CHOCOLATE MATH

This was fun and surprising.  I found this in a magazine this week and did my math.  If you haven't done yours...try it especially if you are a chocolate lover.
   1.)  Pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate.

   2.)  Multiply this number by 2.

   3.)  Add 5.

   4.)  Multiply that number by 50.

   5.)  If you have already had your birthday this year, add 1760.  If you haven't, add 1759.

   6.)  Now subtract the four-digit year that you were born.

   7.)  You should have a three-digit number.  The first digit of this figure is your original number(i.e., how many times you want to eat chocolate each week.)

   8,)  The next two numbers are....your age!!

This works every time for every person.  Who can explain this to me?  Maybe a geek son-in-law!

Flea Market Treasure

We did go to the flea market last Saturday morning.  I hemmed and hawed as to whether or not I really wanted to go.  Not really having much disposable cash was my main reason to stay away but....the draw of finding a real bargain called me more!  We were out of the house and at the airport by 8AM.  Many people were already leaving with their assorted treasures!  I've been told by my "experts"(2 people who go all the time)that being there by 6AM is the best time to find things before they get picked over.  Sounds kind of hard to believe considering how many vendors are there and how much is available.  I only bought 1 old postcard.  My cousin's husband is a collector so I thought I'd see what the draw is.  I went to one of many postcard vendors and was guided to cards from my mother's hometown and surrounding area.  Not really a lot available but about 5 cards in I found a postcard, postmarked 1918, addressed to an old family friend and written by my mother's adopted mother and mentioning mom's father!!!  Unbelievable!!!  I called Mom and read it to her and she confirmed the information.  I think maybe the postcard "bug" has bitten me!  I'm going to be on the lookout for more family finds this summer but I realize I most likely won't be this lucky again.

82 feels like 85 at 10:25

10:25 PM  on a Wednesday evening in May shouldn't feel like a steamy day in late August!!  Factor in the humidity and you have uncomfortable!  I don't do heat and humidity well.  Do you?  I feel like the Wicked Witch of the West...."I'm melting, I'm mellllttiinngg!!  Relief is in sight.  By Saturday it will be dryer and much cooler, down in the 70's.  Just perfect for a visit to my favorite flea market!

I'll have to make a list and check it twice before I head out.  It's so huge one can easily become overwhelmed.  One thing I'll be looking for are chairs to go with my kitchen table

They don't all have to match, just fit under the table.  Of course spray paint will be purchased if necessary to jazz them up.  Hmmm, what else should I be looking for?  Jewelry(aurora borealis), linens, footstool(ottoman), a piece of art, chenille bedspread, an arm chair for the bedroom.   Yikes!!  That's quite a list.

I'm a Winner!!!

WOW!!!  I won a necklace in a giveaway over at the blog Better After.  I couldn't believe it!  I've entered a number of giveaways and contests but to no avail....until last night.   The giveaway was sponsored by Timeless Treasures, a shop with unique jewelry, much of it hand stamped.  I'm just so excited....I can't wait to receive it.  This is what it looks like.  Do you like it?

Bloom Into Spring - NECKLACE -

Valentine Tea Party

I took Avery to the Mount Gulian Historic Site here in Beacon for a Valentine Tea Party. Adults were not invited unless they had a child with them! Most all of the girls were wearing party dresses and they were so well behaved. Avery even carried her purse full of treasures.


I wanted to capture Avery drinking and enjoying her tea(all 3 cups) and she caught me with that sideways glance. Picture taking didn't stop her though. She wanted even more. I had to stop her or our shopping trip, which we went on later, would have included many potty breaks!!


We started off with tea breads, biscuits and jam. Avery thinks the jam was peach and I have to agree. Very tasty. Next, they served crustless sandwiches. There were tuna, egg salad, ham and cheese and....cucumber and cream cheese. Avery didn't care for the cucumber one but I did. I helped her out and finished it.


The children went downstairs where tables were set up for a craft. They made a few of the tissue paper flowers before coming up for the "dainty desserts". We both forgot to bring the flowers home! Avery wasn't upset about it. She knew she could make them at home. During dessert there was a raffle for a number of goodies little girls love....stuffed animals, hair supplies, craft items, colored pencils and paper, etc. I didn't know this was going to take place or I wouldn't have gone there without a bit of money. Really, not even a penny!! The Mom sitting across from us had her daughter purchase a ticket and give it to Avery. That was very nice of them. Avery wasn't a winner but she was ok with it. I was very proud of how polite and well behaved she was. As we left the party she told me that she really enjoyed herself but we had to hurry because she needed to get back to the house. Too much tea!!!

Blogging Frustration

Yep, this is me! Most everytime I sit down and think I'm going to add to my blog, this is what I end up wanting to do!! Kate(darling daughter #4) keeps asking me why can't I remember what to do. I have no answer other than I'm old. I'm surprising myself tonight that I was able to find this image and get it on my page. Couldn't do it last night though. My "oldness" keeps me from being a part of some of the sites where you can post your before and after projects, or photos etc. That Mr. McLinky thing throws me for a loop on those sites. The giveaways I would like to enter ask me to grab the button and put it on my blog and then do this and do that and do something else. AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH! I'll get it someday I'm sure. If I didn't lead a pretty quiet life, you know, get up, go to work, come home, make dinner, clean up, go to bed, get up......I might have more to blog about. I do know that the more I blog, the easier it will get and I'll be able to remember better what I have to do to make this something someone else might want to read. Well, thank you for listening and if you have any cheat sheets tucked away somewhere that might help me, you can fax them to 1-866-air-head!!

Biscotti Recipe

Since many of my friends on Facebook requested the recipe for the biscotti I made, I'll post it here for all of you. I found the picture of the biscotti on tastespotting.com which took me to the blog
visionsofsugarplum.com for the recipe. Thank you Emily for posting it.

Chunky Monkey Biscotti

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
2 large eggs
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
melted chocolate for dipping, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a large cookie sheet with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; whisk in sugar and chocolate chips until combined. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together banana, eggs, peanut butter and vanilla until well combined. Stir in dry ingredients until well combined. Divide dough and shape into three (9 x 2 1/3 inch) logs on cookie sheet.

Bake for 30 minutes; cool 5 minutes before transferring logs to wire racks to cool an additional 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut rolls diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place, cut sides down on baking sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees; bake 10 minutes. Turn cookies over; bake an additional 15 minutes (cookies will be sllightly soft in center but will harden as they coool). Remove from baking sheet; cool completely on wire racks.

Dip in melted chocolate if desired.

The only change I made was I made two bigger logs which, when cut, turned out to be about a 5 inch long cookie.

Enjoy!!