THE SCOOP #112

WELCOME TO THE SCOOP #112!

This week at StoneGable, I have lined up some fun Spring and Easter posts! Make sure to stop back for  some new decorating going on too!

To see what to expect at StoneGable this week... check the picture above...

PANSIES IN TEA CUPS...A TINY SPRING DIY

Oh my, how I love little the lion faced pansy! It is a sweet harbinger of spring! 

Pansies are very inexpensive and make fun and unexpected arrangements indoors.

This year I put pansies in tea cups!

ON THE MENU~ WEEK OF MARCH 31, 2014

Spring is slowly coming to StoneGable! And my menus will start to reflect all the great spring seasonal foods now available! I'm loading up on asparagus, artichokes, and salads... as well as tomatoes and basil!

Because we are big carnivores here at StoneGable, I won't be forgetting lots of great main dish recipes, too!

If you make one thing from this week's menu try OVEN BBQ RIBS. The are sooooo delicious and ridiculously easy to make!  It's all about the MAGIC BBQ RUB. You won't be disappointed!

Now, here's what's on this week's menu...

WHO DO YOU IMITATE?

photo source

They say, "Imitation is the best form of flattery".

We all do it... imitate!

We copy hairstyles, and home decor and speech patterns and ideas...

Imitation can be both good and bad according to the example we try to mirror.

Today let's talk about who we imitate the most and what that has to do with our eternal destiny...

5 INTERESTING WAYS TO USE NAPKINS AND NAPKIN RINGS... A TABLESCAPE SERIES, PART III

Napkins are not only a useful but very important part of setting a table. They tidy us up as we eat but they can also bring interest and fun and beauty to any table we set!

Why settle for paper napkins when there are so many gorgeous and inexpensive napkin alternatives!

Today, as part of our HOW TO SET A BEAUTIFUL TABLE series, we will look at 5 interesting ways napkins can not only be useful but beautiful as well...

WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN THESE CHIPPY FRAMES?

I found these fabulous square chippy frames at Luckett's last week and knew they would go on the bare wall in the dining room!

Now I need your help...PLEASE!!!! Put on your thinking caps and help me come up with something creative to put in them....

NEW HARDWOOD FLOORS IN THE FAMILY ROOM

I've been waiting a long long time to share these floors with you. Finally... there are new hardwood floors in the family room!

Here is what the room looked like before (with the ugly fuzzy carpet)...

THE SCOOP #110

Hello, Friennds!

I'm so thrilled you are here with me at 

THE SCOOP #110

Lots and lots and tons and tons of inspiration and creativity!

Have you seen my easy and pretty and delicious RASPBERRY LEMON CURD FLOWER TARTLETS. They are perfect for any spring gathering!

This is just one example of  giving my readers the scoop on bloggers best...

THIS IS MAYHEM!!!!!

This is what the whole downstairs of my house looked like this weekend. 

 It sorta reminded me of when my kids were little and I was sick in bed with the flu and Daddy was watching them. I just knew mayhem would sneek in the back door while I was too sick to care! I knew that mayhem would be downstairs making my house look like a tornado had ripped through it, disheveling my children so much that I could hardly recognize them with peanut butter in their hair and mismatched shoes and big grinning chocolate covered mouths!

This weekend mayhem revisited StoneGable!

It did not start with the flu this time... but a trip to the jewelry store...

ON THE MENU MONDAY

They say...March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. 

Here, at StoneGable, the end of march is still roaring... so I have both spring inspired and wintry soups and stew recipes on the menu!

If you try one thing this week the Parmesan Asparagus Roll-Ups are my pick. The will certainly get you in the mood for Spring! So scrumptious and easy to make.

Now, here's what's ON THE MENU...

THE ANCIENT OF DAYS

One of my favorite names for God is "Ancient of Days". It's a very timeworn name, which first appears in the Book of Daniel, Chapter 7.

The date is 553 BC. Daniel has a dream and a vision given by God about the Gentile nations of the world and God's dealing with them. It is a dream of prophesy.

Part of Daniel's dream gives him a look into heaven... and what a sight he sees!

Let's set the heavely scene and discover this beautiful name for God... Ancient Of Days...

RASPBERRY LEMON CURD FLOWER TARTLETS

 Raspberry Lemon Curd Flower Tartlets are the most refreshing little bite of  something sweet and delicious!

They would be perfect to serve at a tea, or Easter brunch or a Mother's Day luncheon!

And what makes them even better... they are so easy to make!!!!

These fit into the WOW FACTOR dessert category...

SPRING KITCHEN VIGNETTE

Creating a seasonal vignettes is my favorite way to decorate the kitchen table!

It's so much fun to play with my dishes and fun elements to make a vignette that brings the outdoor season inside!

This spring vignette is all about tulips and stock and eggs and bunnies and that beautiful spring green that all of nature turns after a long winter's nap...

ONION SKIN DYED EGGS DIY

I make onion skin dyed Easter eggs each spring. This tradition has gone back generations and generations in my family.

Onion skin dyed eggs so easy and  even more satisfying to make. A basket of these almost magical eggs are a real treasure! Deep oranges, warm browns, soft terracotta. Not your typical Easter colors. But once you see them you will understand!

I hope you will make these beautiful, earthy harbingers of Easter and start your own tradition...

THE SCOOP #110

Welcome back to 

THE SCOOP #110

Even thought we got 4 inches of snow today, Spring is in the air here at StoneGable! I'm working on several fun spring projects for you for this week. See the Upcoming Posts above!

