GW Goodies

Hello, friends! I hope you're all enjoying some gorgeous springtime weather today! We seem to be on a roll here in Midcoast Maine -- lots of sun, warmth, and fresh air. It's heavenly.

We returned to our school time routine this morning, after a lovely and busy April vacation week. It was a preschool morning for Michaela so Brendan and I ran our errands as usual and I decided to stop by Goodwill on a lark ... just in case. Well, lucky me, I finally found some diamonds in the rough -- ready and waiting for a little prim magic. Of course the last thing I need right now are more little projects, but a girl's gotta have something to do in between spring cleaning and the day-to-day "to do" list. Especially now that the Red Sox are on nearly every night.


Here's what I found:







And since I promised to have something crafty to show you all, I decided to snap a picture of the little wooden birdhouse hanger that I painted last week. It found a home in our half-bath yesterday. Now my curtain is in the washer and the fabric skirt I used to have around the sink is in the scrap pile. Spring cleaning/tweaking is underway! My new plan is to paint the vanity cabinet. I loved the skirt, but it just wasn't working for me anymore. I promise to share some photos when that little project is done.




Have a wonderful afternoon! We're heading outdoors (again!) to play and putter. Thanks, as always, for stopping by. I so enjoy having you here...

Fun at Fort Williams

Friday was simply gorgeous here in Midcoast Maine. So we decided to have our first picnic of the season down at Fort Williams State Park. What a wonderful time we had: picnicking, running, resting, giggling, and soaking up the springtime sunshine. All in the shadow of Portland Head Light. Truly the way life should be ... especially after such a long, cold, and snowy winter.

And for those of you who tune in for prims and crafts: Don't give up on me just yet! I have a bunch of things base coated in the basement. Waiting for me. I promise to have something to share soon. Or at least soonish.

Thanks, as always, for dropping by! Enjoy a bit of springtime fun if you can...

Scrumptious Snack Time Staple

Well, my friends, I think it's safe to say that we won't be eating store-bought granola bars any time soon. These little treats are simply too easy, too tasty, and too versatile to miss. You can whip up a substantial batch for a fraction of what you'd pay for a small box of the store- bought variety -- and there's absolutely no baking involved. That's right. No baking. Whohoo! My favorite kind of recipe.

I've been on a mission lately to find recipes that will fulfill the kids' snacking/breakfast needs without breaking the bank. I bake often and I like knowing that we have easy, healthy, and tasty options made from the pantry staples I so often have on hand. And with three growing eaters, I love that I'm saving a little cash as well. Plus, recipes like this one are very kid-friendly and I often have a willing helper or two at hand. Always a plus in my book.

So ... I hope you'll enjoy this scrumptious little snack time staple as much as we have. The kids are already making their requests for batch number two.

:::: NO-BAKE GRANOLA BARS ::::
(based on a recipe from Recipezaar)

2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins, dried fruit, craisins, etc.
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 - 3/4 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 - 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

*** If you add more extras -- nuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, etc. -- you may need to add more of the peanut butter mixture to ensure that the bars stick together well. ***


In a large bowl, combine cereal, rolled oats, and dried fruit. Set aside. In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and honey. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Blend well until smooth. Pour over cereal mixture. Coat well. (If using chocolate chips, allow to cool slightly before mixing those in.) Pour mixture into an ungreased 9x13 pan.

Press VERY FIRMLY until the cereal mixture is flattened and really stuck together. Otherwise the cereal mixture will crumble or break apart later. When the cereal mixture cools, cut into bars or small squares. I store mine in individual sandwich baggies. If they last, these bars also freeze very well.

Have a wonderful day!

Easter Morning Moments

Happy Belated Easter, my friends!

I hope you all had the chance to enjoy some sweet holiday festivities with friends and family yesterday. We were up early. And don't let the photos fool you. It really was Easter. Not Christmas. (We tend to wear our Christmas jammies for months and months here in Maine. It's cold, they're cute, and oh-so-warm...)

As you can see, the kids were filled with excitement and even Brendan was able to keep up with all of the egg-hunting fun. He's an eagle eye for anything that's out of place these days -- so egg- hunting was right up his alley. The kids' giggles and exclamations made the early morning well worth it ... especially after a little muffin treat:

::: White Chocolate-Raspberry Muffins :::

::: Click here for the recipe :::

We spent the rest of the day with my mom and dad at their house. The usual ham dinner and fixings were delicious and I even came home with a new summery salad recipe. I'll have to share that one when I make it, especially now that we'll be enjoying our CSA half share of veggies from Wealden Farm. We are so excited to have an abundance of fresh produce from July through the end of October. And it's a wonderful way to support a local farming family as well. Everyone is looking forward to that little adventure and all of the lovely things that come with the advent of spring and summer.

We've certainly been enjoying the sun and relative warmth here over the last week or so. There's been lots of outside time and good sleeping. Which only makes us more excited for the weeks and months ahead -- especially now that the last of our snow is officially gone. Hooray! Now if I could only make a dent in that spring cleaning and yard work...

And so, here's a peek at our Easter morning fun. We're headed outdoors for a bit of pre-dinner playing. I hope to see you all again soon. Thanks, as always, for visiting!

Sweet treats, sweet smiles, and a very happy ending

Well, friends, it's been quite an exciting week ... and it's time to share an update, a sweet treat, and a sweet little smile.

I am thrilled to announce that our quest to keep the Brunswick Parks and Rec Preschool open has succeeded! In a very big way. After a few weeks of gathering signatures and prompting people to contact their Town Council reps, we were granted an interview by our local newspaper. (You may read it here, if you're interested.) Sharing our side of the story prompted yet more phone calls and action on the part of even more supporters than we had originally imagined. By Sunday evening, we learned that the councilwoman who wanted to close the school was ready to withdraw her motion. So on Monday evening, my friend and I attended the Town Council meeting to hear the news for ourselves. We also had the opportunity to publicly express our thanks to the council. As you know, we were prepared to go the distance -- complete with a long list of parents ready to speak at all of the upcoming meetings -- but we were pleased that those efforts were no longer necessary. A community united in pursuit of a common goal is a wondrous and powerful thing. I'm so proud of everyone who took the time to make sure that their voices were heard. What a wonderful way to effect change. And now, at last, life can get back to its normal rhythm ... just in time for spring.

Here's a peek at one of our earliest buds:

And an especially sweet treat that is long overdue:

If you'd like to make these Pumpkin Scones, feel free to check out this delicious recipe HERE.


I hope everyone is well and enjoying another springtime Wednesday. Thanks, as always, for stopping by!