Author Archives: Marcia Ren

The Rhodendrons At Shore Acres & Mother’s Day

My Mother, my friend so dear, throughout my life you’re always near, a tender smile to guide my way, you’re the sunshine to light my day.🌷 -Anonymous Hello, sweet friend… with Mother’s Day just around the corner… I thought I would take you to Shore Acres State Park. I’ve taken you here before… However this time of year the Rhododendron’s (rhodies) and azaleas are the popular landscape plants… If you live close to the Oregon coast… a visit would be perfect on Mother’s Day weekend… Happy Mother’s Day… 🌷In memory of my mother Olga…who walks with me daily🌷 She lived … Read the full blog post

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Garden Time…A Visit To Copper Goose Nursery…& Moroccan Shrimp

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 friends… If a poem can be written in flowers… then today is floral storyteller time… A recent trip to a local nursery… was all the inspiration needed… for me to create visual verses… compose a few flowering sonnets of color… and it’s captivating magic… What’s Cooking? Can you keep a secret? (wink) sometimes I don’t feel like cooking. especially as the weather gets nicer and I find myself outside … Read the full blog post

Posted in Garden/Tea Time, What’s Cooking? | Tagged | 6 Comments

Earth Day 2021…Planting A Garden👩‍🌾

“Smell the sea, and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” -Van Morrison Hello, sweet friends… With the warm weather… and vaccines rolling out… in-person celebrations… activities and more in our communities are slowly coming back… specifically outdoor events… I was very excited to receive notice that this year’s summer Garden Tour will go forward as planned… Something wonderful to look forward to… so this week I made a quick trip to one of my favorite nurseries ‘Dragonfly Nursery’ where I picked up a variety of garden starters…lettuce…tomatoes…bell peppers & cucumbers… Along those lines… what better way to … Read the full blog post

Posted in Coastal Living, Garden/Tea Time, Our Cottage | 1 Comment

Company Is Coming!!!

If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him…the people who give you their food give you their heart. —Cesar Chaviz Hello, sweet friends…. Recently our friends mentioned they would be driving down to the coast from Eugene… and wondered if they could stop by for a visit… Needless to say we were excited since we haven’t had company for over a year… With that being said… I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to brush up on my hosting skills… by serving lunch upon their arrival… Here is a favorite recipe … Read the full blog post

Posted in Coastal Living, What’s Cooking? | 7 Comments

A Room Of One’s Own…

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at– Theodore Roosevelt Hello, sweet friend… No doubt the biggest difference between an old house and the newer ones… is the change where the kitchen is the center of the house and almost all daytime space revolves around the kitchen.. I am one of those who actually enjoys working in the kitchen alone… (I see it as somewhat of my sanctuary) This time of quarantine has taught me… now more than ever the importance of having a room to escape to… the proverbial room of one’s own…(We all need … Read the full blog post

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living | 10 Comments

Home…All Set For Easter & Coconut cupcakes

Welcome is what reflects God’s spirit of love, joy and happiness. -Emilie Barnes Hello, sweet friends… Happy Easter!!! Home has never been so important… Ours has become a special way for me to experience contentment and express creativity. I feel fortunate that my husband supports… encourages… and most importantly… appreciates my ongoing efforts in creating a home for us. That being said this past week I had so much delight creating an Easter tablescape… sewing a small table cover and napkins which matched the dining alcove curtains… I think it all came together quite beautifully… What’s Cooking? This year instead … Read the full blog post

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | 4 Comments

My Spring Cleaning Break…❤️

Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘let’s party.’ -Robin Williams Hello, sweet friend… This week I attempted a bit of spring cleaning… However I kept getting distracted… (Oddly only while cleaning) inevitably something would pop up… and before I knew it… I’d find myself questioning my priorities… I decided that the distractions had to be a sign from the universe… and we all know that when she speaks… you must listen… WHAT’S COOKING?👩‍🍳 Sausage Egg & Cheese Breakfast Puffs – only 4 ingredients! Super easy to make and tastes great! Puff pastry, eggs, sausage, and cheese. You can assemble ahead … Read the full blog post

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

Spring…Decor…and a “Sinful” Delight🥰

“When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.” -Helen Keller Hello, sweet friend… Happy Spring!!! This past week the sun was shining… daffodils were blooming… and I gathered up my spring decor… to do the jig a bit of decorating magic… turning shamrocks… into small rabbits… with bright colored garland…. just a few changes… makes all the difference… to celebrate… the arrival of Spring… bringing light…joy…and hope into our home… WHAT’S COOKING?👩‍🍳 For years I’ve attended a women’s retreat at Sacred Heart Retreat House located … Read the full blog post

Posted in My Style, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | 2 Comments

Transitioning My Wardrobe Into Spring…

Live life in full bloom… Hello, sweet friend… I’ve always enjoyed wearing fashionable clothing… and with Spring just around the corner… I’m sooooo excited to start thinking about it! Today I thought I would share with you how I am transitioning… into a new season… Living on the Oregon coast dressing is all about layering. That being said I’ve put a few outfits together using white as a basic…Anastasia is doing her usual catwalk freshening things up a bit by adding pretty spring colors. 👩‍🍳What’s Cooking? I had been looking forward to using the shamrock cookie cutter I recently purchased. … Read the full blog post

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Cooking, My Style | 2 Comments

A Stroll Around Our Garden…

Hurt not the Earth, neither the Sea, nor the Trees. -Revelations 7:3 Hello, sweet friend… March will often test a gardener’s patience… A few warmer, brighter days certainly tempted me out into my garden… However I know that it will take several weeks of warm bright days for the soil to be dried out sufficiently… So on this overcast day I thought I’d take you on a little pre-spring garden tour… sharing a peek of hope as things get ready to bloom… Before you begin the tour perhaps you should whip up a batch of these decadent rolls first… CINNAMON … Read the full blog post

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments