Is This Sadie Hawkins Day?

I know one lady who has a birthday today. You're right, February 29. She is a friend of one of my sisters and I'm guessing that sister will be having a party for her. (It looks like this family likes to celebrate birthdays) I'll tell you about that later! Is today anyone elses birthday? Let me know, because we need to throw a HUGE party fast! Those of you with February 29th birthdays don't grow old as quickly...you're probably SICK of hearing that one! Sorry! Well, well, my dear friends and faithful readers, it's been a great partying week here on my romantic porch. Thanks for dropping by and leaving your comments and happy birthday wishes for my mother in law, and general all around just friends vistin' with friends kind of stuff.

The name game for the red cream soda float was a lot of fun. I really liked the one that Katherine thought of..."Romantic Pink Cloud"...kinda fits for sippin' on "A Romantic Porch" don't you think? Maybe when it warms up we'll do more sippin' of the fluffy cold stuff.

Tracie asked what red cream soda is...and since then, I've been trying to figure out how to describe it. I probably should bring "one of the boys" in here at this point! I think it is very similar to cream soda, but in my opinion, cream soda has a vanilla flavor and red cream soda is well.....red, and I'm not sure if it tastes different! Can anyone describe it more accurately for me?

Thank you to those of you who were patient until I got the PayPal buttons working on the boutique page and were able to finally purchase those beautiful items you had your eyes on in "A Romantic Porch Boutique". I've added more things for your shopping pleasure! These cute pitchers are there, and for the tea party and tablecloth lovers, there is an amazing woven tablecloth on the Feb. 20th post. Don't forget to check out the prize eggs for your Easter egg hunt! Just click on LEAP DAY ITEMS ADDED on the side bar under "Boutique Items" and scroll down to view.

Have a wonderful day. Love, Rachel

Happy Birthday To You!

Today is the birthday of my sweet mother in law. This special lady who brought my fabulous husband into the world deserves to have a party on the world wide web!! Pour a cup of coffee or tea and join us for some cupcakes as you wish her Happy Birthday. I will be serving popcorn and Dr. Pepper later on today, so enjoy and let the celebration begin right here, right now!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!! I HOPE IT'S THE BEST EVER!

Love, Rachel

P.S. This delicious cupcake recipe just looked to perfect to pass up for Mom's birthday. You can get it here from Tara to make a few more in the earthshattering event that there are so many guests that I run out! If today is your birthday also, be sure and tell me! Ta Ta for now!

The presents are wrapped, the popcorn is popped, the drinks are served, so if you are just now dropping by, come on, grab a bite, and join the fun...it's a party!!!

Are You Ready For This?

A recipe from MY kitchen...I've been asked, so get ready, here it is~~~~~~~~~~~~~drumroll please!

Pretty Drink for Glass

Scoop 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream into a glass of your choice

Fill glass with red cream soda

Drink with a straw and sip every last drop from the bottom!!

As you can see, the "tiny resident decorator" has been busy and I need help!

Please name the recipe of the drink that I've shown in the picture above. I don't know what to call it!

Peace, Hope, Love!

These 3 lit candles are symbolizing peace today, as you search for true peace in life.
The tiny adorable doll fits into the palm of my hand. One of my sisters made it. She's bringing you hope...hope for a new tomorrow.

Ah, my tiny cherub is sending you love!

Today, it is coming your way... Peace, Hope and Love! Have a wonderful day! Love, Rachel

The Week Ahead

Isn't the wick amazing on this candle? As the candle burned the soot collected at the top.
For those of you who many not see icicles very often. Here are a few. As the snow melts on the roof the water drips and freezes in these long pointy pieces of ice.
We've enjoyed a lot of snow and sleet this winter. But Spring is on its way!
We did not stay up to watch the lunar eclipse, but the moon was beautiful before it started. Many times in the past one of my sons and I have set the alarm and gotten up in the night to watch a phenomenon in the night sky. We usually have to get in the car and drive to get away from the lights of town to see.

Sometimes situations in life happen in the most unexpected ways. Burning candles make soot, dripping water in freezing temps makes icicles, snow and sleet fall from a winter sky, the sun and moon rises and sets, Spring comes! There is such an unpretentious rhythm in the cycle of life. So much goes unnoticed and time passes without thought.

