Kay Ellen

Irish Green

Are you ready for St. Patrick's Day?

Saturday evening we will have a traditional Irish dinner with our family. My Mom has a new recipe that Claudia an amazing cook and friend shared for preparing corn beef. I had the privilege of trying this yummy recipe in Claudia's home and it was fantastic! My mom is really excited to prepare it for St. Patrick's Day. 

Recipe for Corn Beef

1-2 Corn beef briskets

One can of guinness beer

Brown sugar

Oven 350 degrees

Set brisket in a pan at least 2'' high and add 1" of guinness beer into the bottom of the pan. Fat side up, rub brown sugar on the top of the brisket. Cover and let the corn beef bake for 4 hours. The meat will be tender and delicious! 

We are expecting rain on Saturday so I am hoping the hills near our home will be lush and irish green just in time for the holiday! 

 

 

 

 

My daughter and I will watch P.S. I Love You, in honor of the holiday.

We love this movie! 

The scenery of Ireland is so beauitful in this movie and the love story is a tear jerker, I tear up every time we watch it. Have you seen it? A great chick flick!

LeapYear is another great movie to watch this weekend, also filmed in Ireland. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I wish I was in Ireland right now!

My goodness, I really can't complain because our hills should resemble this photo I took last March...just in time for Spring!

I found this little guy hiding in my kitchen cupboard, I thought he looked a little like a leprechan! I filled his wee little shoe with blooms to share :)

Irish Blessings to you all!

:Kay Ellen

 

Blog Linking Below:

Honey at Potpourri Friday

Irish Celebration with Kathleen

Beverly at Pink Saturday

Seasonal Sundays at the Tablescaper

What's on the Menu with the Stone Gable

Romance ...

Gathering  blooms ... for a bud vase 

Selecting dishes and linens ... for a little romantic table

Packing the breakables ... in a vintage red suitcase

A special book of poetry ... for a little romantic reading

Filled my french cart ... with everything needed for an enchanting afternoon

Just a few miles down the road ... it's time to set the table 

Opening and pouring ... a refreshing French Berry beverage

I love our local UCR Botanical Gardens ... a wonderfully weathered gazebo nestled in the Rose Garden ... a beautiful, romantic destination

My grandmother's vintage tray transforms into a beautiful table ... perfect for two!

Romantic and so simple to create! Add a couple of pillows, a favorite throw, provides warmth ... the cozy setting

Pretty little candies and treats to share.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Bless the one you love,

:Kay Ellen

 

Blogging Parties I am joining in this week...

Happy PINK Saturday blogging friends

Sunday Inspiration at TheTableScaper 

Potpourri with Honey

Sunday Showcase with Stephanie Lynn

Inspired to Set the Table

I am feeling inspired to set the table with a theme...

Vintage treasures with a nautical twist to compliment our meal and ship dishes I found at a flea market!

Daydreaming of sailing...

A shipwreck treasure inspired centerpiece... 

Beautiful sailing themed collector plates from Norwegian America Line.

What's on the menu?

Salmon seasoned with thyme and lemon

Cup of clam chowder

Steamed red potatoes with rosemary and olive oil

A crisp green medley salad with creamy dressing

Fresh baked bread  &  rasberry ice tea in old mason jars

I am off to Trader Joe's this afternoon to purchase a few more groceries.

All the treasure you see on the table will be for sale in my shop this weekend at Forget Me Not Antiques located in Riverside, California.

Have a blessed week,

:Kay Ellen

Inspired by 1776

Happy Fourth of July!  

A historical breakfast with our founding Father's.

The centerpiece I designed has a copy of the Declaration of Independence. I placed it on a tarnished silver platter embellished with drum sticks, magnifying glass, Papa Duane's miniature metal cannon and a small American Flag.

The tablecloth is a patriotic toile fabric I found for $3.00 a yard! I purchased three yards and hemmed the edges with my parent's Sealah No Sew Tape~~It was sooo fast and easy to make! Washer and Dryer safe:) 

My charming silver handled cup shown above is from Mount Vernon, Virginia~~George Washington's Home. A souvenir cup I purchased from my sweet friend Rebecca. 

I love to use family heirlooms on my table when I can...Great Grandma Carrie's teacups, my favorite red glass luncheon plates and Liberty Blue china plates~~ pattern name is Independence Hall from Grandma Barbara's china hutch:)

Enjoyed filling the teacups and my vintage silver sugar bowl with fresh cherries and blueberries...

