Reprise -- A Fall Dinner

I am healing well but still do not feel up to entertaining -- at least not several guests for dinner and lunch (although I did manage to have tea with Cass at That Old House)so I'm reprising a dinner party that I first posted October 7, 2009. It was a fall themed dinner and a fun party.

Please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see what other fall tablescapes there may be this Thursday!

It's fall -- my favorite season and fall tables, I think are so lovely. The colors of fall seem to go well with the colors of Linderhof.

A dark green tablecloth seems a perfect backdrop for the oranges and golds of the pumpkins and gourds.

Each place is a blue and white Spode plate, a small leave plate (to be used as a bread and butter plate) that I got ages ago at Wal Mart. Gold napkins blend well with the greens, golds and oranges of fall.
The big blue and white bowl is always on the dining room table this fall -- filled with pumpkins and gourds and bittersweet. It's low enough that it is a perfect dinner party centerpiece. Some more bittersweet twined around and some mercury glass votives placed here and there and my sterling candlesticks on either end for more candlelight.
Silver wine bottle holders placed around the table so that refilling glasses is not a chore. Placecards are silk leaves -- with the names written on them with Magic Marker. Thankfully, all the guests had short names!
I always love that time -- just before the party starts when everything is ready and the guests have yet to arrive. The table always looks so pretty and so expectant.

Please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for it's time for Tablescape Thursday -- it's fall and I'm sure that there will be several fall tablescapes. It will be fun to see everyone's take on how to decorate and set a table for fall!

A Working Tea

I'm working on a project for mid October and another committee member stopped by this morning with some information that was needed for the event.

I find when one has mid morning or afternoon company, it's easier to offer a cup of tea rather than coffee. Some don't ever drink coffee, some drink coffee only in the morning, some only drink decaf. So many variables for a hostess. But I've yet had anyone turn down a cup of tea!!!!

So when Sandy arrived, the kettle went on -- the tea tray was arranged and ready for the filled brewed teapot to be added. Once the tea was brewed, I carried the tray out to the sunroom where we commenced with our meeting.

Once again it's the Johnson Brothers Indies. The wee teapot, sugar and creamer bought 16 years ago in England. I loved the bed/breakfast that we stayed in and all of them had a spot for making tea and I felt that my guest room needed that same amenity. Alas, that didn't last long for the teapot, sugar and creamer and the two cups and saucers I bought soon ended in the kitchen and were used daily for my afternoon tea.

Two real English teaspoons (bought at a sale in a church in Lake Country), a pretty tea towel always makes a great tray mat, and for the nosh -- some Walker's Shortbread. Usually, I have a tin in the larder for I love shortbread. This past month it's been a huge tin because they have been my afternoon nosh -- not able to bake cookies!

The meeting went well -- it always does when refreshments are involved!

It's Tuesday which means that it's Tea Party Tuesday so please join these lovely ladies to see other tea times and pretty tea dishes.

Tabletop Tuesday with Marty at A Stroll Thru Life

Tea Time Tuesday with Terri at Artful Affirmations

Tea Cup Tuesday with Martha at Martha's Favorites

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday with Pam at Breath of Fresh Air

Tea Time Tuesday with Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor

Tuesday Tea for Two with Wanda Lee at The Plumed Pen

Sarah's Soup

Sarah's Soup is her version of our family favorite Plaza III Steak Soup. From the famous Kansas City restaurant, Plaza III. She lives in Minnesota and makes it often during the winter for a warming bowl of soup makes a great lunch or dinner in snowy Minnesota.

And even though when she was home and temperatures were still in the 90's, she made a big pot of her Plaza III Steak Soup for us. Which, even though it was warm, made for lovely lunches especially with hot from the oven Pillsbury frozen biscuits slathered in melted butter.
The temperatures this morning (only 45 degrees) means that I'll put the last container of soup out of the freezer -- just enough for lunch on a chilly day. To go with, a pan of cornbread for the warmth of the oven shall feel good in the kitchen this noon.

