cottagegreenonthelake

This Way to the Easter Egg Hunt! Plus … DIY “Carrot Cutlery” & “Carrot” Bubble Wand

~ Trenda

“The stars at night are big and bright” ‘we Texans love to sing … look below the Red, Lone Star, your egg should be in sight!’ This is a clue from our Annual “Clan” Easter Egg Hunt that all of our family participates in! Each family member is assigned a particular color of egg and gets a sheet of numbered clues directing them to where their eggs are hidden. The eggs must be “gathered” in the same order that the clues are given. Each “participant’s clue sheet is in different order, so everyone is running to different locations at different times and can only pick up their color of egg. For our littlest ones, I have easier clues and pictures or numbers, marking where their eggs are! The first one to find all their eggs, gets the grand prize and our Family Egg Trophy to take home and display until the following year.

~Holly Pond Hill

Now, for this special Egg Hunt …. our picnic fare and ware has to be as “fun” as the occasion! (: Look at this bunny caddy crate! It looks darling loaded with bright green polka dotted plates, lime colored cutlery wrapped in orange napkins and tied with raffia (to look like carrots!) and tucked into this fun carrot vase, befitting any Bunny Picnic!

For each set of “carrot” tableware … place a green spoon, a green fork, and a green knife on top of an orange paper napkin; roll up so that the cutlery “peeks” out of the top of the napkin, like carrot tops and tie a raffia bow around each set of tableware.

A little whimsy and favor “For you!” … Slender orange bubble wands look like a bunch carrots – especially after I added a bit of gauzy green ribbon and a lime green label to each “carrot top!” To make my tags, I used my Recollections over-sized “punch” die-cutter (I bought mine from Michael’s) and stamped each label with the words “For You.” A little bubble fantasy and favor for each “participant.” (:

The Menu …

Grilled bratwurst
Potato Salad
Mr. McGregor’s Carrot & Celery Sticks served in a dipping cup with Ranch dressing
Peter Rabbit Carrot Cake Cookies w/Cream Cheese Frosting

Our Annual Clan Easter Egg Hunt has become one of our favorite family traditions with shouts of laughter and a special camaraderie and competition between the children and the adults! I love making up the little “sing-song” clues each year -like the sample above (; … that sends everyone scurrying all over the yard, out on the dock, and up the deck stairs looking for their eggs! From the pictures I take while everyone is dashing about, our son makes a video of the whole event complete with music, captions and headlines for everyone which becomes another treasured volume in our set of “family times.” <3

P. S. I already heard that 2 of our Clan are wearing competition tee-shirts they’ve made in keeping with “the spirit of the day!” (: I can’t wait to see them!

I’d love to hear about some of your family traditions and hope you’re enjoying this glorious season of the year with loved ones and friends!

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

DIY Easter Bunny Treat Bags

Trenda

“Here comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin’ down the bunny trail and I am happily preparing for our little bunny’s that are coming to dye dozens of eggs and … all “us bunny’s” here at Cottage Green are anticipating our Family Easter Egg Treasure Hunt, complete with prizes and a trophy! (: We have been out of town for the last 2 1/2 weeks so this week is going to be especially busy and “filled” with Easter preparations!

These “Big-earred Bunny Bags are so cute and take just a few minutes to make! They are reinforced paper sacks and hold lots of Easter goodies, dyed eggs, jelly beans, cupcakes, Peeps, Chicks, and sugary treats! I bought my treat bags, pink and white gingham ribbon, tissue paper, felt hearts, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes at Michael’s. (Tip: I used my glue gun instead of Elmer’s Glue-All to make my assembly time faster!) Plus, I also used a pair of scissors and a ruler.

Supplies needed:

To begin … adhere a pink felt heart in the center of each bag, for the bunny’s nose. Position and glue 2 googly eyes above each nose. Then, pull out two strands of shredded color paper. Fold both shredded tissue strands in half to make 4 whiskers for each side of the bunny’s nose. Place the 4 whiskers on one side of the heart, where they touch the “heart nose” and glue in place. Repeat process, and glue 4 more whiskers on the other side of the heart nose. Trim whiskers to desired length.

