen Witch!

Carrot Buns

2011-07-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I was going to visit my mom and I wanted to bring something along. I looked for a simple recipe that wouldn’t require a trip to the grocery store. This recipe seemed easy and didn’t ask for buttermilk or sour cream (as many other baking recipes). So I thought I’ll give it a try.

I was surprised how delicious these carrot buns were. To be honest, I didn’t expect anything this good from carrots. My family loved them too, so I had to make another batch.

¾ cup butter, at room temperature
½ cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg, at room temperature
1 tablespoon water
1 ½ cups grated carrots
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 12-cup muffin tray or use paper cases.

With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and water, then stir in the carrots.

Sift over the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to blend.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin tray, filling the cups almost to the top. Bake until the tops spring back when touched lightly, about 35 minutes. Leave to stand for about 10 minutes in the muffin tray before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Today, I am linking to:

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum.

Handkerchiefs with Blue Lace

2011-07-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I bought a bunch of inexpensive hankies with embroidered flowers. I picked different colors – pink, blue, and lilac.

I think a pretty handkerchief can make a lovely little present (especially if it has crocheted lace). So this is what I am working on – adding lace to the hankies.

You can see some with white lace that I crocheted earlier this spring here, and now I have three hankies with blue lace to show you.

The crocheted pattern on these handkerchiefs is different from those that I made before. I experimented a bit and came up with it myself. The blue crochet thread came from my mom’s craft supplies.

The link parties that I am joining with this post are:

Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter,
Made by You Monday @ Skip to My Lou,
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch.

Double Tomato Bruschetta

2011-07-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

This delicious appetizer is easy to make. I make it throughout the summer with tomatoes, garlic, and basil from my garden.

6 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup fresh basil, stems removed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 French baguette
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven on broiler setting.

In a large bowl, combine the roma tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes.

Cut the baguette into 3/4-inch slices. On a baking sheet, arrange the baguette slices in a single layer. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly brown.

Divide the tomato mixture evenly over the baguette slices. Top the slices with mozzarella cheese.

Broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

I'm sharing this recipe at:

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum.

On the Menu Monday: Finger Foods

2011-07-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

Today I am joining Yvonne at Stone Gable for On the Menu Monday link party.

This weekend we had a small casual gathering with friends at our place. I really wanted to keep it simple, without too much cooking and cleaning afterwards. So I came up with a simple finger foods menu.

Deviled Eggs (common party food, they are so easy to make).

Cheddar Cheese Puffs (you can see the recipe here. Following the suggestion of my mother-in-law, I added a bit of Dijon mustard to the dough. It turned out very nice).

Double Tomato Bruschetta (I will post the recipe later this week).

Spanakopita (store-bought, I already had it in my freezer).

Strawberries and grapes (fresh fruit is always nice).

Lemonade (store-bought, but next time I’ll make it myself).

We had a nice evening outside, under our pergola, listening to classical guitar recordings, chatting and nibbling on these delicious finger foods.

Almost Vintage

2011-07-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

This crocheted bedspread is quite old; in fact, it’s almost vintage. I started crocheting it when I was about twelve. But let me tell you the story from the beginning.

My mom started teaching me to crochet when I was about seven. By the age of ten, all my dolls had crocheted outfits. By twelve, I started crocheting doilies. My mom taught me how to “read” crochet-in-rounds patterns because that is how all the patterns in Russian and Ukrainian crocheting magazines are presented.

In one of my mom’s magazines, I found a picture and pattern for a beautiful bedspread. And I knew right away that I wanted to make it. I asked my mom if we could do it together. She replied: “Do you realize how much work and time it will require? No way.”

I was disappointed by her reply, yet I didn’t want to let it go. And I started crocheting it all by myself. I had to crochet more than a hundred small square doilies, which then were to put together.

After I crocheted more than a dozen, my mom realized how determined I was. And that is when she became interested too and joined me crocheting.

Even with my mom’s help, it took us a few years to get it done. At one point, we put our project on hold because we ran out of crocheting thread and couldn’t buy it anywhere (it was the early 90s, only a few years after the Soviet Union fell apart and lots of things were hard to get in Ukraine back then).

But we did finish it eventually. After all the hard work we put into it, it’s not just a bedspread. It’s a real family heirloom!

Perhaps you’ve seen this bedspread pattern before. A few years ago, I saw the same bedspread at my mother-in-law’s place in Norway. And just recently I found the same pattern online. You can see it here accompanied with a detailed description on how to use crochet-in-rounds patterns.

I'm joining these Friday parties:

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic On a Shoestring Decorating,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Feathering Your Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage.

Spanakorizo or Greek Spinach Rice

2011-07-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I was surfing one of my favorite cooking blogs Closet Cooking, and I came across this rice recipe. It’s quite simple to prepare and makes a nice side dish or even a light lunch.

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 bunch spinach (roughly chopped)
1 cup long grained rice
2 1/2 cups broth or water
1/4 cup parsley (chopped)
1/4 cup dill (chopped)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon (juice and zest)
1/4 cup feta (crumbled, optional)

Heat the oil in a pan.Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.

Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute.Add the spinach and cook until the spinach wilts.

Add the rice, broth or water, parsley, dill; season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil.Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the rice is cooked, about 20 minutes.

Hit with a splash lemon juice and garnish with feta.

Makes 4 servings.

I am sharing this recipe at:

Tasty Tuesday @ 33 Shades of Green,
Made from Scratch Tuesday @ From Mess Hall to Bistro,
Tuesdays at the Table @ All the Small Stuff,
and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @ At the Well.

Lavender Sachet and Potpourri

2011-07-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I collected and dried lavender from my garden. I asked my blogging friends for advice on what to do with it. After reading the comments, I decided to make a sachet and potpourri.

I cross-stitched a small lavender design earlier this summer, and now I used it for the sachet. I added a ribbon, so I can hang it in my closet.

I used the rest of my lavender to make potpourri. The small rose buds have no smell, but they are pretty to look at, so I added them to my potpourri too.

I have more lavender blooming in the yard, and I am on search for more ideas to use it.

I am joining all these wonderful Friday link parties:

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic On a Shoestring Decorating,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Feathering Your Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage.

A Few Garden Shots

2011-07-04T20:54:00.000-07:00

I am back from my trip to Idaho. It was a tiresome but interesting journey. I got to see landscapes and lifestyles quite different from those in California.

One of the first things I did when I returned home was check my garden. It did fine while I was gone.

In addition to purple morning glories, pale pink ones now appeared. The pansies are still blooming. My arched trumpet vine is getting more and more blooms. And the pomegranate flowers are turning into fruits.

I will have to do a lot of watering this week as the forecast predicts a hot one.

I am linking this post to:

Blooming Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean,
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage.

Happy 4th of July

2011-06-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

I made a small bouquet for America on her birthday. The flowers are from my garden. The pink rose is called Bewitched Hybrid Tea (it will open up in a few days, right on time).

Tomorrow morning I’m leaving for Idaho. On my way, I will pass through Nevada and Oregon. So this 4th of July weekend, I’ll get to see a bit of America. I’m very excited!

I wish you all a wonderful weekend and a great celebration of America’s birthday to those of you in the USA.

I'm linking to

Fresh Cut Friday @ Rose Vignettes,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
and Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

My Garden Corner

2011-06-26T21:59:00.001-07:00

My garden corner is the project I have been working on since last year. It was completely empty when we moved into the house. Only a bistro table and chairs left by the previous owners were there.

I remember taking the “before” picture, but I can’t find it on my computer now. I think I forgot to upload it from the camera. The corner looked sad; there wasn’t even grass on the ground, just sand.