The original recipe for the soup is HERE. Daughter Sarah's version eliminates the thickener and I think it is great with or without!

Most everything served at Linderhof is served in blue and white and Sarah's Soup was no exception. The Indies pattern by Johnson Brothers (which I share with Cass at That Old House). Its our "everyday" dinnerware which we've accumulated over the years. The "seed" was a wee teapot, sugar, cream and two tea cups which I brought home from a trip to England eons ago.

And it's Monday which means that it's Blue Monday so please join Smiling Sally to see the other blues this Monday!

Cobra

Not the snake but a yoga pose.

Before my knees got bad, I took yoga classes and thoroughly enjoyed my yoga nights. Alas, bad knees got the best of yoga!

But when I was into yoga, I found this charming little figurine at a shop and it had to come home with me to remind me of the yoga post called "cobra".

It's a sweet figurine posing in the classic pose and reminds me of my yoga days -- which perhaps may come again!

It's Saturday which means that it's Pink Saturday so please join Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see everyone's pinks this Saturday!

A Thank You

Having surgery means that you're under "Home Care" for a period of time. A Physical Therapist comes to go through your exercise paces three times a week.

An RN comes to draw blood, take vitals and change dressings twice a week.

Since this is my second knee they were not strangers when they returned this time for home health.

And now, once again, just barely two weeks after surgery, I am released. What to do to say goodbye? A small gift from the kitchen, of course.

In mid September, zucchini is prolific and there is nothing better than zucchini bread. A loaf for each of my health care providers, tied with a seasonal ribbon.

Zucchini bread at Linderhof is pretty straight forward -- zucchini and nuts (here on the prairie pecans are the most used). I've made hundreds of loaves over the years and I especially like this recipe because it makes two loaves. A loaf of zucchini bread in the freezer is a good thing!

LINDERHOF ZUCCHINI BREAD

3 cups shredded zucchini

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

3 eggs beaten

1 cup vegetable oil

1 T. vanilla

3 cups flour

2 t. pumpkin pie spice

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oen to 350. In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In a smaller bowl, mix flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder and salt until well blended and add to egg mixture. Fold in pecans. Pour into two greased 8 x 4 x 2 inch loaf pans. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool in pans for 10 minutes, remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

It's Friday, which means that it's time for Foodie Friday. Please join Michael at Designs by Gollum to see everything that's cooking this Friday.

Reprise - An English Cream Tea

Alas, my tea taking lately has been with store bought biscuits (although I do insist on either Biscof or real shortbread) and a cup of tea taken in my chair. It's hard not to be as mobile as I'd like but I've never give up my half past three cup of tea!!!! Husband Jim brews a good cup and it is still a nice relaxing part of my day.

But alas, that doesn't make for a good blog post and so I decided to reprise an English Cream Tea that I treated Husband Jim and I to back in February. It was cold (as the whole winter was) and a fire and tea and scones made for a perfect afternoon respite -- even if it was just for the two of us!

This post reminds me that sometime next year we will be in Britain, in front of a fire in a cozy tea room partaking of that great British specialty -- a cream tea!

Every afternoon, at half past three I stop for tea. A cup of freshly brewed tea (Earl Grey is my favorite) and a "biscuit" or cookie. If there is nothing homemade in the larder, there are always Biscoff's in the pantry which make a suitable nosh with a cup of tea.
But it's cold today, and so I decided to make an English Cream Tea. The tea that husband Jim and I favored when we traveled in the countryside of Britain.
My new blue and white transferware vase holds a bouquet of white tulips, I used my Wedgwood Asiatic Pheasant tea set, and old green bowls for the cream and jam. Not having a scone plate with the Wedgwood (I may have to rectify that) I used another blue and white plate for the scones.
With freshly made scones (the recipe from the Royal Crescent in Bath where we did have tea), strawberry jam (is there any other kind for tea?) and Clotted Cream (my first but not my last attempt at making clotted cream -- it was the real thing!)
With freshly ironed tea napkins and a pearl handled tea knife, husband Jim and I sipped tea (P G Tipps) and ate the warm scones topped with the clotted cream and a dollop of strawberry jam.

