tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57579454625772325272024-03-13T23:06:30.241-04:00American HomesteadFind me on facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/americanhomesteaddesign?ref=hlAmerican Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.comBlogger968125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-83404090203793641012022-04-05T17:52:00.000-04:002022-04-05T17:52:05.910-04:00Easter Long Ago<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1347" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4etJhnJ7BV71_IqlGM7RvNJ5Xl7l-igUTM4I_ptx8bTDbEI2XxhR9EzUw4CRn2dX68FfDeg-kGh6JKFgKZyEYdM5tiQyY5eGHNSQgSkyuToz_O0Q1qcqf2Scl_zHHqGzWfMhXX89_eArHog51MgWvkZ6daHENh-3v04D37VoEN0J_BZ5Uys5ykzy7A/s320/848F5454-F66B-4C7D-B205-3D6A0F64DDE4.jpeg" width="239" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Long Ago and Far Away.</span></div><br /> <p></p>American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-33430268160787650562017-10-06T15:55:00.002-04:002017-10-06T15:55:43.393-04:00DIY Reed Diffuser<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This post came about from people always asking me, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"How </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">can you afford to travel all over the world?".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My answer is always, "It's the little things!".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you can save money on many of the small aspects</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">of your life, you would be amazed how much that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">can add up. So many people spend exorbitant amounts</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">of money on what is wax and chemical scents in candles </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and wax melts. There </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">had to be a better answer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What really prompted me to try something new was this </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ceiling! This is the ceiling in what was my daughter's </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">bedroom. She loved to burn scented candles during her</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">later high school and college years. These were high </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">quality (read costly) candles from that nicely scented store </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in the mall and from a company that I can only call a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">candle empire. It wasn't until we cleared out the room to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">paint it that we really noticed how filthy the ceiling looked</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">from the soot from the candles, we were shocked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is what it looked like after vigorous scrubbing ~ not</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">much better. Luckily with two coats of paint, it was </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">covered and looks great now but it really made me rethink</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the use of scented candles in my home. Like many other </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">people I do like a nicely scented home and I had used reed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">diffusers many times but again, every time I purchased one</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the cost was from $10 to $25 and that just seemed like a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">waste of money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I did a little research online and found out it is </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">extremely easy to make your own liquid for your</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">bottle/reed diffusers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everything I needed for this DIY was already in </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">my house:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 cup hot tap water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 cup alcohol (rubbing or vodka)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">essential oil (I used a botanical, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">non-synthetic oil)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">new reeds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I recycled a bottle from a purchased diffuser</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This method will evaporate faster than an oil based</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">method but I didn't have the proper oils in my home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will try that method once I have purchased the oil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I poured the water and vodka into a plastic cup </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and swirled it together. I then poured this mixture</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">into a glass bottle with a shallow neck. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I added </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">25 drops of essential oil to the jar and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">swirled the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">liquid around. The new reeds I </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">purchased had straight reeds and more decorative </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ones that have swirls at the end. The straight reeds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">should be turned around a few times a week to add</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">more scent to the room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I used a sweet orange oil that smells so clean and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">beautiful. Sometimes the scents from candles or</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">wax melts can make me feel a bit sick but this scent </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">is fresh and lovely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Give it a try! And remember, it's the little things!</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-38984625404783957742017-02-04T17:34:00.001-05:002017-02-04T17:34:14.395-05:00The DNA Surprise!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo from Google Photos</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just this week we got our family's DNA test </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">results. Last Summer my late sister Trishie </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and I went to a presentation at our local library</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">about DNA testing. The lecturer said it would </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">be best if our brother was the one to take the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">test. After consulting with Lynne, our family</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">geneologist, we decided to use the FamilyTree</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">DNA test. Oh, how I wish Trishie were here to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">see what we learned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, we are obviously very European - 98% which was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">not a surprise. It was a bit of a surprise to see we are</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">mostly Scandinavian but not a total surprise. We already</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">knew through a DNA test of a male cousin on our Irish</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">side that we had Viking blood. I was quite surprised to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">see that we were more Scandinavian than anything else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have always been attracted to the folk art and culture</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of Scandinavia but I thought that was from living with</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">my Norwegian roommate Heidi while in college. I must</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">say, I fully embrace my Scandinavian roots and I'm ready</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to join the Sons of Norway!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But here is the surprise that blew us away ~ we are 2%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Middle Eastern ~ whaaattt????</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The results said some of our ancient ancestors would </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">have come from the area of Turkey. Turkey! I was </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">thrilled! It made me think back to my first trip to Turkey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">which was 5 years ago this Spring. I was flying to Istanbul</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">from Amsterdam and as I was walking to the boarding area</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mr. Wonderful was quite a ways behind me and it looked </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">like I was traveling alone. As I approached the line I noticed </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3 people at the end of the line that looked very Turkish and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't mean just physically, they were not in western dress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now I don't mean they were in burkas and head scarves but </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">they had clothing that was rather folk-like, almost with a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">bit of a peasant look to it. There was a man and two women</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and when the man spotted me, he opened his arms in a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">gesture that would only be read as, "Come, welcome sister!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The women turned to me and they all started talking to me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in Turkish! I explained in English that I didn't speak Turkish</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and three jaws dropped, they couldn't believe it. But with </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">typical Turkish hospitality, they welcomed me anyway. Once</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I got to Istanbul I realized, I fit right in here. In fact as I was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">spending the day in the park with the lawyer Ahmet, I said to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">him, I could pass for Turkish, the dark hair, the dark eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He agreed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One night I was riding the funicular or as they call it the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mountain Tram and an elderly woman and a man who </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was probably her son boarded. Mr. Wonderful got up to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">give the lady his seat and since the man was older than me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I got up so he could sit. He insisted I take the seat and the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">woman and I smiled and giggled to each other and she held</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">my hand all the way up the mountain. Again..."welcome</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">daughter". It is a small world, embrace it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And Heidi, notice on the map above, the Scandinavian area</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">that we are most likely from is in Norway! Hei sister!</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-84352152126940434212017-01-23T23:51:00.000-05:002017-01-23T23:51:23.977-05:00Port of Call: Aruba<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were traveling on the Coral Princess from Fort </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lauderdale. Aruba was our first port and after being</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">at sea for two and a half days we were ready to get </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">off the ship and do some exploring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On our cruise, we were only in port for a few hours</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">from about 7am until noon. We are not big on excursions </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and generally like to explore on our own. After reading</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">up on the island we found out that there are tours that take </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">you to visit the Natural Bridge and then tell you that the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Natural Bridge was destroyed in a storm in 2005, they do </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">show you </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">a smaller version of a natural bridge but we knew</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> this </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">sort of tour would not be for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The ship docks at the Aruba Cruise Terminal and it is</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">just a short walk to get outside the terminal to taxis and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the main shopping area. Aruba is one of the countries of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the Kingdom of the Netherlands and you can see the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dutch influence in the facades of the buildings on the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">main drag, though with a pastel Caribbean vibe. There</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">are casinos, restaurants and bars and the typical </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">shopping venues found in most island ports such as</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Diamonds International and stores of that type.