I wanted to turn this corner into a place to relax. The work is still in progress as my challenge was to do it without spending big bucks. The most expensive part was the paving stones. I spent about 45-50 dollars on them. My mom helped me to lay them. After that it was the matter of adding plants and beautiful things to my corner.

The elderly couple that lived in the house before us down-sized and left lots of things behind. For instance, behind one of the bushes in the yard, I found a beautiful iron trellis. The bush outgrew it long time ago. I stuck the trellis in a big pot and sowed morning glory seeds there (I collected them at a local park last summer).

The decorative birdhouses were also left behind by the previous owners. Last year I repainted them as they were way too shabby. And now these bird houses found a place in my garden corner. A few planters came from yard sales and one from a curbside.

As I said, I am still working on my cozy garden corner. Gradually I will add more plants and flowers. But I think it already looks like a decent place to have afternoon tea. That’s what I am going to do one of these days!

Today I am joining
Show off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses,
Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter,
Made by You Monday @ Skip to My Lou,
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch.

Thank you for visiting me. Have a wonderful week!

Baby's Breath

2011-06-23T17:30:00.001-07:00

I found out that growing flowers from seeds is not an easy task. Some of the seedlings never showed up, others died in the Californian heat, yet others were attacked by slugs and snails.

My baby’s breath seedlings, however, survived all these hardships. And now a beautiful white cloud cheers up my garden.

I am going to dry some of the flowers, so I can enjoy them in fall and winter as well. I also hope to collect some seeds for the next year.

Today, I am joining:

Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fish Tail Cottage,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home.

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the week!

Lavender

2011-06-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

Finally, lavender is blooming. I think this year I will not simply appreciate its blooms in the garden but will try to find a practical use for them. I know that lavender is used in soaps and shampoos though I don’t home make those (at least not yet). A lavender sachet or lavender potpourri, however, is something I can make.

Do you have any suggestions for lavender use?

Being in a lavender mood, I cross-stitched this small design. The free pattern is from Madame La Fee. I didn’t follow it exactly though. In the pattern, the lavender blossoms are pointing downward, but I wanted mine to point up, so I turned the bow upside down.

I don’t know yet what I will use this design for. Perhaps I’ll make that sachet. I also have an idea of making a set of cross-stitched cards with summer flowers. We’ll see.

I'm joining these link parties:

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home.

Berries in My Garden

2011-06-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

Last year I added two raspberry canes to my garden. We didn’t get many berries back then, but this year we are getting quite a few. Every morning I pick a handful of raspberries for my son to enjoy. And he loves them!

I don’t know the name of this variety, but the plant produces berries twice a year – in spring and in fall. Right now there are two floricanes (second-year fruiting canes) and five primocanes (first-year canes that will be fruiting next year), so I expect to get even more raspberries next year. Perhaps even enough to make raspberry jam.

At the same time when I planted raspberries, I planted a blackberry cane as well. It didn’t produce any berries last year, but this year there are several berries on the vine. They are only now beginning to ripen.

In addition to raspberries and blackberries, I have strawberries in my garden. I was lucky to find this terra cotta strawberry pot at a yard sale.

Unfortunately, I don’t have much luck growing strawberries in it. The plants didn’t produce many berries, plus a squirrel got a hold of a few. But those few that we did get to taste were so luscious.

I am joining:

Show off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses,
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage,

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

2011-06-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

On Monday I made sour cream scones and they were all gone the same day! However, I had some sour cream left and I felt like baking again, so yesterday I tried this simple recipe for coffee cake.

I wish it didn’t turn out so good! You see I’m trying to lose weight, but I couldn’t resist having couple pieces of this delicious dessert with a cup of cappuccino. And that doesn’t help to lose weight at all.

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and beat until combined.

Pour half the batter into a greased (I lined mine with parchment paper) 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle about 3/4 of topping over batter. Add remaining batter and topping.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

I am joining:

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum,
Sweet Tooth Friday @ Alli n Son.

Blue Nigella

2011-05-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

I never found nigella flowers particularly pretty (I thought they were too simple) until I actually took a moment to look at them.

I think blue nigella is one of those flowers whose beauty cannot be noticed at a glance. You need to study them closely to see the loveliness of delicate layered petals, feathery leaves, and deep blue color. That is what I did last summer at a local park. Since then, these flowers are one of my favorite annuals.

I collected the seeds at the park, and now I can enjoy blue nigella growing in my own yard...

Or cheering up my garden table.

To share my pretty nigella flowers, I am joining the following link parties:

Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fish Tail Cottage,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home.

Thank you for stopping by.

Tea in the Garden

2011-05-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

I have a beautiful tree in my front yard that is in full bloom now. What is unique about this tree is that its blooms start purple, then turn lilac and eventually white. Unfortunately, I don’t know its name. Perhaps someone can help me to identify it.

I thought I’d better find a moment to enjoy the splendor of my tree before its blooms fade out. Having a cup of tea by the tree is a perfect way to do so, especially since I have a new tea cup to enjoy as well.

I received this tea cup for my birthday. It traveled all the way from Denmark. Made by Royal Copenhagen, it has “Blue Fluted” pattern that was adopted back in 1775.

What a delight to relax by this tree with a cup of tea, a slice of banana bread, and some grapes.

Thank you for stopping by and if you have a moment, please visit these tea parties and their gracious hostesses.

Martha's Favorites @ Martha's Favorites,
Tea for Two @ The Plumed Pen,
Teacup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations,
Teapot and Tea Things @ Silken Purse,
Teapot and Tea Things @ Breath of Fresh Air,
Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage,
Teatime Tuesday @ Lady Katherine Tea Parlor

as well as Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home.

Treasures from Denise

2011-05-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

Last month, Denise from All Over Roses had a blog anniversary. She had a giveaway to honor the occasion, for which she offered a dainty hand towel that she embroidered.

When I found out I was the lucky winner, I jumped with joy and excitement. And what a marvelous coincidence was to receive the parcel from Denise precisely on my birthday!

In addition to the hand towel, Denise sent me a darling tea towel and beautiful butterfly soap that smells heavenly. All these treasures were wrapped in pale pink paper and tied with pink ribbons. A lovely card was in there for me as well.

Thank you Denise! I will cherish your beautiful gifts!

I'm joining Cindy's Show and Tell Friday.

Quick and Easy Eclair Cake

2011-05-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, on allrecipes.com I discovered the recipe of a delicious dessert that can be quickly made with only few ingredients. The recipe proved to be very handy in the situations when I didn’t have time to bake a real cake and didn’t feel like going to the store to buy one.

The cake can be made in less than thirty minutes, but it needs to be chilled in the fridge for a few hours.

The recipe suggests making the cake in a baking pan, but I actually make mine on a big dish. And if I have raspberries or strawberries at hand, I decorate the cake with them.

2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 cups milk
1 (16 ounce) package graham cracker squares
1 (16 ounce) package prepared chocolate frosting

In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend the pudding mix, whipped topping, and milk.

Arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares in the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking pan. Evenly spread half of the pudding mixture over the crackers. Top with another layer of crackers and the remaining pudding mixture. Top with a final layer of graham crackers.

Spread the frosting over the whole cake up to the edges of the pan. Cover, and chill at least 4 hours before serving.

I am joining the following link parties:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle,
Mouthwatering Monday @ A Southern Fairy Tale,
Tasty Tuesday @ 33 Shades of Green,
Made from Scratch Tuesday @ From Mess Hall to Bistro,
Tuesdays at the Table @ All the Small Stuff,
Two Maids a Baking @ Two Maids a Milking,
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum.

