Awesome Garage Sale Day/Finds

Had an awesome garage sale day yesterday. It was lots of fun.
Oldest daughter and I started out at about 8:30 in the morning... the first sale was right down the road from my house..and was an Estate Sale..where I managed to find a darling set of vintage rooster salt and pepper shakers from about the 1950's.I could not pass them up for only $1.50!

I also managed to acquire an entire box full of vintage tea cup related china/sugar bowls and tea cup sets. Some I will keep for myself, but some I will re sell in my etsy shop as either floral arrangements/topiaries or as they are.
I also found a set of 4 vintage napkins at another sale...shown with the teacup items here below

I was so absolutely delighted to find thse awesome vintage fashion plates..they are originals mounted in frames. They each date 1862!!!I snagged them at only $3 each! They are staying here with me..ha. but look what else I found at the same sale for just 50 cents!!!! oh be still my beatin'heart!
A lovely vintage print dated 1907.

Then I found this darling cat vase and madelaine pan at another sale.

Then..at the last 2 sales I found a pair of vintage hankies..one from Belgium and another white on white version. ($1.50 for both

And the last item of the day was..this darling pair of miniature prints in frames dating 1933I snagged them for just $1.

Dear daughter found several craft books and I also found about 4-5 magazines and a children's cookbook.

Now..with all of the delightful vintage finds that I snagged..I just need to find someone to help me decorate my home with them all...ha.

It was such a fun day and I am delighted with my finds.

I encourage you to give garage saling/yard saling a try. It's lots of fun and you just never know what you can find for a "steal of a deal"!

~The Garden Goose~

Small Town Living Oct./Nov. Issue....

Wanted to announce that the new Oct./Nov. 2007 issue of "Small Town Living" Magazine is now available online for your reading pleasure!

At:

http://www.stliving.net/

We are one month shy of celebrating our first year! Wow!

This month's issue is chock full of wonderful Fall themed topics, and much more. In fact 67 beautiful pages!

Take a look...and enjoy..and if you'd like to let us know what you think..please leave me a comment.

We absolutely love hearing from our readers.

~Tina and Paul~

Photo Contest... Farming in the 30's...and more...

Yours Truly..did not even place this year in the contest....but...my dear daughter placed 3rd in the Youth 13-17 category, won a ribbon and a $20 mall gift card....yay!

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Wanted to tell you all about a really pretty online Tea Time themed magazine it is geared towards mothers and daughters.

This is a new publication/just started this month.

Free subscriptions only until the end of September! So you better hurry! Lots of craft ideas and recipes.

http://sdquarterly.com/

The name of the magazine is called "Seasonal Delights". Please do check it out.

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Thought I'd share another fun website for home education. This one is geared towards farming...Farming back in the 1930's.

http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/lr01.html

There are many different lesson plans including discussions about the depression, the dust bowl, edible plants, simple machines, and more.

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Want to share with your kids about life in Pioneer Times?..or want to learn about how they did things "way back when.." to satisfy your own curiosity?? Then this next website is for you.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/6470/index.html?20066?200728

everything from an old fashioned taffy pull, to the woman's role, the old school,life in 1805 and more. ..lots of recipes too.

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Well..that's all for tonight. I hope that you all had a great day/evening.

Thanks for joining me in "blogland"

~The Garden Goose~

About Cross Eyed.... homeschooling helps..and more...

Have been proof reading the Small Town Living magazine today..and I swear..I'm about cross eyed now..ha. At 50 plus pages..that is alot of proof reading.

... But..the magazine will be another great issue this time around...lots of fun topics.

We always have a blast putting together each issue. Lots of work for which we don't get paid, but...it is so wonderful to bring to others the information that we do, and to recieve such wonderful comments and encouragement to continue bringing wonderful articles to our readers.Plus it is so very fun to meet new people along the way...folks who have told us their stories and shared bits of their lives with not just my husband and I, but our readers as well. Wonderful folks from all around the country.

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Oldest daughter and I took a jaunt over to Joann's Fabrics again today...and found that most all of the clearance fabrics were marked an additional 50 percent off.