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We exited the cruise terminal and approached the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">line of taxis. There are fixed prices in Aruba and we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">knew it would be $10 to get to our destination but </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">we told the driver where we wanted to go he told us</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the was a Sunday surcharge and now the fare would</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">be $13 each way for a 3 mile trip. I really hate being</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ripped off when I travel and prefer to walk away when</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">it happens. I walked onto the main street and just </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">behind the stores is the bus station, a few local guys</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">told me I could get to the beach easily and cheaply.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We could pay with US dollars on the bus since the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ticket booth was closed. The bus arrived in a few</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">minutes and we hopped on, for a few dollars each we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">rode the local bus and the driver told us when we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">had reached our destination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We chose to visit Eagle Beach during our time in Aruba.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This beach is often rated as one of the best in the islands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it is beautiful, a lovely wide beach with turquoise blue</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">waters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We didn't have wifi on the ship so we needed to find a spot</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">on the beach with wifi so we could check our emails and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">get a little work done. We paid a guy for a few lounge chairs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">under a palapa and settled in for what we thought would</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">be a few hours of rest and relaxation. Very soon we were</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">slapping and scratching from some small insects that were</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">biting us. We wrapped towels around ourselves and checked</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">our most important emails and then high tailed it out of </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">there before we were devoured by the insects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We said farewell to the beach and hopped back on</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We strolled over the the Wharfside Flea Market and met</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">up with a few friends from the ship who told us all the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">stuff there were cheap souvenirs or other trinkets that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">are brought over from Haiti. By this point we had seen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">enough, we headed back to the ship. </span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-19464516150963446442016-11-29T14:52:00.001-05:002016-11-29T14:55:05.745-05:00Happy 6th Birthday American Homestead Blog!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today marks the 6th birthday of the American Homestead</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">blog and it is also my birthday but I'm older than 6!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have been a bad blogger this year, in fact, I have only</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">posted 12 times in the whole year. It seemed like blogging</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">was falling by the wayside but lately I am happy to see many</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bloggers returning from long breaks. So hopefully with the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">New Year I will try to blog more often. I do have so many</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">stories I would love to tell, things about my travels, the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">things I make, the things I eat, the things I collect, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I do post everyday on Instagram: @americanhomestead1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are rumors that there may be some new technology</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">coming my way for my birthday so hopefully that will make</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">blogging a bit easier. I take so many photos with my phone</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">these days, there are so many pieces of equipment it can be</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hard to get them to work together in an easy way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This blog started just as I was about to go on a big adventure</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and that is still going on. I travel a lot! And I love it. I have</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">traveled to 7 foreign countries this year, 6 of them are new</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to me. I leave next week to set sail to South America and I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">will visit five new countries on my world list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is my World List you may ask? Well, there are a few</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">milestones that travelers like to meet. One is to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">circumnavigate the globe, I've done that twice. Another</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">milestone is to visit 100 countries ~ I'm working on that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am almost halfway to my goal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So please stay tuned to see what the New Year brings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming holidays no</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">matter what holiday you may celebrate. Just be happy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All the best,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">~ Ellen</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-43314026821132799352016-08-22T12:27:00.001-04:002016-08-22T12:27:24.686-04:00Before and After Silver Haul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ukx2p2BXU1M/V7sj_FMFfCI/AAAAAAAAwuk/myRPKBhjtSUxf6qh-wlRvnphtRYZLYaxgCLcB/s1600/silver%2Bbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ukx2p2BXU1M/V7sj_FMFfCI/AAAAAAAAwuk/myRPKBhjtSUxf6qh-wlRvnphtRYZLYaxgCLcB/s400/silver%2Bbefore.jpg" width="365" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a meeting in a town about an hour and a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">quarter away from my house earlier this week</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and on the way home I stopped at a thrift shop</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for a look around and found a pile of old silver.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I imagine a family emptied out someone's home</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and sent it all to the thrift shop. Probably many</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of these pieces were wedding gifts back when</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">people got silver for their weddings. There were</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">so many cool pieces, a huge circular tray that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">must have been 2' across, coffee pots, creamers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">footed water pitchers... and I didn't buy anything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NOT ONE THING! I thought, oh, you have so</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">much already, where will you put it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then I regretted it. I thought about it all</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">week. I really wanted the huge tray.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tIlNOf1hY0M/V7skH31KMgI/AAAAAAAAwus/7aNBde8uPMMWVtXYSAh_lehsDBH89UopgCEw/s1600/silver%2Bafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tIlNOf1hY0M/V7skH31KMgI/AAAAAAAAwus/7aNBde8uPMMWVtXYSAh_lehsDBH89UopgCEw/s400/silver%2Bafter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was our wedding anniversary weekend and we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">were out of state all day on Saturday so I made a deal</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">with Mr. Wonderful. I said if we got up early on Sunday</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> and got all of our outdoor chores done, could we head</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">back down south and see if any silver was left? He was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">up for it and off we went. Of course many of the good</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">pieces were gone, including the huge tray. But I did</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">pick up 10 pieces. And I got it all for $20 which is the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">weekend limit I usually set for myself. So it was a score!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I polished it all as I was watching the final Lewis on</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Masterpiece and now it is all packed away in the china</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">closet. I think we will have a silver themed Thanksgiving</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and Christmas this year!</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-26989240048911954332016-08-14T13:08:00.001-04:002016-08-14T14:55:41.851-04:00American Homestead Pincushion/Ornament Class<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pH_AFd83-wc/V7Cb2XdTiiI/AAAAAAAAwsw/apKVtd1LYS8kzqJK5mnoPTFvPIrNZhhOACLcB/s1600/class%2Boption%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pH_AFd83-wc/V7Cb2XdTiiI/AAAAAAAAwsw/apKVtd1LYS8kzqJK5mnoPTFvPIrNZhhOACLcB/s400/class%2Boption%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This post gives information on my Ornament/Pincushion</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Class that I teach to guilds, stitching groups and retreats.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLjhcg_qYEQ/V7Cb7hkmzyI/AAAAAAAAws0/WOr-5yiMm0Mq_I09oIbdwMSXoaD4saxbwCLcB/s1600/class%2Boption%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLjhcg_qYEQ/V7Cb7hkmzyI/AAAAAAAAws0/WOr-5yiMm0Mq_I09oIbdwMSXoaD4saxbwCLcB/s400/class%2Boption%2B4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are many ways to use the projects that you create.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are the various ways you can use the ornaments.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPQ4xKnsp9w/V7CcBcZEMtI/AAAAAAAAws4/WLjjq-kh30gZmDZiocNx5KBe2r73i9ragCLcB/s1600/class%2Boption%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPQ4xKnsp9w/V7CcBcZEMtI/AAAAAAAAws4/WLjjq-kh30gZmDZiocNx5KBe2r73i9ragCLcB/s400/class%2Boption%2B5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You could also embroider a name and date on the back</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to make it a special keepsake ornament. I know people</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">who make them for their kids or grandkids so when they</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">grow up and have their own homes, they have a collection</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of ornaments from someone they love.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IxZV-f9c61w/V7CcBjdrDHI/AAAAAAAAws8/NyZbdqSOTiQbwCTwL2iJy_cb4pIQOajLgCLcB/s1600/class%2Boption%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IxZV-f9c61w/V7CcBjdrDHI/AAAAAAAAws8/NyZbdqSOTiQbwCTwL2iJy_cb4pIQOajLgCLcB/s400/class%2Boption%2B6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can also add a little pocket to the back to hold</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a gift certificate.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pH_AFd83-wc/V7Cb2XdTiiI/AAAAAAAAwsw/apKVtd1LYS8kzqJK5mnoPTFvPIrNZhhOACLcB/s1600/class%2Boption%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pH_AFd83-wc/V7Cb2XdTiiI/AAAAAAAAwsw/apKVtd1LYS8kzqJK5mnoPTFvPIrNZhhOACLcB/s400/class%2Boption%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you decide to make a pincushion you can place them</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">on a metal candlestand which looks lovely.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2SL-L6EfIew/V7Cb2U447wI/AAAAAAAAwss/VPmwLbtxrkY510T1dDBiUpYcgWWc3jwVgCLcB/s1600/class%2Boption%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2SL-L6EfIew/V7Cb2U447wI/AAAAAAAAwss/VPmwLbtxrkY510T1dDBiUpYcgWWc3jwVgCLcB/s400/class%2Boption%2B3.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can also frame them, they look great grouped </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in three or four on the wall.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gtfCJTAKd0w/V7CbunNrO0I/AAAAAAAAwsk/houBpHA4suMcz2UbUlbebC4KbT_LwW9vwCLcB/s1600/class%2Boption%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gtfCJTAKd0w/V7CbunNrO0I/AAAAAAAAwsk/houBpHA4suMcz2UbUlbebC4KbT_LwW9vwCLcB/s400/class%2Boption%2B1.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can also put them on dowel sticks and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">add them to a floral arrangement.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7PgaI9aqeJI/V7Cbr0vkq5I/AAAAAAAAwsg/JyVjBlUJEOYWuI3yNccIiqp14FL1VSzugCLcB/s1600/class%2Bchoice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7PgaI9aqeJI/V7Cbr0vkq5I/AAAAAAAAwsg/JyVjBlUJEOYWuI3yNccIiqp14FL1VSzugCLcB/s400/class%2Bchoice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You have two choices to make:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. What pattern do I want to make? There are 13 to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">choose from. They are shown below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. What colorway would you like to work in? There is </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a brighter group of fabrics called the European Folk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Art Collection and a deeper group of fabrics called the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pennyrug Collection. Here they are:</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SkxxO2MNdOU/V7Cd_QqRAsI/AAAAAAAAwtM/J03v6ZE2Zo43fkHut2lgSi824RTf16TWACLcB/s1600/euro%2Bfolk%2Bart%2Ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SkxxO2MNdOU/V7Cd_QqRAsI/AAAAAAAAwtM/J03v6ZE2Zo43fkHut2lgSi824RTf16TWACLcB/s400/euro%2Bfolk%2Bart%2Ball.