Simple Bow instructions:

Measure and cut a 12″ length of ribbon. Glue ends together to form a loop.
Gather ribbon together in the middle of the circled loop.
Hold tightly with fingers and secure with a pipe cleaner and twist.
Trim the two ends of the pipe cleaner near the “twist” with scissors or wire cutters for a neat presentation.
Cut another length of ribbon, approximately 2″ in length.
Fold ribbon in thirds, lengthwise and glue edges together.
Wrap this short length of ribbon around the pipe cleaner. Glue it on the underneath side of your bow, making sure it covers all of the pipe cleaner.
Glue bow to the top of your Bunny Treat Bag. (Since I have both little boy and little girl “bunny’s” … I made some of my Bunny Treat Bags without hair bows!)

To complete my Bunny Treat Bags I “stuffed” each bag with bunny ears made from gift wrap tissue paper. I cut one sheet of white tissue paper in half and formed a “bunny ear” by grasping the 1/2 sheet of tissue paper in the center. Then, while holding the center portion of the paper in one hand, I ran my other hand up over the tissue, while grasping it lightly to make loose folds. Then, I stuffed my “ear” into the treat bag so that the pointy ends of the tissue were sticking out to resemble a long ear. I repeated the entire process for the 2nd bunny ear, using the other 1/2 of the tissue paper. To form the pink “interior ears” I used my pink or my gingham gift tissue. Again, I cut each piece of gift tissue in half, “fluffed” my tissue and inserted into the bag, in front of the white outer ears. Use your imagination, they do look like Easter bunny ears!(;

Last touch … I “stuck” one more felt heart on the back of my Bunny Treat Bag (I used the same color heart as I used for the bunny’s nose) and placed it near the bottom of the treat bag. Then I glued a little pom pom on the heart to make a fuzzy little bunny tail! (:

Get ready for more fun and festive ideas coming this week ’cause … “hippity, hoppity Easter’s on it’s way!” (;

Today was another glorious Sunday at our church with Richard and I having the added joy of singing with our choir and presenting our Easter cantata Hope Alive In Me by Travis Cottrell. I love every aspect of Easter! The bunnies, the baskets, the eggs … the Cross, the Tomb, and the resurrection of Jesus … The “Hope Alive in Me!” It’s not all about the bunny, Easter is about The Lamb.” <3

Thank you for spending some time with me today!

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

St. Patrick’s Day … “Wearing of the Green” Lakeside Lunch

written by Trenda

Today was a delightful spring day with the sun intermittently shining and sparkling off the lake or hiding behind dark clouds. The warm breeze pleaded with us to come outside and tempted us with bird song, gentle peals from our wind chimes, and distant rumbles of thunder. We happily acquiesced and I made lunch for us to enjoy out on the deck.

Luncheon Menu … Chicken Salad Cucumber Bites, Crisp Parmesan & Cheddar Crostini, Tomato & Cucumber Salad, Chicken Salad, Spiced Iced Tea, and Chocolate Brownies with Chocolate Chip & Mint Frosting … Yum! (:

To make my Tomato & Cucumber Salad I used a seedless English cucumber. English cucumbers are also known as “seedless” cucumbers and they are longer than the regular garden variety cucumber. Their flavor is milder, the peel is thinner, and they have smaller, less noticeable seeds than their American cousin (; After peeling my English cucumber, I used my favorite kitchen tool from The Pampered Chef which slices cucumber effortlessly into rounds with decorative ridges. I then de-seeded and chopped up a tomato, added sliced red onion, salt and pepper to taste, and Marzetti Classsic Ranch Dressing. I didn’t measure any of the ingredients; I just adjusted the amounts of each ingredient to “our liking” or as a dear uncle would say … “By guess and by golly.” (;

