Category Archives: What’s Cooking?

My Week…Anastasia & Camille…

Posted on August 24, 2022 by Marcia Ren

“Those who teach the most about humanity aren’t always human.”~Donald £. Hicks Hello, sweet friends… I hope you are doing well… (btw…where in the world has August gone!) This past week I’ve been tirelessly trying to convert one of the rooms into a closet… I’ve had so much fun perusing for creative ideas… however…at times it felt like a juggling act… with Anastasia and Camille running all around our home…(Camille mostly chasing Anastasia) Fortunately…familiarity breeds affection… and with a little bit of understanding and training lots of chasing… I am hopeful they will come to live together happily ever after… … Read the full blog post →

Posted in What’s Cooking? | 3 Comments

The Colors of Summer/A Garden Tour

Posted on August 11, 2022 by Marcia Ren

It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a home-grown tomato. -Lewis Grizzard Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well… I have been working a little more in my garden… deadheading those things which have become overgrown and completed their cycle…. I’ve found myself outdoors much more… relaxing…. enjoying those simple pleasures of life… which of course always includes a cozy little garden… 🧑‍🍳What’s Cooking🧑‍🍳 It’s rewarding to walk outside and get vegetables from your own garden. I owe this luxury to Joe since he’s the one who planted everything! The zucchini has been abundant and … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Garden/Tea Time, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | 4 Comments

☕️ Join Me For an Afternoon Tea 👛

Posted on August 3, 2022 by Marcia Ren

When one says Tea Time we hear Me Time -Aura of Wellbeing Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are well… If you would like to host an afternoon tea…and yet not sure exactly where to begin… I hope today’s post inspires you… To host a tea experience of your own… Outdoors or in…small gathering or large…a simple tea or perhaps more extravagant… It’s all up to you…and whatever your little heart desires… Happy August… 👩‍🍳 What’s Cooking… I decided to prepare a few tea sandwiches myself along with a super easy recipe for chocolate covered strawberries. CUCUMBER SANDWICHES Ingredients 1 English … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Garden/Tea Time, My Style, What’s Cooking? | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris…

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Marcia Ren

“Every woman should have something pink in her wardrobe it is the color of HAPPINESS” -Christian Dior Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well… A few weeks ago when the movie ‘Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris’ came out (and just a couple of weeks after getting a new puppy) Joe suggested I might benefit from a drive into the big city to enjoy a girls day out…shopping, lunch, and watching this movie. The story is enchanting…and gives new meaning to “say yes to the dress”… telling about a seemingly ordinary British housekeeper who has a dream to own … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, What’s Cooking? | 3 Comments

Seven Years Later…🌻

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Marcia Ren

“To have courage for whatever comes in life…everything lies in that.” – Teresa of Avila Hello, sweet friends… I hope you are doing well… This week marks seven years since Joe and I made the move to a small beach cottage along the Oregon coast… looking back I realize now that this move was a h.u.g.e leap of faith for me… But taking a leap of faith meant that I fully surrendered to all expectations. It meant that I allowed myself to start anew and feel completely free. Along the way I came to realize that who I am is … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Puppy Reveal… Meet ’Camille’💗

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Marcia Ren

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~Aesop Hello, sweet friend… Our family has grown exponentially during these last 2 years… a kitty, horse, and most recently a puppy… I am so excited to introduce you to our sweet, sweet Camille. Last weekend we brought her home with us… After finding a Morkie breeder over two months ago Joe and I had decided to take a leap of faith and put a deposit on this little puppy that hadn’t been born…much less seen..yet deeply hoped for. She is currently a little over two months old and … Read the full blog post →

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Summer…A Return To My Garden…🌻

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Marcia Ren

My goal is to make the world more beautiful one plant at a time… Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, Garden/Tea Time, What’s Cooking? | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

A No-Bake Summer Dessert

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Marcia Ren

“A party without a CAKE is just a meeting.” – Julia Childs Hello, sweet friend… June has arrived! warmer weather… gardens in bloom… and visions of all things summer are dancing in my head… a perfect time to feast on this delicious summer delight. 👩‍🍳 What’s Cooking… A Berry Trifle Ingredients Lemon Glaze ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup lemon juice ¼ cup water ¼ teaspoon almond extract 1 14 ounce prepared angel food cake Cream Cheese Filling 16 ounces cream cheese2 (8 ounce packages). softened ⅔ cup sugar 2 cups heavy whipping cream Fruit 4 cups blueberries 4 cups strawberries sliced Instructions To make the lemon glaze, whisk together sugar, lemon juice, and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, Cooking, Garden/Tea Time, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | 6 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

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