Author Archives: Marcia Ren

“Bloom where you are planted”– Mary Englebreit Hello, sweet friend… While sitting in my living room I only have to look out into the garden landscape to observe the changes that come with the season… Springtime means crocus, daffodil, roses, bluebells… each blossom… awaiting it’s time to bloom… I find inspiration in the climbing roses, birdbaths… along the grassy pathways… It is here my soul is awakened as I discover signs of life returned.

“It is the wise mother who gives her children roots and wings.” -Chinese Proverb Hello, sweet friend… This photo was taken on top of Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside, California summer of 2011…my first summer after retiring And… This photo was taken recently on the riverwalk where I now live along the Oregon coast… And… This is a photo of my mother Olga when she was 19… One of my favorite photos taken before she married my father or had any of her five children I really love this photo because it shows the beautiful grace of this amazing woman… who … Read the full blog post →

flaneur {fla-ner} French(n.) a person who strolls the city in order to experience it. “Deliberately aimless” Hello, sweet friends… I hope you are doing great… Recently I invited a a few friends over for an afternoon tea… I thought it would be fun to have a Parisian theme… So if you find yourself… Dreaming of Paris… set the table…invite a few friends…and voila! Sugar Cookies Ingredients 1 Cup unsalted butter 1 Cup granulated white sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 egg 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 cups all purpose flour Instructions  PREHEAT oven to 350° F. In the bowl of your mixer, CREAM butter and sugar until smooth, … Read the full blog post →

Let go of what doesn’t serve you -anonymous Hello, sweet friend… It’s nice to see you and I hope you are doing great! Cleaning out my closet can seem like a daunting task… Getting rid of clothes, even when I haven’t worn them in years and years and years isn’t easy. This past week I decided to do a good closet purge and give my style a fresh start for the month ahead. There is no better time than now to let go of those clothes that don’t make me feel great when I wear them… after all feeling confident … Read the full blog post →

“Easter is the only time when it’s perfectly safe to put all your eggs in one basket”-Evan Esar Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well… For me the cheerful pleasures which resonate with the wonders of Spring… bunnies…pastel colored candy eggs and of course jellybeans… all usher in Easter joy… A celebratory season…one to embrace treasures of faith, friendship… and…epicurean delights… enjoying this special time. What’s Cooking 👩‍🍳 I am sharing three recipes that I recently prepared. They are fun, easy and delicioùs! Easy Quiche Recipe Quiche is a favorite dish of mine…and perfect for brunch. This particular … Read the full blog post →

“Create a life you don’t need a vacation from” -anonymous Hello, sweet friend… I hope that you are doing well… With Easter just around the corner…I thought it would be fun to share how I recently tweaked my spring decor into an ”Easter” vibe…

“This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before”–Maya Lou Angela Hello, sweet friend… It’s so nice to see you today! Living in the Pacific Northwest has many perks… one being the opportunity for backyard getaways… That being said Joe & I recently returned from a mini road trip to Bend, Oregon… an adorable mountain town located on the eastern edge of the Cascades along the Deschutes River… Our hotel was in the Old Mill District… and allowed pets so we decided to bring our kitty Anastasia. The Old Mill District also has a variety of shops & … Read the full blog post →

“I do not understand how anyone can live without one small place of enchantment to turn to.” – Marjorie Kennan Rawlings 🌷Happy Spring!🌷 I can think of no better time for celebration… than with Spring‘s awakening… Here are a few highlights of my tablescape from a recent Spring Tea… Celebrating this beautiful time of year… when new life is seen in opening buds… heard in birds singing… and joyfully experienced with a strong sense of renewal… arriving with the season of hope… What’s Cooking… Creamy Egg Salad Sandwich Ingredients: 6 slices of bread (white or brown) 5 eggs 3 tbsp … Read the full blog post →

“Legend says that each leaf of the clover has a meaning: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love, and if you can find a 4- leaf clover, the fourth leaf represents luck.” -Jean LeGrand Hello, sweet friend… There are a number of ways to celebrate “wearing of the green”…. And whether you are Irish or not…this year might just be a great time to celebrate… However if you are like me… You probably want to keep it easy and simple…. Here are 2 delicious recipes just in case you too are feeling a bit … Read the full blog post →