I am truly a 40's gal...so Facebook says.

I don't know if any of you are on Facebook but I am and I get so addicted to taking all the quizzes on there. I took this one tonight and...hmmm...I'm NOT surprised. Lol! I take these quizzes because they give me such insight about who I really am. I can't afford a real therapist so I just keep taking these Facebook quizzes. Hey, it's cheaper!

Here is what it had to say about what decade best fits my personality.

Michelle completed the quiz "What Decade Fits Your Personality Best?" with the result 1940's.
You are the ultimate romantic at heart. You put a high priority on true love, patriotism, and dedication to honor and duty. Whether it be serving your country or serving your family, you have a very hard work-ethic balanced out by your whimsical, dreamy heart. You are willing to take risks, go where no one has gone before, and you have a sense of pride in everything you do. Just as you are in touch with your inner beauty, you also give just the right amount of focus on your outer beauty-- standing out with the latest fashions and getting in touch with your sensual side. Your sexiness is not scandalous but rather classy and poised. You are the envy of those around you because no matter how much tough work you have to do, you keep a smile and look good while doing it..

Why thank you, Facebook. Would you like to go out with me? Lol!

Also..I finally started posting tonight during my second horse lesson! She put me on a different horse today. His name is Gunner and he is JUST gorgeous. He's a Running Quarter Horse and had such beautiful get up and go. He did give me a workout though. I'm pooped. This isn't Gunner but I wanted to show you a picture of a Quarter Horse. :)

I will be training on Gunner from hereon out!

Okay, I'm seriously too tired to write now. Until tomorrow...

Mini Pie Recipe!

Hi all! Well here is the pie recipe I used this weekend for the mini pies I served at tea (see post below). I changed mine up a bit and used canned raspberries, I believe it was the 24 ounce can, instead (and did not add any fresh raspberries).

MINI CHERRY PIE (by Country Living Magazine)

2 package(s) (15-ounce) Pillsbury Pie Crusts
3 cup(s) canned, drained tart cherries
1 cup(s) fresh raspberries
1 1/4 cup(s) sugar
1/2 teaspoon(s) vanilla
1/4 teaspoon(s) cinnamon
1/4 cup(s) cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon(s) salt
5 teaspoon(s) cold butter, divided

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut eight 6-inch circles from the two packages of Pillsbury Pie Crusts (gather and reroll scraps as needed). Fit five 4 1/2-inch mini pie pans with 5 dough rounds. Cut 2 1/4-inch stars from center of remaining 3 dough rounds; set aside.

Combine cherries with raspberries; then stir in sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, cornstarch, and salt.

Pour filling into prepared pie pans; dot each pie with 1 teaspoon cold butter. Cover 3 pies with reserved dough circles; crimp edges. Top remaining 2 pies with star cutouts (for perfect stars, bake separately on a parchment-lined pan until golden, 5 to 8 minutes). Bake pies until filling is bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes.

I wasn't so fancy with the edging..and just folded the crust in like little tarts. :)

These are SO EASY and fast to make for last minute company!

Tea with Friends

I had a wonderful day today with my girlfriends Tami and Michelle. Actually the whole reason we got together was to start sort of a writing group together. We got so much accomplished and because it was at my place, I played hostess and you know how excited I get playing hostess. :)

I made little tea sandwiches....cucumber, dill spread and cheddar cheese, blueberry cream cheese spread and chicken salad.

And a pot of tea, using my new teapot so it's now broken in. :)

Fresh watermelon. I love using these long skewers because it makes it easier to reach when you're not so close to the bowl....

Isn't this perfect for a summery day? And it was almost 80 degrees today!

And last but not least, the personal raspberry pies...topped with a little heart because it was baked with love. I'll post the quick recipe for these pies tomorrow! They are SO EASY.

And the girls were able to to take home a personal pie of their own. :)

Until tomorrow...dream of raspberry pies and yummy sighs...

Company's Coming

Yep Quincy, you heard me right.....

And we get to use our new teapot today!

Mocha will stay in her palace as usual....

And mom cleaned the house this morning....oh yea ignore that black cord on the couch. Lol!

So now all we do is bake something. :) I'm thinking personal pies (like the one's on the cover of Country Living magazine this month). Hmmm..raspberry pies. Yes!