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Patterns created in The European Folk Art Collection</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dS91JfOopcg/V7CdYXccY4I/AAAAAAAAwtI/yRP32HNWD7M9jjdODsTwaLdep6SRHZUXwCLcB/s1600/pennyrug%2Ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dS91JfOopcg/V7CdYXccY4I/AAAAAAAAwtI/yRP32HNWD7M9jjdODsTwaLdep6SRHZUXwCLcB/s400/pennyrug%2Ball.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Patterns created in The Pennyrug Collection</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pc2RkHPCB3U/V7CbutDpNCI/AAAAAAAAwso/Fy5kFy3_6fAilISAsuela4APmBo_jdkbwCLcB/s1600/class%2Bmaterials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pc2RkHPCB3U/V7CbutDpNCI/AAAAAAAAwso/Fy5kFy3_6fAilISAsuela4APmBo_jdkbwCLcB/s400/class%2Bmaterials.jpg" width="327" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is what you need to bring to class: (it's so </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">simple, you can bring it in a little basket!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Scissors: sharp scissors to cut the wool felt and thread</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Small pincushion with a few pins</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Needles: appropriate to your choice of thread or whatever</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">feels good for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For ornament: 2 - 6'' x 6'' squares of cotton batting (scraps</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">from your quit projects are great)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For pincushion: a sandwich size ziploc of fiberfill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Floss/Thread: There are as many opinions on what is the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">best thread as there are brands of thread so I let my students</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">choose their favorite. I generally use DMC embroidery floss </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and the correct color numbers are shown below. If you prefer </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">another thread or floss then just search for a comparison chart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for the brand you choose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For European Folk Art Colorway: Ecru - 806 - 3347 - 742 - 816</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For Pennyrug Colorway: 677 - 920 - 826 - 816 - 732 - 742 - 310</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PxG75lEspiI/V7CbYY4ERsI/AAAAAAAAwsc/x36e3hAEPQQDNk3wLLXGnVFnE6-QmGSjgCLcB/s1600/penny%2Bcandy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PxG75lEspiI/V7CbYY4ERsI/AAAAAAAAwsc/x36e3hAEPQQDNk3wLLXGnVFnE6-QmGSjgCLcB/s400/penny%2Bcandy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now choose one of the 13 patterns. The photos show a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">European Folk Art colorway example on the left and a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pennyrug colorway example on the right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is a video about the class:</span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y1qiMpw90lo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y1qiMpw90lo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope to see you sometime very soon!! ~ Ellen</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-86979386558276750062016-07-18T16:54:00.000-04:002016-07-18T16:54:28.244-04:00Grand Isle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is my Grand Isle tabletopper pattern. I love how </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">changing colors can really change the look of a pattern.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You could make a different one for each season or holiday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The one with the pumpkin is made from felted wool and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the ones with the brighter colors are made with wool felt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a funny story about this pattern. Our relatives</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pat and Jim had purchased a summer home in Michigan </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in a town that started with the word Grand at the time I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was designing this pattern. I looked on a map and found</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Grand Isle and named the pattern for Pat and Jim's new </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">town. It wasn't until later that I found out they moved to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Grand Haven ~ ooops! I think I should design another</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">pattern to honor Grand Haven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">www.americanhomesteaddesign.com</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-30098536849474283412016-07-13T15:49:00.000-04:002016-07-14T21:51:10.656-04:00Sint Maarten<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sint Maarten is a popular port for cruises. Sint Maarten</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is a constituent country of the Netherlands and shares this</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">small Caribbean island with the French Saint-Martin. The</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">capital, Philipsburg is where the big cruise ships dock. It is</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a very quick and affordable water taxi ride from the dock to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the town. We were told to be sure to have the taxi drop us at</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the Police Station but we didn't have a choice, we were just </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">told to get on the taxi and were dropped off at another dock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is not terribly far away from the shops and restaurants</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is what you see when you leave the taxi dock,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">it is a very clean, shaded area and you can see why </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the locals would want visitors to see this area first</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as it is very inviting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The palm shaded area is flanked by these colorful buildings</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> that house many shops. Unfortunately these shops were not</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">open on a Sunday morning. We considered taking a taxi to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the French side of the islands but were told most places are</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">closed there on Sundays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We strolled along the cobblestone streets toward the more </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">populated area of the town. We passed by local homes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">near the quieter end of town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many of the locals were in church since it was a Sunday</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">morning when we first arrived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The capital's courthouse is a beautiful old building.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are many colorfully painted building selling</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">jewelry, alcohol, souvenirs and quite a few selling</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Delft since this is a Dutch holding. We purchased</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">some sea salt since this island was once named the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Land of Salt, we also purchased some local spice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mix and vanilla extract. We love to buy local food</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">products and then cook with them back home, it is</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a way to bring your vacation home with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a nice walk and some shopping we walked to the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">beach and rented a few chairs and an umbrella for the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">day. The prices can vary from one vendor to another</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but all the prices were quite reasonable. The people </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">working on the beach will bring you drinks if you wish </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or you can just walk up to one of the bars on the street</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">that runs alongside the beach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When you have had enough surf and sand, just walk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">over to the police station and hop a water taxi for the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">short ride back to the ship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had a nice relaxing day in Sint Maarten. It was easy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and affordable to get to a beach, bars and shopping. The</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">locals were friendly and nice though a few people in the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">shops seemed very bored and they did not get any of our</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">money. The guy who rented us our chairs and umbrella</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">was very friendly and he had a deal for chairs, umbrella</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and 6 beers for a decent price. When I told him I don't</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">drink beer, he reduced the price and said he would get</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">me anything I would want to drink from a local bar, it </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">was all very simple, relaxing and easy.</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-87111037496178218092016-07-08T20:55:00.000-04:002016-07-08T20:55:01.487-04:0024 Hours in Old San Juan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>For Lavender Linda and Captain von Trapp</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfjZ3sUPDfo/V4Ax9lGe9qI/AAAAAAAAwck/tcRoSwaktmsMH0DN_hQ-BOHcx-6s1a4NQCLcB/s1600/sj%2Bdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfjZ3sUPDfo/V4Ax9lGe9qI/AAAAAAAAwck/tcRoSwaktmsMH0DN_hQ-BOHcx-6s1a4NQCLcB/s400/sj%2Bdoor.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few weeks ago we were taking a cruise that </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico. We</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">decided to arrive a day before the cruise so we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">could spend some time in Old San Juan.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CFQbzUW_tCU/V4At90bhj2I/AAAAAAAAwcc/xFys4ze5ey0wAASCELHB_vBxx889c-KiwCKgB/s1600/casablanca%2Blobby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CFQbzUW_tCU/V4At90bhj2I/AAAAAAAAwcc/xFys4ze5ey0wAASCELHB_vBxx889c-KiwCKgB/s400/casablanca%2Blobby.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We stayed at the boutique hotel in Old San Juan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">called the Casablanca Hotel. When I was on the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">cruise a few days later I had breakfast with a chef</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">from the Ritz Carlton in San Juan, when I told her</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">where I had stayed while in town she looked at me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and exclaimed, "that's where you stayed? That's a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">great hotel, it's a boutique hotel, it's a really cool</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">place!" Yep, my travel street cred went up a few</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">notches...</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5XbMnWMzl4/V4At9mD4Y4I/AAAAAAAAwcc/1MMhnphN8X8-RH7ZJfa3no1KegcO6_yXACKgB/s1600/casablanca%2Bmovie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5XbMnWMzl4/V4At9mD4Y4I/AAAAAAAAwcc/1MMhnphN8X8-RH7ZJfa3no1KegcO6_yXACKgB/s400/casablanca%2Bmovie.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You've got to love a hotel that plays Casablanca </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in the lobby 24 hours a day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byx4XBZ8BF8/V4A3oGQw_FI/AAAAAAAAwc8/KSuuOIEWqKkfKPk7935V7fkLgiBbrPV-ACLcB/s1600/blessed%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byx4XBZ8BF8/V4A3oGQw_FI/AAAAAAAAwc8/KSuuOIEWqKkfKPk7935V7fkLgiBbrPV-ACLcB/s400/blessed%2B1.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By this time we were very hungry since we hadn't</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">eaten since we arrived at the airport in the wee</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">hours of the morning. Walking along a street a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">woman walked across the street to give me a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">postcard and tell me that the cafe she worked at</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was having happy hour. I asked her how long</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">happy hour was and she said until 7pm. I said,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"That's more like Happy Day!" I looked at Mr.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wonderful and said, "Well, we are on vacation, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">let's </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">go to happy hour!" The place was called the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Blessed Cafe and it was owned by a Jamaican</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rastafarian who wanted all his guests to have</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">a wonderful experience. It was a small place</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">with a bar and another room with a few tables</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and all the decor was related to Bob Marley</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and the Wailers. We ordered a few drinks and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">settled back in vacation mode.