Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Eat, Drink, and Be Witchy





There's a picnic 
in the neighborhood!

While out on a walk with Sadie
I noticed this pretty fall vignette across
the street on my friend Barbara's front patio.


Cleo must have overheard me
talking about how festive it all was.
She packed the picnic basket,  
gathered her friends, and flew right over.


Greta was 
the first to arrive.


She swept off the bricks,
 and Mr. Barnaby, Cleo's Cat Friday,
unloaded the basket and set up the feast of treats.

Miss Tilly supervised to make certain
everything was prim and proper.

While Tiny Tilda 
just squealed with delight.

Mr. Pudge, never one to 
miss a sweet treat, flew in the minute
the goodies began to tumble out of the basket.


Even a few black crows 
flew in to partake.

Yes, this witchy group 
knows how to party.


Cleo even packed the best
of my Halloween dishes.


Special Quimper plates
created in 2010 in limited production.


You can read more about
these HB-Henriot plates and the inspiration for 
their designs in a previous post here.


Pumpkins, Ghosts, and .   .   .


Big Blue Bats!
~Special Cookies for All ~
Cookie recipe here.

Vintage noise makers 
to let the neighbors know  
there's a party going on.


~ Chocolate Candies ~



~ Honey Crisp Apples ~ Candy Corn ~



These girls plan to

Eat,  Drink, and Be Witchy!



~ A Word Of Advice From Tiny Tilda ~

"Life is short.
Eat the good treats first."


This gaggle of friendly witches 
are long time residents here at HFTS.
You can read more about their 
previous witchy soirees here, here, and here.

Pssst, 
Lean in closely.  
Greta has a little secret to share.
The Tommy Hilfiger fringed wool throw
 was a recent thrift store find for $8.

Now that's something to cackle about!




Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Happy Birthday, Queen of Southern Novels






Michael Lee West

Queen of Southern Novels

Happy 60th Birthday, Michael Lee!





This post is a tribute to

 Michael Lee West,

 host of Rattlebridge Farm, Foodie Friday

and author of seven novels with

an eighth one, soon to be published.




Michael Lee lives on a farm 

in rural Tennessee 

with her husband, son, and 

a menagerie of animals.

You can find Michael Lee at her blog, 

Rattlebridge Farm

where she shares her love 

of gardening, baking, and Yorkies.




I had intended to host a 

birthday picnic in the garden, 

but Mother Nature didn't cooperate.

Not complaining!  We've had an incredible

12 inches, and it's still raining off and on.




Instead, I moved the celebration 

inside to the sun room.




The table is set with all white dishes for

Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish Challenge.




I chose green as my accent color, 

as I was the recent recipient of a gift package from


Carol sent me a package of cute tags stamped in green 

and white napkins with a beautiful lace edge

that she hand crocheted.




I tied a tag to each cup.

This is an adorable idea for

place cards for guests.




Each tag comes 

with an engraved heart.

Yes, we all LOVE you, 

Michael Lee!




Michael Lee writes with incredible wit, 

all the while interweaving delicious vignettes of 

food and recipes straight from the kitchens of 

her vivid and distinctly southern characters.

Michael Lee's novels will have you

Laughing Out Loud!




Look at Carol's beautiful hand work

in this lovingly crocheted lace edging.




It's a perfect compliment 

to the edges of the embossed plates 

by Certified International   .   .   .




As well as the graceful 

carving on the Mother of Pearl flatware.




I tucked these darling towels by Waverly 

between the salad and dinner plates 

to separate the white on white of the plates.

They are a perfect match to the green tablecloth 

and were a gift from Cuisine Kathleen a few years ago.

I don't think Kathleen will mind that 

I mixed in a touch of floral.

Thank again, Kathleen!




~ White, Green, and a Touch of Floral ~ 

Probably doesn't pass the challenge!





A special thank you to 


for the delightful gift package.




Now make a wish and 

blow out the candles,

birthday girl!





Happy Birthday, Michael Lee!





I know all you Foodie Friday bakers 

are eager to know how to make this special cake.

Lean in closely, and I'll share my secret.

First secure a large bag of packaged cotton candy.

Carefully unwrap and gently pull 

apart to fill large martini glass.

Handle as little as possible and work quickly!

Presto, instant birthday cake

cotton candy style! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Click here to see Michael Lee's 

work available on Amazon.




Joining the Novel Bakers and Friends

to celebrate our friend,

Michael Lee West.

Click the links below to join in as we celebrate.



Also Joining