The fire was warming and it was a pleasant respite in the afternoon. My new tea table was put into position so that we could have tea in front of the fire -- that was the reason I purchased it. It was perfect!

It's Thursday and time for Tablescape Thursday so please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see what everyone else is doing this Thursday!

It's Tuesday which means that it's Tea Tuesday -- so please visit these ladies for a tea break.

Tabletop Tuesday with Marty at A Stroll Thru Life

Tea Time Tuesday with Terri at Artful Affirmations

Tea Cup Tuesday with Martha at Martha's Favorites

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday with Pam at Breath of Fresh Air

Tea Time Tuesday with Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor

Tuesday Tea for Two with Wanda Lee at The Plumed Pen

The Corner Cabinet

Once upon a time, long long ago, I read in an English decorating book that corners were often neglected. The author's solution -- a corner cabinet filled with bits and pieces of blue and white china.

At an auction, there was a nice corner cabinet -- a bit primitive and perhaps handmade. We added mirror to the back of the cabinet and filled with with bits and pieces of blue and white china.

It fits in the corner of the living room -- behind the front door and definitely brightens that corner!
Four nice shelves -- none too tall and below two more which hold my hyacinth vases and daffodil bowls. A few pieces of my Staffordshire are placed amongst the blue and white and one lone Hummel.
It does have a lovely door with a nice detail. It does brighten that corner and of course, anything blue and white always brings a smile to my face.

It's Monday which means that it's Blue Monday -- so please join Smiling Sally to see other blues this Monday!

Reprise -- An Autumnal Equinox

This year, the autumnal equinox falls on Tuesday, September 21 but alas, Linderhof is not decorated for fall -- either inside or outside this year. And it will be a while before Linderhof is decorated for Fall. It was fun to see what I had done last year and am eager to be able to get out and about to get my fall decoratives but, alas, it will be a while yet. Fall will come late to Linderhof this year.

It's Sunday and so I'm sharing my Sunday Favorite with Chari at Happy to Design. Please join her and see what other favorites have been chosen this Sunday.

Tuesday, September 22, is the first day of fall or the Autumnal Equinox. The day is as long as the night and as September progresses the days will become shorter and the nights longer until December when we have the shortest day and the longest night and the days start getting longer again.

Each year, the first of September finds me thinking about Fall Decorations but what with Labor Day and other late summer activities, the best laid plans . . . .

And then, I realize (egads) that it is truly fall and decorations must be gotten out. One cannot have summer decorations out in fall any more than one can have Christmas decorations for Valentine's!

My decorations are simple -- pumpkins, gourds, branches of bittersweet and fall colored leaves. Perhaps some pheasant feathers.

But these are only half of the fall decorations, for come early October, the plants come in -- that is the final fall (and winter) decoration.

The big blue and white vase and big blue and white ginger jar on the mantle hold leaves and bittersweet in fall. At Christmas they hold branches of greenery and in spring, pussy willow and forsythia. You can tell the season by what are in these vases.

The blackamoors on the mantle were an estate sale find. I paid more for them than I usually do for an estate sale pretty but I had just gotten a new Charles Faudree book and he had blackamoors . . . and there they were. Home to Linderhof they came and they've been on the mantle ever since.

Imagine my surprise this weekend when the newest issue of Traditional Home magazine came and in one of the featured homes were the exact same blackamoors. Found at a Paris flea market the article said. I think I found a treasure and are certainly worth the $30 I paid for them!

The bowls of summer potpourri are replaced with pumpkins. These are faux. Sparkly and green -- they add a nice shimmer. I've had them forever -- bought long long ago at Hobby Lobby and whenever I go through fall decorations, these little guys always make the cut.

At the foot of the stairs is a table and a cloisonne bowl. Filled with leaves and bittersweet and feathers, it makes a statement for fall.