Yay! What fun.

I found some darling flannel fabrics from which I will be creating a few items for the younger children's rooms. Cowboy themed print, and a darling farm kids print fabrics.

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I wanted to mention that I had someone share with me a wonderful Homeschooling Resource...a very nice website that offers many themed lesson plans in all grade levels.Lots of lesson plans and also websites offering free worksheets to print out.

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/by-grade.shtml

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For those that asked how to make a yo-yo..here is a website with tutorial.

http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/how_to_make_a_yoyo/hbyoyotutorial1.html

happy sewing!

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Hoping that you all have a lovely Evening!

Thanks for joining me in "blogland"

~The Garden Goose~

And the winner is...plus an additional winner...and more

Put all of the names onto little slips of paper into a small canning jar..had my hubby draw the name...and drumroll please....

The Winner is:

Dee Light from "Fancy That".

Congratulations DeeLight!

Please email me through my profile here and I'll get your gift out to you asap.

Since I had so many enter the drawing I decided to award a print to another lucky gal...So I had hubby draw a 2nd name also...

So we actually have 2 winners this time around.

2nd winner is "Alpicks Treasures".

Please email me through my profile here with your address and I'll get your gift out to you also asap.

Thank you all so much for joining in the fun!

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Well..let's see what has been going on here since I last wrote?...

Today the lawn got mowed by our lawn service..a really sweet couple that have been doing our lawn at a very reasonable price for ..oh about 4 yrs now or so. They do very good work, mow, edge, remove any weeds growing up in the walk, blow off the walkways/patios.

The lawn always looks so very pretty when they are done.

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Hubby is finally able to be up and about a bit more..still getting his strength back, but doing better every day..yay! The flu certainly packs a punch when one has a weakened immune system, but we are working on getting my hubby healthy again after 7 yrs. of exposure to mold in a sick building. Healing takes time, but I believe we are on the mend now.

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I have been recieving a few packets of seeds here and there from the gals over at Mary Jane's Farm website. I have been bartering vintage look Victorian styled postcard reproductions in exchange for flower/veggie seeds. As mentioned in a previous post..I am wanting to start a small backyard nursery/selling small potted plants.

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Friday evening my oldest daughter and I will be visiting the Visual Arts Center here in our town for the opening reception/awards banquet for the Photo contest that we entered last week. The showing of the photos lasts until October 19th.

I actually am hoping that one of us has placed a ribbon in the event. We shall find out on Friday at 8 p.m.

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Hubby and I have been working on the next issue of Small Town Living magazine..we'll again have about 50 pages in the upcoming issue..filled with all kinds of Fall related topics, etc. It is a must see!

www.stliving.net

We thoroughly enjoy putting the magazine together...and love hearing from our readers.

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We thought that Fall was here to stay this week, but then today we wound up with some hot and humid summer time weather...uggh!
We had temps in the upper 70's a few days ago..and then today it was back up to 92..ugh..with a heat index of about 99 or so.
I will be glad when Fall decides to actually stay for longer than a day. As I have so many projects that I want to get done outdoors , but I admit that I am a heat wimp...cannot stand the heat and excess humidity.
Yeah..I don't cherish that "southern glow" thing as much as some might...ha.
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My yo-yo garland for the Christmas tree is nearly done. I sewed up about 40 more yo-yo's to add to the strand that I already had started. And yeah..I got a wee bit lazy on it..wanted to hurry and get it done, so on some of the yo-yo's I didn't turn down the edges..eeek...fer shame fer shame... ha...but hey..if you don't look too close, you can't tell..ha. Plus it's only being used as a tree garland anyhow, and will work just fine.
When I get all of the yo-yo's added to the strand it should be about 15 feet long, thereabouts.
Will look real cute for the homespun look I am going for this year. I'm thinking that I'll probably make up about a dozen mini aprons to go around the tree too.Also the new issue of Small Town Living has a few tutorials of some more items that I'll be adding to my tree this year.
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Well..that's all for today! I had a few more things to share but didn't want to get too long winded and will share the other with you all tomorrow.

