Dreaming of Spring

Okay, single digit temperatures have got to go.

We have had enough of the deep freezer temps to last several winters.

It's time to think about warm sunshine, flowers, bird songs, and fresh air.

Here's to a lovely Monday in February!

I hope your day goes well!

The Protection of Angels

Thinking about the presence of angels brings a feeling of deep peace and contentment.

Angels are supposed to protect humans, too. That's a comforting thought when one thinks about the chaos and turmoil often seen in the world.

Angels are gentle beings, sent by God, to protect His children on earth.

Lots of angels can be seen near Valentine's Day, the holiday of love.

Angels, after all, signify love.

It's pleasant to think of angels as our lights in the world. 

Humans don't have to fear anything, knowing that angels are around to bring protection and precious love.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD ENCOUNTERS WITH ANGELS?

Dreamy Lace

 

It's hard to find lace tablecloths, (or anything else lacy),  in this neck of the woods.

Checks with stores like Marshalls and T.J. Maxx turn up zilch in the lace department. 

Finally, a stop at a Goodwill thrift store, I found a really lovely lace cloth that would fit a small table.

I snagged it.

It's perfect over a red cloth, selected for the upcoming Valentine's Day.

There is just something about lace that is absolutely appealing.

Is it too old-fashioned to be out of favor these days?

It doesn't matter if it's considered obsolete. 

I love anything lacy, always have, always will.

DO YOU LIKE THINGS MADE OUT OF LACE?

Chocolate Decadence

 

It's quite shocking that this week found the oven on quite a bit for baking!

It had been awhile since that former pasttime occurred. 

However, with temps in the low teens and single digits, baking at night warmed up the apartment, just in time for bed. 

Also, a grandchildren visit was coming and the dessert-of-choice turned out to be "anything very chocolatey."

So after some mad mixing, a dark chocolate cake went into the oven.

While making the chocolate frosting to go with the cake, I lamented there was no Hershey's cocoa powder to be mixed into the confectionary sugar and Philadelphia cream cheese.

The thought of going out into the Arctic Tundra and returning to the supermarket made me frantically reach for Google on my cell phone.

Could chocolate frosting be made with chocolate chips?  Yes!

A half package of chips melted nicely in a little pan on the stove.  

One had to wait until the mixture cooled because it was revealed that adding warm  chocolate would make the frosting runny.

Okayyyyyyy.  Cool chocolate mixture, cream cheese and confectionary sugar whirled via hand mixer beaters into a creamy, fabulously delicious frosting.

The kids gobbled some of the cake but the rest has got to be distributed to others and fast.

It is like having a temptation monster on the kitchen counter.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT? 

Let There Be Light

The current temp in western Massachusetts is a "balmy" 18 degrees and it's not noon yet. 

During deep freezes, like we are in, coming home at night from errands, visits, or wherever, is a pure joy.

The first thing I do is switch on lights. 

In the small living room, itself, I use three different lamps, one of which is shown in today's video.

Anything fringed sets my heart on fire and, of course, pink is my favorite color.

So the lamp shown casts beautiful light . 

There's a lamp to the side of the lounge chair from which I watch television and there's another fringed lamp on the kitchen table/counter.

Way over by the stove, a lamp, fringed with cranberry-colored beads, gets switched on when more light is needed.

The many lights create a fabulous ambiance in this small apartment and make me want to stay home forever.

However, the next morning, it's get up and go time!

DO YOU USE A LOT OF LIGHTS, TOO?