Travel Tuesday ~ Off to see the Queen

I am off to see the Queen this week ~
that is a special traveling tuesday.

Actually I don't leave till Thursday... but I've been packing my bags ( in my head at least ).
We will also be taking a quick trip to Malta. So packing the suitcase won't be easy this time . . . rainy and chilly in London, then sunshine in Malta.
Luckily, the Queen will have a pair of wellies should I need them.



Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~Upper

The PhotoHunt for today is 'Upper'

As in . . . I love the view from the upper deck of  'The Gulf'

There is a cozy place to sit and enjoy the view of the gulf . . . even in the rain.

It's hard to believe these started as shipping containers ( maybe I should have saved these for next weeks theme ~ Steel )

Check for all the other  Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Happy Margarita Day

Happy Margarita Day y'all ~
Sandi

A Masterpiece in Blue

Have you ever been somewhere and thought . . . this will be a great Blog post?
Especially for a Masterpiece Blue Monday.

I spent the weekend on the coast, helping my sister with decisions about decorating
 (I am great at helping with decisions)

The search was on to find just the right person to understand and carry out the dream. We went with Pinterest Board in hand, and I think, found just the right person.
In addition to being a designer, Merrill Miller has a beautiful shop.

The shop is full of blues and seashells and ocean views . . . just the kind of thing that I love.

I descreetly (well. . . kind of) walked around with my camera, while the big decisions were being made.
I'm good at helping with little decisions ~ not the BIG ones.

Now . . . we wait for the results.

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues and Boogie Board Cottage for her Masterpiece Monday.
Y'all enjoy ~

Sandi

PhotoHunt ~Miniscule

The photohunt for today is 'miniscule'

Like the tiny leaves of  Thyme . . .

tiny... but full of flavor. According to the herbal website

"Drinking a cup of thyme tea will assist the recovery from flues and colds.

Thyme is antifungal. You can soak your fingers in thyme tea to help prevent damaged nails"

Who knew? I just thought it was a miniscule leaf with lots of flavor.

Check for all the other  Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

~Happy Valentines Day Y'all~

I hope y'all share the love on Valentines Day~
Sandi

Traveling Tuesday ~ Montisi

It's Traveling Tuesday ~ and off we go.
To Italy ? ? ?
e vero ~

I've been thinking about the Tuscan hill town of Montisi ~ It is tiny, but far from the tourist meccas of Montalpuciano and Montalcino. A beautiful place to truely get the flavor of Italy.

Da Roberto's Taverna is the best restaurant in town. It is worth the drive, and draws folks from all over the area.

Every where you look . . . it is just a picture postcard.

There are many side streets to explore . . .

I hope to be able to spend some time exploring those back streets in May.


Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~Promise

The PhotoHunt today is ' Promise '
I have lot's of promises ~

 Promises at the beach ~

Promises for a couple who met riding bikes ~

 a Promise made by an elegant couple ~

 These cute couples made Promises to eachother ~

All Promises that I was lucky to be a part of . . . with my custom cake topper's at Gimme Some Sugar on ETSY.
Check for all the other Awesome Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Friday Favorites ~ Love these labels?

I'm working my way through these Lemon posts . . . Starting the week with memories of Positano, a recipe for limoncello, and now for these cute labels.

Pam from  Sidewalk Shoes  commented that she loved these chalkboard labels . . . especially when I explained how easy they were.

When I make Limoncello . . . I use the 360 vodka, because the bottles can be reused and resealed with the cute little cork stoppers.
I paint the existing label with my chalk paint.

Waa- Laa ~
Chalk paint labels.
I might have gotten a little crazy and painted lots of labels. Big empty jars of nuts make great containers for grits and rice.
What is your favorite today?
I am linking to Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest.
Y'all join in~
 Sandi

Cooking Light ~ Pucker Up with Lemons

Our Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club for the month of February is all about puckering up ~ for Valentines Day.
Puckering up with Lemons that is.

I went to Cooking Light and found This Recipe for Limoncello ~ I have made MADE LIMONCELLO BEFORE, but was glad to find this new recipe. MY ORIGINAL RECIPE is different, so I will give this lighter version a try.

Limoncello
4 cups vodka
1/2 cup lemon rind strips (about 7 lemons)
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
Combine vodka and rind in a bowl. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 2 weeks. Strain through a sieve into a bowl; discard solids.
Combine 3 cups water and 1 1/2 cups sugar in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and cool to room temperature. Add to vodka mixture.
 Divide limoncello evenly among 3 sterilized (750-milliliter) bottles, and seal.
Note: Store in the refrigerator up to 1 year.

So much for the OVER- Simplified Cooking Light directions . . .

First... use only organic lemons.
Now, carefully peel the lemons until you have Only the Yellow part.

Place them in a large jar, and allow them to soak in the vodka for AT Least 2 weeks.

Strain the peels, and filter the vodka several times.
Combine with the cooled simple syrup.
Now, pour into individual bottles and seal.

The recipe itself is Really Very good . . . I ended up with a mild and slightly sweet brew.
This won't last a year around here!

 
Now . . . let's see what everyone else has brought for our Valentine Pucker ~ lemmony feast.
Jerry has made Fennel Salad with Meyer Lemon
Val is making Lemon/Ginger Fried Chicken
 Susan is bringing Chicken Rice Soup with Dill
Sara is bringing Tomato Salad with Avocade and Preserved Lemons
Roz has dessert, Lemon Polenta Cake with Winter Fruit Compote

Y'all enjoy ~
Sandi

Travel Tuesday ~Limone

It's Traveling Tuesday ~ and I am dreaming of Limone.

Lemons . . . like you can only find on the Amalfi Coast.

On the Amalfi coast they use not only the lemon juice, but also the peels for limoncello and the leaves from the lemon tree.

The lemons are ginormous, and fragrant.
The color of the sun.

When I see baskets of lemons ~ it brings back memories of the beautiful Italian coast.

My collection of limoncello glasses is always a conversation piece ~ and just right to serve my newest batch of Limoncello.

Tomorrow . . .  I will be posting that recipe as a part of our Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club.


Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~Daub

The PhotoHunt for today is 'daub' ~ which is 'to slather a pasty substance' . . .

Like a pretty birthday girl in a tutu?

Check for all the other Daubing Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi