Welcome to the Honeymoon Cottage!

 

It's that time of year again, the weather

is turning cooler, the leaves are starting

to change color and kids all over the world

are heading back to school.

 

 

Our "baby" headed back to Bloomington

today with the car packed to the gills.

 

 

Saying goodbye is never easy but he is

going to where he needs to be.  Puppy

dogs just don't understand...

 

 

And now I await the arrival of my

Mr. Wonderful.  Today also happens to

be our 23rd anniversary.  Marrying my

Mr. Wonderful is still the smartest thing

I have ever done.  And now back to the

Honeymoon Cottage!

 

Je t'aime, mon amour.

 

 

Good Morning and... Who Are You?

 

Last night before bed I had a craving

for pancakes.  I thought, oh how strange,

but this idea will go away - quickly.

When I woke up, I still wanted pancakes

and since I was the only one home, I figured

why not?  The truth is, I don't like pancakes.

I find they are lumped into the same category

with biscuits and waffles.  They taste good

but shortly after eating they feel like they have

tripled in size in your stomach and that never

feels good.  So, I ate them, they were good,

now I'll wait & see how they make me feel...

Do you every feel like you have suddenly

become a different person foodwise?  When

the food item you generally detest becomes the

only thing you can think about.  That has happened

to me a few times - mushrooms, avocado.  I hope

it's not going to be that way for pancakes...

Where have all the antiques gone?

 

Yesterday I spent the day with a good friend.

We were enjoying a last breathe of summer.

She works in a school and today was the first

day of school so we wanted one last day to spend

together.  We met in a lovely Midwestern town.

 

 

It is a thriving downtown with a square

built around the beautiful, old courthouse.

It's so nice to see a town with shops and

cafes rather than the sad, deserted downtowns

we see all too often these days.

 

 

Our first stop was in my favorite store,

my "go to place" for unusual pieces, a

nice mix of antiques and vintage items.

But sadly, the whole shop had changed!

The only antiques seemed to be used for

décor only.  Instead there was vintage candy...

 

 

...plenty of soaps and scented candles and

cutesy signs.  But almost all of the good

vintage or antique items are gone.  What has

happened?  In the age of ebay and etsy, have

we used up the antiques?  Or is this the type

of merchandise that their clients want?  Either

of those scenarios make me sad.  This is not

good for the girl who likes old stuff!

 

 

The antique mall did have antiques

and vintage items but they were looking

a bit tired...

 

 

At least we got to spend the day together

having fun and also enjoying the beauty

of the Midwestern countryside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and the bye-byes begin

 

The summer has flown by...

 

The kids finished their finals and got

themselves home from school in early

May while Wonderful & I were still roaming

around Europe until later May.  Then

the summer just got away from us.  We

were all busy with our work and there

was no time for play this summer.  We

did get to enjoy each other's company

though.  And then it happens, the car

gets packed and away they go again.

Our Kate headed back to Purdue University

today and the photo above shows what

she couldn't fit in the car.  Wonderful

will be taking a delivery to the sorority

house tomorrow.  Next week we get to

do it all again with Brennan.

 

I always tell them that school is exactly

where I want them to be at this time of

their lives, but it makes me sad all the same.

 

Farewell my sweet girl!

Celebrating

 

I heard from my publisher today and

saw the cover of my book.  It was very

exciting ~ I can't share it yet but will

as soon as I am allowed.

Last week Mr. Wonderful brought

a few bottles of sarsaparilla home from

the Farmer's Market.  Since I rarely

drink soda I decided to save it for a

special occasion.  Today was the

special occasion!

 

Stay tuned...

Dutch Breakfast in the American Midwest

 

My brother is visiting for a few days and

I forgot to plan anything for breakfast this

morning so I threw together the typical Dutch

Breakfast that we make when we travel the

world.  I just pulled things from the fridge and

pantry and ended up with a great spread.

I hard boiled some eggs, put out some cheeses,

some zucchini bread, yogurt with granola and

honey, some cantaloupe, golden plums and

tomatoes.  I added some juice and coffee and

it was ready.

 

Mick, Kate & I started the dream stage of our

next big adventure or, how many continents

can we visit in one trip?  The question is ~ can

we top The Last Hurrah Tour?  Our answer is,

we should try...

Elle's Kitchen: Pineapple Upside Down Cake Cocktail

Or Why There Is No Pie Today...

 

 

My brother flew into town today to wrap up

a month of traveling the world.  So, that

meant I was at the airport, a stop off for a

 Thai feast and a quick run through Trader

Joe's to pick up staples and treats.

 

So, there was no time to make pie.  BUT,  my

sister helped out and made a pineapple upside

down cake for our family reunion.

 

And she made Pineapple Upside Down Cake Cocktails!

 

 

Ingredients:

a shot glass full of Cake flavored Vodka

Pineapple Juice

Grenadine

Cherries

 

In a tall glass filled with ice, mix vodka

and pineapple juice, add a bit of grenadine

to the top and throw in a cherry.

 

 

And if you get to have it with the real

cake that inspires the drink, consider

yourself lucky.

 

Enjoy!