No pictures...but lots of words :o)

Well....the camera cord seems to have won.

I can't find it and apparently it's enjoying its hiding spot way too much to come out.

So since I can't show you any pictures I'll tell you some fun things that have been going on around here!

One of the amazing things about this blog has been the unexpected.

It has been everywhere....unexpected friends, unexpected inspiration, unexpected fun.

So when I received an email about this post, it was quite (well you guessed it) unexpected.

Here is the email:

Katherine Ann,

My name is Susan Jenkins and I am an artist and writer. I am putting together a children’s book for a poem I wrote and I was looking for some inspiration and surfing images on the internet. I stumbled across a photo of what I am assuming must be your daughter with a crown of morning glories on her head. The image just shows the back of her head. This photo would be a great reference for me to use in one of the pages of my book. Even though I when I paint I typically change the image quite a bit, I still wanted to run it by you to see if I could use this pic to work into my painting.

The poem and book is called, “The Mountain Queen”. It is actually a story of my great-grandmother and her life in the Appalachian mountains. She used to weave morning glories to make a crown. I plan to have one of my paintings with a little girl looking out to the distant mountain and I really think this image could work well.

I know that even if I used the photo for reference you most likely would never see it, and even if you did might not recognize that it came from your photo…. But I still just wanted to run this by you. I would be more than happy to provide you with a print of the painting and copy of the book when it is done. I also would be happy to send you the poem if you wish.

Please just let me know if you are okay with me using the photo for my painting.

God bless and I look forward to hearing from you,

Susan Jenkins

www.susanjenkinsart.weebly.com

WOW! Needless to say I was blown away.

How amazing that someone else would find inspiration from my sweet little girls head!!

I am very protective about images of my children being on the internet (which is why I don't usually post their picture). Since this was of the back of her head I couldn't say no.

I immediately emailed Susan back (after checking her out on Google)! She then sent me a copy of the poem as well as the preliminary art work for the book....both are truly beautiful.

I would love to show the artwork to you, but I want to get her permission first....she may want to save it until the book comes out! But take my word for it...she is very talented :o)

...how fun is that!! She really made my week!

I would love to know what is the most unexpected and wonderful thing that has come your way via your blog?? These stories are too fun to keep to yourself!

....In the meantime...off I go on the camera cord hunt again :o)

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!!

where would a camera cord hide??

I have so many fun pictures to show you and I can't find my camera cord!!

....I'm on a mission now :o)

Will be posting once I find it!!

Wish me luck....I'm goin' in {he he he}

Spring.... come out, come out wherever you are!

So, you know it's a sad state of affairs when your current post is about wishing for Spring and your last post was about Autumn! Where have I been??? Wow, that was a long and unintended hiatus.

Other than the usual busyness of life, my oldest little girl has been having major sleep issues. It really has put a strain on the family as a whole. Unfortunately sleep is something I cannot function well without.....so I've been in zombie mode a lot.

Oh how I have missed my sweet blogging friends!!

I was a little afraid that I'd log on and all of my buddies would be long gone.....yay for people still being here :o)

So how are YOU?? I want to know the latest from everyone, so expect me to be stopping by your blog soon!

Glory days.....

No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one Autumnal face.
~John Donne

~Happy Monday sweet friends!!~

Ham & Cheese Croissant Bake

Here's a yummy little dish to warm you right up! It is from my most recent Southern Living (I adore that magazine)!

This is such a great recipe because you make it ahead AND you can have it for breakfast or dinner!!

Get everything ready....croissants, ham, cheese, eggs, half-and-half, dry mustard (ok, so I didn't actually have this), honey, salt, pepper, nutmeg.

First, cut the croissants and place them in the bottom of a greased deep-dish pie plate (10 inch).
I got this little pumpkin one at Kohl's! Top with the chopped ham and grated Swiss cheese.

Next, whisk the eggs, half-and-half, dry mustard, honey, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a large bowl.

Pour the egg mixture in to the pie plate. Make sure it covers all of the croissants.

Cover tightly and chill for 8 to 24 hours.

~The next morning you'll be loving yourself for putting this together!!~Bake this at 325 degrees, covered, for 35 minutes. After that, uncover and bake an additional 25-30 minutes. Let it stand 10 minutes before serving!!

With some fresh fruit and hash browns, this can't be beat ANY time of the day. Hope you enjoy!

Hope everyone has a wonderful, wonderful weekend!!

Ham-and-Cheese Croissant Casserole

3 (5-inch) large croissants
1 (8 oz.) package chopped cooked ham
1 (5 oz.) package shredded Swiss cheese
6 large eggs
1 cup half-and-half
1 Tbsp. dry mustard
2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg (optional)

A history lesson, don't worry, it's the fun kind!

My grandmother was known for several things. She was generous, forthright, and well....hmmm, she was quite bossy. That seems a little harsher than I intended....let's say she was an excellent manager :)

She would very willingly, tell anyone anywhere exactly what they were doing right, and, of course, what they weren't.

She grew up in a very wealthy family. Her father and grandfather started several textile mills in Georgia. This was the home she grew up in.


My grandfather always cooked for her because when she was growing up they had a cook in their home. In all her years she never learned how to cook....I guess she never needed to. I never saw her clean or do laundry either....it's funny what you remember.

She and my grandfather were married over 50 years.

50 years!

At times, you were sure they were going to kill each other if they had to live in the same house for one more moment. But I guess after 50 years you're allowed to get on each others nerves every now and then.

We never doubted they loved each other.

I saw my grandparents all the time. They lived in our family's 120 year old farm house right across the street from me. They were always there.

My great-grandfather (grandfather's father) was a gentleman farmer. My grandfather was a dairy farmer for many years.

These are the registry certificates for the cows that he had. My mother still remembers them from their names. I have these framed in my kitchen....I love the feel and the quiet whisper of family they bring.

My grandfather was a navigator on bombers in World War II. His plane was shot down over Germany.

He was a prisoner of war for 18 months. The war ended.......that's how he got to come home.
He said they woke up one morning and there weren't anymore guards...they had all left.

He is on the bottom row, second from the right.

I have things from him and my grandmother all over my home.

This photograph sits at my desk.

That's him again with two of my aunts. I have been told that this picture if from a photo shoot that Southern Living did of the farm house back in the 60's.

All the things you see in that picture, the coffee pot, the cake stand, the silver floral ring, even the Audubon plates in the background are all still around and in use. Each one of the 7 granddaughters now has one of the plates. You can find them on ebay from time to time....(there's one here).

There were always fried pancakes on mornings we would spend the night...and hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream. He was a great cook, he made everything taste so yummy...you know, lots of butter, salt, cream.....

Not sure if you can see this but it's a recipe of my grandfathers that my grandmother wrote out. It's Griffin's Date Nut Cake. I framed it and put it in my kitchen. She had beautiful penmanship...and it has his name on it...I love that.
They passed away less than a year apart.

They have left me with a deep and unique family heritage that I treasure, traditions that will continue, and a sense of self that is unbending.

Roots and wings...

The winner is......

Kim, from Daisy Cottage!!!!

Thanks for the comments :o)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and Kim will you please email me your mailing address?

Wishing you happiness this weekend!

.....I'll tell you all about this photo next week!