The breakfast room has it's own blue and white bowl. Filled with pumpkins both stripe and orange ones.
A bouquet of garden flowers are sometimes picked and placed in a vase next to the pumpkin bowl.
Another blue and white bowl -- this one bigger and Asian rather than English. Filled with pumpkis and gourds and sprigs of bittersweet.
A gauzy tablecloth with autumn leaves add to the feeling of fall.
On the sideboard, the big blue and white vase holds more bittersweet and leaves. I've been eyeing some purply blue berries to add to this arrangement. I think it will be a great addition!

I don't add fall to the dining room mantle, but the pumpkins and gourds on the dining room table and the leaves and bittersweet on the sideboard says fall.

The front porch welcomes our guests and so it needs to feel like fall as well. Pumpkins and gourds and bittersweet in a basket as well as the hurricane that lives on the porch is just the touch of fall that the porch table needs.

And the glass topped iron table with the iron urns filled with fall leaves and the big pumpkin bought 3 years ago for a pittance because it was almost Thanksgiving.

The little gnome is always on the table -- an early marriage purchase -- it now has great patina. We both like to read and what better souvenier than a bookish gnome!

The colors of fall seem to go well at Linderhof. We enjoy decorating for the season and after Christmas, fall is probably our favorite.

I'm ready now for the Autumnal Equinox tomorrow. Linderhof is finally clad in her fall finery -- both inside and out.

Please join me at Rose Colored Glasses for a Welcome Fall Party. It's always so much fun to see what everyone else is doing to decorate for fall.

A Summer Survivor

This summer was brutal on the prairie -- hardly any rain in August and temperatures and heat indicies way above 100. It takes a touch plant to not only survive but thrive.

This begonia is a survivor which blooms it's heart out.

It's planted in an old concrete planter and it provides some lovely bloom to the patio. I'm not sure what variety it is but it's the second year I've been able to find this particular begonia and have planted it in this particular spot. With very little water (either from me or the sky), it has thrived. Alas, it is lost to frost and the concrete pot is too big to carry inside for the winter. Next spring, I will be looking for more of this begonia for this pot. It's a real winner at Linderhof!

Please join Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more pink Saturday posts.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA

Daughter Sarah was here the first week after surgery which meant that tasty gourmet meals were served at Linderhof. After the hospital food, they were especially welcoming -- some were old family favorites and others were favorites of hers.

This is a great lasagna -- made with butternut squash and a white sauce rather than meat and a red sauce.

We ate it as a vegetarian main course, but it could also be served as a side dish alongside a grilled pork chop or perhaps a roasted pork loin.
With a salad and some crusty bread, it was a great dinner. And the good news . . . . there are two more pans in the fridge waiting to be baked so we'll get to enjoy this tasty lasagna again!

It's from the Boca Raton Junior League Cookbook and is easy to prepare (although I've never made it) but, alas, I can't share the recipe with you -- darling Sarah took the book upstairs and I've yet to traverse the stairs! I will, however, share it later.

It's Friday and although I'm "gimpy" its fun to participate again in Foodie Friday -- so please join Michael at Designs by Gollum to see what other tasty tempting treats are coming out of kitchens this Friday!

Thanks to Carolyn at A Southern Notebook, below is the recipe -- she has the cookbook and was kind enough to share!!! If you haven't visited her, please do.

GOLDEN BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA

3 pounds butternut squash

3 T. vegetable oil

salt to taste

4 c. milk

2 T. dried rosemary leaves, crumbled

1 T. minced garlic

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1/4 c. flour

pepper to taste

9 uncooked lasagne noodles

8 ounces fontina cheese, thinly sliced

1 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 t. salt

Garnish: rosemary leaves

Cut the squash into quarters, discarding the seeds. Peel the squash and cut into 1/4 inch pieces. Toss with the oil. Spread in a single layer in 2 oiled shallow roasting pans. Roast at 450 for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt to taste and roast for 10 to 15 minutes longer or until tender and light golden brown.