Other things happen with deliberate action on our part. I have a list of things to do this week, however among those things, I will be deliberate to spend time with my children to let them know their interests are important to me. I will write my first grade teacher a letter. What things do you have planned for the week that will take deliberate action from you?

Today's Blessing

You prepare a table before me...
...I will dwell in your house forever!
Old Testament Psalm 23: part of verses 5 & 6

YOOOOOOOOUUUUUU Guessed It!

You're right. The mystery object is a hot pink ribbon. We have lots and lots of pink things here!

Thank you for sharing your fun Saturday with me. Love, Rachel

What In The World Is This?

Can you guess what this is? Leave a comment with your opinion, but since it is Saturday, tell me what interesting things you are doing today also. Have fun guessing, and I'll be back....

Love, Rachel

It Was Just An Idea!

What can be done with a 6 inch styrofoam ball?
The front stair landing has looked quite bare since I put the 3 small Christmas trees away that were standing there. I had these 3 ceremic pieces in use in other places, but given my love of columns right now, I thought I might like to stack them together in this corner.

I put the styrofoam ball on the top one...

...and cut a greenry bush apart.


At this point, I thought how funny it would be to put eyes, nose and mouth on the styrofoam "head". But I didn't!! ;)

It was just an idea!!

Love, Rachel

P.S. I have a "tiny resident decorator" who is always at my heels for everything I do. She was so proud one day to show me her surprise for me. It was dried flowers placed on every level of the column. I'm not about to move them. At least for now! Total cost of the stair landing project with thrifting and recycling "rescued roadside treasures": approximately $12.00...well, as I said, it was just an idea! And until the next idea pops into my head, I'm happy with its shabby stately splendor!~~~~~~~~~Have a wonderul day!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

Old houses...what could they tell us? The locals say that this is the oldest home in our county! It's right downtown! Isn't it interesting that it was probably in the middle of nowhere when it was built?!

One sunny summer day while pushing my sons in the stroller, down the sidewalk past this amazing edifice, I over heard the owner tell an interested "passerby" that this home had been in his family since before the Civil War. Fascinating!

I dearly love this home. Over the years, it has been used in Farm Bureau Insurance commercials. I don't know if they were only shown locally, or nationally too. An elderly gentlemen lives here alone. I hope he is able to hang all of his gorgeous ferns on the porch again this summer.

About 18 years ago, a co-worker of my husband reworked this home for his family. It still looks pretty good, I think!

The big red house! Every neighborhood needs one. And isn't it pretty against the blue sky?

OH MY GOODNESS this home is for sale! The front door has a full beveled glass window. See the wrap around porch! In the spring and summer the lady of the home sets out wonderful arrangements of flowers. She has her arrangements color coordinated. They are different every year.

You know, I told you that I would take a picture of the first flower that pops its courageous head through the hard cold soil. Well...I've been looking, and it's not happening, YET! Yesterday the sky was such a beautiful blue with white puffy clouds scattered about, the sunshine so radiant, the cold...oh, so crisp!! I admit that the cold wasn't very enjoyable! But over all, if I just looked up, and looked around, I found that it truly was a beautiful day in my neighborhood!!! I hope you can see beauty in your day today too. I'll be looking for more!

Please tell me which house is your favorite!!??

LOVE, Rachel

A Place for Everything

Old houses such as ours many times have very little closet space or storage. This girl just has to have a few girly things around, so when our neighbors were moving and getting rid of things, they brought this set of shelves out in their backyard and told me I could have it. I was a happy happy next door neighbor!

It has served many purposes such as a place for the fax and copier in the office. At one time I kept my children's games and videos on it. It's just the perfect shabby old cabinet. Who could part with such a useful thing. Now I'm enjoying the swirls of pink softness on top of it. After I left home, Mother gave me the pink netting. I had always known that it was a "misquito net" for my baby bed. This past Christmas I learned that my oldest sister had made the net. I NEVER realized that! I treasure the netting so much more now.