Cheddar Cheese Puffs

2011-05-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since my last kitchen experiment. And even though I spend a lot of time in the kitchen every day, it is only occasionally that I try something new. For me to attempt a completely new recipe, I need to be in a special jolly mood. Only then the recipe will work out for me.

I am in such mood today. And why not to be? The weather is wonderful, the roses are blooming, and my sweet children are sleeping soundly.

So to the kitchen to bake savory cheddar cheese puffs with a hint of rosemary!

½ cup water
¼ cup butter
2/3 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
2 eggs
½ cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon rosemary, finely chopped
Freshly ground black pepper

Put the water and the butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

When boiling and butter has melted, remove from the heat and add all the flour at once. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add grated cheese, rosemary, and a few grinds of pepper and beat again.

Put dessertspoonfuls of the mixture onto a lightly greased baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) for 20-25 minutes.

Let cool on a wire rack.

I'm joining:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle,
Mouthwatering Monday @ A Southern Fairy Tale,
Tasty Tuesday @ 33 Shades of Green,
Made from Scratch Tuesday @ From Mess Hall to Bistro,
Tuesdays at the Table @ All the Small Stuff,
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum.

Roses in My Garden

2011-04-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

Today I’m inviting you to my garden to see my roses.

I don’t have many and I don’t know the names of most of them, but I cherish my roses and try to find a moment to enjoy them every day.

I am linking to

Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fish Tail Cottage,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time.

Dying Eggs the Old Way

2011-04-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

I am not very fond of artificial colorings, so this year I’m dying Easter eggs the way my mom and grandmother did back in Ukraine – with onion skins.

It’s pretty easy to do. You will need lots of onion skins from yellow, red, or both onions. I had been collecting the skins for a few weeks; my guess would be that they were from 8-10 pounds of onions. I collected both yellow and red ones.

Put the onion skins into a pot and cover well with water. Boil the skins for ten minutes, so they will release the color. Put aside and let cool.

Now to the decorative part. The trick here is to make small tight mesh bags from nylons (specifically for this purpose, I bought a new pair of nylons from a Goodwill store for only fifty cents), and insert inside a parsley leaf. The leaf will stick nicely to the egg if you wet it.

When all the eggs are in the mesh bags, put them in the pot with onion skins and boil as you would usually do. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon and let cool.

Remove and discard the nylon mesh bags and parsley leaves. Now you have beautiful Easter eggs dyed with nature’s coloring.

I am joining all these link parties:

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum,
Hodgepodge Friday @ It’s a Hodgepodge Life,
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic On a Shoestring Decorating.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter.
Oh wait! One more thing!

I would like to thank you all for your kind comments and best wishes on my previous post. I appreciate your concern about me and my little one. A heart-felt thank you from me and my family.

The First Rose Bouquet and The News

2011-04-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

The roses around the neighborhood have been blooming for a while, but the ones in my garden are still taking their time.

My big arched bush of Cecile Brunner is slowly opening up its blooms. I can’t wait for it to fully bloom; it will be a spectacular view!

I couldn’t wait any longer to pick the first roses from my garden. The tiny blossoms of Cecile Brunner made a cute little bouquet, and it’s incredible how such small flowers filled the entire room with sweet fragrance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now to the news I’ve been so much looking forward to share.

My little boy was born on the 15th of April. His name is Nikolai. We picked this name because it’s both Norwegian (my husband is of Norwegian descent) and Russian (I am of Russian/Ukrainian descent). We were considering English equivalent name Nicholas, but decided to keep it within our cultural heritages.

The baby is doing well, and so is his mama.

Hankies with Lace

2011-04-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I posted about my new hankies with pink embroidery. I promised to show them again once I had added crocheted lace to them. Well, here they are!

I used crochet thread size 8 and a very thin crocheting hook (I have no idea what size it is) that my father made for my mom about thirty years ago. I didn’t follow any patterns, just experimented a bit and came up with my own. And I must say I am very happy with the results!

I'm joining these wonderful Friday link parties:

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home.

My Little Easter Vignette

2011-04-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

Easter is just around the corner, but I realized there were no signs of it in my home. So today I put up a small Easter vignette on our mantel.

A small cheerful bunch of daffodils, my vintage-looking Easter bottle with a twig of fern, Villeroy and Boch Easter bunny (a present from a friend), and a tiny bouquet of nasturtiums in an egg-shell as a vase. Plus some sweet Easter treats for my two-year-old.

Now it feels like Easter is coming our way!

I am joining the following link parties:

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors,
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper,
Show off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses,
Table Top Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life.

It’s a Boy!

2011-04-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Today, I want to share some personal news. Some of you might remember that back in September I wasn’t feeling well and even had to stop blogging for a while. And some of you might have guessed the nature of my illness…
A baby!

Several months have passed since then, and my little boy (my second son) will finally arrive this month. My family and I are very excited to meet him!

I might disappear from the blog world for some time, but please don’t forget about me; I will be back!

The cute blanket in the picture was crocheted by my mom.

Handmade Monday: Cross-Stitched Rose

2011-04-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today I want to show another little cross-stitched project that I have done lately. I cross-stitched this red rose to make a thank-you note card.

The pattern is quite simple. It only requires three shades of red (or it could be pink, yellow, or whatever color of roses you prefer) for the rose itself and three shades of green for the leaves.

The original pattern, which you can see here, is in pink, but I didn’t have any pink thread on hand, so I went with red. I think it turned out pretty good.

If you would like to share a post about a handmade item or DIY project, just link bellow.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

I am linking this post to

Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter,
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle,
It’s Sew Fun Tuesday @ It’s Sew for You,
Talent Tuesday @ Vintage Wanna Bee.

My New Pink Pretties

2011-03-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

Usually I don’t have many opportunities to go shopping for fun, but last weekend I went to a few places.

I found these cute inexpensive hankies at a little shop that was going out of business. I love that sweet embroidery, and to make them even prettier I am going to add crocheted lace. I’ll share the results with you when I am done.

I love cute stationary, so I was delighted to find these lovely note cards and a journal for only fifty cents each at Michael’s. I also bought some in blue.

And my last pink piece that I want to share today is a new pink doily. I’m really getting into crocheting doilies lately. I hope I won’t ruin my eyesight or get carpal tunnel syndrome.

I'm joining the following link parties:
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Tickled Pink @ 504 Main,
Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound.

Getting Ready to Grow Flowers

2011-03-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

The skies finally cleared up, and the forecast predicts nice and warm weather for this week. I am so much looking forward to the gardening season!

Today, I am inspecting my flower seed supplies.

Last year, Bella from Bella’s Rose Cottage kindly sent me poppy seeds from her own garden (thank you Bella), and another friend sent me a packet of baby’s breath seeds.

Moreover, last fall I collected seeds of blue nigella and morning glory at a local park.

And, of course, I’ve been shopping for flower seeds whenever I came across inexpensive ones. For example, from a dollar store I bought seeds of marigolds, petunias, forget-me-nots, and helichrysum for only twenty-five cents a packet. I also got six bulbs of yellow gladioluses for a dollar.

From Wal-Mart, I got a root of peony, eight roots of lily-of-the-valley, and a bulb of red amaryllis. I planted them all at the same time about a month ago. The peony and amaryllis are growing well, but lily-of-the-valley is not growing at all. I hope it still will.

I'm joining other gardeners for Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage and Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fish Tail Cottage.

Adding Color to the Front Yard

2011-03-24T17:15:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago, my husband went to Lowe’s to pick up some tools and I went with him. While he was looking for his stuff, I roamed the garden center. I didn’t plan to buy anything, only wanted to look at some flowers.