Thanks for joining me in "blogland"
Have a lovely evening!

~The Garden Goose~

A Housewife's Prayer...

My husband recently ordered a vintage book off of Ebay, and tucked in the front of the old book, was an old piece of paper printed with a unique design that had clothes on a line and some pots and pans and a little poem called "The Housewife's Prayer" it had the name of Florence Reddaway, then on the back "made in Great Britian"..I do not know how old the paper is... as I could not find a date, nor could I find information about Ms. Reddaway online.But..I wanted to share the poem with you all, and felt that a Sunday was a good day to share a poem like this:

The Housewife's Prayer :by Florence Reddaway

Lord, in the daily round,the common task,

The little niggling needs that each day brings,

Give me a spirit that will rise, I ask,

Above the tyranny of little things.

Of little things,the petty jars and frets,

The trivial cares that make a woman's day,

The disappointments and the small upsets

That prick the nerves,and tongue and temper fray.

Give me, O Lord,the vision that can see
Beauty in homely tasks,in work well done,

Give me the courage that will cheerfully

Accept my lot,nor wish an easier one.

Give me the perspective,that the little things

May keep their little places,nor overbear

The faith and hope that are the spirit's wings

To rise in Thee,Dear Lord:grant this my prayer.

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I hope that you all have a lovely day today.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

~The Garden Goose~

Hello...and more...and a wee request...

Hello there...Hope that you all are having a wonderful evening.

I was away for a few days from my blogging schedule, because I have been being nurse to my hubby who has had the flu for a few days.

He is on the mend now, but it does take a while to get one's strength back up.

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I was delighted to find 33 comments thus far on the butterfly image give away. Wow!

What fun!

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We have had a fair amount of rain here the last few days due to the tropical depression near the Panhandle. We did not get the estimated 50 mph winds, but we did get a bit of rain..which we shall not complain about at all, as our summer was drier than usual this year, and any extra rain is welcomed.

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I have been posting onto the Mary Janes Farm website..actually in the barter area...trying to barter for unique/fun/even heirloom varieties of seeds...in either annuals or perrenials../flowers or veggies...

Why? you might ask..well..because I actually want to start a little plant nursery in my backyard.

Where I can begin to grow plants that cannot be easily found at the local Walmart/Kmart..but varieties that have been tried and tested..and perhaps even varieties (heirlooms)that have been passed down by family members.

I am hoping to be able to begin selling small pots of plants next Spring. It is slow going on the barter so far, but am hoping to be able to trade a few fun things for a few bits of seeds.

***So..

If any of you...my dear readers feel like you'd be willing to help me out on my quest for seeds/ to help me to begin my venture...feel free to email me through my profile here.

I will send a thank you gift in return.

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The weather here has been so delightful! I will be spending more time outdoors as soon as I have the hubby on the mend and up and out of bed.He's been laid up since Thursday.:0( I hate having any of my family members feeling poorly..and I know that they like having "mom/wife" nearby when they feel puny.

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Daffy the duck has been doing real well lately.

I did get a call last night from a woman that lives about 32 miles from town..she has some Peking ducks for sale..but they are full grown too..and now suddenly I am at a quandary...

Do I buy a full grown duck that has most likely been raised just to sell, and not really had a chance to be around people much, except to probably just have its food tossed at it?... and I'll wind up with a feral acting duck in my yard to have to go through the aggravation every evening of trying to round it up into a pen every night so that it doesn't get eaten?

Or do I wait until Spring when the feed stores have the babies for sale?..that can have the oppurtunity to imprint upon a human and actually learn how to go into a pen in the evenings willingly?..without giving me the run around and a "wild duck chase" every evening of it's little ducky life?

I think I'm leaning towards getting a baby duckling and allowing it the chance to be tamed, and to learn to follow us around versus a most likely... wild version.

My male duck will be a year older than any duckling I get..but..at least they will both be tame ducks.

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Well...that's about all for this evening.

Have a lovely evening.

Thanks for joining me in "blogland"

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~The Garden Goose~

Butterfly time..and a giveaway...

