Where in the world has Lori been...???

I know my blog writing days are definitely slowing down.  I initially began a blog to record family memories.  Well... I now have Instagram and chat books.  You see, every 60 posts to Instagram, alerts Chat Books to print and send me a tiny book. 

Thus, my blogging activity has slowed to a crawl. 

So, what have I been up to? See below:

Our youngest got MARRIED!  On a beach, in Cancun, in February and it was a spectacular week.

 I scanned and downloaded 1200 family slides to share with family and friends.

Now I know where I get my sunglasses love from.. dear Mom.

 My nephew Alex, graduated high school and heads to my Alma Mater, Louisiana Tech, in the fall. 

Lynn planted and I enjoyed fifty daffodil blooms. 

 Lake time for the fourth of July.  Count em', yep that five littles swimming, splashing and sharing forever memories.  And we are so excited that number six arrives right before Christmas!  Can't wait to snuggle on MrCashJohsnon.

Napkins I used over the summer, the palm fronds, reminded me of the Cancun wedding. 

 Lots of cooking and baking, but, one of my favorites was this Cabana cake. pineapple, cherries, coconut, macadamia nuts, butter!! 

So, hang in there... I may still post occasionally or at least I hope to.

My forever baby got married!

And just like that, I have three married daughters and three great son-in-laws! My youngest daughter, who will forever be my baby, got married to her love. It was a destination wedding in Cancun! Destination weddings are like a week long family reunion, they are fabulous. 

My sisters and their families were there to help celebrate. And our first wedding where the groom's family outnumbered us. Well, by two anyway.
The bride, me in red and my sisters below!

I think the Johnson clan are pretty lucky to call Lynley one of them!

May God be with you and bless you.

May see your children's children.

May you be poor in misfortunes

and rich in blessings.

May you know nothing but happiness 

from this day forward. 

Spring around the house

Even though a slight cold front has hit Texas and a huge snow storm elsewhere around the country, I feel warm and cozy inside with my Easter decorations out and about.

 The Beatrix figurines are my youngest daughter's from the Easter Bunny.  About 25 years ago, one figurine started being placed in her basket each year.  The older girls have their collection at their own homes now.  But, baby girl is letting me "store" hers a bit longer for her. 

 The bunny napkins were a Pottery Barn purchase from last year. 

My Waterford crystal pattern is Araglyn.   I decided to finish out my stemware and thanks to Ebay, I have found some great deals! My first find was three wine glass stems for the price of one compared to  Dillards and Macys. 

 I am in love with my new "little fiddle"! (Fiddle Leaf Fig) Can you love a plant??

Along with my all white bunny collection, I am adding in a few gold touches here and there. 

 So, turn on all your cozy lamps and kick up the heat if you need to, please stay warm.  If you are in Texas, just wait two days, it will all change.

FYI ---- Round Top, Texas Antique Week trip in two weeks... stay tuned for the fun shopping finds!

My Dad's old brass calendar

I love having old pieces around the house, family history pieces are even better!

I need to polish this little brass desk calendar.  It was my Dad's and I love knowing that he probably looked at and used it every day.  Right below it is a Waterford heart that my own sweetheart gave me.

 Thank you my blogger friend that hooked me onto the below book.  Adorable if you have little grands.  Since, their Lala keeps chocolate red foil covered hearts year round, we get to read it every time they come for a visit.  It is the last thing we do before they head out the door to go home.  They have to hold the candy heart and not eat it until Lilly does...so fun.  We are working hard with the two year old to have patience.

 My sister gave me the above quote...for my birthday.  A jar of wrinkle cream would have been a nice  addition too!  The other side of the mantle has my homage to Paris.  We took the pink car picture while in Paris and a friend gave us the Paris heart picture.

 I love seeing the napkins I am using with an assortment of my tea cup collection that are all valentiney with the pink and red decor.  You can see a peek of my new kitchen chairs. IKEA, very sturdy and I highly recommend if you need new chairs. 

Happy Valentine's Day, have a great time and go out and love someone! 

Easy like a Sunday morning...

A great inspirational quote by Mahatma Gandhi.  I keep it in our old Corona typewriter that Hubby found at an antique store. 

I also gave myself a treat yesterday of this beautiful coffee/tea cup.  

Simple pleasures, y'all.

Easy like a Sunday morning, I love being the only one awake in the morning.  Lucky me, Hubby likes to sleep in.

My December project

Since I was able to finish decorating the house early in December, I took on a little project.  First, let me state I am "anti" coffee table.  Just because when we had one they always seemed like a junk collector.  But when baby daughter moved out and took her coffee table with her, we realized we had no place to prop our feet or a wine glass!

 I was inspired by a table I saw in a local art studio, but couldn't afford the artist price tag. ($875) So, I ordered hairpin metal table legs from Harry's Hairpins and I contacted an Etsy dealer who said he could recreate the wood table top.  I wanted Cypress wood to remind me of my Louisiana roots.   It came unstained, but fully sanded. 

I experimented on the bottom with stain colors and decided on a lighter stain. 

You see the dark strips below? I was concerned about those strips but I learned a little something.  Jeff (the wood guy from Etsy) told me that there is heart wood and sap wood.  The dark wood is the sap wood and absorbs the stain a bit differently.  

 And here she is with her perfect little legs, varnish and the exact height we need.  Also, since this is a custom piece, I was able to order the exact measurements for our little space in front of the couch.  

 Napkins I am currently using.

 Thick and natural custom coffee table.  (junk collector)

 Thank you Harry's Hairpins and Jeff Shaw on Etsy.  Thank you also to an artist somewhere in Dallas for the inspiration.  

Cypress custom wood piece - $55.00

Harry's Hairpins legs - $48.00

Plus stain, varnish and shipping

A little over $100 perfect table

Sharing with
Barbara at 21 Rosemary Lane

Pumpkin Pie Cake

 You can see the magic of how the pie layer settles to the bottom and the cake part floats to the top of this yummy recipe.  I used vanilla icing, but next time I might just use a dollop of cool whip.  The cake itself is pretty sweet.  

Napkins I am using .... of course candy corn pattern.

Yes!!  Pumpkin Pie Cake!  

Rolled all into one yummy dessert. 

Pumpkin Pie Cake

One can 30 oz. Pumpkin Pie Mix

One box Spice cake

4 eggs

2 sticks of butter, melted

Vanilla icing (I used premade in a tub) 1 tub

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

9x13 pan, greased

I used a stand up mixer

Mix canned pumpkin pie mix and 4 eggs
when completely combined,

add 1/3 cake mix

add 1/3 melted butter

repeat till all mix and butter are added

(this helps the powdered cake mix to not fly all over your kitchen) so I've heard.

Once combined, pour into your cake pan

Bake 45-55 minutes for the center to NOT be jiggly.  Mine took 50 minutes.

Completely cool and top with icing.

Make 12 generous pieces

Think Thanksgiving! or tonight!