Combine the milk with the rosemary in a saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain through a sieve into a pitcher and reserve.

Saute the garlic in the butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium-low heat until tender. Stir in the flour. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and whisk in the milk. Simmer for 10 minutes or until thickened, whisking constantly. Stir in the squash and salt and pepper to taste.

Cook the lasagne noodles using the package directios. Drain and hold in cold water until needed. Spread 1 cup of the squash sauce in a buttered 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Layer 3 noodles over the sauce. Spread with half the remaining sauce, half the fontina cheese and 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese. Repeat the layers ad top with a layer of noodles.

Beat the cream with 1/2 t. salt in a mixing bowl until soft peaks form. Spread evenly only the layers, covering completely. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil tented so as not to touch the top layer.

Reduce the oven temperature to 375. Bake the lasagne on the center oven rack for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 10 minutes longer or until bubbly and golden brown. Garnish with rosemary.

Note: The squash mixture can be made up to 3 days in advance. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface and store in the refrigerator.

Serves 6 as a main dish or 12 as a side dish.

Reprise -- A Fall Dinner Party in the Garden

With my second knee surgery, entertaining at Linderhof is once more on hold and instead of entertaining, we revisit some of our dinners or luncheons that we have had in the past. Alas, I will be glad when I'm totally up and around again and can live in the present (hosting dinner parties) or future (planning dinner parties) rather than live in the past!

We love to entertain in the garden, but this year, because of the horrid heat of July and August and the fact of my surgery, we didn't entertain in the garden at all this year!

Alas, this week, we've had way too many storms to even be able to think about entertaining outside -- even if we were able.

So I go back to September 2009, to a party that we gave in the garden. It's always fun to have friends join us whether inside or outside and we do relish the outdoor entertaining season which is far too short on the prairie.

It's Thursday which means that it's Tablescape Thursday so please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for other Thursday tables.

While at Linderhof, we revisit a September dinner.

The best thing about fall on the prairie is that we once again can enjoy the outdoors -- summer is usually too hot but in the spring and fall . . . .

Saturday night we had 12 over for dinner before the show at the Liberty. A casual affair of brats, 3 salads, and that wonderful Oma's Apple Cake for dessert. Mostly beer but some wine was served as well.

The tablecloths were a day before garage sale find -- old Williams Sonoma ones -- and not three but six! Different sizes but it is nice to have a patio party and have ALL the tablecloths match!
If it's a party at Linderhof, it's blue and white! The plates look good on the sage green print tablecloths. White Hotel napkins (my everyday napkins actually) for each place. Outside, the silver napkin rings ARE NOT used!
Glass canning jars filled with garden basil and a yellow annual that I've forgotten the name of. And because it was fall -- pumpkins as well. Husband Jim felt the new tablecloths made the garden feel like fall -- much more so than the summer yellow and blue ones! I agree!
We're twelve at two tables for four -- but it's okay to squeeze in -- especially for a casual patio party!
The centerpieces kept small but fresh. The yellow flowers were bought three years ago and they reseed themselves -- they're a great annual but a mystery annual because I've forgotten their name!

We love to entertain both inside and outside and with the beautiful fall weather, garden parties are perfect.

Please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see the other Tablescapes for this Tablescape Thursday.

Reprise - Fall Means Mums

Mums at this time of year at Linderhof are but a mere thought. My surgery keeps me indoors. Alas, no trip to the mum farm nor the pumpkin patch for probably most of September -- fall decorations at Linderhof in 2010 will start in October!

I was thinking of mums this time last year as well -- the post, originally posted, September 7, 2009, were about the fall mums.

Which I adore and with pumpkins and falling leaves make the outside garden seem so seasonal!

I'll patiently wait until I can get out and about and then I will truly share my fall garden on another Outdoor Wednesday. Please join Susan at A Southern Daydreamer to see the rest of the outdoors this Wednesday!

What is fall without mums?

Whether in the garden or in pots replacing spent summer annuals?

