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My itty bitty Porch

 

Here is my back porch, usually I take pictures of my front porch but lately I've been trying to get this baby in shape.  I have had this small teak bench that my friend Pam  gave me...thanks Pam!!   I got the cute li'l blue striped pillow on clearance from Target last season.  To me it says Beach Cottage...I can sit out here with my glass of wine and dream of spending days on the beach with my family.  Summer hurry up!! Did I ever tell you I love summer?    This is the other mop bucket without wheels that has spent Lavender in the back and some petite Daises.  They are kind of a white and purplish color.  I think they look sweet.

 I'm a lover of Gardenia's .....they, in my opinion have the sweetest smell eva'. And I had to get this one at my local Home Depot..it's a climbing one not the usual bushy kind but I got the white glazed pot last week at my trip to Armstrong's.   It was way back in the corner, all alone and needed a good home.  I think the pair look great together. I'm contemplating if I should plant something that drapes over the side of the pot....any ideas?  This porch is so tiny that there is not much I can fit out there, i wish it was bigger so I could add a small teak table so we could eat outside.    Now lets go back out to the front of the house....

 

 

 

Isn't she lovely?  I love this soft shade of lavender and this plant is so healthy...Hopefully I can keep it alive all summer long....wish me luck!!

 

My climbing hydrangea is just starting to get some flowers on it..their coming out a bit pink even though I gave it "blue" food for it..what's up with that?  You can see the small blue Hydrangea in the small pot in front of it..it's not doing so well.  I guess I can't win them all...here is a closer picture of my climbing one..

 

Now go check out all the other Porch Party Animals at Rhondi's there is a lot of inspiration to be seen so hop on over..she is waiting for you with some special treats.   

Happy Birthday Madison Rose

 On this day...this happy, intuitive beautiful bald baby was born.   On the way to school this morning she said, "Mom, exactly what time was I born?"...I thought it was night(everything is a little foggy remembering) because I had gone into the hospital the night before with back pains.  I was in labor the whole day and never dilated past a one because of two things the doctor said, "I had a tilted cervix and a scarred one due to my scare of cervical cancer."   It was really hard...but I was determined to have her naturally...no drugs but in the end she had to come into this world by Cesarean Section at 2119 hundred hours (9:19 p.m.) on May 26. 

This picture was taken when she was about one years old at the Picture People (you know the place where all new Mothers go to have their monthly portraits done of the precious little ones.  She was a bald baby for a long, long time.  I always had her in hats to protect her head from the sun and to give her a more baby girl appearance.  Today She is officially a Tween, isn't that what you call someone who in not yet a teenager (age 13-19)?   She has grown into a fine young lady and we are so very proud of her and all of her accomplishments!!   Happy Birthday Melon Head!

A tribute to Memorial Day Tablescape

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch {she is a new blog that I've discovered in the last few months} she hosts a Table-scape Thursday show and tell.  Well I usually have the same boring set up on my dining room table of paper plates with plastic place-mats..  ahh..yes I'm a women of refined tastes..that I am.  {Ha!}   But I do like to set up my table for special occasions; for birthday parties, holidays and sometimes just because the whole family is home for dinner.   When I do this Mr. Incredible says, "hey is the president coming to dinner?".  The truth is I'm a social butterfly by nature, close friends can testify to this..Mr. Incredible not so much.  Isn't that funny how opposites attract?  If I only had to only just consider myself  living in this home of mine I would be and entertaining goddess.   I love to cook, most days and consider myself a pretty good cook although I do follow the recipes to the tee.  But isn't that what marriage is all about?  Compromise?  So I will live in dreamland and pretend that we have nothing better to do this Memorial Day weekend and we will have a dinner party with a few close blogging friends coming over for a visit.  {in reality I'll be at the Softball field this Memorial Day weekend, the whole weekend if they win even on Monday}

Here goes...

 

Shall we get a little closer.....

 

I have had this plaid table cloth for several years, it's from  Longaberger                       and you may have noticed the red fringy napkins from the latest yard sale find.  Ahhh you are a little nosy and want to get closer, eh?

 

See those three red, white and blue stars they have small round mirrors in them.  I got those at a yard sale last year sometime.  On top of them are small jars with embossed stars that I hauled back in my suitcase from a Flea Market in Alabama, not only that the sand in the jars I put in my suitcase too!  {no one said I was sane, did they?}   but Alabama sand is sooo clean and white, not at all like sand in Hawai'i or California.  The chiquita candles in the terracotta pots I got for a set of 9 at 75% off at Armstrong Nursery last season. 