One item I always keep on hand is Italian whole wheat bread loaves. I buy a package of 12 inch loaves in the Bakery Department and then re-wrap each loaf individually in foil and place them in our freezer. I love having these available to pop in the oven to “dress up” a simple meal and they are delicious with soups or to munch on with any salad. To make my recipe for Parmesan & Cheddar Crostini, I take a loaf from the freezer, unwrap it, place it on a chopping board and immediately begin slicing it with a serrated bread knife, “on the diagonal” into thin slices, while it is still frozen. TIP: Slicing bread while it is still frozen makes it easy to slice into precise, even pieces that are not misshapen, which happens when slicing “soft” bread. I only cut as many slices as I think we’ll want from the loaf, then I re-wrap it and place it back in freezer.

Slice bread and place on a baking sheet lined with foil
Brush each piece lightly with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, being careful to cover entire surface.
Sprinkle each slice evenly and lightly with garlic salt and pepper
Add grated Parmesan cheese (enough to cover entire surface and “flavor” bread, but not so much that it “oozes” over the bread, when melted)
Then, add a smaller amount of Cheddar cheese on top for additional flavor “depth” and color.
Sprinkle each slice with a dusting of paprika
Cook in a pre-heated, 325 degree oven until cheese has melted and edges of bread are a deep golden brown.

Parmesan & Cheddar Crostini with Chicken Salad Cucumber Bites

Now, for my delicious and super easy dessert … Chocolate Brownies with Chocolate Chip & Mint Frosting! Make a batch of your favorite brownie recipe from scratch or use a boxed mix, if you prefer. Tip: You will probably have to double your homemade brownie recipe – or use 2 boxes of brownie mix – to fill a 13″x 9″ baking dish. Make brownies according to directions. Place in oven. When brownies are done, take them out of the oven and immediately pour a 12 oz. bag of Nestle’s morsels – or other candy morsels – over the brownies. (I used chocolate chip and mint morsels) After candy has “rested”and softened on warm brownies, use an off-set spatula to spread candy smoothly over the brownies. Let cool completely and slice with a sharp knife.

The candy hardens into a smooth, perfect glaze with no mixing or additional recipe required for frosting! (:

Fitz and Floyd Autumn Harvest Grapes & Leaves Pitcher with matching creamer and sugar bowl …

“Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence? I think not!” (: Chocolate Brownies with Chocolate Chip & Mint Frosting look especially festive when presented in shamrock cupcake liners and under a domed spring green pedestal plate.

Desserts under a dome … Chocolate Brownies with Chocolate Chip & Mint Frosting

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Hope your day is colored “in green” and has moments tinged with “shenanigan’s and malarkey!” (;

“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalms 34:8

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

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Spring Comes Early to Cedar Creek Lake

~ Trenda

Adorably, lovely Robins, petaled tulip cups, white blossomed splays of Bridal Wreath, deep violet blooms flocking Redbud trees, lovely Hyacinths, Lady Banks Roses spilling over onto our lawn, and delicate white bells of Lily of the Valley. The list I started in my last blog of spring harbingers continues to lengthen as Spring here on Cedar Creek Lake appears to be in full bloom! Would you like to take a tour around our neighborhood and see all the spring beauty? Hop on our golf cart and let’s go! No need for jackets, it’s 80 degrees here, on this last day of February. (:

“Deep violet blooms flocking Redbud trees” … this beautiful tree is our own and drapes over our side gate.

This gorgeous white rosebush, the Lady Banks Rose is seen less often then the variety with yellow roses. My white Lady Banks is a cherished birthday present that Richard gave me a number of years ago and is … “spilling over onto our lawn.”