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f7fNBfuBvVE/V4A1AGMeMZI/AAAAAAAAwcw/I8i8Fvm4IHEkg6dNkeohEMx-WHrPNgTcgCLcB/s1600/blessed%2Bcafe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f7fNBfuBvVE/V4A1AGMeMZI/AAAAAAAAwcw/I8i8Fvm4IHEkg6dNkeohEMx-WHrPNgTcgCLcB/s400/blessed%2Bcafe.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our taxi driver who drove us in from the airport</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">told us not to miss trying mofongo while in town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was on the menu so of course we had to try it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is mashed plantains with a pork mixture on top.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was delicious!</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40gI4jph-xA/V4A7jXbTY2I/AAAAAAAAwdM/n743iByitzsnL4cN4tTaV537mJsTyVpOACLcB/s1600/san%2Bjuan%2Bstreet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40gI4jph-xA/V4A7jXbTY2I/AAAAAAAAwdM/n743iByitzsnL4cN4tTaV537mJsTyVpOACLcB/s400/san%2Bjuan%2Bstreet.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the Blessed Cafe we walked off our</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">lunch and popped into antique stores and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">small artisan boutiques.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ELft7ysRP4E/V4A7wsSLjUI/AAAAAAAAwdY/rd5u3V8n6UASDzJ0zPEZAdrCKWqYSWHKQCLcB/s1600/sj%2Bbed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ELft7ysRP4E/V4A7wsSLjUI/AAAAAAAAwdY/rd5u3V8n6UASDzJ0zPEZAdrCKWqYSWHKQCLcB/s400/sj%2Bbed.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We headed back to our hotel for a siesta.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The room was small since the building is old</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but everything was very nice. We had upgraded </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to a room with a balcony thinking we would have</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">one overlooking a quaint street but the balcony is</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">really just the walkway to your room, don't bother</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">getting this upgrade because...</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZR6KyFZFkc/V4A7uHw1dNI/AAAAAAAAwdU/BT66JvTz9n0lTYVaVbs02b7TrVk34XFYQCLcB/s1600/casa%2Btubs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZR6KyFZFkc/V4A7uHw1dNI/AAAAAAAAwdU/BT66JvTz9n0lTYVaVbs02b7TrVk34XFYQCLcB/s400/casa%2Btubs.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...upstairs is a lovely rooftop terrace with large</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">soaking tubs. Bring your favorite beverage and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">enjoy stargazing while soaking in your tub.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9H_zDbm5lPE/V4A71gKQJrI/AAAAAAAAwdg/VYqF3-mltRc_R9vQ5KtqRx2yjlnTwc4TACLcB/s1600/tapas%2Bext.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9H_zDbm5lPE/V4A71gKQJrI/AAAAAAAAwdg/VYqF3-mltRc_R9vQ5KtqRx2yjlnTwc4TACLcB/s400/tapas%2Bext.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we awoke from our siesta, we were hungry </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">again and it was time to hit the streets. I wanted to see</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the big church and hiked up the hill but the church was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">locked up but just across the square I spotted a little tapas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">place called Rosa de Triana. Our plan was to stop into a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">few places for a small dish and a drink.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t8MNADGKno/V4A77KziqtI/AAAAAAAAwdo/yHvI42xfxvgpYByEwVgIzh7f7rwBR8b_gCLcB/s1600/tapas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t8MNADGKno/V4A77KziqtI/AAAAAAAAwdo/yHvI42xfxvgpYByEwVgIzh7f7rwBR8b_gCLcB/s400/tapas.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We sat in the cozy courtyard filled with plants </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and fairy lights. The cafe is known for it's </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sangria so we had to sample it. Since there</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">were no cruise ships in port, the town was quiet </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and we dined with all locals. It was the type of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">place where you nod and say buenas noches to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">your fellow diners.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MmNZWi8gFcE/V4A74enCilI/AAAAAAAAwdk/J_SG6mYmZqExSGSU46KPceK7qs12y0hrwCLcB/s1600/tapas%2Bfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MmNZWi8gFcE/V4A74enCilI/AAAAAAAAwdk/J_SG6mYmZqExSGSU46KPceK7qs12y0hrwCLcB/s400/tapas%2Bfood.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We ordered two tapas plates and the servings </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">were so large we knew our plan for visiting a few</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">places that evening was going to have to become </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Plan B. So we lingered over our food and drinks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and fell into slow down vacation mode. At the end</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of the meal the waitress served us complimentary</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">glasses of a local apple liqueur that was delicious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wish I had brought a bottle home with us.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IaKQvoPDQ_s/V4BAxBf2G-I/AAAAAAAAwd8/iZ0XBM0gF4slYgVHs-FibiNHUupbNpZ_wCLcB/s1600/paseo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IaKQvoPDQ_s/V4BAxBf2G-I/AAAAAAAAwd8/iZ0XBM0gF4slYgVHs-FibiNHUupbNpZ_wCLcB/s400/paseo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Leaving the restaurant we walked down the street </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and through San Juan gate and walked along the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paseo de la Princesa, the old city walls are on one </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">side of the walkway and San Juan Bay is on the other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was an enjoyable stroll and we came upon an area </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">filled with food vendors and artists selling jewelry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The food and drinks looked great but we were far too</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">full to sample anything but we did pick up some cookies </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to eat in bed once we got back to our room.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qfFfLqhH7Os/V4A7tCu3UVI/AAAAAAAAwdQ/QduR6NcPGn4VB1JQsDEkW99gwjSD8ycaQCLcB/s1600/sj%2Bdnd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qfFfLqhH7Os/V4A7tCu3UVI/AAAAAAAAwdQ/QduR6NcPGn4VB1JQsDEkW99gwjSD8ycaQCLcB/s400/sj%2Bdnd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We watched a bit of Casablanca in the lobby back at</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the hotel and then headed up to bed. I would suggest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to anyone who will be staying at the Casablanca to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">bring along a DVD of the movie or download it to one</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of your devices and bring along an HDMI cord so you </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">can watch the movie in bed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-5VbDd-K68/V4A7i5LJYLI/AAAAAAAAwdI/zaFhItEDr6UQQH5M_P4yOLZlIyPq2uEaACLcB/s1600/casablanca%2Bwindows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-5VbDd-K68/V4A7i5LJYLI/AAAAAAAAwdI/zaFhItEDr6UQQH5M_P4yOLZlIyPq2uEaACLcB/s400/casablanca%2Bwindows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mr. Wonderful was up at the crack of dawn</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and ready to find a cafe for a coffee. For myself,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I prefer to laze around in bed when I get the chance</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and since all we had to do that day was eat something</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and head to the ship, I opted for waking up slowly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Opening the wooden shutters and looking out these</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">windows I felt like I could be meeting Papa Hemingway</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for lunch.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2jS-mNhajI/V4A7zl1bJMI/AAAAAAAAwdc/6z1EjWm6uog0Vtjx-nnUhrTpKzes6LJXwCLcB/s1600/sj%2Bmelt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2jS-mNhajI/V4A7zl1bJMI/AAAAAAAAwdc/6z1EjWm6uog0Vtjx-nnUhrTpKzes6LJXwCLcB/s400/sj%2Bmelt.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I finally got myself moving we hunted around </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for a new restaurant called Melt. I saw a photo of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">their food on instagram and wanted to go there. When</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">we finally found it there was no Hemingway but we did </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">sit next to the owner of the hotel in which it is located</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and got a lesson in Puerto Rican history and politics.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ES9fBJUwxM0/V4BJdGy52PI/AAAAAAAAweM/Xybn7IHQHRIQxopXVm3BcX-etJjyUI4vwCLcB/s1600/flags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ES9fBJUwxM0/V4BJdGy52PI/AAAAAAAAweM/Xybn7IHQHRIQxopXVm3BcX-etJjyUI4vwCLcB/s400/flags.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then it was time to head to the ship to set sail</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for parts unknown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A great 24 hours!</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-79798709563160771612016-06-12T19:15:00.002-04:002016-06-12T19:15:25.669-04:00Choose Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtEV4GaSnbc/V13sGy9WqNI/AAAAAAAAwT4/WTzvqeFEkUczDiE-NRLbk2jXo1i14xJ-ACLcB/s1600/heart%2Bstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtEV4GaSnbc/V13sGy9WqNI/AAAAAAAAwT4/WTzvqeFEkUczDiE-NRLbk2jXo1i14xJ-ACLcB/s400/heart%2Bstone.jpg" width="393" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">While gardening today I found this heart </span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;">shaped rock,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"> I took it as a sign.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="color: magenta;"> My heart goes out to all the loved ones of </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">the victims of the terrible massacre in Orlando.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="color: magenta;"> Hatred in all forms must stop. Make a conscious</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"> effort to spread more love around ~ to your </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;">family, </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">your community, your country, our world...</span></b></span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-4339878206491421842016-05-31T12:49:00.000-04:002016-05-31T12:49:03.441-04:00The Little Fox<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-omqtTQHXuqg/V029Ou2ghRI/AAAAAAAAwRw/jlIz43M1oAkvhYs5vNLkv4jZMi5J-jbYgCLcB/s1600/fox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-omqtTQHXuqg/V029Ou2ghRI/AAAAAAAAwRw/jlIz43M1oAkvhYs5vNLkv4jZMi5J-jbYgCLcB/s400/fox1.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every time I visit my family in Grand Haven, Michigan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I buy one of these etched wooden utensils. I do this for</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">a variety of reasons:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. I like wooden utensils.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. I like to support small businesses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. I love the folky, funky designs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SsUTA8TedoA/V029MgHXIuI/AAAAAAAAwRs/izPME6L0Zp41-uQIL03tJnZBF7m-gxWHgCLcB/s1600/fox%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SsUTA8TedoA/V029MgHXIuI/AAAAAAAAwRs/izPME6L0Zp41-uQIL03tJnZBF7m-gxWHgCLcB/s400/fox%2B2.jpg" width="162" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The reason I purchased this particular utensil was based</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">on something that had happened to me the day before I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was in Grand Haven. I was driving along a road near the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">area where I hike and I thought I saw a baby kitten in the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">grass on someone's lawn. Then I realized, that wasn't a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">cat! It was a baby fox! I reversed the car and went back </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to the spot but I could only see the spot in the lawn that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">must be the "foxhole". The baby was no longer sticking </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">its </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">head out. I figured I better not go investigate because</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mommy or Daddy fox might not like that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now I will think of that little fox whenever I use this</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">wooden utensil.</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-80028039857698621622016-05-21T17:00:00.001-04:002016-05-21T17:00:53.318-04:00Silver Haul!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2lyTrpNPv0/V0DDObQ9PUI/AAAAAAAAwQY/IjTOoEfL3Z02lr-WxIZkFLQ2mOeEH9qugCLcB/s1600/silver%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2lyTrpNPv0/V0DDObQ9PUI/AAAAAAAAwQY/IjTOoEfL3Z02lr-WxIZkFLQ2mOeEH9qugCLcB/s400/silver%2B1.