Then I saw these dark purple pansies for only eighty-eight cents a six-pack. Of course, I couldn’t resist making myself a little present.

For a few days, they were just sitting on my bay window as it was raining cats and dogs. But when it finally cleared up a bit, I replanted them and displayed them on my tricycle planter stand in the front yard.

This is my first flower planter this year. I hope the pansies will like their new location and flourish soon.

The link parties I am joining today are:

Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fish Tail Cottage,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time,
Blooming Friday @ Roses and Stuff.

Garden after the Storm

2011-03-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

It’s been raining non-stop for a few days now. And last night we even had a storm. Today, when it stopped raining for a short while, I went out to my garden to see what was going on there.

It looks like the rain has a good effect on my plants. My little herb garden is thriving. But it is the blooms that interested me the most.

I found this little blue volunteer. I have no idea what its name is or where it came from. But I must say I love its tiny bells; they are so delicate and lovely.

Here is another plant, whose name I don’t know. It is a small shrub and it has been in the garden since we moved to this place a few years ago. It blooms almost year around.

My Chinese Fringe Flower bush is blossoming to the full extent. I learnt its name only today from Masha’s blog (thank you Masha).

My neighbors’ plum tree is in bloom as well, showering my calla lily plant with tiny white petals. But I don’t mind it at all; it looks so pretty!

The link parties I’m joining this week are:

Show off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses,
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage,
Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer,
Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fish Tail Cottage,
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time,
Saturday Show Off @ Maleviks Rosenträdgård.

Cross-Stitched Thank You Note

2011-03-17T18:46:00.001-07:00

Back in February, I posted about a cross-stitched Valentine’s card that I made for a friend of mine. I really like the idea of handmade cards, but since I haven’t tried myself at scrapbooking yet, the handmade cards that I make are cross-stitched ones.

I made this thank you note for a friend of mine. I used a very simple pattern and aida fabric count 14. The card is small and delicate, and I hope it will warmly express my appreciation.

The parties I’m joining today are:

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Hodgepodge Friday @ It’s a Hodgepodge Life,
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic On a Shoestring Decorating.

Doily Giveaway Winner

2011-03-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

It’s time to announce my doily giveaway winner! Every participant had one chance to win regardless of how many posts they linked up.

The random sequence generator at random.org picked Cheryl from Flower Girl Cottage as the winner.

Congratulations, Cheryl! I’ll be happy to mail you one of my doilies - pink or lilac, whichever you prefer.

Tea with Linzer Torte Cookies

2011-03-13T13:26:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite blogs is Stone Gable. And one of the reasons I love this blog is because its hostess Yvonne often posts interesting recipes. I once made her sour cream scones (which were so delicious), and now I tried another recipe from her blog – Linzer torte cookies.

My husband has been asking me to try to make Linzer torte for some time, but all the recipes I found seemed too complicated, so I put his request on hold. Then Yvonne posted the recipe for Linzer torte cookies, which didn’t sound too difficult, so I was eager to try it.

The other day, I made them! Unfortunately, my cookies didn’t turn out as beautiful as Yvonne’s (I will need to buy special cookie cutters), yet they were very delicious.

I thought since I made the cookies and had about sixty minutes of quiet time while my toddler napped, I would treat myself to a cup of tea. I used the tea cup and dessert plate that I got from my mom. And this bouquet of burgundy chrysanthemums was a present from my husband. I certainly enjoyed this little treat of tea and cookies and quiet sixty minutes.

The link parties I'm joining this week are:

Martha's Favorites @ Martha's Favorites,
Tea for Two @ The Plumed Pen,
Teacup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations,
Teapot and Tea Things @ Silken Purse,
Teapot and Tea Things @ Breath of Fresh Air,
Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage,
Teatime Tuesday @ Lady Katherine Tea Parlor.

Gerbera Daisy Flower Pens

2011-03-10T17:18:00.000-08:00

The 8th of March was International Women’s Day! Even though this holiday has its origins in the USA, it is not celebrated here. However, it is widely celebrated in my native Ukraine as well as some other East European countries.

My Russian-speaking girlfriends here in the USA thought the 8th of March was a good excuse for us to get together. One of the girls hosted a small party, and we all had a great time.

I wanted to show my appreciation to my friends by giving each of them a little present. I came up with the idea of making flower pens and giving one to each girl. And the ones that were left in the vase, I gave to the hostess.

You probably have seen this kind of pens before. They are very easy to make. All you are going to need for this project is:

Pens
Faux flowers
Green floral tape
A small vase or flower pot
Pebbles or dry beans

The pens that I bought had small holes on the top. All I did is cut off the flowers and inserted them into the pens. Then I wrapped the pens with the floral tape.

Those who worked with a floral tape before know that it’s sticky on both sides. So my pens were sticky to touch. But I easily solved this problem by dusting them with corn starch (baby powder will work too) and rubbing them with a paper towel.

Then I arraigned a bouquet of flower pens in a small vase filled with clear pebbles.

The parties I’m joining today are:

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Hodgepodge Friday @ It’s a Hodgepodge Life,
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic On a Shoestring Decorating.

Handmade Monday: Pink and Lilac Doilies

2011-03-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

It’s time for Handmade Monday again! I’ve been looking forward to it all month long. Welcome everyone!

I know there are only a few people that join me for my link party as it only takes place once a month, but I really like hosting it and don’t want to let it go ;-) Thank you for joining or just visiting me for my crafts link party.

And now to my latest handmade project. I had some leftover crochet thread in pink and lilac, not enough for anything really, but I though it will do for two small lacy doilies. They are only about eleven inches in diameter. One of these doilies is for me, and the other one is for you!

At the end of the link party (March 14), I will randomly pick the winner of the doily (pink or lilac, whichever you prefer) from the Handmade Monday participants for this month. Every participant will have one chance to win regardless of how many posts you link up. Please, see the Handmade Monday guidelines here.

The winner will be announced on March 15.

Thank you again for joining me and have a great week!

I am also linking this post to Made by You Monday link party.

as well as

Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter,
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle.

Hand Towels with Lace

2011-03-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

On my last visit to a Ross store, I found two pretty and inexpensive hand towels. I liked them because of the purple embroidered flowers. The moment I saw these towels, I knew I wanted to buy them. And at the same moment I thought that they would look even better if embellished with crocheted lace of purple color. I remembered having a roll of purple crochet thread in my craft supplies. Thus, I bought the towels without hesitation.

On the following day I set to work. I tried three different lace patterns but didn’t like any of them, so I kind of came up with my own. It didn’t take me long to crochet two strips of lace, and this new project was finished quickly.
I think the lace made a big difference! What do you think? Here is the “before” picture.

The link parties I am joining today are:

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Hodgepodge Friday @ It’s a Hodgepodge Life,
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic On a Shoestring Decorating,
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage.

Candied Orange Peel

2011-02-28T13:16:00.000-08:00

Rainy winter days are perfect for kitchen experiments! My latest one was this candied orange peel.

It’s very delicious and so easy to make! I used the recipe from this site, but I decreased the amount of sugar.

3 oranges (washed)
2 cups water (divided)
¾ cup sugar plus more for tossing

Cut off the top and bottom of the oranges. Cut each orange into four or five vertical pieces and carefully remove the peel. Cut peel into thin strips.

Bring one cup of water to boil and cook the peel strips for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse them.

In a medium saucepan heat ¾ cups of sugar and one cup of water until boiling. Add the peel strips and cook for 45 minutes.