There are some in the garden which we do keep pinched back so that they bloom in late summer and early fall. We buy a few small plants each year to add color to the garden NOW and added color to the garden in years to come.

There are always a couple of pots that I like to put mums in for fall color. The rest of the pots get planted with pansies which not only add bright color spots in the fall but if we have a mild winter, they'll bloom all winter long.

We get our mums from good friends Brian and Tara. They grow thousands and thousands of them and a few pots come home to Linderhof. Bought early when they are in bud -- they'll last up to the middle of November and sometimes right up to Thanksgiving.

I'm always at a loss as to colors -- every color seems so perfect -- the bronzes, the reds, the rusts, the yellows, the oranges and even the whites.

But year after year, it seems that the oranges and yellows come home to Linderhof. They seem brighter when seen from the street and also, I think, go better with the pumpkins piled here and there at Linderhof.

It's once again mum time and one small pot of yellow mums are on the back brick stairs. The mums in the side garden are budding. I've yet to make my trip to the Mum Farm but soon, several pots will join that first one in the garden and Linderhof will be abloom again.

The Convent's Colored Engravings

For many many years, Fort Scott had a convent for the Sisters of Mercy. They ran a hospital, a nursing school, and the nuns that worked and ran the hospital and nursing school lived in the convent.

Alas, things change and all but one of the Sisters was moved to Saint Louis and the convent was closed. When it was closed, the items were auctioned off. And, of course, we were there!

On the walk through, I saw these drawings and realized how great they would be for Linderhof's kitchen. I love art in the kitchen but not just any art -- it has to be special and these colored engravings were special!

They sold the lot at so much per and take as many as you want -- the best way in my opinion to sell them.

For a minute, I thought I had them at $5.00 each but ended up paying $15 for alas, I had competition!

They are engravings about food -- drawn up to an architect's specification and handcolored. They date to October 1, 1980 and were given to the Sisters by a Nevada architect friend of ours, Jim Adams.

Spaghetti and meatballs and fried chicken . . . .
Lobster Thermador and Grand Marnier Souffle . . .

There are two more -- but daughter Sarah has those -- bread and an ice cream sundae. Someday, the six will be reunited.

I did have them in the kitchen for a long time but their original frames fell apart and they fell off the wall and broke damaging one of the pictures. I found new frames that aren't as dramatic as the originals but are more sturdier. And I moved them . . . . to the breakfast room. The perfect place for these special rare pictures.

A great memory of some great ladies who certainly did a lot for our little town on the prairie and a memory also of a dear friend of ours.

It's Tuesday and so it's time for Three or More Tuesday. Please join Tam at A Gypsy's Corner to see other threesies this Tuesday!

It's Complete!!!

Last Wednesday, I underwent the second knee replacement surgery. I am home now and with two knees I am about to metamorphosis not into Super Woman or Bionic Woman but into a forty-year-old!

I am still hobbling a bit with a walker and much time is devoted to exercises and the machine and I am sleeping a lot (could it be the almost non-existent sleep I had in the hospital -- just when you fall asleep, someone comes in to make sure that you're awake because they have to a) draw blood, b) take your vitals, c) give you a pill, d) all of the above!)

But I am looking forward to a few more weeks when I'm off walker and cane and back to my normal self. I could not believe how much more I could do with just one good knee -- think how much better I'll be with two!!!!

Going from a bone into bone with two big bone spur knee to a perfect (although faux) knee is truly a metamorphosis. I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday!

Reprise - Shirley's Strawberries

It's Sunday which means that it's time for Sunday Favorites with Chari at Happy to Design.

This is a favorite of ours and one that I thought I would share again as strawberry season is now long gone and what a beautiful candy or decoration for a cookie or cake plate.

Named for best friend Shirley Ann who gave me the recipe eons ago.

I'm still recuperating well from K2 (as I call my second surgery) but I love to participate in Sunday Favorites whether I'm mobile or not!!!!

