Guess How I Spent My Birthday?

Thrifting, of course!

I was going to go thrifting alone but my husband took the day off from work, my son had a day off during mid-term week and my daughter found a babysitter so she could have a day out.

We started by having brunch at Panera, an easy decision since they gave me a free pastry for my birthday and their coffee is phenomenal. I had the steel cut oats with strawberries, pecan and cinnamon crunch topping. For my free pastry I chose an orange scone.

Have you seen Panera's pastries, namely their cinnamon rolls? They are at least 6" in diameter. Here is my son working through his second one after his breakfast sandwich.

 We needed to get moving after that and burn off some calories!

Off we went to a new to me place in the city of Rochester.....Rochester Greenovation. A warehouse so chock full of vintage and antique items that it is overwhelming!

 

Right away the sweet girl behind the counter directed us to the thrifty section behind the blue line. You could fill a box for $5. We spent most of our time there!

 

 

My husband and I both filled a box while he and my son played a game that awarded them a chocolate bar for the most points in finding an item that I actually put in my box to buy.

 

The rest of the place was a thrifters dream with everything you could imagine, from items hanging from the rafters to a builders supply room and a Free Market room.

 

 

 



 

There was a pair of bright fuschia pink mannequins that I wanted and huge Styrofoam chain link stretched across a booth. A separate vendors booth decked out in pink was not open today. I will have to go back for that!

Here is my box of goodies. The girl behind the counter was so helpful and sweet, I had to have a picture of her!

 

 

 

I will be sharing my treasures in an upcoming post.

 

We knew we were having a big dinner so instead of a big cake we decided to go to Savoia's Bakery to get individual desserts for all of us. They have a Cannoli Cake that is so good and it is sold in individual pieces, so that was my choice.

 

 

I dare you to leave here without a box of goodies! The smell when you walk in is so Savoia's (it's the one thing everyone comments on!)

 

 

Here's our dessert in lieu of a large cake! My 3 year old granddaughter ate that whole cupcake cookie!

 



 

It seems to have become a tradition now to have New England Seafood Boil for my birthday dinner.



It is so good with all the spices, clams, shrimp, red potatoes, corn and sausage. Throw it all on newspaper in the center of the table and dig in!

 

 

The rest of the week includes lunch with girlfriends today and Friday and then I am going to take a break from eating!

 

Happy Weekend!

AnnMarie xoxo

 

 

I am linking up to these fun blog parties!

 

Roses of Inspiration 

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

So Much At Home Link Up Party

Coffee & Conversation Link Party

Share Your Cup Thursday

Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends

Pink Saturday



 





 

Looking Forward and Looking Up

I'm not making any resolutions for the New Year.

Not posting any goals or things I want to change.

Don't have any plans different for the new year than I did for the old. I have finally reached the time in my life that I am just living my day to day and enjoying life in a small town in Upstate New York. I have asked my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to take control of my life so all I have to do is obey and follow his lead.

I think He's got some cool stuff for me coming up in 2015 though!!

I like the routine of the every day so I just plan on spending my days and life in 2015 with some special people that I couldn't do it all without.....

My husband Frank and son Michael, who aren't afraid to indulge with me in some high tea.

 

Grandson Baby JC, 3 months, and Granddaughter Chloe, 3 years. They are too cute, I am too blessed!

 

Jena, my youngest daughter, who is SO much like me, and the cute children's Mom.

Granddaughter Cassidy, 9, with the Christmas toys I buy her every year. You know, the annoying ones that sing and dance? I think she is up to six of them now, much to the dismay of her parents!

Candice, my oldest daughter, Cassidy's Mom. Hair stylist extraordinaire. The compliments I get on my hair boost my confidence on a daily basis!

Ah, the girls, my Mercy Sisters. We get together and eat and laugh. From the left is sweet Lora, funny Colleen, feisty Tree, big-hearted Kim, the. best. hugger. Irene, and me.

 

Bonnie, who is so much like me it is scary, except, obviously, our looks!! Even everything we do for our looks, we do the same!

There are many others I will enjoy spending 2015 with, I just don't have pictures of them!!!



In 2015 I will be eating some of my favorite foods.....in moderation....

Almond Joy Cake (recipe)

HUGE donuts from a local grocery store bakery

 

My Homemade Lasagna (recipe)

 

Rhubarb Crisp (recipe)

Seafood Boil (recipe)

 

And, so you don't think I am a junk food junkie...