Thank you Good News Now for featuring my sugar bowl photo!!

Blueberry muffins freshly baked and ready to eat! My teen's favorite~~~the checkered napkin I added the fringe with my parent's no sew adhesive tape too!

I cut a few red roses from my garden and placed them in old vintage bottles on the table for height and texture~~

Did you all memorize the Preamble when you were young?~~~I did in Elementary school~~~ I can still recite it! 

Maybe you can tell by my historical table I love US History! Keeping it alive in our hearts and remembering where we began. 

I am very thankful that I have had the opportunity to visit Washington DC, Virginia and Boston to see so many of our historical buildings, homes, museums and monuments~~but I still have Philadelphia on my bucket list!  

Have a wonderful holiday friends~~and remember to thank God for our Freedom!

and continuing to pray for our Nation ~~~

Stop by Susan's Place for more creative Tabletop Design~~~

One last patriotic photo for my sweet friend Beverly and all the Pink ladies!! 

Red,White and Blue with a hint of Pink!

xoxo

:Kay Ellen

  
 

Royal Tea

Welcome Tea Party Friends! 

It is time to celebrate Vanessa's 3rd Annual Mad Teaparty!

Let's get started! 

I have picked blooms from my garden~~~

Set the table with beautiful china...

Added gold silverware for a Royal touch! 

Filled the teapots!

In honor of Sweeeet Vanessa~~~ I have added a Royal Crown filled with teacups! 

Choose a pretty cup! 

Did you decide? 

This one?

or maybe this one?

A Royal Day to celebrate with tea! 

A Mad Hatter's View!! 

Sweets for our Host!  

Take a bloom before you go!

Annnnnnd share the Crown~~~ 

Plenty of cupcakes to go around!! 

Thank you Vanessa for hosting such a wonderful party! 

Bless you!!

Click Here to visit~~~ A Fanciful Twist!!

Cheers! Clink-Clink 

xoxoxo

:KayEllen

Celebrate

We did a little celebrating this weekend...Our son is home from college!

 I decided to plan a Hawaiian themed dinner to celebrate Kyle's arrival home and also for the finale of LOST. 

For those of you who are not familiar with the tv show LOST it is a story about survivors from a plane crash trapped on a island. The island holds mysteries, danger and untold secrets. You really have to watch each epiosde to know what is happening from week to week~~~or you will get lost!  

With the series filmed in Oahu. Hawaii...my theme for dinner had to be a tropical cuisine!  

I set up the table up in the back garden. My centerpiece included a large banana leaf, fresh pineapple,coconuts,papayas,bananas and a hawaiian floral lei. 

I asked my husband to drill an opening in a few coconuts... 

A fun suprized for my teens:) Even if you don't care for coconut milk you could drain the liquid out and add any tropical fruit juice!  

We barbecued chicken and fish skewers inspired by Jin and Hurley two actors from the TV show. Jin is a great a fisherman and Hurley owns a franchise fast food chain called Mr. Clucks Chicken Shack.

The barbecue is almost ready!

I added an orchid bloom, fresh pineapple and papaya to each plate. 

Cheers to the LOST finale! 

Also inspired from the LOST show I loved the episode when the castaways find Desmond and the Dharma pantry filled with goodies! I grabbed a few things out of my pantry and came up with Dhrama Cakes! Chocolate cupcakes with a dollop of coolwhip, shredded coconut and carob chips. I displayed the treats in a bamboo tray I bought in Hawaii. 

I am surrounded by comedians so it took me awhile to captured this photo! 

We had a wonderful time this weekend and stayed up pretty late Sunday night watching the LOST finale. Hard to beleive all Six Seasons are complete. 

Thank you to the Lost writers, cast and crew. You had us guessing what was coming next each week!? We never knew the twists or turns in the adventure you created. Just amazing writing!! I can't wait to buy Season Six in August! 

Until then, I will start back at the beginning and watch each episode with fresh eyes now knowing the end. 

Look what my daughter wants to buy? Inspired by the LOST episode when Hurley decides to take charge! 

You captured my entire family for six years?! That in it's self is pretty amazing...

Aloha to LOST we will miss you all!!!

 & welcome home Kyle!

:Kay Ellen & Family

Every Wednesday outdoor blogging party HERE  

 

Table-scape decor ideas every Thursday HERE