Author Archives: Marcia Ren

A Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Marcia Ren

”If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”-Dolly Parton Hello, sweet friends… I thought that this week would be a perfect time to share some extra sweetness… Yes, today I’m sharing the mother of all everyday cakes. I spoke about it in last week’s post: Midsummer Diaries…A Vlog This cake recipe is delicious and comforting. and we could all benefit from a bit of comfort right now. The house smells gorgeous when it’s in the oven, it’s a cinch to make and you can vary it by changing the jam in the middle, adding butter cream, fresh cream strawberries or raspberries. The possibilities are endless. VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE INGREDIENTS 1 1/4 cups self-rising flour, sifted 3/4 cup superfine sugar 3/4 cup soft margarine 3 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 1tbsp strawberry jam Confectioners’ sugar for dusting 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020, A Quarantined Life, Cooking, What’s Cooking? | 1 Comment

Midsummer Diaries…A Vlog

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Marcia Ren

Hello, sweet friends…Happy August! Today I invite you into my home…where we will prepare a meal…take a walk along the river…stroll in my garden…a drive to the coast…& just spend time hanging around together. I hope you enjoy these midsummer diaries. “Always leave people better than you found them. Hug the hurt, kiss the broken, befriend the lost. Love the lonely.”-Unknown

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living, Garden/Tea Time, What’s Cooking? | 6 Comments

5 Years Later…and What’s Cooking?

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Marcia Ren

And suddenly, you know…it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings… Hello, sweet friend… Sometimes the smallest decisions change our lives, reroute our destinies without even our own awareness… So quietly… without fanfare like a soft phrase willing us to follow the source. That was me on moving to the Oregon coast from California five years ago. With limited knowledge of the area… I was completely unprepared for such a move.… However five years later (I forget that I’m still somewhat of a recent transfer to this area)… I now feel more like the proverbial old shoe so comfortably worn… Of course there are the nuances of discoveries and anticipating still more. Fortunately I chronicle many of my days here and preserve those memories… never to lose the excitement of this whole adventure. I am also cognizant of how I can never fully understand the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020, A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living, What’s Cooking? | 6 Comments

The Art of Friendship…& A Recipe For The Best Lemon Bars Ever!

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Marcia Ren

The greatest gift of life is friendship…and I have received it. Hello, sweet friends… At a recent garden tour I hosted… and shortly before my guests arrived… I placed a basket of personalized cookies that were an unique art form of me and my home. That is until my neighbor came early and was shocked that I was about to serve them. She exclaimed “those should be out in a shadow box!!!!’ I was in a dilemma…what was I to serve? I had prepared lemon bars as a backup and she said to me “you put those away…and I will get these ready to serve”… The result was a wonderful treat for my guests. 👩‍🍳 What’s Cooking?… I have a niece that loves to bake and recently she texted me a recipe and said “these are the best lemon bars ever!” And guess what? She was right! Lemon bars Shortbread … Continue reading →

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living, Cooking, Garden/Tea Time | 4 Comments

Rose Castle Cottage…2020…& A Garden Tour

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Marcia Ren

The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, one is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth-Dorothy Frances Gurney Hello, sweet friend… For several reasons I thought today would be a perfect day to share our garden. As you know shortly after moving into our home last September we were asked to participate in the 2020 garden tour. I felt honored & excited since the date of the tour coincidently marked 5 years since moving from California to the Oregon coast… With the concerns over the pandemic this year’s tour has been canceled…however our experiencing the joy & love of a garden hasn’t…and for many of us this has been a saving grace. So today I’m grateful you are here so that we can share and experience the love & joy of strolling through the garden paths…together-apart Enjoy… 👩‍🍳 What’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020, A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living, Garden/Tea Time, Together Apart, What’s Cooking? | 7 Comments