A wonderful sweet treat, these strawberries made from J-ello, pecans, coconut, shaped like strawberries and rolled in red sugar. A food colored slivered of almond stuck in the top. They make a great Christmas candy but also are a delight on a tray of tea goodies.

My friend Shirley Ann first made these and gave me the recipe. It was long long ago for I've had the recipe "forever" -- it even predates daughter Sarah!

At Linderhof, it's not Christmas nor am I having a tea but rather I made these as decoration for a strawberry cake that is to be served at my sorority event this evening. I think it shall be pretty, each piece of pink strawberry filled cake topped with one of these strawberries.
I call the recipe Shirley's strawberries although I'm sure the real name must be J-ello strawberries. One of those recipes thought up by the company that makes the product as another way to use their product. But it is a good recipe and a fun confection both to make and to eat.

Shirley's Strawberries

2 (3 oz.) strawberries Jello
1 c. pecan ground
1 c. coconut ground
3/4 c. sweet condensed milk
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Red sugar
Sliced almonds

Add all the above ingredients together (except for the red sugar and almonds) and chill for 1 hour or overnight. Sliced almonds, add green food coloring to these until you get color of green you want. Take strawberry mix and shape with hand looking like a red strawberry. Next roll in red sugar until coated. Stick green almonds for steam. Keep in refrigerator will last a week in refrigerator.

Reprise - Pink China

I want to than Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for featuring Linderhof today. I truly feel honored!

Since I am just home from K2 (as we call it at Linderhof -- my second knee replacement surgery) I am reposting an earlier post.

You all know that my passion is blue and white china but I also have a passion for Asian influenced pink floral china. It's amazing how many manufacturers produce similar patterns. And it is also amazing at how (like the blue transferware) that they all go well together.

You know how I love blue and white china and blue and white china abounds at Linderhof -- we use it for both company dinners as well as every day. My breakfast coffee is drunk from blue and white and my afternoon tea is poured from a wee blue and white pot.

But, I do have other china loves . . . Oriental china -- again in blue and white and the porcelain known as famille rose. Alas, I have no real pieces of famille rose at Linderhof, however . . .

I do have these --

It's by Spode and the pattern name is Famille Rose. I have six cups and saucers which I've had for a long long time. In the cupboard and almost forgotten until I did January cleaning this year. I moved them to the front of the cupboard so that they would not remain forgotten.

Also, there are six tea plates (or bread and butter plates). Bought on line after I rediscovered the cups and saucers and decided that I needed tea plates to go with!

It's a great tea cup and has such a pretty design in the bottom of the cup. When you finish your tea, the design makes you smile!

And I do love the pink flowers -- Oriental mums or poppies (you decide) -- and the other flowers as well. And it has some of my beloved blue in the design.

A salad plate -- it's by Crown Staffordshire and called Rock Bird. The same pink flower -- enhanced by a bird. These six salad plates and a platter were an Estate Sale find last summer. I was drawn to them by both the design and the price (a really good buy!).

When I rediscovered the tea cups and saucers, I thought that these might make a good mix for the Spode.
And then I found the Wedgwood. Again, a set of six. This pattern is cuckoo and it is the same Famille Rose type design with the poppy, some blue and like the salad, a bird. It's fine china and Wedgwood is so special.

I like to mix and match and these three patterns seem to go together very well.
It sets a very pretty tea table (the Spode cups and plates for tea -- the Wedgwood on the curate for tea goodies)
And the Rock Bird for salad plates with the Wedgwood cuckoo underneath waiting for the main course at a dinner party.

Alas, I yearn for a teapot in the Wedgwood Cuckoo pattern. Replacements HAD one listed but when I ordered it, they found that it was not in stock (sigh). I'm still yearning for one and am constantly searching ebay for this elusive and coveted teapot.

It's Saturday which means that Beverly is hosting Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound. Join her and see what other pinks there are this Saturday.

We also must remember that today is 9/11 -- and remember to include the victims and heroes of this historic day in our prayers today. Husband Jim is singing the National Anthem at a function at noon today in remembrance of 9/11.