Why Sweet Things

Sometimes I come across the sweetest

images that I just want to share.

No words are really necessary…

sit back and enjoy….

Sweet photograph…

what editing!

Sweet ambiance…

what a tree!

Sweet table…

what a setting!

Sweet picnic…

what a spread!

Sweet photograph…

what a city!

May the sweetness of the Lord

bring you joy :)

Why “M” Was Sweet

Joe’s brother and his wife

are a very charitable couple.

They feed their family

and friends very well :)

Recently …

they invited us to join them

at “M” a downtown Columbus restaurant

They bid on this private wine tasting/

food pairing meal at a fundraiser

Here’s the sweet meal we shared…

Perfectly pan seared diver sea scallops

on a bed of ginger-soy infused

soba noodles

Paired with a Sauvignon Blanc.

Whoa, it was good!

NOTE:The presentation of this salad

did not look like this when it was first served.

(I forgot to take a picture and I ate mine:)

Therefore, this is a makeshift model

Actually. the heirloom tomato, watermelon

salad was surrounded by a potato chip wall.

Very clever. It was topped with

HUMBOLDT FOG GOAT CHEESE

which is unbelievably good!

(worth looking for at the grocers)

Paired with a Spanish Verdejo

Sorbet

It was very fruity and refreshing.

On the hottest day of summer…

it was extremely enjoyable and COLD.

DRUM ROLL please…..

Duet of Filet Mignon and Chilean Sea Bass

Chanterelle Mushroom crusted with Bordelaise

and Champagne Truffle Vin Blanc

were the highlight.

Both just melted in your mouth.

Paired with a Charles Krug, Cabernet Sauvignon.

The friends went nuts over that cab!

Some loved it A LOT :)

Our sweet ending was

a trio of chocolate and orange.

An orange Bavarian Bonbon,

orange chiffon cake

and an orange chocolate tart.

Too die for!!

Paired with sparkling Taittinger.

Thank you, Brad and Murph

and Columbus crew…WAIT… that’s your soccer team!

and “FRIENDS”. It was such fun!

Keep supporting those charities

xoxo :)

Why There Is No Place Like Home

Home always welcomes you

I love this welcoming entry way.

The farm blue bench and wicker baskets.

Fresh flowers and hats hanging on hooks

The painted wainscoting

Makes you feel like…

you are “home sweet home”

Home is a comfortable place

A frilly cotton tablecloth

{made less fussy out of cotton}

gives that round table the

prettiest skirt in town.

The fresh yellow flowers

and buttery walls create

the perfect home

for that robin’s egg blue door

and its matching screen door

This room makes me smile.

Such a few, simple elements

but so comforting and welcoming.

Like going to Grandma’s house.

Something about this room

really appeals to me

Love the hominess

of the plates on the wall

painted in my favorite color…

accented with all that crisp white

Love the slipcover chair

and dark wood floor.

The simply elegance of a

lantern chandelier.

It just needs…

a soft rug under your toes

A home needs

a great bedroom like this

It is so unforgettable…

I am still dreaming of it.

It is so European and simple

Love the positioning of the lights

over that antique fireplace headboard

The coral throw.

The unfinished wood door and mantel

So relaxing. A perfect spot to catch some

zzzz’s…..

And finally…

a home isn’t quite complete

without a puppy.

I miss our Lab so much…

I sometimes think about getting

another dog…

but when I travel

I realize I couldn’t do that

with a puppy at home.

or could I :)

Why I’m Taking A Plunge

On this hot July day

some cute, cool things

to refresh you….

A pool conservatory

ohhh…and a pool

Love the curtains

framing the back patio

must be in Texas.

Make a mental note Abby :)

Why Not

In the midst of planning a wedding…

I have come to realize that some

“wedding tips”

are such bad suggestions

that they are funny.

Even wedding guru; Martha Stewart

had a few bridal gown DO’S

that I think are BIG DO NOTS!

#1} DON’T tie a ribbon

around your head

(even if the color is gorgeous!)

Worse Case Scenario: you trip on it

Worst Case Scenario: your Dad steps on it

as he leaves you at the altar

and you’re left with an un-tied

gorgeous ribbon

just hanging off your head

#2} DON’T tie a pretty ribbon

around your neck

Worse Case Scenario: your guests

giggle

instead of cry

as you walk down aisle

Worst Case Scenario: your Groom

does the same thing

#3} DON’T use ribbon to enhance your

Vera Wang bridal gown

(even though Martha told you it’s okay)

Worse Case Scenario: you make

your expensive dress look like a

Project Runway disaster

from a contestant who

DID NOT listen to Tim Gunn and

DID NOT “make it work”

Worst Case Scenario: guests think

you made your OWN bridal gown :)

Why It’s The Pits

Hannah’s CELEBRATION will take place

at THE PITS Rod and Gun Club

LOCATED at this intersection

Across the street from these horses.