Remove the peels from the saucepan with a slotted spoon and leave them on a paper towel to dry for a few hours.

Toss the orange peel strips in sugar and leave on a wire rack to dry for 1-2 days. Store in an airtight container.

For a festive twist, you can dip the orange peel strips in chocolate.

Today, I'm joining all these parties:
Mouthwatering Monday @ A Southern Fairy Tale,
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @ Blessed With Grace,
Tasty Tuesday @ 33 Shades of Green,
Made from Scratch Tuesday @ From Mess Hall to Bistro,
Tuesdays at the Table @ All the Small Stuff.

Also, Brittany at Real Sustenance invited me to join her Seasonal Sunday link party.

The Tablecloth Is Finished

2011-02-24T13:30:00.000-08:00

Dear ladies,

Finally, I can present you my crochet tablecloth! As some of you know, I started crocheting it last summer. Along the way, I was posting updates on my work. There were times when I was about to give up, but so many of you encouraged me to continue. A heartfelt thank you to all of you!

As this was the first tablecloth I crocheted, I made several mistakes. The biggest one is that I didn’t take into account how much the tablecloth will stretch after I starch it. Notice how the row of “pineapples” begins below the edge of the table. It would’ve looked so much better if it began exactly at the edge. Also, the “pineapples” in the second row were supposed to be finished separately creating a scalloped edge, but I was thinking about adding a third row of “pineapples”, then I changed my mind and didn’t feel like redoing it.

Anyway, the tablecloth is not perfect, but I am so glad it’s finally finished.

I am joining all these wonderful Friday link parties:

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Hodgepodge Friday @ It’s a Hodgepodge Life,
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic On a Shoestring Decorating,
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage.

Mosaic Monday

2011-02-20T15:32:00.000-08:00

It has been raining for several days now. The world outside my window looks gray and gloomy. I’m sitting inside my warm house, drinking hot tea, and looking at the flower pictures that I took last summer.

The variety of colors and shades the flowers come in amazes me. I ask myself “What is my favorite color of flowers?”, but it is really hard to choose. They all are so beautiful and unique in their own way.

Take a look and tell me if you can pick a favorite color.

White

Yellow

Orange

Red

Pale Pink

Pink

Lavender

And Blue.

Let’s add some Green as well!

I’m joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

First Flowers in My Garden

2011-02-17T12:26:00.001-08:00

Finally, my garden pleased me with the first spring flowers.

In the farthest shadiest corner of the garden, white cyclamens are blooming.

The small patch of candytuft also has tiny white blossoms.

And my calla lily plant produced a beautiful flower as well. It’s the second one for this year; more flowers should come shortly.

Of course, I couldn’t resist the temptation of making a small white bouquet. I placed it on my desk in the office room, next to the computer. As I type this post, I look at the first spring bouquet from my own garden and it makes me smile.

Today, I am joining all these wonderful Friday link parties:
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Hodgepodge Friday @ It’s a Hodgepodge Life

Valentine's Evening at Home

2011-02-14T08:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, this year my Valentine and I are staying at home again. But that doesn’t mean we won’t celebrate the most romantic day of the year. As soon as our precious son falls asleep, we will party!

And what do you need for a perfect Valentine’s Day celebration?

Red roses! I don’t know about you, but to me red roses scream “LOVE”, and that’s what Valentine’s Day is all about. A single red rose with a little bit of baby breath can send that affection message just as well as a dozen. Don’t you think?

Since it’s going to be a Valentine’s evening, candles would be nice. Even simple and inexpensive votives will work.

And what is a celebration without sweet treats? How about cream filled strawberries (yes, I made them again, this time with mascarpone cheese)...

... and a bit of chocolate assortment?

So far so good! But what about entertainment? My husband and I hardly ever have time for watching movies, so why not watch one tonight? Of course, it must be a romantic movie.

And for a bubbly drink, we’ll open a bottle of sparkling cider.

That’s all you need for a beautiful and romantic Valentine’s evening at home.

Happy Valentine’s Day, my dear blog-world friends! I wish you all lots of LOVE on this special day and always!

Today, I'm linking to Tabletop Tuesday.

Cream Filled Strawberries

2011-02-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

Every year I buy Tuxedo Cake for Valentine’s Day. But this year I don’t feel like following this tradition at all. Instead, I am in the mood for a lighter dessert. I searched the web and found one that completely got my attention. These strawberries filled with cream are very easy to make and look very festive. A perfect light dessert for Valentine’s Day!

The original recipe (from Joy of Baking) calls for mascarpone cheese. When I went to my local grocery store to buy it, I found that they only have mascarpone for Tiramisu (made with coffee), and it was not what I wanted. So I decided to try substituting mascarpone with cream cheese. And it worked! The strawberries were so delicious and I can hardly imagine how more luscious they could have been with mascarpone. One day I’ll try that too.

So here is the recipe:

16-18 large strawberries (ideally, you would want strawberries that stay upright. But if they don’t, just cut off the green stems, so the strawberries stay straight on a plate)
1/3 cup cream cheese or mascarpone cheese
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons white sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

In a bowl, whip the cheese and whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and vanilla and whip more until stiff peaks form. Spoon the cream into a pastry bag.

Make an X cut in each strawberry, almost down to its base. Carefully spread apart the “strawberry petals” and fill each strawberry with cream.

How easy was that! Enjoy a beautiful and delicious Valentine’s Day dessert!

As always, I am joining several link parties. And one of them is new. Sherry is hosting her first Home Sweet Home Friday. Please, visit her blog and see her beautiful antique Valentines.

I'm also joining Laurie for Valentine Party.

And the other parties I’m linking to are:

Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Hodgepodge Friday @ It’s a Hodgepodge Life.

Handmade Monday: Valentine’s Day Trinkets

2011-02-06T17:48:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow is the first Monday of the month, which means it’s time for Handmade Monday.

Valentine’s Day is only a week away! How wonderful!

The handmade project that I am sharing today is a little Valentine’s present for a friend of mine. It’s nothing grand or special, but I think it will make her smile. And won’t you agree that it’s a great feeling when you make someone smile and feel delighted?

The idea of a cross-stitched pincushion and a matching card wasn’t mine. I found it on this beautiful blog about needlework. These two items looked simple to make yet so charming and pretty. I looked through my craft supplies for aida fabric and red thread. I was thrilled to see that I have aida fabric in light pink color and count 14. Perfect for Valentine’s Day! I also found lots of leftover red thread from my previous cross-stitching project (Christmas stocking for my son). I eagerly started my new project and in a few evenings both the pincushion and the card were ready!

If you would like to share a handmade item (either made by you or someone else) or DIY project, please link below. See the guidelines here. Next Handmade Monday will take place on March 7.

I am also linking this post to Made by You Monday link party.

My Home-Baked Bread

2011-02-01T14:10:00.001-08:00

I like baking bread at home! It’s so nice when my kitchen is filled with the smell of fresh bread. I also like playing with the dough. Sometimes I make loafs, other times I shape my bread into rounds, baguettes, or some other shapes. And every time, my bread comes out with a different twist as I always add some flavorful ingredients such as olives, sun-dried tomatoes, rosemary, dried oregano, raisins, or different varieties of seeds.

I got this basic bread recipe from my mother. Most likely, this is not the simplest and quickest bread recipe, but it works very well for me.

Here is the recipe. It produces two bread rounds about 1.75 pounds each.

