Today.....

I am a bit overwhelmed with stenciling, sewing, wrapping & the overall preparation for this Saturday's "Queen Bee Market". Excited.... yes, & thankful.... yes, but at this very moment the days seem as if they are running together.....& time of day?...I'm really not sure?....It seems the last few nights I have been working really late sewing, then getting up early to resume the very same task I was doing a few hours before. The lighting is different, but other than that everything is the same. I am embarrassed to say the dinner dishes are still soaking in the sink from last night & I am still in my pajamas at 12:30pm.....Oh! What a glamorous life I lead.

I will stop whining now..... off to the patio for a break & hopefully a little "mood adjusting"!......
Heidi XO

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Sometimes "Good Guys" Do Finish First".....

evA couple Sundays ago,professional golfer Phil Mickelson won the Master's Golf Tournament. I sat with my husband watching as Phil finished the last few holes,.... won & then walked into the arms of his wife Amy. I'm sure many of you did as well.
My husband & I turned to each other & agreed that ""karma.... decency & love" had finally triumphed!.....The "good guy" had won...& it simply felt wonderful!
And then this morning my husband e-mailed me this article
"Mickelson's win a victory for women"which really says it all!
Golf fan of not, you must read this lovely article!.....It will restore your faith in good husbands, marriage & family!.....especially after these last few months where Tiger Woods showed such utter disrespect for each.
Congratulations to Phil!...and to Amy!.....Sometimes good guys do finish first!

Heidi XO

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A Good Morning....

Good morning!.......It is a rainy cool morning here at my house, & I am loving it!!...Here in Southern California drizzly mornings are somewhat rare, so I cherish each & every one!.....
So this morning I have a question that I would so appreciate some help with. I would love to find a wonderful "lilac scented candle" or maybe even "soap" for my kitchen. All I can find are products that seem somewhat artificial?....do you know what I mean?
I had the pleasure of growing up surrounded by glorious lilac bushes, large & small scattered all around our yard, so I know what an enchanting scent that is! ( not too many lilacs in So Cal)....So at this time each year I begin to yearn for that scent to be wafting through this little house of mine!...
I would so appreciate any suggestions you might have!!.....Looking forward to hearing back!
Here's to rainy mornings & lilac bouquets!.....
Your friend, Heidi XO

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A Happily Busy Day.....

Happy Tuesday Friends, Have spent the day running lots & lots of errands!.....but back now. I have poured myself a tall ice tea & am taking a bit of time before attending to dinner,...to work on my May issue of "Living Little with Heidi".....which will be finished & sent to you all very soon! ( e-mail me at heididevlin@gmail.com if you would like to receive my on-line newsletter...all about decorating, cooking, entertaining & gardening)
May's issue is coming along very nicely I must say....& one of the reasons is an entire section dedicated to "Rhubarb Recipes"!.....I adore "rhubarb"!...that deliciously " tart spring fruit" that is perfect in so many recipes!....So without giving away to much, I did want to give you & your tastebuds.... just a little of what's in store, "rhubarb-wise"! Here is one of the recipes I will be including....."Rhubarb Streusel Bread".....simply amazing!!.....Enjoy!......Heidi XO

"RHUBARB STREUSEL BREAD"

Ingredients:

1		cup sugar
1/2		cup butter, softened
1/3		cup orange juice
2		eggs
2		cups all-purpose flour
1		teaspoon baking powder
1/4		teaspoon baking soda
1/4		teaspoon salt
1 1/2		cups (1/4-inch) sliced fresh rhubarb*

Streusel Ingredients:

2		tablespoons sugar
2		tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1		tablespoon all-purpose flour
1		tablespoon butter, melted
1 1/2		teaspoons ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour 8x4-inch loaf pan.

Combine 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add orange juice and eggs. Continue beating just until mixed. (Mixture will look slightly curdled.) Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt by hand just until moistened. Gently stir in rhubarb. (Batter will be thick.)

Reserve 1 1/2 cups batter. Spread remaining batter into prepared pan. Combine all streusel ingredients in small bowl; stir until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle half of streusel over batter in pan; gently press into batter. Carefully spread reserved batter into pan; top with remaining streusel. Press streusel into batter.

Bake for 65 to 70 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan.

*Substitute 1 1/2 cups frozen rhubarb, thawed.

Recipe Tip
Bread can be baked in greased and floured 9x5-inch loaf pan. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes.

Recipe Tip
This is a great make-ahead bread as the flavors are almost better the second day. Once loaf is completely cooled, wrap in aluminum foil and refrigerate. This bread also freezes well.

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"Hiding Out" .....Stenciling, Stitiching, Stenciling, Stitiching ,etc. etc.!!

Sorry to have been absent for almost a week now!...I am preparing for the "Queen Bee Market", & have been stenciling & stitching almost continually for days now!......& there still is so much more to do!?.....My daughter Holly & I have both been asked to participate, Holly with her darling paper creations & I with my pillows!.... which we are just thrilled about! ...but we really want to be have lots of pretty items to bring, so that means keeping our "nose to the grindstone" now & not waiting till the last minute!
If you live in the Southern California area, I invite you to stop by the "market"!..It will be held on May 1st from 10-6 in Carlsbad, just north of San Diego. You can go to the
"Queen Bee" website to get all the information!

O.K. back to the workroom!......Hope to chat again soon!.....Enjoy your afternoon!

Your busy & slightly stressed friend, Heidi XO

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This Evening.....

"This Evening" was one of those evenings that turn out better than you could ever dream. After a day of running errands with my daughter Holly...& grandson Andrew, we returned home tired & feeling a bit cranky. It was almost dinnertime, with cooking being about the last thing I felt like doing. Holly suggested that the family put on their sneakers & take a walk over to the baseball fields in Old Poway, California where we live. It is a short walk....so we thought it the perfect opportunity to take a few baseballs, gloves & bats .....& have a little practice session!....So off we went!....My husband Ter, Holly, Andrew & I......

Now you have to understand that my interest in sports is small, if possibly non-existent!...So for me to commit to "pitching, hitting & catching" is simply unheard of!.....However, since the family is always looking for extra ways to fit in exercise.... & the fact that my grandson is showing signs of loving the game...& the other fact being that my husband is loving HAVING a grandson showing signs of loving the game....I decided that I too must get involved & have a good attitude.

Well, we all ended up having a "ball"!....We each took turns at all the baseball "positions".... ( is that what you call them?).....With my daughter making her dad proud!..... Who knew Holly had some talent when it comes to hitting a baseball?!

We then walked through the Old Poway Park, which happens to be something out of a Frank Capra movie, with a stream & large old trees & pathways connecting it all.....and at the far end is a darling old-fashioned restaurant called the "Hamburger Factory", where we enjoyed a delicious dinner!

And then the stroll home,...all happy, all content & all feeling very connected to the evening & to each other........I love you all.....(& possibly, maybe, could it be....baseball?)

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