'tis the season for strawberries!

Oh, yummy, yummy strawberries, one of the best treats of summer! 

Back when I was in college my friends (Hi Jamie :-) and I took cooking and baking classes for fun. It was a great way to forget about the stress of school, taste new foods and enjoy good company. My favorite class was a quick breads class. We learned how to make several quick breads and muffins. The most delicious recipe (my favorite of course!) is Narragansett Strawberry Bread. With strawberries just coming into season, this is the best time to make this seriously yummy bread! Enjoy!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 cups flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped strawberries
Milk, enough to make a stiff batter

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350. In a mixing bowl cream butter and sugar until light. Add egg, flour, baking powder, cornmeal, salt, walnuts and enough milk to make a stiff batter. Gently fold in strawberries. Pour into an 8" or 9" baking lightly greased baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until an toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool before slicing.

Mini Welcome Banner

This little welcome banner has been on my "to-do" list for months! I finally took the time to make it a few weekends ago (took me a few days to finish it, but it is done!).

Two of my favorite craft supplies right now are baker's twine and the Stampin Up! punch called Petite Pennants Builder, LOVE them!

I used them both to make this simple welcome banner which now hangs in our entryway.

My to do list....

The SUN has been here for almost THREE WHOLE WEEKS!!! This is a HUGE treat this time year! We do get the sun in May but not for such a prolonged period of time. It has been wonderful to say the least. BUT with the sun, usually, comes the desire to GET THINGS DONE (this desire battles with the desire to sit...long...outside and do nothing, except drink iced tea)! So, I was thinking, maybe if I shared my to do list with all of you, I might actually get something done.

To Do List Spring/Summer 2012

Sort through girls' clothes and donate unneeded items

Sort through girls' toys and books and donate unneeded items

Bring out summer clothes

Paint the front room

Paint the upstairs hallway

Hang pictures above couch in front room

Print the pictures that will be hang above couch!

Organize sewing room

Finish playroom mini makeover

Sew new bed skirt

Plan summer activities

I know there is A LOT more, as if that list isn't long enough. But that's a start. Thanks for reading!

Vintage Bingo is tons of fun!

A couple months ago a friend of mine held a garage sale with many items from her parents and grandparents. I was SO excited when I found this vintage Bingo set, brand NEW from 1957! Nothing inside the box had been opened. Within a couple days of having it at home, the girls and I had to open it! We gathered around the dining room table for a few rounds of Bingo. It really is a great game for all ages (super fun way for Jilian to practice her numbers).

Just cause it's fun! Sharing at:

Sun Tea, YUM!

The SUN has been visiting us here in Oregon a tad bit more these days, kind of feels like Spring!! It has been ah-so nice to have the warm sun on our faces and a chance to enjoy our yard! With the sun comes Sun Tea. Very simple to make and a yummy treat to have in the refrigerator. Although it makes me even more eager for the super hot days of Summer!

Simply take a glass container and fill it with six black tea bags, fill the container with cold water and place in the sun for a few hours. After the tea has "brewed" (the water is the color of tea) your sun tea is done! For different flavors add one or two tea bags of a different flavored tea. I've used peppermint, orange spice and mango, all three of been super yummy. The longer the tea bags are in the water, the stronger it will be. Be sure to remove the bags once it is at the strength you like otherwise the bags will start to break apart and you'll have little pieces of tea...not so fun.