3 cups warm water
1 ½ teaspoon dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 ½ cups bread flour plus more for kneading and dusting

In a big mixing bowl, dissolve yeast, sugar, and salt in a small amount of water (about ½ cup). Add the remaining water and vegetable oil. Add flour and make the dough using a wooden spoon. Mix until the dough comes off the sides of the mixing bowl easily.

Dust the dough with a little bit of flour, cover with a damp kitchen towel, and leave in a warm place for one and a half hour.

Punch the air out of the dough and knead it until it is smooth and elastic but not sticky (for about 7-10 minutes). Return it to the bowl, dust with flour, cover, and leave for another one and a half hour in a warm place.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Again working on a floured surface, punch the air out of the dough and knead lightly (at this point, you can work in the additional ingredients such as olives or sun-dried tomatoes).

Shape the dough into two rounds, place on lightly greased baking sheets or round forms and set aside to rise for 15-20 minutes.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.

Let cool on a wire rack. Enjoy!

Today, I am joining Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @ Blessed With Grace.

Also later this week, I will link to Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum.

Crocheted Newborn Cap

2011-01-27T13:57:00.000-08:00

About a week ago, from the blog “Home Sweet Homebodies” I learned about the program Caps for Good. You can read more about this project here. But basically, it’s about making a tiny baby hat that will be sent to newborn health programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Of course, I wanted to participate!

It only took me one evening to crochet this baby cap. It’s about 12 inches in circumference at the crown (which was one of the specifications of the project). I also wanted to make a little flower decoration, but I thought I probably shouldn’t make it gender specific.

I am going to mail it to NY next week. And then it will be sent to its destination. I so hope this cap will keep a new baby warm and cozy.

Tonight, I will be linking to Show and Tell Friday, Hodgepodge Friday, and Flaunt it Friday.

I Made Scones

2011-01-24T13:37:00.000-08:00

Not long ago, Yvonne at Stone Gable posted a recipe for sour cream scones. Her scones looked so good and the recipe sounded so easy that I thought I should definitely try to make them. And I did! They turned out so good!

What is more, just the day before, I made a batch of strawberry jam (I have frozen strawberries stored in my freezer, so I can have fresh jam any time I want). These sour cream scones with homemade strawberry jam accompanied with a cup of tea were so delicious!

Thank you, Yvonne, for this great recipe.

Today, I am joining Tuesday Tea Parties:

Martha's Favorites @ Martha's Favorites,
Tea for Two @ The Plumed Pen,
Teacup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations,
Teapot and Tea Things @ Silken Purse,
Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage,
Teatime Tuesday @ Lady Katherine Tea Parlor.

I am also linking to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @ Blessed With Grace.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a wonderful week!

The Tablecloth Update

2011-01-19T19:21:00.000-08:00

This New Year, I got so many knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitching projects in my mind. But then I remembered that I have an unfinished project from the last year. The tablecloth!

I pulled it out and re-examined it. Should I tear it apart or should I continue? The spring is not too far away (at least here in California), and having a beautiful tablecloth for the garden table to have tea on would be so nice. Besides, I have already bragged about this tablecloth to my blogging friends!

Of course, I have to continue this crocheting adventure!

So I started to crochet it with new vigor and energy. Here is the update:

In August

In September

And here is what I have now. It actually starts to look like a tablecloth. Doesn’t it?

I'm joining a link party at Tea Rose Home. Please, come and see more craft ideas there.

I also link to several Friday blog parties: Show and Tell Friday, Favorite Things Friday, Hodgepodge Friday, and Flaunt it Friday.

My Winter Garden

2011-01-09T21:18:00.001-08:00

What a lifeless and boring place my garden is right now. There are hardly any colors other then dark green. I’m so much looking forward to spring when the garden will come back to life with flowers and plants.

This photo mosaic depicts the little colorful things I could find around my boring winter garden.

I’m linking to Mosaic Monday, Show Off Your Cottage Monday, and Tuesday Garden blog parties.

Handmade Monday: Crocheted Shawl

2011-01-02T16:09:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful beginning of the New Year.

The weather outside here is quite cold and gloomy. On the rainy evenings like tonight, my snuggle shawl is so handy. My mom crocheted it for me a few years ago. It’s very comfy and warm. And I think it’s very pretty too.

If you would like to share your handmade items or DIY projects, please link below.

Have a splendid year 2011!

Two Centerpieces for One Day

2010-12-28T22:03:00.000-08:00

The 31st of December is a double holiday in our family. It’s our son’s birthday as well as New Year’s Eve. And, of course, we are going to celebrate both.

To honor the birth of my little one, we will have a birthday lunch. We are not going to have a big party, only the three of us plus grandpa. Nevertheless, I want to create a special festive mood. So I made this Winnie the Pooh centerpiece to decorate our lunch table.

A bit later, the Winnie the Pooh centerpiece will be replaced with the New Year’s Eve one. I used real fir branches for it, and I just love the way it smells.

I am linking to Show and Tell Wednesday and Thrifty Thursday.

Please, don’t forget to join or just visit me on January 3rd for Handmade Monday.

Happy New Year!

Cross-Stitched Christmas Stocking

2010-12-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

The poinsettia and berries stocking is finished! I’m so glad I finished it before Christmas because otherwise Santa Clause wouldn’t have a place to leave Viktor’s present.

I'm linking to Rednesday at It's A Very Cherry World! and Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.

Scandinavian Cookies Silkekaker

2010-12-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, I am exploring many baking recipes. Here is one that comes from Scandinavia. My husband translated the recipe from Danish, and I converted it from grams to cups.

1 cup (8 ounces) butter, softened
2/3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

Beat butter, sugar and vanilla extract together with an electrical mixer. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, and baking powder. Combine the butter with flour and knead into dough.

Divide the dough in half and knead cocoa powder into one half. Roll four ropes about 12 inches long out of your dough (two white ones and two brown ones); make sure they are equally long.

Place one white and one brown ropes next to each other; put the remaining two on the top of them in a chessboard manner forming one long dough bar. Wrap it into plastic and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray or grease cookie sheets. Cut the dough into ¼ inch slices. Put them on the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 13-15 minutes. Keep an eye on your cookies towards the end of baking as they can burn very quickly.

Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before storing in an airtight container.

I'm linking to Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.

Handmade Monday: Poinsettia and Berries

2010-12-05T20:00:00.000-08:00

Handmade Monday is back! However, there are some changes. From now on, Handmade Monday will take place once a month – on the first Monday of the month. Otherwise, all the guidelines are the same.
Today, I want to show the craft project I’m working on this holiday season. I am cross-stitching a “Poinsettia and Berries” stocking cuff. I want to make a beautiful and special stocking for my son.

Working on this project is very relaxing and is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
Please, share you projects or handmade items with us. Next Handmade Monday will take place on January 3.

Enjoy your holiday season!

Cream Cheese Rolls

2010-12-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

These cream cheese rolls are easy to make and require simple ingredients. They make a nice holiday treat.

1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
2 tsp sugar
2 cups flour

For glaze:
1 egg white
1 tbsp water

For filling:
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
¾ cup light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Beat the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until soft and fluffy. Sift over the flour and mix until combined. Shape the dough into a ball and divide it in half. Flatten each half, wrap into plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
To make the glaze, beat the egg white with water. To make the filling, combine walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease two cookie sheets. Work with one half of the dough at a time. Roll it out thinly making a circle (about 11 inches in diameter). You can use a dinner plate as a guide to trim the edges with a knife.
Brush the surface with the glaze and sprinkle evenly with half the filling.
Cut the circle into 16 segments. Roll each segment starting at its base.
Place the rolls on the cookie sheet and brush with the remaining glaze. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

I'm joining Seasonal Saturday at La Bella Vita.