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's that time of year when the garage sales start up and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm always ready to go treasure hunting. A church near </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">my house was having a rummage sale and I stopped in to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">look around. I saw this bag of silverware marked $5.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2BuukIXkDaw/V0DDRqB9uAI/AAAAAAAAwQo/Z6SDoKeet9QoBZHWD8FowOxDXRx_xT4-gCKgB/s1600/silver%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2BuukIXkDaw/V0DDRqB9uAI/AAAAAAAAwQo/Z6SDoKeet9QoBZHWD8FowOxDXRx_xT4-gCKgB/s400/silver%2B7.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first thing I noticed was this server that was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sitting on top of all the other items. I thought the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">rest of the bag was probably filled with assorted</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">forks, knives and spoons but I was interested in the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">server. In an antique store this item alone would </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">probably cost at least $15 so I figured $5 was a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">good deal.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yiriiQiDRcs/V0DDM10xMTI/AAAAAAAAwQs/L-_EE8PXCnw7OEh3DjNsVFtZkVIXeM_pACKgB/s1600/silver%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yiriiQiDRcs/V0DDM10xMTI/AAAAAAAAwQs/L-_EE8PXCnw7OEh3DjNsVFtZkVIXeM_pACKgB/s400/silver%2B2.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I got to the car I looked in the bag and laughed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I guess someone else likes butter knives as much as</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I do! I use butter knives often and not just for butter,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">when I serve triple cream brie or other soft cheeses</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">or dips, I like to give each person their own knife.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I was a little girl I always liked to use the butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">knife from my Mum's silver set ~ it just made the meal</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">more special.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While watching a movie this afternoon I got them all</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">polished and looking beautiful.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YvJOWnPXlM/V0DDMKyvFEI/AAAAAAAAwQs/nH8XQS9dsqcuN00zD5ODkf8HmWzaHbnvgCKgB/s1600/silver%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YvJOWnPXlM/V0DDMKyvFEI/AAAAAAAAwQs/nH8XQS9dsqcuN00zD5ODkf8HmWzaHbnvgCKgB/s400/silver%2B3.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They are mostly silverplate but I did find </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">some </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sterling. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are even a few that match</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> ~ not that that </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">matters...</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQPHHbHQxs8/V0DDQJjNq3I/AAAAAAAAwQs/u2oycfYTW6AER3A5vqiNXNC1z7duk7CoACKgB/s1600/silver%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQPHHbHQxs8/V0DDQJjNq3I/AAAAAAAAwQs/u2oycfYTW6AER3A5vqiNXNC1z7duk7CoACKgB/s400/silver%2B4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I love the little shields on this set of 6, perhaps I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">should have them engraved with our initial.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aTTgxxr6r-Y/V0DDQa_oBsI/AAAAAAAAwQs/yyE3i0209EcJxqVqLe-5Hcf0IfVGAysnwCKgB/s1600/silver%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aTTgxxr6r-Y/V0DDQa_oBsI/AAAAAAAAwQs/yyE3i0209EcJxqVqLe-5Hcf0IfVGAysnwCKgB/s400/silver%2B5.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These two will go to someone I know with the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">initial B.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There was even one M ~ made just for us!</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-60669661505196949682016-05-06T19:08:00.000-04:002016-05-06T19:08:23.610-04:00Mid-Century Atomic Snowflake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VS_wb3sT2aU/Vy0jQLr0dpI/AAAAAAAAwN0/T4VLj9zuEYEWeY1Jba1B8S75HlI-INrSwCLcB/s1600/atomic%2Bsnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VS_wb3sT2aU/Vy0jQLr0dpI/AAAAAAAAwN0/T4VLj9zuEYEWeY1Jba1B8S75HlI-INrSwCLcB/s400/atomic%2Bsnow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While I was out treasure hunting recently, I came</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">across this Mid-Century Meat Platter by Inland Glass.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I took a photo and sent it to Kate saying, "too bad you </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">are </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a vegetarian, this would have been perfect for you."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She asked, "would I have to use it for meat?" I figured,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">no, you could serve anything on it so I got it for her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is not just a perfect find because she likes this sort</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of style but also if you notice the edging is in black and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gold and Kate is a proud Purdue graduate and those</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Boilmakers are wild about their school colors. This</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pattern is known as the Atomic Snowflake which I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">find wildly amusing. It is so Mid-Century. I'm (luckily)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">too young to have had A Bomb drills in my childhood</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">classrooms, we only had firedrills. But I remember my</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">siblings talking about air raid drills where they were </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">told to get under their desks. Ah ~ the good old days!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJu-qj1GwhA/Vy0e5JP1taI/AAAAAAAAwNs/531yW1HRltgq7WNulhocgToPQMSC3qbIQCKgB/s1600/atomic%2Bsnow%2Bstand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJu-qj1GwhA/Vy0e5JP1taI/AAAAAAAAwNs/531yW1HRltgq7WNulhocgToPQMSC3qbIQCKgB/s400/atomic%2Bsnow%2Bstand.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It also came with a stand so you could keep your</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dinner warm with candles under the platter. I guess</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it's good Kate is a vegetarian since our modern tea </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">light candles don't fit...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-67065960015161763762016-04-29T11:08:00.002-04:002016-04-29T11:08:50.546-04:00Elle's Kitchen: Cinnamon Toast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-STefwLSchKw/VyN1wyKhrLI/AAAAAAAAwLw/66tfGqUmqA8Z4zjWSjw3ImqHGybY0cSHgCLcB/s1600/cinnamon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-STefwLSchKw/VyN1wyKhrLI/AAAAAAAAwLw/66tfGqUmqA8Z4zjWSjw3ImqHGybY0cSHgCLcB/s400/cinnamon.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was out of state this week and yesterday I got</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">home in the afternoon, played with the puppy dog,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">headed down to the big city with Trishie for a lecture</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> by Frank </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Abagnale at the IMA and then we met Kate</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> for</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> a very</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> late dinner before heading home to an end of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> day </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">telephone call with Mr. Wonderful and off to bed!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This morning I woke up and let's just say, the cupboard</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was bare, nothing for breakfast... there were a few pieces</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of bread so I went old school and made cinnamon toast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a favorite of mine from when I was a child but I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">haven't had it in years. It is so simple and most people </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">have everything they need in their kitchen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Toast the bread until it is light brown, spread with butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and let it melt a bit then sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and gently mix the butter, sugar and cinnamon together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is something my Mum often made for me when I was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a child. When I was old enough to make it myself I </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">remember we had a spice jar with the sugar and cinnamon </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">already mixed together ~ I don't remember if this was a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">commercial product or just something my Mum mixed up </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">herself to make it easier for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was still delicious!</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-1228878042935234542016-04-25T19:35:00.001-04:002016-04-25T19:35:26.300-04:00Quiltmaker's 1000 Blocks Book Mystery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SFVzsl2nWnY/Vx6mS1-7Z7I/AAAAAAAAwGI/huOckLHngvIyzmCzMXzpr7V5h0IDuqAFQCLcB/s1600/100%2Bblocks%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SFVzsl2nWnY/Vx6mS1-7Z7I/AAAAAAAAwGI/huOckLHngvIyzmCzMXzpr7V5h0IDuqAFQCLcB/s400/100%2Bblocks%2B1.jpg" width="348" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A while back someone had told me I was a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">part of this book but I had not heard from</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the publisher so I wasn't sure. A few weeks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ago I visited Lolly's Fabrics in Shipshewanna,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Indiana and noticed they had the book so I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">took a peek.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qelfH6WjGyg/Vx6k1bayZVI/AAAAAAAAwGA/GqvQ2yDJ5J41QBmzofnqfuYn16SEEQoeQCLcB/s1600/100%2Bblocks%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qelfH6WjGyg/Vx6k1bayZVI/AAAAAAAAwGA/GqvQ2yDJ5J41QBmzofnqfuYn16SEEQoeQCLcB/s400/100%2Bblocks%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On one of the opening pages showing some</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of the blocks, there was one of mine. It's the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">top row, second from the left. I checked the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">index and my name and two page numbers </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">were listed but when I visited those pages, my</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">blocks were not there. I thought maybe it is not</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the page number but the block number ~ tried</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">that and nope, that didn't work either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So when I got home I contacted the publisher </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and found out I am indeed in the book but there</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was an editing problem with the page numbers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">which will be corrected in future issues.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqp0bYnMHlw/Vx6kzhV5MEI/AAAAAAAAwGM/sje0xokM7wYE49MHmUKkKaptLs2fzNg_ACKgB/s1600/100%2Bblocks%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqp0bYnMHlw/Vx6kzhV5MEI/AAAAAAAAwGM/sje0xokM7wYE49MHmUKkKaptLs2fzNg_ACKgB/s400/100%2Bblocks%2B4.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is one of the blocks called Dutch Treat,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">it says it is on page 85 but it's really on 87.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9sL2at2964/Vx6kzuJvXxI/AAAAAAAAwGM/siuSp-LKkBgcafaeq0snc3aemsd9xBO6wCKgB/s1600/100%2Bbloocks%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9sL2at2964/Vx6kzuJvXxI/AAAAAAAAwGM/siuSp-LKkBgcafaeq0snc3aemsd9xBO6wCKgB/s400/100%2Bbloocks%2B3.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is my other block called Felicity, it says </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">it is on page 77 but it is on page 79.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgX3Yw8rnkQ/Vx6oMJMGG0I/AAAAAAAAwGc/nhYReeagYNkkRlXO4x9Od2DmCaOelWBCACLcB/s1600/going%2Bdutch%2B001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgX3Yw8rnkQ/Vx6oMJMGG0I/AAAAAAAAwGc/nhYReeagYNkkRlXO4x9Od2DmCaOelWBCACLcB/s400/going%2Bdutch%2B001.JPG" width="393" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the quilt I made using the Dutch Treat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">block, I call it Going Dutch.