Sharing a little gift goodness with you!

I just love sharing gifts with you!

Mostly because you "get" me and love what I love

and then you can celebrate with me!!!

About a week or so ago a sweet friend on Facebook contacted me.

She sees all that I create because, believe me, I love using FB

as a marketing tool to sell my wares.

She knew how much I love old lace and how much I use in my sewing projects.

WELL.

She kindly asked for my address and told me that she had some old lace

that she wasn't going to do a thing with and would I want it?

OH YES I WOULD!!!

I gladly gave her my address and you have just got to see what she sent me!!

I have thanked her profusely and just can't believe it was a GIFT!

I truly am so very thankful to this sweet friend.

I can't imagine what it all would cost me at an antique store,

much more than I could ever, ever afford for sure!

Here it is all piled on top of each other...

you simply cannot see it all!!!

I can tell so much of it was handmade because there are pieces that are unfinished.

Beautiful though...

And what about the beautiful "E" ribbon??!

This large white linen piece is actually a pillowcase

with a flap on the end with lace trim and ties!!!

I had it folded in half for the photo but you get the idea ~

I want to wear it on my head it's so beautiful!!!!

GORGEOUS RIGHT??? Thank you so much dear friend...I will treasure it all!!!!

I can't remember if I've shared this recipe before but...

we've made it for years and our boys always LOVED it

and are now making it themselves!!!

Look below for the recipe ~

Gatlin Chicken

Ingredients:

1 cup cheddar cheese cracker crumbs (such as Cheez-its)
2 tbsp taco seasoning mix
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1-4 oz can chopped green chilies, drained

Directions:

Combine cracker crumbs and seasoning mix in a large bowl, stir well.
Toss chicken pieces in crumb/seasoning mixture then place into a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish or pan. Mix together whipping cream and remaining ingredients in the same large bowl, then pour over chicken.

Bake uncovered 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or until slightly brown on top and bubbly.

I only used four chicken breasts for us...it's just Noah, hubby and myself.

But I'm afraid I didn't cut any of the other ingredients in half!!!

HAHAHA!

Yes, it's so fattening, just don't make it very often, OK?

Happy Tuesday sweet friends!!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Thinking of you ~

Hi sweet friends....

I just wanted to pop in and say hello!

I promise, I'm still here but

my parents have come to visit us for a few days

and we are enjoying our time together!

Wishing you a beautiful Thursday dear friends!

hugs and love,

Dawn

A little baby update!

I have a baby Murray update for you sweet friends!

This little angel is now officially one week late!

Emily goes to the doctor tomorrow afternoon and it will be determined then

if they will be sent straight to the hospital for her to be induced

or they may schedule it sometime this week...

her ob only wanted her to go a week past her due date

and that week is over!!!!

So I'm thinking

it's almost SHOWTIME!!!

Thank you always, always for stopping by to see what I'm up to ~

I cherish your comments and love hearing from you!

I hope you have a wonderful Monday sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

For you dear friends....

I scanned these precious babies for you ~

be sure to look at the bottom of my blog for advice on how to save

the very largest size, and they are big!

Their faces are just precious....

We've been sprucing up a bit to get ready for Clara's birthday party and

just to prettify the place too!

I bought a teeny hydrangea bush

and planted it right under our bedroom windows ~

And I re-potted my new ferns in their wire baskets ~

I just love how they look on this old front porch!

Now to just water them every other day so they will flourish.

As much as I love the beautiful blooms,

I had to trim the front bushes and the wisteria,

it was encroaching on them and will take over if you let it!

The azaleas are blooming, this poor specimen is raggedy but so happy Spring is here.

I also bought a hanging basket that was filled with snapdragons ~

Surely they're not the kind that get really tall since they were sold in a hanging pot.

I had a beautiful wire basket that I lined with moss and re-planted them inside.

A perfect centerpiece for my little iron table on the porch!

It's beginning to look like Spring around this old farmhouse!

I hope Spring has arrived in your neck of the woods

and that you have a wonderful Friday sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

The winners of my anniversary giveaway are.....

First...I've got to tell you....my scanner is working again!!!!!

A beautiful photo for you:

My sweet readers....

the winner of my egg print artwork is Lady Jane of Lady Jane's

the winner of Pam Carriker's new book,
Art at the Speed of Life is Dorthe of Den Lille Lade

the winners of their choice of TWO of my tutorials EACH are:

Alison and also Sue of Beyond the Cellar!!

Thank you all for cheering me on,

for your precious comments

and most of all for inspiring me!!!

love you much dear friends,

have a great weekend,

hugs and love,

Dawn

A little sweetie for you ~

I just love, love old photos ~ especially those of children and babies!
I found this one at Antique Griffin the other day
and had to bring it home to share with you ~

I love all of the jewelry the sweetie is wearing and
upon closer inspection....the baby has on two different shoes I think!
Click on the photo, maybe even twice
and right click to save to your own computer.
Print out to frame, use in your artwork
or to make a custom greeting card!

Wishing you a wonderful, relaxing weekend dear friends ~
hugs and love,
Dawn

OH! And I haven't forgotten about Mary's image collage challenge....
I promise I'm working on it Mary! xxoo

Precious babies.....

They ARE precious.
So innocent, helpless and beautiful, all at the same time.
We went to the hospital Friday evening to see our niece
and her husband's new little baby boy. He is just beautiful!
She has two sons now and has a wonderful husband to raise them with.

I can remember the time that I held her in my arms.
Her tiny little self, so cute and sweet.
And now she's a mother herself.

I'm amazed at how the time flies you know.
I speak of it often here because it's something
I want to try to remember.
I want to remember so I can cherish the moment....
because in the blink of an eye it will be gone ~

Something else I found the other day while antiquing
was this antique baby photograph.
I wanted to share it with you!

A few great giveaways to share as well are at Carol Anne's Boutique....she has a wonderful gathering of goodies to give away to one lucky person!
~ JUST CLICK HERE TO COMMENT TO WIN ~

Another giveaway is at Angela's blog Miss Molly Cottage! She's celebrating her 100th post and giving away a gathering of goodies herself ~ she hasn't posted the photos yet but believe me, you will love her taste as I do!!
~ JUST CLICK HERE TO COMMENT TO WIN! ~

I'm still working on getting beds switched,
carpets cleaned and other lovely things....
hopefully I'll have some photos to show you next week!

Also, my husband went to an estate sale on Friday
and bought me some of the sweetest things,
I can't wait to share a few photos with you ~

I hope you have a great weekend dear friends ~
hugs and love,
Dawn