 

the cute cottagy american style plates came from C.S. Post .  I first saw them in one of my magazines, I think Romantic Homes and thought they were the cutest things.  Perfect for Flag Day or Memorial Day but I got them for Celebrating that special holiday in July...you know the one.

 

 

Here is a close up of the silverware that I got from Homegoods, there are like 500 pieces in the set for only $60 or $70.00 dollars.

 

and if you have been reading my blog for awhile you know WHY I picked them..care to guess?

Mr. Incredible started it.....

Mr Incredible has always loved going to yard sales.  Since we have been married {going on 11 years} that has been his "thang".  I only recently have become a YardSale junkie.  My friend Beka  also was an instigator in this kind of behavior.  Last week on Friday my husband had the day off so he says to me, "did you check the Pennysaver for any yard sales/estate sales?"....there were 3...so off to get our Coffee and  we hit the road. 

Rhoda has a Monday Reveal Party to showcase all your Thrifty finds and here is what we found, you can check out more at Southern Hospitality  (Rhoda's Blog for more).

 It's a gold-brassy plant stand that I plan on refinishing...I like how the Verde-gris shows through, I'd would like it to be all that crusty aqua color but I am not sure how to go about it..any ideas.  So now it hold this Kalanchoe plant for the time being.

 

 

I got this mossy terracotta pot at the Church rummage sale for a dollar, they told me the next day it would be 50 cents but we had an early morning Softball game.  I have been trying to get my other terracotta post  to turn mossy and limey by soaking them in water but then I started seeing Mosquitoes so I aborted that idea....I think I should try painting Lime on them or I hear yogurt work well too.

I found this embroidery hoops, they were 50 cents each, I should of talked them down.  Not sure how much they are in the stores but I have had this idea running around in my head..to put up on the wall in my family room....

I got the idea from here , or check out this idea from here.

 

 {to enlarge click on the picture so you can see the detail}

I got both the napkin rings and the red napkins for 25 cents each. 

 

Check out these frames......I love the details on them....I'm usually not a lover of gold patina..but these are an antique looking not all shiny and brassy, I think I can deal.

 

Who is a sucker for beading?   Yep...ya know.   Check out that texture inside the frame isn't that beautiful?   What am I going to do with them?  No clue..but they are so pretty I had to have them for 3 dollars for both!  I scored!   Speaking of scoring I have been on the lookout for  floor lamp..nothing modern or plasticky...{is that a word?}   Something I can maybe spray paint a black to go in the "man cave" {family room} or maybe a heirloom white to go in the "cottage room" {living room}...this was a whole one dollar...

 

I think we did pretty well.  There was a lot of neat antiques at the Estate sale..I saw an old Children's School easel for 50.00 dollars and Mr. Incredible saw a statue of Cesar Augustus for $90.00 (appraised at 900.00 in 73 and a Art Deco lamp for $500.00!!  And he say's I have money issues!!  

after we went to get burritos at Chipotle! Yum...my kind of date!  Thanks Honey! 

As Coroner I must.......

 

Kenzie the Cornoner, last night was her last "Showbiz" hurrah.....she loved every minute of it.  From the...

 ....ride in the Stretch Limo....to the.....

 .....to the putting on the make up...

 ....to making new friends.....

 .....to the Cast Party.......

 ....to receiving balloons, flowers, candy grams (thanks Shar) and "break a leg"...comments......you are our shining star.....our drama queen and Mommy and Daddy are very proud of you and love you very much.   Bravo li'l one!

Munchkin MacKenzie...

 

 

My youngest has been bitten by the showbiz bug.   Here she is in the Munchkin Costume.  She enjoyed getting all dolled up and putting on make up.  This up coming weekend she will be the Coraner in the Wizard of Oz. 

Je Taime

Lavender, don't you just love it?  But let me tell you a secret...shhh  I used to be a plant killer...really.  All my plants on the porch Mr. Incredible would call death row!  How dare he?  But Lavender is such a hardy plant and it smell so delicious.  I love the gray silvery leaves on it. 

 

This is one of the pictures {from Country Living}  that inspired me to plant lavender.  Also when at the Pasadena Rose Bowl a couple of years ago, you might of remembered

 

that I fell in love with my friends little mop bucket that she got.  I would of snatched it up if she didn't.  It wasn't long after when my husband brought me home a mop bucket and that summer I did this.

 

Now of course I'm a little (ok a lot) stubborn and wanted to have one just like my friends with the wheels and all.  Then while I was at the Long Beach Flea Market, I spotted another mop bucket with wheels so I nabbed it of course,  so I get to have one on the back porch and one the front porch with wheels.  Here is the one with the wheels. 