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_9Hj0p5Kjo/Vx6oHCjCgjI/AAAAAAAAwGY/O7iaEwxCwX498XzsGOlP4Phsb5hwi-XrwCKgB/s1600/felicity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_9Hj0p5Kjo/Vx6oHCjCgjI/AAAAAAAAwGY/O7iaEwxCwX498XzsGOlP4Phsb5hwi-XrwCKgB/s400/felicity.jpg" width="397" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the quilt I made using the Felicity block,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I call it Felicidad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If your guild or shop would be interested in a class</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for either of these quilts, send me an email:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ellen.americanhomestead@gmail.com</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-15702933004860210052016-02-04T11:29:00.000-05:002016-02-04T11:29:21.949-05:00Elle's Kichen: Orange Raisin Scones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZirX9unlz1U/VrN2JdzbkXI/AAAAAAAAvxk/VM6xa31auXA/s1600/DSC_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZirX9unlz1U/VrN2JdzbkXI/AAAAAAAAvxk/VM6xa31auXA/s640/DSC_0182.JPG" width="448" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On Sunday nights we are watching the final</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">season of Downton Abbey. Last Sunday we </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">had a late dinner and made it a tea. Of course,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">when you have tea, you should have scones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Ingredients:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 cups flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 cup sugar, divided</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 tabl. orange zest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 tabl. baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 teas. salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 cup butter, chilled</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 cup raisins</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/3 cup sour cream</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 egg</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">cinnamon </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a baking</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">pan with Pam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whisk flour, 1/3 cup of the sugar, orange zest,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">baking powder and salt in a large bowl.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrbIozI6qdc/VrN19NOiPbI/AAAAAAAAvxM/s61uJ2ofk8A/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrbIozI6qdc/VrN19NOiPbI/AAAAAAAAvxM/s61uJ2ofk8A/s400/DSC_0169.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Add butter and cut into the flour mixture</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">with a pastry blender or 2 knives until</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">mixture looks like coarse meal.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_IsD2hQSrc/VrN179AJftI/AAAAAAAAvxI/bC3u5EHZc_8/s1600/DSC_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_IsD2hQSrc/VrN179AJftI/AAAAAAAAvxI/bC3u5EHZc_8/s400/DSC_0170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Add the raisins.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G7diG5Huq0A/VrN1_lp_DdI/AAAAAAAAvxU/cAf21-DKte8/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G7diG5Huq0A/VrN1_lp_DdI/AAAAAAAAvxU/cAf21-DKte8/s400/DSC_0171.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whisk the sour cream and egg together in </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">a small bowl.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iXgpsdAeZmY/VrN2Fu3Z4rI/AAAAAAAAvxY/_faqpDg57qw/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iXgpsdAeZmY/VrN2Fu3Z4rI/AAAAAAAAvxY/_faqpDg57qw/s400/DSC_0172.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Add sour cream/egg mixture to the flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">mixture and toss until mist clumps form.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yRpFNbyb-yk/VrN2GOT3VUI/AAAAAAAAvxc/3p1a0jW-OJ4/s1600/DSC_0173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yRpFNbyb-yk/VrN2GOT3VUI/AAAAAAAAvxc/3p1a0jW-OJ4/s400/DSC_0173.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pour flour mixture onto a lightly floured</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">surface and gently knead just until dough</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">comes together. Divide in half and form each</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">half into a 4'' round. Sprinkle with cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and the remaining sugar. Gently press this </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">into the dough so it stays in place. Cut each </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">round into 4 parts and transfer to the baking</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">golden brown. Cool and serve.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dn4HqV9aAE/VrN2HE7cbgI/AAAAAAAAvxg/g1aYmXTxC04/s1600/DSC_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dn4HqV9aAE/VrN2HE7cbgI/AAAAAAAAvxg/g1aYmXTxC04/s400/DSC_0176.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They were delicious!</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-87811398022543444642015-12-23T17:10:00.001-05:002015-12-23T17:20:47.245-05:00And the Winner Is...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ESdQuP60Shg/VnsaLsrvh-I/AAAAAAAAvu8/lIzbmpJw29M/s1600/fat%2Bquarter%2Bbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ESdQuP60Shg/VnsaLsrvh-I/AAAAAAAAvu8/lIzbmpJw29M/s400/fat%2Bquarter%2Bbook.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The time has come to pick the winner of the book,</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">75 Fun Fat-Quarter Quilts!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Drum roll please!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rat-a-tat-tat</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">or</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">since Christmas is 2 days away</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pah Rum Pum Pum Pum!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And the Winner is:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bonnie!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Congratulations!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will be contacting you by email to get</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">your mailing address. Bonnie liked Big Red</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and Garden Paths.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks to everyone who participated in the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">giveaway and even if you didn't win on the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">blog tour I hope you will consider buying </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">this book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, I have a lecture and trunk show for this</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">book, so if your quilt group, guild or shop</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> would </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">like to see the quilts in </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">person and see how easily</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I made them, with </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">lots of tips and hints, then </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">please contact me at:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ellen.americanhomestead@gmail.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All the best,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><b>Ellen</b></span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-81755052270559144252015-12-20T00:01:00.000-05:002015-12-23T17:27:32.988-05:00A New Book Project!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>75 Fun Fat Quarter Quilts</u></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jREN7LBaEjI/VmN4eAKLrBI/AAAAAAAAvpw/TH6uqWdIPtU/s1600/au%2Bcontraire.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jREN7LBaEjI/VmN4eAKLrBI/AAAAAAAAvpw/TH6uqWdIPtU/s400/au%2Bcontraire.jpe" width="363" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">An exciting new book has just been released.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is called 75 Fun Fat Quarter Quilts and many</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">designers have written chapters and I am happy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to be one of them. My chapter is called </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One Simple Block</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">because all the quilts are made from, yes, you </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">guessed it, one simple block, The Contrary Wife.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The quilt shown above is called <i>Au Contraire</i>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kdgvu_2c620/VmN7KCKPJ4I/AAAAAAAAvp8/AKlb5TWOW8Q/s1600/au%2Bcontraire%2Bproposal.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kdgvu_2c620/VmN7KCKPJ4I/AAAAAAAAvp8/AKlb5TWOW8Q/s400/au%2Bcontraire%2Bproposal.jpe" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This quilt started with this sweet fat quarter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bundle because remember, this book is about</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">quilts that can be made from fat quarters. And</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">all the quilts in my chapter are so easy to make</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">because the blocks are made from 4 half square </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">triangles and 5 squares and you sew them into</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a simple 9-patch block. What makes this chapter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">so interesting is the eight quilts that I designed </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">all look so different by changing the colors or</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">changing the way the block was placed in the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">quilts. And just to get you a bit more excited,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm going to give you a sneak peek at the quilts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is <i>Falling Leaves, </i>a great Fall themed quilt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but you could use the same idea with any fat </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">quarter bundle that you may love and it would</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> look beautiful.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEfN6xcHoZY/VmN_mSm4Z6I/AAAAAAAAvqY/yb_eRH8Wbxw/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEfN6xcHoZY/VmN_mSm4Z6I/AAAAAAAAvqY/yb_eRH8Wbxw/s400/DSC_0060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is <i>Chain Link</i>, a completely different look</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">using white, red and black fabric. This color</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">grouping is the favorite of my daughter Katie</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rose so I have lots of these fabrics in my stash.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is <i>Big Red</i>, those of you that know me know</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love stars in quilts, they are such a traditional,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">iconic look. But this quilt looks bold and modern</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">by using bright, bold colors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This quilt is called <i>Magnificent Valour, </i>I thought </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">it would be perfect for those of you that make all</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of those wonderful Quilts of Valor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is <i>Ups and Downs</i>, as you can see, again, I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have lots of red, black and white in my stash. I </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">think this would also be great if you did each row</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in a different color.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is <i>Garden Paths,</i> it reminded me of a show</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">garden with lots of flower beds surrounded by</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">grassy paths that meet with a fountain at the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">intersections.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is <i>Candy Garland,</i> I thought of strings of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wrapped candies when I designed this one. It </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">would also be fun in Christmas fabrics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And this is just one of many, many chapters from</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">all sorts of talented designers. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So there you have it, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">just a snippet of the chapter</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wrote, after all, we </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">want</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> you to run out and buy </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the book so you can see the</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> full </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">designs for yourself. And remember, this is all from</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>One Simple Block!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">To win a free copy of this book* please leave a comment</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">on this blog post, let me know which of the quilts in my</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">chapter is your favorite or you can just say hi!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Remember to include your </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">email</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> address with your </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">comment so I can reach the lucky winner. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">On Wednesday, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">December 23 I will </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">select a winner using a </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">random </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">number generator.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">*</span><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">If your </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">address is in the United States you will receive a </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">hard copy </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">of the book. A winner from outside the US will </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">receive a </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">free e-</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">book version.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">So many people can get to know about this new book we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">are having a blog tour. Stop by these other sites to see</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">what some of the other designers have to say about their </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">chapters. There are still a few more days of the tour!