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

My very first teapot...and an award!

You will never believe me when I tell you this. I have never owned my own little teapot. Yea, tea house girl here has never owned a teapot and that all ends right now! Last night when I was at TJ Maxx, I found this simple yet sweet little teapot and it had my name all over it. For my first one I wanted to go simple yet still elegant. I think I accomplished that, don't you? :) Oh and thanks again, mom!


I can't wait to use it!

Also, I was awarded the "Friendship" award from Citygirl over at City Girl Lifestyle! Thank you so much Citygirl! You know, both of us have a few things in common. We are both in the legal profession (she's an attorney and I'm a paralegal....wow you attorneys are actually real people underneath all that legalese - hence Citygirl's blog). Also last weekend we both went on a yoga retreat, although in different states. One other thing, she talks a lot about food and I love that about her! If you haven't checked out her blog, swing on over and say hi to her! She's a real sweet gal. :) Thanks so much Citygirl!!

I've decided that anyone who comments on my blog today gets to take this award with them! You are all my good friends. :)

I am so glad tomorrow's Friday! It's been one busy week at work! Next week...just half a week of work and off to camping with the horses!

I'm all better...now that I've gone shopping!

And that's what I did tonight. I went to TJ Maxx after work and used my gift card mom got for my birthday. It felt SO good. Amazing what shopping can cure. Almost anything in my book. :) I didn't unpack everything but the first thing I did was throw my new sheets in the washer and dryer so I could sleep in something dreamy tonight. The cats were in Heaven as you can see. They always have to jump on something new and play around awhile. Quincy's favorite thing to do is get right in the middle of the bed when I'm putting the sheets on and wait 'til I throw the sheets up while he waits for the tent to gently fall on him. He loves being under the covers. There's nothing like waking up with a teddy bear like him crawling under the covers and nudging me to wake up. :) Sorry Teresa. I know it's a tease for you. :)

I did buy a few other sweet things..but I'll save that for later. :) For now, I'm going to fill that teacup with some Good Earth tea, lay back in my plush pillows and read some Mary Engelbreit.

The child in me needed this tonight...

I was in sort of a "funk" today. Just slightly...not all the way. Okay, maybe a mid-life crisis? Maybe hormonal? I warned you guys this was coming. Lol! I had some sushi for dinner with my good friend, Bryan, and came home and snuggled in my soft, plushy robe. I love my robe...it hugs me like it's been waiting for me all day long. Don't you ever feel that way when you wrap a soft robe around you after a long hard days work? Anyway, of course Mocha proceeded to "knead" on me once I put it on. :) The robe was therapy for both of us, I suppose. I then climbed into my always welcoming bed and watched Kit Kittridge. I think I was sort of needing to go back to the womb a bit tonight so the little girl came out and said we need to watch this! I loved watching this movie. It was so wholesome, so sweet. It takes place during the Depression. Kit has an aspiration to become a young writer/reporter amidst the turmoil that unfolds in her own home. Set in Cincinnati, Kit finds a way to help her mother run a boarding house after her father loses his job.

Father, daughter moment...

Mother, daughter moment...

Don't you love their hats?

The characters were all so wonderful and some of the scenes reminded me of these old vintage pictures.

I mean there's something so wholesome about these pictures. Something so non-dysfunctional. Ha! When life sometimes isn't perfect (and when you are in a funk and reflect back on the could'ves, would'ves and should'ves) a movie like this and pictures as sweet as these will sure help you through it.

Maybe somewhere, in another plane of existence, the Donna Reed life really does exist? :)

I wish....

Did you get this month's issue of Country Living?

I did. I just love these mini pies! How patriotic, don't you think?

What an amazing weekend....

I've had such an amazing weekend. Busy but amazing. Gotta start with yesterday, of course. My girlfriend, Thea and I went to the yoga retreat in Castlerock. We drove through mountainous roads to get there and when we finally did, oh my gosh, it was instant peacefulness. The surroundings, the sound of birds chirping....I was in awe. I had already started my relaxation just getting out of the car. The retreat was held at the Yoga Conservatory in Castlerock. It was actually the instructor's personal home but set in her own little oasis in the middle of nowhere. She also boards horses so I got my horse fix while I was there. :)

This is Sonia...a beautiful Tennessee Walker...