It has been "butterfly time" here in our yard as of late. Lots of Gulf Fritillary butterflies laying their eggs on the passion vine flowers..and the yellow sulphurs ..a few of them flitting around amongst the blanket flowers that remain in the cottage garden.

Cooler weather..and just a lovely time of the year.

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I am in the mood for a give away now. I had to have my hubby print off some of my photos for a local contest(mentioned in a previous post) and I have a smaller print available of one of my entry photos that I'd like to have a drawing for.(shown here)

The image is on a good quality photo paper and will be signed by "yours truly".

Simply leave me a comment about what you enjoy about this time of year..and your name will go into the pot.

The drawing will be held on Wednesday Sept.26th.

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~The Garden Goose~

A beautiful day...and more...

Such a pretty Fall day here. Cooler weather, and the sun is a shining.I do love the Fall weather.

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Well..dear daughter and I took our photo entries to the Visual Arts Center yesterday evening. It did not look like there were as many entries this year into the show, but they do accept the entries today also, so..they may catch up to last years numbers.

I hope at least one of us places a ribbon.

My daughter entered 3 images into the "youth" category...and I entered 3 images.

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I wanted to let you all know that the blog called "Love Homemaking" is having a comment contest over on her blog.

http://lovehomemaking.com/

"Cleaning your home shouldn't be a chore, it should be an experience! That's why I'd like to give you a copy of "The All Natural Cleaning Guide." This guide includes tips and tricks to clean your home from top to bottom, while keeping your family and the planet safe from harm. Topics include how to freshen the air, all-purpose cleaning as well as how to clean; floors, furniture, metal, carpets, drains, windows and glass. Safe and effective ways to clean bathrooms, mildew and hard water stains. Plus, laundry care and removing stains. "

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We have lots of Gulf Fritillary butterflies flitting around the yard this time of year. They visit the Passion Vine to lay their eggs, as the plant is the host plant for the caterpillars.The butterflies enjoy the nectar from the lantana flowers also.

We have 2 jars of caterpillars in various stages on the kitchen counter..with passion vine leaves in them..so the kids can watch them turn into chrysalises and hatch out.

I've also had a pretty little hummingbird at the hummingbird feeder several times a day.

Last night when hubby and I were outside sitting in our courtyard area..the hummingbird flew up to a salvia plant about 3 feet away from me....so pretty to watch them.

Last year I managed to capture a picture of the hummingbird at our bottle brush plants.

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Well... I hope that you have a beautiful day today. ...and enjoy the beauty around you.

Thanks for joining me in "blogland"

~The Garden Goose~

Women who Farm...

Wanted to let you all know about a new website:

Are you a woman that farms, gardens, likes to try out simpler ways of living?

Well there is now a website for women called :

"Women who Farm"

You'll find the website here:

http://womenwhofarm.proboards78.com/index.cgi
Learn about different ways to farm, garden, and also share what you know with others.

All sorts of topics are discussed.

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A terrific website geared towards farming,organic living,and everything in between is also here:

http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/

Connect with farmgirls around the world..whether they be those that actually live on a farm, or those that live the simpler life in the city ...it's all about "farmgirl at heart". Alot of information is exchanged and shared on this site . Organic living,Gardening, raising barnyard animals, recipes, crafting ideas,etc. A collective of farm women sharing loads of info with each other.

Feel free to check out either website.

One of them is sure to suit your needs.

Enjoy!

~The Garden Goose~

Yo-yo's and more...

Well..I joined the yo-yo craze. Bought myself two of the Clover yo-yo makers..one in a heart shape, and the other in the flower shape.

You can find them here:

http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?prod_id=7236&cat_id=15

I have yet to use them, but..I do have several projects in mind using fat quarters of fabric.

I love when Joann's fabrics has the 99 cent sale on the fat quarters. But at least I have my tools and fabric ready.:0)

I'm still adding to my yo-yo Christmas garland, and when it is completed it should measure about 15 feet. The nice thing about it is that I can display the garland year round..I can drape it over a set of French doors or anywhere really.

I'm also contemplating making up a bunch of miniature aprons to be used as ornaments on my tree this year. A homespun look, simple and less glittery.

