Category Archives: Coastal Living

How To Host an Autumn Tea🍁☕️

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Marcia Ren

“There is no joy in life unless you share it”-anonymous Hello, sweet friend… Fall is here… And I’m excited! Today I thought I’d share with you how to prepare for a small harvest tea. I will be using only those items which I currently have to create a simple yet elegant tea… You can do this too! I hope this post will inspire you to host one of your very own during this wonderful autumn season. *Other traditional English finger sandwiches include roast beef, sliced ham, chicken salad tea sandwiches, tuna salad finger sandwiches with capers, tuna salad finger sandwiches with … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, Garden/Tea Time, Our Cottage | 2 Comments

🍂A Visit To A Pumpkin Patch…& Recipe For Pumpkin Bread🍁

Posted on September 30, 2021 by Marcia Ren

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are October’s.” -L.M. Montgomery Hello, sweet friend… Happy October! This past week… we took our annual visit to a local pumpkin patch… There is nothing like spending time outdoors… surrounded by beautiful Mother Nature… walking…searching… for the perfect pumpkin… or two… the whole experience was quite relaxing… and fun… Btw…any chance you’ll be visiting a local pumpkin patch this year? 👩‍🍳 WHAT’S COOKING? What better way to begin October than with a flavorful…well spiced…super moist pumpkin bread loaf… 🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁 PUMPKIN BREAD LOAF 🍁🍂 INGREDIENTS 3 1/3 cups all purpose flour … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, Cooking | 2 Comments

A Fall Haul Getaway

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Marcia Ren

Pumpkin spice is my favorite season… Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well… I’ve just returned from a fall haul mini getaway… Joe I were able to visit with friends… explore a few fun restaurants… and…of course I was able to do some fall shopping… It’s no secret that I love all things pumpkin spice…and because Trader Joe’s my favorite all things pumpkin spice store is almost 3 hours away…this grocery trip has turned into a mini getaway tradition in which I take an autumn grocery trip to Trader Joe’s…among other favorite stops…(of course) 👩‍🍳 What’s Cooking? Shortly … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, Cooking | 2 Comments

Colors of Autumn…🍂

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Marcia Ren

“And all at once Summer collapsed into Fall” – Oscar Wilde Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well… Joe & I are heading out of town… for a mini getaway… this will be Anastasia’s first experience with a pet sitter… we’ll see how that works out…😂 I thought before we departed… I’d take you for a quick stroll around the garden… this is my favorite time of year… everything is so beautiful… I almost don’t want to leave… However…a change of scenery is always good… whether it’s a faraway trip… or only a small getaway… I always get … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, What’s Cooking? | 8 Comments

My $60.00 End of Summer Haul & A Gallery Wall…

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Marcia Ren

“In order to do something well we must be first be willing to do it badly.” -Julia Cameron Hello, sweet friend… While perusing a recent estate sale… I spotted a few items that were fabulous finds… however all had sadly been sold… disappointing as it was… I’m also not one to get easily discouraged…soooo…. early the following day I headed over to a local church rummage sale… it was there I scored quite well on several items… particularly vintage pictures… I was thrilled since I’d been working on a gallery art wall in the theme of ‘Homes & Gardens’… with … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living | 5 Comments

The Sound of Music…And My New Piano

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Marcia Ren

“Music is a form of prayer, uniting people everywhere.” –Zen Insprations Hello, sweet friends… I hope you are doing well… This summer marked a few benchmarks…6 years since our move from California…a surprise trip celebrating my sister’s birthday…the garden tour… And… my (new to me) piano. The anticipation of this beautiful instrument took on a life of it’s own… days were spent arranging, rearranging & creating space in our living room…obsessive thoughts of how everything would look afterwards. Not to mention the excitement of getting to a time in life where I was able to choose a piano of my … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, What’s Cooking? | 8 Comments

A Little Bit Of This and That…

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Marcia Ren

“JOY…the Kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens”-David Steindl-Rast Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well… This… was a fabulous week… 🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝 I was thrilled that the piano found it’s way to a young child… Now we can do this… 🐝🐝🐝 What’s Cooking? BLACKBERRY COBBLER Ingredients 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) blackberries (do not use blueberries) 1 cup sugar 1 cup All- purpose-flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 1/2 cup melted butter Directions In medium bowl, stir together blackberries and sugar. Let’s stand about 20 minutes … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, My Style, What’s Cooking? | 1 Comment

Where Love Resides…

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Marcia Ren

”The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It’s doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile.” -Julia Childs Hello, sweet friends… .and I I’ve heard it said that the best homes have something to do with the people who live in them…. that being said…no doubt the best rooms in those homes are ones which bring a sense of comfort to those who share it… This awareness somehow brings a smile since my biggest joy has come from creating a welcoming home… Old fashion as it may sound…preparing a meal is best when I share it with … Read the full blog post →

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

Anastasia…One Year Later…

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Marcia Ren

”When Rome burned, the emperor’s cats still expected to be fed on time.” – Seanan McQuire Hello, sweet friends… Anastasia came to live with us last August… a tiny… timid… bundle of nerves… Who has since grown… into a funny gal with real personality… pointing her tail in the air… gliding from room to room… She has mastered the art of her meow… for everything… One year later she is officially QUEEN home. 👩‍🍳 What’s Cooking? Shrimp Alfredo Ingredients Fettuccine pasta  Shrimp (I used frozen 31-40 count per pound size shrimp. You could use smaller or larger. If using smaller … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, Our Cottage | 6 Comments

Summer Splendor…

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Marcia Ren

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” -Henry James Hello, sweet friends… While July is coming to an end… Our garden is coming more alive… This month has brought the joy of traveling again and a few other activities which I have enjoyed… however… I have been most grateful for the many moments and opportunities spent in my garden… Sunny days… and beautiful blooms helping to refresh as we celebrate the season… 👩‍🍳 WHAT’S COOKING? This week I gathered blueberries from our garden and posted a photo on Instagram … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, Cooking, Garden/Tea Time | 6 Comments