And one last sighting before we pull out of our driveway … this striking Chinese Fringe Plant or Loropetalum. We have quite a few of these beautiful evergreen bushes in our front and backyard and love the color of their foliage, their fragrance and the color of their fringe-y flowers. Interesting Note: Some of these bushes in their natural habitats … China, Japan, and the Himalayas are over 100 years old and over 35 feet tall!

All right, we’re off! First stop … The Secret Garden. The first time our daughter saw this forgotten garden she was only 9 years old. In excitement she breathlessly told me, “Mommy, I found the Secret Garden!” (: We’ve called it “The Secret Garden” ever since. <3 These yellow roses rambling over a beautiful wrought iron fence are the more common variety of the Lady Banks Rose … and still reflect the hands that once planted and cared for them.

Gorgeous grape-like clusters of Wisteria dangle from the tangled vines within “The Secret Garden.”

No time to dally, the sun is already beginning it’s descent! Look at this darling little stream surrounded by “Easter grass” and a sprinkling of white wildflowers. It’s just the right size for a Daddy and Mama Mallard Duck we’ve seen paddling about in their own private wading pool! Spring cuteness! (:

I felt like I had been given a gift when I “captured” this shaft of sunlight peeking through the tangle of this thick wild Carolina Jasmine.

Look what I saw as our golf cart whizzed by! Lily of the Valley, also known as Muguet du Bois … one of my favorite little flowers with their dainty cups that look like they came straight from fairyland! I also love this enchanting flower because of the scripture in Song of Solomon 2:1 that says … “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” Another interesting fact: It is tradition in France on May 1st, May Day, to offer a sprig of Lily-of-the-Valley to loved ones. This tradition was supposed to have begun on May 1st, 1561 when King Charles IX of France was presented with a bunch of Lily-of-the-Valley flowers as a token of luck and prosperity for the coming year. King Charles “took a shine” to this idea and began the custom of presenting Lily-of-the-Valley flowers to the ladies of his court each year on May 1st. (:

Azalea Majestic’s bright magenta buds, blossoms and green foliage contrast beautifully with the texture of the rough landscaping bark.

Last sighting of our spring harbinger’s for the day … wild Carolina Jasmine overgrowing a fence looks beautiful in the golden sunset and under the still bare limbs of February trees.

It’s time to head home. Hope you are enjoying some beautiful weather where you are, even if it is only February! If you are still in the “throes of winter” … I hope these pictures will remind you that Spring is “right around the corner” and soon you will be seeing “adorably lovely Robins” showing off in your own backyard! (:

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

I’m delighted that you read my blog today! I’d love to hear from you! Please write any comments or questions you may have in the COMMENT section.

Spring Cleaning and Cottage Decorating

by Trenda

For the last two weeks we have been cleaning out landscape beds, training wandering Wisteria along trellises … and raking, raking, raking! With our beautiful shade trees, there are a LOT of leaves! (: This mountain of leaves is just one our many heaps we burned from the gigantic pile of leaves Richard raked up! With all the debris we cleaned up, it’s hard to believe this is just the “remnants” or leftovers, after all our autumn raking! After our day of work, we sat in the twilight and enjoyed watching the last embers glowing … gazing as the last visage of our winter went up in smoke!

Inside the cottage … spring cleaning and decorating continues. (: I love this time of year and bring out my collections of birds and little nests filled with eggs. You can find them perching in unexpected places, peeking out of nooks and crannies, and on tabletop vignette’s.

A Saucer Magnolia swag drapes over the hall tree …

A little nest nestles at the base of this Angel garden statuary …

Down the staircase is a favorite picture … “The Lord is my Shepherd” and a metal vase filled with fragrant eucalyptus and peacock feathers.

A little alcove under the hall tree … another perfect nesting spot!

“Bird watching” (; … this vertigo green bird blends beautifully with the green shades of this collection of antique dishes from England.

Antique dishes on the lower deck … “The Old Curiosity Shop” by Currier and Ives.

A nest entwined with spring buds and new leaves is perched on a miniature bird bath filled with millet.