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Today is my birthday...I'm not quite 40...but close.:0)

Hubby's birthday was yesterday..and I bought him a cake and icecream.

We both had nice days. Just relaxing and enjoying our special day.

I recieved a few birthday cards from friends and family.

And yes..I'll probably get a slice of cake after dinner.:0)

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I have some "catch up" to do with all of you lovely gals that have visited my blog lately. Several new faces..wow! I love it. Always love to have folks visiting with me, and it's so nice to meet a new friend.So I'll be visiting with you all soon.

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I'll be taking my photo entries tomorrow to the Visual Arts Center. I'm crossing my fingers. I hope I place a ribbon, but you really never know how the judge will look at an image and what they will see as a "winner".It is fun to enter anyhow though.

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Well..I better get busy with making dinner..don't want the natives starting a revolt..ha.:0)

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Thanks for joining me in "blogland" and thanks so much for all the lovely comments.

Have yourself a beautiful evening!

~The Garden Goose~

Getting ready for the Photo Contest...

Gearing up to enter these images in a few days at our Visual Arts Centers annual Photo Contest.

The contest is a National Contest with many entrants every year.

Last year I placed honorable mention in the "People" category.

The butterfly and floral image will be a 16 by 20 image as will the image of my daughter and the flower which will go in this years "People" category..I certainly hope I place something this year in that category... The butterfly on the hand image I'm hoping will be a 16 by 20 image too.


~The Garden Goose~

A few more tea time recipes...

Well...it seems like the tea party across "blogland" is winding down now...and it was fun. I hope those that did visit will come back for a visit again sometime soon.:0)


I wanted to share a few more recipes with everyone and then my portion of the "cyber tea party" will conclude this evening.


... I wanted to share 2 more of the "tin treasure box" recipes with you all.

Coconut Pound Cake
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3 cups sugar
3 cups flour plain/unsifted
2 sticks oleo(margarine)
1/2 cup crisco oil
6 eggs
1 cup sweet milk
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch salt
2 small cans flaked coconut
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Cream oleo(margarine),crisco, sugar. Beat eggs, add flour. Alternate with milk. Fold in coconut last. Pour into your greased cake pan.
Put in cold oven. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
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Jello Pudding Pecan Pie
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1 package (3 1/4 oz.) Jello Vanilla Pudding and Pie Filling
1 cup Dark Corn Syrup
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cup chopped pecans
1 unbaked 8 inch pie shell
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Blend pie filling mix with corn syrup. Gradually stir in evaporated milk and egg. Then add pecans.Pour into pie shell. Bake at 375 degrees until top is firm and just begins to crack- about 40 minutes. Cool at least 3 hours.
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Enjoy!

~The Garden Goose~

Tea Cup Remakes...

There are many uses for tea cups..and not just for tea!

I was thinking about this today and thought I'd share with you all
several of the different things that you can do with tea cups. Perhaps you have found one at a tag sale or thrift shop and it has a tiny chip in the rim or a crack.

1. You can pour candle wax and add a wick to make a candle.
Or add a tea light candle to the cup.

2. Birdfeeders can be created by attaching the cup to the saucer with an adhesive and attaching copper piping to the base of the saucer.

3. The teacups can be used as planters for small vining plants and for holding succulents or small herbs or african violets...or even wheat grass.

4. They can be used to hold small decorative soaps or bath beads.

5. Also can be used to hold barrettes, q-tips or bobby pins, or cotton balls.

6. Can be transformed into a small candle lamp with cord.

7. They can be transformed into small floral arrangement holders or for small topiary holders.

8. They can be used to hold potpourri.

9. Can be used as an added flair above valances. Simply tie a pretty ribbon around the handles of a series of tea cups and hang at random intervals across top of a decorative valance.

10. They can be used as a tiny holder on your kitchen counter to hold sugar packets or even a few packets of your favorite teas.
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Hope I have given you a few more ideas/uses for a tea cup.

Have a lovely evening!
Thanks for joining me in "blogland"

~The Garden Goose~

Atlanta Coffee Cake... and more...

