Showing posts with label carrot cake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carrot cake. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

It's 2024 and Spring is still Elusive and Angry here in Chicago

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Chicago is stubborn and holding on to winter...in temps and weather, TODAY!

YESTERDAY in FEBRUARY we had 70's and then a sweep of tornados barreled through Chicagoland. One passed to the east of us, less than 4 miles, then landed on an apartment complex in Mundelein, Illinois. Thankfully there were no injuries in all the 5-6( correction 11 tornados in Chicago area after assessing) tornadoes and high winds everywhere...thanks to the TV News teams keeping us posted on the fast moving mess that went through. 

Today our front porch is covered in ice, sleet, and misery. I had cleaned out the greenhouse yesterday, and knowing we were going to have rain...I put a lot of trays and starting trays outside to get washed. They got tossed around a bit, so I'm letting most thaw until tomorrow and I'm just starting the bulbs I had soaking today. Peppers were already started 2 weeks ago. 


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I'm Wishing for Eggs, tulips, pansies, bunnies and more!


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Love all these old pieces with tulips on them.
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With Easter being early, our kitchen will be decorated with planting trays and seedlings instead of bunnies.

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Can we say PEEPS PLEASE!? My favorite Grandma's jar filled with peeps.

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My mom's favorite face, filled with Daffy's, not now, they are barely peeking out of the ground now.


But, I love Daffodils!
 From the Chicago flower show-years ago.

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Flower shows are a God send in winter!
This one is usually in March! 



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And Tulips....

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I think I will skip the bunnies this year,
and just do Birds! 

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Casual Easter Dinner!

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Antique French Fish poacher, a purchase my mom made, winking at me and saying it will be yours, soon. I think this was the last antique
she purchased before she passed!

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Aren't these gorgeous---I planted them somewhere out in the garden last year---can't wait???

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Carrot cake....for Easter! I so screwed with the recipe---I can't even find what I started with!
I know I added raisins, coconut, oatmeal, carrots and chopped apples-- (no nuts) 

I can't wait to get out onto our porch---it will be probably a month or more though and then I have to deal with the 50 some totes stored there from our basement debacle, last year!

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The entire family loves to lounge and relax out here!

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My porch is filled with garden accessories.

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Old tablecloths made into cushions!


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Another bird! 


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Currently the Ivy tree is in my bedroom...too early to go outside.

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Easter is so early this year....? 

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Table cloth, Danish made by my two spinster great-aunts, Moster and Dagne.

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Crispy bunnies---for everyone! I'm forced at this point to make these each year, for everyone---

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Pansies were my Great Grandmother's favorites.

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Pansies are the first plants I buy in April! 

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This arrangement was in late April, everything from the yard. 

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Pansies are so gorgeous paired with  Coleus

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Love this color!

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I still haven't polished this teapot...it's just too cool!


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We start plants every year, beginning with tomatoes, peppers, coleus, and some bulbs this year.

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This is what will be in a month---hubby is heavy handed with the seed...lol.

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Love this wreath but it blows off the door, so now resides inside!

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One of my favorite thrift finds...even though I'm not fond of pink, so elegant in shape!


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All family favorites. Coffeepot is Danish, the salt&pepper are Dutch, the bell is German, the shoe to the left Holland Michigan, and the planter is unmarked.


I pick up tiles...all the time!  

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Cream and sugar is Japan...probably from the 50-60's.
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Teapot purchased on Etsy, probably from the 70's, thick and porcelain, holds heat very well.


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It may be 'Tulip Time' on my platter, but outside it's still barren, cold, and wet.

Here's hoping Maybe Spring will arrives soon, hopefully--in a month or so!

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Saturday, March 31, 2018

Happy Easter All!

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Spring is a time for new beginnings, but I guess we have to wait a little longer in Chicagoland.
We've had flu here for the last 11 days. So I dug these out from last year.



What's better than carrot cake for Easter.


Tulips----and bunnies nesting in my vintage fish packer.


I have some of these in the yard---but they haven't even peeked up yet.!



To you and yours have a Happy Easter Holiday!



All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks always for visiting. 
I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.
 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Sharing at these Ad Free blog parties (I'm going to try and see if this is possible)
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Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle
Sandi





Thursday, April 20, 2017

Casual Easter Dinner

Our home was very casual this Easter. 
These faux Iris set in an antique ironstone pitcher set the tone in the living room. 
The vintage swans needlepoint was a thrift store pick-up 
and given to my husband for an anniversary. Swans mate for life, I thought apropos.


After the egg hunt everyone was hungry.
I carried the deviled eggs and veggie tray to the porch and went to grab my camera. 


Alas, I was too slow----LOL. 


This was the vintage Tulip Time platter I used. Really a pretty serving piece.



On the kitchen island we set up a casual dinner buffet, 
so everyone could sit inside or
 on the breezy back porch. 

We had originally planned for thirteen friends and family. 
which doesn't work for setting our table formal.
My kitchen just isn't that large anymore. 


Menu: Ham, Asparagus, Radish-Cauliflower-Pea Salad, Spring Greens, Copper-penny Carrots, 
Hash-brown Potato bake, Rolls, crunchy homemade Dill Pickles, and of course deserts.


Time got away from me this week, and the food went out quickly.


These are called bullet rolls and made at the local market, delicious.





Rice Crispy Treat Bunnies and candy eggs were the informal centerpiece and a take-home.


I used my NEW Nordic Ware bunny pan.  One cup of treat mix, made the perfect size bunny.


Our table filled quickly--while some of the fellas migrating to the porch.



They really are the perfect size. One batch of the treat recipe made the 6 bunnies in the pan.



Bunnies from a garland smiled as we ate. This was made from Target bargain bins---at the front of the store. Three or four stiff felt bunnies for $1.00. I added pom-pom tails and ribbons. 


A very quick and inexpensive decoration. Two 10-foot garlands came to about $12.00 total.




Now desert, homemade carrot cake, with a bit of cream cheese frosting. The cake recipe is heavy on pineapple, grated carrots, raisins, and coconut. I tried to make as little frosting as possible.


I time cheated and used the frosting tubes for decorating. I'm far from an expert. 

A Daffodil blossom added more color.

My guests brought Strawberry Jello Pretzel Torte and Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake-everything disappeared so quickly, I didn't get pictures of those.


On the island, the antique enamel fish poacher was filled with tulips, grass, and two treat bunnies.



We used dollar store desert paper plates. They were wonderful with yellow and green napkins, 
my go-to colors for Spring.



The tulips were fancy---ruffle edged ones in a pot from Home Depot. They have the best 
plants in our area and reasonable. 


I'll plant them under the maple tree by our front stairs. Really lovely.

Hope your Easter was Wonderful! 


Thanks always for visiting. 
I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.
 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 
Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

I will be sharing at these fine Parties!








Sandi