Bobs Bean Salad

I just wanted to post this wonderful recipe I found on the internet. While browsing for something new to make for my father, on father's day, I found this one. It is a keeper and past the test of someone who loves this combination of beans. I wanted to share it on my blog for the summer time recipe if your looking for something different to make without the mayo for summer entertaining. Ironically my father's name is Bob, so it was meant to be!

12 oz. can garbonzzo beans

12 oz. can kidney beans

12 oz can pinto beans

6-7 oz. marinated artichoke hearts

(All should be drained and placed in a bowl)

red bell pepper - medium size (cut-up)

1/3 cup onion (cut-up)

2-3 oz. feta cheese

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1/4 cup olive oil

1/8 cup white vinegar

1/8 cup balsamic vineger

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

(whisk all together & poor over beans and peppers)

Mix & place in fridge for at least one hour for all juices to soak together. I serve the cheese on the side as an option to add.

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Enjoy this tasty, refreshing and easy salad this summer! It is almost a meal in itself!

Happy Father's Day

Well, I am sure no father's out there are reading my blog today, but I do wish all your families a wonderful day whether it be a day of reflection on loved ones not here on earth, or because miles seperate you it is a beautiful summer day....well a bit on the cloudy side in my parts, hopefully some clearing up later in the day. For us our day started at church bright and early, for the boys were alter serving this AM, then took the hubby for breakfast and now just a day around the home.
I am amazed how much time has passed since my last update, I have been busy with the kids finishing school and baseball season, and just the normal start to summer with the kids. I have been doing bits of staining and painting and working with some silicone for the latest bulb project. I hope to bring some photo's soon!
Well that is all for now, until I write again have a wonderful day!
~~Bobbie

June Already!

My how June has begun already ... time does go fast. Today was the last day of school for the boys... I now have a 5th and 7th grader! They made it through! They are both looking forward to a summer of playing with their neighborhood friends ... which they are doing right now. Few things are planned for us this summer, but for the most part we will be home like many in the USA this summer. For me, I am working on some new things for the store, and Farmer's market ... which by the way went well this past Saturday. I have concentrated on some wreaths that seemed to have done well. I used a crow tart on some of them that just looks adorable & prim! I will post later when I make up a few more for the next show. With the kids home it will be hard to work on some of my projects, but will have to so I can prepare for the fall season that will quickly approach. My younger one has the crafting bug so I am sure he will be joining me in the "workshop". Anyway that is all for now, just wanted to post an update since it has been over a week ... pictures are on the way of the newbies ...
Take care ... Bobbie

Last days of May

Can you believe that May is almost over? My how the months seem to fly by. I have said it before, that I feel life goes faster when the kids are in school. My oldest will be turning 12 in about week, and entering the 7th grade come fall. Unbelievable to me since it seems I was just holding him, and watching him roll around the floor! It is hard to look at the baby pictures ... I feel like crying! LOL!! Anyway as I look back and wonder about all the things I worried about I guess they were not so bad, for it has gotten me to this point of my life...so far! Well for this week, I have been busy preparing for the next Market show coming next week, hoping for better weather this time around. I have some new garden stakes to offer as well as towel sets and runners ... can't forget the new candles too! They seemed to be a big hit, so I am hopeful. The start of summer also brings a bit of busy-ness ... between baseball, helping out with the neighborhood block party, a progressive dinner night with the neighbors, graduation parties, helping with the church picnic, and a hopeful few days away for a vacation (somewhere) keeps me busy and gives us much to look forward to this summer.

Today I am working on some new ideas for the store, as always, cleaning house, and taking the kids (and a friend) right from school to go and see Up at the theatre. We love Pixar movies and hear this is a good one. The weekend brings us to the baseball field for a game early tomorrow then hopefully home for the rest of the weekend ... I need to re-arrange some perennials that have overgrown an area. Well that is it for now, I hope that you have a nice weekend with whatever you may do! The pic is a really cute faucet garden stake & a new on the market Saltbox House both available in my store for purchase. I have tiny rusty bucket that look adorable on the stake as well as the raindrop ... I love these! So unique!

