Yummy joy of the moment ~ Herb Butter! 

(Or in this case, herb margarine). 

Normally, I shy away from adding butter or margarine to my food preferring to avoid the extra fats and fillers. However, some restaurants I recently visited lured me away from my usual habit by adding the savory goodness of herbs to their soft butter.  

Slather on a warm roll and it is heaven on earth! 

The other night, John and I were about to sit down to dinner when I noticed the margarine tub was getting rather low and looking icky.

Solution? Try making my own herb butter!

Not only did it turn out well, but since I was using the margarine remains I didn't have to wash an extra dish. Simply tossed the tub out after the mixing was done. 

Here is what I did: 

Generously sprinkle Herbs Provence.

Slightly less generously sprinkle Parsley.

Pinch a bit of Sage.

Stir in with a knife.

Scoop into a pretty bowl.

Enjoy!

Before & After

I love my collection of vintage aprons, but for many years had them sadly tucked away in drawers. 

Out of sight and often out of mind. 

The other day, a very plain expanse of white wood 

on the side of the pantry begged to be spruced up.

Out came the hooks (purchased at Michael's craft store several months ago), hammer, and nails!

 I am not going to deny....

.... I am pleased as punch with the results 

of my labors.

What personal projects have made your hearts happy lately?

And the winner is....

Congratulations, Lovestitch! And a huge thank you to all the lovely people who entered and/or became a follower of my humble blog. This giveaway was such a pleasure to host! (And though he may not openly admit it, I think hubby enjoyed getting to draw the winning name!) 

I got to meet  many wonderful new blogging friends. This giveaway was so delightful, I think I shall have to have another in the near future. Perhaps one per season of the year. This was summer's giveaway. Stay tuned to see what fall has in store. ;-)

 

In other news, I have been feverishly working on a baby blanket for my cousin's first child due this September. Confession: I love making squares, but detest joining them. Yes, it is rewarding to see all the rows lining up and taking on a blanketly form... But weaving in all those ends! Lordy, lordy!

Good news is I am nearly ready to do the border and move on to a new and exciting project. 

 Recently discovered this yum-yum-yummy tea. I was rummaging around in my basket of odds n ends tea the other day when this one and only package popped into my hand. It's a mystery to me where it came from, but I must find more!

There is not much of a garden for me this year owing to the fact that the move zapped nearly all my energy. Organizing a new home is quite a large task. However, I did happen to add some smile spots along the way. The wooden spoons were hand painted on an afternoon lark with two of my young cousins. The birdie home was snatched up for just 50 cents in a clearance bin. It is nice to have at least a corner of cheeriness in my otherwise bare backyard. 

Hope this week is full of unexpected delights for you!

My First Giveaway!

Welcome to my first ever blog giveaway! I am so excited to be offering these lovely items to one lucky winner. 

Entries will be accepted starting today through Sunday, August 7th. My hubby will pick the random number with me on Monday morning.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this entry telling me how you might use these crafty bits should you win. 

You can enter a second time by becoming a follower of Aurora Blythe. Just be sure to leave me a second comment notifying me that you became a follower. Current followers are encouraged to leave 
a second comment, too.

Entries are open to international bloggers as well. :-)

 The items are all packaged up and waiting to be sent out to a very special someone (who could be you).

Wishing each of you a happy & relaxing weekend!

 

P.S. In case you are wondering about some of the items, 

here is a description of each:

3 stamped felt circles

1 vintage handkerchief

1 pansy flower pin hand-crocheted by me

1 sheet of four, layered, scrapbook stickers

1 mini idea notebook

1 white butterfly with clip

1 fuzzy purple zippered carrying case with handle

Wedding Broaches

 

 Six hand-sewn broaches for a very special day.

                            satin + organza =       circles of loveliness                                                                          

                                                               One at a time, fold satin circles into quarters and sew one on top of the other until desired fullness of rosette is reached. Place one whole unfolded organza circle on top and center a bauble in the middle of the rosette. Secure organza layer by sewing bauble through the core of the rosette. Affix a broach pin on back.  

Then come the wrappings...

A happy day to you!

Finally!

All these long hours of organizing are starting to bring about a focused whole to my world.

Today, gleaming bits of hope tickled my heart that an end may be in sight sooner rather than later. 

Clear glass jars & bottles of every shape and size collected steadily over the past decade have proven to be most helpful companions as I seek to make my crafting elements visible (as opposed to rotting out of sight in moldy underbed boxes per my previous post).

Looking forward to sharing my revitalized crafting loft with you soon!

Time is running out for me to get our nest fully feathered before the hectic pace of another school year resumes. I am teaching summer school this week to a really fabulous group of second graders and have enjoyed every minute so far. If there was just some way to stretch the time so I could get all the bits moved in nice 'n' tidy and still have time for all the extra summer pleasures... (I know, don't we all, right?) 

This year has been a bit weird for me in that not only did I pick up all my personal possessions and move in to make a home with my wonderful hubby, but I also moved all my teaching possessions from one hall at school clear to the far end of the other hall. If I never see another cardboard box again in my life, I would not shed a single tear. Okay. Maybe I am being a tad dramatic now. These crazy big moves have actually been an excellent catalyst for pushing sentimental, pack-rat me into parting with items I no longer use or need. My Sunday School class prize box, Planet Aid, various family members, and (of course) the dust bin have all gained from the process while I have simultaneously felt lightened being content with the fact that my untrashable items have found new, more appropriate homes for themselves. 

It all just takes sooooo much time to do, though! 

 I have to admit that I was very proud of myself for throwing out the dilapidated, cardboard, underbed box that I have had for the past 15 plus years. The moldy old thing nearly stayed with me due to the decoupaged bottom (pictured above) having some sweet girlhood memories attached. But then an epiphany struck! Why not take a picture to capture the memories? Then I could feel a-okay-okie-dokie about pitching the beggarly thing. *Proud pat on the back*

 In other news, I was able to find my way out from under the piles long enough to enjoy a night out with friends this Saturday past. Hubby found out that it was National Cheesecake Day and that The Cheesecake Factory was offering half price cheesecake in celebration! I dared to try their newest flavor ~ the Hershey's Chocolate Bar Cheesecake ~ and was not at all disappointed. (The lighting was horrible, so please forgive the slightly shabby pictures of its delectable goodness). My favorite still remains the Red Velvet Cheesecake, but if you are in the mood for a rich chocolate super-high then this is most definitely the flavor for you! The chocolate-chip-covered edges were my favorite part.

But I have rambled long enough today. Enjoy the rest of our fleeting summer days!