Wanted to share with you all another recipe from the "tin box treasures"

This one is for a cake called :

"Atlanta Coffee Cake"

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2 cups flour sifted with

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream together:

1 3/4 sticks butter or margarine

1 2/3 cups sugar

Add 1 at a time:

2 eggs

Then add alternately with flour

1 cup sour cream

Blend well then add:

1 teaspoon vanilla

Pour half of mixture into a bundt pan.

Sprinkle with 1/2 of brown sugar,cinnamon and nut mixture.

Add remaining batter. Then sprinkle with remaining cinnamon,brown sugar and nut mixture.

Nut mixture:

4 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 cup chopped pecans

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

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I have so very much enjoyed all of the new visitors to my blog over the last few days! What a delight! It is so very fun to meet new friends across "blogland"! Thanks so much for visiting with me!

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Some of you mentioned that you really liked the totes pictured in the previous post..I do have a few of them available though my etsy shop if you are looking for a gift, or for a new handbag for the Fall season.

They are available here:

http://www.gardengoosegifts.etsy.com/

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I also have some darling Halloween items available as well.

I have a large canvas print of a reproduction of a vintage postcard. This image is also available on a cute handbag.

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Thanks for joining me this evening.

May you have a lovely week.

~The Garden Goose~

Tea Time Recipes...

I thought that I'd share with you all a few more Tea Time recipes through out the remainder of the week.

The recipes I will be sharing were obtained back in 2005 when I was invited to ride along with my husband to a "junk shop" that was housed in an old metal warehouse.

I wasn't too thrilled about visiting the "junk shop" to say the least, as it generally had things geared towards old machine parts and well..."guy things".

Imagine my surprise though when we walked in and setting on a shelf was this old rusted tin box that actually had in it's 'hey day" looked quite nice with a palm tree design on the top of it..but sadly now was simply sitting on the shelf of this old "junk shop". Well..the box was rusted and beyond help actually of ever loking good again..but what really caught my eye was the contents of the box...

It was stuffed full of hand written and old typed recipes! What a find.

And it was all mine for the taking at $5.

Couldn't pass that up.

So now I have a few recipes that I can share with others along the way.

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Here is one of the recipes for your enjoyment!

Mountain Dew Cake

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1 box Duncan Hines Orange Supreme Cake

1 box Coconut Cream pudding mix

4 eggs

1 bottle 10 ozs Mountain Dew(cold)

1 cup crisco oil

1 can angel flake coconut

3 Tbs. corn starch

1 large can crushed pineapple

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 stick oleo (margarine)

Mix together cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil,mt. dew.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until pick inserted in cake comes out clean.

Cook together the pineapple, sugar, oleo(margarine), coconut and cornstarch over medium heat until thick.Spread over and between layers of cake.

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I thought that I'd also share a few other things that might be of interest to some of you.

My husband and I create an online magazine called "Small Town Living".

The magazine is geared towards living in a Small Town, farming, gardening,and everything in between.

You can learn more about it here:

http://www.stliving.net/

If you'd like to be added to our email notification. To be notified when a new issue is available online simply email me at:

gardengoose@gmail.com

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Do you own your own tea shop or boutique?

Would you like to carry an item that is designed exclusively for you with your own image,design that your customers will just love?

With over 17 years of Graphics Design Service ...Wilson Graphics can help you bring to your shop and customers uniquely designed and hand crafted Canvas Art Bags!

For further information visit:

http://www.canvasartbags.com/

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Thank you for joining me in "blogland"!

~The Garden Goose~

Lemon Honey Tea Time Cake

I decided to create a little something special to go along with the Tea Time that we are having across "blogland".(I can never pass up a challenge, especially when it comes to creating something new in the kitchen.

So...I came up with a nice, moist little cake.

Lemon Honey Tea Time Cake
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2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
Blend all together until crumbly
Add 1/4 cup honey
1 pkg. lemon flavor jello
6 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup milk
Mix well.
Pour batter into a greased round pan.(batter looks like cake batter)

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until top is a golden brown and cake has pulled away slightly from side of pan.