Little birds stand guard on a cake plate watching over two sweet eggs nestled on a bed of moss. A mercury glass bird and a fairy tale toadstool look charming together, sheltered under the glass canopy.

A blown glass cloche with a bird “finial” covers a little nest holding a glittered acorn.

A silver bird perches on the edge of his nest … the perfect cache for a little treat of birdseed! (; The color of the millet matches the hues in the painting above and the in-laid wood of the tea cart.

A beautiful azalea from our own front yard almost “glows” in an antique bird planter. Under a “twiggy” lamp with a little wire nest ensconced in it’s branches, a cloche covers a pair of sweet owls and a moss-lined nest filled with speckled eggs.

The dusty red blossomed “trumpets” of Crossvine cover our fence and are climbing over an antique variety of Boxwood growing nearby. The buzzing bumblebees and bright blossoms seem to proclaim …

“WELCOME SPRING…!”

“FLOWERS APPEAR ON THE EARTH: THE SEASON OF SINGING HAS COME. THE COOING OF DOVES IS HEARD IN OUR LAND. THE FIG TREE FORMS ITS EARLY FRUIT; THE BLOSSOMING VINES SPREAD THEIR FRAGRANCE.” SONG OF SOLOMON 2:12-13

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

Thank you for spending some time with me today! Please click on the box marked FOLLOW in my blog above to have each new post delivered directly to your e-mail address. I’m joining Chloe Crabtree with Celebrate & Decorate (click here) and Lynn from The Vintage Nest (click here) for other great decorating ideas and DIY projects!

Cottage Decorating for Valentine’s Day, Romance and Spring …

by Trenda

After seeing the first coral blossoms on a Flowering Quince … a row of blooming daffodils … and a bluebird in our backyard hunting for a nesting spot, it’s time for the interior decor of our cottage to shrug out of it’s winter garments and get “dressed” for Valentine’s Day, Romance and Spring!

My decorating transformation began on our mantle … using a collection of blue and white porcelain pieces … a favorite over-sized clock with a Carolina Wren painted on it’s face … and two matching crystal decanters (bought near the Czech border) and serving as bookends on either end of the mantle. Then I took a swag that was covered with roses and eucalyptus and wove two strands of twinkle lights between the flowers – to add a little glimmer and magic (; before draping the swag across the mantle. I tucked in a few more grape clusters and moss covered bird nests “here and there” for additional cuteness!

A bird stands near his nest amidst the delightful setting of roses. A stack of gardening books is a base for a collection of blue and white porcelain pieces and a Delft Ginger jar bought and brought all the way from Holland!

Atop a porcelain box and tucked at the base of the clock are little nests filled with ferns, prickly statice, Scottish heather, and green speckled eggs.

Large Ginger Jars in blue and white porcelain.

I love the patina of this mirror! It used to be a gaudy-gold until Richard and I painted the entire mirror frame with white paint. After it dried, we “distressed” the surface with sand paper to let a little bit of the gold “peek through.” Now, it’s “one of my favorite things” and one of our keepsakes – it’s been with us since we bought our first home! (P.S. I love this picture showing the beautiful patina of our mirror and the reflection of our dining room chandelier and our kitchen in the background.)

Now, for the hearth! Same colors and spring mood are reflected in both the mantle and hearth. More blue and white porcelain and the “outside is brought in” with a green wreath bursting with white blossoms and sheltering an intricate obelisk.

A tiny birdbath is filled with mossy stones and more speckled eggs … a chunky white urn holds a white gardenia on a bed of moss … and two antique books serve as a base and staircase to a blue and white peacock plate. I love the blue and green book on the top of the stack; everything about is darling! … from it’s jacket covered in dainty flowers and blue and green striping, the green oval “cameo” of a ladies profile encircled in gold, and it’s charming title … Haps and Mishaps Blackberry Jam <3

Well, here in East Texas, the ground hog did not see his shadow. It was 80 degrees today with warm weather predicted for the next 10 days! Here on the lake it definitely “feels like” spring and adding to my list and sighting’s of spring harbinger’s … today I saw Saucer Magnolia blooming … a beautiful red-violet blossom unfolding on my Encore Azalea … and my White Lady Banks Rose Bush is covered in buds!