Those of you who sew, design and create know how challenging it is to keep everything in order, and easily accessible. These shelves make a great place to keep some of the fabric and miscellaneous items that are waiting to be used in the final product. A place for everything, and everything in its place. That's my challenge for today. I have a place in my heart for my family and friends and the situations that I care about and for which I feel concern. Life is a process, a constant motion of rearranging and adaptation to every moment... each circumstance. I have a place for YOU. Love, Rachel

Objects of "Art"

Over the years, it has been fun to watch my children express their creativity in different ways. I love the vibrant colors and interesting shapes in both of these pictures. I try to always write the date and name of my child who did the artwork somewhere on it. I have file folders full of items that I believe to be worthy keepsakes. :)

I'm working on an idea to empty those files and cull out a few, but ouch...that hurts my mother heart. I want it to be organized and enjoyable though. Not just a file folder of things that in years to come, we smile and wonder what it is.

I also love to write down the cute things my children say. Wow, the busyness of a day can snatch those thoughts and cute little expressions away!

REMINDER TO SELF: Take time to enjoy the simple pleasures.

Have a wonderful day! Love, Rachel

Monday! Off to a Fresh Start

Monday, a new week, a fresh start! Sometimes the weekend flies by so quickly that when I wake up on Monday morning, the world seems to be in a swirl, just oh so topsy turvy. I hope you have had the rest you needed and are ready to greet the day!

My friend, Sharon, from Rose of Sharon, sent me this greeting. It is such a cute "pick me up" and a great cheery way to start this week. Thank you Sharon for being so kind! Your thoughtfulness means alot to me. I just wanted to pass this "friends are a treasure" greeting along to all of you, my readers, my family and friends. This is for you! Enjoy! If you think of someone that you would like to send it to, please do. Pass it along, and keep the cheer flowing! I found this adorable little 1 cup measuring cup at the thrift store. Upon seeing it, I quickly picked it up and felt for chips. It was chip free! It had the feel, the look and touch of old glass...you know that "vintagie" feel. I've been wanting a measuring cup like this for so long. I turned it in my hands searching for the price, and there it was stamped on the bottom...5o cents! My heart raced with excitement as I said to myself, of course, "I'm gonna get this!" You see, for whatever reason, I've never had a glass pitcher "liquid" measuring cup. In Home Economics (that's what they called it not so long ago when I was in High School...now it's Consumer Science) Mrs. Jones made it very clear that we must measure liquids in a cup like this, and solids or powders in a measuring cup that you can smooth across the top with the edge of a knife blade. (She did teach us how to measure peanut butter and Crisco in a cup like this, but that's another lesson for another day.) Well obviously, I've never measured the way I was taught! Mrs. Jones, if you are reading this, I'm sorry! BUT now I have THE CUP! Those of you who feel the thrill of the hunt along with me, will understand, I know!!!

As you can see, I have dried blackeyed peas in the cup (oops! not a liquid). Some of my family members really enjoy blackeyed peas, and I usually buy them canned. An "Angel" gave us a bag of dried blackeyed peas, and I need to know how to fix them. Do any of you have a delicious never fail recipe that you could share with me? I would love it if you did!

I have cooked long enough to know that I will need to boil the peas for a while, so they will be soft and flavorful. It sorta reminds me of life...after we've gone through the heat of the hardtimes, life just seems a little more yummy and enjoyable, somehow!

Don't boil over! Have a fun Monday! Love, Rachel

>

An Overflowing Cup!

... my cup overflows! SURELY, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days that I live! (Parts of the Old Testament Psalm 23: verses 5 & 6) Today, please find rest. Love your family. Worship. Encourage those around you. May your love overflow.

Be Blessed, Rachel

Celebrate!

You are correct! The mystery object is a close up of the floweres on one of these plates that I enjoy searching for at yard sales and thrift stores. I love the blue and green pattern!



Isn't it interesting that the "official winner picker" picked Keith from all the ones who commented yesterday! So...I'll be sending a ZERO candy bar off to the birthday boy, with well wishes for a super year!



Thank you to my faithful Saturday readers for participating in the "Glad Game" birthday celebration! I'm so glad you stopped by the porch today! Love, Rachel

The Glad Game, Keith and A Mystery Object!

After showing you cheery splashes of colors from the beveled window a few weeks ago, and reading the comments about Pollyanna, I decided that I needed to watch the movie, so I raced off to the local library to check out a copy. I just loved Pollyanna's game of finding things to be glad about. The late Mary Crowley, founder of Home Interiors and Gifts, Inc., believed, "we must act our way into feeling, NOT feel our way into acting". If you think about that concept and wrap your brain around it, that is really the basis for Pollyanna's "Glad Game". She found things to be glad about whether or not she felt like it. She worked at being glad!