Serve with your favorite tea.A dollop of lemon curd or whip topping would be splendid on the top of this.
You can garnish with a sprig of lemon balm or mint, and a slice of lemon as well.

Enjoy!
~The Garden Goose~

Hola! ...and more...

Hola!..yeah, yeah..I know..that's Spanish for "hello"...and boy howdy have I been saying that quite a few times in the last 2 days!

Why? you ask???.

...am I taking some sort of foreign speaking classes, or brushing up on my foreign speaking?...nope..nah dah..no....

It's actually this..you know..grandparents are very well meaning..really honestly and truly they are.. .and they are loving and swell and all..and mayhap I shouldn't exactly be blaming grandma for this one..honestly I probably shouldn't..but you see the problem is this...

I have a wee three year old that simply adores..yep lets put that word in capital letters shall we...ADORES! ..Dora the Explorer..and Boots the monkey..we can't leave out Boots now..oh, and Diego..yep Diego too.

So..what happened yesterday was this...

A wee innocent brown envelope arrived in my mailbox..with not one...but four..yep you heard me right...four... Dora the Explorer books in this ever so innocent looking brown envelope.

So..these books were for said wee three year old who proceeded to squeal with delight..and exclaim "you read to me?" in that ever so innocent, pleading look with those great big puppy dog eyes that mom's can absolutely never ever resist.

So yes..I sat down and I read to her all 4 books..yep..count them..1, 2, 3, 4 books back to back.

Whew!

I thought I was done after reading all 4 of those books back to back to back. When..after a few minutes break..o.k. o.k. I'll be honest maybe about an hour break...here comes wee innocent three year old toddling back to me again with said pile of four books..yep..all four of these suddenly , absolutely beloved books...with yet again that pleading puppy dog eyes, grinning up at me and innocently asking yet again..."you read to me?"

Who could resist?? huh? I ask you? I'm beginning to think there is some sort of conspiracy going on here though I tell you...

Yeah, yeah..this has gone on no less than 4 times since yesterday afternoon. I have read all of the Dora books..yep..all four of those Dora books at least 4 times each now...i yi-yi.

So..my dear friends..that is how come I say to you "Hola!"...and will probably be saying that phrase in my sleep for many nights to come...gee thanks Grandma. I love ya though.:0)...and wee three year old does too.:0)..ha.

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Well..I'll be sharing a few tea time recipes with you all starting tomorrow, and a few other fun things along the way. I'll actually be enjoying some tea times with my children throughout the week and sharing the fun with you here.

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I wanted to let you all know about an adorable drawing for a set of handcrafted pumpkins happening over at Chas's blog

"My Cup Runneth Over" located here:

http://www.homesteadblogger.com/chas/

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Well..that's all for now. I hope that you all had a nice relaxing Sunday.

Here is wishing everyone a lovely week.

~The Garden Goose~

The Simple Joys...

It doesn't take much to make me happy..it really doesn't.

Today some of the things that really delighted my heart were these:

My husband tossing his arm around my shoulder this morning and whispering "I love you" into my ear right as I woke up this morning.

My little 3 yr. old girl exclaiming "mommy your here!" as I walked into the room she was in this morning.(she says it in such a bright cheery exclamation when she has woken up before me..and sees me walk into the room..it is so funny and makes me laugh every time)

Seeing my son bring some pictures into my room and sit on my bed and start talking about the picture he had in his hand and had drawn a while back for me and kept in his room in his art stash... a really sweet picture of a tea cup that he had colored yellow and written an I ...then drawn a heart ...then a y-o-u on the cup.

Watching my oldest daughter sew on her sewing machine, and watching her help me with dinner prep this evening as she helped to cut up a honeydew melon for the family meal.

Enjoying to look at the finished project(a cute little pink marbelized fabric purse) she had created, and the joy she gets on her face when she has completed a project and done a great job at it.

The joy on her face when she exclaimed that she had made another sale of a hand sewn item in her etsy shop.

Hubby walking up to me in the kitchen as I'm cleaning up..and giving me a big hug, and again saying"I love you!" (gosh I love that guy..:0)

The joy I get when the whole family declares that dinner was "yummy".