And down a long and winding road

Past a few ponds

Peaceful ponds

 

And tall pretty trees

A little fishing dock

A wooden pit (origin of the name PITS)

The word pit reminds me of the line

from my all time favorite movie

Father of the Bride.

George (Steve Martin) suggests

a wedding reception at The Steak Pit

In which Matty disgustingly replies:

DAD!…I don’t think you want THE WORD

“PIT” written on a wedding invitation!”

Nor do I…

BUT THE PITS

more than makes up for it’s name:)

Why Lisa’s Lovin’ Lions

 

Although it is a wee bit early

I have a feeling…

I know

what my grandson’s

first Trick-or-Treat costume

will look like in 2012…haha

LANDRY the LION!

Don’t you want to EAT him up?

I DO!

yum! yum! yum!

Abby has a 3D ultrasound

TOMORROW in TEXAS

Can’t wait to see his face!

HAVE a grrr-eat  WEEKEND :)

Why I Love Photography

With the JUNE 11th wedding date

now etched in stone

the photographer has been booked.

Hanna Salonen came

to Lexington KENTUCKY

via Finland (my grandma’s homeland)

One of Hanna’s photos

graces the cover

of the newest issue

of Kentucky Bride

Since photography

is still my dormant passion

I recently drove around Findlay

to get ideas where Hanna

might capture some great shots.

Hmm…I’m a sucker for white picket fences…

but I actually prefer them

in a very distressed finish

This field is neat…

I really like the dead wheat grass

Could be a cool back drop

for a Bride&Groom

 

This Findlay landmark

was my “Catch of the Day”

(sorry, still in Hilton Head)

It is the perfect location

for some vintage-type

wedding photography

You will see what I mean…….

Love these TWO separate doors

I envisioned…

the bride standing in one doorway

the groom in the other

looking at each other.

OK? snap..

Now both of them sit down

on their stair steps and

the groom looks at the bride

while she looks down at her bouquet

snap…

What a picture!

How about these windows and shutters

I’m a sucker for shutters too

and the same rule applies

the more dilapidated the better

Well…

they do have almost a year

to become picture perfect.

(that makes two of us)

And then…

there are these irresistible out houses…

with the moon’s smile

I am in love!

AND these gems are in need of repair.

Hopefully, the Historical Society

won’t change them!

Too sweet!

And the railroad crossing sign

TICKETS HERE

Cute, cute.

The train station platform

yellow lines, and fence.

A great spot for a picture.

THEN… just as I was about to leave

I saw these four stones

When I looked at them that day

I instantly saw Hannah & Jeremy as ONE

sitting on the largest stone together

in her wedding gown

Adam the oldest on the 2nd stone

Sam on the 3rd and little Evelyn

with her daddy’s red hair

sitting on the last stone.

“That would be the perfect picture,” 

I thought

and IT will be :)

Why I Am Elated

I am so happy because

the BRIDE and GROOM

have set their date

in stone….

(for their Wedding Designers benefit:)

JUNE .11. 2011

and the reception location

(and maybe ceremony, too)

will be held at The PITS Rod and Gun Club.

Very Notebook-ish atmosphere.

Totally Hannah and Jeremy-ish.

I am so excited to start using up all

the ideas in my head

for this blessed event.

Very me-ish :)

God bless your week.

Why I Thank God

Dear Lord,

Thank you for our safe trip to Hilton Head…

even when we never thought we’d get there.

Thank you for the freedom we have in America.

The 4th of July makes us happy…

especially Joe.

Thank you for the oceans You’ve created…

for life, beauty and enjoyment.

Thank you for this vacation that allowed

these hard workers to take a break from their jobs..

and enjoy being a family.

Thank you for the food You provided…

the crab cakes, the filet mignons

and the laughter we shared around the table.

Thank you for the perfect week of weather.

Thank you for the dinner out in such a

beautiful setting. I’ll never forget it.

Thank you for the time we could all share

in the joy of Abby’s pregnancy.

It was really special.

Thank you for Landry’s life!

Thank you for giving me time with Abby

and Christopher. Thank you for blessing Abby

with such a wonderful, caring husband…

that even enjoys cooking.

Thank you Lord for the week I was able to spend

with Hannah and Jeremy.

Thank you for bringing their lives together…

this vacation proved even more…

how perfect they are for each other.

And he's a great cook too!

And thank you for Parker and Kinnon

being there too.

I know… she is a gift from You.

You always know

how to answer my motherly prayers.

Thank you for my husband, Joe.

Who deserves a daily vacation

for how hard he works to provide

such precious memories for our family.

Thank you for his job, his staff and patients.

Lord, thank you

not just for Hilton Head

but for all the blessings You

have graciously given to me

and those I love :)