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">12/14 <b>C&T Publishing blog</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">12/15 <b>Jera Brandvig</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">12/16 <b>Melissa Cory</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">12/17 <b>Kate Colleran</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">12/18 <b>Sue Pfau</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">12/19 <b>Tiffany Jenkins</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">12/20 <b>Ellen Murphy</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">12/21 <b>Amanda Castor</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">12/22 <b>Jo Kramer</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>All the best! ~ Ellen</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Update! A winner has been chosen for </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>this giveaway. It was Bonnie.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Thanks to everyone who participated!</b></span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-91384670500324805112015-11-29T12:31:00.000-05:002015-11-29T12:31:50.795-05:00Happy Birthday American Homestead ~ 5 years!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SHYzSMnkRUM/VlszpbO6GBI/AAAAAAAAvnQ/b4QFHLqAjsA/s1600/DSC_0885%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SHYzSMnkRUM/VlszpbO6GBI/AAAAAAAAvnQ/b4QFHLqAjsA/s640/DSC_0885%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is the American Homestead blog's 5th birthday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is easy to remember since it is my birthday too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Five years ago I started this blog to chronicle the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">changes I expected to have in my life. My kids were</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">growing up and living at school and I was suddenly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">faced with reinventing myself. At the time I had no</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">idea what would happen in the future but in five</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">short years so many things have changed. I started</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">a business and from that I have written a few books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the last five years I have circumnavigated the world</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">twice and had many other travel adventures as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have watched my kids grow into interesting, smart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">adults and I have celebrated 25 years of happy marriage </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">with </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my Mr. Wonderful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stay tuned for new adventures </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to come.</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-78658806779926566092015-11-13T18:53:00.005-05:002015-11-13T18:53:48.507-05:00Oh Paris...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My heart is with Paris.</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-81461895518211384392015-10-25T15:32:00.002-04:002015-10-25T15:32:58.799-04:00Majestic Autumn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I guess I have some catching up to do. As many</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of you know this has been a big travel year for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think I have been away as much as I have been</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">home. Between mid-May and mid-September, I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">traveled over 50,000 air miles and then there were</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the additional thousands of miles by car, train,bus,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">boats, bikes and elephants. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The last time I posted on this blog it was still hot</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Summer. Since then I have been busy as always,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">just not blogging about it. In September I went </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to Alaska for a big quilt retreat and I will be writing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">about that soon. Just after getting back from that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">trip my laptop got very sick and had to be sent away</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to the hospital. Sadly all my data was lost including</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">all my photos. I am working to get them back and I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">will post about </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the retreat once I have photos again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I got back from Alaska I decided I had to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">attend to some chores around my house before</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the cold weather set in. I spent a day painting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">my garden shed with primer and in trying to reach</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the roof I ended up doing some interesting gymnastic</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">moves while hanging from the top of the ladder and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I ended up seriously injuring my back. For quite a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">while every time I tried to move I would actually </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">scream, it was very embarrassing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once I got moving about a little better I got to work</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and made 7 quilt tops for a new book I am involved</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in that will come out in December. I wrote a chapter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of the book and my chapter alone has 8 different quilt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">designs. I am working on a new lecture about my</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">chapter in this book. Here is the book if you are </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">interested in pre-ordering: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">http://www.ctpub.com/75-fun-fat-quarter-quilts/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now it is on to the quilting and binding of these</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">quilts. Perfect work for this time of year as the days</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">are getting colder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I took a nice long hike in the woods today and thought </span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-9599819238121557942015-09-04T11:25:00.003-04:002015-09-04T11:25:27.817-04:00Shelling on Sanibel Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Just call me Shellin' Ellen!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last week Mr. Wonderful and I celebrated our</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">25th Wedding Anniversary. I wanted to do </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">something special to mark the occasion and at</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">first I thought we would go out for a nice dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The more I thought about it though, that didn't</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">seem to be special enough to mark such a big</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">milestone. As I was travelling all over the world</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">earlier this summer, I would fall into bed exhausted</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and talk to Wonderful on the phone each night and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ask him to take me to the beach for our next trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Something relaxing and laid back. A big anniversary</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">seemed like a good reason to head to Sanibel Island.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, it was </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">laid back... I'm not sure if you would call</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> it relaxing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'd have that poor guy out on the beach at dawn </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">each day so I could have an early look at what </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">washed up overnight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We got up close and personal with the local</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">wildlife. We saw dolphins and manatees and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">all sorts of shore birds and an eagle flew right</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">over us one morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would walk for hours down the nearly deserted</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">beaches. I was lost in my thoughts listening to the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">waves crash on the shore and the tinkling of the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">shells as the waves went back out to sea that sounded</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">like the most beautiful wind chimes you have ever</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">heard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The best reason to come to Sanibel is for the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">shells. This is what I found in just the first day</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and a half. I especially love the beautifully </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">colored calico scallops. While most teenagers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">were rebelling against their parents, I was traveling</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">with mine. My Mum and I would spend weeks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">collecting those beautiful scallops and finding so </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">many now makes me miss her even more but at</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">least I have happy memories of times gone by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On our third day at Blind Pass Sanibel beach, we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">arrived early and I was noticing the shell line was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">being pulled out onto the sand bar, I worried that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">maybe the sand bar was weakening and there could</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">be a rip current. I went for a walk for a few hours</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> and when I got back the area that looked strange</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">that morning had become a mountain of shells. It</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was as if it was a volcano and the lava was shells.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The really odd thing about this was it happened</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">right in front of where we had set up camp for the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">day. I think the mermaids got together and said</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ellen has come here for a big celebration, let's </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">give her a present from the sea. And by the next</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">day it was gone, all washed back out to sea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(I'm so sorry I didn't get a photo of the mountain!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjVKQKeG6YI/VekW1EWZ2CI/AAAAAAAAveI/NV7weLG0gg8/s1600/sanibel%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjVKQKeG6YI/VekW1EWZ2CI/AAAAAAAAveI/NV7weLG0gg8/s400/sanibel%2B5.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had a great time on our little getaway. Oh, how</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I miss living near the beach. We also got to catch a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">few terrific sunsets.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qlTbRqVXRDU/VekmkpKGRUI/AAAAAAAAvec/grwQlJuIMu4/s1600/sanibel%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qlTbRqVXRDU/VekmkpKGRUI/AAAAAAAAvec/grwQlJuIMu4/s400/sanibel%2B11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Too often I see people watch the sun set into the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">water and then they take off. Then they miss the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">after show, always wait for the after show! That's</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">when you can often see the best color.</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-75123148383365988952015-08-09T14:51:00.003-04:002015-08-09T14:51:58.617-04:00Can, Can, Canning!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This weekend I pulled out the canning equipment </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">from a back shelf in my laundry room. I haven't </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">used it in years!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I didn't grow up with much canning in my family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If we came home from Bramhall Woods with a pail</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">filled with blackberries and the scratches to show </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for the effort, my Mum would take pity and whip</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">up a batch of jam but it wasn't something that </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">happened on a regular basis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her brother on the other hand was mad for gardening</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and always put up some of the fruits of his labor. Uncle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ed would make the best zucchini pickles and once we </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">said to him, "Unc, the zucchini is great but we fight over</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the onions at the bottom of the jar." Wouldn't you know,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the next season he put up jars of just the onions. We </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">would pull off a piece of Italian bread, spread it with</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">some brie and top it with the pickled onions ~ it was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">heaven!