Auction Bible

This past Saturday, as usual, I attended a local estate auction. I am just now going through some of the items and though I would list an old Bible I found in one of the boxes I purchased. Upon inspecting it I learned that it was purchased in 1896 by the widow of a Civil War veteran. After finding his obituary (he died over 20 years after his injury), I learned that the war did not kill him but an infliction he acquired after being severely injured in the second battle of Bull Run. I've decided I am definitely not selling this piece of history. It will remain in my pre-Civil War home on display. More to come tomorrow.....

Strawberry Fields Forever

Last year I planted 50 north European strawberry plants. Supposedly they are "sturdier" specimens, and I am hopeful of a bountiful harvest. I just need my friend, J, to till my gardens in order to get me motivated. Then I will get out there and neaten up the patch as well as plant my spinach, hopefully by the end of the month. I also need to spray the fruit trees next weekend (temps in the low 50s!) and decide what seeds I am going to have to order (what I cannot get locally).

The first recipe I want to try is this strawberry yummy I saw on the same French blog, "My French Country Home.

Click to find a fantastic pic of this scrumptious-looking dessert. I will post pics of all of my creations (if they turn out) when the time comes.
http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/2011/03/ce-mercredi-je-mange-une-tarte-aux.html

Lemon Tart

I cannot seem to get myself away from French blogs today. Susan from "My French Country Home" has yet another seemingly simple recipe that I would like to make. It is a for a lemon tart and how I do love lemony desserts! Check it out http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/2011/02/ce-mercredi-je-mange-une-tarte-au.html

This pic is from her blog.

I have attended another auction this weekend as well. I am in process of soaking all the linens.....pics to come.

French Tarragon Chicken

And here is yet another yummy recipe from Susan to try with fresh tarragon.....

http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/2013/02/french-tarragon-chicken-family-favourite.html

Yummy French Snacks

I have found another fantastic French blog - an English lady living in France with her French husband and children. This is another recipe (the almond cakes) that I want to try.

http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/2010/05/french-like-to-snack-too.html

Rubber Stamps Galore

Last Saturday, I went to an estate auction in the government seat of a rural county. It was great :) I only wished I could have been in two places at once as they were selling furniture at the same time as "box lots." As there was nothing in the furniture area I just had to have, I followed the box lot auctioneer. This was after I had purchased mostly Austrian, German, American (Pope Gosser and Homer Laughlin) and a few pieces of 1940s Japanese.

Amongst those boxes of "junk" was a sweet container filled with looked over (by me and just about everyone else) rubber stamps, embossing powder, ink pads, card stock.....you get the picture. Although I've never been a big fan of scrapbooking, I do like to use the stamps for gift tags. I only had one medium-sized stamp before the auction, because they were always too expensive for this bargain hunter. But not this day....

Now, I just have to read up on how to emboss and use some of my goodies.

Tomorrow, I am attending another estate auction and hopefully I will be able to have a marathon photo shoot / listing session for Etsy on Sunday. (I've only managed to put about a fourth of last weekend's booty on.)

Part of my problem is that I have discovered several French blogs written by English and American folks living in rural France. I can't peel myself away from them once I get started. But I am even more inspired for the master bath makeover this summer....you guessed it French / American farmhouse decor (whatever that means). Well, time to order pizza for Amelie's #1 associate and employee of the month.....