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

I’m delighted you read my blog today! Please click on FOLLOW in the post above or on my site cottagegreenonthelake.com to have all posts delivered directly to your email address. If you have any questions or comments, please leave those in the COMMENT section! (:

Score with these Super Bowl Snacks … “Pass Interference Pinwheels” and “Peanut Cluster Blitz!”

by Trenda

With the Super Bowl only a week away, I’ve been making finger foods and snacks to see which will “make the final cut” for this last football game of the season. Here are two delicious recipes, one savory and one sweet, that will “score” with your family and friends. Pass Interference Pinwheels made with bacon, cheddar and cream cheese, topped with Salsa Verde and Peanut Cluster Blitz a decadent candy made with 3 chocolates … semi-sweet, milk chocolate and white chocolate. You’ll love how quick and easy this candy recipe is to make … in a crock pot!

Pass Interference Pinwheels with Salsa Verde …

Ingredients:

1 can Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
10 pieces of bacon cooked and crumbled
4 oz softened cream cheese (Tip: How to soften Cream Cheese – place unwrapped pkg. of cream cheese in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high for 10 seconds; repeat if necessary, until softened.)
1 cup shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese (plus extra for topping)
1/4 cup diced green onions
1/2 cup Salsa Verde – or more according to taste! (Salsa Verde is found on the same aisle as other Mexican hot sauces/salsas)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Unroll crescent rolls on parchment paper or foil covered cookie sheet and press perforated seams together to make one sheet of dough.
Spread softened cream cheese over entire sheet of dough.
Sprinkle grated cheese, bacon, green onion and Salsa Verde over entire surface, and roll up dough, lengthwise.
Cut into 3/4″ slices and place 2″ apart on parchment paper or foil lined cookie sheet.
Top with additional cheese, if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees, for 12-17 minutes, or until edges are deep golden brown.
Cool slightly before removing and serving.

Peanut Cluster Blitz …

Ingredients:

1 16 oz jar of dry roasted peanuts with salt
1-12 oz pkg of semi-sweet chocolate morsels (I used Ghiradelli)
1-1 lb.8 oz block of chocolate flavored almond bark (I used Plymouth Pantry)
1-12 oz pkg of white chocolate (I used Wilton Candy Melts)

Instructions:

Lightly spray slow cooker with cooking spray.
Put in the peanuts first, then add all the chocolates.
Cook on low for 1 hour.
Stir, bake 1 more hour.
Spoon out candy on parchment paper or wax paper.
Cool, until hardened (mine were firm enough to place on serving dish in less than 1 hour)

Regardless of the team you’re cheering for, or if your favorite team didn’t make it to the Super Bowl … I know you’ll enjoy these easy and delicious snacks! Hope you have a “super” Game Day!

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

Romantic Valentine Table for Two

~ written by Trenda

On a day celebrating L-O-V-E, there’s no limit to the amount of lace, flowers, hearts, or pink I use in setting and decorating our table for Valentine’s Day. Richard and I begin our celebration of Valentine’s Day on February 13th and go out that evening for a special dinner. Then, the next morning I make omelettes and “Berry Sweet Valentine’s” (recipe and pictures in a subsequent post!) and later “when twilight descends and evening begins” we have a lovely dinner seated at a romantic “table for 2” at our favorite “getaway” … Cottage Green on the Lake! (;

A little table right next to the fireplace seems like the perfect spot for our Valentine reservation with the coziness of a fire, the glimmer of twinkle lights and the romance of candles.