Cranberries

2010-11-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! In high spirits and full of energy, I am back in the blogland ;-)

Last weekend, I bought a big bag of cranberries. I don’t know what I was thinking buying so many of them. It seemed like a good deal, and I thought I can eat them just like strawberries or raspberries (silly me). When I discovered they are not tasty at all, I panicked for a moment. What am I going to do with so many cranberries? Luckily, there is such a thing as the Internet, full of interesting ideas and advice!

Here is what I did: I froze half of the bag. I left some of the berries for cranberry sauce, which I will make in a couple days. The rest I used for decorating.

First, I simply added some cranberries to my autumn basket. Using martini glasses, I made cranberry candle holders. However, caution should be implemented with such candle holders. If the berries come in contact with the flames, they might burst. The candles should not be left unattended!

I also made cranberry napkin rings. I had to pick the hardest berries because I don’t want them to stain my napkins. And in case they might, I am using burgundy colored napkins.

For more cranberry craft ideas, visit this page.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ciao for Now

2010-09-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

My dear blog-world friends,

I haven’t been feeling well lately and haven’t felt as excited about blogging as I used to. I have decided to take a break. Of course, I will still visit your wonderful blogs, so we will stay in touch.

For those of you who joined me for Handmade Monday, here is a list of some other blog parties/memes where you can link your handmade projects:

Craftastic Monday at sewcando.blogspot.com

Making Monday Marvelous at craftingreallyawesomefreethings.blogspot.com

Tutorial Tuesday at hopestudios.blogspot.com

Hoo’s Got Talent at nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com

Fabric Fun Thursday at cheapchichome.blogspot.com

Look at me at funtocraft.blogspot.com

Ciao for now,

Olga

My Roses Are Blooming Again

2010-09-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ask me why I am so happy today, and I will tell you that it’s because my roses are blooming again!

Take a look!

And now look at this naughty cricket (or whatever it is) eating my rose. The rose must be very delicious as half of it has been eaten. Oh well, I’ll just let the fellow enjoy it.

I’m linking my roses to

Fertilizer Friday

Show and Tell Friday

Fresh, Clean, and Pure Friday and

Macro Flowers Saturday.

Handmade Monday: Another Tablecloth Update

2010-09-05T21:30:00.000-07:00

This Labor Day weekend has been so relaxed that I almost forgot about Handmade Monday! I don’t have anything handmade to show this week, so I thought I’d make another update on my crocheted tablecloth.

The work is slowing down now as every row gets bigger and bigger. It also gets somewhat tedious and boring. I feel like I’m ready to finish this project, but I am only halfway through. Hopefully, I won’t give it up entirely (something that has happened before with other projects).

If you have something handmade to show this relaxed Labor Day weekend, please link below. If you are joining for the first time, the guidelines are here.

Happy Labor Day!

Potato Gnocchi

2010-09-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

The other day, I made potato gnocchi for dinner. I was surprised how easy to make they are and how few ingredients they require.
Gnocchi can be served with pesto, herbed butter, or tomato sauce. I served mine with pesto and grated Parmesan cheese.

1 ½ pounds potatoes
1 egg, beaten
1 ¼ - 1 ½ cups bread flour
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt
Pesto, melted herbed butter, or tomato sauce
Freshly grated Parmesan

Cook the potatoes in their skins in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until soft. Drain. When cool enough to handle, peel and mash until smooth.

Beat in the egg and half the flour. Turn out onto a floured board and gradually add more flour, kneading lightly until you have soft but not sticky dough.

Keep the board well floured while you roll pieces of the dough into long thick sausage shapes about 1 inch thick. Cut each rope into pieces about 1 inch long to make gnocchi.

Press the gnocchi against the back of a fork to make the traditional indentations, then place on a floured tray. Cover with a floured cloth and chill for at least 30 minutes.

To cook the gnocchi, bring a large pan of salted water to a boil. Add the olive oil and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer since fast boiling will destroy the shape of gnocchi.

Add the gnocchi to the water in batches, cooking them for 2-3 minutes. They should float to the surface when they are almost cooked. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and keep warm in a buttered serving dish while you cook the remainder.

Have ready a melted butter or sauce. When all the gnocchi are cooked, pour the melted butter or sauce over them and sprinkle with grated Parmesan. Serve hot.

Serves 4.

The recipe is from Sarah Brown's book The Vegetarian Bible.

I’m linking to Foodie Friday

and Vegetarian Foodie Fridays.

Handmade Monday: Violet Doily

2010-08-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

This doily is my favorite. My mom made it for me several years ago. Actually, I wanted to crochet it myself. I remember I bought the crocheting booklet with the pattern and all the needed threads. Then I discovered that I couldn’t understand anything in the instructions whatsoever. An English-Russian dictionary didn’t help either.

Then my mom said she will give it a try. Of course, she didn’t understand anything in the instructions either, but she crocheted the doily just by looking at the photograph. I thought that was pretty impressive. My violet doily is not exactly the same as the one in the booklet, but it’s very close. And I like it very much.

If you would like to share your handmade items, just link below. If you are joining for the first time, please see the guidelines here.

Thank you for stopping by and have a nice week!

Handmade Monday: Ukrainian Rushnyks

2010-08-22T11:28:00.001-07:00

It’s time for Handmade Monday again. Welcome!

In order to honor my Ukrainian heritage, I want to show Ukrainian embroidered hand towels called rushnyks, which traditionally were used for religious and ceremonial events or hung on the walls as decorations.

I received the two rushnyks below from my aunt as keepsakes when I was leaving Ukraine for America. She cross-stitched them herself when she was young. In the past, many village girls would make rushnyks for their dowry, but this tradition is long gone. Nowadays, rushnyks are occasionally used in ceremonial events (for example, weddings), but very few people would actually hand make them.

This third rushnyk has flat embroidery (I don’t know the proper name of this stitch in English). I received it from my grandparents’ neighbor. A very sweet old lady gave it to me as a present.

Now it is your turn. You can link your posts about handmade items below. If you are joining for the first time, please see the guidelines here.

I am away on vacation, so I have lots of sightseeing to do. But I will check all the entries when I come back on Wednesday. Until then!

Ukrainian Folk Outfit

2010-08-18T19:31:00.001-07:00

August is a special month for many Ukrainians as on the 24th they celebrate their Independence Day. For centuries, Ukraine struggled for independence from Russia, but only in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine became an independent country.

I no longer live in Ukraine, but every year on the 24th of August I celebrate my Ukrainian heritage. This year I want to share it with others through my blog. I am going to make a few Ukraine related posts.

This first post is on Ukraine national (or folk) costume. Such outfits were worn by peasants back in the 18th-19th centuries. People in Ukraine no longer wear traditional outfits except for performances and special occasions. A female outfit consists of blouse, underskirt, outer skirt, vest and apron. There is lots of embroidery in the costume. In fact, the amount and sophistication of the embroidery showed the prosperity of the person who wore it.

A few years ago, I received a Ukrainian folk outfit as a present. Of course, it is only a contemporary imitation and the embroidery is not handmade, but the costume itself is hand-sewn. Nevertheless, I am very proud to wear it once a year on the day when I celebrate my cultural heritage.

Today, I’m joining a new blog party. It’s is called Fabric Fun Thursday and is hosted by Kim at Cheap Chic Home.

August: How Does the Garden Grow?

2010-08-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

This year, I don’t have annual flowers in my garden, but I do plan to have some next year. The only exception is my pink petunias. I bought the seeds from a dollar store back in the spring. Whether the seeds weren’t any good or I didn’t water them enough, I don’t know, but I only got two petunia plants out of the entire seed packet. But I must say they are very pretty. I hope my two petunia plants will produce some seeds for the next year.