There were only seven of us but it was nice because we got to know each other better. First, 3 hours in the morning of relaxing yoga stretches (oh it felt so good). Then an amazing lunch of sun dried tomato and portabello mushroom risotto, fresh green salad, red potato salad, rustic bread and tea of our choice and for dessert a Luna Bar (and the caramel brownie one was YUMMY).

Okay, seriously, these are the biggest wind chimes I have ever seen in my life.

The food was delicious and all organic!

Then a walking meditation around her grounds. I've never done this before. We all walked in line together in silence and just took in the sounds and visions around us...trickling water...chirping birds....the liveliness of all the trees and flowers and plants. The entire day was truly relaxing.

This morning I was greeted by this little Ewok at the shelter! Oh my gosh, it was so hard to hold back from taking her home!! She's not available for adoption until July 11th. Even then, there are five people in line waiting for her!

And good 'ol Oscar, the shelter mascot (and owner's personal cat) taking an afternoon snooze.

Needless to say I am tired and pooped from running around all weekend. I'm home and resting with my own little kitties and I have lots of cleaning to do!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Father's Day! My father is in my heart today. He passed away four years ago but I always think of him, well, not just Father's Day but everyday. I love you dad.

The thing about horses and peanut butter cookies...

I had my first English riding lesson today. It was fun...and yet hard at the same time! I'm so used to riding on a western saddle and going to an English saddle was a bit of a transition. I felt more, felt the horse a lot more, the stirrups were looser. I had to actually use my leg muscles! Who'd a thunk? I have to actually work harder now. Lol! My trainer Donna was WONDERFUL. She was so encouraging and made me feel so good even if I couldn't get my posting in rhythm quite yet. She encouraged me like a mother encouraging her son or daughter no matter how sloppy he or she looked. :) I loved it though and it was so fulfilling! I will be taking weekly lessons from here on out so I will try to keep you updated.

Back up a bit, when I first got there I was the only one around. Just me....and the horses. I had eyes all around me. Checking me out. Wondering who this new stranger was. It was such a peaceful feeling. Just me...and them. I got to visit with many of the horses that were boarded there. This is what greeted me. :)

I could have sworn I heard him say his name was Mr. Ed...

And this sweet boy...

And these two sweeties...

And after my lesson, I treated myself to this. Geez, I can't even make the real stuff anymore. I have so many things going on I have to settle for instant!

And I christened my little single cupcake stand with a single, comforting, peanut butter cookie....just for me. :)

And so the thing about horses and peanut butter cookies? Well, they're just good for the soul. :)

Living Life...a new perspective and a sweet award!

Today I actually looked at my calendar for the month of July. All I can say is, oh my gosh. Have I overbooked myself? Am I stretching myself too thin? When will I have time for just me? Then I looked again. I looked at my calender with a new perspective. I'm living life! Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing...living life...and it's wonderful!

This weekend....an all day yoga retreat in Castlerock with my wonderful friend, Thea.


Breathe...

The following week/weekend, horse camp with my girlfriend Debbie and, of course, Ari and Magic....


Breathe...inhale...and release...

The following weekend, Country Classics and Wine Festival (can't wait for this one).

Breathe...inhale....release...relax your shoulders, Michelle, just like the yoga retreat taught you...

And then off to see a play with Thea about me because I will be crazy at this point. Okay, kidding...in all seriousness this play actually looks quite interesting.

And in between all that volunteering, horse riding lessons and celebrating birthdays with good friends! I'm nuts....seriously, I must be nuts to fit this all in amidst work and getting things done around here, BUT, I'm going to look at it as living life. We all need to think more like that. Carpe Diem! Isn't that what they say? Now watch I'll next be posting about "being in a funk." LOL!

Also, I got this wonderful award from sweet, sweet Ronda over at A Peachy Keen Life. Thank you so much Ronda!! Ronda has a heart of gold...seriously. Go over and read her blog. She has a wonderful life...oh and her husband is a sweetie. He just treated her to a surprise getaway. Now that is a good man!

You only live once; but if you live it right, once is enough. ~Adam Marshall