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I moved to the Midwest twenty-five years ago</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(25!), I was in my Country Living phase. I dreamed </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of living in an old farmhouse and going down to the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">cellar to shelves lines with jars of things I canned </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">from my garden. Of course, I didn't know how to can</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but I was moving to the Midwest and thought I would </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">learn. About 30 minutes away from where I lived at </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the time was Muncie, Indiana, the home of the Ball</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Corporation, the canning jar people. I marched into</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">their corporate office building one day and admired </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">all the old jars in their lobby and asked where do I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">find out information about canning? They looked at</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">me like I had two heads. They had no idea. I told them</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">they should...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had to teach myself through books and I generally</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">stuck to just fruits. I would go to the strawberry farm</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">every June and pick 30 pounds of strawberries and make</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">jam. When the kids were little, we had friends who </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">lived in the country who had grapes on their property.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We would fill the station wagon with boxes of grapes and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">go home and make a big mess and enough grape jelly to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">last us all year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then life got too busy for canning but luckily we had our</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Uncle Jamie who was a mad scientist in his kitchen and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">he whips up all sorts of chutneys and pickles and preserves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every Thanksgiving he comes with boxes filled with goodies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">so we really relied on his delicious efforts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we were at his house after the big trip this summer he</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">served us a snack that used his Pike County Tomato Preserves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kate and I were crazy for it and we said we'd make some for </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ourselves this summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is tomato season in our neck of the woods and this</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was the weekend to "put up" some preserves. I went </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to the Farmer's Market at Minnetrista yesterday</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">morning which coincidentally is where the Ball Brothers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">lived years ago, their mansions still stand on the property.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first table I went to had a display of Ball canning items</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and the ladies were making Bread and Butter pickles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They gave me some good info on where to find the best</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">stores with the largest selection of canning items. We</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">picked up some tomatoes from another vendor and also </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">stopped at a farm stand near our house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made two batches of Pike County Tomato Preserves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The recipe calls for tomatoes, an orange, a lemon, sugar,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">salt and pumpkin pie spice. Mine aren't as good as</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Uncle Jamie's but I'm happy for my first attempt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We like to eat ours on a thin cracker spread with whipped</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">cream cheese and topped with the preserves. Num!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the stores I was happy to see a big selection of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">canning supplies. There must be a resurgence of </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">interest for major retailers to give up that much shelf</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">space to canning. I had to take home these little jar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">toppers. They are made to look like a fabric and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ribbon top that we have all used at one time or</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">another but they are made of silicon so they keep</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">your jams or jellies fresh in the fridge since it keeps</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the jar airtight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm already thinking about zucchini pickles...</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757945462577232527.post-26763772589869637882015-07-17T11:23:00.000-04:002015-07-17T11:23:41.953-04:00Asia Through the Back Gate and The House of Waris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With such a limited time in Istanbul we knew </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">our days would be busy. We started the day </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">with a beautiful Turkish breakfast. Mr. Wonderful</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and I had stayed at this hotel the first time we were</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in Istanbul. We told Midi about it and he stayed </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">here the next time he was in town. It is a small hotel, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the rooms are small but nice but the reason we stay</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">here is for the breakfast, it is fantastic. It is such a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">spread that our first time we stayed here we had to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">make two trips to the buffet just to be able to taste </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the honey dispenser, I'd love to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">have this at home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But enough with the food, we had sites to see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first stop was the Hagia Sophia, I told my</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">kids that the first time I entered the vast room</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I gasped and I hoped it would have the same </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">effect on them. Sadly, there was construction</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">scaffolding on one side so that took away from</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the soaring impact of the space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We could still enjoy the beauty of the architecture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And enjoy the beautiful mosaics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After leaving the Hagia Sophia we strolled</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">over to the Spice Market and stocked up on</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">some of our favorites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And who could pass up the Turkish Delight?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Afterwards, it was time for lunch and we decided</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to go to Asia. Asia you may ask? Yes, Istanbul is </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the only city located on two continents and it is </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">only a short ferry ride away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We arrived in Kadikoy on the Asian side of the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bosphorus and I was looking for a particular</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">restaurant. We hiked up and down winding lanes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">trying to find it. Locals were happy to help us, one</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">young woman google mapped it and even called </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the restaurant to confirm the directions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we finally arrived I told the man at the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">door that I had read that some said it was the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">best restaurant in Istanbul ~ he countered with,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">oh no, the world. We weren't disappointed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There were no tables outside though and since</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">it was such a nice day we wanted to eat outside, he</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">said no problem, we have a few restaurants on </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">this street and all the food is the same. He took </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">us over to one of the other restaurants and gave</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">us a description of each of the dishes. The food</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was fabulous.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgRrj3gbLwg/VaiTLpFWmYI/AAAAAAAAvBw/Q7rb-3OsR1c/s1600/DSC_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgRrj3gbLwg/VaiTLpFWmYI/AAAAAAAAvBw/Q7rb-3OsR1c/s640/DSC_0978.JPG" width="370" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We walked off lunch with a stroll back through </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the winding streets to the port to catch a ferry</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to Karakoy on the other side of the Golden Horn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From there we took the funicular or mountain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">tram as they call it and walked up the hill until we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">reached the Pera Palace Hotel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Pera Palace is a grand old hotel and it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">was especially interesting to us since we are</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Agatha Christie fans and this is where she </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">wrote Murder on the Orient Express.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The grand tea salon was being used for a private</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">party so we headed out to the terrace. Kate and I </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">headed inside to find the wash room and came into </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the tea salon as the turbaned and bearded Waris</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ahluwalia of the House of Waris was giving a </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">speech about creativity and our need to take time </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for tea. Waris is a some time actor, designer and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">now I suppose tea peddler. This event was part of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Istancool, an international arts and culture festival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The crowd had gathered in the middle of the room</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and Kate and I were stuck in the crowd so we stayed </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for the speech.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back on the terrace we enjoyed some lovely</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">beverages and desserts. Following this we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">headed back to the hotel for a rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Later in the evening we went back to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sultanahmet for dinner. On our way </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to find a restaurant we came upon a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whirling Dervish performance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Brennan chose the restaurant this evening, he</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">wanted one of the places where you sit on the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">floor on pillows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thankfully, the food was good too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then we stumbled back to the hotel and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">fell into our beds. A grand day in a grand city.</span></div>
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American Homesteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12651686607574934817noreply@blogger.com0