One morning, on my daily check of the garden, I noticed how pretty my green onions looked with the drops of water on them. I thought I’d take a picture and post it in my next garden report. Green onions grow all year around in my garden, and I like adding them to salads and omelets.

And now I want to show what I recently harvested. The plums come from my neighbors’ garden. Wait, I know what you are thinking, but let me explain ;-)

The tree grows near the fence, so I have many branches on my side. The neighbors kindly let me have as many plums as I want and can reach. So I harvest them liberally. Besides, if I don’t pick them off the tree, the plums will end up decaying on the ground in my yard and that is not pretty. These plums are not very big but sweet and juicy.

The tomatoes and onions are from my vegetable garden. I’m very happy with the tomatoes but not so happy with the onions. I expected my onions to grow bigger. The greens in the basket with the onions are rosemary. I picked several twigs as I was making baked potatoes with rosemary.

And this completes my August garden report. To see what others are growing and harvesting this month, visit An Oregon Cottage for Tuesday Garden Party.

Handmade Monday: A Tablecloth in Progress

2010-08-15T19:39:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Handmade Monday!

The only handmade project that I am working on at the present is crocheting a round tablecloth. It has been a while since I got the idea of a lacy tablecloth to use for garden tea settings. After I finally found appropriate crocheting threads and a pattern, I set to work.

So far, I am about one fourth through with my project. I really like the way it is coming out. I hope to finish it before the rain season arrives, so I can have at least one afternoon tea in the garden, set on my handmade tablecloth.

If you would like to share your handmade items, link below. If you are joining for the first time, please see the guidelines here.

Have a great Monday!

Pear Bread

2010-08-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

Last week, at my local grocery store pears were only thirty-seven cents a pound. Guess who bought several pounds.

Having so many pears, I wanted to try some new pear recipe. I found this pear bread recipe at allrecipes.com, and it turned out very delicious.

1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups pears - peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup chopped pecans
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 8x4 inch loaf pans or one 9x13 inch loaf pan.

In large mixing bowl combine oil, sugar and eggs, beat well. Stir in pears, pecans and vanilla. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir dry ingredients into the pear mixture; mix well. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans.

Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes for two 8x4 inch pans or 90 minutes for one 9x13 inch pan, until a toothpick inserted into center of a loaf comes out clean. Allow loaves to cool in pan(s) for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

I’m linking to Foodie Friday

and Vegetarian Foodie Fridays.

A Striking Floribunda

2010-08-10T20:55:00.001-07:00

On my last trip to the local Rose Garden, I discovered a remarkable rose.
It looked as if some naughty artist took a palette and added pink brushstrokes to a white rose. In addition to its distinctive beautiful coloring, the rose had the most fantastic fragrance. Being intrigued by this rose, I wanted to know its name. And what a special name it has – Julio Iglesias!

I love Julio Iglesias’ romantic songs especially the ones in Spanish. There is so much passion and ardor in his voice. His love songs are full of drama and affection. And now I love his rose!
From the little research that I made, I found that it was bred in France in 2006. What beautiful tribute to a great singer.

Well, now I must have Julio Iglesias in my garden.

Today, I'm linking to Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer. Please, come and see other bloggers' outdoor adventures.

Handmade Monday: Decorative Birdhouses

2010-08-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

It’s time for Handmade Monday again!

All my previous HM posts were either about crocheted or knitted articles. Today, I am in the mood for something else. How about decorative birdhouses?

I inherited these birdhouses from the previous homeowners. For almost two years, they were just sitting in a corner of my garden. At some point I even wanted to throw them away as their shabby appearance wasn’t very attractive. But then I decided to give them another chance to life by repainting them.

I went to my brother’s place, who recently bought a house and now is remodeling it. He kindly let me use any of the paint from his garage. I felt the excitement of a little kid who was given her first paints. Even though I didn’t do a very good job, I enjoyed the experience a lot.

Now the birdhouses are back in my garden. They will be a part of a bigger project that I’m working on (I hope to blog about it in the future).

Moreover, I decided to use these birdhouses for Handmade Monday sign.

Thank you for participating in Handmade Monday or just stopping by. If you are linking for the first time, the guidelines are here. Have a great week!

Pasta Bowls and End-of-Summer Pasta Recipe

2010-08-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

Today, I want to show what beautiful hand-painted pasta bowls I have. Each of the six bowls is unique and has its own vegetable – artichoke, garlic, pepper, asparagus, eggplant, and tomato. The seventh big serving bowl has a group of vegetables painted and a sign “Verdura”. I love how festive and cheerful these pasta bowl are.

With such pretty bowls, I need something to go in them, right? How about simple and delicious end-of-summer pasta?

You will need:

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium eggplants, cut into ½ -inch chunks
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. farfalle, penne or other dried pasta
6 small or 3 medium tomatoes, cut into ½ - 1 inch chunks
1 to 2 tsp. thinly sliced garlic
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh basil for garnish (optional)

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the eggplant, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and stir occasionally until it’s browned and tender, about 15 minutes.

Add pasta to boiling water and prepare as directed. While it’s cooking, add the tomatoes and garlic to the eggplant mixture and cook, stirring occasionally until everything is nicely softened, about 10 more minutes.

When the pasta is done, drain and toss with the eggplant sauce and Parmesan. Adjust the seasoning and garnish with basil if you like.

The recipe is from Parents magazine, August 2010.

To show off my pasta bowls, I’m joining Show and Tell Friday. And to share the pasta recipe, I’m linking to Foodie Friday and Vegetarian Foodie Fridays.

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful rest of the week!

The Beginning of a Teacup Collection

2010-08-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

In my dining room there is a shelf that has been empty for a long time. I just couldn’t come up with anything to display there. But then I thought it would be nice to fill it with pretty teacups. Hence, these three cups are the beginning of my tea cup collection.

They aren’t any special in terms of their origin, but they are special to me because I got them from my mother. She had the tea set for decades, but now this is all that is left.

The cups now occupy my shelf, but I do intend to use them often. Pretty things should be used and enjoyed, and not merely displayed. Don’t you think?

Today, I am joining Martha at Martha's Favorites for Teacup Tuesday. Check out her blog to see what interesting mustache teacups she has in her collection.

Handmade Monday: Just a Doily

2010-08-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

It is the beginning of the new week, so it’s time for Handmade Monday! Let’s share our handmade items and DIY projects.

For my part, I want to show a crocheting project that I recently finished. Adoring lavender/lilac color this summer, I made a lavender doily. As it is not very big and of the easy “pineapple” pattern it only took me a few days to crochet it.

This is the second doily that I crocheted this summer. My next crocheting project will be a tablecloth.

Thank you for stopping by and, perhaps, adding your link. The guidelines for Handmade Monday post submission are here. I’m looking forward to checking out all your handmade projects.

Steel and Roses

2010-07-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I went to one of my favorite places in my town – the Rose Garden. Usually, I walk between the neat rows admiring and smelling the roses. But this time, I had a different scheme.

I walked on the perimeter of the garden exploring the roses that grow by the steel fence. Some of the sights were just stunning. There was something magical and dreamy about the steel and rose combination. The mightiness and coldness of the steel bars and the loveliness and fragility of the roses balanced each other so well.

I wonder how come the idea of exploring the steel fence never occurred to me before. It’s really worthwhile seeing.

This week, I'm joining Claudia at Dipity Road for Friday Finding Beauty.

Have a wonderful weekend!