I think the rustic look of the bucket with the silvery leaves of the lavender compliment each other.  I choose to use Bacopa in the front of the planter because it cascades ( I know you see that in everyone of my planters).  I had a window box in my other house that was planted outside my craft room {the garage} and it looked so pretty that I have continued my love affair with Bacopa.  Since my house is blue I am of the opinion that the cool color of Lavender matches it and the yellow gives it a shot of happy and you know I have to add white  {Bacopa} in there, because it's my signature color.   So I encourage you all to keep a look out for some Mop Buckets and you can have a li'l bit of French Country Cottage on your porch or patio.    

 

Some Proud Parents in the Stand!!

Well, I didn't end up making anything for Cinco de Mayo.  I go so involved with hoeing and pulling weeds and washing everything down outside I lost track of time and all of sudden I had to jump in the shower and get 2 girls to Wizard of Oz rehearsal and another to her first playoff game.  Wow!   Madison Rose Mader had the best night last night at her game!   All season long she has been pretty consistent hitting the ball, she only struck out once or twice but most of her hits where little chop balls.  No, she hit a line drive the first at bat but her last at bat......she nailed one way over the left outfielders head and made the second HOME RUN of the game!!!!  She plays first base and made a ton of outs last night for the ......

 

                                            RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS!

                                         {snacks we made last week for the team}

Yes our girl was Red HOT last night.  She was the recipient of Pepper the team Mascot....

 

Meet Pepper...isn't she cute?   Her shirt says HOTTIE....

 

can you say proud?  

Cinco De Mayo..

Cinco De Mayo...do you know what holiday that is?  Remember this post ?  It tells all about it.  So what shall you make for dinner on this big Hispanic holiday?  Well, how about my Famous (chicken enchiladas)  I have been making this recipe for years and years and years.   It's so yummy but it's a messy one.  Every single person in the Mader home and friends just love it too!   So why don't you make it tonight in honor of CINCO De Mayo  (Fifth of May).   You start with cooked chicken.

 

I usually buy boneless, skinless chicken and bake it for about 20 minutes and then shred it.  Here is all the ingredients you'll need;

1 1/2 cups of cubed (shredded) cooked chicken

1/2 cup of chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

2 Tablespoons of marg or butter melted

1/2 cup of sliced ripe olives, drained

10 3/4 cup of condensed cream of chicken soup

8 oz. of (1 cup) of dairy sour cream

4 oz. can chopped green Chile's, drained

6 oz. (1 1/2 cups) of shredded cheddar or Monterrey jack I mix them up

1/4 cup of milk

10 corn tortillas

Here is how you do it.    Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In med. saucepan over med. heat, cook onion and garlic in marg/butter until onion is tender.  Stir in 1/4 cup of the olives, soup, 1/2 cup of sour cream and green chilies; mix well.  Reserve 3/4 cup of sauce; set aside.  Stir chicken and 1/2 cup of the cheese mixture into remaining sauce.  In small bowl, combine reserved 3/4 cup of sauce with remaining sour cream and milk; blend well.  Spread 1/2 cup of sauce over bottom of ungreased 13x9 inch pan.   Heat tortilla according to package.  Place about 1/4 cup of chicken mixture down center of warm tortilla; roll up.  Place seam side down in a row in center of dish.  Spoon remaining sauce over filled tortillas, covering completely.  If I have extra chicken sauce I throw that on top too...  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese and 1/4 cup olives.  Here it is just out of the oven.

 I serve it with Spanish Rice  ( I cheat and buy Rice a Roni Spanish rice) beans and a Cesar Salad.    Don't forget the Margaritas......This will become one of your favorite recipes I promise.   Ok....gotta go start the blender.....do you know a good Margarita Recipe

this breaks my HEART...

My daughter used to play Softball in La Mirada, Calif, this season she switched over to Whittier so she could play with her friends from school.  We have been playing softball in LM for 5 years and we know lots of families over there and it's a great community.  Both my husband and I went to school there, it's our "HOMETOWN".  But recently a beautiful young {she is 10 years old} who Madison has played softball against/with in previous season was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.   She is the youngest in history to have it, my heart breaks hearing this news.  Her family has started a blog to keep everyone posted on her progress.  She is so beautiful and wise beyond her years.  She has the most positive attitude and keeps on smiling.  Please check her blog  out an offer some support.  Speaking of support.   My daughter's softball team recently wore Pink Ribbons in Honor of Hannah. 

You can see the pink ribbons on their shoulders.  Whittier Red Hot Chili Peppers wish Hannah the best as she goes through treatment and WE SUPPORT YOU and send out lots of {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}.