And make sure you check out these recent posts with you in mind...

10 AMAZING SPRING PROJECTS FROM THE SCOOP!

I'm so impressed, excited, wow-ed, and inspired by all the wonderful and creative projects from

THE SCOOP'S MEGA SPRING LINKY PARTY

that I just had to share 10 of my favorite. I think you will love them too...

CHALKBOARD ART FREE PRINTABLE OF PSALM 118:24

Happy Sunday!

Last week the free printable of Joshua 24:15 was so popular I made another!

Click HERE  to get the free printable... and rejoice!

THE DIP

I have been making this easy Parmesan dip for decades.

It is known as THE dip... that's all... just THE dip!

It's the only dip I ever really need to make and it can be whipped up with things I have in my pantry and frig!

Don't let the simple ingredients fool you... it is goo-oo-ood!   This is is a keeper recipe...

5 TIPS FOR A BEAUTIFUL CENTERPIECE.. Part II in a tablescaping series

Last week as part of a Tablescaping Series, we talked about adding POP, PRETTY AND PIZZAZZ to a tables by choosing and creatively using dishes.

And this week it is all about centerpieces! Centerpieces are focal points of a table. Here are 5 tips to make your centerpieces a star...

PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE!!!!!!

Do you make pro/con lists? I do, at least in my head.  

A pro/con list can really help pinpoint and direct me to the right decision. I have a pretty strong emotional side that can happily and exuberantly lead me down one path without much thought!

This month we are making a few changes to the family room. New hardwood floors and a new chair.

I would love your input with the chair decision...

SMALL CHANGES IN THE GUEST ROOM

I'm making a couple of small changes in the guest room this spring.  I'm hoping our guest will feel so welcomed and pampered.

This room is very tailored and has lots of space for our guests to move about and feel comfortable. So I don't want to clutter it with lots of chotchkies or other things.

So instead of hanging a picture above the bedside table I hung a bulletin board...

THE SCOOP #109

I'ts SCOOP time!

I want to thank everyone for participating in THE SCOOP  and THE MEGA SPRING LINKY PARTY.

We had 683 fabulously creative and inspiring links! Thanks so much!!!!

To see what I have lined up for this week, see the Upcoming Posts above...

HOW TO FEATHER A STORE BOUGHT NEST

Nest are a beautiful part of Spring... and Spring decorating.

What if I could show you how to take a plain and ordinary nest and make it over-the-top fabulous?

I have a formula that will work with almost any nest and a few extra elements!

Here's my secret for feathering a store bought nest...

WOVEN BURLAP RUNNER DIY

Let's get busy and do a fun spring project!

This easy to make, no-sew BURLAP RUNNER may be great to use all year round... but it's pretty woven pattern and easy breezy burlap ribbon is perfect for spring!

This runner has a very "anthropologie-ish " look without the price! 

Here's how to make it...

CHALKBOARD ART BIBLE VERSE~FREE PRINTABLE

This beautiful verse from the Bible is etched in the cement of our garage floor near the side entrance to our home.

It reminds us that we will be faithful servants to the Lord.

I made this chalkboard art for my sweet daughter-in-law. She wanted this verse to put in a frame.

Now you can download it too...

THE BEST SOUR CREAM COFFEE CAKE!

One of my favorite sweet indulgences is a good coffee cake!

And out of all the coffee cakes I have ever make, this is is the best!

It has a moist crumb and a not too sweet crumble. I made 2 coffee cakes in loaf pans One to eat now and another to freeze... that is, if it lasts that long...

ADDING POP, PRETTY AND PIZZAZZ TO ANY TABLE, PART I

One of my favorite ways to make a tablescape memorable is to add something simple yet special to each place setting.

It's like a personal welcome to each family member or guest as they sit down to the table!

This is part 1 in a tablescaping series...

ADDING POP, PRETTY AND PIZZAZZ TO ANY TABLE

Here's one way to make a table memorable!

TOP 5 QUESTIONS STONEGABLE READER ASK

I get lots and lots of emails asking me all kinds of questions.  Everything from how I like blogging to what size the rug in my dining room is...

I thought I would answer the most asked questions recently...

THE SCOOP #108 AND MEGA SPRING LINKY PARTY

Welcome to the SCOOP #108

And

THE SCOOP'S MEGA SPRING LINKY PARTY

The weekly linky party featuring "the scoop" on the best posts from around the web!

EARLY SPRING...

Early Spring  is the time when the earth wakes up from it's long winter's nap and all of nature starts to bud and bloom!

 March has come in like a roaring lion here... and the forecast is calling for another 6-10 inches of snow tonight into tomorrow evening.  Not what I want to hear...

Since Spring is not outside my window just yet, I'm forcing it to come alive in my dining room...

GREETING GOD EACH MORNING

When you open your eyes each morning how do you greet the day? More importantly how do you greet God?

Factoring God into our day can have a major impact on it.

Let's talk about the habit of spending time with God each morning...

FORSYTHIA WREATH DIY

Happy March 1st!

Let's celebrate a new month and Spring's coming by making a Forsythia wreath for our front door!

Forsythia are beautiful brambly early Spring flowers.

They are wild, bright, school bus yellow blooms on long tangled branches. And they are a sure sign Spring is here to stay!

Welcome Spring and family and guest to you home with a big forsythia wreath hanging on your front door...