Some of you who read my blog may have figured out that Keith is one of my 5 brothers. He comments everyday! Keith has friends everywhere AND he has an unbelievable ability to stay in touch with them. Keith is an encourager to everyone he meets. I'm glad he is my brother. I am very blessed to be his sister. Today is Keith's birthday. SO in honor of his birthday, we are going to play the "Glad Game". The rules of the game are listed as follows:

The picture above is a mystery object. Leave a comment as to what you think the object is. Tell one thing you are glad about. And don't forget to tell me what your favorite candy bar is. The ones who comment will be placed into my weekly drawing. Whoever has their name drawn will have their choice of candy mailed to them.

Thank you for playing the "Glad Game" today!

Happy Birthday, Keith!!!

Love, Rachel

It's Fabulous Friday

Sharon, a new blogging friend from Rose of Sharon

sent me this Totally Fabulous award. Thank you Sharon for honoring me in this way. How kind of you to think of me. You are Totally Fabulous and sweet yourself. Drop by and visit Sharon, you will find her blog to be uplifting, as she shares her love for her home, her husband, her four sons, and God.

Today I would like to pass this award along to Karla, at Ramblin' Roads

as a thank you to her for all her work in helping me get the look I wanted for my blog. She emailed me in July 2007, and said she had set up a blog for me! I had NO idea what to do, and couldn't figure out how to post anything I had drafted when I actually tried in October. I know it all sounds so very crazy and disfunctional now, doesn't it?

Since the first week of January, when I actually started she has spent alot of time to achieve a look with which I'm happy! So Karla, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. You're totally fabulous!

Love, Rachel

Happy Valentine's Day! You'd Have to Know My Mother to Understand!

Happy Valentine's Day to my family, my friends and all the awesome people that I have had the opportunity to meet this past 5 weeks or so, since I started this blog. I hope your day will be everything you hope for, and that you will be able to reach out and send your love to others.

The name of this Kim Anderson figurine is: Love; The Greatest Gift of All. I believe that is true. We can ALL give the gift of Love.

The year I was in 8th grade, the cheerleaders at good ole MHS were selling carnations as a team fundraiser. You could order them, and then on Valentine's Day, the cheerleaders would deliver them to the person of your choice, directly into the classroom. Needless to say, it made quite a statement and generated alot of excitement and revenue! Blue carnations symbolized "I'd like to get to know you better"...red, of course, symbolized "Love"...yellow meant "Friendship". Pink stood for "Like", whatever that is! I believe they also had green and black, but I've managed to forget what those meant. So for a whopping $1.25, you could make a statement for the day. One of my friends and I talked about sending a blue one to each other, just for kicks!

I decided that I wanted a token of love and appreciation for my mother. I scraped together the pocket change I could find, and when I placed my order, I asked the cheerleaders if I could please order a silk red rose. In my mind, how would a carnation survive ALL day? Just any rose wouldn't do. I wanted a fluffy one, now known to me as a cabbage rose. I didn't want one of those roses "with a tight plasticy" looking bud. AND I wanted the stem to have a couple of buds on it. Oh, please could I have a ribbon bow on it too? They conferred with one another (can't you just see them...they even called the florist shop!) and yes, they could do that for me, but it would be $2.50!

That year we had quite a bit of snow. In the hills of Arkansas it doesn't take much of the fluffy white stuff to cancel school for the day. And can you believe it, it snowed on Valentine's Day. School was cancelled, so the cheerleader's fundraiser fell through. However, the silk rose survived! When I returned to school there it was in all of its beautiful red splendor! I was extremely pleased to bring it home to Mother. It was a surprise to her...eventhough it was belated, and Valentine's Day was a bit uneventful due to the snowfall. I'm sure I probably made a card to go with it, though I don't remember precisely. She showed the proper amount of appreciation to me, as any loving mother would do with such a gift. And I was tickled pink with myself for bringing her joy.

As I look back, I'm so glad that in my childish mind I was able to have the forethought to give her a silk red rose. She's gone now. I loved her so...You'd just have to know my mother to understand!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Love, Rachel