In Celebration of Transferware

Can you tell

1. I love transferware.
2. I love photography.
3. I can't think of a darn thing to write about today?

Sorry! Hope you like my dose of dishy eye candy today. :)

Mosaic Monday: Food, Glorious Food

For someone who has been trying to lose weight, I've been taking a lot of food pictures lately. Hmmm, do you think that may be a problem? ;)

These have been mostly taken for my 365 project, beauty unspoken. My friend Amanda and I take a different subject each week, and last week's subject was "delicious." But even before that, my camera had been turning more and more to food. And "red" is quite a popular subject as well... lol. Anyway, I thought I would make up a food mosaic this week. So here it is.

Bon Appetit!

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Sunshine Makes Me Happy

Sunshine is in short supply this weekend in my part of New Jersey, with a rainfall of three to five inches expected. We had such a glorious week, full of sun and warmth, that I cannot complain. After all, into every life a little rain must fall, right?

I snapped this photo on Wednesday, when the sun was streaming in through my kitchen window. I've been taking a lot of photos in the kitchen lately, and showing a bit more interest in cooking, too. It's funny how winter just wears you down -- same food, same four walls. I've been trying to diet since January, but have only been able to make any headway this past week, when the sun began to shine. Rather than a strict diet, I've just been making sure that my meals include whole grains, fruit or vegetables.

And that seems to be enough for me. I've never been a big meat eater, so just a bite or two satisfies me. And I don't like fish at all, except for canned tuna. Yes, I'm a picky eater. :) But most of all, I don't seem to be craving sweets or salty things. Glory Hallelujah.

In a strange way, I think the sunshine and warmer weather are responsible for my change of heart. I've always been a big stress eater and, well, sunshine makes me happy.

Can it really be as simple as that?

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Please join me for Mosaic Monday this week. I was blown away last week by the amazingly talented bloggers who shared their photos with us, and I look forward to seeing what you have to show this week. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. :)

Cocoluxe

I sincerely hope you are not dieting, because I have a little treat for you today. We're going to my favorite bakery, Cocoluxe, in Peapack-Gladstone, NJ.

And after we have our little treat, remind me to buy some focaccia. I have to bring a loaf home whenever I've been to the bakery; otherwise my daughter won't let me in the door. :)

Cocoluxe makes wonderful muffins. This beauty (above) is one of my favorites -- pumpkin. My friend Robin and I each had one recently when we met for girl's morning out. Of course, it's almost impossible to choose just one item. We also ordered two wonderful coconut macaroons shaped like thimbles. Aren't they cute?

The bakery is a popular neighborhood gathering spot, with everyone from teenagers to young mothers to seniors dropping by throughout the day to meet for a chocolate croissant (heavenly) or a bowl of vegetarian chili with a side of cornbread. Yum!

Everywhere you turn, there is a tempting bit of chocolate bark or a beautiful cake. I love their scones, with a different type daily. Two of my favorites are coconut chocolate chip and cherry chocolate chip. (Are you sensing a pattern here?)

The bakery is decorated with French posters, cafe tables and bentwood chairs. The coffee station is laid out on a beautiful antique sideboard, topped with a gilded mirror. Pretty chandeliers hang from above.

So, would you like to join me for a cup of chai tea and a pumpkin muffin? :)

My treat!

Cocoluxe Fine Pastries

161 Main Street

Peapack, NJ 07977

908 781-5554

www.cocoluxepastry.com

Sunshine in the Farmyard

My chickens have come out to play in the afternoon sun. :) We have had three glorious days of it now, and it has been truly wonderful. Isn't it amazing how a little bit of sun can change your entire outlook on life?

Mr. Rooster is lording it over his little flock. ;) He is a recent birthday gift from my dear friend Robin, who also gave me the littlest milk glass nesting hen. The middle-sized nesting hen was a gift from the marvelous B.J., of Sweet Nothings, who is a pretty sweet lady herself. :)

Thank you so much, my friends. I love my rooster and chickens!

And they are loving the sunshine. Wishing you all some sunshine today, dear bloggers! :)

Mosaic Monday: Riley

First of all thank you so much for your support and your kind comments yesterday! I don't want to characterize it as "misery loves company," but it is nice to know that I'm not the only one going through all this. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart! I think I will be looking into creating a blogger's photography course, for beginner photographers who use a point and shoot camera. I'll be letting you know more about it as I get to work on it. :)

Now for Mosaic Monday... It was such a beautiful weekend here in New Jersey, with temperatures in the 50's. Now that may not sound so warm to some of you, but believe me it was Nirvana. Truly.

We went for a walk at my favorite park, Natirar, with our friends Robin and Ken. They brought along their daughter's new puppy, Riley. And of course, I brought along my camera. :)

Riley loved the park, which was filled with people and other dogs. We walked about four miles, and he ran most of the way! He was very well-behaved with the other dogs, and charmed quite a few of the people, too. He's just so darn cute!

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

I'm a Little Flower Bud

I've been suffering from a surfeit of writer's block lately -- not knowing what to write about, or where to turn my camera. All the snow, and some major cabin fever, were both getting me down.

I've also been thinking about my upcoming empty nest, and trying to see a way forward for the years ahead. It sounds silly to ask: "What will I do with the rest of my life?"

But I guess that has been on my mind lately, too.

I used to be a fitness instructor, but had to give that up for health reasons. I have also worked as a copy editor but that was so long ago it seems like another life.

What will I do now?

(I almost feel like I'm a flower in bud, waiting to feel the sun. Gosh that sounds stupid, doesn't it?)

I'd like to do something with photography, but I'm not sure that there is much money in stock photography sales, and I don't see myself starting a portrait business. I'm just not comfortable with my level of expertise in that area yet. Maybe with a little more practice...

So I've been thinking about creating an internet photography course for decorating and gardening bloggers. I have learned so much about that sort of photography in my years of blogging, and I think I might have some experience to share.

I'm actually a little nervous writing about it -- does it sound totally ridiculous? Maybe I should just go down to the local supermarket and fill out an application...

So, anyway, that's where my conflicted brain is right now. Anybody have any good advice?

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Sorry about missing Mosaic Monday last week, but you can see what a mental wreck I've been... :) Please join me for Mosaic Monday next week. (March 8th) Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. Looking forward to seeing your work! :)