Last week went I went to Lowes I bought a few more packs of seeds. I have some kind of seedmania going on. I can't stop buying seeds! I have never had swiss chard before so I decided I would give it a try. It looks so pretty on the package. I really hope the Bells of Ireland do well because they totally captivated me with their pretty picture on the pack. My family love beets but I have never had any of the gold ones, so into the garden they will go. I have started a new kind of gardening journal, that I will show you when I get some pics. Hopefully this will help me remember what worked and what didn't in my garden.
With Valentines Day right around the corner, I have put out some of my vintage valentines and post cards. I love the colors on these and the little boys eyes move. 
I am trying to think of something other than candy to get for my husband and son for Valentines Day other than candy. Anyone have any ideas for "guy" gifts?
Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Linda
One of my favorite little poems is called Food:
The last book is another very beautiful book. It is called The Song and Garden Birds of North America. It was put our by National Geographic and mine copy is dated 1964.
The color photos is this book are frame worthy. It shows photos and descriptions of practically every bird in this country and at the back of the book there is a little booklet that has some very flimsy vinyl records that plays the birds songs. I have played the little record and it is so neat!
I hope you enjoyed my Show and Tell! 
My sister was born almost 5 years to the day after me. Her birthday is January 20th. So, we always have our birthday parties together. (I am the one on the left). Last Sunday we celebrated our birthdays, with our family, at my house. My family gave me many nice gifts but the one I really loved came from my grandmother, who is 95. Number one, she braved the extremely cold temperatures, 17 degrees, with a windchill of zero to come to my house. Number two, she gave me and my sister matching dishes that she bought when she first got married in 1930. I love gifts like this!
I decided I would make our birthday cake this year and since purple is my favorite color, I made a chocolate cake with purple icing!
I had alot of fun making the tags for my sister's gift! The images were copied from an old childrens book onto card stock. I think they would work well as bookmarks too!
Last night dear husband and I went out to Lowe's in search of some "parts" my husband needed. When we walked in I went straight to the garden department, like I always do and low and behold, they had garden seeds out! Well, they weren't really "out" just kind of shoved in a corner waiting to get "out". So, I decided to help them along! I just sort of moved some "stuff" around so that I could get to them. I'm quite sure they appreciated my help! Anyway, I bought several packs. I can't help it. It's an addition. Then we went to Target, and they really did have some seeds out with no help from me! I bought some more!
So this morning I went into the garage and pulled out my box of leftover seeds from last year and have found that I could probably open my own seed store. But then I remembered I bought some seeds when we went to Monticello last summer and I can't find them! I'm thinking I'm not really that early. Because in late February, I will start some of the seeds indoors on the "seed starting" shelves my husband made me a couple of years ago.
"Once upon a time- and not so long ago- it was fashionable for all lovely ladies not to know how to cook or at least pretend not to know. My! How times have changed!
For Pastry:
Yesterday I was off from work but spent the day cleaning and cooking! We had our usual Black-eyed peas, collard greens, macaroni and cheese and a family specialty Corned Beef Pie. This dish is one that my Grandmother has always made and she said she got the recipe in a "Spry" cookbook. I have never heard of anyone else who makes it. Basically, canned corned beef, sauteed onions, a little flour, a couple cans of tomato sauce, salt, pepper and a little sugar all heated together, when thick pour into a pie shell and cover with another pie shell. Bake about 30 minutes until golden brown. We love it.
These Flavorbust hybrid pepper is beautiful! I am definitely going to order these. They are so pretty and have a long yeild.
I seem to have a pepper thing going this year. I love this Big Daddy pepper! Look how huge it is! Our family is big on pepper and this pepper is sweet and works well for roasting.
This very old ornament belonged to my Grandmother (who is 95 years old!) when she was a child. It was given to her at a Sunday school Christmas party. Over the last 90 years time and use has taken a toll on it. After this year, I am going to frame it and keep it out all year long.
Have you ever seen one of these on a tree??? Yngwie place this "binky" on the Christmas tree 14 years ago, when he was two, and it has gone on the tree every year since.
This old Santa also belonged to my Grandmother. This was given to her by her aunt.
Any child of the late 1960's early 1970's remember her? It's Dawn! I love small dolls and used several of them on my tree. 
I guess I got a little heavy handed with my ornaments this year and ran out before I finished decorating all the way around. So I pondered for a moment, what could I use to finish the tree? Then it hit me! I ran into my craft room and pulled out a couple of boxes of Happy Meal toys, twisted floral wire around them and hung them on the tree! That is why Dora The Explorer is hanging from my tree.
This is our family room tree. Mostly Hallmark ornaments, but also some handmade and vintage ornaments as well. I have never been able to figure out how to take a good picture of the tree with just the Christmas lights on with my digital camera. It always turns out blurry. 
The top photo and the above are of the dessert island. I will share the recipe for the mint truffles tomorrow, they really turned out good and were very easy to make.