Beet Greens, Walnuts and Goat Cheese Salad (Recipe)

After a full day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. of doing and doing, weeknights you will find me on the couch watching some of my favorite TV shows:

Downton Abbey
Once Upon a Time
Resurrection
The Voice
Survivor
Shark Tank

Anyone else watch any of those? I'm kinda hooked.

And finally, I will be doing some of my favorite things......

Gardening in the summer

Baking in the Fall....

      hibernating at home  in the winter.....

and in the Spring......thrifting and garage sale-ing and picking and hunting for the best old stuff I can find.

 

 You can find me here on my blog musing about this and that or in front of the computer working on my Etsy shop when I am not thrifting, or going out to lunch with the girls or spending time with my grandchildren.

 

It's where I am supposed to be in the big picture of things.....looking forward and looking up.

 

And that's just how I like it.

 

 

AnnMarie xoxo

I am linking up with these great blog parties:

Roses of Inspiration
Show and Share
A Return to Lovliness
A Little R & R Linky Party
Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
Share Your Cup Thursday
The Weekend Missional Link Up Party
Flashback Friday
Coffee and Conversation Link Party

Low Country Seafood Boil, Strawberries and Rhubarb!

I promised in my last post to give the recipes for my Mother's Day dinner so here they are.....

Seafood or Low Country Boils are famous in the low country of Georgia and South Carolina. They are typically done in a large outdoor cooker making it an easy all-in-one-pot-all-you-can-eat dinner.

This is a large boiler/fryer that has been a great investment for us not only for seafood boils but also for deep fried turkey!

 

The ingredients for a boil are variable according to taste but a basic boil includes small red or new potatoes, sausage or kielbasa, fresh corn on the cob, and any combination of crab, shrimp, scallops and clams. We used clams, shrimp, corn, small white potatoes and a combination of sweet and hot Italian sausage. I happen to have a huge platter to serve it on but the authentic way to serve a seafood boil is to spread out some newspapers on the picnic table and throw all the ingredients on top. That way everyone can dig in from all sides of the table without passing the dish. We fed 5 adults and there was still some left over!

 



 

The seasonings are very important and also are as variable as your taste. We have found that the more is better so that all the pieces are drenched with it.....otherwise everything comes out sort of bland from just basically being boiled.  My husband put so many seasonings in this one that the water was brown.....I was a little skeptical, but each piece was tasty, especially the potatoes, which really soaked it all up. He made it a little on the hot/spicy side.

 

I have a recipe to follow but we usually wing it and do our own thing for the seasonings, which are different every time we make it. Seasonings include Old Bay Seafood Boil seasonings, beer, lemons, garlic cloves, bay leaves, Cajun seasoning and onions.

 

So here is the recipe that we used recently....

 

Seasonings:

 

5 quarts of water

1 bag Old Bay Seasoning

1 lemon, cut in half

5 cloves garlic, whole

1 pinch Adobo, a Spanish seasoning

 1/4 cup kosher salt

pinch of crushed red pepper

pinch of Cajun seasoning

a handful of fresh oregano leaves from our garden

 

To the 5 quarts of water add all of the seasonings and set to boil.

 

Main Ingredients:

 

2 pounds of small potatoes, whole

1 pound sweet Italian sausage cut in 2" pieces

1 pound hot Italian sausage cut in 2" pieces

6 ears of fresh corn, cut in half or thirds depending on the size of the cob

2 pounds large, raw shrimp

4 dozen little neck or mahogany clams, scrubbed clean

melted butter

cocktail sauce

 

Once the water comes to a boil add the potatoes and sausage and cook for 10 minutes or until tender and done. Add the corn and cook for another 5 minutes.

Take the potatoes, sausage and corn out and keep covered and warm on a plate.

Add the clams to the water next and once they start to open add the shrimp and cook till pink.

You can add the potatoes, sausage and corn back in the water for a minute to reheat and then drain everything and serve on a platter or newspaper. Serve with lots of melted butter and cocktail sauce.

 

 

If you have room for dessert.......

 



Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler

My daughter found this online from Taste of Home. Click on the link for the full recipe.

 

 

 

 

I also make a Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp which is a little different in that the topping is made from flour, sugar and butter and bakes into a crisp, crunchy topping. Both are equally fabulous and the strawberries and rhubarb are in season right now in Upstate New York.

