Inspiration Friday

I saw this on the Room Service website last evening. This would be a great little "bar" set up on the back porch. The price is prohibitive, but it's so cute! I'll have to come up with a "look-a-like" set up with things I already have around the house. The sagey paint makes this look so fresh.

Relax...

Without a doubt, this has been the most productive/relaxing week in recent memory. I've accomplished a lot...a sewing project, some painting, a little cooking and baking, gardening, reading, knitting...and I've done it all without being pressured. It's the first time in a long time that I've cleaned just for me; no company coming or guests expected. Usually that's the case...non-stop harried cleaning (and moving stuff into my room to "hide") and working to the point of exhaustion. This has been fairly pleasant. I've only left the house twice since last Friday...to grocery shop, and a quick stop at Lowe's for black gloss paint...and I've been perfectly content. The beginnings of agoraphobia?

4th of July

While the cake on the left doesn't look too patriotic, picture it topped with strawberries, blueberries, and of course, whipped cream. This is my most favorite cake recipe, Cream Cheese Pound Cake. It's good with fruit, great with ice cream and hot fudge topping, and just about anything else! Very versatile. Here's the recipe:

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until combined.
Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch Bundt pan.
Bake at 300° for 1 hour and 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan, and let cool completely on wire rack.