~~Bobbie

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Hello to all my friends ... wishing you a Happy Memorial Day weekend. It is a beautiful one around my neck of the woods. Anyway been busy this week with a bunch of things. Painting, rearranging, homework, and housework. All good though. Today we spent a nice day at home and had my parents over for a cookout, when they left we decided to take the kids to see the new movie, Night at the Museum, which was good...but the first one was better. Tomorrow we are headed to the second largest parade in Illinois, Pecatonica IL. It is a very nice parade and with good weather on the way it will be enjoyable even more. I put together a new summer arrangement, I will be posting it on ETSY later, I also have some new aged crates to add too! I love the way they have turned out and the versatilty that they offer in the home. Been busy also with orders, and posting some new items to the store ... towels, runners and candles to be exact. Come and check them out when you have the chance ... they make great gifts for friends and family! Well, that is all for now have a nice rest of your holiday weekend! Pics are of a new runner, towel set, my little Adam still blowing bubbles, and the summer crow wall pocket/bucket... Enjoy!
Bobbie

MONDAY Monday

Well it is Monday here...finished off a few new things and added to Artfire! & Etsy. New photo's to the photbucket and painted some new crates...and still there is much to do. I think that I am starting to feel something coming on, but I am not sure...it is slowing me down a bit. Anyway the weekend in my neck of the woods was a nice one. I made it to my first outdoor craft fair for this year and the weather could not have been nicer. I made some purchases like every admiring crafter does. I am excited for the new table/bench that I purchased not knowing where it would go...but if you know me I like to rearrange so it now it perfect in the family room. You will see a glimse of it in a photo that I am posting. Also found a unique bird feeder, which I am not going to use for the little guys for they are poopin' all over my front and backyard...even the kids trampoline...yuck! So it will be a decorative one out there...sorry birdies! Discovered a new bikini for the goose this year...my 11 year old picked it out, a purple one...LOL. Can't forget those dip packets that everyone seems to bring to the shows also...a few new flavors I seen for the summer, pina colada and a raspberry one YUMMY. All in all I really had quite a day at the fair! I hope that you had a nice weekend yourself! I will blog with you soon! Pictured is a new pantry box that is primmed up and tied with twine and sweet annie, use it on a table top or for use as a gift box...My other photo is my very simple Star on a textile bobbin with tin "Americana" sign drapped and sweet annie tucked inside...and two pantry boxes with aged labels...love these! You can check them out on ETSY & Artfire! for more details.

~~Bobbie

TGIF

Well so they say ... today was a dreary rainy day, again this week. I think they say the rain is gone for a few days and it will be sunny skies for us in the coming days. I think the sun brings a smile and more creativity out of me! I did manage to rearrange some tables around today, take some pics of the Americana that is starting to emerge in my home, and finish an Abe Lincoln hat that should not have taken me as long as it did for me to complete. I tell ya sometimes the ideas are flowing and it is just to get it produced. So since I live in Illinois it is fitting for me to do a few Abe Lincoln hats for the summer season. I will be doing each one a little different, I kept this one simple. It is about a 8" hat made of black felt that is stiffened and stained using my mixture that smells prim, sweet annie all around with few old glory pips scattered ... the hang tag (hung on by way of rusty pin with a bell) has a quote from Abe himself that I really like, so much that it is on my blog. "I have been driven to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go" I don't know why I like this one so much, maybe because I have, like so many others, had so many peaks and valleys in my life....so far. It is a learning experience and guess I really would not have it any other way. Sometimes the events in our life no matter how big or small do happen for a reason, may they be good or bad. So with this I sign off saying to my readers to make the most of your day no matter what.

Have a blessful weekend, may it be a good one for you!

~~Bobbie

PS..the hat will be listed in my store as well as ETSY