 



 

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

 

2 cups fresh rhubarb, cut into small pieces

2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced



1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup butter

Heat oven to 350. Place rhubarb in ungreased 8" square pan. Sprinkle with salt.
Measure sugar, flour and cinnamon into a bowl. Add butter and mix with a fork thoroughly until it is crumbly.
Sprinkle evenly over strawberries and rhubarb.

Bake 40-50 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Serve warm or cold with whipped cream.

Are you full yet?!

That should keep you busy for awhile! Enjoy!

AnnMarie :)

Linking up with these great blog hop parties!

The Scoop
The Marketplace
Tuesday Trivia
Tasty Tuesdays
You're Gonna Love It
The Gathering Spot
Adorned from Above
Dandelion Wishes Wednesday
Fluster Buster
Meet & Greet Blog Hop
Freedom Friday''s
Bloglovin' Blog Hop
Weekend Wonders
The Pin Junkie Friday Link Party
Be Inspired
Aloha Friday Blog Hop
My Favorite Posts Show Off Weekend Blog Party
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
Sweet and Savoury Sundays
A Bouquet of Talent
Let's Get Social Sunday

This post was FEATURED here!
Tuesday Trivia/Memories by the Mile

Munching My Way Through Recovery

It has been 17 days of recovery from my hip surgery and I am doing okay. I don't like being out of the loop of blogging and my blog parties so I am posting a little update on what is going on around here. It has been mostly low key and boring with a little excitement built in.

Mostly I sit in my surgery chair all day, in between visits to the bathroom and the kitchen for something to eat. I have visitors in and out all week, ie. the Physical Therapist, the nurse and the crazy lady that runs in, takes my blood and runs out all in about 15 seconds...really! She told me she does about 30 patients a day. She may stay a little longer to chat if it is about QVC or fashion!

I have had dear friends visit also, bringing me wonderful dinners and to chat for a little bit. It is so funny how people think you are so fragile while recovering. I have to convince them that they can hug me and that I can talk for more than a few minutes!

My mantle looks like this these days......quite different than the bunnys on parade I had as decor in March for Easter and Spring. There is a combination of Get Well and Mother's Day cards and one of many bouquets of flowers I have received.

Speaking of Mother's Day......my daughter and family, along with my husband and son cooked a Seafood Boil for dinner with Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble for dessert! Yum! I will post the recipes later in another post. My daughter had gone to the Public Market (downtown Rochester, New York) Saturday morning and got most of the ingredients for this delicious dinner. I was sitting in my chair the whole time they were cooking waiting to hear the words, "dinner's ready!"

 

So now that the weather is getting a little nicer here I am feeling a little cooped up inside. I went to the side porch, hobbling with my walker, to have a peak outside to my side yard. There I saw that everything is growing abundantly and in need of a bit of weeding. Oops! forgot....I can't garden for a year, according to the surgeon. Just try and keep me away! Anyways, I got to see my fading grape hyacinths and my red tulips blooming.

 

 



And then I spotted them! Two lone purple lilacs on my lilac tree! That tree is only about 4 years old and only has bloomed once! I was so excited to see them there finally, but it was a little bittersweet having to view them from a distance! They bloomed just in time for Rochester's famous Lilac Festival.




As soon as I am able, these Impatiens will be potted into various containers to be put around my garden. They were a gift from my son for Mother's Day.

 

So I mentioned at the beginning that there was a little excitement during this two weeks of recovery. This past Monday night my husband asked my dear friend Bonnie to come over and stay with me so that he could go to his softball game. He missed the first one of the season because of my surgery and he is the coach and the pitcher of our church softball team. 

 

Part way into the game I got the dreaded call. He had been hit by a line drive ball off the bat right in the forehead and was down for the count. It was just one blessing after another from there on. Two of his teammates are EMT's so they immediately attended to him. They also went to the hospital and stayed with him the whole time he was there (till midnight) and called me with updates. One other guy on his team drove his car home from the field to our house, which is about 40 minutes away. My friend Bonnie's presence was so calming that I actually did not panic and we prayed and chatted in between updates. She also stayed way longer than planned, just not to leave me. I felt helpless but the Lord blessed me and my husband so much during the whole incident.

 

Yes, I have been very blessed through this whole surgery and recovery, having my daughters and husband take care of me, friends visiting with food and lots of well wishes through cards and email.

 

Today I got a really nice surprise from my sweet friends Lisa and Ron......a special delivery from QVC of Germack Gourmet Medley......

 

 

Something new to do while I sit in my recovery chair......crunch and munch my way through 3 jars of this delicious mix!

 

 

Till I blog again.....

 

AnnMarie :)