Watching my 3 yr. old "mother" her baby dolls and stuffed toys.

Watching my 2 youngest children sitting next to each other and giving each other a hug.

Watching my 2 youngest children play together.

Watering my plants and flowers and feeling a few sprinkles from a rain that never developed today..but were a few tiny raindrops on my head..and singing to myself"rain drops keep falling on my head..." as I continued to water my flowers and plants while my pet duck "Daffy" walked along beside me.

Reaching down and having my pet duck walk up and affectionately peck at my fingers and standing still while I pet his lovely soft feathers on his back for a few minutes.Watching him preen his lovely feathers after he took a bath in his pool.

Sitting on the couch this evening with the littlest one snuggled between her dad and I while sister was sewing and big brother was in bed tucked in for the night..and we 3 snuggled on the couch and ate some popcorn together..shhh don't tell...ha.

Simple joys..simple pleasures..these are the things that make me smile.....I am truly blessed.

~The Garden Goose~

You are invited to...A virtual Tea Party...

I will be participating in a Grande' Time with alot of gals across "blogland" as we bring to you a "Virtual Tea Party" beginning on September 10th and going all week long!

What fun!

Won't you join me for tea?

You can find out more details by visiting MakeMinePink.blogspot.com

http://www.makeminepink.blogspot.com/

~The Garden Goose~

A lovely day...

Had a good day today..hope you did too.:0)
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I worked a little on writing a few articles for the upcoming issue of "Small Town Living".
Took some pictures of the craft tutorial we'll have in this issue as well.
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Spent some time outside this evening with my son..at the crack of dusk..watching the bats come out and flit about overhead. It was alot of fun.
My little boy really enjoyed it, and it's always the absolute best thing to be able to share nature with a young child! :0)
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Dinner this evening was very easy..I created a chicken/veggie pot pie. Simply mixed together 2 cans of cream of chicken soup and a bag of frozen mixed veggies. Poured that into a deep casserole dish then mixed some of the Mary Jane's Farmgirl Budget mix (that I recieved from the farm)..with some milk and about 1 cup of shredded cheese..and poured that on top of the veggie/soup mix and baked at 350 about 50 minutes. Served steamed whole greenbeans on the side. Hearty and yummy...and very easy.
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I'm glad to report that "Daffy" the duck has perked up quite a bit. Back to having his usual hearty appetite and swimming for long periods of time in his little swimming container. The first 2 days he really moped and would only get in/then quickly out of his pool.
He still stays right up on my patio all day long and then once in a while he'll go up under the rosemary bush that is very close to the back door also. He has taken to being where he can see us through the french doors now..and for that I am glad.
He goes into his cage in the evenings earlier than he used to..as soon as it starts turning dusk we round him up and shoo him into his pen with his water feeder.
He doesn't get out until the sun is definitely up and no chance of it looking dark outside at all. We have bumped his release into the yard time to 8:30 in the morning, and into the cage at night at about 6:30. Not taking chances around here anymore.
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I thought of a really neat and inexpensive way to send Christmas gifts... instead of using a box..why not use a big tube..those big tubes for shipping art canvas and so forth. You can actually roll up clothing items and anything that can fit into the tube. You can pack it really full too..you'd be amazed..and the shipping at "priority" rate is cheaper than the standard priority boxes.
I have sent very heavy large tubes for only $8.15 before and I know that the tubes weighed at least 15 lbs too if not more!
The normal price on the tubes is usually $6 and some change..I believe it is at about $6.70 thereabouts. You'll definitely want to send it via priority as the regular shipping rate is about $2 higher..it is one of those post office flukes where sending via priority is actually cheaper than sending it regular standard parcel post rate. Anyhow..and you can decorate the tube to look like a big candy cane too if you'd like. :0) Cool idea huh?
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Well..I'm going to go work on creating some more yo-yo's for my yo-yo Christmas tree garland this evening.
What types of crafty items are some of you gals working on?
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Hope you all have a very nice evening!
Thanks for joining me in "blogland"

~The Garden Goose~