Nestled next to the fireplace, I wanted our Valentine table to blend in and be a part of the little nook and romantic backdrop I decorated and wrote about in my last post. (click here to see) I love the way the mantle decorations look like they’ve tumbled over onto the table!

The whimsical piece that visually ties the mantle and table together is a cement statue of “Cupid.” The same roses, eucalyptus and twinkle lights I used on the mantle, wrap around the base of the angel, entwine the statuary and encircle his wings.

For our dinnerware, I chose Kaiser Porcelain in the Marseille pattern that we bought when we lived in Germany; it’s a fine porcelain china and the white background trimmed with pink floral garlands and rosebuds is named “Romantica” and seemed the perfect choice for a day all about hearts and flowers!

I love these white scalloped plates with their painted garlands and rosebuds and the Valentine look of the pink, doily-like charger beneath each plate. White napkins with a bit of crocheted lace and a sweet pink flower and Kaiser Porcelain roses are scattered about the table and adorn each place setting.

Crystal “King Edward” Waterford glasses and pink blush stemware.

The King Midas touch … gold chargers and goldware add “gleam” to each place setting.

The drape of roses, eucalyptus, grape clusters and twinkle lights adorning the mantle and Cupid, adds subtle lighting and enchantment to the table.

Ready and waiting for a party of two … our Valentine table is set. All that is needed is to light the fireplace and as Neil Diamond sings, it’s time to … “Turn down the lights. Turn up the music. Let’s just be together tonight. And turn down the lights.” <3

“Love is patient, love is kind …”

From my cottage to yours ~ Trend

I’m delighted you read my Blog today! Please click on FOLLOW in my post above or FOLLOW on my site: cottagegreenonthelake.com to have all Cottage Green on the Lake news delivered directly to your email address. If you have any questions or comments, please leave those in the COMMENT section! For some other great ideas, please join me (click here) for “Share Your Style Link Party #104 with host Lisa from Feathering My Empty Nest.

Lakeside Picnic and Recipe for Stuffed Pepper Soup …

by Trenda

I already have “spring fever!” I “caught it” from the birds who have been “twittering and flitting about” hunting for the perfect place to raise their little families! (: Friday and Saturday were “zip-a-dee-do-dah” days with spring-like temperature’s … “My oh, my, what a wonderful day” … and taking our cue from the birds, we took advantage of our warm day with …”Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way” and worked outside and enjoyed a picnic by the lake.

Welcome to our lakeside picnic! Everything always tastes better when dining al fresco (: and our lunch of Turkey & Swiss Wraps with roasted red peppers, Red Delicious Apples and spiced tea, was no exception!

After our picnic we were “energized” … we sat a little while longer, enjoying the sunshine and the day then we were ready to get back to work. By late afternoon the wind started picking up and the water started getting choppy.

Dark blue-gray clouds began rolling in …

And we began to hear rumbles of thunder, as we hurried to finish our work …

We finished … just in time with thunder distinctively warning us to get inside, as the first raindrops began to fall!

Later … feeling cozy and clean and hearing the gusty wind and the sound of the waves crashing against our retaining wall, our “gift” of a spring day in January was over and our stormy night seemed the perfect time for some homemade soup … Stuffed Pepper Soup.

Stuffed Pepper Soup Recipe …

Later, as I drifted off to sleep, the last lines of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Under A Spreading Chestnut Tree” came to mind.

“… Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees it close;

Something attempted, something done,

Has earned a night’s repose.”

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

I would love to read any comments or questions you may have!

