what katie ate

Katie Quinn Davies... i have been a huge fan of her blog forever. she had me hooked; with her photography. her photo's inspire me on every level, after all isn't that what art is all about... connecting, inspiring, moving.. i'll be honest, i judge a book by it's cover. if the cover doesn't pull me in, or connect with me on an inspirational or personal level, i just move right along....her blog made me a katie fan...and i always have to try the recipes she posts on her blog.. hoping above all hope it would turn out as beautifully as hers... (it may not have been as visually appealing) but it was delicious. she posted this video on her blog.. i thought... wow, this girl does it all & does it ALL amazingly well.. here is a glimpse of her style..
her beautiful blog..... http://www.whatkatieate.com/what-katie-ate-recipes-and-other-bits-and-bobs-on-sale/....

and it just so happens ... she created a cookbook.. "what Katie ate"..




another one of my favorite things......


windows with a view........

no work today.....a snow makeup day (at school) & since we haven't had snow...  i am still in my pj's at 10:00..& i am NOT complaining.... before i start my to do list...... i wanted to show you my newest "windows with a view" (faux).. remember the post... with the view of central park (photo in the window)....
well... i loved this window view so much... i created another one... i winter scene... if i can't live in NYC in my dream brownstone... i will at least have the VIEW....





window art.... window views... creating my own personal space.... one little window at a time...

it's a beautiful day in Atlanta ..the sun is shining, we have had so much rain the past few weeks. i think i am going to enjoy the outdoors today, & (maybe) start painting the picket fence.... in february!!! yes, i have spring fever.......

enjoy your day.....

..... no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies....

today was one of those ," i want to stay in bed & pull the comforter over my head" days.. i hit the snooze button 3 times before i gave in... i could smell the coffee brewing downstairs & that was my motivation to leave those soft pillows i was clinging on to ...
surprisingly, i made it to school on time.... walking "rocky" at 5:45 while holding on to my cup of much needed coffee.... & running upstairs... to start my morning routine ...  I made it out the door by 6:30.. that was quite an accomplishment ...

on the drive home this afternoon.. i called my youngest daughter who informed me she was cooking dinner tonight.... how sweet was that !... a dinner cooked for me in the middle of the week..... family (sit down) dinners are a special time at our house... because it is almost impossible to get us all together ... our schedules literally collide most of the time... 

while changing clothes this afternoon...  (erin was cooking away in the kitchen)... i could smell the sauces...floating up the stairs.. i thought of the oatmeal no bake cookies, the kids loved when they were young... i could whip them up in no time... why i thought of those bites of chocolate, peanut buttery oatmeal cookies.. i don't know... but, i did. & i knew the girls would love them.... after dinner & dishes...
i put the butter in the boiler, the sugar...milk... & erin knew....


big smiles from my pretty girls....

cookies ....not an extravagant dessert, not a tart, pie or layered cake... just a wonderul little bite of chocolate ... a cookie... one from years ago... one that i am glad i rememberd....

No Bake Cookies

•4 ounces butter or margarine (8 tablespoons)


•1/2 cup milk

•2 cups sugar

•1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

•3 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter, optional

•3 cups quick oatmeal or rolled oats

•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

Place chocolate chips, peanut butter (if used), oats, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Combine the margarine, milk, and sugar in a saucepan; bring to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 full minute. Combine the hot mixture with the oatmeal and chocolate chip mixture; stir well. working quickly, drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper or parchment paper. 

blogging...& inspiration...

Do you ever read NY times (Townies) opinionator? I have to admit that is one of my favorite  (winter induced) pastimes... I could sit for hours and savour the stories of lives in cities like DC & NYC, short stories, with a small window into the lives of some city dwellers.. stories of neighbors, or introducing you to their city thru their eyes.  that is what i have loved so much about blogs... sharing,  virtual penpals... you get to know people you would otherwise never have known, to see towns and cities, lifestyles, decorating, recipes & the photography,   real people, real lives.. what is not to love?
my house is and has always been a hobby, or a work in progress.  one of my passions is distressed wood. the beauty in the worn and weathered, as a matter of fact  my garage currently resembles a "hoarders paradise" a hod podge of future  little treasures.. .. frames,benches, shutters, shelves that i have discovered during my (sister & me) excursions, that are patiently waiting for my attention, ready for a coat of chalk paint & sand paper...
but, for the past few weeks i have been in hibernation.. the cold damp weather has diminished my ambitious-ness.. my creative energy is instead spent making soups & baking breads.. not so good for the waistline i might add...(i will deal with that little issue in the spring).as for now i am counting the days until spring..opening the garage doors and painting, glazing, sanding  with the scent of freshly mowed grass (natural aromatherapy).. Ahhh, grass, leaves, flowers, picnics, movies on the lawn..


today is laundry day, steam cleaning (my new favorite) pocket steamer... trader joe's, and dinner with the fam... pulled pork with cole slaw. =amazing.. as a am dashing around balancing my cup of coffee .I am not being very productive. can you tell i am not motivated?, i blame it on the weather... :)


my steamer is steaming, gotta run... until next time...







long weekends.......



i had a  4 day weekend.... the first 3 days... i ran full steam ahead.. organizing files, emails, cleaning... trying new recipes... yesterday i ran a few errands, called my local cable company and argued my case of (increasing my bill  $40.00 a month)... for the same service.. ...i lost....  

on a happy note.... i met my daughter for lunch.. did a little shopping.. my mini vacation will be over tomorrow.. so... today

..... there has been a lot of this.....
and this......



and more of this.....




this afternoon .. i am staying in...dinner & movies...  meg ryan movie day (adore her)...along with a crock pot of texas chili and fritos...
but for now.. it has nothing to do with errands, or a never ending task list... i am laying back.. listening to my my favorite (oldie)... al green.. let's stay together.... i have had a voice crush on him since high school....... and it has NEVER diminished... his voice will always stop me in my tracks.... ...
back to school tomorrow.... so for now... i am going to enjoy a free day... and relax...



and listen to Mr. Green... amazing.