Winter Weather and Outdoor Tablescape and Picnic for the Birds

by Trenda at Cottagegreenonthelake.com

Seeing snow in East Texas is always an anticipated occasion, like a circus or carnival coming to town! Everyone dashes to one of our two grocery stores and stocks up on groceries, hot chocolate and firewood … hopeful that the possibility of the “flurries” predicted in the forecast will somehow materialize into towering drifts and days enjoyed in front of the fireplace.

cocoaupclose

So .. with a forecast of possible snow on Friday, there was expectation in the air as the temperatures hovered below 30 … and by afternoon, our hope of seeing some snow was rewarded when the first tiny flakes appeared!

south2

I wanted to make sure our “furry friends and feathered folks” had plenty to eat to keep themselves warm and I decided to set up a winter picnic for them with some extra special treats… birdseed ornaments! I chose a recipe that Mavis Butterfield eHow Contributor submitted on Pinterest (click here for Mavis Butterfield eHow Contributot’s recipe for birdseed ornaments) During the entire process I was apprehensive that my ornaments wouldn’t slip out of their molds or remain intact and I was happily surprised when each of the ornament’s “held” their shape and slid out easily from my plastic cookie cutters (part of an extensive collection my dear daughter in law (DDIL)(: gave me.

Assorted ribbons and twine added to the birdseed ornaments …

I love these “woodland” tags and thought they would add a little whimsy, hanging amongst the branches with my birdseed ornaments. This is a free printable I downloaded from Decorator’s Notebook by Bethan John (click here for free printable woodland tags) They printed off beautifully and I made extra’s for package tie-on’s and other ideas, yet to come!

Free downloadable gift tags from Decorator's Notebook 14 designs

I also made some extra tags using a die-cut label maker and some rubber stamps that fit right in with my woodland/lakeside theme: a clump of oak leaves and acorns stamp, a single leaf stamp, and a bird nest with eggs stamp … the bird nest is my favorite! I used a hole punch to make a hole in each tag and then slipped ribbons through the hole. To add a little variety to my paper ornaments, I used several different ribbons and either knotted the ends of the ribbon and slipped the labels over a branch or clipped them to my little fir tree, using mini-clothespins.

Then I had the fun of creating my winter tablescape and putting out “picnic fare” for our birds and lakeside critters. (: I covered our outdoor table with a Coleman blanket in a buffalo plaid in navy, khaki and forest green and placed a tall Fir tree (one of our Christmas decorations) in the center of the table … it worked great for hanging my birdseed ornaments and woodland/lakeside tags on! A sweet little birdbath that Richard gave me (usually a part of our cottage decor inside) is filled with fresh water and I used chunky urns and “woodsy” platters to offer a buffet of different seeds and peanuts.

A Hairy Woodpecker “heard it through the grapevine” that there were peanuts on the menu! (: A little Red-breasted Nuthatch, native to Ontario Canada perches on the side of a “new favorite” … a rough blown-glass bowl, a special gift from our daughter’s boyfriend, that is perfectly suited for Cottage Green with painted pine boughs and a “sprinkling” of snow.

Look how adorable my cookie cutter letters spelling B-I-R-D came out! I loved how charming these letters looked all together so I just lined them all up on a forest green plate edged with leaves and acorns and set them out for the birdies to enjoy!

finalboughround

A Cardinal surveys the winter buffet …

redbird

The “piece de resistance?” … sunflower hearts!

Today’s Menu …

A House Finch awaits his turn “in pecking order” on the downspout …

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Well, we didn’t have any accumulation of snow, but we did enjoy our beautiful snow flurries … our whirling, twisting, dancing flakes and we enjoyed 3 cold winter days. But 3 days is just enough … and we were ready for the return of our usual, mild Texas winter weather. Happily, today’s temperature was in the mid 60’s and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday … it’s going to be in the 70’s! Ahhh … now, that’s more like it!

But next time there’s a chance of snow or snow flurries in the forecast for a little town on Cedar Creek Lake in East Texas, you can be sure that … everyone will once again dash to one of our two grocery stores and stock up on groceries, hot chocolate and firewood … hopeful that the possibility of the “flurries” predicted in the forecast will somehow materialize into towering drifts and days enjoyed in front of the fireplace. (;

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

faith

Thank you for spending some time with me today. Please leave any comments or questions you may have, in the COMMENT section.

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~ Trenda

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